Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 52 of 97)

REVIEW+GIVEAWAY: Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake

April 28, 2016 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

We are so excited to be a part of the Suffer Love Blog Tour! This story is so deep, meaningful, and heartfelt. Your emotions will be all over the place, but most of all you will feel the hurt and betrayal...and what happens when families are in the process of being torn apart. The aftermath is what our two main characters are dealing with, and I absolutely fell in love with both of them. A cruel twist of fate brought them together, but is it enough to tear them apart? Look below to find my 5 star review, some of my favorite quotes, and a giveaway! I hope it will encourage you to give this one a try! Enjoy!

REVIEW+GIVEAWAY: Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake

Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Hadley St. Clair's life changed the day she came home to a front door covered in slips of paper, each of them revealing the ugly truth about her father. Now as her family falls apart in the wake of his year-long affair, Hadley wants everyone-her dad most of all-to leave her alone.

Then she meets Sam Bennett, a cute new boy who inexplicably "feels like home" to Hadley. Hadley and Sam's connection is undeniable, but Sam has a secret about his family that could ruin everything.

Funny and passionate, Suffer Love is a story about first love, family dysfunction, and the fickle hand of fate.

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 3rd 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction

My heart is crushed within me, Here is the truth: You made me love you-your eyes and mouth and voice. You pulled me into your heart. You don’t want me there and I don’t want to be there, but it’s where I will always live.

You know those books that just pop out at you when you see them? The covers that are beautiful, yet you know that by looking at the synopsis, this isn’t going to be one of those flops where the cover is better than anything possible in the book?? Yeah, well, this is one of those instances. This book, despite it’s absolutely fucking gorgeous cover, doesn’t lack in depth. Whether this will be for everyone?? I have no clue. But what I do know?? Those of you looking for a YA book that isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but still like the warm fuzzies and bouts of butterflies that are likely to choke you with their frequency….will love this story.

I kneel to help, accepting a thank-you from the boy’s harried-looking mother. When we finish, I edge Sam’s hard stomach with my elbow, trying to play off his sudden nervousness. “Don’t get any ideas, Sam Bennett. I just want to hang out.”
Pink splashes over his cheekbones as he throws up his hands in surrender. He smiles that lopsided grin. “I wouldn’t dream of getting any ideas.”
–
“Okay, I would dream of getting ideas.”

Or maybe you won’t-that’s just the way of it, and I am hardly a person who picks on each and every flaw within a story. But there was just something so sweet, yet heartbreaking, about this story. Something that reached into my soul and latched onto it, making it hard for me to breathe long after I had put it down. I adore YA realistic fiction, but lately it’s hard to find those winners that really stick with you. I don’t know what it was about this story that made me so happy-Whether it be the not so easy romance or the flawed family relationships or even the hilarious banter that I found so life-like and tangible and authentic…no matter what it was, it really resonated with me, and that’s not so easy to do lately.

As I adjust the temperature on the oven and listen to Mom as she finally trudges up the stairs, I think about what Hadley said about wanting something you don’t even believe is possible. I wonder now whether she was really talking about a happy ending or whether she was just talking about the kind of life where you don’t have to fight so hard to feel at home with your own family.

For years I was caught in an inferno of insta-love, lust, and easy-fix relationships when it came to romance novels. It wasn’t until I got onto Goodreads that I really started to find the books that touched me in ways I never imagined possible. YA is a genre I latched onto quickly, using the idea that, after reading a few fantastic novels, YA writers have a little more difficult time writing a truly engrossing story because they can’t use sex as a crutch or raunchy conversations to make time pass quickly-fade to black may not be for everyone, but it happens frequently in these YA novels. And it has became something that doesn’t bother me, but makes me appreciate how wonderful everything is that surrounds the intimate moments.

My arms go around her and she sort of melts into me. I rest my cheek on her head and we just stand there, wordless. I let myself imagine a different life with her, free of knots and lies and little slips of paper. I let myself believe what feels true-that she’s just a girl and I’m just a boy and we want to be together. We couldn’t not be together, because being together was the only thing that made sense. The only thing that kept us from both disappearing.

My point in all that was simple: YA is such an underappreciated genre because people feel they outgrow it or can’t relate to something that happened so long ago for them…but for some reason it’s the opposite for me. When I read a story like this, it helps me embrace the moments from long ago where I fell in love with my husband in the hallways of our high school. It helps me reminisce about the carefree days and nights and how we fell in love despite what people said about our completely different lifestyles, how we would never make it because we had nothing in common-But look who’s laughing now, hmm? And you know what they say…opposites attract.

Her movement startles me out of my fog, and I turn to look at her. A lawnmower cranks up next door and we sit in its rumble as I try to figure out why the hell I’m so furious with Josh, want to slash Sloane’s tires, want to crush every guy who even looks at Hadley below the neck.

Again, back to my point-this story wasn’t about two opposites. In fact, it was about two people living the same lonely life, connected in a way no one in their right mind would ever wish to be. Her father cheated, causing tension and strife in what was an otherwise stable household. His mother cheated, breaking up a family that wasn’t perfect, but was whole. These horrible instances brought these two together….but they don’t realize it until it’s too late. Didn’t you wonder why this was called Suffer Love? Well…that’s a piece of it.

And everything slows down.
Crash.
In Romeo and Juliet, stars didn’t cross. They collided.
Game over.
Hadley slides the paper across the table.
I don’t need to look at it.
I know what it is.
Crash.

Sam and Hadley were two characters I just absolutely adored. Sam, for his broken soul, his unwavering loyalty that changed the way his family looked at him forever, the way he takes care of his little sister, Livy, and the fact that he was real. He wasn’t a cardboard boy in a cardboard story-He had real feelings and real anger and real angst and he did some things wrong (I won’t mention one that made me cross my arms and humph, even though he wasn’t really in the wrong). And then the way he slowly fell for Hadley, despite the devastating consequences of such a heartbreaking connection. He knew what it would mean, what it would cost, and who it would hurt to fall in love with the beautiful Hadley…but he couldn’t help falling. I mean…come on. Of course I fell in love with him and with this story.

And that’s when I know I’ve finally lost this battle with myself. I don’t care who I am. I don’t care what our parents did or how I’ll explain everything to her. I only care about being with her, right now up on this hill. I feel her in my gut and in my bones and that deep, hollow place in my chest.

And then Hadley-Going through a phase to help numb the pain, she’s dealing with things in the only way she knows how. But when she meets Sam, all of that changes. Instead of seeking solace in stolen kisses in dark rooms and utility closets, she finds that simply talking to Sam, spending time with Sam, falling in love with Sam….is the only distraction she needs. She starts to see that she doesn’t have to feel alone, that he understands and can relate in ways no one else can-And that when things start to crumble, he’s the one she wants to run to.

Relief pours through me, and suddenly I need him closer. Unlike with josh or any other guy, it’s not about filling some void or only having fun. It’s about Sam. It’s about me. It’s an overflow of whatever this unspoken unseen thing is between us, and I realize that I do want it. I want him.

An authentic ending, a beautiful portrayal of families in turmoil who are just trying to make it work again, and a wonderful look at a relationship that is built from broken hearts and closet betrayals, even as the world continues to crumble around them. Hadley’s relationship with Sam’s sister, Livy, warmed my heart in ways I didn’t think existed. The familial ties that, no matter what they’ve gone through, don’t sever, but stay frayed as everyone tries to hold on as best they can. These people are real, and real people have flaws, make mistakes, and don’t handle themselves like they should. Maybe everyone wouldn’t agree, but I found that every little step felt right, like this would really happen if this story actually did exist. And because of this, unexpected tears coursed down my face without me even realizing as the book came to a close, causing me to hug my iPad to my chest and cradle these characters close as they held onto the hope, longing, and sacrifice that would mold their tentative new relationship. Not all HEA’s are clean cut and care-free….and HEA’s don’t exist for everyone. I hope that all of you will give this one a try, but if you aren’t convinced, ask yourself this-Can you really resist his charms? Can you?

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Purchase Here:

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ENTER TO WIN A SUFFER LOVE SWAG PACK HERE (It’s international!)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

8545130 Ashley Herring Blake is a poet, teacher, and YA novelist. Her debut novel, SUFFER LOVE, follows two teens as they attempt to wade through an intense relationship complicated by their parents’ infidelities. Ashley lives in Nashville, TN.

Website I Goodreads I Twitter I Facebook I Pinterest I Instagram I Tumblr

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Thanks so much for stopping by! And don’t forget-Follow the rest of the tour HERE!

BOOK REVIEW: Good Girl (Love Unexpectedly #2) by Lauren Layne

April 27, 2016 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

Good Girl (Love Unexpectedly #2)
by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Lauren Layne brings all the unpredictable heat of her USA Today bestseller Blurred Lines to an all-new cast of characters! Country music’s favorite good girl is hiding away from the world—only to find herself bunking with a guy who makes her want to be a little bad.

Jenny Dawson moved to Nashville to write music, not get famous. But when her latest record goes double platinum, Jenny’s suddenly one of the town’s biggest stars—and the center of a tabloid scandal connecting her with a pop star she’s barely even met. With paparazzi tracking her every move, Jenny flees to a remote mansion in Louisiana to write her next album. The only hiccup is the unexpected presence of a brooding young caretaker named Noah, whose foul mouth and snap judgments lead to constant bickering—and serious heat.

Noah really should tell Jenny that he’s Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, the owner of the estate where the feisty country singer has made her spoiled self at home. But the charade gives Noah a much-needed break from his own troubles, and before long, their verbal sparring is indistinguishable from foreplay. But as sizzling nights give way to quiet pillow talk, Noah begins to realize that Jenny’s almost as complicated as he is. To fit into each other’s lives, they’ll need the courage to face their problems together—before the outside world catches up to them.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

“A little more time, Vaughn,” I say quietly. “I hate having to say this out loud, but I’m…I’m reeling, man. I feel like I’ve been in an aimless free-fall for years, and this place…it’s helping. I don’t know why, I don’t know how, but it’s helping.”
He searches my face carefully. “You sure it’s the place?” he asks slowly. “Or is it the girl?”

Romance is an escape. It’s a good break from the hardcore fantasy and soul-crushing dystopian. And, most importantly, if it’s a romance novel by an author I like, then it makes all the bad things go away, turns my frown upside down, and gives me the laughs I need to make it through the day. And as it turns out?? This is an author I really enjoy and this was a week where I needed a little bit of happiness.

I look from her to the dog, who I belatedly realize is now wearing a pink bow.
No. Just hell no.
What have I gotten myself into?
More important, how do I get myself out?

It’s no secret that I’ve never really rated an LL below a four-I always feel like that day is coming, yet it hasn’t. And it may not be the author so much as me-Do you ever feel like an author just…gets you?? Like, if you were to write a book in this genre, or write a book at all, that author takes almost all the words out of your mouth and handles things just as you would? Almost as if he/she is you in author form. Well…I think LL is that person. She never fails to make me smile and I’ve yet to be near the end of one of her books and wishing it would ‘just be over already’. LL is my author soul mate and I’m not afraid to admit it. If ever I need a smile…I know just where to go. But, as it turns out, I’m always out of her books lol.

I hurriedly grab my stuff, making sure there’s no sign of my presence before I can dash into Noah’s tiny closet, leaving it open just a crack so I can breathe and see what I’m doing.
Oh, what’s that? I didn’t mention that my revenge plan is totally creepy and a lot immature? It is.
Don’t care.

This book has been getting a really bad rap. I mean yeah, there are lots of four star reviews in the community section, sure. But, more often than not, my feed has made me cringe with the status updates and reviews. And, ya know, I get it. I went into this expecting to hate it (even though I am almost always on my own in the ‘LL is the best’ fan club) because a lot of my close friends did. And I’m not going to name any names, that would be ridiculously rude, but even someone who I think is my equal in LL love gave this a three. Why, you ask?? Well…let me list the ways.

I stand still, my body humming in anticipation, as Noah comes in the door.
“Hey, boy,” I hear him say quietly to Ranger. “Where’d you get that bone, huh? You steal it from the stupid cotton ball?”
I roll my eyes. Sure, my dog’s the stupid one. I saw Ranger barking at his own shadow the other day.

Noah is an asshole. Noah is an asshole who continually hurts Jenny. Noah is an asshole who says things that are basically unforgivable….yet he is always forgiven. Jenny is the girl who wants to see the good in everybody (much like me-something that didn’t escape my attention as I was reading-EEPS) and wants to believe Noah isn’t a total jackass. Now, some people believe she was a doormat….but I disagree (See reason above…why would I diss on myself, flawed or not?).

But anyway, back to Jenny.
Am I avoiding her? Yes.
Out of embarrassment? No.
I’m avoiding her because I can’t even think her name without remembering what it felt like to have her hands and mouth all over me. I can’t blink and not see her in that sexy black bra. I can’t breathe and not smell her scent, all sweet and innocent.

Just because you repeatedly forgive someone doesn’t make you a doormat…it makes you someone who just wants, I don’t know, the happiest life with the person you have feelings for. And hey, let me just say, I don’t like doormats for main characters, and I know a damn doormat girl when I see one, and Jenny was distinctively different based on her actions. Or, at least, I’ve seen much worse. Namely…myself.

I dump a handful of chocolate chips into the blender. Chocolate fixes everything.
Tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder, I put the lid on and flick the blender back on, sort of relishing the hacking noise the chocolate chips make as they whir.
“What the heck is that noise?” Amber asks.
“Just throwing some carrots into the blender,” I lie.
“Oh, good call! I love how carrots add that delicious bit of sweetness,” she says.
I roll my eyes. Sweetness my ass. They’re carrots.

Just wanted to put here that I deleted three paragraphs of a personal story because I don’t want friends and family here at home to get the wrong idea-It was relevant to why I loved this story so much, but this is what’s best for me. Back to the review! 😛

So here is my disclaimer, and it is different from the one that I put in my pre-review: This is unlike any LL book I’ve ever read….and I’ve read them all. If you don’t want change or something different than you’re used to with LL, then don’t read this one. That can be the only warning I give you. I may have loved the different style of this story, but ratings have proven that others don’t. It is what it is-just use your gut and go from there. I can’t make that decision for you.

I exit out the front door just in time to see my big brown Lab leap forward, his clumsy paws finding the shoulders of a blond girl who lets out a shriek, holding a cat above her head like that scene from The Lion King.
“Ranger, no! Down!”
I run forward, my hand finding the collar of my dog and yanking him backward as I search the ground to find the source of the small-dog barks still piercing the air.
Then I register that the sound is coming from above, and I realize…
The cotton ball isn’t a cat.
That orange peace of fluff is a dog, and Ranger is apparently in love.

So, the good stuff! This is my favorite atmosphere yet by this author-

I both loved and hated this book in equal measure, making this a completely foreign feeling, which I’m totally unaccustomed to. I went into this not expecting to like it, yet came out with the goofiest smile on my face, scolding myself all the while because it felt wrong to love something that, at times, was vile. But it made me feel strongly, and that’s all I ever really want when I read-To feel strong emotion for a story, both good and bad, instead of the typical, ’Okay, onto the next!’ This was a situation of ‘like-love-hate’, but love-more-than-dislike and happy-more-than-not that it was a 5 star love/hate relationship rather than a 3 star love/hate. Does that make sense? No?? Oops.

I climb into the truck, moving the seat slightly, since Finn’s a couple inches shorter than me. I glance over at Jenny, hoping she doesn’t ask why I’m adjusting the seat in what she thinks is my truck, but she’s too busy fiddling with something orange and hideous on her head.
I pause in the process of jamming the key into the ignition, staring at her in horror. “What the hell is that?”
“A wig,” she says, pulling down the visor to look in the mirror. Only there isn’t one, it having broken long ago, so she turns to me. “So how does it look?”

The writing, the banter, the conversations, her eye-rolls, Noah’s looks of horror when Jenny did something moronic. The humming her songs in secret and then humming them to taunt her. The way he always walked her back to her house no matter what so she’d be safe. Jenny reminded me of myself, wanting to hold her resolve but unable to when Noah looked hurt or hopeful. And hey! He teared up..I can’t even.

You know how I said Jenny’s voice sounded like her heart?
I’m wrong.
Her voice sounds like my heart.
And I want it back. I want her back.

I do have to say this: this book set a record of firsts for me: One being her Pomeranian, Dolly!!!! LL has a pom, and I have a pom, so naturally we know the breeds mannerisms and what makes them so fucking perfect…and it all translated perfectly onto the page. I just….it was so sweet to feel like I was reading about my baby every time I read. It was just awesome. And then, oh yeah, Noah was so cruel one time that I actually found myself tearing up for Jenny. Like…wow. That has NEVER happened before. Bravo…or…ouch, I dunno.

“What the heck is wrong with your dog?” the girl says as she slowly lowers the puffball from over her head, cradling the hideous little monster against her chest as it continues its high-pitched bloody-murder yips.
“At least my dog is actually a dog,” I say, staring in horror at the pointy face of a canine that could fit in one of my hands. “I’ve seen dust bunnies bigger than that thing.”
“Dolly’s a Pomeranian,” she says, setting a hand on top of the monster’s head. “She’s supposed to be this tiny.”

^YES

Yet I liked him, loved him, swooned over him (at times) –especially at the end. It definitely makes me want to re-evaluate what types of dudes I like (book wise). I get what she was trying to create-A different guy, a different atmosphere….and she succeeded-He was so mean, almost unforgivably so, and I’m always on the guy’s side.

His eyes rake over me. “Playing dumb won’t change the fact that you’ll be thinking about me all night, princess. Your fingers will be a poor stand-in for my tongue, I can promise you that.”
“I’m trying to figure out which word better applies here, delusional or disgusting. I’m thinking it’s a tie.”
Noah bends down slightly, enough so that I can feel his warm breath on my mouth. “Enjoy your night, princess.”

Soooo yeah. Feeling super vulnerable after this one, but the review took me there, and I respected it’s wishes. I don’t think this one is for everyone, but I think a lot of people will still love it-If you like the type of book that makes you smile so big your face is bursting or you like laugh out loud banter and conversations or inner monologues, LL is the author for you, and this book is most likely something you’ll enjoy….just know that this one has a crueler guy and he’s unlike any of her other heroes-Even Paul was kinder (I ADORE PAUL I LOVE YOU PAULLLLL). I giggle snorted (hey, a new first) and covered my mouth to stifle my smiles and giggles and, frankly, LL won again. But is this a shock to anyone?? Hmmm…no. Even when I try not to like it…I like it harder. Whatevs. I lose…like usual.

************
Soooo yikes. Black sheep much??? Okay, so, here is the most honest thing you will ever hear me say, so listen closely: I legitimately feel guilty for loving this book. There-I said it. The way Noah treats Jenny is deplorable, disgusting. And yet….I just couldn’t help smiling and, ultimately, falling in love with this story. And the sickest part: I DID NOT WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS STORY BECAUSE IT FELT SHAMEFUL TO DISAGREE WITH THE VALID POINTS MY FRIENDS HAVE SO ASTUTELY POINTED OUT.

And the bottom line? I loved this fucking book, even though I tried to not like it, just so I would feel like everyone else. And it makes me extremely mad at myself. Shame on me. I can like whatever the fuck I want and I shouldn’t feel like I first did when I got on GR. So. There it is. I don’t give a fuck if I have five starred fifty books this month- I like what I like and I refuse to feel ashamed about it.

I loved the Louisiana setting. I loved Dolly. I loved Ranger. I loved Jenny and Noah and Finn and Vaughn. They are flawed and they are wrong and they make lots of mistakes…but my heart wants what it wants.

I didn’t like this because it was an LL-I liked this because I was having a shitty week and this cheered me up immensely. *shrugs* whatever.

Baaaaah

Review to come-a less crazy sounding one, for sure

REVIEW – Withering Hope by Layla Hagen

April 26, 2016 / Jen / 6 Comments

Withering Hope by Layla Hagen
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Aimee’s wedding is supposed to turn out perfect. Her dress, her fiancé and the location—the idyllic holiday ranch in Brazil—are perfect.

But all Aimee’s plans come crashing down when the private jet that’s taking her from the U.S. to the ranch—where her fiancé awaits her—defects mid-flight and the pilot is forced to perform an emergency landing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

With no way to reach civilisation, being rescued is Aimee and Tristan’s—the pilot—only hope. A slim one that slowly withers away, desperation taking its place. Because death wanders in the jungle under many forms: starvation, diseases. Beasts.

As Aimee and Tristan fight to find ways to survive, they grow closer. Together they discover that facing old, inner agonies carved by painful pasts takes just as much courage, if not even more, than facing the rainforest.

Despite her devotion to her fiancé, Aimee can’t hide her feelings for Tristan—the man for whom she’s slowly becoming everything. You can hide many things in the rainforest. But not lies. Or love.

Withering Hope is the story of a man who desperately needs forgiveness and the woman who brings him hope. It is a story in which hope births wings and blooms into a love that is as beautiful and intense as it is forbidden.

Review:

There’s something raw and addictive about a book that forces two people to rely on each other for survival. Since the elements around them can easily make today their last day alive. They have to learn to work and trust one another to be successful. And that forces them to become closer than ever imaginable. This is why I love the idea behind survival stories. And while Withering Hope was thoroughly entertaining, the writing style felt flat at times. It left me desiring and wanting so much more. I’m so sad, because that’s how I felt with On The Island also. But if you’re able to look past that, then what you’ll find is an enjoyable story that is a lot of fun.

Aimee and Tristan, her husband’s private pilot, were on their way from the US to her husband’s ranch in Brazil. So she could prepare for their upcoming wedding. Yet all of her plans skidded to a halt when Aimee and Tristan ended up crash landing in the Amazon. In the middle of nowhere with the bare minimum of resources. They aren’t by any water that is drinkable. The food that surrounds them could potentially be poisonous. And creatures that are on the ground and even in the trees are lethal. The odds are stacked up against them, and making it through each day is a true feat!

I liked watching Aimee and Tristan slowly become closer and closer as the days passed. It was believable and realistic how their friendship unfolded. We slowly got to learn details about Aimee and Tristan’s past, and that sparked some hope that maybe they could be something more. Because the chemistry was most definitely there. They just needed to take that emotional step too!

So while the situation and the development of their friendship was wonderful, as I said before, the writing style wasn’t my favorite. It left me struggling at times to make a connection to either of the characters. And each time I thought that I was becoming immersed in the story, it’d pull me back out again. I hated not being able to make that full connection to Aimee, Tristan and the story. *pouts*

But I will say that for those who love a solid ending, Withering Hope was perfect in that department! You get not one, but two epilogues. That was a truly wonderful experience! But now I’m on the hunt for a survival story that is an emotional powerhouse! If you know of any, please let me know because I’d love to give them a try!

BOOK REVIEW – Undecided by Julianna Keyes

April 24, 2016 / Anna

Undecided by Julianna Keyes
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Nora Kincaid has one goal for her second year of college: be invisible. Last year’s all-party-no-study strategy resulted in three failed classes and two criminal charges, and if she messes up again she’ll lose her scholarship. But there’s one problem with her plan for invisibility, and his name is Crosbie Lucas: infamous party king, general hellraiser…and her new roommate’s best friend.

Crosbie’s reckless reputation and well-known sexcapades aren’t part of Nora’s studious new strategy, but as she’s quickly learning, her new plan is also really boring. When Crosbie’s unexpected gestures of friendship pull her head out of her books long enough to see past his cocky veneer, she’s surprised to find a flawed and funny guy beneath it all. The muscles don’t hurt, either.

But as Nora starts to fall for Crosbie, the weight of one of last year’s bad decisions grows even heavier. Because three failing grades and two misdemeanors are nothing compared to the one big secret she’s hiding…

2.5 stars? 3 stars? I think I’ll remain forever Undecided (and sorry for this terrible pun, you know I had to do it). Don’t get me wrong, I was actually pleasantly surprised by Crosbie’s magic tricks. And no, I’m not being naughty.

Much.

If I had to compare it to most of the NA I read, Undecided would have really interesting things to offer :

✔ The drama is never over the top, as in : no important issue used as a background to try (and fail) making the main character interesting. Thank you.

✔ For once the fact that the male-lead played around before doesn’t mean that he has to be obnoxious because really, why assholes are the only ones to get laid in NA is beyond me. Hello, some guys have 20+ hook-ups in a year and are actually nice and decent persons. They don’t need to slut-shame or be such cocky bastards. See, I don’t hate 99% of the “player” kind of male-leads because they have sex with multiple women. No. I hate them because more often then not, they’re unredeemable sexist jerks. Crosbie isn’t. Crosbie is actually very sweet. Kellan *cough* …. isn’t the love interest. Yet I can’t deny that if he cares about his friends, love-wise he’s oblivious at best, irresponsible, and infuriating at times. He’s not my favorite person, let’s say, but I do not hate him.

✔ There’s no love-triangle, no matter what the cover and the blurb are trying to tell us. WTF, really. Do they really think that it’s a selling point? Because it’s not. There are two guys, but in no way can their relationships with the MC be called a love triangle. It seems like it at first but… no.

✔ It’s surprisingly well-written. Surprisingly, because I’m sorry, but if I – as a non English speaker – can notice weird phrasing or grammar mistakes, I tend to think that it’s really, really bad, and it happens a lot in NA. Bonus points because it made me laugh.

See? It’s not near as bad as I expected it to be. However, if the beginning put a smile on my face and let me hope for a shocking winner, I have complaints I can’t overlook :

✘ Alright, so I already said that Crosbie was cute – I didn’t? He is super cute, trust me – and I really liked the build-up of his relationship with Nora. Unfortunately, if they do share chemistry, I never really saw their feelings growing after they started dating. Oh, yeah, they had sex. Loads and loads of sex. I mean, GREAT. Sex is important in a relationship. But somehow I felt that their story was lacking and that they didn’t really get to know each other. No matter all of Crosbie’s gestures – adorable, this one, did I say that? – they don’t really spend time together except for having sex, and it got boring pretty fast. That’s why the Iloveyous in the end made me roll my eyes a little, because where did that come from? Infatuation, yes. Crush, yes. Lust? Oh god yes. Love? Hmmpf. Nah.

✘ Although I’m pretty sure that Julianna Keyes had good intentions, the treatment of double standards when it comes to sex – and especially one-night stands – felt short in my opinion. See, I’m really glad that it was actually acknowledged, because slut-shaming is so ingrained in NA that the mere mention of the existence of double standards is pretty good. Pretty good, but not nearly enough. It remains that Nora, the MC, who’d lived in the “wild” side the year before (her words – not mines), only had sex with 5 guys. Sure enough, the sex-part of her year isn’t the only thing that made her want to go all serious. BUT the fact that she slept with 5 guys – and one in particular – plays such a major part in the plot that I’m feeling a little dizzy at the unfairness of it all. I mean, Kellan “dated” more than 50 girls. Crosbie, more than 20. If it’s okay for them, it should be okay for her, too. Don’t get me wrong, neither Kellan nor Crosbie act like jerks about it, but I still felt like the issue was only brushed off – so much potential wasted on that account.

✘ “Sexy” is ALWAYS a better choice than “slutty” in my book. Please use it.

► In the end, Undecided isn’t a bad book by any means, but it isn’t amazing either. I wasn’t enthralled, and I can’t help but feel that the love story was lacking. Forgettable, you know? Oh well. I’ve read far, far worst.

Also, ~~magic tricks~~ sorry, illusions.

BOOK REVIEW – I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

April 18, 2016 / Jen / 6 Comments

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she's ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California's dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

Review:

I’ll Meet You There was emotionally intense and impossible to put down. The plight of the characters was gut wrenching and all-consuming. It was so easy to be pulled into their dire lives and I fell deeply for this book. Yet I personally struggled, since it made me dive straight into my past. And that hurt. Oh my gosh, it hurt too damn much being back there. But I’ll Meet You There was such an important story and accurate portrayal of PTSD. I can’t even express how thankful I am that this book was written.

“This buddy of mine always tells me—” He stopped for a second and tapped his key against the steering wheel. I waited for him to finish his thought, but it was like he’d already gotten out of the truck. Like Mom, he wasn’t there.
“Josh?” I reached out to touch his arm, but he jerked away.
“I’m fine,” he snapped.
“Okay,” I said, my voice soft.

I loved Skyler our heroine! She was witty, sentimental, had a great sense for people, and she knew how to handle life to the best of her abilities….for the most part. With graduation under her belt and plans to leave her little town, everything was looking up. I have to say that I loved knowing the area she was from. My bestie is originally from that area, and if you aren’t familiar with the armpit of California off Hwy 99 well…..it’s insanely hot, rural, and in certain parts there truly isn’t a lot to do. Especially job wise. But Skyler is going to attend college in San Francisco, on a scholarship, and she has one last summer to spend with her friends while working at the local motel.

“You hick bastard.”
“I love it when you talk dirty.”

You will want to meet her friends! They were quirky and hilarious without even trying. They stood out strongly, and the three of them together were just like peas and carrots and corn. I swear that’s a thing. I would love to read another story about each of them – Dylan was her female best friend and Chris was her male best friend. Or I could just go dancing with Chris or cruising to a party with Dylan. Oh, I want to meet these people!

I lay down next to him. “I’m glad you’re home,” I whispered.
His hand found mine and held it.

Skyler has another friend, Josh, who is a few years older than her. They had worked at the local motel together, before he was deployed overseas for a tour with the Marine Core. Upon returning home, Josh has one less leg and a horrific case of PTSD. My fingers literally ached to reach out and comfort him. Especially when we would get these few pages from Josh’s point of view where he was open, honest and layed out all of his pain and suffering for us to see. The mental and physical anguish he was in broke my heart. Literally. It felt as though it was shattering into a billion teeny tiny pieces.

Why did I make it when so many other guys got wasted? And now it’s like I lost a leg and gained another fuckin’ eye that’s letting me see everything in this totally new, crappy light and all this shit that used to make me me I either can’t do or is so fucking stupid—God, what’s the point of me? – Josh

But Josh has this other side to him. The one that I rooted and cheered to stay at the forefront. He could be so sweet and caring to Skyler. Even when he was teaching her something like chess, my heart would race and I had a permanent smile on my face. Josh was infectious in the best possible way with his charm. And I hoped they could support and fight their demons together.

I wasn’t going to cry, I wasn’t. That wouldn’t solve anything. I closed my eyes until the tears retreated down my throat and back into my chest, where they seemed to live these days.

Demons. *hiccup sobs* This book was a very hard subject for me. For quite a few reasons, but the hardest reason of all was being thrown back to when I was 14-20 years old. Someone I loved, and who was my best friend in the world, had a father that suffered PTSD from his time in Vietnam. I don’t want to say more, since it’s not my story to tell, but this book placed me back into that situation. Of despair. Of pain. Of lost hope for someone so full of happiness and life. It gutted me and I sobbed hysterically for the past. Not only for the person that suffered, but for their family and loved ones too. Those few pages in Josh’s point of view put me back in my best friend’s dad’s home where I held my breath that it would be a good night, even though it usually wasn’t. To those memories where I tried my hardest to help or distract him while his father was suffering. My heart still hurts to this day that my presence could only do so much to ease his pain. Oh, this book, it reminded me of so many moments that I had forgotten.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. His lips brushed my hair.
“I’ve got you.”
I’ve got you. My blood racing, his heart pounding against my chest, I lifted my head and pressed my lips against his cheek. It was warm and scruffy, and I wanted to do it again and again, but I didn’t. I felt him smile.
“Thanks for having my back,” I said.
“Any time.”

While I am so grateful this story will impact people so deeply, I closed that last page feeling broken even though I loved so much of I’ll Meet You There. I was not prepared to step back into my past. But clearly if you don’t have my type of history, then I truly believe you’d love every part of this book. The characters were so vivid, the conversations made me feel as though I was there and the emotions the characters felt resonated deep inside of me. I will definitely be reading her other books in the future!

PS A special thank you to Chelsea for gifting me this beautiful book. You know what and who I will love oh so well. *hugs* Thank you!!