paulastokes – Sincerely Karen Jo

The Key to Everything

EXPECTED PUBLICATION – December or January 2018 by Paula Stokes

GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, CONTEMPORARY, ROMANCE

College senior Oakland Fuller has always believed in signs and soulmates, so when both a therapist and a fortuneteller say that her repeated relationship failures are due to unresolved feelings for her high school boyfriend, Seth, Oakland tries desperately to get back in touch with him. Problem: Seth isn’t responding to her online messages.

To rescue Oakland from a pathetic Christmas break of sitting in front of the computer, her best friend Morgan books the two of them on a guided excursion of Thailand. When the girls meet a pair of American soldiers in Bangkok, Oakland takes Morgan’s advice and engages in a little harmless holiday hooking up. Sergeant Tyson Banks is the perfect mix of sexy and fun. Two weeks with him might just turn out to be the best relationship Oakland has ever had.

Until the day she spots someone familiar across a crowded temple complex—it’s Seth! Somehow the boy she’s been trying to reconnect with is in Bangkok too. If that’s not a sign, then what is?

Filed with friendship, romance, and gorgeous faraway settings,The Key to Everything is a book for anyone who’s ever dreamed of finding love when (or where) they least expected it.

Paula Stokes is one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with her writing style last year when I read Girl Against the Universe, a YA contemporary romance. Recently, I finished the Vicarious duology, a YA mystery /thriller, and LOVE that so much too! There’s no doubt in my mind that Paula is a talented and versatile writer. Her writing is so captivating and always hits all the right FEELS. I’m really excited to get into this book! The Key to Everything sounds so amazing that I just know I’m going to love it.

Any thoughts about this book? Anyway thanks for reading and have a great day!

Sincerely Karen Jo

Vicarious

(Vicarious #1)

Paula Stokes

5 ★ – Intense, Twisted and Mind-blowing!

Published by Tor Teen August 16. 2016

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Sci-fi, Thriller

Pages: Hardcover 336

Buy Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Winter Kim and her sister, Rose, work as high-tech stunt girls for Rose’s ex-boyfriend, Gideon, engaging in dangerous and enticing activities while recording their neural impulses for his Vicarious Sensory Experiences, or ViSEs. Whether it’s bungee jumping, shark diving, or grinding up against celebrities at the city’s hottest dance clubs, Gideon can make it happen for you—for a price.

When Rose disappears and a ViSE recording of her murder is delivered to Gideon, Winter is devastated. She won’t rest until she finds her sister’s killer. But when the clues she uncovers conflict with the digital recordings her sister made, Winter isn’t sure what to believe. To find out what happened to Rose, she’ll have to untangle what’s real from what only seems real, risking her life in the process.

DAMN.. That was one intense and wickedly awesome ride!!! I binged this duology and LOVED every moment. I honestly don’t even know where to begin.! My mind is still reeling and I’m seriously having a hard time moving on…

Vicarious is haunting, riveting, and absolutely fantastic. Paula Stokes not only manages to keep you guessing and on the edge, but she also excels in creating complicated, but lovable characters. Winter, Gideon, Jesse…they’re damaged to some extent, but that’s what makes them so real for me. No one is perfect and we all have our own demons to fight.

Winter is such a wonderful heroine and my heart ached so much for her. She thinks she’s broken and undeserving of love and affection so she’s always guarded and slow to trust. What she doesn’t realize is just how strong she really is and that she’s capable of so much more than she believes. Despite living through some of the most horrific and traumatic life situations, Winter keeps on fighting for what she wants and challenges herself. She’s resilient, focused and determined. She’s so kickass and she doesn’t even know it.

Throughout Vicarious (and Ferocious too), my heart raced so fast I thought it would burst out of my chest. The plot is thrilling, action-packed and full of twist that will completely blow your mind! I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but Stokes surely knows how to keep you on your toes. The mystery, the secrets, the drama, the action, the slow burn romance (yes! there’s a little romance and it’s so sweet) had me flipping the pages way past my bed time. And that ending … WOW!!! That totally took me by surprise. Wish I could say more than that, but my lips are sealed. Just trust me, you’d want to experience everything for yourself.

As a fair warning, Vicarious does deal with a very sensitive issue that was quite difficult to read at times. Winter and her sister, Rose, experienced extremely horrible situations so there are many parts that are dark, heart-breaking, and just really sad. Stokes doesn’t shy away from showing you the worst and it does get ugly, but she does it in a way that is genuine and respectful.