Review: Be With Me by J. Lynn

Be With Me by J. Lynn
Series: Wait For You #2
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Edelweiss
ISBN: 9780062294791
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Pages: 299

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Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

J. Lynn is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. I just love her writing style in general. She knows how to write quirky, but relatable characters. Be With Me follows the events of Wait For Me, and concerns Jase and Cam’s sister Teresa.

Neither main character was perfect in this book, but somehow that is what made them work. Both have dark pasts that have made them what they are today. Teresa’s high school boyfriend hurt her physically and emotionally, and she is still dealing with being a victim years after the relationship ended. I won’t get into Jase’s past as it is a pretty big event that happens in the novel and shaped him into the person he was in the book. Throughout the book you could see that they had chemistry even when you wanted to slap the characters.

Teresa could be naïve at times, which some might say is because she was only eighteen. When she sees Jase’s scrapped knuckles she just believes his lame excuse without question even though the real answer was obvious. I did find that Jase was fickle at times and that was frustrating to read. One moment he was hot for Teresa and the next he was pushing her away. The book only covers a short time period and it did seem like they got serious pretty quickly even though they did know each other for years previous to the opening of the book.

The moment when Cam finally finds out about his best friend and little sister was absolutely perfect. I couldn’t stop laughing. It was exactly how I imagined it going down and J. Lynn did not disappoint with that scene.

Overall, this book deals with some heavy issues like domestic violence and other issues, but it is also light hearted and a fun read.


My Rating:

Review: The Temptation of Lila and Ethan by Jessica Sorensen

The Temptation of Lila and Ethan by Jessica Sorensen
Series: The Secret #3
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Source: Netgalley
ISBN: 9781455574896
Release Date: October 22, 2013
Pages: 250

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On the surface, Lila Summers is flawless: good looks, expensive clothes, and a big, beautiful smile. But a dark past and even darker secrets are threatening to bubble over her perfect façade. She'll do anything to keep the emptiness inside hidden-which leads her into situations that always end badly. Whenever she hits bottom, there's only one person who's there to pull her out: Ethan Gregory.

Ethan set the rules a long time ago: he and Lila are just friends. He doesn't do relationships. Although his tattooed, bad boy exterior is a far cry from Lila's pretty princess image, Ethan can't deny they have a deeper connection than he's used to. If he's not careful, he could be in serious danger of becoming attached-and he's learned the hard way that attachment only leads to heartbreak.

When Lila falls farther than she ever has before, can Ethan continue to help as a friend? Or is he also getting close to falling . . . for her?

This is the third book in The Secret series. It seems to be a huge trend right now in the New Adult genre to have companion novels about secondary characters from the first book. I find this trend hit and miss, and The Temptation of Lila and Ethan is somewhere in the middle for me.

The best written parts of the book was a tie between when Ethan and Lila were not together yet (talk about tension) and when Ethan is struggling to get Lila clean after years of drug abuse. The Lila is this book is not the Lila of past books. When you first meet Lila in The Secret of Ella and Micha she is flirtatious and bubbly, but here you see what’s behind her drug fused façade. I wasn’t prepared for how dark Lila got so quickly, but it still worked for me.

Lila has been told she is unwanted and unloved her whole life. Her mother raised her to put beauty and materialistic things first before anything else, even her own daughter’s trauma. It was best never to cause a scene or embarrass the family.

“Lila you’ll never make it. Lila, you’re worthless. Lila, you’re messing up this family. No one will ever love you if you don’t change into something they can love. Be perfect. Be beautiful. Because no one will want you if you’re not.”

Lila really did struggle to overcome her problems. When Ethan finally wakes up and sees that her drug use is more than just a recreational and decides to help her, those pages were so real. You felt Lila’s urges to just have one more pill and what she was going through with her withdrawals. Ethan was petrified of screwing up Lila’s chance at sobriety, but didn’t shy away from it.

“It hurts like a knife slashing into my skin, deep, violent thrashes, but I know enough to know that she’s desperate right now and will say anything to get me to leave.”

Parts of the book I really did like (drug use, Lila’s recovery, etc.), but others just seemed slightly bland (like the romance). It’s not that Lila and Ethan weren’t suitable for each other, because I think Ethan was fantastic for her, but something was missing in the story for me. The one consistent part that I did like in this book was Ethan. He was dealing with his own guilt and past, but pushed his problems aside to help Lila. Throughout her recovery he was panicked and afraid he was going to mess her up. He’s the type of character that I have been waiting for in New Adult. Ethan said everything I have wanted to see in a book about young girls that have been abused before. No means no! I feel like New Adult goes through this issue a lot, but no one ever says that it’s not okay for a guy to do that to you. And I was so happy to see that there was finally a book where the guy verbalized that it’s just not okay.

“Would you stop thinking about yourself like that? So you screwed some guys. So fucking what? People have sex and that doesn’t make you a slut. And it sure as hell doesn’t give rich douche bags an excuse to rape you or make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

“Don’t ever say that again. If a girl says no even once then a guy should stop. Hell, if she shows a single sign of not wanting it, the guy should stop. You should never, ever have to have sex with a guy when you don’t want to.”

I don’t know if Lila really did get over her past (which is pretty awful FYI). It seemed liked she was hiding and hiding her past from Ethan and then she magically moved past it after she told him about it. But maybe that’s what she needed to move on with her life? And the ending was a bit ambiguous for me. I know it’s because it was opening up for the next book, but I don’t really feel like it was necessary. It would have been a perfect ending with the wedding and all four of them on the cliff. I just feel like authors, especially in this genre, drag out series with companion novels upon companion novels, and I just can’t help read them even if they aren’t bringing anything new to the story.

“I can only imagine how broad my smile is at this moment because I’ve never had this—protection. I’ve never had someone in my life who would stand up for me and tell me that it was okay, that people make mistakes and it doesn’t mean you have to suffer eternally for them.”

My Rating:

Review: Rush Me by Allison Parr

Rush Me by Allison Parr
Series: New York Leopards #1
Publisher: Carina Press
Source: Netgalley
ISBN: 9781426895333
Release Date: April 8, 2013
Pages: 263

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When post-grad Rachael Hamilton accidentally gate-crashes a pro-athlete party, she ends up face-to-face with Ryan Carter, the NFL's most beloved quarterback.

While most girls would be thrilled to meet the attractive young millionaire, Rachael would rather spend time with books than at sporting events, and she has more important things to worry about than romance. Like her parents pressuring her to leave her unpaid publishing internship for law school.

But when Ryan's rookie teammate attaches himself to Rachael, she ends up cohosting Friday-night dinners for half a dozen football players.

Over pancake brunches, charity galas and Alexander the Great, Rachael realizes all the judgments she'd made about Ryan are wrong. But how can a Midwestern Irish-Catholic jock with commitment problems and an artsy, gun-shy Jewish New Englander ever forge a partnership? Rachael must let down her barriers if she wants real love--even if that opens her up to pain that could send her back into her emotional shell forever.

Rush Me was a book that sounded New Adult, but in reality it read more like a chick-lit book. Our main character Rachael is on her way to a party when she loses track of her best friend and ends up at the wrong place. There she runs into a NFL player who of course despises her and they do not get along. When going back for her scarf the next day, she somehow ends up playing poker and hanging out with the guys and befriends them.

I just did not click with the book. I wasn’t a fan of either main character. Rachael was whinny and immature for most of the novel, and Ryan was not a charming guy. I don’t understand how he was supposed to be charming (as other characters mentions throughout the book). He was a complete ass and manhandles Rachael several times throughout the book. Ryan does simmer down as the book progresses, but I couldn’t get over how rude and condescending he was at the start of the book. He was straight-up rude and an ass to Rachael when he first meets her, and not in the “I’m an asshole, but look how adorable I am” kind of way.

As I said Rachael was whinny throughout most of the book. She was a bit stuck up and instead of having confidence she preferred to look down on others and make snap judgments instead of getting to know them.


I did enjoy the other teammates. They all had distinct personalities and weren’t lumped into the typical jock type of behaviour. They were sweet and treated Rachael as a sister. I wished you saw more interaction with them throughout the book as the relationship was nice. Same with Rachael’s roommate, Eva, a theatre major starting her first real performance. She was an interesting character, but after one point she kind of just disappeared. Does this mean that as soon as Rachael got a boyfriend she just ditched her friends? Because that’s just not cool in my books. Rachael whinnied about Ryan to her for weeks and then when they final hookup she disappears on her?

Review: Left Drowning by Jessica Park

Left Drowning by Jessica Park
Series: N/A
Publisher: Skyscape
Source: Netgalley
ISBN: 9781477817155
Release Date: July 16, 2013
Pages: 302

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What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.

Left Drowning surprised me. From the start I was invested in the storyline. It had me both laughing and wanting to cry. At times I couldn’t put it down. I just needed to know how this was going to end.

Blythe is lost and emotionally numb after her parents die in a fire. She blames herself, her brother barely talks to her, so to cope she drinks and walked through life aimlessly. She is lost in her grief and can’t find her way out.

“God, every memory is so tied to them, and it seems impossible to separate the memories from the grief.”

Until one day she happens to meet a guy who pulls her from her darkness. Chris slowly saves her. He brings her back to life and with his whole family, they heal Blythe. They made her part of something again. Something that was missing since she lost her family in the fire.

“I know what you are thinking, and that’s not why you’re here with us."

"Why am I?"

“Does there really have to be an answer to that? Sometimes it’s just right. You fit. Jesus, kid, can’t you feel it? Don’t question everything.”

I adored the whole Sheppard family. Each member was a unique character. Sabin was so full of energy and become this protective brother to Blythe. Eric was quite, but supported Blythe when she needed him. Estelle, who is not easy to love, gave her a female friendship that she hadn’t had since before the fire. And, Chris was a big mystery the entire book. You hardly saw any peeks at what made him pull away from Blythe when it got too intense for him. You could just see him pushing her away and wanted to know why.

I don’t think he would have had the same effect on Blythe if it was only Chris. Her transformation was due to each of the Sheppard crew, not just one individual. It made the book more than just the romance. Jessica Park built this wonderful family for Blythe to be part of.

“You listen to me, all right? Listen. You are my family. From the minute that you stole my coffee, you were my family. That’s for always. I will always need you, no matter how close James and I ever get. All four of you, you have changed my life.”
Blythe

The romance developed slowly. Both were obviously attracted to each other, but didn’t act on their feelings. Their emotional and physically connection to each other was powerful. They built this bond that went deeper than a lot of relationships you see in New Adult. The last half of the book got really intense quickly. It had me so emotionally invested that at times I wanted to stop because I just needed to process what I just read.

“I hate that he knows me this well. I fucking hate it. And I fucking hate how much it hurts to look at him.”
Blythe

My Rating:

Review: Elect by Rachel Van Dyken

Elect by Rachel Van Dyken
Series: The Elect #2
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Source: Netgalley
ISBN: 9781455554225
Release Date: December 10, 2013
Pages: 262

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Would you die for the one you love?
Nixon Abandonato made his choice. And now he has to pay the price. Tracey is the love of his life, but being with him has made her a target of his family's enemies. The only way to keep Trace alive is convince the world she means nothing to him.

Trace Rooks has fallen irrevocably in love with the son of her family's sworn rival, and she knows in her bones nothing can tear them apart. Until Nix suddenly pushes her away and into the arms of his best friend... But Trace isn't ready to give up on a future with Nix--and if he won't fight for them, she will.

In the end, a sacrifice must be made. A life for a life. For what better way to cover a multitude of sins than with the blood of a sinner . . .

I am really enjoying this series. The first one was a bit to get used to, and at times seemed a little too ridiculous, but once you get settled into the mafia world it really is a fun series to read. The books have tons of secrets and suspense and is chocked full of romance.

Elect picks up where Elite leaves off. Nixon needs to distance himself from Trace to protect her from his enemies (and his enemies are scary!) The chapters alternate between Nixon, Chase, and Phoenix, with each giving a different look on the story.

One thing I didn’t like was Phoenix redeeming himself. He almost rapes Trace in the first book, and now everyone just deals with it and lets him back in? I don’t think so. The author did a good job at writing those parts because no matter what, I still felt for him, even though I despised him.

“And maybe that’s why I was beginning to feel more terrified than anything—because I knew—I had nobody worth pulling for, and it hurt like hell.”
Phoenix

You see more of Chase in Elect. Even though Chase could be a bit of a jerk he was still a sappy sweetheart to Trace. The love triangle picks up speed in this book. Chase fully falls for Trace and it breaks your heart to see him like that.

“Chose me. Because my heart? My soul? My damn existence? Has already spoken, and it wants you and only you—forever."
Chase

At times I did feel like Trace fell for Chase too quickly, but that could be said for how she felt for Nixon in the last book as well. She definitely had strong feelings for both of them and at times it felt like there wasn’t an option that the story chose for her. Nixon completely redeemed himself from being a self-centred ass and became a thoughtful, self-sacrificing man.

“It’s not about me, man. It’s about her. I’m not going to put her between us. Hell I’m not even going to let it get between you and me. It’s her, it’s always been her. Hell if I’m going to sit here and throw a fit for wanting something that doesn’t want me back. She loves you? Fine. Because, Chase. It’s never been about my wants or needs. I can’t live if she’s unhappy. I can’t breathe if she’s upset. If being with you brings her that peace, then I want you to have her. I’ll be your best man at the wedding. I’ll babysit your kids when you want date night. Chase--. It’s about her.”
Nixon

My Rating:

Review: Addicted To You by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Addicted To You by Krista and Becca Ritchie
Series: Addicted #1
Publisher: K.B. Ritchie
Source: Netgalley
ISBN: 9780989339209
Release Date: August 22, 2013
Pages: 328

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She’s addicted to sex. He’s addicted to booze…the only way out is rock bottom.

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.

Their real vice may be each other.

Addicted To You was an interesting book about deeply flawed people. The book wasn’t what I thought it was going into it. I thought it was going to be a salacious novel about sex addiction. I was wrong. The author could have easily sensationalized Lily's addiction, but she chose to focus on Lily’s cravings, her constant fight with her them, and how an addiction that her family would never understand almost destroyed her life.

Lily and Lowen (Lo) both have addictions, one for alcohol, one for sex. They have been covering for each other for years.

"We lied for each other and hid our infidelities, playing the role of doting boyfriend and girlfriend. The deeper we sink, the harder it is to crawl out. I fear the moment when… someone discovers our secrets. At any moment, everything can crumble beneath us."

Lily hides her addiction from her family knowing they won’t ever understand. She wishes that she would have a drug or alcohol problem instead, because at least her family would understand and not be mortified and shocked of a sex addiction. Instead Lily has pulled away from her family. Never taking phone calls or emails from them. Missing important family gatherings. Neither Lo nor Lily was helping the other by pretending to be in a relationship. They enable and covered for each other.

As I was reading the book you can just see their addictions spiralling out of control and you knew they were going to hit rock bottom. You know they have to hit that point to take control, but it wasn’t pretty. Even after the epic moment it wasn’t clear cut okay let’s get some help now.

Soon as Ryke stepped on the scene I was intrigued. I wanted to know where this was going. He seemed so involved at helping Lo without ever meeting him before. And it went where I thought, but I still didn’t see everything coming that unfolded.

I hope to see more of Lily with her sisters because the dynamic was great. They didn’t always get along, and fought all the time, but think they would be more understandable then what Lily gave them credit for.

My Rating:

Review: Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

Elite by Rachel Van Dyken
Series: Eagle Elite #1
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Source: Netgalley
ISBN: 9781455554164
Release Date: July 9, 2013
Pages: 209

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For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother's death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn't expecting much-but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same . . .

The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she's ever met . . . and they refuse to make things easy for her. There's Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn't long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn't realize she was the enemy -- until it was too late.

Elite was definitely a different kind of book. It was unlike anything I have read in the New Adult genre. It was ridiculous and confusing at times, but in the end it was a fun ride.

Immediately, I had a severe dislike for our main love interest, Nixon. I can’t even describe how much I hated this character after the first chapter. Why you ask? Because he is a DOUCHEBAG from the first few pages.

“If an Elect talks to you, never make eye contact. Because, technically you don’t exist. You’re just a pathetic excuse as a human being, and at this school you’re a real tragedy. You see while one of the Elect is running for president and basically ruling the world, you’ll be lucky enough to be working for one of our companies. You follow the rules, and maybe we’ll throw you a bone.”

“This key card gains you access into the elevator only once a week. It also gains you access into the cafeteria, twice a day. No three times. We don’t want you gaining weight. Use it wisely and if you impress me with your ability to follow directions. I may just up your freedom.”

“Memorize it now, because as of this moment, you can’t touch us. We are untouchable. If you as much as sneeze in our direction, if you as much breathe the same air in my atmosphere, I will make your life hell. This touch, what you feel against your skin, will be the only time you feel another human being as powerful as me near you.”

Those are just a few of the gems that Nixon rolled out within minutes of meeting poor Tracey. My hatred for him came hard and fast, he just disgusted me. And this is who Trace is supposed to fall for??

Somehow we are to believe that this barely twenty year old guy has the run of this uppity private school for the benefit of everyone involved. He segregates students from different counties because they might have a difference of opinion and fight! Nixon was a tyrant he threw out these rules and everyone must obey them or suffer the consequences. He kicks out one of his closes confidants for mild flirting with Trace! His own sister couldn’t stand him and thought of his as Satan himself.

Even as this book got more outlandish and ridiculous as it went on I did enjoy it. I couldn’t put it down. How I ended up liking it is still a bit of a mystery to me, but I did and I now want to read the second book. As the story progressed I was thoroughly confused. The more the mystery built the more I got into it.

Trace is our poor naïve main character. She is verbally abused by Nixon and his crew, the student body, and physically attacked at one point as well. She breaks down multiple times in public and has to be carried off. Even though all of this abuse stems from Nixon she still is willing to socialize with him.

My Rating:

(because in the end it did entertain the hell out of me)

Review: Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

Foreplay by Sophie Jordan
Series: The Ivy Chronicles #1
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Source: Edelweiss
ISBN: 9780062279873
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Pages: 216

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Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs.

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real…

This book sounded very clichéd to me when I first saw it. I almost didn’t read it, but I’m glad I did because it was a fun short read. You have your bad boy with a certain reputation and your goody-two shoes girl who just wants some experience.

Unlike some other books I have read in this genre I really did like Pepper. Every time I read her name I constantly was reminded of Iron Man, but that aside she was a solid main character. She was likeable and relatable in the way that she just didn’t know what she wanted. I did like her friendship with Emerson and Georgia. The three of them did not pass judgment on each other and were there to back each other up regardless of what the one would decide. Pepper may not have let them into her past, but they were a tightknit group.

Pepper has a past she never wants to remember and a solidish plan for her future. She doesn’t necessarily know what she wants to do with her life after college, like many, but she knows who she wants. Pepper has been in love with her best friend’s brother since she was twelve and concocts a plan with the help of her roommates to get his attention (you can start to see how it may have been clichéd). In comes the bad boy Reece with the player reputation.

Reece was mysterious throughout most of the book. But he was sweet even when he wasn’t trying to be. The romance was nicely developed and I loved how the book ended.

Overall, Foreplay may have been a bit predictable, but I still liked it.

My Rating:

Cover Reveal: Text by Cambria Hebert

Today I am part of the cover reveal for TEXT by Cambria Hebert, a New Adult Contemporary Romance. TEXT is a part of the Take It Off series of companion novels (Torch, Tease, and Tempt). Don't forget to scroll down to see the synopsis.

TEXT by Cambria Hebert
Cover Designer: Mae I Design
Release Date: November 8, 2013
Series: Take It Off series (Note: the Take It Off series is a series of stand alones. Each book is its own story.)
Genre: New Adult


***This is a new adult contemporary novel and contains sexual content and graphic language. It is not intended for young adult readers.***


One text can change everything.

Honor Calhoun never thought her life would ever be like the books she writes for a living. One morning while out for a run, she learns not all bad things are plots in novels. Some horrors can actually come true.

She faces off with a persistent attacker, holds her own, but in the end is taken hostage and thrown into a hole. In the middle of the woods.

But Honor didn’t go down there alone.

She took her kidnapper’s phone with her. With a spotty signal and a dying battery, her hope is slim.

Nathan Reed is an active duty Marine stationed at a small reserve base in Pennsylvania. All he wants is a calm and uneventful duty station where he can forget the memories of his time in a war-torn country.

But a single text changes everything.

Nathan becomes Honor’s only hope for survival, and he has to go against the clock, push aside his past, and take on a mission for a girl he’s never met.

Both of them want freedom… but they have to survive long enough to obtain it.

About The Author:

Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series, the new adult Death Escorts series, and the new adult Take it Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting www.cambriahebert.com

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Tour Stop: ParaWars: Uprising by Caitlin Greer

Today I'm featuring a book called ParaWars: Uprising. ParaWars: Uprising is a Paranormal/New Adult Book written by Caitlin Greer.

ParaWars: Uprising by Caitlin Greer
Series: ParaWars #1
Release Date: October 15, 2013
Pages: 215

The Paranormal Uprising brought myth and legend out of the shadows and into real life. The war that followed tore the world apart. Two years after the Uprising, twenty-year-old Kendry is learning the hard way that the battle lines aren’t as clear-cut as human versus para. And the hard way means being hunted down by both human militants and para separatists. Trouble is, she has no idea why.

On the run with only her mysterious gargoyle guardian, Kendry knows that finding out why she’s on everyone’s most-wanted list will be no easy task. It means charging headlong into a war she’d hoped to avoid, and is woefully unprepared for. So when she realizes that everyone in her life has been lying to her, discovering that she’s somehow the key to ending the war is the last thing she needs. With both sides tearing up the world to find her, it’s decision time for Kendry—keep running, or stand up and fight.

About The Author

Cait writes YA and NA stories that range from sci-fi and fantasy (because she loves making worlds and things up), to contemporary (because she kind of sort of fell into it and discovered she’s not half bad). Her best friends growing up were the combined works of Robin McKinley, Madeline L'Engle, Anne McCaffrey, Andre Norton, and too many others to mention.

She drives a Jeep, loves the outdoors, takes pictures of everything she can, and writes obsessively. A martial artist and a former teacher, Cait is owned by two cats who started out incredibly small, and are now incredibly huge.

She currently live in Utah, but Virginia will always be home.

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Excerpt:

He shrugs, and then gasps, because the moon chooses that moment to peek over the horizon. Rock turns to skin across him like a fiery line of embers, until it encompasses him, and my gargoyle friend is stone no more. 

His face reveals a moment of pain and pleasure so intense, and then it’s gone.

“Just like that,” I say, unable to keep the awe out of my voice.

“Just like that,” he whispers. His eyes are still unfathomable.

ParaWars: Uprising was an action packed book. Every fantasy creature you can imagine is in this book. From minotaurs to werewolves to gargoyles to gods to fae…I could go on a very long time listing them are all in this book. Caitlin Greer has created a seamless book that merges fantasy, science fiction, and new adult together.

Kendry world changed two years ago when the Para came out of hiding and announced to the world that they exist, and soon after the world crumbled. Para and human militia are fighting along with those from both sides who just want to co-exist. Kendry and her mother have created a semblance of life in a small town until the day an army stormed her town and kidnapped her mother.

ParaWars had a bit of a rocky start for me. I was enjoying it, but it didn’t blow me away. But something happened about 1/3 of the way in and I was hooked, and time I finished this book I was amazed. The book’s best feature was the characters. I came to love each and every one of them Buc and Sam the minotaurs, Shelley one of the only other humans around and her friendship with Kendry, and Caleb and Thom’s bromance. One of the things that made this book great was the variety of characters and how each of the creatures worked together.

Kendry has a lot thrown at her very quickly once this book gets going. As strong as she was I’m glad the author didn’t get let it bounce off her. You see Kendry fall apart and react how a normal girl would. There are tears, anger, and emotions. Kendry states in the book that she had to grow up quickly after the Uprising, but she realized she is still acting like the teenager she was when it happened. You can see glimpses of this throughout the book, which made her character very real.

You’re right. I don’t understand. I’m young and stupid, and I behaved even younger and stupider than I am. I should be in college, partying and panicking about graduation in a year, not traipsing around the wilds of Virginia looking for my mom. I thought I’d done a lot of growing up, dealing with the world falling apart. I was wrong. I’ve been acting like a teenager, the same teenager I was when it all happened. But I’m not, and I haven’t been for a while.

The romance in ParaWars didn’t always take centre stage, which was nice, but when it did it shined. Axel is the best friend and hot new guy all wrapped up into one smoldering gargoyle. He was so stern and stone like towards Kendry, but it was blatantly obvious to everyone that he cared about her. Axel just wanted to protect her, not fall for her. Axel would do anything to protect Kendry from the dangers she knew nothing about. I loved the parts where he would fluff up his wings and surround her, protecting her from the danger. Even with Axel protecting her Kendry still fought with him over making the decisions concerning her without her input. She stood up for herself and made him realize she can defend herself too.

My Rating:

Review: Finding It by Cora Carmack

Finding It by Cora Carmack
Series: Losing It #3
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Source: Edelweiss
ISBN: 9780062273284
Release Date: October 15, 2013
Pages: 216

Goodreads | Amazon

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong . . .

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

I was pretty excited to read Finding It. After reading Losing It and Faking It I thought yes this is going to be a great book. Why wouldn't it be? I loved the previous books, but the problem is that I despised the main character.

Kelsey was not a likeable character in any sort of way. She was whiny, annoying, and manipulative throughout the majority of the book. She whined throughout most of the book about not having sex and Hunt rebuffing her every move.

He didn't look at my face. He didn't look at my body for that long. I was kind of offended. My girls, Marilyn and Monroe, were definitely offended.

You know, you could always help me find another way to erase the memory of that bad kiss.”

And talk about making it easy to seduce Hunt. If I couldn't do it in Italy, someone should take away my vagina because I didn't deserve it.

In Cora Carmack’s previous books the characters were all relatable. They had their awkward moments that were hilarious, but everything that was great about those books was absent in this one. There was only one or two times in the whole book that made me laugh. At the beginning when Kelsey started kissing Tamas and he licked her face had me laughing so hard, but the rest of the book it was pretty much this:


I just couldn't respect a main character who faked an injury to get some guys attention. She just seemed desperate for attention and an overall spoiled brat. And when she wasn't whiny about Hunt not sleeping with her she bitched about her family controlling her (while gallivanting around Europe on Daddy’s dime of course). Kelsey was aware of everything she did and I just wanted to slap her for most of the book.

I had no problem playing the ditzy blonde to get what I wanted, but I hated that I was living the stereotype unintentionally at the moment.

There was a moment when I actually felt something for her other than disdain, but it washed away as quickly as the pity came.

My Rating: