Infinity by Sedona Venez Published: January 15th, 2013 Reading Level: New Adult eBook: 218 pages Source: Author Series: Valkyries: Soaring Raven #1 Rating: 3 of 5 stars Summary: Infinity discovers a dark secret from her past that rocks everything she knows to be true.
A troubled 22-year-old superstar singer, Infinity has a bad reputation for drugs and hard partying. Now, she is on the road to a comeback with her controversial tour. But everything about doing the concert feels wrong from missing employees, to anonymous threats about ruining her career. She is dealing with a powerful corporation that is determined to kill her and everyone she loves. She is also battling for control of her life and career from a relationship that crossed the fine line between love and obsession. Infinity knows too much, even though she doesn't realize it. Secrets have been kept and these secrets are powerful enough to destroy her and everyone she loves.
Now she must put her safety and trust in the hands of sexy, tattooed and delicious Torch Channing and Boulder Vigari, hired to keep her from getting killed. Boulder wants to make her his. He won't stop until he claims her. Torch struggles with his primal need to possess her and his hatred of everything she represents.
Infinity is determined to protect her heart while dealing with the pressure of pulling off another successful tour without spiraling into another mental meltdown.
Review:
Infinity held such a great premise and I'm excited to see what comes next in this series. Infinity is a 22 year old singer who is known for her reputation. She's definitely a different type of character. It's not really easy to love her completely. She knew her popularity and that confidence level was a bit much at times. But overall, her intense personality did keep me interested in the story.
Her relationship with her mother was another interesting area. They didn't have a typical mother-daughter relationship. But they do seem to have a great bond. The world we get to know in this book is very complex. There are several paranormal creatures — Valkyries, vampires, werewolves, other shifters and more!
Infinity's friends, Zoe and Diego, were fabulous! They had some fantastic interactions and I felt it allowed us to really see more of Infinity's personality. I was first interested in this story because of the paranormal elements. It's rare to see a New Adult story with a paranormal twist. I really enjoyed learning about the world, but at times I was a bit confused. Sometimes it was hard to keep up with the plot and I had to go back and slowly read through it again. It's important to do that with this story because there are times when a lot is told to us quickly.
Overall this was a solid story. There are parts that could have been taken out, or altered a bit to make it better. Some things were a bit repetitive but I will still read book 2!
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (August 28th, 2001) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 298 pages Series: Jessica Darling #1 Rating: 3 of 5 stars “My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don’t they realize that Hope’s the only one who keeps me sane?.. I don’t see how things could get any worse.”
When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?
Review:
I really wanted to like this book. I had heard it was great and I had high hopes it would be. I just couldn't get into it. I kept waiting for it to really grab me but that just didn't happen. Sloppy Firsts is from Jessica's POV. She is a 16-year-old girl who just had to deal with her best friend moving. She doesn't know how to be happy anymore, or how to deal with her other friends at school.
The idea of this book was a good one. I usually enjoy stories where young girls are faced with new obstacles, especially when a lot of humor is involved. While this book is funny at times, it wasn't enough to really make me all that interested. I guess mainly I didn't understand why Jessica surrounded herself with people who she really didn't like. But Jessica was a really funny character.
She had a lot of great qualities and I completely believed how devastated she was after Hope moved. I also really liked her interactions with Marcus. Marcus may have had issues but he did seem very realistic. Their slight friendship seemed to really make Jessica question a lot of what was going on around her. I loved that. The situations were also true to what many teenagers go through: friends leaving, crushes that lead to heartbreak, questioning what you really want.
I think that if the story wasn't portrayed as journal entries I would have definitely been more invested in the book. But I just mainly felt like it was being told to me instead of really seeing the story from the character's point-of-view. I'm very visual and I just didn't get enough of that in this book. Megan McCafferty did do a great job portraying the obstacles a typical teenage girl goes through, and I could really see the differences in Jessica's personality by the end of the book.
I know a ton of other people who enjoyed this more than I did so don't count it out! It does have a lot of perks.
Recommended: Contemporary fans looking for a cute, coming-of-age story.
Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (April 26th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 320 pages Source: Publisher Rating: 3 of 5 stars Ade Patience can see the future and it's destroying his life. When the seventeen-year-old Mantlo High School student knocks himself unconscious, he can see days and decades into his own future. Ade's the best of Denver's"divination" underground and eager to join the heralded Mantlo Diviners, a group of similarly enabled teens. Yet, unlike the Diviners, Ade Patience doesn't see the future out of curiosity or good will; Ade gives himself concussions because he's addicted to the high, the Buzz, he gets when he breaks the laws of physics. And while there have been visions he's wanted to change, Ade knows the Rule: You can't change the future, no matter how hard you try. His memory is failing, his grades are in a death spiral, and both Ade's best friend and his shrink are begging him to stop before he kills himself. Ade knows he needs to straighten-out. Luckily, the stunning Vauxhall Rodolfo has just transferred to Mantlo and, as Ade has seen her in a vision two years previously, they're going to fall in love. It's just the motivation Ade needs to kick his habit. Only things are a bit more complicated. Vauxhall has an addiction of her own, and, after a a vision in which he sees Vauxhall's close friend, Jimmy, drown while he looks on seemingly too wasted to move, Ade realizes that he must break the one rule he's been told he can't. The pair must overcome their addictions and embrace their love for each other in order to do the impossible: change the future. Review: This is a very unique story of a young boy and his very special ability. Ade can see the future but the only catch is, he has to knock himself out in order to do it. He's seventeen, in high school, and gets a lot of attention for his actions. People know what he can do and they each have different reactions to his dangerous hobby. For a while, Ade can only focus on one of his many visions. It involves a girl he will meet at school after she sings on a table and comes over to sing to him. He knows this will be the love of his life. Vauxhall shows up right on time and she is more complex than Ade could have thought. Ade has his own addiction to the buzz-feeling of his visions, but he soon finds out Vaux has a buzz of her own and they are both terribly addicted. As they get closer, Ade learns that their friend Jimmy is going to die and he thinks he is the one to kill him. He knows that you can't mess with the future but it seems impossible to let this vision happen. When Future Imperfect begins we get to know Ade and his ability. I admit that it was difficult to read about his dangerous, high-risk behaviors. He is obviously addicted to the high he receives after experiencing a vision; which can be linked to how teens feel after doing drugs or drinking. So this book does look into the dynamics of an addiction. I enjoyed the new spin this book puts on the supernatural. Books where an individual has a special ability may not be rare, but the way it is presented in this book makes it very uncommon. I do wish I would have had a stronger connection to the characters. I wanted to feel more compassion for Ade and Vaux as they took their journey together. The book shifts towards the middle and we go from the relationship of Ade and Vaux to a more complete understanding of the supernatural aspects they are dealing with. Future Imperfect is a very raw, tough story of a young boy dealing with more problems than most. His addiction, love life, and supernatural enemies bring power to this fascinating story.
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Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John Publisher: Dial Books (April 12th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Source: ARC Tour Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sixteen-year-old Luke Dorsey is sent on a cross-country tour to promote his bestselling spiritual self-help guide accompanied by his agnostic older brother and former girlfriend, Fran, from whom he learns some things about salvation.
Review:
I'm a sucker for a road trip book so when I saw the cover for this one, I knew I had to read it. I think that due to the fact that I was strongly focused on the cover, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with this book. The summary doesn't tell us a lot so I didn't know how focused it would be on spirituality.
Luke Dorsey is sort of an overnight success. He is very young but is already super famous among book lovers. He has difficulty dealing with this success and is mostly amazed at the way people treat him. Due to his popularity, he is sent on a book tour to promote his story.
Matt, Luke's brother, is supposed to act as his transportation from one signing to another. It's easy to see from the beginning that these brothers are not similar. Matt is a bit irresponsible and not at all prepared for a trip. He is more than willing to use funds from the publisher to take care of whatever is needed for the trip and even with that, they have several missteps along the way.
Soon, they are not only dealing wtih the stresses of travel, but bringing Matt's girlfriend and her sister (who just happens to be Luke's ex-girlfriend) Fran. This creates a bit of drama, but at the same time they learn a lot about themselves and each other.
Luke was a funny character. His writings were hilarious as well. There was just something about him that I liked immediately. He seemed like a typical, awkward young boy. He was funny without meaning to be sometimes just because of how he reacted to his brothers antics. It was a nice touch for this book.
I don't typically read a lot of books with religious topics. Not because I don't like them, but mainly because they can get preachy or, boring.to be honest. This book wasn't at all boring. Antony John's writing really kept the story flowing nicely. But, this book does have a lot of religious talk and internal dialogue. This may be something that most people enjoy, but it brought the book down a bit for me.
Recommended: Road trip fans looking for something funny with a religious meaning.
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Make sure to check out my character interview with Alex, and enter to win a signed copy of Thou Shalt Not Road Trip! Ends 4/28.
Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 6th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 384 pages Source: Publisher Rating: 3 of 5 stars Sometimes the end is just the beginning.
Gabby lived under the radar until her makeover. Way under. But when she started her senior year as a blonder, better-dressed version of herself, she struck gold: Billy Nash believed she was a the flawless girl she was pretending to be. The next eight months with Billy were bliss… Until the night Gabby woke up on the ground next to the remains of his BMW without a single memory of how she got there.
And Billy's nowhere to be found.
All Gabby wants is to make everything perfect again. But getting her life back isn't difficult, it's impossible. Because nothing is the same, and Gabby's beginning to realize she's missed more than a few danger signs along the way.
It's time for Gabby to face the truth, even if it means everything changes.
Especially if it means everything changes.
Review:
I really enjoyed the way Where it Began starts out. It begins with us right in the action where Gabby is in the hospital and she doesn't really know why or what happened. Then, as the story progressed I mostly lost interest. The mystery behind the story is great and I did want to know what happened to Gabby, but Gabby's personality was really the major turn-off for me.
When Gabby wakes up in the hospital she is completely confused. The one thing she does know is that she has a boyfriend, Billy, and he is not there with her. She can't figure out why he doesn't visit her. As she heals, pieces of the puzzle come together for her but it is a slow process.
A lot of this book goes through Gabby's memories and the time right after she"changed". She had been an average girl but after her mother forces her to get a makeover, she gets much more popular and that is what originally gets the attention of the popular Billy Nash.
The plot of this book was okay but Gabby really annoyed me. She was very self-centered and a lot of the book just discusses her looks. I got tired of reading about her hair and clothes. I wanted her to focus more on the important things but that never really happened. Parts of the book really lagged for me and it drove me crazy when she kept worrying about Billy. I wanted to feel more attached to the characters but I didn't.
I would still pick up other books by Ann Redisch Stampler because her writing style is enjoyable. This book just fell short for me. Recommended: Contemporary fans wanting something with a little mystery.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (April 9th, 2009) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 199 pages Source: Purchased Series: If I Stay #1 Rating: 3 of 5 stars In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck… Review: Yes, it's true. I just read this book a few weeks ago. I had super high expectations about this book because it has terrific reviews. I gotta say, I wasn't blown away by it. Maybe my expectations were too high? I dunno.
If I Stay introduces us to Mia. Mia is in a terrible car accident with her mother, father, and brother. One thing about this novel that grabbed me immediately was the strong bond Mia had with her family. Typically, in YA books, we may not get a great look at family relations. We only get a peak into the character's home-life and it may not be the best view. If I Stay paints a beautiful picture of a family. Mia's father and mother were loving and supportive. As Mia spends time in the hospital she remembers some of their times together.
The idea behind this novel, as well as much of Gayle Forman's writing, was terrific. She has a way of describing a setting that really helps the reader grasp what is going on around the characters.
I'm not a huge fan of flashbacks. Much of this book is series of flashbacks to Mia's memories of her parents and of Adam. Some people may enjoy this. It's just a personal preference but they make me feel really disconnected from what the"real" story is about. I don't mind learning about a character's past through their own thoughts, but this book just had too much of that.
The other downside for me was Mia herself. She just wasn't what as emotional as I would have thought she should have been. And she seemed a bit.boring. At the end I just kept thinking"Why does Adam even love her so much?" I couldn't get a good handle on her personality besides just knowing what she loves music.
Adam was the person who saved this book for me. He was interesting, caring, and passionate. Even though we really don't get to see him that much, he always managed to get my attention.
The main character and all the flashbacks were what really brought this book down for me but, as mentioned, those are just personal preferences. The plot, writing, and events that occur during the actual story were exceptional. I just wanted more from Mia.
Recommended: Contemporary fans or people who don't mind a story with a focus in the past and present.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Janenifer E. Smith Publisher: Poppy (January 2nd, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 236 pages Source: Publisher Rating: 3 of 5 stars Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. Review: When I first saw the cover and summary for this book, I was super excited to get my hands on it. I'm a hopeless romantic and the thoughts of a book taking place during such a short time period really grabbed my attention. This is a cute, romantic story, but it just didn't hold my interest as much as I wanted.
Hadley, a 17 year-old girl, is on her way to her father's wedding in London. She misses her flight and that puts her on a path to meet Oliver, a young boy also on his way to London. This book was interesting because it really shows how timing is everything and how fate can change your life. It's so easy for 1 small thing to change a life forever. Like how you can drop your keys and have them picked up by a guy who may later become your husband because of that 1 small event.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the story and the parts of the plane ride where Hadley and Oliver are really getting to know each other. They had a nice connection early on and their conversations seemed honest and realistic. However, I found that I didn't fully connect with Hadley. There was nothing really wrong with her, and sometimes I found her funny, but she still came off as a bit… boring. Oliver, on the other hand, was wonderful. He was sweet, charming, smart, and witty.
There is a back story to this book that involves Hadley's relationship with her father. She recalls their past together, when he was with her mother, and how it all came crashing down. I think because of my lack of connection with Hadley, I just didn't find an interest in this part of the story. I found myself skipping paragraphs to get back to the sections where she was talking to Oliver.
Overall, there is no doubt this is a cute book with a wonderful romance. If you are looking for a quick read, it's a good pick. It's somewhat predictable but I'm still really glad I read it.
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers (August 1st, 2009) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 352 pages Rating: 3 of 5 stars Series: Prophecy of the Sisters book #1 Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions. Prophecy of the Sisters is the first of three books. Review: This is the story of two sisters fighting on the sides of good and evil. They have recently experienced the loss of their father, and since their mother died years before, they are now left alone with their younger brother Harry and their aunt Virginia. Lia is sweet, caring, and curious to discover the mystery surrounding her father's work and his death. Alice is quiet, dangerous, and may know more about the mystery than she lets on. As Lia searches for answers she discovers that her and her sister Alice may be the keys to a prophecy that says two sisters will be divided by good and evil forces. While one wants to destroy, the other wants to save. It seems from their drastically different personalities, that Lia would be the force of good; however, the prophecy says otherwise. Now Lia must go on a journey to answer these questions and find out how she can deal with the prophecy that seems to have a link to worlds beyond her own. The way Michelle tells a story is incredible. The language, descriptions, setting, and characters were perfect for the time period. I felt like I was in the story with Lia and I could visualize each and every detail. My problem for me was in the pace of the story. I felt that maybe the beginning was a little slow, and while the middle picked up pace, the ending left me with a few too many questions about Lia, Alice, and their history. I was also frustrated with a few parts of the story but those contain spoilers so I can't really point them out. Overall, if you enjoy a great historical tale, this one is unique and full of possibilities. The paperback cover is amazingly beautiful and the details on each page inside show just how much detail was placed in this story.
Guardian of the Gate (Book #2) Released August 1st, 2010
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I've started doing something new where I highlight all of the Indie/Small press books I've picked up to read on my Kindle. I will post mini-reviews of the titles each month. The top 2 books from this month were Bully by Penelope Douglas and Lick by Kylie Scott!
Bully by Penelope Douglas Add to Goodreads
Review: OMG, I need about 10 more books just like this one! Bully was one of those"enemy to lovers" stories and I devoured every single word! Tate and Jared were best friends and then he changed and started treating her like crap. Yes, this makes Jared a bit difficult to love but I just couldn't help myself!! Over time, I could see how he was hiding his feelings. I also loved the fact that Tate was a really strong character. She was tired of putting up with his crap so she made sure he knew it. I loved the ways she'd get back at him. They had a lot of great interactions. I'm just sad that it's over: ( I want to re-read this one very soon!!
Lick by Kylie Scott Add to Goodreads
Review: Ahhh, love! This book was a surprise for me. I'm not wild about the cover but I heard it was great so I picked it up. Plus, waking up not knowing you married a rock star? YES PLEASE! I ended up loving this story so much! Evelyn wakes up with a stranger next to her, David, and she has no earthly idea who he is. After dealing with a killer hangover, and going back home, the press soon figures out what happened and she has to run back to David to get the situation fixed. But things happen and they then start to get to know each other. Evelyn gets small pieces of the night back and.*happy sigh* it was just wonderful! This is another book I want to read again! Both characters were fantastic and had amazing personalities! I highly recommend it!
The Hazards of Skinny Dipping by Alyssa Rose Ivy Add to Goodreads
Review: This was a fun read. Pretty light and, while it does take a look at a controlling relationship, there's much more to the book. Juliet has had her eyes on Dylan for a while. They"hook up" and it turns out to be horrible but Juliet still dates him. At school she tries to have a good relationship with Dylan but he is really controlling. She finds a friendship with a guy named Reed and they were terrific together. I really wish I had a friend like Reed.: ) He was such a good guy and he really cared for Juliet. Their bond builds slowly, which was nice. As far as"first college experiences" go, this was a super fun book.
Dark Summer by Lizzy Ford Add to Goodreads Review: I picked up this book knowing nothing about it. It was free on amazon but I'm so glad I took a chance with it! Summer has been to a lot of boarding schools but they always fail. Now, she's trying a new place and it's finally somewhere that she fits in, sort of. There are many people who don't like Summer but she still builds some great friendships and connects with twins Beck and Decker. At age 18 each person is turned either Light or Dark, but that doesn't really mean they have to be evil. We learn this after hearing about Decker and his fate. The whole world behind this book was enjoyable and I can't wait to see what happens next!
Beautiful Broken Rules by Kimberly Lauren Add to Goodreads
Review: I actually wasn't sure if I would enjoy this one. The blurb didn't really grab me but I was happy to see that the book was better than I expected. Emerson is known as the slut in school and she's sort of okay with that. She wants nothing to do with relationships but she is surprised by her feelings with Jaxon, one of her best friend's new roommates, comes to town. She finds herself breaking a few of her strict rules about guys. She tries to hide away due to heartache but soon realizes what she is missing out on. I had fun with this one. It's nothing too deep or original but it was still a nice read.
Elite by Rachel Van Dyken Add to Goodreads Review: Wow, what a book. I had no earthly idea what to expect with this book. I wasn't sure if it was dystopian or just a whole different world, or if it was something paranormal. I was a bit surprised by the"surprise" of it all. Trace wins a scholarship to an elite school and she is immediately faced with the complexity of the school structure. She's shocked to find out that a student, Nixon, is in charge and that he seems to completely hate her. There are some things Nixon does that are just so unforgivable but then I ended up liking him anyway? GRR! Trace was great and I enjoyed finding out more about her. The friends (semi-friends) she makes along the way range from nice to deadly and the twists and turns are unimaginable! It's really hard to even describe this book so I'll just say, if you are looking for something completely different, with a big twist, get this one!
A Matter of Fate by Heather Lyons Add to Goodreads
Review: I was reluctant to pick up this book because I'm not a huge fan of Magicals. In the end, I was happy I had read it and I do plan to read the second book soon. Chloe is a Magical but she knows very little about herself. From the start we learn that she's had dreams about a guy since she was young and then he is suddenly there in her school. This leads to a crazy love triangle though but it was pretty well done. I was a bit confused at times by all the Magical knowledge we get at once, but it was pretty unique. If you are a fan of paranormal books that have a very unique world, get this one!
Let Love In by Melissa Collins Add to Goodreads This is another brand-new-to-college book with a character who has a tragic background. Not a new idea for a book but still well-written. Maddy lost her parents when she was young and it has made her fight against falling in love. She meets bad-boy Reid at school and their relationship begins. They both have went through a lot so this made for two stubborn, slightly frustrating characters. A lot happens in this book between the two and some decisions I didn't quite understand. It's still a pretty enjoyable read. Nothing too surprising inside but nice.
Delayed Penalty by Shey Stahl Add to Goodreads
Review: This story has a very emotional start. A young girl is found by a hockey player in an alley after a brutal attack. It's obvious she would have died there if he hadn't brought her to the hospital. The book started out a bit stronger than it ended for me. For some reason, even though I should have felt terrible for Ami, I just never really connected with her. On the other hand, Mase was fantastic. I loved his character and POV. He had a wonderful family and great teammates. I just felt that if Ami would have been a slightly better character, and not so dry, I would have enjoyed it more.
Trying Not to Love You by Megan Smith Add to Goodreads Review: This is hard for me to review. The actual story idea is amazing. I loved that Kenzie and Hunter had a relationship going back to childhood. I loved the family dynamics and the role of her best friend. But the writing brought it down, IMO. I don't think teens speak to each other like"I do not know why he was not there." (this isn't an actual sentence from the story but it shows what I'm referring to). It just messed with the flow of the story and the actual dialogue itself. It's robotic and caused me to pause quite a few times. I've seen another reviewer get comments because she said it bothered her while reading and yeah, it totally bothered me too. Big time. It took something away from the characters and made it more difficult for me to connect with them and believe them as being young adults. I really wanted to feel bad for Kenzie during parts of the story but I didn't feel a lot for her. Maybe it was mostly due to the language or feeling like I was just being told what was happening instead of really feeling the emotions behind it. This book ends on a huge cliffhanger, which I'm not a big fan of honestly. I do think I'll read the next one when it comes out. I know this story has a ton of fans already and everyone is entitled to their opinions on it.
The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler Published: Simon Pulse (May 21st, 2013) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 352 pages Rating: 3 of 5 stars Summary: When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak… unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.
Review:
This was a really cute book. Something that is an easy read and can be devoured quickly. Jude has 3 older sisters and she's the only one still at home. It's the beginning of summer and Jude should be enjoying it with her friends. Instead, she's stuck helping her mom take care of her dad, who was recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease.
Jude definitely portrays being the baby of the family well. She feels the burden of being left at home, alone, and being her parent's last hope, in many ways. She's all they have left and she's really amerced herself into this job. She has a difficult time realizing the severity of her father's diagnosis.
Soon she think that if they are able to fix his old bike that maybe it will help him cope, or even get better. She finds a guy to help and it sure doesn't hurt that he's so hot: ) But there's a catch, he's a Vargas. Jude's sisters have had some bad history with his family. They've gotten their hearts broken one too many times and they don't want her to go through the same fate.
This book is"cute" in many ways. Even though it has a deep meaning based around family and dealing with a disease, it's a nice romance too. I just couldn't fully get into it. I didn't buy the fact that this"oath" was such a big deal. I also didn't really enjoy all the flashbacks and found that I started skipping a few.
My favorite part was getting to know Emilio. He was such a great character and I felt he made Jude a better person. Someone who could deal with what was going on around her instead of being in denial.
I think I've read all of Sarah's books and while this one wasn't my favorite, it's still a good book to check out.
Today is the final day of my Indie/New Adult feature where I share my thoughts on some titles that have been published recently in the New Adult category. I've read so many it was just easier to do mini-reviews and bunch them together. Hopefully you have enjoyed the feature and have found several books you'd like to read. My most surprising finding with these was that most of the New Adult books we see as popular, were not my absolute favorites. Most of my 5 star reviews (which posted Monday) are more obscure titles that haven't had as much success. It really shows me that books shouldn't be judged by covers or blurbs. Some really can end up surprising you. I can't imagine the past year without having read these Indie titles. My advice would be DO NOT shut Indie books out. I'm thrilled to see that Indie authors are now having so much success and I do believe this has opened up doors for bloggers to be more accepting of these titles: ) The books featured today got a 3 star rating from me. They may not have been favorites but they were still enjoyable.
The Wild Ones by M. Leighton Add to Goodreads
This book is about Camille and Trick. Camille is from a well-off family and Trick is not. He works for her dad but she can't help but notice how hot he is. Trust me, she mentions it a lot. Trick was okay in this book but Camille was annoying as heck. Her internal ramblings about Trick's hotness was just too much. The plot is a little too dramatic during some parts. Other parts bored me a bit. I felt that with a little more work this could have been much more well-rounded and enjoyable. I know Michelle has had huge success with her books, which is great, but this one just didn't grab me as much as I would have liked.
Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt Add to Goodreads I really liked this book cover and that's what originally made me want to read it. The story itself, however, was a bit disappointing. There is a crap-ton of cursing in this book. I'm an adult so it's not like they are new words to me but it was just too much. I don't need to read the F word a million times. It just made the characters seem immature. Deo was an okay character but Whitley didn't grab me. Her backstory was important and heart-breaking but I just never really felt bad for her. There was something missing and the story just never really took off for me. Lots of potential but the characters and language really brought it down.
The Crimson Hunt by Victoria H. Smith Add to Goodreads
I was really interested in this story in the beginning. I wanted to know the mystery behind Luca and I did enjoy reading about Ariel and how they were somehow connected, due to her past. This book does have quite a few surprises and twists. I would say that the first half was much better than the second. Once I stopped reading for a while I realized I had no desire to pick it back up. It took me a while to actually jump back in and see what happened. I'm not sure why that was. I even skipped a few parts towards the end. But I wouldn't count this one out. I'm a hard sale on science fiction titles so it could have just been me. I do plan to see what else this author writes in the future.
Bound Together by Eliza Jane Add to Goodreads Such a cute cover and the summary really made this book seem interesting. It starts out with Zoey trying to escape her homelife. She takes care of her siblings and has a lot of stress on her plate. I enjoyed the whole set up to this story. I felt bad for Zoey and couldn't imagine being seventeen in that situation. She goes on a class trip and has a friends-with-benefits relationship with Matt, even though they never get along. Zoey really uses him for the affection she's missing, then she throws him away after she's done. It hurts Matt a lot. I think the way Zoey treated Matt was really the downside of this book to me. I didn't understand why she was so mean but then would mess around with him? Why not just leave him alone? Without that aspect of the story I would have really enjoyed it a lot more.
Bound Together by Marie Coulson Add to Goodreads Yes, another book, same title. Another book that had huge potential but just fell off after a while. Here we meet Layla, an"independent" co-ed who meets rich, handsome Jared. The writing in this book was okay. The biggest turn-off for me was just how darn obsessed the characters became with each other. It was a bit scary. Layla was in a million pieces every time Jared did something stupid and Jared bought her the world to make up for it. Yes, I've read Fifty Shades and actually enjoyed the series. This felt like a sort-of interpretation of that but just not as good. I would have ran from Jared as fast as I could if I was Layla. I actually didn't want them together. I wanted her to find another guy who was actually nice and didn't try to buy her off. But again, it was much more fun in the beginning of the story when they just hated each other.
High School Hangover by Stephanie Hale Add to Goodreads This book reminded me a lot (A LOT) of From What I Remember by Stacey Kramer & Valerie Thomas. But while I loved that story, I wasn't as fond of this one. Laney goes to a party, gets drunk on an energy drink, and ends up kidnapped. The set up for this plot was okay but parts just seems missing in it. I did really enjoy Jack, the guy who ends up on this journey with her. He was great and a fun addition to the story. I just wasn't as invested in the story as I should have been. By the end I was just waiting for it to all be wrapped up so we can see what really happened the night of the party. I would probably still see what this author comes up with in the future though.
I'll Be Here by Autumn Doughton Add to Goodreads This book starts with Willow being dumped by her long-term boyfriend. An old friend, Alex, comes back in her life and they are able to re-connect. I would say that overall this book was cute but that's about it. A nice read that brings back all the feelings of high school and first loves. Some things got a bit repetitive with the way Willow saw Alex and she could be annoying at times, but I'm still glad I read this one. I will saw that Willow was hilarious! She really made this story for me. It would have been much better with some more plot work and edits in writing but the characters were pretty enjoyable and nice to get to know. I'll be checking out more of Autumn's work.
Everything Changes by Shey Stahl Add to Goodreads This one is hard for me to review. I loved the plot and story line. A quiet boy, races motorcycles, love it. However, some parts of the story are very, very repetitive. We are told that she is seventeen… often. Other parts just seemed to tell the same bit of story over and over. Ex: how much Ro missed Parker when he was away. There are also still quite a few errors in this story. I can overlook a few but honestly, I felt that if this book would have been edited better it may have been incredible. I did enjoy the first part much better than the last. I didn't understand their conflict completely. I felt they just needed to say"HEY, here is what I am feeling". I know they were young but it just got a little old after a while. But again, the plot was great. I loved how the characters got together and that we get to meet them years before now (90s). The first part had me completely hooked and it brought back fond memories of that first love. Ro's best friend and Parker's brother were great. I enjoyed getting to know them. It just needs some work. I'm still glad I read it though.
Rush Me by Allison Parr Add to Goodreads Ohh, I loved this book in so many ways. Truly, I did. Ryan was fantastic and his football teammates? OMG I'd marry them all! The biggest issue in this story was Rachel. She starts off by calling them all dumb jocks and then wanting to hang out with them? Umm, sorry, I'd be kicking your butt out! She was so judgmental and hard to like. But the rest of the characters? Fantastic!! Who doesn't love football players? Especially when they are so darn cute and nice. With some adjustments to Rachel's personality I would have really loved this book a lot more. Sometimes I didn't understand her decisions or internal dialogue. But I'd still like to see what else this author comes up with.
Born to Fight by Tara Brown Add to Goodreads I reviewed the first book in this series yesterday and gave it 4 stars. I just felt like everyone was spinning their wheels in this one. The characters made very little progress with anything and there are a lot of scenes that we re-visit from book one. The biggest discovery is about Emma and where she came from. That was surprising but a lot is still the same with Will, Jack, and Anna. By the end of this book I felt they were in the same spot as the end of book one. A ton of potential with this series and I do want to know how it ends but I just hope book three gives us something new to look forward to.
