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*

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!

Review of "Into the Deep" by Lauryn April

Into the Deep

Lauryn April

Publication Date: August 10, 2012

Kindle Edition

Summary:

     Ivy Daniels is an average teen until the day she nearly drowns. After her accident she develops a new ability. Is she going crazy, did her accident cause brain damage, or is her ability actually real? Because of her new found ability Ivy "overhears" someones really dark thoughts. Ivy will have to use her ability as well as depend on others around her to help solve the mystery. If she doesn't figure out who the dangerous "voice" belongs to in time, her whole school could blow up with everyone in it.

Review:

     Into the Deep is the debut novel from author, Lauryn April. Into the Deep is one of those books that I found myself getting lost in. The main character, Ivy, is quite likable, easy to relate to, and I was able to get caught up in her life as she dealt with her new ability. Another aspect I enjoyed about Into the Deep were the sensory details, they weren't overwhelming but they did allow me to feel as though I could envision the scene being described. 

     One of my favorite parts of this novel were the characters. Ivy is a bit quiet and tends to be a follower. But after nearly drowning she begins to change. I liked the way that Ivy grew and developed as a character throughout the story. Her new found ability allowed her to discover who she wanted to be as well as who she wanted to be friends with. She was able to see past peoples exteriors to see what they were truly like. She soon learns that people are not always as the appear. Ivy also struggles to control what she can do. Sometimes her ability becomes overwhelming and at times she learns things she doesn't want to know. Ivy's distress made her seem more believable as a character. She just didn't accept what she could do. She fought it and then tried to learn to control it.

     Another character in Into the Deep is Brant. He is the type of guy who can be found smoking or skipping class, he's not known as being dependable. But as Ivy is coming to find out people aren't always as they appear. I liked Brant. He has a sad back-story and is completely misunderstood by most of his classmates. But we see that there is more to him than everyone thought. I found Brant to be very likable and I couldn't wait to read about him.

     Into the Deep has all of the things I look for in a novel a great story that's easy to get caught up in. Enjoyable characters that I can root for. It also has a little mystery, some paranormal aspects, and a touch of romance. I especially liked the epilogue and was quite satisfied with the ending of this novel. I felt as though everything was wrapped up quite nicely and I wasn't left with any lingering questions. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from author, Lauryn April. 

Cover:

     I really really like this cover. It's eye catching and relates to what the book is about. I love the way the bubbles are streaming from the girls mouth as well as the way her her hair is floating up. It's not filled with a ton of graphics. It has just enough detail to make me want to pick this book up to see what this book is all  about. Very stunning!! 

Swoon Thursdays(43)

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!

My Swoon this week is from Into the Deep by Lauryn April. I went with the extended version, it was just so good.

"I brought my lips back up to his, soft at first then I dove back into the way he was making me feel. His hands traveled down to the hem of my shirt and slowly one hand trailed up under the back of my top. The other hung there loosely with his thumb looped in the waistband of my jeans. I felt his rough, calloused palm on my fevered skin; his touch, the feeling of his skin on mine, sent shivers through me. He backed me up then, stepping slowly and moving me with him until he had me firmly pushed up against the wall. His hand twisted around, sliding across my back and moved to linger on the waist line of my jeans. The tips of his fingers lightly grazed the skin of my belly." SWOON#YABound

What did you think? If you have a Swoon leave a link so I can check out what made you Swoon this week.

Teaser Tuesday (23)

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!

Here are my  teasers for the week. I haven't read too much of this book yet but I hope to finish it today!

"I hit the water and for a moment everything slowed. It was as if time had been written on a piece of elastic and was stretched until every number, every minute, was pulled wide and contorted."

"I could hear my own sharp intake of breath. I could feel the rush of humid air past my skin. Then the cold water encased me, sucked me in and dragged me down. My hair swarmed out around my face. Like glowing strands of amber backlit by the moon, they spiraled into my view."

Lauryn April, Into the Deep, Kindle Edition (Prologue) 

Ivy Daniels is a high school junior still learning who she is. After almost drowning, Ivy finds herself with an ability she doesn’t want, an ability to uncover secrets which quickly begins to redefine what she thinks about the people around her as well as herself. Because of this ability, Ivy becomes the one thing that stands between an angry teen and the death of every student on campus. The only problem is she doesn’t know who wants everyone dead. Will she figure out whose secret is that they’re planning to blow up her school, or will she fail to find him in time?

Through her search to do the right thing, Ivy discovers that knowing the thoughts and secrets of those around her may just tear her apart. (summary from Goodreads)

What do you think? Feel free to leave a link to your teaser's:)