The Reading Realm

{Review} Five Ways To Fall by K.A. Tucker

1
COM

Title: Five Ways To Fall

Series: Ten Tiny Breaths #4

Author: K.A. Tucker

Published: 24th June 2014

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: Purchased

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.

Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s ready to lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.

If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking…

A Feisty Heroine, Smart & Witty Hero And A Story Infused With Humour, Drama And Plenty Of Sexual Tension!

REVIEW:

The story:

Reece is the ultimate wild child. Growing up with a mother too busy keeping up appearances rather than noticing who her daughter really is, Reece lives her life by her own rules. She's always said and done whatever she likes, without giving a damn about the consequences. But after trashing her ex husbands apartment after discovering he'd cheated on her, it's time for Reece to make some changes in her life. Her step father helps her get out of trouble with the police, but now he expects her to work as a para legal at his law firm. After one last crazy night of fun, Reece & her friends party it up in Cancun. But Reece's night ends; naked, with one sexy stranger named Ben & a red t-shirt with green puke on it - an absolutely embarrassing disaster!!

After a devastating knee injury ended his promising football career, Ben's turns his attention to becoming a lawyer. Landing a job at a law firm is exactly what he's been aiming towards, but his boss's step daughter Reece was certainly not what he expected. Ben wastes no time teasing Reece about their ill fated night in Cancun, and soon the unlikely pairing become good friends. But as their attraction grows, and the lines of friendship blur, will people from their past ruin their chance of a future?

The characters:

Reece is one hell of a spitfire! In many ways she's quite immature, not caring who she hurts, as long as she gets what she wants. But living with her step dad and spending time with Ben, teaches her a lot. And it was great seeing Reece finally take on some responsibilities and show some passion towards something positive for the first time in her life.

Ben is such an arrogant little player, but somehow I couldn't help but like him. I think it had something to do with his relationship with his Mum - yes he's a Mama's Boy *swoon* Despite he's fun and joking personality, Ben has had a rough life, with a worthless father and very little help from his siblings. But I loved that he didn't use this as an excuse to give up on life, instead he used it as inspiration to make a further for himself.

I also have to make mention of Reece's step father who has done so much for her despite her mother cheating on him many years ago - he's a true hero! And also her step brother Mason, I know he could be a little annoying sometimes, but I just loved his awkward nerdiness - call me crazy, but I just love me a sweet nerd boy ;)

The romance:

After a rather awkward beginning, Reece and Ben's romance developed surpassingly slowy - in a good way. With Ben not wanting to risk his job with an off limits office relationship with his boss's step daughter, they start out as friends first. But there was never really a doubt that these two were going to get it on eventually - the sexual tension between them was evident to everyone! The banter between these two was absolutely hilarious and just built the tension between them to the point of explosion!

The writing:

Tucker has a wonderful knack for creating such strong emotional stories, that also have a lightness to them. Her character's dialogue brings humour, sarcasm and plenty of laughs to lighten the mood and keep the story moving.

FINAL WORD:

Five Ways To Fall is fabulous story with a feisty heroine, smart & witty hero and story infused with humour, drama and plenty of sexual tension!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: medium / sex scenes

Violence: medium / description of bloody accident

Language: medium-strong / frequent f words

Drugs & alcohol: medium-strong / alcoholism

Have you read this series?

Are you a fan of 'The Player" hero?

{ARC Review} Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch

5
COM

Title: Perfected

Author: Kate Jarvik Birch

Published: 1st July 2014

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Dystopian

Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review

Rating: 3/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

I was bred to be the perfect pet. I was bred for my beauty and grace, to be a showpiece, an ornament to sit upon the couch, to sing, to dance, to play the piano and paint. I was bred to willingly put my owner's happiness before my own.

Until Penn. The handsome and rebellious son of the congressman who owns me, he's the only person who's seen past my perfect exterior to the girl underneath. Falling for him is forbidden. Falling for him is freeing.

But there's a dark underworld lurking beneath my pampered life. The only thing more dangerous than staying with Penn's family is escaping it, because if I fail, I face a fate far worse than death...

Interesting & Unique Concept, But Lacked Emotional Depth

REVIEW:

The story:

This is such an interesting an unique concept, with young girls being bred as 'pets' for wealthy 'owners'. It's a premise that had a lot of potential, but sadly it didn't live up to my expectations.

After being 'purchased' as a 'pet', she moves into her new home with the family. To Ella her new home seems perfect; new clothes, a beautiful bedroom and access to basically anything she wants. As she gets to know her family, it's their son that intrigues her the most and has her wishing for a future she's been taught is never possible - it's her job to make her owners happy - her feeling mean nothing. Penn is the only one who treats her as an actual person and not property or toy to be played with.

The idea of these girls being bred as pets is obviously ethically wrong and quite disturbing, but what happens to them isn't all that bad in comparison to characters in other dystopian worlds. Basically they just have to sit around in expensive dresses looking pretty and occasionally play an instrument or sing. They aren't slaves - they are literally treated like a well loved dog - which is of course wrong and extremely weird, but it didn't really evoke the kind of anger I'm used to feeling with a dystopian world. I mean obviously it's extremely wrong keeping a person as a pet, but I wanted to see something more extreme. Everything that happened seemed watered down and it was all rather...bland MAJORLY CREEPY, but bland.

I also found it difficult to understand what the benefit of these 'pets' were. They don't really do anything, they don't have to cook or clean, and Ella only occasionally plays the piano for her 'owner' (yeah that word is weird). The only mention of what the owners get out of it, is a 'status symbol' of their wealth, but surely there are better & less weird ways than owning a person as their pet, I just don't get how it's appealing to these wealthy people - especially the wives?!

The characters:

Ella is extremely naive to the ways of the world because of her upbringing in the 'kennels' where she was trained to be a pet. She can play the piano perfectly and has impeccably manners, but can't read, swim and doesn't understand was sex is - she's never even heard of a kiss! Because of this, she's quite gullible at first, but starts to realise that things may not be the way she's always been told. I did enjoy seeing her grow and realise she might be able to think for herself and have a real future

Penn was a cardboard cutout character. He's hot (of course), can play the guitar and has an eclectic taste in music, which leads him to be completely misunderstood by his parents. But that's really it. I couldn't picture him in my head and I just could connect with him on an emotional level.

The romance:

Ella & Penn's romance was rather empty. At first Penn doesn't like her because he doesn't like the idea of pets, but he comes around to her quickly. I did enjoyed seeing him treat her like she was a regular girl and not a pet. It really highlighted how differently everyone else treated her. But I didn't really feel the connection between them. Despite that I did think their first kiss was adorable, where he shows her what a kiss is - so sweet!

The writing:

The overall feeling of this book was very cold and clinical. The entire book lacked any emotion and as a result I felt very detached from the characters and their story. There was a small amount of mystery surrounding what happened to the family's previous 'pet', with 'subtle' clues being dropped. But those clues where about as subtle as a smack in the face and most people will work out what happened very early on. It was very slow to build and it's not until the very end of the book that any real action takes place. This was the most exciting part of the whole book and I really enjoyed the last 15% of it. It left me asking where all this excitement was in the rest of book?!

FINAL WORD:

Unfortunately this story and the emotionless writing style just didn't work for me. While the premise of the book was really interesting I just couldn't get invested into the character's story enough. The ending is what saved it for me, it grabbed my attention and has me intrigued for a sequel. I just hope that it will continue on with the excitement from the last few chapters.

CONTENT:

Sexuality: medium / some kissing, discussions of sex, pregnancy & 'spaying' human pets

Violence: mild / some minor gun violence

Language: very mild/ occasional sh*t, no f words

Drugs & alcohol: mild

{Cover Reveal} Wild by Sophie Jordan

0
COM

Title: Wild

Series: The Ivy Chronicles #3

Author: Sophie Jordan

Category: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 18th Nov, 2014

GOODREADS

BLURB:

A good girl goes bad in the third and final book in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s sexy New Adult romance series—where three Ivy League suite-mates testing their boundaries as they seek higher knowledge of just how far they can go.

Months after her boyfriend dumped her, Georgia can still hear the insults he hurled at her. Boring. Predictable. Tame. Tired of feeling bad, she’s ready to change her image, and go a little wild. What better way to prove her ex wrong than a hot night of adventure at the secret campus kink club?

In the shadowy den of the club, she unexpectedly runs into Logan Mulvaney, her friend’s little brother. A player extraordinaire too hot for his own good, he may be younger, but the guy is light years ahead when it comes to the opposite sex. Now he’s telling her to go home-”good girls” don’t belong here!

Georgia is tired of having others define her. She’s going to teach Logan a lesson he won’t forget-one white hot, mind-wrecking kiss . . . that leads to another . . . and another . . . and. . . . Realizing she’s way in over her head, Georgia runs.

Only Logan won’t let her go. Everywhere she goes he’s there, making her want every inch of him. Making her forget who she is. Who he is. And just how wrong they are for each other.

{Review} Winning The Player by Leesa Bow

0
COM

Title: Winning The Player

Author: Leesa Bow

Published: 14th April 2014

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

When injury destroyed her dream of playing college basketball, Aubree Taylor fled overseas. Now she's finally home again and ready to move on with her life. Until she runs into Hunter Stone on her first night out, the only guy who's ever meant anything to her – and the last person she wants to see.

Since she ran out on him two years ago, Hunter hasn't been able to get Aubree off his mind. The sexy football star has had girls all over him for years, but Aubree is the only one to have ever seen behind the cocky persona he puts on for the crowd.

Despite her attempts to keep her distance, Aubree is unable to resist the strong attraction between them and it isn't long before they fall into a passionate relationship. She has never been afraid of a challenge, but Hunter's arrogance and inablity to trust are testing her to her limits. Aubree must decide whether to follow her heart and lower her guard…or risk losing the best thing that's ever happened to her.

Fun, Sexy And Overall Very Entertaining!

First of all I'd like to point out that although this story is about an AFL player (Australian Football League), no knowledge of the game is required. I should know since, I must admit I've never watched a match in it's entirety. In my defence I am from NSW, the heartland of NRL (National Rugby League - GO DRAGONS!!!). So for me to say I enjoyed a book about an AFL player - well that's saying something!

REVIEW:

The story:

For the past two years Aubree has been travelling overseas, trying to come to terms with the fact that her once hopeful dreams of becoming a professional basketballer were crushed with a divesting knee injury. Now back in Adelaide, she's starting to find her feet again with the help of her best friend Maddy. One thing she hadn't been looking forward to was running into Maddy's cousin and famous football player, Hunter. He's even sexier than she remembers and just as self assured as ever.

After running out on him two years ago, Aubree wants nothing more than to avoid his intense stares. He sees too much and makes her feel things she's never felt before. But how long can Aubree ignore the powerful attraction between them?

The characters:

Aubree was a very relatable character, she's struggling with the massive change in her future and is feeling so lost and confused as to what she wants to do with her life. I think most people can relate to that feeling, and seeing Aubree going through the stages of getting her life back on track was really rewarding.

It took me a while to warm to Hunter. He's a player, that's no secret, and he's had more than his fair share of women. But it took a while to actually see past all that Alpha-Male-Sports-Guy stuff to the real man underneath. That was the Hunter that I liked and wanted to see more of - but I guess that's a very personal thing, as I'm not really a bad boy type of girl.

The romance:

There was lots of sexual tension between these two, especially since Aubree tried to deny her attraction to Hunter. What I really enjoyed about the romance, was that Aubree wasn't willing to settle for being another notch on Hunter's belt. I liked that she made him work for her trust and didn't just hand over her heart. Hunter has most certainly played the field and I think it was important to see him prove that Aubree was more than just one of his sports groupies.

The writing:

I really enjoyed the youthful and very natural writing in this story. The use of the Twitter updates, was really creative and such a natural way of venting the characters feelings. They'd tweet inspirational quotes with double meanings about the things gong on in their lives. Sharing their thoughts on social media is something that a lot of readers will relate to.

FINAL WORD:

I'm always excited to read a book by an Aussie author, and I loved that it was actually set in Australia, and had that Aussie atmosphere throughout! Fun, sexy and overall very entertaining!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: medium / some sex scenes

Violence: very mild

Language: medium / several f words etc

Drugs & alcohol: medium / several scenes in bars

{Cover Reveal +GIVEAWAY} Be My December by Rachel Brookes

0
COM

Title: Be My December

Author: Rachel Brookes

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 31, 2014

GOODREADS

BLURB:

I knew the exact moment I’d become a ‘yes’ girl.
December 16th, a cold winter’s night, four years ago.
The night my innocence was stolen, the night I made the mistake of saying no—a mistake I’d never make again.
The dream of a ‘happily ever after' was now a locked away myth. I promised myself that I’d never return to the place of my worst nightmare, that I’d never let anyone get close, but then again, I never thought I’d meet someone like him.
The intense, confident and beautiful Ky Crawford.

I had no plans to become someone’s Prince Charming.
I couldn’t be. I refused to be. My plan was simple—do whatever it takes to correct my biggest mistake, my one regret that now controlled my life.
I was on track. I had plans, but then everything changed when I saw her—the girl in the red jacket, the girl who I was told couldn’t say no.
The reserved yet stunning Eden Rivers.

A girl who can’t say no.
A guy who craves redemption.
A chance encounter?

It all comes down to this.
One question.
One month.

Be My December?

EXCERPT:

Everything happened so quickly. My hand encased hers, entwining our fingers in a protective move I couldn’t put into words. I didn’t stick around to hear anything else Nick decided to spit. I tugged on our joined hands and she, without question, followed me though the crowd towards the far corner of the bar where we were still close enough to the action yet able to be hidden from the fuckwit likes of Nick Edwards. My mind raced about what I could possibly say to explain my irrational actions. Since when had I become some knight in shining armor?

When we reached our refuge, I halted and dropped her hand. The moment I stepped back, I collided with a hard wall of Josh’s body, and over my shoulder, I found Josh staring at me with wide eyes. I tore my eyes from Josh and turned to find Eden, her friend, and Ashlyn awaiting my next move.

“Do something, dickhead. All eyes are on you after that little performance. You don’t go caveman and grab your woman and then just stand beside her like she’s a stranger.”

Josh was right. I looked back towards the corner of the bar and wasn’t surprised to find Nick and his crew watching with knowing smirks on their faces. Fuck. I had two choices. I could walk away right now, leave the bar knowing that I had done a good deed, and hope to Christ that she could take care of herself, or I could man the fuck up and finish what I’d started.

I pulled Eden firmly against me, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist so her back was flush with my chest. Resting my chin on her shoulder, I couldn’t help but notice how well her body molded to mine. She still hadn’t said a word. Her body was rigid in my arms, and after I heard her inhale sharply, she now held her breath.

“You’ve got to breathe,” I whispered into her ear.

Once again, she simply nodded. She trembled like a leaf in a hurricane against me. Her hands finally clutched my bare forearms, which were resting over her stomach. Her nails dug into my flesh, sending a shot of pain up through my arms, but I didn’t say a thing.

Her body wouldn’t stop trembling, and without hesitation, my grip tightened, trying desperately to pull her body closer to mine. She was completely breaking down in my arms and I didn’t know what the fuck to do, so I did what I hoped would calm her down.

I held on to her for dear life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

cocktails, laughing at Adam Sandler movies and spending her time with her amazing family and friends.
With her first novel, Just Breathe, due to be released in July 2013, her dream of releasing a book will become reality. With another three books already taking up her mind, she cannot wait to start this crazy ride.

Rachel Brookes is from a coastal town on the east coast of Australia where beaches, kangaroos and surfers roam free. She writes angsty love stories with a pinch of craziness, a dash of drama, a cup of romance and a spoonful of sexiness… oh and the main ingredient hot guys.
Rachel sometimes forgets to eat, sometimes forgets to sleep and sometimes can’t remember the last time she cleaned her apartment but that’s because she is in a long term relationship with her laptop and is constantly writing.
When she does step away from her laptop she can be found taking too many photos, making scrumptious cocktails, laughing at Adam Sandler movies and spending her time with her amazing family and friends.
With her first novel, Just Breathe, due to be released in July 2013, her dream of releasing a book will become reality. With another three books already taking up her mind, she cannot wait to start this crazy ride.

Website |Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{ARC Review} Take Me On by Katie McGarry

3
COM

Title: Take Me On

Series: Pushing The Limits #4

Author: Katie McGarry

Published: 27th May 2014

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review

Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

An Honest & Emotionally Intense Story Of Family & Love

REVIEW:

The story:

Despite still being so young, Haley has already been through so much. Her father lost his job and their family home, and her relationship with her ex boyfriend ended badly, causing a rift between her and her brother & cousin (Kayden & Jax). She feels so lost, like she doesn't truly have a home anymore. She tries to protect her family and keep everything from falling apart, which is stretching her to her limits. She has nobody to turn to for support, which broke my heart.

West comes from a wealthy family and has a privileged upbringing, but that hasn't prevented him from heartache. Feeling guilty about his sister Rachel's car accident, he lashes out at the people around him, in particular his father. After being kicked out of home and living in his car he starts to realise that his home, never really felt like home in the first place. Especially after meeting Haley. Trying to protect Hayley, West arranges a fight, and Haley takes on the responsibility of training him to be ready. Soon West is not only fighting in the ring, but fighting for the affections of Haley. The question, is she ready to trust another fighter with her heart?

The characters:

After reading Crash Into You I wasn't a huge fan of West. In particular his attitude and the way he treated his sister Rachel. So it was interesting to see a new side of West. As harsh as it may sounds I think West needed to experience life on the streets. It seemed to give him better perspective on his life, and was a turning point in is character growth. I respected him so much more.

Hayley was an interesting character. She's tough and a fighter, but she was also walks around with the weight on the world on her shoulders. She's so busy taking on the responsibility of protecting her family, she never takes a second for herself. You can see her grow throughout the story, and it was beautiful to see the person she became.

We also get to see a lot more of Abby, who I love and simply can't wait to read her story. She such an intriguing character; she's a tough drug dealer who can show great kindness when she wants to, in her own special way.

The romance:

Haley has been burnt badly in the past, and she's adamant that she will never trust another fighter with her heart. But West is different. West works so hard to gain Haley's trust and show her that he will do anything to protect her. Their relationship was so fragile, with Haley very reluctant to open up completely, but they have great chemistry and share some really beautiful moments together

The writing:

I simply adore Katie's books. She evokes so many different emotions throughout her stories. By the end of this book I felt emotionally drained - in the best possible way of course! What Katie does best is show you what the characters are feeling, instead of just telling you, which makes it impossible not to feel the emotions along with the characters themselves.

FINAL WORD:

Another fabulous edition to the Pushing The Limits series. Take Me On is an honest and emotionally intense story of family, love and learning to trust again.

CONTENT:

Sexuality: medium-strong / discussions of sex, heavy kissing and sexual scenes

Violence: mild-medium / several fight scenes

Language: medium-strong / several f words

Drugs & alcohol: mild-medium / parental figure with alcohol issues

Stacking The Shelves #18

12
COM

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves.

I've added so many lovely books to my shelves these past few weeks!

ARCs for Review:

Every Word by Ellie Marney

Thanks to Allen & Unwin!

Loved the first book and am sooooo excited to be reading this one!!!

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su & Kate Rorick

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for this lovely little surprise!

We Were Liars by E.Lockhart

Thanks to Allen & Unwin!

Breaking Fences by Juliana Haygert

Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours! LOVE this series!

Where There's Smoke by Elizabeth Lee

Thanks to Elizabeth for sending this one!

REVIEWED

Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch

Thanks to Entangled via Netgalley

Rain by Amanda Sun

Thanks to Harlequin Teen via Netgalley!

REVIEWED

Winning The Player by Lessa Bow

Thanks so much to Leesa & her publicist Anna for sending via Netgalley!

Purchased:

Being Kalli by Rebecca Berto

Gifted:

Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkosi

Thanks so much to Skye @ Skye's Scribblings

Thanks so much Katie McGarry for these lovely swag!!

Well that's what's new to my bookshelf - what about you?

{ARC Review} Rain by Amanda Sun

6
COM

Title: Rain

Series: Paper Gods #2

Author: Amanda Sun

Published: 24th June 2014

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Source: eARC provided via Netgally for fair & honest review

Rating: 3.5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She's started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can't imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she's fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She's flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.

When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo's dark ancestry, as well as Katie's, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

A Culturally Rich Story, But I Was Hoping For More Action

REVIEW:

The story:

So after reading the first book I was torn, there were parts I liked & parts I didn't, and this book is much the same.

Katie has decided to stay in Japan and face the dangers of the ink with Tomo. After reuniting with each other, Tomo decides to stop drawing hoping it will protect them from the dangers of his drawings. But Tomo continues to loose his control over the ink, and the danger escalates. Katie turns to the only person she thinks might be able to help, Jun. But while looking for information to help Tomo, Katie makes some startling discoveries about her own past and her connection to the Kami Gods.

Meanwhile, Tomo & Katie's relationship is further put to the test, as Shiroi, Tomo's pregnant friend makes it clear she's after Tomo and threatens Katie to stay away. Katie's not only afraid of loosing Tomo to Shiroi, but she fears the ink will soon take over his mind completely. It's getting harder and harder to know who is on who's side, and who she can trust.

I feel like very little progress has been made since the end of Ink. A few revelations are made towards the end, but not much when you consider the length of the book. I'm hoping we get to see a bit more action in the next book.

The characters:

Katie hasn't really grown up much since the first book. She's still extremely naive and very impulsive, not really thinking things through properly. I was hoping to see some growth and see her become stronger - perhaps even discovering some inner Kami powers, but no - maybe in the next book?

Tomo is such a sweet and extremely forgiving character. No matter how many mistakes Katie makes, he forgives her. However he does get jealous when he hears Katie refer to Jun by his first name (in Japan using first names is something you do with someone your close with). I liked seeing him like this, showing some emotions, that he normally keeps so well hidden.

The romance:

The so called love triangle element didn't really work for me. It felt so forced and did nothing more than irritate me with Katie's "I love Tomo so much, we are soooo perfect together"..."but Jun is really gorgeous". I just didn't understand why she was suddenly suggesting she was attracted to Jun, when it was clear she was in love with Tomo. Her relationship with Tomo was much more believable and I would have preferred seeing more time spent on the cultural issues that they faced in their relationship - that part was actually really interesting.

The writing:

The pacing of this book is quite slow in the beginning, and it's not until the end that we get to see any real action or excitement. I still love Amanda's use of Japanese language throughout the story, which created an rich atmosphere, it felt like I was really in Japan.

The ink illustrations that I loved so much from the first book were used again, but I felt they could have been used a little more effectively, especially at the climax of the story. It seemed like there were less of them this time sadly.

FINAL WORD:

This was a decent sequel to the Paper Gods series, but I felt there could have been more. This could be one of those series that may have been better suited to a 2 book series rather than 3. However, it was still entertaining and I will be back for the 3rd book to see how things wrap up.

CONTENT:

Sexuality: mild / some kissing, minor mentions of sex, teen pregnancy (minor character)

Violence: mild / some fighting - not overly detailed

Language: medium / several f words

Drugs & alcohol: mild

{Cover Reveal} Promise Me This by Christina Lee

2
COM

PROMISE ME THIS

Series: Between Breaths #4

Author: Christina Lee

Published: 6th Oct 2014

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

BLURB:

A new love will test the boundaries of passion between a privileged boy next door and the tattooed, blue-haired girl who helps him embrace his wild side...

Nate has developed quite a playboy reputation around campus. It's not that he doesn't respect or trust women; he doesn't trust himself. The men in Nate’s family are prone to abusive behavior—a dirty secret that Nate’s been running from his entire life—so Nate doesn't do relationships. But he can’t help himself around one girl…

Jessie is strong, independent, and works at a tattoo parlor. Nate can’t resist getting close to her, even if it’s strictly a friendship. But it doesn't take long for Nate to admit that what he wants with Jessie is more than just friendly.

With Jessie, he can be himself and explore what he’s always felt was a terrifying darkness inside him. Even when Nate begins to crave her in a way that both shocks and horrifies him, Jessie still wants to know every part of him. Testing their boundaries together will take a trust that could render them inseparable… or tear them apart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin. ALL OF YOU, BEFORE YOU BREAK and WHISPER TO ME available now, PROMISE ME THIS on October 7th, 2014.

Also the creator of Tags-n-Stones (dot com) jewelry.

Connect with Christina:

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Pre-order Links:

Nook | iBooks | Kindle

{Review} The One by Kiera Cass

4
COM

Title: The One

Series: The Selection #3

Author: Kiera Cass

Published: 6th May 2014

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Dystopian Romance

Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. The One is the perfect finale for fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began--and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's Divergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium.

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

It Has It's Flaws But This Series Is Incredibly Addictive!

REVIEW:

The story:

There is something oddly addictive about this series! On paper there are plenty of things that annoyed me about the entire series, most notably America's constant indecision over Maxon & Aspen and the lack of focus on the dystopian aspects & rebel activity. But despite these issues I just couldn't stop reading.

In this final instalment America tries to prove to Maxon that he should choose her over the remaining girls. She struggles to do as she's told and repeatedly breaks the rules as she learns more about the rebel activity. As the rebel attacks increase, the danger becomes more real, and America finally starts to see that she has the capability of making a real difference. Can America convince Maxon she's The One for him or does her heart still belong to Aspen?

The characters:

America can be quite a frustrating character at times, with inability to commit to Maxon or Aspen. She hasn't really changed all that much from the first two books in that respect. But I do love the fact that she's willing to stand up for what she believes in. I respected her for not being pushed and moulded into the perfect princess who just does what she's told.

Maxon will always be my favourite, I just love how forgiving and patient he is. He's also an intelligent character, which was a nice contrast to America's impulsive personality. Maxon wants there to see a change in the world, but realises that change won't happen overnight and needs careful planning. He's character has grown a lot since we first met him and he has started to develop into a stronger man that is capable of running the country.

I still have a soft spot for Aspen despite wishing he'd just disappear sometimes. I wanted him to be happy…just not with America! His loyalty to America is unwavering and I admired him for that, but I'll always be Team Maxon!

The romance:

The romantic storyline remains quite complicated, America is clearly in love with Maxon, but just can't seen to let Aspen go. It's somewhat understandable given their history, but I would have loved to of seen her commit to Maxon fully, rather than stringing Aspen along. Although it wasn't intentional, is did come off like she was keeping Aspen around incase Maxon didn't choose her. The scenes where Maxon & America are alone where some of the strongest in the entire book. There was so much emotion and passion between them.

The writing:

I was happy to see more rebel activity and talk about the cast system. Those parts of the story where so much stronger than the previous two books, although I still feel the dystopian elements of the story to be quite simplistic and underdeveloped. The ending was also a little too convenient, with everything wrapping up very quickly and neatly.

FINAL WORD:

If your after a deep and emotional dystopian story this probability isn't the book. It's based heavily on romance while the dystopian setting takes a backseat for the majority of the time. The Selection series is basically a slightly futuristic Royal Bachelor, and if you go into the series knowing what to expect, it can be a surprisingly addictive series!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: mild-medium / discussions of sex, some heavy kissing

Violence: mild / some minor war violence (no descriptions)

Language: mild

Drugs & alcohol: mild

Have you read this series? What did you think?

Team Maxon or Team Aspen?

(HA! like there's any choice?)

{ARC Review} Where There's Smoke by Elizabeth Lee

0
COM

Title: Where There's Smoke

Series: Where There's Smoke #1

Author: Elizabeth Lee

Published: 20th May 2014

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review

Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

There is something to be said for letting go. Ryland Roberts knows that better than anyone. He'd let go of his ambitions, of his family and—most of all—of her. He'd perfected the art of putting his past behind him and accepted the fact that the town he wanted to leave in his rearview was the place where he was going to live out his days. But sometimes the past doesn't just go away. Sometimes it comes back to haunt you.

Piper Jameson convinced herself that she left for all the right reasons. She'd saved people by leaving—made sure that they weren't tainted by her rebellious ways. When her little sister asks her to come home and say goodbye to their ailing mother, she's forced to see that things aren't always as they seem. The people who she'd left behind might not have been saved at all.

In the amount of time it takes a bullet to travel from point A to point B, Piper and Ryland will have to put their feelings for each other aside and make a choice. Forced on the run with Piper's sister, they begin to understand that the future they thought was gone was never really lost.

A Fast Paced, Adrenaline Packed Romance!

REVIEW:

The story:

Wow, this book was so so much more than the blurb suggests. Piper is back in her old hometown to say goodbye to her sick mother and support her sister. But her return sets off a chain reaction of event nobody could have seen coming. 6 years earlier, after being falsely accused of setting fire to the airport hanger, Piper leaves town, not knowing Ryland was handing himself over to the police to protect her. 6 years later and her ex Ryland is not happy to see her return, still bitter over her running away. But as secrets are revealed it becomes clear that neither of them really knew the whole story of what happened all those years ago.

It's actually quite difficult to say much about the story after 42%, as something MAJOR happens that you absolutely must experience yourself!!! I actually gasped out loud I was that shocked! All I will say is that there was so much drama, mystery and passion to keep you on the edge of your seat until very last word!!

The characters:

Piper may not be the perfect girl, and she's made her fair share of mistakes. But her intentions have always been in the best interest of the people she loves. After taking care of herself for the past 6 years, it's difficult for her to trust anyone else to look out for her, but if anyone can break through her tough exterior it's Ryland.

Ryland changed a lot over the 6 years, from the shy nerdy boy in school, to the strong and confident man he is today. After having his future taken away from him, he's also bitter and and angry at the world (and Piper). But after reconnecting with Piper, we see that the sweet & caring guy is still there. He would do anything to protect Piper and her sister Hadley and it's hard not to love him for that.

Hadley, Piper's younger sister, is a fabulous secondary character, and is such an important part of this story. On the outside she's a sweet girl, who never breaks the rules, but she's been through a lot. It soon becomes clear that her bright smile is hiding a lot of painful secrets and she most certainly has a story to tell!

The romance:

Who doesn't enjoy a good lover's reunited romance?! After fall in love in high school and making plans for their future, being torn apart was rough on both of them. But after their initial shock of seeing each other again, they quickly realise that the chemistry is still there and stronger than ever. There was a Romeo & Juliet vibe to their romance, with both of them willing to sacrifice everything for the other.

The writing:

Elizabeth has taken some bold chances by writing a story that pushes the boundaries of what's right and wrong. I was constantly asking myself what I would do in their situation. The intensity of the story was overwhelming and really pushes to plot forward at fast pace. There was certainly not dull moment is this story!

FINAL WORD:

Filled with sweet, sexy and heart stopping moments Where There's Smoke is a fast paced, adrenaline packed romance!!!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: medium-strong / several sex scenes

Violence: medium-strong / a descriptive, violent scene

Language: medium / some f words

Drugs & alcohol: mild