Tempest
by Julie Cross (blog, twitter, facebook)
Book I in a series
Genre: YA – Time Travel
Publication: January 17th 2012 by St. Martin’s Griffin
copy received from publisher
get your own: amazon (Hardcover, Kindle, Audiobook)
synopsis from goodreads
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.
Awesome!!!! I really love the style and the story!
This story is told from a Boys POV, which is always something I like since most YA stories are told from a Girls POV, and Jacksons Voice was great – genuine, believable and he’s just a guy easy to relate to!
Jackson can time travel and is trying to figure our the limits with his geeky best friend. He also has an adorably girl friend who doesn’t know anything about his abilities… However, one day when strangers come and shoot his girlfriend he finally jumps back in time much farther than ever before. 2 years back in time – and he can’t go back home!
There he is – alone, stuck in the past, so he’s trying to figure out why those people wanted to shoot him!
Fantastic Cast of Characters – Perfect Male Hero with awesome friends and a lovely girl!
As I said before, I LOVED Jackson a lot! I always enjoy reading stories told from boys and this here is clearly no exception. Although Jackson is loaded, he’s taking a job just to be close to his friends from the future. Geeky best friend and his love Holy which made him even more lovable!
I enjoyed both secondary characters a lot – specially his genius of a best friend who helps him figuring out his abilities, which is both fun and geeky adorable!!!
Sweet, Sweet Romance… *swoon*
The romance part was sweet! The way Jackson adores Holly was just .. well adorable – and it speaks for their love that she again falls in love with him – even 2 years earlier and how hard Jackson tries to be the perfect boy for Holly.
But apart from the intriguing storyline there were also lots of emotions involved, which is even harder to deliver from a Boys POV than from a Girl. Still, the author managed to deliver this perfectly and I was touched so very often by Jacksons emotions, especially involving his sister and Holly!
Bottom Line
While I loved most parts of the books, the revelations towards the end could have been better and truth to be told, the direction the story took was slightly disappointing. I can’t even put a finger on the exact reason, it was just how I felt towards the end.
However, the very end – with Jackson making a very hard decision – was emotionally raw, selfless and heartbreaking! So I end up with 4 stars for a story with a strong and genuine male main character and a intriguing story line.
Random Notes and Additional Info: Tomorrow, we have a another round of our New Year New Book Giveaway …. and … you can guess what might be in store for you tomorrow.. *winks* Hope to see you tomorrow then! and for all those that love little add-on stories, there is a pre-quel out already which covers the story before Tempest begins! It’s for free on amazon! Click to get your copy:
Much Love,
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Love that we get a male POV and that the romance is sweet and swoon-worthy, but it's a touch disappointing to read that you didn't care for the direction things took at the end. That makes me nervous! If you weren't necessarily a fan of it Danny, I don't think I will be either and that makes me hesitate to go and pick this one up, I don't want to be disappointed!
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I can't even put my finger on why the end bothered me. It felt a little too much with secret organisations such like secret FBI and such stuff. I felt this was perfect for a movie but not … you see? I cannot even express my feelings.
But, the rest of the story was awesome and Jackson is such a perfect hero. Specially the end was heartbreaking!
And just for Jackson I say, give it a try and read it!!
My recent post Book Review: Tempest by Julie Cross
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I read this one last month and I really enjoyed the few hours with Jackson…;) I kept thinking of that movie Jumper…! I think it read more like a movie script ~ it moved so fast and I agree the end was kind of done sloppy….but I loved the roof scene and some of the action that it had.
Great review!
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Gosh YES Jumper! And yes that is exactly what I mean. The rest felt more like it was scripted exactly for movie purposes… But I really loved and enjoyed all the rest which is why I give it still a higher rating!
The roof scene was really good, and I had tears in my eyes later!! *sigh*
My recent post Book Review: Tempest by Julie Cross
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Just like you, I really enjoy the rare YA book I come across told from a guy's POV. And the romance sounds so sweet. Too bad about the slightly disappointing direction, but sounds like a good story overall.
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It is a really good story, which is why I was really thinking hard about my rating… I was torn between 3-4 but ended up with 4 because all the rest was so really good!
And, if you love a good male voice – Jackson is your man Sweetie!!
My recent post Book Review: Tempest by Julie Cross
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Hi Danny,
This book's reviews are all over the map. Either people love it or hate it. I was happy to see your enthusiastic review. I think I will give it a try. You are right we don't get too many male POV in YA. I think that this author showed a lot of class in the recent twitter/GR debacle that I heard about and for that she deserves the support!
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Hey Heidi! Most highly anticipated books are either loved or hated! I'm more in the middle but definitely on the good site (well, that was a weird sentence..).
Jackson has such a wonderful and great voice, he's such a hero and I love him! More from him – now! :))
What was up on twitter??? Whatever happened I'm glad to hear you think she deserves support.
I just yesterday heard again from an incident on twitter/GR where many people now refuse to read the authors book …. those kind of things make me so sad!
My recent post Book Review: Tempest by Julie Cross
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I love books from the male point of view, especially the teenage male point of view. It's just a look into the mind of something I don't understand (LOL). I haven't read many reviews of this because I want to be surprised when I read it, but I knew you wouldn't spoil it. I read the first few pages, maybe at Amazon and decided I wanted it, but it's on hold for now. Your review though really makes me want to know what happens at the end. And I love good characters! Great review!
Heather
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I like a male narrator, too. There aren't nearly enough of them. I'm sorry to hear the (almost) ending took a turn you didn't love. I want to read this series, but I haven't decided yet if I want to read it now or wait until all of them have been published. Maybe reading the next book will make the ending of Tempest seem better? You have made me curious about that turn of events though 🙂
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SO sorry for the late reply hon!!!
I was really excited when reading the book but then the end felt to much hollywood and too less story. but, I'm still in love with the story but most of all with Jackson.. He is so sweet adorable, brave and .. very heroic and self less …
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*swoon* <3
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I so love the sound of this novel! Not only does it just sound awesome, but told from a boys POV too? I'm soo curious. And an adorable romance too… Gah, I need it! Great review!
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Hey Sweetie, sorry for the late reply! Really, I love Guys POV, I find it refreshing! Plus. Jackson is so freaking awesome, you have to love him!! I would love to hear your thoughts!
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[…] week we celebrate Tempest by Julie Cross and Hallowed by Cynthia Hand. I reviewed yesterday Tempest and today Unearthly, so please stop by to read my thoughts on those books and let me tell you why […]
Tempest was perfect through Jackson's eyes and I can't think of a better guy than him to tell this story. He is young, naive, in love. Just a normal, real guy who has gone through a lot but has come out strong. I totally fell in love with Jackson right along with Holly(yes both of them lol). Tempest was very emotional at times and yes I will admit I did cry a few times. I will only say it had to do with Jackson and Courtney together. This will probably sound weird but the ending was perfect for the story and it definitely sets up the rest of the trilogy really well. It still amazes me Jackson was strong enough to do what he did and I admire him so much for it. I loved this book and I am very much looking forward to what happens next.
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Hey Cailin! Thank you so much for your wonderful and thoughtful comment! Jackson and Holly are just perfect for each other and I agree Holy is just as cute as Jackson. I liked that he was a little bit older than the usual YA 17 and I liked that he was more mature than most others.
I tell you, I was crying at the end.. that was the most self less thing ever and I just admire him! I also agree the end was perfect – I just didn't like all the other events that lead up to the roof top scene..
thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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