If it wasn't for the blog, I wouldn't have read...by Lorix ....also GIVEAWAY!

Back in the Autumn of 2013 one of the unicorns - and I'd be hard pushed to say who - came up with the idea of starting a blog to let the world know which books we loved. I don't know about the others, but it certainly hadn't occurred to me that we would be getting authors contacting us with arcs, but this is definitely one of my favourite blogging 'side-effects'. The joy of reading, and loving, authors I would otherwise perhaps not have is wonderful. As part of our one year celebrations some of us are writing about just those books. Here are mine.

Firstly I would have to go with Here's To You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst. This review was posted virtually a year ago, which surprised me when I looked, and I remember just falling for Johanna's writing style immediately. As well as Zeb Pike, I also read and reviewed Every Inferno by the same author. Johanna writes fantastic characters - some of the best I've read. I do love me a  fully rounded character, something I often find I get more in YA books which is certainly the case with this author. I love how the focus of these books, though quite angsty, is not just the MC's sexuality. It is always a part of the story, but not the whole of the story and, just as in real life, these teens have other issues to deal with. I always feel so invested in this author's stories, so in love with the characters that I can really lose myself in the book. I would absolutely highly recommend this author to anyone looking for some good YA to read. Or even just a good book to read, don't be pigeon-holed, try something new! I dare you!

My second choice is, maybe not surprisingly, another YA book, Arrival by Chris O'Guinn. Though I do like YA, this is sci-fi-ish and it is certainly not a book I would have read without the blog. Chris O'Guinn contacted us with this book for review after I'd reviewed Fearless, a book I loved, but I remember the contact came with the caveat that it wasn't a love story (though I beg to differ) so it may not be what we are looking for on the blog. The thing is, we really don't have boundaries, if we love the book or story, we'll review it. We've reviewed fan fic from unknown authors, to full length novels by highly popular authors and, as I knew I already liked Chris O'Guinn's writing, I was more than a little intrigued. I think the reply was something like I'll give it a go and see how I get on with it. And how I got on with it was like a house on fire. Refreshingly different with a great story and again, so important to me, fabulous characters. Characters who won my heart. Between disappointment, betrayal and heartbreak the MC's in this story fought for what they believed was right, even if it wasn't the easy option. The love story stemmed into loyalty and belief in others. It really was a fab story. It is again a book and author I would highly recommend, especially if you're tired of the same old, same old!

Here's what Chris O'Guinn had to say:
Thanks so much to Lori and BoyMeetsBoy Reviews for the awesome support of Hybrids: Arrival. Part sci-fi adventure, part superhero origin, part growing-up drama, Arrival sets the stage for my humans vs. aliens saga. I'm really proud of this one. It's a fun action story that just happens to star Mexican American teens, two of whom are gay. And yes, there is some interstellar romance happening. Hope people come and check it out.

My final choice is KC, at Bat by Tom Medicino. This one caught my attention because it doesn't wrap everything up in a HEA bubble - it shows a slice of the MC's life, warts and all. It reminded me of an Indy film in amongst Hollywood blockbusters and I thoroughly enjoyed that. This book covered the events of a summer, with a little bit afterwards. The events were hard to read sometimes and fun others - it was just a real slice of life caught in the pages of a book. I appreciated the different style, the risk it takes not to write a formulaic ABC novel. It is still the only book I've read by this author, though I feel the urge to check out his other stuff since I've reminded myself of the enjoyment I got when reading this. Again, I'd recommend it to those looking for something a little bit off the beaten path.

Here's what Tom Medicino had to say:
The most satisfying words a writer can hear are “What happens next?” and "I hope there will be a sequel!”   On behalf of KC and Charlie, thanks to all of you who asked.   And, yes, two more novellas in the KC, AT BAT trilogy, “Travelin’ Man” and “Lonesome Town,” will be released by eKensington in Summer 2015.  And look for my next full-length  novel THE BOYS FROM EIGHTH AND CARPENTER (Kensington) next September! 

And now to the giveaway - I would like to offer one lucky blog reader the chance to win one of each of these books (ebook format only), kindly gifted by each of the authors. Comment below, telling me about an unexpected treasure you've found, reading wise that is. What book took you by surprise and became a favourite? Don't forget to leave a way to contact you (email, social media etc) and one winner will be chosen at random. You have one week to enter and all winners will be contacted by Dec 6th at the latest. Thanks for stopping by - here's to the next twelve months. :)

Review; Arrival (Hybrids) by Chris O'Guinn

The night that Joaquin witnesses the fire in the sky was the last night of anything normal for him. His world of high school and football is completely upended as he comes face to face with an extraterrestrial being.

Thrace, as the alien calls himself, seems friendly enough. However, he has abilities that are far beyond human. And he comes with word that others of his race are already on Earth.

Joaquin's friendship with Thrace takes him into danger and chaos as he learns the terrible truth of why the aliens have come to Earth. He and his friends must find some way to help Thrace stop his people, or the human race will suffer the consequences.

The only thing that Joaquin now knows for certain is that our world will never be the same.

Okay so when the author of Hybrids: Arrival contacted BMBR he said;

It is not a romance. I want to put that out there up front because that may mean it's not the right fit for your site. There is a gay romantic subplot between the leads, but it is primarily an adventure story.

If it doesn't fit with your site, then that is perfectly fine. And if not, and you still want a free copy, I'll happily send you one.

So of course (being the greedy little reader I am) I said YES PLEASE with the vague notion at the back of my head that I probably wouldn't review it here - but you know what, I loved this book so much there is no way I'm not reviewing it. So what if it's YA (we're not exclusively adult) and so what if it's more sci fi than romance (the romance is still there), if I read a book I love I want the world to know about it. So here it is, my review.

Chris O'Guinn has an effortless writing style that makes reading so easy. From page 1 I fell in love with the characters and I cared so much about them I couldn't put the book down. Joaquin is a teenager in pain and in self-destruct mode. His dad, his hero, had died prior to the start of our story and he was doing everything to obliterate the pain of that. He wasn't a selfish kid though he was just hurting, when he witnessed the space craft crashing, he be-friended not only Thrace (the alien) but Arturo the UFO geek, and so along with the adventure started the healing process.

I loved the dynamics of the friendships in this book. Joaquin, Thrace, Arturo, along with Joaquin's best friend Sylvia,  tried to save the human race. The book is very action based but also very emotion based - a lot of Joaquin's and Thrace's decisions are based on their emotions, particularly the grief of loss. This is so human and it made the writing feel so natural and it made me so attached to the characters.

Now  sci-fi is not my favourite genre, that did NOT put me off this one bit. In fact to me love and betrayal are the key components in this story. In a world infiltrated by aliens these very human feelings led this story. Decisions were made based on gut instinct of right and wrong, of the need to protect and save friends. It really was just a lovely story.

Annnnd the romantic sub-plot - I LOVED how this flavoured the story and the choices the characters made. It was subtly hidden all the way through, just there, bubbling beneath the surface. I think sometimes love doesn't need to be blatant and love that forms from friendship is always the best. It was that perfect secondary story-line, the simmering love that's never quite mentioned and I WILL be reading the next book in the series to see how Thrace and Joaquin's relationship develops.

Chris O'Guinn is definitely going on my list of auto-buy authors from now on and I would recommend this book to everyone, especially lovers of YA.

A copy of this book was given to us by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Fearless by Chris O'Guinn

At fifteen, Justin is already a cynic. He’s experienced too many betrayals, too many disappointments. He doesn’t want to be involved in anything. He doesn’t want to be popular. He doesn’t even want friends anymore, since they only ever let you down. He just wants to get through high school and the best way he can come up with to accomplish that goal is to simply be invisible.
His self-imposed exile from high school life is threatened when Liam, the scary stoner, reaches out to him. What starts out as a strange and unsettling encounter with the unnerving, pot-smoking teenager evolves into the sort of friendship that changes the course of a person’s life.
But as Liam drags the reluctant Justin out of his shell, Liam’s own secret is revealed.
Fearless is the story of the myriad shades of love, how to find one’s courage and the transformative power of friendship.

**This review contains spoilers**

I read this book at the recommendation of a friend, a friend whose taste I totally trust, and he did not let me down this time. Before I even get going with this review though I will warn you, this book has a sad ending, a break your heart ending. Go in knowing this, but don't let it put you off.

Justin is that kid at high school who just wants to get to the end of the day without too many knocks. At the start of this book he has a very low opinion of himself, he literally just tries to make it through the day and considers anyone saying anything pleasant to him a bonus. Now I've read books where self loathing characters are really annoying. The kind where, as a reader, you know they are brilliant or beautiful or witty or fit and it feels so contrived. That wasn't the case with this book. I totally believed in Justin and, rather than being annoying, I found it very true to life. I felt for him, could absolutely sympathise with him and wanted things to get better for him. It seemed, to me, that Chris O'Guinn knew the character of Justin so well, he wasn't just there as a characterisation but a real person, with real feelings - it would have been so easy to make him a stereo-type 'loser', or geek turn jock, but he didn't do this and I absolutely thank him for it.

So Justin started out just getting through the day, written in the first person we hear Justin's internal dialogue, the quirky, funny - and often wrong - observations that he makes to himself, the ones that he doesn't dare say to anyone else, the ones you really, really wish he had a friend to share them with. He's a funny guy, in a cynical, quietly sarcastic, way. And then Liam turns up. Liam is the boy that Justin has stereotyped as a stoner, loser, probably on bail, guy. Yet Liam has a confidence that Justin envies and it comes as a surprise to Justin when Liam doesn't quite fit the pigeon hole that he has ready for him. In fact Liam is nothing like the stone-head burgeoning criminal Justin thought he was, he has confidence and a 'live life' attitude that starts to rub off on Justin and slowly a friendship develops.

With Liam's help, Justin comes out at home and it is Liam who supports him through this rocky time. Liam is the one who encourages him to join the swim team, encourages him to find a boyfriend, encourages him to start becoming the real Justin, instead of the one who thinks getting through the day in one piece is good enough. But Liam has a secret and it is one that could break Justin's world apart.

I loved all the characters in this book, especially Justin. I think Chris O'Guinn did a fantastic job of changing him from the awkward, low self-esteemed boy we first meet, to the captain of the swim team that he becomes. He does it in such a natural way, nothing feels contrived, the story grows organically and works really well. Justin still has his confidence issues, but he learns how to handle them so the change feels very believable and I really appreciated this. While this book is full of great characters, not least Justin's swim team mentor and crush Kanoa, it's the friendship between Justin and Liam that is absolutely key to this story and it is one of the best friendships I have seen between the pages of a book (or in the confines of an e reader). It's the kind of friendship you are desperate to read more about, the kind that grabs you and doesn't let go until the end of the book. The kind that has you reaching for the tissues.

Yep, that kind. Some parts of this story are very sad - I don't want to go into detail because I don't want to spoil it - but I will say that, again, the author handles the story line really well. Real life sucks at times and your heart, I'm sure, will be breaking - mine most certainly was. But please, if you like YA, if you like friendship, if you like believable, loveable characters - read this book. Just have the tissues handy.

What other unicorns thought of this book:

Justin: 5 Stars