Review: Untold

Free from bonds, but not each other

It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

Title: Untold (The Lynburn Legacy ~ Book 2)
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog
Publication Date: August 29 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Length: 336 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Love it, the colors, the creepy factor, everything.
Point of View: 3rd person

My Rating: 5 Stars

I love this series and these characters beyond all reason.  A year ago when I read Unspoken, I fell in love.  I fell in love with the setting, the dialogue, the characters, honestly I just fell in love with every single aspect of Unspoken.  I patiently waited for Untold to be released and then I hurriedly jumped right back into the world of Kami, Jared, Ash, Holly, Angela and Rusty.  As soon as I started, I let out a content sigh of relief.  It was great to be back.

“It must be nice,” Holly said tiredly, “to know exactly what you want.”

“Not when you know what you want, and you know you can never have it again,” Jared told her.

If you have read Unspoken, or my review for it, then you will know that it had a pretty heavy duty cliffhanger.  My heart was left broken into two.  And, over the last year Sarah has been releasing little teasers... or should I say evil teasers, to get us ready for Untold's release.  We asked for a kissing scene, and she gave us the absolute wrong people kissing... and so it went.  It has been a year of torture, and I think Sarah enjoyed making us crazy.

So was the torture worth it? Absolutely.  Untold picks up right after Unspoken ended.  We now know that magic has returned to Sorry-in-the-Vale, and there is a war for power upon the horizon.  There are secrets uncovered and even more tales to be figured out.

“I don’t think you’re weak,” Jared said. “I want to guard you because you are important to me.  Because you are –God, this is going to sound so stupid, I can never think of a way to say it –you are precious.   I can never think of how to describe the value you have on me, because all the words for value suggest that you belong to me, and you don’t.”

Kami and Jared.  *sigh*  How much do I love these two?  I can't even put it into words.  I want nothing more than for them to end up together and happy.  Untold is a roller-coaster of emotion when it comes to their relationship.  There are deep and painful lows, as well as high flying happiness.  I cried frustrated tears, I cried happy tears, and I cried sad tears.  There were times I wanted to knock their heads together, and there were times I wanted just hug them both to let them know it was all going to be okay.  Well, I hope it is all going to be okay.  Seeing as how Sarah herself has in the past commented that she never made any promise that Jared and Kami would end up a couple... I guess anything is possible.  But I have faith that somehow, these two will end up with their happily ever after.  I hope.

“I belong to you.  He has no idea what he’s up against.  And that will get him in the end.  I believe that.  Everything’s going to come right for you.”

“And you,” Kami said again.

“If everything’s right for you,” Jared said at last, “everything’s right for me.”

The side characters are also what help make this such an amazing series.  We see a completely different side to Ash in Untold.  He wasn't my favorite character in Unspoken, and after this I can say my heart has warmed to him.  He is such a sad and lonely character.  I didn't really understand that before.

The only character that annoyed me a little was Holly.  I couldn't understand what was driving her for most of the story.  I kinda understand her a bit more at the end, but I still can't forgive her for some of her earlier actions.  There is one scene that I will never be able to read.  Because of an earlier teaser released by Sarah, I knew the scene was going to happen.  But, I actually made a friend at work read it before me on our lunch hour.  I didn't want to miss anything important, but it hurt my heart too much to actually read it.  When you read Untold, you will know exactly what scene I mean.  I still haven't read it.  I've been given a cliff notes version by my friend.

Then there is of course, Angela and Rusty.  Angela is great as always, she continues to prove how good a friend she is to Kami.  And Rusty, what can I say about him?  I love this guy so much.  He plays a larger role in this book, and I loved every single minute of it.  The dialogue in this series, is one of the reasons I love it so much... and Rusty is right up there with Kami when it comes to the quirky back and forth.  I completely lost count at the number of times he made me laugh.

“I know what other people think about me,” Rusty told her.   “‘That Rusty,’ they say.  ‘Charming and handsome,’ they say first, of course – they’re not blind.  Then they add, ‘All the ambition and drive of a chocolate sundae.’”

What about the ending you ask?  Well, it's another cliffhanger.  Not nearly as painful as the one in Unspoken, but one that has left me very much wanting the final book, Unbroken.  As of the time of this review, there is no exact release date planned, we only know that it will be in 2014.  My guess would be around the same time as Unspoken and Untold, which was around August and September.  I know this seems like a long time to wait, but hopefully we will get lots more teasers from Sarah to make it go by at a swifter pace.

However, if they are as evil as last time... maybe we are best just waiting for Unbroken's release.  I shall be off now to crawl into my hole to wait out the next year...

“I never had a single moment like that, I was never lonely a day of my life, until now.  Now I feel like the world is hell, and hell is a place where the souls of the damned can still see heaven.   Because that’s the worst thing of all.  And yet I can’t look away.”

Shine Not Burn: Blog Tour Stop, Review & Giveaway

IT HAPPENED IN VEGAS.

I can't be held responsible. Things that happen there are supposed to stay there, right? Right? Yeeeah. Not so much.

Andie's just days away from tying the knot, but there's just ooooone little glitch. Apparently, she's already married. Or someone with her name is married to a guy out in Oregon of all places, and the courthouse won't issue her a marriage license until it's all cleared up. Tripping her way through cow pies and country songs to meet up with a man who gets around places on horseback is her very last idea of how to have a good time, but if she's going to get married, make partner at the firm, and have two point five kids before she's thirty-five, she needs to get to the bottom of this snafu and fix it quick ... before her fiance finds out and everything she's been working toward goes up in flames.

Title: Shine Not Burn
Author: Elle Casey | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: July 01 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 360 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Tour Organized by: Love Between the Sheets

Source: ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover Love: Nice, but I picture Mack bigger
Point of View: Alternating 1st person following Andie and 3rd person following Mack

My Rating: 4 Stars

Junior partner at work, husband, then partner at the firm and finally 2.5 kids.  This has been Andie's life plan since she was fifteen years old.  So far everything has fitted into place perfectly... that is until one night in Vegas.  You know the old saying, 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'.  Everything of course, except for drunken weddings nights that you wake up from remembering nothing about...  That is until you are are applying for a marriage license because you are now engaged, only to find out you are already married.

Awkward.

“Just because a person is obsessed with the idea of something, doesn't make it right or even good for them.”

Andie.  Focused, determined and hilarious.  I understood her as a character.  She took a tough childhood and focused on what she thought it would take for her to have a happy and successful life.  What she didn't realize is that it was sucking all the life out of her.  She was existing but not really living.  What would it take for her to finally understand this?  A sexy cowboy of course...

“I doubted at this point that I'd be able to string a coherent sentence together.  His beauty combined with his slow-talking cowboy sexiness had completely robbed me of any intelligence.”

Mack.  Wow.  He is a hot as hell cowboy and as sweet as can be.  There is just something about a hard working, down to earth, no holds barred cowboy.  From the minute Andie and Mack meet, you can feel their chemistry.  Mack never holds his feelings back.  I love that about him.  And as sweet as he is all the other times, he is a complete alpha in the bedroom, and in the shower, and in an open field... Wow indeed.

“Sexy.  Handsome.  Smart.  Sexy.  Magnetizing.  Compelling.  Muscles.  Good family.  Confident.  Polite.  Sexy.”

I absolutely adored every single interaction between Andie and Mack.  When they first meet in Vegas, the sparks are flying.  Then again when she has to go to Oregon to track him down.  Slowly but surely Mack breaks down Andie's walls.  That life plan she had?  Yeah, that's a thing of the past when she is finally shown what kind of future she could really have.

Shine Not Burn was exactly what I needed right now. It was light-hearted, sexy and a heck of a lot of fun.  There is still plenty of angst as Andie and Mack grow closer to each other, but there was also never a moment that I didn't understand the feelings they were each having.  Meaning, I never felt like throwing my Kindle across the room, which is always a good sign.  I found myself smiling while reading, and at the end we are gifted with a beautiful epilogue.  It was the perfect ending.

“Sometimes, we just have to go where the wind takes us and see where we end up.”

MORE QUOTES FROM SHINE NOT BURN

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Review: Origin

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

Title: Origin (Lux ~ Book 4)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog
Publication Date: August 27 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Length: 400 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Not a fan.  Which is sad because I love all of the other covers in this series.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Katy and Daemon

My Rating: 5 Stars

Opal, the cliffhanger that was heard around the world.  It has been a long and hard eight months, but it is finally here.  We now have Origin in our hot little hands, or in my case on my Kindle.  So why was I so nervous to start it?  Because my heart was ripped out of my chest eight months ago and I was scared that it would happen again.  But I pulled up my big girl panties and dived back into the awesomeness that is Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series.

“Did you think you could stop me?  I'll burn the world down to save her.”

First let me just say that it was an absolute joy to finally be inside Daemon's head.  Don't get me wrong... I do and always will love Katy.  She is one bad ass heroine that I have mucho respect for.  But finally, FINALLY, we are able to crawl around inside Daemon's head.  What a glorious place it turned out to be. 

Fierce love and devotion does not even begin to describe the feelings he has for Katy.  We all knew it, even though it did take him three whole books to get the three little words out... but the love he has for her is epic.  I think I fell even more in love with Daemon Black, which before I started Origin I would have said was impossible.  We get to see his compassion, his love for not only Katy, but for that of his family, and the hatred that comes from betrayal.  Yep, you read that right.  Blake's previous betrayal is nothing compared to what goes down in Origin.  I was shocked, and even now thinking about it... wow.  Did not see that coming at all.

“I promise you that this isn't going to be our future, Kitten.  I will give that to you—a normal life."

Her eyes glistened.  "I don’t expect a normal life. I just expect a life with you”

As I said earlier, Katy is bad ass.  There really is no other way to describe her.  She has gradually grown-up as the series has continued on.  She stands up for not only herself but for those that she loves.  You feel her love for Daemon, her fear of what the future holds, and the pain that comes from the thought that her mother is suffering because of her absence.  She is such a strong character.

“I want a years-worth of seconds and minutes with you.  I want a decade's worth of hours, so many that I can't add them up.”

We get to meet some new characters in Origin, but we also get to find out a bit more about some of the old ones.  Most importantly, Luc.  He has always been a mystery to Daemon, but we finally get to find out exactly what he is.  I was like a kid in a candy shop as the story and truth started to unfold.  I was stuck somewhere between jumping up and down, and sitting on the edge of my seat.

There is a fair bit of tragedy in Origin.  Namely the above mentioned betrayal and the results of that betrayal.  Can I just say that I have never been more hyped up while reading the last 20% of a book... ever.  I went from tears of happiness, to mouth wide open shock, to despair in no time at all.  If the end of Opal was the cliffhanger that was heard around the world, then the event that brings upon the catastrophic events at the end of Origin, will forever be known as the betrayal heard around the world.

But, it wasn't all doom and gloom either.  I laughed a lot.  How can you not with Daemon around?  He was his perfectly snarky self.  He is the king of one liners and proved it again and again in Origin.  He has some great banter and even in desperate situations, you find yourself smiling when he is around.  You just know that there is going to be some classic Daemon dialogue.

“Sometimes words were cheap.  They could be powerful, but in those rare occasions like now, words meant nothing.”

I've seen mixed reactions to the ending of Origin.  Some are calling it a cliffhanger, others are saying it isn't.  I for one have to say that I think it ends in a huge cliffhanger.  In fact, I think it pretty much rivals that of the ending of Opal.   Yes, I am serious.  You know how I mentioned my mouth wide open in shock a few sentences ago?  Yeah, it was back and in full force when I reached the final page.  I even had to backtrack a couple of pages and read them again to make sure I read it correctly the first time.

However, as there is one final book left in this series, Opposition, I fully expected a huge cliffhanger.  If there is one thing I know about Jennifer L. Armentrout, it is that she loves to keep us guessing at what is going to happen next.  There is no doubt that I will be reading Opposition as soon as it is released.  We have not even made it out of 2013, and it is already one of my most highly awaited books of 2014.  I need to know what happens next, and I need for Daemon and Katy to finally get their happily every after.

“A certain bone-deep understanding occurred and my hand tightened around the smaller one I held.  It weren't stars we were staring at.  The sky was falling.”

MORE QUOTES FROM ORIGIN

Review: Breakfast at Darcy's

When Darcy McCall loses her beloved Aunt Molly, she doesn't expect any sort of inheritance - let alone a small island.

Located off the west coast of Ireland, Tara hasn't been lived on for years, but according to Molly's will Darcy must stay there for twelve months in order to fully inherit, and she needs to persuade a village full of people to settle there, too. Darcy has to leave behind her independent city life and swap stylish heels for muddy wellies. Between sorting everything from the plumbing to the pub, Darcy meets confident Conor and ever-grumpy Dermot - but who will make her feel really at home?

Title: Breakfast at Darcy's
Author: Ali McNamara | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: November 24 2011
Length: Paperback 448 Pages / Audiobook 11 hours 37 minutes
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Audible

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Narrated by: Beth Chalmers
Cover Love: Cute, fits the story.
Point of View: 1st person, following Darcy

My Rating: 4 Stars

Ali McNamara has quickly become one of my favorite chick lit authors.  Her stories never cease to keep me laughing, romanced and entertained.  Thankfully, Breakfast at Darcy's was no exception.

I will admit that I had to warm to Darcy, but this is kind of the point of the story.  At the start, she is a self-absorbed, label obsessed, glory hunter... and I didn't really care for her very much.  That is until she goes to live on Tara, the Irish island that has been left to her in her Aunt Molly's will.  It is on Tara where Darcy truly starts to come into her own.  Taken out of the big city and put in charge of other people's well beings, she quickly becomes a character that you can care and root for.

There is a bit of a love triangle... no wait, don't run away that quickly.  There is Conor, who is handsome, sweet, and has a love of travelling.  Then there is Dermot, who always seems grumpy, uptight and a bit of a know-it-all.  However... I was never in any doubt as to who Darcy would end up with in the end.  I don't think this is meant to be any real secret to be honest.  I was surprised though with a few of the secrets that are uncovered about one of them.  I won't post any spoilers, but I really didn't see that coming.

However, my true love for Breakfast at Darcy's comes from Tara itself.  I have never wanted pack in my job, and go live on an isolated island as much as I do right now.  To say I was jealous of the life that Darcy and the other residents of Tara have been able to live, is an understatement.  I would give pretty much anything to be able to live as simple of a life.  As long as I had a roof over my head, there is electricity and a bit of Internet access so that I can buy by Kindle and Audible books... I would be in heaven.  Absolute heaven.

I do think the only let down to this story would be the ending.  It wasn't really bad, it's just that I would have liked there to be a bit more build up to the happily ever after.  It seemed a bit rushed, however this could be from me not feeling like I was ready to say goodbye to these characters.  I really would love to read more about Darcy, the island's residents, and of Tara itself.

Because I listened to this in Audiobook, I should mention that I have also become a huge fan of Beth Chalmers.  This is not the first Audiobook I have listened to her as the narrator, and I hope it will not be my last.  She does a superb job, and I think she has an amazing talent with the multiple accents that are used in this book.

Review: Price of a Kiss

I don't care what my cousin says; I am not the queen of impossible relationships. I mean, just because my last boyfriend tried to kill me and left a bit of a scar on my neck, then forced me to move across the country and legally change my name to Reese Randall to escape him, does not mean-

Oh, who am I kidding? For a freshman in college, I have to have the worst dating track record ever.

It's no wonder love is the last thing on my mind when Mason Lowe enters my life. But the chemistry between us is like bam! Our connection defies logic. And he's just so freaking hot. Being around him makes me feel more alive than I've ever felt before. I even like bickering with him. He could be my soul mate...except for one teeny tiny glitch.

He's a gigolo.

Boy, do I know how to pick them.

Title: Price of a Kiss
Author: Linda Kage | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: August 14 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 373 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Perfect, love the colors.
Point of View: 1st person, following Reese

My Rating: 5 Stars

Holy prologue Batman.  Never before has a prologue done such an amazing job of sucking me right into the story.  There was absolutely no way that I was not continuing with this book after THAT beginning.

“Brace yourself for this one, ladies: He had a tattoo.  I know.  I almost spontaneously combusted right then and there.”

Mason.  Holy swoon.  This guy is book boyfriend gold.  I mean that is of course if you are willing to put aside the fact that he sells his body for cash... but other than that, he is perfect.  Your heart will break as you learn more about why it is he has gotten into this profession.  He now feels that he is well and truly stuck.  Honestly, I just wanted to give him a big hug.

“You’re the warm sun that shines when everything else is dark,” he went on, lifting his hands to rest them on the wall on either side of my face.  “A smile and a hug in a roomful of disapproval.  You’re…” Wincing, he pressed his forehead against mine. “You’re everything.”

Reese.  Loved her.  It is rare that I fall completely in love with a female narrator.  But I can say without a doubt that I love Reese.  She made me laugh so many times, I lost count.  I loved being in her head.  Her thoughts about Mason had me laughing till I cried.  I also respect the way she handled her friendship with Mason at the start.  She treated him like he deserved to be treated, like a human being.  She never belittled him or made him feel inferior.  I loved her even more for that.

“Every woman treats me that way, Reese.  I'm not a person to them . I'm just… a good time or something vile to be avoided at all costs.  And then you can along and you… you hugged me.  You are the first person who sees me, Mason, not sex for sale.”

Sadly, this isn't to say I loved every character.  Reese's friend and cousin Eva, I disliked her so much.  In fact, dislike is actually a little too nice of a phrase.  I hated her.  And in my opinion she never redeemed herself for her actions and comments made to and about Mason.  She showed no respect, and had no loyalty either in friendship or family toward Reese in my opinion.  Just didn't care for her at all.

“Eva was right.  I could never deserve you.  You’re too good for me.  You’re out of my reach.  You’re…you’re Reese Randall.”

“You’re wrong.  I’m not.” I wasn’t really Reese Randall, and I certainly wasn’t out of his reach. “All you have to do is stretch out your hand, Mason.” Pressing my palm against my chest, I whispered, “I’m right here.”

And then there is also heartbreak.  I refuse to post spoilers, but I think I am okay to say that there is one part in this book that absolutely broke me.  Honestly. Broke. Me.  I cried my eyes out.  I had to put my Kindle down, sat there with my hand covering my mouth and I was shaking my head no.  I just could not believe what I was reading.  I was in shock.  I was angry.  I was devastated.  *sigh*

Honestly, I can not recommend Price of a Kiss more.  I swear if you just start it you will see right off the bat what I am talking about with the prologue.  You will be sucked in, and you will not be able to put it down.  You will instantly fall in love with both Reese and Mason, you will more than likely cry, you will most definitely laugh and swoon.

“If you love someone enough, you can make them invincible.  Like your feelings for them are so strong they work as a magical shield, protecting them from all harm and pain.”

MORE QUOTES FROM PRICE OF A KISS

Two Roads: Blog Tour Stop, Review & Giveaway

The only person poetry-loving Cali Monroe hates more than herself is Logan Waters, the geeky kid who lives in the dorm building next to hers.

Ever since Cali's parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better--and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. It doesn't hurt that he's part of the reason her brother is dead, either. So Cali hates him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.

But when Cali's parents set them up on a blind date, she begins to realize Logan might not be as boring as she always thought. He shares her love of poetry, takes a sadistic pleasure in making fun of crepes, and he makes her blush when he calls her smile pretty.

And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren't that obnoxious after all…

Title: Two Roads
Author: L.M. Augustine | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Author Spotlight
Publication Date:
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 208 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Tour Hosted By: Shh Moms Reading

Source: ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover Love: Absolutely perfect, and I am loving the colors.
Point of View: 1st person, following Cali

My Rating: 5 Stars

Two Roads is L.M. Augustine's second published novel, however this is his first attempt in the New Adult category.  This is everything that a New Adult book should be.  It is full of witty dialogue, angst, and plenty of swoonworthy moments.

“Our rivalry is beautiful because it makes us both forget about everything else.”

Cali.  She is a complex character.  At first I wasn't a huge fan, but I think that is part of the point.  Cali is battling depression that has been brought on by a death of a loved one.  That loved one was her brother Ben, who was also Logan Waters' best friend.  When Logan enters Cali's life again in college, she turns up the mean girl act.  She starts engaging in an all out war of pranks with Logan.  It soon becomes clear that the outward hostility that is shown to Logan is all an act.  Cali is suffering inside, but feels that by picking on Logan, it is the only way for her to escape her own reality.

That is until she is forced to spend some real time with him, and she finds that they are not all that different.  And most importantly, they both share a love of poetry.

“Everything else fades away, and it’s just him in front of me right now, him and me in our own little world.  And I love it.  And I hate it.”

Logan.  oooOOOooohhh how I have fallen in love with Logan Waters.  He is so sweet and caring.  Logan is suffering also, but it is not as evident as it is in Cali.  Which is why she finds herself disliking him so much.  He laughs, he has real friends, he walks around in his geeky t-shirts... Cali despises that outwardly it would appear that Logan is perfectly normal, and that he doesn't miss Ben at all.

“There are not two roads when it comes to you; there is only the road that leads to your love.”

As the story unfolds, more secrets are discovered that help you to understand the deep hurt that both Cali and Logan have been carrying around.  Your heart will ache for them, but then as they slowly start to lower their walls, your heart will be bursting with love.  There are so many wonderful moments and quotes in Two Roads, but my favorite will always be Logan professing his love for Cali.  Talk about a swoonworthy moment.  You knew it was always going to happen, but it truly touched my heart.  *sigh*  He is such a romantic.

“And that's the thing about love; no matter how hard you search, no matter how hard you run, sometimes, just sometimes, true love is right in front of you all along.”

I strongly suggest that you read this book, you will fall in love with Logan and your heart will break for Cali as she tries to rebuild her life after the loss of her brother.  L.M. Augustine has proven he can write Young Adult with Click to Subscribe, and now New Adult with Two Roads.  I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.

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Review: Keep Me Still

Scarred by loss, Layla leaves her hometown of Hope Springs, Georgia, hoping to put her painful past behind her and start over in college in California.

When she runs into Landen at freshmen orientation, she has a choice to make. Reinforce those steel walls she's built up around herself or give the only boy who can keep her still a second chance.

Landen’s more than ready to tear down those walls, but this time when they come crashing down, they might bury her.

Title: Keep Me Still
Author: Caisey Quinn | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: August 1 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 278 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Lovely.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Layla and Landen

My Rating: 4 Stars

Firstly, I would like to point out that I read the version of Keep Me Still which came with the novella Let You Leave, which is a prequel to the time in which Keep Me Still takes place.  From what I can gather, this special edition version with the novella is only going to be available for a limited time.  Then, the novella will be removed and no longer available for separate purchase.  Why is this important information?  Because, I can honestly not see how somebody would be able to read Keep Me Still... without reading this novella first.  There is so much backstory that is given in Let You Leave.  You get some of the more important moments highlighted in the main novel, but it just wouldn't seem enough. 

“We both have secrets.  I wonder if they'll bind us together or tear us apart?”

It is my opinion that the author should actually combine the novella and novel, making it one larger book.  Rather than removing the novella all together.  It simply follows a natural progression as the story.  I really do not believe that if I had never read Let You Leave, that I would have connected to the characters, or enjoyed Keep Me Still as much as I did.

“This isn’t just my chance to start over like I thought- It’s our chance.”

The build-up of Layla and Landen's relationship fully takes place in that prequel novella.  By the time we get to the timeline of events in Keep Me Still, they have already met, fallen in love, and built their previous relationship.  Without being able to be a part of them meeting, that gradual build-up of trust and being able to watch their relationship grow... I would be afraid that a reader just would not connect to them as a couple. 

Which would be a travesty, because I adored Layla and Landen as a couple.  There are a lot of walls and barriers that they must crash through, but the issues they were facing were real and believable.  Landen is an absolute sweetheart.  You will undoubtably fall in love with him.

And even though this is a New Adult book, there are in fact some pretty steamy scenes.  You will never be able to look at a cherry in the same way after reading this book.  The chemistry between Layla and Landen is intense... a very good kind of intense.

“Not a minute has passed since the first time I laid eyes on you that I haven’t wanted you.  Needed you.  I will always want you.”

I am of course a huge fan of dual point of view books, and this is no exception.  I think this story needs the ability to have you in both Layla's and Landen's head.  There are a lot of secrets kept between the two, there would really be no way of following what was happening to each of them if this wasn't dual POV.

You are probably wondering if this is a standalone?  My answer to that would be no.  Even though it is not listed as a series, there is an epilogue that leaves you are a rather large cliffhanger.  It appears as though there will be a novella, Hold Us Close, which is at the time of this review set to be published in November 2013.  So if you stop reading at the end of Keep Me Still, then it could be classed as a standalone.  But if you keep reading through the epilogue, be ready for a bit of a cliffhanger until you can get your hands on the upcoming novella.

“Suddenly, I have no idea why we’ve been doing this to each other. It’s love. Plain and simple. You love someone, you show it. Every day, up until your last.”

Stay With Me: Blog Tour Stop, Review & Giveaway

With one look, I’m his . . .

With one touch, he’s mine . . .

With one kiss, it changes everything between us . . .

I’ve been famous since I can remember. Singing, acting, dancing—I’ve done it all. The tabloids cover my every move, but I don’t want that anymore. I want to be normal, whatever that is.

When I leave Hollywood for college in Vermont, I’m on my own for the first time in my life. This is my chance to figure out who I am and what I want in life.

But it’s a lot harder than I expected. I can’t escape my image. Classes are difficult, and I’m struggling. And then there’s Caleb Fox.

Sexy, intriguing Caleb Fox.

Caleb is the one man who doesn’t want to use me. He breaks down my walls. He challenges me. He wants me. And I just don’t know if I can give him the same—or if he’ll stick around when he finds out my shameful secret that the tabloids haven’t managed to uncover.

Dating him is risky enough, but loving him could break me.

Title: Stay With Me (With Me ~ Book 1)
Author: Elyssa Patrick | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: August 30 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 270 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: iTunes | Kobo | All Romance | Amazon US | Nook | Smashwords

Tour Organized by: Book Crush

Source: ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover Love: Love it, the colors are perfect.
Point of View: 1st person, following Hailey

My Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed Stay With Me, was it perfect? No, but it was a very enjoyable read, with some really loveable characters.

“With you, there’s always music.”

Hailey.  It took me no time at all to warm up to Hailey.  I understood completely how difficult it is for her to actually trust somebody else.  When you have grown up in the world she grew up in, where your 'friends' sold you out for a magazine or tabloid articles, then how could you not have difficulties with trust?

“I am drawn to him, and everything is pushing me toward him, not away”

Caleb.  He is of course perfect.  Yet another example of how perfect book boys can be.  He is caring, honest, and respectful of Hailey.  Even though they are instantly attracted to each other, I would say they built up their friendship first.  It wasn't all hot and heavy right off the bat, they built up to that kind of relationship.  But, wow... once they were both on the same page, that page set on fire.  There are some pretty hot sex scenes in this book.  Would I still classify it as New Adult?  Yeah, don't most people have sex in college?  Why shy away from it here?  They are both adults, nothing wrong with it.

“And you were all dark and mysterious in the shadows.”

I also adored the side characters.  Caleb has some pretty funny, hot and sexy room-mates and I am happy to report that they will be getting their own books.  Those are going to be some great books as the With Me series grows. 

Now for the little niggles.  Again, I want to say I really enjoyed Stay With Me.  I read it in one sitting, and found it to be quite the page turner.  But there were little parts that made me question a few things.  I am all for Hailey completely dropping out of the Hollywood life, I get that part.  What I don't understand is how there is not more publicity around her at the school?  It was explained that she just wasn't as famous because she wasn't putting herself out there, but I would still have expected at least a few paparazzi around her.  At least toward the beginning, when she first started school.  I can just imagine them all clambering for that photo of her walking to class, or seeing if she had any new boyfriends.

There is also the big secret that is mentioned in the blurb.  I actually got why Hailey felt this secret was so big that people would hate her.  It's not the secret that I'm really referring to here, but it is how many times Hailey mentions it.  Every time she started to let herself get closer to others, she would think about the secret.  It was thought about so many times that by the time it came out, I was just happy that it was done and dusted.

However, I must give praise to the way the secret was handled by Caleb.  We all know that with these types of books we are waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop somewhere between 70% and 85%.  Some big misunderstanding that drives our heroine and hero apart.  I was thrilled with the way Caleb handled everything.  It showed maturity, and in all honestly it showed how much he actually cares for Hailey.

“I'm so glad you came here, Hailey.  So very, very glad.  You are my every heartbeat, and I love you.”

So in closing, I would suggest this book to anybody that likes these types of stories.  It was interesting to get into the mind of a celebrity that is trying to distance herself from that life.  You see their faces in the magazines, and on the TV and you believe everything that is being said.  It is a bit of a wake-up call to stop and remember that they are people, just like you and me, and to not believe everything that is said or even shown.

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Review: Near & Far

There’s optimistic. And there’s Jesse Walker.

If he wasn’t so charming, his sunny disposition and incessant grin would get old. Fast.

Falling in love with the broken girl who had at first seemed immune to anything resembling love was the best thing to happen to Jesse since the Walkers adopted him when he was five.

As Jesse’s life continues at the ranch and Rowen begins making her mark in the Seattle art community, they wonder where the middle ground is. Or if there even is one.

As push comes to shove, they’re forced to make choices neither are eager to make, and Jesse and Rowen have to face what their lives might look like without the other.

Can two people with such tragic pasts and different presents expect a promising future together? Whatever the answer, they’ll need a lot more than love to make it.

Title: Near & Far (Lost & Found ~ Book 1)
Author: Nicole Williams| Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: July 29 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 350 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Fits with the series, and I like that Rowen's hair is down this time.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Jesse and Rowen

My Rating: 5 Stars

Let the flood of emotions begin.  When I read Lost & Found earlier this year, I immediately fell in love with Jesse and Rowen.  In fact, I ended my review with the hope that there would be a sequel.  Then, only a few days later I found out that Nicole Williams had in fact announced she would carry on their story.  I was overjoyed.

However, I knew what this meant.  It meant that Jesse and Rowen were going to have to face some tough times.  I tried to mentally prepare myself for these challenges.  I even gave myself a five minute pep talk before I started Near & Far.  Having faith they would get their happily ever after, I just knew there would be some heartbreak and tears to work through first.  Little did I know that all of my preparation would not even come close to getting me ready for the emotions I experienced while reading this.  How I survived I will never know.  But one thing is for sure, the heartache and pain was so worth it.

“Loving someone as much as I did Jesse meant the darkness of the world seemed so black I never wanted to walk out the front door.  Around every corner was some terror threatening to take away what I held most dear.”

Rowen.  She continued to grow into the type of woman that is worthy of Jesse.  I never had doubts about this, but I knew at the end of Lost & Found that there was more growing up to do, and a lot that they both still needed to face.  I am happy that I never felt like she wavered with her love, as I was scared that this was what was going to happen in the sequel.  With Rowen away at college, I was nervous her head would be turned by another art student.  But, she stayed true.

“For you, I’m a weak, weak man.  I’m so weak for you that you could break me with one word.  You could end me with one look. You could ruin me with one touch.”

Jesse.  Ride 'em cowboy.  I have and always will love Jesse Walker.  The man is quite simply one of the most down to earth, romantic, sweet and caring characters I have ever had the pleasure to read.  I honestly believe that my Kindle copy is more highlighted than not.  He has some of the very best lines, and there is never a doubt of his feelings for Rowen.  Opposites may very well attract, but it has always been something more to their bond.  Jesse's love for Rowen is almost too much.  It completely blinds him from what is going on around him.  He doesn't see anybody other than her, even if that means he is completely oblivious to quite obvious flirting by others.  However, once he realizes what is going on... he is right there to put a stop to it.  Ever the gentlemen.

I would say we learn the most about Jesse in this story.  In fact we learn way more about his childhood growing up than we probably wanted to know.  It is dark, disturbing, and quite honestly broke my heart.  If you didn't have love in your heart for this man before (even though I can't see how you couldn't already), then you will do after reading about his past.  It broke me, and made it easy for me to understand the darkness that Jesse is continuing to fight.

“She’s managed to bust free from the weight of her past to get on with her life.  She’d grown, evolved, and was setting the world on fire.  I, on the other hand, was digressing, shrinking, and setting myself on fire.”

The ending was beautiful.  The only thing that got me through their problems was knowing that there was no way that Jesse and Rowen could not end up together.  Their love was something that was never in doubt.  It was just them trying to work through all of the external issues that were being thrown at them, and their own issues from the time before they had each other to lean on.

And now, we have Finders Keepers to look forward to.  Yes, that's right.. Garth Black is getting his own book.  I am so excited about this.  Getting into Garth's head is going to be an enlightening, yet probably pretty frightening experience.  I am hoping that we get to see a little more of Jesse and Rowen.  I know this is probably greedy of me, but I would like to see what they are up to, so even a little peek would be great.  Garth is one of those characters that you start out disliking, and grow to love.  That is very much the case, as by the end of Near & Far, I was loving him so much.  He really stepped up to the plate when it came to being a friend to both Jesse and Rowen, and now it's his time to find his own happily every after.

“It’s time you start thinking about what you think you can’t live without and what you actually can’t live without.”

MORE QUOTES FROM NEAR & FAR

Review: Gone Girl

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick Dunne isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but hearing from Amy through flashbacks in her diary reveal the perky perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister Margo at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was left in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: June 5 2012
Publisher: Crown
Length: 432 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Simple, but effective.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Nick and Amy

My Rating: 5 Stars

Wow.  Wow.  Wow.

Holy mother of God... or should that be holy mother of all things evil?  It has been a few days since I finished Gone Girl and I am still in a state of... what exactly I have no idea.  Anger?  Shock?  Acceptance?

I have no idea how I am going to write this review.

“My mother had always told her kids: if you're about to do something, and you want to know if it's a bad idea, imagine seeing it printed in the paper for all the world to see.”

There is so little detail that I can go into in regards to the actual plot, as I refuse to give any of it away.  I'm sure this will not be the first review you will have read about Gone Girl, and probably not the last.  But, I want to stress how important it is that you stay with this book.

What do I mean by that?  Well, the first half has been quoted as being a little on the boring side.  I have to admit that I never felt that way... while I reading it.  But when the story completely exploded at just over the 50% mark it is a non-stop roller coaster ride till the very end.  So in retrospect, I can now look back at the first 50% and agree that yes, in comparison it was much slower.  However, the first half is a requirement.  You must get to know these characters.  You would never have been able to get to where you are emotionally at the start of Part Two if there was never a Part One.

“Love makes you want to be a better man.  But maybe love, real love, also gives you permission to just be the man you are.”

And what about the ending?  You will feel manipulated once you finished.  You will sit and stare at the final paragraph, you will want to throw the book, and or your reading device at the closest wall.  You will sit and stew over all of what you have read, wondering how things got to that final paragraph.  Then you will find yourself smiling.  Why?  Hell, you won't even know why... because I sure didn't.  I wanted to be angry, I wanted to scream, but in the end all I could do was smile.  To be fair it was probably one of those crazed, psycho killer smiles, but to be honest I would expect no other kind of smile after reading Gone Girl.

“There’s something disturbing about recalling a warm memory and feeling utterly cold.”

So yeah, this is a strange review to have written but I just refuse to spoil anything.  My only suggestion to you is READ THIS BOOK.  There is a film being made, which at the time of this review says will be out in 2015.  I have to say, I think this will translate perfectly on the big screen.  They are filming the movie in a small river town in Missouri, not too far from where I was born and grew up in Southern Illinois.  Be it this review, other reviews, the film due out a bit later... whatever it is that helps you to decide to read this book, just please choose to read this book.  You will not be disappointed.

“Friends see most of each other’s flaws.  Spouses see every awful last bit.”

MORE QUOTES FROM GONE GIRL

Review: All of You

Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.

Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.

Title: All of You
Author: Christina Lee | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: September 17 2013
Publisher: Intermix (Penguin Group (USA)
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads

Source: ARC Provided by Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cover Love: Adorable, matches the story nicely.
Point of View: 1st person, following Avery

My Rating: 4 Stars

I became slightly obsessed with the idea of reading All of You as soon as I saw the words irresistible, tattooed and virgin.  What's that you say?  A hero who is not a womanizing manwhore?  Where do I sign up?

It was fun going into All of You, knowing that there would be a role reversal of sorts.  I am so used to the shy, inexperienced women, who fall for the bad boy who has been around the park on more than one occasion.  Now we have Avery, who would very much be classified as the school slut.  This isn't slut shaming, she wears here title proud.  She hooks up on regular occasions, and only has one guy who she uses as a multiple booty call.  Other than that, love 'em and leave 'em.

“Guys were easy to figure out-at least in the hormonal sense.  You needed only appear helpless or horny, and their pants instantly dropped to their ankles.”

Avery.  I don't know if we are supposed to like Avery in the beginning.  It sure as heck took me a little while to warm to her.  Her entire attitude was standoffish, and just on the wrong side of arrogant.  But it started to become clear that this was part of her façade.  You could see the walls that she had built up to keep any and all real emotion out.  By the end, I came to love her and was rooting for her as she started kicking those walls down.

“I want something real," he whispered.  "And I'm willing to wait for it.”

Bennett.  There was no having to warm up to him, he is perfection.  From the very first time he is spotted by Avery, you are in love with him.  I was curious to find out the reasons that he had for abstaining from sex, and when it's explained I was happy with his answers.  They made sense to me.  Now of course, even Bennett says this to Avery, he may be a virgin - but he is no saint.

“I don’t know what this is or what the hell we’re doing,“ he said.  “But if I don’t kiss you right now, I might explode.”

What does Bennett mean by being no saint?  It means he may have never done the deed but he has done plenty of other things... and this means that Avery and Bennett do plenty of those other things also.  Honestly, the sexual tension dripping off of these two is intense.  Every slight kiss, every touch, every moment they are alone together feels electric.  And I have to say... I loved it.  I loved the constant foreplay.  It was hot.  Too many times the main characters are so eager to jump into sex.  Avery and Bennett manage to become intimate, but at the same time saving themselves for that special moment together.  It made their relationship that more intense and real.

“I was jumping off a cliff, sinking, drowning, and couldn't care less about being saved as long as he kept kissing me.”

Now, my only major gripe.  Avery's friends.  It's not that I didn't like them per se, it's just that I didn't like how they spoke to each other.  They were forever calling each other names.  Maybe these were meant as terms of endearments between friends, and a way to get us to see how close they were.  But it annoyed me to no end.  They were constantly calling each other things such as bitch, dickhead, dickwad, asshead, dillweed... and so on.  I physically cringed every time it happened, unfortunately it happened a lot.  I just didn't understand it, as it didn't seem like normal behavior to me.

And in no way is that gripe enough for me not to suggest that you read All of You.  I really found it hard to put it down once I started.  I was up until 4:00am, then started again as soon as I woke up the next day.  I was also very happy with the ending, an epilogue would have been nice... but that is just me wanting more.  I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Bennett.  My feelings in five words or less: Sweet, sexy, love, HOT.

“I'm not sure I can ever get enough of you," he murmured as he captured the skin at the hallow of my throat.  "I know the feeling," I whispered.”

Review: Wethering The Storm

Music journalist Tru Bennett has done the impossible: capture the heart of rock-star bad boy Jake Wethers. Now they’re busy planning a wedding and navigating their new life together in the US. Of course Tru misses London and her best friend, Simone, but living happily ever after with Jake in LA is going to be great…right?

Wrong. Even the bright California sun can’t whitewash the dark side of celebrity coupledom. Greedy music execs, merciless paparazzi, and Jake’s wild past are lurking around every corner. Making matters worse, Jake announces he doesn’t want kids, which just may be a deal breaker.

Tru loves Jake more than anything. But when a devastating crisis threatens to destroy everything they’ve fought for, the couple must face the hard truth: What if, this time, love is not enough?

Title: Wethering the Storm (The Storm ~ Book 2)
Author: Samantha Towle | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: August 20 2013
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Length: 402 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: I don't hate it, however the top part of the Tru seems to be missing... her hands are there but where is the rest of her body? Also, Jake has longer hair.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Tru and Jake, however there is more in Tru's perspective.

My Rating: 5 Stars

I am going to be straight up and honest with you.  I was a complete mixed bag of emotions when it came time to start reading Wethering the Storm.  I was excited because I was about to get some more Jake Wethers, and I was scared to death because I just didn't know what to expect.  Tru and Jake had to fight through so much in The Mighty Storm, and I wanted their fighting days behind them.  I didn't know if my heart could take more turmoil.  But, I pulled up my big girl panties and started it at Midnight, as soon as it appeared on my Kindle... I didn't stop reading until 5:00am.

“There is no one else for me.  I begin and end with you.”

Tru.  I loved Tru in The Mighty Storm.  I thought she handled the situations which arose in a calm and mature manner.  Can I just ask?  What happened to THAT Tru? Because I now more than once found myself wanting to slap her up side her head, and I found myself rolling my eyes at some of her actions and internal thoughts.  Jealousy.  It's an evil thing.  And unfortunately for a hot minute it turns Tru into one of those crazy women that I despise in books.  Thankfully it only lasts a short time, and then she wises up.

“You don't complete me, Tru.  You make me who I am.  You make me better.  I'd be nothing without you.  Nothing.  I've been there once before, and I'm never going back.  I'm never losing you again.”

Jake "the snake" Wethers.  *sigh*  He has got to be one of my all time favorite rock stars.  You all know that I am in love with the male perspective, so getting even a few chapters in Jake's POV was like winning the lottery.  I was overjoyed to be in his head, and let me just tell you that it's an amazing place to be.  Jake continues to struggle with his past, and yes his past includes his drug use.  I hate spoilers, and I do not think this is one but I just have to add that drugs are a constant struggle... but they are not used.  I think it is important to know that because it was one of my major concerns.  Jake has finally realized there are other ways to deal with troubling circumstances, rather than running to the nearest dealer.  Like I said, it's a constant struggle, but it would have been unrealistic for Jake to be able to immediately stop using and it not be on his mind.  This made the story real.

“I want you to have the best of everything I can give you.  And I’m not talking money here, Tru. I’m talking memories.  Our life together.”

This is not your run of the mill rock star book, this is about a girl and boy who fell in love when they were little.  Before the stardom and making it big.  Deep down, that is what it is all about.  A boy and girl who always knew they would be together forever, they just lost their way for a few years in-between.

The ending was absolutely perfect.  I honestly can not think of a better way that I would have wanted it to all end up for these two, we even get an epilogue.  I had tears in my eyes at the end, it was truly just perfection.  I am now looking forward to the third book in this series, which at the time of this review has yet to be named or given a publication date.  But that book will follow Tom.  We saw some changes in him in this book, and it will be nice to get inside his head a little bit.  I bet it's a strange and scary place... I can't wait.

“There isn’t anything I won’t do for you, Tru.   Nothing I won’t do to make you happy.   What I feel for you... it’s limitless.  There is nothing before or after you. There is only you.”

MORE QUOTES FROM WETHERING THE STORM