Popcorn Love

Title: Popcorn Love
Author: K. L. Hughes
Genre: Contemporary NA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

A prominent figure amongst New York City’s fashion elite, Elena Vega is a successful businesswoman and single mother to an adorable three-year-old son, Lucas. Her love life, however, is lacking, as those closest to her keep pointing out.At the persistent urging of her closest friend, Elena reluctantly agrees to a string of blind dates if she can find a suitable babysitter for Lucas.Enter Allison Sawyer, a free-spirited senior at New York University.Elena is intrigued by Allison’s ability to push her out of her element, and the young woman’s instant and easy connection with a normally shy Lucas quickly earns Allison the job.After each blind date, Elena returns home to complain to Allison about her lacking suitors. As they bond, Elena begins to realize that the person possessing all the qualities she most desires might just be the woman who has been in front of her the entire time.The vast difference between the two women’s social statuses, however, may be an obstacle not easily overcome.

***

It's always rewarding and exciting when you're in a fandom with fanfic writers that are so amazing, their AUs get picked up and published. This method of finding new authors has given us some of the biggest names of current literature (although I hold judgment on the quality of that writing in some cases. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about). Cassandra Clare's wildly popular The Mortal Instruments started out as (and this is still weird for me to think about if I'm honest) Draco/Ginny Harry Potter fanfiction.

I'm lucky to be in a fandom where the writers are so talented, it wasn't one AU that got picked to be published -- but three. And Popcorn Love is the first of those three to hit the shelves.

The thing about this story is that it's cute. So, so cute. And so well executed. All the characters, no matter how small their appearance, are fully fleshed out. There were no shallow characters, and the plot moves along wonderfully.

Allison and Elena are delightfully shy while also being incredibly confident - in other words, they're brilliantly human. They are flawed, and we can't help but root for them as they fumble their way to love.

Having read it in its' original version, with the original names, there were quite a few chuckles that came from reading the new names (although, Swan Queen fans, look out for an easter egg when Allison is playing the guitar! You'll know it when you see it).

Definitely recommend it to anyone wanting some nice, easy fluff to read. Perfect holiday read, or back to school de-stress read!

And dare I hope for a sequel? (I'm probably just being greedy...)

Spotlight Wednesdays: True Love Story

Info
Title: True Love Story
Author: Willow Aster
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 5/5

Why You Should Read It

This is one of those books that is so good, you just sit in shock after you finish it, wondering what the hell you're supposed to do with yourself now.
It's also one of those that rips your heart in two gleefully.
And you love it for it.

Sparrow's and Ian's story is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. The characters are beautifully dimensional, the plot makes sense, and the flashbacks just make you want to crawl into a corner and sob.

The pain is worth it for falling in love with these perfectly flawed characters.

Spotlight Wednesdays: Foolish Games

Info:
Title: Foolish Games
Author: Leah Spiegel
Genre: NA contemporary
Rating: 5/5

Why you should read it

It's funny how some books just stick with you, you know? And no matter what, someone will say something, years later, and you'll think of that book again.

I think for me, Foolish Games did that because Joie reminded me so much of myself. She's the geeky girl that takes her kindle to concerts and reads if she's not interested in the band. And while I've never actually done that (because I only actually pay money to go see stuff I actually like), it's the kind of thing I could definitely see me doing if I were ever in her position.
And, because you're all readers too, I'm sure that her character will resonate with you guys too.

Besides, I spent over half the book shaking with laughter. The kindle scene results in the reason I can never listen to Aerosmith's Love in an Elevator again without sighing wistfully. And for all you lovers of slow burn relationships, this one is definitely for you - Hawkins and Joie most definitely do not hit it off instantly, and hilarity ensues from their ever escalating antics.

Handy hint and tip, though: don't bother with books #2 & #3. I found them to be severely lacking, especially when compared to how amazing Foolish Games is. And it doesn't end on a cliffhanger, so I prefer to see it as a standalone.

Blog Tour: Model Spy Fashion Assassin

Author: Sarah Sky

Title: Fashion Assassin (Jessica Cole: Model Spy #2)

Genre: Contemporary / Crime YA

Publisher: Scholastic

Format: Paperback

Pages: 300

Published: 1^st January 2015

Goodreads Link * Amazon Link

This is for all you disgruntled Ally Carter fans out there, who are still not over the end of Gallagher Girls (a group that most emphatically includes me!). Model Spy: Fashion Assassin and its' predecessor, Model Spy: Code Red Lipstick, give you the chance to dive back into the world of sassy girl-spies headfirst - not a series to be missed!

"Models, spies and lipstick gadgets in this fast-paced teen series. Supermodel Jessica Cole has no intention of ever spying again after she was nearly killed by an embittered ex-model and a rogue MI6 agent. That is until she's blackmailed into posing undercover as bodyguard to a very rich fellow model. What seems like a simple job aboard a luxurious yacht in Monaco soon turns into a deadly mission to stop the most dangerous weapon in the world falling into the wrong hands. Jessica will need every gadget in her make-up bag if she wants to get out of this one alive."

Expect my review of book 1 to be up sometime this week, but what I can tell you so far is that Jessica is one spunky, funny teenager. And while she's no Cammie, her adventures have been very entertaining so far; if only I didn't have a mountain of paperwork to wade through this last week, I'd be done with #1 and #2 probably, they're just that easy a read! Definitely worth your time.

The Twelve Books of Christmas: Day 11

Day 11:
The Opportunist, Tarryn Fisher

This is another non-paranormal (aka contemporary) novel. It's an intricate weaving of lives and lies, and it gets to the point where you don't know what's up and what's down.
Fisher pushes and pulls the reader in all directions; none of the characters is "the good guy"; there is NO good guy in this book, only varying degrees of bad decisions and a lot of love.
It's raw, it's emotional and it will make you want to cry your eyes out by the end.
It'll leave psychologically exhausted, but it's also incredibly satisfying in a weird way. Definitely give it a go.
Undecided? Here's my review to help you decide.

Conspiracy Girl

Title: Conspiracy Girl
Author: Sarah Alderson
Genre: YA contemporary
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 8/10
Release Date: January 5th, 2015

I was given an egalley by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Everybody knows about the Cooper Killings – the Bel Air home invasion that rocked the nation.

There was only one survivor - a sixteen year-old girl.

And though the killers were caught they walked free.

Now eighteen, Nic Preston - the girl who survived - is trying hard to rebuild her life. She’s security conscious to the point of paranoia and her only friend is a French Mastiff bulldog, but she’s making progress. She’s started college in New York and has even begun dating.

But then one night her apartment is broken into and the life Nic’s worked so hard to create is shattered in an instant. 

Finn Carter - hacker, rule breaker, player – is the last person Nic ever wants to see again. He’s the reason her mother’s killers walked free from court. But as the people hunting her close in, Nic has to accept that her best and possibly only chance of staying alive is by keeping close to Finn and learning to trust the person she’s sworn to hate.

Fleeing across a snowbound New England, frantically trying to uncover the motive behind the murders, Nic and Finn come to realize the conspiracy is bigger than they could ever have suspected. But the closer they get to the truth and the closer they get to each other, the greater the danger becomes.

To survive she has to stay close to him.

To keep her safe he has to keep his distance."

Alderson has done it again. She has a knack for creating memorable, diverse and interesting characters, and Nic Preston is no different. I loved the entire setup, the premise was brilliant, and best of all, the execution didn't let me down. Most importantly, Alderson weaved a very good story in a used-up genre without falling into many of the stereotypes of that genre - and it made for a very enjoyable read indeed.

I especially liked the connection between Finn and Nic - it was nice that she didn't clap eyes on him shirtless and swoon, instantly forgetting about their past; he broke down her walls and defences with time and patience. And Nic's paranoia could have been very easily overdone, but Alderson presents it in just the right amount to make it clear that it is serious, and to make the reader feel on edge, while not making it too much.

But perhaps the best part about Conspiracy Girl was trying to figure out whodunnit. If you're a mystery buff, this one is definitely up your alley! I don't want to say too much, but I had a theory, and it was (I thought) a pretty good theory... but the actual perpetrator took me completely by surprise. They did enter my mind, briefly, at an early stage, but I dismissed it. What a bomb that one was!

A brilliant way to kick off the year's reading list! Most definitely recommended.

Bad Romeo

Title: Bad Romeo (The Starcrossed Series #1)
Author: Leisa Rayven
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10
Release Date: December 23rd

I was given an ARC of this novel by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan's romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time. 

Cast as romantic leads once again, they're forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they'll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks."

What is it about incredibly hot assholes that makes me love them? I like to think that it's because under their stupid exterior, inside they're really just a pile of mushy feelings and it's cute.

Either way, Ethan Holt has it all. But, weirdly, while he certainly plucked at my heartstrings, he didn't make them sing. Maybe it's because I was always wary, knowing that it would all go to shit eventually. Despite that, young Ethan and Cassie were too cute for words.
I would have loved to see more of both of them in the present; we spent so much time with them in the past, I wanted to know what play he went to do in Europe, and more about why he left. I have no doubt that we'll find out in #2 though, so I'm not too mad.

All in all, Bad Romeo has everything a good romance novel needs: a cheekily hot guy, a feisty girl, sparks that are unwanted but stubborn to leave and a great plot. Rayven keeps us interested throughout the entire novel by subtly hinting that something big is going to happen, and giving us glimpses at what it might be. I was so curious, this book was through in one sitting. My kindle told me it'd take me 6 hours to read it; I'm pretty sure it was actually closer to 4, because I just could not put it down.

For any of you who noticed the similarities between Bad Romeo and Famous in Love (the covers kind of are similar, and the premise does bring Famous in Love to mind), worry not. This is a very much adult novel to the strictly YA of Serle's novel. Also, while Famous in Love is about a love triangle, Bad Romeo is really just about Cassie and Ethan trying to sort out their crap and find out if love is enough. That said, if you liked Serle's novel, definitely give Bad Romeo a try!
Definitely recommended. Christmas, especially with family, can be a stressful time and this is an excellent book to have lying about for when you need to step away from the stress and lose yourself in fiction.

The Trouble with Flirting

Title: The Trouble With Flirting
Author: Rachel Morgan
Genre: YA contemporary
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 2/10

"Labelled a nerd for most of high school, Livi sees her first year of university as a chance to redefine herself. She can finally enter the popular crowd and maybe even land herself a super hot boyfriend. But Livi’s about to discover that the price of popularity may be more than she’s willing to pay, and that what—and who—she wants most has always been right in front of her."

Very cute, very sweet, if a little predictable.

Livi was a fun character, and, although her desperation to be popular kind of annoyed me - why, people, why?? - it was also kind of nice to see her come to her senses. In her defence, though, Jackson had seemed like a pretty okay guy to start with, so...
The big surprise came towards the end of the book, but I liked how Morgan had Livi deal with it - level-headed and mature. Very nice. I know the next book is about Andi, and I'm glad because I really want to know more about her, and the premise sounds interesting.

I loved the character developments in Allegra, but I wish we'd gotten to see more of her 'true self' during this book; there's potential there for a very interesting story. The one thing that was sorely missing was Sarah. Livi's emails to her didn't really cut it; I wanted Sarah's answers, rather than have to keep guessing, and it annoyed me that we only saw her side of the conversation when it was the end and she was giving Livi advice about the guy. That could have been fleshed out so much more and it made me sad that it wasn't.

But otherwise, a great novel with quirky characters and a swoon-worthy love interest.

PS: I've just realised why it took me so long to actually understand that this took place in South Africa: that cover made it seem like blooming California!

Part-Time Princess

Title: Part-Time Princess (Ladies in Waiting #1)
Author: Pamela DuMond
Genre: contemporary YA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 9/10

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

One too-hot Prince. One almost-killer. One sassy American girl. One Lady with a secret. A couple of very cool Ladies-in-Waiting. One very cute lab puppy.
What's not to love?
Yeah, that's right, absolutely nothing.

Lucy's voice was like a breath of fresh air. Her problems at the beginning of the novel are real and very relatable, so it's hilarious to see her go from worrying about paying to mortgage to worrying about what to do when the Grandmother Queen rolls over her foot with her walker. I loved the fact that all of the Ladies stuck by her.
I don't want to give too much away, but she definitely needed it! Her blunders through royal life were hilarious to read about, and a much-needed lighthearted fun.

But rewinding a little, perhaps my favourite part of the entire book was her flight from Chicago to London. Hot guys with blue eyes and black hair are a very soft spot for me, so is it any wonder I fell head over heels for Nick?

The one thing I will say, though, was that the ending felt almost rushed. It would have been nice to see them go back, settle in; find out what was going on with the rest of the family, and then actually get married for real this time. I'm hoping book 2 will explore some of those aspects, as well as David's reaction.

The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft

Title: The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft
Author: Lola Salt (aka Sarah Alderson and Becky Wicks)
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 10/10

I was given an egalley of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After my quick fall in love with Sarah's YA books, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel. It sounded interesting, but nothing too incredible.

I was in for a pleasant surprise. I don't think I've laughed so hard since Seduction and Snacks. Seriously, the situations Lara finds herself in are absolutely hilarious in their impossibility. It was weird to think that a 27 year-old could possibly manage to get herself into so many ridiculous situations.
Admittedly, though, while Lara herself (and CP. Can I have one of my own? Pwease?) was amazing, I felt like Lucy and Jamie were slightly lacking. And it was sort of ok because they weren't in it that much, so their less 3D personalities didn't detract that much from the overall book; the one time when it did impact the story was at the end, which is really quite disappointing.
In a way, it almost would have been more satisfying if they had gotten together, as it would add some sense of backstory, rather than just kind of leaving them floating randomly at the end, like beautiful fillers.

That lapse notwithstanding though, a hilarious read that is definitely worth your time!

Pieces of You

Title: Pieces of You
Author: Ella Harper
Genre: contemporary
Rating: 5/5 painful stars
Cover: 10/10

It's been a whole day, and I'm still struggling to put into words all the emotions this books gave me.
The cover is so misleading, too. Seriously, that's a blooming pink dress.

I just, I have a lot of feelings about this book. About halfway through I literally had to put it down and go for a walk. I'd planned on coming back and reading something, but I physically couldn't. The characters were banging around in my head; at one point I swear there was a full-blown jury going on in my head. It ruled wrong, because it turned out he'd been guilty, but still.
Amazing characters, and really the whole story struck quite a few chords personally. I don't know about wanting babies, but I do know all about having a loved one in the hospital, and Harper captured the emotion range perfectly.
In a way, I liked the ending Harper gave to Patricia. It seemed to suggest that maybe Lucy would get there one day too, and that maybe not everything would be so bleak always.
I've heard a few grumblings about the multiple narrations, especially from Nell and Patricia. I have to admit that it threw me at first; it just doesn't make sense to have one narrator be in first person and the other two in third, and I still think that was weird. I did like stepping out of Lucy's head every now and then, though. The pain going on in there got to a bursting point every now and then, and it was always a relief to step back into the more detached third person; so, even though it's weird, I think it's just what this particular book needed.
Definitely read it, but be sure to have tissues around. You'll need them.

Cold Feet at Christmas

Title: Cold Feet at Christmas
Author: Debbie Johnson
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 10/10

I was given an ARC copy of this book by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

On the last day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.... a dishevelled, frozen bride?
It wasn't in Rob's plans - hell, it wasn't anywhere even near Leah's plans. But when she finds her groom "playing hide-the-sausage" with one of the bridesmaids, she does the only thing any sane woman would do: she did a runner. Only she forgot her wedding was going to take place in a castle in Scotland, with a whole lot of nothing going on around it.
So by the time the car broke down, it was Leah, the snow and the sheep, alone on Christmas Eve.

Seriously a comedy delight. Leah is a hilarious character, and her resilience as a person was really endearing - that a person that had been hurt as much as she had by life could still shrug it all off (I can quite easily see her dancing around to Taylor Swift's Shake it Off) and crack a joke was amazing. The fact that she has no filter whatsoever certainly made for an entertaining read - the comment about the Italian sandwich had me fighting for air through giggles for nearly a full minute. And the whole debacle at the end with the fancy dress honestly had me in absolute stitches, because for some reason I pictured Leah as Billie Piper in that scene, with the cockney accent. A slutty Rose for Christmas, please! But shh, don't tell the Doctor ;)
As for Rob, this was a little harder. Sure, he's hot, and he redeems himself, but he was also a grade-A asshole to Leah for long there, I was almost hoping she'd go for Marco, to be honest. Serve that patronising idiot right for taking her for granted; his push-pull routine got old really quick, and really, I get the guilt, I do, but that's no excuse for how he treated her. So, I guess you could say I had some trouble connecting to the main guy. Luckily, Leah's antics pretty much outshone any negative effects of Rob's moodiness, but still.

A solid 4/5, maybe a 4.5/5, for the hilarious character, good plot and great world building! This is a definite read for the holiday season. Cold Feet for Christmas comes out November 6th.

Famous in Love

Title: Famous in Love
Author: Rebecca Serle
Genre: YA contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

I was given an ARC of this novel by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a 100% spoiler-free review.

It's hard to explain my feelings when I finished this book. It was part smugness because my wild guess turned out to be right, and part absolute despair, because let me tell you about the ending. It hurts. Like a picket being thrust into my heart. The first thing I did was rush to the computer, and frantically tweet Rebecca Serle, asking if there was going to be a sequel. But I was too nervous to wait for a reply, so I went fishing, and found out that (thank all the gods above and below) there will two more books. I went into the story assuming that there would be, but because there was no name to the series and #1 by the book on goodreads, I had to be absolutely certain, or I might burst into tears.
Crisis averted, though. There's still hope.
Now let me tell you about the story.

I loved Paige. Really, really loved her. Throughout the entire thing, she was so relatable. Usually, with stories about love triangles (that's not a spoiler, it's in the blurb), I get annoyed at the girl flip-flopping between guys, because to me, it's usually so obvious who she's supposed to be with. Here, though, Serle did such a superb job in the placing of characters, it never once felt strained or fake or stupid. It probably helped that once she actively admitted her feelings for Jordan, she kind of put the stuff with Rainer on hold. It was the right, honourable thing to do, I think, and only fair to all three of them. And it was great to see her grow as a character from the shy, scared girl at the beginning to the strong, sure woman she is by the end. Though I might not agree with her decision at the end (and judging by the prologue, neither does she), I definitely respect it. I think there could have been a better way to handle things, and that that was a piss-poor reason to make the decision she did, but the girl has guts, and I respect her wanting to be there like someone who was there for her when she needed it.
Rainer... what to say? He starts out like a dream, but I don't know. There's this one line that he says even before Jordan shows up that niggles at me. I think he really likes Paige, and I could see them being a great couple, but I just don't know...
And then there's Jordan. At first he was such a haughty prick, I kept wondering whether Paige was attracted to him, or if he just made her really nervous because he was so closed off. But then his whole backstory came up, and... ah, I don't know a thing anymore. He's fiercely loyal, and yet some things he said to Paige about Rainer don't seem to fit. It makes me wonder.
It also doesn't help that, even though I know who Paige wishes she had picked, I'm not certain on August. I think I know, but it was quite vague, since they're intrinsically different characters, even though Paige said whatever happened to one did to the other.

So, anyway. You should read this, you really should. It's funny, it's cute, and it's hot. It's also sad, tugs at your heart and can get quite serious at times. Basically, it's amazing. And, even better, to tide you over once you're done, there's two little extra tidbits already out there. Serle actually wrote Locked and has published it as an e-novella under the pseudonym of Parker Witter, so guess what I'm off to read next! But even before that, there's a free story on Wattpad, The Three of Us, that tells the story of August, Ed and Noah before the crash. So. If you're in any way unsure, and my ramblings haven't convinced you, here's the link to The Three of Us, and here's the link to Locked. And if you like those, then definitely give Famous in Love a chance - you won't regret it! (and if you want, you can come cry with me about the ending on twitter. Please do.)

The Temp

Title: The Temp
Author: Emily Benet
Genre: Contemporary adult
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

I was sent an ARC of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first word that springs to mind is fresh. Amber is quirky and funny, and her story was an absolute delight to follow. What really struck me about this book was just how utterly, unabashedly British it was. You don't get many books who are so unapologetically Brit, in a world of American authors, so that alone was enough to make me pause and take notice. But then Amber comes along, and starts going on about all these crazy ideas of how to become an artist and famous at that.

In a style almost reminiscent of the blunders of Princess Mia from The Princess Diaries (the grown up, British version, of course!), the book follows Amber as she chases her dream around London with a lot of determination and a stack of... bananas.
It probably didn't help that the first image that pops into my head when I think of a banana is a minion from Despicable Me, which just made the entire book that much funnier, I think.

Minions aside, however, Benet tells a great story about following our dreams, and finding love in the places we sometimes least expect - another very refreshing part. Not being sure which way Amber was going to go in the man department until well past the 50% mark is always a bonus, as it kept me guessing and wondering, making sure I was always thinking about the characters as I went about my day.

It probably goes without saying, since I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this, but I definitely recommend this book to anyone in search of an easy, funny and light-hearted book. The characters are compelling, the plot is believable - what's not to love?

Note: no sexually explicit scenes in this one, but marked as adult for the swearwords that come naturally to the Brits, but might shock an American ;)

The Temp is out October 23rd.

Ravensong

Title: Ravensong
Author: M. L. Hamilton
Genre: Contemporary YA/NA
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 5/10

First things first, and I'd like to know what the hell this book is doing on 'adult' shelves. There is not a dot in Ravensong that is adult. Not a single drop of ink. So I went expecting what most adult books have, and halfway through realised that I'd been mislead. Nevertheless, I was already roped in, so hey-ho. But if you're putting off reading it right now because you're in the mood for YA, pick it up; it's YA all right.

Now on the stuff that matters...
Ravensong was a tricky one to rate. The book started out So. Darn. Good. And it kept on being good, right up until about 75% in. Then things just got weird. And I'm not necessarily saying that weird is bad, but this weird was definitely confusing enough I can feel a headache building.
It kept jumping from memories to present without any indication of what was what, changing from one memory to the other with the same marking as though it were changing POV, and it took me a few lines to figure out if what I was reading was a memory, or a new development. And, while I found all those memories fascinating, and loved the chance to get to know Josh better, they were really just sort of... put there, kind of randomly, far - and long - enough to the end of the book that I worried we'd be stuck with memories and never find out how things turned out in the present. Since the book starts with a memory, I guess putting the others closer to the beginning of the book would have made more sense. Also, while Josh was almost 4D, there was so much depth to him, I felt a lack of depth regarding some of the other characters, most notably Elena and Julian.
All that considered, and the truly great plot, I decided a 3.5 rating would be about good, and just rounded it up to 4. To sum it up: an interesting read, and definitely worth your time.