Title: Beautiful Lies
Author: Jessica Warman
Publisher: Walker Children's
Publish Date: August 21, 2012
Genre: YA, Mystery
Pages: 422
Source: Publisher

Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins - so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they’ve lived with since their parents passed away, can’t tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress.

So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong—especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself?

Alice and Rachel are identical twins. They’re not just any identical twins though. They are so very similar that even their aunt and uncle that raised them can’t definitively tell them apart. However, there are some key differences between them that lie beneath the surface. Rachel is quiet, pensive and studious, loving life in a simple anonymity. Alice, however, had a wild streak a mile wide. And when she disappears, Rachel seems to be the only one that senses something is off. It’s common for Alice to take off, but something sinister is lurking beneath the surface, and Rachel has to figure it out. There’s a dark mystery between the twins that is unraveling at the pace of runaway train.

This is the third book I’ve read from author, Jessica Warman, and I have to say that after her last book, Between, I was a bit scared to try it. I loved that book so very much that I was certain Beautiful Lies wouldn’t be able to measure up, and that always scares me. Twists and turns abound in this novel, setting the pace for a whirlwind mystery that you’ll think you understand, only to realize it’s nothing like you expected after all. With a breakneck speed, Beautiful Lies takes every single one of your preconceived notions, your character perceptions and your “understanding” and makes you reconsider it all. Equal parts mystery, anguish and spine-tingling suspense, you’re in for one heck of a ride.

Gosh, there were so many things that I loved about Beautiful Lies. Alice and Rachel, for one, were both well-rounded and powerful characters, each complete with their own backstories and this shared connection that sings throughout the novel. Equally impressive is the host of secondary characters that never seems to be too vast or cloying. This is also a fairly large novel, and mysteries can seem a bit daunting. Beautiful Lies, however, managed to weave this mystery throughout the entire book, and I never once knew who was responsible for Alice’s disappearance, or what was really happening. There is no real answer in any of the pages, as each clue we’re offered teases and taunts us in the wrong direction. It’s like the world of a madman, switching from one POV to the other with ease, but doing so cleverly enough to confuse and disorient you in the best possible way. The ending will hit you like a ton of bricks, throwing everything you thought you discovered to the wind, which is the way a good mystery should be. I will admit there were a few things that confused me, such as how Alice and Rachel could be so very connected, yet sneaky enough to hide things from one another. I also found myself confusing Alice and Rachel’s personalities every now and again, but I’m left wondering if the author wanted it that way to disorient the reader more.

I’m one of those readers that’s a glutton for the discombobulated, so Beautiful Lies worked for me despite its flaws. This is like a psychological maze, and you’re sure to be guessing throughout. I give this book a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to the YA audience, especially those who enjoy the author’s work, as well as mysteries and psychological thrillers.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Between
Author: Jessica Warman
Publisher: Walker & Co
Publish Date: August 2, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 464
Source: Publisher

Elizabeth Valchar--pretty, popular, and rich--wakes up the morning after her eighteenth birthday on the yacht where she'd been celebrating with her closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, she finds her own drowned body is hitting the side of the boat. Liz is dead.

She has no memory of what happened to her, and can only observe in horror the fallout of her death. She's also soon joined by Alex Berg, a quiet boy from her high school who was killed by a hit-and-run driver. The two keep each other company, floating in and out of memories and trying to piece together the details of what happened to each of them.

Liz was perfect in life. She had the looks, the friends and the money to buy popularity and keep it. Beneath the surface though, Liz was more than just a pretty face. Born to a mother plagued by anorexia, Liz learned from an early age that eating equals control, and when her life spun out of control, she controlled her eating habits. On the morning of her 18th birthday, Liz wakes up to see her body floating in the water, but she has no recollection of what's happened. As she wanders the "between," she meets a fellow classmate, Alex, and together they begin to unravel the mysteries of their deaths. But Liz was wasting away in life, biding her time to the inevitable conclusion of her life...what was destroying her?

Between is one of those books that you probably see at the bookstore but pass over for the big-name book you've been coveting for a while. It's daunting in size and, frankly, despite the gorgeous cover, Between doesn't necessarily pop from looks alone. It's unfortunate though because Between is a breathtaking and haunting story about love, truth and the ability to live with oneself at all costs. Jessica Warman is no stranger to issue-driven books. With Between, she's crafted a story that chronicles a teenage girl's life spinning out of control as we, the reader, are helpless but to watch as her life falls to pieces. Gripping and emotional, Between captures your attention from page one through the tragic and troubling conclusion.

From page one, Between is well-written. We're given a snobby, conceited MC that we somehow have to relate to and feel for, but we're challenged throughout. Despite the fact that we want to feel for Liz, we want to know why she has become the way she is, as well. Her story is a downward spiral of darkness that spins and twists throughout, leading us into a darker maze of lies and lack of control, which is compounded upon by the great supporting cast of secondary characters, including Alex, Richie, Josie and Caroline. The dynamic of Liz's relationships in life directly impacts Liz's relationship with Alex in death, which is a strength in Between, showing us character growth and potential. The writing of Between is also well-executed. At times rich and descriptive, we're painted a picture of a girl that's lost in her own life and death. At other times, Between is sparse and puritan, giving us nothing but the clean, essential facts. The two writing styles play off one another to provide depth and intrigue. I will say that the anorexia story, although extremely well-done in Between, was difficult to read. The emotions that anorexics feel and the painstaking details about control and lack thereof are difficult to read and hard to swallow. As one who is, and will always be, in recovery from an eating disorder, Between can be triggering and painful. That said, while it's painful to read, it was executed well and provides a shadowed layer to an already riveting novel.

Between was a beautiful book that crosses genres, giving us the best of contemporary, love and ghost stories in one fast-paced read. The adult themes of drugs and eating disorders should, however, be known when approaching this book. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA and adult books, especially those who enjoy mysteries, contemporary fiction and ghost stories.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

December 17th marks my very first blogoversary! I posted my first (completely pathetic) review that day because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and I can't believe it's almost been a year now! It's been a fun ride this past year, and I've enjoyed every second of it, and I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to meet some amazing bloggers and book lovers around the blogosphere. We're a great bunch, eh? Anyway, I figured I'd do something to thank all of you for being so amazing and for sticking through the year with me - helping me to get my little site where it is today.

So, without further ado, I'm announcing My Favourite Things Blogoversary Giveaway! Harpo has her favourite things every year and gives away cars and humpback whales, but I think it's time to give away some of MY favourite things. Ready for the prize? One (1) lucky winner will win the following:

A hardcover copy of Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
A soft cover copy of Breathless by Jessica Warman
An adoption of a Polar Bear through Oceana (worth $35)
Some sweet swag (it's a surprise!)

In case you're not sensing the theme...it's water...and swimming...and oceans. My goal this year is to launch a section of my site dedicated entirely to ocean conservation and animal rescues. So, here's the rules for the giveaway:

You MUST be a follower to enter. This giveaway closes promptly at midnight (EST) on December 17, 2010, and this is international, kiddos, so enter away, and good luck! The winner will be chosen randomly by random.org (go figure).

Click HERE to fill out the form and enter!

When Katie Kitrell is shipped off to boarding school by her distant father and overbearing mother, it doesn’t take her long to become part of the It Crowd. She’s smart, she’s cute, and she’s an Olympic-bound swimmer who has a first class ticket to any Ivy League school of her choice.

But what her new friends, roommate, and boyfriend don’t know is that Katie is swimming away from her past, and from her schizophrenic older brother, Will, who won’t let her go. And when he does the unthinkable, it’s all Katie can do to keep her head above water.
Taken from GoodReads.

Breathless is the story of teenage Katie, a talented swimmer with the world at her feet, but she's hiding a dark secret and a painful past. Her older brother, whom she loves more than anything, is schizophrenic, and his disease is slowly consuming every inch of love and care he had for his family – especially his little sister. Katie discovers it's easier to lie about the past and pretend that everything is fine, her home life is normal, and there's no dark secrets hiding under her bed. The problem is that the secrets are catching up to her slowly but surely, and they're about to unravel all around her.

Breathless is one of those stories that I haven't heard much buzz about around the blogosphere. I think I've only read maybe one or two reviews for it, but they were pretty good, and I was already sold on the swimming premise (go figure) and the awesome cover. Breathless is the brainchild of author, Jessica Warman and combines a heart-wrenching tale with flowing prose, rich descriptions, and a setting that the reader can lose themselves in. It was very well-written and didn't lag, which I often find in books I don't know too much about.

I will, however, say that there were a few issues I had with Breathless. While it flowed nicely and had a great pace, I often found that the antics of the large cast of characters almost pulled me out of the story. Katie's personality had me somewhere between hating and loving her the entire time, and there were points where I was just indifferent. Then there's Drew. Drew is a character that I could potentially have loved in Breathless. He's a devout Christian with good morals and a strong standpoint, but I often found that he jumped on his religious bandwagon at only the most opportune moments, which I felt was a bit too convenient. Then, there were times when faith didn't drive his character, and I was left confused as to just who Drew really was.

I guess my verdict on Breathless is as follows. It's definitely not a bad read. I enjoyed a lot of it, and I thought the writing was very well done. While the characters have some flaws in my humble and honest opinion, I'm sure there is a big market for a book like Breathless. I give it a strong 3.5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to fans of YA fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page, and 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 Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

It's the first time in a long time that I can remember being grateful to see him. It's the first time I've ever been scared to be alone with my brother.
Breathless by Jessica Warman

And now, for my Tuesday Teaser...For those of you who don't know, I do my Tuesday Teasers differently (and yes, I add this disclaimer every time). Each week, I feature two sentences (or more) of something I've written, leave it up all day, then remove it around 11 PM. You're welcome to comment on it, love it, hate it, or simply read it at your leisure...if you'd like, of course. This week's teaser is from my current WIP, RACE.

The Tuesday Teaser is down! Check back next week for more :)

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

The Art of Racing in the Rain - (Gift) - Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

The Girl Who Played With Fire - (Gift) - Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government. But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered.

Devoured - (Bought) - Megan’s twin sister Remy died in an accident nine years ago, and she’s been haunting her ever since. Knowing how crazy that sounds, Megan keeps this secret to herself and tries to lead a normal life. But when she takes a summer job at Land of Enchantment to keep an eye on her new boyfriend and his lovesick best friend, Samantha, she meets fellow employee Luke who can see Remy, too. Things get even twistier because Megan’s new friend Ari is sporting a massive crush on Luke, who seems to be developing a massive crush on Megan…making for a love triangle that’s positively possessed.

Breathless - (Bought) - When Katie Kitrell is shipped off to boarding school by her distant father and overbearing mother, it doesn’t take her long to become part of the It Crowd. She’s smart, she’s cute, and she’s an Olympic-bound swimmer who has a first class ticket to any Ivy League school of her choice. But what her new friends, roommate, and boyfriend don’t know is that Katie is swimming away from her past, and from her schizophrenic older brother, Will, who won’t let her go. And when he does the unthinkable, it’s all Katie can do to keep her head above water.

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave me a link, and I'll be sure to check it out!