Dienstag, 28. Juli 2015

Easy Silence - Beth Rinyu

Title: Easy Silence
Author: Beth Rinyu
Rating: 4.5/5

Thanks for NetGalley and Beth Rinyu for letting me receive a digital copy of this book.
They say you never forget your first love. No matter how many more come along or how much time goes by, there will always be that one person who will be forever embedded deep inside your heart and soul. For me, that was Jaxson Callahan.

We were complete opposites. I was a senator’s daughter. My parents were always too busy keeping up appearances on the political scene to show me love, so instead they bought my affection.

He was the son of a woman who allowed men to use and abuse her as well as him, just for her next fix.

We became each other’s solace during that summer we met, creating a lifetime of memories in three short months. I provided him with a sense of hope that there was more than just the harsh reality of the life he had grown accustomed to, and he showed me a genuine love that I had been yearning for my entire life. We vowed to be together forever.

I loved him and he loved me…. and nothing would keep us apart.

Nothing except the secrets that were hiding in that small seaside town.

Secrets that altered our destiny. We were never given any warning as we watched our future shake, crumble and disappear altogether, leaving us with nothing but memories of a bittersweet past.

Life can be beautiful.
Life can be kind.
And, life can be heartless…..because nothing about our situation was fair.

I can't... I just can't... This book is so heavy, so heartbreaking and so beautiful. I can't write this review without crying. And if I can, I won't even be able to write down my thoughts. I just can't concentrate, thinking about Easy Silence.

Maybe it was the author's style of writing, maybe it was the activities that the main characters did in this book (one of those was frog catching, by the way) or maybe it was the beach setting. I'm not sure what held my attention so bad that I couldn't put this book down. I didn't want to, but I eventually had to sleep at some point, so I didn't finish it in one session, I'm sorry to admit that.

At first, it must have been the author's writing, because I was hooked from the very first page. Samantha was described as a sweet young girl that wanted to spend the summer before college with her grandmother, who's been sick with altzheimer. Her grandmother is becoming more ill each day, having a hard time remembering the poeple around her. Sometimes, she'd think her son Max, Samantha's dad, is just a young boy and can't imagine Sam being her granddaughter.

One day, Samantha meets Jaxson. He is a troublemaker and everyone tells Sam to better stay away from him. But he rescues her from drowning and lovely and well-raised as Samantha is, she think she's got to thank him for that somehow. In the beginning, Jaxson doesn't want to know the least about her, he also doesn't speak that much, but soon he arranges with the situation and lets her in a bit more. And then some more.

Both have got problems. Samantha is sick of always being second when it comes to her dad. Even that summer he rather spends his time in Europe, along with her mother, then stay with her and his sick mother. Jaxson makes her want more from life than that and dares her to be a brave girl. But the boy of her dreams has got demons of his own, too. I'm not sure whether I should write about them or if it gives too much away. Let's just say his parents aren't good people. In fact, they're really bad people. Most of the time, he spends his time with Pete, who is like a father to him. Pete is also the one who lets Samantha find out more about the secrets of her family. And they are heavy, believe me.

What I liked was the speed of this book. That's such a weird thing to say, but it wasn't rushed, nor was it too slow. It followed a clear path and I liked every single scene. Seriously, there wasn't one thing that I disliked. Okay, to be honest, I disliked the end. Very much. I mean, it's romantic and stuff, but all the readers of this book will know what I'm trying to say. You can't help the tears that will want to escape. Let them roll, it's totally fine.

Why is it always the good and awesome books that make it so hard to write a helpful review? I don't know. But I'm out of words, so it's no use to force any more. I recommend this book to everyone. It was that awesome! Thank you Beth for writing such a masterpiece. It was the first book I read from this author, but I know it won't be the last. Also, I totally admired the author's note. Beth Rinyu says that she wrote the story the way she wanted it, and thank God she decided on that!

Say Something (Speak #01) - T.A. Roth

Title: Say Something (Speak #01)
Author: T.A. Roth
Rating: 2/5

Thanks for NetGalley and The Hype PR for letting me receive a digital copy of this book.
22 year old Ari Munoz is used to keeping men at arm's length. So when her best friend Vonne guilts her into going to a frat party, she couldn't think of a worse way to spend a Thursday night. That's until she sparks the interest of love’m and leave’m Ben Rodriguez. The electricity she feels when they lock eyes is something she's never felt before.

22 year old Ben Rodriguez has it all. He's a football star, president of his fraternity, and well known ladies’ man. His endless pick of beauties, makes him the envy of all of his fraternity brothers. So why are a pair of long legs and hazel eyes making him want to throw out all of his rules?

I'm sorry to say that I didn't like this book very much. When I first read about it, it seemed interesting enough for me to actually request a digital copy on NetGalley. However, I was disappointed after the first few pages. It started off okay, but then it included all chlichés possible and I wasn't a fan of that.

Ari is taken to a college party by her best friend Vonne. At that party she sees the ultimate playboy - Ben. The story is told from Ari's and Ben's point of view, so we know that not just Ari is totally smitten with Ben, but he thinks she is hot, too. Vonne is like their matchmaker, getting them to know each other. When Ari and Ben meet again, it doesn't take a lot of time for them to be all over each other. Ari is always so insecure about their relationship, considering her boyfriend's past. And that's also because there is Maria - a girl that tries everything to get back with Ben, though she was just a way of spending his free time with, a casual hook up partner.

Saying the story is written from two points of view isn't right, exactly. Some parts are written from Maria's point of view, too and then at the end you get another point of view. I didn't like Maria as a character and I didn't like her voice in this book. The sentences she spoke and thought were short, nothing deep. Also, we only got to read about her mean ways. We didn't once get a glimpse of her senistive side.

Everything seemed kinda rushed in Say Something. I really missed the depth behind it. Ari's and Ben's relationship seems to be based on sex only. They talk about their problems, yes, but that happens after having tons of sex and it's not even relastic then, because Ari keeps on thinking she isn't that kind of girl and doesn't know whether to trust Ben or not. It's such a typical story, being written and filmed a thousand times already.

Also, it somehow annoyed me to read the same things over and over again. Ari would talk to Ben about something, he would give her a reaction and then Ari would call Vonne and repeat the whole conversation, using the same words of the talk and her thoughts.

I'm not trying to punish the author or only talk bad about the book. That's not my intention. So, to say something (haha, say something, get it?!) postive, I liked Ben's grandmother and if the story would have been more focused on Ari's past, I would have liked it more, I think. Because I really enjoyed the last chapter and also liked reading about the dreams she had. I wish I could have felt her struggle more. And I won't forget about the cover either. It's beautiful.

Freitag, 24. Juli 2015

TAG - Shari J. Ryan

Title: TAG
Author: Shari J. Ryan
Rating: 4/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Booktrope for letting me receive a digital copy of this book.
What if your family had a big secret . . . a life changing secret. My dad, the bigwig CIA agent, was always on the run, whether he was being chased or doing the chasing. I missed him. Then my mom passed away, and my sister was murdered. I turned my solitude to strength because the alternative was too bleak.
But my luck seemed to turn: I met Tango. And while I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my twenty-two years, danger lurks around every corner and I simply can’t take the chance of it finding me. But his tattoos, his smell, his darkness, and his body— that marine has taken over my every thought. But, what if he too isn’t what I think? A ticking time bomb isn’t going to leave me much time to waver. Even the bravest person can be in need of a miracle.

Before she was gone, my mom warned me to know everyone and trust no one. But what was I supposed to do when I found out I am the one not to be trusted? Turns out, I was always the bait in this conspiracy.

Take a breath... And fall in love with Tango. That's about right, I think. Whew... I know this story is going to be inside my head for a couple of days. But no can do, I have to write this review, so here it goes...

This story is so unlike anything I've ever read, expect for maybe one or two books. The plot idea is simply amazing and I am surprised of myself for loving it that much. Normally, I like to stick to the good old new adult books in which the hero meets the heroine and they both hate each other, then love each other and everyone is happy. The main idea of TAG might be the same, but the way to the end is just a thrilling and entertaining road.

At the beginning of the story, I was quite intimiated. I wasn't sure where this story was heading and the thought of laying it aside crossed my mind. Cali seemed like such a bitch (sorry, but if you ever get the chance to read it, you'll agree with me) and not like a strong and brave young woman, standing up for herself and seeking revenge for her sister Krissy's death. Actually, reading the prologue I thought it was from a guy's point of view. But that's just a side note.

To be completely honest with you, up until after the first few chapters (the airport scene to be more exact) I wasn't hooked on the book. I promised myself to keep on reading though, in order to write a decent review. I had it all planned and then the author finally made me liking the plot more and more, probably also because of Tango.

Tango is a super fabulous written guy, suffering from cancer. And he is also Cali's latest bodyguard. His intentions to join Cali on her way to find her father is to be cured. Cali's father is some mystery guy that you don't find out a lot about. You only know that he once was in China and found some special medicine that cures cancer. Cancer was also the reason for Cali's mother's death and once you're into the story, you get a good idea of the whole messed up family situation Cali is in. She used to be a carefree girl, but since her mother died and her sister was murdered by her former boyfriend, who is also tracking her down now in order to threaten her father, she keeps on rule in mind.

Know every one. Trust no one.

Her trust issues are a big deal in this book and I sometimes wanted to smash Cali against a wall and make her see that she can indeed trust Tango, though she is still insecure. But that's just her and her ways of thinking and feeling are important for the story, otherwise it wouldn't be the same. And I definitely wouldn't change a thing in this book. Even more important, there is always an exception to a rule.

Though I got to admit - Reaper was described as a horrible person. He is, I mean, he killed Krissy. And yet I wish we would have gotten to see more of his sweet side. I wonder if there is a prequel telling his and Cali's story? Oh my god! I want to read that and then cry once I reread Tag and come to the ultimate part.

By the way, does anyone know the show Burn Notice? It's one of my favourite shows ever and I somehow ended up comparing this book to it. It was like a teenage version of it. Pretty awesome! So, if you're a fan of this show, make sure to read TAG. If you're a fan of tough girls, hot boys, family drama, hot boys, criminal actions, hot boys and action in general, this book is the one for you! (Yes, I know I used the term "hot boys" three times in one sentence, but if you're annoyed by that, you haven't met Tango yet.)

Point of No Return - Olivia Luck

Title: Point of No Return
Author: Olivia Luck
Rating: 3/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Book Enthusiast Promotions for letting me receive a digital copy of this book.


I had it all: an adoring husband, supportive friends, thriving career, a homey condo in the city.
Amend that.

I had it all except for love from my family. But life was good because I had him. Max was everything I dreamed a husband could be and somehow he loved me just as wildly as I loved him.

Until one cruel night he was stolen from me.

Then I had nothing but a vicious battle ahead of me. It’s a struggle so treacherous, I’m not sure if I’ll make it out with my heart in tact. But on the other side of that brutal war waits the most wondrous prize.

Will I allow myself to move forward?

I read the first book in this series, New Point, and I'm sorry to say that I liked that one much better than Point of No Return. I'll admit that after finishing the first book (you can also find my review to that on my blog) I wasn't sure whether I'd continue the series or not. I decided against it, because I wasn't interested in reading about Zoe's brother. So I skipped that book. Then I saw Point of No Return up on NetGalley. At first I thought it was the mentioned book about Zoe's brother, but after reading the summary, I knew it wasn't and so I started to be curious and requested a digital copy.

As always, I'm not saying it's a bad book. It is not. It just wasn't what I expected, basically because the first book was really new adult-ish and this one isn't, that's why I wonder why it was put into that section.

Anyway... What I love about Olivia Luck's writing style is that she captures emotions perfectly. So despite the fact that this wasn't my type of genre, really, I still enjoyed the two different point of views. Olivia Luck is talented at giving the characters their own voices. You will never once mistake a point of view, because you get to know the characters so well. And also, the relationships are always the one you ship. There aren't any other potential partners that you want the persons to end up with. Some may say it's boring - where is the challenge in that?! There isn't, simple as that. But there is a journey of the main characters and you will want to find out all about their development during the story.

You feel Violet's pain, because what she had to go through is something you want no one to ever experience. I think this story is focused on her change and her life more than it is about Cameron. Or maybe I just skipped these part unknowingly and swooned over him too much. He is such a sweet guy and you can't help but feel sorry for him, for being so patient and a total lovesick puppy. Can he get an aww? Aww!

There is, again, one thing that I didn't like that much. I wasn't such a big fan of the parts about Violet's job. I mean, of course her job is important for her future story and so on, but I grew tired of reading about meetings and her co-workers so fast. I don't know what's wrong with me, I'm sorry.

Naturally, I'd recommend this book to all fans of Olivia Luck (and I call myself a fan of her writing, definitely!), but also to those who want a break from reading new adult books and want to find out what happens to people after these new adult phases. If you're interested in that, I'm sure you'll just love Point of No Return. Side note: Isn't the cover just one of the prettiest you have ever seen?! I love it!

Elite (Eagle Elite #01) - Rachel van Dyken

Title: Elite (Eagle Elite #01)
Author: Rachel van Dyken
Rating: 4 - 4.5/5

Thanks for NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for letting me receive a digital copy of this book.
For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother's death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn't expecting much-but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same . . .

The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she's ever met . . . and they refuse to make things easy for her. There's Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn't long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn't realize she was the enemy -- until it was too late.

I absolutely love Rachel van Dyken. She could even write about talking apples in the garbage and I'd sit on the couch, my eReader with me and be totally fascinated.


Now, having already read the second book in the series, I'm having a hard time writing a review (after such a long time of ignoring this task) for this one. I don't want to give away spoilers or write things you might not understand if you haven't read the sequel yet. Gah, I am beyond excited to read the third book, actually. I apologize in advance - this review is going to be short (that's the plan, anyway) and probably not that helpful if you're hoping it will give you some advice on reading it or not. Though I can safely tell you - read it!

There should be more mafia books and it's so interesting to read about teenagers involved in that, because you wouldn't think they do stuff like that and even if, it is pretty shocking to think about that. But if it were up to me, I would want tons of books with mafia connected teens. Especially if they are like Chase.

Yes, Chase is only the best friend of the male main character Nixon. Anyway, I think he is the best thing Rachel van Dyken ever invented (and the last sentence of the second Eagle Elite book, Elect, ruined all my hopes for... Nah, too many spoilers, haha.) Nixon isn't so bad either, but he is more the guy for Tracey and not for me, haha. At first, he hates Tracey, which is totally amazing for me - the lover of hate/love relationships. All the fights, all the pranks made me feel sorry for Tracey so much. Yet in the end, they are a cute couple, I'll give them that.

All these family relations... I wonder how Rachel van Dyken keeps those in mind. It's so complicated. At least for me it is. Maybe I should reread Elite and Elect, the second one, before I start the others in the series or else I won't understand a thing, I suppose.

Not a single pages bored me or made me look forward to finally finishing the book. There's always something happening, most of the time some pretty shocking things that will leave you breathless and speechless, as well. It's so exciting and I remember not being able to put it down for more than a minute or two.

I'm not sure why Elite reminds me so much of the Perfect Chemistry series by Simone Elkeles. The nationalities in Elite are mostly Italian, or to be more specific Sicilian and the boys in Simone Elkeles' books are hispanic. No relation there. Perhaps I think of these books as alike because I am a huge fan of Simone and that series written by her is my favourite book series of all time and Rachel van Dyken's series comes pretty close to that, too.

I guess this review is pretty annoying, always mentioning how much I loved this book but no real information. Well, I can't give you any more than this. A review should be honest and if I tell you I loved it, I am telling the truth. I'm sorry if that makes you feel less informed about the plot or the characters and so on. You probably think I avoid writing about these things considering how long ago I read it, but that's not it. I just don't know what to write, really. My heart sends all the love to my head, telling me to express my feelings for the book in this review and so this is what I do.

Elite is an exciting book and the idea of the story and the plot is so good and so well written, too. I'm glad Rachel van Dyken got this idea on paper and shared it with us readers, because I wouldn't want to miss such a masterpiece as this.

Montag, 6. Juli 2015

Chasing Each Other - J.D. Rivera

Title: Chasing Each Other
Author: J.D. Rivera
Rating: 4/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Red Coat PR for letting me receive a digital copy before the official release.
Miranda… I was always the life of the party, the happy one. Until Preston killed my soul. When he came into my life, he destroyed me. I was a shell of my former self, pretending to be fine while wishing I wouldn't wake up the next day. I never dreamed my best friend would come back into my life...and bring Brad Nicholson with her. I never dreamed the homicide detective with the cocky attitude could show me my worth again. He could show me that my life could be amazing every day. Until the day he found out about my past with Preston. Then, I was sure he'd see the real Miranda and ditch me for good.

Brad… From a young age, I made a decision. I knew what I wanted to do with my life and from that point on, my work molded me. Everything became routine. Casual. Until Mackenzie walked into my life, bringing her best friend, Miranda, with her. From the first moment I saw Miranda, I knew she could be someone special. I didn’t have time for relationships, but she was different. She was a piece of the puzzle that could be missing. But she was broken, I could see that. And all I wanted to do was turn her into the girl I knew she really was beneath her perfectly placed mask.

Miranda is a character that didn't need a hundred of pages until I liked her. That's what I liked about her - it only took a couple of pages until I dived into the story and really felt her pain and horror. I had some trouble liking the prologue though, but maybe that's because it was rushed. You don't find out a lot about the person, but then again that makes sense since it is a prologue. Oh my, do I even make sense now?! haha.

And now Brad... Gah, I need more cops in books. I'm a huge fan of authors who deal with age gapes, and whew, a sexy cop just made it to my favourite list. I need more cops in new adult books (remember that all you aspiring authors, please) Funny thing, I never understood why he thought of himself as a bad person. I would have assumed he did something terrible or something like that.

I'm out of words already. You know, I thought this read would be much more... Thrilling, as in a horror kind of way. I am glad it wasn't like that. Miranda has to deal with her past, but I'm so glad isn't wasn't something predictable. When I started reading Chasing Each Other I was like: "Alright, I know where this is heading." I was pleasently surprised, though.

What I didn't like, and yes, there is something I didn't like, were Mackenzie and Hayes. I mean, they were awesome friends and they both make you want them in your life. So maybe I liked them, yeah, I'm confusing as well, I know. What I really mean is that I am not as interested in their story as I was/am in Brad's and Miranda's, which is why I'll probably only read Chasing The Stars because I liked the author's style. I often wondered whether the author was from America or not. Not because of her English, because her English is great, but because the used words were extra ordinary and thought-through. I wish I could write like that.

So, I really, really missed reading new adult books lately and I am glad I requested this one on NetGalley. It was such a good choice to get back in the game! Thank you J.D. Rivera for creating these characters and this story. I absolutely enjoyed every second of reading it, which I can even prove. I had to read it on the Kindle app via my cell phone. Normally, I dislike reading things on my cell phone, but I couldn't even put it down this time. It was that good!