One Choice Will Define You

Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

I am literally at a loss for words.  I have just finished Allegiant and I am speechless.  I’m sitting here thinking about the last few weeks that I have read all three of these books and I cannot believe the wild ride I have been on.

I fell in love with Tris and Four from the very beginning.  I was angry at her when she would do something stupid, I was happy when they could finally be together and I balled like a baby when the book ended. 

I absolutely thought that the series was going to end with Tris waking up from a serum induced coma and either the entire series was a dream or maybe just after her Dauntless initiation was a dream, especially after she finished first in her initiation class. 

The ending was a surprise to me, other readers thought that it was obvious, but books just don’t end like that.  Especially not YA books, there has to be a silver lining and a happy ending so that the audience wants to read other books by the author.  I have heard such crazy and differing opinions about this book that I wonder how the author is doing. 

I did not like the first 200 pages of this book.  It was slow going and I felt like I was trying to run in sand.  But the last 100 pages moved like the first two books.  I think the reason it was so slow was because Roth had to introduce and explain the whole idea of the Genetically Pure and the Genetically Damaged people.  She had to explain why it was a big deal to both sides and show what it was doing to the US.  Those facts and ideas were so boring, but after it’s over, I now know why she had to go through all of that to get us to see why the ending had to happen the way it did.  I think another reason that it moved slow for me was because of the switch of the point of view.  Whenever there is more than one character in a book it makes me want to take a break between each character, it doesn’t matter what is going on, I’m just not very good at reading those types of books.  I understand now that it’s over why it was written like that.

My heart goes out to Tobias, or Four as I like to call him.  It makes sense that he just wants to forget it all.  Poor guy, I’m glad he has some friends to keep him together.  Along the lines of Tobias and his chapters, it was genius how after chapter 54 there were no more chapter clarifiers, that made me sad all over again.

I hope I haven’t given any unintentional spoilers, I tried to be as cryptic as I could for those who haven’t read, but that those who have were able to know what I was referring to.  I gave this book 4 stars where Divergent and Insurgent were both 5 out of 5 stars, I gave the small difference not because of her bravery in Roth’s ending, but because of the slow pace of the beginning of the book.

Let me know what you thought about the entire series! Keep Reading my friends!

Does She Love Me? Maybe Not.

Maybe Not (Maybe Someday 1.5) by Colleen Hoover

A SURPRISE NOVELLA FROM MY MOST FAVORITEST AUTHOR EVER!!! Who has two thumbs and freaked out when in less than a week we were going to read a Colleen Hoover book?  This girl (Pun intended)!

Colleen has the best secondary characters.  I loved Warren’s POV, I mean, really, who wouldn’t?  Poor guy, we all judged him for his porn addiction, makes so much more sense now.  We all judged him on his ridiculous conversations, again, it all makes sense now.  We also judged Bridgette for her crazy behavior that constantly had us not liking her, well maybe that was justified. 

Can I just say (of course I can, it’s my blog) that I love Novella’s?  It’s an entire story wrapped up in a little over 100 pages.  We got the whole story wrapped up in a nice little bow.  What happens after the last page?  Who cares, we didn’t expect to hear as much as we got.  We loved Daniel in Finding Cinderella and we loved Warren in Maybe Not.  Keep the fantastic Novella’s coming Colleen!

I think one of the most wonderful things about being a CoHort is seeing Colleen’s generosity rub off on people.  Colleen bought lots of books for people who couldn’t afford them, but wanted to read them.  Then it set off like wild fire on our CoHort’s Facebook page, everyone was buying each other books, it was amazing.  I really appreciate that group and the kindness that I saw through that. 

So, what’s Maybe Not about?  Well I usually give a great little description, but I don’t feel like it.  Read Maybe Someday, it’s excellent, and read Maybe Not, it’s just as great! 

This book does have an age restriction and I would say it’s 18 or older.  This is not a YA book, Warren is a dirty guy and is written that way.  Keep Reading my Friends! 

Nash is the Hard Looking Softy of the Marked Men

Nash (Marked Men Novel #4) by Jay Crownover

Nash Donovan is the silent type of bad boy.  He is overly misunderstood or just people automatically put him in the bad boy department because he has flames going up the side of his neck and has a ring in his nose like a bull.  When Rome gets busted up from a bar fight back in his book Nash and Saint see each other after many years of growing up after high school.  Saint is now a nurse in the ER and Nash is about to be the joint owner of the Marked Tattoo shop that he, Rule, Rowdy, and Cora work in.  Nash is sweet and kind, he works hard and loves deeply.  I enjoyed his story very much.  I loved watching the drama that is Saint Ford unfold and see her grow into a person that could fully handle all the love that is Nash. 

I enjoyed the story and wanted to slap Saint most of the time.  She was not loveable like Shaw, Ayden, and Cora.  She was a little harder to love even though in reality her life wasn’t as hard as most of the other characters.  I loved Nash though.  He’s the sweetest of the Marked, but I have a feeling that Rowdy is going to be my absolute fave.  He’s funny and sweet and carefully put together.  I just have a good feeling that it’s going to be a great read.  I love how Jay and the timber that she writes in.  It flows well and it’s easy to follow.  I put her books in the beach read category and stand by it.  They are easy reads that give you hope for the characters and you cry with them, and laugh with them and love with them.  On a whole, the Marked Men series is great. 

There were a lot more emotions in the book than have been in the previous books.  I felt right along with Nash as he was going through the hardest time of his life.   

Of course I would be ashamed of myself if I didn’t mention that there are typos in the book.  I overlook them because I like the characters and love the stories.  I understand that you can’t catch them all.  I can’t wait for Rowdy!  Keep Reading my Friends!  

Just Breathe

Breathe by Abbi Glines

Breathe will always be my gateway book to this author.  I have a friend that reads all New Adult authors and she introduced me to Colleen Hoover and also Abbi Glines (props to Jill-Bud!).  I have adored everything that Colleen Hoover has published and I wait with bated breath until the next book comes out.  I am now starting to adore Abbi Glines’ books as well.  I love how likable the characters are that she has created thus far. 

Sadie White does not have the normal summer job that all the other students from high school have.  She is the breadwinner for her pregnant single mother.  So she has to have a job that will pay the bills and she also has to save up some money so they can survive when her mom has the baby and she starts her senior year of high school.  So when her mom can’t get up for work on Sadie’s first day of summer break, Sadie goes to her mom’s job which just happens to be cleaning for the teen idol Jax Stone.  Will Sadie be able to put away the thoughts of the teen idol so she can provide for her family?  Can she possibly not fall for this guy?  Luckily she has Marcus, the good looking server who works alongside her to distract her from the possibility of Jax getting in the way of her livelihood.

This is what I consider a beach read.  Grab a towel, find some shade on a sandy beach and get lost in reading.  You’ll finish it in a day and you’re glad you stopped by to get to know these characters even if it didn’t last too long.  This is not a long relationship, you just read it, enjoy the fun of it and move right on to the next book.  Don’t look for deep intellectual findings here, just read and enjoy!

I loved Sadie as a POV character.  She was great.  I loved that she didn’t think she had any personality and that she was boring.  But apparently she was beautiful and super hot because every single guy wanted to hang out with her.  No seriously, there wasn’t a boy in sight that didn’t fall in love with her.  The men she worked with, her employer, her friend’s friends, etc.  Do you know who this person is in your life?  I have had a few of these girls that have been in my life that you just can’t even understand how the heck they get so much attention. 

Well, I’m happy I read this book, I can’t wait to read Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2).  I hope Marcus can find some love, poor guy didn’t have a chance. 

What’s your favorite “Beach Read?”

This book is recommended to readers over 18 years old.  Keep Reading my Friends!

You Can't Script Love

Love Unscripted by Tina Reber

I have had this book on my “to read” list on goodreads for a very long time.  I pushed Love Unscripted to the very top when all the stars were aligned perfectly.  First it came available at the library, then I heard about an amazing author event in Nashville (a mere 3 hours away from my home in Birmingham) and Tina Reber was going to be there!  I started reading it the week of the event.  When I had around 100 pages left I was so in love with the characters that I decided to write Tina on Goodreads and just tell her how much I was enjoying the book and that I was going to the event and I was excited to meet her.  She wrote me back!!!  It was such a happy day until I actually met her and that was such a great experience for me.  She was down to earth, funny, and made me feel welcomed at her table.  I really lucked out because the girl in front of me was an aspiring author and picked her brain asking questions that I was too scared to ask and I received a lot of great information.  I also found out that Tina wants to mentor new authors and I didn’t even mention to her that I would love for her to mentor me!  It was an excellent event and it makes my heart happy to be in a room with so many readers and our “rock star authors.”  Oh and not to mention that Tina took a selfie with me!  How cool is that?

I loved this book!  I loved Taryn Mitchell and I thought she was an excellent main point of view character.  She was fun and truthful and real.  I loved Ryan.  Gosh what a great male lead.  He was passionate, loving, honest, and he just made me happy.  Even when he was upset and they fought it was honest and I could see the scene unfolding in front of me.

I loved how Ryan and Taryn met.  The drinking and playing pool and her seriously just hoping to calm him down and take care of him.  I loved that she played hard to get at the beginning.  I loved that she turned down giving him her number.  I loved the weekend at the lake… what am I talking about?  I loved the book and I laughed and cried, and read and read.  I think above everything in the entire book that I loved was how deep their relationship grew with great conversation and over time even if brief.  I felt close to both characters and I believed 100% that they were growing closer in their relationship.  There’s nothing more unreal than a relationship that I can’t put my finger on why they like each other in the first place, but I am overwhelmed by Ryan and Taryn and their love for one another. 

I can’t wait to read Love Unrehearsed!  I’ll keep you posted on how it goes! 

I can only recommend this to 18 and older readers.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Stalkers Suck!

The Keatyn Chronicles: Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd

Keatyn’s life is going exactly as she scripted, she’s in the most popular crowd, she sits at the most coveted lunch table and has the boyfriend that all the girls want.  All is going well until she realizes that she doesn’t want to be with her boyfriend any longer, she’s in love with her best friend surfer buddy and she doesn’t want to sit at the cool table sometimes and then there’s a stalker issue. 

So, I ended up liking this book.  Well I ended up liking it 3 out of 5 stars.  The first half of the book was slow moving and it was longer than it needed to be.  I also was confused about what genre this book should be placed in.  Keatyn is 16, but doing drugs and having sex and is pretty much on her own.  So is it YA?  Because it was way too old for YA, was it NA?  Because she is way too young to be New Adult.  So, I was confused about who should be reading this book and who should not.

The book sped up and I enjoyed the story the last few chapters, I liked Keatyn when she started being herself and stopped caring what her friends thought. 

I bought the entire series and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.  I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going.

I can only recommend this book to readers 18 and older.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Forever is a Really Really Long Time

Forever Too Far (Rosemary Beach #4, Too Far #3) by Abbi Glines

I just started this series and I have read them as fast as the library could get them to me.  With an exception of Never Too Far (book #2) I couldn’t wait for the library and I purchased it on my nook.  These books are fun and fast paced, I can sit down and read one in a day (which is pretty fast for me). 

What I liked:

I still love Blaire.  She is really a great character.  She cares, she loves and she is very compassionate.  She’s forgiving.  She forgives people and wrongs against her very easily with little to no bitterness.  She loves with all she is and that makes her a great character. 

Of course Rush was great.  His character really stepped it up in this book with the wedding gifts, so stinking romantic. 

I actually liked that there was no resolution with his sister and mom.  I can think of way too many books that throw a happy ending with all the loose ends tied up with pretty bows and you think, “Can that happen in real life?”  In real life, Nan would still act the same way, she wouldn’t change because she has never had to before.  I was glad that Grant didn’t forgive her too. 

What I didn’t like:

The language.  I am not saying that certain characters can’t cuss.  Rush is rough around the edges, raised himself and had a rock legend for a father and an absent mother.  He has few morals and is no way religious in any way, therefore I don’t expect him to soften his language for his audience, but daaaaaang.  There was just too much in this book. 

I felt in this book particular that I was unsure on what Blaire and Rush’s relationship stood on.  I know they are attracted to each other, but it was unclear how I could feel confident that their love would last forever.  That is why I am so glad she has written Rush too Far.  I can’t wait to hear it all from Rush’s perspective and find out what he has been thinking from the beginning.  I can’t wait!

I can only recommend this book to 18 and older.  Either way, keep reading my friends!

Paperclip Ring, Epic Declaration, Love it!

Champion by Marie Lu (Legend #3)

My heart is beating so fast, my blood pressure is building up, my breathing is getting faster and faster, why?  Because this book is incredible.  Can you get everything that you want out of a book?  I wasn’t so sure when I started this series, but as I read on, I had my doubts, but as I closed the last page of Champion, Marie Lu exceeded my expectations and blew my mind.  I think the reason that I’m so shocked by how this trilogy ended is because I felt throughout the first two books that it was exceptionally predictable.  I knew what was going to happen as I turned every page and then, boom!  The ending took me by complete surprise.  The last book was by far my favorite.  First of all, I cried.  A lot!  June, who was not my favorite point of view character developed a soft spot in my heart as her character changed and grew.  Of course, Day is the champion of this book and the audiences heart.  He is a smooth talker, charismatic, and soft hearted all things that book enthusiasts like me look for in a book crush.  And of course, Anden is pretty great himself.  I was secretly pulling for him to win June’s heart even though I knew that would never happen.

The last 2 or 3 chapters of this book, I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat.  Once the war began, I was lost in this dystopian world where Marie Lu has changed our attitude and heart right along with her stellar characters.  At the beginning I was right there with Day.  I would have been in the street with my painted red streak and literally dying for his honor.  I also would have jumped behind Anden when he told me to and jumped to arms when he directs the people to defend their country. 

The actual last chapter I read so fast to get to the end.  I thought perhaps the book would end with the second to last chapter, but when I saw we were getting one more chapter ten years later I breathed a breath of relief for the end was not the end.  Now the hope and possibilities are endless. 

Who doesn’t love an ending like that?  Paperclip ring and all!  “I’ve been searching a long time for something I think I lost.” Oh Day (sigh).

One random thought before I go… How did Eden recognize June first?  Wasn’t he blind the entire time he knew June?  Just a thought.  Maybe he googled her while he was in Antarctica.  This question I assume will not be answered, but I wasn’t upset by it at all.    

I know this blog was random neurons firing, but hopefully you enjoyed it.  Read this series!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Rome is Home, but Not Really Back.

Rome (Marked Men #3) by Jay Crownover

I enjoyed Rome and I thought Jay did a wonderful job writing about what this particular soldier went through after coming home from fighting in a war.  We met Rome in the first book in the Marked Men Series, Rule.  Rome is Rule’s older brother.  He was always the protector of the twins and he even joined the military in order to protect them on a larger scale, to keep America Free.

Cora is a great character, we get to know her a little in Rule and a lot more in Jet.  She lives with Jet and Ayden and she has a smart mouth and she seems to keep everything in the Marked tattoo shop running, she also does the piercings and she has a loud mouth, did I already say that?  That seems to be her biggest and greatest quality.   That’s why she and Rome seem to mesh, because he seems to always get in the last word and over powers her large personality. 

I have enjoyed this series a lot.  I hate to even say this, but I feel that I must.  I found so many typos in Rome.  Just the use of the wrong word here and there.  I was able to easily overlook it and keep reading because Jay writes her characters for us to fall in love with them. 

I have recommended this book and the entire series to people that I think would enjoy them.  As always with New Adult genre, only eighteen and older should read these books.  I hope you read a book you love soon!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Rock-n-Roll is in Jet's Blood!

Jet (Marked Men #2) by Jay Crownover

Did I mention in my Rule blog that I now really want a tattoo?  I have wanted one for quite some time, but after reading Rule and Jet, I want one real bad.  Not anything big or attention grabbing, that isn’t my personality.  The problem is that I can’t make up my mind what I want.  Lots of book nerds get words of their favorite author on their body, that is not me.  At least not yet.  Then others put animals or designs, gosh there are so many options that I have no idea where to start.  So for right now I will go without.  Until I find exactly what I’m looking for, I won’t have one and I’ll keep reading books about guys and girls that have tattoos and I’ll love every minute of it. 

We met Ayden Cross as Shaw’s roommate in Rule the first Marked Men novel.  She’s fun and interesting and smart.  We also met Jet Keller, the rocker of the group who is dark and dangerous and has really descriptive eyes that tell you what he’s thinking without opening his mouth.  So far in the series Jet is the confident one, he knows who he is.  There is no identity crisis there, he wears his tight purple pants and his band t-shirts extra-smedium and he is head over heels in love with Ayden. 

I have never been a huge fan of multiple points of view within a book, it’s hard for me to keep reading when I get to a character that isn’t my favorite.  So, here’s the answer to that dilemma, love both characters and you won’t get stuck.  That’s how it’s been so far with the Marked Men series.  I love the guys POV just as much as the girls and therefore I read them pretty fast because I can’t wait to see what the other person is thinking. 

I loved to see what Rule and Shaw were up to and glad to get to know Cora and the rest of the gang better throughout the book, I can’t wait to see what’s going on with Rome and Cora.  And Rowdy?  I can’t wait for his book, he seems like the cream of the crop, let’s hope he doesn’t disappoint. 

Something I noticed that Miss Crownover did in this book was the use of inanimate objects.  I love it when an author says that a character can smell something that doesn’t smell or hit you with something that’s not possible.  In Jet, Ayden is having a very hard time after some drama takes place and Shaw is worried that Ayden is going to beat Loren (a girl that works at the bar with them) with her own stupidity.  Brilliant!  I love it!

I did catch a few typos, but it didn’t distract me from the plot and I still loved the book and the characters!

I highly recommend this to the 18 year and older reader out there.  With almost all New Adult books I cannot condone any young reader to pick this one up.  Although Jay does a great job of keeping the language to a minimum and I appreciate that. 

I can’t wait to start reading Rome!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Team Maxon 4-Eva!

The Elite (A Selection Novel) by Kiera Cass

To become a princess, not only become a princess, but to marry the Prince in a rush of a fairytale… competition?  Wait, what’s romantic about competing with other women for the chance to marry the Prince of Illea?  Well if you are asking me, there is not much about it that sounds remotely romantic… until we meet Maxon Shreave, who can melt your heart with his words and make you want to scratch his eyes out with his actions.  There is not a fiber in my being that wants Aspen to be the man of America Singer’s dreams but I was about ready for America to quit the contest and become a nun when Maxon was enjoying Celeste’s company, I was seeing red, to the point that I thought that maybe the ink of the book was written in red.  

I have to admit that there are not a lot of plot twists in this series, I have not been caught off guard, I am very wary of Maxon’s actions and cautious of what he is saying to the other girls.  Actually, what is he saying to the other contestants? 

Either way, with or without plot twists, the story is good.  I could not put the book down and I felt passionately about slapping America at one point, I wanted to turn Aspen in for his treason, and I wanted to knee Maxon in the groin, again.  I actually missed Maxon in this book compared to The Selection.  I assumed that we would see more of him, but he seemed a little MIA and there was way too much Aspen.  Why do I dislike Aspen so much?  Maybe it’s just that in the comparison to Maxon it’s like apples and rotten oranges.  I don’t care how much he loves her, I don’t care how long they have known each other, any man that puts his wants and desires before her safety is not going to win any points in my book, i.e. she would be killed for treason if they get caught in what they are doing behind closed doors. 

The only problem is that when I finished this book and the next book didn’t come out for 10 days, which was torture, I would rather it be a year than just a few days.  What a great series!  I hope you pick it up and love it as much as I did!  A great young adult read that I can feel good about recommending to any reader!  Keep reading my Friends!

A Little Peak at the Bad Aliens

Obsession (In the Obsidian Family) by Jennifer Armentrout

A standalone book that directly links back to the Obsidian universe.  This was an excellent Adult book by Armentrout that gave us a great look into the Arum and what they are like.  I loved Hunter, what a great male lead character, bad boy falling for the naïve girl that has no idea what’s going on around her and how much danger she is actually in.  Serena meets her best friend Mel at a bar and hears the craziest story she has ever heard.  Her friend saw her boyfriend and his brother glow, like a light bulb, like they aren’t human.  Well the story quickly progresses and Serena has to be protected by Hunter, an Arum that works for the Department of Defense.  Until they change their mind, but only after Hunter has started feeling something for Serena, which makes his task of killing her sort of a problem.

In this book we also get to see Daemon for a split second and we see Luc and more of what his role in the overall Obsidian world.   

The Obsidian books are young adult, there are some spots that I wouldn’t recommend for younger readers, but as a whole they are wholesome enough for most readers.  Obsession is an adult book with adult content and I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone younger than 18. 

I am glad that I read this book and got this side of the story.  I think it will be important in the next Obsidian book because I think Hunter is going to show back up in that story as well.  We’ll see. 

Keep Reading my Friends!

Marcus breaks Bro-Code for Low

Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2) by Abbi Glines

I have read several of Abbi Glines books so far and Because of Low is right up there with my favorite of her books thus far.  My friend Jill-Bud recommended this book to me a couple of years ago when Glines first published it.  She told me how much she loved it and how great the story was.  I Put it on my goodreads list and over the last few years my ever growing “To be Read” pile let me forget this book and the author until Barnes and Nobles had an ebook sale Breathe (the first Sea Breeze novel) for $1.99 and I decided to buy it and fell in love with Abbi Glines and loved the beginning of the Sea Breeze series.  I’ve also read the Too Far series and was introduced to Rush and you can find those blogs on the right hand side of my homepage. 

We first meet Marcus Hardy in Breathe where he falls for Sadie White and poor Marcus gets his heart broken because Sadie is in love with Jax Stone, Rock Idol Extraordinaire.  Marcus was sweet and thoughtful and apparently gorgeous, even if Sadie didn’t fall for him she still thought he was hot.  In Because of Low we find Marcus has moved back to Sea Breeze from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to help his mom and sister with some family problems.  He moves in with Cage York, a womanizer who he barely knows.  One night Willow steps into his apartment waiting for Cage but Marcus is quickly corrected about his assumption that she is not just one of Cage’s one night stands, because Cage has staked his claimed on Low, she is his future wife. Marcus tries to stay away from Low in order to uphold Bro-code, but as he gets to know her and Cage is never home, they start to have these sweet moments and fall for each other.  There was quite a bit of foreshadowing with Marcus promising never to hurt or leave Low.  At that point the reader can assume that something crazy is going to happen.  I guessed what the crazy twist in the story was pretty early on, but I enjoyed Glines taking me on the Marcus/Low journey regardless. 

I look forward to reading more Sea Breeze books and see what becomes of Cage in the next book.  What is your favorite Abbi Glines book?  I can’t wait to see what happens in Grant’s books. 

As always I can’t recommend New Adult books to anyone under 18 (or in the state of Alabama, 19).

Keep Reading my Friends!

Who Would Have Thunk It? I Liked Reid In the End!

Here Without You (Between the Lines #4) by Tammara Webber

Dori and Reid are a couple, but of course not just a normal couple because he’s a super star and she is a good girl and also a nobody.  Of course no book can be readable without a plot twist, and River was the plot twist of Here Without You.  River is going to change everything for everyone.  You just have to read it to find out what’s happening.   

While finishing this book, I got incredibly sad because I was not ready for this series to be over.  I enjoyed the characters and the stories within all four books.  I cannot believe that I ended up loving Reid.  Who saw that coming?  Not I!   But by the end, I was so ready for Dori and Reid to be together and to live happily ever after! 

I was a little upset when I saw the title and the cover of the fourth book.  I didn’t want to be without anyone!  Well, maybe Brooke, she got on my nerves.  But as I began this series, I assumed that  Emma and Reid were going to be the main characters throughout and when I saw that cover and title, I was fearful that Emma was going to die.  Spoiler alert, she doesn’t.  Then as I was reading I was fearful that something was going to happen to Dori, anyway, whether something happens or not, I enjoyed Here Without You and didn’t want the book to end.

If I had one complaint it would be that the end felt a little rushed (or again, maybe I didn’t want it to end).  I was surprised by River’s reaction to Reid’s tear.  I just wouldn’t assume that there would be such a quick response to a male in River’s life.  But I’m not the creator of this world so therefore, I just read it, enjoyed it and longed for more.

I loved the entire Dori and Reid relationship.  I loved that she brought out the best of him and changed his perception of himself.  I loved how she told him that she loved him (finally!) and I loved the conversation between Dori and Reid’s mother. 

I’m not sure what else to talk about except, Thank you Tammara Webber, can’t wait to read Breakable! (Blogger Side Note: I read this book many months ago and did not post the blog.  I have read Breakable and LOVED IT!  Tammara Webber, I have read all of your books and can't wait for you to give your fans more!)

Keep Reading my Friends!

Tattoos for Everyone!

Rule (A Marked Men Novel #1) by Jay Crownover

What goes through your mind when you see a man (or woman?) with a sleeve of tattoos?  What’s the first idea that comes across your mind?  Maybe that question is irrelevant.  I know that when I was young it seemed like the only people who had more than one tattoo were bikers and big scary men (huge stereotype, right?).  In the bible belt area that I grew up in everyone discussed whether it was against the Bible to mark your skin permanently.  I still think that some people in the older generations look on tattoos with disgust and judgment, but I know for myself I see it as a choice.  Each person has one life to live.  If ink is a way for you to show your personality and outwardly give people a glimpse at whom you are.  Go for it.  Most of my husband’s family members have more than one tattoo where most of my family does not have any.  I don’t really hear the debates anymore.  My husband has many friends that go to Seminary or are pastors that have pieces that usually are in the original biblical language that say things like “grace” or “faith.”  In the world of ink, I say decide for yourself and enjoy the decisions that you make.

Rule is a New Adult love story between a tattoo artist and Shaw, the girl that has loved him since she was fourteen.  I loved the dual point of view of this book and the way Jay never gave too much away.  We would jump days and we may never find out how Rule was feeling when we were listening in on Shaw’s POV, or vice versa. 

My favorite idea about the story is literally Rule’s eyes were opened up one day and even though he tried to close them he couldn’t stay away from Shaw once the blindfold was removed from his eyes.  She had always been there, always admired his personality, character traits, and loved him for who he was and one day he noticed and that’s when our story takes off. 

Who is Shaw?  Well if you haven’t read this book I don’t want to ruin it.  Jay introduces us to her slowly, and doesn’t give us all of the details of the longtime relationship all at once.  At one point I looked back a few pages believing that I had missed something.  Then I realized, ohhhh, that’s genius!  I love it when authors use words to confuse me just a little before revealing the answers that I was asking the questions about.

I met Jay at the Nashville event, she was the second author and I was so nervous that I was shaking.  I had not read any of her work yet and so I was unsure of what to talk to her about.  So far I had only met Cora Carmack and since I had read all of her books excluding her brand new book (which I bought at her table) I was worried that Jay was going to blow us off since we weren’t spending money on her books.  That could not have been farther from what actually happened.  We ended up talking about Colorado and the premise around her books.  She was super cool and comfortable to be around.  I just can’t wait to see her again so I can tell her in person how much I enjoyed Rule.  I have the next 4 books on hold at the Library!  I can’t wait to get to reading!

Keep Reading my Friends!

Reid the Ridiculous meets Dori the Do-Gooder

Good for You (Between the Lines #3) by Tammara Webber

Reid Alexander, the “it” guy of Hollywood, he gets the girls, he gets the whatever movie he wants and he knows just how much the world loves him.  Dori Cantrell is the religious “good girl” that spends all of her time volunteering with either her dad’s church, habitat for humanity, or many other places where people need help.  When Reid crashes his car into the Diego’s rent house, where they live while their Habitat House is being built, he is court ordered to volunteer every day for a month to get that house built.  When he meets Dori, he seems to look right through her, which doesn’t really bother Dori since she doesn’t have time for a Hollywood fake to disrupt her busy life.  As the month goes by, the audience realizes that maybe all first impressions are wrong and need some changing.  This dual point of view books takes us to places with Reid that we haven’t been before and we start to see a change in him that none of us would have expected.

I have adored this series thus far, but book #3, you absolutely are the winner so far.  I liked Emma, but I love Dori.  Dori is a real life character with real life problems and she is a good girl religious girl living in LA, I’m not sure how easy that is, but Dori does it with unwavering ease with all of her activities, it’s enough to make me tired just thinking about her schedule. 

Reid on the other hand was pretty much a douche throughout the entire series and I’m glad he got the wakeup call that he desperately needed, what’s funny is that wakeup call wasn’t the car accident, but it was actually his friendship with Dori that seemed to get though to him.  I enjoyed Reid in this book and hoped for his change and maturity.

I loved their time apart where neither one of them knew that the other was pining over him/her.  It was priceless.  I also loved Dori’s relationship with her sister Deb.  It was a great sister relationship that gave depth to Dori as a character. 

I have already began book #4 (Here Without You- what an ominous title for what has been a pretty upbeat series).  I love Tammara Webber’s writing and her books are good.  This series is definitely worth grabbing up, keep reading my friends!

Katy, the best fictional blogger in the world!

Origin (A Lux Novel #4) by Jennifer Armentrout

I am in love with this series!  I love the characters, I love Daemon and Katy’s relationship, and I love aliens.  When I had just finished this book and I could not stop saying “Oh my gosh, I cannot believe this book!”  I just kept repeating this as my mantra.  Simon has no idea why I’m freaking out and neither do you if you have not read this book. 

So, again we don’t miss a lot of time between book #3 and book #4.  The only difference is we are seeing the book not just from Katy’s perspective, but also from Daemon’s.  I usually do not like dual point of view books, but Daemon is such a great character that I didn’t skip a beat.  Usually when I get to the next person’s chapter I take a break, I put the book down, but this time I just kept reading because I love Katy and Daemon so very much! 

I had made the decision to wait for the library book, oh my gosh, what an excruciating wait it was.  When I requested the book I thought I was second in line for the book, either way, it felt like it took forever!  Good thing I was super busy and had no time to read.  Once I got this book it took me 3 days to finish it, of course that’s with working 8 hours a day, it’s just that good.

I’m not sure what to talk about within this specific book, besides there are some good times, some bad times, lots of characters die and there are some surprises.  I cannot wait until August when the fifth book comes out.  I want it now!  I think I will read Shadows (a book about Dawson and Beth) and then there is an adult book about an Arum named Hunter who I believe is going to have a larger part to play in the Fifth book of the Lux series. 

There was a cover change before this last book, the picture I have chosen is not what the book cover looked like that I borrowed from the library, but this one is the original model (or at least it looks like it to me).  I have read that Armentrout had to make some changes because of her publishers which is better for her, so good job JA.  I loved the original models and thought they went along with the idea I had in my head.  Well I know this blog wasn’t that great, just excitement overflowing to my fingers.  Sad I can’t discuss more because I hate spoilers.  If you have not looked into this series, please do!  Excellent read!

Keep Reading my Friends!

Heartbreaking and Heartwarming at the Exact Same Time!

Breakable (Contours of the Heart, #2) by Tammara Webber

Have you ever had something happen to you that is so horrible you never mentioned it again for fear that you would actually break apart?  I personally have not had anything this horrible happen to me, but I have had friends that tell me their story and it absolutely breaks my heart the things that they have been through and usually at such a young age.  The Contours of the Heart series follows heartbreak in a few different ways.

I loved Easy.  I remember reading it and learning right along with Jacqueline about how to deal with what she was going through, but also how to help others and what happened to Lucas. 

Breakable was the absolute best man point of view book I have ever read.  I loved the jumping between Landon and Lucas (genius!) and how they ran parallel to each other while yet being worlds apart from the Lucas we all came to love during Easy.  I enjoyed that we were actually in Lucas’ head and that we weren’t a third party member listening to what was going on.  Webber didn’t retell the story of Easy, she gave us a new story with a similar plot.  Sometimes you read a male POV book and it’s the exact same book with his inner monologue and it adds nothing to the story.  Then sometimes you get a book that gives excellent back story with great in-depth details that make us fall for our book crush even harder.  But to me, Webber has changed how we will look at these books forever with Breakable because of how she wrote it.  She gave us brief reminders of what happened from Jacqueline’s POV but didn’t even give us the entire conversation, she saved room for us to learn more about Lucas or Landon.  It was written beautifully and I loved every word.

 This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.  I have read all of Tammara Webber’s books and I love each one and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.  She has a way with bringing characters to life and Lucas/Landon is no exception. 

With all New Adult books I must place a warning on it that I would only recommend this to 18 year old readers and above.  Find a book or author you love!  Keep Reading my friends!

One Mistake Can Change Everything.

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

Have I mentioned how much I love indie writers?  I have had this book on my kitchen table, borrowed from the library and it just waited patiently to be read.  I met the author in Nashville and told her how excited I was about reading her books.  I’m sure she was like, ok, whatever (she was really nice, but if I heard a reader say “I can’t wait to read your books” but she didn’t buy my books, I wouldn’t really hold my breath that she was going to read my book).  Either way, she was really sweet, and crazy funny (she kept grabbing Tina Reber’s rear).  Actually all of the authors were fun and made you feel at home at their tables.  I just wish I would have known about the event with plenty of time to read all of the authors before I got there. 

The Perfect Game is a New Adult love story about a girl named Cassie that meets Jack Carter, the baseball player of their college and also the player of their school as well.  There is a spark between them from the first time they met for both Cassie and Jack.  With a past that doesn’t want to let either of them trust the other, they open their hearts to love.  Well if it ended there it would have been a sweet book, but there has to be something earth shattering, heart breaking and horrible happen.  When that thing happens, I was really upset.  I didn’t want to go to sleep, I wanted to first reach my hand inside the book and punch Jack in the face, then I wanted to read until my eyes wouldn’t stay open.  With a full work day looming in front of me I went to sleep and finished the book the next evening after work.  It was a long day waiting for reading time.

What I loved about the book.  I loved Cassie, I loved that she hated the nickname Kitten and the way she played hard to get with Jack.  She was a great character that I loved from the first page.  I also loved her BFF Melissa and Jack’s brother Dean.  They were excellent secondary characters that made good pages great!  I really want to see a hook up between these two, I guess I have to read on to find out if that’s going to happen or not.  Now let’s talk about Jack Carter.  First of all, who doesn’t love an arrogant Jock?  I know I married one, so that is right up my alley.  He committed the unforgivable sin in my book and therefore I wanted to punch him in the face, but if Cassie can get over it, I will read on and get over it as well. 

This book made me laugh, cry and I didn’t want to stop reading until the last page was done.  Please read this book and support Indie Writers!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Just Breathe

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

I thoroughly enjoy a book with a teachable moment.  This specific book is about the aftermath of an accident that took place because a college student decided to drive under the influence of alcohol.  Four years later, Kacey Cleary deals in her own way with the tragedy by freezing everyone out and keeping all feelings buried and the past in the past.  Needing a new start she and her fifteen year old sister hop a bus to Miami from Michigan and try to start over.  The only problem is they aren’t the only new comers in her new dump of a place in 1D, he is physically perfect and perfectly mysterious.  With a new job and a fresh start can Kacey begin a new life? 

I picked this book up from my local library.  One of our libraries has just started purchasing New Adult books and it thrills my heart.  I specifically requested this title because I went to an author event in Nashville, TN and K.A. Tucker was one of the many authors that were there to meet their fans.  I wanted to read as many of the authors before I went and I sadly didn’t make it very far on my list.  I finished this book the day after the event, but I had a great short conversation with Ms. Tucker about how much I was enjoying her book and was excited to finish it.

What I liked: I really liked Livie, Kacey’s sister.  She was wise beyond her years and had a deep love for her sister and such a great heart and I really enjoyed anytime she was on the scene.  I also liked Storm and how she was so patient with Kacey and their new friendship.  She helped slowly thaw out Kacey’s heart, to the point where Kacey didn’t even realize that she had allowed her heart to thaw until later in the story she realized as Storm’s life was in danger that she couldn’t live without her new family. 

I loved the Ten Tiny Breaths and how they were weaved in the story.  She only counted to 10 one time and that was pretty much the end of the book, it was really neat that it was like her mother gave her this life changing advice that would save her life. 

I have the next book in my possession, I can’t wait to read it and continue on with the series.  Keep reading my Friends! 

Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

As many bloggers before me have pointed out, this book is Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day.  Samantha Kingston happens to be a girl that dies in the first chapter and is the main character of the book.  She lives February 12 over and over again over the course of 7 days, but she is the only one that knows that she’s reliving the same day.  The first 300 pages of this book she is so unlikable that I wanted to slap her and all of her friends across the face repeatedly.  There were no redeeming characteristics for these mean girls and that’s saying something, usually in a book you can find something in every character, not these girl.  They were the devil.  Samantha was so unlikeable that I wanted to throw the book across the room several times throughout my reading journey, but overall, I liked the book and thought it had a good message behind the words.

I loved Kent McFuller.  What a great character!  He was funny, sweet, and a quirky.  He gave Sam some things to think about with his little one liners like “I see right through you,” or “I would be your hero too, no matter how long it took.”  Kent actually made the book for me.  Without him I would have given this book only 1 star, but he makes me want to give a 5.  He was a well thought out character that had amazing lines and the way Sam’s affection grew for him throughout her journey made me smile. 

I liked Sam’s 7^th day.  (SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH) The last day is when she finally figured out what would end her cycle and who she could help and who she couldn’t.  After I finished this book, I had to fear the disaster Samantha left behind.  Her parents are probably at a loss at what to think, she was a horrible teenager, but the last day she was on earth she hugged them and said she loved them.  She was a terrible big sister that didn’t pay attention to her sister, but on her last day gave her a necklace.  She ignored Kent and dated a pod of a guy who only wanted one thing from her, but on that last day she gave him a sweet note and noticed him for the first time in years.  I can only imagine the confusion that everyone around her felt, even Juliet Sykes, why would her tormentor save her life and then she has to live with her savior being a horrible person, except in her final moments. 

I did not like the best friend’s interactions.  They were unrealistic and felt too staged.  If someone is going to write for teenagers, it needs to sound like what teenagers would say.  Every time the girls would lose control in laughter I rolled my eyes because I couldn’t imagine that in real life.    

Overall it was a pretty good book.  I was glad I read it and I may pass it along to one of my middle school girls in my church small group.  I wouldn’t highly recommend this book to my adult friends that like YA, but for a younger audience it may be a good read.  Either way, Keep Reading my Friends! 

The Best Side of Daemon yet!

Opal (Lux #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Have I mentioned that I heart the Lux series?  I cannot get over how much it warms my heart to read about Katy and Daemon.  This book has done it again.  I fell for Daemon in Obsidian, I got to know him a little better and start to see through his tough exterior in Onyx, but Opal is by far the best side of Daemon yet.  We get to see his sweet, romantic, loving side without losing his confident, cocky, arrogant side.  I loved this book. I could start reading it over again right now and not be upset.

I’m not sure that I could sum up this book in a paragraph without losing some readers so I’ll go straight into what I loved about this book and I probably won’t even try to say what I didn’t like (because the only things I didn’t like were characters that were supposed to get on my nerves, i.e. Blake-ugh, hate that guy and Dee’s falling out with Katy- sad that friendship was gone.  I hated Will-so glad he is out of the picture.  I hated what happened with Carissa).    But I loved so much, so let’s start there.

I loved Prom and the picnic by the lake.  So sweet and romantic.  I loved that there was a fire and food and it was in a special place for both Daemon and Katy.  I love that he still calls her Kitten.  Have I said that before in these blogs?  I love the nickname Kitten.  So glad he calls her that and not Kitty Cat, that nickname sends the bad chills down my back (and not in a good way).

I cannot wait for Origin.  Requested from the Library and I can’t wait!

Read this series!  It’s an excellent YA series and suddenly I am very interested in Aliens! Keep Reading my Friends!