Keystone (The Cornerstone Series #2)

Keystone (The Cornerstone Series #2)

By Misty Provencher

Self -Published July 31st, 2012

259 pages

4.5 stars - A great sequel!

There’s a man-made storm coming, like a rip in the world, and it’s called the Cusp. 

Struggling to fit into the destiny she’s accepted, Nalena Maxwell has been left with one objective: she must find her murdered grandfather’s Memory. Stolen and hidden away by her own father over seventeen years ago, the Memory could be the key to ending the Cusp and destroying the Ianua’s rival community, The Fury.

Driven by each individual’s selfish desires, The Fury has always lacked the loyalty and organization it needs to be an actual force of power. 

Until now. 

Someone masterminded the Fury’s massive attack on the Ianua, slaughtering twelve of their thirteen community leaders, the Addos. Now there are rumors that the 13th Cura, to which Nali belongs, has gone to the Fury, manipulating the last Addo in order to control the other 12 Curas.

As the Cusp brings the Fury and their own communities against them, Nalena’s Cura must preserve the Ianua, but finding the key to the Cusp isn’t as simple as it seems.

Keystone was a great sequel to Cornerstone which I had just finished reading earlier this week. I have my review of Cornerstone up if you haven't checked it out yet. Anyways like I was saying Keystone was very interesting. We pick up where we left off and everything from then on is pretty much fast paced. It doesn't ever get boring as Nalena grows into her powers and into her relationship with Garrett. Plus Garrett is in this so I don't think it could ever be boring. Haha but really the characters from Cornerstone are back and there are some new ones as well. 

In Keystone Nalena has to work on training to be a Contego and has to also try to make friends with the rest of the Contego youth. The Fury is also back and better than ever which isn't good for the Contego. The Contego and Alo that is left work hard to keep everyone including the Addo safe. But will Nalena and  her friends be able to defeat The Fury? And when everyone is a suspect, who can they trust?

So the action was never ending in Keystone. There wasn't a dull moment and of course the new characters added to the fuel. I totally loved Zane which we previously met in Cornerstone. The questions we had in Cornerstone were answered which was good. I loved how Nalena was able to grow and how she was determined to learn how to be a Contego. She knew that her mother wasn't there anymore and she still was able to go on. All in all this was a great sequel and captured my attention just like the first one. I totally recommend you check it out and Cornerstone if you haven't yet because you won't be disappointed. I hope my review made sense, I'm kind of tired. Thanks!

Vanessa

Cornerstone (#1)

Cornerstone (The Cornerstone Series #1)

By Misty Provencher

Self - Published November 7th, 2011

219 pages

4.5 stars - Check this out!!

Nalena Maxwell has been branded ‘The Waste’ at her new school, due to her mom's obsessive paper hoarding. Nalena desperately wants something to change in her life, but when she receives a sign (and it's the wrong dang one) inviting her into a mysterious, ancient community, too much changes. What she knew of her family, what she thought of her life and what she believed about her future, is no longer applicable. Seventeen years worth of family skeletons come crashing into Nalena's life and it is the boy...the one that smiles at her like he wants to hear everything she'll ever say...that already knows her powerful secrets. But it is only Nalena that can choose between protecting the life that is already crumbling beneath her feet and the one that might sacrifice everything she could ever have.

Yet again another great book by a self published author! I'm telling your right now that I couldn't even tell that this book was self - published at all. I was looking for books to buy on my kindle and I came across this one. I wasn't sure at first whether I was going to like it or not but I definitely loved it! Cornerstone was a great book and was pretty different from the usual, at least I thought it was.

Nalena Maxwell has to live with being called "The Waste" at school because her mom has a hoarding problem. Nalena's mom hoards paper and its been that way ever since Nalena was young. Not always being able to pay the bills or keep their homes is getting tiring for Nalena and she wants something to change. What she doesn't realize is how much her life is going to change real fast. It all starts the night that Nalena meets Garrett at the library and ends up being attacked in the woods. From then on Nalena is pulled into a world she didn't think existed. Nalena and her mom are part of a secret society where almost everyone is born with a power that they can choose to take or not. Oh and to make things worse at school, Garrett the hot and popular guy at school seems to have taken an interest in her, but why? And how does Nalena's mom even know Garrett's family? Nalena will have to choose the correct future in order to save her family and even mankind.

Cornerstone was a great story and it instantly drew me in. I loved the characters and all their personalities. We have the main characters, Nalena and Garrett, and then we have their families. I definitely loved Garrett's siblings and parents. I felt like almost every moment was interesting. I mean you have this girl who has been ridiculed and she finds out that there is more to her life that just what she knows. I loved Garrett because he was such a great guy, he knows how to do so much which you'll see in the book. The end definitely surprised me because I really didn't see it coming and that is again something that I look for in books. I laughed, I cried and I got mad and that is what makes a great book for me. So check this out and see for yourself.

Vanessa

Order of the Dimensions

Order of the Dimensions 

By Irene Helenowski
Self - Published by Lulu.com
Published September 14th, 2012
318 pages

3.5 to 4 stars - Really interesting book!

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.*



When Jane Kremowski first began her graduate studies in physics at Madison State University in Wisconsin, little did she know where her work would take her. Now, she is embroiled in a multitude of dimensions all leading to different outcomes. She and her colleagues therefore must act wisely in order to take and keep away the Order of Dimension from falling into the wrong hands for the sake of her loved ones.

Hey everyone! So this is my first review of a self-published book as you know if you've seen my blog before. Also being the nerd that I am I was pretty excited about my first experience of reviewing a self published book. I'm glad to say that this book didn't disappoint.

Order of the Dimensions is a science fiction book about traveling to different dimensions. I thought the whole idea of there being different dimensions was cool and that you used science to get the whole thing done. In the book our main character is Jane, a college student in most dimensions, who helps with a device called the Multiverser. This device helps transport a person or object to any different dimension. The dimensions are all on earth, except for ones that "don't exist", and you could be something different in each one. I thought this concept was pretty neat because you could have so many different futures in so many different dimensions and you wouldn't know it. Another main character would be our villain, Anton. I have to say that he was a pretty great villain and seemed to not have any feelings for anyone except his own daughter. He wants to create a world of his own using the Multiverser and Jane. Anton will go to great lengths to get what he wants and not many people can stand in his way. In the end who will win, Jane or Anton?

Like I said before, I really did like the whole concept of the book. Anything that makes me think about what could be real is something that I like. I also liked how it wasn't too hard to understand and it was pretty easy to follow along. And for a first time author I think this was a good start. The only reason I'm between 3.5 and 4 stars is because I felt like the characters could have had more personality or something to make me really care about them. But that would be the only problem I have with it. The ending gets interesting and I can tell there will be a second. I'd like to see what will happen next. So anyways if you find this topic interesting then check out this book on Lulu.com.

Vanessa

Rapture (Fallen #4)

Rapture (Fallen #4)
By Lauren Kate
Published June 12, 2012 by Delacorte Press
448 pages

5 stars - Read this!!!

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

Rapture truly was an astonishing conclusion to the Fallen series.  Of course this is my opinion but I loved this book.  I finally figured out the answers to the questions and I cried in the end but a good end crying.  The end was definitely not what I expected but of course I didn't expect many of the things that happened anyway.  At some points I was able to kind of guess but even those times were few.  This is what I like about Rapture, I don't always like to know what will happen in the end right at the beginning.  With this book you don't need to worry. 

All our old friends are back and everyone is tense because they have to stop Lucifer from erasing the past.  The group only has 9 days to figure where the first fall was because that is where Lucifer will be.  Splitting up into smaller groups the group goes to different countries to find their clues.  Meanwhile Luce starts getting all her memories back but there are some very important ones that she'll have to figure out if she wants to save her friends.  This quest isn't easy and some get hurt but the end will all be worth it if they win.  The question is, will they win?

I know that that was kind of a vague summary but I'm too excited and I don't want to give anything away.  I loved this book and thought it was a good end to the series even though I'm sad to see Luce and Daniel go.  I did cry throughout this book and usually that means that the book was great because I was able to bond with the characters.  I thought that the ending was interesting and awesome because we finally find out the secrets and understand what the whole series was about.  We find out what is so special and different about Luce and let me tell you that I was only barely expecting it.  So go ahead and read for yourself.  Well now to find another series.....

Vanessa