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.

All That Glitters

Title: All The Glitters (Geek Girl #4)
Author: Holly Smale
Genre: YA Contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 8/10
Release Date: 26th February

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

""My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek." The fourth book in the award-winning GEEK GIRL series. Harriet Manners has high hopes for the new school year: she's a Sixth Former now, and things are going to be different. But with Nat busy falling in love at college and Toby preoccupied with a Top Secret project, Harriet soon discovers that's not necessarily a good thing... "

***

"If people are kind to you, Harriet, it's because you're kind to them. If people are there for you, it's because you are there for them."

Oh, I am sobbing like a baby. I did not expect this. Excuse me while I take a moment to compose myself *deep breaths*. Not gonna lie, I did not expect this to hurt quite this much.

I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but if you read Geek Girl #3, you know that the ending was absolutely heart-reanding. It hurt. So for some reason, I expected this to be different. Don't ask me why. And, in a way, it was different. Harriet Manners is still up to her usual nerdy shenanigans, entertaining me to no end. But, at the same time, she's grown incredibly since we first saw her in Geek Girl. Smale did a brilliant job of bringing this home in All That Glitters; because, while she grew and matured steadily throughout the last three books, always surrounded by the same people and relying on them to get her feet back under her, that growth and maturity didn't really shine through. 

So, it's only in All That Glitters, when she's separated from Nick, Wilbur (both of whom have my heart for all eternity, it's not even funny), Toby and Nat, that we really see her strength and steel come through. Yes, she's still geeky, and yes, she still trusts too easily. But, she has also learned from her past, and is moving forward with her life.

I especially applaud the way in which Smale managed to keep secrets from us throughout the entire novel. Most of them, when they came to light, caught me completely by surprise. And even though he made me cry like a baby (you think I'm kidding. I'm not), I really really liked the ending. I saw it coming, but still sobbed. It was a painfully real echo of a pain we've all experienced at one point in our lives (or will do, if we haven't yet), and Smale portrayed it brilliantly.

I look forward to the next volume with eager anticipation, and hope to see much more of Jasper here on out.

Thoughtful

Title: Thoughtful (Thoughtless #1.5)
Author: S. C. Stephens
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Publication Date: February 24th

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

"In Thoughtless, Kiera told her story. Now it's time for Kellan Kyle to share his side in Thoughtful . . .

The only place Kellan has ever felt at home is on stage. Gripping his guitar in a darkened bar, he can forget his painful past. These days his life revolves around his music and his band mates, and that's the way he likes it. And then one woman changes everything . . .

Kiera is the kind of girl Kellan has no business wanting - she's smart, sweet, and dating his best friend. Certain he could never be worthy of her love, he hides his growing attraction . . . until Kiera's own tormented heart hints that his feelings might not be one-sided. Now, no matter the consequences, Kellan is sure of one thing: he won't let Kiera go without a fight."

***

I knew from the get-go that this book would shred my very soul to pieces.

I wasn't wrong.

Out of all three books, Thoughtless is the only one I haven't re-read because I couldn't face dealing with all that pain again, so I knew what I was doing. I knew exactly what I was doing.

And, as usual, Stephens doesn't pull any punches. We know what's coming, but we can't stop reading; it's like watching a train wreck. But boy, what a hot hot hot train wreck it was!

For starters, don't skip any part of the book - not the dedication, not the acknowledgements, nothing. Trust me. Suffice it so say at this point, I was crying ridiculously early into the book.

All the scenes that we love - and the ones that we love to hate - are in there, which means that yes, Thoughtful is just as long as Thoughtless. To be honest, Kellan was a fun narrator. Seeing things through his eyes did clear up a few things - like his woman binge and what was really going through his head when Anna was around. It also made me consistently want to wrap him up in a security blanket and tell him how much he's loved. It's one thing to be told about insecurities and his belief that he doesn't deserve to be loved through the medium of Kiera; to have them right there, shoved in your face... made it all the more painful and unfair.

One of my favourite things about Thoughtful though, was getting to see a couple more of the lyrics of the songs he writes for Kiera. Heartbreaking, yes, but also achingly beautiful.

This is a definite must-read for all fans of Kellan and Kiera. Just make sure the tissues are nearby, and maybe a stiff drink too for when you finish. If you really want to sob, a good song to go with it is Taylor Swift's Style. I guarantee it'll make you shed a few tears, just listen to the lyrics; it fits them to a T.

Model Spy: Code Red Lipstick

Title: Model Spy: Code Red Lipstick (Model Spy #1)
Author: Sarah Sky
Genre: YA
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 8/10

"Models, spies and lipstick gadgets... When Jessica's father, a former spy, vanishes mysteriously, Jessica takes matters into her own hands. 
She's not just a daddy's girl who's good at striking a pose; she's a trained spook who knows how to take on MI6 and beat them at their own game."

**

More on the younger side of YA, Code Red Lipstick was an enjoyable, quirky and funny ride the whole way through.
Jessica did show her age at times, but the mix of fashion with espionage worked weirdly well together, and made for a truly good ride. The reason why it's a 4/5 was that it felt like we were just skimming the top of the characters.
The villain was intriguing, if predictable, and the mole inside MI6 was pretty clear from almost the get-go. 
And despite the good plot and neatness of the story, I felt like there was so much more that could have been explored. Jessica's relationship with Becky and the PFB would have been a treat if they'd been more fleshed out.
Overall, a very enjoyable read. It's easy, it's fun and flows wonderfully. And who knows, maybe book #2 will give me all of that and more!

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.

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.

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!

Snapped

Title: Snapped (The Snapped Series #1)
Author: Ketley Allison
Genre: not sure, but I'll go with YA? NA to be safe.
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

HOLY CANNOLI. Can one say cliffhanger?
I have taken a new, sudden and very strong disliking to stories told in parts.
As if Nicole Williams didn't torture me enough with Great Exploitations, now there's this! *gestures wildly*

Snapped starts out with a bang, and I have to say that, so far, I know absolutely nothing! I do know one person (well, two, with Charlie) who aren't dead, but really not much more than that.
I don't want to think she killed... well, anyone, because Allison presented her as quite level-headed, average girl; she could be any one of us (except for the obscenely hot boyfriend - don't I wish!).
But, I just don't know.
Unless... ah, hell.
Basically, go read it so I can have someone to play Sherlock with over this.
I don't trust the sister, is all I'm saying.

Roulette

Title: Roulette
Author: Megan Mulry
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10

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

Oh, oh, my excitement over Miki's character knows absolutely no bounds. She is exactly what we need more of in terms of heroines - she's strong, independent and self-assured. She knows she's got it good, and that she doesn't need any guy to make her life complete. The fact that she desperately wants Rome does nothing to take away from her stunning independence. I honestly wanted to stand up and clap when she tells Landon to go take a hike over his "full package" comment. For the first time since Hunger Games and Harry Potter, the girl stole the scene entirely from the love interest/guy, and it was glorious.

I also loved how she just sort of went around making friends with everyone, even - and maybe especially so - if they initially seemed quite scary; even Pavel.
As for Rome, I don't know. I mean, he was dreamy all right, and damn him and his smooth, sexy French accent to hell. But the way he reacted to some things I think maybe deserved an explanation. Which is really why it's a 4.5/5: I felt some point could have been explored in a little more detail; and, even though the ending was slightly predictable, it worked - it really, really worked.
Definitely give this a read, if you're sick and tired of all the Christmas-themed books!
Roulette is out December 2nd.

Crisis in Cali

Title: Crisis in Cali (Great Exploitations #5)
Author: Nicole Williams
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 10/10

This interrupted my binge re-watch of Sherlock. I got so excited when I saw this was out, Cumberbatch was left talking to John for an hour before I finished it and realised Sherlock was still playing on my computer. Oops.
Altogether, quite sad, too. I've said before, and you can see all about my love for these serials in the Spotlight Wednesdays for them here. So my excitement is understandable. The sad thing was, after all that waiting for the last instalment, it felt a bit rushed. And by that I mean, Eve seemed weirdly out of character throughout it; not in a major way, and I suppose that can mainly be blamed on her lack of enthusiasm for her job.
But what I did find weird was that, although the twist was a stroke of genius, it left a gaping plot hole in its' wake that I can't believe no one on goodreads (I read through a couple of reviews) has spotted it yet. If Henry did what he said he did, how does he - how does anyone, really - explain the presence of the woman from the competing Eve agency a few serials back, who had also been trying to nab him? She fits in nowhere, which is likely why she wasn't mentioned in Crisis in Cali, but I remember her, and I'm trying desperately to fit her into Henry's story somehow, because it is such a nice, neat story, but she just... doesn't. It's annoying, I've got this random Eve woman banging around inside my head, telling me something's not quite right with Henry's story, and that sort of ruined the happiness of the ending, because I kept waiting for her to find out he was lying to her.
Damn you Other Eve Plot hole!
Other than that though, a lovely ending, and one Eve very much deserved after everything.

The Case of the Exploding Loo

Title: The Case of the Exploding Loo
Author: Rachel Hamilton
Genre: MG
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

I would like to thank Rachel Hamilton for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say? I know it's not what I usually blog about, but the blurb made it seem like a good laugh, and I'm glad to say that it was. Absolutely hilarious from cover to cover!

Rachel Hamilton really captures the essence of the pre-teen girl. Noelle is funny because we've all been there before; we've all seen conspiracy theories everywhere, and we've all fought with out sisters incessantly, while loving them to pieces at the same time. Hamilton captured that mix of innocence, confusion and utter certainty that they know all there is to be known (though in Noelle's case, she has more reason to think that way than most of us, since she's like a mini Sherlock Holmes!). That vulnerability really made her a very likeable character.
I also applaud the way Hamilton presented Noelle's father, Brian. At the start of the novel, he is an almost god-like figure to Noelle, who looks up to her father and his intelligence. But, as readers, we know that something isn't quite right when Noelle tells us about his plans to eradicate the world of people with lower IQs. It is an important message, and one that Hamilton puts across beautifully in the book - that just because they're an adult, doesn't mean that what they say is always right, and that sometimes our heroes disappoint us in the worst way possible. And Noelle goes on with her life, visiting her father in prison, but well aware of the fact that his actions were wrong.

It's safe to say that this well please Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans everywhere.

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.

Breakdown

Title: Breakdown
Author: Amanda Lance
Genre: YA/NA
Rating: 3.5/5
Cover: 9/10

This is part of the Review Blitz for Breakdown - all info about where to buy the book, etc is below my review.

Let me just start by saying that I'm a sucker for bad boys, and so for me, William was just... *sighs* not to mention his name. So many of my favourite characters are Wills, that name has a special place in my heart already, and he didn't disappoint.

However, that said, I will say that while the plot and characters were good, the editing of this book left so much to be desired, it was actually painful to read at times. Things like verb conjugations, typos and the narrative perspective would shift out of the blue, ruining the overall novel, which is a shame, because it really could have been to good. Also, I felt a slight laziness from Ms Lance in continuously referring to Lottie's co-workers as 'the manager', 'the illegals' and 'my fellow counter girl'. I felt like an extra layer could have so easily been added there by simply giving them names, and the fact that they didn't have any actually started seriously pissing me off, because if also effectively made them so one dimensional, it was painful.

That said, I really enjoyed the relationship between Lottie and Will. Their banter was fresh, and even though her backstory felt slightly like it was decided on last minute, it worked. It worked for her character, and it worked for their relationship.

Overall, a good book with interesting characters and a decent plot. If the grammatical mishaps and lack of names for people won't bother you, definitely give it a go!

Breakdown by Amanda Lance REVIEW BLITZ October 6-10 2014

BUY IT ON AMAZON: http://bit.ly/BreakdownAm
BUY IT ON BARNES AND NOBLE: http://bit.ly/BreakdownBN
BUY IT AT KOBO: http://bit.ly/BreakdownKo
BUY IT ON ITUNES: http://bit.ly/BreakdownITunes

Charlotte Ferro is about to jump.
Yet nothing ruins a perfectly good suicide attempt worse than a handsome do-gooder. After William O’Reilly convinces her to take one last ride with him, Charlotte finds herself forgetting about her own problems and enjoying a world of which she never dreamed.

Now addicted to the rush of fast cars and cool criminals, Charlotte finds herself leaning less towards the ledge and more toward the arms of her savior. But with reasons of his own for keeping Charlotte safe from herself, William is reluctant to involve her in his criminal undertakings. Will his career choice keep them apart? Will Charlotte’s painful past?

~*~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~*~

A native of New Jersey and lifelong nerd, Amanda Lance recently completed her Master in Liberal Arts at Thomas Edison State College after her BA in English Literature and AFA in creative writing. As an avid reader of all genres, some of her favourite authors include Hemingway, Marquis de Sade, Stevenson, Bukowski and Radcliffe.

When she isn’t writing or reading, Amanda can found indulging in film noir or hiking with her other half and their extremely spoiled dog. She is obsessively working on her next book and trying to tame her caffeine addiction.

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.)

Black Ice

Title: Black Ice
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: YA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 8/10

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

I'm going to risk sounding like Janice from FRIENDS during this review, but OH. MY. GOD.

I just... I don't even know where to begin properly. I literally just finished it, and my mind is a jumble of images. What a ride! Becca Fitzpatrick, I'm not sure what I was expecting after Hush, Hush, but it wasn't this. I think what surprised me the most was the darkness of the book. It's everywhere, and by the time you get to the end, the one character who actually says he's 'not good' (I'm not naming names, because spoilers) actually turns out to be the best. Seriously, trying to sort out the goodies from the baddies was like trying to run through a maze with no concept of north and south. Every new character that was introduced, I had to stop reading, assess them, their words, their body language and try to figure out their intentions before going on. It was awesome! It kept me on my toes, and I think I figured it out about the same time that Jude did.
On that note, OH MY GOD. JUDE. I don't want to say too much about anyone, because this books' brilliance relies so heavily on surprises, and not knowing who to trust, but... JUDE. I seriously will not be able to listen to the Beatles song ever again without thinking of this book. Funnily enough, the lyrics actually fit them in the mountains to a T. But I digress.

It's annoying that I can't say much without spoiling it all, but basically, you want to read this. You really, really want to read this. And Patch Cipriano better look out, because Ms Fitzpatrick is upping the ante here, and he's got serious competition. The level of sass if those two ever met... but I'm digressing again. Also, I was meant to be catching up on Sleepy Hollow, but am instead up way too late again. I really should know better by now.

My one question is, what on earth happened to Korbie? I hope she found herself a new friend, too. She deserves a Caz after everything; I can't really hold what she did against her, after all...

*mock glares at you all* go read it when it's out (That's October 7th, if you're wondering)! And watch out for a GIF review for this one at some point this week!
Here's the promised GIF review - full of spoilers, as usual ;)

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.

Dirty Red

Title: Dirty Red (Love me with Lies #2)
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Genre: Contemporary adult
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

You can find my review of the first book, The Opportunist, here, and of the third book, Thief, here.

Beware: SPOILERS!

Oh, jeez. That ending. I just... I've always hated Leah, and never truly believed that she loved Caleb; more like, she loved his money and his status and that every woman who saw him, wanted him. She loved being the object of envy of every single woman in town because he was hers and not theirs. That's what she loved, not Caleb himself. She loved that because she "snagged" him, her father finally treated her well; she loved that running after him made her mother notice her and give her advice. She loved all of that, but she never really loved the man himself.
Because when she started truly falling in love with him, she realised that being with him when he didn't love her either wasn't enough; she realised she wanted his love, and she knew that she'd never have that.

So, yeah, even though I knew all that, knew that she had ruined and devastated Olivia for all the wrong reasons (not like Olivia was a saint either, but at least she truly, sincerely loved Caleb), I never, ever EVER expected Leah to cheat - and yet, she flirted with the manny, slept with her husband's brother and is already lusting after Olivia's husband (more on that later). So that little bomb at the end... whoa. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one.

And yet... while Dirty Red was a fabulous read, it didn't leave me emotionally exhausted like The Opportunist did. More evidence that Olivia is more deserving of Caleb than Leah - even if she did do some pretty crass stuff.

Now, on to the subject of Noah. I like Noah. I really think that comparing how both Olivia and Leah came out from their relationships with Caleb says much more about their characters than the lies and deceit that they committed while with him. Olivia knew she was doing something bad, and in the end, she was strong enough to break that addictive cycle and get to her happy place. Sure, she still loves Caleb - I never expected anything less. But she also had the strength to admit that the person she was when she was with him was not a person she wanted to be. So she let him go and married Noah. Enter Leah, yet again. I know Noah loves Olivia (duh), but I was shocked by his and Leah's interaction. He was friendly. Guess he figures if it weren't for Leah, he wouldn't have married Olivia, so that sort of makes sense. But what really caught my attention was Olivia's description of Noah. It made me wonder. Of course, when she first met Caleb, it wasn't this, but it seems like now, Leah feels inferior to Olivia - to the point where, if given the chance, I'm quite sure she would have cheated on Caleb with Noah, just so she could rub it in Olivia's face that she could. It makes me sad, because Olivia really did move on with her life (I think... at least, that's the idea I got from the end of The Opportunist, but I could be wrong, idk), and Leah is still rehashing the same thing over and over, because she married a man knowing that he could never truly love her.

Now that's desperation for you.

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.