Tangled Thoughts by Cara Bertrand

Title: Tangled Thoughts
Author: Cara Bertrand
Publisher: Luminis Books
Publication date: July 15, 2016
Pages: 320
Source/format: Paperback from Cara Bertrand

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

High school graduation is a time for goodbyes, new beginnings, and if you're Lainey Young, narrowly escaping with your life. Forced to leave behind both Northbrook Academy and Carter Penrose, Lainey believes she's earned her freedom from the eyes of the Perceptum and Daniel Astor's schemes. When tragedy brings Lainey and Carter face to face for the first time since summer, their lives have never felt more separate. Lies drove them apart. Will the truth bring them together?

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Lainey Young has graduated from Northbrook Academy and is currently attending college in Boston, MA. She is still trying to find herself and is trying to live life far away from the Sentenia, the gifted people with cognitive abilities. Carter Penrose's sort of uncle, Daniel Astor, made a deal with Lainey that if she left Carter, she could have a normal life. And for once she didn't really think about the Perceptum or Carter. Lainey has grown smitten with one of her TAs, Jack Kensington.

Carter moves to DC and he starts his life with a clean slate with college and a new girlfriend under his belt. Heartbroken over Lainey, he sees Lainey's decision to leave him as the ultimate betrayal. However, Carter and Lainey are still linked together and it's because of Astor.

Tangled Thoughts is written in a dual POV perspective. I was super excited Cara Bertrand bestowed her readers the chance to read Carter's POV since in the the previous books, we saw events through Lainey's eyes. This novel is much slower than the previous two but it crucial to the plot line of the series. As Carter peels the layers of Astor, he uncovers Astor's true motive and hidden secrets.

I am not that fond of Lainey's and Carter's new love interests but then again I am biased. I see Lainey and Carter as the One True Pairing (OTP). I am hoping they reconcile in the last installment of the series. It is interesting to see how Lainey and Carter interact outside of the Northbrook Academy setting. No longer are they enclosed in a world of Sententia. They are free to explore a bit and to find themselves. After all, that's what college is all about.

A little bit of suspense, a dash of paranormal and sprinkle of romance make Tangled Thoughts a solid novel in the Sententia series. Of course readers know Lainey can never escape her past forever. Her past creeps up in the most unusual way. The twist and cliffhanger at the end makes me want more and I cannot wait for the fourth installment to this series.

This Ordinary Life by Jennifer Walkup

Title: This Ordinary Life
Author: Jennifer Walkup
Publisher: Luminis Books, Inc.
Publication date: October 1, 2015
Pages: 240
Source/format: ARC from BEA 2015

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):

Sometimes Hope is the Most Extraordinary Gift of All.

High-school radio host Jasmine Torres's life is full of family dysfunction, but if she can score the internship of her dreams with a New York City radio station, she knows she can turn things around.

That is, until her brother Danny’s latest seizure forces her to miss the interview, and she’s back to the endless loop of missing school for his doctor appointments, picking up the pieces of her mother’s booze-soaked life, and stressing about Danny’s future.

Then she meets Wes. He’s the perfect combination of smart, cute, and funny. He also happens to have epilepsy like her brother. Wes is living a normal life despite his medical issues, which gives Jasmine hope for Danny. But memories of her cheating ex-boyfriend keep her from going on a real date with Wes, no matter how many times he asks her.

Jasmine can’t control everything. Not who wins the internship, not her mother’s addiction, not her brother’s health--not even where her heart will lead her. She wishes she could just have an ordinary life, but maybe what she already has is pretty extraordinary after all.

My Thoughts

Jasmine Torres is a radio host at Easton High and her dream is to score an internship at WYN60 in order to help her chances to get into a good college majoring in communications. The only thing setting her back is her alcoholic mother and her younger brother who has epilepsy. She will do anything for her brother, Danny, but she is upset her mother isn't pulling her weight.

Every cloud has a silver lining. Although Danny's seizures prevent Jasmine from being in school, Jasmine ends up meeting Wes, aka Comic Book Boy, who also has epilepsy.  Due to her cheating ex-boyfriend, Jasmine is afraid to commit to a relationship and becomes friends with Wes.

Jennifer Walkup writes a touching coming-of-age story with emotions that covers a range of different topics. This contemporary read is uplifting. When Jasmine meets Wes, little did she know that he is the perfect guy for her. From the moment he called her Sunny and is always asking how she is doing and how Danny is doing, he has been lovestuck from the start. Although, Wes wants to be more than friends and Jasmine makes it clear that they are only friends, Wes is patient enough to wait until Jasmine is ready to open up about her feelings for him. I love Wes! Everything about him is pretty much perfect.

I love Jasmine's personality. She is independent, cares about her family and friends and can be sarcastic at times. I enjoy the texts between Jasmine and Wes and how she playfully teases him. I love how Walkup formats Jasmine's thoughts as if Jasmine is on air doing a broadcast. This Ordinary Life is definitely an adorable read. Despite the hard life that Jasmine has to juggle, there is light at the end of the tunnel. When times are hard, there is someone always there to brighten up her day. If you are looking for a heartfelt read, definitely pick up This Ordinary Life.

Lost in Thought by Cara Bertrand

Title: Lost in Thought
Author: Cara Bertrand
Publisher: Luminis Books
Publication date:  April 25, 2014
Pages: 288
Source/format: Purchased, hardcover

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Perfect for readers who love books and series such as Vampire Academy, Spellbound, and Sweet Peril, Lost in Thought is a sure winner for young adult readers interested in the paranormal, romance, and action-packed twists



Lainey Young has a secret: she’s going crazy. Everyone else thinks she has severe migraines from stress and exhaustion. What she really has are visions of how people died—or are going to die. Not that she tells anyone that. At age 16, she prefers keeping her crazy to herself. When doctors insist she needs a new and stable environment to recover, Lainey’s game to spend two years at a private New England boarding school. She doesn’t really think it will cure her problem, and she’s half right. There is no cure, but as she discovers, she’s not actually crazy. Almost everyone at Northbrook Academy has a secret too. Half the students and nearly all the staff are members of the Sententia, a hidden society of the psychically gifted. A vision of another student’s impending death confirms Lainey is one of them. She’d like to return the crappy gift of divining deaths with only a touch, but enjoys spending time with Carter Penrose—recent Academy graduate and resident school crush—while learning to control it. Lainey’s finally getting comfortable with her ability, and with Carter, when they uncover her true Sententia heritage. Now she has a real secret. Once it’s spilled, she’ll be forced to forget protecting secrets and start protecting herself. 

My Thoughts:

Lost in Thought was a fun read. Cara Bertrand does an amazing  job with this paranormal fantasy. Lainey Young has never had the typical life. Her parents died when she was young and she ended up being brought up by her aunt. Lainey transferred from school to school due to her aunt's artist lifestyle. During her junior year, Lainey transferred to a prestigious boarding school in Northwestern Massachusetts called Northbrook Academy. Little did she know is that the academy also has a group of the gifted called the Sententia. Lainey meets a guy named Carter who helps her control her gift as well as helping her discover her true heritage. 

I loved reading about how Lainey adapted to Northbrook. Although half the students are Sententia, her everyday life was pretty much of a typical teenage girl. She finds romance with Carter, has an awesome roomie and friend Amy and has some archenemies. During certain parts of the book, I was caught off guard about certain actions. However, most of the plot is pretty predictable. I love how the book has a lot of well developed characters and how there was no instalove between Lainey and Carter. Sure, they were smitten with each other when they first met, but they took the time to know each other.

I am a huge fan of paranormal fantasy, boarding schools and books that have a lot of fun twists. Lost in Thought did not disappoint. 

I am looking forward to reading Second Thoughts.