Book Review - The Claires: An Ascenders Novel by C.L. Gaber + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Four girls are born together but, they are not identical. They are named Claire and each has a different ability. One can see visions of the future, another can feel another person's pain, one can tap into the spirit world, and other has clear knowing. 

They were originally born in 1911 and first died together in 1928. The Claires are a victim of a curse where they perish at the age of seventeen and are reborn two months later. The Claires are always violently murdered and then reborn to a woman who finds out she is pregnant. The Claires try to break the curse that ensures they die young. Can they find a way to break the curse?

This novel was my foray into the Ascenders series. The writing style was engaging and easy to get into. I was in between loving this novel and liking it. The story was very engrossing read about four young women trying to change their destiny. Since I am new to the series, I felt like I was missing some story nuances on the characters. There were some portions of the novel that felt strange and completely unbelievable. For example, the way Claire C. slaps a student on the face in front of the school's administration. Instead of being punished, I felt like the Claires could do whatever they want. I had a hard time understanding how they can try to do nice acts to save themselves but, be so cruel to people. Then they start becoming annoyed when someone was being cruel to them but, they are cruel to other people for no reason. I think if I read that other books in the series, the Claire characters would be more clear to me. I can't wait to read the other books in the series.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Print Length: 417 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0996242015
Publisher: Big Picture Media Inc. (January 14, 20MTV.com20)
Publication Date: January 14, 2020
Language: English
ASIN: B07ZYB6W2J

Praise for THE ASCENDERS SERIES

"Teenage angst like you've never seen it before." —MTV.com

"I wish I could go back and read it again and again - not knowing what would happen." —MUGGLENET.com, the world's largest Harry Potter site.

Four beautiful girls. Quadruplets. They are not identical.
But each is named Claire.
Claire V is Clairvoyant—clear seeing with visions of the future.
Claire S is Clairsentient—clear feeling as she embraces another’s pain.
Claire A is Clairaudient—clear hearing to tap into the spirit world.
Claire C is Claircognizant—clear knowing with 100% accuracy.

Born in 1911, they first died together in 1928 at age seventeen. Two months later, they were reborn. And reborn. THE CLAIRES only live to seventeen and then they’re violently murdered. Somewhere in the world, a woman finds out she’s pregnant with quads. The Claires return to a new family as they try to break a curse that guarantees they die young.

It’s current-day Los Angeles, and once again, their seventeenth birthday is looming. Can they save themselves, clean up the streets in the name of penance, and crash their own prom?

The Claires is the first novel spin-off of the best-selling Ascenders Book Saga. Also available in paperback starting on January 14, 2020.

You can purchase The Claires: An Ascenders Novel at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from C.L. Gaber

I’m C.L. Gaber, an author and film journalist for the New York Times Syndicate and Chicago Sun Times. I also co-authored Jex Malone series. Originally from Chicago, I make my home in Nevada with my husband, bonus daughter and two unruly dogs.

My husband knows that Ascenders began with me in bathroom half the night writing on tiny notepads because I didn’t want to wake him. When daylight did roll around, I told him, ”Baby, I had the most incredible dream”.

        

PART ONE - REVIEW AND INTERVIEWS

FEBRUARY 24th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

FEBRUARY 25th TUESDAY Books, Dreams, Life EXCERPT

FEBRUARY 25th TUESDAY BookHounds YA INTERVIEW 

FEBRUARY 26th WEDNESDAY Insane About Books REVIEW

FEBRUARY 26th WEDNESDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

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FEBRUARY 28th FRIDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW 

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FEBRUARY 29th SATURDAY Pages and Pugs REVIEW

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MARCH 1st SUNDAY J.R.'s Book Reviews REVIEW

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Book Review - What I Want You to See by Catherine Linka + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

When Sabine Reye wins a scholarship to a prestigious art school; it feels like a dream after her awful senior year. During her senior year, her mother passes away unexpectedly leaving Sabine without a home. She longs for a place to call her own. However, Sabine didn't realize that the art world could be so cutthroat and that seems to feed on other people's failures. She hopes that Colin Krell, a renowned painter on staff who becomes her mentor but, instead he delights in tearing her down and criticize everything she works on.  He warns her that she will lose her scholarship if her work doesn't meet his standards.

Sabine feels helpless and humiliated and doesn't know who to ask for help. Then she crosses path with Adam, a gorgeous grad student who understands the pressure of art school. Adam gives Sabine access to Krell's unseen masterpiece that sold for a million dollars unseen. Sabine is conflicted about painting Krell's masterpiece but, he did tell her to copy a painting she connects with.

While the novel was a predictable read, I couldn't help but root for Sabine. I enjoyed seeing her find her path and working through life's crossroads.  I wished they included more background information behind Adam and his motivation. Not to say this wasn't an enjoyable story but, this would be great if told from alternating points of view (even though I know the main point of the story is Sabine). Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading other books from the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

 

About the Book:

Title: WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE

Author: Catherine Linka

Pub. Date: February 4, 2020

Publisher: Freeform

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

Winning a scholarship to California’s most prestigious art school seems like a fairy tale ending to Sabine Reye’s awful senior year. After losing both her mother and her home, Sabine longs for a place where she belongs.

But the cutthroat world of visual arts is nothing like what Sabine had imagined. Colin Krell, the renowned faculty member whom she had hoped would mentor her, seems to take merciless delight in tearing down her best work—and warns her that she’ll lose the merit-based award if she doesn’t improve.

Desperate and humiliated, Sabine doesn’t know where to turn. Then she meets Adam, a grad student who understands better than anyone the pressures of art school. He even helps Sabine get insight on Krell by showing her the modern master’s work in progress, a portrait that’s sold for a million dollars sight unseen.

Sabine is enthralled by the portrait; within those swirling, colorful layers of paint is the key to winning her inscrutable teacher’s approval. Krell did advise her to improve her craft by copying a painting she connects with . . . but what would he think of Sabine secretly painting her own version of his masterpiece? And what should she do when she accidentally becomes party to a crime so well -plotted that no one knows about it but her?

Complex and utterly original, What I Want You to See is a gripping tale of deception, attraction, and moral ambiguity.

"Linka delivers intrigue, betrayal, and a feast for art lovers."―Mary McCoy, author of Printz Honor Book I, Claudia

*"Clear-sighted and heartbreakingly true, this is a genuine portrait of a girl in quiet crisis learning to see things as they are."―Booklist (starred review)

"Tense, smart, and engaging . . . What I Want You to See is a stunning portrait of deception, artfully peeling back layers of secrets to reveal a meticulously crafted crime."
―Elle Cosimano, award-winning author of Nearly Gone

"A messy, heartbreaking and very real journey of learning to let others see who you truly are."―Carrie Arcos, author of the National Book Award Finalist Out of Reach

"A stunning page-turner that will tear your heart and paste it back together."
―Kim Purcell, author of This is Not A Love Letter and Trafficked

About Catherine:

Catherine Linka has been immersed in books her whole life, most recently as a writer and bookseller. She’s the author of the young adult novel WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE as well as the dystopian duology A GIRL CALLED FEARLESS and A GIRL UNDONE. Catherine lives in Southern California and watches hawks and hummingbirds when she should be writing. 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a signed finished copy of WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE, US Only.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/3/2020	Texan Girl Reviews	Excerpt
2/4/2020	What A Nerd Girl Says	Review
2/5/2020	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
2/6/2020	Savings in Seconds / @savingsinseconds	Review
2/7/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review

Week Two:

2/10/2020	Do You Dog-ear?	Review
2/11/2020	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
2/12/2020	fictitious.fox	Review
2/13/2020	momfluenster	Review
2/14/2020	Hurn Publications	Review

Week Three:

2/17/2020	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review
2/18/2020	A Bookish Escape/lindytgomez	Review
2/19/2020	notinjersey	Review
2/20/2020	Nerdophiles	Review
2/21/2020	Comfort Books	Review

Week Four:

2/24/2020	She Just Loves Books	Review
2/25/2020	One in a Million	Review
2/26/2020	Fyrekatz	Review
2/27/2020	Two Points of Interest	Review
2/28/2020	ChristenKrumm	Review