Waiting On Wednesday (93) Biggest Flirts @JenniferEchols

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to share books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Biggest Flirts (Superlatives #1) by Jennifer Echols

Expected publication: May 20th 2014 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis From Goodreads:

The yearbook votes have been cast. Senior year is about to get interesting.

Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laid-back swagger.

As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing away Will drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirt along with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will's new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started out as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated…

If you've ever read my blog at all, you will know that I read everything that Jennifer Echols writes. Biggest Flirts is the first book in a new series that begins next year. May is too far away!

What are you waiting on this week?

Read More »

Review: Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Page Count: 272
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: eArc provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

They Said It Was An Accident...

Sawyer Dodd is a star athlete, a straight-A student, and the envy of every other girl who wants to date Kevin Anderson. When Kevin dies in a tragic car crash, Sawyer is stunned. Then she opens her locker to find a note:

You're welcome.

Someone saw what he did to her. Someone knows that Sawyer and Kevin weren't the perfect couple they seemed to be. And that someone—a killer—is now shadowing Sawyer's every move...

Truly, Madly, Deadly was a great mystery that held enough suspense and thrills to keep me entertained. It was just the right amount of scary (at least for me) and not too dark.

I thought Sawyer was an okay protagonist. I wasn't especially drawn to her, and I couldn't really relate to her, but I could definitely feel sympathy for her because it seemed she was so dejected at times. I liked that she was trying very hard to get her life back on track. I could totally understand why she had conflicted feelings about her boyfriend's death because of the abuse she suffered from him.

Soon after her boyfriend's death, scary and weird things started happening around Sawyer. When she became aware that she was being stalked, Sawyer didn't know where to turn or who to trust. As people around her began getting hurt, it seemed like she was more alone than ever, even though she was surrounded by people who cared about her. There were times when I thought that Sawyer didn't take the threats against her safety seriously enough. I know I was scared for her on several occasions, and just I wish she had shown more interest in her own self preservation.

I was definitely intrigued while reading, and I was very intent on discovering who the killer/stalker was. There were so many twists and turns that I never really felt as though I knew who to point my finger at. Even though I had suspicions early on, I really had no idea who the killer/stalker was, so I started second guessing myself. It totally made sense in the end, but I was still very surprised.

I loved the pace of the story. The author did a great job at keeping up the suspense throughout the book. This was a good page turner that held my interest and kept me reading right up to the end. Truly, Madly, Deadly was an enjoyable and entertaining read that I recommend to anyone who loves a good YA mystery.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


YA Contemporary Challenge
Stand Alone Reading Challenge

Read More »

Review: Real (Real, Raw & Ripped #1) by Katy Evans

Series Saturday (5) and Review

Today on Series Saturday I am featuring a review of Real by Katy Evans. This is the first book in the Real, Raw & Ripped series. There will be 4 more books in this series: Mine, Remy, Raw, & Ripped.

Real (Real, Raw & Ripped #1) by Katy Evans

Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Page Count: 320
Published by: Gallery Books
Source: eArc provided in exchange for an honest review


New Adult Contemporary Romance **Mature Content**
Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

Synopsis From Goodreads:

HOT. SEXY. POWERFUL. PAINFUL. REAL. The scorching international bestseller that strips away everything you’ve ever believed about passion . . . .

Remington Tate has a bad-boy rep in and out of the ring, a granite-hard body, and a raw, animal power that sends his female fans into a frenzy. But from the moment their eyes lock, the only woman he wants is Brooke Dumas. His desire is pure, all-consuming, and REAL.

Hired to keep his perfect body working like a machine, Brooke finally has the lucrative sports therapy job she’s been dreaming of. But as she tours the dangerous underground fighting circuit with Remy and his team, Brooke’s own body becomes alive with the most primal of hungers. If what happens between Brooke and Remy is ever as light as a flirtation, it quickly becomes an erotic obsession for them both, and promises so much more.

But their white-hot lust has a dark side—and when Remy’s deepest secret comes to light and Brooke’s familial duties demand action, will the pair be able to hang on, or will everything that once seemed so real suddenly fade away like an illusion?

You know what? Honestly, this was not a terrible book by my standards. However, the use - sorry, I meant to say OVER use - of certain words, phrases, and actions caused me to rate this book down.

The repetition in this book was beyond ridiculous. The clenching! Everything clenched, all the time, and several times a page. There was too much licking. Like all the time licking. It was just too much for me. Oh, the scenting. They didn't smell each other, they scented. I don't even know WTF that means exactly, but it was worrisome for me. Also, Brooke had a condition... I'll just stop here and simplify things. She was horny. Perpetually horny. And her inner dialogue was really forthcoming about her constant wet state. That's not something I wanted or needed to know.

Needless to say, I didn't like Brooke at all. I couldn't understood her way of thinking and acting, so I never really connected with her.

I really didn't get to know Remy very well, but for some unknown reason, I really liked him. He was troubled, yet I found him intriguing, and I wanted to know more about him. That doesn't mean that I agree with the way he handled things. I really wanted Remy to man up and own his problem, and be proactive in doing something about it. Instead, he hired people to 'handle' him when his problem got out of hand. I would have preferred Remy facing things head on and taking the responsibility for it himself.

I really didn't get Brooke and Remy's attraction, other than they were hot for each other. I honestly can't even tell you if they were good for each other or not. And I don't know if either one of them brought anything worthwhile to the relationship. It really had disaster written all over it!

Halfway through the book I was desperate for conversations between Brooke and Remy. Was it really that difficult to write real conversations between the two of them? They barely speak to each other! The whole music thing was alright, but I would have preferred actual dialogue.

Surprisingly, I found Real to be an addictive read. One that I couldn't put down until I finished it. Just be aware that there are tons of issues with this book. There was some really bad writing at times, too much repetition, and immature actions and inner dialogue. What I really enjoyed was the boxing/fighting aspect. I do think that Real had the potential to be really great, but it fell short for me.

I am contemplating reading the next installment titled Mine. I just don't want to suffer through more of Brooke's POV! The 3rd book, Remy, will be from Remy's POV, which I think I will enjoy because I AM interested in learning more about Remy.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read More »

Waiting On Wednesday (92) Time After Time

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to share books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Time After Time (Time Between Us #2) by Tamara Ireland Stone

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: October 8th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never should have met, but they did. They fell in love, even though they knew they shouldn't. And they found a way to stay together, against all odds.

It’s not a perfect arrangement, though, with Bennett unable to stay in the past for more than brief visits, skipping out on big chunks of his present in order to be with Anna in hers. They each are confident that they’ll find a way to make things work...until Bennett witnesses a single event he never should have seen (and certainly never expected to). Will the decisions he makes from that point on cement a future he doesn't want?

Told from Bennett’s point of view, Time After Time will satisfy readers looking for a fresh, exciting, and beautifully-written love story, both those who are eager to find out what’s next for Time Between Us's Anna and Bennett and those discovering their story for the first time.

More Time Travel! This time from Bennett's POV! Sounds awesome to me. Despite the meh ending of Time Between Us, I am really looking forward to reading this one (sooner rather than later since I have an arc!) I'm looking forward to finding out more about Bennett and his time traveling abilities.

What are you waiting on this week?

Read More »

All Our Yesterdays is not a stand-alone? WHAT?!?! @cristinterrill

This is freaky, yet fantastic, news to me! I really thought All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill was a stand-alone! Now I've found out that it's part of a series titled "Cassandra Chronicles." Even though book #2 is still untitled, and has no cover or release date, I am so very excited to read it. All Our Yesterdays was beyond awesome, and I thought it was all wrapped up at the end. BUT.... I can totally see how it could be extended to a series because there are so many things that could still take place.

Here's the little blurb from Goodreads:
''More Marina, James and Finn! The future didn't turn out quite the way they'd planned."

Read More »

Tune In Tuesday (22)

Time again for Tune In Tuesday hosted by Kate of Kate's Tales of Books and Bands.

For the past 2 weeks I have been working out with my MP3 player on shuffle. It's working for me (at least for now) because it's staying fresh. But I tend to move on to the next song until I find something I want to hear. Country works for me as long as it's something good. These are some of the songs I have been grooving on lately. I tend to go back to my country roots often. My daughter calls it twang twang music. Yep, she loves me.

Brantley Gilbert - More Than Miles


Tyler Farr - Redneck Crazy


Justin Moore - Point At You


Randy Houser - Runnin' Outta Moonlight


Thomas Rhett - It Goes Like This
Freaks me out how much he looks like his dad! I used to listen to Rhett Akins back in the day :) Now I feel old.


The Band Perry - DONE.
Girl Power!

Read More »

Review: Take Me Now by Faith Sullivan

Take Me Now (Take Me Now #1) by Faith Sullivan

Publication Date: July 16, 2013
Page Count: 160
Source: eArc provided by author in exchange for an honest review

New Adult Contemporary Romance **May Contain Mature Content**
Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

Synopsis From Goodreads:

How do you survive the internship from hell?

Don't fall in love.

Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazette would be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy's boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.

But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it's been a while since he's shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy's rescue out of the blue, it's not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren's back. When they get caught, Ivy's journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.

Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.

I decided to take a chance on an author that was new to me. While I did enjoy reading Take Me Now, it was not a completely satisfying read for me.

Ivy was an okay character, but I didn't particularly care for her. I did like that she seemed determined to succeed in college and wanted a secure future for herself. But I found her to be a bit immature and naïve at times.

I liked Eric, and I admired his determination to get back on his feet after going through some difficult times at such an early age.

I liked Eric and Ivy as a couple, but I would have preferred more of a build up in their relationship. It was too rushed and I couldn't understand why they were attracted to each other. I would have loved more meaningful conversations between the two of them, and I would have loved to see Eric and Ivy dealing more with Eric's past.

This is a difficult book for me to review. It's not that I didn't like it, I just wasn't overly impressed by it. It was short at only 160 pages, yet there was a lot going on at all times. To me, some of the situations were unbelievable and too dramatic, which made them feel overly contrived. I felt there were too many outside forces and characters that were trying to keep Eric and Ivy apart. I can understand testing a relationship by having a roadblock or two thrown in their way, but there were way too many obstacles for my enjoyment.

Despite it's issues, I still enjoyed reading Take Me Now. I thought the premise was very interesting, and I enjoyed the story for the most part, but the overall execution was lacking. I am interested in continuing Eric and Ivy's story, and I hope to see more character development in the sequel.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read More »

Review: Lick by Kylie Scott

Lick (Stage Dive #1) by Kylie Scott

Publication Date: July 1, 2013
Page Count: 286, Kindle Edition
Published by: Momentum
Source: eArc provided in exchange for an honest review

New Adult Contemporary Romance **Mature Content**
Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas’s plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure as hell never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is for certain, being married to rock and roll’s favourite son is sure to be a wild ride.

Oh my. What did I just read? Lick was one fantastically awesome book! I picked this up to read a few pages before bed one night, and the next thing I knew it was 3 a.m. and I was past the 75% mark. I didn't want to stop reading. It was THAT good!

I really liked both David and Evelyn because they were written so well. David was a hot rock star, yet Evelyn is totally unimpressed with his lifestyle. They are so different, yet somehow when they are together they totally work! Though they had a bit of communication issues in the beginning, I loved their interactions. They were so witty and such fun together! I thought their relationship was completely believable, passionate, and romantic.

I found it impossible not to fall for David. He was deeper and far more sensitive than I first gave him credit for. He was very caring towards Evelyn, and was willing to put in the time and effort in an attempt to make their unconventional marriage work. He was incredibly sweet and charming, and he was looking for something meaningful in his life.

Evelyn was a bit vulnerable and naïve, and more than a little bit insecure, but I loved that she was not a pushover. She wasn't afraid to fight for what she wanted, and she definitely let her thoughts and feelings be known.

I was really surprised by how hurt David was when Evelyn didn't remember getting married. David couldn't understand why Evelyn doesn't want to stay married to him, despite the fact that they are virtually strangers. Now that Evelyn wants nothing to do with him, he wants nothing more than for their marriage to work. Will these two completely opposite people learn how to work through their differences, or call it quits and go their separate ways?

The supporting cast of characters were wonderful. I especially loved Malcolm and his wit. He was very entertaining and I am looking forward to reading his story next. The entire band made an appearance in Lick, and I can honestly say that I did not like all of them. My opinion of them may change depending on what happens with them as the series continues.

One thing I noticed that I had a good laugh about was David kept saying 'yeah' at the end of some sentences, and there were a few instances where someone else said something that was a bit off. So I went looking - and I discovered that the author is Australian! I had an "a-ha" moment and it all made perfect sense. (The only reason this stood out to me was because the characters were Americans and the setting was in the U.S.)

Lick was unexpectedly entertaining and enjoyable. While not overly dramatic, I thought it had just the right amount of angst to keep things interesting. I loved the premise, and I thought the story was perfectly executed. The writing was really good, and the pacing was spot on. I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of this series!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read More »

Waiting On Wednesday (91) The Naturals

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to share books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Hardcover, 304 pages

Expected publication: November 5th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

This one sounds super amazing! I was so excited when I received this on NetGalley, and I can't wait to read it.

I've never read anything by this author before, so hopefully I will enjoy it. And also, this cover? I love it. The other cover with the blonde girl on it didn't interest me at all. But this one? It got me to read the synopsis and add the book to my tbr.

What are you waiting on this week?

Read More »

Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Page Count: 352
Published by: Simon Pulse
Source: Library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

The Book of Broken Hearts was awesome! Such a great contemporary, and it was so much better than I thought it would be. It is a completely wonderful story about love and family.

Jude was an awesome protagonist, and I totally loved everything about her. She is pretty, smart, and funny. I loved her ability to think for herself and make her own decisions. I especially loved her relationship with her father.

Emilio is a bit tough, but he also has a vulnerable side to him that definitely makes him more swoon worthy. He has a ton of charm, and I loved how sweet he was with Jude and her family - you could really see how much he cared about them.

I absolutely loved Jude and Emilio together. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved how their relationship was built on mutual admiration and respect. They both had their struggles and a lot to overcome, but deep down they were both good people. I loved how easily Emilio slipped into the Hernandez's lives and just seemed to fit.

I loved the idea of THE BOOK. It seriously made sense for her sisters, and I could completely understand why they made it. But times have changed, people have changed, and the book just didn't have the same meaning for Jude. What Jude needed was to learn how to deal with her feelings for this Vargas brother without any interference from her sisters.

I thought this was a wonderful, family oriented story with amazing characters. Although there is an adorable romance, this book deals with some pretty serious issues too. It is both heart warming and heart breaking. I have such tremendous love for this book, and I highly recommend it.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read More »

Series Saturday (4)

Series: Woodcutter Sisters

Enchanted (Woodcutter Sisters #1) by Alethea Kontis

I loved Enchanted so much! I thought it was a fantastic story. It was sweet and charming, cute and complicated, quirky, beautiful, and romantic. Kontis was so clever with the way she effortlessly weaved familiar fairytales with original aspects to make a truly interesting story. I loved all of the wonderful characters because each had a unique personality and played an important part in the story.

I really loved the unconventional romance between Rumbold and Sunday. Rumbold begins this tale as a frog, but he somehow manages to make Sunday fall in love with him despite this. Later, as a man, Rumbold attempts to make Sunday fall in love with him all over again.

I can't wait to continue reading this magical and romantic series with the next book, Hero, which will be released on October 1, and will feature Sunday's sister, Saturday, and a pirate ship! The third book in this series Beloved, features Friday and will be released in 2014.

Have you started reading this series yet? Does this sound like something you would enjoy reading as much as I did?

Read More »

Waiting On Wednesday (90) Rebel Belle

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to share books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Rebel Belle (Untitled Series #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: April 8th 2014 by Putnam Juvenile

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

Ugh! Such a long wait for this book to be released! BUT... I don't care because it's Rachel Hawkins, author of the amazing Hex Hall series (and School Spirits!) Rebel Belle sounds like all kinds of awesome.

What are you waiting on this week?

Read More »

Review: Catching Liam (Good Girls Don't #1) by Sophia Bleu

Catching Liam (Good Girls Don't #1) by Sophia Bleu

Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Page Count: 380, Kindle Edition
Published by: Sophia Bleu Books
Source: eArc provided in exchange for an honest review

New Adult Contemporary Romance **Mature Content**
Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Twenty-one year-old Jillian Nichols only has one rule when it comes to boys: catch and release. Boy-catching isn't just a game for Jillian and her friends, it's a lifestyle. After all, boys might be good for a dance or a drink and certainly a little under-cover action of the scandalous variety, but expect much else and you're bound for heart ache.

So when her best friends and fellow boy catchers start dropping like flies junior year, Jillian is determined to keep boys in her bedroom and out of her heart. Until she meets Liam McAvoy, the kind of guy that sticks around to make waffles and who can't—or perhaps won't—take a hint.

Study abroad student Liam doesn't want to be another notch on Jillian's bedpost. Actually he has much more interesting ideas for Jillian and her bedposts, but his student visa's set expiration date means he can't promise her forever. That doesn't mean he's going to walk away from the challenge of discovering why Jillian is hell-bent at keeping people at a distance.

Before long, neither is sure who is catching who—or if they're playing for keeps. Jillian knows one thing though: falling in love will not only break the only rule of boy-catching, it could also break her heart.

This is a standalone novel in the Good Girls Don't series.

I really didn't know what to expect when I started reading Catching Liam. It really surprised me and I ended up loving it! It was the perfect mix of heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Jillian and Liam were terrific characters that were easy to connect with, and I really enjoyed reading about them. Their relationship started off a bit differently than most, and I enjoyed watching them get to know each other. On the surface Jillian and Liam are so different, yet they seemed so perfect for each other. I love their personalities and the way they interact with each other. Even though the attraction between them was instant, I liked that the romance was slow in developing.

Jillian had some serious issues, and I love how the author dealt with things realistically. Jillian was the perfect blend of tough and vulnerable. Liam had a big heart and was very supportive, and he showed he definitely had staying power. He also had a ton of patience when Jillian repeatedly tried to push him away.

The plot went a lot deeper than I thought it would, and it made this an interesting read. Along with the sweet and steamy romance, we also had a lot of funny, dramatic, and angst filled moments that really made this a well rounded book.

Overall, this was a terrific book that I really enjoyed reading. I thought the characters were well developed and the writing was perfect. Catching Liam is a heartwarming contemporary story that I found to be highly entertaining, and I would definitely recommend it. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read More »

July Recap and August TBR

I'm feeling pretty good because I managed to read 10 books last month! That's a lot for me. I am reading a ton of arcs this month for September reviews. Hopefully they are really good books! I'll be sure to let you know what I think of them.







Books Read in July:

Weather Witch (Weather Witch #1) by Shannon Delany
Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne
Lick (Stage Dive #1) by Kylie Scott
When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney
Catching Liam (Good Girls Don't #1) by Sophia Bleu
The Last Boyfriend (Forever Love #1) by J.S. Cooper
Wild Cards (Wild Cards #1) by Simone Elkeles
Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair
Take Me Now (Take Me Now #1) by Faith Sullivan

Total Pages Read in July: 2726

Reviews Posted in July: (Click on title to go to review.)

Burning by Elana K. Arnold
Weather Witch (Weather Witch #1) by Shannon Delany
Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
The Last Boyfriend (Forever Love #1) by J.S. Cooper
Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman
The Rules for Disappearing (The Rules for Disappearing #1) by Ashley Elston





August TBR:

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill Read
Starry Nights by Daisy Whitney Read
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange
Out of Play by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn Read
Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts
Thin Space by Jody Casella Read
Real (Real, Raw & Ripped #1) by Katy Evans Read

I don't know if I will read all of these books before the end of the month, but I am certainly going to try! I have SO many arcs of September books that I will have to read the others in September. I don't even know what to read first because I want to read them all NOW! Any suggestions on what to read first?

Read More »

Series Saturday (3)

So, this week I want to talk about the Fallen series by Lauren Kate. I will admit up front that I have not read all 4 books. I just....no way. I couldn't force myself to go beyond the first 2 books.

Oh, I was all up on that bandwagon when Fallen came out. So I read Fallen, like a lot of other people, and I really couldn't say whether or not I liked it. I had no idea if I didn't 'get it' because it was awesome, or if I didn't 'get it' because it was so bad. And I had absolutely no idea what just went down. What was with the past lives and the fires and the disappearing after kissing? I'm getting old, and my mind is failing me, so I can't recall many details of this series. At the time I thought that I would just wait for Torment to come out, read it, and figure it out then. Like I would actually get a freaking clue and more info from Torment and understand what the frick happened in Fallen.

If you have read this series, then you know that didn't happen. Not even close. After I read Torment I was more confused than ever. I just didn't get it. It didn't make sense then. I doesn't make sense now. And I've thought about it. Lots.

So wait. Check this out. I came up with a brilliant idea. I would read Fallen again! Because THAT made sense to me. Seriously. I thought that if I just read Fallen again, all those secrets and hints and creepy killer kisses and mysterious past lives other weird things I didn't understand would all come together and I would have an "Aha" moment. Yeah right. I was more confused than ever!

This series has ended, and no one talks about it anymore, so I don't know if I am the only one still scratching my head over the first 2 books. Is it really just me? I certainly hope not. I like to think that I am fairly intelligent, but this shit has me thinking I'm cray-cray.

It's frustrating!

I can't possibly continue with this series when I'm constantly thinking WTF just happened? And getting NO answers. And wait - why do Luce and Daniel love each other? And WHY did this 'trilogy' become 4 books?

Is Torment an appropriate name for this book? Let me know what you think of this series!

Read More »

Review: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

The Rules for Disappearing (The Rules for Disappearing #1) by Ashley Elston

Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Page Count: 320
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Source: eARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

I picked up The Rules for Disappearing completely expecting to be entertained, and I was not disappointed! This book totally worked for me. Especially the ending. I didn't see that coming, so I was pleasantly surprised.

I enjoyed reading about Meg, the protagonist, and I could definitely sympathize with her situation. I liked that she was protective of her family and would do anything for them. I loved her relationship with her younger sister, Teeny. Meg was definitely strong willed and had a lot of determination.

I thought Ethan was a lovable character. I really liked him, and I enjoyed the romantic element that he brought to the story. Meg really needed someone outside the family that she could feel safe with, and he turned out to be a great guy and very supportive. I loved his scenes with Teeny - he was so sweet with her! And he was so caring and understanding with Meg, even when she tried to shut him out.

It's hard to imagine how difficult it would be to live in the Witness Protection Program. Elston was able to show how it affected the entire family in a negative way. While I was reading, I was dying to know why Meg and her family were in the Witness Protection Program. I didn't guess the correct reason, even though I tried to piece the clues together. I definitely had theories, but I was still surprised when the truth came out.

One thing that I really enjoyed, was at the beginning of each chapter were Meg's Rules for Disappearing. In order to survive the constant moving and changing, Meg has developed a set of 'rules' that she follows regarding the program. She is getting tired of new identities and being secreted from location to location, and she is always hoping that this will be her family's final move. I found the chapter titles to be interesting - they were like getting a glimpse at what Meg would be dealing with in each chapter.

Overall, I thought this was a very entertaining story. The plot was laid out very well, and I loved the way pieces of the truth were revealed little by little. There was enough suspense and action to keep me reading right up to the end. There was wonderful dialogue, terrific character development, and the writing was stellar. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


2013 Debut Author Challenge
2013 YA Contemporary Challenge

Read More »