Review: Double Clutch by Liz Reinhardt (Brenna Blixen #1)

Publisher - Self-published by author
Publication Date - 6th September 2011
Genre - Young Adult/Comtemporary Romance

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Ally


Book Info - What happens when you fall in love with the perfect guy...twice... in one day?

Brenna Blixen spent her freshman year homeschooling in Denmark; now that she’s back in the States, she’s determined to make her sophomore year unforgettable. And by unforgettable, she imagined awesome classes, fun friendships, and maybe a little romance.

What she got was a whole lot of romance, and all at once.

The same day that dark, brooding Saxon Maclean charmed her with his killer good looks and whip-smart wit, Jake Kelly stole her breath away with his heart-wrenching smile and intelligent, thoughtful focus.

But Saxon is a proud player who makes it clear that he doesn’t know why he can’t get Brenna off of his mind and out of his system, and Jake’s sweet and humble attitude hides a secret past life that might be more darker and more complex than Brenna’s willing to handle.

Complicating the matter is the fact that Saxon and Jake were once best friends and are now arch-enemies... and the more Brenna finds out about their connection to each other, the more intrigued and worried she becomes.

Between keeping the peace with her lovingly over-protective parents, designing t-shirts for her high school’s rising punk band, keeping up her grades in both academic and technical high school, and running the track like a maniac, Brenna has enough to worry about with out juggling two guys who make her heart thud and drive her crazy all at once.

She has to make a choice. But how can she when giving her heart to one of them might mean breaking the other’s?

My Thoughts - This book is intense, a strong dynamic between three teens. One girl and two boys, Oh no not another love triangle! You cry, I said it too when I started reading it. But when I read it I was screaming yes! This book was crazy, I loved each and every character and when I found out there was a sequel, well oh boys is all I have to say. But anyway I’m jumping ahead of myself.

Double clutch, made me laugh, cry scream in frustration and cuss, I cussed a lot, a looooooooooooot. Brenna is beautiful (and she doesn’t know it, cliché I know) has two amazing guys who are crazy about her and just… (Would it be rude if I stopped reviewing here, this book is amazing)

Ok, this book had a lot of intense emotions; I think it really got down what it is like to be a teen, especially faced with a dilemma like this. She didn’t always make the right choice, hell some people might argue she got it wrong as soon as she came on the scene. But wow, this book is pure romance and real life relationships, there are no aliens or zombies just pure YA, for me this is too intense to be classified as chick lit (it made me cry a lot and NOT happy tears). I never thought a book like this could exist it was like a cross between Sarra Mannings French kiss and Megan Mcafferty’s sloppy first series (I loved both of them).

The story was addictive, no matter how many times I threw my kindle across my bed (not the floor because it’s too hard) I couldn’t put it down, it had me holding my breath and aching to know what happened next. Brenna is a real person, 3 what she eats, wears, hates, everything was told and although I didn’t agree with her, many, many ,many times, she is strong willed, sensible and caring - add in boy obsessed and I think I’ve just described every teenage girl on the planet (at some stage).

I cant deny this was a good book, I really want to because it made me so angry, I wanted to hate it and I did, I was so obsessed with what was happening that I got lost in the story and I think that is the mark of truly great writing, I didn’t hate the book (I loved that) I just didn’t like what happened. I felt a part of the story like it was happening to me and it took me almost a month after reading this monstrosity to realise how much I loved it.

Summary - An addictive read that makes you feel like a teenage again, breath in twice (you’ll need it) because double clutch is fast paced and crazy intense. Jake and Saxon are oh so delicious and Brenna is just theirs for the taking.

Other books in this series:
1. Double Clutch
2. Junk Miles

Other reviews of this book:
Books, Biscuits and Tea / Readaraptor / Tabitha's Book Blog

Waiting on Wednesday: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week my "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful - and passionate - of the Elder Races. As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they've ignited in one another.

Review: Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan (Ranger's Apprentice #4)

Publisher - Corgi Yearling
Publication Date - 5th June 2008
Paperback - 352 pages
Genre - YA Fantasy

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was ok

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Just as spring approaches and Will and Evanlyn can finally escape Skandia, Evanlyn is carried off by mysterious horsemen. Will sets out after them, but one boy against six fierce Temujai warriors is impossible odds - even for a Ranger's apprentice. Halt and Horace arrive just in time. But the happiness of their reunion is cut short when Halt realizes these Temujai are only scouts for a massive invasion force. The four Araluans must work together with the Skandians to defeat their invaders - if the Oberjarl will accept their help.

My Thoughts - This is the fourth book that I have read in the Ranger's Apprentice series and, although I am enjoying the series as a whole, this one has been the least enjoyable for me so far. My main problem was that it was just far too focused on war for my liking. I'm not a big fan of books about war and this book is full of talk about strategy and preparation and then, later on in the book, the actual war itself. I found myself getting quite bored with it all and skimming through several pages. However, I noticed that the next book in the series seems to go off in a very different direction so I will still be continuing with the series.

As usual, Flanagan has created a cast of loveable characters who I am really enjoying getting to know as they are growing up and developing their skills. Will went through some tough times in the previous book in the series and Oakleaf Bearers show him getting his strength back and regaining the skills that he learnt previously under Halt's direction before he was held hostage by the Skandians. By the end of the book Will reaches Hero proportions again and I loved seeing his confidence grow along with his abilities as a Ranger.

I love Halt and Horace, and their interactions provide some light relief in an otherwise serious book. Halt loves to tease Horace and, as he is quite innocent and niave, Horace never even realises what Halt is doing. However, I didn't much like Evanlyn in this book. She comes across as spoiled and likes having the attention of both Will and Horace and at times plays them off against each other. This is a new side of Evanlyn that the reader hasn't seen before and I hope that she has matured a little more in the next book in the series.

Summary - This is a book full of great characters but the plot was far too war-orientated for my liking. Not a book for people who, like me, finds war talk boring.

Other books in this series:
1. The Ruins of Gorlan
2. The Burning Bridge
3. The Icebound Land
4. Oakleaf Bearers
5. The Sorcerer in the North
6. The Siege of Macindaw
7. Erak's Ransom
8. The Kings of Clonmel
9. Halt's Peril
10. The Emperor of Nihon-Ja
11. The Lost Stories

Other reviews of this book:
Medieval Bookworm / The Book Reviewer

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #26 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

It's Monday! What are you Reading? (30th April 2012)

This is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey that gives us all a chance to list the books that we read last week and what we hope to read this week.

Books Read:

The Pack by Jason Starr (Pack #1)

Faefever by Karen Marie Moning (Fever #3)

Bad Girl Lessons by Seraphina Donavan

Books Reviewed:

(Click on links to read reviews)

Another Jekyll, Another Hyde by Daniel and Dina Nayeri (Another #3)

The Pack by Jason Starr (Pack #1)

Books I'm Currently Reading:

Racing to Love by Amy Gregory (Carter's Treasure #1)

Books Up Next:

Dreams by Daniela Sacerdoti (Sarah Midnight #1)

Current Giveaways:

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!)

Series of the Week: Raine Benares Series by Lisa Shearin

Each Sunday I will be highlighting a series that I have been wanting to read for a while, and that I hope to read very soon! This week my pick is Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin. I hadn't heard of this series until recently when my co-reviewer Ally recommended it to me, but I think it looks amazing!

Have you read this series? Let me know what you thought!

1. Magic Lost, Trouble Found
Raine Benares is a Sorceress Seeker of average ability until she comes into possession of an amulet that amplifies her powers-and her enemies.

2. Armed and Magical
My name is Raine Benares. Until last week I was a seeker—a finder of things lost and people missing. Now I’m psychic roommates with the Saghred, an ancient stone with cataclysmic powers. Just me, the stone, and all the souls it’s ingested over the centuries. Crowded doesn’t even begin to describe it. All I want is my life back—which means getting rid of the stone and the power it possesses. To sort things out, I head for the Isle of Mid, home to the most prestigious sorcery school, as well as the Conclave, the governing body for all magic users. It’s also home to power- grubbing mages who want me dead and goblins who see me as a thief. As if that’s not enough, Mid’s best student spellsingers are disappearing left and right, and I’m expected to find them. Lives are at stake, goblins are threatening to sue, mages are getting greedier, and the stone’s power is getting stronger by the hour. This could get ugly.

3. The Trouble With Demons
For seeker Raine Benares, a demon infestation on the Isle of Mid couldn't come at a worse time. Already fighting the influence of the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone, Raine discovers she is also magically bonded to a dark mage and a white knight, two dangerous and powerful men on opposing sides.

Turns out, the demons want the key to unlock the Saghred. As a seeker, Raine should be able to find it first. As the axis of light and dark powers, she's a magical cataclysm waiting to happen.

4. Bewitched and Betrayed
Raine Benares is a seeker. She finds lost things and missing people- usually alive. But now she's been bonded with the Saghred, a soul- stealing stone of unlimited power, and must hunt down its escapees. Especially since one of them is also hunting her...

5. Con and Conjure
Raine Benares is a seeker who finds lost things and people. Ever since the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone that's given her unlimited power, has bonded to her, the goblin king and the elves have wanted to possess its magic themselves. Which means a goblin thief and her ex-fiancé-an elven assassin-are after her. To survive, she'll need the help of her notorious criminal family.

6. All Spell Breaks Loose
My name is Raine Benares—and it sucks to be me. The Saghred, a soul-stealing stone that has given me unlimited power, has been stolen by a goblin prince, and with it went my magic. The Saghred is in the goblin capital of Regor, in the hands of Sarad Nukpana, who’s on the verge of becoming the most powerful mage ever...just as soon as I’m dead.

Because Sarad can’t use the stone while I’m alive. Incentive enough to plan a little trip to Regor with a small band of good friends, not-so-good friends, and outright enemies. All we need to do is destroy the Saghred, kill Sarad, and put a renegade prince on the throne. Did I mention I’ll be doing this without magic?