Tuesday, 28 April 2015

(ARC) Book Review (470): Trouble From The Start - Rachel Hawthorne


Trouble from the Start

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One of two companion novels from beach-read favorite Rachel Hawthorne, this cute, romantic paperback original is about a good girl who falls for a bad guy.

Avery knows better than to fall for Fletcher, the local bad boy who can’t seem to outrun his reputation. Fletcher knows he shouldn’t bother with college-bound, daughter-of-a-cop Avery. But when their paths cross, neither can deny the spark. Are they willing to go against everything and let their hearts lead the way? Or are they just flirting with disaster? Trouble from the Start releases simultaneously with companion novel The Boyfriend Project. These heartwarming paperback originals are the perfect summer reads, great for fans of Jennifer Echols, Lauren Barnholdt, and Susane Colasanti.

My Thoughts.
After coming of off reading some dark and depressing books I needed something light, funny and cute, and I got that in spades with Trouble From The Start.

So while I found this book to be your typical cliched and cheesy YA contemporary romance, I adored it, I couldn't seem to get enough, I found myself desperately eager to pick it up again once I'd put it down (damn you work), I had flown through it in no time, I just loved everything about it, I would have even reread it again straight away but since I have a tbr pile the size of Mount Everest I don't get the luxury to do that.

The bad boy Fletcher, the extremely smart good girl Avery and the romance they never saw coming, Fletcher has a reputation for endless hook ups with girls, fighting, stealing and generally not giving a damn, Avery is about to graduate high school without having had a real first kiss, first date or a boyfriend, when she gets drunk at a party she's beyond shocked when it's Fletcher who takes care of her and takes her home, neither were expecting the sparks and attraction they shared between them, but Avery is looking for a commited relationship not just a hook-up no matter how hot Fletcher is, and well with Fletcher a girl is lucky if she gets more than one date.

When circumstances have Fletcher staying in the apartment above the garage at Avery's house, they can't deny the chemistry between them, but Fletcher is hiding a secret that stops him from getting too close to anyone, a secret that has to do with the reputation he's famous for, one he's ashamed of, Fletcher will soon find that what he's needed all along is the one person he's denied himself getting close too Avery.

I wish there was more than one book for Fletcher and Avery, I know that there is a companion novel to this book which focus' on Avery's best friend Kendall and her boyfriend Jeremy but it's not the same and I really enjoyed the romance in this story, it just needed to be a lot longer.

A great YA contemporary, highly recommended.

I give this 5/5 stars.


Rachel Hawthorne, who also writes as Lorraine Heath and Jade Parker, is the daughter of a British beauty (her mother won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero-who played the Joker on the old Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Herts, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan. She enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.


When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She writes for both adult and young adult readers. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Americana historicals. Her novels have been recognized with a RITA, Romance Writers of America’s most prestigious award for excellence, a HOLT medallion award honoring outstanding literary fiction, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, five Texas Gold Awards, the Golden Quill Award, the Rising Star Award as well as other awards and recognitions. Her novels have been selections of the Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Club. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA Today, Waldenbooks, and most recently, the New York Times. 

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Sunday, 26 April 2015

(ARC) Book Review (469): Nova And Quinton: No Regrets (Nova #3) - Jessica Sorensen


Nova and Quinton: No Regrets (Nova #3)

Buy It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Today is the first day of Quinton Carter's new life. The toxic guilt of his past left him in pieces-but one girl unexpectedly put him back together. Thanks to Nova Reed, Quinton can finally see the world with clear eyes. She's the reason his heart is still kicking behind the jagged scar on his chest. And he would love to have her in his arms every minute of the day . . . but he's not ready yet.
Playing drums in a band and living with her best friends are just some of the highlights of Nova's life. But the best new development? Talking to Quinton on the phone each night. She wishes she could touch him, kiss him, though she knows he needs time to heal. Yet shocking news is on the way-a reminder of life's dark side-and Nova will need Quinton like he once needed her. Is he strong enough to take the final leap out of his broken past . . . and into Nova's heart?
My Thoughts.
Nova And Quinton: No Regrets brings to a close the story of Nova and Quinton, with this book focusing mostly on Quinton and his release from rehab, his struggle with sobriety, avoiding the temptation of drugs and the underlying fear of a relapse.

Whilst the previous two books were quite dark and depressing, this book shows light at the end of the tunnel, not only for Quinton but Tristan too, faced with the outside world sober and having to deal with problems instead of getting high to forget them.

The one thing I didn't like with this book was that Nova and Quinton didn't come face to face until towards the end of the book, and while I understand why that was, it was none the less disappointing, but when they did it was well worth the long wait.

With Quinton just geting released from rehab and having to deal with emotions and life without dulling them down with drugs, he will need to overcome the guilt he has been feeling ever since the accident, the amount of blame he has placed on himself and to finally realise it wasn't his fault, having to also finally let go so he can move on with his life and possibly his future with Nova.

Nova who is living in an apartment with Tristan and her best-friend Lea is having to deal with the more than friendly feelings that Tristan is feeling towards her, knowing and hoping that things will work out with Quinton and having her heart set on him and their future, she needs to find a way to let him down gently, not wanting him to fall back on his drug habit by the news.

There is a sad and tragic death of a character that's been in the series right from the start, while it was shocking I can't say that I was surprised, and Nova finds herself to blame for not doing anything when she had the chance.

All in all I really enjoyed the closure the book brought to Nova and Quinton's story arc, while these books were quite hard to get through at some points I'm glad I did read them, Jessica had found herself a new fan who will definitely be picking up her other books.

I give this 4/5 stars.


Jessica Sorensen
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
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Saturday, 25 April 2015

Book Review (468): Saving Quinton (Nova #2) - Jessica Sorensen


Saving Quinton (Nova #2)

Publication: 3rd February 2015
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 416
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: New Adult
Buy It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Nova Reed can't forget him-Quinton Carter, the boy with the honey-brown eyes who made her realize she deserved more than an empty life. His pain was so similar to her own. But Nova has been coming to terms with her past and healing, while Quinton is out there somewhere, sinking deeper. She's determined to find him and help him . . . before it's too late.

Nova has haunted his dreams for nearly a year-but Quinton never thought a sweet, kind person like her would care enough about a person like him. To Quinton, a dark, dangerous life is exactly what he deserves. And Nova has no place in it. But Nova has followed him to Las Vegas, and now he must do whatever it takes to keep her away, to maintain his self-imposed punishment for the unforgivable things he's done. But there's one flaw in his plan: Nova isn't going anywhere . . .
My Thoughts.
Saving Quinton was I would say more heart-wrenching than the first book Breaking Nova, the sense of devastation and defeat is at times so depressing, but sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to realise that things need to change, and in this book things definitely get really bad.

This book is sometimes hard to get through, the look into a life of drug users/dealers is far from pretty, not only the psychological but the physical effects the drugs take on your mind and body is extreme, until you're nothing but a shell of the person you used to be, some people don't want to be helped and believe in their minds that going down this road is what they deserve, this could not be more true for the characters in this book.

I'm not going to go too much into this story because I don't want to spoil anything for anybody who hasn't yet picked up any of the books, just know that drug use has spiraled completely out of control with Quinton and some other characters from the previous book, even moving onto the heavier drugs, just to be able to forget and not to feel anything, Nova who has gotten herself on the right path is determined to track down Quinton and convince him to go to rehab and that his life is worth living.

I shed a few tears throughout Saving Quinton, not only for Nova and Quinton but for Tristan and even Delilah whom I've come to immensely dislike, it's a life that I could only imagine and dread, the worthlessness these characters feel is just distressing and the realisation that this is their life and they are probably going to die from it makes for a story that's dark, depressing and heart-breaking.

I can't wait for the next book, I really need to know what's going to happen next, these books whilst focusing on a difficult subject are just so addictive and I find myself flying through them once I pick them up.

For people looking for a new adult series that's a whole lot more darker than your average contemporary romance then definitely give the Nova series a go.

I give this 4/5 stars.



The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives with her husband and three kids. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
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Book Review (467): Breaking Nova (Nova #1) - Jessica Sorensen


Breaking Nova (Nova #1)

Publication: 7th October 2014
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 368
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: New Adult
Buy It: Amazon  Barnes & Noble 
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ella and Micha series comes a powerful story of love, healing, and impossible choices . . . 

BREAKING NOVA

Nova Reed used to have dreams-of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she's getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next . . . until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.

Quinton once got a second chance at life-but he doesn't want it. The tattoos on his arm are a constant reminder of what he's done, what he's lost. He's sworn to never allow happiness into his life . . . but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he's too damaged to get close to her, yet she's the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?
My Thoughts.
Breaking Nova had me hooked from the first page, the prologue was an insight into the way Jessica set the tone for this story.

Letting the readers in on the tragedies that befell Nova and Quinton early on which turned them into the people we meet in the first chapter gives us an insight into why they have become so withdrawn, grief-stricken and prone to addiction, neither are coping with the tragedies that have defined them, both have in a way given up, Quinton especially who is on a downward spiral to nowhere.

Nova is home on Summer break, through her friend Delilah she finds herself hanging around with the wrong crowd, drug users/dealers and it's not long before she finds herself partaking in the drugs that seem to be prevalent throughout the trailer where they spend most of their time, living there is Quinton who has been disowned by all of his family except Tristan who's trailer he's staying in, Quinton bears a strong resemblance to somebody named Landon that Nova is desperately trying to forget that and the reason why he's no longer around with the drugs leaving her hazy and out of it, letting her for a time whilst high to not think or care about anything.

Nova and Quinton are both drawn to one another, each of them feel guilty about their feelings for each other, they both need saving, both need redemption and to neither feel guilty for actions beyond their control.

Breaking Nova is a story that features heavy subject matters, it doesn't shy away and doesn't apologise for what it is, this is real life, this stuff really happens, it's a sad but true fact that not everybody's lives are perfect, people struggle, some can only feel relief from the guilt in certain ways, to escape they turn to whatever they can to just forget if only for a little while, it's heartbreaking but realistic and I applaud Jessica for that.

After the ending I'm anxious to get to the next book which I have sitting here next to me waiting to be picked up, I really enjoyed this book I just hope life picks up for Quinton especially in the next book.

I give this 4/5 stars.



The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives with her husband and three kids. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
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Tuesday, 21 April 2015

Book Review (466): Home To You - Robin Kaye


Home to You

Publication: 7th April 2015
Publisher: Signet
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: Adult
Buy It: Amazon + Barnes & Noble
From the award-winning author of the Bad Boys of Red Hook series, a new novel about finding love where you least expect it…

Jackson Sullivan III has always lived up to his uncle’s expectations, until his career is sidelined, leaving him lost and in need of a retreat to his family’s cabin. But his solitude is interrupted by a beautiful visitor whose combative feelings about the Sullivans lead Jax to a surprising declaration: he pretends to be someone else.

Though she hasn’t seen the privileged scion since she was a child, Kendall Watkins hates everything Jackson Sullivan represents. She should know: her parents have managed the Sullivan estate for years. In need of her own peace and quiet, she heads to the cabin, never expecting to come face to face with the most handsome man she’s ever met. Soon stranded by a violent nor’easter, Jax and Kendall end up sharing more than they dreamed. But Jax knows that when the storm clears, his true identity will be revealed, and Kendall will be left with a betrayal that may be too great to forgive…
My Thoughts.
Home To You is one of those books that draw you in from the very first page, the kind of book that has you losing track of time as you become absorbed in the story of Kendall and Jackson 'Jack'.

I really enjoy stories that feature two people shut away and isolated in a cabin, add in the fact that Jack hasn't exactly been honest about his identity to Kendall letting her think that he's just a roofer not the millionaire businessman he really is and whom Kendall seems to have a problem with referring to him as the Grand Pooh-Ba.

Kendall arrives at the cabin to get away after losing her job and fiancee in the same day, add to that her car is damaged on the drive up to the cabin, she's really not having a good time of it, Jack is hiding away after an accident that has left him with a brain injury that affects his ability with numbers, from telling the time to counting, seeing as his job is in finance he can't let this news get out lest he risk losing a lot of clients and a whole lot of money.

Being alone together the chemistry is intense and in no time at all they find themselves giving in to the attraction, but real life will come knocking when Kendall discovers Jack's true identity can she ever forgive him?

This was such an entertaining and fun read, the characters were really likeable and I'm hoping that the next book will focus on Jamie and Addie, and to discover the secret that Addie's hiding which I have an idea about.

A fantastic start to an all new series, I'm happy to have Robin on my radar.

I give this 4/5 stars.


Robin Kaye was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge next door to her Sicilian grandparents. Living with an extended family that’s a cross between Gilligan’s Island and The Sopranos, minus the desert isle and illegal activities, explains both her comedic timing and the cast of quirky characters in her books.

She’s lived in half a dozen states from Idaho to Florida, but the romance of Brooklyn has never left her heart. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband, three children, two dogs, and a three-legged cat with attitude.

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Friday, 17 April 2015

(ARC) Book Review (465): Things We Know By Heart - Jessi Kirby


Things We Know by Heart

Publication: 21st April 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all. 

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake.
My Thoughts.
Things We Know By Heart was one of my most anticipated books of 2015, the synopsis sounded really good and I knew it was a must that I get my hands on a copy, receiving an arc for review had me excited beyond words.

Quinn's boyfriend Trent was killed and as a result his organs were donated, to help cope with his death Quinn writes letters to everybody who received one of his organs, they all write back except for one the recipient of Trent's heart, Quinn knows only that it was transplanted into a nineteen year old male from California, through almost obsessive thorough research she discovers his identity through a blog written about all the different phases of his journey from diagnosis to post transplant written by his sister, his name is Colton and curious just to see what he looks like she tracks him down, after an accidental meeting and against her better judgement she starts to spend a lot of time with Colton, with the secret she's hiding of why she wanted to meet him, her guilt over her growing feelings for Colton and the knowledge that she finally needs to let Trent go make for an emotionally heartbreaking yet uplifting story that had me in tears quite a few times throughout the book.

I have no doubt that Things We Know By Heart will be in my top five books of 2015, it definitely left an impression, one I'm still thinking of the next day while I'm writing this review, this was such an original idea for a YA contemporary novel, one that resonates especially knowing the amount of people on waiting lists for donor organs all around the world.

Highly recommended.

I give this 5/5 stars.



ABOUT JESSI
Jessi KirbyJessi Kirby was born and raised in Mammoth Lakes, CA. She earned her BA in English Literature from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and went on to become a middle and high school English teacher. In addition to writing, Jessi works full time as a middle school librarian in Orange County, CA, where she lives with her husband and two children.

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Thursday, 16 April 2015

(ARC) Book Review (464): 99 Days - Katie Cotugno


99 Days

Publication: 21st April 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
Buy It: Amazon | The Book Depository 
Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me. 
My Thoughts.
I was a big fan of Katie's previous book How To Love, so when I received a copy of 99 days to review I was over the moon.

I was drawn to the plot of this book immediately, while I'm not a fan of books that feature cheating the idea that the main protagonist Molly cheated on her boyfriend Patrick with his older brother Gabe intrigued me enough to want to pick it up and give it a go.

The one thing I really disliked about the story was the slut shaming, it's like they forgot that it takes two to tango, the amount of harassment and name calling amongst other things was enough to have Molly up and leave for boarding school while Gabe seems to get off scot free, Molly was left to endure all of the lewd and cruel comments alone.

When Molly arrives home the summer before college she counts down the 99 days until she leaves, off to begin her college years, with the relationship with her Mother who is a famous author strained after she wrote a book about the whole Molly, Patrick and Gabe situation, and through an article written about the book everybody in town discovered the secret she and Gabe had hidden, the extremely awkward encounters with Patrick and the hateful attitude directed towards her from her former best-friend and Patrick's twin sister Julia, Molly is left alone, depressed and lonely so she shuts herself away in her room, that is until Gabe arrives home from college, they tentatively begin a romantic relationship and although she finds herself developing feelings for Gabe, she can't stop her thoughts drifting towards Patrick.

But will history repeat itself, will Molly make a serious mistake again and lose the trust of the people she's just started to get to trust her again, torn between two brothers this is one decision that Molly must make once and for all.

A very thought provoking story about the double standards women are still subjected to in society today, a very enjoyable story, I still love How To Love more but I await the next book Katie releases, I really like her writing style and story ideas.

I give this 4/5 stars.

Katie Cotugno went to Catholic school for thirteen years which makes her, as an adult, both extremely superstitious and prone to crushes on boys wearing blazers. She routinely finds herself talking about the romantic endeavors of characters on TV shows as if they actually exist in the world. Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Broadkill Review, The Apalachee Review, and Argestes, as well as on Nerve.com. Her first novel, HOW TO LOVE, is due out from Balzer + Bray on October 1st, 2013. The great loves of Katie's life include child's pose, her little sister, and mozzarella and honey sandwiches. She lives in Boston (and in sin) with her boyfriend, Tom.

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