Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Dare you to, the second book in the outstandingly beautiful 'Pushing the Limits' series written by the very talented author Katie McGarry 

"It's our rain Beth." 

Katie's stories never fail to surprise me, her writing is beyond perfection. She could write a book about an odd sock that she found in the wash and I would probably be in tears by the end.

The first chapter of Dare you to is in Ryan's point of view, the main male character of this book. Who would of thought you'd find the love of your life in Taco Bell approaching her because of a stupid dare? 

Ryan is a sweet, kind, drool worthy jock. He eats, drinks and breathes baseball. He has never known anything else, but writing is slowly becoming part of his life and one girl is about to show him that there is much more than one path to choose in life. 

“Baseball isn't just a game. It's the smell of popcorn drifting in the air, the sight of bugs buzzing near the stadium lights,the roughness of the dirt beneath your cleats. It's the anticipation building in your chest as the anthem plays, the adrenaline rush when your bat cracks against the ball, and the surge of blood when the umpire shouts strike after you pitch. It's a team full of guys backing your every move, a bleacher full of people cheering you on. It's...life”

I fell in love with the Beth the moment we met in 'Pushing the Limits.' Her attitude was what really caught my eye. She had a nature of judging others before she had even gotten to know them because she expected others to judge right back. In some ways she reminded me of myself and I liked that. 

Beth's bad-ass attitude really shines through at the start of this book. She makes me angry, happy, sad etc. I was mad at her for a long time for the way she led Isaiah on but I learnt to live with it by the end of this book. Beth deserved more than anyone to be happy, she had had such a hard life. She just never thought herself worthy enough to find happiness and so pushed all good things in life away. Until one boy came along and showed her just how special she really was! 

“I take comfort in the stone inside of me. If I don't feel, I don't hurt.”

Ryan and Beth both overcome so much in this book. From Beth learning that she can't always be there for her mother right through to Ryan learning that his brother never did anything wrong by being gay. 

At the start of this book I was a hundred percent sure McGarry had made a mistake not letting Isaiah and Beth be together. My heart was completely shattered and I wasn't sure if I could love any other boy being with Beth but Ryan completely changed my mind. He brought out the other side of Beth, the side that she never showed anyone. He loved her and because of that she slowly started letting her walls down. I fell head over heels for Ryan and understood by the end why Isaiah and Beth couldn't be together. 

“The way he stares at me - it’s as if he doesn’t even see the outside anymore. His eyes pierce me as if he can see my soul and the thought terrifies me.” 

Many times throughout this book I found the tears streaming down my cheeks. From the intense scenes right through to the romantic scenes. We all have that series we like to tell everyone about and this is that series for me. It is much more than just addictive. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and it enchants you from page 1 all the way through to the very last page. 

It gets 5 out of 5 stars for it's beautiful story, breath-taking writing and perfect characters! 

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Tempting the Bodyguard Cover Reveal!

TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD will be releasing on May 12, 2014.

So happy to be part of this cover reveal! Here it is.

TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD OFFICIAL BLURB:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

He can protect her from everyone except himself.

Alana Gore is in danger. A take-no-prisoners publicist, her way with people has made her more than a few enemies over the years, but a creepy stalker is an entirely different matter. She needs a bodyguard, and the only man she can ask is not only ridiculously hot, but reputed to have taste for women that goes beyond adventurous.

Chandler Gamble has one rule: don't protect anyone you want to screw. But with Alana, he's caught between his job and his increasingly hard libido. On one hand, Alana needs his help. On the other, Chandler wants nothing more than to take the hot volcano of a woman in hand. To make her writhe in pleasure, until she's at his complete mercy. 

She needs protection. He needs satisfaction. And the moment the line is crossed, all hell will break loose…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Where You Can Find Jennifer:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Entangled website author page: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/category/j-lynn/

Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Don’t look back. You won’t like what you find.”

This is the long awaited new novel by the amazing author Jennifer L Armentrout. Don't Look Back is thrilling, exciting and will keep you guessing till the end. Jennifer has created a story that once you start reading you don't want to stop. 

The story is told by Samantha Franco. A seventeen year old girl who has been missing for four days along with her best friend Cassie. Samantha now suffers from dissociative amnesia. Meaning she has no memory of anything prior to being found stumbling along a road bloodied, battered and bruised.

But being brought back home isn't all its cracked up to be. Samantha feels lost as she tries to piece together the memories of her old life so she can help find Cassie. But her old life isn't anything to be happy about and Sam finds out just how ugly and fake it really was. She was awful to everyone around her even to the people that genuinely cared about her. 

Enter Carson Ortiz. Her brother Scott's best friend and someone who has also had to deal with former Sam's mean streak. Now this boy was amazing. He still helps Sam even though he has every right to hate her. He was strong, capable and loyal. You can't help falling for him! So drool worthy!

Given a second chance at life. A second chance to right her wrongs. Sam becomes determined to find out what really happened the night she disappeared. I found it heart wrenching to read as Sam becomes more confused, frustrated and scared. She quickly learns how easy it is to be manipulated when you have no recollection of anything. She can't decipher if something is real, a memory or just a dream and this leads to a load of other problems. But Sam is in danger even if she doesn't realize it. 

The question of 'who done it' stays in the back of your mind throughout. When you settle on one person Jennifer throws something at you and your back to the drawing board. But I just figured it out before everything went to hell! 

I  loved this novel. The characters were really well developed even the ones that I just wanted to slap. They served their purpose and added to the story in the right way. This is also a very well written book. It was told in such a way that you had to feel sorry for Sam. Having your memories taken is not something that everyone can relate to but Jennifer's writing gives us an insight into what it would actually feel like. 

Some aspects of the story are a bit cliche. For example Sam's 'friends' are the  bitchy mean girls that you hear about in schools but it didn't really bother me that much. If anything it just serves as a reminder of how mean people can actually be to each other.

This is another amazing read by Jennifer L Armentrout. It was fast-paced with constant twists and turns and just un-put-downable. I would recommend this to all Jennifer Armentrout fans and to anyone who likes suspense, thrill and a good bit of romance!

Goodread's link

Divergent by Veronica Roth

“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”

Okay lets see what we have here. Oh ya it's Divergent by Veronica Roth. Now this book is simply amazing. It kept me captivated throughout and had me bouncing in my chair waiting for Insurgent.

As you all probably know this book was made into a film. Just let me tell you that is was amazing. It was really well put together and Theo James! Oh man there aren't even words. But i'm not reviewing the film i'm reviewing the book. So here goes!

Divergent was a well thought out roller coaster of a story. It is set in a futuristic Chicago where society is split into five groups (factions). Erudite (the intelligent), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless) and Dauntless (the brave). Every year all sixteen year olds are given the choice to switch factions or stay in their old ones. They are given a test that will confirm what faction is their true faction.

But for Beatrice Prior that is not the case. She has never felt like she belonged in her faction (Abnegation). So when the time comes for her test she is both scared and hopeful. Little does she know that the results of this test will change her life forever.

Fast forward now and Beatrice aka. Tris has switched factions. Leaving her old life behind she sets out to embrace her new life as a Dauntless initiate. Enter Four. Now this guy just about captured my heart. Being an initiate trainer he instructs Tris and co. in combat and weapons training. He is mysterious, smart and level headed. Tris is put through her paces. Working to become a Dauntless member and keeping her secret that if found out would be the end for her. But something is coming. Tris and Four are going to have to use all of their training if they want to survive.

“Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up”

Veronica Roth writing is very intricate and thought out but in a simple way. The descriptions of the character and setting are well worded. The plot is fast paced and action packed. The romance in the story doesn't overtake the action and that is something you don't see often in books and I find really refreshing.  

The story as a whole is captivating and heart stopping. It deals with concepts and topics that are very real today. It will leave you wanting more.

“I feel like someone breathed new air into my lungs. I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. 

I am Divergent.” 

So now I think you can guess what my rating is! I really had no problems with this book so if you like dystopian futuristic novels then give this one a try!

Goodread's link

The Selection by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The Selection by Kiera Cass, literally kept me up all night.

Her writing was very simple, her story line not too complicated, It was an easy going book, a break from the heart-ache and stress of bigger more complicated series out there. It wasn't action-packed or had a love story that made your heart swell, but it was beautiful in it's own way. 

We've all read the books with the future that consists of different classes of people and so on. So in respect to that aspect of the book it wasn't much different than the likes of the 'Hunger Games' or 'Divergent.' 

This book consisted of a love triangle, something I'm not the biggest fan of and I have Suzanne Collins to blame for that. After breaking my heart with Katniss ending up with Peeta instead of Gale. I just don't trust authors who write love-triangles anymore. 

I fell in love with Aspen the moment I heard his name. I loved him even when he broke her heart, because I understood why. Why he had done what he had done. He'd been looking out for her and I got that. 

As for Max, I didn't want to fall in love with him, but overtime he grew on me. He was a sweetheart. An awkward boy that had never experienced love, or anything about life for that matter. He had a kind heart. 

America Singer was the main character in this book and she was truly special. She was an independent woman that knew the difference between wrong and right. Between telling the truth and lies. She was special and I really truly loved her character. 

One aspect of the book that really annoyed me was how America treated someone as kind as Max, she couldn't even say she loved him. Yet she could say she loved Aspen, so why keep Max thinking he has a chance?

"No, I’m not choosing him or you. I’m choosing me."

I look forward to reading the next book in this series, but It's not at the top of my list at the moment anyways. Kiera Cass is a talented writer and storyteller. 

This book gets 3 out of 5 stars from me for the fact that it actually kept me interested, and I actually found I enjoyed it. It loses 2 stars because it wasn't heart-stopping, it didn't make me jump with happiness or break down in tears. It was a slow paced book, but enjoyable all the same. I also adore the cover of this book, it is elegant and sophisticated - a perfect resemblance of the story.

Goodread's link

Naming Nature!

We went out into the wild to plant some trees. (I exaggerate, well about the wild not about the planting trees!). 

As part of 'tidy towns' in Ireland our school has gone out within our community to help clean it up, and bring nature back to life. 'Tidy towns' has been a big thing within Ireland for years now, members of the community go out and basically do as the title says tidy their towns. 

But this was different we planted trees and we got the chance to name them! Yes I said name them! And as total and utter book nerds we just had to name them after book characters. The opportunity just couldn't of gone amiss. 

If you've been keeping up with our blog, I challenge you to take one guess as to which authors books, names of characters were most taken. 

And if you guessed right go get yourself a cookie. 

Jennifer L. Armentrout's books were where we got our names from. 

Alex, Aidan, Seth, Apollo, Luke, Deacon (Who's name isn't in the picture but we did do, and put right next to Luke) - All from the Covenant Series 

Roth, Layla and Zayne - The Dark Elements Series. 

Luxen, Daemon, Katy, Dee (We didn't get the chance to put down Dawson and beth! Sigh) - The Lux series. 

We also just began on Katie McGarry's books when we were sadly torn away from our duty as book nerds. 

But we did get the very sweet couple Lila and Lincoln from Crossing the Line down! 

Oh and there was two special people we named two trees after, take a guess who those people were! US!