Category Archives: Realist Fiction

Blog Tour

June 20, 2016 posted by Nichole

Book Review: Don’t Get Caught by Kurt Dinan

10:00 tonight at the water tower. Tell no one. -Chaos Club

When Max receives a mysterious invite from the untraceable, epic prank-pulling Chaos Club, he has to ask: why him? After all, he’s Mr. 2.5 GPA, Mr. No Social Life. He’s Just Max. And his favorite heist movies have taught him this situation calls for Rule #4: Be suspicious. But it’s also his one shot to leave Just Max in the dust…

Yeah, not so much. Max and four fellow students-who also received invites-are standing on the newly defaced water tower when campus security “catches” them. Definitely a setup. And this time, Max has had enough. It’s time for Rule #7: Always get payback.

Let the prank war begin.

My Review:

Don’t Get Caught by Kurt Dinan is one of the funniest books I have ever read in my life. I was laughing from the very first chapter clear up until the end. Some of the comments and metaphors in this book…..Oh, lord. I was DYING. I never laugh in books. EVER. I really don’t have much of a funny bone. Let me tell you, though, this book was hilarious!

One thing that I really loved about Don’t Get Caught was that, while it did have one main character, it focused on four or five characters throughout the entire book. I loved that each character had their own unique personality and each of them really owned the book and helped make it be so successful. My only complaint with the main characters was that they really didn’t come off as high school students. I’m not positive, but I think that they were supposed to be Juniors in high school. They had to have at least been sophomores because some of them had cars and were able to drive. However, they kind of came off as like 8th and 9th graders. It could just be that I haven’t been in a high school setting in quite some time. That being said, they really did come off a bit younger than they were portrayed.

Another thing that I loved about Don’t Get Caught was the mystery and suspense that filled up almost every single page of this book. If I had to describe the plot line of this book, I would probably say Pretty Little Liars meets Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor. It was very action packed. Very in your face, pulse-pounding mystery. Those are the kinds of books that I really enjoy. I do wish that maybe there would have been some more suspenseful moments. However, I thought Dinan did an excellent job planning the hesists and pranks.

Even though I did really enjoy this book, I did have a few complaints. 1) I had a very difficult time relating to some of the family situations. As a teenager, especially as an older teenager, I would have not bowed down to my parents quite as much as the characters did. I wouldn’t have allowed myself to be punished or spoken to in some of the ways that Max was. I was the teenager who would get in your face and tell you a straight up “hell no, that’s not gonna happen.” I would have gotten into screaming matches and just ignored the ground rules. Obviously, I was a horrifying teenager. Also, my parents wouldn’t have acted disappointed in me over a C, and my mom would have ALWAYS been on my side before jumping to conclusions and siding with the school. Now, I know that there are some parents who are like the parents that were described in this book. However, I found it kind of weird that all of the parents were kind of like Max’s parents. I guess Wheeler’s parents were a little more laid back, but I thought it was a little odd that so many parents were so strict and not automatically on their kids side. 2) This is my education major side coming out, but some of the things that happened (regarding punishments and the way the school staff responded) would probably have never happened. The V.P. wouldn’t have been allowed to treat the students in the way that he did. If he did, parents would have FREAKED. OUT. Also, some of the punishments would have never happened because the school wouldn’t have legally been allowed to force the students to do those things. I can just imagine my mom’s reaction if I was told I had to do those things. So, again, this is probably just the education major part of me making an appearance, but those scenes did bug me. 3) I had a very big problem with the ending of the book. I wanted something more shocking and in your face to happen. I was pretty let down with the end results and kind of just expected a little bit more of an AH-HA! moment.

The ending of Don’t Get Caught really set it up nicely for a second book. It will be kind of disappointing if a second book isn’t made, because it almost felt like a cliff hanger. I’m definitely excited to read more from Max and about what comes next.

Overall, I really enjoyed Don’t Get Caught. I thought it was a hilarious book that had me laughing my head off. I haven’t had that much enjoyment over a book in a very long time. Kudos to the author. This was a great read!

Rating: :

Blog Tour

February 12, 2016 posted by Nichole

Book Review: The Secret to Letting Go by Katherine Fleet

the secret to letting go katherine fleet

The Secret to Letting Go by Katherine Fleet

Genre: YA Contemporary

Published by Entangled Teen

To be released February 1st, 2016

Goodreads Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26877648-the-secret-to-letting-go

Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1682810704

Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-to-letting-go-kathleen-fleet/1123170247

iTunes Buy Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-secret-to-letting-go/id1073591332

Kobo Buy Link: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-secret-to-letting-go

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Letting-Go-Katherine-Fleet/dp/1682810704

Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Secret-Letting-Go-Katherine-Fleet/dp/1682810704

Entangled Page: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-secret-to-letting-go/

One summer can change everything…

Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.

Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.

About the Author:

Originally from Newfoundland, Katherine Fleet gave up the cold winters of Eastern Canada for the year round warmth of the Caribbean. The slower pace of island life has given her time to pursue a long-time goal—becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her husband and wonderful friends in Curaçao. She is also a very thankful breast cancer survivor. In 2007, she joined RWA and has enjoyed the support and camaraderie of the YARWA and OIRWA writing communities. She’s participated in NaNoWriMo since 2012 and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her at www.KatherineFleet.com.

Author Website: www.KatherineFleet.com

Author Twitter: @KatherineFleet

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatherineFleet/

Author Instagram: @katherine_fleet

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14439407.Katherine_Fleet

Newsletter: www.KatherineFleet.com

My Review:

Ok…I have so many thoughts and feels over this book, I don’t really know where to begin. My overall thought? I thought that The Secret to Letting Go was a solid contemporary read that had a few quirks that bugged me.

The number one thing that I want to talk about is the dual POVs between Clover and Daniel. I absolutely adored the first POV (Daniels,) and I was super excited that we had another YA book with a male perspective. They don’t really exist in the bookosphere. I was completely stunned, though, when it switched over to Clover’s POV. I have a bad habit of not reading synopsis’, so I don’t know if that was in there, but I didn’t see it coming. And then it happened several more times! I’m not a reader who enjoys having the POV switch around like that. While I understand that some readers will enjoy hearing from both main characters, it rubbed me wrong.

Another thing that I want to discuss is the two main characters, Clover and Daniel. On one hand, I adored Daniel. I thought that he was an awesome male lead. Seriously, I could have read about him all day long. On the other hand, I couldn’t stand Clover…..for several different reasons, really. I thought she went on and on and on and ON about her secret for 65% of the book (probably because she did,) and it was just so DRAMATIC! I like suspense as much as the next person, but COME ONE, ALREADY! I needed it to get to the point a lot faster than it did! I was also really put off by how needy she was. Toward the end of the book, she begged Daniel several times to stay with her and to say her loved her and blah, blah, BLAH. I don’t like the message that females should resort to begging in their relationships. That was a big no, no for me.

What I did really like about this book were the twists and turns. Some of them I didn’t even see coming from a mile away! It was very suspenseful and kept me on my toes. So, kudos for that!

The Secret to Letting Go seemed to have a bit of an identity issue when it came to a genre/age range. Technically, this is a YA book. However, the main characters are 18 (college aged.) For me, I was lost in a YA book that technically should have drifted over into the NA range. 18-year-olds have sex. It happens. You can’t deny it. While attraction was addressed in this book, I thought that it was very PG for the ages addressed in this book.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was a bit more dramatic than my reading tastes tend to prefer and there were some issues that bothered me in the book. Overall, though, I thought that it was a solid contemporary read that YA contemp/suspense/lovey readers will really enjoy!

Rating: :

Excerpt:

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow at noon?”

She nodded so hard, her teeth probably rattled. “I’d like that.”

It wasn’t like we were arranging a date, so why did her enthusiasm make me straighten up and puff out my chest? “We can meet at the beach next to the pier. My friends and I’ll be surfing. You bring the preserves, and I’ll bring the stove.”

Uncertainty flickered across her face, and her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

I should have used her reluctance to back out, but instead I reassured her. “We won’t be hard to find. We’re just north of the pier, and this way we can meet on neutral territory.”

Her expression turned blank.

“You know…in case I’m secretly a serial killer. There’s always safety in numbers.”

Her lips twitched upward, and she laughed. The sound tinkled through the air like wind chimes on a breezy day. “I already know you’re not a bad person.”

“Oh yeah?”

She nodded. Her unwavering stare made me want to squirm in my shoes. “True evil can never be hidden. It’s always there, if you know where to look. When I look at you, I see only good things.”

I snatched my gaze away from hers and tugged at the collar of my shirt. I wanted to know how she could talk with such authority on the subject. I wanted to know what evil she’d seen, but I wanted even more to escape the narrow store aisle. Warning bells pealed in my brain. She’s crazy. Don’t get involved.

Giveaway Info: $25 Amazon Gift Card (US / Canada)

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Blog Tour

February 2, 2016 posted by Nichole

Book Review: Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

What if the person you need the most is someone you’ve never met?
Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

My Review:

Let me straight up with right now and tell you that I loved this book from the very first sentence. I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful and powerful this book is. My heart feels like it grew 20 sizes, and I just want to cry all of my feelings into my pillow. I don’t even know how to fully express my love for this book.

The characters in this book were SO REALISTIC. I felt like I was with Jessie on her entire journey. Honestly, for most of the book, I just wanted to squeeze her tight and tell her how special she was. That, and I wanted to punch people out for being hideously rude to her. And the side characters? I mean it when I say that EVERYONE was perfection. I just….I can’t even.

I may gripe about her a lot, but my mom is my favorite person in the entire world. She is the most important person to me, and I would shank anyone who ever threatened her or our relationship. So….I was a total basketcase whenever Jessie’s mom was mentioned or when Jessie started missing her mom…..cause I can’t even imagine a world without mine. I don’t even think that I would survive it. There were so many quotes in this book that tore my heart to shreds and then threw it back in the blender for extra measures. This book was just way too beautiful.

I struggled with rating this book a 4 or a 5 based off of SN’s identity. I didn’t feel like it was that big of a shocker. Honestly, I figured out who SN was right away. There were a few moments that made me second guess myself, but I did know who it was and there were only a couple moments that made me question it. While I thought the ending reveal was tricky and a nice move on the author’s part, I would have liked to see a little more secrecy in SN’s identity. There was no part of me that went “OH MY GOD! THAT’S WHO SN IS!?” at the end of the book. I was more like “Called it. Knew it all along.”

I also loved how romantic this book was, as well as how much reality it included. I loved the fact that this book represented true aspects of high school life. As a female, I can admit that females are assholes…especially high school females. We can be catty, sneaky, mean, and vicious. Not that we can’t be nice, but there is NOTHING worse than female high school drama. Speaking from experience here. I just really liked the reality in this book.

Another thing that I sorta kinda struggled with were the adult figures in Jessie’s house. My initial instinct was to straight up hate both of them right away. It took a LONG TIME for me to accept and forgive them and acknowledge that they, also, are human beings. lol. Does that makes sense? At the end of the book, I really appreciated those scenes. However, I did have a lot of anger going on in some of their scenes.

Overall, I flat out adored this book. I can’t tell you how much you need to go preorder this book. It is so beautiful and romantic and real. It’s just….perfection. And at the end of the day, I give this baby 5 stars!

Pages: 336

Publication Date: April 5th, 2016

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Rating: :

Blog Tour

January 15, 2016 posted by Nichole

Book Review: Not Okay, Cupid by Heidi R Kling

Not Okay, Cupid (High School Heartbreakers #1) by Heidi R. Kling

Published by Entangled Crush

Published on January 11th, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27840786-not-okay-cupid

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Okay-Cupid-Heidi-Kling-ebook/dp/B01828N3JG

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-okay-cupid-heidi-r-kling/1122956723

Entangled Pub: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/not-okay-cupid/

Her wicked revenge, or his wicked heart…

Hazel McCallister loves her life. Perfect grades. Perfect best friend. Perfect boyfriend. Until her perfect boyfriend cheats on her with her perfect best friend. Now Hazel’s in free fall—until her best friend’s brother, Felix, gives her the perfect idea. Reclaim her power by taking revenge on her cheating ex.

Felix James loves his life. Casual relationships. Loads of surfing. He’s as drama-free as they come. But he can’t stand by when his sister steals her best friend’s boyfriend, and the dude insists it was Hazel’s fault. So Felix vows to help turn Hazel into a girl her ex can’t resist—so then she can break his heart.

With an alliance in place, Hazel’s revenge is all but assured. But with each piece of payback, she feels a stronger attraction to Felix, even though revenge will turn her into a girl Felix could never be with. And soon Hazel has to make an impossible choice: revenge…or Felix, the boy who’s stolen her heart.

WARNING! This book contains betrayal, revenge, and that most tempting vice of all, the bad boy you know you can’t have.

About the Author:

After earning her BA in Literature & Creative Writing Literature from UC Santa Cruz and finding her voice in YA, Heidi went on to earn her MFA in Writing for Children from The New School. She has directed and written children’s theatre on both coasts and lives with her husband and two children in Palo Alto, CA.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2936539.Heidi_R_Kling

Website: http://heidirkling.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeidiRKling

Tumblr: http://heidirkling.tumblr.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidi.r.kling

Read below for an excerpt from the book:

I watched in horror as Kimmy’s lips grazed Jay’s ear. He leaned back and laughed. What the heck was going on?

“Oh God!” Hazel said, grabbing my hand. “Look at her hand.”

Kimmy’s hand was riding high up Jay’s shorts. High, high. Like top of thigh high. The kind of move that usually let me know a girl was ready to get down to business.

“Dude,” I said, because what else could I say?

Hazel swallowed. “Did you know about this?”

“Me? No way. Hell no. I’ve been looking for her all day, too. Look, Baze, don’t overreact. We don’t know anything. Who knows. He might have…lost a match and she’s…comforting him. Or his turtle died and they’re planning a eulogy together?” I was grasping and we both knew it, but I couldn’t stand to see that pained look on her face. “I once heard the best eulogy for a frog. It was amazing. It was all about the life cycle from tadpole to amphibian to…”

“Shut up, Felix.”

“Shutting up.”

Hazel brushed past me and barreled toward them. It was no turtle eulogy, and I knew it. I mean, I didn’t know I knew it, but I knew the look of two people who were digging on each other, and those two were certainly all about the other one. God, poor Hazel.

Oh no. There she goes.

I had to follow her. I had to help.

“Excuse me,” I said to a group of three ladies in my way. Two of them grinned at me, one glared. The glaring one was a girl I’d forgotten to call back. I ducked, sheepishly, with a little apologetic wave, and came out on the other side.

I’d never even heard Hazel raise her voice, never mind cry. Never mind cry in public. But I didn’t need to use my astute Sherlock skills to see Hazel was on the verge of doing all three. She stopped close to Jay and Kimmy, like she was verifying what she was seeing was real.

One more intimate touch from Kimmy on Jay and that was it. Hazel moved in for the kill.

Book Review:

Not Okay, Cupid is a super sweet YA contemporary that it perfect for readers who are looking for romance before Valentines Day! It’s full of ooey, gooey love and revenge plots throughout the entire book that will keep you flipping the pages for more.

When I first started Not Okay, Cupid, I was a little confused. It starts out really fast without much character background. So, it took me a few chapters to really get a grasp of what was going on and who was who. After the first three chapters, though, it was (okay, being honest here) hard not to fall in love with Felix. He was just way too adorable! I could have just read about him. What a sweetheart.

The characters did feel a little young in Not Okay, Cupid. They were supposed to be seniors in high school, but I would have pegged them around eighth or ninth grade. Maybe I just haven’t been in high school for awhile and can’t remember how immature everyone was. I just felt that the characters didn’t really act like they were about to go off to college. I would have liked to see a little bit more character development in this book.

Another thing that slightly bothered me was that Not Okay, Cupid was very repetitive in regards to the cheating and the revenge. I understand that’s what the book was about. However, it was a bit much to have it going on every few paragraphs. Big Deal? No. I would have just liked to see maybe a few more side plots or a more on growing romance between Felix and Hazel.

Now, I am very choosy about the YA contemporary books that I read. I typically don’t like reading the lighter side of YA contemps; I lean more to the tear jerkers and the storylines that rip your heart to shreds and then throw it in a blender for extra good measure. I really enjoyed reading this one, though. Totally not my normal read, but I must have been in the mood for something sweet and romantic! It was a nice change! And I really think that this book is going to be a huge hit with YA contemporary fans!

What I liked:

Felix: I couldn’t get enough of him! What a sweetheart!

The Light Side of YA Contemporary: It was a light, sweet read! I really enjoyed it!

A Perfect Read for Valentines Day: I read this just in time! A perfect read for this season!

What I Didn’t Like:

The Characters felt a little young: While I did enjoy the characters, I would have liked to see a little bit more character development!

A Little Too Much Revenge & Cheating: It would have been nice to see some side plots or a little more ongoing love between Felix and Hazel. A little too much focus on the revenge & cheating for my taste

Overall:

I really enjoyed Not Okay, Cupid! It was a very cute read & a perfect addition to the YA community just in time for Valentines Day! I definitely recommend this one for YA contemporary fans!

Rating: :

The Giveaway:

a #Heartbreak tank top that looks like this and was inspired by Not Okay, Cupid (as the series name for this book is High School Heartbreakers): https://shirtmeuptees.com/product/smu-02-hash?shirt_style=womenstank&customtext=heartbreak

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The Tour Schedule:

January 11th
The Phantom Paragrapher – Review
The Book Beacon – Top Ten Post
January 12th
Cassandra M’s Place – Promo Post
[Not] Write in the Head – Promo Post
January 13th
Addicted to Books – Review
RoloPoloBookBlog – Review
January 14th
The Procrastinator’s Corner – Review
The Shadow Realm – Promo Post
January 15th
Book Briefs – Review
YaReads – Review
January 16th
The Rest Is Still Unwritten – Review
Roxy’s Reviews – Guest Post
January 17th
The Rest Is Still Unwritten – Guest Post
January 18th
Beanie’s Book Blog – Review
January 19th
Crossroad Review – Promo Post
January 20th
Just One More Chapter – Promo Post
January 21st
Jody’s Book Reviews – Promo Post
January 22nd
OriginiquEquanimity – Review
Media Geeks Unite – Promo Post
January 23rd
YaReads – Interview
January 24th
Adventures in Writing – Review

Book Reviews

January 11, 2016 posted by Nichole

My Recent DNF Pile

Hi everyone! Welcome back!

I don’t always review my DNFs (did not finish books,) but I tend to like to review them so that our readers can also read about the books that I didn’t so much care for. Today, I’m going to introduce you all to two books that I’ve recently DNF’d. Neither of them really needed their own post, so I’m grouping them together in one. Find out more below!

Caden Bosch is on a ship that’s headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench.

Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior.

Caden Bosch is designated the ship’s artist in residence, to document the journey with images.

Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head.

Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny.

Caden Bosch is torn.

A captivating and powerful novel that lingers long beyond the last page, Challenger Deep is a heartfelt tour de force by one of today’s most admired writers for teens.

My Review:

Note: I listened to the audiobook.

I made it to chapter 17 of the audiobook before I DNF’d it. Honestly……I was beyond confused. I’m still confused. I actually had to research Goodreads reviews to realize that this book was about mental illness. I got none of that from the actual book itself. I think I understood like 2 scenes in the entire 17 chapters that I read. I do own this book, but I don’t think it would have been much different than the audiobook for me.

I don’t know….did other people have any issues with this book? It got really good ratings on Goodreads. I’m confused, though. I don’t get it. I don’t enjoy reading or listening to things that just confuse me…..

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.

New Adult Romance recommended for readers 18+ for mature content

My Review:

This DNF made me sad, because I actually thought that this book had a lot of promise. Not to mention that I actually really enjoyed like the first 30% of this book. I was fully intending on rating it like 4 or 5 stars. I think the problem, for me, was that NA books are ultimately very sexy. Don’t lie, that’s why we read them. YA books have to be a little censored due to their age range. NA books, though, have the promise of sex and scandal and uber male hotness. So, the problem was the fact that it focused around a sex addiction and the hot scenes couldn’t really be all that hot. It got really uncomfortable to realize that the main female character was sleeping with thousands of men and….ew.

By the time she shacked up with the main male character in the book, I was just confused. After that, the rest of the book was focused on her trying to squeeze her legs so hard to not cheat on him and him constantly thinking that she was cheating on him and blah blah blah blah blah. And his addiction was almost just as annoying. I’m not putting down the addictions themselves. I understand that they are big deals, and I did like that they were addressed in this book. However, it was a little too much.

The final straw was when two new characters were introduced. I really didn’t understand their presence in the book. I also didn’t like how the book completely changed its feel during the last half and how it took a completely different direction than I anticipated. I was just…..really confused.

Book Reviews

December 26, 2015 posted by Nichole

Book Review: Midnights by Rainbow Rowell

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year’s there’s something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.

Book Review:

I struggled with whether or not I wanted to write up one whole review for this book or individual reviews for each of the stories in this book. I decided that I’m going to write individual reviews for each of the stories in this book, because I don’t want to forget anything or just have a bland main review that doesn’t really tackle the individual stories. So….we’ll just have 12 reviews for this book! Works for me!

I’ve actually listened to this story a couple of times (I own the audiobook.) It is one of the most beautiful stories. Not shocking, since Rainbow Rowell is amazing and perfect. I do have to admit, though, the that audio version is a little bit better. I tend not to be the biggest fan of audiobooks, but this one really captures the cuteness and the romance between Noel and Mags.

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell captures four consecutive New Years Eve’s between Noel and Mags. It starts from when they first meet each other and ends at the point that they fall in love. It’s a very short story (roughly about 20ish pages.) Honestly, I wish it was its own book. I would devour every single page. Also, I don’t know who I like more: Noel or Mags. Obviously, I love them as a couple, but they also have such unique personalities that really captivated me. Rainbow Rowell couldn’t have captured better characters for this story!

I’m interested to see what my opinion of the rest of the stories will be. I’ve listened to probably about 65 to 70% of this book via the audio version. There are a few stories, though, that I haven’t listened to. I can’t remember if this one was my favorite. I know that there’s another one or two in here that I LOVED listening to. I’ll remember those ones when I run across them!

Stay tuned for the rest of my reviews for the remaining stories in this book! I’m excited to share them with you! So far, this story was a hit!

Rating: : I wish I could give it a higher rating!

adult books

July 12, 2015 posted by Nichole

The Mistake (Off-Campus #2) by Elle Kennedy

He’s a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

My Review:

Ok, so, in the first book Logan is described as being “such a player.” I mean…he’s basically hot shit. And in the beginning of this book, things pretty much stay the same. So, I was a little confused at how quickly he turned into the “relationship” sort of guy. It was just sort of a weird transition. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I adored Logan’s character. But…….it was just kind of weird.

I really didn’t like how quickly Logan fell for Grace. I wanted to see more of a connection. It was strange having Grace leave for three months and having Logan so hung up on her only after seeing her like twice. And all of a sudden he was talking about how he broke things off with her and he regretted it so much. I mean, dude, that’s not what happened at all. You were NEVER in a relationship. It was really weird. I wish that part of the book would have been strange.

As for the sexy time scenes, again, I was disappointed. I was probably more disappointed in this book than any other. And I say that only because of how Logan was portrayed. I mean, I was ready for Logan and Grace to get it on. And that just didn’t happen. At all. Big disappointment.

This sounds negative, but I really did enjoy the book! I just wish that it would have been a little more steamy and a little more….firm as far as the plot goes.

I’m a huge new fan of Elle Kennedy. I can’t wait to read more books in this series!!!

Pages: 297

Publication Date: 4/28/15

Rating: :