Pages: 365
Publication date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Harper Teen

How I got the copy: Won 

Rating:  4 Stars
  

     

From Goodreads:

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).
Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.
The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

    There was this void in me ever since I read The Immortal Rules that was dying for another kickass heroine that didn't need saving from any guy.  Reboot finally filled that void and did it while providing laughter and suspense too.  

    Wren, One Seventy Eight, was such a fun character.  She's this short blonde thing, but she's also deadly lethal.  She was really complex because she was dead so long before she rebooted that she's hardly human anymore.  Yet when she does start feeling more emotions it was so easy  to connect with her and like her.  Although it was hilarious when she didn't get why Callum, Twenty-two, thought she was strange/funny at times.  Here's an example:

"Try not to scream when I break your bones. It bothers me. You can cry if you want; that's fine."
He burst out laughing. I didn't realize that was a funny statement.
"Got it," he said, trying unsuccessfully to cover his grin. "Screaming, no. Crying, yes.".  -Reboot

   Their chemistry was palpable.  Callum was adorable in a...I want to pinch your cheeks...kind of way.  There were times I wished he wasn't such a wimp, but I like that the author stayed true to his character.  He was from the richer part of town so it made sense that he might not have had to fight much in his human life. Their dynamic reminded me of Allison and Zeke from The Immortal Rules so much.  It was exactly what I was looking for.  

   The world building wasn't necessarily lacking, but I just wished there was more of it.  I wanted to know about what happened when the virus spread.  It seemed very rushed when it's explained and I didn't really understand how the world went from what we live in today to her world.  Hopefully book two goes more in depth.

    My only annoyance was that all the main reboots had different numbers and that seemed oddly convenient.  No one else woke up at the same time? I understand that would be confusing...just sayin'. 

   If you're looking for lots of action, a little humor, a strong chemistry, and an original concept this is definitely a book for you.  Even if none of that sounds appealing I'd still recommend it that's how much I enjoyed it.    

“Want to dance?" He scooped me into his arms before I could reply. "We have music this time. And I don't have to punch you when we finish."

"You don't have to. But if I step on your feet too many times you can feel free.” 
― Amy Tintera, Reboot

Publication date: May 31, 2013

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

How I got the copy: Bought

Rating:  5 Stars
  

    

From Goodreads:

This is a stand alone novel that is an adult spin-off
of the Lux Series You do not need to read a Lux book to read Obsession and vice versa.

He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

Plot: 8/10

Characters: 9/10

Setting: 10/10

Pacing: 10/10

Style: 10/10

Cover:  Not sure why they're naked in a field, but the cover does capture the essence of the novel...sexy times.

47+50=97 (5 Stars)

     Jennifer L Armentrout can't write romance...said no one ever.  Seriously, this woman is the queen of steamy scenes!  My devotion as a fangirl for Daemon and Aiden has never faltered, but I think they need to scoot over because there needs to be room for Hunter now.  

     After reading the Lux series, never did I expect to fall for an Arum.  JLA took his dark side and somehow made it attractive.  Although at times he was really frustrating.  I was right there with Serena when she wanted to throw things at him.

 

    The plot was not lacking either.  Sometimes with romance novels there's hardly any plot development.  Not only does this book take us deeper into the world of the Arum and Luxen, but it also gave us a sneak peek at what Daemon is up to after the end of Opal.  I kind of wish he had been in it more.

     While I love the snark that JLA writes in all her novels it kind of starts to feel like they're all the same characters with the same voices.  Katy and Alex are very different, but their humor is similar.  And I felt like Serena was an adult mixture of those two.  Daemon and Hunter were very similar in their cockiness and protectiveness.  

Number of Pgs.: 288

Publication date: April 9, 2013

Publisher: Soho Teen
Genre: Science Fiction, YA, Mystery

How I got the copy: From publisher in exchange for an honest review (Thanks Soho Teen!)

Rating:  4 Stars

From Goodreads:

17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…
17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…
17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving.  

Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light Sophie, Declan, Anat, and the rest must decide what to do with a second chance at life—if they can survive to claim it.

Plot: 8/10

Characters: 4/10

Setting: 6/10

Pacing: 8/10

Style: 6/10

Cover:  The cover caught my attention right away.  I love the dark figures and how they're positioned.  It's creepy and mysterious.

32+50=82 (4 Stars)

    I was looking for something different than the predictable dystopian/paranormal books I had been reading lately.  Strangelets broke that streak for me.  I was entertained the whole time because I couldn't figure out how the characters would make it out alive.  And to my surprise some of them didn't!  It was so fast paced that it was like being on that roller coaster, Kingda Ka.  It shoots up on one high speed and then ends abruptly.  Right from the first page the adventure begins immediately which I loved, but the ending wrapped up a little to quickly for my liking.  I was really excited that this was a standalone because those are few and far between these days, but I thought that it should have had a more satisfying ending.  I wanted to know more, but maybe the author is planning a companion novel or something.
     Since this was definitely a more plot driven book, the characters kind of fell flat for me.  The only character I cared about was Declan because he had the most personality and Sophie a little bit too because she was sick.  Since we get the perspective from three characters it was kind of hard to connect with them.  But I absolutely loved that one of the characters turns out to not be who you think they are.  I didn't see that coming at all.
     The style of writing reminded me of City of Bones in that ever chapter ended in a cliffhanger and then switched perspective.  It made it impossible to put down because I just had to know what happened to the characters from two chapters previous.  I also loved the Science in this book.  I hadn't read any YA that had wormholes/portals that weren't fantasy or paranormal.  I liked that the characters came from all over the world too so I got a look into other cultures and settings.  Despite my struggles to connect emotionally with the characters, I was glad that they were realistic.  It wasn't like those scary movies where I'm screaming at the tv because the character does something stupid.

 

     Basically, if you're looking for a quick, dark, mysterious read with a pinch of Science Fiction you should definitely get this book.