Review: Hidden Beneath by Lauryn April

Hidden Beneath ( Into the Deep #2)

Lauryn April

Publication Date: August 17, 2013

Kindle Edition

~YA/NA~

Summary:

Just when Ivy Daniels thought her life was going exactly how she wanted it, a surprise visitor arrives to shake up her world. Two years after an accident left Ivy with the ability to read minds she’s finally put her past behind her. Now, the summer after her senior year of high school Ivy is looking forward to going away to college and enjoying the rest of her vacation with her best friend Charlie and boyfriend Aden. The life altering events of her junior year of high school that made her realize things aren’t always as they appear have been pushed to the back of Ivy’s mind, and so has the memory of the one person who helped her though them – that is until he shows up on her door step a month before she leaves for L.A. asking for her help.

Where has Ivy’s ex-boyfriend, Brant, been, and why did he leave? Find out in this sequel to Into the Deep that will lead take you on an adventure filled with secrets, lost love, and forgiveness. (Goodreads)

Review:
     I was really excited when I found out that there was going to be a sequel to Into the Deep. I really enjoyed reading about the main character, Ivy as she not only learned to deal with her ability to read minds but also as she discovered, love and the meaning of true friendship. The story in Hidden Beneath takes place long after the events of Into the Deep. Ivy is headed off to college with her best friend, Charlie. Her life is vastly different from how it was in Into the Deep. Though she had accepted her gift she hasn't really used it because she wants to try and be normal again. Her relationship with Brant is over and she has since started dating Aden. In Hidden Beneath we'll find out why Brant and Ivy are no longer together. We'll also watch as Ivy slowly learns to use her gift to solve a mystery that has plagued the mind of someone she cares about.

     One of the things I really enjoy about these books is the mystery. I love the suspense that has me wondering what is going to happen next. I also like when the characters I'm reading about are able to draw me in and make me hope that all will end well for them. Ivy is one of those characters. Since I hadn't read the description of what this book was about, I just jumped right in and started reading. So I was shocked when I discovered Ivy and Brant were no longer together. I literally had to re-read the passage and all I could think was What?! Why?! I loved them as a couple and I was sad for them. Luckily we find out why and readers aren't left wondering what happened. I'm also glad that Hidden Beneath solves a mystery that developed during the 1st book. I was happy that certain characters were able to get some answers to a mystery that had left them with a ton of questions but few answers.

     Hidden Beneath is a great follow up to Into the Deep. We get another interesting mystery that had me wondering what was going to happen next. Plus I liked being able to get back into the head of a really great character. As an added bonus there are a few scenes at the end of the book told from another character's POV. Let's just say I really, really liked those scenes! My one issue with this book was that I would have liked to learn more about Charlie. I just think that she is an interesting character but we don't get to see much from her.

Cover:
Hmm...not sure how to feel about this cover. I don't hate it but It's not my favorite of the two books. One thing I really like is the font used for the title and the placement of both the title and the author's name. It really bugs me when the title and the author's name are all over the cover making me wonder why anyone bothered to put any imagine behind the gigantic titles.

*book provided by author for a fair and honest review*

Most Anticipated (41)

This week my Most Anticipated Release of the Week is Origin. I have been dying to get my hands on this book ever since I finished Opal. Come on, with that ending how could I not want to know what was going to happen next. I was also really excited when I found out that Origin was going to have both Daemon and Katy's POV's. Daemon and Katy have become one of my favorite book couples and I need to know how they're doing after being separated in Opal. I so can't wait to get my hands on this one!!

Summary:
Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?(Goodreads)

Origin (Lux #4), Jennifer L. Armentrout. Expected Publication: August 27, 2013; Entangled Publishing. Paperback, 400 pgs.

Honorable Mentions

Girl on Tour (Kylie Ryans #2), Caisey Quinn. Expected Publication: August 27, 2013; Kindle Edition. 

The Liberator (Dante Walker #2), Victoria Scott. Expected Publication: August 27, 2013; Entangled Teen. Paperback 350 pgs.

Teaser Tuesday (66)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

♥Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from Hidden Beneath (Into the Deep #2). I was a huge fan of  Into the Deep and I was super excited that I would get to read more about these characters.

"For just one moment after that shot rang through the air, after the birds fled the trees and the leaves shook and fluttered down to the ground, it had been completely and devastatingly silent. That was the moment I realized that soon it would all be over, and my heart hadn’t stopped pounding yet."

Hidden Beneath (Into the Deep #2) Lauryn April. Kindle Edition 1%

That's my teaser, hope you enjoy!

Cover Reveal: Daughter of Isis by Kelsey Ketch

Daughter of Isis (Descendants of Isis, #1)

by Kelsey Ketch

Release Date: 10/26/13

Cover Designed by: Steven Novak

Summary from Goodreads:

“Her mouth parted slightly, waiting for Seth to breathe life into her own body, just like in the story. She wanted him to awaken her senses.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert.

The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*

***Excerpt***

There was a crash and a loud gasping moan. She

turned to the door next to her and stepped into the room. Her eyes widened as

two entangled bodies jumped in the dark; the light shining from the hall

streamed over the couple. She recognized the tall, copper haired upperclassman

from the parking lot; the boy who had sent her the enchanting smile. Now he was

completely shirtless, his fly clearly unzipped, and a brunette held tight in

his arms. The girl glared at Natti. She struggled a little against the boy’s

grasp, trying to cover herself with her bra.

Natti blinked in complete shock. “Okay.” She

finally glanced at the empty room. “This is obviously not American Literature.”

“No duh!” the brunette snapped.

The young man smiled and turned to the girl in

his arms. The brunette’s cold demeanor melted away once her eyes met his. He

stroked her cheek, sending visible shivers through her body. Natti rolled her

eyes, ready to gag.

“Now, now, Charlotte.” The honey-sweet voice

made Natti freeze when she was just turning to leave. It gave her a dizzy

feeling; a fog creeping at the back of her mind. “We shouldn’t be rude to our

guest.” The boy’s eyes traveled Natti’s curves again. His grin widened.

“Perhaps she’d like to join us. Maybe we can all get to know each other a

little better.”

He motioned Natti to come inside. She

unconsciously took a step forward; a strange force compelled her to join them.

Her hands were reaching to pull her shirt off. It was as if she was no longer

in control.

What the

hell . . . ? Natti shook

her head, finding the strength to resist through a familiar heavy sensation

that rested against her chest. It was one she often got when someone lied to

her. She was born with it. A gift, her grandmother called it, which could tell

her when something wasn’t right. And as much as her body suddenly wanted to be

next to the boy, feeling the skin of his lean, muscular chest, her gift was

telling her something was off. His intentions were not pure. She lowered her hands to her side, taking a step back into the hall. “Sorry.” She shook her head. “I don’t do threesomes.”

About the Author

During her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate.Daughter of Isis is her debut novel.
For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.

***Author Links***

   



Cover Reveal Organized by:

Swoon Thursdays (75)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot and fun new meme called SWOON #YABound. If you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading. Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

This week my Swoon is from the last book in the Darkness Before Dawn trilogy, After Daybreak. I'm so sad this trilogy is over but I thoroughly enjoyed it! Here's my Swoon:

"He skims his lips across my temple. It's as though each cell comes to life. I lean into him, drawn to the promise of pleasure. His mouth covers mine, his tongue sweeps inside. Warmth spirals through me, pools in the pit of my stomach. My toes curl. suddenly it's like he's kissing all of me." SWOON YABound 

After Daybreak (Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy #3), J.A. London

That's what had me Swooning! What made you Swoon?

Teaser Tuesday (65)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

♥Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I chose two teasers from Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5). I'm a huge fan of this series. I love how the mythology in these books is tied in with mystery and suspense, it makes these books intense and super interesting.

"I immediately dropped my gaze down back down to my food. Okay, okay, so I was totally tuning out his lecture, but only because it was the same one he'd given me a dozen times before. Besides, i was hungry. I started to lean forward to take a bite of my pretzel, when the librarian snatched it out of my hand.""The arrow had stopped a foot from my face. Eyes wide, my head snapped to the side, and I realized that the angry girl from the train station was there--and that she was holding the arrow in her hand like it was a football she'd plucked out of midair."

Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5), Jennifer Estep: Paperback pgs 35,122

Those are my teasers for the week, hope you enjoyed them!!

Most Anticipated (40)

This week my Most Anticipated Release of the Week is...Infinityglass. Though I have only read the first book in this trilogy I have been waiting for the trilogy to conclude so I can read the last two books back to back. I really loved the first book, Hourglass though a re-read will probably be necessary. I loved the concept of this trilogy and I can't wait to see where it goes and how it ends.

Summary:

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?(Goodreads)

Infinityglass (Hourglass #3), Myra McEntire. Expected Publication: August 6, 2013; EgmontUSA.  Hardcover, 336 pgs.