{Review} I Remember You by Cathleen Davitt Bell

I Remember You
by Cathleen Davitt Bell
Pages: 310
Source: Purchased
Available as of February 10, 2015
Amazon

For fans of THE FUTURE OF US comes an engrossing story of two teens, whose love for each other is tested by time and fate.

Lucas and Juliet couldn’t be more different from each other. But from the moment Lucas sees Juliet, he swears he remembers their first kiss. Their first dance. Their first fight. He even knows what’s going to happen between them—not because he can predict the future, but because he claims to have already lived it.

Juliet doesn’t know whether to be afraid for herself or for Lucas. As Lucas’s memories occur more frequently, they also grow more ominous. All Juliet wants is to keep Lucas safe with her. But how do you hold on to someone you love in the present when they’ve begun slipping away from you in the future?

Overall Rating

Review

Oh my lord! Where to begin...

From page one I was captivated by Bell's words. I had a hard time putting this book down and walking away from it.

Told from Juliet's POV is the story of her relationship with her high school sweetheart. He remembers her. He is getting flashes of their relationship before it unfolds. Flashes of him in the desert sand, flat topped buildings, and sheets on clothes lines. He remembers her dress, their first kiss... and somehow he makes it all happen sooner. He is remembering his future, their future.

I was blown away by the detail in this story. It starts in 1994 and Lucan can foresee the future. He sees his life before it happens and he thinks he crazy. Juliet thinks he is crazy. This story was a climax. My heartbeat fluctuated with the details on the page. I swear my heart was racing for the last100 pages. I was so invested in these two characters that I was worried I would miss my next formation.

Once Lucas started learning of his future life and what would happen to his world, I began to question how the story would end. Would it be happy or sad? Would my tears be of joy or heartbreak? I was literally (ask my roommate) sitting on the edge of my seat while reading the last 10 pages. I was so glued to the book that I didn't register text messages and my roomies announcement that formation was canceled.

Needless to say, pick up this book!!! It is rare to find a story that makes you forget there is an outside world. I Remember You is romantic, uplifting, and by far one of the best books I've ever read. This is a must read. 

{Review} Broken Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Broken Blood
by Heather Hildenbrand
Series: Dirty Blood (#5)
Source: Provided by Author
Available as of March 10, 2015
Amazon

I thought watching my Werewolf boyfriend get arrested for murder was the worst experience of my life. But then I was knocked out and dragged off to a cell of my own by the very people who were supposed to protect me from danger.

I thought being held prisoner in solitary confinement for weeks on end was the worst experience of my life. But then a visitor came, and I realized I’d been wrong all along. There are worse things than torture and death. Much worse.

He wants my blood. More than that, he wants to get into my head. To use my bond to control his army, to wipe the world clean of anything with dirty blood. I can’t let that happen, but if I don’t he’ll kill every single person I’ve ever cared about—beginning with my Werewolf pack.

The prophecy said I would have to make an impossible choice, but I must be doing this wrong—so far every choice I’ve made has only led to more pain and danger and death. Hunters are pitted against Werewolves and I’m alone in my war against Gordon Steppe. I can’t fight him off anymore; all I can do is try to keep him out of the important places. And I’m failing at even that.

I thought the demons were out there, clearly marked and clinging to the shadows. But they’re not. The monsters are within the ranks of those sworn to protect. The enemy is among us.

Overall Rating

 

 

Note:

This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read...

Dirty Blood

Cold Blood

Blood Bond
Blood Rule

Review

As everyone who visits here should know, I LOVE Heather Hildenbrand and her books. I've loved everything I've read of hers and I will continue to read everything she publishes. Broken Blood is by far the best of the Dirty Blood series.

It's the final chapters of Tara's wild ride with Steepe. She wakes to find herself in a cell, forced to do what he wants if she wants her friends and her pack to survive.

Unlike the rest of the Dirty Blood books, Tara is still her strong, independent self, but she is in the dark about a lot of things that are going on. Granted some of those things are to protect her and her friends, but she doesn't have the same amount of control we are used to... at least not until the end.

I loved that Tara is given choices that will either put her in a terrible position or harm her friends. We get to see her true colors and while I agreed with most of her choices, I probably would have given in sooner for a few. I also loved that I was shocked by what happened in the last handful of chapters. Heather threw a few curveballs that I wasn't expecting, but the ending of this series had its way of coming to where I thought all end.

Overall, I loved this series and highly recommend it to EVERYONE!! Heather's books are a fantastic way to pass the time and are always at the top of my list when friends ask me what they should read. If you haven't started this paranormal adventure, do it now! If you have finish the series!!!!

 

FTC disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.

{Review} Blood Rule by Heather Hildenbrand

Blood Rule
by Heather Hildenbrand
Series: Dirty Blood (#4)
Source: Provided by Author
Available as of August 6, 2013
Amazon

Forty-six.
That’s how many hybrids survived the Hunter attack in the woods after I revived them with an injection of my blood. That’s how many followed me home to Frederick Falls. And that’s how many were now mentally linked to me through a blood bond.

Two days. Three valium. Fourteen hours of sleep.
That’s what it took to realize I wasn’t losing my mind as a result of the noise in my own head.

Sixteen.
That’s how many days have passed since I almost killed Alex. That’s how many days I’ve sat by his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. To ease the guilt, to understand his betrayal, to remember the exact shade of brown in his eyes.

Zero.
That’s my chances of skating by with Gordon Steppe and the Hunter Council. They want me for questioning. I’m afraid what’ll happen if I give them answers.

Overall Rating

 

 

Note:

This review may contain spoilers if you haven't read...

Dirty Blood

Cold Blood

Blood Bond

Review

It has been some time since I posted a Dirty Blood review.... or any review for that matter. Since my training is finally slowing down I sent a message to Heather Hildenbrand asking if she needed more reviews for her Dirty Blood Series. Getting back into the story line wasn't difficult and I quickly found my way back into some of my favorite characters lives.

Alex is in a coma and Tara is anxiously awaiting his wake-up. Too bad Steepe is getting closer to having his way and she may not be able to stick around long enough to see him wake and ease her guilt. Little does she know that her world is about to tip on its axis.

As I stated before, it didn't take me long to get back into the story line, maybe a chapter or two. Remembering who the characters were and what role they played came back to me quickly even after a two year break from this series. Being able to fall right back into a storyline after so long away from it is a feat and I applaud Heather and her ease of doing this without repeating all the big detail or giving a brief summary of what happened in the prior book(s).

To say that I love Tara is an understatement because it is rare to find a strong female lead. She is the female who wants to jump right into the fight regardless of who is standing with her. Some may call this reckless (and it kinda is...), but at least she can be reasoned with. Wes, per usual, is willing to do anything for Tara. He's still insecure, but he wouldn't let her go anywhere without him regardless of what consequence he could face.

I think what I love most about this series is the camaraderie within Tara's pack/group of friends. Even when they don't always agree they still find a way to get from point a to point b. I love that Tara is finally realizing that she can do great things and that she needs her pack to succeed. In the prior books, she didn't want to hear her pack in her head, but now she is coming to terms with how her pack shapes her.

Overall, I'm extremely grateful for the time I found in my training schedule to get back to Heather's amazing werewolf series. Don't get lost in the sauce by reading this first. Go back to Dirty Blood and start from square one. If you enjoy paranormal werewolf storylines you'll most likely enjoy this series. After years of reading paranormal and getting burnt out on it I still look forward to the next book in this series.

FTC disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.

{Review} The Commitment Test by Amanda Aksel

The Commitment Test
by Amanda Aksel
Series: The Marin Test (#2)
Source: Provided by Author
Available as of February 4, 2015
Amazon

When a Valentine’s Day proposal doesn’t come with an engagement ring, Marin Johns begins to wonder if she and James will ever get married. As her closest friends begin to move forward with their lives, she refuses to be left behind.

Hope is restored as she devises a plan to get James down on one knee by becoming the ideal mate. Everything seems to fall into place until her college boyfriend resurfaces after a decade with his own ideas about their future. Will Marin be forced to choose between the man of her dreams and the diamond ring she’s always dreamed of?

Overall Rating

Review

Last year I received an email from my friend Heather Hildenbrand asking if I'd be interested in reading a book by one of her friends. I said sure. The book I read was amazing and you can find my review for The Man Test by Amanda Aksel here. Over the holidays I was home on leave and got an email from that same author asking how Army life was and if I had time to read and review her latest book, The Commitment Test. I couldn't say no and I'm so glad I found time to read it....

Every woman is looking for a guy that makes them forget anyone else exists. Marin Johns found that guy when she was out to prove that all men cheat. All that's on her mind now is getting a rock on her finger. The only problem is he isn't asking.

Just like in The Man Test, Marin takes things into her own hands to get what she wants. First she was out to prove that all men cheat, even found a book on it. Now, she's on a mission to get her man to propose, and of course there is a book on how to do that too. The Commitment Test was just like The Man Test in respect to Marin finding a book and playing out what it says to do and of course the humor in the shenanigans she gets into when going about getting what she wants. It's the same group of friends we grew to love and the same crazy therapist who wants to walk down the aisle.

To say that I loved everything about this book isn't a lie, but it doesn't help the reader determine if they'd be interested. Specifically I loved that Marin still has her own therapist who helps her indirectly. I loved that we still have that "OMG...are you seriously going to do that." reaction when we know that Marin will do anything to get things to go the way she wants. Also, I love that I knew how the book would end, because come on who wouldn't want Marin to get what she wants, but the way it happened made me love it.

Unlike in The Man Test, I didn't feel like I lost faith in men...quite the opposite actually. However, I can tell you that I did feel like this is a great example of how men are in general. They aren't as perceptive to a females wants/wishes/needs as we'd like them to be. This is something I can deal with.

Overall, I highly recommend The Commitment Test to anyone who has read The Man Test. If you haven't read the first book yet you are missing out. I am in love with these characters and look forward to more from Amanda Aksel in the future!

About the Author

Amanda Aksel is an author with an affinity for love. Becoming a couple’s therapist was her “backup” career, and after completing her BA in Psychology she was on her way to solving love's most complicated quandaries one couple at a time. The Man Test is Amanda’s debut novel, and now she plans to solve love's most complicated quandaries one novel at a time.

Facebook | Twitter | Website

{Review} Unmaking Marchant by Ella James

Unmaking Marchant
by Ella James
Series: Love Inc. (#3)
Source: Provided by Author
Available as of February 12, 2014
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Marchant Radcliffe, owner of the exclusive Love Inc. brothel, is no stranger to darkness. He lost his parents in a plane crash and since college has harbored a secret almost too terrible to bear. He keeps his head above water by pouring his energy into his business—and he’s thrived, despite the dark blot on his soul.

Then, after ten years of good fortune, Marchant’s skeletons start to peek out of the closet, tossing him down a trail of ruin that begins with arson and could end with murder. Because he’s kept his struggles private, he has no one to pull him back from the brink.

After a breakup with her longtime fiancé, Suri Dalton, daughter of one of Silicon Valley’s tech tycoons, has nowhere to go except her BFF’s new penthouse in Las Vegas. The last thing Suri is looking for is a man, but after drowning her woes in wine on the flight over, she stumbles into a torrid make out session with a beautiful stranger—who just so happens to be Marchant Radcliffe, playboy and literal pimp.

Despite an immediate attraction, Suri writes Marchant off as exactly the sort of guy she should avoid. Until Love Inc. goes up in flames, Marchant winds up at the bottom of a swimming pool, and Suri is the only one around to pull him out.

What happens when what you see isn’t what you get? What do you do when destiny is too alluring to resist and too dangerous to survive?

Overall Rating

Review

I read Selling Scarlett as soon as it was released and when I heard about Taming Cross, I jumped on it. Unmaking Marchant was no different. When Ella James sent me my review copy on release day I was beyond ecstatic. When I found out that I had a snow day the following day, I hunkered down and read to my hearts content.

Like Selling Scarlett and Taming Cross, Unmaking Marchant followed two other characters around, Marchant and Suri. If you've read Taming Cross, you'll remember a fire... well, Unmaking Marchant picks up just before the fire takes place. We get a nice look into Marchant's life and get answers to questions we didn't even know we had. I enjoyed his and Suri's beginning, but I don't think any story in this series will be as good as Selling Scarlett. This one ends on a cliffhanger. If one sentence was removed, it wouldn't, but needless to say I'm dying for the next book.

Overall, it was definitely a good read. I usually check my progress (percentage wise) while I read, but with this story I went from 47% to 95% and didn't even know it. So, I got lost in it. If you want an book that will make you fall in love with Marchant, if you weren't already, pick this up. If you haven't started the series yet, I highly recommend it. 

{Mini-Review} The Sweetest Game by J. Sterling

The Sweetest Game
by J. Sterling
Series: The Perfect Game (#3)
Source: Purchased
Available as of December 25, 2013
Amazon

This is the third (and final) installment in Jack & Cassie's story!

“It’s one hell of a sledgehammer to the chest when your baseball career comes to an end. It’s like you finally realize that baseball never loved you back. All the sleepless nights, the hours spent at the gym trying to stay fit, the conditioning, the training, the mental preparation, the holiday’s missed, the birthday’s passed, the memories you didn’t get to make with your family…all for what? It’s not like baseball lost any sleep over you. She didn’t stay awake for nights on end trying to figure out how to make you a better player. She didn’t care. Baseball’s a business. A sport. A game. And as much as my entire life has been wrapped up in it, it’s time to let it go.”
- Jack Carter

Overall Rating

Review

When I heard that J. Sterling was writing a third and final book for Jack & Cassie, I about died. Jack will forever and always be my number one book boyfriend. After all the ups and downs that those two faced in The Perfect Game (my review) and The Game Changer, they deserved a bit of happiness. The Sweetest Game could not have been a better ending to their story. Hell, it couldn't have had a better ending...that epilogue was heartwarming and I cried happy tears. While this final installation provided them with one small blip, the way they worked together and handled everything that life tossed at them (in the end..) made me wonder if any couple today has that kind of life. The Sweetest Game had me bawling my eyes out, laughing hysterically, and just overall happy and amused. It was the perfect ending for the perfect couple. If you haven't started this series do so, if you have, why haven't you finished it?!

{Review, Interview & Giveaway} Tell Me When by Stina Lindenblatt

Tell Me When
by Stina Lindenblatt
Source: Provided by Publisher
Available as of January 20, 2014
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Amber Scott should be enjoying life as a college freshman. She should be pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She should be working hard to make sense of her precalculus math class.

She shouldn’t be waking up her college roommate with screaming nightmares. She shouldn’t be flashing back, reliving the three weeks of hell she barely survived last year. And she definitely shouldn’t be spending time with sexy player Marcus Reid.

But engineering student Marcus is the only one keeping Amber from failing her math course, so she grudgingly lets him into her life. She never expects the king of hookups will share his painful past. Or that she’ll tell him her secrets in return, opening up and trusting him in a way she thought she’d never be able to again.

When their fragile future together is threatened by a stalker Amber thought was locked away for good, Marcus is determined to protect her. And Amber is determined to protect Marcus…even if that means pushing him away.

Overall Rating

Review

When I received an email asking if I would like to review this book, I jumped at it. I wanted to know why this girl woke up screaming in the middle of the night and why she had the nightmares. The idea of this story intrigued me and I had to read it. Stina Lindenblatt did a wonderful job hooking me from page one.

The two main characters, Amber and Marcus, are social opposites. Amber is a shadow of herself and isn't easily trusting of anyone. While Marcus had a rough childhood and has turned into a womanizer because of what he went though. Anyone could see how Amber's trust in Marcus would be nonexistent, yet they become close in the time they spend together.

The story itself was fantastic. I didn't expect some of the things that occurred, but I also guessed a lot of the gory details. I loved that we got to see everything from not just Amber's side, but Marcus's as well because they both have wounds that are trying to heal and to understand why one of them does something is heavily dependent on where their mind is at. This story wouldn't be nearly the same if we only got to see it from one side. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, specifically Amber's roommate. She was such an annoying little she-demon, but we find out why towards the end.

There are two things that I can think of off the top of my head that bothered me with this book. First, Marcus gives Amber a nickname... Kitten. Being the huge booknerd that I am, I recognize this nickname from The Perfect Game by J. Sterling. I don't want to say that other books can't use or incorporate the same nicknames that are used in other stories, but the first time I saw "Kitten" while reading I automatically thought of Jack and Cassie. Second, after reading, I never really understood why the story was titled "Tell Me When." Normally you get the sense of why books are titled how they are while reading, but I still haven't figured it out.

Overall, Tell Me When was a quick read that kept me interested. My two little qualms are just personal issues that have nothing much to do with the stories content; therefore, it shouldn't deter someone from picking this book up. If you want to read a NA story that will keep you coming back for more, you've found it.

Interview
With Stina Lindenblatt

Pet Peeves? Everyone has them. Could you tell us about a few of yours?

When it comes to books, it drives me nuts when authors end the story on a cliffhanger. I don’t mean the kind of cliffhanger found in Catching Fire. At least the story problem was resolved before the cliffhanger ending. It’s the ones where you wonder if the author forgot to include the final pages of the book that annoy me.

Other pet peeves include leaving kitchen cupboard doors open. I don’t know what it is about them, but I always manage to hit my head on the doors. It also frustrates me when crossing the street at a pedestrian crossing and cars don’t stop. I mean, do they really think they’ll get to work quicker by hitting a pedestrian?

If you could choose to have any superpower, what would you want and why?

My superpower would be anything that would make cleaning my house super quick and super easy. But not only that. The house would be sparkly clean once I’m finished. Like most writers, I never seem to have enough time to clean the house. Deadlines come first. And what can I say? Running helps me when I’m stuck with a plot point. Cleaning toilets doesn’t have the same effect, though I wish it did.

If we were to take a look at your nightstand, what book would we find?

At this moment, I’m reading Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. I’m like a Jodi Picoult virgin. Normally you’ll find a New Adult or edgy YA novel on my nightstand.

When you aren't writing what do you enjoy doing?

I love photography, especially the close-up variety, and I love to read. My newest hobby is checking out Pinterest. I mean, where else can you go and find hot guys, steamy romance, and cuddly kittens? It’s like a tiny patch of heaven all on the computer.

Name 3 things you always have with you when you are writing.

• Diet Dr. Pepper. I don’t drink coffee so this is my caffeine fix.

• My computer. Sometimes I use my PC and sometimes my MacBook Air. It depends what I’m doing.
• Scrivener. It’s an amazing software for writers that I can’t survive without.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, can you name a few songs that were playing or inspired you while writing Tell Me When?

I wish I could listen to music while I write. Unfortunately I’m easily distracted. If I play songs, I only end up singing (badly) along with them.

Can you describe Tell Me When in 10 words or less?

It’s a sexy story about finding hope, forgiveness, and love.

Where did you get the idea for this book?

I remembered something I once read about stalking. College students are at the highest risk of being stalked than any other population (if you exclude celebrities and the paparazzi who stalk them). While in university, I had to deal with a stalker. Fortunately the outcome wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I researched the topic and decided to write about the life of the victim after the stalker is caught.

Are any of the characters based off of people you know?

There’s a bit of me in both Amber and Marcus, but probably more so with Marcus. He uses sex to deal with his emotional pain, much like I did in university. Other than that, unless it was subconscious, I didn’t base my characters off anyone I know.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

If you ever suspect you’re being stalked, take it seriously. Stalking can be emotionally traumatic and might end up becoming deadly for yourself or a loved one. If you’re in an abusive relationship, the abuser might add stalking to his list of faults and that too might lead to deadly consequences. Get help! Don’t become a statistic.

Giveaway

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{Review} Thief by Tarryn Fisher

Thief
by Tarryn Fisher
Series: Love Me With Lies (#3)
Source: Purchased
Available as of July 21, 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Note to Self

Love is patient; love is kind.
Love doesn't boast or brag.
There's no arrogance in love;
it's never rude, crude, or indecent-it's not self absorbed.
Love isn't easily upset.
Love doesn't tally wrongs.
Love trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what.
Love will never become obsolete.
I'll fight for her.

Thief

Caleb Drake never got over his first love. Not when he got married. Not when she got married. When life suddenly comes full circle Caleb must decide how how far he is willing to go to get the aloof and alluring Olivia Kaspen back. But for every action in life there is a consequence, and soon Caleb finds out that sometimes love comes at an unbearably high price.

Overall Rating

Review

I read The Opportunist (my review) and Dirty Red (my review) the other day. They were both quick reads that I enjoyed. While Thief is no different, it didn't end with a bang like I'd hoped. The series as a whole was amazing because each book tells the each characters story as a whole from both the present and the past and then goes further with the next book. In Thief I loved seeing everything from Caleb and all questions from the first two books were answered. I loved seeing that some scenes weren't as bad as they'd looked. You could go as far as say that Thief is Caleb's redemption. I'm in love with this series and if you haven't started it yet I recommend picking up The Opportunist. You'll get hooked... I promise.

{Review} Dirty Red by Tarryn Fisher

Dirty Red
by Tarryn Fisher
Series: Love Me With Lies (#2)
Source: Purchased
Available as of December 21, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Dear Opportunist,

You thought you could take him from me, but you lost. Now, that he's mine I'll do anything to keep him. Do you doubt me? I have everything that was supposed to be yours. In case you were wondering; he doesn't ever think about you anymore. I won't let him go....ever.

Dirty Red

Leah Smith finally has everything she has ever wanted. Except she doesn't. Her marriage feels more like a loan than a lifelong commitment, and the image she has worked so hard to build is fraying before her eyes. With a new role and a past full of secrets, Leah must decide how far she is willing to go to keep what she has stolen.

Overall Rating

Review

As you all know I read The Opportunist (my review) the other day and absolutely loved it. Going into Dirty Red I wasn't sure how I'd feel considering it was from Leah's point of view. Needless to say I've read, and enjoyed this book. While it was a lot of waiting around for Leah to get her just deserts, it was amusing. There was never one time while reading this that I felt any twinge of sadness for Leah's situation. If anything this story made me dislike her more which I didn't think was possible. She begged and pleaded for the shovel that would dig her grave. I am very firmly team Olivia and cannot wait to start Theif. If you've read The Opportunist or are just now looking into starting the series, it won't let you down.

{Review} The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher

The Opportunist
by Tarryn Fisher
Series: Love Me With Lies (#1)
Publisher: Self Published
Source: Purchased
Available as of February 3, 2013 (first published Nov. 14, 2011)
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Olivia Kaspen is a sharp tongued manipulator used to always getting what she wants. With just one exception-Caleb Drake, the one she foolishly let slip away. After a chance encounter brings Caleb back into her life, Olivia finds herself wanting a second chance with her first love, and asking herself how far she is willing to go to get him back. Her only problem is a red head named Leah, Caleb's new love. Olivia must fight for what was once hers, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.

Overall Rating

Review

The Opportunist has been on my radar for a long time now and I'm happy I finally got a chance to read it. I could go on and on about how much I loved this story, but I'll keep this relatively short...

I loved Olivia and quickly became attached to her because I can see some aspects of myself in her... like how I hate showing my emotions and letting my guard down because I hate being in a vulnerable position. She was manipulative and underhanded, but she did show some remorse each time she did something conniving. On the other hand we have Leah, the current love interest. I could not, for the life of me, stand her. She was as bitchy as they came and I'm not sure I would have treated her the same way Olivia did. The man of the hour, Caleb, came from money, but didn't flaunt it like he could have. He was very level-headed and gentlemanly.

This book is unputdownable. Yes, I did just make that up, but it really is the best word...er, non word?...to describe this book. I loved the story line and the flashbacks. While reading I could never completely pinpoint how it would end; I had an idea, but no solid 'I know what's going to happen!' and at times I questioned some of the small details. By the time I finished reading it was 5am and wayyy past my bedtime. I kept saying 'one more chapter' every time I got to a good stopping point, but carried on with my reading like any good bookworm would.

Overall, this book was a fantastic read and I'm looking forward to finishing the rest Dirty Red and starting Theif. If you haven't picked this series up yet, do so. I can guarantee you'll love it.

{Review} Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hopeless
by Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: Purchased
Available as of May 7, 2013 (first published Dec. 17, 2012)
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

Overall Rating

Review

Colleen Hoover is an amazing writer and I find it sad that this is the first book of hers I've read considering I've had Slammed and Point of Retreat on my shelves for a while now, but have yet to pick them up. I even have a signed, first edition of Hopeless from when Colleen first published this book herself on my shelf and it took me getting a kindle copy to read it. *Head falls in shame*

I love it when books suck you in from page one and keep you enticed and excited the entire time you're reading. I love it when books make you cry (endlessly) because you feel so close to a character, almost as if you are the character, and their pain is your pain. I love it when books rip your heart out only to slowly mend it back together. I love it when I fall in love with a fictional character. Hopeless is all of these.

If I wrote down all my thoughts about this book I would give away the whole story and I don't want to do that. So I'll go with the short and sweet version of what I want to tell you... I immediately fell in love with Sky. She was homeschooled all her life, but entering high school for her senior year without her best friend, the one person who pushed for her to make the leap. Because of her best friend, she already had a reputation and she handled her first few days with grace. She embraced it in a way and I envied her ability to let things roll of her back. It showed how strong she was when she didn't really believe she was all that strong. Getting into the heart of the story and the gorgeous boy with dimples... Sky was cautious because he was so different from all the others and I loved that she didn't give in and fall at his feet immediately. I loved that Holder made mistakes and wasn't made to be this god-like character that could do no wrong. The characters Colleen Hoover gave us weren't cookie cutter, run of the mill, YA/NA characters who fawned over the love interests and explained away their faults. Hopeless is one of the more real books I've read and I loved that nothing was perfect for any of the characters, that there were stories within stories, and everything was tied up and explained by the last page.

Overall, this book was heartwrenchingly beautiful and it made me love and hate reading all at the same time. So much heartache was thrown into this book, but I'm so happy I read it. If you haven't read a book by Colleen Hoover I can't really say much or look down my nose at you because this one was my first, but I can tell you to go pick up this book. So much love for Dean Holder.

{Review} A Risk Worth Taking by Heather Hildenbrand & Merry Bloody Christmas Excerpt

A Risk Worth Taking
by Heather Hildenbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press
Source: Purchased
Available as of October 22, 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When 22-year-old Summer Stafford’s parents split halfway through her senior year at college, Summer’s world is rocked. Everything she thought she knew—heck, everything she thought she wanted for her own life—feels like a lie. The truth is love is a risk. And the true kind, the kind that lasts, might even be a fairy tale.

Reeling from the divorce, Summer derails her own future by breaking up with her parent-approved boyfriend and giving up her lifelong plans for a big-city career. She moves back home, business degree in hand. Dad needs her to fill the gaps her mother left behind; Summer needs to find who she is outside of the cookie-cutter life that failed so miserably for her parents.

Ford O’Neal’s future involves one person: himself. He doesn’t have a permanent address and he definitely doesn’t commit. To a place or a person. Raised by hippies, he plans just far enough ahead to secure his next stop, this one landing him at a work-study program at Heritage Plantation where he can grow his own herbal and medicinal creations.

Summer is gorgeous and smart and fun to be with, the perfect way to pass five months. It won’t be love—Ford’s got too many things to accomplish, too many places to go, before he settles down. Yet Summer pulls him in, challenging him to rethink his own philosophy.

When Ford’s five months are up, each of them must decide if love is really worth the risk.

Overall Rating

Review

Some of you may know how much I love Heather Hildenbrand... and her writing. If you don't, I suggest you go check out every post with her name in it. A Risk Worth Taking is her first new adult contemporary novel.

When first cracking open this story Summer is a college graduate who heads home because her mother abandoned her father and, because of this, is pissed off, recently single, and not living the life she anticipated. Ford, on the other hand, just arrived at Heritage Plantation and is only planning on a short stay. A few months changes everything.

What I loved most about this story is that the characters stuck with me. I purchased this book the day it released on Amazon back in October and started reading it. While I didn't get to finish it in one or even two sittings I did (finally!) finish it on December 14th. When it takes me more than a month to read a book, I normally forget characters names, their stories, and how they got to where they are. This was not the case with A Risk Worth Taking. Summer and Ford were so memorable, that when I did get a chance to finish the story I read a single paragraph and was able to recall everything that had transpired in the earlier pages. I also liked that this story didn't solely focus on the budding relationship between Summer and Ford. Both of them had problems of their own that they worked through on the side. 

There isn't one negative thing I could say about this story. Some people may not like that one or two pivotal scenes don't show how they end, but I liked that because it added to the mystery of what happened. Those scenes were later described through either Summer or Ford's eyes in flashbacks. 

Overall, this book was a fantastic first new adult novel for an author who usually writes young adult paranormal books. If you enjoy reading NA or Heather's other stories, you should most definitely pick this book up.

Excerpt
From Dirty Blood
my review

     I nodded, still reeling from the kiss and the weight of his eyes, and let him pull me toward the door. “So there’s going to be others at this meeting? Like other Werewolves?”

     “Yes, some.” He raised his eyebrow in a challenge. “I thought you said you weren’t scared.”

     “I’m not. I just—what if some of them aren’t happy with me about Liliana?”

     “Tara, no one’s mad at you. They all understand it wasn’t your fault. You had no choice. Besides, we’re pretty sure Liliana was a double agent.”

     “Like I have any idea what that means,” I mumbled.

     “You don’t have to do this, you know. Get involved, I mean. We’ll still protect you.”

     His tone was gentle and meant to be reassuring but I bristled at what he was suggesting. “So, just stay home and hide out while somebody out there takes a shot at everyone I care about? Let a pack of strangers

fight my battles for me?”

     “That’s not what I meant.”

     “I said I wouldn’t freak out again, and I meant it. I’m going to do whatever it takes to find this guy and stop him from hurting people.”

     He nodded, something unreadable in his eyes. “Okay, then.”

     I stopped short, throwing a glance at my closet. “Can I have a minute to change?”

     “I’ll be downstairs.”

     I listened to the sound of his footsteps on the stairs, already feeling bad for snapping at him. I hated my temper, and I hated when it got the better of me even more. But he’d started it, with suggesting I stick my head in the sand. That just wasn’t me.

     When I was sure he wasn’t going to pop his head back in, I took the plunger pieces out of my backpack and stuffed them into my back jeans pockets. Like before, I pulled my shirt down to hide them. Then I pulled on my boots, grabbed my sweatshirt, and headed downstairs. Wes was waiting for me at the door.

     “I’m going to pull the car around. Wait here,” he said.

     I nodded, and he slipped around the side of the house. I turned the key in the lock on the front door and then dropped my keys into my bag. As I did, a familiar tingly feeling hit me, and crawled along my skin, underneath my jacket. My head came up, and I scanned my yard, looking for the source.

     Just like earlier, I saw no one, but I wasn’t going to let it go so easily this time. I flattened myself against the house and crept to the corner, but when I peeked around, it was empty. The quiet purr of an engine broke the silence, and I saw the Aston Martin coming down the street, sleek and silver. The tingly feeling abruptly disappeared.

     I hurried down to the curb.

     Wes pulled to a stop, and I climbed in, grateful that he’d already been blasting the heat. I held my hands up to the vents as he pulled away.

     “When you picked me up just now, did you feel anything?” I asked, as we curved through the neighborhood.

     He glanced over, sharply. “No—did you?”

     “I don’t know. I think so …”

     Wes slammed his foot on the brake, and the car jerked to a stop. I felt myself slam forward, and then the seat belt caught and held me in place. Wes swerved the car onto the shoulder, and a spray of gravel flew up behind us as we came to a halt. “What did you feel?”

     “The same feeling I got at the pool hall. A Werewolf.”

     Wes responded by flooring the gas and jerking the wheel hard to the left. We spun around in a U-turn and sped back through my neighborhood. A second later the car lurched to another stop. Wes threw his door open and then he was out of the car, striding quickly across my front lawn, scanning the yard as he went.

     I reluctantly followed, carefully aware of my body’s nerve endings but there was no trace of tingles this time. I waited on the lawn while Wes did a circle of the house. When he walked back over to me, the disapproval was plain on his face.

     “You should have told me right away,” he said.

     “It was already gone by the time you pulled up,” I said defensively. “Besides, I figured I was just being paranoid, like the other day.”

     His eyes immediately narrowed, making me regret the admission.

     “What do you mean ‘like the other day’?”

     “I got the same feeling in the mall parking lot on Friday night.” I shrugged like it was no big deal. “It went away, though, and I didn’t see anything suspicious so I figured it was nothing, maybe an aftershock of my encounter with Liliana or something.”

     A muscle in his jaw flexed. “Hunters don’t have aftershocks.”

     “Oh.”

     He squeezed his eyes shut and ran a hand over his face. “Next time, tell me immediately, okay?”

     “Okay,” I agreed.

     “You do realize that someone is possibly trying to kill you, right?”

     “Yes,” I said, my voice icy. I crossed my arms in front of me.

     “You’re impossible,” he said, throwing his arms up.

     “And you’re overprotective.”

     Wes looked down at me like he was about to launch into another lecture. Instead, he shook his head and got back in the car. And just like that, the feeling of connection that had lingered since our kiss evaporated.

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{Review} Fifty Shades Trilogy by E.L. James

Fifty Shades of Grey

by E.L. James

Pages: 385

Read: December 2013

Amazon - Box Set

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

Fifty Shades Darker

Pages: 532

Daunted by the singular tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.

But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades.

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.

Fifty Shades Freed
Pages: 579

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees.

Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.

Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

Overall Rating

Review

For the longest time I said I would never read this trilogy. However, I read a sample of the first book a few months ago and decided to give it a try. I attempted to find a copy I could borrow from friends because I refused to spend $30 on fan fiction of Twilight, but that didn't happen. So, last week I broke down and bought the Kindle box set when it was on sale for $8.

Unlike Bella in Twilight, Ana had a little bit of a personality. She had her own thoughts and didn't rely on Christian Grey for her happiness; however, she did find most of it with him. Like Bella, her thoughts revolved around Grey, usually the kink associated with him. Christian on the other hand was very domineering and overbearing. He has a f*cked up past and issues he needs to work through.

There were a number of things I enjoyed about this trilogy. I loved Ana's inner thought bubble. Her inner 'goddess' was adorable especially when she was hiding or pouting. The conversations between Ana and Mr. Grey were amusing and was the only thing that really kept me reading. I loved that I occasionally found myself blushing or looking forward to getting back to the book. 

I could give a laundry list of things I didn't like about this series, but I'll only list a few worth mentioning. First, the writing itself is elementary and devoid of varying sentence structure and, at times, proper paragraphs. I never felt that I was a stickler for proper, varied sentences/paragraphs, but this just ate at me while reading because it was the same thing over and over. Next, the words chosen in some instances lacked sense. For example, when Ana went to meet Mr. Grey's parents sans underwear the word choice changed from saying 'underwear' to 'culotte.' If you look up the definition, culotte means "women's flared trousers cut to look like a skirt" which is not at all underwear. Needless to say, the higher level diction didn't match the poor writing. Beyond the writing capabilities the author was clearly lacking, I often got annoyed with Ana and Grey. They solved most of their problems with one thing, which is never a good foundation for a relationship of any sort. After a while I got bored reading. It was always problem, frustration, sex, sex, good for a day, problem, frustration, sex, sex, good for a day, ect. 

Overall, this trilogy wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be, but it wasn't that fantastic either. At times I looked forward to reading it, other times I dreaded having to have a dictionary next to me to figure out what exactly the author was getting at. Is it worth reading? Sure. Would I buy it at full price? No. Wait for a sale or borrow the books.

{Review} Selling Scarlett & Taming Cross by Ella James

Selling Scarlett
by Ella James
Series: Love Inc.
Publisher: Barkley's Books
Pages: 336
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Available on: April 13, 2013
Read: September 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this - one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago.

Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail.

When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it.

Follow Elizabeth - code-named Scarlett - to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.

I completely and utterly adored this story. While it took a few days to read due to life's distractions, I did have a hard time putting it down once I picked it up. I loved both Elizabeth and Hunter and didn't find their age difference or backgrounds troubling to their pull to one another. Their trials and tribulations made me love each of them more. Elizabeth, while young and educated, had this need to get rid of her v-card and her reasons made her way of going about it somewhat, although slightly troubling, understandable. Hunter, on the other hand, is really a giant mystery throughout the story which I enjoyed because I had to question his motives along the way. Selling Scarlett was and entertaining and captivating read told from two points of view that kept me up late. If you are a fan of more adult themed books, like Crossfire by Sylvia Day or Wallbanger by Alice Clayton, you'll be sure to get a kick out of this one. 

Taming Cross
by Ella James
Series: Love Inc.
Publisher: Barkley's Books
Pages: 336
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Available on: August 19, 2013
Read: September 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

For twenty-three years, Cross Carlson was a playboy. You know the type. Tall, dark, and wealthy. Blue-eyed. Charming. He seemed to have it all so easy. But Cross was harboring a terrible secret - one that helped ruin the life of an innocent girl and almost ended his own.

Finally out of the hospital, Cross is flailing, scarred in both body and mind and stifled by the weight of the secret he still keeps. The only way to absolution lies in a Mexican convent, and going there could cost him everything.

If there's anyone who knows what it's like to screw up big time, it's Meredith Kinsey. Just a few years ago, Merri was an ordinary girl with a job at her college newspaper and white picket fence kind of dreams. Now she's holed up in a Mexican convent, hiding from a drug lord who thinks he owns her.

What happens when the only way out of hell is with the son of the man who put you there? They say love conquers all, but does it really?

I loved Selling Scarlett and my expectations were extremely high going into Taming Cross. While I enjoyed it all the same, it was definitely different. While Selling Scarlett was more focused on sex and Elizabeth's infatuation with Hunter, Taming Cross was more of a "lets get to know you" type of story. We see Cross through his recovery and watch him learn to deal with his new impairment on an extremely risky journey. This story is action packed and very hard to put down. I highly recommend this series and cannot wait for book three in November!

Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone's parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella's books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon's Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To find out more about Ella's projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.