Tough Enough (Tall, Dark, and Dangerous #2)
    by: Michelle Leighton

Publication Date: Nov. 3, 2015
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Bad Boys novels comes the second book in a dark, sexy contemporary trilogy.

He’s a fighter who never loses, but is he tough enough to win her heart?

There was a time when I had everything–a wonderful family, a bright future. Love. But all that was taken away in a single night, torn from me like flesh from bone. Since then, I’ve hidden away in my second-choice job as a makeup artist. But I prefer it that way, actually. I’m comfortable in the shadows, where no one can see my scars.

Kiefer Rogan literally took my breath away the moment I met him. MMA champion-turned-actor, notorious playboy, charming to a fault—he’s everything I vowed to avoid.

But he just wouldn’t stop until I opened up and let him in. Maybe I should’ve tried harder to resist him. Maybe I shouldn’t have fallen in love with him. Because I, of all people, know that everyone has secrets. Scars. And that they’re usually ugly and painful and destructive to the people we love most.

I just never guessed that they could be deadly, too.

 

 

Having enjoyed the first book in the series and the romantic suspense it offered, I was really looking forward to this second book, featuring the oh-so-sexy Kiefer Rogan we briefly met in book one. Everyone seems to be swooning over Rogan and for good reason. He's an amazing guy and I loved how he treated Katie and got her to open up to him. Katie has been through a horrific past and has the physical scars to prove it. Once a vibrant, outgoing woman, she now prefers to remain behind the scenes and tries to make herself unnoticeable. Rogan sweeps into her life and is making her feel all these things she thought were long dead and is slowly bringing her out of her shell.... and back to life.

 

I hate feeling like the black sheep when it comes to books. However, this book and I had quite a few issues and I just couldn't end up overlooking them. Had the plot been more engaging, maybe I could have, but for so much of the book I don't feel like there's enough going on. It's mainly Rogan chasing after Katie and trying to convince her to let him into her life. I was really hoping for more suspense and we really didn't get that until much later in the book. What we do get are two scarred human beings who each have their own cross to carry from their pasts and it's a more emotional type of read. I feel some of the things that ended up occurring were too 'convenient' if you will, to spur their romance into action. I obviously don't want to sound insensitive, but I feel like sexual assault and its aftereffects are starting to become a sort of trope in romance and I don't particularly care for that. I felt like it was a plot device here and that does not sit well with me. I am also not a fan of insta-love, and while it may have taken Rogan awhile to wear down Katie's defenses, I still felt their romance progressed too quickly.

 

I also couldn't help but be bothered by some of the inner dialogue. While this is in first person, the "Oh my God!" and other similar exclamatory statements just came across as awkward and even a bit juvenile to me.

 

While this one didn't work for me, do not let that influence you. This book has gotten so many wonderful reviews on Goodreads, so while this wasn't my cup of tea, it just might be yours! That Rogan is awfully swoony after all.

 

Red Girl, Blue Boy (If Only... #5)
    by: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Publication Date: Oct. 20, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Physical ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

Enjoy Red Girl, Blue Boy and the other standalone titles in Bloomsbury’s contemporary If Only romance line centered around an impossible problem: you always want what you can’t have!

Sixteen-year-old Katie and Drew really shouldn’t get along. After all, her father is the Republican nominee for President of the United States while his mother is at the top of the Democratic ticket. But when Katie and Drew are thrown together in a joint interview on a morning talk show, they can’t ignore the chemistry between them. With an entire nation tuned into and taking sides in your parents’ fight, and the knowledge that—ultimately—someone has to lose, how can you fall in love with the one person you’re supposed to hate?

This title in the If Only line is a frank and funny romance that shows how sparks fly when opposites attract.  

 

 

When I first saw the premise for this book, I knew I had to have it! I absolutely loved the idea of Katie and Drew falling for one another, even though they really shouldn't because of the fact that their parents are running for opposing political parties. That definitely makes for some interesting tension! I really felt this book had so much potential, but unfortunately I had issues with the characters and the overall feel of the book.

 

Katie was a very hard character to like for me. Her personality is too naïve and incredibly over the top, which made it hard to actually find her believable. She has grown up on the campaign trail with her father and loves being in the limelight. However, she acted pretentious to me and I couldn't believe some of the things that actually came out of her mouth. Telling some crazy teen girls to "Unhand him!" was a bit farfetched, I don't care how naïve and sheltered she is. She still goes to high school, so surely she's learned how to interact with her peers. Her immaturity and naiveté  was just too much for me. As was her constant use of exclamations. I did like Drew though. Where Katie would do anything to be in the spotlight with her father, Drew hid from it. He doesn't want to be this famous figure at school. He just wants to be normal.

 

When Katie and Drew are slotted to go on this morning show together, Drew backs out, claiming he doesn't want to. However, Katie totally calls him on it, and the gauntlet has been thrown. While the two start out not particularly impressed with one another, they end up spending time together and find that the other isn't so bad, which leads to them falling for one another. Some of their scenes were cute, but Katie just grated on my nerves because she could ruin the best moments by bringing politics into them with the whole "My dad is going to win the election!"

 

I had some trouble with the pacing in this book. It took me awhile to get invested and it felt as if everything was very surface level, where I would have preferred to see more depth. The feel of the book was a bit younger than I'd like also. There is a scene in the beginning of the book where a cute guy acts interested in Katie and asks her out on a date. She agrees and he walks her to class and she is all "I think I have a boyfriend!" It just read as very juvenile for the age group and I almost felt it were more middle grade than young adult.

 

I really liked the whole bit about Katie and Drew having met one another once when they were younger and I really wish that were expanded upon more because it was cute.

 

Overall, this was not a book for me. The storyline is brilliant and as I said before it had a lot of potential, but I felt the problem lay with the actual execution, as well as the characterization.

Shattered Blue (The Light Trilogy #1)
    by: Lauren Bird Horowitz

Publication Date: Sept. 15, 2015
Publisher: Skyscape
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

For Noa and Callum, being together is dangerous, even deadly. From the start, sixteen-year-old Noa senses that the mysterious transfer student to her Monterey boarding school is different. Callum unnerves and intrigues her, and even as she struggles through family tragedy, she’s irresistibly drawn to him. Soon they are bound by his deepest secret: Callum is Fae, banished from another world after a loss hauntingly similar to her own.

But in Noa’s world, Callum needs a special human energy, Light, to survive; his body steals it through touch—or a kiss. And Callum’s not the only Fae on the hunt. When Callum is taken, Noa must decide: Will she sacrifice everything to save him? Even if it means learning their love may not be what she thought?

 

 

I am always down for a good fantasy, so when I saw this one on NetGalley and that it was about fae, I was all in. I was quite intrigued by the different fae and how they are colored- with each color representing a different skill. Based on that alone, I think this book had great potential, but was destroyed by all the things I can't stand in books: insta-love, a love triangle between the 'self sacrificing good guy' and the 'tortured, misunderstood bad boy', and a ton of other clichés that just drove me nuts.

 

Let's start with the characters. Noa has recently lost her older sister Isla, and she has witnessed the deterioration of her family. Her dad throws himself into work, her mom is barely getting by, and her little sister clings to her like she's her lifeline. She meets a mysterious boy at school, who gives her the cold shoulder at first and cringes when she gets near, but she can't help but be inexplicably drawn to him. (Hello, Edward Cullen) Out of nowhere, he decides to show her attention, and then ask her out on a date, in which he ends up trying to cancel because 'they shouldn't be going there'. Sigh. Callum is Fae and humans possess Light, which Fae need to sustain themselves. However, when you take Light from a mortal, it reduces future happiness and takes away moments of joy in their lives. He wants to be with Noa, but can't because he refuses to take any of her Light. Their romance was pretty lackluster for me. I didn't really buy into it, so that made it harder to get behind.

 

Callum has been Banished after an incident trying to keep his younger brother, Judah, out of trouble. Oh, Judah. The 'bad boy' brother is all rough edges and attitude. He and Noa clash to begin with, as she is focused solely on getting Callum back, as he has been taken captive by a ruthless Hunter sent by Callum and Judah's father, to reclaim a ring that Judah has stolen. I just felt the love triangle was completely unnecessary. Callum is the brother that gets everything, where Judah has always felt like the screw up and the one that no one loves. Of course Noa's feelings start to get muddled the more time she spends with Judah because she sees behind his tough exterior, is a fragile boy who craves affection and saves her life. Oh and did I mention Miles, Noa's best friend, who is secretly in love with her too? (I thought I was reading Twilight for a minute, I swear.)

 

There were points I felt the writing was a bit juvenile too. For a fantasy novel, I thought some of the descriptions were a bit over the top and at the end when everything went crazy, I felt it was too chaotic and it was hard to follow along with everything that was happening. There were also too many 'planned' scenes with outcomes. Certain things would become convenient and it was like 'oh, so that's how we're going to justify the triangle'.

 

I loved Noa's younger sister, Sasha. She was a bright spot for me in this one. She was beyond adorable and I loved how she was such a soothing presence. The Fae storyline itself was intriguing too and I thought it would have worked pretty well, had I not had so many other issues. Unfortunately, this one was not for me, but that's not to say it's not worth giving a shot. Some people may be okay with the things I took issue with, and might really enjoy this one.   

 

Reawakened (The Reawakened #1)
    by: Colleen Houck

Publication Date: Aug. 11, 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Physical copy received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 400 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

 

 

I was really looking forward to this book as I adore all things Egyptian mythology! As much as I wanted this one to work for me, it sadly didn't. Reawakened got off to a rather slow start, but then it finally began to pick up. I thought it would be full speed ahead after that, but that was not the case for me.

 

I was bored throughout the novel. There wasn't enough going on to really keep my interest. I really liked the storyline, don't get me wrong. It just lacked the execution I needed. There was entirely too much telling going on and I was tired of hearing all the different tales and myths. Had there been a better blend of telling and showing, I would have been able to get on board. Instead, I found myself groaning every time another explanation came about. We have a 400 page book and I don't feel enough HAPPENED. Part Three was where the action was, and that managed to salvage the book a tiny bit for me. Getting to Part Three, however, was excruciating. I was bored and wanted to stop reading so many times.

 

I also didn't care much for the characters and I HAVE to be invested in them to really enjoy the story. Lily was just an okay heroine. She wasn't anything special to me and I found myself not caring about her or the romance between her and Amon. (If you can call it that.) I understand Amon's reasoning for not allowing a romance to develop, but the constant insecurities from Lily over his rejection drove me a bit nuts.

 

The epilogue was definitely intriguing, but I don't think I will be continuing the series.

Crossing Abby Road (Abby Road #2)
    by: Ophelia London

Publication Date: Mar. 31, 2015
Publisher: Entangled: Embrace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 159 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

Todd Camford went from Marine sniper to owning a beachfront surf shop in Florida, and he couldn’t be happier. Unfortunately, the programming from his training hasn't quite been eliminated. His ex called him an unfeeling cyborg, but he's a free-flying, unfettered hawk, damn it. Relationships are out of the question...

And then she comes into his shop.

Everyone knows who Abigail Kelly is—mega rockstar, tabloid fixture. Still, nothing prepares Todd for Abby's smoky gray eyes or the swift breathlessness of their instant chemistry. He'd be an ass (or possibly insane) to think he can resist her. Just for today, maybe he'll keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't get mobbed. Because really, how much damage could one day with a super-hot, kick-ass celebrity really do?

 

 

It always saddens me when a book by an author I enjoy doesn't end up working for me. Unfortunately this is the case with Crossing Abby Road. Having enjoyed many of Ophelia's other novels, I immediately accepted this one for review. I did not realize this was the same variation of the first book, Abby Road, only in the male POV. I had thought it to be another couple's story, which is why I requested it and read the previous book a few weeks ago. I do not much care for retellings in the male POV, especially of the same story. While the two books are not identical, there wasn't enough of a difference to really grip me and keep me engaged.

 

I did think it was neat how London made this A Day in the Life kind of story with Todd. For the first half, I was enjoying Todd and Abby's banter, but after that I found myself skimming along to the end. I felt like there was so much inner dialogue with Todd and while it was nice to be in his head, I wanted to see him be more proactive. He could be a bit contradictory at times too and it was hard to condone some his decisions after meeting and knowing a girl for only a day.

 

Todd is a good guy though. I appreciated how he handled his family and how he treated Abby. He is protective of her even though they just met, realizing she doesn't want attention drawn to her and he tries to make their time together as normal and casual as possible.

 

Where Abby Road was Beatles themed, this one was all about Frank Sinatra, which I loved. That extra bit really added some more flair to the story. I am all about creative infusions!

 

While this one didn't quite work for me personally, I think I may have enjoyed it more had I not just read Abby Road. Sometimes I need more a gap in between retellings so I can look at the story with fresh eyes.

 

Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain #6)
    by: Kristen Ashley

Publication Date: Feb. 4, 2014
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-galley received via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 416 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

When old friends become new lovers...anything can happen.

Sexy, gifted, and loyal, PI Jacob Decker is a tall, cool drink of perfection who had Emmanuelle Holmes at "hello." His relationship with Emme's best friend kept them apart for years, but things have changed. Now that a case has brought him to Gnaw Bone, Colorado, the road is wide open for Emme and Deck to explore something hotter and deeper than Emme dreamed possible. So why is she sabotaging the best thing that's ever happened to her?

It isn't easy to catch Deck off guard, but Emme does just that when she walks back into his life after nine long years. The curvy brunette had her charms back in the day, but now she's a bona fide knockout . . . and she wants to rekindle their friendship. Deck, however, wants more. Emme's always been the one; she excites Deck's body and mind like no other woman can. But a dark chapter from Emme's past overshadows their future together. Now only Deck can help her turn the page-if she'll let him . . .

 

 

I was very excited to start my first Kristen Ashley book, as I've heard some really great things about them. Unfortunately, I had a lot of issues with this book, so maybe this wasn't the best one to start off with. I'm very picky with my adult romances, as they can be very hit or miss with me. I'm not sure why some just really vibe with me and others don't. Sometimes adult romances feel too flowery and don't have enough angst to get me invested in the characters.

 

I enjoyed Ashley's writing style and I did like the plot of this one. However, the execution of both were what threw me. The dialogue between Deck and Emme was really harsh and choppy. I felt like they talked like country bumpkins, instead of the two intelligent people they are. I kept asking myself, 'Is this really set in Colorado and is this how they talk there?' I also didn't like the constant, two days later...., the next night...., etc. that were used to transition time periods. To me, it was more like, day to day activity, two hours later- have sex, the next day- argue about something, later that night- have more sex.... It just didn't flow well for me at all. It was too long of a story and I felt a lot of the details could have been eradicated to make the story flow better and not have the transitions seem so forced. This took away from the action and suspense of the plot.

 

There are alpha males and then there are dick males. Deck fell into the latter of the two categories and I really didn't like some of the things he did and some of his reactions when it came to Emme. She is a strong individual woman and his protecting and taking care of her came across as belittlement to me. The scene that pops into my mind most is the one where Emme meets Deck's parents for the first time. It does not go very well and all she wants to do is go home and have some time to herself, but Deck refuses to let her go. I wanted to scream at her for letting him dominate her feelings and take away her choices! What would it have taken to let her go regain her composure after having a crap day with a father who is being a douche to her?! No, Deck's reasoning is that she's disconnecting and that's why he won't let her go. There's a difference in disconnecting and just needing some freaking breathing space!

 

This brings me to my next issue. I realize Emme went through a traumatic experience as a child and still feels very conflicted over it and has some displaced feelings, but.... it was all just too creepy for me. Deck feels this event is what keeps her from connecting to people and he isn't wrong, but I just don't like how he dragged it out of her (essentially raging at her). She does get her head squared away and realize the event for what it was and why she has held so many people at arm's length all these years.

 

There wasn't enough build up for me in the romance department. Deck doesn't even recognize Emme at first sight and then it's all, I'm going to make her mine and get her to ditch this guy she's currently seeing because he's bad news.... The 'baby' and 'honey' endearments didn't work for me either. They just felt forced and awkward by how often they were inserted into the dialogue. I also felt the same with how many times Emme refers to Deck as 'nice'. What? She's never met another nice guy in her life? Or was it that she was used to how big of a creeper her current boyfriend was and that he didn't really do anything for her?

 

I did like the symbolism of the kaleidoscope though. It was sweet that Deck kept it with him after all those years, still unconsciously holding on to a girl he thought he lost years ago.

 

I was really disappointed after I was finished with this one. I was so happy when it was over at 91% on my Kindle because I was so bored. I seriously considered DNF'ing this one, but pushed through because I hate not finishing a story and I wanted to see how the suspense part ended. (Quite anticlimactically, I might add). I will have to try another KA book in the future and hope I don't have the same issues I did here.

 

You Make Me (Blurred Lines #1)
    by: Erin McCarthy

Publication Date: Apr. 17, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Xpresso Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 289 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

The guy she wants…

Growing up on the coast of Maine with a revolving door of foster siblings, Caitlyn Michaud spent one intense and passionate year falling in love with her foster brother, Heath. Then he left without a word. The betrayal devastated Caitlyn and made her vow to forget the compelling bad boy. But forgetting his sensual touch and their deep all-consuming friendship is easier said than done.

Isn’t the guy she needs…

Determined to move on, in college Caitlyn has risen above her small town impoverished roots and has joined a sorority, reinvented her appearance, and landed the right boyfriend. Pre-law major and frat president, Ethan, is thoughtful and always laughing, and he makes her feel happy, calm. He also gives her the social acceptance she craves.

But the perfect world she tried so hard to attain is ripped apart when Heath appears one night out of nowhere. Caitlyn remembers all the reasons why she loves him, even if they don’t make sense to anyone but her. Out of the military, Heath is as brooding and intense as ever, and he is determined not only to win her back, but to exact revenge on everyone who kept him from her…

And when one love allows her to breathe, but the other feels as essential to her life as air, how does she choose between them?

 

 

When I first saw this book come up as a review opportunity, I was very intrigued by the premise alone. I am a sucker for a good love triangle, so this definitely piqued my interest. However, I almost don't even consider this a love triangle. I didn't feel there was any doubt as to who the main character would choose, so I felt a bit gypped on that push and pull I like in a love triangle. After reading You Make Me, I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this book. I felt like it had the potential to really make this premise work, but it just fell short for me.

 

What Worked: I really liked the prologue. It's short, but it gives you a brief insight as to how heartbroken this girl is from losing her first love. I think it's haunting and it gives just the right amount of hook to bring you into the story.

 

I also liked the duplicity of Cat's character. Having grown up the way she did- with a mentally ill mother, a disabled father, and a brother,who she now has no association with, Caitlyn has known what it's like to go without. At school, she has transformed herself into someone else: her boyfriend and best friend have no idea about the life she once lived. She is the vice president of her sorority and no longer goes without. One look at her and you would never know she was once a scraggly little girl from the island. Heath knows her as the simple, uninhibited girl she once was and Ethan knows her as the perfectly coiffed, in control girl she is now. Caitlyn has to decide: does she want to be Cat or does she want to continue to be Caitlyn?

 

What Didn't: I wasn't emotionally invested in this story. I feel it was just presented to me and I was told about Caitlyn's life, where I would have rather SEEN it. I would have preferred more in-depth flashbacks as to what Cat's life was like before. I wanted to see more of how her and Heath's relationship developed and I would have even liked to see how her and Ethan got together. This was my biggest issue with the book: the lack of development.

 

When I first read the blurb, I imagined I would be emotionally torn in half trying to decide between the two love interests. I wasn't at all. In fact, I had a hard time liking both of them. Ethan is built up as this great guy who really loves her and wants to spend his life with her, but maybe it's because I didn't get to see their relationship develop and get to where it currently was, I just didn't see that. He becomes extremely jealous over Heath's return and does some things that I would kick a guy's ass for doing. Heath, on the other hand, has a bit of a bad boy persona- more mysterious, gruff- we don't know why he left without any explanation, but now he's back and wants to be with Cat. Having just got out of the Marines, Heath has certainly been affected by what happened over there, which he won't discuss and we never find out about. His anger really bothered me and I was left wondering what Caitlyn saw in either guy because it didn't seem either of them were the right choice. I also didn't like the way Heath handled several things towards the end of the novel: it made him seem deceptive and secretive and I was left wondering if he had an ulterior motive.

 

Caitlyn's character irritated me to no end though. She claims she's made her choice, but after the way she was treated, I don't understand WHY that was her choice. Was it just to continue living the life she was? She also made me doubt her because of how fast she seemed to move on afterwards. I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so I will leave it at that. I don't think she knew what she wanted and she was torn between what she should want and what she really did. I also felt there was an instance towards the end where I seriously wondered if Cat was going to end up being bipolar. Her jealousy throughout the book was bad enough, but the scene to which I'm referring, I feel she seriously went off the deep end.

 

Final Thoughts: This just wasn't for me. Having read tons of New Adult and love triangles done extremely well, this one just missed the mark. I am such a character driven reader and I need to feel emotionally invested in my characters for the book to truly leave a lasting impression. I felt more irritation than anything with this set of characters and I do believe that had there been more development, I may have enjoyed this one a bit more than I did.

Elite (Eagle Elite #1)
  by: Rachel Van Dyken

Publication Date: July 9, 2013
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 322 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

When I won the annual Eagle Elite College Scholarship lottery, I was thrilled. After all, my grandma had just died and I wanted to take care of my aging grandpa -- he couldn't be a farmer in Wyoming forever. And graduating from Eagle Elite meant opportunity.

But I wasn't counting on meeting Nixon.

Nor was I counting on the rules of the Elect.

1. Do not touch The Elect.
2. Do not look at The Elect.
3. Do not speak to The Elect.

And worst of all? Don't discover the secret they hide, because in the end, you may just realize... it's about you.

*This is a New Adult Book, blood, violence, cursing, sexual references, and drug use. Not recommended for those under 17.*

I honestly don't know where to start this review. This book was not at all what I was expecting. And I think that's why I absolutely could not put it down. Yet, as I read, I found myself wanting to throw my Nook across the room in disgust more times than I could count! The storyline was definitely intriguing. I don't think it was entirely believable, but I was entertained all the same. The one thing I could NOT get over however, was the treatment of the main character. It was wrong on so many levels and my heart broke for this poor girl.

Trace has won a scholarship to attend a private college and she is actually quite excited about it. After losing her grandmother, she now lives with her grandfather and she wants nothing more than to be able to take care of him. Attending a school such as this pretty much guarantees a solid future of opportunities. However, Trace never expected the type of people that went there. She isn't faced with over privileged, snobby rich people. She is confronted immediately by rude, outright degradation and shame. Seriously, my mouth dropped open at how vapid these people were. Her 'welcoming' committee is a group of guys, called the Elect, who basically tell her that she is less than nothing and that she will not survive if she doesn't follow their elitist rules. What. the. Hell.

"If an Elect talks to you, never make eye contact. Because, technically you don't exist. You're just a pathetic excuse for a human being, and at this school, you're a real tragedy. You see, while one of the Elect is out running for president and basically ruling the free world, you'll be lucky to be working for one of our companies. You follow the rules, and maybe we'll throw you a bone."

Trace doesn't go through some form of freshmen hazing- this is torture pure and simple. I've got to hand it to her- if this were me, I would have been on the first bus out of there. Yet, she remains and while she's breaking down inside, she does her best to hold it in and not show too much weakness. Things get marginally better when she meets her roommate, Monroe. Monroe happens to be the biggest asshole on the planet's sister. Yet, she is kind and understanding to Trace and tries to help her as much as she can.

I will be honest. I had a feeling biggest dickhole ever (Nixon) would be the love interest and I was literally shaking my head going, "No. There is NO way, I could ever warm up to this guy and like him after the things he said." And then I was left stupefied at how TRACE could ever feel anything romantic towards the guy who has publically humiliated her on more than one occasion and treated her as horribly as he did. I mean, REALLY?

"Trust me, Farm Girl. I don't care how much makeup you put on, or how expensive your clothes may be. I don't even give a rat's ass that half the student body likes you right now. You are charity. I wouldn't even screw you if you paid me. So, the answer is no. And next time you feel like showing up to one of my school's parties, at least have the decency to wear some new shoes."

Nixon's lackeys, Chase and Tex, weren't as bad as I originally thought. After Nixon made that statement, they were the ones, along with Monroe, who walked her back to her dorm. I was sick at this point. Trace felt confident and optimistic heading to that party, as Monroe had helped her get dressed and she was really proud of her shoes, as they were her grandmother's and they were funky vintage. Chase, at least, was sweet enough to buy her a new pair of boots and apologize for what happened the previous night. However, the one thing I learned from reading this is that no one is who they seem to be- betrayal and backstabbing is at every turn, and Chase, while seemingly a good guy, does make a stupid ass decision that had me pissed at him as well.

After being drugged by Phoenix, another Elect member, and carted off to a football player's dorm, Trace must do the walk of shame the next morning, earning her the title of whore and slut. (Thankfully, nothing happened with the football player) While Phoenix was the one who drugged her, Chase was the one who deposited her in the boys' dorm instead of her own. Nixon is furious at this, claiming he had no knowledge of this and that his friends had gone too far. Soon, Nixon becomes a bit more compassionate towards her, protecting her from the teasing and taunting that HE had initially started from that night at the party. After seeing the inscription on the back of her necklace, everything takes a 180. Suddenly, he is sweet and tender, treating her like a princess and that nothing is good enough for her.

This is where the book went in a different direction. I continued reading, not for the 'romance', but because I was genuinely curious about Nixon and his secretive background. Who has that kind of power at school? The Elect is in a league of their own, having their own lunch period, key cards, elevator access, you name it. Once you find out why this is, it's still not believable, but it was interesting to say the least. The story definitely took crazy twists and turns I never saw coming, but I just couldn't get past the horrible way Trace was treated and humiliated. Nixon doesn't even try to excuse his behavior. It's kind of an 'it is what it is' thing and I was seriously irritated. Sure, Chase may have been a dick and dropped her off at some random guy's dorm, which is bad, but not half as bad as verbally abusing and degrading her like Nixon did.

As interesting as the side story was, I don't think I'll be able to continue on with the series, because of my absolute disgust with the way a female was treated and how it seemed to be so easily dismissed, once Nixon discovered who she really was and what she meant to him.

This was my first book by Rachel Van Dyken, but I've heard some great things about some of her other books, so I think I'll give those a try instead.

The Brokenhearted
   by: Amelia Kahaney

Publication Date: Oct. 8, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

A teenage girl is transformed into a reluctant superhero and must balance her old life with the dark secret of who she has become.

Prima ballerina Anthem Fleet is closely guarded by her parents in their penthouse apartment. But when she meets the handsome Gavin at a party on the wrong side of town, she is immediately drawn into his dangerous world. Then, in a tragic accident, Anthem falls to her death. She awakes in an underground lab, with a bionic heart ticking in her chest. As she navigates her new life, she uncovers the sinister truth behind those she trusted the most, and the chilling secret of her family lineage…and her duty to uphold it.

The Dark Knight meets Cinder in this gripping and cinematic story of heartbreak and revenge. From Alloy Entertainment, this inventive new superhero story is sure to captivate any reader. 

 

When I first read the synopsis to this and saw the "Dark Knight meets Cinder" line, I was all like, 'Oh, yeah. I've GOT to read this one!' Unfortunately, as exciting as the blurb makes this book sound, it really fell flat for me and didn't do the blurb justice. I think this book had a lot of potential, but it really didn't deliver with its execution.

Kahaney does a good job of setting up her futuristic, crime-laden world- and I was really intrigued in the beginning. However, I found it wasn't very consistent. I needed more world-building- I wanted to know so much more about how Bedlam City became what it was. How did there come to be a Crime Line that divided the rich and powerful from the South Side, full of criminals and people less fortunate? How did The Hope (a famous vigilante) come to be? We are introduced to a lot of ideas but never received any kind of resolution for them.  The biggest issue I had was the end. It was pretty predictable as to who 'The Boss' was, but how that all worked out is a mystery. There are no details as to how its possible for this person to be 'The Boss' and it was really a 'it is what it is' moment and you have to move on. I wanted details! Tell me how this came to be! I also felt there was more to Regina's story (her dead sister) than was given to us. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but the way she was alluded to made me think that before her death she was part of something big (a potential rebellion?)

Anthem Fleet, is our main character, and I felt no real attachment to her. She is the daughter of Harris and Helene Fleet, and lives in Fleet Tower. They attend charity balls and care about appearances. They believe Anthem and her boyfriend Will are the perfect match (probably because Will's dad is the D.A.) and are focused on their daughter being the epitome of perfection. Anthem feigns illness and gets out of attending a social gala, opting to head to a party with her wild friend Zahra instead. It is here she meets Gavin, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. I honestly didn't expect this story to take such a turn in the romance department, but it did. Gavin and Anthem's relationship is very West Side Story and even though Anthem knows she shouldn't be playing with this kind of fire, she can't help herself. She falls for Gavin WAY too fast and the night she gives herself to him, he ends up being kidnapped by the deadly Syndicate- a well known criminal organization. I couldn't really get on board with Anthem and Gavin's relationship. It was underdeveloped and short-lived and after only knowing this boy for a short amount of time- the lengths she will go to in order to save him seemed really extreme. I get that she feels responsible since his kidnappers demanded ransom before they would release him, but still.

The book takes a sudden turn when Anthem ends up falling to her 'death'. However, she doesn't die- instead she receives a bionic heart and discovers she is faster than ever, has sharper hearing, and has all of these abilities she can do. I don't know- I suppose this was a cool twist? It seemed a bit strange is all. We go from seeing the rich, prima ballerina to a girl with a bionic heart who is determined to get Gavin back. She enlists the help of Ford, the man she was running from when she ended up falling into the river, but who also saved her life by getting her help. Ford is a former boxer, who got tangled up with the higher ups in the Syndicate. I never expected Kahaney to take Ford's character where she did. It seemed kind of sudden and I didn't see the development of the situation coming at all. Ford ends up becoming Anthem's go-to person (aside from Serge, their family's driver). He is the one who convinces her to keep going, even though Anthem's world has fallen apart around her. He is also the person whose help Anthem enlists to train her how to use her newfound gifts. Her goal is to find Rosie, the lead woman who took Gavin, and make her pay for what she's done.

Anthem makes such a transformation in this book. We watch her go from the rich, prima ballerina girl with the 'perfect' boyfriend, to a girl who, after getting tangled up with a boy from the South Side, ends up becoming a machine bent on taking down the people who destroyed Gavin. She becomes relentless, exposing Syndicate thugs working for Rosie and 'The Boss', earning her vigilante status.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me due to the inconsistencies and endless questions I still had. I also feel this kind of novel needed more world building behind it to make it more believable.

Conjured
   by: Sarah Beth Durst

Publication Date: Sept. 3, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 368 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

 

I was first drawn to this book due to the simple, yet striking cover. I thought the heart with pin needles stuck through it was quite intriguing and the title Conjured got me very excited to read about magic! However, the blurb makes it sound a lot more exciting and gripping than it actually was. 150 pages in and I was still left waiting for something spectacular to occur. I found I couldn't connect with any of the characters and I found them to be quite dull and lackluster. The plot, while original and beautifully descriptive, just did not captivate me enough. It took a lot of pushing on my part to keep reading. The story did pick up, but it was very late in the novel before I was actually interested enough to care what would happen to the characters and how this twisted tale would play out. Because it was seriously twisted.

Eve, our main character, is suffering from memory loss. She has no recollection of who she is, where she came from. She just knows she is under the direction of a guy named Malcolm and a woman she calls Aunt Nicki, and she has been placed in the witness protection program. Her safety is their number one priority, but they are also trying to acclimate her by encouraging her to have some sort of semblance of a life. Eve was a difficult character to relate to, because she couldn't even relate to herself. She is literally a blank slate- She has no memories, only visions of scenes she doesn't understand. She ends up taking a job at a library, another safe haven, which will hopefully help her adjust to her new identity. It is here she meets Zach, the quirky but sweet boy who ends up being a source of strength for Eve.

"Allergies? I'm allergic to cats. Not cats themselves, per se. Hairless cats are fine. It's the cat dandruff, caught in the fur. Need serious anti-cat-dandruff shampoo." His hair had slid over his eyes as he talked; he shook it back and smiled at her. "Glad you didn't freak out when I said I want to kiss you. I'll wait for an invitation, of course, but I believe in being up front about these kinds of things. Prevents misunderstandings later. I don't want you thinking that we can ever just be friends. Unless it's friends with benefits." (e-ARC 28)

I supposed I liked Zach's character. He was quirky and strange with his babbling, which Eve ended up liking. However, after kissing Eve for the first time and realize that they're flying due to her magic, he doesn't freak out or act like she's some kind of freak herself. The way Zach handles her having magic just wasn't very believable. After he learns how Eve's magic works, it almost seems like he wants to kiss her to make magic, not because he truly has feelings for her. However, as the book wears on and we see the choices Zach makes, I felt that if he didn't have feelings for her, he would not have made those decisions or put himself on the line for her safety.

However, getting a new job isn't the only thing in the cards for Eve. Malcolm brings her to the office so she can interact with some other kids her age, who have magic. Aidan, Topher, and Victoria seem nice enough- until they begin testing her to see what she can do with her magic. It is after their encounter we discover that Eve's visions and memory loss are tied to her using her magic. This is where I really began to feel for Eve. She is starting to make new memories and associations and then she has time ripped away from her, where she doesn't remember her own actions or what she was doing. I did not care for Aidan, Topher, or Victoria. They were not developed enough and what we did see of them wasn't anything to write home about. They were vindictive and only had their own agenda to consider. Victoria and Topher do not play as a great a role as Aidan does, however. After a blackout, Aidan shows Eve affection and I groaned at the thought of there being a love triangle. Aidan is the gorgeous, bad boy who oozes confidence and sexuality, where Zach is the nerdy kid who works in the library. Luckily, Eve's relationship with both boys did not take the love triangle route. Aidan's affection for Eve is only there to serve a higher purpose.

Malcolm is my favorite of the two agents. He really cares about Eve and wants what is best for her. He does not want his superiors pushing her to remember and access her past memories. He wants her to be able to remember them on her own in hopes it won't be too overwhelming for her. However, the agency is on a timetable. Eve's memories are the key to stopping a serial killer from killing more innocent kids. The more Eve uses her magic and blacks out, the more likely she is to remember her visions. Aunt Nicki was a complete bitch. She was rude to Eve and clearly did not want to be the one to baby-sit her and take care of her.

As I said earlier, it wasn't until the last part of the book where things actually picked up and I was interested. Seeing Eve put together the pieces of her visions/memories, finding out who the serial killer was, and discovering the true nature of Eve as a whole (Which, I'll be honest- I never saw coming.) managed to perk me up enough to push through to the end. I kept hoping Eve would end up developing her own personality, but that wasn't something I really saw occur. After discovering her true nature, she just gave up. It is Zach, who is the one to encourage her to fight and remind her of all the things he liked about her.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me. Lackluster characters, lack of character development, and a slow moving plot were all negatives for me, though I did think Durst has a beautiful writing style and her descriptions were very well done, especially of Eve's scrambled visions. While I would not personally recommend this one, it is certainly one you would have to gauge for yourself.

The Impact of You
   by: Kendall Ryan

Publication Date: June 7, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: Purchased for Nook
Page Count: 324 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2 /5 stars

Needing an escape from her past, Avery chooses a college where no one knows her. Keeping a low profile was the plan, falling for the intense frat boy, Jase wasn’t. Yet she can’t deny how alive she feels when he’s near. Even as common sense implores her to stay away, her body begs her to get closer.

Jase, numb from his own family drama, has grown bored with weekends fueled by nameless girls and countless bottles when he meets Avery. Helping her cope with her past is better than dealing with the bullshit his own life’s served up. Determined to drive away the painful secret she’s guarding, he appoints himself her life coach, and challenges her to new experiences. Getting close to her and being the one to make her smile are simply perks of the job.

But when Avery’s past boldly saunters in, refusing to be forgotten, can Jase live with the truth about the girl he’s fallen for?

Recommended for 17+ due to mature themes and sexual content.

                                                          -goodreads.com description

I seriously want to cry right now! I was so looking forward to this book! It was even one of my Waiting on Wednesdays! Unfortunately, I had so many issues with this book and things I didn't like. While I wasn't miserable reading it, I definitely did not enjoy it like I thought I was going to. I didn't care for the main characters and I definitely felt the plot was way too reminiscent of J. Lynn's Wait For You. I tried to get past that, but I couldn't as it turns out.

As I said, I didn't care for our main characters Avery and Jase and I really tried to. Avery was just a bland character in my opinion. She doesn't do the party scene and only ends up at Jase's fraternity party because of her two best friends. They want her to come out of her shell, but clearly warn her that Jase Owens is trouble. Avery comes across as naive at times and just didn't have a very strong voice in the novel.

Jase, on the other hand, I could not stand. He's your typical popular frat guy who has a reputation for sleeping around and being a player. However, after a family incident, he is reformed and now has his sights set on Avery. I thought I would grow to like Jase's character as the book wore on, but no such luck. In fact, I think I disliked him more and more as the book went on. Avery has a past that she has not felt comfortable opening up to him about, even after he confides in her about some of his family skeletons, and once he finds out he blows it way out of proportion. I understand he is hurt because he had to find out from someone other than her and he feels manipulated, but dude. You do NOT go and tell the girl's best friend her secret. SMH.

If he was really interested in having a relationship with Avery, he needed to set the record straight from the beginning with his ex-girlfriend/screw buddy, Stacia. Stacia is a leech. She latches on to Jase and while he 'pushes her away', it doesn't really help matters because she still comes around and flaunts herself in front of him and Avery. Not to mention Jase makes a BIG mistake while he was off being a baby about finding out Avery's secret , that I probably wouldn't have forgiven. Nope. This guy did not do it for me. Sure, him and Avery had some steamy scenes, and even had some sweet ones, where he wanted to take care of, but other than that, I just didn't feel the genuineness of their feelings for one another.

Again, this was just way too reminiscent of J.Lynn's Wait For You- shy girl with a past is afraid to break out of her shell socially, emotionally, and sexually and the notorious reformed playboy swoops in determined to make her fall in love with him. While it worked for J.Lynn, I don't felt it worked here.

This is the first book by Kendall Ryan I have read, and I doubt it will be the last- this particular book just didn't work for me, sadly. Had I liked the characters a bit more, I probably would have rated this a bit higher.

Protector (Magio-Earth #1)
   by: Joanne Wadsworth

Publication Date: Jan. 7, 2013
Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-book received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review
Page Count: 210 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N| iTunes| Kobo
My Rating: 2/5 stars

Book One in the Magio-Earth series.

To love and protect…across worlds.

Eighteen-year-old Faith Stryker is prepared to leap out into the unknown world beyond her home shores of New Zealand to experience life. Only she never expected to encounter Magio, a planet with two warring countries, where its people reach adulthood at eighteen by coming into their strength and prophetic abilities. Only after Faith discovers she’s a Halfling--thanks to her warrior father she’s never met--does her own skill of forethought develop.

Peacio’s Prince Davio Loveria is sent to the young Faith Stryker by his grandfather, but not all goes as planned. Davio discovers Faith isn’t just a Halfling, she’s also his soul-bound mate--an intense relationship he cannot, nor will not, give up.

With two wars now waging…one of land and the other of the heart…can the young lovers find their place in the world?

                                                                         -goodreads.com description


I received this from the author and was really intrigued by the synopsis. I love when the real world collides with a magical/fantastical one. Our main character is a girl living in New Zealand, attending classes with her best friends. However, Faith (our main character) can communicate with her friend Belle, telepathically. Her best friend, Silvie, whom she's grown up with, is aware the two can communicate like that and is completely comfortable with that knowledge. (Which I thought to be a bit strange.)

I think my biggest issue with this book was the way the world building was handled. It felt like we were introduced to these characters right away and they were completely comfortable with the fact that there is another planet called Magio. Faith acts like she doesn't believe in any of this until a new student shows up, who happens to be the prince of Peacio (one of the ruling lands in Magio), Davio. It just did not seem very believable to me. One minute Faith is in denial saying there's no such place and then the next she's like 'Ok, I guess this is real after all'. There is quite a bit of info-dumping as well in this book and I am not a fan of that. I would have rather been given the information more gradually, and not so much via the characters and dialogue. I would have preferred to be shown a lot of what the characters told me. The dialogue was also a bit strange- it was a bit more mature and at times archaic for how 18 year olds would speak.

I found Faith a bit hard to relate to as well. She did a lot of flip-flopping with her emotions. I understand the back and forth with Davio (though it did annoy me). They fell into a bit of a pattern: fight, make up, fight, make up, fight some more. It really made it difficult to believe in them as a soul-bound couple. Even when they weren't fighting, it just wasn't quite believable that they were in love with one another. Faith also is back and forth with her friends and her family, which really made me doubt a lot of her choices and genuineness.

My favorite character was Silas, Davio's cousin. He is introduced a bit later in the book and I like that he keeps Faith on her toes. He is bound to protect his Prince from outside threats and himself. I'm glad to see that the next book in the series will focus on him.

I really liked the idea of the world of Magio and that there were two kingdoms at war with one another- Dralion and Peacio. This ends up playing a vital role in the book and again, I wish we were shown more of these two places to explain their significance.

Overall, the plot was intriguing, but the story lacked the necessary execution to make it what I would have liked.

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)
    By: Jennifer Estep

Publication Date: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: K-Teen
Genre: Fantasy/Mythology
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Borrowed from Library
Page Count: 350 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy; a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why; especially since I should have been the one who died...

                      -goodreads.com description

I have to be honest... this book just didn't do it for me. It was very difficult to get into and I just found it to be a slow read. In fact, I caught myself skimming through alot of pages, not reading every detail like I usually do with a book that catches my attention.

Alot of the scenes I felt were dragged on way too long and we had way too much time in the main character, Gwen's head.

I found Gwen to be irritating and I couldn't relate to her at all. Logan, the Spartan she has feelings for, runs hot and cold, and ends the book as a douche with a capital D.

The story line had a lot of potential, as I really like reading about Norse mythology.

I am on the hold list for the second book in this series, and I will give it a shot in hopes the series gets better.

Nevermore (Nevermore #1)
     by: Kelly Creagh

Publication Date: Aug. 31, 2010
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Genre: Fantasy/ Paranormal
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Borrowed from Library
Page Count: 543 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

                   -goodreads.com description

I wanted to like this book. I really did....  It reminded me alot of the Vampire Diaries though. Isobel reminds me of Elena (just less of a bitch), and Varen reminds me of Damen. I didn't care for TVD, either. I wasn't miserable reading these books, but the magic wasn't there.


I don't know what exactly it was, but I just didn't find myself falling in love with the characters.

I like how Isobel stood up for Varen, but he just didn't do it for me. He just wasn't a very likeable character.

I think I'll wait for its sequel to come to my library instead of purchasing the sequel, "Enshadowed".