Category: Review (Page 204 of 297)

BOOK REVIEW – Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1) by Wendy Higgins

March 14, 2016 / Jen / 4 Comments

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1)
by Wendy Higgins
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Review:

Sweet Evil was breathtakingly perfect. It had every single thing I absolutely adore, and I closed the last page with tears in my eyes and hope in my heart. The characters I met and the story that unfolded captured my attention and made putting the book down next to impossible. When life forced that hand, I eagerly counted the minutes until I could step back into their world. It was so much more than good vs evil, because the pages were filled with friendship, hope, family, trust and discovering your heart. I loved every part of this story!

We were damned for simply being born. So why was I holding fast to rules that didn’t really apply to me anyway? Why shouldn’t I take from this life what I could in the time I had? This had nothing to do with what Pharzuph demanded of us, and everything to do with what Kaidan and I had become to each other.

I absolutely adored Anna. She is what one could call a goody two-shoes, which I thought I’d have a hard time connecting to, yet she was so easy to understand. She is honest, loyal and has a heart of gold. Even when she reminded the teacher, in school, that they need to turn in the homework that hasn’t been collected yet haha. But Anna has always known that she is different. And after a run in the with Kaidan Rowe, she starts to see how much more different she really is then her adoptive mom and best friend. Anna is a child of angels, one of light and one who is a demon.

I’d been looking in the wrong place earlier when I searched for a flaw in Kaidan. It was not in his face; it was in his personality .

Kaidan Rowe was gorgeously complicated and utterly heartbreaking. He is the child of a demon, and explained to Anna what was expected of them. Each of them are to have jobs, to be a bad influence to people, in their father’s area of expertise. While I don’t want to reveal what Kaidan’s specialty is, just know that because of it I was always left swooning while also wanting to cry for him. So Kaidan easily caught me in his seductive spell. Even though he ran hot and cold towards Anna. In case you’re not aware of this, I’m the one who’s always looking for the tiniest clue of hope towards a character. So no matter what Kaidan said to Anna, I paid a great deal of attention to his actions. And some of the little things he did for Anna made my heart soar. He continually gave me hope, fingers crossed I’m correct!

“I wish , just once, that I could see your colors,” I whispered.

There were also darker moments in Sweet Evil, and those times seemed to break Anna apart while swallowing her whole. And let me tell you, my heart shattered into a million pieces right along with her. I felt her depression, her confusion, and I just wanted to curl into a little ball and sob for her. Yet her perseverance and determination, that always won out, made me realize how much I respected and liked her. She felt like someone I’d want to know, be friends with and have on my side.

“Which was your favorite place?” I asked.
“I’ve never been terribly attached to any place. I guess it would have to be… here.”
I stopped midchew and examined his face. He wouldn’t look at me. He was clenching his jaw, tense. Was he serious or was he teasing me? I swallowed my bite.
“The Texas panhandle?” I asked.
“No.” He seemed to choose each word with deliberate care. “I mean here in this car. With you.”

While I enjoyed the moments when Anna was with so many other characters I truly liked, Kaidan and Anna’s moments together were my favorite. By far. When Kaidan and Anna were together, it felt as though fireworks were exploding. And I can’t wait to see what will happen next! But thankfully after that ending, I was left with hope. Hope of what is to come, and hope that this series will easily wind up on my favorites list.

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Sweet Evil #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Sweet Peril #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Sweet Reckoning #3 Reviews: Jen
Sweet Temptation #4

FRIDAY STARS – Your Weekly Must Knows 03/11/16

March 11, 2016 / Jen / 6 Comments

Happy Friday! Below you will find:
What we just finished and loved!
What we are planning to read next.
An upcoming release, in the next week, that we are extremely excited about!
And of course the latest sales and freebies, which we have either read or have on our to-read lists.

♥ Enjoy!

Just Finished and Loved:

We didn’t read any 5 Star books in the last week, but we still had a lot of fun reading the ones we did!

4 Stars:
The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms #2) by Cinda Williams Chima → Anna’s Review

3.5 Stars:
Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake → Jen’s Review
The Demon King (Seven Realms #1) by Cinda Williams Chima → Anna’s Review

We also had a Top Ten Tuesday post about Characters Where We Don’t Agree With The Majority. If you missed it, check it out here.

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Reading Next:

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy, #1) by Wendy Higgins – What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels. Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

✩✮✩✮✩

Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3; Addicted #3.1) by Krista & Becca Richie – Protect your family. At all costs. It’d take the impossible to hurt Connor Cobalt, even for a moment. Protect your family. At all costs. At twenty-six, his narcissistic tendencies have made room for the people he loves. Protect your family. At all costs. And he loves Rose. But when his love is threatened, when his greatest dreams with her are compromised — what is the cost then? Protect your family. At all costs. Love will guide his choices. For the first time in his life

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Upcoming Releases:

Yellow Brick War (Dorothy Must Die #3) by Danielle Paige (Releases 3/15) – In the first book, Dorothy Must Die, I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know? Sure, I’ve read the books. I’ve seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can’t be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There’s still a road of yellow brick—but even that’s crumbling. What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe. My name is Amy Gumm—and I’m the other girl from Kansas. I’ve been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I’ve been trained to fight. And I have a mission: Remove the Tin Woodman’s heart. Steal the Scarecrow’s brain. Take the Lion’s courage. And—Dorothy must die.

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Check out our list of upcoming releases that we can’t wait for → Click Here

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Sales:

$0.99

5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	4 Stars! Laura’s Review

$1.99

New Sale 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	New Sale 4 Stars! Jen’s Review	5 Stars! Cheslea’s Review Jen’s Review
	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
4.5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	4 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review
4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	Chelsea’s Review

$2.99

New Sale	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Laura’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Anna’s Review
4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Anna’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

$3.49+

New Sale Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Freebies

4 Stars!
Anna’s Review

BOOK REVIEW: The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

March 2, 2016 / Chelsea / 3 Comments

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

“I’m not here to fall in love, am I? I’m here to avenge my parents.”
“Don’t the two work hand in hand?”
Abruptly, he stops dancing and steps away. He stares at me with eyes as deep as the night.
“No,” he replies softly. “I’m not sure they do.”
I stand still, bewildered, as he turns and melts into the crowd.

Roped into reading this as a birthday buddy read, I wasn’t a happy camper. I mean, no, I wasn’t mad or upset or anything, but come on!! I had so many other books I wanted to read at the time, you know??? And I’m about to lose a ton of time too, here soon. So when I picked this book up, I may or may not have had a rather disinterested look on my face. But, once again, I was proven wrong. And, by none other than my dear Banana. Shocking.

I stand still a moment longer, watching him. “Zahra.”
He pauses and looks over his shoulder. “What?”
“My name,” I stammer. “I mean…one of them. You can call me Zahra.”
He turns around fully, his grin as wide and as bright as the moon. “I’m Aladdin.”

I guess I just didn’t know what to expect….and that by far is this book’s largest selling point. This isn’t simply a retelling of Aladdin-it’s something so much more. Gone are the Genie and Jafar and the Sultan. Gone are Abu and the magic carpet and Jasmine. What we have here is a twisted imagining where Aladdin is still Aladdin…but what lead him to the magic lamp is so different from what we know and love. Jasmine is a rebel princess who is being forced to marry a man she doesn’t love (kind of the same?) and the list could go on and on. There are lots of twists, turns, and exchanges of characters in ways you never would have imagined possible. But by far my absolute favorite twist in this story is who Aladdin falls in love with. One hint: It sure ain’t Jasmine.

The way he looks at me-steady and silent, bold and bright-makes me feel as if the storm outside were trapped inside me, thunder and rain and light, rolling and crashing.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs. “How could anyone believe you were just a servant?”

So who could it be, then, if not our lovely Jasmine? Well, that is the biggest twist of all, and it isn’t even a secret. The Genie we know and love is no longer a big, friendly, blue guy who may or may not be a man-No, our Genie is none other than a centuries old Jinni….in the female form. Her name? Zahra.

“What did Caspida want?”
“To talk about elephants and dead queens.”
“What? Really?”
“Oh, stop frowning. She asked about you too-what you’re like, what kind of person you are. Don’t worry.” I pat his hand conspiratorially and smile. “I lied.”

I will admit-I didn’t think I’d like this twist. But from the moment Aladdin met Zahra, the Jinni (Genie), their spark was unmistakable. I mean, no, it wasn’t insta-love, love at first sight, or even friendship at first sight-But, from the very beginning, Aladdin’s beautiful compassion, loyalty, and determination were something that glued your eyes to the page, made your heart beat in time with his own as he went through each perilous activity, and compelled you to fall hard for this kind young man who is known as nothing but a thief…but is so much more.

He looks down, one of his hands moving closer, until the back of one finger comes to rest on my wrist. I stare at it, unable to breathe. My skin warms under that gentle contact. “You saved my life twice already. That doesn’t sound heartless.”

And Zahra-she captured you from the moment she is freed from the lamp. Hardened by years of servitude, loneliness, and an event that shaped the way people look at Jinnis forever, yet she still jumps to defend and protect our Aladdin from the beginning…no matter what the rules say. Yes, as you can most likely remember (I mean, Aladdin was beloved by almost everyone! I sure know it was a top two or three movie for me in the Disney era) there were many rules that came along with the Genie and the magic three wishes. And, in this story, the stakes are even higher. Not only are there guidelines in which the master of the lamp must abide by, but also, there’s a much more to be afraid of…..Now, for each wish you make, there is a price to pay. Each wish can be twisted, manipulated, and turned into something nasty and unforgiving, a feat our young Aladdin didn’t have to deal with in our beloved animated story.

A force, writing below. Not human. But then it is gone, and when I try to pursue it, I nearly go too far from the lamp. I stop, frozen at the edge of my unseen leash, and stand for several long minutes, unable to go forward, afraid to go back.

But probably the most dangerous and appealing rule that can never be broken….is not to fall in love with a Jinni.

I lift my eyes skyward and start to lean away, but then Aladdin reaches out and grabs my wrist, stopping me. I look up at him questioningly, and freeze.
His eyes are staring deep into mine, suddenly curious and thoughtful, and a strange wind rustles through my body. I go very still, not even breathing, as his hand lifts and he runs his finger so gently, so softly, along my jaw. He gazes at me as if seeing me for the first time, his lips just slightly parted.

That’s right, everyone, you heard me correctly: Forbidden love is the name of the game…and Aladdin is drunk in love with his Genie.

This has been the great lesson of my long life: To love is to destroy.

From the very beginning he had a soft spot for the misunderstood girl hidden in the lamp, even as she repeatedly told him she could manipulate anyone and everyone and immediately make all his hopes and dreams crumble into ashes. He didn’t believe she could possibly be that evil after subtlety saving him time and time again even though one of her rules is to not interfere with what is going on with her master unless it is wished upon. It’s clear they were closer than they ever should have been…yet they both couldn’t seem to pull away when they needed to most.

“You are worth every risk. I know what I want, Zahra. Do you?”

And, come on….ALADDIN!!! He was just…he was just beyond words perfect. I’ve seen a couple remakes of this book, and I know they were just horrible, from what I’d heard. And then there was The Wrath and the Dawn, which I’m not sure if it was a remake or not, but it was EPIC. So there is both good and bad for this story being retold. What makes this one different? I can’t really tell you. All I know is this: The writing was absolutely breathtaking and beautiful. The forbidden romance between Aladdin and Zahra was stunning and I could not breathe when I was reading about one of their secret moments. The re-telling was crafted in a way that made it impossible not to fall head over heels in love immediately. And Aladdin??? He was just fucking perfect.

I reach out and brush Aladdin’s hair back, my fingers lingering in his black curls. I can feel his life force crackling like sparks on my skin. So bright, so brilliant this moral boy, here and gone so quickly, a strike of lightening.

Loyal, intelligent, and fiercely protective of his girl, Zahra, I couldn’t help but to fall in love with him, you know?? Another boy in 2016 who immediately went onto my list, I didn’t even have to THINK about it after I had finished. It isn’t often I fall so deeply in love with both the book and the boy, but thus is the case with this masterpiece. And it’s no secret that I am obsessed with re-tellings, the good ones are just so rare and few and far-between. Aladdin’s breaking barriers to keep the lamp and Zahra safe resonated deeply within me, even as his world began to spiral downward into the dark abyss. His artfully crafted web of lies began to ensnare him, slowly but surely, just as the spider was meant to snare those in the castle. What?? I can be weird, I like what I like, OKAY? Jeez.

The chaotic roar of the fight fades away, replaced by a deafening rush of wind. Aladdin crushes me against his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around me, and he presses his lips to my forehead.
“Together,” he whispers. “No matter what.”

So, you know, I wanted to write a fangirl review on Friday right after I finished it and felt like gushing, but didn’t have the time (That real life I was talking about). Now I’m calm and have thought rationally (Not near as fun)-I wish I could have written this review then, but I think some of the crazy seeped through, didn’t it?? Either way, my message is clear and simple: Read the book. There are not many re-tellings that break the boundaries and excel in ways others have crashed and burned, but this is one of those that I don’t think you’d want to miss. Beautifully crafted with writing that draws you in at each and every turn, it is a winner in all ways, in my opinion, and is not to be missed. And hey!! Not only did it make me love the boy and the story, but also broke another wall in Chelsea’s harsh exterior: I NEED THIS ON MY BOOKSHELF-STAT!

******

(Belated B-day read for Banana!!!)

This book…I just…I can’t even…

I didn’t even want to read this book.
I mean, it was for Banana, so I couldn’t not read it for her-As creepy as it sounds, I’d follow her into a flaming inferno if she told me to read a book: I trust her with my life. That’s right, my book life is in her hands lol. My point in all this, if you will, is that this book, this story, these characters….they became an instant favorite. Hands down. End of story. My heart…it is in pieces. And my stomach?? Still tied up in knots.

Rif raf…street rat…

I don’t buy that… Lmao

RTC on Monday. I have all the words right now, but I’m at work so they will have to wait…unfortunately. Damn it.

View all my reviews

BOOK REVIEW – On the Fence by Kasie West

February 27, 2016 / Jen / 10 Comments

On the Fence by Kasie West
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door.

With three older brothers, Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, has always been more comfortable calling the shots on a basketball court than flirting with the opposite sex. So when her police officer dad demands she get a summer job to pay for the latest in a long line of speeding tickets, she's more than a little surprised to find herself working at a chichi boutique and going out with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game. Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with her neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden, sitting back-to-back against the fence that separates them. Braden may know her better than anyone. But there's a secret Charlie's keeping that even he hasn't figured out—she's fallen for him. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Review:

On the Fence made me want to spin circles while laughing and smiling. Seriously. This book was beyond adorable. I had a permanent smile on my face, and I closed that last page feeling incredibly happy! If you’re in need of a super cute book, that also has some deeper moments, then definitely pick this one up!

“A girl who plays disc golf?” Jerom said. “That’s hot.” Gage curled his lip. “I don’t know. A girl who plays disc golf? She’s probably a dog. Some aggressive, burly thing.”
The guys laughed, not seeming to realize I was standing right there . . . playing disc golf. Maybe that’s how they saw me. Maybe that’s how most guys saw me.

Charlie is a 16 year old tomboy, and it took me a few chapters to warm up to her. I was somewhat of a tomboy when I was younger, and I spent my weekends shooting guns, racing four-wheelers, playing baseball and climbing trees with my 5 male cousins and brother. But when I hit 12/13 I realized that I also loved shopping, fingernail polish and obsessing over my latest Hollywood crush ha. So it took me a little while to find a connection to a more intense tomboy. But once I did, this book became everything I was looking for!

“What did you mean by that, anyway?”
“By what?”
“That you don’t know my type of girls?”
“I hang out with athletes.”
“And?”
I paused, a little surprised. Was he saying he would date my teammates if I set him up? It had been a while since Braden had a girlfriend, but I was pretty sure his last one knew more about nail patterns than defensive patterns. “And . . . I guess I don’t know your type.”
He chuckled. “I find that hard to believe.”

Charlie is surrounded by males! Her dad, three older brothers, and neighbor, Braden, are her world. Well sports are too. She spends her days playing sports games with them along with wrestling, goofing around, watching tv, and just hanging out. Charlie easily fits in and is one of the guys. But after getting a speeding ticket, her dad forces her to get a job. Where she ends up working, starts to make her world split in two. Because at work she is surrounded by clothes, makeup, girl friends outside of sports, and even a potential boyfriend. Charlie feels as though she has no clue how to mesh the person she is at work to the person she is with the family she loves. And I loved watching her try and figure it all out.

“He trusts you. You’re like our brother.”
“But you’re their sister.”
“And yours.”
“You’re not my sister, Charlie. And they know that. They are very protective of you. More than you could possibly know.”

My favorite part of this book was Charlie interacting with Braden. He is her neighbor that she has known forever, and one of her older brother’s best friends. After starting her new job, she realizes that she has some feelings for him. And the electricity that you felt springing from her chest when he would talk a little too close or touch her had me squeeling! But their friendship become even deeper when they started to meet by the fence that separated their two houses and talk in the middle of the night. Charlie is trying to escape her nightmares and Braden is escaping his drunk father. Their talks were friendship, hope, desire and they reached a level of deepness that hadn’t ever existed before between them. And each of those talks helped to create a flutter in my heart. I adored their time alone, and I kept wishing for that version of them to be brought into the daytime. But all truths eventually make their way out, and watching theirs progress was so much fun!

He grabbed hold of my arms, preventing me from falling. Something he would’ve never done pre–fence chat. He would’ve let me fall on my butt and then I would’ve tried to sweep his legs out from beneath him. Our eyes met for the briefest of moments and then he quickly released me. As if realizing he’d breached some unwritten rule, he grabbed my arm, bent down, and threw me over his shoulder.
Walking to the couch, he unceremoniously plopped me down on my back. “There. If you’re going to fall on your butt,” he said, his eyes twinkling as he said the word, “choose a better place.”

So yeah, I fell for this book! And I can definitely say that I have become a huge fan of Kasie West! She has the ability to create males that are to die for, heroines that pull you into their emotional webs and a story that is completely heartwarming. I definitely recommend reading this book. Especially if you are in need of some smiles in your life!

PS I have to say that one of my favorite scenes was the nerf game. You’re definitely going to want to read that part! *giggles while fanning face*

BOOK REVIEW: All Broke Down (Rusk University #2) by Cora Carmack

February 26, 2016 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

All Broke Down (Rusk University #2)
by Cora Carmack
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can't only fight for what you believe in... sometimes you have to fight for what you love.

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians you name it, she's probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He's in for a different kind of fighting. And though he's arrogant and infuriating, she can't help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it's trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He's met girls like her before fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn't think he's broken, and he definitely doesn't need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about: his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.

I drop my head against the steering wheel and groan. So much for keeping things simple. “You are in so much trouble, Dylan Brenner.”
And trouble’s name is Silas Moore.

Oh em gee…This is a literal OMG. I started another book that made my eyes burn on the SECOND PAGE and thought shit, what will I read now?? So, on Friday at 10 pm (what…I have a life-I DO!), when my book didn’t work, I went to another that my lovely lovely Jennfier had bought me…and from page one on…I WAS A GONER.

“Are you hurt?” I ask.
A flash of a smile has a field of goose bumps sprouting along my arms. “You worried about me, Pickle?”
I throw my head back and groan.
“I’m going to kill him.”

One word, Y’all…one word: SILAS. I just…I can’t even. This book just popped out at me one day and I couldn’t help but mark it as TBR. I mean…football. But I never thought I’d actually read it, ya know?? I thought it was a filler that would sit there for years and eventually I would delete it on one of my epic TBR sweeps (just did one recently, Hallelujah!). But no, for some reason, on a late Friday night when I needed a pick me up, fate led me to this hidden gem…and I couldn’t be a happier little Silas fangirl. XD

And…fuck.
Just fuck.
I could probably live the rest of my life only using that word and it would sum things up fine.

So, here’s the deal, I’m guna level with you all-I have written a LOT of fangirl reviews lately. A LOT. A LOT A LOT. And I am tired, lol. I HATE when this happens right when I read a wonderful book that was not only well-written and sexy, but surprisingly heartfelt and addicting without being trashy. I had so much to say while I was reading-I mean, from the first chapter I was out of breath from all the butterflies attempting to escape through my throat. There is just something so sweet about a boy that has always had it rough, who is fighting for something he thinks is so out of his reach, and finding the girl of his dreams while trying to achieve greatness. And, better yet, thinking he doesn’t deserve the girl who lights up his whole life.

His lips are still at my ear, and he lowers his volume so that Matt won’t hear. “I promise not to get you dirty. Unless you ask real nice.”
I don’t even…I can’t…Oh my God.

Oh! And a little tidbit for those who hate this kind of thing (It personally has never bothered me): No slut shaming. Well….I didn’t think there was. Maybe I’m wrong? Anyway-My point in all this-I’ve written a lot of reviews for a lot of books in the last three weeks (the majority of them 5’s), and I am officially worn out on writing them lol. So, if this review falls short, in the end, it is not for a lack of perfection in this novel. No, the reason for shorting my poor, tortured Silas is because this bitch be tired. I am just…ugh. So tired.

His eyes really are far too pretty for a guy like him. Dudes who look dangerous should just be dangerous. Period. The end. They should not be dangerous and beautiful all at the same time. It leaves the universe out of balance, and it makes me do stupid things like stare.

I think the most charming thing about this story…is it’s writing. I mean, I don’t judge that harshly on books, really, but I certainly can appreciate a well-written and humorous story. The reason this is so wonderful, to me, is that the book didn’t merely rely on sex and witty banter and a smoldering hot male who only has eyes for our girl (He is a former manwhore-a plot I know most people might be tired of, but that I NEVER grow tired of, tee-hee). There was a lot of that-the sexy looks, the ‘I’m falling for you but I’ll take what I can get’, the broken and torturedness-but it wasn’t the only thing. And that, in NA, is amazing.

I will never be able to turn this girl down. Whatever she wants from me, it’s hers. No matter what she asks for, I’ll find a way to give it to her. She may not be mine, but somewhere along the way, I ended up hers.

The heart and soul of this story, though, is how much Silas wanted to make something of himself, to break the barrier of being just a brat who grew up in non-homes and trailers. He met Dylan in the oddest of circumstances…one might say they were immediately ‘handcuffed’ together

(LMAO I AM SO NOT CLEVER BUT BAHAHA). And from that moment on, he was intrigued by her. Tied to her. Into her. And, most importantly, protective of her.

His tongue peeks out to worry at his swollen, busted lip, and I feel a wave of heat curl up my spine.
Totally inappropriate. Totally psychotic because he is way out of my league. Or I’m way out of his league, I don’t know. Either way, someone is out of someone’s league.

GAWD his protectiveness just got me. I ADORED HIM. He could get violent, an offense that almost loses his place on the team, but he never got where I think people reading this would get a bad vibe from him. He thinks with his fists first, especially when it comes to his girl, but never in a, hmm, psycho way. And, despite what I implied…no insta-love. Just no. Stop it. Stop thinking that. STOP IT! But boy oh boy…I was pleased with their first….encounter.

I want to make her come so hard that for the rest of her life, she remembers me anytime someone touches her. I’m going to leave my mark on her perfect body, beneath the skin where she’ll never get me out.
I want to ruin her for anyone else.
And I’m pretty damn good at ruining things.

Dylan was also a character I really enjoyed. She knew what she wanted. She was goal oriented and into helping others who cannot help or speak for themselves. She never blew Silas off because he didn’t grow up like her, and she never felt above him…but this was also a part of the story in ways they need to overcome-Just to be clear. I can’t say she was as good as Silas, but *Scoffs* who is, am I right? However, she was a great heroine and she didn’t make me cringe, roll my eyes, or anger me in a way that endangered my enjoyment of the story. I loved her in a lot of ways, and she was always there for my beautiful broken football player.

Except I’m starting to think that the idea of “belonging” anywhere is false. We go through our whole lives thinking that we belong in one place and not in another. We think certain ideas and actions have to be relegated to the tiny little boxes we place them in. What if we just react instead? What if we take whatever the world gives us and instead of focusing on what it isn’t, we enjoy what it is?

So, you know, my fingers are ITCHING to type more about Silas and his jealousy and his fierce protectiveness and possessive tendencies and his loyalty and his loving nature and his longing to be good enough for her and…oopsy poopsy. My bad….

But I think this said enough. And hell, if I need to add more tomorrow, I will. I mean, I get to add my quotes next and EEEEPSSSS that is my favorite part. Who wants to be too tired to enjoy re-reading my favorite Silas moments?? Not I. But, I digress-I just recently went on a deleting massacre of my TBR, and Cora’s other popular series, Losing it, was deleted because I knew I’d never read it and it had been on there since, like, 2012. But, you know…I think I might be re-evaluating that decision. Hmmm….is that a pig in the sky?? Because that has NEVER happened before. What? I can admit when I’m wrong.

*********

I will never be able to turn this girl down. Whatever she wants from me, it’s hers. No matter what she asks for, I’ll find a way to give it to her. She may not be mine, but somewhere along the way, I ended up hers.

Ahhh!!! I am beyond excited I decided to give this one a try. Started another book, didn’t get any feels, picked this one up….and ALLL THE FEELSSSSS!!! Silas stole my heart from page one-SO unexpected!