Monday, October 14, 2013

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Title: Grab Your Pole Series
Author: Jenn Cooksey
Age Group: Mature YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

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Shark Bait: Previously homeschooled Camie Ramsey is being shoved into the shark-infested waters of public high school, where even helium filled, penguin bespeckled arm floaties likely won’t help keep her inexperienced, fifteen-year old head above water in that rip current of hormones and emotions.

Camie’s worldly wisdom might be severely lacking (i.e., the closest she’s come to being kissed was sitting too close to the TV whilst Jake Ryan leaned in to give Samantha that fateful 16th birthday kiss), but she does understand her only hope for survival is if she’s thrown some kind of “social” life preserver before she sinks like a freaking rock. However, what will her fate be when she endeavors to flag down the only lifeguard on duty, the enormously popular and ridiculously beautiful Tristan Daniels? The most sought after and virtually most unattainable guy in school who not only makes Camie’s heart flatline on a recurring basis, he’s also the one guy who seemingly doesn’t know she exists.

Feeling like an inept piece of chum that could ultimately be swallowed by Jaws, can Camie get Tristan to rescue her from floundering in the treacherous deep, or is she destined to be Shark Bait?

The Other Fish in the Sea: In Shark Bait, readers everywhere met and fell in love with the new girl, Camie Ramsey, and swooned over her sure to be future husband, Tristan Daniels. Now, in the long awaited second installment of the Grab Your Pole series by Jenn Cooksey, The Other Fish in the Sea, Camie and Tristan are back, but so are their friends!

So, find a breathing apparatus and shimmy into your scuba gear, because it's finally time to dive deeper into the lives of the GYP gang, but be warned, it's a big world out there and an even bigger ocean where danger might be lurking around the next corner and realistically, anything could happen.

Shark Out of Water: With the Amazon Bestseller Shark Bait, the first novel in the Grab Your Pole series, debut author Jenn Cooksey delivered a fun, snarky, and realistic beginning to a larger story that has found its way into the hearts of readers everywhere. Thus, many were unprepared for what was coming in the second installment of the GYP series, The Other Fish in the Sea, when Cooksey took us on a runaway roller coaster ride of emotion and solidly landed hit after hit, including a brutal sucker punch that left readers around the globe reeling.

In Shark Out of Water, the highly anticipated third installment in this humorous yet honest and real coming of age story, we delve even further into the lives of the GYP gang and many questions are sure to be answered, however, are you really ready for what lies ahead in the continuation of their adventure? Well, grab your pole and let’s find out.

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My Review - Shark Bait (Grab Your Pole #1):

I haven't read an honest to goodness YA in quite some time. I think I am just to old and teenagers irk me in general with their foolishness. So you can imagine my surprise how much I loved Shark Bait!

Jenn Cooksey is now officially one of my favorite authors. 

The story line was simplistic but the characters were truly amazing!! I totally fell in love with Camie and Tristan. I don't think I have enough of a vocabulary to describe the depth of my adoration for these two.

Shark Bait was like being back in high school in a very realistic way. No over the top dramatic situations and shenanigans, just your typical trying to fit in, make friends, and plotting if is is even remotely possible to snag the hot guy you have your eye on.

The story had a fantastic flow, slowly unrolling and evolving. Love that and it really just made it that much more realistic. It wasn't a slow burn which I am not a fan of, but more a simmering of the plot, that I am definitely a fan of. And because of that, as the reader, you were given the opportunity to grow and immerse yourself in the characters and the story line without being overwhelmed and bombarded with all sorts of shiny being thrown your way as filler.

The secondary characters were priceless. Jenn Cooksey really did an amazing job with their characterizations and they totally helped to drive the story and made the plot even more realistic. Everyone had at least one friend like Jeff, Kate, Melissa, or Lonely Pete at one time or another.

Even the parents of Camie and Tristan were great. Sometimes I find the parents in YA's completely absurb and lack any real purpose, kind of like Charlie Brown's wah wah wah parents.

And while not normally a fan of inner monologues, the humor in the story, especially Camie's inner thoughts was hysterical and completely fitting with the ages of the characters exhibiting their love of pop culture. What teen doesn't love pop culture and use it?

“Just so you understand; he's using a scene from Buffy to ask me out!!!!” 

Now considering this is a series, I have a golden rule I always follow when I start any series...

A book in a series not capable of standing on it's own is a deal breaker. I don't like to feel that I have to continue because of a forced cliffhanger. That will not hook me in to the series and more times than not, I'll walk away from it not trusting the next book released.

Jenn Cooksey believes in my golden rule! 

Shark Bait ended in a way that you were satisfied but also wanting more...if you chose to continue. Love that and a great sign of a good series!

Absolutely loved this story and will forever be stalking the author! Review will also be posted on my Loved These shelf on Goodreads.

About the Author:

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Jenn Cooksey is a Southern California girl born and bred, however she's no longer a resident of heaven on earth, but instead she currently resides in the 7th Ring of Hell with her husband, their three daughters, and a goodly number of pets. Aside from her husband, one cat, and three out of five fish, everyone living under the Cooksey's roof is female. She's sure her husband will not only be awarded sainthood when he kicks the bucket, but that Jesus will welcome him into heaven with a beer and a congratulatory high-five. Jenn is also of the belief that Bacon should be capitalized and that just being yourself is the best way to go. That is, unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.



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Buy links are provided as a courtesy to the reader and do not constitute an endorsement by this blog or its owner. ARC provided by author via tour host.

{ 3 comments... read them below or Comment }

  1. I have it on my Kindle, but have not yet had the chance to read it. But, I am planning on it soon! My to read list is so huge!

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    Replies
    1. I know that feeling!
      Really one of the best YA's I've read, enjoy!

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  2. Great review! I love this book series. :)

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