A Whole New Crowd

A Whole New Crowd #1

by Tijan

Taryn grew up in a different world. Her boyfriend was a criminal. His older brother was part of a gang. They weren’t great people, but they were her family. Then everything changes when she’s adopted by a family in the neighboring town. New family. New friends. A new world. She’s elated. This is her chance for a new beginning, but secrets start being revealed and Taryn learns her new life has some ties to her old one, ties that she’s not happy about. Her new family might not have been the lucky break she thought she had. Now she's not only fighting to live that new future, but she's fighting to survive as well. ** This is a standalone.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, High School, Young Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Crime

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2014

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does she do it? Seriously? How? I think this is the 4th book that I've read by Tijan, and I swear to FREAKING God that I am falling in love with that woman... okay that sounded a little creepy. Let me try again: I am in love with her books. No word of a lie.

When I first started reading this, I had no idea how addictive it was. For those who haven't read this yet and plan to, take my advise and make sure that you don't have anything important that needs to be done (like, I don't know... sleeping or eating or going to work), because I guarantee, it will be ignored until you read the words THE END.

I want to go on and on about how great this is, but I've got a date with Jaded and I don't want to be late!

[It's just me Shelly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I read another Tijan book. The question IS was it good?

Dammit I just don't KNOW!!! This is where rating books gets tricky because I SUCKED THIS BOOK DOWN in a day!!!! Devoured IT!!! The reason for this is because I get drawn in to fast paced books. The more dialogue and lack of inner monologues draws me in........and I'm HOOKED like a damn fish....you might as well put me on the grill!!!!


This is a Tijan book so was there DRAMA?

YES, YES AND YES....AND MORE YESSESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!


Was there CRAZY OVER THE TOP shit happening?

YES, YES AND A MILLION YESESSSSSSSS AFTER THAT!!!!!



Was there high school DRAMA and talk of social eliteness?

YES...but just SHOOT ME NOW because for some reason it doesn't bother me in her books!!!! The sad thing is I'm grown, I should not like it BUT I love her books!!!!


Is this book ridiculous?

YES!!!!!! But good LAWD I couldn't STOP reading it!!! Her books do this to me.....even though I know it's drama to the n'th degree.......I can't stop I have to finish that shit OUT!!!! This chicks books are like a drug to me for some reason!!!


Usually we get a little triangle with her books....which let me tell you now I LOVE triangle books....so did we get that here?

Well on that front I will have to say...WEAK! I was waiting for it too...and then nothing:(



So bottom line...am I happy I read this book?

HELL YEAH!!!



Would I have changed some things?

Well yeah..duh!!! I will be honest I wasn't super crazy about the lead man!!! I liked Brian and Jace!!!! I just needed more from this book but I enjoyed at the same time:)


Final thought.....was Crest Fallen better?


I'm not sure if anything can top Mason!!!!!!!!!!

[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS out of 5
Genre: New Adult Romance with Suspense

Told from Taryn's point of view A Whole New Crowd offers a strong heroine. More than one hot alpha male and a few annoying b*tches just to piss you off all in the name of good fun.

Taryn is definitely the chick you gladly cheer for! You want her to WIN! PERIOD.



Taryn Matthews has spent her whole life in and out of different foster homes. The small town of Pedlam, has been her most recent residence. Though she’s moved around quite a bit over the years there has been one constant…Brian and Jace, brothers, one her boyfriend the other a stone cold criminal. Now at the age of seventeen she finds her life once again about to change. Taryn has been adopted; once again it’s time to move.

New family - New school - New town - New friends
Taryn’s new family has the ability to give her a fresh start and a brighter future. Problem is, Rawley is way to close to her past, her ex and his brother in particular. Leaving Pedlam behind for good as planned proves to be a not so easy task. After six months of letting go a high school prank suddenly calls for her…certain skills. A set of skills she would prefer to NEVER use again because jail is just not appealing to her…but then again jail only comes to those who get caught, right.

To catch a thief
When Tray Evans approaches Taryn he is already aware of what she can do and fully understands that without her the plan will never work. Getting Taryn to commit is not an easy task as she out right refuses however Tray is not one to give up easily.

‘Dangerous. He was just dangerous in every way.’ -Taryn




Things with Tray and Taryn progress in a way neither thought it would. As one event leads to a lot of questions; Taryn will find she needs answers and will stop at NOTHING to get those answers.
Let’s just say that old habits DIE HARD in A whole New Crowd.




My Thoughts
This book started strong and then kind of plateaued for me. The best way to describe what I mean by that is to say..The book grabbed my attention at times and then it let it go at others. So on repeat it was..grab..let go..grab..let go then plateau. It was not until the last 20% where the story line gained momentum enough for me to feel like I could not put the book down.

Tijan has a formula and it works, she spins her book world and its characters to a familiar tune, it’s the stories within those characters that set them apart from her other books. Meaning although the story set may feel the same as the previous one the journey is far from it. Never think you know what you’re getting in to with a Tijan book because you’ll be wrong. That feeling when new info comes out and you feel like an idiot because you should have seen it happening…Yeah that happened to me and well that does not happen often.

My Rating and Why
3.5 STARS, while A Whole New Crowd was entertaining there were a few things that did not work for me. I felt like Taryn’s constant references in her thoughts towards Brian were annoying and could have been cut in half. If my eyes start to roll which they did after a while of her thinking about him as often as she did, I know I’m agitated. Uh, yeah this chick at time drove me crazy although I won't lie I was cheering for her most of the book.
This may not bother anyone else it could be just me. The book was good don’t get me wrong I enjoyed it I just did not love it. I pretty much only loved the last 20% and that does not govern a full 4 STAR rating. You don’t have to agree. To each there own.

My Ratings
Characters- Bold and Sexy last with some Intrigue.
Writing Style- Good
Plot/Storyline- A young girl is adopted only not everything about her new life is as it seems.
Steam Factor- Med/Moderately Steamy On a scale of 1-10 I say 5.5
Entertainment Level- Lo-Med-Hi I say Medium.
Overall- If you are a fist time Tijan fan you will definitely love this. If you’re already a Tijan fan I am anxious to hear your thoughts. Feel free to comment and please hide any spoilers.

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it on Goodreads!
For more reviews got to: www.realitybites-letsgetlost.blogspot...
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[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a little speechless right now...

This book it was so... ADDICTIVE...

A whole new crowd...
A whole new world for me...

Hmmm... Taryn tried so hard to balance the new crowd with the old in her life...
It didn't go pretty well...

The only thing that kept her balance was the only man that has inside him both of her worlds...


I can't decide what i enjoy more in this book... All was so awesome!!!


I loved Taryn... I like everything about her...
I liked her devotion to everyone she loved.
I liked the spirit and her passion. I liked her stuborness.
I enjoyed the infection that had Tray in her...

In the other hand, was Tray. Tray was the classical georgeous bad boy.
The leader of everyone in this new crowd, but also was the only one who could read her soul!!!
I loved his power, his strength.
I enjoyed the fight to be with her... He never gave up on her...

I liked also Jace, even his attitude wasn't the greatest.

I liked also Mandy...
I didn't like many other people...

but that's okay!

They helped Taryn to be more powerfull. To be a Fighter...


Tijan, this was my first book of yours... And i will keep up with them... I'll read them all!
I fell in love with your plot and your characters!!!


And, guys!!!! YOU SHOULD READ IT!!!!

[Latasha Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't finish the story. The main guy in this story I wasn't feeling at all. I didn't feel the chemistry between Trey and Tarryn. This is a huge problem for me, if the two main characters don't have the chemistry, that would suck you into their world then I'm at a lost.

I'm a big fan of Tijan books because usually they have me sucked into their world. This new crowd series crowd is not the one for me. So, I'm going to stick with old crowd, and of course that's with Mason, Sam, and Logan.

[Tiffany Readz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, my name is Tiffany and I am a Tijan super fan. I originally read A Whole New Crowd January, 2013 on her LiveJournal page. The book was fantastic then and even better now!! Tijan mentioned in her acknowledgements that she shaved some scenes out and added more, which only made the story That. Much. Better.

There is something about Tijan's bad ass female characters the catches my attention in every book. They hold their own and usually spit back lines that shut the other girls right up and Taryn is no exception. She is starting high school at a new school and with a new family. She is a child of the foster care system, however has now found a permanent family. This family is everything Taryn grew up learning to hate, rich and fake. She doesn't fit in with them, but tries her best. Having to leave her past behind which included her ex boyfriend Bryan and his brother Jase. They were the only constant in her life no matter what foster family she ended up with.

The new school Taryn attends with her adopted sister Mandy happens to be the rival to her old school. With this situation, her past is never really in the past, it keeps popping up on her every so often. She goes to school not really caring if she fits in with the popular crowd or not, it just isn't her style. The "leader" of the top clique is Tray Evans and he knows more about Taryn than she thinks. This girl has a special set of skills and he needs her to use them one last time.

Tray and Taryn dance around a friendship for quite a while. Both of them knowing exactly where the other stands and there isn't going to be any changing of attitudes. Taryn is a fighter, Tray is hiding something, which seems to be what makes them click. Tray knows some things about Taryn, but not everything, she on the other hand was warned to stay away from him, but didn't listen.

The book is non stop drama and action. Tijan is writing quite the mystery for Taryn and Trey, while also keeping us interested in Mandy and the other supporting characters. I can't imagine all of this going down in high school, but money does change things. There are secrets to uncover, deaths to figure out and a rescue to pull off. If there is trouble, it will find Taryn.

I was glad to see A Whole New Crowd published, it was too good of a story for others not to read. With the tweaks, it is even better than the original. Tijan amped up the drama and that ending is something else. We are left with a nice epilogue and no cliffhanger. Yay.

[AleJandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Mafia adolescente STARs

"You don't need to work on that confidence. Your arrogance just sucked all the oxygen out of the room to inflate your ego."

Ok, este es el séptimo libro que leo de Tijan y pase por el mismo proceso de Amor- Odio que con los anteriores.

¿Me gusto la historia? Si
¿La odie? Un poco
¿Me la creí? Para nada

Mi problema con esta autora, es que aún no logro descifrar como logra hacer sus libros tan adictivos. En primera instancia uno podría pensar que eso es algo bueno. Pero les recomiendo que si van a leer este libro (o cualquiera de Tijan) lo hagan cuando no tengan nada importante que hacer. Ya que cuando empecé a leer literalmente no pude bajar el libro hasta terminarlo.

A whole new crowd. Empecemos con la protagonista.

Taryn


Una joven huérfana de 17 años, que ha pasado toda su vida en el Foster Sistem. Pero tiene una cualidad especial, disfruta robar cosas. La historia empieza cuando ella es adoptada por una buena familia, y tiene que dejar todo su mundo atrás. Incluyendo a las únicas personas que ha considerado familia: su novio Brian y el hermano de su novio Jace.

Brian


El primer amor de Taryn. El no maneja muy bien el hecho de que ella terminara con él para poder seguir su vida con su nueva familia. Es violento y tiene problemas de adicción a las drogas.

Jace


El hermano mayor de Brian, y es un poderoso Narcotraficante. Considera a Taryn su hermana, la protege y cuida constantemente. Él la apoya y la incita a que se aleje por completo de él y de su hermano. A que deje la vida criminal atrás.

Tray
Para completar la historia, tenemos a Tray. El protagonista, típico chico guapo y popular que Taryn conoce en su nueva escuela. Y que también tiene su lado obscuro. Mantienen una gran atracción y rápidamente se convierte en el ancla de Taryn.



No es mi libro favorito de Tijan. Pero me la pase muy bien leyéndolo. Descubriendo y conociendo a cada personaje, cada uno tiene sus peculiaridades que a pesar de todo lo malo y todo el ambiente criminal en el que se desarrolla la historia, solo son adolescentes tratando de encontrarse a sí mismos. Mucho drama, secretos, tensión sexual y amor.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this when i should have been studying for my organic chemistry final... enough said I just couldn't but it down. Tijan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and her work is amazing. The plot twists are incredible. Now only if she wrote a book that would teach me organic chemistry....

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** 5-swoon worthy stars *****

I don't know how Tijan keeps doing this.

The Synopses:

Taryn has this knack for getting into places she shouldn't and taking what she wants. Mainly banks, police stations and principal offices. Her talents have her deeply rooted into the lives of the Lanser brothers. Jace is the local drug lord and pretty much runs the town. Brian, his younger brother, was Taryn's partner in crime, best friend and boyfriend until she gets spontaneously uprooted.



Taryn has been given the opportunity for a new life when the Matthew's family adopt her. The new parents are extremely well off and Taryn finds herself with 2 new siblings Mandy and Austin. Not trying to ruin a good thing, she leaves her life of crime behind and makes an effort to behave.

That lasts for about 10 minutes after meeting Tray, her school's it-boy. He convinces her to break into their rival school and take a decoder device. Their business relationship turns into a personal one and is hot as hell.



Together they discover that some things don't add up with Taryn's adoption, the Lanser brothers strange actions and the new drug lord that has moved into the area. Somehow Taryn and Tray are smack in the middle of the drama and they're fighting to figure out why.

My Review:

Here is what I posted in the comments section of Tijan's live journal:

God I got a tad obsessed while reading this. I couldn't put it down or walk away. I'd originally read AWNC on your fiction press account and was intrigued. Then I realized that you had continued writing it here and you'd made it more polished. Since then I've been devouring this story like it's my time of the month and AWNC was a slab of chocolate cake.

I wish the ending wasn't so anti-climatic but I also don't know how else you could have ended it.

I really hope you consider making this into an ebook because I'd love to have it on my ipad to read whenever the mood strikes.

As a matter of fact I really think you should make an anthology of short stories. I'd pay for that :) I know I'm asking for the moon, but a girl can always hope <3

I dont know how you keep making magic happen but you've done another great job. Your writing has gotten so much stronger throughout this story.


First off, I think my obsession with her writing has become embarrassing but when you find such talent you can't help but be giddy.

Secondly, I really respect the fact that she made this story completely free to read on her website and wrote it as if she were being paid to do so. She didn't just put out some half-ass work, she wrote with noticeable care and consideration to her readers. Often replying to their comments and implementing their advice into her work.

Thirdly (is that a word), I couldn't get enough of these strong female characters. I know she may get critiqued for her redundant themes when writing but I can overlook it because it works for her. Yes all her protagonist characters are strong tough females, yes there's always a 2 guy love triangle and yes the story is always surround around the social structure of high school BUT I don't care I still love reading her work. Why fix what isn't broken?

Fourthly (again, did I make this word up?) it is book boyfriend perfection

[Crazies R Us Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I absolutely love Tijan's writing style!! I fell head over heels for this book! This is not your typical high school story. First. You have Taryn, she is one badass bitch! (Yes she even refers to herself as such). After having a crappy life growing up and pushed thought the foster care system, Taryn is now with her newly adopted family and trying to navigate high school with her new perfect cheerleader sister. While she is protective of her, she still can't stand her "elite" friends. She's not afraid to tell them what she thinks of them and could care less what they think of her. Enter Tray Evans.... He rules the school. This guy has got SWAG!!!!! He needs Taryns help to break into the rival school,(she is known as a ghost because she is so good at breaking into places) but that was the life she left behind, along with her best friends and ex boyfriend Brian and his brother Jace. Jace owns the club Seven8 and deals drugs through the club and this is also part of the reason Taryn wants a fresh start. To get away from that life. This story kept me intrigued the entire time, not only did she have to navigate through high school bullshit, but her relationships (past and present )and druglords to boot! I couldn't wait to get home each night to read it. If you haven't read this book yet, you are missing out!!!" -Cami

[Kira · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 55%. I thought this was going to be dark and gritty but it wasn't. This was a romance where all they do is kiss passionately. Lame. None of the characters had any depth. A lot of things in regards to the characters were told, not shown. It was completely unrealistic on many levels. None of these high school students had any parental supervision. At school, the kids basically told the teachers what to do instead of it being the other way around like IRL. The way the kids interacted didn't ring true. The rich popular kids were hanging out with low life thugs.

The MC was the worst of it. She was deeply devoted to every person that had shown her any kindness, but it often didn't make sense why she felt the way she did about these people. She had recently been adopted into a rich family. The parents were never around but yet she called them her parents. She really viewed the kids in her adoptive family as her siblings. Why? It might have made sense if she was a needy type of person but she wasn't. She thought she was a bold bad ass, but she really came off as self righteous or bitchy.

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read. Boring at times and too long, but it had action, love, and lots of surprises. But it was still not enough to be good/great for me.

[Kristal &amp; Charmaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a Tijan book I swear it will be my last. More often than not I’m left confused and stunned, feeling like my emotions have been toyed with - an overall feeling of “what the f-ck just happened”. However, something about the rich spoiled bitches, the ‘I don’t give a damn’ female leads and the hot as hell alphas sucks me in time and time again. A Tijan book is like a giant octopus – you end up wrapped up in the story, unable to get free. But you don't want to be free. You won't even struggle.

Taryn is a girl from the wrong part of the wrong town. She’s been brought up in the foster system and shuffled from family to family. The one constant throughout her life are the Lanser brothers - first love, Brian and hotter than hell (and possibly from Hell himself), Jace.

After Taryn is mysteriously adopted one day by a well off family, her whole world is changed. She’s thrust into a life of trust funds and assholes. Jace is adamant that she needs to stay away in order to start her new life in a new place but there’s a whole lot going on behind the scenes and Taryn is determined to get to the bottom of it and protect those she loves.

Now, call me a cold hard bitch but I love the way Tijan writes her female leads. I love how they are so dismissive of everyone. Friends, school mates, queen bees, even the boys they love. Especially the boys they love. I actually find this to be quite a refreshing and realistic attitude because living in the types of worlds Tijan creates, with the types of assholes she writes about, wouldn't you feel the same? No? I can only imagine that at some point you would just feel...over it. Maybe it’s just me.

"I'm here to kick some ass. Let's save the poetry talk for later, like never."

One of the things I love about a Tijan book is that there is always something bigger than the romance going on. A story usually full of mystery and intrigue, twists and turns. A Whole New Crowd was no exception and it was really that side of the story that kept me hooked rather than the romance between the main characters. Don’t get me wrong - the romance was great, but it was the other stuff that kept me flipping pages like a crazy person.

Another thing I noticed about A Whole New Crowd is that I wasn't left feeling as confused as I usually do after a Tijan book. I knew exactly what I’d read and how I felt about it. This, for me, is a bit of a rarity. Maybe it was edited differently to her usual books, bringing the story together in a more structured way? Or maybe it’s just that Tijan is getting more and more awesome with each book. Either way I’ll definitely be looking out for her next release!

"I won't change," I rasped out.
"Neither will I."
We were both assholes. That had been established.

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[Mayra · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I was reading the book I was expecting that somehow Mason was going to show up and make a scene, but other than that, I loved it. The trama was amazing it kept me hooked with some exceptions,for example sometimes I thought that Taryn and Tray's relationship was kind of always the same. I was hoping that the book had more steamy scenes like the ones in FCH, but anyway, I liked the whole drug-lord thing, and the fact that Taryn wasn't such a screwed up girl it made it a little confusing, I mean the girl had no parents, a shitty life and last but not least was abused when she was little. But I give it the five stars because I think Tijan's books are incredible and she usually makes me want to read everything she writes and this one was not the exception.

PS: I can't wait for FCH4, I'm sure Tijan will blow our minds with that one.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is fantastic. No matter what I read by her I love. This book is brilliant. I started yesterday evening and ended up staying up late to finish it. Yes I just couldn't put it down.

Taryn is broken. She's been in foster care all her life. The only family she knows and cares bout is Jace and Brian who she needs to leave behind when she's adopted. Now she finds herself with new siblings Mandy and Austin. Love these guys:) At her new posh school she meets Tray. He's so hot. Ok that's all I'm gonna say. This is a gripping read with twists that had me gasping.

Yet again this author did a fantastic job with this story. I absolutely loved every word of it. Looking forward to reading more by Tijan.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard so much about this book that I expected more . It was a nice easy read though

[Nini · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!

What can I say about Tijan that haven't been sad before. She is brilliant. She pulls me in her story like no other author. It's quiet ridiculous how much I love her high school drama storys. I just love love love them!

So we have in this one our bad ass heroine Taryn Matthews, 17 years old. She is a foster kid. Under miraculous circumstances she's been adopted by a wealthy family, the Parsons, who live in a neighbor town. Taryn sees this as a chance to move on withe her live, with hope for a better future. Because when she stays where she is, she would end up in prison.

The only people she saw as family were Jace and Brian Lanser. Brian was her boyfriend, now ex boyfriend and a drug addict, Jace is the head of a well known and feared gang, the Panthers.

After a few weeks with the Parsons, everyone at her new school knows about her past. That she had been arrested, that her specialty was theft.

Tray Evans is the head of the popular crowd at their school. He trys to make her help him to break in to her old school. He and his team mates have a big prank in mind. Taryn refuses at first, but in the end she helps them.

After that, everything starts to change, not only her status at school and her relationship with Tray. Also the live she promised to leave behind, Brian and Jace. Something is off and she wants to know what it is.

After that I leave you to read the story for yourself. Don't want to spoiler you. The plot was good, I loved all the twists and turns.


*** could contain spoilers ***


Thoughts:
I loved Tray, he reminded me sometimes a little of Mason Cade.
I felt sorry for Brian.
I liked Gray.
And Jace... I loved him too, he reminded me a little of Carter Reed. I knew that he don't really meant all the things he said to Taryn, that was his way pushing her away and out of danger. And all his involvement in everything, I felt it in my gut.

[✿ | thatgrl.kuoya | ❥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why the heck do i continue to read these books.. *sigh*
I obviously didn't learn from my previous experience down this ridiculous road. ugh.

Didn't like this all that much.
Taryn was sucha try-hard.
Tray was ridiculous.
Everyone else was just.. pathetic.
lol.

I simply cannot understand why this story has such high ratings!

[CeCe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 Stars

I love Tijan. She is one of my favorite authors.

This story was interesting and well written. My problem was that at 65% or so the characters became a little bland for me. I continued to read the story, but lost a lot of my connection. Things were revealed but it became a little predictable and I just read it to finish it towards the end.

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely in love with this book all the suspense it keep me guessing the entire time. I was hooked from the begging just couldn't put this down. Fell in love with all the characters I love Tray but for some reason I miss Jace LOL

[Kavita Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading 'The Original Crowd'. It is the original version of this book. It's long, but good.

[Ivie dan Glokta · Rating 1 out of 5]

One thing that I can say I loved about this book – the cover.

The rest is well.....Tijan.

I have read a lot of her books in the past, and I have to say she is tragically repetitive. What blew me away in her first novels, disappointed me in the rest, because she seems to use the same ingredients for each and every novel she writes. Considering that she wrote quite a few, you wind up with the same old routine, but different costumes. It gets old real quick.

Her preferences are creating deeply traumatized female characters in some form of social isolation. That social isolation can be real, with the character having limited friends, or self-imposed with the character's perceived disentanglement from society due to past issues that affect her current mental state. Tijan also uses the character's history to portray emotional maturity that reaches above normally expected standards in a younger group of people. That on it's own is nothing new, and often used, because our past defines us all, but what Tijan doesn't allow are the same standards for her supporting characters.


The heroine, in this book that would be Taryn, interacts with a large number of supporting female characters, and all of them are found lacking in some way. Taryn often observes conversations and social situations, then provides inner monologue dissecting the reasoning behind the behavior of those characters, and even if it's not outright mockery, the observations often point out need for social acceptance and romantic happiness in a condescending kind of way. The emotional maturity doesn't stretch out the supporting female characters, even by the way of common sense, as they are often portrayed as shallow, promiscuous and petty. Even the closest friends and family in the main character's inner circle often display cruelty, selfishness and willful lack of understanding. All of that is carefully layered with the purpose of setting the main character apart, and proving just how different, and by her way of understanding better she is then everybody else.


With all the females portrayed (and effectively eliminated as competition, both mentally and physically) as catty, overly feminine (in a bad way), immature or simply stupid, we are left with a need find a balance for Taryn. That balance comes in the shape of our leading male character – Trey. The male character shows acceptance of our heroine trough intense sexuality, and serves as a focus to sharpen the uniqueness of the heroine. Since Taryn is a league of her own, it is only natural that she gets the alpha male specimen of the entire possible cast. The rich, beautiful, womanizing, i-don't-give-a-shit-about-anything, unrepentant bad boy, that won't be tamed by any woman. Except our leading lady, but that is to be expected, as she is the only one female in a 200 mile radius, armed with an IQ that's higher then the current room temperature.

Second signature Tijan's focus is obsession with social status. But it really didn't work in this particular book. Taryn gets involved in unmasking of a drug lord, solving a murder and kidnapping, then follows up with her own criminal activity. All of this is set in a high school environment, where the food chain is mercilessly displayed of having life changing impact. Tijan's leading characters, purposely or not, always wind up on the top of the IN crowd, getting respect and often steam-rolling over any competition. The depth of character, emotional maturity and the aim of accomplishing strong individuality in Taryn clashes with juvenile descriptions of school hierarchy and how desperately important they are. When in fact, they are not. Social grouping happens everywhere, but in Tijan's world it's often portrayed as the second most important thing after the life experiences of her leading characters. In 'A whole new crowd' that created a feeling of kids playing adults (especially when Trey said to Taryn that he was expected by the entire school to deal with her after she insulted the 'top' crowd) that didn't allow the reader to appreciate the dangerous story she tried to tell.

All in all, this was a different type of novel for Tijan. I was recommended this novel with the promise that Taryn is tamer as a character, and that it doesn't have such a desperate feel that follows her other novels. In a sense, that was true, but still, I expected more.

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd #1) by Tijan
4 stars!!

“I belonged in the criminal crowd, not this one. It was A Whole New Crowd.”

Taryn has had a crap life, lives on the wrong side of town, has been through the foster system, pushed from crap family to crap family and was in with the wrong crowd. She was your resident bad girl but she was extremely good at what she did. Her life revolved around the two constants in her life Brian and Jace. These two were brothers but had taken Taryn under their wing. Brian was her boyfriend, typical bad boy, but the mysterious and intriguing Jace was the one “pulling the criminal strings.”


One day Taryn is stunned when is told that a family have come forward that want to adopt her, being that she is only months away from her eighteenth birthday this seems strange but wanting something that she has never had Taryn goes but her only regret is leaving Brian and Jace behind.


Taryn now has a new family, a new home, a new school and A Whole New Crowd to contend with. Going from the wrong side of town to the affluent part Taryn is suddenly surrounded by rich, trust fund babies that think that the world or daddy owes them a living. A culture shock for sure, but Taryn takes it at face value, she wants to leave her old life behind and try to make something of herself, she will keep herself to herself and take it from there.


There are a lot of things about the change in Taryn’s circumstances that do not ring true and it is not long before her past crosses paths with her present. We are all aware that things are not always as they seem and this story is no different. It seems her past is well and truly intertwined with her present, can they be untangled and what will be the consequences?

“There’s a lot of people who hide their true shit better than others.”

This book is fast paced and action packed in true Tijan style. My only negative is that in places it seemed rushed, especially at the end. But, with two broken and ballsy characters, Taryn and Tray you knew it was going to have fireworks. These two really did find themselves in this book. Tray going from one extreme to another when finally realising he had met his match in Taryn in more ways than one. Despite her connection to Brian she cannot deny the chemistry and draw that she has to Tray. These two were soul mates and with the journey that these two had in front of them, they were going to need that connection in more ways than one.

“And later, as he slid inside of me, and our hands were clasped together, I had a feeling I wouldn’t have to worry about that again. I had found my soul mate.”

This book will keep you guessing from one minute to the next, especially in the last 20% when the truth finally unravels. Everything you thought you knew will blow up in your face and it will definitely be a case of OMG really??? Tijan definitely has her “writing formula” and sticks to it, but each story is unique in it’s own way. This one is by far her most complex book, there is suspense, mystery and intrigue interwoven in this plot and one the carries through right till the very end. It will keep you guessing that’s for sure.


This was a read that I enjoyed, it wasn’t a WOW book but definitely had the potential. Taryn could be a tad annoying at times but you forgave her easily. You could not help but champion her, she was individual, edgy, ballsy and unique, she told it how it was and had no fear at all. In short, you couldn’t help but love her.


I can’t wait to see where this series is going, there are so many intriguing characters in this book that I can see A Whole New Crowd series having a lot of legs going forward. I will be reading for sure.

“I won’t change,” I rasped out.
“Neither will I.”
We were both assholes. That had been established.”

www.theromancecover.com

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Girl Power Stars

A Whole New Crowd was an interesting read. I think it may have been better if I read the non-edited and grittier version. I didn’t dislike AWNC, but there was just something off about it.

Taryn

Taryn is a hard core girl. She was in a rough crowd and she’s getting out of it, now that she is adopted. Her ex-boyfriend and her would steal and do a lot of illegal activities. Now, she’s reforming, her new adopted sister wants Taryn to be part of the new crowd. The popular kids.

I liked Taryn, I thought she was strong, cool and very awesome. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and she doesn’t care what other people think of her. Her mouth gets the best of her, but she’s always honest. When Taryn’s sister tries to get Taryn to hang out with the new kids, it was very entertaining to watch. It was cute and it made me like Taryn more.

Tray

Tray is the popular boy in school and everyone is scared of him. He doesn’t mess around and he isn’t afraid of anything. When Taryn sticks up for herself and gets in Tray’s face, Tray may have met his match.

I liked Tray, I thought he was hard core as well, kind of sexy and very mysterious. Of course something about Tray’s past makes him the way he is. I liked how everyone was scared of Tray and you didn’t know what was his issue.

Overall

The banter between Taryn and Tray was very cute. Taryn keeps on pushing Tray’s buttons and Tray keeps Taryn on her toes.

I liked the overall story line and the characters. However…

The misses…

Tijan is known for this and I hate to say it, but there’s A LOT of characters. Sometimes I feel like I should write a diagram to see who is related to who, who is hooking up with who and who is good and bad. It’s even harder when the names are kind of similar.

AWNC is very long. I’m pretty sure I could do away with the last 30% of the book. I read the first 70% with little problem, but towards the end, I think I took a break every 5% because it just kept on going on and on. There was just a lot of added scenes and problems that I didn’t think were needed.

There was something lacking and I wanted an oh shocked factor. It took me awhile to figure out what the main point was. The first half of the book was Taryn and Tray getting to know each other and the second half of the books kind of gets to the “problem” of the story. I felt like there was some what a disconnect. I am not sure how to describe it. I think the story simply just dragged out.

Overall, AWNC was a nice read, it wasn’t really for me, but the story was cute and somewhat interesting.

AMAZON
The unedited and grittier version, I recommend this version instead, although I haven't read it AMAZON

[Jessica Alderette · Rating 5 out of 5]

***GIVEN AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR A HONEST REVIEW... FOR CRAZY, CHAOTIC BOOK BABES***


I was given the privilege to get an advanced readers copy of A Whole New Crowd by Tijan.. And let me tell you, it was just that. A great privilege. For those who know me, know I am a super Tijan fan... From Carter Reed, to Broken & Screwed to my absolute favorite Fallen Crest with the illustrious and mysterious Mason and Logan Kade.

I'll admit, when I asked for an arc of A Whole New Crowd, I didn't even read the synopsis before I jumped on the opportunity of reading a new and what I am sure is going to be another highly coveted Tijan novel. I jumped face first into this novel with no idea what it was about, I just knew it would be awesome. And awesome, dramatic, gripping, and captivating it was.

A Whole New Crowd is a different story in it's own. A Whole New Crowd follows the illusive thief Taryn Matthews from the wrong side of town in a wrong kind of home to a new town, a new family and a new start. But in starting her new beginning, she must leave behind two important pieces of her soul, Jace and Brian Landers. The life ahead of Taryn doesn't fit her bad boy best friends.

Taryn begins her new life, not exactly fitting in with the popular crowd. Until Tray Evans storms into her new seemingly perfect life. Tray is the push Taryn needs to get her storm brewing again.. Taryn can't explain the pull she feels for Tray. She thinks about him when he's not around. She wants him to touch her everytime she sees him. She feels his pull without even knowing he's there... Tray and Taryn are two seemingly different people, ones from a rich family, one from no family and no money. But deep down they are so much alike.

When Taryn's old crowd threatens to invade her new crowd, it's a storm of two worlds colliding. And Tray is there to help Taryn sort the pieces of her past and present. Tray was there for everything for Taryn. He didn't take her crap, she didn't take his. They fit so brokenly but beautifully together.

I loved the side characters. Loved them.. Mandy, Taryn's adopted sister, was kind of an idiot at times but deep down you could feel she had a good heart. She cared about Taryn and accepted her almost instantly.. Brian, Taryn's troublemaker ex boyfriend, now he was a whole other story. He was trouble, he made bad choices but he seemed to have a deep love for Taryn, even if he was really bad at showing it.

Jace... My god, Jace. There was something about him from the very beginning. I couldn't decide if I wanted to love him or hate him.. He had a secret, I could feel it throughout the whole book. He was mysterious, dark and sexy. He was one of my favorite characters from the whe book because you didn't know what he would pull next.

Tijan tells a tale of mistrust and turmoil. She shows us love can conquer all. She shows us don't always judge a book by it's cover. Her writing holds you from the first page and this is not something new in just this book, she manages to pull it off in every book she has written. A Whole New Crowd is a beautifully wirtten, anxiety filled story. If you haven't added it to your to be read by now, I don't know what more I can do to convince you.

It captivated me and I am sure it is going to captivate you.

Tray + Taryn = 5 STAR LOVE.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taryn was good at three things: swimming, stealing, and sex. She just needed to survive her new school, her past, and the newest drug dealer that arrived in town..

That's what the little blurb on GoodReads says but it clearly doesn't do this story any justice. Now usually I'm all in love with Tijan's men. The strong, fierce silent type of a man, who stands by main girl but let's her handle herself. They are basically dream men, in my eyes. I've always loved a quiet bad boy. And Tray, from A Whole New Crowd, is no different. He's absolutely perfect. But what really got to me was Taryn. I'm totally in love with her, which is a new concept for me, considering I like men and all.

Taryn is much like Tijan's other heroines. Strong, fierce, slightly vulnerable but never letting it show. But Taryn was also the biggest bad ass I've ever read. We meet Taryn, about 6 months after she was adopted by this family. We quickly learn that Taryn moved around a lot and seemed to haven bee in a few different foster homes. She spent a good amount of time in the city of Pedlam where she had gone to school, have a tight group of friends who weren't always good little boys and girls. They would steal, cheat, fight and generally cause some mayhem, Taryn and her boyfriend Brian included. But when Taryn was adopted, she decided to make a clean break from that life, leaving her friends, boyfriend and the trouble behind.

It wasn't too long into her new life that Mandy, her new sister, and Tray, the king of Rawley (her new school), decided they could put her former habits to good use. They ask her to break into her old school to help them with a prank. Eventually she relents and does their favor but it opens up a whole chain reaction no one expected to come.

No matter what challenges, backstabbing, or dirty dealings come Taryn's way, she attacks right back with her sharp wit and killer instincts. She's not afraid to go for the jugular and it's a beautiful sight. She stands up for those who are walked over and protects those she loves.

Basically this story is MAGIC!

[LailaBC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh! Tijan's stories are giving me sleepless nights. This one is no better. I spent two major holiday christmas and new year stuck to my tablet! pouring over high school drama! WTEFFF! This one felt so d*mn long i thought it would never end. But man Taryn Rosette Matthews is one icy talented criminal b*tch! ahahaha! she tells it like it is and is not afraid to let those people know. And those people either end up hating her guts or form a grudging respect for her. I like how Taryn and top dog of her new school Tray Evans don't fall all over each other instantly they feel each other out first and piss each other off before they both realize that something is more beyond their antagonism towards each other. Of course there are the usual catty b*tches but they got nothing on Taryn...seriously she handles them most of the time so beautifully that they don't even know what hit them. There are bittersweet scenes and at times i feel that it must be so exhausting for Taryn to be always on guard and be tough in public majority of the time. She doesn't trust people easily and always questions their motives but once she gives her loyalty she will have your back no matter what. This series and Tijan's FCH series has a similarity with its MCs but this one is more hard core.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm trying not to be biased but I loved this. Gritty and captivating...with an ending that was a total nail biter...it will draw you in and you won't want to leave. Stressful but I loved it. Taryn was one tough girl, and even though she hadn't had an easy life she always kept her head up, and forged ahead...even if it wasn't always on the straight and narrow, which shouldn't be sexy but totally was. She spoke her mind and I couldn't help but respect her.

And Tray. He was delicious too. I loved the moment it became crystal clear he was meant to be with Taryn, and the romance was real, a slow build up that showed a true relationship. He also called it like he saw it, which made him total win as well. Ladies, you will love Tray. Trust.

A book where I not only crushed on the main characters, but some (three!) of the secondary ones played such strong roles that I hope to see books about them too. The plot was layered as well, and there were some moments when things didn't add up, but then I was given my "a-ha!" moments as the story played out. If you love a strong heroine with a complex plot line, this is a must for your TBR.

[Mayra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I'm in the minority here, but For me the story and writing was so disjointed. I enjoyed Fallen Crest but the lack of development with this story line and its lackluster characters made reading Whole New Crowd almost unbearable. There was absolutely no chemistry between Mandy and Taryn. Tray was promising but remained stagnant. Taryn was all over the place with her emotions and mood swings and after 65% I just couldn't tolerated it any longer. Too many books, too little time!

[Victoria Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited: loved this book! I can't wait for the next one! :)

I'm really excited for her revised version of this book! she's currently in the process of rewriting it and is going to be publishing it. Definitely a book I'll be buying!