REVIEW: OUT OF CONTROL ~ SARAH ALDERSON

 

After watching her friend and bodyguard die at the hands of men who intended to harm her, Liva shuts down all her feelings.  She goes through life with her emotions switch turned off; but Liva finds solace in the adrenaline coursing through her veins when she climbs structures she’s not supposed to.  With her father out of town shortly after she moves in with him in New York, she spends a few nights with his friends, her father not comfortable leaving her alone in a new city.  When she can’t sleep one night she opens her bedroom window and silently climbs on top of the roof.  Looking for peace, Liva finds unexpected safety instead when she hears her hosts being murdered.  Liva reports the crime and is taken to the police station in protective custody to give her official statement.  At the desk next to her is Jay, who is not a witness but a criminal.  Being cuffed to the desk kind of gives that away.  When a gunman in a cop’s uniform starts shooting up the police station, Liva and Jay must depend on each other to escape the massacre.  When Liva contacts her father for help, the team he sends to retrieve her are intercepted and Liva is caught between two rival groups; one who wants to take her, willing or not, and one who wants her dead.  It soon becomes clear that Liva is somehow at the center of the chaos; but why? Who wants to kidnap her, who wants her dead, and how do the two groups connect?  On the run, Liva and Jay must stay one step ahead of the shooter, the mysterious agents, the police (Jay is a fugitive, after all) and a local gang while fitting together pieces known and unknown – and fighting the intense connection neither can’t deny.  A poor car thief and a wealthy dancer, on the surface they have nothing in common; but for the first time Liva has met someone who makes her feel as alive as she does when she’s standing on top of a high-rise.  The timing is horrendous, the circumstances far from ideal, but can Liva resist the young man who brings her to life?

 

 

Out of Control by Sarah Alderson is an action-packed adventure that doesn’t give you time to catch your breath.  The action starts almost immediately and doesn’t let up until the end.  Authors seldom succeed in making me truly fear for the safety of the protagonists, but Alderson managed to get me to tense up several times.  She does a great job of keeping the reader on their toes, keeping the mystery alive while dropping clues, making the reader work with Liva and Jay to find answers.  The ultimate truth of why Liva is targeted is a shocking turn of events Alderson masterfully weaved into the story.  The chemistry between Liva and Jay jumps off the page and the progression of their relationship is very believable under the circumstances.  The sexual content of the book is very mature but stops short of being adult level. 

 

Out of Control is an exciting, satisfying read that takes the reader on an electrifying adventure with the perfect blend of action, mystery and romantic suspense.

 

 

 

Product Information:
Title: Out of Control

Series: Standalone

Author: Sarah Alderson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Year: 2014

Pages: 321

ISBN-10: 1481427172

ISBN-13: 978-1481427173

ASIN: B00EB9Z8XU

Related Posts:

Review: Hunting Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Losing Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Tormenting Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Fated - Sarah Alderson

Review: Come Back To Me - Mila Gray (Sarah Alderson)

 

REVIEW: COME BACK TO ME ~ MILA GRAY (SARAH ALDERSON)

Pan Macmillan has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Come Back to Me tells the story of a once in a lifetime love.  Jessa has secretly been in love with her brother’s best friend, Kit, since she was old enough to be interested in boys.  Sadly she was never as striking as the kind of girls Kit seemed to gravitate to, and she made her peace with loving him from afar; until the summer she turns 18 when a stolen kiss changes everything.

Kit has never been interested enough in any girl to consider having a serious relationship, but all that changes when he finally gives in to his feelings for Riley’s little sister.  Kit and Jessa’s secret relationship comes with a whole lot of complications, including the fact that Riley would never approve of their relationship, and Jessa’s domineering father hates Kit with an intensity that terrifies her as much as it baffles her.

A summer of secret hook-ups brings Jessa to life as Kit brings out the absolute best in her.  In Kit’s arms Jessa blossoms into a confident young woman, finally finding the strength to stand up to her father and stand up for what she believes in.  The only damper on their otherwise perfect romance is that lurking in the back of their minds is the fact that they only have four weeks together until Kit and Riley are redeployed.  A year-long separation awaits the new lovers – a separation they suspect will be hard but bearable.  Little could they have guessed how drastically that separation would tear them apart.

Come Back to Me is the first new adult book by Sarah Alderson, written under the pseudonym Mila Gray.  It differs from Alderson’s young adult books in the frequency and explicitness of intimate scenes (obviously more on both counts).  

What I loved most about this book is the characters.  Jessa and Kit are both easy to love, and it’s impossible not to root for their happily-ever-after.  They are wonderful individually and even better together, truly bringing out the best in each other.  I absolutely love the character development in this book as both Jessa and Kit have a lot to face and a lot to overcome.  The progression of their relationship is realistic and solid.  It’s clear from the first moment that this is a once in a lifetime, forever-kind-of-love, and Jessa and Kit are deeply committed to each other from the very start.

Kit is an absolute gem of a boyfriend.  He brings Jessa to life in a way I’m not sure I’ve experienced in another book.  He helps Jessa find herself, accept herself and express herself.  The things he does to help her get out from under her father’s thumb are so practical yet so darn sweet.  In turn Jessa is perfect for Kit.  She is the softness he needs in a hard world, the only person he can completely let down his guard with, knowing she loves him just as he is.  The freedom he finds with Jessa is unlike any he’s ever known.

Throughout the book we not only deal with the complications of Kit and Jessa’s relationship, but the prologue of the book (which is set in the not too distant future) stays in the back of your mind like a ticking time bomb.  The mystery of why Jessa’s father hates Kit so very much also begs to be solved, making Come Back To Me a complex read about first love, loss, forgiveness and growth.  Emotionally this is by far deepest book Gray/Alderson has delivered; emotions range from deliriously happy to completely devastated, ensuring the reader goes on a roller-coaster of emotions.  As much as you as reader want to convince yourself that Kit and Jessa’s happily ever after is guaranteed, Gray/Alderson makes it impossible.  It is that doubt that drives the reader to continue turning the pages late into the night.

While Come Back To Me is not my favourite book by Gray/Alderson (Will anything ever surpass Lila?), I am by no means disappointed.  I expect Gray/Alderson will be just as successful in the new adult genre as she is in young adult.

Product information:

Title: Come Back To Me

Author: Mila Gray (Sarah Alderson)

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Year: 2014

Number of pages: 352

ASIN: B00KCRMYU0

Related Posts:

Review:Hunting Lila ~ Sarah Alderson

Review:Losing Lila ~ Sarah Alderson

Review:Tormenting Lila ~ Sarah Alderson

Review:Fated ~ Sarah Alderson

NEW RELEASE: COME BACK TO ME ~ MILA GRAY (SARAH ALDERSON)

Tomorrow sees the release of Come Back To Me, Sarah Alderson's first novel for adults (she's currently best known for the young adult genre), written under the pseudonym Mila Gray.  

Home on leave in sunny California, Marine and local lothario Kit Ryan finds himself dangerously drawn to his best friend's sister, Jessa - the one girl he can't have.  But Kit's not about to let a few obstacles stand in his way and soon Jessa's falling for his irresistible charms.

What starts out as a summer romance of secret hook-ups and magical first times quickly develops into a passionate love affair that turns both their worlds upside down.

When summer's over and it's time for Kit to redeploy, neither Kit nor Jessa are ready to say goodbye. Jessa's finally following her dreams and Kit's discovered there's someone he'd sacrifice everything for.  Jessa's prepared to wait for Kit no matter what. But when something more than distance and time rips them apart they're forced to decide whether what they have is really worth fighting for.

A breathtaking, scorchingly hot story about love, friendship, family and finding your way back from the edge of heartbreak.

Here is an excerpt to give you a feel for the story.

In the silvery light of the pre-dawn, I park up a block from Jessa’s house. Jumping out the truck I jog around to her side and open the door. She pulls off the sweater she’s wearing – my sweater – and the flip-flops, and I try not to stare, even though the top she’s wearing isn’t leaving much to the imagination.

‘You sure this is going to work?’ she asks me as we walk hand in hand towards her house.

‘I thought you were starting to trust me?’ I say.

In answer she bumps her head against my shoulder.

Just before we round the corner onto her street, I pull her against a tree and run the flat of my hands up her arms. She sighs; a sound I could really get used to. I take her face in my hands and kiss her, a lingering kiss that makes me feel light-headed. The sun’s rising by the time I let her go, smoky gold and red light making Jessa’s skin glow golden. Her hair’s all mussed up so I smooth it down. There’s not much I can do about the inky smudges beneath her eyes or the swollen chapped lips. Girl looks like she’s had a wild night in someone’s bed. One day, I remind myself. If I get lucky.

‘OK. Good to go?’ I ask. She shakes her head but lets me pull her towards her house.

Keep an eye on my blog for my review, which will follow soon.

NEW RELEASE: OUT OF CONTROL ~ SARAH ALDERSON

While I eagerly anticipate the next book in Sarah Alderson’s Lila series (tentatively titled “Killing Lila”), the author is releasing a book which promises to provide an Alderson fix that looks to live up to the action of Lila and co!

Tomorrow is the official release date for Out of Control, which follows 17 year old Liva whose new life in New York quickly turns into a nightmare.  When Liva is the sole surviver of a brutal murder, she’s taken into police custody for her own protection. But when the police station is attacked and bullets start flying, it becomes clear that Liva is not just a witness - she’s a target.

Together with a car thief called Jay, Liva manages to escape the massacre but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.

I highly anticipate this read, so look out for my review.  Get your hands on a copy! I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Related posts:

Review: Hunting Lila ~ Sarah Alderson

Review: Losing Lila ~ Sarah Alderson

Review: Fated ~ Sarah Alderson

REVIEW: TORMENTING LILA ~ SARAH ALDERSON

When Lila and Alex sneak off for a romantic weekend away, Lila’s hoping she’ll finally have a chance to work on Alex’s resolve.  But just as things start heating up, news reaches them of a serial killer at loose on the island and it isn’t long before their intimate weekend away is interrupted.

A mind reader, a projector, a protective older brother and a serial killer. One of them is going to find Lila first. She's hoping it's the serial killer.

Tormenting Lila by Sarah Alderson is a (very) short story featuring characters from Hunting Lila and Losing Lila, set eight weeks after the conclusion of Losing Lila.  It follows Lila and Alex on a romantic vacation, but Lila and Alex are only alone for the first few pages.  Jack, Amber, Suki and Nate show up to complicate Lila's romantic plans for Alex. 

A night on town leads to one of the girls having a narrow escape from a serial killer.  *Spoiler alert*  The short story abruptly ends with the team leaving Nantucket, reading a newspaper article about a girl being murdered, wondering if it was the same individual they had encountered.

Much as I love all the characters from the Lila books, I don't get the point of this short story other than it being an introduction of sorts to Alderson's new characters and new book, The Sound. Since Alderson currently has no official plans to write a third Lila book, all this short story did was make me want more with no more to be had.  The blurb also hinted at more of a plot than was actually delivered.  This one let me down.

Product information:

Name: Torming Lila

Author: Sarah Alderson

Pages: 36

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Year: 2013

ASIN: B00DL4HRR

Related posts:

Review: Hunting Lila ~ Sarah Alderson

Review: Losing Lila ~ Sarah Alderson 

REVIEW: FATED ~ SARAH ALDERSON

What happens when you discover you aren’t who you thought you were? And that the person you love is the person who will betray you? If your fate is already determined, can you fight it?

Evie Tremain is a shadow of the girl she once was.  After the death of her father and the betrayal of her best friend and boyfriend, all Evie cares about is saving enough money to move to New York, and her only priority is working as many shifts as she can.  All that changes one night when Evie is attacked by creatures she could never have imagined truly existed – that’s when Evie finally learns the truth.  She was adopted at birth because her biological parents were killed protecting her.  Evie is the last in a long line of demon slayers, and an unwilling participant in a war between Hunters and Unhumans.  A prophecy predicts that Evie will be the Hunter to end the war, severing Earth’s connection to all other realms – making Evie the Unhumans’ number one target.

Lucas Grey is half human, half Shadow Warrior demon, and a member of the Brotherhood – the group of Unhuman assassins tasked with killing Evie.  Orphaned by Evie’s mentor, Lucas has only revenge on his mind when the Unhumans descend on Riverview, California.  Aided by the power to merge with the shadows, invisible to humans, Lucas has the best chance of getting close enough to kill Evie – but he finds himself protecting her from his Brotherhood instead.  Confused by his instinctive actions, Lucas convinces himself he only protected Evie because he has something better in mind.  Lucas, being half-human can risk getting close to Evie – with her skills undeveloped and not yet at full power, Evie won’t be able to sense his Unhuman side.  Lucas moves to Riverview to get close to Evie, learn all the Hunters' secrets and kill Evie before she can fulfil the prophecy.  The only problem is, instead of focusing on his mission, Lucas finds himself secretly aiding Evie in her training, time and time again protecting her from threats known and unknown.  Is it possible that despite his orders, despite his oath to the Brotherhood, despite Evie being his sworn enemy, Lucas has gone and fallen in love with a demon slayer?

Having so enjoyed Sarah Alderson’s Hunting Lila and Losing Lila, giving both books a rare 5/5, I was very excited to start her new series.  The sad truth, however, is that Fated did not grip me half as much as the Lila series did.  For some reason I just did not instantly connect with Evie and Lucas as I did with Lila and Alex.  I also found their chemistry a tad unbelievable – just the whole scenario surrounding their relationship came off a little forced and unnatural at times.  Initially I also didn’t find Evie a very likable character.  While I have understanding for her emotional turmoil, I found her weak and whiny.  I can say, though, that Evie does improve throughout the book, and as she gains confidence and strength she becomes more interesting and more likable.  I do like Lucas as a character; his motivations and intensity are very believable.  I did not like the supporting characters, however, whereas I loved all the supporting characters in the Lila series – so much so that I can’t wait for a reunion novel. 

I think my mistake was going into this series expecting a second Lila series, comparing it right off the bat - probably not fair to the author.

The book is not bad, though, and if this is your first Alderson read you’ll probably enjoy it.  But if, like me, you’re hoping for something on par with Lila, I think you might be disappointed. 

The storyline has promise, and the sequel, Severed, is sure to be more interesting, but ultimately this book just didn’t hook me as I like my books to do.

Product information:

Title: Fated

Author: Sarah Alderson

Number of pages: 310

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster

Year: 2012

ISBN: 9780857074348

AUTHOR SARAH ALDERSON READ MY REVIEWS!

I always get really excited when authors read my blog.  Sarah Alderson, author of Hunting Lila and Losing Lila, has read both of my posts on her work.

Hunging Lila

Losing Lila

REVIEW: LOSING LILA ~ SARAH ALDERSON

I suggest you first read my post on book 1, Hunting Lila, before continuing.  If this is a story you might like to follow, do not read this post – it contains major spoilers of book 1.

At the conclusion of Hunting Lila, Lila has discovered that Demos is not the man who murdered her mother, and that her mother was never truly killed at all; like Lila she is a psygen – she is kept on The Unit’s base and experimented on!  Alex and Jack also discover that The Unit is not what they think, and that the psygens they have been taught to hate are not as sociopathic as they were made to believe. 

Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson picks up a shortly after Hunting Lila left off.  A few days after the Joshua Tree shooting , Lila and Alex are in Mexico, meeting up with Demos and the other psygens in order to facilitate a plan to break Jack and Melissa out of The Unit’s custody.  With Alex’ support and encouragement Lila finally embraces her ability and works on controlling it and getting stronger.  It’s time to stop running and start fighting. 

The stakes go even higher when Lila learns that The Unit also got their hands on her father.  It turns out that her father has always been aware of the fact that her mother is telepathic, and that he has been working on a cure for psygens, to remove their abilities; but with his research The Unit need only reverse the basics and they can create psygens of their own – better, stronger psygens to be sold as weapons to the highest bidder.  

Is it possible for a handful of psygens, along with Alex, to break into the hi-tech military base, get down to maximum prisoner holding, break out Lila’s family and safely get back out, when all of them are wanted and hunted by The Unit?   Can a team of five people hope to take down an entire military institution who threatens them all?

Losing Lila was every bit as exciting as Hunting Lila, and concluded quite satisfactorily; however, several questions are left unanswered.  What happened to Richard Stirling?  Is Sara alive?  Will Jack ever discover the truth of his birth?  Sarah Alderson left the back door ajar, ensuring the possibility of a future novel  - though, should this not materialise, Losing Lila answered all the major questions, so we can live with it.  Though I would LOVE another book.  Maybe set a few years later, seeing the gang reunite for a kick-ass mission?  I was disappointed to have to say farewell to Lila, Alex, Jack, Demos, Suki, Key and the others; especially Mrs Johnson – what a hoot! 

One of the things I appreciated most about these books, is that there is no love triangle.  I am sick unto death of love triangles.  It was really great to know straight of the bat that Lila loves Alex, and while suspecting the feeling is mutual, he admits it fairly early on.  It was so refreshing to just have the two of them be a couple in love all along, their love threatened only by physical threats, no third party. 

The plotline is fast and furious, and once again there are several surprising revelations that make the outcome impossible to predict. 

I had a hard time putting these books down, and whenever you are literally sad to finish a book, the author did a fantastic job.  Sarah Alderson most definitely did.   Great, gripping read.

Product information:

Title: Losing Lila

Author: Sarah Alderson

Number of pages: 320

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year: 2012

ISBN-10: 0857071971

ISBN-13: 978-0857071972 

REVIEW: HUNTING LILA ~ SARAH ALDERSON

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson is about seventeen year old Lila who is suddenly taken to London by her father after her mother’s murder, separating her from her brother Jack and his best friend Alex – the guy she’s loved all her life (though she’s the only one who knows this). Shortly after her mother’s death Lila discovers that she has telekinetic abilities.  For four years she carries this secret until a mugging exposes her to others.  Lila leaves London behind and runs to California, into the arms of her best friends and protectors; Alex and Jack. 

Happy to be with the people she loves best, Lila tries to simply forget what happened in London and enjoy the time she has with them.  Jack and Alex have both joined the marine corps, and work for a secret organisation called The Unit – though Lila has never discovered what it is they do; only that they hope to track down her mother’s killer.  Lila doubts her decision to come to California when she starts suspecting that Jack doesn’t want her there; but when she realises that Jack and Alex never leave her alone and that men from their unit are always watching their house, Lila starts suspecting that Jack and Alex fear for her safety. 

Lila then learns that Jack and Alex are trying to capture a band of very dangerous criminals, who have now discovered that Jack has a sister.  They hope to kidnap Lila in order to have collateral with which to bargain with The Unit.  Content to be in Alex’s company, Lila doesn’t worry about the situation overmuch, but Lila soon discovers that there are others like her; people with special abilities – and that Jack and Alex’ job is to hunt them down, and “contain” them.  The only people she trusts to keep her safe, are actually the very people whose job it is to capture her.  Lila then discovers that her mother’s murderer is also a like her, only he’s the most powerful of their kind – and it is he and his cronies who want Lila.

Can Lila trust Jack and Alex with her secret?  If they were to find out, would they still love her?  Can she trust them to protect her when they have been trained to despise and dispose of her kind?

Hunting Lila is the most gripping read I’ve had in a really long time.  The story is very well plotted and written, the characters are wonderfully developed and the intrigue of it all won’t allow you to put the book down until you’ve finished it. 

Especially Lila’s fears about being considered a freak and her feelings towards Alex are wonderfully written – you as reader feel what Lila feels.   Anytime an author can awaken such deep emotion within you, you’ve got a winner in your hands.

Hunting Lila and its sequel, Losing Lila, came highly recommended by my best friend, Erika – so automatically I bought both at the same time.  What a relief.  When I finished Hunting Lila I immediately picked up Losing Lila.  This story is so gripping I couldn’t wait to read more. 

I enjoyed this book every bit as much as The Hunger Games trilogy and the Twilight saga.  One of my favourite books I've read all year.

Product information:

Title: Hunting Lila

Author: Sarah Alderson

Number of pages: 320

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year: 2011

ISBN-10: 0857071955

ISBN-13: 978-0857071958 

NOW READING: HUNTING LILA ~ SARAH ALDERSON

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she’s prepared to take to the grave; The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she’s been in love with her brother’s best friend, Alex, since forever.

After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust – her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before - And that they’ve found them. In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone – there are others out there just like her – people with special powers - and her mother’s killer is one of them…