Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf

I am totally loving NetGalley lately!  If you haven't joined already, seriously, go join..NOW!  Last week I was approved for 5 more reviews and all of the books look SO good.  This is so awesome for people who love reading and want opportunities to check out new books before they are released.  I rounded out 2015 with Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf.  I have read several of her books before and loved them all so I was super excited when I had the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Missing Pieces takes off with a bang and never slows down!!  It is the story of Sarah and Jack Quinlan who travel to Penny Gate, Iowa after an unfortunate accident with his Aunt Julia.  Upon arriving Sarah learns of many secrets her husband has kept from her and gets drawn in fast trying to uncover the stories of his past.  I was sucked in from the very start and never wanted to put the book down.  It was extremely fast paced and full of suspense, keeping me on my toes the entire time.  I finished the book while in bed and was so on edge by what was happening I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder with a huge knot in my stomach.  I don't think I've ever felt so emotionally present in a book ever!!  I thought from about halfway through the book that I had it all figured out...and then the ending happened.  I was completely wrong!!  Unlike other books by Gudenkauf I've read, Missing Pieces is told 100% from Sarah's point of view.  I often found myself wondering what the book would be like had we been inside Dean or Celia's head but the lack of other viewpoints didn't take anything away from the story.  Mrs. Gudenkauf really knocked this one out of the park!!

Missing Pieces will be available to the public on February 2nd, 2016 and I highly recommend everyone checks it out!

Review of Oasis (The Last Humans Book One)

Long time no post!!  I am checking in to tell you all about a great book I just had the opportunity to read before it's release in exchange for my honest review.  The book, Oasis, is by Dima Zales is about Theo one of Oasis' residents.

I am a huge fan of dystopian novels such as The Hunger Games and Divergent so I was very excited when I had the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book.  It got off to a slow start and through the first four or so chapters I wasn't sure that I liked it.  While there are many elements to dystopian novels that are obviously far fetched, I tend to steer towards the more believable story lies since they are scenarios that I can actually visualize happening.  Right off the bat, I could tell that the likeliness of this story line actually taking place is slim to none.  However, I kept on reading and I am so glad that I did.  By the forth or fifth chapter I thought I was into it but by the middle, I was REALLY into it and did not want to put it down.  I found Theo to be very liable and I loved all of the questions he asked (even though Phoe didn't always answer them!!).  I do wish we got to see him interact more with his peers and get a more detailed picture of how other youth view Oasis, especially since Theo's mind was changed back.  The book wasn't super suspenseful however there was enough action to keep me interested in what was going to happen next.  The conclusion of the book was one I did not see coming at all and left me with many unanswered questions.  Thankfully, there is a sequel to this book that I am very much looking forward to reading.

If you are a fan of dystopian novels, #Oasis is not one to miss!!