TSK, TSK, What to Read?: BLOG TOUR: Naturals (The Lost Souls series) by Tiffany Truitt

Ripped away from those she loves most, Tess is heartbroken as her small band of travelers reaches the Isolationist camp in the mysterious and barren Middlelands. Desperate to be reunited with James, the forbidden chosen one who stole her heart, she wants nothing to do with the rough Isolationists, who are without allegiance in the war between the Westerners and Easterners. But having their protection, especially for someone as powerful as Tess, may come at a cost.

When James returns, Tess’s world once again feels complete—until she discovers her sister, Louisa, has taken up her old post at Templeton, the dangerous chosen ones training center and the site of Tess’s loss of innocence. Tess will do anything to protect her loved ones—but will the price be more than she can give?

This second book in Tiffany Truitt’s dystopian series is a thought-provoking, thrilling story that asks who the true enemy really is—the chosen ones who are different, or the naturals…who are just like us.

Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonalds and Banana Rats (don’t ask), she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).

Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman (5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered “low brow” or outside the “classics.”

Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The Outsiders, Speak, Night, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Uglies, and Matched.

Tiffany is proud to call herself an educator and Young Adult author. Her first book will be published by Entangled Publishing.

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Chosen Ones

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Life is bleak but uncomplicated for sixteen-year-old Tess, living in a not-too-distant future where the government, faced with humanity's extinction, created the Chosen Ones, artificial beings who are extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

When Tess begins work at Templeton, a Chosen Ones training facility, she meets James, and the attraction is immediate in its intensity, overwhelming in its danger. But there is more to Templeton than Tess ever knew. Can she stand against her oppressors, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

As I dove in to the book, I couldn't really guess where it was going to take me. When I met Tess and heard about the life she led, you automatically feel the oppression, depression, and loathe the government for what has come to pass.

Chosen Ones paints a world for us that has suppressed humans and elevated the lab creations called the chosen ones. The chosen ones are beings manufactured by scientists to ultimately be on the front lines of the battles/wars going on in the world. They are referred to many times as soulless creatures and the humans have no interaction with them. Yet, at one of the training facilities, Templeton, we get a first hand experience of what is really going on.

As you know, I don't like to give anything that will spoil the book for you, the reader. Going in to details of events and scenes from Chosen Ones, I am afraid I may just end up doing that.

So, I am going to give as little as possible and see if I can relay exactly what I thought....

Our two main characters are Tess and James. Tess is a human girl that is struggling with being who she wants to be and being who she has to be to conform to the government. So many events have taken place in her life that has brought her to where she now has to work in the training facility, Templeton. She has become uncaring, numb to what is going on around her. Believing that closing off the emotions will be the best and ultimately get her through her life. But, don't all do that from time to time? Is it really so bad of a life to live? Tess begins to see things and starts to reflect on information that has been handed down to her. And, not only is it the information, but she has now witnessed inexcusable actions at Templeton that has caused her to finally stir and wake up to who she really is...

But, she doesn't really do this all on her own. While in Templeton, she is befriended by a chosen one. With meeting James, she finds solace and understanding from the one person she would never have thought possible. I really enjoyed all their moments together. I was always rooting that this would be the love story of two people, not destined to be together, finding their soul mate.

There are so many times with Chosen Ones that I wanted to shake Tess and say "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Or grab a hold of James and say "OPEN UP TO HER". The struggles kept you on your toes, waiting to see what was going to happen. The suspense literally sucks you in and forces you to hold your breath....dying to find out what is going to happen.

Do these two genuine, scarred, individuals fall in love? Do they rise up and rebel? Do they just cut their losses and go their separate ways? These were things I HAD TO KNOW!!!

So, I forged on and as some of my questions were answered, more developed and BAM...here we are on a twisted and crazy trip. The secrets that are held til the end drive you to insanity with wanting to read the next book that very instant. Of course, I am pulling my hair out because I HAVE TO WAIT!!! *begins sobbing*

Ok, ok, I am better now....*takes a deep breath* Anyways, from start to finish, I was totally engrossed in Chosen Ones. Wonderfully written, with a unique and intriguing storyline propelled by a dynamic, well developed cast of characters, I highly recommend you pick this book up and begin reading it today!! If you start now, in no time...like April 2nd, book two, Naturals, will be released and you won't have to wait as long as me to continue this fabulous tale!