Waiting On Wednesday (172) The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

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

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

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Expected publication: May 5th 2015 by HarperTeen

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

I know everyone has probably seen this book as a WoW a million times, but you know how much I love my contemporaries, so I just had to feature it too! I haven't read her Pivot Point series yet, but I have read and really enjoyed The Distance Between Us and On The Fence. I'm so excited and I can't wait to read The Fill-In Boyfriend.

What are you waiting on this week?

Be sure to leave a link to your WoW so I can visit you back.

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Review: Red at Night by Katie McGarry

Red at Night by Katie McGarry

Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Page Count: 84
Published by: Harlequin Special Releases
Source: Available for Free on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In Red at Night, Stella and Jonah are total opposites. She's the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He's a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella's favorite refuge…the local cemetery.

Stella knows she should keep her distance—after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah's friends. Once he's sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won't have time for her anymore. Too bad she's already fallen for him.

I really enjoyed this short story from Katie McGarry. This would have been really great as a full length story, but the reason that it's a novella is because it was written to feature The Goody Two Shoes Foundation as part of Harlequin's More Than Words project. It still managed to be a really sweet story full of emotion and heart.

Despite their unconventional meeting place, Stella and Jonah form a friendship outside of school. Stella is understandably leery of Jonah's intentions after years of being bullied by his friends. Jonah desperately needs the connection he feels with Stella as he struggles dealing with a tragic event. I loved watching these two characters open up and learn to trust each other, and I enjoyed the way their relationship progressed.

Red At Night was a beautifully written story with wonderful character development. Told in dual POV, Stella and Jonah offer unique voices that convincingly convey their inner struggles.

Enjoyable and easy to read, Red At Night was a satisfying story for me. This book would be a great choice when you want a quick and uplifting story.

Red At Night is available for FREE on Amazon.

Every year, Harlequin's More Than Words award is given to three real-life heroines, women whose courage and vision have helped change people's lives for the better. Once again, three bestselling Harlequin authors have written stories inspired by these remarkable women.

Look for all three ebooks inspired by real-life heroines: Red at Night by Katie McGarry, You Are Here by Liz Fichera and The Gift of a Good Start by Earl Sewell. Visit the Harlequin More Than Words website, at www.harlequinmorethanwords.com, or your favorite ebook retailer to download these free novellas today.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (171) Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin

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

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

Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin

Expected publication: April 14th 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Denton Little's Deathdate takes place in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day they will die. For 17-year-old Denton Little, that's tomorrow, the day of his senior prom.

Despite his early deathdate, Denton has always wanted to live a normal life, but his final days are filled with dramatic firsts. First hangover. First sex. First love triangle (as the first sex seems to have happened not with his adoring girlfriend, but with his best friend's hostile sister. Though he's not totally sure. See: first hangover.) His anxiety builds when he discovers a strange purple rash making its way up his body. Is this what will kill him? And then a strange man shows up at his funeral, claiming to have known Denton's long-deceased mother, and warning him to beware of suspicious government characters…. Suddenly Denton's life is filled with mysterious questions and precious little time to find the answers.

Debut author Lance Rubin takes us on a fast, furious, and outrageously funny ride through the last hours of a teenager's life as he searches for love, meaning, answers, and (just maybe) a way to live on.

I've wanted to read this since I saw it as someone else's WoW pick. It sounds really different and interesting.

What are you waiting on this week?

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Review: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Publication Date: February 3, 2015
Page Count: 400
Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

This book is absolutely brilliant. I don't know if my review will do it justice, but you should know that it's really, really good! It had just the right amount of angst to give me the shivers, and a love story that made me feel all warm and gooey inside. And that's a very good thing.

The majority of the story was told from Skylar's POV. The smaller sections from Josh's POV were actually journal entries that he writes to his best friend. This combination of storytelling allowed the reader to get to know both characters pretty well.

Skylar was innocent in some ways, but she still managed to be tough and independent. I liked how she had her goals set and wasn't going to let anything or anyone stop her. I have to admit to having a little bit of a crush on Josh by the end. There were times when he would say or do something that I thought was amazing. Then he would turn around and do something so stupid that I couldn't help being disappointed with him. But he managed to bring out a lot of feelings in me, so it was hard NOT to like him overall.

I really enjoyed Skylar and Josh’s relationship because it felt so realistic. Even though they had known each other for a long time, it wasn't until now that they finally have the time to get to know each other. They both have their own set of issues to deal with as they attempt to get closer. Skylar needs to keep focus of her goals as Josh struggles to deal with his new reality. Their story wasn't always pretty. But through both the good and the bad, these two were determined to make it work.

I'll Meet You There had just the right amount of angst, turmoil, and love to bring out all sorts of feelings in me. I don't know a better way to describe it, so I'll just say that it's pretty much amazing. The story brought me a lot of joy, but a lot of heartbreak too. I can't help thinking that all books should be as well-written as this one. It's such a powerful and emotional story, and it really touched me.

My rating: 5 stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (170) The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine

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

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

The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine

Expected publication: April 28th 2015 by Balzer + Bray

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Set in the same world as The Promise of Amazing, this smart, surprising, and romantic follow-up to Robin Constantine's debut novel follows two New Jersey teens as they become friends and fall in love. Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Mlynowski, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Madison Pryce thinks she's got everything figured out—she's working on a portfolio for a summer art program and hanging with her friends. Plus she has her hot boyfriend, Zach. But then a visit from a family friend turns Maddie's life upside down.

Jesse McMann is still reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band. Then pride (and some goading from his bass player and fellow barista) forces him to find a new drummer—and the inspiration to write music again.

Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett, who tries out for Jesse's band, and whose girlfriend is BFFs with the cute girl who orders a chai latte after yoga every Thursday: Maddie. What Jesse and Maddie thought they knew about the secrets of attraction and the rules of romance changes once they start falling for each other.

I enjoyed The Promise of Amazing well enough, and since The Secrets of Attraction is set in the same world, I figured I would give it a go. It's another contemporary and it sounds cute, but I'm trying not to expect too much so I'm not let down like I was with The Promise of Amazing.

What are you waiting on this week?

Be sure to leave a link to your WoW so I can visit you back!

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Waiting On Wednesday (169) The Trials (Project Paper Doll #3) by Stacey Kade

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

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

The Trials (Project Paper Doll #3) by Stacey Kade

Expected publication: April 21st 2015 by Disney-Hyperion

Synopsis from Goodreads:

After being on the run, Ariane Tucker finds herself back where she started—under the cruel control of Dr. Jacobs, head of the research facility that created her. Now she must participate in the upcoming trials; a deadly competition pitting her against other alien hybrids, each representing a rival corporation.

But Ariane is no one’s weapon. She is prepared to die if it means taking down those involved in Project Paper Doll. They destroyed all that she holds dear, including Zane Bradshaw, the one person she trusted and cared for the most—the person she was forced to leave behind, bleeding and alone.

As her plan takes shape Ariane will need to depend on, now more than ever, the other side of her heritage—the cold, calculated instincts born from her alien DNA. With Zane gone she has nothing left to lose.

With heart-pounding action, and plenty of surprises, the gripping conclusion to Stacey Kade's Project Paper Doll series delivers a powerful finish that will keep fans hooked to the very end.

Yay! A series I actually WANT to finish! Sadly, most of my 'series love' fades after too much time passes between books. Mostly because I can't remember what happened in the previous book, so I can't get enthusiastic about the next book. That's why I prefer standalone books SO much.

What are you waiting on this week?

Be sure to leave a link to your WoW post so I can visit you back.

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Waiting On Wednesday (168) City Love by Susane Colasanti

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

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

City Love by Susane Colasanti

Expected publication: April 21st 2015 by Katherine Tegen Books

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sadie, Darcy, and Rosanna are living together in New York City the summer before their freshman year of college begins. With no parents, no rules, and an entire city to explore, these three girls are on the verge of the best summer of their lives.

Sadie is a native New Yorker. She is hopeful, romantic, and an eternal optimist who is ready to find her soul mate. Then she meets her dream boy: cute, funny, and quirky in all the right ways. The chemistry between them is unreal. Could he be the one?

Darcy is a free spirit from SoCal with rebellious tendencies and unlimited financial resources. Moving to New York City is just another adventure for her. Darcy wants this summer to be all about boy adventures—nothing serious. But how much fun is too much?

Rosanna leaves Chicago for NYC so she can put her past behind her and reinvent herself. The only thing standing in her way is the grand total of seventy-three cents she has saved. Then she meets a guy who wants to show her the glamorous side of New York—a side that she would never get to experience on her own. If Rosanna doesn't resist, she may find herself in city love.

Told from alternating points of view, City Love captures the moments in each girl's life when everything is thrilling, amazing, and terrifying all at once . . . in a way it will never be again.

You all know how much I love my contemporaries. This is the first book in a new series, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

What are you waiting on this week?

Be sure to leave a link to your WoW post so I can visit you back!

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Review: After Us (Before & After #2) by Amber Hart

After Us (Before & After #2) by Amber Hart

Publication Date: December 30, 2014
Page Count: 368
Published by: K-Teen
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sometimes secrets kill. Maybe slowly, maybe painfully. Maybe all at once.

Melissa smiles. She flirts. She jokes. But she never shows her scars. Eight months after tragedy ripped her from her closest friend, Melissa is broken. Inside her grows a tumor, fed by grief, rage, and the painful memory of a single forbidden kiss.

Javier has scars of his own: a bullet wound, and the memory of a cousin shot in the heart. Life in the States was supposed to be a new beginning, but a boy obsessed by vengeance has no time for the American dream. To honor his familia, Javier joins the gang who set up his cousin's murder. The entrance price is blood. Death is the only escape.

These two broken souls could make each other whole again - or be shattered forever. Our time will come. And we'll be ready.

After Us is the second book in the Before & After series. It features Melissa and Javier, two secondary characters from the first book, Before You. I liked that After Us was told in dual POV in alternating chapters from Melissa and Javier. It made it easier to get to know both characters better and really helped me to understand their struggles. It was easy to see how Melissa suffered by holding her secrets in and trying to deal with things on her own. And Javier's need for revenge played a big part in the story. I found myself really interested in the trouble Javier found himself in, and I couldn't wait to see how it was resolved.

I didn't like the love story as much as I did in the first book. It felt a little forced and unrealistic to me. I could totally understand why they needed each other so much. But with the lack of honesty between them, I don't see how they could have true commitment and a trusting relationship.

My main problem with this story was that both protagonists were whiny and bitter - which made it so darn difficult to like them. I wanted to feel more for them, and I wanted them to bring out my compassion (which I have a LOT of!) but it just wasn't happening.

Overall, this isn't a bad story by any means, and I did find it enjoyable enough. I so badly wanted them both to have some sort of resolution and be able to move on with their lives, and I think that was accomplished by the end. Although I felt that the ending came about too quick and neat to leave me completely satisfied.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Maybe Me, which features Javier's younger sister Maria. I can't wait to find out how Javier and Maria's mother will react when another one of her children gets into a relationship with an American.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

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