Come back To Me by Mila Gray

A book about love and how it can never truly die. 

So I have been meaning to read a book by Mila Gray a.k.a. Sarah Alderson for quite some time now. Meabh (the other blogger) has read quite a few, yet she never told me how good of a writer this woman is. For someone like myself who dislikes marines or anything to do with war much this was quite a different change for me. 

But I met a swoon-worthy boy and an adorable girl. While also experiencing some awesome writing!

“You've been waiting in the bushes for half an hour just to speak to me?"

Kit shrugs. "I've done sniper training. I can sit for hours in the dark, waiting and watching."

"That's comforting." I say. "And not creepy in the slightest.”

Kit is super cute and for a supposed 'player' he knows quite well how to be a complete cutey at times. As for Jessa she's totes adorable, ew I hate saying that. But no she's a very cute and strong character in my opinion. 

We meet Riley, Kit's best friend and Jessa's ahm.. brother. He's my favourite character in this book even though I went through a period of annoyance, there is just something about Riley and his girlfriend Jo that I want to read a book about the pair. 

“I’ve never felt this way before, Jessa,’ he says. ‘I don’t want to fuck it up.”

Okay let's get to the main point, this book was the typical love story but it was a damn good one at that and I'm sorry but who the hell doesn't like a good typical romance? I surely love them. 

I liked the start of this book and the suspense it gave to the whole story, making the reader worried from beginning to end then breaking there hearts while also mending it. 

My main issue with this storyline was how the dramatic parts took quite a long time to get to. This slightly annoyed me but Alderson's writing made up for it all. She was flawless in many ways, not too much description but not too little either, perfect amount. Her characters were all sorts of charming and she didn't make us completely hate the parents like most teen books do. 

So with that, I give this book really 3.5 if not 4 because of Gray's writing. I also love hot boys and that gives this book some extra brownie points. This was a good book to read if you just want to relax and not be too stressed. I may have also shed a few tears..

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