Your One and Only Review & Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Your One and Only

by Adrianne Finlay

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Jack is a walking fossil. The only human among a sea of clones. It’s been hundreds of years since humanity died off in the slow plague, leaving the clones behind to carry on human existence. Over time they’ve perfected their genes, moving further away from the imperfections of humanity. But if they really are perfect, why did they create Jack?

While Jack longs for acceptance, Althea-310 struggles with the feeling that she’s different from her sisters. Her fascination with Jack doesn’t help. As Althea and Jack’s connection grows stronger, so does the threat to their lives. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?

My Thoughts:

I love dystopian YA novels.  Your One and Only hit the nail right on the head for me.  I was a bit hesitant at first because I don’t like it when characters have numbers next to their names it can be a little confusing, but Finlay definitely made Althea-310 a human clone, stand out among the others.  This book screams difference, individuality, and acceptance from all corners.

With two point of views, one from Althea-310 and the other from Jack (the last living human), the story is told exquisitely.  Once the two are introduced, the goods and bads from both species are highlighted and your mind really gets to thinking.  I love it when a book gets me to thinking like this one did.  The fact that clones are a large possibility in our future and with all of the diseases spreading, a plague is never out of the question either, both really have an impact on you when you read this.  Finlay made these clones real, almost as real as humans and so you don’t think of them as empty or robotic.  They breathe and feel and think for themselves. 

Jack is the outsider here, and though a bit aggressive, I love him for it, every second.  I love his perspective of the clones and of Althea-310 in particular. While Althea-310 accepts Jack and Jack accepts Althea-310 and even a slight romance seems to begin, the story does not focus on romance.  Sam’s role in the story could’ve been a little stronger.  His affections towards Jack seemed kind of all of a sudden and not so built up from earlier in the story. 

Though there is definitely great world building, the story is absolutely character driven and Finlay does a fantastic job of getting you to know her characters and wanting to meet them in real life.   I felt the first quarter of the book was a bit too slow but the next 3 quarters totally made it up for it. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of YA Dystopian and Sci-Fi.

Favorite Quotes

Lights hung like fireflies from the flowering trees in twinkling paper baskets, and the colored rocks glowed around the perimeter of the kapok.

They understood each other, and in their understanding, they became one.

The art of losing isn't hard to master.

"Don't you know?" His breath was hot in her ear.  "I'm the snake in the Garden."

How foolish we were, to act as gods.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Blog tour schedule link: http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2018/01/tour-schedule-your-one-and-only-by.html

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from Ithaca, New York, Adrianne Finlay now lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa with her husband, the poet J. D. Schraffenberger, and their two young daughters. She received her PhD in literature and creative writing from Binghamton University, and is an associate professor of English at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. 

She is also an avid soap maker, and sells handmade soap locally to raise money for type 1 diabetes research. 

https://semisweetsoaps.com/

GIVEAWAY

•       Prize:3 copies of YOUR ONE AND ONLY by Adrianne Finlay (US Only)

•       Starts: 1/30

•       Ends: 2/9

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86278/?

The Vrai Domicile and Giveaway!

Goodreads Review:

Q437B was ready to die for the Second Revolution. Then she entered the Muertre…
Q and B expected death when the Elders ordered their execution. What they discover instead changes everything they thought they knew about their world. Saved by the mercy of the Elders, they awaken in the Vrai Domicile, a mysterious place hidden below the Sixth Domicile housing hundreds of former rebels.

Except these rebels have been brainwashed, conditioned to be blind followers.

Q quickly learns of the Elders’ new plan for her – she is to become their warrior, to reunite the Vrai and Sixth Domiciles with purity, love, and unwavering faith. But to Q, she’ll be undoing everything she and the rebels fought for.

Now Q and B must fight to survive once more, forced to forge new alliances with strangers who promise nothing is as it seems. But surviving comes with a choice – follow the Elders and squash the Revolution, or defy them and free the people, putting B's and Grandmother’s lives at risk.

In a place where the fire of rebellion is extinguished at every turn, can Q continue to be the spark that fuels the Revolution?

Book 2 in The Sixth Domicile Series by Courtney Ruggles: a 5 star Readers Favorite! 

My Thoughts:

In a future where uniformity is required, chaos is not to be expected, or tolerated for that matter.  Rules are set in place and they are meant to be followed or death is the only option.  But when the muertre is not what you expect, and death does not seek you out, rules are broken, lives are changed and a perfect society begins to crumble. 

The Vrai Domicile picks up right where The Sixth Domicile leaves off, and we are reunited with Q437B once again. Only things are much different than even I expect.  Lives seem to be more at risk in this installment than they were in the last which is a thrill ride to say the least.  I love that Q is still guarded and doesn't give her trust out easily which proves to be the right choice!  I can't stand when a book has a gullible and naive female lead, just makes me want to throw the book halfway across the room, so I'm so glad this wasn't the case with this one. I love how strong willed Q is, and I want to be her while reading and analyzing her character arc here.

A lot of violent scenes were portrayed with precise detail and not so delicate to worry if someone is offended.  Another reason I love this book and the New Adult genre!  Ruggles, doesn't hold back.  Her writing is honest and clear.  You will not sit back and wonder, what it is your reading, because she puts your mind in the book.  

There didn't seem to be as much of B in this chapter as the last, but I loved it more for that reason. I loved that even though, there was a romance, it didn't consume the story.  With so many new characters like U218A and Maddox, the storyline continues to grow stronger even still,  Q had this story Aand she wasn't letting go of that spotlight.   I was captivated by her strength and her determination to see everything through without a faltering. The ending of this one will hook you like no other ending ever has!  I am so captivated by this story now and cannot wait to continue with this adventure!!  I highly recommend this!

About the Author:

Courtney’s love for writing started pretty much when she learned to read, which her mother would tell you was a feat in itself back when she was in the first grade. Once she aced those flashcards with vocabulary words, Courtney’s writing took off.  And her love with it.  In school, she was always writing short stories on a word processor (What?? Word processor with floppy disks?). Oh yes, she literally had a card filing case full of floppy disks.

Now getting her Doctorate in social work, she’s used this education to help her write some of the gritty issues entwined in her stories. When Courtney isn’t writing her next book while drinking coffee, you can find her doing homework (drag) with chocolate chip flavored coffee, reading series of books (because school books are only so interesting) while drinking pumpkin flavored coffee, playing with her little boy, or daydreaming of future beach houses while drinking some other scrumptious flavor of coffee.

Media Links

Website: www.courtneyruggles.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCRuggles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCourtneyRuggles/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Instagram: @courtneyruggles

The Giveaway CLICK THE LINK BELOW!!!
Swag bag with bookmarks, Domicile keychains, an exclusive Domicile poster, and bracelets; open to US residents only.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e6b07541300/