CLOCKWISE by Elle Strauss

Title:  CLOCKWISE

Series:  Clockwise #1

Author:  Elle Strauss

Publisher:  All Night Reads

Category:  Sci Fi & Fantasy, Teens & YA

Received from:  All Night Reads via netgalley.com

Goodreads:  Clockwise

Description:

Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this-she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

It's the eve of the American Civil war and protocol pressures Casey to tell their hosts that Nate is her brother. No one more surprised than she is when they are forced to share a one room worker's cabin. Super awkward.

Nate's slow to accept their new reality but when he does, he realizes he needs Casey to get back. His nearness is intoxicating to Casey, but she keeps her cool by hanging a privacy blanket and staying aloof. Knowing Nate has an evil girlfriend waiting for him at home helps.

Over time Casey gains the attention of a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, and something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just "brotherly" protectiveness?

When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom rung of their school's social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does. 

Link   www.ellestraussbooks.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book, and its series, is written for the younger teen group.  I enjoyed it as an easy, light read on a Saturday.  

Recently, I was asked what time period I would most like to live in if it were possible to choose.  My answer is here and now – I like the modern conveniences we have.  If I had to pick another time, it would be in the future when I’m sure there will be even more conveniences not yet available.   

In this book, Casey isn’t given a choice of time periods; she returns to 1960s Massachusetts every time.  Luckily, she has been befriended by the Watson family who assist her in her unusual adventure without knowing the actual nature of her travels.  

In this first book of the series, her travel plans have been changed.  Nate has accidentally joined her.

I would definitely recommend this book to any avid reader beyond the “boys are yucky” stage of life. 

Editing:  This was well-polished with only an error or two as would be expected in a 194 page book.

 Other books in the series:

1. Clockwise
2. Clockwiser
3. Like Clockwork
4. Clocked

Other Books from this Author:

• Seaweed
• Love, Tink
• It’s a Little Haywire

Nome de Plume Lee Strauss

·         Perception Series

• Perception
• Volition
• Ambition (Prequel)

 Playing with Matches

1. A Piece of Blue String
2. Jars of Clay
3. Broken Vessels

 

originally posted 06.22.13 on my previous website

WordPress.com closed that site because I promoted authors and their books. 

 

SNAKE EYES by Melissa Pearl

Title:  SNAKE EYES

Series:  Masks #3

Author:  Melissa Pearl

Publish Date:   01.30.15

Publisher:  Evatopia Press

Category /Genre:  NA, Contemporary Drama

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Received from:  Melissa Pearl (in exchange for an honest review)

Tour by:  Mark My Words Publicity

Goodreads link: Snake Eyes

Date completed: 01.29.15

Description from the publisher:

Caitlyn Davis expects her sophomore year at UCLA to be perfect…until she walks into her dorm room to find Special Agent Zoey Kaplan of the FBI waiting for her. In that instant, she knows her idyllic year with new best friends, Nicole and Dale, along with her super hot boyfriend, Eric, is about to fall apart.

I love this series.  Caity has such an unique gift that she tries to use only when necessary (like beating the smug out of an arrogant older brother – trust me, he deserves it).  Ultimately, I feel bad for Caity.  She is always trying to make everything better for everyone else, so much so that she doesn’t say “no” when it may be the best answer for herself and her closest relationships.  Once again, she feels obliged to make the world a better place for those who may be in danger.  Eric may be humanly flawed, but that just makes him all the more loveable.  Eric’s past will come to haunt them both, even when he doesn’t know the truth about that past.  Agent Kaplan is tough as nails and determined, but you have to wonder if she isn’t skirting her own criminal charges when she puts Caity in danger once again. 

Ever the optimist, I put myself through a ringer hoping for the best only to be crushed and then riding the crest of hope again.  All of the characters are well-written with complete distinctive personalities.  The story is one-of-a-kind and hard to put down.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series.  You can already tell that POKER FACE is the perfect title and I can’t wait to see what Melissa Pearl has in store for us!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the third book in the Masks series.  They do need to be read in order.

After nearly getting herself killed (again) last year, Caity is avoiding her special gift and trying to just live her life as a sophomore in college.  Her boyfriend, Eric, may not trust easily, but for Caity he is willing to let go and try.  His trust will be tested when unbeknownst to him Caity has once again been pressed into assisting FBI agent Kaplan with an undercover operation involving human-trafficking. Can Caity juggle the job, school, friends, and Eric without losing any of them?

I love this series.  Caity has such an unique gift that she tries to use only when necessary (like beating the smug out of an arrogant older brother – trust me, he deserves it).  Ultimately, I feel bad for Caity.  She is always trying to make everything better for everyone else, so much so that she doesn’t say “no” when it may be the best answer for herself and her closest relationships.  Once again, she feels obliged to make the world a better place for those who may be in danger.  Eric may be humanly flawed, but that just makes him all the more loveable. 

All of the characters are well-written with complete distinctive personalities.  The story is one-of-a-kind and hard to put down.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series (and love the title).

Grammar/editing:  ungraded – book received as an unedited ARC / errors excused

The Masks series:

1. True Colors
2. Two-Faced
3. Snake Eyes
4. Poker Face (coming soon)

Other Books from Melissa Pearl:

• Forbidden Territory

Time Spirit Trilogy:

          1.      Golden Blood

          2.      Black Blood

          3.      Pure Blood

Betwixt Series:

          1.      Before (prequel)

          2.      Betwixt

          3.      Beyond

Songbird Series:

          1.      Fever

          2.      Bulletproof

          3.      Everything (coming soon)

The Elements Trilogy Series: 

          1.      Unknown

          2.      Unseen

          3.      Unleashed

A Fugitive Series:

          1.      I Know Lucy

          2.      Set Me Free

 

AMAZON-US

SMASHWORDS

BARNES&NOBLE

iTUNES

 

Thank you [Mark My Words Publicity] for hosting this tour.