Tuesday, June 10, 2014

"Deuce" by Janine Caldwell

REVIEW and GIVEAWAY
Deuce
(The Vortex Series Book 3)
by Janine Caldwell


Deuce is the final book in The Vortex Series. Also available: Rematch and Double Fault (read my blog post).


Deuce is currently on tour with Xpresso Book Tours. The tour stops here today for my review and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
Deuce is the epic conclusion to The Vortex Series where we learn the fates of tennis star, Cassie Moore, and time-traveling musician, Trent Astor.
At the end of Double Fault we discover that everything will change for seventeen-year-old Cassie after she disappears into thin air. Together, she and Trent must figure out why she's jumping time and if she will be sent on further missions to the past, all while keeping it hidden from Cassie's family and friends.
However, all this secrecy causes Cassie's parents to suspect Trent is a bad influence on their daughter. They do everything in their power to keep them apart, making Cassie’s new circumstances nearly impossible to manage.
Meanwhile, it seems Trent and his sister, Lorelai, will never be safe from the greedy world and its hunger for Trent's power. A new force threatens to destroy the anonymity Trent has fought his entire life for unless he can stop this new opposition first. But every choice has its consequence, and Trent must face the most difficult choice of his life.
Set in contemporary Northern California, The Vortex Series is a teen romance for those who also enjoy a bit of science fiction and fantasy. Told in dual perspectives, we get an intimate view of both Cassie and Trent’s worlds. Family relationships, how they interconnect and drive our personalities, is the heart and soul of this YA time traveling novel.

Favorite Lines
"I'm an explosion of happiness, my chest a 4th of July firework show."
"I think you and I are the same now. Equal. If this were a game of tennis, we'd be at deuce. All tied up."
"As scared and freaked out as I was, helping this little boy from the past gave me more gratification than winning any tennis tournament trophy."
"It's beginning to sink in with me that no matter how bent I am to be the master in my personal game of life, the situation and players involved somehow wind up with the same ending. Perhaps I was a fool to think I could outsmart destiny."
"I hope I'm not too late. I've failed only one other girl on a mission, and look at all the trouble that caused me. I have no plan to repeat that mistake. Ever."
"I think we both recognized in that moment that her words carried a deeper meaning beyond our present situation. An indication of the life we could have together if we could only get through blasted high school."
"Best. Mission. Ever."
"Trent is mine, and I am his. Forever. Nothing else matters."

My Review


By Lynda Dickson
Just when Trent and Cassie think they'll finally get the happy ending they deserve, Cassie finds herself jumping through time. Somehow she has obtained the ability to time travel after being present at the Sedona vortex at the time of Dr. Fox's death. She figures out she must complete her mission in order to get back, but this is easier said than done. In addition, while Trent and Lorelai can cover up his travels, Cassie has to deal with a complication they've never had - parental interference. In this life, Cassie's parents are once again happy, but a bit overprotective. The real trouble begins when her parents tell her she needs to stop seeing so much of Trent. And in this timeline, a new enemy also presents itself. It looks like no world is perfect. One thing we can be sure of - Cassie and Trent are destined to be together. But will they finally find their happily-ever-after?
Once again the story is told from the points-of-view of Cassie and Trent. The pace is hectic, as we follow Cassie on a few missions and wonder how she's going to deal with her sudden disappearances. The major (happy) incident that happens towards the end of the book may seem a bit over the top for a young adult book, however because of the time and place in which it occurs, it is perfect.
Just a reminder, never get your mother to do your editing (unless it's me!). There are a number of editing errors including incorrect spelling (e.g., journies for journeys, eery for eerie), incorrect word usage (e.g., wreaks for wracks, shoot for shute, donned for dawned, base for bass, decimals for decibels, alter for altar, literary for literally, bare for bear, loaner for loner, duel for dual), and the mixing of past and present tenses.
All in all, this is a very satisfying conclusion to a great series.

Interview With the Author
Janine Caldwell was recently interviewed on a radio program covering The Vortex Series and her writing career. You can listen to the interview here.

About the Author
Janine lives in Anthem, Arizona, with her husband and two sons. When she’s not trying to stay cool, she’s playing tennis, practicing yoga, banging on the drums, or reading. As a lifelong literature fanatic, she knew it was only a matter of time before she would become obsessed with writing her own work. With relatives like the Brothers Grimm and Anita Loos (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), she hopes fantasy writing is in her DNA.
Books published by Janine include Visited, a YA coming-of-age fantasy, and The Vortex Series: Rematch, Double Fault, and Deuce.

Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a signed paperback set of The Vortex Series by Janine Caldwell.

Links