Review: Since Drew by J Nathan

Since Drew

Author: J. Nathan

Series: -

Pages: 236

Publisher/Source: Netgalley

Release date: 23^rd April 2015

Amazon

Synopsis: Goodreads

All Andi Parker has ever wanted, all she’s ever dreamed of, is a spot on the Olympic track team. But when an accident leaves her hospitalized with serious injuries and shattered dreams, she’s not only uncertain what her future holds but also completely alone.

Drew Slater is a wanted man. Professional football teams want him for his arm. Women want him for his good looks and magnetic personality. But the well-crafted disguise he wears, the one that helps him score on and off the field, hides secrets. Conceals lies. Threatens the happiness of everyone around him.

One chance encounter brings Andi and Drew together, changing their worlds in ways they never thought possible. Unfortunately, what they thought they knew about themselves—and about each other—might just be the biggest lie of all. 

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

How smexy is that cover! I was intrigued by this book when I glimpsed it on Netgalley and read the exciting synopsis, it was a book I devoured in the one sitting, thank goodness for quiet weekends!

Storyline – The story follows Andi’s recovery and her growing relationship with football player Drew. Andi’s dream has only ever been to participate in the Olympics in the 800 metre track event but her plans are put on hold when she is hit by a car and ends up in hospital with a disappointing prognosis and a lengthy recovery. It is in hospital where she meets Drew Slater who has been drafted to play football, but he is having doubts about his future.

I was hooked at the beginning of the book and loved how it was all coming together and then we are hit with a huge (mouth gaping) twist that I honestly didn’t expect and the whole book for me took a turn, not in a bad way but it was very different to what I was expecting – the first part was light and fun and the second part was darker and more dramatic – it’s hard to explain what happened without giving anything away.

Characters – Andi was wonderful and strong; she wasn’t a woe as me character despite her predicament which I really appreciated; she moved forward never quite dwelling on what she was missing out on. I loved Drew at the beginning of the book – he was so confident and cheeky but in the middle he was a bit of an ass and put me off, he did redeem himself thankfully! I loved the witty banter between Andi and Drew but you could tell from the onset that something wasn’t quite right and there was something that Drew was hiding, this guy was enigmatic and mysterious.

Writing - Since Drew was a page-turner, I was glued to the pages wanting to know what was going on the banter was great! it was written well and the twist the author threw us, despite being a surprise ending up working out well. I was also baffled by something that occurred whilst they were both in hospital and I don’t feel it was explained as well as it could have been (I won’t expand to avoid spoilers) but I felt there were some loose ends, especially when it came to the first part of the book an also Drew, I feel there was a lot we didn’t know about him – especially his unusual relationship with his parents.

Overall – Since Drew was an entertaining book, I couldn’t put it down and there were many emotions involved as I was reading it, one moment I was laughing at the banter and the humour and the next I was mad! It all came together in the end and I enjoyed the outcome.

Thank you to J Nathan via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Since Drew.

About the author: I'm a total romance junkie! Add an alpha male who's unlikable in the beginning...even better. Happy endings are a must. Don’t leave me with an unexpected cliffhanger or someone dying in the end. I’ll be depressed for days. Love triangles and negative people are the bane of my existence. My family, friends, sangria, and watermelon margaritas are the light… 

I love hearing from readers, so feel free to get in touch with me at:
https://www.facebook.com/jnathanauthor 
http://www.jnathan.net

Review: Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2) by Chris Cannon

Bridges Burned

Author: Chris Cannon

Series: Going Down in Flames

Pages: 400

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Release date: 19^th January 2015

Amazon 

Synopsis: (Goodreads)

Don't just fight the system…burn it.

Since discovering she is a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon on her sixteenth birthday (surprise!), Bryn McKenna’s world has been thrown into chaos. Being a “crossbreed”—part Red dragon and part Blue—means Bryn will never fit in. Not with dragon society. Not with the archaic and controlling Directorate. And definitely not when she has striped hair and a not-so-popular affection for rule-breaking…

But sneaking around with her secret boyfriend, Zavien, gets a whole lot harder when he’s betrothed to someone else. Someone who isn't a mixed breed and totally forbidden. And for an added complication, it turns out Bryn’s former archnemesis Jaxon Westgate isn’t quite the evil asshat she thought. Now she’s caught between her desire to fit in and a need to set things on fire. Literally. 
 
Because if Bryn can’t adapt to the status quo…well, then maybe it’s time for her to change it.

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

I had no idea Bridges Burned was the second book in the Going Down in Flames series by Chris Cannon. In the initial stages I felt quite lost, I had no idea about what had happened and I admit I nearly gave up but by the half way mark I couldn’t put the book down.

Sixteen year-old Bryn McKenna is a crossbreed shape-shifting dragon, half red – fire breathing and half blue – water, she also has some other handy abilities that has the purebreds looking down their noses at her. Bryn was a great character, feisty, strong and witty, I loved her snark and the way she protected others, even those that didn’t deserve it.

I enjoyed learning about the different castes and types of modern dragons, their uniqueness and abilities was written well and creative, being a dragon certainly had its advantages and I liked the way their shift was explained.

We have a strange romance and I’m not sure how it came about in the first book but it didn’t make sense in this book to me, I found the relationship between Bryn and Zavien to be extremely frustrating, it was full of angst, misguided feelings and it seemed to be Bryn looking like the fool pining over him constantly, it was an aspect I didn’t enjoy at all. I did love the relationship she came to have with Valmont, her Knight and I am really hoping this will be explored further; forbidden love is always appealing for me.

There are a few side characters that were wonderful. Clint and Ivy, Bryn’s best friends were great support to her and balanced Bryn’s character nicely. Jaxon grew on me as the book progressed, I felt terribly sorry for Rhiannon and grandma, despite her coldness initially was amazing by the end of the book.

Chris Cannon has created a world that is intriguing and complex, the political aspect was entertaining and I am eager to see what will happen with the arranged marriage laws; the controlling Directorate and their archaic rules was an aspect I quite enjoyed and with Bryn not conforming to the status quo I’m curious to see if changes will be made to the system considering her grandfather is the head honcho. The plot was entertaining and fast-paced as we see different dragon clans for one reason or another attacking and causing havoc but with no clear motive for their behaviour.

This book was a fun, easy read; the overall concept is a little generic and cliché but overall it was an entertaining light read.

Thank you to Entangled Teen via Netgalleyfor the opportunity to read and review Bridges Burned.

 

About the author: 

Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures. Going Down In Flames is the first book in Chris Cannon's shape-shifting dragon series. 

ARC Review: Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry

Crash Into You

Author: Katie McGarry

Series: Pushing the Limits

Pages: 464

Genre: New Adult

Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia

Australian Release date: 1^st December 2013

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Review: 4 ½  out of 5 stars

I have adored Isaiah since he first graced the pages in Pushing the Limits so I was more than excited when I received a copy for review from Harlequin Teen Australia.

Seventeen year-old Isaiah Walker has had a tough childhood, living in the foster system since the age of six when his mother was sent to jail, he has always had to fend for and look out for himself which has hardened him as a person. He has dreams of working with cars and wants something for himself but never sees himself as worthy; he looks badass with his tattoos and piercings but has a heart of gold and protects those closest to him.

Isaiah is such a complex, intriguing, smexy character; my heart ached for him in Dare You To and his past has always made me curious to learn more about him, he cares deeply for those in his inner circle and I was glad we get to read alternate chapters from his POV to see his thoughts, reactions and why he is the way he is.

Our heroine is naïve, innocent car loving Rachel Young who tries to live up to her families harsh expectations; when Rachel gets herself into a bit of trouble by getting involved in drag racing it is Isaiah who becomes her saviour. I liked Rachel from the onset, she wasn’t weak as it was presumed by those around her but resilient and determined, I really felt for what she was going through with her family and could relate to her fears and the hopes she personally had for herself, living in her deceased sisters shadows has caused her a lot of pain so I could sympathise with her predicament.

This couple were chalk and cheese and couldn’t be more different but they complimented each other well with their mutual love of cars and the way they looked out for one another. Their relationship wasn’t without drama and misunderstandings but they worked well together. I have always from book one wanted to see a Beth/Isaiah hook-up but after reading this book there is no way I could now see them together. My only minor gripe is it would have been nice to see a few more smexy moments, what we get is sweet and written well but I wanted more {greedy much – but it is Isaiah here ; ) }.

I adored the secondary characters; despite Rachel’s brothers driving me bonkers so many times I appreciated the way they looked out for her even if it was at times for their own personal gain, Ethan has me intrigued and I can’t wait to learn more about West in the next installment. I absolutely loved Abby! I adored her friendship with both Isaiah and Rachel and I’m so eager to learn more about her. Eric I didn’t feel was worthy of the fear he placed in everyone and it was nice to see Echo and Noah play a role and also a few appearances from Beth.

You can’t fault Katie McGarry’s effortless, engaging writing which captured my attention and held it from the very first page with the amazing characters and gripping storyline. Katie certainly knew her cars and details of drag racing which made the little tidbits all that more exciting.

Overall, a fast-paced, romantic, emotionally intense read that kept me riveted and wanting more. Katie McGarry is a fabulous writer who continually creates characters who are true to life and stories that touch your heart and make you yearn for more.

I’m definitely eager to read West’s story in Take You On which has an anticipated May 2014 release date.

Thank-you kindly to Harlequin Teen Australia for the opportunity to read and review Crash Into You.

About the author: KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

Review: Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope

Author: Colleen Hoover

Series: Hopeless

Pages: 336

Publisher: Atria Books

Genre: New Adult

Amazon – TBD

Release date: 8^th July 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

This review contains possible spoilers from the first book, Hopeless.

I went into Losing Hope thinking I would be reading Hopeless but from Dean Holders POV and although we get tidbits of the first book, this was completely different. The revelations we learnt in the first book were further developed and we get to experience Holders guilt and devastation first hand with not only the grief he experienced as a child at losing his close friend Hope but also as an adult with the death of his sister Les.

I thought the first book was emotionally draining but oh boy does Losing Hope kick it up a notch; the story starts off with a real tear jerker and in the journal notes Holder writes to Les we get a look at how his losses have affected him and made him the person he now is. I thought this aspect was done extremely well, it showed us his pain, anger, his hopes and the progression he was slowly making to heal and to live again.

The romance still leaves me gushing; Holder and Sky didn’t start off well but their attraction, the chemistry and their connection is undeniable and their little snarks and the banter between them shows how well they work as a couple. They have the best first non-kiss ever (you’ll have to read this series to know what I mean) so I was pleased to revisit a few special moments in this book. Holder and Sky are both far from perfect but they are perfect for each other.

Despite enjoying the romantic aspect, the story is heart breaking and filled with some gut wrenching revelations as well as a difficult subject matter and despite knowing what to expect from reading the first book I was still saddened to know the pain these characters had to endure.

The secondary characters are fabulous! Breckin is a classic and a true best friend to Sky and we also get to meet Daniel, Holders closest friend who had me giggling on numerous occasions. I also really admire Sky’s mother Karen for what she has had to endure and the sacrifices she has made.

Colleen Hoovers story-telling is truly superb; the book starts a year prior to Holder meeting Sky, his journal notes were a wonderful addition to the story and gave us great insight into his thoughts and actions. The writing is brilliant and engaging and these characters have come to hold a dear place in my heart. Each piece of the plot were weaved together effortlessly, from the very first moment Sky and Holder discovered their pasts to the very ending where they saw the hope, it all blended to create a believable, passionate and poignant story.

Overall, Losing Hope with its smexy cover, amazing characterisations and beautiful, engrossing writing is a must read, it is an emotional roller-coaster that shows that there can be love and happiness after heartache.

Thank-you to Atria Books/Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Losing Hope.

About the author: (From Goodreads) I love music. LOVE music. Namely The Avett Brothers, Lumineers, Pink, Eminem. I have eclectic taste? If you have any recommendations, send them my way!

I'm addicted to diet pepsi and could tell you in a taste-test which restaurant it came from. It's a serious addiction, I tell you. 

I get stoked whenever I get a message from goodreads saying I have a new friend request...so request me, dangit! 

If you want to know when I have new books out or just want to be inundated by random, pointless blog posts, follow me at www.colleenhoover.com 

Twitter – Facebook - Website

Books by Colleen Hoover

 

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REVIEW: Cry Wolf by Angela Campbell

Author: Angela Campbell

Pages: eBook

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Carina Press

Amazon: Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Andrea Lockhart's job as a reporter for cheesy tabloid The Naked Truth isn't exactly where she thought her journalism career would end up. She's determined to make the best of it, but when her editor sends her to Woodbine, South Carolina, to investigate a werewolf sighting, Andrea decides the ridiculous assignment will be her last. Until she meets Sean Hunter.

The last time she saw Sean, he had just beat her out for the position of editor of their college newspaper, and told her she'd never make it as a reporter. Given his grand ambitions, she's shocked to find him editing the Woodbine Weekly. Once they start competing for leads on the werewolf, Andrea becomes determined to break the story first—she can't let Sean beat her again.

As they each get closer to finding the source of the rumors, the only thing more surprising than the truth are the feelings Sean is able to stir in her, feelings she thought she had left behind...

REVIEW: 3 out of 5 stars

Cry Wolf was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press.

Andrea Lockhart is a reporter for a NY based tabloid, The Naked Truth and has been sent to Woodbine, South Carolina, to research a possible werewolf sighting. Andrea believes the notion to be ridiculous but is determined to make the most of it. Her investigation doesn’t start off too well when she is literally caught upside down and is rescued by none other than her College crush and nemesis Sean Hunter.

Sean is working as the editor for Woodbine Weekly and remembers a very different Andrea from back in College, they parted on bad terms and he has always regretted his actions and the way he treated her but felt at the time he was doing the right thing.

Andrea and Sean’s personal lives have been shaped based on circumstances beyond both their control, they have both changed immensely since their college days and working together to find the truth behind the werewolf rumors also bought for Andrea a sense of closure from the past and forged a new relationship with Sean as a possible future. I enjoyed seeing their relationship progress as the investigation did.

I enjoyed the mystery of not knowing whether there was an actual werewolf or not or whether Andrea was being taken for a fool; the suspense certainly had me intrigued and I really liked the small town setting of Woodbine; the location seemed idyllic and tranquil.

I enjoyed Ms Campbell’s writing style, the characters were each likeable, the pacing for me was initially slow but it picked up and left me anticipating more.

Cry Wolf was a nice, sweet and contemporary romance and I hope to read more books by Angela Campbell.

Obtained: Netgalley