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! 

Can't Decide-Who's the Man Crush Monday This Week?...Ridge or Griffin?!?

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

A brand new reading experience.  I believe that Colleen Hoover is the most innovative writer of anyone I have ever encountered.  I have heard of authors having a playlist to their books as in songs that have given them motivation or even thoughts from the songs to the pages that they are writing.  Actually, Colleen (yes I can call her by her first name because her writing has touched my soul-that puts us on a first name basis!) did this with Slammed and the Avett Brothers.  What a great way to express what you are feeling, but also give you a reference for what the characters are feeling, and also connect with the author.  But what Colleen has completed with Maybe Someday is an entire new experience. 

The first song was good and I thought, ok, this is a cool idea.  But after I started to get to know the characters and followed along with the plot, the song that changed the entire experience for me was “I’m in Trouble.” I literally got chills.  It was such an amazing moment.  I started smiling and got embarrassed because the words were so true, Ridge was in trouble.  I loved Maybe Someday and of course the last two songs were amazing and brought tears to my eyes.  Griffin Peterson, you did an excellent job with the music! I of course bought the album on iTunes and can’t stop listening to it… daily.

I loved the dual points of view.  I enjoyed getting to know Ridge and Sydney through their own perspectives, and Ridge especially was an amazing character, totally crush worthy and an amazing man.  I also loved Warren.  What a great secondary character and I loved that he wanted Sydney all up in his business and that he never got the hint.  I loved that he was a faithful friend to both Sydney and Ridge. 

I’m not going to lie (why would I?  It’s my blog). I spent a large majority of this book upset with both Ridge and Sydney.  I couldn’t believe what was going on especially after what Sydney had gone through at the beginning.  I don’t want to say much more than that, but know that I was upset with them and wanted to slap them around a little bit. When I wasn’t upset with them, I loved that Ridge would tell Sydney things that he had never told anyone.  It brought a special component to their growing friendship.  The stories from his past were heart wrenching and showed a very vulnerable side to Ridge which of course had me falling head over heels… I was in love!

So as I finished the book and even read the extra epilogue I sat speechless.  My heart beating (beat beat pause), and I just didn’t want it to end.  This seems to be a common theme with Colleen’s books.  She gets you hooked on characters that become a part of you.  I felt like Ridge and Sydney were my friends and at any point they could have turned to me and included me in the pages.  I feel like the worst part of finishing a Colleen Hoover book is that I feel like I’m going to miss my new friends.  Guess I’ll just have to re-read!    

I cannot wait for Ugly Love!!!   

Keep Reading and Listening my Friends!

Finding What Daniel Didn't Know he Lost

Finding Cinderella (Hopeless 2.5) by Colleen Hoover

I absolutely love the Hopeless series.  To me there aren’t many characters with as much depth as Sky and Holder.  I loved their past, present, and the thought of their future.  So when Colleen announced that she was giving her fans Finding Cinderella a Novella for free I was shocked and amazed.  Something that would have made her some good money she gave as a gift, so she didn’t just save me a few bucks (what’s the going rate on an excellent Novella? $1.99, $2.99?) but she gave up thousands of dollars for her fan’s and I appreciate her sacrifice and I feel the love.  I feel bad for even asking her, but Colleen, I would love some more story from Daniel’s perspective.  He is a great character and with his spunky attitude and fun sides it was good to see his serious sides as well. 

Colleen can turn a story on you quicker than you can believe.  When I think a story is going one way, she flips it (and me) upside down and I can hardly believe that so much has changed within a few pages or sometimes within a paragraph.

Daniel is an excellent character, he does some of the craziest things in Losing Hope and like I said before I enjoyed hearing from his perspective.  I loved that he couldn’t come up with a nickname for Six.  That was a great thought process. 

I can’t really go into what I liked about the short story because spoilers are the worst!!!  So you will just have to download the 105 page novella and read it ASAP… you have no excuse, it’s free!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Hope is Not Lost... I'm having issues coming up with witty titles, give me a break!

Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover

In Hopeless all secrets are revealed and lived through by our heroin Sky Davis.  As she starts public school for the first time with an unearned reputation and her best friend leaves her and enters Holder. Holder is a mysterious boy with the bad past with a tattoo of Hopeless on his arm, who immediately freaks Sky out from the very beginning.  When the audience moves on to Losing Hope, we feel like we are going into this book and we know all Sky and Holder’s secrets.  We will not learn anything new, just the same story from a different point of view.  That would be incorrect.  Losing Hope is so much more than Holder’s POV, we see why he makes every decision, why he reacts the way he does and even the hurtful things that we know are coming are just as hard to bear because it is coming from a different direction and our hearts hurt all over again.

Wow!  Just Wow.  I loved Hopeless and I loved the characters, I loved Hoover’s writing style, everything.  I didn’t know that Hopeless could be topped, but I think I liked it that much more from Holder’s point of view.  I like the breaks in the story between letters to his twin sister.  I loved learning about her death even though it was heart breaking. 

I loved Daniel, what a funny guy.  He did outlandish things that I laughed out loud about.  I loved that he made up nicknames for his friends and frienemies as well. There were a few scenes that stuck out with Daniel.  The cafeteria was my absolute favorite, I was laughing out loud when he pointed specific people out and told them the rumors they had started.  I was also happy to see Holder and Breckin’s friendship.  Breckin was also a character that made me laugh.       

If you read Hopeless, which I hope you did, then this is the next book for you.  There are some surprises in the book that were not in Hopeless so, download today!  Keep Reading my Friends!

This Girl

This Girl by Colleen Hoover (Slammed #3)

The question that I started this book was, “Can I love Layken and Will anymore?” After I finished? Yes, yes I can.  This is a great change of pace and this book is from Will’s point of view and he is telling Layken (and the audience) what he was feeling and his thoughts on what was taking place during the first few months of the relationship that was building between them. 

I loved the way that Hoover set this book up.  We get to see the Cooper’s on their honeymoon and experience that with them, but also it is set where Layken is asking questions and Will is telling her what was going on that she didn’t know about.  There were happy times and there were sad times, but it was great experiencing Will’s side to know what was happening. 

In my blog on the second book of this series I posed a question.  Is this an epic love story?  I still have to say no, but it is a love story that will stay with me for years to come.  Hoover has sewn a thread of love and the thoughts of fate and allowed me to escape this week with these three books unlike any other series I have ever read.  Who changes POV characters in the middle of a series?  Colleen Hoover, that’s who!  It was a brilliant story, it made me laugh and cry, sit on the edge of my seat and make me never want to put my iPad down ever again. 

Since I read Hopeless first, it’s hard for me not to compare Holder and Will.  I won’t do it, but Will’s side of the story has made me want to rob a book store to get Losing Hope before it comes out in a few days.  I’ve already purchased it, let me read it early!!!

I don’t have a lot to say, just read this book/series as soon as possible!  And Colleen Hoover, keep writing books!  You have a God given gift and I cannot wait to see what else you have for us, your fans!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Retreating Has Never Sounded So Good!

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover (Slammed #2)

Can I call this an epic love story?  Probably not.  But I really want to.  I love this book, these characters, the plot, the twists and turns that Hoover takes us on.  Epic?  Maybe not, but definitely a story worth writing down and we thank you Colleen for giving us this gift.  Listen to me, I haven’t even finished the series and I’m already declaring it not epic, it could totally become epic in the last book of the Slammed series.

Point of Retreat is the moment in Will and Layken’s alone time when they know that they must retreat before things go too far.  I loved this.  I loved that they kept their word to Julia when it could have been so easy to break after she was gone.  I love that they respected their boundaries and retreated when things were going too far. 

New characters were introduced and who doesn’t love a know it all 11 year old that is wise beyond her years and cusses like a sailor, ok, maybe not that last part, but Kiersten was a great addition to the gang.  Her mother Sherry also gave some great words of wisdom to Will as things were looking dark for him and Layken.  Not new to the story, but I still love Kel and Caulder, they are such great kids and fun and I just love them.  They make me laugh and I appreciate how they took a stand for Kiersten.

While we’re on Will, let’s give Mrs. Hoover a round of applause for changing the book’s POV character and not missing a beat.  I actually loved Layken more through Will’s eyes than when I was in her head.  And isn’t Will one of the best male characters ever?!?!  I mean really, he is great and responsible and emotional  and amazing! 

Of course no book is any good if there isn’t something horrible that happens.  When this something horrible does happen I was so upset I actually almost prayed for one of the characters.  I think I was a little sleep deprived and a lot crazy for praying for made up people, but that’s how real of a picture Hoover creates with her words.  Her words have put a spell on me and I’m not looking forward to ending the story.  Nothing will be as good… except maybe Loosing Hope.  I can’t wait for Holder’s point of view. 

Readers, go quickly to your Nook or Kindle and buy these books, do not hesitate, you should actually be doing this right now.  You will not be sorry, you will thank me.  And speaking of Thanking… I should take this moment to thank my book friend JillBud for introducing me to Colleen Hoover.  You pick amazing books Jill, and I thank you!  Keep Reading my Friends!  

So you keep your ocean, I'll take the lake

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

After Layken Cohen’s father passes away from a sudden heart attack, her family in financial struggles moves from Texas to Michigan.  Since it’s the beginning of her senior year this is anything but a happy moment for her.  Her mother Julia and her little brother Kel, try to piece their life together and in walks Will Cooper.  The hansom across the street neighbor walks into Layken’s life and the magic sparks immediately between Will and Layken.  They have an amazing first date and then their circumstances gets in the way.  Every time them turn around there is another obstacle in the way of them being together.  With so much against them, how can they be together? 

Colleen Hoover has done it again…I know she wrote this book first, but I read Hopeless first, so again… she has done it again.  I can’t believe how much I love these characters.  Every single character was believable and easy to love.  Layken and Will are amazing together and when they are kept apart, I felt like my heart was ripped in two even if they were only across the street from each other.  I loved the magic that took place between them from the very beginning.  As she’s acting crazy like a zombie, playing with Kel her little brother, I just loved that meeting Will and Caulder and I couldn’t wait until they saw each other again. 

“That’s not a good idea.” Every time he said this to Lake, it made my heart happy.  It’s one of those book sayings that will live in the on in the lives of the fans forever.  It’s the “Okay?” “Okay.” Of The Fault in Our Stars or the many phrases that have been tattooed on body parts from Twilight.    

I loved Layken, but she disappointed me with her immaturity at times, it was more like I expected more of her and didn’t expect her to be retreat from life at difficult situations.  I think I felt like this because she thought more of herself than this and that’s why I came to this conclusion. 

But of course, Will is the reason to read this book.  He is amazing.  He changes the story, heck, what am I saying, he is the story. I love him through Layken’s eyes and then something happens (no spoilers, I wouldn’t do that) and his true character comes out and what we don’t know about him makes us love him even more!

Colleen Hoover  is amazing.  I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with the characters with the turn of each page! Hoover has a way with plots and story lines like no other writer I have ever read.  I was constantly surprised and consistently in awe of her words-smith-ability.

Buy this book people, quickly!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Who is without Hope?

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Sky Davis is about to start her first year of high school, as a senior.  Her adopted mother Karen has been incredibly strict with her and has kept all technology out of the house including cell phones, TVs, computers, you name it the Davis family doesn’t have it.  Sky has been ok with this, but she has begged her mother to start public school to spend as much time with her best friend Six.  Every good book needs a little twist at the beginning, therefore Six has decided to go abroad and go to school overseas for 6 months and now Sky is starting her first year by herself.  She is struggling with a reputation she didn’t earn or deserve.  She meets Breckin, who is also new to school and therefore she can bear the “slut and whore” comments behind her back with a friend.  One fated day she goes to the grocery store and meets Dean Holder.  The most gorgeous creature she has ever laid eyes on, where the other boys in her school turn her off, when she meets eyes with Holder there is a physical response to his presence.  She can’t stop thinking about her encounter with this hopeless boy so she goes for a run, she literally runs to his house without realizing it.  There is so much that takes place in this book that I can’t give you a synopsis on everything.  

This book was awesome.  I could tell some things were coming, but I was taken by surprise by more twists in the story line than I was guessing correctly.  I loved the love story between Sky and Holder.  He was the perfect guy.  I couldn’t believe the things that would come out of his mouth, he was wise beyond his years and would say things to Sky that a normal senior in high school would not say.  This could pull a person out of the story and say “Yeah right!” but Holder was nothing but genuine and perfect.  I loved Sky’s funny sense of humor and the way she would just live her life, whether it was with Six, Holder, or Breckin she was fun and a great character to read. 

I gave this book 5 stars on good reads, I finished it the day after I started it, and I’ve already recommended it to other readers.  Everyone I know that has read it loved it and I think that any reader would fall for these characters and want the book to keep going and going.  I wonder though if it was a little graphic in the love scenes for a young adult book.  It wasn’t Fifty Shades of Cray or anything, but there were some pretty hot scenes that I wouldn’t want my teenage daughters (that I don’t have) reading it.  I would say 17 and older for this one.  Read this book, you won’t be disappointed.  Keep Reading my Friends!