Author: Allie Everhart Title: Knowing You Series: Jade, #2 Pages: 308 Genre: New Adult Publisher: Waltham Publishing, LLC Date published: November 1, 2013 Format: eBook Source: Amazon Synopsis Now that Garret’s decided he’s no longer following the rules of his wealthy family, he can finally develop a closer relationship with Jade. Things are going well, but Jade still worries that being with Garret is only temporary. And because of that, she’s not sure how much of herself and her past she’s willing to let him see. Garret does all he can to assure Jade that the two of them can last, but convincing her of that is difficult when she’s never trusted anyone. So he has to show her, by being there when she needs him the most, even when she tries to keep him away. The mysterious letter from Jade’s mom still haunts her and now she’s getting threatening phone calls. Someone from Jade’s past will stop at nothing to keep his secrets from getting out. And his number one secret is Jade. Note: This is a New Adult novel and contains mature language and situations. ReviewI started this one as soon as I finished the last one, but it took me a little bit to write this review because of the situation that it put me in. Before I begin I need to say something. This book needs to have "TRIGGER WARNING" in the synopsis. There is a situation that happens that caused me to turn off my kindle and start sobbing... while at work. Because I had a flashback of memories that occurred. I almost didn't finish it because of that. But I went back to the book a couple days later, skipped a whole chapter, and was okay. And now for the review! This book is all the drama, which is why I love this series so much. I'm more investing in the characters by this point, so I was devouring this story (until it got to the trigger I mentioned). I have fallen for this couple, and every time they get through something that was supposed to push them apart - it makes me just love them more. And there's this quote, which is hilarious: "Very descriptive prose. Truly expresses her love of pastries. Makes me want a donut." There's some more family related issues that kept me gripping the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen. It's definitely a page turner. The main issue I had, I liked how Jade handled the situation. It was because of that I was able to finish this story. And I'm glad, else I'd have missed this fabulous quote: "I’m wasting all the moments I have with Garret worrying about something that might never happen. Maybe we’ll be together forever. Maybe we won’t. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is right now." I do plan on reading the next book in the series, but I'm not as excited for it as I was when I finished the last two. It's still a great series, and I do recommend it.
Author: Penny Reid Title: Truth or Beard Series: Winston Brothers #1 Pages: 370 Genre: Romantic Comedy Publisher: Cipher-Naught Date published: July 21, 2015 Format: eBook Source: IndieSage PR Synopsis: Beards, brothers, and bikers! Oh my! Identical twins Beau and Duane Winston might share the same devastatingly handsome face, but where Beau is outgoing and sociable, Duane is broody and reserved. This is why Jessica James, recent college graduate and perpetual level headed good girl, has been in naïve and unhealthy infatuation with Beau Winston for most of her life. His friendly smiles make her tongue-tied and weak-kneed, and she’s never been able to move beyond her childhood crush. Whereas Duane and Jessica have always been adversaries. She can’t stand him, and she’s pretty sure he can’t stand the sight of her… But after a case of mistaken identity, Jessica finds herself in a massive confusion kerfuffle. Jessica James has spent her whole life paralyzed by the fantasy of Beau and her assumptions of Duane’s disdain; therefore she’s unprepared for the reality that is Duane’s insatiable interest, as well as his hot hands and hot mouth and hotter looks. Not helping Jessica’s muddled mind and good girl sensibilities, Duane seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the local biker gang. Certainly, Beau’s magic spell is broken. Yet when Jessica finds herself drawn to the man who was always her adversary, now more dangerous than ever, how much of her level-headed heart is she willing to risk? ReviewI was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have been meaning to read Penny Reid for a long time, two years at least. But I kept putting it off. WORST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE! Not even 2% into this book I knew I was going to love it. And I really did. I had a busy weekend, so I wasn't able to read much, but I picked it up every second I could. Usually late at night. I didn't get much sleep. I have also learned if I'm really tired while laughing, I gargle. This is one of the best stories I've read in a long time. If I could go back in time, I would smack myself for waiting this long to read one of her books. I'm now in possession of all of her published books available on Amazon, as I have learned from my mistake. Highly recommended. Don't read it in places where you're supposed to be solemn or quiet. I learned that the hard way. You'll get angry looks. Author: MA Scott Title: Walk in the Woods Series: The Woods Series, Book 1 Pages: 129 Genre: Romantic Suspense Date published: May 12, 2015 Format: ebook Source: Kindle Unlimited Synopsis Christian Robb is a twenty-four year old woman who is stuck at home and forced to live with her controlling parents. At the age of sixteen, she was in an accident that resulted in short term memory loss. When two men enter her life, she has to figure out what's true and what's not- because everything is not what it seems. ReviewI borrowed this one from KU after seeing the author post that she would like some reviews from this blog.
I want to first say that the story is interesting. Although it is weird to see a 24 year old who needs to be in her parents custody, I ignored reality for the sake of the story. After doing that, it did make it a bit more enjoyable. There are a lot of inconsistencies that happen throughout the book. At first I thought I'd missed something, but I'd go back and reread to make sure I understood everything. Mostly this was frustrating to read. Not even considering the grammar issues, of which there is a good deal, it just doesn't flow well. It's also a tell without showing. I had no connection with any of the characters. I will say that it's an interesting plot. It is also readable, which is why this wasn't marked DNF. Author: Amanda Sun Title: Storm Series: Paper Gods #3 Pages: 304 Genre: YA Paranormal Romance Publisher: Harlequin Teen Date published: July 1, 2015 Synopsis: After almost a year in Japan, Katie Greene has finally unearthed the terrible secret behind her boyfriend Tomohiro's deadly ability to bring drawings to life—not only is he descended from Kami, the ancient Japanese gods, but he is the heir to a tragedy that occurred long ago, a tragedy that is about to repeat. Even as the blood of a vengeful god rages inside Tomo, Katie is determined to put his dark powers to sleep. In order to do so, she and Tomo must journey to find the three Imperial Treasures of Japan. Gifts from the goddess Amaterasu herself, these treasures could unlock all of the secrets about Tomo's volatile ancestry and quell the ink's lust for destruction. But in order to complete their quest, Tomo and Katie must confront out-of-control Kami and former friend Jun, who has begun his own quest of revenge against those he believes have wronged him. To save the world, and themselves, Katie and Tomo will be up against one of the darkest Kami creations they've ever encountered—and they may not make it out alive. ReviewI have been waiting for this book since the moment I finished Rain, about a year ago. I had pre-ordered this as a Christmas present to myself, because I love me so much and I knew I deserved this.
When I did finally get it, I was afraid to start it. Not because I was worried I wouldn't like it, but because I did not want it to end. It didn't take long for my curiosity to get the better of me, and I started reading it. Amusing thing, I knew I liked this serious. I went into this book remembering that both Ink and Rain made it into my top 10 books the years they were released. With that in mind, I was still surprised at how much I loved this book. There were a few times where I found myself having to close to book just to give myself a moment to gather my thoughts on what I had just read. The story did lead where I expected it to go, nor did it end how I thought it would. I may or may not have started crying a bit toward the end, because reasons. I have to say that I was quite impressed with the growth of many of the characters, especially Ishikawa. There is a part in here that connects to the companion novella, Rise. I cackled when I got to that part, because I knew exactly what was going on. And also because I'm so very mature. I was pleased at the direction of the relationship between Katie and Tomo in this story. Also, there's a part toward the end that reminds me of River Song from Doctor Who... and if you know me, that's a high compliment. This was a fantastic end to a wonderful story. If you're a fan of folklore, mythology, or YA paranormal romance, then you definitely need this series. I had to buy it all in paperback, because I loved it so much. Author: Mark E. Cooper Title: Way of the Wolf Pages: 598 Genre: Paranormal Publisher: Impulse Books UK Date published: May 20, 2014 Synopsis: One night after a long day at the hospital, Doctor David Lephmann is confronted by the realities of life in Monster Central, when he intervenes in a fight he knows nothing about. Two women are fighting for their lives in the street, and before he can really think about it, he foolishly chooses sides and wades into the battle. One moment he’s restraining a remarkably strong and lithe woman, the next he’s struggling to escape a huge wolf! The shapeshifter savages him, and shatters his new life. Sorely wounded and infected with lycanthropy, he’s thrust into a world of violence and mistrust where the only thing that matters is strength. Hoping to find the shifter who destroyed his life, he allies himself with a powerful master vampire. He certainly hadn’t been looking for werewolf romance while fighting for his life, but there’s something very intriguing about a certain shifter woman, and fighting isn't on his mind whenever he sees her beguiling eyes and snarling lips. With no way back to his old life, he must fight for a place in this new one, but he’s never had to fight for anything in his life. Can he survive the challenge? ReviewI got the kindle version from Amazon a few months ago, and a bit later I was offered a chance to review the audiobook as well. I had heard another book from this author/narrator duo (different series) and I really enjoyed it - so I decided to give this one a try as well.
I felt the story started out strong. I was instantly pulled into it. Also, Mikael Naramore is impressive as a narrator. Then, as it continued on, I felt more and more confused. I was able to eventually figure out what was going on, to an extent. But, instead of connecting them together, he'd add in another story. There's many times I would back track listening just to see if I missed anything, but I hadn't. It isn't until the end that you've got any sort of clue what's going on. It isn't that it is a bad story, quite the opposite. The characters were fascinating. The narration was great. It was just very hard to keep up with and difficult to enjoy a story where you feel like you're a bit off for missing important things that haven't actually been stated yet. Author: Peggy Martinez Title: Perfect Contradiction Pages: 286 Genre: Contemporary Romance Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing Date published: July 14, 2015 Synopsis: Jennifer Collins is finally beginning to heal after losing her mother to cancer. It's been a long road with scary turns, but her best friend Beth helped her through the darkest moments. But now Beth has gone and gotten herself hitched, and Jen can't help but feel like she's all alone once again. When Hunter Wright comes strolling back into town after leaving her behind without so much as a see ya later when she needed him the most, Jen suddenly realizes she isn't as over him as she thought she was. And perhaps she never would be. But things are complicated now, and Jen has a secret that makes it impossible for her to throw caution to the wind and fall back into the arms of the man who broke her heart. Sometimes, a new beginning, a new life, and a new outlook can mean so much more than understanding and forgiveness. Sometimes it can mean putting faith in someone who has the ability to hurt you or the ability to make you whole. Jen knows more than anyone that love can be such a…Perfect Contradiction. ReviewI was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The second I finished book one of this series, I needed this one. Yes, they are stand alones, but I absolutely adored Jen, and needed to read her story. The moment it became available for review, I jumped at the opportunity. Although the drama is much different from Sweet Contradiction, it is definitely still there. There were more than a few times where I was banging my head against my Kindle, cursing both Jen and Hunter for their insolence. No offense to Beth and Matt, but this story was much better, in my opinion. Plus I never felt there with details being skipped. This one just felt ... perfect. (Ha, I'm so funny!) Anyway, I hear the story of Jackson is next. That'll be interesting. So, here I am at the end of another of these books, waiting for the next one to come out. Perfect Contradiction was fantastic. Highly recommend this series. Author: Amanda Sun Title: Rise Pages: 51 Genre: YA Paranormal Publisher: Harlequin Teen Date Published: May 1, 2015 Synopsis: A long, long time ago, before the world was as we know it, Izanami and Izanagi came into being. Two of the first of the ancient gods of Japan, they crafted the world from ink and their own imaginations. Izanagi wants, more than anything, to be with Izanami—but one moment of pride could tear them apart forever. Yuki and Tanaka have been friends for as long as they can remember, but lately deeper feelings have been bubbling beneath the surface. How do they navigate the transition from friendship to true love without destroying the powerful bond between them? Set a millennia apart, can these two couples, living parallel love stories, find their happily-ever-afters? ReviewI absolutely got this book the day it became available without reading the synopsis first. But, I have loved the last three of Amanda Sun's books so I already knew I'd like this one as well.
And I was absolutely correct. It's been about a year since I've read one of her books, but I fell back into the characters rather quickly. There were two entirely different stories going on in this, one folklore and one more contemporary romance, and I enjoyed both of them. Unlike the other novella, Shadow, this was a spin off of the series featuring the friends of Katie Greene as well as the beginning to the paranormal aspect of the series. Yuki and Tanaka's story was freaking adorable and Izanami and Izanagi's was beautiful and heartbreaking. Highly recommend this series to everyone ever in the world. Because I adore it. It's the only series I but in paperback. I'd get Rise and Shadow as paperback if it were available. Author: Lindy Zart Title: Smother Pages: 250 Genre: Contemporary Date published: May 12, 2015 Synopsis: You won't like me. I am not the nice girl. I am not your friend. I don't care about you, but most of all, I don't care about me. Go ahead, hate me. We all have secrets. I have them as well—dark, terrible secrets. The only time I can breathe is when I forget. I need to be numb. You don't want to know how. But as long as I can breathe, the past cannot smother me. ReviewOne thing I love about Lindy is how all her books are different from each other. I am not a one-genre reader. If I had to compare this to any of Lindy's other books, I'd pick Safe and Sound. But only because they both deal with broken homes. Smother is much heavier and not for younger audiences.
This was a heavy book to read. There's drug use, sexual abuse, and child abuse. It isn't graphic, but it's still there. Although Reese has one hell of a hard past, it was only a small part of the story. Yes, there were parts where I cried, but not just because of what happened in the story itself. It triggered some of my own memories that I had suppressed... and that was not pleasant to experience. There were things in this book that I felt actually helped me, even if it did so in a ripping the bandage off sort of way. It's the book I didn't even know I needed! I wouldn't say this is a romance, but at the same time there is something going on in this story. Leo is not the typical male lead, but he is absolutely perfect in here. He's like a giant cuddly teddy bear that can kill you in your sleep. There's also this one character in the story, Liz - I really like her. She's great. I would have loved to see more of her. Anyway, this was another Zartian story that I am glad to have read. Author: Robyn Schneider Title: The Beginning of Everything Pages: 357 Genre: YA Contemporary Romance Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Date published: August 27, 2013 Synopsis: Varsity tennis captain, Ezra Faulkner, was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before—before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with unpredictable new girl Cassidy Thorpe. As Kirkus Reviews said in a starred review, "Schneider takes familiar stereotypes and infuses them with plenty of depth. Here are teens who could easily trade barbs and double entendres with the characters that fill John Green's novels." Funny, smart, and including everything from flash mobs to blanket forts to a poodle who just might be the reincarnation of Jay Gatsby, The Beginning of Everything is a refreshing contemporary twist on the classic coming-of-age novel—a heart-wrenching story about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings. ReviewThis is my book club's July read, so I purchased it while it was on sale. It looked interesting enough, and even if it wasn't the one I had voted for, it was a close second.
It started out pretty strong. I was quickly pulled into Ezra's world. This kid who pretty much ruled his school's entire life changed because of one thing. He's struggling to figure out who he is in the aftermath. When the book got to about 60%, I realized the only character I had any connection with was Toby. If everyone had one friend like him, the world would be a much better place. Ezra and Cassidy just never felt real for me, not that I disliked them. I felt no attachment. Nobody else stuck out to me as more than a background character. There's a lot of foreshadowing, so it's easy to pick up what is going on, if you're the type that doesn't like to have things sprung on you. It also takes away a lot of drama, so you don't have to worry about all the feels. Then there's the last 20%... I don't want to say what it is, because spoilers, but I almost stopped reading at one part because it was ridiculous and devoid of facts - in an offensive way. In fact, as soon as I read it, I sent Sofia a message saying, "That was bullshit!" When I picked it back up, I almost immediately face palmed. It was kinda like reading a Nicholas Sparks novel, a whole lot of drama with no emotions behind it. I feel like the story does have a good message behind it. True friends don't abandon you when your knee gets smashed in. But it's told in a way that - I feel - tries too hard "not to be cool". Yes, this story is a hipster. |
Current Soundtrack:Rating Guide:No longer used5 Platypires - Oh my holy fluff, this book was amazing and everyone needs to read it immediately!
4 Platypires - Great book. Enjoyed it a lot. Minor issues. Highly recommend. 3 Platypires - Good book, but I would have enjoyed it more if there weren't so many issues. 2 Platypires - The book was okay, but it needs a lot of work. 1 Platypire - I didn't like the book. Major changes needed. DNF - I couldn't finish. Too many issues. Categories
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J. Hooligan
Platypire addict, mother, wife, book lover, review writer, beta reader, aspiring author, nanny, and professional hooligan.
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