Showing posts with label ARC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ARC. Show all posts

Thursday, June 12, 2014

{Review} Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park


For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery. And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she’s too smart, her speech too affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice but to retreat into isolation. 

But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a lifeline, then maybe, just maybe. 

Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her—that is, if she’ll let him. 

Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together they may also save another couple—two people Celeste knows are absolutely, positively flat-out in love. 

Whether you were charmed by Celeste in Flat-Out Love or are meeting her for the first time, this book is a joyous celebration of differences, about battling private wars that rage in our heads and in our hearts, and—very much so— this is a story about first love. 


As I sit here reflecting back on this book, I really have no idea how to describe it accurately and sufficiently enough for me to be satisfied. I felt so many different emotions while reading that I didn't know what was up, down, or in-between! 


So here goes nothing...

When I first started this book, I literally wanted to drive to NH and yell at JP and then have a few shots to get me through the rest of the book... Shots of chocolate milk of course, don't want the little one coming out wonky... ;)

She told me she'd wait it out when I told her this, so I dove back in to see what the rest would reveal to me and Celeste surely revealed a lot. 

There were so many life lessons throughout this story, so many emotions, so many feelings... Celeste and I were in this journey together. With her spunky personality, my total obsession, and Justin's magnetic personality, it was hard NOT to fall in love with them. Through their constant texting, picture images, and emails, they fell for each other in the digital world before ever really meeting. 

Justin's quirkiness rivaled Celeste's, but they also seemed to complete one another at the same time. They had a uniqueness to them that was refreshing and adorable. They didn't fit the mold of what society wanted to put them in and pretty much gave a big eff you to societal norms. 


I like characters that form their own path and don't try to fit in with the rest of society because I felt a lot of times growing up, I never fit in with anyone. I didn't really have a "place". I liked to sing R&B, rap my favorite hip hop songs, throw on my daisy dukes and belt out some LeeAnn Rimes, swoon over boy bands and then I could rock out with my cock out with the best alternative or rock band.
I also didn't wear what everyone else wore. I wore what I liked and really could give a shit less if it was in style. But at the same time, I wanted to find my own place, somewhere I could belong, be accepted for exactly who I was, not what I did or what I wore. It wasn't until later that I realized, I did have a place and I did fit in because I had a variety of friends, I didn't just belong to one group, but a bunch of different groups.

Celeste was a lot like that, trying to remain true to her character but also trying to find a way to belong and be accepted for exactly who she was. With the help of Justin, she realized exactly what she wanted and figured out that society would just have to be happy with her because she was happy with herself.

I just wish there was more of her and Justin's story and less of Matt and Julie's shenanigans because even though I LOVED the fact that they were both in the story, I wish it wasn't as prominent. I had envisioned Matt and Julie's story one way after the ending of Flat Out Matt and JP completely obliterated the view I had of them so then I wanted more of their story and less of Celeste and Justin's!
Then when I got comfortable with the direction the story was taking me, JP switched it up again and I wanted more of Celeste and Justin. I didn't get enough of them in the end because it was kind of overshadowed by the other turmoil/happy ending happening at the same time. It took me in a weird direction and I wasn't satisfied with the ending, I needed more...
Maybe an Epilogue or even a novella... 

Yes, I realize how obnoxiously needy this is but I guess that is what happens when I fall so in love with characters, I can't even see straight!!



If you want to read this incredible series for yourself then look below for the links. You do not have to read the first two if you do not want to but I HIGHLY recommend doing it because it gives you a good foundation of what is happening in FOC... 
I give this book a shiny 4 "I love Justin's klutzy self" stars!!! 

The book that started my obsession with Jessica Park:



More of Matt:



Celeste's Story:





Tuesday, May 27, 2014

{Review}{Giveaway} A Matter of Forever by Heather Lyons



It all comes down to this . . .

Chloe Lilywhite has struggled for years to find her footing in a series of dangerous and demanding worlds. Creator, first tier Council member, and one of the most powerful Magicals in existence, she was little more than one of Fate’s pawns. But now, Chloe is back home and ready to call the shots. She knows what she wants and who she wants to be.

Except the Elders never got the memo.

Annar and Magical-kind are under attack. The lives of Chloe’s loved ones, and life as they know it, are at stake. Chloe's the key to taking the Elders down, but they won't go quietly into the night.

This time, neither will Chloe.


I don't even know where to begin with this review. It took me a long time to finally crack this book open and then it took me an even longer time to think of what to say without putting a whole bunch of crying GIFs in the place of the review. Because honestly, that is all I wanted to do at the end was cry, cry, and cry some more!

A little like this... 


Some of this... 


And then finally the ending... 




I was the most anxious to read this book but I didn't want to read it at the same time. Throughout this series I often wondered what was going to happen to the main characters, how Heather was going to end this, and how the Hell could everyone live a happily ever after without the use of cloning or breaking souls in half. I was curious, but I also didn't want this series to end, it has been apart of my life for almost two years and I feel like a part of my family is gone. 

What do I do now?
 How do I go on?

Maybe a little dramatic but thats how embedded these characters became into my life and soul!! I wanted everything to work out and wanted everything to be perfect for all of them and I didn't really get that. 
I mean yeah, they got their happily ever after but at the expense of one and I wasn't sure how I felt about that... I was angry, sad, disappointed, happy, excited... it was all very emotional.. 


Even sitting back thinking about how everything unfolded still gets my heart pounding, goosebumps flaring, and tears are threatening to fall. It was just so much and even if I loved every word, I wanted to scream!! 

The only real complaint I had was that the story itself lost some of the details that I love. I wanted more explanation to the things happening around Chloe and with the Elders. It was small and probably not as important to others as it was to me but I like things explained with details so I can really understand it all. Especially with a series this intense and information heavy. 

Of course that didn't take away from the intense emotions that this book illicit from me, I was still a blubbering mess by the end and I didn't know what to do with all of this. I wanted more... No... I NEEDED more of them, of these characters, 
I just... MORE, I NEED MORE!! 



I still loved all the secondary characters and Heather does a great job with breaking up the intense moments with swoon worthy ones that helps with all the anxiety you experience throughout. And trust me, you will be shaking and not wanting to turn the page because you are scared shitless of what is going to happen next. I was tempted to read the ending because my nerves just couldn't take it anymore, but I kept on and was a good girl. I read from the beginning to the end (in order) and the ending just left me wrecked for an entirely different reason than I thought. 

Let me take a moment of silence for the ending.....

...

....

Siiiiiggghh... 

I have to give Heather major kudos because I didn't guess this ending, I didn't guess it at all. But then again, Heather does an amazing job with telling stories I shouldn't have tried to guess anyway.

Honestly, I never want to start her books because I am scared to death of what is going to happen and then, I never want them to end because they are so good I don't want to be pulled out of them. They are a great way to escape and live in another world and this series will truly be missed because I can never read them for the first time again. I am happy to have the books at my fingertips whenever I want, but it is not the same as experiencing it all for the first time. All the first swoons, cries, laughs, WTFs, OMGs... none of them can compare to the first time BUT with that said, I was so glad to experience them at all!! 

I give this amazing series a big 5 "I don't know what to do with my life now" stars...

Excerpt
A man near us breaks into noisy tears as he babbles about the end of the days, and how it’s finally reached us here in Annar. Others join in, and I’m confused, so very, very confused and angry all at the same time. Have these people forgotten that they’re the most powerful beings in the universe? Why are they cowering? They’re the Council—the most powerful of the powerful. These are our leaders, yet they’re acting like a pack of confused, scared children who don’t know their asses from their heads.
Jonah must be on the same page, same paragraph, hell, same word even, because when the two of us get up, his voice carries throughout the assembly hall, all confidence and steadiness I envy in the face of such horrors. “Everyone, you need to get up, dust yourselves off, and remember who you are. You are not helpless. For gods’ sakes, you are Magicals. Act like it.”
A Faerie whose name I don’t know whisper-shrieks, “Those things are here to kill us!”
“Our ancestors defeated them before.” I’m amazed at how unruffled he sounds, like he’s had years and years of practice leading scared people through difficult times. “Our ancestors kicked these things’ asses when they were at full strength. The Elders are no longer at full strength. So, unless you want to roll over and offer them your lives right now, I suggest you get up and do something. Fight back, godsdammit!”
Several people, now on their feet, pump their fists in rallied agreement. Maccon Lightningriver, a gash on his temple dripping blood down his handsome face, stumbles toward us. Thank goodness he’s here to back us up, and yet . . . gods. Where’s a Shaman when you need them?
“Whatever you need,” he says to us, “I will back you up one hundred percent.”

A smattering of people surge forward claiming the same as Jonah and Mac knock fists against one another. There are a lot of people hurt, though, and so much blood. There are also way too many still looking at Jonah like he’s crazy to even suggest we should fight back. Too many crying about how they’re going to die. Too many suggesting we surrender.
Un-fricking-believable.
“I can’t believe this.” I slam a palm against the wall closest to me and fortify Karnach’s wall. Somewhere in the distance, an angry howl sounds, like Enlilkian knows I’m not going to simply hand him my head on a platter. Good. “We. Are. The. Council. Are you telling me that only the Guard can fight?”
An Intellectual Tech nearby, still rocking on the ground, his voice shaking just as easily as the walls had just minutes before, cries out, “Some of our crafts aren’t meant for fighting! Not like,”—he waves a hand frantically at the small group of us in the front—“you all. We’re nothing but lambs to the slaughter to these monsters!” Handfuls of people scattered throughout the room murmur in frightened agreement.
“Are you kidding me?” I scoff. “That’s your excuse as to why you’re not going to do anything to fight back? To protect Karnach? To protect Magical-kind?” My voice trembles, too, but in white-hot anger, not fear. “When I was out hunting Elders while the rest of you were sitting in your comfortable houses and offices, there was a Métis on my team that has no craft whatsoever. And you know what? He never gave up. He never fell back on how he had no Magic to make things easy on him. He fought those bastards with everything he’s got, and sometimes that meant his fists.” I jab a finger toward the Informer. “Don’t give me asinine excuses. Nobody is expecting you to use a craft that won’t work. But dammit, you have hands. You have a brain. You have an urge to stay alive, don’t you? Use those!”

It makes me want to scream to see so many blank faces reflecting back at me.

About The Author

About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

Links:


Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And if you want to read them all for yourself, check out the links below!!!







Tuesday, May 13, 2014

{Review}{Giveaway} The Forgotten Girl by Jessica Sorenson

Happy Release Day to Jessica Sorensen and THE FORGOTTEN GIRL!
The Forgotten Girl_high
Twenty-one year-old Maddie Asherford is haunted by a past she can’t remember. When she was fifteen years old, there was a tragic accident and she was left with amnesia.

In the aftermath, Maddie’s left struggling with who she is—the forgotten girl she was six years ago or the Maddie she is now. Sometimes it even feels like she might be two different people completely—the good Maddie and the bad one.

Good Maddie goes to therapy, spends time with her family, and works on healing herself. Bad Maddie rebels and has dark thoughts of hurting people and sometimes even killing them.

Maddie manages to keep her twisted thoughts hidden for the most part. That is until she starts having blackouts. Each time she wakes up from one, she’s near a murder scene with no recollection of what happened the night before and this helpless feeling like she’s losing control of her life. Maddie doesn’t want to believe she’s a killer, but she begins to question who she really was in her past. If she was bad Maddie all along and that maybe she was a killer.


As I sit here reflecting back to this story, I am still at a loss to what I want to say about it. It was FAR from my normal read and I was not expecting what Jessica produced. I have read almost ALL of JS' books and with each one I get a new experience and I do not get the same thing over and over. Even with all her romance novels, with each one, there is a different aspect to it and I am always left wondering if this author has any kind of life or is she a super human that can just knock out a novel in a short amount of time. I don't know what it is but if she keeps producing books like she does, then I'm not complaining. 
Although, I do want to go out and buy her lots of drinks and a night out where she isn't sitting hunched over a computer letting characters run rapid through her fingertips! 


Anyway, back to the story. I really was not expecting what I got with this book. It was a lot more than I expected and it was creepy as shit!!! I am also a big scaredy cat and it was probably not wise of me to read this in the middle of the night!! At one point, I threw my kindle down and got a drink of water because I was freaked the fuck out!! When I got my nerves under control, I finished and was left more confused and with more questions than while I was reading. 

There were so many "WTFs" uttered through this book that I didn't know if I was ever going to figure the mystery out and then when it all ended, I still didn't know WTF was going on. I am not going to put the questions I asked myself at the end because it will give the story away and I would hate to do that to anyone interested in reading this. But if I could describe this book in one word, it would be CRAZY!!! 

Now, since a couple days have passed and I am STILL thinking about this book, I have finally figured out what JS was trying to do. Where she took these character"s" because if my  (almost) degree in Psychology has taught me anything, it's people will learn to cope with traumatic events anyway they can. What Maddie did and experienced is enough to make anyone lose their shit and she definitely lost her shit. And then the ending!!
 OMMGGG the ENDING!!! 
AHHHh creepy as FUCK!!! 



Bravo, Jessica Sorensen for taking me on a dark roller coaster ride, full of WTFs, OMG, this bitch is crazy utterances. And of course, for the mystery that is very carefully woven into this plot that you really can't and WON'T figure out until the very end and even then you are scratching your head asking, "Was this real??"... 

Overall, I give this book a 4/5 "that bitch was crazy" STARS!!! I would give 5 but there are still questions I don't know the answer too and I like all my questions answered!! 


Excerpt
“I’m afraid,” I admit aloud and shudder at the truth. Because of not necessarily afraid of the danger the crying could lead to, but how much I like that it could. My thoughts drift to what the crying could be. Someone hurt? Someone upset? Someone locked up who I could hurt?
“What the fuck is wrong with me?” I ask as the last thought streams through my head. I start to back away, tugging at my hair, but invisible strings tug me forward, toward the crying. At this moment, I’m a puppet and Lily is my puppeteer and suddenly she’s in front of me, taking my hand and tugging me down the bare hallway. She leads through the stale air until we reach the end where there’s a single shut door. Light is slipping through the cracks underneath and cries are flowing from the outside. Pain. Whoever’s in there is hurting.
“I don’t want to see,” I whisper in horror as my trembling hand reaches for the doorknob.
“You need to see,” Lily insists.
My fingers brush the brass knob. A jolt of heat shoots up my arm as I turn it and push it open. Light spills over me. Screams pierce my ears. Something flies at me that’s heavy and strong. Pain. Heat. Tears. Blood. My insides feel like they’re ripping out of my body.
Fire!
Fire!
Fire!
Burning!
Burning!
Burning!
Help me!
Help me!
Help me!
“You killed me.”


TFG teaser pic

Buy Links
Will be sold EXCLUSIVELY on Amazon until June 13th


PLAYLIST



AboutTheAuthor
jessicasorensen
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.


Friday, May 2, 2014

{Review} {Giveaway} Take Me For Granted by K.A. Linde


Synopsis

Grant
Manwhore. Adrenaline junkie. Lead singer of ContraBand. What you see is what you get. I make no apologies for my actions, and by now no one expects any from me. I live my life the way I want and as long as it pushes the demons back, then I'm solid. I've never needed a chick for more than a good lay. Why would I need just one when I can have a different one every night?

Until she walks into my world.

Aribel
Mouthy. Perfectionist. Princeton student. Chemistry major. Yes, that pretty much describes me. Oh, and virgin. But I'm only nineteen, and have more important things to concern myself with. What really matters is finishing my degree and getting a good job. I’ve worked hard for what I want, and do what’s expected of me. I don’t need anyone to get in my way.

Until he opens up my world.

But if I give you my world, whatever you do…don’t TAKE ME for granted.


My Thoughts

It has been a long time since I have done a review... I feel like a book blog virgin all over again because of the break I took. But now I am back in action and I am going to start off with a bang, with this little gem by K.A. Linde...

I was having a hard time deciding on what to rate this book because I was in love with it until towards the end when Aribel was acting like a stubborn fool and I literally wanted to jump through the book and strangle the crap out of her and her stupid assumptions. 

angry gif photo: UGHHHH 7d16e7cd.gif

But then I calmly read on and eventually got what I was looking for. 

I really loved the whole dynamic between Aribel and Grant's character. From the very beginning of their relationship, onward, it was like a explosion gaining momentum but not quite exploding... It just kept building and building until there was nothing else to do but to explode and when it did.... ummm WHOA!!! 

I really loved Grant, even though he was a humungous, womanizing, manwhore without a single fuck given to who, what, where, how, or when he was going to get his next lay. He used sex, drugs, and alcohol to escape the demons from his past and no matter how hard he ran, he couldn't really escape them....until Aribel came along. Oh and he was just lickable.... Even if I wanted to wash out his dirty mouth, I still wanted to stick my tongue down it at the same time.. 

funny kiss gif photo: couple kiss tumblr cute gif water falling funny adorable tumblr_mgczf8YGwd1rqim3oo1_400_zpseeb478f3.gif

Aribel was a stubborn, smartass, intelligent, woman. She was a strong female lead and did not take shit from anyone. She gave just as hard as she got... I loved her character but I wish I would have had more background on why she was the way she was. There were hints of strict parents but when they were in the picture, they didn't seem strict. I think I may have wanted Grant to meet them to really see their true character. But there are plenty more opportunities for that in the coming novels, I am sure. 

I loved the secondary characters, even though some of them were assholes too. And I loved watching the love between the two characters grow, even if you did want to strangle them a few times!!

Overall, I give this book a 4/5 "Kristin is a huge whore" stars ;) and I can't wait to see what is next for this dynamic duo...


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K.A. Linde graduated with her Masters in political science from the University of Georgia in 2012. She also has a bachelors in political science and philosophy. She wrote her the Avoiding Series while struggling through advanced statistical modeling and writing her thesis. She enjoys dancing and writing novels that keep you guessing until the very end.

She currently resides in Georgia with her boyfriend and two puppies, Lucy and Riker.

Connect with K.A. Linde
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/authorkalinde
Twitter  https://twitter.com/authorkalinde


GIVEAWAY


PLAYLIST




Wednesday, February 26, 2014

{Review}{Giveaway} When I Break by Kendall Ryan


Blog Tour Stop 

2/25/14

When I Break


**Warning** 
This book is intended for a mature reading audience and contains adult language and themes. Contains a stubborn alpha male with addiction issues and loads of sexual tension between two damaged characters. Read at your own risk.

Knox Bauer's life has unraveled to the point of no return. Fighting to fill the emptiness inside himself, he seeks solace in unfamiliar beds with unfamiliar women. As guardian to his three younger brothers, he can't seem to do a thing right. But this can't go on...they look up to him in every way and all he’s done lately is prove how messed up he really is. Needing a change, he attends a local Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, where he finds himself tempted by the alluring instructor, McKenna.

Twenty-one year old McKenna is trying to make amends. After losing her parents in a horrific accident, she knows if she can just be good enough, maybe she can forgive herself for what happened. With her newly acquired degree in counseling, she begins leading a sex addicts group where she meets the troubled Knox and her life takes on complications she never bargained for. She doesn't have time for a bad boy who only wants to take her to bed, even if her body disagrees. The fixer in her wants to help, but trusting Knox's true motivations might take more courage than she has.

When I Break is book 1 in a new series by New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Kendall Ryan. When I Surrender, book 2, will be available April 7, 2014. Please note this is not a standalone, as the story continues in book 2.

My Thoughts

Ok I am going to do something a little different with this review because this is only book one, in what I think will be a really great series. 

The problem I am having is, I didn't really get a good sense of who these characters were. I felt there were too many internal monologues and not enough of what I wanted, which was to see the characters really "together". I don't know what it was but it was just not there for me... YET... I say yet because I still have a feeling this series will be amazing as the books continue. 

So, I'm not going to rate it, not yet anyway. 
I feel like this book was more of an introduction to the lives of Knox and McKenna rather than a book that I really could sink my teeth into. I kept looking at Goodreads and Amazon to see if the book was a prequel or novella leading up to the rest of the series and was sad to see it end, just as it was getting juicy!

But the whole concept is very intriguing and has me wanting to know what is going to happen with these characters and where the journey will take me in the coming books. 

Knox is swoony and even though I don't think he has a problem with sex we shall see what happens. McKenna is sweet and very Virgin Mary-like, complete with the halo and heart of salvation. Her situation with her roommate confused me more than shedding light on it but I won't go into much detail because that would ruin it for all you lovelies who have not read it yet. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I am excited to pick up the next one to see what the future holds for these enigmatic characters. 

Below is some more information about this series, author and even a GIVEAWAY!!!



Bio
Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the contemporary romance novels, HARD TO LOVE, THE IMPACT OF YOU, RESISTING HER and WORKING IT.
She's a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss! She lives in Minneapolis with an adorable husband, two naughty puppies, and a brand new son. 
 She enjoys being naughty, reading, and anything girly. 

Social Media Links



Playlist
Come a Little Closer – Cage the Elephant 
Heart on Fire by Scars on 45
Love Don’t Die – The Fray
Teardrop  - Massive Attack
Fragments – Thievery Corporation
Letters from the Sky – The Civil Wars






Wednesday, February 12, 2014

{Review} More Than Him by Jay McLean




Blog Tour Stop
2/12/14
More Than Him 
by 
Jay McLean


"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us." - Marianne Williamson

We live in a world of darkness and shadows,
where monsters hide and aim to ruin.
And they did.
They ruined us and turned our dreams into nightmares.
But now we're back.
And we're fighting.
Not just for us, or for each other, but for our light.

My Thoughts

This book was everything I thought it would be. Sweet, angsty, funny, beautiful, and heartfelt. I got SO MANY damn FEELS with this book, the butterflies seemed to take up permanent residence inside. 

This book was the continuation from More Than Her, which left off on a major upset that made me want to find Jay McLean and thunder twat kick her for doing that to my poor heart!! But I was anxious for More Than Him, so I guess she did her job
 *grumbles and huffs*

My only little complaint; there was some unnecessary drama that I felt could have been eliminated and the story would have still been amazing (such as the drama with Heidi, it wasn't really necessary to Logan and Amanda's story)... 

But other than that I think this book was by far my favorite out of the bunch. I got what I wanted in the end and Jay made me FEEL these emotions from these characters!! I felt the pain, heartbreak, love.... everything!!! 

If you hated the way the last book ended, I would pick this one up and I think you will be satisfied with how things ended, but that is all I am going to say. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who wants to read this story. 

I ugly cried through certain parts because I remember my heart being broken so many times when I was younger, that Jay McLean brought all those emotions back to me and gaaaahh I was a hot mess!! 

I wanted to hug Jake, punch him, love him, fuck him... and then I wanted to punch Amanda, hug her and I was all over the place with every emotion I can think of!! 
SERIOUSLY amazing writing and I can't wait to read more from her!!!! 

Overall, I give this book a 4.5/5 and if you love these characters, then you will LOVE this book!!!! Totally worth the heartbreak in the last book to be able to mend it in this one!! 



Check below for some amazing shit from Jay....


Here is the fan-made playlist if you want to add this in next to the book trailer:



Team Jake vs. Team Logan. 

Whichever team gets the most votes will have an extra bonus scene written about them.