Samstag, 24. Oktober 2015

Slate (Breaking the Declan Brothers #02) - Kelly Gendron

Title: Slate (Breaking the Declan Brothers #02)
Author: Kelly Gendron
Rating: 3/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Book Enthusiast Promotions for letting me receive a digital copy of this book before its official release date.
First loves, we all got them. Mine is Slate Declan. He was kind, gentle, and caring. Still, he managed to break my heart. So I put miles between us, and eventually, my heart healed.

I haven't seen Slate in years, but a couple friends and I are going back to the Bayou for the summer. While I'm visiting my hometown, I'm going to look up Slate Declan. And I plan to break his heart, just as he did mine. I'll remind him of what he has lost, and then I'll prove to him that I've moved on.

It should be real easy, right?

Well, let me tell you, Slate Declan is not the same guy that I left behind. And there's another problem. How do you break someone's heart when they no longer have one?

I requested Slate, not knowing it was the second novel of a series. To be honest, I don't think I'll read the first one, because I didn't really felt a connection with its characters that I met through the second novel now, however, I will definitely, so definitely read the third book. I can't even wait for it.

This is one of the few novels I read about fighting, other than Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. I can't say I'm a fan of it, simply because I'm not a fan of boxing sport or fighting clubs and such, but it was okay. I could deal with it.

In my other reviews, I mostly repeat the synopsis and explain a bit more. I won't do that with this book. Let's just say Slate has had a really traumatic past, which followed him right to the present. He and Rayna always shared a special bound and eventually got together as teens. Some time later, they break up and never see each other again. Rayna moves and thinks the worst of Slate and Slate just finds himself in bad situations, dealing with bad things.

You get to read about how their relationship grew from when they were kids up until when they ended up together. I seriously loved these parts, they were really great, and absolutely great-written. I would have liked to read more of these parts. They are always inbetween the regular chapters, they're flashbacks, so to speak. The regular chapters are about Rayna and Slate meeting again after all these years. She wants to help him get back on track with his life, which seems out of control. He's in a really bad condition and Rayna wants to be his saviour, because he has also always been her Superman (Awwww!). They end up locked inside his home with a limit: Slate has to stay there with Rayna three days and after that, she'll disappear from his life again.

I guess, either I gave too much away, or I just repeated the synopsis and added a bit more, as I said I wouldn't do but did, gah. I seriously don't know where to stop now. I think I'll just leave you with the locked-inside-his-home-situation and make you read the book yourself. The book is short, so you won't need long to finish it or even get the chance to get bored. That won't happen. But maybe this shortness is also a negative aspect, because I would have liked to read more about the incident that happened to Slate (you'll know what I mean when you get to that point). The three days between them seemed over so fast, like nothing even really happened. Of course, it did, but maybe there should have been more. Or maybe I should have read Slate a bit slower, haha.

Whoever is fan of friends-to-lovers romances and second-chance romances, will most likely love this book. I am not a fan of second-chance romances and I still liked it, so that has to say something. If I happen to purchase the third novels of this series, I will decide whether to write a review for that as well, so I can compare the two books. Let's see which one I like better. Have fun reading Slate, everybody. It's worth it!

Bastard - J.L. Perry

Title: Bastard
Author: J.L. Perry
Rating: 3/5

Thanks to NetGalley and J.L. Perry for letting me receive a digital copy of this book before its official release date.
My name is Carter Reynolds. I was born a bastard and I’ll die a bastard. I learnt it at a young age, and nothing and nobody can change that. I’m on a one-way path of destruction, and God help anyone who gets in my way. I hate my life. Actually, I hate pretty much everything.

That’s until I meet the kid next door. Indi-freakin’-ana. My dislike for her is instant. From the moment I lay eyes on her, she ignites something within me. She makes me feel things I thought I was incapable of feeling. I don’t like it, not one bit. When she looks at me with her big, beautiful, haunting green eyes, it’s like she can see into the depths of my soul. It freaks me the hell out. She’s like sunshine and rainbows in my world of gloom and doom. I hate sunshine and rainbows.


• • • •

I’m Indiana Montgomery. My friends call me Indi. Despite losing my mum at the age of six, I have a wonderful life and great friends. My dad more than makes up for the fact that I only have one parent. I’m his little girl, the centre of his world. I adore him.

When Carter Reynolds moves in next door, my life takes a turn for the worse. He’s gorgeous, sinfully hot, but that’s where my compliments end. He seems hell-bent on making my life miserable. He acts tough, but when I look into his eyes I don’t see it. I see hurt and pain. To me, he seems lost.

I should hate him for the way he treats me, but surprisingly I don’t. If anything, I feel sorry for him. I want to help him find peace. Help him find the light that I know is buried somewhere within his darkness, but he won’t have a bar of it.

He’s warned me time and time again to stay away, but I can’t. I’m drawn to him for some reason. He’s always referring to himself as a bastard. That may be true, but to me, he’s more like a beautifully, misunderstood bastard. Whether he likes it or not, I refuse to give up on him.

I was surprised, because the other day, I saw a real copy of the book online and it seemed to be average length, but when I read the digital edition, it appeared so long. It was so hard for me to finish reading this book. Not because it was bad, but because it was so long and my eyes really hurt from reading on my cell phone. Guess it's my own fault.

Whatever, let's begin with the original review... Bad boys are every reader's weakness, I guess, so it's pretty easy to fall for the main character, Carter, in this book. In the beginning you find out what was said to him, so that he still thinks of himself as a bastard. One day, being seventeen, his mother marries someone and they both move in with that guy. Carter can't stand him, but his new next-door neighbour is a cute girl named Indiana, who he seems hooked on right from their very first meeting, which involves Indiana's dog Lassie.

Oh, Lassie/Larry, you cute little dog. Seriously, I don't enjoy reading about pets so much, but I just loved Indiana's dog. Also, the relationship Carter had with her dog. It's just so nice.

Of course, Indiana is interested in her new neighbour as well, but she also notices his behaviour. He threatens her boyfriend (which was totally right, I think. That guy was a huge douchebag!), isn't too shy about his intentions with girls and truly acts like a bastard. But then they, Carter and Indiana, open up to each other about their pasts, and finally they end up as a couple, but not really a couple at the same time.

Everything could be perfect for them, but Carter decides to leave town. He suffers too much because of the bad behaviour of his stepdad and can't see himself sharing a house with that man any longer. While reading this, you'll feel troubled, because you know he does the right thing and yet you don't want him to leave Indiana. And I think that's what makes a good book a good book - you can relate to the characters and their decisions. You have no idea whether it's a good or a bad thing, but you know that you'd have a hard time making decisions as well, so why can't the character?!

A couple of years later, Carter is faced to return to the town due to an incident. Along with that, he and Indiana meet again and have to figure out how to go from here, though Indiana seems to have moved along after her dream guy, Carter, left her all these years ago.

I hope, as always, that I didn't give away too much already. I was really excited about reading this book, partly because I made the mistake and read J.B. Perry instead of J.L. Perry, so I thought Jolene B. Perry had a new pen name, haha. I'm so sorry Jodi, because you're an amazing author! I just hadn't heard from you up until Bastard. I have to admit, that it took some time for me to finish reading this book (and now also writing the review, I'm sorry... Again). It just to go on and go on and go on... When I actually saw a physical copy of it on Facebook, I was surprised to see it wasn't a 700-pages novel, as I thought, haha.

Coming to speak of what I didn't like... That's an easy one, because I instantly knew as soon as I got to that part. When Carter and Indiana meet again after five years, destiny has got other plans for Indiana, meaning her health (is that a spoiler? I hope not!). I didn't like that, because it just didn't feel natural to me. That's probably because I never enjoy reading about health-situations in books, I don't know. But you know, that is my personal view. Others may think it's the best part of this book, so I'll just stay quiet.

I think this book is perfect for all those young adult lovers, who want a sneak peak into the world of new adult romance. Or the other way around, really. It has got these nice and sweet scenes and these dirty and rough scenes. If you're looking for a new book boyfriend and think the cover is promising of finding a great one, you won't be disappointed, let me tell you. Carter is very yummy. I liked this book, I'm glad I requested it and got accepted.

Freitag, 23. Oktober 2015

How To Be Brave - E. Katherine Kottaras

Title: How To Be Brave
Author: E. Katherine Kottaras
Rating: 3.5 - 4/5

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me receive a digital copy of this book before the official release date.
Reeling from her mother's death, Georgia has a choice: become lost in her own pain, or enjoy life right now, while she still can. She decides to start really living for the first time and makes a list of fifteen ways to be brave - all the things she's wanted to do but never had the courage to try. As she begins doing the things she's always been afraid to do - including pursuing her secret crush, she discovers that life doesn't always go according to plan. Sometimes friendships fall apart and love breaks your heart. But once in a while, the right person shows up just when you need them most - and you learn that you're stronger and braver than you ever imagined.

Oh you lovely young adult books, mixed with a bit of poetry and phrases that will make you think about life - I missed you so much!

These days, I prefer new adult books over young adult books, but from time to time, I try to pick up a light young adult read, just to remember what this carefree reading feels like. That's the reason I requested How To Be Brave in the first place and also because I thought it would be a good read, making me feel different feelings all at once. I wasn't disappointed.

Georgia isn't one of the skinny girls, she's a curvy one. That is so refreshing from all these books about young girls who find themselves ugly, but are yet super skinny and beautiful in reality. Georgia has her flaws and she knows that. Her mother had flaws, too, capturing her thoughts of perfection of a body in her paintings. That is until she becomes very sick and eventually dies. Ever since that day, Georgia feels lonely and kind of invisible to her father, as well.

There's a letter that her mother left her, telling her to try things out, to be brave and do the things she never did. After that, Georgia and her friend decide to set up a list with things to do. While reading that part, you may think this book is just like all the others about a dying parent and the daughter or son creating a list of things to do before the die themselves. But please give How To Be Brave a chance, because it's different. I promise you it's different.

One day, the two of them skip school and go to the zoo. They meet another girls there, who's much more of a rebel than the two friends. However, one point of their list is to get high and Evelyn, the girl from the zoo, is the perfect match for that, getting high herself almost every day. The scenes about the three girls getting high are great! Especially the museum scene. I liked the flashbacks Georgia had there.

Another point on the list is asking Georgia's crush Daniel out and kiss him. Georgia decides to be a little braver and asks him out before Thanksgiving, but Daniel, although he is such a sweetheart, has got problems on his own. His father is getting sick, about the same as Georgia's mother had been. With him being focused elsewhere it seems like Georgia will never set a "done" mark behind these two special points.

And then there is the question about college and her life in general, and her financial situation at home and the strength of friendship and all that. I'm only mentioning these things so fast, because I don't want to give too much away. Do I?! I hope not.

Sometimes, I'm in the mood for a book that makes you think and sets your brain into action and sometimes I don't. Some young adult reads can be pretty heavy as well, mentally I mean. I picked How To be Brave up when I felt like reading something heavy, though the book isn't too heavy. It deals with death and friendship and losing friends, sure, but there is never a scene that made me want to quit reading.

I have to admit that I couldn't always relate to Georgia's actions, especially about her gentle heart, being so forgiving to people. But that's the great thing about different minds, I guess. I enjoyed reading about her crush on Daniel and her passion for painting things, just like her mother. It's always nice to see someone reconnected with their dead parents in a certain way and I am overwhelmed by the power of E. Katherine Kottaras for creating such a wonderful read. Thank you so much for the sugar in my tea, so to say. How To Be Brave was a special read for me and I will definitely recommend it to some of my friends, hoping they'll read it.


Donnerstag, 22. Oktober 2015

His Work of Art - Shannyn Schroeder

Title: His Work of Art
Author: Shannyn Schroeder
Rating: 3 - 3.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for letting me receive a digital copy of this book before the official release date.
Reese Carter is definitely not your average college girl. She'd prefer to spend Saturday nights playing Hero's Crusade than attending a wild frat party on campus. When she bands together with Adam, fellow comic enthusiast and illustrator, it appears that Reese has formed a dream team sure to propel her writing into the comic hall of fame.

Adam Hayes has never met a girl like Reese. She's sassy, smart, and loves talking comics, although he can't see why she'd choose DC over Marvel. He's thrilled to finally put his artistic chops to use in their upcoming comic project. But. this relationship is strictly professional. Or so he tells himself. When the two combine forces, they churn out magic in more ways than they had planned; they never expected to develop a steamy romantic sub-plot of their own…

Forget about hot cops or those typical bad boys you read about in almost every book out there. Nerds are the new black. Haha, that statement is kind of funny if you've read His Work of Art because the main charcter Adam is indeed black.
I think nerds in books are underrated, but I probably say this as I am kind of a nerdy girl, having a crush on Spiderman for example. I'm not talking about these "I'm a nerd and no girl will ever want me" guys, because those are a chilché. What I mean are boys like Adam, who know what they want but are also into comics, drawings and other nerdy stuff. We need more of those in books please!

Adam's mom owns a comic shop. He regularly works there. Reese is one of the costumers and offers him another job one day - she needs his help for a comic she's written. She needs him to paint the drawings. After a short thinking pause he agrees to work with her, which also includes meeting her friends, playing games and inviting her to a New Year's Eve party. But along the way to finishing her comics, both of their feelings get in the way and make it hard for them to draw a line.

So, His Work of Art isn't a long novel, it's pretty short and cut to the basic line. That was totally fine with me. I don't like books that pick up unimportant topics. Everything written in this book is needed for the story. Anyway, I would have liked to read more about Reese's family background. We know about her mother and her father, but how did she handle the situation? Did it make her the person she is today? Same with Adam, we sure know what issue is, but first he wants Reese, then he doesn't because of his dad and then his mom says a couple of words and it's all forgotton. Alright, I'm not being fair. Adam admits he won't be able to forget the things, so I should just believe him.

You know, I think Shannyn Schroeder has a way to grab your attention. And as an aspiring author (or as someone who tries to be) this book is really good on advice. Reese puts so much of herself into her comics and even the main character is probably a copy version of her own reflection, it's scary. Not in a bad way, just in an understandable way.

I loved the chemistry between the two and loved reading their story. I enjoyed His Work of Art really much and now that I know that there are other books about nerds by this author, I will have to add them to my list. Thanks for writing this really great story. Oh, and Marvel beats DC any day, haha.