Read and Review #11 - Searching For Someday (Jennifer Probst)

Title: Searching for Someday

Author: Jennifer Probst

Publication date: 26 November 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble


Synopsis:

Kate has given up on love—at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people—a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success. 

But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love...only to find herself falling for him along the way.

My rating:

4 out of 5 signs up for a matchmaking company

My review:

I am a fan of Jennifer Probst. A FAN. I read The Marriage Bargain and absolutely loved it and was on my way to reading the other books when this caught my eye. 

Kate Seymour has a magical gift that when she touches two people who are meant to be together, she would feel this tingle sort of like an electric shock running through her. She hadn't been lucky in the dating department and her most recent date was a joke. It was ironic, given the success of her matchmaking company that she herself couldn't find a match. Even more so with her special touch.   

Slade Montgomery was a divorce-attorney who does not believe in true love and happily ever after. When his sister announced that she had joined a matchmaking company, he was determined to see it through to make sure that she would not get hurt again. Aggressively protective of his sister, he decided to sign up for the same matchmaking company to ensure that it was not a fraud like most matchmaking companies out there.

When Slade first met Kate, she was everything he didn't want in a woman. He was however, intrigued by their constant banter and the attraction he felt towards her. I was really looking forward to some awesome banter and it definitely didn't disappoint. Slade was fighting very hard not to be attracted to her and Kate kept telling herself to not date a client.

It's a very fun read, surprisingly fast. It hit me hard towards the end and I found myself wiping away tears when I finished the book. The best thing in the book is when Robert came into the picture. I cried and smiled and you can't simply hate Robert. You just can't. 

I enjoy one of those love stories where the people who are meant to be together fully denies their attraction till the end and had this pent up frustration and jealousy and all other feelings and it just hit hard sometimes, right in the gut. Oh and one very sexy spoiler (in my opinion at least); Slade wears glasses.

Read it, enjoy it. It's funny, sad, frustrating and it puts a smile on your face.

Read and Review #10 - Deeper (Robin York)

Title: Deeper

Author: Robin York

Publication date: 28 January 2014

Publisher: Random Publishing House Group - Bantam Dell

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

In this New Adult debut by Robin York, a college student is attacked online and must restore her name—and stay clear of a guy who’s wrong for her, but feels so right.

When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground.

West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.

They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself—and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her.

When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.

My rating:

3.5 out of 5 bread consumed

My review:

*ARC generously given by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I was not sure how to rate this book. I liked it but I wasn't in love with it. I took my sweet time reading it because the choice was either continue on and be frustrated or take my time and let the frustration ease. 

We have Caroline Piasecki, a college student whose ex-boyfriend post their sex pictures on the Internet. She's a normal, nice college girl. On her way to be a lawyer. Who makes straight A's and doesn't fool around at parties. Once the pictures are out for the public to see, she started getting harassed by strangers who want some of the action they've seen in the pictures. She found comfort in West, after witnessing an altercation between him and her ex, Nate. 

West Leavitt is the go-to guy for drugs in Putnam College, dealing from the bakery where he works. He majors in Biology, studying to be an anesthesiologist. Aside from dealing drugs, he also waits table, shelves books at the library and caddies at the golf course. West has plans, and it doesn't involve Caroline. But living across her in the dorms, seeing her every day made it hard for him to ignore her existence. 

I actually like Caroline and West, when they're not thinking about mauling each other every time they are near the other. I guess it's the hormone but really, it's like they only like each other for the sexual vibe they give out.

But sexy-time with them is hot. And I mean really hot.

And the funny thing is, once they let out their pent-up frustration, they actually think about something other than sex. Like West's family. And Caroline's family finding out her sex pictures. 

The ending felt rushed for me. The last two chapters anyway. There is so much going on that for a second there I was confused. I guess the word I'm looking for is easy. There is a bunch of thing left unsettled, unexplained and there is still this huge wall between Caroline and West by the end of it. Well, that's what cliffhanger means, right?

Favorite thing ever that I can relate to!

"I took this job expecting to be left alone, working when nobody was awake, not having to be polite or say words I don't mean, to act like I'm somebody I'm not."

Read and Review #9 - The Reunion Lie (Lucy King)

Title: The Reunion Lie

Author: Lucy King

Publication date: 19 November 2013

Publisher: Harlequin KISS

Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

It was only meant to be a little white lie….

Inventing a fake fiancé was an act of desperation for Zoe Montgomery—a knee-jerk response to her horrifying high school reunion! But now that she's convinced London's most unattainable bachelor to play the part, her little white lie is spiraling out of control.

Because everyone wants a piece of tycoon Dan Forrester. Including Zoe! Especially once she's seen the view from his bedroom—this might be a fake engagement, but she's certainly not faking anything else!

Now the reunion is over, and Zoe and Dan have convinced the world they're meant to be! But convincing each other? A whole different challenge….

My rating:

4 out of 5 wants to hit on a random guy in bars

My review:

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I immediately thought that it would be a good read. After I realize that this book is published by Harlequin, I dialed down on my expectation of an excellent love story because having read a bunch of Harlequin books, yes, they are tear-jerkers but they always lacked something. Maybe because usually the stories are short and left me unsatisfied by the end. 

This story is no exception. However! It felt real, the connection between Dan and Zoe. They were held back by their past but instead of handling them with elaborate plans or denial, they actually dealt with their problems like grown-ups. At least to me it felt that way. Both are straight-forward and there was no beating around bush when it comes to saying what they want from each other. 

The downside of reading this was that there was too much stuffed in a very short story. I did mention that the connection between Dan and Zoe are real but come to think of it, it was missing that impact, that bonding moment that seals the relationship. The best way I could describe is that their relationship was a slow build-up, like most relationship these days. Nice and slow, hardly any intense moments. Apart from Dan getting mad at Zoe for betraying his trust but even that didn't feel intense and before I could wallow in the piercing pain, it was cut short by revelation after revelation. I guess I just love drama in my romance.

It's a fast read, still managed to jerk a tear or two or ten but don't expect too much from it. Books published under Harlequin are usually short and sweet and almost always have a happy ending. If you're looking for an intense, dramatic, tear-jerker romance, this will cut you short. 

Read and Review #8 - Either Side of Midnight (Tori de Clare)

Title: Either Side of Midnight

Author: Tori de Clare

Publication date: 11 July 2013
Publisher: Tori de Clare
Get a copy! Amazon


Synopsis:

WHAT IF THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE TURNED INTO YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE?

When nineteen-year-old Naomi Stone is snatched from her husband at knifepoint on the night of their wedding and taken to a deserted cemetery, she knows her life is finished. Drugged and disorientated, she loses consciousness as she lies in an open grave with a gun to her head.

But the following day, she mysteriously awakes to find herself unharmed and secured to a bed. She's in a beautiful bedroom in a secluded cottage in open countryside. Only one person knows she’s there – the man in the balaclava who’s holding her, feeding her, revealing nothing. Naomi senses the unfolding of a plan. She should be on honeymoon in the Caribbean.

Instead, she’s trapped with an emotionless psycho with no hope of escape . . . And his voice is chillingly familiar. Who is he? What does he want? What's happened to her husband? Where is she? Will anyone find her before it's too late?

My rating:

4 out 5 thinks the hero is scrumptious 

My review:

*A copy was provided generously by the author in exchange for an honest review*

It was a thrilling ride, this book. I may be a fan of mysteries but hardly ever when reading about them. Romance is more to my liking. However, when Tori told me about it, I was intrigued. And so began my journey from debating whether I want to read it to finishing it with an internal scream 'WHY END IT'. 

Before I get to the good points, I just feel like I should get all the bad out. 

1) While the writing is good, I get confused sometimes because there are too many point of views.

2) Shouldn't Camilla and Henry be called Mum and Dad? I mean, I know it's written as a third person but even though I know they're the biological parents, I can't help but think of them as step-parents because of the way Naomi and Annabel referred them by their names. I may sound ignorant because maybe there is a name for this style of writing that I'm not aware of. 

3) Certain parts can be polished to sound better and less confusing. Like the part where Nathan called Lorie for the first time and revealed the twist in the story. I mean, were it written in a less confusing way, I would  digest the information in a rather dramatic 'WHAT THE ACTUAL FAHK' kind of way.

4) The almost unrealistic connection between Dan and Naomi. It's the romantic in me saying, wait hold up a second there. I saw this coming, but there are so much missing in the middle! I ended up assuming they bonded behind the scenes.

I wasn't peeved that much by those, they're easily brushed off and aside from some minor retracing, I was able to focus on the plot. I love a good mystery. Not the paranormal kind, more towards the crime kind. And this book definitely delivered. The plan was detailed and realistic. But because I'm a sucker for romance, I was hoping for more interaction between Dan and Naomi. I was made aware that this book has little romance but once it's written in there, I can't help but want more. 

It's a good read, confusing if you don't keep up with the story (like I did) and recommended for those who likes mystery with a little romance kind of story. I enjoyed it, a bunch others enjoyed it, so why not give it a go?

Upcoming Release #1 - Hothouse Flower (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Title: Hothouse Flower

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Expected publication: February 2014

Synopsis:

Ryke Meadows, meet Daisy Calloway ... she’s all grown up. 

Twenty-five-year-old Ryke Meadows knows he’s hard to love. With a billion-dollar inheritance, a track-star resume, and an alpha-male personality—he redefines the term likable asshole. But he’s not living to make friends. Or enemies. He just wants to free climb three of the toughest mountains in Yosemite without drama or interruption.

And then he receives a distressed call from a girl in Paris—a girl that he has never been allowed to have.

Daisy Calloway is eighteen. Finally. With her newfound independence, she can say goodbye to her overbearing mother and continue her modeling career. Next stop, Paris. Fashion Week begins with a bang, and Daisy uncovers the ugly reality of the industry. She wants to prove to her family that she can live on her own, but when everything spirals out of control, she turns to Ryke to keep her secrets.

As Daisy struggles to make sense of this new world and her freedom, she pushes the limits and fearlessly rides the edge. Ryke knows there’s deep hurt beneath every impulsive action. He must keep up with Daisy, and if he lets her go, her favorite motto—“live as if you’ll die today”—may just come true.

Excerpt:
{Prologue}
Ryke Meadows

My life is full of unconventionalities, abnormalities and awkward fucking situations.

If you’re easily offended by crude language and inappropriate talks, you’ve taken a wrong fucking turn somewhere. You won’t understand me if you can’t handle me, and I’m not going to try to explain myself. I’m not here to smooth down my rough edges.

I’m raw.

I’m hard.

I’m the thing you shy away from.

So I’m warning you now. Back away.

Because once you enter my life, I won’t ever let you leave.

Initial thoughts:
I KNEW IT!!!

I AM ABSOLUTELY EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK. I can almost taste the tension between Ryke and Daisy. I can feel it. If I could, I would want to get one of those ARC.

Read and Review #7 - Love the One You're With (Lauren Layne)

Title: Love the One You're With (Sex, Love and Stiletto #2)

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 9 December 2013

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

As a leading columnist for Stiletto, Grace Brighton has built a career warning women about rotten, cheating liars. She just never suspected her fiancé would be one of them. After Grace takes a heart-mending hiatus, her first assignment is to go on a couple of dates with a counterpart from the men's magazine Oxford and report her impressions. Grace 1.0 may have been instantly smitten with the gorgeous correspondent, but Grace 2.0 has sworn off relationships for six months, and she's not falling for his outstanding bod and trophy-winning kisses... or is she?

Jake Malone wants to get back to the fly-by-night, who-knows-what's-next guy he used to be, and he knows exactly how to do it. Oxford is adding a travel section, and Jake—with no wife and no kids and a willingness to live anywhere, eat anything, do everything—is perfect for the job... except that his playboy reputation makes his new editor nervous. To get the gig, he must agree to a fluffy joint article with Stiletto. But after just one date with snooty, sumptuous, sensational Grace Brighton, Jake starts taking this assignment a whole lot more seriously...

My rating:

4 out of 5 wants to live in Tribeca

My review:

*ARC generously provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

First off, I like Grace. She's this good girl determined to not be fooled by another man after the love of her life cheated on her. Among the trio (Julie, Grace and Riley), she's the timid one. The peacemaker. She's not as flirtatious as Julie or exudes sexual confidence (wait is that the right term?) like Riley. And the one thing she thought she had mastered left her single and bitter. When an opportunity arises for her to be Grace 2.0, she wasted no time and decided to take the chance. 

The first time meeting Jake could have put him in the what-a-jerk category but the way he carry himself makes him so likable despite his playboy ways. I don't know what his deal is with wanting to be single but damn if his actions say otherwise. My favorite parts in this book all consist of Jake. Did I mention that Jake is hot? 

I find that the banter between Jake and Grace are realistic enough. The idea of getting two people trying to compete on who can read the opposite sex better is great especially because these days, both genders claim that they are able to read the other better. And the discussion is pretty heated most of the time. 

It's a cute read. Sweet without being tacky. And I read it pretty fast too. It's fully recommended for anyone who likes a cute and fast read. Looking forward to Riley's story!

Read and Review #6 - After the Kiss (Lauren Layne)

Title: After the Kiss (Sex, Love and Stiletto #1)

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 26 August 2013
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept
Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Synopsis:

Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that first sexy romp between the sheets. Comfy pants, sleepy Sundays, movie nights on the couch? Shudder. But when Julie gets assigned the hardest story of her career—a first-person account of that magical shift between dating and "I do"—she'll need a man brave enough to give a total commitment-phobe a chance at more.

 Normally, Mitchell Forbes would be exactly that man. A devastatingly hot workaholic who tends to stay in relationships for far too long, he should be the perfect subject for Julie's "research." But what Julie doesn't know is that Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once in his life. And the leggy journalist notorious for avoiding love is exactly the type of no-strings fling he's looking for. In other words, Mitchell is the polar opposite of what Julie needs right now. And, at the same time, he's exactly what she wants.

My rating: 

5 out of 5 wants to marry a Wall Street broker

My review:

*I received a copy from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I have to admit, the reason I was drawn to this book was because of the author. I read Ms. Layne's Isn't She Lovely (psst, I wrote a review about it!) and enjoyed it immensely. I liked the way she writes her stories and I was hoping I'd get that in this book. Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I liked this book just as much (maybe more).

Julie Greene is a columnist for a magazine called Stiletto who writes the dating column in the Dating, Love and Sex segment of the magazine. She had never been in a relationship that lasts more than a couple of weeks and most of them are for research in her columns. When her editor told her to write a column on taking the next step in a relationship, Julie almost declined because she doesn't write about being in love. She writes about how to date a guy. And so she decides to do a research: be in a relationship with a guy and make it to Movie Night. In search of a subject to use as part of her research, she met Mitchell Forbes.

Mitchell Forbes, a Wall Street broker wanted nothing more than to prove to his colleague that he is able to have flings instead of safe, boring relationships. Being a workaholic, he opted to stay in a relationship even when he didn't want to. And so he made a bet. He would have a fling with a woman and dumps her before she starts to feel anything for him. And who better to have a fling with if not the notorious serial dater, Julie Greene? 

This is not one of those instant love at first sight kind of story. In fact, they don't even like each other that much at the first meeting. They are the total opposites of each other, hating the other's way of thinking. But eventually, they found that underneath their clothing and jobs lies a different person that they can tolerate and fall in love with. 

Normally I don't like reading about falling in love at such a fast pace but the way this story is written, the idea of falling in love that quick doesn't seem tacky or strange. Their relationship is sweet and towards the end I couldn't stop crying. 

"Here was a short-term kind of girl begging for a long-term relationship from a long-term kind of guy who wanted a fling."

"For the past few weeks, I've been doing something I've done an awful lot of. I've fallen in love. Then I went and did something crazy. Something wonderful. I stayed in love. I stayed past the first kiss, the first inside joke, the first fight. But I did it all wrong. I played it like a game, and I broke someone's heart. And I broke my own in the process." 

The only thing that I didn't like about this book was how short it was. I'm a very dramatic kind of girl and while this book managed to jerk the tears out of my eyes, I wanted more. It's fully recommended for those who enjoyed banters, love/hate relationship and just plain old crying over fictional characters. 

Read and Review #5 - Ricochet (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Title: Ricochet (Addicted #1.5)

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Publication date: 1 August 2013

Publisher: K.B. Ritchie (Independent Book Publishers Association)

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

As a sex addict, Lily Calloway must do the impossible. Stay celibate for 90 days. Cravings and fantasies become her new routine, but while Loren Hale recovers from his alcohol addiction, Lily wonders if he’ll realize what a monster she really is. After all, her sexual compulsions begin to rule her life the longer she stays faithful to him.

Progress. That’s what Lily’s striving for. But by trying to become closer to her family—people who aren’t aware of her addiction—she creates larger obstacles. When she spends time with her youngest sister, she learns more about her than she ever imagined and senses an unsettling connection between Daisy and Ryke Meadows.

With Lily and Lo’s dysfunctional relationship teetering and unbalanced, they will need to find a way to reconnect from miles apart. But the inability to “touch” proves to be one of the hardest tests on their road to recovery. Some love brushes the surface. Some love is deeper than skin.

Lily and Lo have three months to discover just how deep their love really goes.

My rating:

5 out of 5 hours set to do work spent on reading this book 

My review:

Warning: The topic on sex is kinda heavy here. And strangely enough, it's still not erotica!

In the last book, the story left off with Lo leaving for a 3 month stint in rehab. Like I mentioned in my review of the first book, the ending was bittersweet because Loren and Lily had never been apart since they became friends. They were so dependent on each other, so addicted to each other's presence that their separation was unbearable. For me at least.

The story continued with Lily struggling to continue life without Lo by her side. She was trying to stay loyal to Lo and not break her promises to him. In the previous book, Lily never overcame her addiction or even trying to. I didn't realize it at first but the first book focused on Loren's addiction and how it affected Lily. Here, she was suffering from withdrawals from having real sex and even masturbating more to get her fix. And since she vowed to remain celibate, she could do nothing more but fantasizing about sex and self-love. Her frustration builds because it wasn't satisfying enough and kept her restless most of the time.

Since Loren left, Lily moved in with Rose who was having an on and off again relationship with Connor. Their interaction was adorable but sometimes I can't help but wanting to scream at Connor for being a smartass 100% of the time. But somehow even though he's a smartass, he's still likable.

"That's impossible," Connor tells her. "We're the two smartest people in the entire world. You put us together, and you get a superhuman."

One interesting development in this story is Ryke and Daisy's growing relationship. However, aside from a few teasing remarks from Ryke to Daisy, their interaction is always full of anger and disappointment. One minute he was teasing her and lightly flirting with her, the next he's screaming at her for her crazy stunts. I was intrigued by their relationship because Ryke didn't even like Lily and Daisy but went to great lengths protecting them. I guess that's another thing we have yet to uncover about Ryke. Right now, even if he's still acting like an asshole, I still like Ryke.

"Daisy," he coos, waving his spoon around the air to try to get her to look at him. She barely stirs. He tries a different tactic. He dips two fingers into the gooey chocolate filling. No, I internally scream in my head. He's not going to..

Every time Ryke came into the scene, I am holding my breath because the most random and funny scenes have him in it. Without all the teasing from him, this will be a very overwhelming book filled with Lily's struggle. Her therapy sessions were interesting and we slowly get to learn more about her addiction; when it started, what started it and how did she deal with it every time. 

And her Skype session with Loren...

This is a good companion book for the next installment of this series. We get to know Daisy more and also learn about the severity of her addiction. There are just as many intense drama going on in the family as the previous book. The excerpt at the end for Addicted For Now just about killed me. Definitely picking up the next book as soon as it comes out!

Read and Review #4 - Addicted to You (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Title: Addicted to You (Addicted #1)

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Publication date: 22 August 2013

Publisher: K.B. Ritchie (Independent Book Publishers Association)

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

She’s addicted to sex. He’s addicted to booze…the only way out is rock bottom. 

 No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own. 

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment. 

But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex. 

Their real vice may be each other.

My rating:
5 out 5 recommend this without alcohol consumption

My review:

*A copy was given to me generously by the authors via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to one of my friends on Goodreads (Jennifer) for the status updates while reading this book that made me curious out of my mind that I finally cave in and decided to read this book. I knew about this book the day it was published (because I stalk Goodreads every day) and when I read the synopsis I was a little interested but the idea of a sex addict is sort of a turn off because I thought it would lead to sex after sex and eventually turn this new adult book into an erotica. Again, I was wrong for my judgement in books.

The opening scene didn't hold back. No sugarcoating it with happy college experience like first day of school, meeting new friends etc No, it started by introducing us to Lily's addiction, then Loren's. And what better way to introduce them than a frat row?

A sex addict is not the same as someone who likes to have sex. Constantly horny =/= addicted to sex. It's a disease, something you can't get out of. Like drug addiction. A sex addict needs relief not just for fun, but because without it they'll start to feel the withdrawal, the shaking, the anxiety, basically losing their mind if they don't get their fix. That's how Lily is. She has one night stands with numerous guys every day just to get her fix, so she could function well and act like a normal person. She's so accustomed to having sex that she goes to a bar every night to get her daily dose of sex with an anonymous guy.

Unlike most characters in books, Lily doesn't have one night stands because she's suffering from some sort of abuse or is emotionally crippled. Strangely but understandably enough, her addiction just sort of started and she hadn't stopped since.

Most people don't realize they're alcoholics until they stopped drinking. In Loren's case, he's in denial. And like anyone in denial, he gets angry when being confronted of his problem. He acknowledged it but he refuses to accept it. 

The part where Lily was trying so hard to make him drink less broke my heart because he refuses to listen which made her use her addiction to distract him from his addiction. 

"We should talk, but what do I say? Lo, I wish you would stop drinking. And he'd say, Lily, I wish you'd stop having so much sex. And then we'd look at each other and wait for the other to say okay, I'll change for you. But there'd be silence so deep and cutting that I'd feel ripped open and bare."

They feed off each other's understanding with their addiction, which made their whole relationship convenient. It wasn't until they started being together for real that their convenience was shattered. He drinks more because she started to panic over being monogamous and he doesn't want her to suffer from withdrawals. She has sex with him more to distract him from drinking more. I mean, they care for each other so much but they are feeding their own addiction trying to cure the other.

This book has three prominent side characters; Rose, Connor and Ryke. All three play major part in both Lily and Loren's life. I thought Ryke was the most interesting the moment he was introduced into the story. All I could think of was, Lily must be salivating over him. Because he sounded exactly like the guy I thought she would end up with.

The ending was bittersweet. I don't know how the book could end better than the ending that it has. When I'm done, I felt so bereft that I wasn't sure what I was doing and the time and everything around me. All I can say is that it's a good read and it's hardly erotica.  

And now I'm off to the next book in the series!

Read and Review #3 - Where I End And You Begin (Andra Brynn)

Title: Where I End And You Begin

Author: Andra Brynn

Publication date: 13 August 2013

Publisher: House of the Moon Publishing

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

In Japan, they say there’s a red thread of fate that binds people who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. It may tangle, it may knot, it may stretch or fray, but it will never break. It is a future as indelible as the past. I hope that isn't true. I pity anyone destined to meet me.

For Bianca Ray, the past is always catching up, one way or another. Now in her third semester at college, it's doing it again. Too much drinking has led to plummeting grades and rising absences, putting her scholarships in peril. When she makes it clear that she needs help—all over the floor of her history class—she’s given one last chance to shape up: seek therapy and bring her grades up by the end of the semester, or she’s out.

Enter Catholic seminarian Daniel McGuire. The last thing Bianca wants is an aspiring priest to counsel her on how to live her life, but the handsome graduate student is different from the holy rollers she fled from at home. Gentle and unobtrusive, he helps her pick up the pieces and find a new way to live: not running from the past, but facing it head on.

But opening up her heart to release the pain means that something else can come in. As Bianca and Daniel grow closer, their relationship moves onto dangerous ground and the fragile courage Bianca has built up threatens to fail her. Can she exorcise the ghosts of her past, or will they catch hold and drag her down where not even Daniel can reach her?

My rating:

4 out 5 suggests reading in with the lights on

My review:

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review* 

This book was like a breath of fresh air after reading one new adult book after another etched with the same theme in the plot. I believe this is the second book I've ever read that involves a priest/minister/pastor falling in love with a fallen (or something like that) woman/girl. But then again, Daniel didn't even make any vows to be a priest, he was just studying to be one.

We have Bianca Ray; party girl, drunk every night, fucks every night, has an obsession with ghost stories and still somehow managed to maintain her GPA. I like Bianca, however, I felt like there's something off up till the end. Something in me kept saying, 'Bianca doesn't sound right'. But I kept going up till I reach this little part towards the end.

"There's a pause. "Bianca." I hear him say.

 "Wait," Tanya says. "Who?"

 I have to get out of here.

"Who?" Tanya says again.

"Your roommate?" he says as though she's an idiot.

"Oh,"Tanya says. Then, "Oh. You mean Annie.""

I shit you not when my eyes instantly widen and I started choking. It was one of those moment where it felt like 'Holy shit what!' and 'I KNEW IT!' came together and I wasn't sure which one to attend to first. But it felt right, like something just clicked right into place. 

"I have to smile a bit. "Did you think I was a ghost? Just for a second?"

To my surprise, he laughs. "Yeah," he says."

Exactly.

Next, we have Daniel McGuire; studying to be a priest, wears prim clothes, hardly swears and is sweet, kind and innocent through and through. I'll put Daniel in the beta-heroes type because that is exactly what he is. The kindness he shows towards Bianca makes me feel warmth all over, despite the chilly feeling I get from their surroundings.

This book was well-written, albeit most of it revolving ghost stories and the afterlife. Growing up in a religious household, I can understand both Daniel and Bianca's point of views in religion. And to quote the words of comedian Steve Harvey, 'Everyone is on the borderline.', where he says that no one is really a shoe-in into heaven.

However, I didn't understand the whole thing with Bianca's running away from her past. What was she running away from exactly? There were two possibilities and I was not sure which was the stronger factor. It wasn't tackled in the end and it sort of didn't explain why she started drinking and all.

I picked up this book thinking 'Hey, must be one of those forbidden love stories.' Boy was I wrong. Yes, there was romance brewing in the air, but it wasn't explored as much as I hoped it would. But it was kind (that's the word I can describe it in) until the end where I was like, 'Wait what? I want more!'. 

It's a good book if you can muster enough courage for a few ghost stories. If you're not into a book that's dark, you might not want to pick this up. I give this a 4 star because of the excellent writing and storytelling. And maybe because of Daniel too. I wish there's a continuity to this story where Daniel and Bianca get to explore their relationship more. If there isn't, then it's still a good finish nevertheless.

Read and Review #2 - Isn't She Lovely (Lauren Layne)

Title: Isn't She Lovely

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 28 October 2013

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Flirt

Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

The rules are clear—until they’re broken. Lauren Layne puts a New Adult spin on Pygmalion, also the inspiration for Pretty Woman, and gives the classic love story its edgiest twist yet.

“Who knew that pretending you’re not falling for someone would be so much more difficult than pretending that you are?”

Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she’s pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn’t exactly Ethan Price’s type, either. He’s probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund . . . or does he?

As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie’s a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan’s brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.

But when Stephanie steps into Ethan’s privileged world, the “acting” begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating them. And Stephanie faces a question she’s too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?

My rating:

4.5 out of 5 snicker bars consumed while reading this

My review:

I got this book the day it was released and wasted no time reading it. My mantra while reading it had been, 'Keep your fucking shit together!'. And I did, until I went home and finished the last 5 chapters and broke down in the corner of my bed.

Pygmalion – that’s the theme of this story. It’s not a very common theme for books and movies out there. Then again, I kept reading books with the same theme so who knows maybe there are more books with Pygmalion themes out there. But the movies that scream Pygmalion? One in particular is the classic Pretty Woman.

We have Stephanie Kendrick; all-black attire, multiple piercings, raccoon eyes – the typical Goth kid lurking around campus, hating on everyone, thinks that ‘meet-cute’ never happens in real life. Then we have Ethan Price; blond hair, built with freaking muscles from God knows doing what, preppy, your typical charmer.

First thought, holy all pitch perfect this is Anna Kendrick right here. Have you not seen Pitch Perfect? Remove the Goth attire and that people, is Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect. Hair, height, boobs, like it's a given. 

That gif is pretty accurate I think. And Ethan, well Ethan is basically described as your average rich boy hero. In this book, we get to see a combination in new adult that is, quite rare. Sure we get the sullen, I-hate-everyone girl but they’re usually pretty, cute, tomboy at most but rarely Goth. The banter between Stephanie and Ethan is interesting and one of my favorite parts of the book.

I swear it's less creepy than this.

Stephanie's transformation, I wish I could see her, imagining just won’t do! I mean, from Goth to all glammed-up?

And the way they were so at ease with other, the attraction between them –it hurt at certain part of the story how they were so restricted by this unspoken rule.

It didn’t make a full 5 rating because of small details like wanting more scenes where they’re together. Yes, 3 is already enough (dinner, wedding, party) but I can’t think that their attraction is only switched on in those three events. And the rest of the time they just managed to be comfortable around one another? I don’t know, I guess I expected more Stephanie and Ethan scenes where they don't have to pretend to love each other and instead let nature takes its course. 

And then there was this part..

"I'll be in touch about the screenplay. I'm thinking we might have to reconsider the female lead. God knows we can't base her on you. We need someone with guts. Someone not afraid to bleed a little. So go back to being the statue, Stephanie. But don't expect me to be the one to bring you back to life next time. I'm done."

It was a struggle to finish because I was sobbing so hard (damn alternating POV) but I managed through. In the end, it was a refreshing read for me. I fully recommend this book to anyone who enjoys new adult, romance and lots of banter.