Mini Reviews: Neptune Noir by Rob Thomas; Not Her Type by Kay Jaybee; and Cannon by Sabrina Paige

Title: Neptune Noir
Author: Rob Thomas
Published: April 10th 2007
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Nonfiction
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Caution: May contain spoilers

Veronica Mars has won the hearts of a small but devoted fanbase drawn to Veronica’s class-torn hometown, where the high school landscape echoes adult patterns of power and privilege, and your best bet for justice is a teenage girl and her private detective father. The show is so snarky, so smart, and so savvy, that the detective show’s biggest mystery is why more people aren’t watching.

This collection of essays on the show’s first two seasons explores the noir roots of Veronica’s blond locks, and the sharp writing and killer plot twists that have catapulted Veronica Mars to the top of smart viewers’ must-watch lists.

My Thoughts:

I love me some Veronica Mars, and I love to talk about it and discuss it too. And with the movie coming out shortly, I got all psyched to read a little bit of this. Sadly, it was more of a bore to me than interesting. I just couldn't really get into these essays. I already know the amazingness that is Veronica Mars, and I have thought long and hard on a lot of the same points they were making. It's not really interesting to read the stuff you already have figured out.

For some Veronica Mars fans, it might be very intriguing to read through this compilation of thoughts on the dynamic of the show, the characters, and their stories. But, not all Veronica Mars fans will be impressed. Some will get bored quickly. I was among the latter. But I know that some will enjoy this, so it's not entirely a loss.

My Rating:

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Title: Not Her Type
Author: Kay Jaybee
Published: December 15th 2011
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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When Jenny’s regular film courier, John, reveals how she has become the center of his sexual dream world, Jenny’s quiet existence is thrown into an arena of desire that she thought she’d long since abandoned.

One unexpected, head swimming romp later, and Jenny is left wondering if her courier will ever visit her again, and if he does, will he mention the hot sex they had on her living room floor that Tuesday afternoon, or will he pretend that it hadn’t happened?

When the following Tuesday arrives and John reappears on Jenny’s doorstep, the scene is set for a continuation of intensely kinky weekly meetings. There is only one problem. John really really isn’t Jenny’s type...

My Thoughts:

I picked this one up with the hopes that I would have a nice, hot, steamy ride. And I'm not going to say there wasn't steam (because there was), but the steam didn't outweigh the rest of the story. It felt thrown together, and too ridiculous to even find remotely believable. Maybe it's not supposed to BE believable, but I like my stories to have some sense of realistic features. But, this is all my opinion. Like I said, it's steamy. And if you like a lot of crazy and hot scenes in your book, well, that's what you'll get here.

My Rating:


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Title: Cannon
Author: Sabrina Paige
Published: June 2nd 2015
Source: Purchased
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
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Caution: May contain spoilers

Hendrix "Cannon" Cole is a major D*ck. That's D*ck with a capital D.

He's nicknamed "Cannon" because of the weapon between his legs.

He's damaged, dirty, and demanding. A sexy-as-f*ck ex-Marine.

My stepbrother.

I used to hate him. Then I loved him. Then I hated him again.

Our history is complicated. But my family thinks he's the perfect solution to my problem. A scandal has thrown me into the limelight, and I'll be screwed if I don't stay on the straight and narrow. Now, Hendrix's new job is making sure I behave.

What I didn't count on was being stuck spending every waking moment with him.

The heat between us is explosive. But if he fires that cannon, we'll both get burned.

**This is a standalone novel with a HEA**

My Thoughts:

With all these stepbrother romances around, sometimes you can't help but get sucked into them. Forbidden romance? Check. Sexy stepbrother? Check. Like I said. In Cannon, I was drawn into Hendrix and Addison's world, the controversies and the emotions. Everything between them was complicated and easy at the same time. Their chemistry was undeniable, and it wasn't just because of what they were to each other as far as their parents being married--it was because of the feelings they had for each other. I loved seeing everything play out, watching them struggle through the way they feel toward the other along with the expectations from the parents. This series by Sabrina Paige is definitely worth checking out!

My Rating:

Mini Reviews: Breaking Up with Barrett by Katy Regnery; Over the Top by Rebecca Zanetti; and Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover

Title: Breaking Up with Barrett
Author: Katy Regnery
Published: July 22nd 2014
Source: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Breaking Up with Barrett is the first of six books about the Philadelphia-based, wildly-handsome English brothers who are all on the look-out for love.

(Except Alex. He's a womanizing manwhore. And maybe Stratton, because he's wicked hot, but super awkward around girls.)

Barrett English, aka "the Shark," is the fair-haired, first-born of the English brothers, and the CEO of the oldest, most prestigious investment banking firm in Philadelphia. He rules the boardroom with an iron fist, refusing to take no for an answer and always getting his way.

Emily Edwards, a first-year doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania, grew up in the gatehouse on the outskirts of Barrett's childhood estate. The daughter of his family's gardener and housekeeper, she was always looking through the window of privilege, but forced to remember her place at the very periphery of the kingdom.

When business partners suggest that a fiancee might soften Barrett's image over business dinners, he approaches Emily for the "job" of fiancee. And while love wasn't necessarily on Barrett's radar, he begins to realize that Emily always has been. But will his take-no-prisoners boardroom tactics work on the heart of the woman he loves.

My Thoughts:

The fake engagement trope is one of my favorites, and in Breaking Up with Barrett it is done very well! The relationship between Barrett and Emily has a bit of a slow burn effect. They've known each other for years, and something's always been below the surface between them. I was captivated by their journey, and watching it switch from pretend to maybe, possibly, kinda real was a really nice transition. The story is delightful, and the age difference (8 years) didn't bother me at all. Everything about the way the romance blossomed made me smile. How they didn't allow class differences to get between them. I loved the growth of the characters, how much stronger they become as time passes. Barrett and Emily are meant to be, but it just took them years to fully realize it. If this is how great The English Brothers series starts, I can't wait to pick up more by Katy Regnery!

My Rating:

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Title: Over the Top
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Published: July 21st 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Caution: May contain spoilers

Dawn Freeze had a huge crush on Hawk Rain for years, and the entire town knows it. It's understandable―the man is total hotness. That tall, lean body. Intense dark eyes. And always one foot out the door. Now he's on leave for exactly one week. And this time, he's made it crystal clear that he only wants one thing. Her.

Hawk's been fighting his attraction to Dawn for as long as he can remember. She's his best friend's little sister, and that means hands-off. Except now she's all grown up, and her sweet sexiness is exactly what he craves. But just as Hawk allows himself one mindblowingly intense night with Dawn, he learns that everyone he loves is in danger. Especially her.

And the only way to protect Dawn is to push her away...

My Thoughts:

Most of the books in the Entangled Brazen line suck me into the world almost immediately. That unfortunately wasn't the case with Over the Top. There was something that just wasn't clicking for me, making me connect to the characters. It became difficult to continue reading because I kept having issue with what was happening. Usually books in this line don't have a bunch going on outside the main characters, but with this one it was all over the place with other characters and things not having anything to do with the romance developing between Hawk and Dawn (which had some steam for sure). I guess the bottom line is that I was needing more with our two lovebirds and the story was too invested in everything and everyone else at once to provide it. I am, however, in the minority when it comes to how people felt on this book. If you're looking for a story with a lot going on outside the protagonist and her love interest, this may be just the kind of book you'll enjoy.

My Rating:

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Title: Finding Cinderella
Author: Colleen Hoover
Published: October 14th 2013
Source: Purchased
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
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This novella is a companion novel to the Hopeless series, but can be read as a standalone.

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love comes with conditions: they agree it will only last one hour and it will only be make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them only seemed perfect because they were pretending it was perfect. Moments like that with girls like her don’t happen outside of fairytales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in insta-love is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Daniel soon realizes the way he pretended to feel about Cinderella and the way he really feels about Six may not be so different after all. Especially when the two loves of his life end up being one in the same.

Unfortunately for Daniel, finding Cinderella doesn’t guarantee their happily ever after…it only further threatens it.

My Thoughts:

This was my first Colleen Hoover book (I know, I know), and it gave me the chance to see why everyone loves her stories so much. The story is a novella, but it packs a whole lot of feels in it. Daniel and Six are charming--individually and as a couple. Their connection is impossibly strong, and for more reasons than they can even begin to imagine. It's so difficult to write a review for it because SO MUCH happens in the story that touches your heart and breaks it at the same time. It's so full of sweetness, romance, and love. I swear, I could pick Finding Cinderella up time and again (much like I wanted to do with Ugly Love). There's something about the writing and the fantastically fleshed out characters that makes you cry out MORE PLEASE. I am so getting my hands on everything Colleen Hoover that I possibly can because these books are just fabulous in every way.

My Rating:

Mini Reviews: Domino Effect by Jill Elaine Hughes, Falling by Barbara Elsborg, & Reining Men by Em Petrova

Title: Domino Effect
Author: Jill Elaine Hughes
Published: December 13th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Peter Rostovich is an enigmatic international artist with ties to the Russian mafia. He manipulates everyone he comes in contract with and nobody can figure him out—not even himself. More than that, he has a taste for bondage, which he infuses into his art.

Virginal Nancy Delaney is an aspiring reporter who tries to crack Peter’s shell. His work is like nothing she’s ever seen—complete with a live sculpture that gets the exhibit shut down by the police.

Peter hates reporters, but Nancy captivates him to the point where he makes her part of his exhibit within seconds of meeting her. He introduces her to the world of BDSM, but his involvement in the criminal underworld puts Nancy in the sights of his fiercest enemy.

My Thoughts:

I suppose when I was going into this, I should have expected the story to be a little over-the-top. I guess I always like to be in anticipation for something, I don't know, more worthwhile, to come from reading. This one kinda just irritated me.

The story itself was interesting, but it was the matter of Nancy and her desires. She was that girl who although she was a virgin wanted to just dive straight into the deep end of the pool and was ecstatic for it. I get that it's intriguing, what Peter has to offer her in the romance department, but, for crying out loud, it was to unrealistic for me. Not to mention Peter was larger than life... as they always seem to be in these stories.

In the end, while it may not have been something I could enjoy, because of the not quite possible story line, I can see how people who like books in this genre would enjoy it. So, I do suggest it for them, but not so much for the rest of us.

My Rating:

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Title: Falling
Author: Barbara Elsborg
Published: March 24th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Caution: May contain spoilers

Falling is easy. Landing without breaking your heart? Impossible.

Harper is no longer behind bars, but it doesn’t feel like it. Ten years serving time for a crime he didn’t commit have left him shut down, numb, and a frozen wreck over the simplest of choices.

He’s acutely aware of the dark-haired young man checking him out in the supermarket, but he’s too deep in panic mode to even meet the guy’s gaze. Afraid the slightest move will trigger a fall that will never stop.

Fresh off a long-term relationship with a controlling man, Malachi is stuck living with relatives who think he’s a waste of oxygen. The tall guy in the long, gray coat is the first bright spot he’s glimpsed in a long time…though the man’s unblinking stare at a bottle of shower gel is a touch alarming.

Hard experience tells both of them to turn away before lust turns to hopeless attraction, and inevitably to disaster. But once their sparks connect, the arc of electricity is too strong to deny. Even if the cost is too much to bear.

My Thoughts:

Falling is an extremely intense story. It draws you in near the beginning and pulls you by the heartstrings until the end. The relationship between Harper and Malachi is impossible to deny. They're magnetically attracted and it doesn't stop. You know it's there as much as they do. They can feel it in their bones.

Aside from the relationship between Harper and Malachi, there are other factors at play. Harper was wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commit and sent to prison for it. Now that he's out and trying to put it all behind him, the facts behind it are coming to the surface. And you'll be surprised to find out what the whole story is.

I really enjoyed Falling. Barbara Elsborg is a wonderful writer--definitely someone to check out. I'll have to keep an eye out for others in the future.

My Rating:

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Title: Reining Men
Author: Em Petrova
Published: December 30th 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Caution: May contain spoilers

The Boot Knockers Ranch caters to women in all ways. And now rookie Paul is officially part of the team. He’s had six months to hone his skills with the ladies and prides himself on being a prime catch.

Jack would agree. He can’t get the rugged cowboy out of his system. He wants Paul in his bed more than anything, but his best friend has always been resistant to relations with other men. Jack’s instinct says different, but he values Paul’s friendship too highly to push it.

Then Jack takes on beautiful new client Lissy Lofton and finds himself falling hard for the confident show jumper. He’s not the only one. Lissy has caught Paul’s attention, and the attraction is mutual.

But now Jack has a problem. Lissy’s sexual appetite is so ravenous, he doubts he can last the week without backup. Which presents an irresistible opportunity to invite Paul into their bed—where the incandescent heat brings all their walls tumbling down.

My Thoughts:

The book has an intriguing premise, and the idea of it pulled me in. However, I couldn't get into the story too much. I wanted to, don't get me wrong, and I tried. I enjoyed the heat for sure, but the rest wasn't as good for me. It was interesting enough for me to keep reading, to see if something would happen to pull me in. While it wasn't completely for me, I do think a lot of people will enjoy how hot it is.

My Rating:

Review: Discovering April by Sheena Hutchinson

Title: Discovering April
Author: Sheena Hutchinson
Published: April 27th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: New Adult Romance
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April Landau thinks she has everything she’s ever wanted. Her high school sweetheart, a house she can’t afford, her bipolar tabby cat, and she’s all set to begin her Junior year of college. Just when she least expects it, her life gets thrown for a loop. When things between her and her long time boyfriend unravel, she becomes stuck in a downward spiral of emotion. Finally, opening her eyes to the fact that she may have given up more than she ever could have imagined in this relationship. She finds herself struggling to keep her head above water.

Enter April’s next door neighbor— Jared Hoffman. He’s her complete opposite. A high school drop out who was forced to take over his parent’s business after their untimely death. It’s no surprise this tragedy affected him greatly, causing him to recede almost completely from society.

But he has one secret. A secret he’s been carrying around for years.

What happens when their worlds collide? Can an old friendship be the one thing that brings these two back to life?

A new adult love story filled with drama, sex, death, and the complications of all of the above.

My Thoughts:

I wanted so much to like this book, and I gave it a good try, but there was something lacking in it that made it very difficult to get into. It wasn't bad at first--I really was a little bit intrigued--but it went downhill fast. April acted like a 12 or 14 year old. She did. And Jared wasn't much better. They both acted so juvenile and the drama was completely over the top. I did like them together to some degree; they definitely had potential for a good relationship. I mean, if they didn't act so childish it could have been much better.

Discovering April had some sweet moments. If April and Jared would have acted more like adults, not jumping to conclusions, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Also, if the book wasn't riddled with exclamation points, I might not have had to rub my temples every five minutes. Literally. I really wish I enjoyed it more.

My Rating:

Mini Reviews: Shaken by Sylvie Fox; Three of Hearts Short Story Anthology; & Breaking Noah by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

Title: Shaken
Author: Sylvie Fox
Published: April 13th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Caution: May contain spoilers

When Jessie Morales’ boss beckons her onto an elevator to discuss a possible promotion, she has no choice but to put aside her lifelong fear to find out what her future may hold.

LAPD officer Cameron Becker is shocked when his estranged wife of several years calls him after an earthquake. Despite their time apart, he’s off to rescue Jessie because he doesn't want her to repeat of the worst day of her life.

After their wedding, Cameron made a solemn vow: Once mine, always mine. Years later, he still holds fast to this belief. When a natural disaster brings them together, Cam is poised to get his wife back. But will Jessie choose family and career over love a second time?

My Thoughts:

After really enjoying the first two books in the LA Nights series, Unlikely and Impasse, I became ecstatic to see there was finally a third book. I managed to get my hands on a review copy and dove in happily. Unfortunately, it didn't match up with my love for the rest of the series.

Within the first few chapters, I was curious and interested in what was going to happen next. With Jessie's panic in the elevator followed by Cameron's appearance by her side, I thought things would pick up. The two of them have been apart for awhile, and he wants her back. Despite his efforts and how much he obviously loves her, she doesn't seem to care.

I tried to push through the story, to see if there was any sort of redeeming quality to it. While things turn around eventually, the time it took to get there was just rough. I had to skim if I didn't want to DNF. The promising start wasn't enough to keep my interest, and Shaken started to crumble and fall apart.

My Rating:

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Title: Three of Hearts
Author: various, edited by Kristina Wright
Published:  March 17th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Adult Fiction
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Caution: May contain spoilers

Three’s company? No, three’s a charm! Three of Hearts features sexy trios who are not just falling into bed, they’re falling (or have already fallen) in love. These stories explore the threesome dynamic emotionally as well as sexually. Whether it’s a couple introducing a third person to their relationship for just one night of fun or for a lifetime commitment, or a woman torn between two lovers who decides not to choose, the focus of this collection of sexy stories is entirely on female pleasure.

My Thoughts:

It's hard to review a bunch of short stories... so I'm just going to be generic about the overall feel of the book instead, otherwise I'd be here all day. I will say that the first few definitely kept my attention, and there were a few others that weren't too amazing, but still enjoyable. If you like short and sexy stories, there's a good chance you'd love reading the ones in Three of Hearts!

My Rating:

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Title: Breaking Noah
Author: Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne
Published: May 12th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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What happens when you start falling for your worst enemy? Fans of Abbi Glines and Monica Murphy will relish this addictive novel of smoking-hot seduction—and revenge gone so wrong, it’s right.
 
I wasn’t always this jaded. I had a clear head, things I wanted out of life, and a concise plan on how to get there. For being only twenty-one, I pretty much had it all figured out. Until the day my cousin died.
 
I spent months going over all the details surrounding her death, trying to figure out how I missed the signs, and the only thing I could come up with was she would still be alive if it wasn’t for one person: her professor. So I transferred to his college, enrolled in his class, and set my new plan in motion.
 
First I’ll seduce him. Then I’ll ruin him. I’ve just got to stay strong and not let his charm and my emotions get the best of me. Because someone has to pay for her death. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to break Noah.

My Thoughts:

I was supremely intrigued by the idea of this one--wanting to see what Zara was planning on doing, how she'd follow through on it without "falling" for Noah (although we know inevitably that it's bound to happen). She was determined, I'll give her that, and the two of them together definitely had a steaminess factor that was off the charts. However, both Noah and Zara are hard to root for (separately and together) because they make very (and I mean VERY) poor choices in life.

The whole plan is hardly foolproof when emotions come into play, not to mention a horrible boyfriend (that you can't believe the main character is with) causes all sorts of trouble. When secrets are revealed and the truth comes out, everything implodes... then gets put back together again almost right away. Wait, what? Yeah, you heard me.

Breaking Noah was an intriguing story that fell together a little too easily in the end to be believable. I was definitely enjoying it, and I think the main reason why I was okay with some of the things that were too ridiculous/too perfect to be true is because I couldn't stop reading. If I can't stop reading a book, the author (or authors in this case) did a good job. However, the story didn't blow me away.

My Rating:

Review: In Bed With the Boss by Alexa Bravo

Title: In Bed With The Boss
Author: Alexa Bravo
Published: May 1st 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
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Trish Carter is chasing the career opportunity of a lifetime, and nothing is going to stand in her way. After a failed marriage and years of self-doubt, she needs her business proposal to succeed — but there’s one hurdle left: presenting to the Board of Directors and charismatic CEO, Keith Donnelli. So then it can only be the stress and extreme tension that leads her to jump the hot stranger in the elevator…

But the unexpectedly explosive encounter puts all her plans in jeopardy, when the stranger isn’t a stranger at all. Now, her whole future rides on how well she can resist the temptation of sleeping with her boss. Will Trish finally have the chance to make her secret dreams come true or will following her heart destroy her chance at a future?

My Thoughts:

You'd think that an allegedly hot story like this would be, I don't know, more interesting? And it started off really well too. I mean, I was like, ooh, this is good, but then... it just flopped.

The biggest issue with it is that it just dragged and got nowhere. Trish and Keith in the beginning, there was a connection there. But their story just didn't feel like it was going anywhere at all and I just couldn't get into it. I ended up skimming and skimming until I could find something that was leading somewhere, something for me to root for and hold onto. I just wasn't finding it.

In Bed With the Boss had me drawn in, at first. I'll give Alexa Bravo that, because it was well done. But maybe if there wasn't this back and forth of 'should we, shouldn't we' commentary even though they clearly want to. It's like my god stop dawdling around and get together please! I mean, just gimme something to sit at the edge of my seat for.

My Rating:

Review: In Bloom by Katie Delahanty

Title: In Bloom
Author: Katie Delahanty
Published: February 10th 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
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My name is Olivia Bloom and I. Am. Free.

I left for LA with everything I owned piled into my old Volkswagen and dreams of becoming a costume designer. Little did I know I’d wind up designing for a lingerie company—yeah, not sure how I landed this gig—and taken under the wing of two young Hollywood insiders. The fashion shows and parties were great, but life really got exciting when the seriously hottest lead singer of my favorite band started to fall for me.

How does someone like me, an ordinary girl from Pittsburgh, wind up in the arms of the world’s sexiest rock star—surrounded by celebrities, fashion, and music—and not be eaten alive? Berkeley is everything I've ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, but the paparazzi, the tabloids, the rumors, it's all getting a bit too crazy. My life has become every girl’s dream come true, if only I don’t blink and lose it all…

My Thoughts:

Before I chose to step into this book, I hesitated. I wasn't sure if this was a story I wanted to read. I glanced at a couple reviews and saw people were raving, then knowing it was taking place in California, I decided to cave. In the end, it wasn't as good as I was hoping.

I was enjoying seeing Olivia experience this new world in the beginning. I've been wanting to go to California for awhile, so hearing little mentions of Cali was pretty cool. But, some of it started to feel far fetched for me. Just too glitzy and I started to get annoyed with all the celebrity of the story. And the romance with Berkeley and Olivia didn't really draw me in. It kinda did, and kinda didn't. I didn't feel the pull that I usually do when the characters have those moments. Maybe it's because I started losing steam partway in and could hardly pay attention without skimming. I'm not sure.

In Bloom may not have been a favorite, but it's not a horrible book either. I gave it 2 stars on Goodreads, and I only give stories that have some sort of redeeming value to them 2 stars even if I didn't like it a lot. It was well-written, I just couldn't get into it myself. Doesn't mean you shouldn't check it out. I may pick up another one by Katie Delahanty, see what I think about that.

My Rating:

Review: Something Borrowed by Adriana Hunter

Title: Something Borrowed
Author: Adriana Hunter
Published: December 18th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
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Caution: May contain spoilers

What do you do when the one man you were meant to be with already belongs to another?

For Dana Marshall, new wedding planner and curvy single, "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" seems to be the story of her life. But when she is assigned to assist popular wedding planner Vienna Saunders in managing a dream wedding for an important client, nothing can prepare her for the face-to-face encounter with the insanely handsome groom, Benjamin Carter. Sparks fly, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. Except he doesn't belong to Dana. He's off limits, forbidden and if she ever expects to walk away from the job with her heart still intact she needs to play by the rules. Except as far as true love is concerned, rules are meant to be broken.

My Thoughts:

I suppose it's fair to say I expected a lot more from this story. Something more, something for me to root for, to believe in. But it just wasn't there.

Not to say that Dana and Benjamin didn't have the "sparks" we were told existed, because, yeah, they did, to some degree. But I didn't quite believe it entirely. The progression of the story just felt so dull and you didn't feel the pressure, you know? I mean, they're not supposed to be falling for each other. And when it gets down to it, it feels like there was a ribbon around the story that got tied into a bow in the end.

Something Borrowed could have been a better story with more depth. I found myself skimming for the most part because I was so bored. It had the potential, Dana and Benjamin's romance did. But it played out poorly and left me hanging.

My Rating:

Review: Elixir by Hilary Duff

Title: Elixir
Author: Hilary Duff
Published: October 12th 2010
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
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Caution: May contain spoilers

Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.

My Thoughts:

Curiosity got me interested in this one, and when I saw it at a thrift store, I was more than willing to snag a copy. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, and if Hilary Duff could pull off writing a book. I thought there would be more substance to this novel but there was little to be gleaned.

Clea was so ridiculous. She takes a lot of pictures, and while she’s looking through them she notices someone in the background. Who is that mysterious stranger? Oh my god, he’s in all the pictures! Oh my god, I think he’s my soul mate! Wait, WHAT?! And then her BFF gets on the ‘soul mate’ bandwagon. When Clea meets the mysterious stranger, Sage, the story just goes everywhere and nowhere. Let’s travel everywhere for mysterious reasons. And then the two of them admit that they’re in love with each other. Go figure.

Elixir was a predictable and formulaic cliché. I was not impressed in the slightest. It made me realize for sure that I am not interested in anything paranormal anymore. You can only do the star crossed lovers in a paranormal setting so much before it either gets boring or too ridiculous.

My Rating:

Review: Desire by Kailin Gow

Title: Desire
Author: Kailin Gow
Published: May 24th 2011
Source: Purchased
Genre: YA Dystopian
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Caution: May contain spoilers

A Dystopian world where everyone's future is planned out for them at age 18...whether it is what a person desires or not. Kama is about to turn 18 and she thinks her Life s Plan will turn out like her boyfriend's and friend's as they desired. But when she glimpse a young man who can communicate with her with his thoughts and knows her name...a young man with burning blue eyes and raven hair, who is dressed like no other in her world, she is left to question her Life's Plan and her destiny. Knowing the truth can destroy everyone...

My Thoughts:

I have seen so many Kailin Gow books out there. This is the one series that intrigued me the most though. And that cover… just so gorgeous. So I splurged last year and bought the paperback. I had to find out what it was about this author that everyone loved. I discovered that it wasn’t as great as I expected.

First of all, it is not very well written. Grammatical mistakes aside, the writing was too simplistic and sometimes messy. There was an odd progression to the story, what Kama did or chose to do. She sees some strange, hot guy, Torrid, and suddenly she’s falling in love with him. It was like, forget my Life’s Plan with Liam, the guy she was convinced was the one for her. Then she discovers that her destiny isn’t supposed to be what she expected it to be, the one she used to believe growing up OR the one she wants to believe now. What to do?

Desire left little to be desired. It was not a good world building, and the characters didn’t have much depth to them. Falling in love in a snap along with the whole not allowed to be in love but we know we want to be together. It’s overdone enough as it is, but in this one it happened WAY too fast. I don’t think I’m going to bother seeing what happens next.

My Rating:

Review: This Beautiful Thing by Amanda Heath

Title: This Beautiful Thing
Author: Amanda Heath
Published: November 11th 2012
Source: Purchased
Genre: New Adult
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Caution: May contain spoilers

Teagan Harper doesn’t have much experience with guys. Her twin brothers have made sure of that. Until one night at a college party she gives them the slip, finding herself in the arms of the most amazing guy she has ever met. Now she's on a mission to find him since she ran from his bed. And forgot to ask his name...

Declan Sage has had control over his entire life. But that is all about to change when the girl who ran out of his bed turns his life upside down. She is about to throw that control out the window. But he’s pretty sure that’s a good thing seeing as she stole his heart...

My Thoughts:

This one had promise, it really did. I thought it did anyway. Boy, was I disappointed. The premise seems interesting enough, right? It should be a nice little secret romance coupled with a good love story, right? Well, it wasn’t.

There’s so much that the story could have had going for it but it seemed to bounce all over and go nowhere. The scenes between Teagan and Declan were so put on that it was hard to believe it was real. I found myself thinking, “Okaaay…” all too often when they were together.

And the grammar and the wording… don’t get me started. There were certain phrases used in certain scenes that were like WHAT?! Are you kidding me?! Then there was the overuse of words that only need to be used a couple times maximum. Every time they were repeated, I believe I facepalmed.

This Beautiful Thing was just not the book for me. I had to skim too much, it got too painful. And the climactic scene near the end that created drama? Um, yeah… what the heck… There was just too much that was unrealistic. I can see some people enjoying it, but if you’re picky about the same things I am, I wouldn’t recommend it.

My Rating:

Review: Uses For Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Title: Uses For Boys
Author: Erica Lorraine Scheidt
Published: January 15th 2013
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Young Adult
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Caution: May contain spoilers

Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical,  Uses for Boys is a story of breaking down and growing up.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I wanted so much to like this book. I went into it with bright eyes expecting a cute story about a girl who distracts herself with boys. What happened? It wasn’t exactly a cute story. It was a very depressing story.

Anna’s story starts when she’s seven and the beginning progresses to her preteens quickly. We learn of the deteriorating relationship between her and her mother. At thirteen is when the boy distractions start. Let me say it straight up--I thought the boy distractions were going to be of the making out kind. I was wrong--it was the having sex kind. So, it kind of threw me off.

Since Anna’s mom isn’t around and they aren’t close like they used to be, she dives into this world of having sex with boys without a care in the world. These distractions keep her from understanding real life. She eventually drops out of school, she gets a job, she gets an apartment. She grows up too fast. When she meets Sam, she begins to see the more important things. And although there’s some sort of redemption in the end, it’s still barely hanging by a thread because it just happens suddenly.

Uses For Boys was a hard read. Seeing Anna going through all of this made me want to take her under my wings. It’s a realistic story though, because I know there are a lot of young adults who don’t have a good home life and they look to other things to make them feel something. Yet, I just found it sad and depressing. I didn’t hate the book, and I know some people will find it compelling. It wasn’t for me, that’s all.

My Rating:

Review: Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Title: Cracked Up To Be
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: December 23rd 2008
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult
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Caution: Does contain some spoilers

When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her conselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.

Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I had high hopes for this one. There’s a lot of Courtney Summers love out there. So I went into it expecting it to be this magnificent piece of adolescent dilemmas. One of those coming of age stories that makes you sit back and think. Instead, I came out of it not impressed.

Our protagonist, Parker Fadley, was not a character I could connect with at all. She left very little to be desired in her actions and her attitude. Jake, the guy who starts to fall for her, gets treated like absolute crap. And he’s a nice guy! A very nice guy. I didn’t really understand why she couldn’t see it, or why he couldn’t see her for who she really was. He just kept chasing after her. It’s like that saying: Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different outcome.

It’s not just the way she deals with him, it’s also how she treats her former cheerleading squad. How she treats the captain that replaced her, Becky. And her ex-boyfriend (which is now Becky’s boyfriend), Chris. And her family, and everyone else trying to help her. Throughout the story are flashbacks to the night when something horrible happened. That was the only thing keeping me going, wanting to know what happened to make her such a jerk. Was what she did in the past an excuse for her present actions? Absolutely not.

Sigh. Well, Cracked Up To Be wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I did like Jake a lot, he was a good guy. And in the end Parker sort of has an epiphany about the way she acted, which made it slightly better, but didn’t change my mind. Courtney Summers can write very well. I just couldn’t get into this story. Maybe if Parker wasn’t so cruel, I could have enjoyed it more. It is what it is. At least I gave it a try!

My Rating:

It's Okay: It can wait until tomorrow

Review: Under The Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

Title: Under The Greenwood Tree
Author: Thomas Hardy
Source: Purchased
Genre: Classic
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Caution: May contain spoilers

...
One of the most popular of Hardy's novels, Under the Greenwood Tree is a delightful and humorous depiction of life in an early Victorian rural community. The story delicately balances the concerns of the Mellstock parish choir with a romance between the village schoolmistress and a member of the choir. Hardy thought well enough of the tale to place it among his Novels of Character and Environment, a group which is held to include his most characteristic work.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I saw the movie of Under The Greenwood Tree before I read the book. I figured that since I enjoyed the movie, I should check out the book. It should be worthwhile, right? Hmm… not exactly.

Let me explain. The writing wasn’t horrible, there were a lot of lovely descriptions of places and scenery. Made it feel more real. But the dialogue… oh, the dialogue… most of it was written as it was spoken back then. Choppy words, shortened words. Some of it was tolerable because I could imagine it as I heard it while watching the movie, but most of the time I was just frustrated with it. I would come across certain words, then do a double take and think, “Wait, what word is that supposed to be?”

Also, the story line was a bit different than the movie. The basic premise was similar, three possible suitors for Fancy, but the way it progressed was not the same. To be honest, if I read the book first, I probably wouldn’t have watched the movie. Maybe it was just that the scenarios made more sense back then. It was just too bizarre for me. Fancy wasn’t the same, she seemed less strong in the book than the movie. Like she could hardly stand on her own two feet or even think for herself. By the time I reached the end of the book, all I could think was, “THAT is how it ends? Okaaaayyy…”

It was nice, though, to read Under The Greenwood Tree for the sake of knowing the movie’s origin. Thomas Hardy can write quite nicely in a narrative. Despite those two things, I suggest seeing the movie instead of reading the book. The story line is much easier to follow and makes more sense. Plus, I adore the actors and actresses in the movie, especially the guy who plays Dick Dewy. Swoon.

My Rating:

It's Okay: It can wait until tomorrow

Review: Beautiful by Amy Reed

Title: Beautiful
Author: Amy Reed
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult
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Caution: May contain spoilers

.

When Cassie moves from the tiny town where she has always lived to a suburb of Seattle, she is determined to leave her boring, good-girl existence behind. This is Cassie's chance to stop being invisible and start being the kind of girl who's worth noticing.

Stepping into her new identity turns out to be easier than Cassie could have ever imagined...one moment, one choice, changes everything. 

Cassie's new existence both thrills and terrifies her. Swept into a world of illicit parties and social land mines, she sheds her virginity, embraces the numbness she feels from the drugs, and floats through it all, knowing that she is now called "beautiful." She ignores the dangers of her fast-paced life...but she can't sidestep the secrets and the cruelty.

Cassie is trapped in a swift downward spiral tinged with violence and abuse, and no one--not even the one person she thought she could trust--can help her now.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I wanted to like this book, I really did… but I didn’t. The girl is so young (and I mean YOUNG) and she makes really dumb choices for no reason whatsoever. Or maybe the reason got lost in the book or lost on me somehow.

Cassie chooses the wrong people to be around, these people do wrong things, and she allows herself to be okay with it. Why?! It’s like, hey look, let’s do acid, okay, that sounds like fun! I mean, really? REALLY?! She wasn’t entirely a bad person, deep down she is still a girl and wants to be a little girl still. She loves her family and wants to hang out with her mom. She also wanted to help her BFF Alex’s sister Sarah, which was honorable.

I have to be honest, I skimmed in several spots because I wanted to drop kick the book so bad (maybe that could have something to do with why the story made no sense, but I had little patience with it). I was hoping it would redeem itself eventually. It didn’t. Some of her was redeemed by something she wanted to do near the end. But the ending? Horrible. I was so irritated and utterly pissed off. The last chapter doesn’t really resolve anything, it’s just… there. I wish I knew where it all came from.

Maybe if Cassie was older and I had a reason for her choice to go off the deep end (WAY off the deep end), I could empathize. The only thing I liked was the secondary story with Sarah. Her life and background, I thought it was a story that needed to be told. Often children don’t get protected and they live day to day in terror. Cassie caring about her like she did was the only part worth reading. That’s the only reason I gave it two stars on Goodreads.

Beautiful is one of those books that’s supposed to show the bad choices a person can make. It just took a thirteen year old girl and threw her into the ‘drug and sex’ crowd like it was a normal transition to make. There’s a blurb from Ellen Hopkins on the cover of the book praising it, which made me think of her book Crank. Beautiful and Crank have many similarities, dealing with drug use and bad crowds and the path it leads you down, but there was something better about Crank. The MC was older and she had different circumstances. Maybe if Cassie was older or the background that led her where she went made more sense. But, like I said, it didn’t.

My Rating:

It's Okay: It can wait until tomorrow

Review: True Confessions Of A Hollywood Starlet by Lola Douglas

Title: True Confessions Of A Hollywood Starlet
Author: Lola Douglas
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult
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Caution: May contain spoilers

.
Teen star Morgan Carter's mom is trying to kill her. At least, that's what Morgan thinks when she's sent to Ft.Wayne, Indiana after a near overdose outside LA's Viper Room.

Morgan's going to recover out of the spotlight.Way out. She's given a major make-under, a new name, and a completely different identity. Morgan's plan? To write a tell-all book about her experience and stage a comeback. But when this LA girl finds love and a new life in Middle America, will she abandon it for another shot at superstardom?
.

My Thoughts:

I picked this one up at a thrift store since it looked like a more modern YA novel. When I read the mention of Ft. Wayne as the city of choice for Morgan to go to, I couldn’t not buy it. I have several friends who live there. Shrug the shoulders, sure, let’s see how this turns out.

At first I was enjoying it, the starting over in a new place thing, not knowing who you really are and trying to make friends. Morgan’s personal struggles probably held the story together best. The incident that lead her to Ft. Wayne involved alcohol and drug abuse. There was more to Morgan than just being a Hollywood star, she was a teen who dove too far into the deep end before she knew there is something better. This new place was real. Really real, not something she would get in the bigger cities with her fellow celebrities. Her classmates are regular people and she’s actually part of it.

I expected a little more from this book and more from Morgan. She did have a little bit of an attitude adjustment in the expected ways but nothing else seemed to phase her. I did appreciate how she faced certain things head on and became a more real person. I wasn’t a fan of the way it all ended up. The whole story was rushed, certain scenes felt thrown in there, and the ending didn’t appease me. There was a sequel, and even though I didn’t like where it left off, I was hoping to read the sequel and get some sort of conclusion. I tried to look it up and somehow couldn’t find it, until just now. Goodreads had it listed as another version of the first book. Goodreads Fail.

Despite all the issues I had with it, I did enjoy it to some degree. It was definitely along the lines of books I used to pick up back when I read mostly fluffy pre-teen/not long after pre-teen novels. I liked the idea of that when I bought it but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it’s not the type of book I want to read anymore. I’ve adapted a bit in my tastes, and I want more out of my books than just some thrown together “confessions of a something or other” that uses references to whatever the “something or other” is that’s being featured (in this one, Hollywood and celebrity references, and from 2005 too).

Bottom line: I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it or like it either. I liked aspects of it (the seriousness of what got her there in the first place and the little things she learned along the way), and the ending wasn’t horrible (I kinda feel I need to read the sequel for some sort of real end). Not something I would pick up again, or necessarily recommend, unless you want a really easy read.

Side note: Found out it was made into a movie.

My Rating:

It's Okay: It can wait until tomorrow