Taken by Erin Bowman

There are no men in Claysoot, not a single one a day over eighteen that is.  The heist has taken them all.  The heist doesn't care if you are a son, brother or even father.  If you are male, when you turn 18 you vanish at midnight on your birthday.  They call it the heist, because no one knows what happens to you, they don't know if you live or die or anything about where you go.
There is no escaping is, no one ever has, not since the beginning when the ground first shook and the winds kicked up and then the light came towards and took the first boy.  It's happened the same way ever since.

Some have tried to figure it out, they have attempted to climb the big walls that surround Claysoot.  But anyone who climbs is killed.  They may disappear over the top of the wall, but by morning the town finds their body burned and dead lying next to the wall.  Which is why climbing the wall is a form of suicide.

Gray Weathersby's doesn't have much time, just a few short months before his own turn in the heist will come.  But when he discovers a letter from his mother that he wasn't supposed to see, it changes everything.  Gray begins to question anything and everything.
He only has his childhood friend Emma to confide in, but even he's not sure how much he can trust to tell her, without risking her own life as well.
But he's bound and determined to find some answers, even if that means risking everything.  One night Gray makes a choice, a choice that will kill him or save him or possibly worse.  He has no idea, but one thing he is sure of, only minutes after making it he realizes Emma is bound for the same fate as him now.

I really enjoyed Taken by Erin Bowman, in this Dystopian primitive world.  The author made a few choices that I particularly liked.  First I really liked that the main character was male.  Of recent most of your main characters in Dystopian are kick butt females, so I really liked having the main character as male.  He's also quite likable.  Not some insane image that you can't relate to, but the character Gray himself is very realistic.
I also liked that as many questions as you get, you also get some answers.  You don't have to wait until the third book to find out what the heist is, you find out pretty quickly.  With that said, this is a very fast paced book, so as soon as you figure one thing out, you are thrown another set of questions and obstacles.
I really did enjoy this read!  I am already reading the sequel Frozen, and look forward to later this year (April) when the third and final book Forged comes out!  In other words, this is a great series to start, because you won't have to wait years to find out how it ends!

Book Review of Anomaly by Krista McGee

Just finished reading Anomaly by Kristin McGee and I have to say I LOVED this book!  I found it to be different than your regular Dystopian novel, and really enjoyed this authors writing and approach.
This book is filled with non-stop action situations for the characters, the book keeps you guessing with a few twists that make this book very hard to put down!

After nuclear bombs destroyed the world from being habitable outside of contained pods, the world is now ruled by scientists.  This new mankind is forced by their creators to remove all brain functions that involve love, curiosity, the need to question authority, imagination and anything outside of government sanctioned daily life.  Those who do exhibit any of these or any type of questionable behaviors are referred to as an Anomaly and are disposed of.

Thalli is different, she has been an Anomaly her entire life, and she knows it.  She generally questions everything.  At a young age she watched a friend get taken and never returned to their pod.  So, aside from her best friend Berk.  Who is a scientist and also the only type of humans to be allowed freethinking.  Thalli has been alone and hid her anomaly from everyone else.  That is until one day when she accidentally makes an irreversible mistake.
Now, she is in a race against time and she can't tell the difference between what is real and what isn't.  New friendships and love begin to come into play, and she is having to learn the quick and hard truth about faith and all that comes with it.

It's no secret that lately I have really gotten into Dystopian YA Novels.  So when I came across the chance to review this book, I couldn't resist.  I was so happy that Anomaly by Krista McGee didn't disappoint!  In fact it was so good, I had a hard time putting it down one night for sleep rather than reading it cover to cover.  The only thing I dislike about these type of novels is, they have to end and I have to wait until the next book to find out what happens next.
I highly recommend this YA novel to anyone ages 14 and up.  I also feel this is one of those Young Adult novels that was written for adults like myself to enjoy as well!

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Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of Barefoot Summer from Book Sneeze for this review.  I was not required to write a positive review, all opinions and thoughts are my own.

The Elite by Kiera Cass - Book Review

Anyone who knows me, also knows The Selection (book one in this series) was my favorite read in 2012.  The usual problem with absolutely loving a book so much, is by the time you get to the next book in the series there is generally a feeling of disappointment.
Not this time!  I almost enjoyed The Elite as much as The Selection. Yes, I said almost:)  It was good, but not quite as fabulous as the first.  However, it is still a fast read, a page turner that for myself I sat and read in one sitting.

The Elite, takes right up where book one left off.  Thirty-five girls in the selection process have been dropped down to the elite six.  America, the main character is just as strong and lovable as she was in The Selection.   I wondered how Cass would keep The Elite as intriguing as The Selection was, as well as keeping us readers wanting more.  But she did it!  I hate spoilers, so I will leave out the actual details.  For those who know me, you already know I am a team Maxon fan!  But let's just say, a series of events occur that flip the tables and occasionally have you as a reader re-thinking if you are a Maxon or Aspen fan.
Additionally, we were left to thinking that America's status in the selection was clinched as per where book one left off.  You'll love (or love to hate) the twist of events that leave even those thoughts hanging in the air.

This book also gets more into the other characters, where as before we didn't know much of any details.  Again bringing a whole new set of issues and intrigue to the story-line.  Additionally, you finally get a little more of a sense of why things are the way they are, and that there is a lot more for America to consider than just a fairy tale life that she could win.
For me, the only thing I didn't really enjoy was the fact that now I have too many unanswered questions and will be forced to wait until the next book is released!  I have my own theories (or what I want to happen), but as I occasionally am with book series I don't ever get the exact ending I want.  (Guess only the writer gets that.)  My biggest hope is that America's character stays true to what we all fell in love with during The Selection.  Well that, and (this is only my opinion) but I still want her to end up with Maxon in the end!

The Elite by Kiera Cass is a Young Adult Dystopian.  Who will like this book?  Well they have compared it to a Hunger Games vs. the Bachelor...  For me personally I don't see it quite that way at all, at least not the Hunger Games comparison.  But if you like a great clean Young Adult novel, that is written with adults in mind.  If you enjoy romance with a girly spin on things (yes like the t.v. show the Bachelor).  If your a dreamer, who enjoys a futuristic fairy tale in a completely imperfect world.  Then you will likely enjoy This book series!  Which is why this one gets my recommendation!


Disclaimer:  I was not asked by the author or publisher to review this book.  This review is of my own as are all opinions expressed.