Review: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope
(Hopeless, #2)
by Colleen Hoover
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Publication Date: October 8th 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 321
ISBN: 9781476746555
Genre: New Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley

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In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs. (Goodreads)

Losing Hope is the second novel that I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed, but Colleen Hoover. I read Hopeless a few weeks ago, and really loved the story. I loved reading Losing Hope through Holder’s eyes. It was so different than what I actually expected, but I loved every minute of it.

Dean Holder is such an amazingly complex character. He is filled with so many emotions and with so, so much guilt. For so long he lived with the guilt for the loss of his best childhood friend, and then even more with the loss of his twin sister. I felt his pain in so many ways. Then he meets Sky, and his world completely changes. I love how he felt for Sky, it was so insanely sweet, even at the times he was acting completely insane. It was interesting reading the book from Holder’s point of view, because I often wondered why he did some of the things that he did in Hopeless. Now that I know his story, I love him even more.

Losing Hope follows the same storyline as what is in Hopeless. So we already know what is going to happen. But Hoover still managed to take the same story and add in so much more new information, so that it kept me completely hooked. To be honest, I was really worried about reading this book and it being the exact same story as in the first book, but it wasn’t. Yes, there was some repetition, but not nearly as much as I expected.  And I love all the new stuff that we didn’t get to see in the first book.

Overall; I loved the story in Losing Hope just as much as I did for Hopeless. It was so great seeing Holder’s point of view, because I really loved him since I first met him in Hopeless. This series is really great. If you are a fan of New Adult Contemporary, and you haven’t checked this series out yet, I definitely recommend that you do. These books are totally worth the read. And now I can’t wait to read more from this talented author!

Happy Reading!


Books in this Series:



Hopeless   |   Losing Hope

Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

All Our Yesterdays
(All Our Yesterdays, #1)
by Cristin Terrill
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Publication Date: September 3rd 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781423176374
Genre: Young Adult | Time Travel
Source: Netgalley

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"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice. (Goodreads)

I haven’t read many time travel books, but All Our Yesterdays is definitely one of the better ones that I have read. I was a little worried when I started reading the book that it wouldn’t live up to all the hype that I have seen about it. But it did. I found the book to be a very addictive read.

The characters in the story were all very well written, especially in the way that we get to see two completely different versions of each character -- the people that they started out as, and the hardened characters that they had become in such a very short amount of time. 

 The story was told through past and present versions of Marina, and her future self, Em. I thought this was really creative way to read the story, because even though it was from the same person, if felt like it was coming from two completely different people. In a way, I guess that it was.

The time travel aspect of the book was definitely interesting. As I mentioned before, I’ve only read a few time travel books in my time. This one definitely manages to stand out from the rest, not only with the plot, but also with the dystopian type future that the story starts out in. Add in the interesting characters, this really made for a fascinating read.

I was really surprised after reading the ending of the book to see that there is going to be a sequel in the future. I thought the book closed off very nicely, but I’m curious to see how the author is going to work another story around the ending of this book. I guess since the story is related to time travel, it would be possible.

Overall; this book definitely had me intrigued, and I enjoyed reading it. I don’t have much to compare it to, but it’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read that have dealt with time travel. Have you read the book? What did you think about it?

Happy Reading!




Also check out:
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS – THE WEBISODES

Review: The Offering by Kimberly Derting

The Offering
(The Pledge #3)
by Kimberly Derting
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Publication Date: December 31st 2013
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781442445628
Genre: Young Adult | Dystopian
Source: Edelweiss

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True love—and world war—is at stake in the conclusion to The Pledge trilogy, a dark and romantic blend of dystopia and fantasy.
Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She’s done admirable work to restore Ludania’s broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she’s mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks.

When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap—one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost. (Goodreads)

The Offering is the third and final novel in ‘The Pledge’ series by Kimberly Derting. I am pretty sad to see this series end, as I have really enjoyed reading it!

The book definitely starts off with a bang, let me tell you that. But it quickly quiets down and we don’t see much more action until closer to the end of the book. Don’t let that dissuade you from reading it, however, because the ending is totally worth the read.

Queen Charlaina is such a complex, wonderful, caring character. She really makes a great queen for her country, as she has such a big heart. I love that she wanted to change so many things that were wrong in her kingdom, and that is exactly what she set out to do. Charlaina and Max are pretty perfect as a couple as well. I have adored Max throughout the whole series; he is just a bit precious.

While most of the characters that we already met in the series are in the book, we are also introduced to a few new interesting characters as well. One character being Eden’s brother, Caspar, who I really, really loved. We also once again meet Queen Elena’s sister, Sage, who I found to be such a great person. If Derting decided to write a series around Sage, I would totally read it! In the book, we discover who the good and bad guys really are. I was a little surprised to discover a few of the bad guys, by the way.

Near the ending of the book is where most of the action comes into play. Derting really held nothing back with this ending, and at times I wondered if anyone was really going to make it out alive. The book wraps up pretty well; I was left with only a few unanswered questions that I would have liked answered.

Oh! I also want to mention that while I love that this book has a historic feel to it, it also has some modernization as well. The weaponry that is described, as well as a ‘vehicle’ that they run across, it was interesting and made me wonder about the time period.

Overall; I really enjoyed reading this series! If you are a fan of Derting, and you haven’t checked this series out yet, you should definitely do so.

Happy Reading!

Books in this Series:



The Pledge | The Essence | The Offering

Review: Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin

Another Little Piece of My Heart
by Tracey Martin
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Publication Date: December 1st 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781459254749
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Source: Netgalley

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What if your devastating break-up became this summer’s hit single? In this rock-and-roll retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, music can either bring you together or tear you apart.

At her dying mother’s request, Claire dumps Jared, the only boy she’s ever loved. Left with a broken family and a broken heart, Claire is furious when she discovers that her biggest regret became Jared’s big break. While Jared is catapulted into rock-star status, another piece of Claire’s heart crumbles every time his song plays on the radio.

The summer after her senior year, it’s been months since the big break-up, and Claire is just trying to keep her head down and make it through a tense trip to the beach with her family. But when Jared shows up, and old feelings reignite, can Claire and Jared let go of the past? Or will they be stuck singing the same old refrain? (Goodreads)

When I read that Another Little Piece of My Heart was a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, I just KNEW that I just had to read the book. I adore Jane Austen, so I’m always curious to read another authors retelling of her books. This book did not disappoint!

The main character in the story is Claire. Poor Claire, she definitely hasn’t had it easy. At her dying mother’s request, she breaks up with the only boy that she has ever loved, the boy who proceeds to move on and become famous by writing songs about their breakup.  Claire is very exasperated by the whole situation. How dare he make money off of her pain?? Not only that, her mother was gone, her home life is a mess, and her plans of the future have all but disappeared. Yes, Claire had every right to be furious about everything amiss in her life. And while she does act bitter in some ways, for the most part she holds in all of her emotions. I love that the author made Claire this way; I found it a lot more realistic, and I definitely felt her pain.

In true Persuasion fashion, I knew I wouldn’t care too much for Jared at first. And I didn’t. But he did grow on me, and by the end of the book I definitely liked him so much more. He was definitely different than most of the male characters we read about in books. He was very down to earth and even a little awkward at times.  I found his reactions to everything that had happened to be very realistic as well. Most guys probably would have done the same thing he did when Claire broke up with him, but we also see some regret in him as well. While I didn’t care for the way he acted in the first half of the book, I understood him so much better by the end.

I found the book to be very well paced, and the storyline to be a great modernized retelling of the original story. I think the author did a great job of portraying the characters emotions. There were a few times that those emotions got to me, mostly with Claire. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the kid! I found myself liking most of the secondary characters as well.  The book wrapped up nicely in the end; much like the original did.

Overall, I found this book to be a quick, enjoyable read. Sometimes retellings are hit-or-miss for me, but the author did a really good job with this one. If you’re looking for a fun read, you should definitely check this out!

Happy Reading!

Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars
(Starbound #1)
by Amie Kaufman (Website | Twitter | Facebook)
& Meagan Spooner (Website | Twitter | Facebook)

Publication Date: December 10th 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781423171027
Genre: Young Adult | Dystopian | Sci-Fi
Source: Netgalley

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Official Book Website

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.
--
A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy. (Goodreads)

I was super excited to start reading These Broken Stars after reading so many raving comments about the book. Having now read it, I definitely recommend everyone adding this book to their to-read list as soon as possible. You definitely won’t be disappointed with this read!

The story is told through the viewpoints of the two main characters, Lilac and Tarver. I really love reading books with different viewpoints, because I always feel that the reader gets so much more information this way.  Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe, and Tarver is a young war hero, so of course the two have absolutely nothing in common. But when tragedy strikes, they are forced to rely on each other to survive. There is absolutely no way that they could have survived by themselves, so being thrown together was definitely a blessing for them, and they made it work the best way they possibly could. For two people that started off completely hating each other, it was interesting to see their relationship change over the course of the book.

The storyline for the book was of the dystopian / sci-fi genre, which I found to be absolutely fascinating. The world-building for the book was so wonderfully detailed as well. Without giving much away, let me say that this book is an adventure that you won’t soon forget. It will definitely make you think, and wonder, not only about the characters and their mindset, but also their surroundings as well. The romance in the book will definitely make you swoon, and there is one part in the book that will leave you gasping, wondering what in the world just happened! There was never a dull moment in this book.

I also want to add that I LOVE the cover art for the book. Whoever designed it did a wonderful job; it is absolutely stunning and it is perfectly suited for the book as well.

Overall; I could keep going on and on about this book, but I won’t. Add it to your to-read list. Pre-Order it. Do whatever you have to do to READ THIS BOOK. It will definitely be worth it!  I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series when they are released!

Happy Reading!

Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

Pawn
(The Blackcoat Rebellion #1)
by Aimée Carter
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Publication Date: November 26th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 296
ISBN: 9780373210558
Genre: Young Adult / Dystopian
Source: Netgalley

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YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Previously titled Masked. (Goodreads)

Pawn is the first book in a very promising new series by Aimee Carter. I adored Aimee’s ‘Goddess Test’ series, so I couldn’t wait to get started on this new series to see what new adventure she would take us on next. This book has it all; action, suspense, mystery and even a touch of romance. It definitely did not disappoint!

The characters in this story were all very interesting, and each in their own way. The main character in the story, Kitty, was proven to be the most honest and heroic of the lot. She was definitely not a character to be messed with, and she proves that within the first few chapters of the book.  And throughout the book, we watch her grow more and more into such a strong young lady who can not only take care of herself, but who may just be able to change the world.

While there were some characters that I really grew to love in the book, there were also quite a few seriously disturbing secondary characters as well, some that would go to extremely dramatic lengths to get what they wanted. These are the characters that you will love to hate, but you also are extremely intrigued by them as well.

One thing that I really love about this book is that there is no love triangle. (So far.)  I am really not a big fan of the love triangle, unless it is insanely well written, which rarely ever happens. While Kitty has more than her pick of guys in this book, she is loyal to just one, and I love that about her.   And while there is a small bit romance in this book, it definitely doesn’t overpower the storyline. It’s there, but it’s really to a minimum. I enjoyed that the romance wasn’t the main focus.

I really enjoyed the originality of this book. The world building was super creative, and very unique. Imagine having to live your whole life based on a rating test that you take when you are seventeen years old. Not exactly the best age for that to happen! The book definitely kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. Thankfully, the book didn’t end on a massive cliffhanger -- I am so totally over cliffhanger endings at the moment—but the ending left me with just enough information to wonder what is going to happen in the next book. I, for one, am dying to know!

Overall—If you are a big fan of Aimee Carter’s, and/or a fan of dystopian novels as well, you should definitely check out this book. I thought that it was a really awesome read, and I can’t wait to read the next book!

Happy Reading!

Review: The Edge of Always by J.A. Redmerski

The Edge of Always
(The Edge of Never #2)
by: J.A. Redmerski
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Publication Date: November 5th 2013 (e-book)
Publication Date: January 14th 2014 (paperback)
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Pages: 464
ISBN: 9781455549009
ASIN: B00BOTU4E8
Genre: New Adult
Source: Netgalley

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

He was taking the long road. She was taking the road to nowhere. It just so happened that they led to the same place…

When everything falls apart, love remains . . .

THE EDGE OF ALWAYS

Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged—and a wedding isn’t the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can’t wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew – a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to—until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn’t understand how this could happen to them. He’s trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won’t do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride… (Goodreads)

I was so very excited to get my hands on a copy of The Edge of Always! I had read and enjoyed The Edge of Never earlier this year, and I couldn’t wait to get back into the story to see what the future held for Camryn and Andrew.

 Andrew and Camryn are a really great couple, and I enjoyed reading about their lives together. Throughout this series, Andrew has proven to be such an amazingly strong young man. He is always there for the woman that he loves, doing whatever he has to do to ensure her happiness. We get to see this firsthand when tragedy strikes their lives. Camryn definitely goes through a lot in this book, and she handled the situations the only way she knew how, by withdrawing into herself. But Andrew, being the awesome guy that he is, knows just how to bring her back to the world. I enjoyed reading about the journey the two embarked on throughout the course of the book. It made me a little envious. 

The book ends with a really great epilogue. I really enjoyed reading it, and felt that it rounded out the story perfectly.  I’ll not mention anything from the ending, but I will just say that the end of the book left me with a big smile on my face, as I was so happy for this awesome couple. While I did enjoy the book, I have to say; I loved the first book a bit more. Not that anything was wrong with this book, but for me, the first book touched me more than this one did. But it’s all together a really great series.

Overall; if you enjoyed reading The Edge of Never, then you will definitely enjoy reading The Edge of Always! It was nice to see what happened next for one of my most favorite couples. If you haven’t yet checked out this series, then you totally should! They make for a really great read.

Happy Reading!



Books in this Series:



The Edge of Never | The Edge of Always

Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Crash Into You
(Pushing the Limits #3)
by Katie McGarry
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Publication Date: November 26th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 474
ISBN: 9780373210992
Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary
Source: Netgalley

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From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other. (Goodreads)

I have really enjoyed reading ALL of the books in the Pushing the Limit’s series, but I have to say, Crash Into You is my most favorite of the three books! I seriously could not wait to get my hands on this book so I could dive into Isaiah’s story. The book definitely does not disappoint!

I have been intrigued by Isaiah since we first met him in Pushing the Limits. I wanted to know more of him, and my wish was granted when reading Crash Into You. He is such an awesome bad boy, but underneath the attitude, tattoos and all around bad boy exterior, he’s a really sweet, caring guy. He is the absolutely perfect for Rachel. I love that instead of being frustrated with her and her issues, he helps her in any way that he can. I love that he calls her Angel. While they had a few issues in the book, they pretty much had a really swoon-worthy relationship, and I really enjoyed reading their story. Isaiah has definitely earned a spot as one of my most favorite male characters!

There are so many secondary characters in this book, I wouldn’t even know where to begin with them. I love that we get to see a lot of our favorite characters from the two previous books; I honestly didn’t expect to see as much of them as we did. I really, really enjoyed them being a part of this story. Then there are the new characters that we meet in this book. Rachel had a very interesting family, especially with having four brothers. I can’t say that I cared for her dad very much.

The storyline for the book was really intriguing and definitely kept me hooked while I was reading. I really enjoyed the car talk! There are lots of sweet and steamy moments throughout the novel, and there is a pretty shocking scene towards the end of the book, but I love that it was included. It just made me love Rachel and Isaiah even more. Such a great story!

Overall; if you are a fan of young adult contemporary books with tattooed bad boys as the main character, you’re definitely going to love this book! The whole series is amazing, and I definitely recommend you starting it, if you haven’t already.

Happy Reading!



Books in this Series:



Pushing The Limits | Crossing The Line | Dare You To | Crash Into You

Review: Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

Foreplay
(The Ivy Chronicles #1)
by Sophie Jordan
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Publication Date: November 5th 2013
Publisher: William Morrow / HarperCollins
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780062279873
Genre: NEW ADULT
Source: Edelweiss

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Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs.

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real… (Goodreads)

I read and enjoyed Sophie Jordan’s Firelight series a while back, so I was really looking forward to reading her upcoming New Adult novel; Foreplay. I snagged from Edelweiss, not really knowing what to expect from the book. I’m happy to say that this book definitely did not disappoint!

Foreplay is a novel about a young girl named Pepper, who is about as innocent and naïve as they come. She’s only ever kissed one guy in her short life, and she’s been madly in love with her best friend’s brother for years. She wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with him, but doesn’t know how to even approach him considering her lack of skills in the romance department. Then she discovers Reece, the tattooed bad boy with the troubled past, who Pepper thinks would be the perfect person to teach her the art of Foreplay.

Ok, I’m just going to say it… I absolutely love Reece. Oh my goodness, he is the perfect bad boy with the big heart. But that is not what we see when we first meet him. No, when we first meet he seems gruff and standoffish. But as the story goes along we see him change, we see him fall in love with Pepper, even when he can’t admit it because he knows that she is after another man.  I adored reading about the times they shared together, it was so insanely sweet. Reece has definitely earned a spot as one of my most favorite bad boys.

Pepper was a very interesting character as well. She’s the perfect good girl, but also with a troubled past that influences a lot of the decisions that she makes in the book. Her obsession with Hunter was a little frustrating. There were times when I wanted to reach through the book and shake her, and tell her to open her eyes to see what a good thing she had with Reece.  But otherwise I found her to be a very likeable character, and she was the perfect girl for Reece.

I love a good love story, and that’s definitely what you get when you read this book.  There were lots of sweet and romantic moments, and definitely lots of hot and steamy moments as well.  If you like books like Easy by Tamara Webber or Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, you will definitely want to check this book out.  I’m not a big book re-reader, but I will definitely be reading this book again, and soon!

Overall; I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun, light read, and that was just what I needed at the moment. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

Happy Reading!

Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant
(Divergent, #3)
by Veronica Roth
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: October 22nd 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 526
ISBN: 9780062024060
Genre: Young Adult | Dystopian
Source: Own

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One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent. (Goodreads)

I was really looking forward to starting Allegiant once I finished Insurgent, because I really wanted to see how the series was going to end.  I really don’t even know where to start with this review and I’m going back and forth between loving it and absolutely hating it and the way it has made me feel. Here are my spoiler-free thoughts on the book.

Allegiant picks up where Insurgent leaves off, and is told from both Tris’ and Tobias’ point of view. It was definitely interesting to see inside Tobias’ head, as I no longer see his as the all around perfect bad boy, but more of a guy with flaws, just like everyone else. As for Tris… Oh, Tris. She is a character that I’ve loved since the very beginning, when she was puny stiff chose to change her life with that very first jump. Some moments I wanted to smack her silly for the choices that she made along the way, and other times I couldn’t help but be proud for how she handled herself and all that she had been through. Veronica Roth made an insanely complex character when she created Beatris Prior. She is not a character I will soon forget.

Some of the secondary characters have turned into some of my most favorite characters. I love Christina and Cara, both were amazingly forgiving young ladies that will always stand up for what they believe in. I also want to say that Peter grew on me in this book. Towards the end, I really felt bad for him and even for Caleb as well.  We are also introduced to quite a few new characters in the book—some that you will love, and some that you will love to hate. I know I sure did! I love that I grew to care for these secondary characters just as much as the main characters. I could go on and on about many, many more characters, but you should just check out the book and meet them all for yourself.

There’s really not a whole lot of action in the Allegiant at all, we get more information than anything. (There is a decent bit of action in the book, especially toward the end, but it doesn’t seem to be as action packed as the previous books.) A lot of questions that I had were answered, but I was still left with a few unanswered questions that I really wanted to know the answer to. (Like, why was Tris so different from over Divergents?) Because of all of this information, I found the pacing of the book to be a bit slower than the previous books. That, however, could have just been for me.

I’m having a bit of love/hate relationship with the ending of the book. It was a big risk for Roth to take, and I guess it is really a more realistic ending. It’s just not what I had expected at all. It made me sad, kind of the same way the ending of Mockingjay made me feel. My feelings are all over the place, and it’s such a disconcerting feeling.  And even though it kills me, I can kind of see why she chose to end the book the way she did. But seriously, it’s going to take a while to sort through these emotions.

Overall; I really enjoyed reading this series. I would have to say that I enjoyed Divergent the most out of the series, but I think that all together, these three books make for one hell of a series. If you haven’t checked these books out yet, you definitely should. Just make sure you have tissues available when you start on Allegiant.

Happy Reading!





Books in this Series:



Divergent  |  Insurgent  |  Allegiant

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent
(Divergent #2)
by Veronica Roth
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 1st 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 525
ISBN: 9780007442911
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Own

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature. (Goodreads)

I read Divergent earlier this year, and really enjoyed the book. I kept putting off reading Insurgent because I knew it had one of those terrible cliffhanger endings that make you want to through the book, and it would drive me crazy having to wait on Allegiant to be released. After finishing Insurgent, I am definitely glad that I waited, but I’m also kicking myself as well for not reading this awesome book sooner.

I really enjoyed Tris’ character when we met her in Divergent. She was headstrong and strong willed, exactly the character that I love. She was a completely different person in Insurgent, which honestly was expected considering all that she went through in the previous book. Her growing despair was strong enough to impact a lot of the decisions that she made, and she was constantly throwing herself into dangerous paths.  While frustrating at times, I am glad that the author chose to write Tris this way, as it was definitely more realistic.

The relationship between Tris and Tobias/Four was a strained at best throughout the book. With both having trust issues and having gone through so much, this too was expected. We get to see many different sides of Four in this novel.  As with Tris, I really loved him from the moment I first met him. He is such an insanely complex character, what’s not to love, right? Through everything that they have been through, even when they can’t take anymore, they always find their way back to each other. Looooove!

The secondary characters—Oh my goodness, there are so many secondary characters that I love. There are some that we met in the previous book, and some that we met for the first time, (and sometimes only briefly), in Insurgent. They all managed to make an impact in some way or another. I could go on and on about each and everyone one of them, but this would be insanely long if I did so. Just read the book so you can see for yourself.

I love that we are given so much more information on each individual faction in this book. After reading Divergent, I was always curious for more information, and now I have it. I’m glad for that. I’m super curious to start Allegiant now to find out even more! I’m dying of curiosity.

Insurgent is full of action and suspense, and it will definitely keep you turning the pages! The book ends with a MASSIVE cliffhanger as well. I am SO not a big fan of cliffhangers, especially when you have to wait for long periods of time to get the next book. Thank goodness I have Allegiant to start on right away… Not knowing what is going to happen next would make me insane.

Overall, if you enjoyed reading Divergent, you will definitely enjoy reading Insurgent! It was a great addition to this intense series. I, of course, will be starting Allegiant right away!

Happy Reading!



Books in this Series:



Divergent  |  Insurgent  |  Allegiant

Review: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor
(The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)
by Julie Kagawa
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook

The Iron Fey Official Website

Publication Date: October 29th 2013
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Pages: 342
ISBN: 9780373210916
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Publisher | Netgalley

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all. (Goodreads)

The Iron Traitor is the second book in ‘The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten’ series by the super talented Julie Kagawa. Can I start this review by saying that Julie is an amazingly talented writer, and her books never disappoint? The Iron Traitor is a great addition to this wonderful series that I enjoy so very much.

Ethan Chase is a very interesting character. Unlike his sister, Megan, he doesn’t want to get involved with the fairies at all. But no matter what he does, he always manages to get involved. I really think that he would do about anything to save the girl that he loves, and I love him for that. Kenzie is an interesting character as well, and I love that she seems to bring out the best in Ethan. These two are great together, and I’m curious to see what is in store for them in the future, especially with Kenzie’s illness.

Keirran, who is Megan and Ash’s son, remind me so much of both of his parents. Stubborn and strong-willed, he too is willing to do whatever possible to save the girl that he goes. He even does the unthinkable that almost made me through my iPad across the room while reading the book. But then there are times when he does something that makes me wonder HOW he could possibly be related to Megan and Ash. I guess that’s part of what makes him such a complex character.

One thing I adore about this book is the cameos by some of my favorite characters in the previous book. One character in particular that I am totally in love with, and a few more that I loved just as much. I’m sure you know exactly who I am talking about, but I don’t want to ruin it for you just in case.

As always, the world that Julie creates in her books is super fascinating and the characters are wonderfully written.  I always enjoy the adventure that Julie takes us on when reading her books. You really never know what is going to happen! I really enjoy the addition of The Forgotten Ones to the story. It really makes this series different than the previous series, while still allowing us to enjoy the world that we loved in the original Iron Fey series. The book is very fast paced, and ends on a MAJOR cliffhanger, one that will make you say, “WTH, are you kidding me?!” Seriously, Julie was definitely mean to leave us hanging like that. It’s going to be a super long wait until the next book comes out. ::pout:: 

Overall, if you’ve ever read and loved a book by Julie Kagawa, you are definitely going to love this book. It’s another great installment to this fabulous series. I can’t wait for the next book to be released!


Books in this series:



The Iron King  |  The Iron Daughter  |  The Iron Queen  |  The Iron Knight



The Lost Prince  |  The Iron Traitor