**REVIEW** Perception by Lee Strauss

Today's Stop features a book that I just could not get enough of and 

eagerly await the next book!!

Eternal Life is To Die For.
Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along-side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.
Her brother Liam is missing.
Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.
Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.
PERCEPTION is a (SF/mystery/romance) Young Adult novel that takes place in the not-too-distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions—both financially and philosophically. It explores the clash between faith and science and how differences can separate us as enemies or ally us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of betrayal and personal crisis, there’s room to fall in love.

Release Date: September 12,2012

Published By: ESB Publishing

Review Copy: Mobi.

*provided by Author

 

Buy it:

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Review

  I love dystopian novels.  Though this one could be seen as a sci-fi/dystopian, I think it lay more in the dystopian end of things for me.  I was offered a copy for review and excitedly accepted.  Thing is I realized not long after I had this gem but it had become lost within the mess that is my kindle.  What this told me was hat:1. I already wanted to read this & 2.  No better time than like yesterday.

  Perception has so many unique things to take in, mainly the GAPS though.  GAP= Genetically Altered Person.  Meaning everyone in the GAP community fits into the same category.  They are all blonde, blue eyed, fit and extremely intelligent.  Oh and I forgot to mention they all live to be 200+ and don't age like the average person.  Not everyone agrees with this though, especially not the normals.  Being a GAP brings many privileges and advantages but many also feel its wrong.  Wrong to mess with life and what we are given.  Life isn't perfect though when it's filled with secrets and your brother goes missing.  This is Zoe's life and the start of her new one.

  Zoe is a wonderful character.  Slightly oblivious but living the way she does I kind of understood.  She lives in a GAP gated community so they only learn what the community sees fit and when that's all you know that's all you believe.  This does change when her brother goes missing because she would do anything to figure out what happened to him and why his chip was removed.  Turns out that Zoe is quite the detective and had a determination like no other.  I enjoyed how much growth there was for her throughout this novel, no she didn't end up perfect but she opened her eyes to what was really going on in the world.  She was strong when needed and did what was necessary to get what she wanted.

  Noah is a natural and one of Zoe's maids children but there way way more to him than I had originally thought.  He harbours some serious anger towards GAPs and their way of life but you do find out a deeper reason behind it.  I seriously heart Noah for many reasons but the biggest thing is his heart.  Despite a rough exterior he really wants to help people, wants to do the right thing.  Though his main thing is continuing what his father started, rallying against GAPs and the unfair, unnatural advantages they have but he was fair.  Basically he was this great balance of hard, compassionate and strong.

  The romance was not the main focus but it did end up standing out.  Zoe and Noah were from two completely different people from two really different worlds.  In the start they formed more of a agreement in which they worked together but it wasn't something that I expected to become more.  In hindsight this was a good thing because there was no insta love in sight.  Things do develop over a shorter period of time but still they develop and they do so in an evolving to friends and then more without them really realizing it.  Ultimately the choice they make will effect them both more than they realize but the fight will be worth it.

  This book took me by surprise in so many ways and really put Strauss's talent on show.  I knew after reading Colockwise (which she writes under Elle Strauss) that she was good but the writing, the characters and the world in this one really stepped it up a notch.  This is the starting of a series that I will eagerly await each new book.  In fact I am already awaiting the next book which luckily for me realeases mid April.  If you are a fan of dystopians and like a little sci-fi in your novels don't waste any more time an pick this on up!!

Quotes

Really, what did I actually know about Noah Brody?  What made me think he could be trusted?  And why was I still thinking about him?  I had to get back to my search for Liam.

I reached for his hand and weaved my fingers through his.  "But I have you."  I'd defaulted to my base instinct.  Use my looks and charm to my advantage.  I'd once thought that Noah was immune to me, but it seemed that might have changed.

LA didn't frighten me like it had just last week.  I felt like I'd grown up overnight.  My world and mind had expanded because I'd dared to venture outside.

Was it wrong that the only person in the world I trusted, the only person on the planet I wanted to be with now, was an outsider?  A natural and an anti-GAP protester?

When he produced a selection of sweets, I smiled.  He held them out like a candy bar fan.  "I've heard chocolate cures a multitude of aliments."  I laughed a little.  "You know more about girls than you let on Noah Brody."

Giveaway

Lee Strauss (aka Elle Struass) has been kind enough to donate a copy of this 

book for the giveaway & Playing with Matches!! What are you waiting for ENTER!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway