Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Series: Standalone

Genera(s): Contemporary Thriller/Romance

Subjects: survival, hostages, crime, winter, mystery, love, mystery

Setting: Wyoming

POV/Tense: 1^st person past tense: Britt

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 392 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover/Paperback

List Price: $18.99/$9.99

Publisher: Simon & Schuster: BFYR

Summary/ product description: “Danger is hard to resist in this sexy thriller from Becca Fitzpatrick, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Britt Pheiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn’t prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

Britt is forced to guide the men off the mountain, and knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there…and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

“Rife with psychological twists exploring themes of revenge, misogyny, and familial duty” (Publishers Weekly), Black Ice is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…”

My Review:  Black Ice was so much better than I expected. I’m not usually into books without and sci-fi or paranormal stuff, but I do love a good mystery. Black Ice has the survival situation of a dystopian novel and a dark romance that’s to die for. Britt was planning on spending spring-break hiking in the Teton mountains of Wyoming with her friend Korbie.

When the weather takes a deadly turn on their way to Korbie’s family cabin, they exit the vehicle to seek shelter. One of the guys who are in the shelter they come was Mason, a guy Britt saw earlier at 7 Eleven and a friend of his. Britt ends up in a hostage situation, having to lead the guys out of the mountains or face death. It’s scary for her and she had to leave Korbie behind. Britt plans on finding help and escaping her captors, but it’s harder than she thought. The weather isn’t cooperating and she doesn’t have much supplies. Bad stuff happens and dark secrets unfold.

Black Ice is a perfectly thrilling winter read. I recommend reading it during a blizzard. It’s heart-pounding and page-turning. It’s the kind of book that would make you nervous. I don’t think I’d ever get in a situation like Britt has. I do kind of feel like she made some stupid decisions at the beginning. People should not go into the mountain to hike in March. I watch Prospectors on the Weather Channel and they say the snow is usually around through May. I love the setting of Wyoming. Unearthly is the only Wyoming series I’ve read. This book doesn’t show case the touristy side though. It shows the treacherousness of the mountain climate.

I’m happy I read this and would definitely recommend it. The romance seems like Stockholm syndrome, but it is kind of hot. If you love books about survival or murder and crime or mystery, it’s a must read. It reminds me of some movies like The Gray. There are animal attacks and hunting and all kinds of crazy stuff. I love Becca Fitzpatrick’s book. I still need to finish her Hush, Hush series though.

Cover Art Review: I think I prefer the newer cover, but the old is okay.

Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

Series: Standalone

Genera(s): Contemporary Thriller/Romance

Subjects: witness protection, crime, identity, secrets, addiction, summer, small towns

Setting: Thunder Basin, Nebraska

POV/Tense: 1^st person past tense: Estella Goodwin (Stella Gordan)

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 384 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $18.99

Publisher: Simon & Schuster: BFYR

Summary/ product description: “A teen is forced to make a fresh start after witnessing a violent crime—but love and danger find her anyway in this novel from Becca Fitzpatrick, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.

After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.

But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.

As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…

My Review:  It’s not to often I read a book without any fantasy, paranormal or sci-fi elements, but when I do my go-to genera is mystery thrillers. This one didn’t really have a lot of crazy scary thrills, but it did have a hot cowboy. And all I could think of was Tucker from Unearthly, my favorite contemporary cowboy. Chet would now be my second favorite. Most of the book Stella didn’t want Chet romantically, but cowboys are hard to resist.

Dangerous Lies is about Estella Goodwin, who’s given the fake name Stella Gordon and put in witness protection after witnessing her mother’s drug dealer murdering a guy in her home. She ends up in Thunder Basin, Nebraska, which is a small rural town. Carmina, a retired policewoman is taking care of her during her stay. She’s a very tough no-nonsense woman. Stella’s not happy about her situation, but then she mets Chet, the cowboy next store who care for his younger teenage brother ever since their parents we killed by a drunk driver. Chet’s helpful and kind, but Carmina doesn’t seem to like him. Stella befriends him. She also gets a summer job at a diner and make friend with her coworker Inny.

This book was loads of fun, surprisingly. I love the setting. It’s awesome. Summer in Nebraska with country stuff. Sounds like the perfect escape. I love it when fun stuff happen in books, like picnics, rodeos, summer-y things. This is the perfect summer book and makes me wish it was still summer. I love country western stuff to. I imagined accents from the characters, but I’m not sure people in western Nebraska sound like Texans. Probably not. I’ve only been to Nebraska once on my way to Colorado in 2003. It’s pretty much like South Dakota, but less touristy.

There’s a jerk named Trigger in this book. He seems to recognize Stella but can’t place her. He plays baseball and he might even get into the majors. I figured out why her recognized her early on. It was pretty obvious. Stella’s boyfriend Reed was also put into witness protection, but she doesn’t know where. He used to play baseball also. Stella used to play basketball in high school, and Chet say he did too. Stella joins a coed softball team. So, lots of sport stuff mentioned. I’m not athletic, so I don’t care. I used to play basketball for fun, but I wasn’t that great.

I recommend this book to fans of YA thrillers by Cat Patrick, Romily Bernard, Michelle Gagnon, and other, and series like Becoming Mara Dyer (which I have not read, but I understand that Mara Dyer was a fake name). Also, Black Ice, another Becca-thriller I need to read.

Cover Art Review: Simple. Definitely says thriller. I love the raindrop embossment texture. I love stroking this cover.

Atlantia by Ally Condie

Series: Standalone? Companion Series?

Genera(s): Dystopian Sci-fi/Fantasy

Subjects: sea colonies, sirens, abilities, secrets

Setting: Atlantia, a sea colony

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, present tense: Rio

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 298 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $18.99

Publisher: Penguin: Dutton Juvenile 

Summary/ product description: “Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.”

My Review:  Atlantia was an interesting and lyrical dystopian-fantasy mash up. It’s almost a dystopian retelling of the Little Mermaid, but very different, and about sirens. There’s some unique world-building. It’s set in a seas colony. There are some people who live there that have abilities to control and manipulate people with their voice and are called sirens. They are not mermaids, but this ability does seem more magical than psychic. Rio herself is a siren, but she hides it. She has an aunt who’s a siren and it’s unusual to have more than one siren in a family line. How they actually do it is never fully explained, but they believe it’s a miracle from the gods. Also, these people have their own religion based off some statues in a temple. Atlantia is more utopia than dystopia, but it’s a secluded world that has it’s own set of rules to follow. Rio and Bay’s mother was the minister and she died. The new minister is a man named Nevio.

Rio is an interesting character. She talks with a dull voice so no one knows her abilities. Rio loves the city but wants to go Above to be with her sister. She does some risky things in this book She’s determined and doesn’t give up. Rio used to work in the temple until she’s given a job repairing drones. Rio does swimming races and performances for money. There’s this guy named True who help her along the way and they have a bit of a romance. True’s friend went Above as well. I like True. He seems sweet.

There’s a lot of secrets and deception within the walls of Atlantia. Who killed Rio’s mother? What could her aunt be hiding? What is the new minister hiding? Atlantia may be on the verge of falling apart. Read and find out. I recommend this book to fans of Cinder, Glitch by Heather Anastasiu, Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles) by J.A. Souders, and Dark Life by Kat Falls. Dystopia retellings of fairytales, or books set in a sea colony or underground colony.

Cover Art Review: Love the semi-metallic cover. Teal green is a lovely color. The shell fits with the story.