sunshinejenn03

*howls* the turmoil that is this book! I want to cry myself to sleep now. Edit: Real review time.The review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.If there was ever an epic conclusion to a dystopian series, you’re looking at it right here. I was a heap of a sobbing mess when it was over and I may never recover!**This post may contain spoilers from the first two books**Stay tuned for the blog tour post going live tomorrow!Raine is in Freedom under the control of her father. Gunner is with the rebels. Vi, Zenn and Jag are also with the rebels and trying to devise a way to bring down Freedom – and the Association – while saving Raine, Cannon and the rest of the rebels and citizens who are not with the Association.Abandon is fast-paced and quick in a don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it kind of way. We’re totally immersed in the story now, there’s no turning back. Traitors have been outed, more questions are asked of our favorite characters, especially Zenn, who struggles internally with what he thinks is right. Zenn and Jag are in the forefront now, leading a rebellion hell-bent on bringing down an entire government.I actually struggled with this a little bit. Where are the freaking adults already? Kids are not able to do this by themselves.Anyway, that question does get answered, but I was never fully satisfied with it.Zenn’s internal struggles are very front and center in Abandon. This novel is more about what he is going to do than anything else. The Association wants him – bad. He has power, they need power. But he has this urge to do what he thinks is right. Only, what is that exactly? I loved his struggle, and I also loved that as an insider, he had tips:Insider Tip #1: Always do what the boss says. This is how you gain trust.Insider Tip #7: Suspect everyone. Trust no one. When things go wrong, assume someone has tipped off the enemy.So as an insider, who is he really fighting for? Elana Johnson left me guessing which side he was playing for up until the end.Vi and Jag are more interesting in Abandon. Vi has gained back what she lost, and she’s learning she has new powers, but at what cost to herself? Jag is resolving how to deal with this new side of her, and oh yeah, he also feels more betrayed by his best friend Zenn than ever. I think Jag has expectations of other people that are way too high often times. And frankly, he pissed me off a lot, but in a good way, because I know Johnson meant for him to piss me off. I forgive you, Jag.The love triangle does get resolved, but it left me gnashing my teeth in frustration and sadness, mostly sadness, because the outcome was shocking and not what I would have thought would happen. Johnson, you are a brave woman.Let’s talk the ending. This one thing happened and I sobbed hard. I mean, hard. I can’t believe it happened and I was a big ol’ mess at the end. The ending is the entire point to this whole trilogy: how far will someone go to fight for freedom, for the ability to choose their own meals, their own mates, their own ways to live? I know I would do anything for the ability to choose for myself.Overall, I think Abandon is a fantastic conclusion to the series, and Elana Johnson leaves room for more books, with the way it wraps up. All the shiny tech was fascinating and I loved the determination of the characters to fight for choice. That’s my kinda book.

Still uncertain how angry this book made me. Review to come. Edit 6/20:This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog. Let me preface this review by saying that Rise could easily have been a 3-star book for me, as I could have overlooked at lot of the items below I'm going to point out. Except for the last thing. I can't overlook that.___Such an anticipatory book, I’d been waiting for Rise to release for what felt like decades (but okay, it was only one year, let me have my moment!), when I went on vacation and my friend brought it with her. I took my opportunity to read the most disappointing series finale ever.That’s a harsh statement to make about a book and I 100% own it. But I have my reasons and they start with books one and two. I was slightly intrigued and yet indifferent with Eve, the first book in the series, but I saw the great potential this trilogy had and eagerly awaited for book two. Eve grew so much in book two, Once, that I just ended up loving the series, especially with the mega cliff-hanger ending of Once, where we find out she is not only a School refugee, but also the King’s daughter – and then they marry her off to Charles! I had had a feeling she was royal, but it didn’t make me love the plot set up for book three, Rise, any less. So I wanted to find out what happened next!Rise had great potential, but I do think it fell flat, mostly with the ending, which I will try super-hard not to spoil for you, but discuss at the same time. You can beat me if I ruin it for you. I give you permission.Rise is all about the rebellion, like any good dystopian should be. Rise up and stand for what is right and you believe in! But Eve spent more of her time worrying about her own self than she did about the others around her. (K, I’m probably being a little unfair here… she cared pretty hard about the girls in the Schools, so I’ll give her a pass – sort of.) Jebus, Eve, what kind of heroine are you?! You are a fail, you selfish twat.CharlesHe really could have had more page time. He does a lot for Eve, and I really REALLY liked his character, but Charles gets almost no face time in the book. Especially when he does the thing where the thing happens and she’s grateful and realizes he may not be all that bad. Like, DUH GIRL. He likes you!The PregnancyI thought this could have been explored exponentially more than it was. As it was, you find out she is pregnant, the king makes vague threats, nothing is really explained, and Charles is protective. What? Dude… What? And then other than mentioning she’s pregnant – and priceless now – that’s pretty much it. Oh plus waxing poetic about how she’s carrying Caleb’s kid and that’s all she has left of him. I did sympathize there.Where Are the Regular Adults Having Babies?!No seriously, where are all the other people in the City of Sand? Carey doesn’t give any explanation throughout the entire series about the people that actually LIVE in the City of Sand and I didn’t realize this until book three. This really bothers me. We know that girls are kept in Schools and then moved to hospitals for breeding. Boys are sent to labor camps, a lot of them working to restore the City of Sand (Vegas). But…but where are the older kids and adults that used to be kids? The plague was sixteen years ago, so some of those kids are alive right? This isn’t the Wither series where they die off at twenty years old and therefore need to procreate quickly. So…WHERE ARE THE ADULTS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF HAVING CHILDREN? This might be my biggest gripe with the book. Wait, no...The EndingWHAT. THE. @#$%.What kind of ending was that? I actually thought there were pages missing out of my friend’s library book, but alas, nope, it was pretty much brand new and in impeccable condition. The ending just stops, and I’ve complained about this in books before, but never have I seen it so abrupt as it is in Rise. The ending could have been a fine ending to a chapter, or followed with a epilogue, something, anything that gives me more detail and insight into what happens after or what’s going on in Eve’s mind. But nope, this story was like riding in a jolty jalopy where the transmission falls out and you haven’t quite reached your destination. Story = ruined.Redeemable QualitiesLet me get back to you on that. It did have some, but I’m still too emotional and pissed off to comprehend the disappointment of the conclusion to this series.I’ve had some time to reflect and I still like Anna Carey’s writing style. It’s very pretty and fluid and it’s easy to get lost in her words (generally).I also felt that Clara was a kick-ass character and very strong to a lot of Eve’s weakness. And Eve had tendencies to be very weak. I’m not giving her flak for that, not really, because no one is perfect, I guess I just would have liked to have seen things executed a little better.OverallNot the book I thought it was going to be. Rise is getting pretty great reviews. You may like it even though I didn’t. YMMV, so read it, love it or hate it, but definitely let us know how you felt.

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.Holy smoking hot romance, Batman! After the back and forth of Brianna and Thomas in scorchin’ hot Sin City (and ooh oooh the sins indeed!), I think I need a dip in the pool at the Wynn! Who’s gonna treat me to a trip?!Thomas has gone to Vegas for a business trip for his marketing company when he literally saves the life of a woman about to walk into traffic because she has her nose in her cell phone. Even though he’s busy feeling sorry for himself, sparks fly when the two strangers are pressed against each other on the sidewalk…Brianna is a powerhouse of a woman. She’s not struggling anywhere except in her love life and when she meets Thomas at the restaurant to talk business, it’s evident that both of them feel this kind of attraction to each other that is instantaneous and…explosive, hehehe.I am not your typical romance reader. Usually the insta-love is a complete turn-off. But while I was at RT in May, someone said during a panel, that if it can happen even once, it is totally possible. This made me realize that maybe I’m not giving romances the fair shake they deserve. And along came Love Me by Diane Alberts.The main characters are dynamite together, there was just something about them that clicked right with me and I fell in love with them and wanted them to end up together. I enjoyed the internal struggle each of them had to face before they could move on and even think about being with one another. Diane Alberts is fabulous at tormenting her characters a little before she gives her readers what they want.I did not know this was part of a series (because I didn’t do my research like usual, duh!), so only after researching for the blog post info did I realize this was a #2. But rest assured, this can be read as a standalone, because I wasn’t lost at all. I love when that happens!Now I need #1! Who do I have to bribe to get it?I received this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Such a fabulous conclusion to the Lila Gray trilogy and still…I want more!Lila Gray, the fae Queen, is on a mission to find the Magi, the race bent on destroying all other races (including humans ya’ll), except they are incredibly hard to find and Lila needs to convince the Seelie, Unseelie, Elves and other fae to fight with her or all is lost to these creatures.I keep saying it and I’ll say it again: the Lila Gray series is a great new face in the paranormal romance genre! It’s serious but fun at the same time, and Jocelyn Adams writes her characters with a certain aplomb that makes them entertaining to read and the book hard to put down.I once interviewed Adams and she told me she was a pantser and had no idea where the series was going when she started Glass Man. Yet, all three novels (Glass Man, Shadow Born and now Rise of the Magi) blend together seamlessly to create one great story.Lila Gray is a character that starts out not knowing what she is in the beginning of the series and as she is captured and takes on her role as the fae Queen, learns and grows. Adams does a remarkable job developing her character and strength, so much so that she is the kind of character you can look up to (if you’re weird like me and think characters are real people – and I know you are and do).Adams doesn’t ignore her secondary characters. I particularly liked Andrew’s growth during the novel, from pissy and braying to loved and a strong warrior.The plot: GREAT! Lots of tension and it’s very…pulpy. The last two books focused mainly on the Seelie and Unseelie. Now Adams has brought the other fae into the mix and I loved reading about how they all get together to beat the bad guy(s).Adams continues to incorporate a lot of humor in her writing, and Rise of the Magi is no different. The characters bandied about sarcasm and snark and I laughed and laughed at the innuendos that flew back and forth. They really are a funny bunch! I will miss them (so Jocelyn Adams, that’s a hint to write more Lila Gray books)!For anyone interested in a new fae/paranormal romance series, look no further, because you’ve found it.This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog. I received this book for review, but I was not compensated for my opinion.

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book BlogWhat happens when we die? Some think we move on to the next level, others think we return to the earth at our feet. In Lenore Appelhans’ LEVEL 2 (soon-to-be retitled The Memory of After in its paperback release), we ascend to the next level, where we relive our memories in hi-tech memory pods until we then move on to what comes after, er, LEVEL 2. Level 3, perhaps? The next level is a giant unknown.Appelhans explores deep thoughts in LEVEL 2: death, betrayal, and strangely, addiction in a really weird and off-beat way. And she does it all within a world of imagining unlike any other. You see, Felicia’s dead. She exists in LEVEL 2 where souls cannot move on (think Purgatory) until they are able, and live in a hive-like world, where memories are like a drug addiction and you can hashtag events from your life. For instance, if I were to hashtag this, it would be #LEVEL2, #books, #compulsivereading.Because I enjoyed LEVEL 2 so much! It had a Matrix-y feel, with the hive-like afterworld and technology, but at the same time, it was contemporary, too, when she was reliving her memories. It’s like she wrote two different books and mashed them together and they blended beautifully.It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book I felt like I had to read. I brought LEVEL 2 on the plane with me and finished the first half on my flight to Kansas City for RT and would have finished the second half on the way home but for a disturbing amount of turbulence (even for this girl, who enjoys a little turbulence), that it made me sick. But I digress. I’m the kind of person who gets motion sick while reading in moving things, but I was enjoying LEVEL 2 way too much to care for most of both flights.Appelhans’ characters are very real and reachable. Felicia is likable in the way that you feel sorry for her; she’s a diplomat’s daughter, so on one hand, she gets to jet-set, but on the other, she’s incredibly lonely and vulnerable in the way lonely people can be. She strives to make good decisions, but sometimes we need to make the bad ones too, in order to see what lays ahead of us.I also liked Julian. Hello bad boy! He is the kind of boy every girl dreams of taming, and yet only one will every be able to. I guess we can all dream, right? Julian was slick (sometimes too slick, I had a feeling about him) and he knew how to play girls’ fiddles, but that is everything I liked about him, afterall. He also felt very redeemable to me. The bad ones always do.Neil was not my favorite character. Good guys rarely are. There is something about them that is too sweet, too dandelion-y for my tastes, but maybe that’s just me. I’m the kind of chick that likes a little dark in my light, a realist to go with the positive, someone who is going to kick and bray right along with me when I get pissed. Neil would probably just stroke my arm and tell me “there, there.” No, Neil, no!I have conflicted feelings about Autumn. Sometimes she felt hit-or-miss with me, but she’s very important to the story, and she was the bad girl that everyone hates (which I sometimes did), but I felt sorry for her, too. She’s also a diplomat’s kid, so…you know, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. When I felt sorry for her, it was because I felt like she felt she was unloved, or needed attention because she was insecure.The Morati we don’t learn much about, other than what the rebels tell us (whom I also a little distrustful), until the end, but since there is a second book, I’m hoping we learn more there. When I did meet them, they felt sinister and yet at the same time…I didn’t entirely blame them for what they were trying to do.Some readers would complain that LEVEL 2 bounces around in the timeline. In level 2, everything happens in chronological order, but Felicia’s memories (level 1) are scattered, because she picks and chooses (and sometimes they are chosen for her) at her whimsy, depending on how she’s feeling. Therefore we slip into her memories at random, and in no order. But the order does serve the purpose of telling the story of Felicia, and getting to know her. The jumping around didn’t bother me at all, and actually, I found it easy to follow, because the memories began with the hashtags and had dates and titles.Appelhans builds her world well. She describes LEVEL 2 so much so that I can see it in my mind’s eye, and it looks straight out of a sci-fi movie to me. So, hey, Hollywood, if you pick this up, please don’t fuck it up for us. The drones, the chambers, the outfits the girls wore….not to mention, the super-sweet abilities that one develops when you overcome your addictions while in LEVEL 2.Some readers might be turned off by the religious aspects of LEVEL 2. It’s actually not very religious (as ridiculous as that sounds, since we’re talking about what exists between heaven and earth), and it is not a preachy novel in the slightest. This isn’t a “Believe in God or you’ll go to Hell” kind of novel; it’s simply exploring what happens to us when we die.I thoroughly enjoyed LEVEL 2 and found it hard to put down. I would definitely recommend this to YA/Sci-fi fans, and anyone looking for fresh, new content.

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.It’s been a couple of years since I read Possession, so I felt a little a lot behind when I began Surrender. In truth, I should have re-read Possession, but who has time to re-read things anymore? Not this girl.I think, because it had been so long, I was especially aware of the lack of recapping, which is typically welcome in series novels, but in my case, I struggled to remember what had happened. Since the point of view changes as well, I was no longer in Violet’s head, and had a harder time connecting with the characters again (plus, most of them were new).Surrender was still great. Johnson provides a lot of technology that we kind of have to accept in Possession; ways to be controlled through Thinkers, machines that just make your food, etc. It’s a very dystopian society (especially considering they don’t allow free-thinking!). In Surrender, she backs up the tech by explaining the societies and cities that think up the tech, as well as the government that controls the people. She also gets very, very detailed with the rebels.Some things that didn’t jive with me:Violet’s brainwashing lifts way too easily. It seemed like Zenn put forth a lot of effort to unbrainwash her, and then Raine steps in and voila! Violet is herself again.And why does it seem like every YA dystopian never involves a whole helluva lot of adults? Almost always, the adults are the bad guys and the kids are trying to overthrow them – which I don’t mind, but they can’t do it by themselves. Let’s be honest about that. But I liked Johnson’s version of a Dystopian society:Everything about Freedom and the Goodgrounds screams “We know what’s good for you, so we’re going to make all your decisions instead of you.” One line that stands out is:The General Director believed those select people should lead the talentless. They had the means to do it.Just because you have the ability, it doesn’t mean you should. And yet, the people in the government want absolute control. Even over your mind. Part of me wanted a dietary plan of my own choosing.And your diet. The leaders of this world are the perfect villains because of these things. There are two types of dystopian “bad guys”: the kind who unwittingly lead and think they are doing the right thing and refuse to deviate from that path because of their conviction, and the kind who don’t care who they harm to get what they want (which is usually power). Which one do you think these people are?I think what I liked most is that the rebels weren’t just fighting; they also made efforts to teach basic survival skills, and things as simple as sewing, because once you rely on someone to provide you with something, they have control over you.Gunner and Raine. Oh my. I loved how Johnson ties these two together, and yet keeps them apart. It is so obvious they are a match, and yet each are matched to other people. The interactions between them, the barely-there touches of the hands, and even the competition between them on occasion made me yearn to see them together. Oh but that ending with them! How can you do that to me, Elana?! Overall, Surrender was a good novel. I did find it hard to keep up with in parts, but that’s also a bit my fault, too, because it had been so long between Possession and Surrender. Still though, this was a great sequel to the first novel, and I can’t wait to move on to Abandon!

It’s amazing how much I loved The Selection by Kiera Cass but I only just liked The Elite. I was gung-ho for The Selection, even amidst all the drama surrounding it; I was all “yes, gimme the bachelor-esque drama and the hoopla and the rebels and a love triangle AND A PRINCE! Give it to me all, baby!” It ended satisfyingly and I was excited for The Elite.Then I received The Elite from the wonderful Stephanie at Cuddlebuggery and stared at the new beautfiul cover, longing to read its pages and find out what happens to America, Maxon and Aspen in book two. I finally peeked into the pages and am sucked into this weird, dystopian world once more.But it felt like Cass lost some of her book magic mojo between 1 and 2. The Elite picks up right after The Selection, with America pining for both boys, except the world is a bit darker and she doesn’t know where her heart is, and aptly so, this is a love triangle after all. And let me tell you, this isn’t a bad book. I like darker dystopian worlds, but it did feel like Cass struggled to make it dark, rather than it happening naturally. I’m not sure if the rebels are necessary to the story, or why they are always able to breach those damn walls. Come on, dudes, you live in a fucking castle, don’t you have guards with weapons? It felt like the castle staff, the guards and the royals were always running, but the threat still is not explained, other than “they dislike the government and The Selection process.” But what about it specifically do they dislike? It’s hinted near the end of The Elite what they might be after, but I don’t like when authors drag it out like that. You hooked me with book one, just start giving me answers already. Overall, the rebels feel like a convenient plot device to keep the conflict churning, but really, we already have lots of that with the girls. Cass, you don’t even need it.I did like how Cass began explaining the history of Ilea, and how the country got to the castes and everything. And I found it interesting that Maxon would lead America to those answers, even though he’s not really looked for them himself. Is he deliberately obtuse? Sometimes I think so, in more ways than one. Speaking of being obtuse, Maxon, get your head out of your ass. If I catch you kissing her one more time, I’m going to cut you.America did kind of annoy me in The Elite. She is less of the strong-willed person she was in The Selection and more of a puss: “Which boy do I want? How will I ever choose? I love them both!” First world problems, bitch. You’re in a palace. You could be a princess if you really wanted to, so quitcher crying and choose one. Beyond the boy issues, she was hit or miss for me….there was a lot of hit, especially with her ideas for the future, and a lot of miss, with her inability to make a freaking decision. And her ability to make really stupid ones. Sigh.And yet, I still feel the compulsion to read the next novel. I want it so badly, I can taste it. I yearn to read how the drama unfolds, to find out who she chooses (it had better be Maxon!) and if she’s made of nails or feathers. I’m rooting for America, because she deserves it.This review is also posted at Nerdhuffing.com. I received this ARC for review as a gift from Steph at Cuddlebuggery.

Though I’m not a big romance reader, there was something about The Practice Proposal that made me want to read it:Baseball, a hot pitcher, the fact that I’m a Washington Nationals fan (and a sometimes Orioles fan), and that it’s set where I live. Oh, plus, the added side dish of romance, can’t forget that.I don’t know what I was expecting going into The Practice Proposal, but what I got was a fun, sweet romance that I just loved loved loved, that made me want to get a hot dog, cozy up to my man at a game (sadly, he’s a Phillies fan), and cheer on these main characters while they score on each other.Teehee.There is so much that I loved about this book, besides all of that stuff. Liza Sutherland is a really likable and sympathetic main character. She’s the rich, daddy’s little girl you don’t hate, because she’s well grounded in ground balls and decided to make her own living (in America’s sport – baseball) because she doesn’t want to leech off the generosity of her parents’ wealth. She was engaged, but her fiancee was fatally shot in the line of duty, and she’s been grieving ever since.Enter hot baseball pitcher, Cole Collins of the Washington Nationals. Liza and Cole used to know each other way back when, but now Cole acts affected, doesn’t get serious with girls, and parties every night. What could these two possibly have in common?Besides being a light and enjoyably fluffy read for me, The Practice Proposal has its serious moments: Liza has to learn to let go of the grief she’s been using as a security blanket. Likewise, Cole needs to man up and drop the party facade, because he knows it’s exactly just that: a facade. It’s only when interesting circumstances throw them back together that they start seeing the light, and what a light they make! Wowza!Overall, I loved this story, everything about it. The ONLY way this could have been better is if it had been about hockey and the Washington Capitals. Can I get a romance where Braden Holtby stars? ;) The characters felt realistic, I loved the setting (hello, I live here!) and I really loved getting to know the behind-the-scenes of the Nats (if any of it’s real…if not, just let me live my fantasy). This is one I recommend for romance lovers who enjoy a bit of sports, and some humor and tease. Tracy March hits this one outta the park.

Click was a really fun novel, and unique, because you don’t see much fiction that delves into the topic of the perils of online dating. I had high hopes for Double-Click, because I had expressed a desire to know more about the other characters, like Mark, Ashley and Shelley.But I don’t think this book lives up to its predecessor. While Click was light and funny, with email exchanges going back and forth between the characters that often made even me blush, Double Click felt like it tried too hard to be funny, as if it needed to be as humorous as Click to be good enough. There were other things I struggled with as well, such as Mark already being together with a girl who isn’t perfect; I’d have liked to have explored that journey with him, since in Click, he struggled with his need for the perfect girl. I think we are just supposed to accept that he’s grown that much in between the novel, but I didn’t like the assumption.The characters also lost some of their vibrancy for me: since Renee is no longer telling stories about trying to find The One, the plot felt a little disjointed, even though I did figure out that the point of the story was Shelley and her journey to romance. (I mean, finally girl!). But since Double Click features one friend getting married and having a baby, another deciding to get married and the third moving to a new state to be with their honey, it overall left me wondering who the story was actually about, or if Becker just gave Click fans an encore for those who wanted to know what happened after Renee found her The One.But that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy reading it. It was nice to find out what happened to all of them. Shelley was just almost as funny as she was in Click, even though she seems to have tamed herself (admittedly, this disappointed me, because she’s so damn funny when she’s being a rampant slut-monkey). Renee spent the bulk of her time telling childhood stories via email, which are hysterical and just unbelievable – how do these things actually happen to people? – , and Ashley did as Ashley does: deliver compliments and lovely torpedoed remarks in her own left-handed way. I like Ashley.I think Click fans will enjoy reading this (because I did like the follow-up myself), but your mileage may vary.This review is also posted at Nerdhuffing.com. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Baby Bargain is a cute story, it just tugs at the heart strings. It’s a good book for a feel-good pick-me-up.Meg is working hard to forget Adam and build her vet practice when he walks in with an injured dog he comes across while he’s in town. The tension is immediate and palpable, since they’ve always lusted after each other but he is afraid of a future with her and she is afraid he will break her heart again, not to mention, he has a son he doesn’t know about. The intensity between them is delicious and wildly exciting, because they obviously can’t keep their minds – and hands hehe – off one another.There were a couple of niggly bits that did bother me, however. Adam is very vulnerable, but he’s also a total dog. For example, he is constantly looking to get into Meg’s panties. It was entertaining for sure, but at the same time, I wanted to say, “relax man, ease your boner.” I’m probably going to have to edit that part out for my Amazon review… He also said some cheesy things like “That is the sweetest sight. Your panties are damp, clinging to you.” Well first off, thanks for pointing out the obv there, bud, and secondly, what is sweet about wet panties? Did you mean sexy and screw-me-hot? And C) did Meg spooge all over herself to get them completely wet enough to cling, or maybe perhaps pee her pants? I had questions. Likewise, Meg frustrated me sometimes, because she played that damn hard-to-get card and then ran into his arms (and boxers) every chance she could get. Let’s be honest, honey, that’s how you got pregnant to begin with.But they both had great chemistry together and you want them to be together. The plot is interesting; Meg is being framed for a crime she says she didn’t commit, and Adam, being an ex-Marine and spec ops, now owns a security company and has the resources to help her. Between the plot tension and bedroom tension, the pair just explode. I enjoyed the story from end to end!Overall, the general message of the story is that the things you are looking for are sometimes exactly where you last left them. Maybe the paths we choose to reach our destinations aren’t always direct, but we get there eventually.Pick this up if you like cute romances, especially with a little added mystery. You’ll enjoy yourself. This is especially for readers who enjoy Nora Roberts.This review is also posted at Nerdhuffing.com. I received this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors. Not because she writes stellar, thought-provoking novels, or thrilling novels, but because she has perfected a formula that is easy to settle into and just enjoy.It’s also part of my issue with her novels: because she is formulaic, they almost never deviate and there are no surprises. She works in pairs and threes, especially in her paranormal novels, and it’s always very obvious where she is taking the story and that characters are going to get their HEA. But, like I said, that’s why she’s so enjoyable, too. You know what you’re gonna get.Blood Brothers starts out innocently, and centered around 3 boyhood friends who accidentally open the portal for something evil that then terrorizes their small Maryland town for seven straight days every seven years. The townsfolk never remember what they’ve done, and each time is stronger and worse. The boys, now men, are nowhere close to solving how to close off whatever is terrorizing them, or knowing exactly what it is.I enjoyed this, but I’m struggling to find much to say about it. It’s a standard Nora Roberts paranormal romance novel, so it has everything one of her fans is looking for. It’s comfortable, it’s easy to get into, and it’s fun. She always writes likable characters, because she’s just really perfected that. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever run into a character written by her I didn’t like. But I’m so used to her writing, that I’d like her to shake me up a bit, do something out of the ordinary. My favorite novels by her continue to be her earlier works like Montana Sky and Genuine Lies, because they’re different and dangerous. Now I think she just writes things that are…easy.Either way, Nora Roberts fans will still like what she offers!This review is also posted at Nerdhuffing.com.

Such a great follow-up to Firelight, Vanish kept me on the edge of my seat.Jacinda, Tamra and their mother have been dragged back to the pride by Cassian. Maybe dragged isn’t the word, but they don’t go willingly. Tamra is not what she thought she was; now she’s possibly more valuable than Jacinda. Cassian is still determined to have Jacinda, and Jacinda, who thought she knew her own heart, now doesn’t know what to do. Oh the delicious teenaged angst!So the alpha of the Pride is pissed at Jacinda for leaving, and then endangering the pride by showing herself to humans, and hunters at that! (Like she had a choice, get off your high horse, kind sir!). Cassian wants to help her but he also knows Tamra is now a worthy mate with her newfound ability. Cassian has options. Tamra is no longer the black sheep of the pride now that she’s manifested. Jacinda is lost; used to being the pride’s golden girl, she’s now second to her sister, and in trouble, too.Interesting contrasts between the two novels: In Firelight, Jacinda doesn’t want to leave the pride, and feels safe and accepted there. In Vanish, she would do anything to leave the pride, because she no longer feels safe and accepted there, but does feel safe and accepted by Will, her human love.There is more action in Vanish than in Firelight. As Jacinda decides she is going to leave forever, after the pride has decided her fate and broken her heart, Cassian’s sister stalks her until they are captured and taken. Thus begins an entire whirlwind of action in the story, that thrusts characters who don’t like each other together, for the sake of his sister and that of the pride.The world-building is great. Jordan is detailed in the descriptions of the pride village, right down to how the streets are set up, the lush landscape and the draki who inhabit it. It’s characters are also infused with a passion that is contagious to the reader; I certainly felt like I couldn’t read it fast enough!This is a fabulous series that strikes at the imagination and I can’t wait to read the next one.This review is also posted at Nerdhuffing.com.

This review is also posted at

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.I wanted to fill this review with smart-ass memes of Katy Perry kissing Justin Bieber and play off the “I Kissed A Girl” song, but as I tried to do this and write the review in a light and off-hand way, I realized that The Miseducation of Cameron Post deserves more than that from me. Miseducation is a broad and defiant look into what it takes for a teenager to come into their own – especially when they are gay. It is beautiful and poignant, and to put it simply, it’s become a Bawdy Favorite. Danforth’s writing is fluid and in some instances, dreamy, pulling you into the story one word at a time, until you are surely gripped by the pages, a movie playing behind your eyes.Cameron’s world changes in so many ways one day when she kisses her best friend, Irene. And then does it again, only to have their sleepover interrupted by the tragic news that her parents have died in a car accident on their way home from Quake Lake. Her first thought: thank god they didn’t find out I kissed a girl. And so begins the story of Cameron Post and her journey to finding herself, despite – and in spite of – the obstacles in her path: her conservative Aunt Ruth, Coley Taylor, Promise (a de-gaying boarding school for youth), and the other influences in her life.Miseducation is unapologetic and honest. It’s a young adult novel, but it’s for mature teenagers and audiences, because the themes addressed inside these delicious, glorious pages are not for the weak or faint of heart. It’s already a tough job to grow up, but when you are radically “different,” especially in the late 80s and early 90s, when HIV/AIDS is considered an epidemic and the word gay is still taboo, it’s especially difficult to find yourself and figure out YOU. Cameron is a (lackadaisical &) defiant sort of character, determined that even though others see a path for her, she won’t take it. She’d rather kiss girls in abandoned hospitals or smoke weed with her best guy friend, Jaimie. She’s also not an “I’m a lesbian, hear me roar” type of girl, either. Instead, she questions herself, knowing that how she is “supposed” to feel isn’t how she does feel, so how does she reconcile that? She’s not openly destructive, she’s not depressed or a cutter. She just wants to be happy and she doesn’t want to deny who she really is, but at the same time, she wants to please the people who love her.Her friend, Coley Taylor, changes everything, but I really don’t want to put too much emphasis on her as a character. I didn’t feel strongly for her one way or another, other than she is a catalyst for a lot of Big Things happening and transitioning the story. I did find scenes between Cameron and Coley hot, but more importantly, it didn’t matter that it happens between two girls. It could have been a girl and a boy, and it would have felt just as innocent to me, in the way that youth exploring their sexuality can be.So many great and sad things, and enraging things, happen in Miseducation, and it’s saddening to know that a lot of this happens in real life to real people. I am not going to go into any more of the story, because there are so many horrid and wonderful things throughout the multiple years that span Cameron’s life in the novel, and they should be left as surprises to the reader.Religion plays a large role in Miseducation, but it doesn’t feel overly preachy and heavy-handed. It’s more along the lines of Cameron trying to determine for herself where exactly God and sin fit in with her life, because she doesn’t feel like she’s sinning, even if her Aunt Ruth and those running Promise tell her so. There’s also the whole parents-have-died thing, and having to face the possibility of what comes after death. As you know, religion is complicated.I admit I was frustrated with the ending. I wanted to know more about the future for these characters I grew to love, what becomes of them, rather than let my imagination run wild. I will, however, beg you to read it, because this review…it’s a cop out. It doesn’t do such great literature justice. Not in any way.

This is cute and some of her entries are certainly prophetic. The health clinic prank really made me laugh! Fans of the Something Borrowed series will like this short story.

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.Filled with beautiful, hammering prose, Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi is The Book that is better than its predecessor. It is everything that was Shatter Me, and infinitely more. Without a doubt, Mafi’s writing is (still) some of the best I have ever read.Unravel Me takes flight two weeks after the conclusion of Shatter Me, and overlaps a portion of Mafi’s novella, Destroy Me. The first thing I noticed was a bit of regression in Juliette: ultimately, she stops striking through her own thoughts in Shatter Me, as she grows more confident, and less confused. In Unravel Me, the strike-throughs are back, albeit, not at as much a frenetic pace as the prior novel. It still shows a sort of backstepping in Juliette that is confirmed in the pages, as she gets to know her new surroundings at Omega Point, a place she is most unfamiliar. She didn’t want to be used by The Reestablishment and Warner. Is she being used by the others at Omega Point? And even if she is, does she serve a good purpose? This internal struggle – not the story or the scenes – reminds me of Mockingjay, when Katniss thinks she might be a pawn by District 13, but wrestles with herself to be okay with it, because she will serve a greater purpose. I’m very interested in seeing how this plays out for Juliette.The Love TriangleLook, I’m Team Warner, I’ve always been Team Warner and you ain’t neva gonna change my mind! I’ve always said Warner is redeemable, that he wants to be something other than what he is. His vulnerability gets its own expose in Destroy Me, probably wooing me even further, if that’s at all possible, and Mafi carries this over into Unravel Me, when she brings him together with Juliette – and of course the now famed #ChapterSixtyTwo. *wink*Adam Kent is something of an anomaly to me in Unravel Me. There are secrets about him that are exposed, and they took me by surprise. Most of the time, I can see a plot twist coming from a mile away, Tahereh Mafi managed to sneak up behind me and whack me upside the head with the very book I had in my hands. Now I’m left with even more questions than answers! Why do you do this to me?! *cries*KenjiKenji gets a real chance to shine in Unravel Me. He is a star in his own right, and he often makes demands of Juliette that most would think are unfair and heartless. But he cares for her a great deal. In fact, I wonder if the triangle is about to become a square, because sometimes I suspect he cares too much, and pines after Juliette himself, in his own, comical way. Kenji is many things in this story, but among them, the most important is an anchor. Forget his supersweet abilities, he is a foundation for people to rely on. Tahereh, do you think, maybe, possibly, we could get a spin-off about him if Juliette ends up with Warner or Adam? *wheedles* Oh, also maybe could you just make Juliette end up with Warner, pretty please?The Supreme Commander finally shows up in Unravel Me (although he’s in Destroy Me as well), and this is something of a shock to citizens since part of his power is in his absence. We finally get to view Warner and his upbringing from his perspective, and boy, do that kick me right in the – feels. The Supreme Commander is a unique personality, and I’m interested in finding out what makes him tick. Things… things are revealed, that interesting dynamic between father and son, and my heart goes out to them.One of the most interesting things though, are the titles about these books, and why I feel that Juliette and Warner are destined to be together. I think these titles reference Juliette’s effect on Warner, and they are the ultimate teaser to the ending of this series, because he makes references that harken back to the first title and well, frankly, the novella was all about him. I can’t wait to find out if they are destined to be together.Favorite QuoteI don’t know how to be a verb, an adverb, any kind of modifier. I’m a noun through and through.