Novella Mini-Reviews: Brooke; Crossing the Line

Title: Brooke (Under the Never Sky #2.5)

Author: Veronica Rossi

Release Date: November 26th 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought

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Set just before the events of Into the Still Blue, the conclusion to Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky trilogy, this breathtaking novella is a satisfying stand-alone for new readers as well as an exciting glimpse at favorite characters from the trilogy. Pulsing with romance and danger, Brooke will leave readers desperate for the conclusion to this epic and unforgettable saga.

The only fight she can't win is the one for Perry's heart. Following the stunning climax in Through the Ever Night, the Tides have been forced to seek shelter from the Aether storms in a dismal, secluded cave. But Brooke's memories of the cave go back much further, to when she and Perry used to come here together. That was before Perry fell in love with Aria and before Vale's dealings with the Dwellers altered the course of the Tides forever.

Now, with her sister back from a haunting year in captivity and Aria lying unconscious in the sick bay, Brooke struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. Without Perry, who is she? And what is her role in this frightening new world? As these questions swirl about her, an old threat to the Tides resurfaces, and Brooke is forced to put the lives of her people before her own. But in taking this step outside of herself, Brooke may finally discover what she truly wants.

I'm not going to lie—before I started reading this novella, I had zero fondness for Brooke. I saw her as another obstacle for my Perry/Aria ship (still one of the top ships in my fleet). She was right up there in my hit list with Consul Hess and Sable, and it actually crossed my mind not to read this for the simple reason that it's about her. But pick it up I did, and I'm glad I made that decision.

I didn't want to like Brooke, but Veronica Rossi wasted no time in making me feel otherwise. I understood her side of things—and by 'things' I mean her dislike of Aria—and I actually pitied her because she really did seem to be alone. But I also admired her because even though her life sucked, she didn't break down and let sadness get the best of her. Instead, she put up a strong, brave, and determined front which eventually became reality.

Long story short, there was lots of character development for Brooke in here, and I'm really excited to see the new her in Into the Still Blue (hopefully she'll be less of a bitch to Aria or the two of us are going to have problems again). Oh, and there was lots of kissing too; not quite the kind I'd expected, but better, in my opinion. Hey, a girl's allowed to have her fun, right?

MY FAVORITE PART was the Four teasing Brooke :))

RATING:

Title: Crossing the Line (Pushing the Limits #1.5)

Author: Katie McGarry

Release Date: April 1st 2013

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought

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Lila McCormick, Echo's best friend from Pushing the Limits, first met Lincoln Turner when tragedy struck both their lives. But she never expected their surprise encounter would lead to two years of exchanging letters—or that she’d fall for the boy she’s only seen once. Their relationship is a secret, but Lila feels closer to Lincoln than anyone else. Until she finds out that he lied to her about the one thing she depended on him for the most.

Hurting Lila is the last thing Lincoln wanted. For two years, her letters have been the only thing getting him through the day. Admitting his feelings would cross a line he’s never dared breach before. But Lincoln will do whatever it takes to fix his mistakes, earn Lila’s forgiveness—and finally win a chance to be with the girl he loves.

Lila was one of my favorite characters in Pushing the Limits. She stuck by Echo through everything, even when it meant she could lose her popular status. She seemed like such a brave, carefree girl, but even then I knew there was something up with her, particularly with her love life.

Well, turns out she had a secret guy! Lila met Lincoln during Echo's and Lincoln's brothers' funeral, and since then, they've been exchanging letters. As in real, honest-to-God handwritten letters. In a time of emails and texts, just how sweet is that? We get less than a hundred pages of their story, but their chemistry was undeniable and their love nowhere near instant. It was nowhere near perfect, too, but I liked how they were both mature enough to let go of their inhibitions and go after what they really wanted.

Crossing the Line is a freaking novella, but I feel like I've just read another romantic, sexy, funny, and emotional novel from Katie McGarry. I loved the ending, but I want more! Random, but I'm not the only one who wants to read about a group date between all of the couples in this series, right? Right?!

MY FAVORITE PART was Lila and Lincoln's hilarious commando stint.

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{Blog Tour} Book Review + Giveaway: Crash Into You - Katie McGarry

Title: Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits #3)

Author: Katie McGarry

Release Date: November 26th 2013

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: NetGalley

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From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane.

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers... and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Crash Into You ends my three-day Katie McGarry read-a-thon, and let me tell you that it does so in a very high note. Echo and Noah made my heart beat like it was on steroids, Beth and Ryan had me laughing one moment and then tearing up on the next, but Rachel and Isaiah? They gave me all those but with a bonus: adrenaline rush. I'd been excited to read the first two books in this series but I particularly looked forward to this one because I share the MCs' love for cars and speed. And props to Katie because I sure felt my blood pumping while reading the racing scenes.

When Rachel was introduced, I immediately thought, "Four older brothers?! Even Isaiah the Fierce is gonna have a problem with that." I loved how protective they were of their baby sister, but I could easily imagine how Rachel felt they were smothering her. At first, she'd felt like she had no choice but to do anything and everything that her family asked of her, living in the shadow of someone who'd died before she had even born. That's what made it so much fun to see her silent bravery coming out; she was also shy and awkward and would often get overexcited, and I totally understood how Isaiah saw her as an angel. Even with her spurts of rebelliousness, she really was just that good.

Isaiah, on the other hand, was the boy Rachel's family disapproved of—not that her brothers approved of anyone. His earrings and tattoos were meant as a beacon that signaled everyone to stay away from him, but beneath the tough exterior was a boy who only yearned to be loved and accepted. I liked how Isaiah never backed down and always kept true to his word. Even when things got rough, he would be the determined, trust-worthy one.

Rachel and Isaiah killed me with their brand of sexy and adorable. Until now, my brain tells me that their relationship took off way faster than it should have, but what else could you expect from two people who had a need for speed? (See what I did there? LOL) Aside from their six-week situation, one of the biggest hurdles they faced were their financial differences.

"Are you here?"

"At the gate. Do you mind informing your militia that I'm not here to rape and pillage?"

Oh, and apparently, Katie McGarry has mastered the art of writing a kissing scene. Jesus.

Unlike the first two books, Crash Into You had this sense of urgency and heightened stakes because the MCs' lives were in real danger, unlike Echo who battled with her past and Beth who had a choice of staying away from her demons. Isaiah and Rachel—they couldn't run. This book was so intense that it tired me out, the kind of exhaustion that comes from emotional stress. I had two mini-heart attacks in the last quarter of the story, and, seriously, what is it with this series and mommy issues?

MY FAVORITE PART was Noah walking in on Rachel and Isaiah in their new apartment. Oh, Noah =))

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About the author:

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. 

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway!

Ten (10) finished copies of Crash Into You (US/Can only)

Book Reviews: Pushing the Limits; Dare You To - Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1)

Author: Katie McGarry

Release Date: July 31st 2012

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: NetGalley

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No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with freaky scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Um, wow. Tell me again why the hell I waited this long to read this book? BRB while I bang my head against a wall. If you've read this, yes, I now know what the fuss is all about; if not, well, you're missing out. Seriously. Just head to a bookstore or wherever and pick up a copy. You can thank me later.

Contemporary books are either a hit or a miss for me. From page one, I already knew Pushing the Limits would be the former, because Katie McGarry sure knows how to captivate her readers. Echo's and Noah's voices sounded so real, and I just felt this urgency to keep reading, to know what had happened for them to seem so... indifferent with life. I invested myself in them even though I knew it wouldn't be pretty, but I have no regrets.

Obviously, this book is a love story, but damn if it's not so much more than that. Echo and Noah each had their own issues, but they were tackled in a way that didn't push the story into a dark, deep end. If you're not one to go for issue books, don't worry, this one isn't much of that. Or maybe I just tunnel-visioned to the romance.

Echo Emerson is Miss-Popularity-turned-weird-freaky-loner. I really pitied her because she was so scared, totally clueless about the night that changed her life. How terrifying would that be, right? But then comes tattooed, smoking-hot, intense Noah Hutchins. The type of bad boy I will always fall for. Thanks to his attitude, they got off on the wrong foot, but that was what made it fun to watch them slowly opening up to each other, past the defenses that they'd put up. Life dealt them some real bad cards, and despite some bad choices, they both kept their heads in the right place and I really admired them for that.

Now, let me talk about our MCs' friends. Oh, they were so alike yet so different. Noah's friends were, like him, on the wrong side of the tracks, while Echo's friends had the perfect life she'd lost. They were all teens who only yearned to have a good time, but even with their stoner-rep, I liked Noah's friends more because they were real and understanding, unlike Echo's who only cared about what other people thought of them. Well, all of them except for her BFF, Lila—so she totally deserves that novella, okay.

Hilarious, sweet, riveting, and emotional, Pushing the Limits sure lived up to my high expectations. Echo and Noah gave me all the feels; they're one of the most perfect-for-each-other couples I've ever read, and their story is nothing if not inspirational.

MY FAVORITE PART was when Noah, Beth, and Isaiah were in Echo's garage to check out Aires' Corvette =))

"Your car obsession is unnatural." She acted like she didn't care, but Beth pushed off the bench toward Isaiah. "How on earth do you get girls to screw you?"

"Come on, you know the words 'big block V-8' make your panties wet."

"Oh, baby," Beth said dryly. "Take me now."

Echo checked out my eyes. "Are you sure you guys aren't high?"

RATING:

Title: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)

Author: Katie McGarry

Release Date: May 28th 2013

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: NetGalley

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Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."
"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again...
"I dare you..." 

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does...

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

After experiencing the awesome that was Pushing the Limits, I had my doubts about this one. I lowered my expectations because I knew this was going to be Beth's story, and she wasn't exactly the most likable character in the first book. But now I know that that was unnecessary.

Dare You To started out real well: chapter one and I was already guffawing from Beth and Ryan's verbal smackdown. In a Taco Bell. At night. Even now as I type this, I still laugh just thinking about it. We learn right then the kind of people our MCs were; Ryan, the innocent jock who never backed down from a challenge and one of the most gentlemanly guys I've ever read, and Beth, the firecracker who kept everyone at a distance with her sharp tongue.

But of course, there's more to them than that. Ryan's life wasn't as perfect as it seemed. His family was falling apart and he was starting to realize that baseball wasn't everything. Frankly speaking, though, his issues were mundane compared to Beth's, even when she only had one, really: her mom. Her mother is someone I've encountered in countless books and even in real life, and I've always abhorred her kind. I'll probably always will. That's why until now, I still don't get how Beth could've had this sense of loyalty and responsibility to her when all the woman did was rely on her and mess up her life.

Thanks to their getting off on the wrong foot plus all of their problems and reservations, Beth and Ryan's relationship had so much build-up. It actually kind of dragged at first, especially with Beth's attitudinal problems. But her comebacks were hilarious—as in snort-and-laugh-like-a-sailor hilarious—and didn't irritate me because, having read Pushing the Limits, I'd known why she detested jocks. What I didn't like was how she constantly put herself down. She had more than enough reasons, but I just can't sympathize with people who do that to themselves. But anyway, soon enough, sparks flew and bam, mutant pterodactyls in my stomach.

I didn't enjoy Dare You To quite as much as I did Pushing the Limits because the latter had better pacing, but I honestly loved Beth and Ryan's story more. Does that make sense? Sorry, it's almost 6AM where I'm at. Anyway, this book is another solid piece of writing from Katie McGarry, so excuse me while I binge some more with Isaiah's story!

MY FAVORITE PARTS were 1) Beth and Ryan's first meeting, as I've mentioned above, and 2) Ryan and Chris' little trip to Walmart :))
 

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