Altered by Jennifer Rush Review

Altered by Jennifer Rush
(Altered, #1)
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co;  336 pages

When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

Sexy guy alert! Just look at that cover. Let me just tell you, I am glad the cover changed from the ARC. It's not that big of a change, granted but it fits so much better to the book now than it did before. Downside? We don't get to see his whole face anymore *sigh* But that's OK - the back plays a very important part in the story (and let's face it, that is a VERY nice back, right?).

But it's not about the cover that really counts, it's all those beautiful words inside the cover. That's the good stuff. (The front just helps you visualize...never a bad thing!) The title is pretty self explanatory, right? These kids are being altered to basically be super humans. They age slower than normal humans, stronger than normal humans and have some uncanny abilities. Not supernatural abilities like powers, just abilities like remembering things, eating, shooting a gun, being an ass...those types of things. Each one is perfect at at least one of those. The questions is, which description goes with which guy? You have Cas, Trev, Sam and Nick...so many boys. As you can tell from my reviews, characters a focal point of what catches my attention whereas some people are more attracted to the story and the world, the characters really sell a story for me. Jennifer gave us so many great, attractive characters. Not just physically attractive either, but these guys personalities are some of the greatest. Then you add Anna in to the mix and you see so much greatness.

Anna is the daughter of the man whose in charge of this lab where the boys are stores in separate rooms. She has been sneaking down to see them, particularly Sam, since she was young and has now formed a pretty heavy crush on him but it's her relationships with Cas and Trev that really move me the most. Cas is just so...fun loving and energetic and so ADD, it's very appealing. Trev, who is her best friend and confidant - he's so loyal you can't help but love him. I really feel like I enjoy those two the most, especially when they're able to interact with one another with a wall separating them. Oh man, was I laughing a lot just because of them.

This story, not only are they fighting to stay alive, free and figure out their pasts - even Anna finds out more than she anticipated. She finds out she's more connected to this 'project' than she ever anticipated. Everything is so intriguing between the characters relationships, their actions and the twists and turns we all take together. It's such an adventure and I was so sadden to see it come to an end. I could've kept reading but alas, I must wait for the next installment. There are multiple times in this book where you are taken by surprise and of course, a few times where someone betrays you and your trust. Even someone who redeems themselves - possibly someone you may even find yourself falling for, as well.

The romance is a bit different in this book and I can't really talk about it without spoiling something pretty huge so I will leave it at just that. It was different and I really enjoyed it.

If you're looking for something with lots of adventure, mystery, surprises but also with many different characters who you journey with and become friends with (possibly even fall for), you'll want to check out Altered in 2013. I really do believe this book will start you reading off for 2013 with a bang...