Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 200
August 4, 2013
Book Review: Falling Into Us
Falling Into Us by Jasinda Wilder: THE STORY YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW...
When Kyle Calloway died, he took a part of Nell with him. She wasn't the only one left to pick up the pieces, however; Kyle's death left a gaping hole in the hearts and lives of his parents and his older brother Colton, and ultimately broke the will of the girl he loved.
THE STORY YOU NEVER IMAGINED...
Becca de Rosa is Nell's best friend. When Kyle died, Nell was so devastated that no one could reach her, not even her best friend Becca. As she tries to help Nell through her grief, Becca's own life is thrust into turmoil, and everything she knows is changed.
Jason Dorsey asked Nell out the week after her sixteenth birthday, but that date never happened. Instead, he ended up going out with Nell's best friend, Becca. He had no way of knowing, then, how that one date would send him on a life-long journey with Becca. He had no way of knowing the tragedies and triumphs he would experience, or that in Becca, he might find the love of a lifetime.
THE HEARTACHE YOU'LL NEVER FORGET...
File Size: 548 KB
Print Length: 515 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0989104427
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Jasinda Wilder (June 19, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00DIJMJKO
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Enabled
Whairigail's thoughts: *4.5 Sweet, Sensual, Innocent, Hearts*
“That's what courage is you know: being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway.”
I was VERY nervous of this follow up, Falling Into You was SO INCREDIBLE, STUNNING and OUT OF THIS WORLD, which made me think "Hmmm, should a sequel be released? Will it ruin the brilliance of Falling into You?".
I was wrong to be nervous - Jasinda Wilder has done it again with another stunning novel.
I'm going to get my reduction of 0.5* our of the way so I can rant about how good it was for the rest of this review. The first 40% to me was VERY slow. It didnt grip me and I was getting peeved about the immaturity of the two main characters Becca & Jason. There, I've said it, made a criticism of the wonderful Jasinda *BLUSH, RUN and HIDE*
Anyway, with that out of the way - on to the great bits of the book!
Although these books are interlinked, Jasinda did a wonderful job of making it an entirley new story. There were a few scenes that tied together but gave a totally different view of them. They didn't fall over the top of each other but tied together like a perfect pair of laces on a perfect pair of trainers. Jason was so sweet, in the beginning, he was really immature but as he grew up he turned into a sexual, strong, manly, gorgeous individual with the biggest heart ever - he is up there with the Travis Maddox's, Will Cooper's & Colton Calloway's of the Book Boyfriend World! Que all the ladies swooning...
I loved Becca. She was such a strong person - although she loved having someone to lean on, she was determined to make it in this world without the help of her parents. Respect to ya Lil' Lady!
Ben, Becca's Brother, is Hilarious. Like rolling on the floor funny. He is a total stoner but loves his sister :)
All in all, I loved this book. I was going to give 5 Stars but when I compared it to Falling Into You, it just wasn't as addictive but a great book none the less.
Book Review: Faster We Burn
Faster We Burn by Chelsea Cameron: **This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance and is suitable for ages 17 and up, due to language and scenes of sensuality**
Katie Hallman is done with douchebags. Done with guys who treat her like crap and leave her broken. But then Stryker Grant is there anyway. With his numerous piercings and bleached hair, he’s the polar opposite of all of her past relationships, which makes him the perfect candidate.
At first, Katie just sees him as a physical escape from her previous rocky relationship, and Stryker doesn’t seem to mind just being a distraction from Katie’s problems. But soon he’s getting under her skin, peeling back layers she’d rather keep covered. She tries to make it clear that she doesn’t want a relationship, but keeps breaking her own rules.
Then a tragedy sends Katie into the only arms that are there to catch her, and she’ll realize that she needs him more than she ever thought possible. But is she ready to let herself trust another guy with her already-battered heart? Or will she push him away to protect herself from getting hurt again?
File Size: 512 KB
Print Length: 452 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1482563452
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00CFNF1CC
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Enabled
TeriLyn's thoughts: Love, love, LOVED Faster We Burn. Stryker and Katie were perfect for each other from the first time he called her an idiot. He was damaged goods but so compassionate, intense, and real. Katie was a great heroine; so strong even though she didn't know it. Thankfully Stryker would always remind her. I love books where two people who think they don't deserve each other work through that relationship. Their banter and playful times were awesome. They were just what each other needed. Stryker helped Katie realize her full potential and become the woman she was destined to become. I can’t imagine what she would have done without him. The situations the two of them faced were so real and really test everyone's strength and love. The secondary characters were once again great in this book. I enjoyed reading from Katie and Stryker's perspective's more so than Lottie and Zan, although I was glad to hear about Lottie and Zan from the different POV. Trish, Will, Simon, and Audrey too. The introduction of the Band and how music assimilates into Katie's life so seamlessly is fun to read as well. I'm so happy I received a copy of this book. I can't wait to read it again!
Book Review: Falling Into Infinity
Falling Into Infinity by Layne Harper: Pre-med student Caroline “Charlie” Collins, a sophomore at Texas A&M, knows exactly what she wants in life and the order that it will happen: finish college, complete medical school, and then fall in love. A chance meeting with A&M’s star quarterback Colin McKinney changes everything. A friendship between the two grows over time and blossoms into a powerful love affair. Charlie and Colin must learn to cope with his transition to playing professional football, the crushing attention of the media, and constant demands of his fans. At the same time, she’s struggling with how her dream of attending medical school will fit into their already stressed relationship and Colin’s new life. Falling Into Infinity asks the question is just loving someone enough to make a relationship work?
File Size: 536 KB
Print Length: 218 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00DAJLNN6
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Enabled
TeriLyn's thoughts: This was an interesting read for me. At first I couldn't believe what Charlie was doing but after sleeping on it, I get it. There were many parts that I liked about the book.
Charlie was young and had plans and felt suffocated. She was consumed with Colin and had demons that needed to be conquered. Her decisions came from a very mature place for a 21 year old girl who had hot,rich, superstar boyfriend.
Speaking of said boyfriend, Colin was awesome. I loved the way he treated her, how he only had eyes for her; he was all-American personified. His addiction to her seemed unhealthy to me and somewhat unnatural but only because I've never seen a man that wrapped up in a woman. I guess if I were the object of his affection I'd probably feel differently.
One issue for me was the time between the past and the present being one of them. The writing and how they spoke of the time frame made it seem that Charlie graduated from Harvard Med in two years that seems short to me? I also thought the amount of time that had passed was a lot. I got confused.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It felt very real to me and Charlie's honesty made it that way. I did not like the epilogue, just a warning. But I do very much look forward to book two.
Book Review: Losing Hope
Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover: #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover held readers spellbound with her novel Hopeless, the story of what happened when a troubled girl named Sky encountered a long-lost childhood friend, Dean Holder. With Holder’s help, Sky uncovered shocking family secrets and came to terms with memories and emotions that had left deep scars.
Hopeless was Sky’s story. Now, in Losing Hope, we finally learn the truth about Dean Holder.
Haunted by the little girl he couldn't save from imminent danger, Holder’s life has been overshadowed by feelings of guilt and remorse. He has never stopped searching for her, believing that finding her would bring him the peace he needs to move on. However, Holder could not have anticipated that he would be faced with even greater pain the moment they reconnect.
In Losing Hope, Holder reveals the way in which the events of Sky’s youth affected him and his family, leading him to seek his own redemption in the act of saving her. But it is only in loving Sky that he can finally begin to heal himself.
File Size: 726 KB
Print Length: 336 pages
Publisher: Atria Books; Original edition (July 8, 2013)
Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
Language: English
ASIN: B00BOVFKOK
Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
My thoughts: Also known as...
*5 Incredible, I-Live-You, Hearts*
Losing Hope is Hopeless from Dean Holder's point of view and that made me very very nervous.
BUT
I should have known to trust Colleen Hoover because she did not dissappoint! This felt like an entirely new story with references to Hopeless rather than a re-hash of a story. I absolutely LIVE this book!
I'm going to, where possible, keep this review about Losing Hope and limit my references to Hopeless but this may be impossible!
Dean Holder blames himself for his Sister Lesslie's suicide. He also hates her for putting him through the aftermath of suicide, none of which we really find out about in Hopeless.
Dean Holder blames himself for Hope being taken from under his nose when she was a young girl. He watched her cry on the pavement, he watched her hurt and he watched her get into a car with a stranger, never to be seen again.
Dean Holder blames himself for not protecting Lesslie and Hope, for allowing them to hurt and doing nothing to take it away.
Dean Holder thinks he is completely Hopeless.
“But I've learned over the past year what it really means to be able to miss someone. In order to miss someone, that means you were privileged enough to have them in your life to begin with.”
I don't know if I felt more emotionally involved in this story as I always find it difficult to listen to/watch a man hurt emotionally or if it really was just more emotional. Whatever it was - I hurt, I ached, I cried and I broke my heart over and over again.
This is the first book in a long time that has touched me so much that I've been reduced to tears. I'm talking BIG, FAT, UGLY tears and body wracking sobs. I'm sure my mum thinks there is something mentally wrong with me after witnessing me reading the last 10% of this book.
BLUB FEST
There are several hilarious moments in this novel - laugh out loud funnies:
“I call her Val because it's short for Valium and I always tell her she needs to take that shit by the bucketful. I wasn't lying when I said she was fucking crazy"
There is no question about recommending this - it is a MUST READ. Prepare to be emotionally spent - Over and Over.
You will never be the same again but it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it!
Blog Tour & Giveaway: These Things About Us
These Things About Us by Laura Beege: Antonia is leaving the last shards of her life in Tucson behind to find her mother and start over. Turns out that's easier said than done. London is a pretty big city, a hundred bucks don't get you far and you can't just make your past disappear. When sweet and caring uni student Wesley gets her a job and a room in his father's pub, Tony is unprepared for his older brother Trace who despises her at first sight. She's
unprepared for someone whose secrets might be darker than her own. Following a path of breadcrumbs and tangling up in Trace's past, Tony slips back into a world she thought she'd escaped the day her father went to prison.
File Size: 292 KB
Print Length: 176 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00EB8V7OA
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Not Enabled
Lending: Enabled
Amazon UK
Laura likes to call herself an international girl. She grew up in an Asian/European family in Germany, spent some time as an exchange student in France, moved to England after graduation and eventually landed back in Germany, where she’s currently working on her degree in Theater & Film. No matter where she will be next year (Manhattan?) or the years after that (Italy?), she intends to keep on writing. She loves hearing from readers!
Twitter | Goodreads | Blog
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August 3, 2013
Book Review: Bittersweet Junction
Bittersweet Junction by Ivy Sinclair: Best friends once, lovers never, yet an attraction that can’t be ignored.
Five years ago, Julia Bell walked away from her life the moment her high school diploma was in her hand. She left her family and friends behind to start over and escape the chokehold of small town life in Benton Hill. But an urgent call from her little sister brings Julia back to her hometown wholly unprepared for what awaits her.
Ben Miller was always the nice guy. Just before high school graduation, he stepped out of that role hoping to capture the heart of the woman he loved. Instead, in quick succession he lost the girl, and the future he worked so hard to achieve.
Even though Julia and Ben are drawn to each other, echoes of the past block them at every turn. Secrets are exposed, and reality needs to be dealt with if they can ever hope to move past the bittersweet junction that ripped them apart.
File Size: 381 KB
Print Length: 326 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1490996524
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Leeds Lake Publishing (July 10, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00DV8UAOY
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Not Enabled
Lending: Enabled
My thoughts: Tricked into returning home after a five year hiatus, Julia learns that her baby sister is not only having a baby, but that little sis is marrying Julia’s ex, who happens to be the baby daddy. Phew! A lot happens in the opening of this book, and emotions definitely run high!
Centered in a small town, I was able to relate to the “everyone knows your business” attitude. This is not your ordinary love triangle…in fact, it’s not a love triangle at all. The emotional dynamic of the relationships creates tension throughout the book, and I found myself pulling for the renewal and revival of relationships not only between Julia and her love, but also between her sister, and the friendships she had let slip through her fingers.
This book deals with so much more than just the budding love affair, but involves many different facets of love, and how relationships with friends and family are all intertwined, and decisions made regarding on path, affect all the others.
Book Review: A Moment
A Moment by Marie Hall: A chance meeting...
Life didn't turn out the way I'd ever hoped it would. I got pregnant at 14. Same year my mom got diagnosed with MS. Dad bailed on us and my life felt like it suddenly started to spiral out of control. I'm 21 now, I go to college, I work hard, trying to make something of myself. I wasn't supposed to be at that burlesque bar Valentine's Day. I wasn't supposed to meet Ryan Cosgrove, but I did. And now nothing will ever be the same.
Love born from pain...
I'm a retired Marine, an MMA fighter, and when I was younger something terrible happened to me. Life is hard and I'm so tired of pretending its not. I'm in a burlesque bar, drowning my sorrows, trying to shut out the demons breathing down my neck always reminding me I'm not good enough. Then I see Liliana Delgado and something inside of me- something I'd thought long dead- stirs to life. I wonder... can she save me? I hope she can, because I don't think I can save myself.
This is our moment...
File Size: 463 KB
Print Length: 371 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Marie Hall Publishing; 2 edition (March 12, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00BTN2DSY
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Enabled
Whairigail's thoughts: * * * 5 Beautiful, Heart-wrenching, Sexy Hearts * * *
“Moment: The dictionary defines a moment as a minute portion or point of time. But for me, it’s more. I see a moment the way a scientist does… the product of quantity (as a force) and the distance to a particular axis or point. A moment is that indefinable period in your life that only makes sense when you look back and you realize you made the right choice. I didn’t know it then, but I made the right choice and I’d do it all over again.
This is my moment…
Liliana Delgado”
Now THAT is how to write a love story!
I got this book as part of the New Adult Book club on Goodreads, and was given 3 weeks to read and review. Now, I'd just finished another 5 heart book and was looking for something slightly lighter, slightly less intense and slightly more cheerful so I thought 'yeah I'll give this a go'.
How WRONG was I?!?
This book captivated me from the first page, I actually could not put it down. I was sitting at work thinking...3 hours until I can read another chapter or 2!
I finished the final chapter this morning before work and the whole 40 minute drive in, all I could think was WOW, Marie Hall can write! The story is still playing over and over in my head and I don't think it'll stop anytime soon.
This review may be a little patchy as it is very difficult to discuss this story without spoilers appearing.
Ryan is a broken man, shattered and barley existing when he meets Lili - he was in the navy and, since his departure, became a professional fighter. He likes the hurt of fighting, he likes physical hurt in general as it numbs the mental and emotional pain.
“The water hurts. Hurts so bad, it’s so damn hot, and I know I shouldn’t be sitting here like this. I’ll burn. But it’s not taking the dirty off.”
“Squeezing my eyes shut, a terrible sound draws from my mouth. One I’d never heard before. I can’t do this anymore. Can’t pretend. Can’t keep lying that it isn’t hurting, isn’t killing me a little every day.”
Lili meets Ryan through his cousin Alex who works at a local coffee shop that she frequents. On first impressions, she thinks he is a stunning, sexy, pain in the a$$!! But she feels some sort of magic attraction to him.
“There are moments in life when a sixth sense spurs you on to consider something you wouldn’t otherwise”
"Intense. Crazy. Passion"
“Eventually I stop thinking altogether.”
I can't really say much more without giving away anything and spoiling it for all you potential readers!
All I'll say is, this book is outstanding and focuses on subjects, which to some, may be a bit taboo and difficult, but Marie writes so beautifully that this book is an absolute pleasure to read and I would recommend it to anyone.
Book Review: Beautiful Broken Rules
Beautiful Broken Rules by Kimberly Lauren: What happens when you create rules to keep others out?
One thing Emerson Moore has come to terms with is that she is the school slut. She knows her way around a frat house and how to get what she wants. She doesn't make any excuses for her actions and she doesn't pretend to be anything different. She is who she is and with that she knows how to have a good time. She’s made rules to keep relationships at bay and avoid the demons of her past.
When her best friend, Cole has his two friends from back home move in with him she begins to think she has met her match with Jaxon Riley. Jax is the perfect mixture of tattooed muscle and a sweet-talking mouth. With “hand” written notes, a voice that exudes sex and knowing just how to get under her skin, Jaxon learns how to break all the rules. But will he just end up breaking her heart anyway?
New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance - recommended for ages 18 and up.
File Size: 459 KB
Print Length: 375 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 149031802X
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00CS5LLEE
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Enabled
TeriLyn's thoughts: Absolutely LOVED this book. Instantly became one of my favorites. Jaxon and Emerson are really, really great. It was beautifully complicated, real, funny, witty, and passionate. Jaxon and Emerson bring out the best in each other without even realizing it. A story where two people who aren't even looking find each other and work through their brokenness together is always compelling to me. Emerson has built up her walls and created her rules in order to not get her heart broke. She is spunky, full of life, and could care less what other people think about her. She lives her life the way she wants to live it. And Jaxon, to an extent, has built walls up to. He is looking for a redo from the mistakes that he has made. Sparks fly when they first see each other though, they both feel it. Their first meeting is pretty hysterical because to any other person than Emerson it would have been humiliating.
As you'll learn from my reviews, I love a relationship that's built from a solid friendship and that's what Jaxon and Emerson create. They both know they are extremely attracted to each other and completely compatible but they keep each other at arm's length and become great friends. They laugh, they banter, and they love their friends. The group of friends is equally as great. Cole, Quinn, and Emerson fiercely love each other. And both Jaxon and Jase feel the same way once they are assimilated into the group. This was a brilliant debut from Kimberly Lauren; I totally devoured it. It was easy to read and easy to root for her characters. I'll be reading this again and look forward to more great things from her!
Book Review: Castles on the Sand
Castles on the Sand by EM Tippetts: If there’s one thing Madison Lukas understands, it’s pain. The pain she feels when her mother ignores her completely. The pain her best friend endures as her parents starve her as punishment. The pain of a dangerous boy whose mother has to be carried away by law enforcement on a regular basis.
She gets it. She feels the pain of others as if it were her own.
But when a mysterious man claiming to be her long lost brother appears with promises of relieving her suffering, trusting him could reveal more truths than Madison is ready for. Because the truth can hurt, too.
File Size: 641 KB
Print Length: 264 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B008ZGNMDS
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Enabled
Whairigail's thoughts: **3.5 Caring, Intense Stars**
*I was given this book by the Author in exchange for an honest review*
This book covers Madison, a quiet late-teens teenager who goes to School, goes to Work in a Library and hangs with her best friend Kailie. That is her life - normal, quiet, simple.
Enter John.
Her Brother.
Her Brother, the one she didn't know existed.
Her Brother, the Mormon.
This throws Madison's life into a bit of disarray. No, it turns it upside down.
Madison is very grown up for her years, she raises herself as her mother is a wreck of a woman. Ignorant, hurtful, indignant, self-absorbed and just plain mean.
Kailie, Madison's best friend, has a horrible home life. Her family is torn apart due to her Fathers need to control everything.
In the mix of everything is Alex - Military Jacket Wearing, Sexy Looking, trouble-making delinquent who's mother is the local Loony.
This book covers some difficult topics - Child Abuse, Religion, Mental Health Issues and the age old issue of Growing Up. Emily covers these beautifully.
This book made me:
Laugh
Scream
Giggle
Tear Up
Hopeful
I very much enjoyed this book - my only criticism is the angst and immaturity of Kailie and the irritation of Madison's mothers actions. I got to the "ARRRRRRGH I have to put this book down or I'm going to throw my Kindle away" moment. I do, however, understand why this was needed to make the story believable.
