Mini-Reviews: Camp Kiss; Unwrapping Liam; Hollow City

Title: Camp Kiss (Camp Boyfriend #0.5)
Author: J.K. Rock
Release Date: March 26th 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Free for a time period

Goodreads

The Camp Kiss That Started It All...

Lauren Carlson, a fourteen-year-old expert on the cosmos, superheroes, and science fiction trivia has a crush on her longtime camp friend, Seth. Last summer she’d dreamed about upgrading their relationship to BF/GF status and this year she has a plan... if only her well-meaning cabin mates wouldn’t interfere before she’s ready. She hasn’t even adjusted to her new braces yet, let alone imagined kissing Seth with them. When a dare pushes her out of her comfort zone, will she and Seth rocket out of the friendzone at last? There’s only one way to find out...

If I remember correctly, I got Camp Kiss when the publisher offered it for free to promote the release of Camp Boyfriend, but I only had the chance to read it a few months ago (yeah, that's how long this review is overdue) when I actually picked up the series. If you're new to the series, I really recommend starting it off with this novella because it sure provides a lot of insight that you'll need for the first book.

Lauren Carlson is back at summer camp, but this year she's excited to be there for a different reason. When before she only wanted to spend time with her closest friends, this time she's also looking forward to seeing Seth, her long-time friend and recently-developed crush. She's unsure whether to act on her feelings or not, afraid it will ruin their friendship, but when her cabinmates dare her to kiss him, she doesn't have much of a choice.

A cute, light, and fun read, I love how the writing in Camp Kiss reminded me of the butterflies and giddiness I felt whenever I saw a crush back in high school. It's that nostalgic.

MY FAVORITE PART was the kiss. Sigh :3

RATING:

Title: Unwrapping Liam (Good Girls Don't #1.5)
Author: Gennifer Albin
Release Date: April 22nd 2014
Publisher: Self-published
Age Group: New Adult
Source: Free for a time period
Goodreads

Jillian Nichols and Liam McAvoy finally got their happily ever after, but Christmas with Jillian's parents strains their new relationship. Will they ever get a minute alone?

Will Tara ever accept her daughter isn't broken?

And what will happen when Jillian finally unwraps Liam's Christmas present?

The holidays have never been so steamy.

This novella came out almost a year after the first book in the series, so by the time I read it I was practically jumping up and down in my seat with excitement. In Unwrapping Liam we see more of Jillian and Liam together, but made hilarious and tense because they are to spend the Christmas holidays with Jillian's parents.

Under the constant scrutiny of Tara, Jillian's easy-to-hate mother, her relationship with Liam is put to the test. Their interactions are more heated with desire because they need to sneak around like teenagers or risk being judged and reprimanded by Tara, but of course they get caught and of course it's amusing, haha. But as expected, Jillian grew tired of playing by her mom's rules soon enough, and let's just say I wasn't able to look at Christmas trees the same way for quite some time after reading this.

Overall, Unwrapping Liam did a swell job of getting me pumped up for Teaching Roman (which, spoiler alert, I also loved) and making me wish I had my own Liam. Now, where the heck is the third book in this series?!

MY FAVORITE PART was Liam making pies. Sweet Jesus.

RATING:

Title: Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children #2)

Author: Ransom Riggs

Release Date: January 17th 2014

Publisher: Quirk Books

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought

Goodreads

September 3, 1940.

Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters.

And only one person can help them - but she's trapped in the body of a bird.

The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom.

Hollow City draws readers into a richly imagined world of telepathy and time loops, of sideshows and shapeshifters - a world populated with adult "peculiars", murderous wights, and a bizarre menagerie of uncanny animals. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

I was more disappointed than anyone when I read Miss Peregrine's and found it somehow... underwhelming, which is why cracking this sequel open came with a certain amount of hesitance. I think I finally picked it up when the book practically flew off my shelf and thumped me on the head (spoiler alert: it didn't, but wouldn't that be awesome.)

Anyway, reading Hollow City was definitely easier and more fun than the first book. Right off the bat, I could tell that it would be more exciting, with less dragging and more of what I love most about this series: action and adventure with a magical group of, uh, kids. We also learn that there is just so much more to the peculiarity of the world that Riggs has created, and I can't wait to see all of these in a Tim Burton film. Man, it's going to be awesome.

Strange, I thought, how you can be living your dreams and your nightmares at the very same time.

Another thing I liked about Hollow City is how it's more on the historical fiction side than the first book, and how there was just so much more going on in it. I don't know if you can tell by how many times I've used the word in this review but in a nutshell, this sequel is just that: more.

MY FAVORITE PART was that shocking, twisty ending. Definitely didn't see that one coming.

RATING:

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Amour Amour - Krista & Becca Ritchie

Today, I have a beautiful new cover to share with you guys! It's for a standalone novel written by two of my fave NA authors (they're twins, which is another point for awesome), and without further ado...

{Blog Tour} Book Review: Teaching Roman - Gennifer Albin

Title: Teaching Roman (Good Girls Don't #2)

Author: Gennifer Albin
Release Date: June 26th 2014

Publisher: Self-published
Age Group: New Adult
Source: eARC for blog tour

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Jessica Stone has her life in perfect order until her perfectly boring boyfriend Brett puts things in perspective. So when she receives a call to action from her heartbroken best friend Cassie, she ditches her plans for Winter Break in gloomy Olympic Falls and sets off to Mexico for some fun in the sun.

Determined to use her oceanview to prep for her MCATS, she doesn't plan to run into anyone from Olympic State, least of all the cute communications prof she's been crushing on for a year. When he unexpectedly saves the day, the two are thrown together in a distinctly extracurricular activity.

Roman Markson doesn’t expect to run into anyone he knows from Olympic Falls while visiting his family in Puerto Vallarta, especially not a former student. Although Jess Stone has a way of catching men’s attention, a relationship with her is strictly off-limits. However, the rules feel less strict in Mexico, so they agree to a plan: one week in paradise and nothing more.

But avoiding each other back on campus is harder than they anticipated, especially when they can’t stay away from one another. Neither is sure what they have to learn—and lose—before life teaches them a lesson they’ll never forget.

Catching Liam was one of my favorite NA reads of 2013, and I was so happy when I learned that there would be more. Unlike Jillian, the protagonist of the first book, Jessica is the careful girl. She has her entire life mapped out, with her plans circling around her dream of becoming a doctor. But when Brett, her long-time "safe" boyfriend, kneels and asks her the question, her life gets derailed. She runs off to Mexico with Cassie who's also nursing a broken heart, but instead of a break full of sun, sand, and books, distraction comes in the form of Roman Markson, the communications professor who always gets her tongue-tied.

"Did you just spank me?" I asked as a strange mix of self-awareness and horniness took over.

Roman drew back, his eyes widening. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize." My fingers clutched his shoulder and jerked him back to me. "And do it again."

Say "hot teacher" and I'm there - so there - and if I were Jessica, I also wouldn't have been able to say no to a week of debauchery with Roman. The two consenting adults promise to carry on with their normal lives once their week is done, but as it draws to a close, they realize they want more. The pushing and pulling kept me reading even as it frustrated me; I didn't think it possible, but these two outdid Jillian and Liam in the hotness department.

"Mi bella," Roman leaned forward and trailed a finger along my jaw, "I cook better than I screw."

But when they get back to the US, Jessica and Roman not only have to deal with their conflicted feelings, but they also have to face the scrutiny of the people at their school. This part had me at the edge of my seat with worry and anxiety because I was already so invested in the couple. The happily ever after is to be expected, but I feel like the author still made me work for it, and I loved that.

After two books, the characters in this series are already like friends to me. The third book, Reaching Gavin, will focus on Cassie, the group's carefree psych major, and you can't imagine how excited I am to read more about everyone ♥ 

MY FAVORITE PART is the whole gang at Garrett's. I just love seeing - or, rather, reading about them together :3

RATING:

About the author:

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{Blog Tour} Book Review + Giveaway: Boomerang - Noelle August

Title: Boomerang (Boomerang #1)

Author: Noelle August

Release Date: July 8th 2014

Publisher: William Morrow

Age Group: New Adult

Source: eARC for blog tour

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up.

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well... one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi... to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?

Boomerang is the kind of book to hook a reader right from page one. It is the usual NA - steamy and dramatic and all that jazz - but it packs a punch with its hilariousness. Seriously. I was reading it in a train full of people and I had to stifle a laugh that would have been boisterous at best. Phew.

Hurrying down a narrow hall, I catch glimpses of sports photographs and motivational posters with soaring eagles and mountaintop sunrises. One says, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone," which means my life is definitely beginning. Right. Now.

Imagine waking up beside your one-night stand partner - your hot one-night stand partner, and not remember anything that happened. If you're one for such activity, then it's okay, right? No biggie. Then your partner wakes up too, and you both prepare to go to work. Still okay. You share a cab because the two of you are going to the same general direction, but when you get there, you go into the same building, into the same elevator, and drop off at the same floor, into the same office, and start your first day at the same job.

Yay.

But that's life for Mia and Ethan, new interns for the dating site Boomerang, and they have to get over their maddening attraction to each other if they want the job at the end of their internship - and to keep the internship in the first place. With the book written in their alternating POVs, these characters just leaped off the page, and it was truly enjoyable to read about them tackling the challenges that most people in their early twenties face, particularly in the professional aspect of their lives.

"Can you even breathe?" she asks.

"Barely, but I don't think I'll be able to eat anything."

"You're just trying to avoid my mother's cooking."

"No way. Sulfuric acid is my favorite."

Mia and Ethan have the kind of chemistry that I fall for in the blink of an eye. They are those lovers who are also best friends; they can communicate with their eyes and, together, they just feel so right, perfect in every way. And because most of this book is them trying to prove that they don't belong together, most of this book is also me wanting to reach into the pages to push them into each other until they stuck. Talk about secondhand sexual frustration.

The bottomline: Boomerang is the NA book for you if you're still iffy about trying the genre (which you shouldn't be). And it's not totally about the romance; it's also filled with family and friendship that gave the book so much more personality. As with other NA series, the sequel is sounding more like a companion novel, but I am excited.

MY FAVORITE PART is Mia and Ethan going on their first work-required dates =))

RATING:

 

About the author:

NOELLE AUGUST is an anagram for Veronica Rossi and Lorin Oberweger. Just kidding, it's a pen name!

VERONICA ROSSI is the author of the New York Times Best-selling UNDER THE NEVER SKY trilogy for young adults. The books are available in more than thirty countries and the film rights have been optioned by Warner Bros. Veronica completed undergraduate studies at UCLA and lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons. She is fond of dresses with pockets, fluffy dogs, and cheese and chocolate -- but not together.

LORIN OBERWEGER began her storytelling career by captivating her first-grade class with tales of her summers on a kibbutz in Israel. Lorin had never been to Israel. While teacher/parent night put an end to her first experiments in fiction, she’d already caught the bug and eventually made a career of all things story. As a long-time independent editor and story development guru, Lorin's client successes range from small press publications to major bestselling novels. She's an award-winning author and has also worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter on a variety of projects. Her work has received starred Kirkus reviews and glowing mentions in The New York Times. Oh, she did get to see a kibbutz, eventually, and found out she had it pretty much right all along.

Veronica and Lorin met at a writing workshop and just knew they were destined to create awesome things together.

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Giveaway!

{Blog Tour} Book Review + Giveaway: More Than Music - Elizabeth Briggs

Title: More Than Music (Chasing the Dream #1)

Author: Elizabeth Briggs
Release Date: June 17th 2014

Publisher: Self-published

Age Group: New Adult

Source: eARC for blog tour

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | The Book Depository

Music major Maddie Taylor just finished her junior year of college and has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, yet every night she practices guitar and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation – and that he’s just as big a geek as she is. With each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore, but when the show pressures them to stay single they’re forced to keep their relationship secret.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.

It's been months since I last read an NA novel, and with its geekiness, sexiness, and humor, More Than Music has everything I want from the genre - or in any book, for that matter. If you've ever had dreams of being in a rock band, then I can't imagine why you wouldn't enjoy this read.

Maddie is a pianist in her third year of college, but when she's alone in her apartment with her two best friends, she lets out the real her and rocks out with her seafoam green Fender. One night, while checking out her friend Kyle's band's studio, she gets caught playing the guitar and singing by none other than Jared Cross, lead singer of Villain Complex and the guy Maddie's been lusting for for so long - so she dashes the hell out of there. The next day, Jared's waiting for her outside her classroom and begs that she join their band temporarily for an audition, and before she knows it, she's on TV and living the dream... except that means she can't be with Jared.

Reading this book was like watching an entire season of The Voice within a few hours, but with an in-depth look into what happens when the cameras stop rolling: unenthusiastic mentors, manipulated votes, and all the drama. But More Than Music is so much more than that. It's about Maddie learning to go after what she wants, and even Jared learning that his idea of success isn't all there is to it.

"I thought of Aerosmith's 'Love in an Elevator'," Kyle said.

"That's a good one, too," Jared said, and belted out the lyrics.

Hector shook his head. "Not me. I heard that Nelly song 'Country Grammar'."

"What?" Kyle gaped at him. "I think we might have to kick you out of the band."

Aside from the tense and steamy romance between Maddie and Jared, another thing I enjoyed about this book was watching the friendship form between Maddie and the guys in Villain Complex. With their bassist quitting because of drama with Jared, the two other members feared a repeat of the incident and were against Maddie joining at first, but in time, she proved herself and her kickass guitar-playing skills. I can't help but think that even if things didn't work out between her and Jared, I still would've loved More Than Music as long as she got to be in the band. Alone, they were lovers, but with Kyle and Hector, they really were like siblings.

A sweet, fast, and easy read, More Than Music should appeal to music lovers out there. And if you're not, well, I can assure you that you'll fish out a ton of great music recs from this book, so what are you waiting for? Me, I'm waiting for the next books!

MY FAVORITE PART is Maddie returning after a brief, uh, break.

RATING:

About the author:
Elizabeth Briggs is a Young Adult and New Adult author who lives in Los Angeles with her British husband and a bunch of fluffy white rescue dogs. She's a guitar-playing geek who loves books, rock music, and video games, goes to Comic Con every year, and is still hoping to be a Jedi when she grows up.

Elizabeth currently works with WriteGirl to mentor at-risk or pregnant teen girls in writing, to help them get through high school and into college. She also volunteers with Bichon FurKids to help rescued dogs find a new, loving home. She previously worked as an intern for literary agent Jill Corcoran of Jill Corcoran Literary Agency, an intern for Entangled Publishing, and an editor for Curiosity Quills Press.

Elizabeth is represented by Kate Schafer Testerman of KT Literary and is a member of SCBWI and RWA.

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Giveaway!

{Blog Tour} Book Review + Giveaway: Girl of Rage - Charles Sheehan-Miles

Title: Girl of Rage (Rachel's Peril #2)

Author: Charles Sheehan-Miles

Release Date: May 25th 2014

Publisher: Cincinnatus Press

Age Group: New Adult

Source: eARC for blog tour

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Four days ago, Andrea Thompson agreed to fly to the United States to help her sister Carrie. Four days ago, everything changed.

Now Andrea is lost and on the run. Dylan Paris is missing. Julia and Crank Wilson are under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. The Thompson family is scattered and in danger, and Andrea’s very identity may hold the key to unlock decades of buried secrets.

Andrea, the youngest member of the Thompson clan, sets out on a search to find answers. Who is attacking her family? Who is trying to kill her and why?

As Andrea seeks her answers, everything she thought she knew about her family will be turned upside down.

Girl of Rage picks up right where Girl of Lies left off, with the Thompson family under attack on all fronts by adversaries unknown to them. The sisters struggle to keep themselves safe while trying to discover the truth about the ugly past that their parents hid from them, one that carries with it a gruesome event that a handful of people in positions of power means to hide forever, no matter the cost.

I held out hope that this book would be less like its predecessor and more like the Thompson Sisters books and I ended up being disappointed because of that, but that's not to say Girl of Rage isn't a good book. Reading this felt like watching a telenovela that took its time telling the story of every single character, like throwing in a bunch of random ingredients into a pot and having nothing to do but wait and see what dish comes out of it. It requires a big amount of emotional investment in the characters to fully enjoy this series, which, fortunately, I have a ton of.

What surprised me the most about this sequel is how it made me feel for characters that I used to hate. *cough* Adelina *cough* In here we learn that there is more than a lot of history to everyone, and that has made them who they are now. The multiple POVs certainly made it easier to sympathize with everyone. 

Overall, Girl of Rage is better than Girl of Lies. More gripping, fast-paced, and unpredictable, I found it easier to plow through, and I am looking forward to reading the third book. Now, just what is up with that series title?

MY FAVORITE PART is the ending.

RATING:

 

About the author:
Charles Sheehan-Miles has been a soldier, computer programmer, short-order cook and non-profit executive, and is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, including the indie bestsellers Just Remember to Breathe and Republic: A Novel of America's Future. Charles and his partner Andrea Randall live and write together in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

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{Blog Tour} Book Review + Giveaway: Third Degree - Julie Cross

Title: Third Degree

Author: Julie Cross

Release Date: March 25th 2014

Publisher: Flirt

Age Group: New Adult

Source: NetGalley

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Fans of Monica Murphy and Tammara Webber will savor this novel about coming of age in the heat of the moment from Julie Cross, the internationally bestselling author of the Tempest trilogy.

I used to be “Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy.” As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity. But now I’m not sure what I am. I just failed the most important exam of my life—the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program—and it turns out my parents can’t stand each other. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I’m shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.

But so far, my roommate hates me and I’m not into the party scene. The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA. Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast. Pretty soon we’re hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship. And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can’t teach me: love. Because I’m going to be alone forever if I don’t learn fast.

Going into Third Degree, I had no idea what to expect because the premise is just so unique. I only knew that I had to read it because Julie Cross, author of the Tempest series which I really love, wrote it and as expected, Julie didn't disappoint.

"You're always observing people, but maybe you're studying the wrong things."

Isabel is the type of character that, if not portrayed well, could be hated so easily, but Julie did a very good job of presenting her character's case that I loved her instead. Isabel's the doctor we all hate, the one who obviously doesn't give a damn about her patients, who's only there to do her job. Her lack of sympathy for what others feel would be infuriating if I were at its receving end but at the same time, it wasn't something I could take against her because she couldn't help but be that way given her personal history. She learned from an early age to distance herself emotionally from everyone to avoid getting hurt, and she never thought it would get in the way of her being a doctor. I really pitied her when she honest-to-God couldn't get along with anyone in her new, trying-to-be-normal life. The struggle was real.

And then in walked Marshall, Isabel's RA. Gorgeous, kind, and understanding, he, on the other hand, is easy to love. Instead of treating Isabel like a nutcase, he agreed to teach her how to interact with other people without driving them away with the smell of her weird, but beneath the happy facade lurked something sad, something that also kept him away from anyone. I was so eager to bring that to light because I wanted to know just what was wrong with him, but when it did... *sadface* Yet that was when Isabel truly shone. With her background, Marshall's issue wasn't enough to drive her away, and seeing them together was truly a delight. They're what each other needs and they knew just how to help with the other's problems.

Sweet, hilarious, and emotional - sometimes all at the same time - Third Degree is a remarkable novel about accepting people for who they are beneath the surface. It was so easy to read this book because it never bored me. If you're looking for a breath of fresh air in the NA genre, then you'll want to pick this up.

MY FAVORITE PARTS were Isabel and Marshall's exchange tutoring sessions <3

RATING:

About the author:
Julie Cross lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former gymnastics program director with the YMCA. She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and New Adult genres. She’s also a committed (but not talented) long-distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.

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Book Review: If Only - A.J. Pine

Title: If Only

Author: A.J. Pine

Release Date: March 24th 2014

Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Age Group: New Adult

Source: eARC from publisher

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Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend—which means it's been forever since she, well, you know. But now she’s off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect, no-strings-attached match. He’s fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh. So why can’t she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together outside the train’s loo, kisses Jordan like she’s never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn)…oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen. But E. M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine’s Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she’s willing to go for the right guy.

A year abroad in Aberdeen, a new school, new people – I really wanted to like If Only, but after reading this roller coaster of confusion and aggravation, I now know that I can’t handle too much drama. Or, more specifically, too much boy drama.

See, this book had a lot to work with: the European setting, two equally-gorgeous love interests, and the smattering of entertaining secondary characters. So why didn’t it work for me? After hours of contemplating, I’m now pretty sure that that’s because the entire book only seemed to revolve around the main character Jordan’s boy problems. It’s been two years since she broke up with her first and only boyfriend so, according to her best friend, that time has practically given her virginity back. And now she’s determined to let go of her inhibitions and her newly-issued v-card to someone she meets in her year in Aberdeen.

Jordan had no idea, though, that her search for, as she called him, Mr. Right Now is going to begin as early as her train ride to Aberdeen. There she meets Griffin whom I fell for at first read. Hot and smart? Sold. Griffin is an unapologizing womanizer who admits that he doesn’t do long-term relationships, and that’s exactly why Jordan thinks he’s exactly who she needs: someone she can have fun with on her year abroad but can break up with a year later, no tears involved. But then, literally minutes later, she gets stuck outside the toilet with Noah.

His grin widens, and I struggle for air at the sight of it, not just because of its beauty but because of what put it there in the first place—a book.

No, I didn’t think Noah was gorgeous enough, but he’s a freaking bibliophile so I might have swooned a bit. Both guys had their setbacks – Noah’s being his freaking girlfriend – but I personally liked Griffin more because he’s honest, if nothing else, so I didn’t appreciate Jordan pining for Noah just because he, what, kissed better than Griffin? Because he had a worn-out copy of The Great Gatsby ready to be read in his backpocket? Sorry, but I just didn’t get it. I couldn’t see Noah’s appeal the way Jordan did; I hate cheaters and cowards, and the way he didn’t break up with his girlfriend but obviously wanted something with Jordan was simply cheating and cowardice. I’d take the serial monogamist any day.

But despite all my rants, I put up with all the boy drama in Jordan's life for the entirety of this book so that's saying something, right? I actually enjoyed it at first, but it got old fast and soon I just wanted to get it over with. The ending also didn't do it for me because I don't think the guy she ended up with was worth all the trouble, but maybe that's just me and my cynicism. Anyway, If Only had an easy humor that made me laugh more times than I could count, and classic literature lovers will surely love the numerous references made in this book.

MY FAVORITE PART was Jordan getting a tattoo if only (lol see what I did there? ;D) because I want one too.

RATING:

{Blog Tour} Character Playlist + Giveaway: Hothouse Flower - Krista & Becca Ritchie

My love for the Addicted series and its spinoffs is no secret so here I am again, practically shoving these books to y'all because they are seriously some of the best NA books I've ever read - no, some of the best books I've ever read, period. Today, I have the third couple in the series, eighteen-year-old model and adrenaline junkie Daisy Calloway and twenty-five-year-old "likable asshole" (he is) Ryke Meadows, to give us a glimpse of their tastes in music. They're definitely two people I'd share my earphones with ♥ If you've never heard of these artists before (I highly doubt it, but just let me indugle lol), I've provided a few Youtube embeds to get you started ;D

{Cover Reveal} Fifty First Times: A New Adult Anthology

Today, I'm glad to be sharing with you all the cover for this certain anthology that went straight to my TBR list the moment I learned about it.

{Release Blitz} Book Review + Giveaway: Kiss the Sky - Krista & Becca Ritchie

Title: Kiss the Sky

Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Release Date: January 24th 2014

Publisher: Self-published

Age Group: New Adult

Release Blitz Hosted by: Love Between the Sheets Promotions

Source: eARC from authors

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Her five friends are about to be filmed. Reality TV, be prepared.

Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she’s a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But with a sex addict as a sister and roommate, nothing comes easy.

After accepting help from a producer, Rose agrees to have her life filmed for a reality television show. The Hollywood exec is her last chance to revive her struggling fashion line, and boundaries begin to blur as she’s forced to make nice with a man who always has his way.

Twenty-four-year-old Connor Cobalt is a guy who bulldozes weak men. He’s confident, smart-as-hell and lives with his equally ambitious girlfriend, Rose Calloway. Connor has to find a way to protect Rose without ruining the show. Or else the producer will get what Connor has always wanted—Rose’s virginity.

I have now read four books by these twins a.k.a. geniuses and I can confidently say that all of them have been a pleasure to read. An aptly named series, I am crazily addicted and have mad love for these characters that they've created, and I'd be happy to read about them forever. But for now, there is this new addition, a spin-off standalone - but really, just take my advice and read the series - and let me tell you: it is fan-freaking-tastic.

Lily and Lo will always be fun and intriguing to read about, but because two entire books and a novella are already dedicated to them, getting out of their heads and into other characters' is just refreshing. And I've always been fascinated by Rose and Connor, these two insanely smart and gorgeous people. Oh, wait, let's not forget fierce Rose,

I roll backwards, and he only grins more. This is not a cat-and-mouse game like he believes. I am not a mouse. And he's not a cat. Or vice versa. I am the fucking shark, and he's a lame human in my ocean.

and fierce Connor,

He shakes my hand, and I grip him so tight that he struggles to hide a wince. "You're threatened by me," he states, not breaking eye contact. "I'm twenty-eight, and you're-"

I hate ages. "Twenty-four years smarter than you." I tilt my head. "And in ten years, I'll be thirty-four years smarter than you. See how this works?"

Yep, not people I want to mess with. Anyway, because not one of them was willing to back down, their mental and verbal battles just cracked me up to the point of tears. And then they'd start flirting in French and I'd just melt. Seriously, it's a freaking rollercoaster with these two, because they're as strong as they are unstable.

This book is undeniably racy - probably the raciest in the series, actually - but that's because Rose and Connor don't have a sex addiction problem between them so they can have as much fun as they want (unlike Lily who has to limit herself) - well, as much as Rose has the guts for, anyway. And that's why the sex makes sense in this book: because it's a huge milestone for Rose who's a virgin.

A majority of the events in this book happens during a reality show featuring the main characters, so I can't help but call it Big Brother: the Interesting Edition. I didn't want to stop reading, and whenever I had to because of mundane reasons, my mind would float back and imagine just what the heck was happening to the characters: that's how captivating they are. I love the dynamics between all of them and how they entertain and surprise me endlessly. Most of the conflicts with these characters are internal so I read this entire tome with bated breath because I had absolutely no idea what kind of crap would go down. Krista and Becca have once again shocked me with the ending and my hands are just itching for the craziness that will be Hothouse Flower!

MY FAVORITE PART is, well, very hard to choose. I loved how Lo kept on teasing the cameramen; the conversations that go on when Connor, Ryke, and Lo are alone; and Connor and Lo's bromance, but the mothereffing lap dance trumps all that. For me, that's the summit of Connor Cobalt's hotness. *fans self* 

RATING:

About the authors:
Krista Ritchie has a clone...or someone who looks exactly like her. If she's not writing books with her twin sister, she's pouring over entertainment news and ingesting copious amounts of pop culture. She likes tennis, that thing called the TV, and beating Becca (her clone) on Sega Genesis. She created YA Book Exchange to combat her book buying addiction and started Nawanda Files, a YA Book Blog that features books into movies news, to share her love for all things bookish. Oh, and she does something called science. Whatever that is. 

Krista & Becca Ritchie write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series.

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