Review: STAY WITH ME (With Me #1) by Elyssa Patrick

Stay With Me (With Me #1)

By: Elyssa Patrick

Publish Date: August 30, 2013

Source: Digital galley provided by the author via Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

New Adult/Contemporary Romance - recommended for ages 17 and up.

With one look, I’m his . . .

With one touch, he’s mine . . .

With one kiss, it changes everything between us . . .

I’ve been famous since I can remember. Singing, acting, dancing—I’ve done it all. The tabloids cover my every move, but I don’t want that anymore. I want to be normal, whatever that is.

When I leave Hollywood for college in Vermont, I’m on my own for the first time in my life. This is my chance to figure out who I am and what I want in life.

But it’s a lot harder than I expected. I can’t escape my image. Classes are difficult, and I’m struggling. And then there’s Caleb Fox.

Sexy, intriguing Caleb Fox.

Caleb is the one man who doesn’t want to use me. He breaks down my walls. He challenges me. He wants me. And I just don’t know if I can give him the same—or if he’ll stick around when he finds out my shameful secret that the tabloids haven’t managed to uncover.

Dating him is risky enough, but loving him could break me.

Review

Oh how I love my NA romances! Stay with me was a great read that kept my attention and just made me want to swoon a little. Caleb Fox is one of the most amazing book boyfriends! And I loved that the book revolved around a female who was the celebrity trying for a normal life.

So many books are about the guy overcoming issues with fame and fortune, but in Stay With Me it’s Hailey who is trying to conquer the real world. She’s a great character with a strong determination yet some serious insecurities. She’s locked in the struggle to find out who she is and what she wants. She’s running from a past full of pressure, manipulation, and difficult choices. And there something she wants to keep hidden.

Caleb is the stable, normal, dedicated man who just wants to make Hailey happy. He’s an amazing guy, and his feelings for Hailey take her on a journey of self-discovery that will keep readers glued to the pages. I definitely recommend this coming-of-age romance that will touch your heart.

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ARC Review: WILD CARDS by Simone Elkeles

Wild Cards

By: Simone Elkeles

Published by:  Walker Children’s Books

Publication Date: October 1, 2013

Source: Digital ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

Synopsis

Love, life, and sports will never be the same. A steamy new series with a Friday Night Lights flavor, from best-selling author, Simone Elkeles.

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama. 

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain—people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Review:

I tend to fall hard for all of Simone’s books, and Wild Cards is no different. I love that she always takes on more difficult topics or issues. Gangs, hit and runs, and now emotional unavailability. Although, I guess you could apply that last one to most of her books.

Wild Cards had a little bit of a different feel than some of her previous books as well. The difficulty here is more with role reversal and feeling neglect and guilt. I absolutely loved Ashtyn. She’s fierce and determined and she goes after what she wants. The girl plays football! And she plays it well! You have to admire her determination and ability to tough it out even when things aren’t easy. And being a girl playing football isn’t easy.

Derek is an interesting character. His past has really shaped who he is or pretends to be. You can’t help but love him and his determination to not care, which only shows how much he really does care. He’s one of those damaged boys that really has a good heart but doesn’t want to show it.

This book really mixed things up and grabbed my attention. There’s some mature material that’s not really suitable for younger readers, but it’s not as heavy handed as a New Adult title. If you’ve enjoyed Simone’s Perfect Chemistry series I think you’ll totally fall for Wild Cards.

Pre-Order Wild Cards today!

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Target - Indie Bound

About the Author

SIMONE ELKELES is the author of Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction, Chain Reaction (all Quick Pick Top Tens) and Leaving Paradise, a Book Sense Pick. Simone was named Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. www.simoneelkeles.net

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EARLY REVIEW: Everything For Us by M. Leighton

The bad boys of M. Leighton's novels Down to You and Up to Me, are back. Marissa had everything a girl could ask for until a case of mistaken identity lands her right into the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met.

 Title: Everything For Us (Bad Boys #3)

Author: M. Leighton

Publication Date: September 3, 2013

Source: Penguin First To Read

When it comes to passion this hot, it’s all or nothing. 

Olivia Townsend’s wealthy cousin Marissa had everything a girl could ask for—a great job, a privileged life, and all the friends she wanted. Or, at least, all the friends money could buy. But one case of mistaken identity has turned her privileged world upside down.

An abduction gone wrong lands her right in the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met. To Marissa, he’s an enigma, but one to whom she’s irresistibly, inexplicably drawn.

With him comes a new world of freedom and passion, of dark shadows and dangerous secrets, a world where nothing is what it seems—except for the blind passion that Marissa can’t escape—or maybe even survive.

Review:

Everything For Us is by far my favorite Bad Boys novel of them all! I adore Cash and Olivia, but Marissa and Nash’s story exceed all my expectations. The story line of Down To You and Up To Me is carried on through Everything For Us, but this time we get Nash and Marissa’s POV.  The passion, risk, and danger are all higher than ever, and M. Leighton does an amazing job of bringing these two extremely complicated characters to life.

Nash has some serious issues to work through, and his tough exterior, rough edges, and refusal to let himself feel sucked me in to his pain and self-conflict. I felt as though I was right there beside him as he struggled through his feelings while fighting the fight of his life. I knew he was full of rage and dying for revenge, but getting to see all this through is eyes was just fascinating. To see just how deeply affected he was by everything that happened in the past was amazing. Another bonus, we get to see a very significant past event from his perspective; and let me tell you, it’s a game changer!

As for Marissa, I really did not like her in books 1 and 2. She’s a cold-hearted bitch! But she grew on me in Everything For Us, because the changes her character undergoes are pretty impressive. Getting things from her perspective was interesting to say the least. I literally felt the change in her even though this is the first time we get her perspective. I think the author did an amazing job making Marissa relatable and believable. There were plenty of times I wanted to curl up and cry with her. But she’s one tough cookie.

The one thing I absolutely can’t leave out of this review is the sex! I mean, Cash and Olivia were pretty intense, but Nash … OMG! *fans self* The passion in this book is intense and oh so hot! I kind of wanted Nash to rip open my bathroom door and … well… you’ll have to read the book to see where that goes. *blushes* Let’s say it’s all very… sexy. And not at all tame or boring. While Nash and Cash are twins, they certainly have their own styles… even in the bedroom, ahem, or bathroom. Nash is definitely a panty soaker and you’ll be dying to spend the entire day between the pages with him.

So, if you haven’t read Down To You and Up To Me yet, you better get on it! This whole series is a new favorite of mine, but Everything For Us is one you really don’t want to miss.

Haven't read Down To You or Up To Me? Click on the book covers below to read my review.

FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI by Cassie Mae - ARC Review

Friday Night Alibi

By: Cassie Mae

RELEASE DATE: 07/2013
PUBLISHER: RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING - FLIRT

Rising star Cassie Mae introduces New Adult readers to a practical soon-to-be college freshman who seems to have everything—until a special guy shows her what she’s been missing.

In the wealthy town of Sundale, Kelli Pinkins has hatched the perfect plan to capitalize on her sweet reputation. For a generous fee, she will be every trust-fund baby’s dream: a Friday-night alibi, the “girlfriend” or “BFF” that parents dream about. With college approaching in the fall, Kelli’s services are in demand more than ever, which means that her social life is nonexistent. But Kelli is A-okay with that. She’s raking in cash for school. Besides, relationships are tricky, and sometimes very messy. She’d rather be at home on Xbox LIVE, anyway. Then the unexpected happens: She meets college stud Chase Maroney.

Chase isn’t like the preppy, privileged guys Kelli usually meets in Sundale. For starters, he’s twentysomething, always wears black, and he shoots back one-liners as fast as she can dish them out. But Kelli’s attempts to drive Chase away falter when she realizes that he treats her like he reallyknows her, like he cares about knowing her. When Kelli finally gives in to the delicious kiss she’s been fighting for so long, she faces a tough decision: make Chase a real-life boyfriend and risk her heart . . . or keep her clients and lose her first true love.

Review:

This book made me laugh more than anything in a long, long time. It's full of hearty laughter, quick wit and sweet, subtle romance. I loved the banter between these two characters, and I was completely drawn in by them and their competition. Their crazy antics, one liners, and pranks had me physically laughing out loud and my husband a little concerned about my sanity. Once you read it you will completely understand though.

While this is a New Adult Romance, it is a pretty clean one. It’s not based on sex although there are some serious make out sessions. It brought me back to a simpler time in life, where relationships were more innocent but still complicated.

I really loved the angle of this book. Kelli is a hilarious character with some major insecurities, but her role as the alibi was an interesting aspect. The story was packed with humor and awkward situations balanced with swoon-worthy intensity and serious, thought provoking issues.

Once you pick this one up you won’t want to put it down until you reach the end. Between a chewing gum haircut and a body waxing, you’ll be clutching your gut and gasping for breath while falling for the mysterious boy in black and dying for more.

Kobo

Advance praise for Friday Night Alibi
 
“Totally entertaining with as many swoon-worthy moments as hilarious ones, Friday Night Alibi is a must-read.”—Jolene Perry, co-author of Out of Play

“A fun, funny, and fantastic story, this is one you will read in a day, and pick up to re-read again the next.”—Kelley Lynn, author of Fraction of Stone

“I loved this book. Chase had me right away, from his first smart-ass comment. He’s got a sharp wit that I adore but is also sweet and caring . . . definitely one of my favorite book boys!”—Rachel Schieffelbein, author of Secondary Characters
 
“Cassie Mae is a fabulous author who tugs on your heart strings as if she owns them. I will never be able to eat an orange again without thinking about Chase. Loved everything about this book!”—Jade Hart, author of Coffee and Cockpits
 
“Cassie Mae has a knack for developing characters who have you wanting to climb into the pages and become part of their world. Kelli is full of spunk and everything you want in a female lead. And Chase . . . well, he’s mine, ladies. Sorry, but I saw him first. Friday Night Alibi is fearlessly hilarious and will have you hanging on to every word until the very end. Then you’ll want to flip right back to the beginning and start all over. You definitely will want to put this at the top of your to-be-read pile.”—Theresa Paolo, author of (Never) Again

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THE ETERNITY CURE by Julie Kagawa ARC Review

The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2)

By Julie Kagawa

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: April 30, 2013Source: Digital ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

How do you face the end of eternity?  

In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood.  

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever-and possibly end human and vampire existence. 

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago-and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time. 

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make. 

*****

Review:

I absolutely LOVE Julie Kagawa! She takes a popular and well known genre, and weaves a new and inventive web of paranormal and dystopian awesomeness! The Blood of Eden series completely captivated me from the minute I started The Immortal Rules to the last sentence that left me craving more of Allie and her crazy world. Much like in her Iron Fey series, Julie has developed an amazingly strong and appealing female heroine who makes you proud. Allie is a character full of depth and passion and determination, and The Eternity Cure delves into these characteristics and explores the struggle between her humanity and the monster within.

This sequel took me places I didn’t expect, yet also left me hungry for more of the unexpected. With Julie, I never know what to expect next, but The Eternity Cure took that expectation to the next level. We get to know existing characters better, meet new characters, and even have some surprises that might, if you’re like me, make you want to snap the little mongrel’s neck! And then, of course, there’s a colossal cliff-hanger that left me thinking…. “No! I can’t wait another year to know what’s going to happen!” And left my husband concerned as I covertly, or so I thought, talked through all the things that could possibly happen in book 3 while in the shower. I’m still considering all this as I sit here writing this review too. I know Julie couldn’t possibly let me down. She never has before, and I expect book 3 to completely blow me away just like books 1 and 2.

So, as I patiently (yea right!) wait for book 3, I will consider what could possibly happen to Allie. Or actually, I will most likely try to distract myself and re-read The Immortal Rules and The Eternity Cure. If you like supernatural, paranormal and/or dystopians, you should definitely pick up the fresh and enticing twist of a series. You won’t be disappointed… in fact, you’ll just hunger for more!

*****

Read my review of The Immortal Rules, book 1 in the Blood of Eden series.

Pre-Order The Eternity Cure

Buy The Immortal Rules

LINKS

Harlequin's Website

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Blood Of Eden series website

Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden optioned for movie