Bounce (Boomerang #3)
    by: Noelle August

Publication Date: Aug. 25, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3/5 stars

Playing the occasional club gig just isn’t cutting it for twenty-two-year-old cellist Skyler Canby, who’s trying to support herself and her mother back home in Kentucky. Persuaded by her best friend Beth to accompany her on an audition for the first feature film launched by Blackwood Entertainment, she figures why not? Beth’s a shoe-in for the lead, but maybe Skyler’s newly dyed pink hair will help her stand out enough to score a small speaking part.

Never in her wildest dreams does Skyler imagine she’ll land the lead role or that she’ll have her shoes knocked off her feet by the kiss her audition partner, Grey Blackwood, plants on her—a kiss that feels very real and not at all “acted. ”

After throwing a party that causes thousands of dollars of damage to his older brother’s home, reckless musician Grey Blackwood gets roped into working off his debt on the set of his CEO brother’s newest project. Grey spends his days fetching coffee and doing odd jobs around the studio, but he lives for nights when he performs with his band. He knows if he can stay focused, success as a singer is just around the corner. But that’s tough with a distracting pink-haired girl occupying his every waking thought.

Skyler and Grey have every reason to resist each other. But, like a song neither of them can get out of their minds, they have no choice but to go where the music takes them.

 

 

I have been looking forward to Grey's book ever since finishing his older brother Adam's in Rebound. I thought it would be my favorite of the series, as I couldn't wait to unlock what was going on in Grey's head and find out what happened between him and his stepmom. Sadly, this book ended up being my least favorite of all three. I LOVED Grey and I liked his storyline, but I had a real problem with the romance in this one.

 

I am sad that I didn't love the romance more. I really liked where Sky and Grey were going in the beginning and then it just dissipated into love triangle drama and 'he's too young for me' melodrama. From their very first scorching hot kiss, it's evident Grey and Sky have chemistry. However, Sky gets hung up on Grey's age and his lack of stability in his life. It's not that I don't get where she's coming from, I do. I'd probably feel the same way. But, I would at least give the guy a chance before throwing him into the friend zone. She thinks she should be with someone like Brooks, Adam's friend and director of the movie they are making. He is her age, successful, and driven. I wouldn't have minded the Brooks storyline if it served a purpose. I don't feel it did. Being with Brooks doesn't trigger that 'Grey is the one for me, he is the one I need' mentality. Instead, I felt like it was used as filler and I didn't like how it made Sky treat Grey at all. She likes Brooks and we never hear or see her say otherwise. She doesn't explain that Brooks isn't the one to make her feel like Grey does, etc. It ultimately came down to her craving Grey and the freedom and strength he offered (his 'freedom' and lack of stability were what made her pull away in the first place!)

 

I did like that Sky and Grey established a friendship first. I just didn't like that she had to seek an alternative in Brooks. They do have a few sexy scenes together so that helped make up for the hole I felt for the majority of the book of these two not being together.

 

Now to play devil's advocate on my own thoughts. This is a new adult book, which typically signifies a coming of age, coming into your own story where the characters don't have it all together. Sky has some family issues of her own and I get why she shies away from Grey. Having an absentee musician father who has left her mother at home to deal with all the expenses of running a farm is not something she can just put out of her mind. I think deep down she is fearful of Grey because she doesn't want to follow in her mom's footsteps and be hurt by someone who makes all the promises in the world and then never follows through on them. She tries to seek that stability in Brooks and while I might not like that, I do understand it. She's trying to figure things out just as much as Grey is.

 

Grey was such a good guy. Sure, he might not have it all together and may come across as reckless, but he has a deep love for music and wants to be successful there. Yes, he had some growing up to do and we get to see that, but he also had some deeply rooted issues to work through that would eventually propel him to that point. I loved seeing him start to figure everything out and work through what was holding him back.

 

Upon finishing I was left feeling a bit unresolved on the Brooks-Skyler issue as well as whether or not she would pursue acting as a career or if she would go back to her music. The end is left a bit open on her future career and while it was fine, I personally would have preferred to at least see the direction she intended to go. I did feel the series ended on a high note for all of the couples and while I wasn't crazy about the romance here, I was happy to see Grey and Sky finally get together.

 

Boomerang (Boomerang #1)
   by: Noelle August

Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The first book in a sensational New Adult trilogy from Noelle August

Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?

 

 

I had heard such good things about this one so I can hardly believe I waited as long as I did to start it! I really liked this one! It was cute, sweet, and a lot of fun. I loved the chemistry and banter between Ethan and Mia and I felt like I was going to scream because of all the tension!

 

Ethan and Mia find themselves in quite the pickle, as they have just woken up together after a drunken night that neither remembers very clearly. Strapped for time, the two are in a rush to get to their new internships, which happen to be at the same building... and at the same company. Things get even more complicated as they find out they are competing for a position at the company and there is a strict no dating policy among employees. Even with their attraction to one another, both Mia and Ethan want the job so they will have to put any lingering feelings on the backburner. Of course, this is easier said than done. Mia and Ethan have such great banter and I love how well they play off of one another. There were points where I was so frustrated with Ethan though because I didn't like seeing Mia get hurt by his unwillingness to be honest with her and himself.

 

Boomerang is the new, hip online dating company and not only can Mia and Ethan not date one another due to the rules, but they are also 'encouraged' to take advantage of the dating service themselves. One thing leads to another, ex-girlfriends get involved, hearts get broken, shenanigans ensue... It definitely makes for a fun ride and I loved seeing Ethan finally reach that moment where he realized he really cared for Mia and wanted to be with her, damn the consequences.

 

I really enjoyed seeing Mia's eccentric family. They are an important part of her life, especially her Nan, whom she admires very much. We don't get as much time with Ethan's family, but they were also really fun to see if only briefly. I also really enjoyed Ethan's roommate Jason and his girlfriend Isis. While the side characters didn't play huge roles, I felt they were still important enough, as they are a part of Ethan and Mia's lives.

 

I can't wait to read Adam and Alison's story next. Both are characters we saw here, so it will be interesting to see how they come together as a couple!

 

 

 

Rebound (Boomerang #2)
   by: Noelle August

Publication Date: Feb. 10, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 288 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Hooking up is only the beginning of the fun in this sexy and irresistible second installment of the thrilling New Adult series, Boomerang.

Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-two, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of the heap in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and knocks the tech wunderkind down, throwing his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, into chaos.

Three years ago, Adam married his high school love—and then lost her in a tragic accident. Now, the heartbreak and guilt he’s tried to bury with work and women begins to take over his life.

Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. She’s got one chance to prove to her father that she deserves a place in his empire by grabbing control of Boomerang and taking Adam down.

But as Alison moves in on him, armed with a cadre of lawyers and accountants, she discovers there’s much more to Adam and Boomerang than meets the eye. Will earning her father’s approval come at the price of losing her first real love? It appears so, unless Adam can forgive her for wrecking his life and trying to steal his livelihood. But Alison hopes that old adage is right. Maybe love can conquer all.

 

 

 

I am LOVING this series so much! It's fun and cute and I just love the way these two ladies write! I really enjoyed reading Alison and Adam's story, even though once again I thought I'd die from the tension! I just wanted them together! I love how real and vulnerable these two are upon first meeting at Mia's Halloween party. Both are masked so they don't know who the other is, but there's a freedom in that anonymity and it really gives us a glimpse early on of who these characters are. I loved that.

 

Once they discover each other's true identities, they are forced to take a step back and maintain some distance, as Alison will be working closely with Adam to determine if his company is worth her father's investment money. I did NOT like Alison's father at all. He just rubbed me the wrong way and I didn't like the power he held over Alison, making her feel like she needed to get back in his good graces for having made some mistakes in college. Things escalate in this department, as Alison's father begins bugging her to find out more about Adam, when it's clear he's hiding something big that he doesn't wish to reveal.

 

The conflict in this one was pretty predictable, but that didn't bother me too much. The one thing that did however, was the fact that Adam and Alison's resolution of this conflict happened kind of out of the blue. I even went back and reread a few pages because I thought I missed something. They are on the outs with one another and then all of a sudden Adam is over it and I guess I just missed that going from point A to point B.

 

I did like seeing the Boomerang crew and that we got to see Mia and Ethan happy and together. I am glad things weren't awful between them and Alison. Alison actually wasn't the cold-hearted, ice queen that Ethan portrayed her to be and I genuinely liked her in this book. Sure, she should have told her dad what was up long before she did, but oh well.

 

The Adam and Alison scenes were just so wonderful in this book. I loved how peaceful they were together and that they genuinely enjoyed one another's company. They really learn a lot about one another just from their reactions and how they light up when talking about things they love.

 

I am excited for Adam's brother's book next. We meet Grey here and he is a wild child who likes to raise some hell. It will be fun to see who they match him up with!

 

If you're in the mood for some fun, sweet, and cute New Adult reads, definitely pick this series up. I am kicking myself for not reading them sooner!

 

Rebound

by Noelle August

New Adult

Contemporary Romance

 

At Boomerang, one night can change everything....

 
Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-two, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of his game in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and threatens to knock the tech wunderkind down and throw his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, into chaos.

Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. After nearly flunking out in her senior year of college, she has one chance to redeem herself to her father by proving that she deserves a place in his corporate empire. That means spearheading her father’s plan to sink big money into Adam’s company and launch it into the stratosphere—provided Adam has no skeletons in his closet.

When the two meet, their sizzling chemistry makes it tough to keep things strictly professional. But when Alison discovers Adam’s secret, she knows she should bring it right to her father, who’ll leverage it for his own gain and use it to ruin Adam. The only problem: she’s falling for Adam—hard.

Will earning her father’s approval come at the price of losing her first real love? Or can Adam and Alison leave behind past mistakes and conquer the world—together?

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Question: What do you get when friends pen a story with heart, plenty of laughs, and toe-curling kissing scenes?

Answer: Noelle August, the pseudonym for renowned editor and award-winning writer Lorin Oberweger and New York Times bestselling YA author Veronica Rossi, the masterminds behind Boomerang. You can visit them at NoelleAugust.com, @Noelle_August,

and facebook.com/NoelleAugustBooks.

Welcome to BOOMERANG, the hottest startup in the coolest city: Los Angeles, CA. Why? Because it’s about no-strings, no-fuss relationships for those on the rebound and those who crave connection without all the baggage of long-term promises. While it’s THE dating site for the millennial gen, their offices are even steamier than the hook-ups the website produces.

But that buzz is fading as Boomerang struggles to grow, the solution? Find two brilliant interns and give them a crack at turning this ship back to shore.

Enter MIA GALLIANO and ETHAN VANCE. These young strangers—Mia an aspiring filmmaker, and Ethan at the end of a collegiate sports career—are both bright and motivated. And for very different reasons, although they’re both hungry and way up for the challenge.

But things go wrong from day one. For one thing, Ethan and Mia aren’t strangers. The night before their stint at Boomerang begins, Ethan and Mia meet at a bar and fall into bed together. Or so they think. They’re both hazy on the details. They just know it’s aaaawkward when they share a post hookup taxi…to the same place.

Will the competition get to them, or do they have a future together?