Tag «Toonie Tuesday»

Series Review: Jade by Allie Everhart

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Jade Series

Synopsis for Choosing You (from Goodreads):
When Jade is given a scholarship to an elite private college in Connecticut, she sees it as a chance to finally escape her painful past and get a fresh start. She’s determined to succeed and that means keeping her focus on school and not guys. But her plan falls apart her first day on campus when Garret, a rich prep school boy with swimmer abs and a perfect smile, offers to help her move in.

Jade tries to push him away, but she can’t deny her attraction to him and Garret won’t let her. Things quickly heat up between them, but then come to a sudden halt when reality hits and Jade realizes that a relationship with Garret may never be possible. He comes from a world of wealth where there are rules, including rules about who he can date. And not following those rules has consequences.

As the two of them try to overcome the obstacles working to keep them apart, Jade is confronted with another challenge. On her 19th birthday, she receives a letter that her now deceased mother wrote years ago. In it are revelations that explain her traumatic childhood but also make her question the past she’s been running from.

Series: Jade Series
Author: Allie Everhart (penname of Stephanie Karpinske)
# of Books: 5 (Choosing You, Knowing You, Loving You, Promising You, Forever You)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Drama, Mystery
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Dates: September 2013 – March 2015
Source & Format: Own–eBook

**This post was originally posted as a Toonie Tuesday review of the first book of the series. It has now been updated to reflect my conclusion to DNF this series. It will not be further updated.**

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I loved Always by Ellery Rhodes and when I saw the similar plot synopsis and price of Choosing You I just had to grab it!

My Review:

Choosing You started out a little rough for me because it took me a long time to like Jade. She lives up to her name–she is definitely jaded and rightfully so when you learn about her past. However, just because she had a rough childhood it doesn’t excuse her from being just plain rude to people at times. To me she came across as mean–and for no apparent reason–and that dampened my impression of her. Otherwise, I would have appreciated her strong convictions and her ability to stay true to her views more than I did. By the end of the book I didn’t love her but I tolerated her more than I did at the start (though I’m not sure if I can read 5 books about her if she continues on with the mean streak).

Garret was a different story for me–I loved him immediately. A completely swoon-worthy hero who seemed to genuinely like Jade for her personality (which is a little baffling) and not just her body. I liked that they got to know each other and develop a relationship instead of jumping into bed with each other. They seemed like a good match overall in terms of interests but I need to see more between them to say for sure that they are a good match for each other.

As for the plot, about 80% of the book is Garret and Jade trying to establish a relationship–so it’s a lot of back and forth together/not together scenarios. Jade was definitely the worst because she flip-flopped a lot with what she wanted. I also found that it was exaggerated in its drama (a touch over the top) but I expected it so it didn’t get on my nerves too much. Near the end we get a good little twist that makes me excited to see what is going to happen in the next book.

Update (February 13, 2017):

I have opted to DNF this series. When I looked back at this book, I didn’t have many positive thoughts about it and seeing that this story drags into 8 novels, I just don’t want to commit to all of that.

Series Rating: DNF

Choosing You 3.5/5

I didn’t love this book but I didn’t, surprisingly based on the Jade we get at the start, hate the book. It’s not one of those realistic New Adult reads, rather it is one that keeps the drama high and a tad over the top. I definitely need to read a few more novels before I determine if this series is worth the time (or the prolonged story arc).

Always by Ellery Rhodes (Always Series #1)

Series Review: Fighting Fate by Maree Green

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Guilty Pleasure Read 2014 (Muse)
Series: Fighting Fate
Author: Maree Green
# of Books: 3 (Muse, Hush, Fade)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: No, Fade is set to be published
Genre: New Adult/Young Adult, Romance, Drama, Music, Suspense (Hush)
Heat Rating: getting hot
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: April 2014 – ongoing
Source & Format: Own–eBook

Thoughts on Muse:

This post was orginally posted as a Toonie Tuesday Feature Post

Muse was a freebie read from Amazon that I decided to read immediately after downloading it. It seemed to combine aspects of New Adult reads that I love: girl falling for her brother’s BFF, rock stars and no-strings attached relationships that lead to more. But it also was set in high school which was a setting I hadn’t encountered all of these aspects in before. And so I dove right and … and then had a hard time putting it down.

We immediately get pushed into the thick of things within the first two chapters and things just go from there. I really liked Jace and Mia together and I felt like their relationship was developed well though I wished they would have talked more to each other. Everything happens so quickly and I felt like their emotional connection could have been brought up to par with their physical connection. It was a little to “insta-connection” for my personal tastes but to be fair, I saw more interaction between them later in the book so I didn’t mind too much.

Muse was definitely a guilty pleasure read. It was fun and over the top at times but I enjoyed every second of it. Because the characters are all still in high school I sometimes felt like they were playing grown-up with all the swearing and sex that they were having. Maybe this is how high school is now (or what some authors perceive it to be) but I know my high school wasn’t as dramatic as this one! I think if they were in college it might make it a little easier to take but considering they were only a few months from graduating high school I really didn’t let it get to me. Again, this was a total guilty pleasure read for me.

As for the writing itself, it was nothing overly fantastic. As I said before, I felt like I was reading a story about what an adult perceived high school to be like for teenagers. The drama is what you would expect in a TV show and not what you actually get in real life (but then again, I’ve been out of high school for some time). But, I really liked the flow of the story and I found it super easy to read and get lost in it.

I’m surprised that Hush, book 2, is about Mia’s friend Kaeli and not another member of the band. Considering the band is named “Fighting Fate” and the series is titled that I just assumed that the book would be about another member of the band and I was hoping it would be about the lead singer in particular or Mia’s brother. I’ll be picking it up I think because the synopsis is intriguing but I have some other books I want to read before I get to Hush.

–March 5, 2016– Book #2: Hush

When I said I had a lot of other books to read before Hush, I wasn’t lying. This one got to the top of my TBR list thanks to my Rock The TBR Challenge when I randomly drew it from my jar.

This book had a different type of plot line than Muse but a lot of the same feels. The idea of finding someone who makes you feel safe, comfortable and gets who you are as a person remains the theme for this series. However, the plot line here was more suspenseful than your average contemporary romance read. There are elements of danger that make the story seem way more dramatic than it needs to be but I knew that going into the story. The dangerous storyline did keep me interested though because it was very unpredictable. I’m not a huge suspense fan but I liked the way it progressed.

It lost me a little near the end but I liked the majority of the book. I liked the romance, not as much as in the previous but that one is hard to beat I think. Definitely another guilty pleasure read for me though I am very excited for Fade.

Series Rating: 4/5

Muse 4/5 | Hush 3.5/5 | Fade TBR

I really enjoyed Muse because it was fun to read. I liked watching Mia and Jace falling in love and seeing how they dealt with all the drama thrown at them. For a free read, it was really great but I would have been satisfied even if I had paid for it. If you like stories about up and coming musicians and/or finding that person who makes you feel safe, you’ll enjoy this series.

Read if You Like: high school new adult, dramas, over-the-top situations
Avoid if You: dislike new adult, dislike drama

Let You Leave by Caisey Quinn (Keep Me Still Series #0.5)
The Secret Life of Trystan Scott by H.M. Ward (Trystan Scott Series #1)
More Than This by Jay McLean (More Series #1)
Before You by Jenna Bennett (Sex on the Beach Series)
Love is An Action by Bry Foster (What Love Is Series #1)
Frigid by J. Lynn (Frigid Series #1)
Summer Tour by Diane Matlick (Summer Tour Series #1)

Synopsis for Muse (from Goodreads):
After a life altering tragedy during her childhood, Mia Campbell is left with an incapacitating fear of crowds – especially angry ones. Now at eighteen, with her final months of high school before her, she only has one goal: To remain unseen…
Jace Wallace is about to start living a rock star’s life. As lead guitarist for the newest internet sensation, Fighting Fate, he’s rocking the stage – and a different girl – every weekend, and that’s the way he prefers it. With the band’s popularity about to explode to new heights, he doesn’t have time for complications. Or commitments. He only has one goal: To succeed…
The only thing standing in the way of achieving their goals? Each other.
When unusual circumstances bring the two of them together, and one thing quickly leads to another, Mia finds herself proposing an arrangement she never thought she’d ever consider. A no-strings-attached relationship. But when feelings start creeping in, and their one goal blurs to include another, they’re both forced to make a decision.
Sit back and take what Fate hands you, or fight for what you want.

Connect:

DNF Series Review: Hart by Ann Stewart and Stephanie Nash

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

The Hart Series

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Guilty Pleasure Read 2014
Series: The Hart Series
Author: Ann Stewart and Stephanie Nash
# of Books: 3 (Chosen Heart, Shattered Heart, Destined Heart)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Drama, Soap Opera, Workplace Romance
Heat Rating: getting hot
Point of View: First Person

Thoughts on Chosen Heart:

Disclaimer: I will not be picking up the sequel, Shattered Heart. Find out why below…

When I read the synopsis for this book when browsing Kindle’s Bestseller Freebie lists, I was really excited to read it. Never mind the other 100 books that I had previously acquired for my Kindle or the books I had out from the library–I had to read this one. The whole “you don’t marry your dirty little secret” line of the synopsis is what really drew me in. In my mind, that meant I was in for some good drama and a dash of mystery so I was there.

My initial impression of Chosen Heart was that is was very Fifty Shades of Grey-esque. A younger, just starting out in the real world (in this case a new job) girl meets a mysterious rich, slightly older man; has a best friend who is in love with her and features the classic “I’ll save you” at the bar scene. But to be fair to this book, it isn’t a regurgitation of Fifty Shades. Yes it has similar elements but I didn’t feel as though I was rereading Fifty Shades. Another key difference is that this book features an alpha male but one who isn’t super rich or into BDSM–so score there on that last point (unless you like that kind of thing)! So while this book starts as your typical contemporary, business setting romance it moves in a completely different direction.

The best way to describe this book is as a soap opera in a novel. There is a lot of back and forth between Alex and Elyssa in terms of their relationship and there are plenty of rivals for their affections at every turn. The last quarter of the book is the very definition of a soap opera to me when everything starts to come together and the drama unfolds. I felt like I was watching an episode of Dallas because it got very soapy near the end 😛

Truth be told, I probably would have stopped reading it because it felt like it was dragging at times. It’s weird to say that things were dragging considering everything really happens in a matter of days but it just seemed like it was the same regurgitation of things: he likes me, he ignores me, we reunite, we stop talking, ex-boyfriend shows up, etc. But this book kind-of became a guilty pleasure to me because I really wanted to know what all the secrets were. And I have to say that while I had my suspicions about what they would be and I was correct, there were a few good spins that I didn’t see coming that really added to the over-the-top drama.

I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the characters of Alex and Elyssa. Sometimes I would like them and other times I just wanted to smack them on the head. I never really liked Elyssa to be honest though there were a few moments I thought I might get on her side. She just rubbed me the wrong way with how she handled things and I felt like she was expecting too much from something that happened so quickly. She makes a lot of assumptions about things and sometimes the assumptions seemed so out of left field. Though to be fair, Alex was just as bad with his assumptions as well.

Alex was a very alpha male character and I didn’t feel that it was totally warranted at times considering they just met. I also felt like he was just going through the motions of the stereotypical alpha male but was missing a few things along the way. I didn’t always get how he got from point A to B–I just felt like he was missing a piece to his character here and there. Most of the time I think it was used to create drama for the reader but all it did for me was irritate me because it seemed to be so senseless. But I did like him when he expressed his views about the “big freshman secret” because he was completely right in my opinion–even if I didn’t like his physical reaction to it.

As I was finishing this book, I sort-of came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be reading the sequel. I didn’t love Chosen Hart as much as I thought and I really didn’t see what could happen in a sequel–so I wasn’t about to subject myself to more “he loves me, he loves me not” chapters. But once I got to the final few chapters, I found myself curious to see what would happen next. I think if my reading list permits it, I will check out the sequel but as of this moment, I am going to leave the series as is and finish it at a later time.

Conclusion:

If you are looking for a good soap opera book, this is it. I felt like I was watching an episode of the Bold and the Beautiful unfold before my eyes as I read. A definite guilty pleasure read!

Rating: 2.5/5

Similar Reads: Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James (Fifty Shades Trilogy #1) and Wanted by Kelly Elliot (Wanted Series #1)

Synopsis for Chosen Heart (from Goodreads):
Elyssa Hart has tried to forget that frightful night during her freshman year of college. Since then it’s been hard to let anyone close, which is why she only has one friend near and dear to her heart. Forsaking all others, she lives a silent, lonely existence. That was until she jumped into the next chapter of her life; Sales Executive at the prestigious Salerno Health, Inc.

The moment she met the always calm and collected Alexander James, her life was set on a new path. One moment she’s slowly falling in love and the next she’s plummeting painfully to the ground with the realization that you don’t marry your dirty little secret; you keep her in the closet. That was, until she found out she was not his only kept secret.

Will the enigma of Mr. James be more than Elyssa can handle? Or will she choose him, like she promised she always would.

Connect:

Series Review: Modern Arrangements by Sadie Grubor

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

book2 book3

Synopsis for Save the Date (from Goodreads): Aidan Iverson III, old money wealthy and blatant playboy, has never felt the need to be with one woman. Why, when he has the looks, money and a family name to rule the nightlife? And, when it thoroughly aggravates Grandfather? LILLIAN SNOWE, do-it-yourself overachiever, has a plan to keep her father healthy and living in the home where he raised her. But, how can she, when the hospital bills are piling up, the bank wants their money and she is hundreds of miles away from home? From the moment they meet, Aidan would have to be blind not to feel an attraction, especially with Lilli’s work attire and feisty humor. When illness, death, debt and a mutual friend, bring these two together, feelings are hurt and someone is insulted. It takes determination, sneaky actions and cockiness to secure the deal. But, even with an iron clad marriage agreement and pre-nup in place, there are those who would seek to destroy the spark threatening to engulf our couple in a happily ever after. So, Save the Date, because you are cordially invited to the seduction of Lilli Snowe.

Series: Modern Arrangements Trilogy
Author: Sadie Grubor
# of Books: 3 (Save the Date, Here Comes the Bride, Happily Ever Addendum)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: January 2013 – June 2013
Source & Format: Own (Kindle Freebie)–eBook

PLEASE NOTE: I have not read the last two books in the series, Here Comes the Bride and Happily Ever Addendum, prior to writing this review.

Why I Picked it Up/My Expectations:

I got Save the Date as an Amazon Freebie one day and I put it near the top of my to-read list. One of my favourite contemporary romances is the Marriage Bargain where two friends enter a fake marriage for financial reasons but end up falling in love–so I love reading other books with a similar plotline.

My Review:

Overall, I wasn’t too impressed with Save the Date. One of the main reasons was the writing style. There were a few grammatical errors (using the incorrect verb tense, bad typos, etc.) but I could get past that because it wasn’t overwhelming. It just needed a good polishing because it started rough (felt very immature to me) but I felt like it improved–or maybe I just grew used to it as I continued to read. But I found the flow of the plot and how it was written didn’t do much for me.

For example, Lilli and Aiden don’t really interact until halfway through the book–so up until that point it was a little dull. I missed the sexual tension between the two of them as that is one of my favourite aspects of this type of plotline. Also, a lot of time would pass between events (weeks to months) so I had a hard time keeping the timeline straight. I think the biggest reason I struggled with the plot/timeline was that I thought this series was going to be a series of books about different characters within the same world. But it is actually a trilogy about Lilli and Aiden’s relationship. I think it would be stronger as a series of standalone but connected stories because Save the Date felt like a very long prequel novel to me. Here Comes the Bride sounds a little more exciting to me but I’m not sure if I will read it.

As for the characters, I didn’t totally love them. Aiden seemed nice enough but he just seemed like he was a couple pickles short a jar (I mean when he was trying to convince Lilli he could have mentioned that he liked her as a person for goodness sakes!). I totally understood Lilli’s side of things and I liked her character setup but I felt like I didn’t get to see enough of her to particularly care. I just felt like the communication between the two in terms of dialogue and actually being the in the same room and talking to each other was lacking.

Will I Pick Up the Rest?

I’m undecided about reading the next two installments of this series. People seem to enjoy the sequels but they also enjoyed the first novel when I really didn’t. If it pops up for free on Amazon/Kobo, I might consider it but for now, both are a pass.

Series Rating: DNF

Save the Date 2/5 | Here Comes the Bride N/A | Happily Ever Addendum N/A

I’ve read better “arranged marriage” novels and I felt like this wasn’t up to par with them. I won’t be recommending this to my friends anytime soon (or ever).

The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst (Marriage to a Billionaire Series #1)
Break by Vanessa Waltz (Billionaire Series #1)
His Hired Girlfriend by Alexia Praks (Kiwi Brides Series #1)

Series Review: Waking Up by Mira Lyn Kelly

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for Waking Up Married (from Goodreads):

Her first thought: “Who are you?”
It’s the morning after her cousin’s bachelorette party in Vegas and Megan Scott wakes up with the mother of all hangovers. Even worse, she’s in a stranger’s penthouse having woken up with something else as well – a funny, arrogant, sexy…husband!

Up until now, finding even a boyfriend had seemed impossible – been there, got the broken heart, sworn off men for good. Then a few martinis with Carter…no, Connor Reed and she’s gone from first meet to marriage in one night!

Megan wants a lawyer. But Connor’s shocking bombshell?

“I don’t want a divorce.”

Author: Mira Lynn Kelly
# of Books: 2 (Waking Up Married, Waking Up Pregnant)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: really warm
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Date: December 2012 – March 2014
Source & Format: Own (Kindle)–eBook

**This post was originally posted as a Standalone review of the first book of the series. I have opted not to pick up the sequel.**

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I got this book for free for my Kindle and read it right away.

My Review:

Although I don’t enjoy reading love at first sight novels, this one didn’t bother me too much despite being a one. I actually felt like there was a good connection between Megan and Connor–not enough to get married within 24 hours of meeting each other but, hey, it’s fiction after all (and set in Vegas)!

It was a good, light-hearted read that had me smiling by the end of it. It was funny and charming and the characters were likeable.

My Rating: 4/5

Fans of contemporary romance will really enjoy this book! Just be sure to go into it looking for a light-hearted read and have some fun!

The Secret Wedding Dress by Ally Blake

Series Review: Flight & Glory by Rebecca Yarros

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for Full Measures (from Goodreads):
Three knocks can change everything…

“She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.”

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction.

Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare

Series: Flight & Glory
Author: Rebecca Yarros
# of Books: 4 (Full Measures, Eyes Turned Skyward, Beyond What is Given, Hallowed Ground)
Book Order: Connected, Direct Sequel (Full Measures + Hallowed Ground)
Genre: New Adult, Army, Realistic, Romance
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: First Person, Single; Alternating (Eyes Turned Skyward onwards)
Publication Dates: February 2014 – January 2016
Source & Format: Own–eBook

**This post was originally posted as a Toonie Tuesday review of the first book of the series. It has now been updated to include the newest publications in the series.**

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I picked up this book because of the cover and the price; but I was also interested in the hockey player aspect. I find books dealing with the army are a little hit or miss for me. I absolutely loved the Out of Line series by Jen McLaughlin, but I wasn’t a huge fan of Something Like Normal. But I went into this book hoping it would be like Out of Line and that I would enjoy it.

The Plot:

Overall, I really liked this book but it wasn’t what I was really expecting. The first half of the book is really about Ember finding herself after her father’s death. I would almost describe it like she is undergoing a midlife crisis at the age of 22–and being the same age I could totally see why she is given everything that happens to her. But once she gets a grip on her life, that is when the romance begins to take center focus. This isn’t to say that there isn’t sexual tension for the first half of the book, because there is, I just felt the focus was on Ember trying to navigate her life.

The book I feel is really grounded and realistic. It’s not over the top and you can tell that Ms Yarros has experience with the military life as it is shown in the writing. I felt like I was actually experiencing all of that with my family and I shed a few tears while reading.

The Characters:

The only thing that stopped me from giving this book a 4/5 was Ember. I’m not sure why I didn’t like her as much as I should have. It’s weird because I totally got her character and her thought process but I just didn’t have that connection with her I usually develop with the heroines. She basically had everything I like about a female lead but I guess she came across as a little cold at the start which rubbed me the wrong way. Given everything that happens I totally understood why but I wonder if my first impression of her just never left my mind.

I really hope that there will be a spin-off book with some of the characters we meet here–especially Sam or Jagger. From what I can see nothing it planned but I would definitely be interested in reading more from this author.

–February 11, 2017– Book #2: Eyes Turned Skyward

It has almost been 3 years since I read the inaugural novel but I had no problem getting back into this world.

This was just a really enjoyable romance novel. The story was so heart-felt from start to finish. Both leads are trying to navigate their complicated lives and it was great watching them grow.

The romance is more of a slow burn but definitely on point. Yes, it is a little cheesy at times but it just worked so well when you looked past the cheesiness. It’s such a sweet story that the cheese is worth it.

Series Rating: 4/5

Full Measures 3.5/5 | Eyes Turned Skyward 4/5 | Beyond What is Given TBR | Hallowed Ground TBR

For those new adult fans who enjoy military reads and watching love & acceptance heal, this is a read for you. It’s got enough awe moments mixed with hot moments to make a reader happy. But just be aware that it is a little darker (ie not so happy-go-lucky) at times so just be prepared.

Read if You Like: military romances, slow burn romance
Avoid if You: want a lighter story

Out of Line by Jen McLaughlin (Out of Line Trilogy #1)
Only for You by Beverly Kendall (Unforgettable You Series #1)
If You Stay by Courtney Cole (Beautifully Broken Series #1)

Series Review: Infinity by Layne Harper

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Infinity Series

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Most Annoying Couple 2014, Least Favourite Read (Falling into Infinity) 2014
Series: Infinity Series
Author: Layne Harper
# of Books: 4 (Falling into Infinity, From Now Until Infinity, Finding Infinity, Infinity.)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Sports, Romance, Drama, Contemporary
Heat Rating: really warm
Point of View: First Person

Thoughts on Falling Into Infinity:

PLEASE NOTE: That I did not finish the 2nd book in the series, From Now Until Infinity. Read why below…

I was SUPER excited to see this book on Amazon for free one day. It had been on my to-buy list for a very long time and it wasn’t available on Kobo so that made my day when I saw it on the Top 100 Free Reads.

Having just finished the Crash Trilogy, I was looking for something to fill the hole in my New Adult loving heart. To me, the Crash Series is the standard I compare all other New Adult books that have a sports theme to because it was the first one I read and it is one of the best that I have read. So this series seemed to fit the bill perfectly–and even better was the fact that it started right when they were in college!

I thought this book would start from the beginning of their relationship. I thought I would get to see them fall in love and the first book would end the typical way these books do: with a cliff-hanger and them at an impasse in their relationship. But that is NOT what I got at all. What we actually get is alternating flashback chapters about how the two met and got to the current point in their relationship. It was an interesting way to do it and it made me want to keep reading the book to see what happens next; but, I would have liked to have read the book all in order of the sequence of events because I think it would have let me fall in love with the characters.

Charlie was not what I expected either. I thought I would like her; that she would be a strong lead but she was a hard person to like at times (i.e. practically always). She was annoying, selfish and very immature. I didn’t get her thought process and I had a hard time respecting some of her decisions and actions. She just didn’t do it for me and because the story is told from her POV it was hard to read at times; especially when I was rolling my eyes at her.

Colin…sigh…he was a disappointment too. He started so charming and likeable. I felt so sorry for him that he was stuck with a girl like Charlie and I was confused about what he saw in her. But eventually I came to dislike him too. He also turned a little too alpha-male–which turned me off. I actually felt a little disturbed reading this story at times because their relationship was very unhealthy to me. About halfway through I thought we were going to get a relationship-gone-bad type of story because it got a little intense and not in a good, romantic, happy fun-times type of way.

I actually managed to finish Falling Into Infinity despite wanting to give up on it a few times. And at the time I was glad because it seemed like the story was going to get a lot more interesting based on the way it ended. Believe it or not, I was a little excited to see where From Now Until Infinity was going to take us. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stomach Charlie and Colin for more than a few chapters. It was boring, I still didn’t like the characters and I had other books I wanted to read so I put it and the rest of the books at the bottom of my to-read list.

Conclusion:

Knowing that there is a FOURTH book in this series made me glad I stopped reading because I wouldn’t want to feel obligated to read a series I have no interest in but feel the need to finish. This series just didn’t do it for me and it’s a shame because it had all the great makings. But alas, the plot was under utilized making the book slow, the characters came across as self-centred teenagers and everything is slightly overdramatic. Some people might enjoy the slower overdramatic plot but others will not.

Rating: 2/5

Similar Reads: Crash by Nicole Williams (Crash Trilogy #1)

Synopsis for Falling Into Infinity (from Goodreads):
Pre-med student Caroline “Charlie” Collins, a sophomore at Texas A&M, knows exactly what she wants in life and the order that it will happen: finish college, complete medical school, and then fall in love. A chance meeting with A&M’s star quarterback Colin McKinney changes everything. A friendship between the two grows over time and blossoms into a powerful love affair. Charlie and Colin must learn to cope with his transition to playing professional football, the crushing attention of the media, and constant demands of his fans. At the same time, she’s struggling with how her dream of attending medical school will fit into their already stressed relationship and Colin’s new life. Falling Into Infinity asks the question is just loving someone enough to make a relationship work?

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DNF Series Review: Peaches Monroe by Mimi Strong

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

book2 book3

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Worst Reads of 2014
Series: Peaches Monroe Trilogy
Author: Mimi Strong
# of Books: 3 (Stardust, Starlight, Starfire)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Erotica, Humour (?), Romance
Heat Rating: pretty warm – almost hot (at least I think it gets hotter)
Point of View: First Person, Single

Thoughts on Stardust:

Disclaimer: I stopped reading Stardust at Chapter 5. Find out why below…

Stardust was next on my to-buy list when it popped up for free on Kindle. I always love when books I want to buy pop up for free but it also worries me because why is it now free? That is the question I should have asked myself when I started to read this book.

What was I hoping for when I read this book: a Bridget Jones-esque novel. The synopsis hints that this book is going to be a lot of fun, star a hot male lead and a funny heroine. But instead we just get a weird concoction of everything–and not in a good way like Worst Week Ever was.

First, Peaches was about as mature as a child in grade school. I never want to listen to a grown woman call her body-parts what Peaches does in this book–in real life or in fiction. I didn’t find it quirky or funny–I found it disturbing and I am a girl who laughs at everything. Sure it’s a nice change from the often anatomy-driven descriptions we get in some erotica novels but I also like to keep my brain cells as I read a book–not subject them to apoptosis by reading immature drivel. It felt like a pre-teen girl wrote this and was trying to come up with 50 different ways to not say the word penis or vagina…

Dalton isn’t any better. I felt indifferent to him and the lure of his big dark secret wasn’t enough to keep me reading. There romance is fast, superficial and based on absolutely nothing other than the fact that they were in each other’s personal spaces longer than 5 minutes.

This book is praised for its wittiness and quirkiness but I think people are using the wrong words for stupidity and juvenile. There isn’t really a plot, there is very little wit and the writing is confusing at times. It’s awkward and not in that good way either. It’s just plain weird and I’m going to have to stop because I am running out of adjectives to describe how bad this book was…

Series Rating: DNF

Stardust 1/5 | Starlight N/A | Starfire N/A

I’m baffled by the “great” reviews this book has on Goodreads. I think I bowed out of this book around chapter 5–I didn’t even enact my 50 page rule so that should be a good sign of how much I disliked this book. I’m glad I didn’t pay the $1 that this book is usually worth because it is just that bad and stupid. It’s easily one of the worst books I have ever read–and I’ve read some stinkers. I won’t be picking up the sequels anytime soon (i.e.: NEVER!)

Read if You Like: odd heroines, celebrity love stories
Avoid if You: like good romance novels

(and by this I mean actual good books that have a similar plot concept that are actually worth your time!):

Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones’ Diary #1)
Rumour Has It by Elizabeth Grace (Limelight #1)

Synopsis for Stardust (from Goodreads):
There I was, minding my own business at Peachtree Books when this lunatic comes racing in the door and knocks me into his arms. I would have ripped him a new one, but he was kinda familiar, and hot. Like I-want-to-have-your-sexy-babies-now hot.

Turns out he looks familiar because I stare at his gorgeous face on TV every week. Yup, Dalton Deangelo. In the oh-so-firm flesh.

I let him hide out from the press for a while, then I thought he’d be on his way, and I could breathe normally again. But no. He found me interesting. He wanted to tag along to my cousin’s wedding with me. I couldn’t say no to that face … or THOSE EYES. Before the night was through, he was saying sweet things, then dirty things. Very dirty things.

I try to keep my eyes wide open. I’ve made terrible, stupid mistakes in the past. But Dalton Deangelo’s touch turns me to Jell-O.

I’m just a regular girl, and he’s rich and famous with no body fat. The guy has a butler! So, why is he chasing me? And why can’t I say no? And what is this sordid secret of his the reporters are trying to uncover?

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Series Review: Three Irish Brothers by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Other Books in the Series:

Series: Three Irish Brothers
Author: Joanna Mazurkiewicz
# of Books: 3 (Beautiful Pain, book 2, book 3)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Unknown
Genre: New Adult, Mature, Emotional, British
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: Third Person

Thoughts on Beautiful Pain:

I actually got this book for free one day for both my Kobo and Kindle. Since then it has gone up in price but I wouldn’t have been overly upset if I had paid the two dollars for it.

I think it is important to highlight the fact that this book is British. It’s written by a British author so it has that style of writing we aren’t completely used to this side of the pond. It tends to be very proper, not as many contractions in the sentences and not much slang–it almost comes across as mechanical to readers who typically read North American literature. Because I read a lot more North American books than British, it always throws me for a bit of a loop but I do read quite a few British novels so I easily get accustomed to that.

So it could easily be a product of the book being British in origin or maybe people in British are super mature: but I just found the dialogue to be a little awkward and overly mature for the age of the characters. I’m the same age as Sophia and no one I know talks like she does so I found that hard to accept at times. But given her past I wouldn’t be surprised if she is just that next level of maturity.

Out of all the freebie books that I have, I choose to read this one because the concept it really cool and different from other books out there. I mean, Harry is the ultimate bad boy and the element of Sophia being his probation officer is something I have never encountered before. It’s an interesting spin on things I think it is executed fairly well all things considered.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really understand Sophia and Harry’s relationship and how it worked between them. Their relationship is essentially built on lust and the “unspoken” connection between them. I don’t particularly care for these “unspoken”/love-at-first-sight-deal stories so I really didn’t get how they worked together or why they liked each other. I supposed it improved as we went but I never really got it to be honest–which is a shame because I really wanted to love them together.

I want to really stress that this book can be very dark at times. Although it is told through a 3rd person narration, there are times when we get a first person POV from Sophia when she describes her past. Nothing is really held back which I both appreciate and find uncomfortable at the same time. I find it’s hard to read in the mind of someone who has an abusive or depression filled past because it can be very dark and very emotional. On this regard, the book really excelled at conveying those feelings. It made Sophia seem very real and more than just a character in the book.

Conclusion:

Overall, this book didn’t really float my boat. I liked it and can appreciate it; but not enough to watch out for the rest of the series. I’m not particularly interested in the next set of characters but I’m not so turned off of the idea of picking the sequel up if it happens to be free on Amazon again. For those who want a darker New Adult read, this is a solid choice; especially if you like Ireland 😉

Rating: 2.5/5

Similar Reads: Release Me by J. Kenner (Stark Trilogy #1)

Synopsis for Beautiful Pain (from Goodreads):

My decisions were always wrong. I needed to get away from London, I wanted to start from scratch in Belfast, escape from the life that I didn’t want.

Working for Probation Service for the whole summer was going to give me the experience that I needed. I always felt much better when I could help people whose lives were shattered.

My parents told me that I wasn’t ready and I wouldn’t make it through but I was determined to show them that the past was behind me.

I had three months to forget about my bad memories, about the pain and my scars. Then I run straight into him, throwing it all to the wind, falling into a trap of love and lust.

Harry O’Donaghue was a local offender. At our first meeting he gave me the impression that he didn’t care about what I had to say and didn’t want to be evaluated by a stupid young girl like me.

Harry wasn’t an easy subject, either when it came to straight forward conversation about his future or about the crimes that he had committed.

Harry had a secret and everything suddenly became complicated. He was bad to be around, bad for me in every respect, but I still allowed him take me to paradise…

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Series Review: Keegan’s Chronicles by Julia Crane

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Biggest Disappointments 2014
Series: Keegan’s Chronicles
Author: Julia Crane
# of Books: 3 (Coexist, Conflicted, Consumed)

There are 4 spinoff series to read. Find the full list here.

Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Teen, Fantasy, Elves, Romance, Action, Drama
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: Third Person

Thoughts on Coexist:

Disclaimer: I will not be picking up the sequel Conflicted. Find out why below…

Coexist has been on my to-buy and read list for a good amount of time. The main reason is because it focuses on elves and I haven’t been able to find many stories about elves–most books deal with faeries so that intrigued me. I also hoped it would be what the Laurel series wasn’t to me. At a price of $0.99 (CAD) I had no problem picking it up BUT it was free on Amazon one day so I grabbed it for my Kindle.

In the end, I’m glad I didn’t pay for this book: it was such a huge disappointment for me.

I’ll start with the writing: it’s very choppy and almost mechanical in its execution. It just didn’t flow very well and seemed to be mostly dialogue and thoughts. The third person narration makes things very confusing. I found it hard to differentiate between who was thinking what and when because I thought we were following one character and then it would jump to another. Simple line breaks between a change in character focus would have helped a lot with this but the writing in general is nothing fantastic.

Keegan was another let down. I had hoped for a strong female lead that wouldn’t annoy me like Laurel from the Laurel Series did. Laurel was annoying, but I didn’t find her overly annoying until book 2; but with Keegan, I disliked her immediately. She is just so petty and immature that I had a hard time liking her. She is extremely spoiled and selfish and that just grated on my nerves. My biggest problem with her was how she handled her chosen mate situation and her thought process regarding her dating life. Too be fair, she is 16–but man, it was painful to roll my eyes by the end of it and painful to endure her thoughts.

As for the plot, it wasn’t overly excited. It does pick up and have some interesting elements to it but nothing I haven’t seen before or anything that made me want to keep reading nonstop.

Conclusion:

While I am intrigued by how the book ended, I won’t be picking up book 2 anytime soon–or ever. I have read a lot better–freebies or not–and I want to spend my limited time on something a little more exciting and at my age level (and to be fair I wouldn’t have enjoyed this at the age of 16 either).

Rating: 2.5/5

Similar Reads: Wings by Aprilyne Pike (Laurel Series #1)

Synopsis for Keegan’s Chronicles (from Goodreads):
Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends–she’s an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.

In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan’s brother Thaddeus told her Rourk’s name because his visions warned him she’d need Rourk’s protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan’s side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.

An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan’s family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle…without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

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