Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Damn Jennifer, once again you stole my heart.. making me cry, laugh and want to beat the living crap out of someone!

'Stone Cold Touch,' the second book in 'The Dark Elements Series' a beautiful, creative, mind-twisting series full of surprises, drool-worthy boys and super-natural explosions. Yes that is how I am going to describe this series because.. damn! 

'In other words, all she needed to do was to have an orgasm..And most likely not by herself.'

This book begins not long after 'White Hot Kiss's' final scene. Roth is still gone to the fiery pit of hell, while Layla must figure out where to go from there, also trying to work out her and Zayne's relationship. 

Before I read this book I though I'd have to wait a lifetime for Roth to return, like I had to wait for Raph in 'World After' by Susan Ee, but thankfully that was not the case. 

Roth showed up with his fellow demons right on the doorstep of the Warden's perfect little 'peaceful' home and it was a major showdown between Roth's men and Abbot's. Caymen stood beside the beautiful Roth and he made me laugh once again. The tension that filled the air could of been cut with a knife, but thankfully no one god injured, yet. I can safely say that tension did not leave throughout the book!

“I know exactly how he looks at you and you do, too … Because it’s the way I look at you.”

Team Zayne, or, Team Roth? 

That was the question which Jennifer expected you all to answer after reading this book, and to be honest it was not a hard decision for myself (unlike Meabh!). 

After reading 'White Hot Kiss' I knew Layla could only end up with one boy, and that boy was ROTH. From the very beginning he accepted Layla for all she truly was; part-demon and part-warden. But also if any of you have read the novella to this series 'Bittersweet love' than you all know Roth was keeping an eye on Layla for much longer than just those few weeks in 'White Hot kiss.' This has always told me he cared from the beginning and the words he used in this book near the end showed that.

Let's talk about Zayne for a moment, he is breathtakingly beautiful, there is no doubt about that. He's kind, sweet and apart from Dez and Nicolai he is nearly the most likable out of the Wardens. But he doesn't give Layla the same freedom Roth allows her to have, yes it could be partly because of the clan he has grown up in where they have been taught; the women stay at home in-case they get hurt; after all they are there to breed.

 I don't know about the rest of you but I am beyond nervous for the final book in this series. Have I ever told you, I hate, hate, hate love triangles - they never go my way! 

“I love you Layla. Do you hear me? I've loved you since the first moment I heard your voice and I will continue to love you. No matter what. I love you.”

Without a doubt this book was mesmerizing due to it's perfect writing and enchanting story. It gets 10 out of 5 from me. I would read scenes of Layla and Roth from beginning to end. But damn it Armentrout do you always have to leave us on such cliff-hangers?!

Goodread's Link 

Chasing Trouble by Joya Ryan

One word that sums this book up completely: Smut, Smut, Smut!

If you're looking for a hot boy and pretty girl book with basically smut scenes from beginning to end, then you've found it!

I received this book free in an email from Entangled! So T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U! Joya's writing is in the third point of view, personally my favourite style of writing. Her attention to detail is just the right amount and her heated scenes are bloody brilliant! 

“You're gonna have to hold on tight, because this rodeo is just getting started.”

Colt and Jenna have known each other all their lives. Jenna is best friends with Colt's sister Lily.

Ever since she can remember Colt has been there for her, saving her from all  kind of things and over the years Jenna gained a crush on the perfect Colt. But when Colt and Lily's parents passed away he ran for the hills, not looking back unless it was to check on Lily and her baby boy. She hasn't seen him in years, until one night she's on his turf, getting herself into trouble.

Jenna is little miss perfect, except the only time people give her a second glance is when more rumors are running around their little town about her naughty old mother. She's been running for years from her past, yet never leaving the one place that causes her pain. The one thing Jenna loves is teaching, and she's pretty damn good at it. Wanting to open an after school safe place for young kids she goes in front of a board, except her enemy is competing against her for the title. 

So how can Colt and Jenna ever find each other if they're both trying to run? How can Jenna overcome her fear of being like her mother? And how can Colt win over the one girl he never thought he'd have? Ah, ah, ah that's why you read the book ;)

“I must say, cowboy, I'm impressed. I was worried you could only handle eight seconds at a time.”

Hot steamy sex is from the word go in this book. And Joya doesn't leave one spicy detail out. Lets just say if I had Jenna's sex life I wouldn't be complaining.

I must admit it's my first time reading a book like it, yes I've read J.Lynn's The Gamble brothers books but this book is something different and pretty special. If you like smut, you seriously need to get your hands on this beautiful story and enjoy some sexy time with beautiful, outrageously hot cowboy! 

“You want a wild ride, J.J.? I'll give it to you, hard and slow until you scream my name.”

This book gets 4 out of 5 stars from me! For it's smuttiness, story and somehow keeping me captivated. 

Goodread's link

Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry!

Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits #1.5)

by Katie McGarry

Release Date: 12/08/14

Harlequin Teen

Our beautiful, favourite couple are back! Yes I said it! Okay you all definitely (and if not, you've been living under a rock) have heard about Echo and Noah's second book. Yes second! A book about them, yes about them. And I am here to gift you with an excerpt, and just some details about how you can buy this beautiful book when it comes out on the 8th of December. 

Maybe we should start with the simple things; Like the Summary; 

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry.

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.

Add to Goodreads

Pre-Order Links for Breaking the Rules: 

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│iBooks│Google Play│The Book Depository

Goodreads links for the series: 

Pushing the Limits│Dare You To│Crash Into You│Take Me On

Here praying it's not against the rules.. so hey I'm going to give you two excerpts.. one from Noah's P.O.V and the other from Echo's. 

From Noah’s Point of View 

“Me and you,” I whisper, hoping my words will sink into her subconscious, beyond where she overthinks. “It’s how it’s supposed to be.”
Echo’s hand glides over mine, and she links our fingers together. “You like disturbing my sleep, don’t you?”
I kiss her shoulder, permitting my lips to linger on her soft skin. Guess I did wake her. “Just keeping things straight between us.”
“In my sleep?” Damn, I love that groggy voice.
“You argue less that way.”

From Echo’s Point of View

It’s like watching a horror film in slow motion. She tucks her hair behind her ears, gives Noah a hesitant smile and speaks. The girl is pretty—very pretty. I run my hand over the scars on my left arm. Sometimes I don’t understand why Noah’s with me. Especially when I’m so…
Noah answers the girl then motions at me with his chin. Both girls turn, and their faces fall. Noah waves. I wave back. Butterflies tumble in my stomach when he flashes his wicked grin.

Do you all want to just fangirl over those excerpts, and how much we need the book! I am dying! I have to wait another month, most likely till Christmas even! Oh man though it will be worth it to read another book about Echo and Noah's journey! Bring it on (:

 

And this is the amazing woman who writes these spectacular books! 

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.

 Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Stay With Me by J.Lynn

“Stick with me, babe, and I'll change your life.”

Wow! That's all I really have to say about this book. Jennifer Armentrout has done it again! Stay With Me is the third book in the Wait For You Series. In this book we are thrown into the life of Calla Fritz, a twenty-one year old nursing major that we met in Be With Me. Calla has had a hard life. Suffering from trauma that happened to her as a child and living with the emotional and physical scars has made her wary of people and their intentions. 

When Calla finds out she has racked up a bank debt that is not hers but in her name she is forced to revisit a part of her life she thought she had left behind. Going back home was something she always dreaded doing but she sets off to try and make things right.

It's when she visits her families bar that we meet Jackson (Jax) James. And Holy Hotties was I swooning! I mean if I knew a guy like Jax I'd tie him down and never let him go! He was absolutely perfect for Calla. He was sweet, funny, gentle and OH MY GOD HE READS BOOKS!!

“He read? Oh my God, guys that read were like unicorns. They only existed in fairy tales.”

The plot was well developed as were the characters. It kept you interested and also had some heart-stopping moments woven in there. The secondary character were great as well and really added to the story. I really loved Reece and Roxy and I can't wait for their book! Eeeepp!! 

We also get a little look-see into the lives of Cam & Avery as well as Jase & Theresa. 

“Jase turned his head to me, brows raised. 

“If I liked guys—you know, swung that way, I’d get naked after that.”  

I blinked. Um.

“And I’d put a ring on that,” Cam added, moving to where Avery sat.”

And of course the book was actually quite hilarious, especially during some of Calla's inner monologue. It felt effortless and really added to Calla's almost but not really naive personality.

All in all the book was one of the best I've read this year. Maybe ever! Jennifer L Armentrout you do not disappoint! 

Goodread's link

Summer Alone #1 - Amy Sparling (Blog Tour)

Summer Alone (Summer Alone #1)

by Amy Sparling

Release Date: 10/01/14

What type of drool-worthy content does this book have?! Well here is the blurb! 

From the best selling author of Summer Unplugged, comes a new series set in the same world. Becca's senior year of high school is approaching and she's tired of being the dorky best friend. Determined to reinvent herself with help from Bayleigh, she plans to spend the summer breaking out of her shell. When Bayleigh gets grounded and sent away for three months, Becca's plans come crashing down before they've even started.

Now Becca is alone and can't even talk to Bayleigh on the phone. Not wanting to miss out on the summer before senior year, she takes a job at the local indoor BMX track. The job is fun, her boss is laid back, and the place is packed with hot guys. One of them just might have a crush on her. This may be a summer without her best friend, but it doesn't mean she'll have to spend the summer alone.

Part 1 of a 4 part novella series. 

Here is what you all need to learn and remember about the author (I joke):

In case you didn't know, Amy isn't my real name. It's a pen name I use to publish books and novellas for teens that have a romantic theme. My real name is Cheyanne Young and I also publish YA books under that name, but they are usually in different genres and for older age groups. I chose the name Amy Sparling when I independently published my first book, Deadbeat. I wasn't sure if I would keep the pen name at first--I wasn't even sure if I'd keep publishing. But I got incredibly lucky and found a group of young adults who loved my stories and kept asking for more. You guys seriously have made my writing hobby into the greatest part of my life. I will continue writing books under this name as well as publishing books of a different nature under my real name. 

If you'd like to be the first to know about new book releases, sign up for my mailing list.

Author Links: 

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

After reading this excerpt, I am luckily getting the chance to share with you, I think we should all jump up and down with glee. Bring this book on!

“Damn, Ollie, you got hot.”

I look up from my phone, confused, wondering where Ollie is since I thought he had left. Then I realize the guy who just spoke was looking at me. Talking to me. Making a stupid joke about me. Praise the gods of BMX—I wore a face full of make up today so hopefully the bright red I feel pooling in my cheeks doesn’t show as much as if I were bare-faced. “Hi,” I say, swallowing back my nerves. My right hand gestures toward the facility behind me. “Welcome to C&C BMX Park?”

Is that what I’m supposed to say? Who knows? I suck at this. “Thank you!” the guy says, stepping forward, wearing that smile like it’s permanently stuck on his face. He’s kind of cute, I guess. For a college-age guy. He has super short cropped hair and a neck tattoo that’s some kind of quote. He’s thin and lean. The bike he pushed in with him is all beat up and not shiny like the girl’s bike from yesterday.

He turns his attention toward the keypad on the counter, typing in a numerical code and then pressing his index finger to the glass window above the keys. My computer lights up with a message that Dustin Moore just signed in.

“You Ollie’s secret love child?”

I shake my head. “Not that I know of.”

He laughs and the glass door slides open again, making my stomach knot up at the idea of a new customer. Eventually one of these people will need some kind of employee assistance and I still have no idea what I’m doing. Dustin turns back and waves his friend over. “Dude! I’m surprised to see you.”

I stare at the computer screen, trying to make sense of the software as his friend replies, “Told you I’d be here.”

Dustin snorts. “You said that last time, then you bailed on me for Mixon.”

I go to smile at the new guy, determined not to make the stupid introduction that I had done with Dustin. If they’re members here, then clearly they don’t need to be introduced to the place. Exactly one second later, I completely forget everything in my head. I’m not even sure I know my own name or what I’m doing here. Because the guy who walks up next to Dustin is hot. He’s knees weak, hands shaking, heart fluttering hot. Sandy blond shaggy hair that covers part of his eye. An eyebrow ring hovers over the other one, framing his impossibly blue eyes as they sparkle under the bright industrial lights. He’s tall and gorgeous and muscular, judging by the way his black Mongoose shirt fits over his shoulders, hugging tightly to his biceps.

And he doesn’t even notice me. He says something to Dustin and automatically types in a number, pressing his finger to the glass. He straddles his bike-matte black with red wheels-and squints his eyes, looking toward the ramps behind me.

My lip hurts and I realize I’d been chewing on it. I don’t know why my heart aches right now. This guy is older than I am, probably in college and old enough to buy beer, so it’s not like he would notice me. Me, stupid high school senior lame-o dork-o Becca Sosa. 

“What’s your name?” Dustin asks me. I glance over at him and push away my momentary confusion. I had pretty much forgotten that he was here.

“Becca,” I say. My eyes flicker to the computer screen. Dustin’s super beautiful friend’s name flashes across the screen as the last person to have signed in. Nolan Park.

“As in Re-becca?” Dustin asks, drumming his fingers on the counter. I’m about to nod when another voice interrupts. “Leave the girl alone, Dustin. She’s clearly not interested.” Nolan meets my eyes with an apologetic smile. My knees turn to jelly but somehow I manage to stay standing.

Dustin groans. “Aww, come on man. I’m just making friends. He extends his hand toward me and I go ahead and take it, because ignoring his handshake would be just as awkward as actually shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you, Becca. I hope we see you around here more often.”

I shrug, trying to seem nonchalant. “Well, I work here so…”

Dustin laughs and Nolan pushes him toward the track. “Go. You begged me to come ride so let’s ride. Quit harassing the girl.”

And here is a little gift to y'all! A GIVEAWAY: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Praise goes to the organisers of this blog Tour: YA Bound Book Tours   

Oppostion by Jennifer L.Armentrout

Wow, just wow. This is the last book in the Lux Series and it was absolutely amazing! I feel like I need to take a breather after finishing that!

"I always had this plan for the off chance I was around for the end of the world. I’d climb up on my roof top, turn up the radio, blast R.E.M.’s It’s The End of The World, and watch it all go down from my lofty perch."

Well there it is, it's the end of the world as we know it and a few choice things have definitely hit the fan! With the arrival of the Luxen and Daemon's abrupt leave Katy has never felt more alone. All she can do is wait and hope. But waiting is something Katy was never good at. She soon finds herself facing off against foes that have the ability to destroy everything Katy has ever known. 

“Kat.” He uttered my name like it was some kind of prayer, and then he pressed a kiss against the skin behind my ear. “I broke every rule of my kind to heal you and keep you with me. I … burned down an entire city to keep you safe. I’ve killed for you. Did you think I’d forget what you mean to me? That anything in this world— in any world— would be stronger than my love for you?”

Oh the feels! Seriously there was so much chemistry going on during this book. Daemon has become one of my Top 5 book boyfriends after this. Even though I kinda wanted to slap him at the start! Thank God he had good reasons for it though!

This book was engaging, heart breaking, heart re-making and so much more. The plot was interesting and serious but still kept up the light-hearted banter between characters especially Archer and Luke who become key participants in the book. The characters themselves were perfectly constructed. You liked the people you were supposed to like and disliked the people you were supposed to dislike. And the disliked people? Ya I just wanted to punch, slap and karate chop them with a passion! We also get to see some very special characters when Kat and Co are forced to team up with an unlikely ally. 

“We could really use the Avengers right about now."

"Screw that. We need Loki," Daemon retorted.

General Eaton arched a brow. "Well, unfortunately, the Marvel Universe isn't real, so...”

Gah!!! The humor throughout the book is so good! I wish I could share all the funny, sarcastic quotes that I can find but I can't so you're just going to have to read the book!! But please go read it if you haven't you won't regret it!! But I will leave you one last quote! 

“What the hell, man?” Dawson exploded, hands flying up. “I was on level sixty-nine of Candy Crush, you bastard. Do you know how hard that—?”

Goodread's link

Fallen too far by Abbi Glines

Fallen too far by Abbi Glines.

I was ready to scream at the ending of this book! Literally my review on Goodreads was 'You don't finish a book like that.'

This book has everything us hopeless romantics love - broken characters, a drool-worthy boy, secrets (tones and tones!) and of course the typical money difference between the main characters. 

"I can't believe I just begged a female to sit and talk to me."

Rush, god dammit that boy is beautiful from his biceps to his heart, even if not many can see it. 

Blaire (B, reminds me of Gossip Girl) is stunning but most of all she's a beautiful person inside. 

I didn't expect to get drawn into this book like I did. Blaire's attitude drew me and Rush's secrets kept me engrossed from beginning to end. Half way through the book I knew what the secret was yet I still somehow kept reading, waiting for the explosive secret to be revealed. 

“I don't need designer things. And YOU are designer, Rush.”

Nan, pissed me off. Abe, her father annoyed the hell into me and well Grant I adored. It's a complicated world you have entered when you read this book. Everyone is connected somehow it's just all so confusing. 

Nan was Rush's younger sister and she was a complete bitch. I don't even care if I'm meant to keep this Pg because there really isn't a pg word for her attitude. She was stuck up and couldn't appreciate what she had in life, after all she had everything she had as much money as she needed (from her brother) to last a lifetime and well you know what she should of simply made use of the of all the good stuff and forgotten the bad like normal people? Maybe turned her life around - actually done something with it instead of sitting around being a complete stuck-up cow. 

I'm not even going to bother talking about Abe you'll all understand my annoyance at him when you read the book as for Grant he made me smile at the most parts. He was beautifully sweet and good natured. To me he was one of my favorite secondary characters in this book apart from Bethy of course.  

The relationships that form between each and every one of the characters in this book I loved. From the relationship Blaire had with Grant to the way Rush treated Nan was something special altogether. I loved reading every part of this book. Especially seeing the way Rush and Blaire's relationship grew overtime.  

“You naked in my bed is even more unbelievably beautiful than I thought it would be... and trust me I've thought about it. A lot.”

I can't review this book without bringing up basically the major scenes from beginning to end. 

And those scenes were the beautifully written, absolutely go-crazy for smut scenes that I must say I wish I could get the chance to experience. 

As someone who likes to write smut now and again I was literally in awe while reading these scenes. Abbi isn't the best writer I have come across but her way of putting forward those steamy parts were something I would thank the lord to be blessed with. She did it in a way that you weren't cringing while reading them and yet they were also so believable. She didn't write the losing of Blaire's virginity like some authors do in a way that's nothing but unrealistic and disgusting. She wrote it with sweetness and honesty. 

I would gladly read a whole book of sex written by Glines. 

"Everyone always said that love was enough. It wasn't. Not when your soul was shattered.”

This book made me cry. It made me laugh out loud and smile. While also totally turning me on like all good smut scenes should! I loved this book from beginning to end. 

The ending made me so angry though, because damn I was praying that they would just have a simple ending full of butterflies and rainbows but nope when do I ever get my happy ending? Not even in books it seems anymore. I was going to take a break before reading the next book in this series but I just read the first few pages and seems like my heart won't be allowing me to gather all my thoughts. I shall start asap!

When I tell you to go read this book listen to me, I don't know how the rest of this series will go but damn this book to me was perfection and in some ways the ending may of not been happy ever after (yet? I still have faith.) but in some ways the most beautiful writers don't write a fairy tale ending. 

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Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles. 

Derek Fitzpatrick. Tall, dark and handsome. 

Ashtyn Park. Smallish, blonde and cute. 

Except she plays American football and well he doesn't have one single goal in his life. 

“I never believed in love at first sight, until I met Derek. It's all-consuming and delicious and wonderful and exciting. At the same time, it makes me nervous and self-conscious and emotional. Love exists. I know it does, because I'm madly, deeply, hopelessly in love.”

Everyone Ashtyn has ever loved has left. Her mother, her sister and even though her father never left he might aswell with the way he acts around her. She's a broken girl with a passion and love for American football. Against all odds she plays on her school team and is respected by all. 

Derek has just been suspended from boarding school after playing a rather brilliantly epic prank. With his father being in the navy (or whatever you call underwater soldier dudes). He has to move in with his step-mom and her little boy. They decide it's time to move home to a place they know or at least she knows. With that Derek has to leave aswell. 

“Because I'm tryin' to push you away when all I want to do is hold you. I know you say you don't want a hero, but damn I'd like to be that guy who'll save you from spiders and whatever and whoever else hurts you.”

The journey they both go on in this book is one that is very beautiful. They learn about themselves by learning about each other. They face their ups and downs but some how manage to get through them all. 

This book was your typical romance with it's twist. But I was in love with it. 

The book gets 3 out of 5 stars from me. It loses two because the writing wasn't perfect and the story although engrossing was one I don't find myself wanting to rant about how much you need to pick it up. 

“This attitude means you haven't met a girl worthy of your attention. You'll want to get caught if the right girl comes along.” 

Goodread's link

Out Of Control by Sarah Alderson

“I need a favour.’

I raise my eyebrows at him in disbelief. What makes him think I’m about to do him a favour? He’s a stranger. And he’s wearing handcuffs.”

This book was thrilling, suspenseful and fast-paced. We are thrown right into the thick of things from the very beginning. Our main character Liva has been having a tough day. Her dad is in Ghana, her mom is in Oman and the couple who were looking after her have ended up dead. Unfortunately everything is far from over. The police station, a supposed safe place is attacked and Liva is forced to rely on a car thief to get her out alive. It is soon realized that someone is out for Liva and they'll do anything to find her.

“So we have twenty-four hours to keep out of trouble,’ he says to me.

I slide a glance in his direction. Judging from the way he’s now grimacing at the sidewalk and the fact that I met him in a police station where he was being booked for stealing a car, I’m guessing that staying out of trouble is not his forte.”

Everything happens within the span of around 24 hours so its a lot to take in. Which includes meeting drool-worthy Jay. Jay brings some much needed light heartedness and humor to an otherwise serious story. Even if Liva is judge mental of him at the start. 

‘Because off-duty cops walk around the city wearing sweatshirts advertising they’re cops all the time, never mind it’s a hundred degrees outside. And never mind you look like the youngest cop ever recruited in the history of policing.’

He tsks at me. ‘Have you never seen 21 Jump Street?”

So with the help of Jay and his family Liva tries to stay one step ahead of her attackers whilst trying to figure out what they want. I thought Liva was a realistic character who was strong and smart but what also flawed in other ways. Everything starts to spiral 'out of control' (hehe see what I did there!) as the book progresses with tons of surprises and revelations in store. 

I really enjoyed this book and it lived up to the standard of Sarah's other novels. It kept me in  complete suspense from start to finish.

Goodread's link

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

We've all somewhere down the line heard of 'Perfect Chemistry' by Simone Elkeles but I bet a lot of you haven't heard of 'Rules of Attraction,' at least you who don't have goodreads or what not. I must admit when I first read Perfect Chemistry, I myself wasn't involved in the book world as much as I am today and it took me a few months before I heard there was more books in this series.

We all love the bad boy meets good girl, fall in love, can't be together dilemma. It's in us to love that typical story-line but the way Simone Elkeles does it, is downright beautiful. 

Last night as I lay in my dark room I decided I needed a complete and utter typical romance book and that is exactly what I found. 

“I'm in deep shit Alex, 'cause I think I'd like nothin' better than to wake up with her every mornin'.”

Oh how we love you Carlos, brother of the beautiful Alex Fuentos. Carlos has been sent over from Mexico where himself, his mother and his baby brother Luis moved over two years ago when Alex got shot trying to escape the Latino Blood gang. He has started a new school and is crashing on a blow up bed on Alex's dorm floor. He wants nothing more than to find some hot chicas and get high but it's all so much more complicated than that for the drool-worthy Carlos. 

Kiera, a shy girl that has a secret talent for fixing cars. Alex has been helping her out on her vintage car, getting her parts for cheap so she can fix it up. He asks Kiera to show Carlos around the school and she kindly says she will. She doesn't expect what she gets though, he's rude, self-absorbed and out-right mean to her at the beginning but by the end he's sad she won't be showing him to his classes day after day. Kiera and her family end up being there for Carlos when things start to get messy in his life and soon stuff happens that neither of them thought ever would. 

“Fifty percent of all doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class - Hope your surgery went well!”

Now before I talk about how much I need a relationship like the one Kiera and Carlos found in eachother I just have to bring up Tuck. Tuck, Tuck, Tuck Oh that boy made me laugh out loud a few times in this book. His cheeky ways of speaking to Carlos and his straight out words made me smile. He wasn't afraid of Carlos not like some would be and he also wasn't afraid to say what was on his mind. The friendship he and Kiera had was one anybody in their right mind would love to have. In some ways for me Tuck made the book, because he gave it that humour and honesty in which it needed. 

I loved Carlos and Kiera together. Their scenes always made me so jealous, god if only us girls could find a boy like that in real life wouldn't we all be over the moon? The way Carlos could never stop thinking about her made me love him more and how Kiera got nervous around him yet could give him cheek right back that just made their relationship for me. 

This book gets 4 out of 5 stars. It's get four for everything I loved about it Carlos, Kiera, Tuck, the humour, the friendship, the spanish, the love, the family unit everything that was beautiful and drew you in. It loses a star I think for the writing at times wasn't up to scratch. I'm a fussy girl when it comes to writing but this book should be read by all those girls/boys who just love a good romance! 

“There's a point when you have to stop fightin' the whole world.”

Goodread's link

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie. 

A society that is all about systems. They control who you love, where you live, where you work, what you do at your spare time; even when you die. Control is the main word, yet of course that is not how all see it.

Cassia a girl that always believed and trusted the system. Xander a boy who knew how to survive perfectly within the society. And Ky a boy who they never let out of their sight, who had perfected the art of being right in the middle, not bad nor good just okay.

“Once you want something, everything changes.”

I had been meaning to read this book ever since I laid eyes on it. I thought the cover was simple yet beautiful, but seeing as I get sick and tired of books based in a dystopian future I put it off for a long time. Then on my way to London a few weeks ago I was bored and decided I'd give the book a try. I read it each night without fail but when I got home I left it alone for a while. I finally finished the book and was pleasantly surprised that I loved the ending. 

Ally Condie's writing is not the best writing I have ever come across, but it is pretty. She wrote a society none of us would ever want to live in, yet she made the readers hate but love the world she had created. A world where all were equal, where there were no diseases - a world unlike the one we live in yet lacking all the good qualities we do have, underneath all the hate and war. 

“Is falling in love with someone's story the same thing as falling in love with the person himself?”

Cassia - the main character in this book, and the one who's point of view it is written in. I loved watching her grow as a character throughout this book. She grew from someone who believed and agreed with what she was told, to someone who questioned and disagreed with the society she's apart of. Yet Ally Condie made sure she never lost that teenage spirit that's within all of us.  

It was a beautiful thing watching Cassia fall in love with Ky, almost magical. I loved how Ally Condie wrote the parts about Ky teaching Cassia to write, it made me realise how lucky we are to be able to do something  like write we take it for granted every day of our lives. The way Cassia felt when she wrote with a stick in the mud was something we could never truly grasp as readers, as people who know how to write since we were very small but I think Ally wrote it perfectly. 

I felt heartbroken for Xander in the final pages of this book. The way he loved Cassia unconditionally broke my heart. He was such a beautiful boy with so much to offer the world and everything I had thought about him from day one faded in those final words of his. He changed into someone much more than another brainwashed person the society had created. He was someone who broke the rules for those he loved, he was someone who put aside his jealousy for the sake of others. 

The way Ky had been treated all his life tore me apart. He deserved so much more than how he had been treated. The way he opened up to Cassia through pictures and words made my heart fill with happiness. He was a beautiful, drool-worthy boy that I wanted Cassia to never stop kissing.

“We could have been happy. I know that, and it is perhaps the hardest thing to know.”

I also have not just my English teacher for this year, but this book to thank for the respect I have gained recently for poets and their poetry. It isn't easy to write a story that is less than a page long (usually), that can inspire people and make them feel things they have never felt before. The way Ally brought poetry into this book was something I haven't seen before and it was beautiful. 

This book gets 3 out of 5 stars from me. I can't give it the five because it didn't draw me in, in ways other books have and the book reminded me a lot of Delirium by Lauren Oliver - not saying either of them took stuff from the other but dystopian books always seem to turn out looking a bit alike. 

I would recommend that you all pick this book up and at least give it a try. 

Goodread's link

Harry Potter Tour London

If you're a fan of Harry Potter this tour is something you have to do. For all book readers it is like the must see thing of the century. Not even joking. 

I love the Harry Potter books and I wasn't a fan of the movies for a long time, but this tour literally makes you excited to watch the movies all over again. 

The things that come alive before your eyes is just amazing.. like I've always wanted to see the world of one of my favourite books come alive and that is what this tour did for me. 

I posted some pictures just to share my adventures during this summer with you! 

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic by Lauren Oliver. 

One word, engrossing. Lauren's beautiful and descriptive writing catches you from the very first word. 

“The rules of Panic are simple. Anyone can enter. But only one person will win.”

Panic is about a game that those just graduated play every year in a town named 'Carp.' They play for money, this year the pot is worth 67,000 dollars, the most it has ever been. It is all a matter of finding out who is desperate enough for that much money to put their life on the line. 

Heather - a girl with no real home yet surrounded by people who love her. The only way she'll realise this is by entering a game that she never planned to be apart of, Panic.

“No one had ever told her this basic fact: not everyone got to be loved.”

Dodge - Money is what they all play for but to Dodge the money means nothing. Panic is the name of the game and revenge is his true reason for risking everything. 

“This was what true fear was--that you could never know other people, not completely. That you were always just guessing blind.”

The moment I layed my eyes on this book, down in my local Easons, I just knew I had to read it. I don't know if it was the simple cover that drew me in at first or the glimpse I took at the first few pages but something got me hooked on the need to read this book as soon as I got the chance. When I finally got my hands on it, I had no idea what was in store for me. 

I had read reviews on 'Goodreads' about this book being like 'The Hunger Games' and was surprised to find 'Panic' and 'The Hunger Games' have very little in common if nothing. This book is original and creative. I was happy to find it was not set in the future; it is placed in today's time. Everything that happened in this beautiful book could happen in this world without fail. 

The book is split into two different point of views yet written in third point of view, which I found mesmerizing.

There is a love story in this book which just draws all us romantics straight in but isn't mentioned on the blurb. 

“They had their own language, their own jokes. They were constantly touching each other too – pushing and shoving, pinching and hugging, like kids flirting on a playground.”

Bishop I fell in love with straight away, the way he made Heather feel from the very beginning had me wanting to read scenes and scenes of them just being themselves around each other. There just wasn't enough of those scenes for me. I also found that Lauren doesn't like to describe the kissing scenes as much as I like to read them, which always left me wanting more. 

"Once , at the homecoming bonfire last year, she'd even called him Dave. He'd gone just because he was hoping to see her."

As for Natalie, I found her the tad bit annoying. She was meant to be Heather's best friend yet when was she really caring about Heather and her feelings? She made me mad at the best of times yet I still loved the scenes of her and Dodge because I am a hopeless romantic since the day of my birth. 

“It was so strange, the way that life moved forward: the twists and the dead ends, the sudden opportunities. She supposed if you could predict or foresee everything that was going to happen, you’d lose the motivation to go through it all. The promise was always in the possibility.”

Both Heather and Dodge also had their obstacles to overcome throughout this book. Lauren Oliver tackled each obstacle in the right way, yet never leaving behind the elegance of her writing. The message in this book shows the difference between hope and fear yet just how close the two feelings are.They are like black and white, different yet the exact same. Like Ying and Yang, one can't survive without the other. I loved the message of this book most of all. 

This book gets 5 out of 5 without fail from me, its now number one fan that shall fall asleep thinking of this story for a long time to come. Lauren Oliver did nothing but impress me from her storytelling to the words she used on the pages and the layout of the book. I would recommend this book to annoying that wants to not sleep, eat or drink for the length the book takes for you to finish it. 

“She knew, now, that there was always light – beyond the dark, and the fear, out of the depths; there was sun to reach for, and air and space and freedom.”

Goodread's link

Summer!

So even though it's the summer, I've noticed we are on less. I just wanted to update you all on the reasons why.
So at the moment I'm working in a charity shop sorting out the thousands of books - now that is only on Tuesday and Thursdays - but also I'm reading the books Méabh has written reviews about that I have yet to read and history books so that's mainly why O haven't been on.

As for Méabh she doesn't have a laptop of her own for the summer and she has been very busy from going to Switzerland and breaking her collarbone (typical) to hanging with her American cousins.

So ya that's basically that.

But I got photos of the beautiful books I'm working with for you all. So enjoy being jealous ;) and I hope he all are having a brilliant summer! 

Katie McGarry: Interview

Ahhhhh! Looooooooooook! 

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview the wonderful Young Adult author Katie McGarry. Who I’ve been a fan of ever since my friend and co-owner of Drool Worthy Books blog, introduced me to her.

Katie has just recently published ‘Take Me On’, her fourth installment to the ‘Pushing the Limits’ Series and so I got around to asking her some questions about the book, to which you can find my review on our blog.

• Why did you decide to pair West with a girl fighter?

When I first met West as a secondary character in CRASH INTO YOU, I knew that he had a short temper and got into fights easily.

In TAKE ME ON, I wanted West to fall in love with a girl who could mentally challenge him. By being an actual fighter, Haley was in a position to tell West that his temper hurts him, not helps him, and that sometimes walking away is fighting.

• You did a lot of research for ‘Crash Into You’ and ‘Take Me On’ which lead you to learn and do interesting things. Was it stuff that you thought you'd ever get the chance to experience?

For CRASH INTO YOU, I spent a lot of time at a local dragway and I even got the opportunity to go down the dragway. It was an exhilarating experience!

For TAKE ME ON, I found a local Muay Thai gym and they were fabulous enough to let me watch some of their training sessions. I eventually became bold enough to join their morning kickboxing for fitness class. It’s a bag class, but I learned how tough and fun kickboxing is.

I don’t believe I would have ever experienced either of these things if it wasn’t for the research I needed for the books.

With ‘Breaking the Rules’ coming out in Decemeber, I didn’t forget to ask some important questions there.

• Did you always plan on continuing Echo and Noah’s story?

I have always known what happened to Echo and Noah after I finished writing PUSHING THE LIMITS. I wrote PUSHING THE LIMITS as a stand-alone so I didn’t think I would get an opportunity to continue their story. When I was asked if I would consider continuing their story, I jumped at the opportunity. BREAKING THE RULES will be released on December 30, 2013. 

• What has been the most emotional book for you to write so far in the Pushing the Limits Series?

It’s a tie between DARE YOU TO and TAKE ME ON. In DARE YOU TO, I understood a lot of Beth’s hurts and there are a lot of themes in TAKE ME ON that are personal to me. Both stories required me to dig deep into places that are difficult for me to visit. 

But don’t worry guys I asked Katie the one question that’s been on all our minds ever since we met the girl in Crash Into you.

• Will we ever get the chance to read Abby’s story?

I’m not sure yet what the future is for the PUSHING THE LIMITS series. I’m crossing fingers and toes I’ll be able to write Abby’s story. 

Oh and so are we Katie, so are we! A big thank you to Katie for taking her time to answer our questions. It meant the world.

Goodread's link

Katie's Site