Book Review & Giveaway: Tempest


Tempest
Published By: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: January 17, 2012
Page Count: 352
Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source:  ARC Provided by Publisher
Audience: Young Adult - Time Travel, Science Fiction


Teaser:


September 9, 2007 (9:20 p.m.)


Okay, so far all I had was a newspaper that said this exact date was two years in the past. Well..... the past for me anyway.


I ran down the sidewalk as the raindrops grew more frequent. I spotted a police officer standing under a tree and raced toward him, not caring in the least about getting soaked. "Excuse me. Officer. Do you know today's date?"


"The ninth," he mumbled, not even looking me in the eye.


"Of September?"


He snorted a laugh. "Yeah."


"Of 2009, right?"


He rolled his eyes and pushed past me. "Damn kids! 2009?"


The panic that followed his words felt like caffeine being injected straight into my veins. I used the bottom of my shirt to wipe the rain from my eyes and searched for a third source.


Review:

Tempest lives up to its name - its a novel that builds slowly, but soon gains enough momentum to keep you enthralled. When I started this book, I was slightly nervous. The plot felt a little similar to the movie, Jumper, that came out a few years ago. Both males jump out of their realities into different places. However, in Jumper, the jumps move people to different locations around the word. In Tempest, the jumps transport people to various points of time within their own lives. While the notion of time travel isn't a new concept in literature, Julie Cross puts some interesting spins on her universe that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Tempest is the story of nineteen year old, Jackson Meyer, a college student from the upper echelons of society.   On the surface, Jackson has a pretty amazing life - money, status, a great girlfriend, good friends, and the ability to jump back in time. However, Jackson isn't quite sure how his ability works or why he's able to jump in the first place. Working with his friend, Adam, Jackson seeks to figure out his ability. Along the way he uncovers secrets that have been buried for decades and life as he knows it will never be the same. I don't want to spoil anything, but I know many readers will love the dirt Jackson is able to dig up.


I loved the action in this book. It was a nice change of pace from some of the other books I have been reading. In addition, I really liked Jackson and the perspective he brings to the story. In my opinion, there aren't enough YA books with male narrators. Jackson isn't perfect, but his flaws make him real. The format of this book also makes it a more interesting read. However, I will admit that I had to do a little rereading because I couldn't recall what year Jackson was in at times. He is constantly moving between days and years. I also am not a huge fan of science fiction so I had trouble digesting some of the detailed explanations about Jackson's ability. Lastly, even though this has been billed as a romance, I didn't really enjoy the romance aspects of it. I was much more intrigued by the other elements going on in the book and barely paid attention to Jackson and Holly's romantic entanglement.


Overall, I would recommend this to fans of YA, science fiction, and Dr. Who junkies. There are so many things I'd like to tell you about this book, but I don't want to spoil anything so I will invite you to stop back by with your thoughts after you've had a chance to read this one.



One Last Gripe: The beginning was too slow and the ending was too fast. I am hoping the future books will have more balance concerning pacing.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: Jackson's relationship with his sister, Courtney

First Sentence: Okay, so it's true.

Favorite Character: Adam

Least Favorite Character: Chief Marshall



The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun. 

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future. 

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities. 

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him. 

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.



Want to win a SIGNED copy of Tempest? The blog tour has 5 copies to give away and one of them could be yours. 

To enter, leave a comment on this post AND fill out the form. 


You can enter at each blog on the tour - which would put your name into the drawing 15 times. Best of luck!



Comments

  1. Thanks for the giveaway! I've been really interested in reading TEMPEST. It sounds wonderful.

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  2. Really curious about this one so thank you for the review. I'm glad that it has an interesting spin on time traveling and I look forward to picking it up.

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  3. This book sounds great, cant wait to check it out. I've read quite a few books lately where it took forever to get going then the rest of the story flew by.

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  4. Thanks for the giveaway. Sounds like a real interesting read.

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  5. I am so wanting this book. I love the cover and the blurb. Plus, it comes out the day after my bday so what is not to love. Thanks.

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  6. So I will admit that I have avoided this book. The cover looks childish and I couldn't get past that. I appreciate your review cause I may have misjudged this one. Time travel through your own live does seem like a different twist. Gonna put it on the TBR pile.

    Valerie
    StuckInBooks.com

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  7. Loved your review, and I agreed that we need more YA books with great male narrators. I'm really intrigued by the time travelling element of this novel. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  8. I'm glad this has a male POV. I rather enjoy those. Definitely refreshing to not have the romance be in the forefront. Looking forward to this one.

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  9. This book sounds so very, very good. And look at that cover!I have seen so many great reviews for it and every new one makes me a little more desperate to read this. I can't wait to finally read it!

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  10. I've been dying to read Tempest ever since I fell in love with that epic cover!! :)

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  11. That is a cool cover and the book sounds really good too.

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  12. I won this one from Library Thing and I cannot wait to start reading it. Great review!

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  13. I really liked this book! I can't wait for the sequel already!

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  14. omgoodness I've been waiting for this book!

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  15. This books sounds so good, I can't wait to read it! Thanks so much for the giveaway! :)

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  16. great giveaway
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

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  17. I like that Jackson has a good relationship with his sister.

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  18. I've heard so many great things about this book already and I can't wait to read it. Thanks for reviewing it - I'm definitely getting more excited!

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  19. Omg, how have I missed hearing about this book.
    Wow! Thanks for the review, excuse me while I dash off to add to my wishlist.
    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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  20. Such a great review! Thanks so much for including TEMPEST in your very awesome blog! The tour totally rocks!

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  21. This sounds like a book I would like to give a try. The plot sounds very interesting :)

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  22. This sounds very interesting. I have seen it in a couple of places and I would love to read it.

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  23. Thank you for the great review and giveaway. (I actually like a slow beginning and fast ending. lol) Sounds like a fabulous read --and the cover is awesome.

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  24. The cover is just so eye catching. What is not to love.

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  25. What the hell!? (pardon my French) What is wrong with that cop? OMG, it's just a simple question. Wow. He is mean, but I still want to read the book. Thanks for the review. :D

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  26. I <3 the cover! I so want to read this book!

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  27. Thank you so much for this giveaway! Ever since I saw the cover for this book a few months ago, I knew I wanted to read it. It sounds fantastic!

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  28. These teasers just make me want to read this book even more! I cannot wait for this book!

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  29. I love, love, love time travel. Be it the Time Travelers Wife, the best book ever, or the Man Who Folded Himself, the first time traveler book I recall reading, I love them all. Can not wait to read this one!

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  30. It's awesome that TEMPEST has a male POV! I love the cover and the idea for the plot sounds cool!

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  31. I loved reading Tempest and posted a view back in Oct., but would LOVE a signed copy sooooo very much! I read an older ARC version off of Netgalley and so only had it for a short amount of time. *keeps fingers crossed*
    Happy Holidays!
    ~Jaclyn~
    www.jaclynsmusings.com

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  32. I loved reading Tempest and posted a view back in Oct., but would LOVE a signed copy sooooo very much! I read an older ARC version off of Netgalley and so only had it for a short amount of time. *keeps fingers crossed*
    Happy Holidays!
    ~Jaclyn~
    www.jaclynsmusings.com

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  33. I haven't read Tempest yet, but I really want to! Thanks for the review and giveaway!

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  34. Can't wait to read this one! Thanks so much for the giveaway.

    -Melissa

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  35. thank you for the giveaway, and fantastic review! :)

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  36. Thanks for the giveaway!! I've said this before, i love the whole concept of time traveling, and also i want to read more books that have a male POV :D

    - juhina

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  37. I have not read this book yet but would love too thank you for the great blog tour and great giveaway!
    Thank you so much for the chance!

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  38. I can't wait to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway!

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