Movie Review: The 5th Wave

The movie opens with a winsome Cassie, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, executing a man with a military-style assault rifle, and the gunplay only goes further from there. The sight of teens with rifles is one we’re used to from news reports of a much more tragic nature, so the imagery definitely gives one pause.

There’s a deeply antigovernment streak to the politics of “The 5th Wave,” which imagines a world in which an alien race takes over the planet and starts eradicating the human species in a series of waves that destroy infrastructure, environment and health. The panicked surviving humans band together in the woods until their children are rounded up by the army for “protection.”

Cassie escapes the collection and ends up alone in the woods with only a few guns for her comfort. She sets out to find her little brother, Sam, ostensibly to return his stuffed bear.

Perhaps the reason why some of the themes and imagery hit a bit too close is the way the film creates a recognizable world. In young adult hits of the same genre, such as “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent” or “The Maze Runner,” the metaphor has a bit more freedom because the worlds in which they take place are visually fantastical, and therefore removed from our reality. Everything in the “The 5th Wave” feels, or at least looks, real.

There’s your to-be-expected love triangle, with hunky loner lumberjack Evan Walker (Alex Roe) positioned against high school crush Ben Parish (Nick Robinson). Unfortunately, the execution of said triangle is generically laughable.

Not only does Cassie have a voice-over to explain things, but characters dump information in rapid fire speeches filled with revelations of machinations that they’ve put together awfully quickly. The twists and turns of the plot are telegraphed from miles away, so there’s not an ounce of suspense. The filmmaking itself (The 5th Wave was directed by J Blakeson) is aesthetically pleasing enough, and the story clips along at a fair pace. 

Maria Bello relishes a chance to chew scenery as one of the manipulative Army sergeants, while Liev Schreiber phones it in for a paycheck as the colonel. On the surface, “The 5th Wave” is mindlessly silly enough, but has a weirdly virulent pro-gun, libertarian streak just under the surface.

Rating:

★★

The Secret to Letting Go by: Katherine Fleet

The Secret to Letting Go is Katherine Fleet's debut novel. 





The Secret to Letting Go was told in two different point of views, Daniel Hudson and Clover Scott. Haunted with guilt after the death of his girlfriend, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. By the end of the summer he will be leaving Florida for a fresh and new start in college. Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Daniel starts asking questions about her past and when the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets - even if they might destroy her chance at happily-ever-after. 





Let's head straight into the review, shall we. 





I can not say that I liked the novel but I can not say that I disliked it. The Secret to Letting Go seemed at times unbelievable. I mean how many times does Clover face death...seriously. It also seemed that every time she was in danger Daniel was there to save her. However, I do have to admit that Clover and Daniel were well written characters. Though I did wish that Clover ended up growing after everything was unveiled. 





“Because even if you buried yourself in guilt, you can't go back and change what happened.” 





Clover Scott was honest, naive, and ultimately left me feeling sorry for her. With no family, no place to live, having to face the circumstances she was facing, left me truly feeling for this character. Daniel Hudson was kind, sweet, and seemed to take on the responsibility of caring for and looking after Clover after saving her from drowning. The novel did contain romance but it did not seem to draw me in or make me feel captivated in anyway. It just seemed to me that these two characters met and fell in love rather fast. 





I also enjoyed the twists and turns that this novel had. It also did end on a rather happy note. However, I just would have liked to bit more romance between the two characters and I would have liked to have seen a built up towards their relationship instead of simultaneously falling for one another. 





Rating:

★★★

Summary from Goodreads:

One summer can change everything...

Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.

Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after. 





Special Thanks:

ARC was kindly provided by publisher, Entangled Publishing, LLC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.





Publication Date: February 1st 2016

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Indigo

About The Author:

Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Katherine Fleet moved with her family to the Caribbean island of Curaçao in 2007. The slower pace of island life gave her time to pursue a long-time goal - becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her wonderful friends. She is a member of RWA™ and several of its chapters. She also loves NaNoWriMo and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. 



http://www.katherinefleet.com

katherinefleet

Ignited by: Desni Dantone

Ignited is the first book in the Ignited series.





Ignited is about a seventeen year old girl named Kris Young who is on the run from superhuman beings that want to see her dead. Well on the run Kris meets Nathan, a mysterious man that saves Kris, who is determined to save her at all costs. As danger lurks at every corner, Nathan introduces Kris to a world where everyone is not human and battle lines are drawn.





The novel was enjoyable to read but at times it felt as if the protagonist, Kris, was swooning over a guy when she should be focusing on running from danger that seems to be following her every move. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy the romance. The forbidden feelings they tried to hold back, the banter, everything. Even the love/hate relationship made me smile.





If you like your normal action and adventure novels mixed with some Greek mythology and romance, then I recommend you check this novel out.





Rating:

★★★

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen year old Kris Young is on the run from a throng of superhuman golden-eyed freaks hell-bent on seeing her dead, and she doesn't know why. Good thing she has her guardian angel to protect her...sort of.

Kris is aided by Nathan, the mysterious man that ends up being anything but angelic when he rescues her for the fourth time in fourteen years. Even if the handsome hero illusion is shattered by his harsh treatment of her, he knows how to fight this strange enemy and is determined to keep her safe at all costs. 

As the body count rises in their wake, Nathan introduces Kris to a world in which not everyone is human and the battle lines between good and evil are clearly drawn. Kris's piece in the puzzle is something neither is aware of and, as they uncover the truth, neither is prepared for what they find. Overcoming twists and revelations that shatter both of their lives, they discover that nothing is as it seems and nothing, least of all their hearts, are safe. 

From debut author, Desni Dantone, Ignited is the first novel in a tale of first love, mystery and adventure that will introduce you to an exciting new world as Kris discovers how she fits in it.







Special Thanks:

Thanks to Desni Dantone (Author of the Ignited Series) & Sarah (YA Bound Book Tours)  for giving me the opportunity to review Ignited. 

Buy Links:

       Amazon│Barnes & Noble

About The Author:

I live in the quiet, middle-of-nowhere Everett, Pennsylvania with my husband and three sons.

I've been writing since I was eleven, after I swiped one of my mom's Dean Koontz books. I still remember the first one I read; it was called Darkfall, and kept me awake most of the night. Anyway, I was totally inspired when I learned that he came from the small rural town I called home (true story, I swear!), and started writing freaky little horror stories because I wanted to be just like him. I gave the stories to my mom to read. I don't think she was as impressed as I was, but she put on an encouraging face...and that was how my writing obsession started. 

After years of writing for a hobby and taking creative writing courses, I've published my first novel, Ignited. My dream is for Dean Koontz to no longer be the only bestselling author from my little middle-of-nowhere hometown. 

You can check out more about me, The Ignited Series, and my upcoming books as they become available at:
http://www.desnidantone.com
http://www.facebook.com/ignitedbooks

Elements: The Prophecy of Shadows Book Blitz

Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows

by Michelle Madow

Release Date: January 26th 2016



Summary from Goodreads:



Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love! 

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.

Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.

When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

BUY
LINKS:

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Amazon
| Barnes &
Noble | iBookstore
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"Elementals
is going to blow your mind!"

-Crossroad
Reviews, ★★★★★

"Five
glittery stars for being such a compelling read!"

-Andrea
Heltsley, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★

"A
perfect mixture of magic and mythology. An entrancing story of trust,
friendship and well naughty boys. WITCHES are not the only thing walking the
earth!"

- BenjaminOfTomes, BookTuber ★★★★★

About the Author

Michelle Madow grew up in Baltimore, graduated Rollins College in Orlando, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida. She wrote her first book in her junior year of college, and has been writing novels since. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

Author Links:

   

Excerpt

“There’s a reason we’re required to take Greek mythology.” Blake scooted closer to me, as if about to tell me a secret, and I leaned forward in anticipation. “Did you know that we—meaning everyone in our homeroom—are descended from the Greek gods?”

I arched an eyebrow. “Like Zeus and all of them living in a castle on the clouds?” I asked.

“Exactly.” He smirked. “Except that they’re referred to as the Olympians, and they call their ‘castle in the clouds’ Mount Olympus.”

“So you’re saying that we’re gods?”

“We’re not gods.” He smiled and shook his head. “But we have ‘diluted god blood’ in us. It’s what gives us our powers.”

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This Song Is (Not) For You by: Laura Nowlin

This Song Is (Not) For You is a love triangle with a surprising twist. 





Ramona and Sam are bandmates and friends for a long time. As their relationship crosses the line between friendship and something more, Tom suddenly appears in the picture. This novel focuses on three teenagers (Ramona, Sam, and Tom) and their relationships The novel also explores bullying, problems between parents and children, cancer, and sexuality. However, the main focus of the plot would have to be the romance. 





I found it rather difficult to connect to the characters and the pacing is rather slow. I felt as if the author dragged the novel on until the very end. The climax was rather predictable, resolving everything so that all the characters ended up happy. 





One thing that I truly enjoyed would have to be the novels unexpected twist. It was rather delightful to see the author explore all these topics. However, at the end of the day this novel was not for me. 







Rating:

★★

Summary from Goodreads:

Bandmate, best friend or boyfriend? For Ramona, one choice could mean losing them all. 

Ramona and Sam are best friends. She fell for him the moment they met, but their friendship is just too important for her to mess up. Sam loves April, but he would never expect her to feel the same way--she's too quirky and cool for someone like him. Together, they have a band, and put all of their feelings for each other into music.

Then Ramona and Sam meet Tom. He's their band's missing piece, and before Ramona knows it, she's falling for him. But she hasn't fallen out of love with Sam either.

How can she be true to her feelings without breaking up the band?





Special Thanks:

A free digital copy was kindly provided by publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Indigo

About The Author:

Laura Nowlin holds a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Missouri State University. . In addition to being ambitious writer Laura is also an avid reader who believes that books allow her to live many lives in one lifetime. When she isn’t at home agonizing over her own novels Laura works at the public library where the patrons give her plenty of inspiration for her writing. She lives in St. Louis with her musician husband, neurotic dog, and psychotic cat.

Smart Girl by: Rachel Hollis

Smart Girl is the third book in The Girls series. It can also be read as a standalone novel. 





Smart Girl is about a woman named Miko Jin, a brilliant designer and a hopeless romantic. Having spent most of her life falling in love, when Miko meets Liam Ashton it's love at first sight...at least for her.





This is the first time I am reading any of Rachel Hollis' novels and I have to say that I throughly enjoyed reading Smart Girl. All of the characters, even the supporting characters, were enjoyable to read. I did find myself falling for Liam at times but then he destroyed everything that I felt and made me hate him. In a way I had a love-hate relationship with Liam. 





As for Miko, the protagonist, was kind, smart, and super quirky. Some things I didn't like was that at times she seemed dumb, relied upon her fictional heroines to give her love advice, and her crush on Liam seemed at times to have teenage aspects. However, her standing up for herself and putting herself first redeemed it all. 





"I love you, Liam." I take another calming breath. "I've just realized that I love myself more."





The novel didn't feel rushed, it had good pacing and the ending left me smiling. This novel was truly a light and cute read. If you like strong female characters, book references (i.e. Cinder, etc.), easy reads, and well written novels then I would recommend that you check this novel out.





Rating:

★★★★

Summary from Goodreads:

Brilliant designer Miko Jin is a hopeless romantic. She’s spent most of her life falling in love over and over again…with the men she finds in the pages of her favorite novels.

When Miko meets Liam Ashton, it’s love at first sight. At least, for her. Sure, the two of them are polar opposites, and yes, he seems to be dating someone new each week. But Miko knows what true love is and that you can’t rush it—after all, what she lacks in real-world experience, she makes up for in book smarts. With novels as her guide, and her best friends by her side, she knows she can get Liam to love her back. But just like any good romance novel, fate has a few plot twists in store. Will Miko get her own happy ending? Will she find the strength to stand up for what she deserves even if it means breaking her own heart?





Special Thanks:

ARC was kindly provided by publisher, Lake Union Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Indigo

About The Author:

Instagram Fun --> https://www.instagram.com/msrachelhol...
Facebook Magic --> https://www.facebook.com/MsRachelHollis/
Street Team Shenanigans --> https://www.facebook.com/groups/Frien...

Rachel Hollis founded the LA-based event planning firm Chic Events at only 21. Six years later Inc. Magazine named her one of the Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30. She went on to turn Chic into the extremely popular lifestyle website The Chic where readers log in daily for the tips and tricks she acquired after years of planning fancy parties for celebrities! 

She has designed and produced fabulous events for many of Hollywood's elite including Bradley Cooper, Al Gore, Rashida Jones, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ivanka Trump, Jamie King, Sara Rue and Cuba Gooding Jr… just to a name a few.

Rachel grew up in a big loud Okie family. Daddy was a Pentecostal minister and Mama was the church pianist… and PS, she knows the words to all the old-timey hymns in case you want to break into three-part harmony later. 

She moved to Los Angeles to go to college and promptly met a boy named David who was as handsome as he was funny. First she made that boy her best friend, and then she made him her husband. 10 years later they have three equally handsome/hilarious little boys named Jackson, Sawyer, and Ford. They live in LA where they spend their time doing super cool/sexy things like going to soccer practice and hitting up any restaurant where kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée.

Night Study by: Maria V. Snyder

Night Study is the second book in the Soulfinders series, the fifth book in the Study Series, and the eighth book in The Chronicles of Ixia series.





I don't want to describe the novel too much because I feel that if I begin to describe at least a portion of this novel then I will be spoiling it. (It is really that good). There is no words to describe how amazingly awesome Maria V. Snyder's novels are. The way she dives into these characters and brings them to life in every novel she writes is just superb. One would think that as the novels continue to get published, some of them would not be as amazing as the first batch of novels. However, Maria keeps on surprising me with the amount of time, energy, and just general greatness that her novels seem to emanate. 



The characters, especially Yelena and Valek, seemed to all speak out in their own way (different voices, characteristics, etc.) that were both enjoyable and delightful to read. The romance was also rather entertaining. I adored that Yelena and Valek portrayed this power couple that could do anything. One thing I do have to complain about would have to be the romance scenes, I would have liked it to have been rather extended instead of fading black.



Something that I don't necessarily like but ended up enjoying in Night Study would have to be that there was four point of views. I like that I was able to tell which person was narrating because they each had a distinct narrative voice. 



I adored all the characters, the way that they all seemed to learn and develop in this novel was an added bonus. I also enjoyed that the novel progresses rather well; I didn't find myself wanting to stop reading and pick up another novel. Overall, this was an amazing sequel that I am happy to have read. In the end, I have to recommend this novel to everyone. Trust me it is definitely worth reading. 







Rating:

★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads:

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear. 

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister that they could have ever imagined.





Special Thanks:

ARC was kindly provided by publisher, MIRA Ink, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.





Publication Date: January 26th 2016

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Indigo

About The Author:

Meteorologist turned novelist, Maria's been writing fantasy and science fiction since she was bored at work and needed something creative to do. A dozen novels and numerous short stories later, Maria's learned a thing or three about writing. She’s been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a half-dozen awards, and has earned her MA degree in Writing from Seton Hill University where she's been happily sharing her knowledge with the current crop of MFA students. She also enjoys creating new worlds where horses and swords rule, 'cause let's face it, they're cool, although she's been known to trap her poor characters in a giant metal cube and let them figure out how to get out. Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule at http://www.MariaVSnyder.com.

No Place Like Home by: Jennifer Kacey

No Place Like Home is the first book in the Coming Home series.





No Place Like Home is about a woman named Bianca Charleston (a.k.a. Charlie) who was considered a nobody in high school. After things have changed, Charlie flies home to help with the annual hospital carnival. Only when she arrives she encounters Cole Johnson, her high school crush that never noticed her. Cole Johnson, now FBI field agent, can't ignore the attraction he has for this blonde bombshell. Will they have their HEA or will their emotional minefield blow them past reality. 





The cover and blurb drew me towards this novel and seem to have me captivated. The two main characters, Charlie and Cole  seemed to instantly connect and have this relationship that seems in many ways "more" than just a one night stand. However, their relationship appeared more unrealistic than anything. From meeting, having a first date, to saying that what is going on between them is "more" than just that one night. 





Some of the things that I did enjoy would have to be the Wizard of Oz references (especially the scene where Charlie goes over to Cole's home for a date). They were both enjoyable and a cute addition to the novel. Overall, this novel is a good start to this new series.





I would recommend No Place Like Home if you like short HEA romance novels.







Rating:

★★

Summary from Goodreads:

"The easiest-and hardest-decision she'll ever make starts with a kiss."

"Coming Home," Book 1

In high school, Bianca Charleston was a nobody. An overweight wallflower, so invisible that Cole, the boy she had a crush on, never even knew she existed.

Things have changed, and she's finally ready to show off her new bombshell look. Sort of. Maybe. After a one-sided pep talk with her cat, she takes a deep breath and flies home to help out with the annual hospital carnival. Cole is there, too-and he still has no idea who she is.

FBI field officer Cole Johnson doesn't have an easy job, and his nights are usually booked solid. Then in walks Charlie, a blonde with killer...everything. Suddenly he's mentally clearing his schedule for a rare night out.

While Charlie doesn't do one-night stands, somehow after-dinner dessert is served up against the wall of her hotel room. But happiness will have to navigate an emotional minefield of preconceived notions-and a couple of not-so-secret stumbling blocks.

"Warning: Contains a former ugly duckling, and a big-hearted FBI agent who knows how to get his money's worth at a kissing booth. Plus, a little black dress that comes off a whole lot easier than Dorothy's ruby slippers."





Special Thanks:

ARC was kindly provided by publisher, Samhain Publishing, Ltd. via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Buy Links:

Amazon

About The Author:

Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her family in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. She's the Amazon top seller and award winning author of the Members Only Series and the Surrender Series along with several standalone novels and novellas. The best advice she's ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less. Connect with her on twitter @JenniferKacey and Facebook. And don't forget to sign up for her newsletter so you can hear about all of her new releases and giveaways!!