Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 91 of 98)

BOOK REVIEW – Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3) by Karina Halle

August 14, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3)
by Karina Halle
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

*5 Final Stars*

I was a woman born of lies, but here I was being honest even when it hurt me the most.

From the moment I picked up Sins and Needles, this series has wormed it’s way into my heart. It has been an emotional ride and there have been things I hated, things I have loved, things I just never thought I could get over. But…I’m here today telling you that I absolutely loved this final installment.

I feared Javier and what he might do to Camden. I feared Camden and the way he’d changed toward me. I feared myself and the things I might do to try and make sense of it all.

There comes a time where you have to choose if you are willing to deal with the drama that comes with a passionate love triangle-if you’re willing to accept whomever the main character chooses, good or bad, right for her or wrong for her, whether you agree or disagree, and I made my decision probably three days prior to BT’s release. I wasn’t sure if I could deal with the thought that one of the men in Ellie’s triangle might die, if I could deal with the repercussions that stemmed from book 2-which made me angrier than any book has in a long time. I didn’t know what I’d think. That’s the honest to God truth of it all. I didn’t know if I’d be strong enough to not rate this based purely on who Ellie ended up with. And maybe that’s what is wrong with the rating system today: too many passionate reviews based only on the willingness of the reviewers to accept their personal preferences in the scenario.

I watched their silent exchange for a moment, the complexity in their eyes as they matched against each other in a visual war. The snake and the bear, the man of stealth and lies, the man of soul and strength.
Both men who had a stake in my heart at some point in the game.
This ever changing game.

The final book starts off with Ellie, Javier, and Camden forced to work together after a botched attempt to kill Travis. Tension is high and the will to survive is stronger than ever. But what happens when you have three people who would much rather be on opposites sides of the earth working together to save a son, a sister, and a father figure who has been around since before you can even remember?

Lies, scandal, betrayal, love, and lust. Who has more to gain, and what are they willing to do to achieve it? Each person wants someone saved desperately, but will time run out? There was so much going on in this last book, but I never once felt the plot was rushed or too forced. I enjoyed all the action scenes and the passion that drove each character forward. There was so much at stake, but never once did any one particular character stray from their goal-always a steady hand in the face of danger, and I truly couldn’t put the book down.

All my air left me. I was nothing inside but bones and blood. I was hollow, scooped out, unloveable. Undeserving. I was dying in the jungle, holding on to the one with the knife.

I know this wasn’t everyone’s favorite in the series, and I have to say S & N is by far my favorite of them all, but BT offered what none of the other installments could-Ellie’s redemption. Some might say she didn’t need redeemed for her past misdoings in the prior two Artist Trilogies, but I do/did. I was
NOT
happy with Ellie and I thought she betrayed more than one man in both S & N and SS. Ellie has always been a grey area character for me, but I am ecstatic to say that Ellie shined in my eyes. She picked a side. She
chose
. Good or bad. Javier or Cam. Stay back or fight. Live or die. She finally used that strong will to pick what she was going to do for herself. She stayed with what she wanted, what she needed, she resisted temptation even in the deepest pits of the devil’s lair. Overall? She gained my respect. Would I have been hurt had she not chosen the man who was always, always there for her? Yes, but it would have been HER decision-and as long as she stuck with it, I could at least
respect
that.

…but when you’re told over and over again about how immoral you are, how bad, how wicked, how unlikeable, how terrible you are, it’s hard to hear anyone say any different. I felt like a fraud being good just as I felt like a fraud being bad.

I’m both happy and sad to say it’s over. After all the turmoil, angst, and tears shed, Ellie finally has her happy ending. It’s both bittersweet and beautiful, happy and sad-the ending to a story where a girl who grew up in a world filled with lies and deception came out of the ashes and finally chose to reinvent herself. Not everyone will be happy with the result of Ellie’s redemption, but that’s the most important part we all need to reevaluate. This is Ellie’s story, not Camden’s or Javier’s, not even Gus’s. But even more importantly? This is Karina Halle’s baby, and she is free to do with her stories whatever she wishes. I will always love the story of Camden, Ellie, and Javier, and I will always miss them. I am sad to say goodbye, but they have chosen their lives and their paths, and now it’s time to move on with mine. I hope everybody will give this series a chance-they won’t regret it. 🙂

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Sins & Needles #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Shooting Scars #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Bold Tricks #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea

BOOK REVIEW – Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

August 14, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

*Absolutely and completely too cute*

I’ve been waiting a long time to read this one, and I’m glad to say it did not disappoint. A totally sweet and fun story that makes the reader smile larger and larger with each passing page. Never once taking itself too seriously, but still managing to portray a worthy life lesson that everyone can take something from.

Cath felt like she was swimming in words. Drowning in them, sometimes.

Cath is a shut-in introvert who can’t even fathom what she will do with herself now that Wren has refused to be her roommate in their first year of college. Consistently writing her fanfiction, Cath longs to delve deeper into her unfinished story, but classes threaten to take time away from her writing, causing her to constantly fret when she will get her next Fanfic written.

It felt good to be writing in her own room, in her own bed. To get lost in the World of Mages and stay lost. To not hear any voices in her head but Simon’s and Baz’s. Not even her own. This was why Cath wrote fic. For these hours when their world supplanted the real world.

All of the characters in this story were so fun and relatable. These fun and quirky people made you want to be able to interact with them, get to know them. My favorite character by far would have to be Levi. Always happy, always smiling, always there for you, Levi. Everytime he was in the story I had the biggest smile on my face, and I couldn’t help it. There was nothing cuter than Levi and all his questions, Levi waiting outside their dorm room, always thinking up an excuse to be in their room. And he never once left Cath hanging. He ~~was~~ is the type of guy who is there for Cath in a heartbeat, no matter what he’s doing and no matter what time it is. I loved him so, so much-it’s ridiculous. And Levi and Cath together??? Beyond sweet and beyond adorable-it was above and beyond cute. There is just no adequate way to describe them as a pair.

Knowing they were in the same city again made the missing him flare up inside her. In her stomach. Why were people always going on and on about the heart? Almost everything Levi happened in Cath’s stomach.

Levi’s smile broke free and devoured his whole face. It started to devour her face, too. Cath had to look away.

Even more exciting than the relationship, though, is the fresh writing style. Every word that poured from Cath’s mouth (or was played out in Cath’s mind) could have been something I would think or say. Quirky, relatable sentences strung together by words that are meaningless without the ambition from which the writer wrote this story, we fall head first into the story with writing that makes you feel warm, welcome, and rejuvenated.

I don’t think I’m any good at this. Boy–girl. Person–person. I don’t trust anybody. Not anybody. And the more that I care about someone, the more sure I am they’re going to get tired of me and take off.

A refreshing, light read that you can’t help but to fall in love with, Fangirl is something precious, indeed-a story you aren’t likely to forget any time soon…or ever for that matter. As stated above, it’s so damn refreshing to read about a budding relationship that has all the insecurities and blemishes that most new relationships in college might contain. Never once trying to be something it’s not, Fangirl shows how absolutely unnecessary it is to override us with steamy love scenes that make us fan ourselves. It’s all about smooth, flawless writing in a flow of beautifully written kisses that make you smile from ear to ear-it’s all you need if done correctly; I never once felt robbed of a steamy scene, and I attribute that to Rainbow Rowell’s fresh writing style.

It’s just … everything. There are too many people. And I don’t fit in. I don’t know how to be. Nothing that I’m good at is the sort of thing that matters there. Being smart doesn’t matter—and being good with words. And when those things do matter, it’s only because people want something from me. Not because they want me.

As with many YA/NA stories, there were obviously characters that made you angry, made you feel as though you yourself were betrayed, and had you questioning if you could ever forgive them-adding yet another layer to this intricately simple story. Building relationships that will ultimately break, leaving room for a noteworthy redemption…or yet another betrayal.

That’s what I loved most about the story-each and every character represented something special that made them unique. I loved this story so very much, and it will hold a special place in my heart for a very long time. No relationship should be so sweet…and then completely forgotten. I can only hope there is a continuation in the works, giving us more Levi and Cath, because there is no way I got my fill.

BOOK REVIEW – Good (Too Good #1) S. Walden

August 14, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Good (Too Good #1)
by S. Walden
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

An edgy, forbidden romance that explores what happens behind closed doors. One mistake can transform your life and alter your path, leading you in directions you never dreamed possible. What would you do if you met a man that was so absolutely irresistable….and then found out later that he was going to be your teacher for the rest of your senior year of High School?

More than once I found myself asking what I would do if I found myself in the same situation. On one hand, we are taught there’s a certain age where things become acceptable, a certain age where you’re old enough to decide what you want to do with your life and where you want to take it-what path you want to pursue. Should a girl that is soon to be a legal adult indulge in a secret affair with her calculus teacher? Absolutely not. It’s just not acceptable in society, and it is assumed that the teacher is a pervert or a predator-I mean, the girl is in High School, after all. But on the other hand, the idea of an illicit love affair with a man who adores and cherishes me, despite our substantial age gap? Errrrmmm…..yes, please. If she/I is eighteen, doesn’t that then become her/my choice? It’s a fine line-how do you really distinguish what’s right or wrong? You don’t. There will always be the opinions of your parents and older influences around you, and there will always be those who believe they have the right to do as they please once they turn eighteen, and that’s what this story is all about: Blurred lines.

BOOK REVIEW – A Little Too Far (A Little Too Far #1) by Lisa Desrochers

August 14, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

A Little Too Far (A Little Too Far #1)
by Lisa Desrochers
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

A story of a girl with a broken heart, traveling to Rome to escape and find herself again. Two boys, both unattainable and the complete opposite of what she needs…or are they both exactly what she was looking for?

I’ll be frank-I didn’t even want to read this book. I saw it exploding on my feed and never once thought to mark it as ‘to-read’. The main character makes a mistake and sleeps with her stepbrother, then travels to Rome and meets a priest-to-be? So not interested, and so not my style. I’m not against religion in any way; I just don’t particularly care for religion overload in stories. It’s a stupid thing for me to feel that way, really. Regardless of these aforementioned facts, my friend asked if I’d like to read it and I agreed. Why not, right? I was in a reading slump and nothing was piquing my interest anyway. If anything, I could just add it to a long line of disappointments, no problem. Little did I know that I’d fall in love with two incredibly awesome guys.

I think it goes without saying, I shocked even myself with how much I loved this totally cute story. Both guys were so unbelievably sweet and so completely different. Another surprising fact? I fell in love with both guys…I knew I loved the brother-He and Lexie had an adorable bond that drew me in almost instantly, and it kept my mind wandering to him the whole time she was in Rome. Well…almost the whole time. Insert Alessandro (Or Alejandro, as I so jokingly loved to call him), a priest in training. He swooped into the story and stole my heart with his adorable, secret smiles and selfless behavior throughout the entire story.

Now, many readers were upset with the lack of darkness drawn from the story. I do that sometimes-hear about a story and wish for something to happen, and when it never does, I am totally upset and disappointed. The thing with this story is, though, that I didn’t go into it wanting and needing something dark. I just wanted to read something good, no matter how cheesy, and that’s what I got-a good, well-rounded story.

The angst that was present, however, was the can-never-be relationships that were tested between each possible couple. Trent and Lexie represented the step-brother/sister relationship that can be considered both morally corrupt and unacceptable in society, no matter what it truly means on paper. Trent has always been the guy who, while honest with each new endeavor, has never had problems with the lady-folk. Alessandro and Lexie drew from the desire that can never be acted upon because of his devotion to God. He grew up in less than desirable circumstances and is on the path to making his life worth meaning and helping others turn theirs around. Lexie enters and he feels himself being drawn to the side he swore he would never lust after. What’s right for either of these situations?

He sighs and looks at me, his eyes sad. “You are my inspiration, Lexie. You always have been”
-Trent

”You make me question myself…my choices,” he says, low in my ear.
“…You confuse me, Lexie, more than anyone has in a long time.”
-Alessandro

In many ways, we really didn’t get enough of either guy, especially Trent. She was in Rome, centered around her studies and following her dreams, all the while getting closer to Alessandro, but never forgetting about Trent. A truly fun, albeit cheesy, journey that had me laughing, smiling, tearing up, rooting for both men, and feeling the best kind of angst when things became unbearably complicated. One thing I have to say, though, is that the story was written so incredibly well, that the cheese factor didn’t even phase me-if anything, it made me love it more, because I felt myself smiling like an absolute goofball-and I haven’t done that for a NA book in a long time. I loved this story more than I ever could have imagined, and will thank my friend repeatedly for bringing it to my attention and making it worthy of my annoyingly picky book-dar.

Purchase on Amazon or iBooks

BOOK REVIEW – That Boy (That Boy #1) by Jillian Dodd

August 14, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

That Boy (That Boy #1)
by Jillian Dodd
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

We’re all busy people and it’s easy to get so wrapped up in life, that we forget to live.

It seems that I am late to the party when it comes to this one. A diary-like story of a girl who grows up with two handsome men who both adore and cherish her friendship. Always together and always looking out for her well-being, they are inseparable-all three of them. But one…one boy will shine and become her everything, without her even realizing it.

How come a boy can be so stupid, but a Daddy, who actually used to be a BOY himself, can be so wonderful?

I really liked this dose of not-so-realistic cuteness. The idea of being friends with two boys since before you can remember and growing up with them as your best friends seems like a dream, a dream I would have loved to live in. Add to the fact that they’re handsome as well and hey, I’d be a part of that dream any day-sign me up. But while I adored the protectiveness, and even sweet, tender gestures some of the time, there was a point where the voice of the story did not grow up along with her character’s age. Forever trapped in a little girl’s monologue, I have to say that this was the biggest flaw and my only real complaint with the story-naivety and lack of growth from the female lead. The narration was adorable up to a point, college to be exact, and then it became monotonous and completely unrealistic. But this hardly altered my view of this beautiful and totally fun journey of a girl who has two loyal friends into adulthood where she will ultimately fall in love with the man of her dreams.

You know life is weird. There are times I feel so grown up and like I know everything I need to know, but then I think about the future and realize how little I do.

Phillip is the cute boy next door (literally), and they have been joined at the hip since birth. He is her prince and she his princess, always playing a fairy tale game. Always the responsible one, the one that looks after her, is her shoulder to cry on. They do everything together, and no one can come between them.

Enter Danny, the boy who thinks girls have cooties and aren’t good enough to play sports-until JJ shows him just what fun, athletic, little girls can do. They grow a different type of bond-a strong, unbreakable bond that will keep them extremely close up and into college. Always the boy she gets into trouble with, her partner in crime-never afraid of a challenge. Never one to get flustered, Danny always plays it cool and doesn’t treat anything with caution-he goes for what he wants-always.

Do any human beings ever realize life, while they live it – every, every minute?

I really enjoyed their journey as a trio, growing from children to young adulthood, never straying from one another and forever the best of friends. I absolutely
adore
who she fell in love with, and he was always my choice. I do wish it would have remained more of a mystery as to who she was going to end up with. At first, you really couldn’t tell. Then, as the story progressed, it became increasingly clear that
THAT boy
was the clear choice of who would ultimately hold her heart forever.

A sweet, light read where I always found myself wondering when I would get time to get to the conclusion so I could see what THAT boy would do to win her heart-and when I DID find the time to reach the inevitable finale, I was so pleased, my heart might have burst into pieces….and my tearducts followed immediately after.

I only hope that my boy will treat me as THAT boy did, and I’d be the luckiest girl in the world. 😛 But until then, I’ll remember this little tidbit that was both hilarious, and totally suited for me and my lifestyle-

If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.

Thanks JJ! 😛

My absolute favorite memory/quote-HAD to put this SOMEWHERE..considering it made me tear up tremendously.
View Spoiler »

Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 91 of 98)

BOOK REVIEW – Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3) by Karina Halle

I was a woman born of lies, but here I was being honest even when it hurt me the most.

I feared Javier and what he might do to Camden. I feared Camden and the way he’d changed toward me. I feared myself and the things I might do to try and make sense of it all.

I watched their silent exchange for a moment, the complexity in their eyes as they matched against each other in a visual war. The snake and the bear, the man of stealth and lies, the man of soul and strength.
Both men who had a stake in my heart at some point in the game.
This ever changing game.

All my air left me. I was nothing inside but bones and blood. I was hollow, scooped out, unloveable. Undeserving. I was dying in the jungle, holding on to the one with the knife.

…but when you’re told over and over again about how immoral you are, how bad, how wicked, how unlikeable, how terrible you are, it’s hard to hear anyone say any different. I felt like a fraud being good just as I felt like a fraud being bad.

BOOK REVIEW – Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath felt like she was swimming in words. Drowning in them, sometimes.

It felt good to be writing in her own room, in her own bed. To get lost in the World of Mages and stay lost. To not hear any voices in her head but Simon’s and Baz’s. Not even her own. This was why Cath wrote fic. For these hours when their world supplanted the real world.

Knowing they were in the same city again made the missing him flare up inside her. In her stomach. Why were people always going on and on about the heart? Almost everything Levi happened in Cath’s stomach.

Levi’s smile broke free and devoured his whole face. It started to devour her face, too. Cath had to look away.

I don’t think I’m any good at this. Boy–girl. Person–person. I don’t trust anybody. Not anybody. And the more that I care about someone, the more sure I am they’re going to get tired of me and take off.

BOOK REVIEW – Good (Too Good #1) S. Walden

BOOK REVIEW – A Little Too Far (A Little Too Far #1) by Lisa Desrochers

He sighs and looks at me, his eyes sad. “You are my inspiration, Lexie. You always have been”
-Trent

”You make me question myself…my choices,” he says, low in my ear.
“…You confuse me, Lexie, more than anyone has in a long time.”
-Alessandro

BOOK REVIEW – That Boy (That Boy #1) by Jillian Dodd

We’re all busy people and it’s easy to get so wrapped up in life, that we forget to live.

How come a boy can be so stupid, but a Daddy, who actually used to be a BOY himself, can be so wonderful?

You know life is weird. There are times I feel so grown up and like I know everything I need to know, but then I think about the future and realize how little I do.

Do any human beings ever realize life, while they live it – every, every minute?

If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.

Follow Us

Enter Email to Subscribe to Posts

Recent Reviews

Fun Lists About Books

Recommendations

Jen’s Currently Reading

Archives

Follow Us:

Search:

Archives

Recent Reviews

Fun Lists About Books

Recommendations

BOOK REVIEW – Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3) by Karina Halle

I was a woman born of lies, but here I was being honest even when it hurt me the most.

I feared Javier and what he might do to Camden. I feared Camden and the way he’d changed toward me. I feared myself and the things I might do to try and make sense of it all.

I watched their silent exchange for a moment, the complexity in their eyes as they matched against each other in a visual war. The snake and the bear, the man of stealth and lies, the man of soul and strength. Both men who had a stake in my heart at some point in the game. This ever changing game.

All my air left me. I was nothing inside but bones and blood. I was hollow, scooped out, unloveable. Undeserving. I was dying in the jungle, holding on to the one with the knife.

…but when you’re told over and over again about how immoral you are, how bad, how wicked, how unlikeable, how terrible you are, it’s hard to hear anyone say any different. I felt like a fraud being good just as I felt like a fraud being bad.

Share this:

BOOK REVIEW – Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath felt like she was swimming in words. Drowning in them, sometimes.

It felt good to be writing in her own room, in her own bed. To get lost in the World of Mages and stay lost. To not hear any voices in her head but Simon’s and Baz’s. Not even her own. This was why Cath wrote fic. For these hours when their world supplanted the real world.

Knowing they were in the same city again made the missing him flare up inside her. In her stomach. Why were people always going on and on about the heart? Almost everything Levi happened in Cath’s stomach.

Levi’s smile broke free and devoured his whole face. It started to devour her face, too. Cath had to look away.

I don’t think I’m any good at this. Boy–girl. Person–person. I don’t trust anybody. Not anybody. And the more that I care about someone, the more sure I am they’re going to get tired of me and take off.

Share this:

BOOK REVIEW – Good (Too Good #1) S. Walden

Share this:

BOOK REVIEW – A Little Too Far (A Little Too Far #1) by Lisa Desrochers

He sighs and looks at me, his eyes sad. “You are my inspiration, Lexie. You always have been” -Trent

”You make me question myself…my choices,” he says, low in my ear. “…You confuse me, Lexie, more than anyone has in a long time.” -Alessandro

Share this:

BOOK REVIEW – That Boy (That Boy #1) by Jillian Dodd

We’re all busy people and it’s easy to get so wrapped up in life, that we forget to live.

How come a boy can be so stupid, but a Daddy, who actually used to be a BOY himself, can be so wonderful?

You know life is weird. There are times I feel so grown up and like I know everything I need to know, but then I think about the future and realize how little I do.

Do any human beings ever realize life, while they live it – every, every minute?

If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.

Share this:

Follow Us

Enter Email to Subscribe to Posts

Recent Reviews

Fun Lists About Books

Recommendations

Jen’s Currently Reading

Archives

Follow Us:

Search:

Archives

Recent Reviews

Fun Lists About Books

Recommendations

I watched their silent exchange for a moment, the complexity in their eyes as they matched against each other in a visual war. The snake and the bear, the man of stealth and lies, the man of soul and strength.
Both men who had a stake in my heart at some point in the game.
This ever changing game.

He sighs and looks at me, his eyes sad. “You are my inspiration, Lexie. You always have been”
-Trent

”You make me question myself…my choices,” he says, low in my ear.
“…You confuse me, Lexie, more than anyone has in a long time.”
-Alessandro