Tag: New Adult (Page 20 of 47)

BOOK REVIEW – The Bet (The Bet #1) by Rachel Van Dyken

June 25, 2018 / Jen / 6 Comments

The Bet (The Bet #1)
by Rachel Van Dyken
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
"I have a proposition for you." Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. It's been years since Kacey's seen her childhood friend Jake, but the minute Jake mentions his ill grandmother, Kacey is ready to do anything for the sweet old woman. And if that means pretending they're engaged for her sake-so be it.

But Kacey wasn't counting on Jake's older brother Travis still being there. She calls him "Satan" for a reason: she's never forgotten the way he teased and taunted her. Yet when they meet again, Travis's gorgeous smile is a direct hit to her heart . . . and Kacey's more confused than ever. As the days pass, only one thing starts to become alarmingly clear-she never should have accepted Jake's deal . . .

Review:

The Bet was hilariously addicting! I loved that the characters charmed their way into my heart, that the pages were filled with tons of fun drama and that the ending left me excited to read the next book in this series. This was my first book by Rachel Van Dyken and I’m definitely kicking myself that I didn’t pick up one of her books sooner!

Jake’s thumb rubbed across her fingers delicately.
Another involuntary shiver ran down her spine. It’s not real, Kacey. Just remember it’s not real. He doesn’t really like you in that way. Do it for Grandma!

Jake Titus propositioned Kacey to pretend to be his fiance. They were childhood friends, but after a falling out they hadn’t spoken in a few years. Jake was feeling pressure from his family’s company to change his playboy persona and his Grandma, who loved Kacey and had been sick, wanted to see her. So by bringing Kacey back home, he’d be back in his family and company’s good graces and he would help Kacey out with her college expenses in return. It sounded like the perfect win win situation. Yet nothing could prepare Kacey for being back in the Titus’ house, especially with Travis there. He was Jake’s older brother who was horrific to Kacey as a child.

He’d be a fool to let her go.
Again . – Jake

I was definitely confused at first. Was I supposed to love Kacey with Jake or Travis? But over time we got to see who deserved Kacey’s heart. In the beginning, Kacey and Jake’s interactions were adorable. They had a friendship that was definitely complicated and filled with some hurt. But it also felt strong and true, or at least it use to be that way. You see, we got to hear lots of stories referencing Kacey and Jake’s past and I laughed so hard I cried. Their past was hysterical! But the more I saw who Jake was, I wasn’t the biggest fan of him. He would come across as a self centered asshole. He could make the worst choices and it all seemed to center on instant gratification. And he never thought about how the ramifications would affect others. But Jake seemed like the type where if he really wanted something, he’d find a way to make it happen.

Travis held up his wine. “To conquering old fears?”
Something shifted between them. His eyes, though it was dark, seemed to he hiding something, as if he were talking about more than her stupid phobia. She leaned in, now completely relaxed from drowning half of her wine already, and whispered, “To conquering old fears.”

Now Travis and Kacey? They made me laugh so hard too, but each moment had something else coursing through it. There was a tension between them that was always crackling and it left me with the hugest grin on my face. Travis and Kacey’s moments together were so hot. Even when they were throwing jabs at each other. They could also be ridiculously immature and it was so much fun. I loved their teasing and their weird obsession with food fights. It made my heart smile and I couldn’t stop laughing!

He wondered if she could hear his heart hammering in his chest. “Because of you, Kace. Everything I do, everything I’ve done in my life it’s all because of you.” – Travis

Travis was definitely book boyfriend material! He looked out for Kacey and he thought about her happiness first. Yeah he would screw up from time to time, but ultimately he was her biggest protector and champion. So I kept my fingers crossed that that was who Kacey would end up with, because sometimes it didn’t feel as though it’d pan out in that direction. So be careful with your hearts! Speaking of my heart…. ohhhhh I have to say I think everyone will love Grandma!! She was funny, smart, devious and I’m looking forward to seeing what she’s up to in the next book!

Both brothers.
One a friend, the other something so much more.

So I definitely recommend The Bet! It’s for everyone who adores NA stories that have tension running through them. And if you love drama that’s fun, with sillier moments laced through it, then this is definitely your book! The next book is about the brother who wasn’t meant for Kacey and I’m so excited to see what happens to him!

PS So here’s a weird confession. Usually I don’t read books with the name Travis. It’s my brothers name and yeah it just feels weird. But I call my brother Trav and I heard that wasn’t used in this book, thank goodness!!

BOOK REVIEW – Sugar and Spice (Glitter and Sparkle #3) by Shari L. Tapscott

June 18, 2018 / Jen / 4 Comments

Sugar and Spice (Glitter and Sparkle #3)
by Shari L. Tapscott
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Fueled by love and determination, twenty-one-year-old Harper took a great leap of faith and transferred home from college to finally declare her feelings to Brandon, the boy who's adored her since they were children.

There was only one thing that could derail her perfect plan, and that was Brandon showing up with a new girlfriend the very same weekend.

Now slightly bitter and irked at the world, Harper focuses her time and attention on making her sister's childhood dream come true: she's going to meet Mason Knight, former lead singer of the wildly popular Forever Now band. All Harper has to do is bake her way onto the nationally televised, holiday cookie competition he happens to be judging. Easy. Until she finds herself partnered with Sadie--Brandon's vapid, wide-eyed, hair-of-many-bottle-blond-colors girlfriend.

Just when Harper's ready to throw in the towel, she collides with entitled, pretty-boy, celebrity-judge Mason. Except he's not entitled, and with his sharp eyes and chiseled jaw, there's nothing pretty about him. Suddenly, Harper doesn't just want in the competition--she wants to win. Even if that means she has to play nice with Sadie to accomplish it...

Review:

Sugar and Spice made me laugh, smile and fall hopelessly in love with these characters. And when I closed the book, I was left wanting to spin circles with my arms out and smiling up at the sun. Seriously. It was that adorable! While the story felt a tad unrealistic at times, I didn’t care at all. I love this series with my whole heart and I can’t get over how much fun each book is! And while each one can easily be read as a standalone, I highly recommend going back and starting with Glitter and Sparkle. This series revolves around a group of friends and you don’t want to miss any second of it!

I don’t have to meet him to know his type—entitled, rich-boy snob. And can he change a tire? Throw a football? Start a fire? Basically do half the things Brandon can with his eyes closed? I think not, and therefore, he holds none of my interest.

We’ve had many glimpses of Harper in the last two books. She’s Riley’s sister, a friend of Lauren’s and she has crushed on Lauren’s brother, Brandon, since forever. Harper transferred back home to a local college and she was going to confess her feelings to Brandon, but now he had a girlfriend. Unfortunately Harper can’t ignore Brandon, they were embedded in each other’s lives. Their parents and even sisters were best friends and they did everything together from bbqs to even the holidays. And through a twist of events, Harper found herself entering a baking competition with Brandon’s girlfriend, Sadie. Which landed Harper and Sadie on a TV show for a Christmas Cookie Competition (think Food Network Cookie Bake-Off….tons of fun!).

He’s not at all what I expected, and I’m not sure what to think about that.

The judges could be so harsh and I kept hoping they’d make it to the next round. I was also super nervous for how Harper and Sadie would work together. Shockingly they worked together seamlessly. Out of the kitchen though it was a different story. Sadie tried her hardest to make friends with Harper, but I more than got Harper’s hesitation. I mean she wanted Sadie’s boyfriend, so there was all kinds of awkwardness there. And during those moments, especially the heart aching ones, Harper found herself turning to Mason.

Sadie stares at me, mouth gaping open. She steadies herself on the wall with one hand and fans her face with the other. “Mason Knight just hit on you.”
And as much as I hate to admit it, I liked it.
A lot.

Mason was America’s teen heart throb and was the judge of the baking competition. He went from being in a boy band to a solo career and ironically he was from the same little town in Montana that Harper was from. Right from the start I was laughing at Harper and Mason’s interactions. Their moments together were a little bit awkward, but also completely giggle and sigh worthy. And after just that first meeting, with an inside joke already established, it all felt so playful every time they were near each other. Yet there was an undercurrent of sexual tension since there was a natural pull between them. And it left me feeling as though I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!

“We’ll have to be careful not to appear overly friendly in public,” he whispers, his words tickling my ear.
My mouth goes dry, and I swallow before I answer. “Shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t even know you. You certainly don’t know me.”
“Oh, but I plan to.”

I loved that Mason was thoughtful, a good listener and such a good friend to Harper. He could be so sweet and down to earth and exactly what she needed with her cynical ways. Harper found herself spilling her whole heart and soul to him. And each time it pulled them that much closer to together and I found myself a huge smiling, laughing, sighing mess. While they formed a strong friendship quickly, it all felt so natural. Especially since Mason could be so enchanting. His sexiness easily possessed my heart! But Harper was hesitant. How could her and Mason ever have a real relationship? Their worlds were entirely different.

I’m smart enough to know I can’t expect a relationship from Mason—our lives are too different. We met at a crossroad—a beautiful, magical, amazing crossroad—but eventually, we’re going to go our separate ways. Before I give in to this, I must prepare myself for the loss at the end.

So yes, I absolutely loved this book and this whole series! I can’t recommend them enough! I found myself addicted to the story line and all of the characters. Especially since Shari L. Tapscott has a way of creating males that makes me fall head over heels in love with them! And again I absolutely loving the epilogue! It was beyond perfect and my heart couldn’t be happier! So far I’m 3/3 for loving her books and I can’t wait to devour the rest of them!

BOOK REVIEW – Shine and Shimmer (Glitter and Sparkle #2) by Shari L. Tapscott

April 23, 2018 / Jen / 4 Comments

Shine and Shimmer (Glitter and Sparkle #2)
by Shari L. Tapscott
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
All her life, Riley's followed in her perfect sister's footsteps, but now that she's graduated high school, she's not sure who she really is.

When she meets Zeke, a brooding artist who's the very definition of trouble, she decides to throw caution to the wind and set her sights on a guy no good girl would dare bring home to her parents. But just when things are looking promising with Zeke, in steps Linus, a genuinely nice gamer who's just a little (or a lot) geeky for Riley's tastes. But where Zeke is the bad boy she's always dreamed of, Linus just might be her knight in shining armor.

By the end of the summer, she's going to have choose, but if she takes too long, she just might lose them both...

Review:

Shine & Shimmer was beyond adorable and I found myself laughing, smiling and falling in love. This is the second book I’ve read by Shari L Tapscott, and I’ve come to realize that I’ll definitely be devouring the rest of her books. They’re completely addicting and I love how the character’s voices pull me right into their hearts! While this can be read as a standalone, I recommend picking up the first book, Glitter & Sparkle, since the series revolves around a group of friends that I completely love!

Something about Linus sets me slightly off-kilter. It’s like we’re dancing, and, for once, I don’t know the steps. I don’t think he’s flirting with me; he hasn’t even tried to ask me out.
It’s almost as if he wants to be…friends.
And that’s weird.

We met Riley in Glitter & Sparkle. She was Lauren’s best friend and lusted after who Lauren was crushing on, unbeknownst to her. Now that Lauren and Harrison were together, it felt super awkward. And while she was happy for her friend, Riley desperately needed an escape. So she decided to spend the summer in Montana, with her Aunt. Upon arriving in town, Riley found a new guy to crush on. His name was Zeke and he was a bad boy, oh so sexy and had an artist vibe. He was unlike anyone she’d ever dated, so she set her sites on him. But to get close to him, she lied. A lot, and she kept digging herself in deeper. Don’t say I didn’t warn you lol! She definitely set herself up for disaster and I found myself stressing out while laughing at everything that happened.

“Thanks for coming.” Linus smiles, gives my shoulder a friendly squeeze, and then wanders off to help clean up.
I stand here for several minutes, watching Linus help load dozens of empty kennels and cages into a van, and I realize I haven’t thought of Zeke all evening.
Now I’m more conflicted than before.

Confession time, yeah Zeke was charismatic and hot, but I never lusted after him like Riley did. He always rubbed me the wrong way. Which is ironic because Zeke is most definitely my type of guy when it comes to books! Instead I had my eyes on an entirely different boy and I was desperately waiting for Riley to catch up with me. His name was Linus and he worked at a video game store. Riley quickly dubbed him as a geek. But he sure didn’t act or look like how she typically viewed one.

Leaning close, he snatches my goggles off the counter behind us and dangles them in front of my face. Then he flashes me an ornery smirk. “Can you refrain from wearing these around me? If you continue to flaunt them in front of me, I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.”
I laugh, embarrassed and surprised. After I grab the goggles from Linus, I swat his shoulder with them. “You’re very funny.”
That smirk grows and morphs into something real. He leans against the back counter and crosses his arms. “Seriously, Riley. We’re good. Just friends.”
Which is exactly what I asked for, so I shouldn’t be this disappointed.

Oh I loved Linus. I loved how he was always there, how he was patient with Riley and that he would always help her out. He was the good guy who was so easy to be friends with. And while he came across as just a friend, every once in a while he’d say or do something that would make her second guess their just friends status. And those moments made my heart race and had me sighing out loud. But then in the next minute he’d go back to calm, collected, good guy Linus. And as the summer went by, he became sexier and even more intoxicating. Over time Riley started to notice too. But she wanted Zeke not Linus, right?

Slowly, with maddening control, he slides his hands up my arms until they’re gently cupping my face, and his fingers are in my hair. His eyes are intense, almost gray in the dimming light, and they’re focused on mine.
No one has ever looked at me the way Linus is looking right now, not ever. My heart hiccups, and a wave of confusion and longing washes over me.
Linus’s thumb brushes over my bottom lip, making me gasp, and he leans in until our noses brush. “Just for the record, nice doesn’t necessarily mean boring.”
Just as I’m weak-kneed and utterly defenseless, he drops his hands and steps past me, heading back the way we came. I turn, bringing a trembling finger to my lips, and watch him go.

Riley was her own worst enemy. Again. She was the struggle in this book. With her preconceived thoughts or how she handled things, she definitely didn’t do herself any favors. And some of the decisions she made, especially after the halfway point, oh I wanted to shake a lot of sense into her. But the girl had the hugest heart, could be the sweetest person ever and she was someone I definitely liked. So I gave her a lot more patience than I normally would, and I’m so glad I did because I watched her mature. I love that I got to watch her figure out who she was and what she wanted!

Yes, I like Zeke. But there’s something here, too. Something real and warm and honest.
Something, that if I’m truthful, scares me a little bit. Linus isn’t like anyone I’ve ever met. He doesn’t like me because I was a cheerleader, he’s not using me to boost his social status. He’s just him. And I’m just me.

The way the story played out was a ton of fun and I loved how my emotions felt all over the place. I even found myself shocked near the end, because I ended up liking a character I wasn’t the biggest fan of. Shari L. Tapscott writes characters that somehow speak to my heart and I can’t help but like them all. And by that last page I found myself ecstatic again. That epilogue was beyond perfect! Now I’m off to devour the next book, which is about Riley’s older sister, I can’t wait!

BOOK REVIEW – The Prophecy (Titan #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

March 19, 2018 / Jen / 3 Comments

The Prophecy (Titan #4)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
History is on repeat…

Seth never thought he’d have a future. But now he’s on the brink of having it all with Josie: A tomorrow. A family. A forever. And all that's standing between him and that forever is the Titans. If he helps Josie entomb them -- without killing them, a nearly impossible task for him -- everything he could ever want will be in reach. But he soon realizes that as a god, every little choice he makes can reshape the world for the better… or worse. And in meddling with the Titans, Seth may have just set into motion catastrophic consequences that will force the Olympians to enter the mortal realm and reshape the delicate balance of power that keeps the world from total collapse.

A price must be paid…

Entombing the Titans is Josie’s top priority. After all, it was what she was born to do. But the plans her father put into play to help her are no longer an option, and the odds she and Seth face in forging their own path are grim. The escalating violence between halfs and pures only increases the danger closing in on them and their friends. Josie knows their chances of succeeding in their task are slim at best -- and if they fail, they might lose everything. But she also knows she's not fighting just for herself -- she's fighting for the man she loves, for their future, for the world. Together with the Army of Awesome, Josie and Seth will face the unthinkable. And to win this war, the ultimate sacrifice must be made.

For the end is here and the Prophecy will be fulfilled….

Review:

***Spoilers for the previous books in this series***

The Prophecy was a stunning conclusion to the Titan Series! It was action packed, emotionally gutting and completely addicting! This is going down as one of my favorite series ever! Here are some of the reasons why I fell so crazy hard for The Titan Series……

✮ Characters that captured my heart

So damn lucky.
Another three words that kept replaying over and over. The thing about luck, though? It was bound to run out.
Always. – Seth

From the beginning of this series, Josie and Seth enraptured my heart. And as I closed each new book, I felt myself grow even closer to them. Along with every one else in the pages. They all felt so real. As though I could feel their emotions radiating off of the pages. It was so easy to love them, flaws and all. But Seth? Oh, he will always be one of my favorites. He was the tortured soul whose past continually haunted him. His choices broke his own heart, and mine. Yet he was more than redeemable. And he proved that. Especially in this book! I’ve never been more proud of Seth! Although, just wait. Because Josie’s love and faith in Seth made me cry. She was the perfect match for Seth in every way possible.

Her eyes narrowed. “I think you can find a better use for your mouth instead of talking.”
I laughed. “Damn, girl.”
She grinned at me as she rose onto her elbows. “Just speaking the truth, Sethie.”
“That you are.”
And so I did.

✮ True Love

“What I feel for you increases every waking moment and sometimes that scares the hell out of me, but I love you. Yesterday. Today. A thousand tomorrows from now, I will be in love with you.” – Seth

There is something so powerful about love conquering all. And what Josie and Seth had was definitely true love. It not only conquered all, but it gave them strength. Strength with each other and it also helped them find strength within themselves. But they definitely didn’t have an easy path. They had so many obstacles in their way. Yet they persevered. And their love grew stronger because of everything they faced. I loved that by the end, Seth and Josie truly felt like a power couple.

“My life really didn’t have much meaning until I met you. I always hated the idea of fate, but it feels like this is fate.” – Seth

✮ An emotional journey

I curled into myself, a scream of vast agony and despair still pouring from me, tearing from my very soul. – Josie

The Prophecy was the most emotional book in this series. And that’s saying a lot, because the last book? I thought that one would break me. Oh how naive I was. I found myself sobbing through chapters of the Prophecy. So make sure that you have a box of tissues with you, because I found myself crying all kinds of tears. There were happy tears, hopeful tears and then there was also the gut wrenching tears that stole my breath and left me shaking. This was an extremely emotional book. And looking back, I loved every minute of it!

Lifting her against my chest, I buried my face in her neck as I lost all control. Didn’t even care. I fucking sobbed as I held her. – Seth

✮ Friendships

“I want to go with you,” Aiden announced.
Seth looked over his shoulder at him. “Are you trying to be my best friend?”
Aiden smirked. “I thought we already were best friends.”

Here’s another beautiful thing about this series, it was not just about Seth and Josie. There were so many characters that had captured my heart all the way back to The Covenant Series. And they played such an important part throughout this series! They added so much lightness and humor. They had Seth and Josie’s backs. They were true friends. And I loved all of the smiles, laughter and even tension they created. Alex, Aiden, Luke, Declan, Solos, Marcus, Apollo and so many others added so much heart to this book!

A surprised laugh burst out of me. “Baby shower?”
“Of course! We’re going to have a huge one.” He clasped my hands and squeezed. “Like, the baby shower to end all baby showers. It’ll be Supernatural-themed.”
My brows flew up.
Luke’s grin was now a full-fledged smile.
“How far along are you ? Do you know if it’s a boy or girl? When are you due?” Excitement filled Deacon’s eyes. “Can I name it? If it’s a boy, it has to be Sam or Dean. No other options.”
“Geez,” Alex laughed. “Come get your boy, Luke.”

✮ Sacrifice

The finality of this slammed into me. This was happening. There was no way out of this. He was going to do it, and I broke. Deep, soul-crushing sobs racked my body as Seth held me. I buried my face into his chest, gripping his shirt once again. – Josie

Sacrifice was such a beautiful, emotional theme throughout this series. Seth sacrificed his happiness to keep Josie safe, and far away from him. Josie sacrificed her duties and relationship with someone, so she could make Seth realize how much she loved him. I watched this theme happen again and again throughout this series. Every single time it was magnificent. But the sacrifices that took place in The Prophecy? It blows all of the other sacrifices out of the water. These crushed my heart and soul. I sobbed hysterically and there was no stopping the pain. Yet the love it showed? It was beautiful. It was selfless. And it was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Hope dared spark alive deep in my chest, but so did a terror I’d never tasted before, because hope— it could kill me. – Josie

The Covenant Series was one of my favorite series. To be able to stay in that world, in a spin-off series, with characters I loved with my whole heart?! Priceless! And with the addition of new characters I absolutely adored, that just made this series such a huge win! So it should be glaringly obvious that The Titan Series easily become one of my favorite series ever. Yet I’m still in complete awe over all of the emotions that were pulled out of me. I loved every single smile, laugh, heart clutching, sobbing hysterically moment. And to end out this series, I have to say that the Epilogue was EVERYTHING!!!!! It was absolutely perfect!!!!! Sigh.

“You’ve always been the best of me, Josie. I love you.” – Seth

PS Anybody else want to know more about Erik? I feel like he has a world of issues and trouble just waiting to be dived into. Possibly with Erin…..can a bound demigod even be with a fury?

PPS Chapter 33 “from what we can tell”, I’m holding onto that phrase. You’ll see what I mean when you read that scene muahaha.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
The Return #1 Reviews: Jen	The Power #2 Reviews: Jen	The Struggle #3 Reviews: Jen
The Prophecy #4 Reviews: Jen

BOOK REVIEW – The Struggle (Titan #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

March 12, 2018 / Jen / 2 Comments

The Struggle (Titan #3)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A bloody path has been chosen…

The war against the Titans continues, and they remain determined to wreak havoc on the world, but Seth has become something all gods fear. Now the most dangerous, most absolute power no longer resides in those who have been freed from their tombs.

The Great War fought by the few is coming…

All may doubt and fear what Seth has become. All except the one woman who might be his final chance at redemption. Josie will do anything to prove that Seth is on their side, but fate has a nasty way of changing lives, of changing people.

In the end, the sun will fall…

The only way they can save the future and save themselves is by facing the unknown together. It will take more than trust and faith. It will take love and the kind of strength not easily broken. No matter what, their lives will never be the same.

For what the gods have feared has come to pass. The end of the old is here and the beginning of the new has been ushered in…

Review:

The Struggle had me on the edge of my seat, and I thought my emotions would burst out of me! With pages filled to the brim with sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness, friendship and love, I couldn’t help but continue to fall madly in love with this series. It was such a huge win! And I loved that the characters constantly pulled at my heart, it made me turn the pages that much faster. So yes, I loved every single thing about The Struggle, and I can’t wait to see how it’s going to wrap up in the final book!

Doing the right thing had never felt more wrong than it did right then.
Maybe that was how it always felt.
I wouldn’t know.
It was so rare when I actually did the right thing. – Seth

*Cries* Seth continued to break my heart. I hated that he only saw the bad in himself. And every time he hurt others, it weighed so heavily on his shoulders. So his emotional anguish easily became mine, and I ached to make it better for him. But there’s finally a but in this series, because something happened in The Struggle that was a game changer. And I loved how it all unwound and how Seth took control. And on top of that, Seth had Josie, even when he didn’t realize it. She refused to walk away from him. No matter what happened.

Locating the other two demigods was what my father—Apollo—had ordered me to do, but that had fallen way down my priority list, and I didn’t even care. Didn’t give a flying Pegasus about what that said about me, because no one, no one had ever fought for Seth before.
And I would.
I would fight till my dying breath for him. – Josie

I’ve said it before, but I love Josie! Not only because of her realistic take on this world, but because of how she viewed Seth! I loved her for that! I loved that she was going to fight for Seth! That she planned to prove to him that he deserved love. And that they both deserved to stand side by side in the upcoming battle. But while that may have been her focus and goal, the situation changed. And this became Josie’s most emotional book so far.

“Oh my god,” I whispered. “No. No way.”
This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t be ***here*. Panic unfurled in my chest. My gaze swung around the room as my pulse pounded erratically. Oh god, I couldn’t be here. – Josie**

Josie’s pain ripped me to shreds. Her suffering was so horrific, that at times it felt like I couldn’t breathe and that I was choking on her emotions. There was no escaping the horror in Josie’s thoughts and surroundings. So I found myself with so many tears, and I couldn’t get them to stop. Even when there was a moment of solidity or bonding, I found myself with tears in my eyes. Again. The pain that came off of Josie, and some of the others, just went straight through my heart.

“Well, maybe you should try to control your murderous impulses,” Aiden suggested. “You never know when the gods might actually be useful.”
Seth snorted as he placed the last of the eggs on a plate. “That is just as likely as you actually being useful.”
One side of Aiden’s lips kicked up. “You know, I think you have a crush on me.”

But this book wasn’t just about Seth and Josie. Friendship was such a strong theme, and I was beyond ecstatic that many of our favorites from The Covenant Series could be found in The Struggle. Alex and Aiden played an even bigger role in this book. And on top of that, we got another favorite character, who made an appearance. Oh my gosh, I screamed when they appeared on the page! So if you loved The Covenant Series, then you’re going to love seeing this face again, along with all of our other favorites too *smiles hugely*.

“If something happened to you again?” Lighting shot between the clouds, lighting up the sky in brilliant white. “I would burn this fucking world to the ground and then I would destroy Olympus.” – Seth

The Struggle was beyond amazing and that ending, oh, it was breathtaking. I’m so excited to see how the final book is going to play out! I just known that it’s going to be beyond epic!!

“The Army of Awesome reunited at last.” Deacon grinned while his brother sighed heavily. “It’s been a long time coming.”

See?!?! Amazing I tell you!!!!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
The Return #1 Reviews: Jen	The Power #2 Reviews: Jen	The Struggle #3 Reviews: Jen
The Prophecy #4 Reviews: Jen

Jen	Chelsea
Arielle	Cassie

Jen	Chelsea
Arielle	Cassie

BOOK REVIEW – The Bet (The Bet #1) by Rachel Van Dyken

Synopsis:

Review:

Jake’s thumb rubbed across her fingers delicately. Another involuntary shiver ran down her spine. It’s not real, Kacey. Just remember it’s not real. He doesn’t really like you in that way. Do it for Grandma!

He’d be a fool to let her go. Again . – Jake

He wondered if she could hear his heart hammering in his chest. “Because of you, Kace. Everything I do, everything I’ve done in my life it’s all because of you.” – Travis

Both brothers. One a friend, the other something so much more.

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BOOK REVIEW – Sugar and Spice (Glitter and Sparkle #3) by Shari L. Tapscott

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I don’t have to meet him to know his type—entitled, rich-boy snob. And can he change a tire? Throw a football? Start a fire? Basically do half the things Brandon can with his eyes closed? I think not, and therefore, he holds none of my interest.

He’s not at all what I expected, and I’m not sure what to think about that.

Sadie stares at me, mouth gaping open. She steadies herself on the wall with one hand and fans her face with the other. “Mason Knight just hit on you.” And as much as I hate to admit it, I liked it. A lot.

“We’ll have to be careful not to appear overly friendly in public,” he whispers, his words tickling my ear. My mouth goes dry, and I swallow before I answer. “Shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t even know you. You certainly don’t know me.” “Oh, but I plan to.”

I’m smart enough to know I can’t expect a relationship from Mason—our lives are too different. We met at a crossroad—a beautiful, magical, amazing crossroad—but eventually, we’re going to go our separate ways. Before I give in to this, I must prepare myself for the loss at the end.

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BOOK REVIEW – Shine and Shimmer (Glitter and Sparkle #2) by Shari L. Tapscott

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Something about Linus sets me slightly off-kilter. It’s like we’re dancing, and, for once, I don’t know the steps. I don’t think he’s flirting with me; he hasn’t even tried to ask me out. It’s almost as if he wants to be…friends. And that’s weird.

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BOOK REVIEW – The Prophecy (Titan #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Review:

So damn lucky. Another three words that kept replaying over and over. The thing about luck, though? It was bound to run out. Always. – Seth

Her eyes narrowed. “I think you can find a better use for your mouth instead of talking.” I laughed. “Damn, girl.” She grinned at me as she rose onto her elbows. “Just speaking the truth, Sethie.” “That you are.” And so I did.

“What I feel for you increases every waking moment and sometimes that scares the hell out of me, but I love you. Yesterday. Today. A thousand tomorrows from now, I will be in love with you.” – Seth

“My life really didn’t have much meaning until I met you. I always hated the idea of fate, but it feels like this is fate.” – Seth

I curled into myself, a scream of vast agony and despair still pouring from me, tearing from my very soul. – Josie

Lifting her against my chest, I buried my face in her neck as I lost all control. Didn’t even care. I fucking sobbed as I held her. – Seth

“I want to go with you,” Aiden announced. Seth looked over his shoulder at him. “Are you trying to be my best friend?” Aiden smirked. “I thought we already were best friends.”

The finality of this slammed into me. This was happening. There was no way out of this. He was going to do it, and I broke. Deep, soul-crushing sobs racked my body as Seth held me. I buried my face into his chest, gripping his shirt once again. – Josie

Hope dared spark alive deep in my chest, but so did a terror I’d never tasted before, because hope— it could kill me. – Josie

“You’ve always been the best of me, Josie. I love you.” – Seth

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BOOK REVIEW – The Struggle (Titan #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Doing the right thing had never felt more wrong than it did right then. Maybe that was how it always felt. I wouldn’t know. It was so rare when I actually did the right thing. – Seth

“Oh my god,” I whispered. “No. No way.” This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t be here. Panic unfurled in my chest. My gaze swung around the room as my pulse pounded erratically. Oh god, I couldn’t be here. – Josie

“If something happened to you again?” Lighting shot between the clouds, lighting up the sky in brilliant white. “I would burn this fucking world to the ground and then I would destroy Olympus.” – Seth

“The Army of Awesome reunited at last.” Deacon grinned while his brother sighed heavily. “It’s been a long time coming.”

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Jake’s thumb rubbed across her fingers delicately.
Another involuntary shiver ran down her spine. It’s not real, Kacey. Just remember it’s not real. He doesn’t really like you in that way. Do it for Grandma!

He’d be a fool to let her go.
Again . – Jake

Both brothers.
One a friend, the other something so much more.

Sadie stares at me, mouth gaping open. She steadies herself on the wall with one hand and fans her face with the other. “Mason Knight just hit on you.”
And as much as I hate to admit it, I liked it.
A lot.

“We’ll have to be careful not to appear overly friendly in public,” he whispers, his words tickling my ear.
My mouth goes dry, and I swallow before I answer. “Shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t even know you. You certainly don’t know me.”
“Oh, but I plan to.”

Something about Linus sets me slightly off-kilter. It’s like we’re dancing, and, for once, I don’t know the steps. I don’t think he’s flirting with me; he hasn’t even tried to ask me out.
It’s almost as if he wants to be…friends.
And that’s weird.

So damn lucky.
Another three words that kept replaying over and over. The thing about luck, though? It was bound to run out.
Always. – Seth

Her eyes narrowed. “I think you can find a better use for your mouth instead of talking.”
I laughed. “Damn, girl.”
She grinned at me as she rose onto her elbows. “Just speaking the truth, Sethie.”
“That you are.”
And so I did.

“I want to go with you,” Aiden announced.
Seth looked over his shoulder at him. “Are you trying to be my best friend?”
Aiden smirked. “I thought we already were best friends.”

Doing the right thing had never felt more wrong than it did right then.
Maybe that was how it always felt.
I wouldn’t know.
It was so rare when I actually did the right thing. – Seth

“Oh my god,” I whispered. “No. No way.”
This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t be ***here*. Panic unfurled in my chest. My gaze swung around the room as my pulse pounded erratically. Oh god, I couldn’t be here. – Josie**