Review: Provex City (Lorne Family Vault Series Book1) by Michael Pierce

Hello,

      While participating in a blog hop some weeks ago, i've discovered a new author blog and some emails later, i've got the privilege to review his first book. At the moment only the kindle version is available but in one or 2months the print edition should be available. 

Also, because that's important , i'm posting this review today so you can enjoy the book yourself thanks to a great opportunity. Starting tomorrow ( the 16 of March) and until the 18th, for amazon members, you can get the book for FREE so if you enjoy this review or just want to make your own opinion hurry and get it.

All the best,

author : Michael Pierce

Publication :  March 2012

ISBN/ ASIN  B007HHO0K0

Genre: YA, Mystery, Fantasy
Violence: mild
Langage: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: PDF from the author in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodread :

 Fifteen-year-old Oliver Grain begins his school year fighting off bullies, learning about the boy who committed suicide in his room, and trying to understand why his history teacher, Mr. Gordon, has taken such a personal interest in him.

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe you can make bullies simply disappear? Do you believe you can walk through walls?

Mr. Gordon tells Oliver: "When you truly believe anything is possible, you will be able to open doors where there were only walls." And one of those doors leads Oliver to Provex City, which puts him in far greater danger than he can possibly fathom.

My opinion:

          Strange is the first thought I got with this book. The prologue got me confused a bit and doubting my mind. That’s a first. Now it’s true the story can seem very complicated at the beginning, even overwhelming. However, when you enter more and more in the universe it starts to make sense and you make some guesses about what is happening.  You have to keep reading even when you get the feeling that’s a bit too much, really after page 200 all become crystal clear. That’s about the plot itself. Like the characters you have to think about a new world of possibilities.

Now the characters, Oliver is a young boy not sure of himself at all, and being bullied isn’t helping. He envies his brother without really knowing him because they are different. Jeremy is popular and confident. He is a bit bothered by his brother but when it’s needed he also can be a protective older brother. This duality will be explained but that’s sure that at the beginning like Desiree I didn’t appreciate him.

Desiree is a girl that seems to be always happy and welcoming but when you see past the appearances you can see she is also fragile, hurt and has secrets. I liked her even if I had some difficulties to understand how she acts with her boyfriend Eli. And they are some mysteries as why is she as good as Oliver with the “other reality” things.

Anna, it’s not that I dislike her but I absolutely hated how she acted with Oliver and at the shopping mall.

So the beginning of the book is more mystery than fantasy for me but the plot is interesting when you get over the confusing part. I will be waiting for book 2 because the end is a small cliff-hanger and you want the answers to “why”. At the end of the book, you understand the base of the story but it’s really a series and not a stand alone. Many questions are left unanswered. Now that we have some knowledge about the universe, it will be easier to immerse ourselves in it I think. So i want more^^.

I loved this book but I admit that I had to go past my first impression; it’s really in the end that you enjoy it the most. It’s an interesting and intriguing first book. A good book to recommend to the ones who like: science fiction, fantasy and of course YA.

A warning: there are mentions of adolescent’s suicide and abuses of alcohol.

Score:  3,5/5

If you want this book you can buy it On amazon (in the futur in other ebookstores too)

( rappel: free until the 18of March)

You can find more informations on the serie and Michael Pierce on his Blog

Source: a copy in exchange for a honest review, no compensation was received.

Challenge:

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge

Torrent ( The River of Time book3) by Lisa T. Bergren

Hi!

        March is the month of spring and spring can be associated with hope. I couldn't start the month with another review than this one.  It's with great joy that i introduce you to Torrent the third book of the River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren. I really love this story and i'm happy to share it with you but don't fear even if it was believed to be the end at a time, a new enovella will be following. If i'm lucky i will be able to give you a review of it too but first we go back where we left  off Gabi and her family.

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Title: Torrent( book 3 of  The River of Time Series)

Publisher:  David C Cook Publishing Company

Publication: 2011

ISBN:  143476429X / ISBN13: 9781434764294

Genre: YA, romance, history

Pages: 400
Violence: strong
Langage: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: Review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodread :

When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series. 

Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times.   But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.  

My opinion:

          As always, this book starts just where we left at the end of the second book so we can dive in it so easily and in the same time not be too stressed thanks to the absence of cliffhanger. That’s something I really appreciate.

Gabi and all her family are back in Medieval Italy and we can see it’s not the first time now as they act like warriors and without hesitation in front of danger.

I appreciated Lia a lot in this book. She has matured and doesn’t think so much about herself, she has become a woman and a warrior without losing herself or her heart.

Marcello is always so charming; it’s really difficult not to fall for him. However, I was a bit surprised by his actions in this third book. He is jealous and more possessive. Yes he has missed Gaby but still I don’t understand how he can go to complete trust in Rodolpho and the next instant hate him just because he discovered that he could love the same woman as him. In the opposite, when she goes into shock and trauma he stays calm, useful yes but when your loved one act like she did I don’t think it’s really so easy to stay clam.

Also how, after all what she has affronted, can Gabi start to have some doubt even shortly? I wanted to slap her

Lord Greco, stays true to his friendship with Marcello even if it cost him a lot, politically and emotionally. The reader starts to understand him better and we can see how it’s not easy for him to act with honour in the circumstances he is in. We feel for him and I really hope he will get what he deserves for his sacrifice.

The character that I really appreciated was Thomas. He gives a lot of inspiration and while helping Gabi to find her place, he helps the readers too to see things differently. We learn his background and that seems even more real, truer, and more profound. I really loved how he spoke of life and trust.

The reader is confronted in this book to losses, doubts, violence and sacrifices but we also discover the power of trust, loyalty and the importance to believe in ourselves as much as in our loved ones. Life isn’t easy but you can’t enjoy it if you always fear the future. A true and good message.

It’s difficult to express how much I loved this book. You could stop here since at the beginning is was supposed to be a trilogy. You have all the answers you wanted and in the same time some questions you can dream of. BUT it’s not the end. Like I told you before what I appreciate in these books is that each one ends without angst for the reader and in the same time you are more than happy to discover what follows next. For those who wished knowing what happened next and how Lord Greco will life there is a new e Novella : Bourne

To recommend without hesitation to all romantic readers how love action and poetry.

Score:  4,5/5

If you want this book you can buy it On amazon or on Bookdepository

You can find more informations on the serie and Lisa on her Blog

Source: a copy in exchange for a honest review, no compensation was received.

Challenges:

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading Challenge

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge