**I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This book was everything I thought it was going to be: fun, lots of sexual tension and great characters.
I loved Jake and Ella's story. I thought they complimented each other so well which made it a blast to read. Jake is completely swoon-worthy for the fact that he can cook but also for the way he treats Ella. I liked that he encouraged her to be who she always could be and I liked that she didn't become dependent upon him. She really grows into her own person and Jake is simply a catalyst that gets her to reach that point.
The plotline is perfect. It has just enough drama and romance to keep the story moving at a fast but enjoyable pace. I honestly had a hard time putting this one down once I started it.
If anyone has read Wallbanger, I liken my experience of reading this to that. It has that fun vibe to it but can be serious when it needs to be. It also has that touch of realism to it that the Cocktail series has which makes things even better.
Overall, I was really impressed and enjoyed this novel. Definitely looking forward to more of Katie McCoy's work in the future!
This was everything I wanted it to be! I honestly couldn't put this down.
I loved its fast and always moving pace; it constantly kept me on the edge ofThis was everything I wanted it to be! I honestly couldn't put this down.
I loved its fast and always moving pace; it constantly kept me on the edge of my seat. And I liked that it wasn't afraid to go places; to take those necessary plot risks to keep the plot developing.
I really liked Em and Cas as characters. Em shows great character growth throughout and Cas is just a sweetheart. And their romance was exactly what I wanted to read and see.
While this story does borrow characteristics and tropes common to the genre, (I think many readers will draw parallels to other novels) I still had a lot of fun with this story. It still felt fresh to me and it definitely has its own unique quirks to make it stand out on its own.
I will admit that I was hesitant to read this book based on the synopsis. I find that I am not a huge fan of "witch/spell" type books so that was a woI will admit that I was hesitant to read this book based on the synopsis. I find that I am not a huge fan of "witch/spell" type books so that was a worry. I was also worried it was going to be more of a romance with some action and seeing as it is targetted more for teens, the presumed teen angst nearly turned it me off. But that's what happens when you assume!
This book was definitely more about action than romance. Yes, it is there but there was so much else going on that it nearly took a back seat. It started off slow but it really picked up when you learn more about the world Wendy Knight has created. It's simple yet complicated at the same time so it is easy to follow along.
At first, I wasn't a fan of Ari. She was a little too angst-y for me but when you learn more about her past it makes sense why she feels the way she does. (Nothing worse than a whiney, spoiled heroine but that is not the case here). As for the rest of the characters, I really liked them and can't wait to see more of them!
Definitely check this book out if you enjoy star-crossed romance with a lot of action; smart characters and strong female leads!
I'm so torn over my rating for this book! I think my love of the concept (and format) for this series often clouds my rating because it truly isn't l
I'm so torn over my rating for this book! I think my love of the concept (and format) for this series often clouds my rating because it truly isn't like any other book I've read before.
However, I had the hardest time becoming invested in this story. At the 30%, I found that the plot finally started to build. But it wasn't until I reached the 50% mark that I started enjoying this novel. Parts were a touch predictable but I still enjoyed watching how everything unfolded as the end neared.
I thought Asha and Rhys would be a bigger focus of this novel--and they weren't. This book is all about bringing everything together so it was nice to see our past leads take part in the events of this book. But at the same time, I think this stifled Asha and Rhys a bit as characters and left them a little underdeveloped.
So while I think this book is a great finale, I wasn't as "wowed" with it as I was with the first novel.
No pun intended, but this one missed the mark a bit for me.
This story has all the tools to be truly great: political strife, intriguing characters, a
No pun intended, but this one missed the mark a bit for me.
This story has all the tools to be truly great: political strife, intriguing characters, a complex galaxy and action. But it fails to develop these to its advantage despite the slow plot.
The world building is non-existent; the pacing is off; and the action is too and far between.
Perhaps the sequel can build upon this foundation because the potential is there.
Loved loved loved this! It captured my full attention with the plot, the twists, the romance, the politics. I could never predict what would happen anLoved loved loved this! It captured my full attention with the plot, the twists, the romance, the politics. I could never predict what would happen and I just loved Nemesis so much as a heroine to follow. Can't wait to see what happens next!...more
I've been dying for Violet's story since book 1. This wasn't what I expected but in a good way. I got sucked in by the plot and there were so many gr
I've been dying for Violet's story since book 1. This wasn't what I expected but in a good way. I got sucked in by the plot and there were so many great twists along the way. I would have liked more romance though. I think the fact that we already knew these two loved each other stopped some of the great tension these books usually have from surfacing. I still adore them together and their scenes melted my heart, but I just craved more from them.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I absolutely adored the
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I absolutely adored the satire of this novel. It was exactly what I wanted it to be when I read the synopsis.
Stohl has written a novel packed with wit, hilarity and above all, intelligence. It's beautifully crafted and so on point with modern popular culture it is nothing but impressive.
This book was simply entertaining. If it wasn't a character's antics or commentary making me laugh, it was the production footnotes or gossip rag's article. This novel is just pure fun!
But it also has its heartwarming moments as well. Bentley's love for her family is endearing and she is such a likeable heroine that you can't help but root for her to succeed in whatever she has put her mind to. This story is about family and self-identity when all is said and done and it shows.
While I enjoyed reading this novel from start to finish, I did feel like the first half of the book was rather slow when it came to the plot. The first half does a create job of establishing the characters and the setting, getting the reader acquainted with the circumstances. But it kind of moseyed along; especially when you compare it to the latter half of the novel which was non-stop action and suspense.
Regardless, this novel was awesome and everything I wanted it to be!
Well this book wasn't what I was expecting so I felt like it surprised me in some ways.
I don't like stagnant plot lines and this one never felt likeWell this book wasn't what I was expecting so I felt like it surprised me in some ways.
I don't like stagnant plot lines and this one never felt like it got stuck or dwelled too long on one thing or another. I think it helps that we get both Aly and Rhee's POVs too since you get that back and forth plot development. New secrets and alliances are constantly being revealed so something is always grabbing your attention. It helps to build the story and subsequently the finale.
I feel like the ending was a little lackluster (as it was terribly predictable) but we do have quite a few unanswered questions so it has me curious to see what will happen next.
**I received a copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
Normally, I'm not a fan of YA contemporary but this book reminded me that there are some gems out there!
I loved Sally as a lead. She's funny, relateable and a genuine character. And the same can be said about Becks. It was so easy to see why these two are friends and why they care so much about each other.
Given the synopsis of the book, I had a pretty good idea of where this story was going to go but I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't go exactly as I thought. There were enough interesting plot developments to make the story interesting from start to finish. It never felt like a cliché when it easily could have.
I read this book in one sitting--it was so cute and utterly addicting that it was the perfect way to spend the day!
I totally understand all the praise this novel gets. Not only is it culturally/socially on point, but it makes you feel every emotion.
My only hesita
I totally understand all the praise this novel gets. Not only is it culturally/socially on point, but it makes you feel every emotion.
My only hesitation in giving it 5/5 is that I feel like the plot pacing was a little off. Maybe it's my fault because I read it in two sessions about a month apart but there was just something about the plot flow that I didn't love.
The audiobook is FABULOUS though! I highly recommend it.
This book had everything you want in a book. It's so well done that you will finish it and be amazed at what you just read. It's so intricate of a st
This book had everything you want in a book. It's so well done that you will finish it and be amazed at what you just read. It's so intricate of a story that you will constantly be changing your theories about what you expect will happen next.
The world-building is sensational! Despite the many layers, the whole premise is easy to follow from start to finish. It isn't peppered with unnecessary flowery language and I love that.
The character development is fantastic. Scarlet's transformation is one of the best I've read in a novel. I love stories where the heroine grows before your eyes into a confident young women.
The romance never overshadows the story but adds to it. It's a great compliment to Scarlet's story.
But if you think this is going to be a story solely focused on Scarlet's relationship with her sister, it really isn't. Their relationship is the catalyst for the story but it isn't the sole focus. To me, this story is all about Scarlet finding herself as she tries to save her sister.
This book is going to be a hit. No doubt about it! One of the best novels I've read in a long time!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I DEVOURED this book in o**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I DEVOURED this book in one sitting!
This story is so much more than your typical coming of age story, but with lots of twists. I have to say that this plot surprised me more than I ever anticipated! There is so much more to this story than a girl crushing on a boy she can't touch and I was totally invested.
Eva's gift of reading people's emotions and anxiety was a very neat addition to this story. It helps to reinforce her personality and actions in a way that you wouldn't get otherwise. And of course, it adds some drama to the backbone of this coming of age story. Perhaps the story would have been stronger without this premise (because there is a much deeper plot at play) but I did like this refreshing twist that gives this story a flare unlike any other I've read.
Eva was absolutely hilarious as a heroine. She's also very relateable in terms of her journey and insecurities. And Zenn is such a swoon-worthy hero and I immediately fell for him. He's got that mysterious aura around him and is so genuine that it's hard not to like him.
This was a great story that reminded me that there is more to YA contemporary fiction than lots of angst and landing the popular guy; it can also be about heart and growing up despite the circumstances.
Considering I almost DNF'd this at 100 pages, I'm glad things turned around!
I feel like the synopsis is pretty misleading. I thought I was getting a cConsidering I almost DNF'd this at 100 pages, I'm glad things turned around!
I feel like the synopsis is pretty misleading. I thought I was getting a completely different story than what we actually got. Which is a shame, because this is a good story; it just took me far too long to get use to the idea of it.
This isn't a story about the girls killing each other for the throne like the synopsis suggests. Rather, it's the build up to that event. Think of this book as one extended prologue to the real, nail-biting story.
It has all the right things to make this story absolutely epic: an intriguing world, strong female characters and buckets of danger. It just needs to use those things a little more to create an engaging plot--not just build up to it.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This novel had everything**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This novel had everything I LOVE in a great YA high fantasy!
First off, the world-building was fabulous! It wasn't overwhelming nor was it lacking. It was easy to understand what was happening in the world and why. When I compare it to other novels in the genre, this one stands out for that reason alone. It never felt like I was thrown into a world and left to figure it out on my own.
While the synopsis is slightly misleading (the tournament doesn't happen until the later half of the novel), there was enough happening in the first half to keep me more than interested. This novel just kept building and building, drawing me deeper and deeper into the world and its plot. I just loved it!
There was one "twist" I figured out pretty early but I didn't mind too much; we get so many other plot developments that this story still had me anxious to see what would happen next.
And the characters! Arcus and Ruby were not only interesting characters on their own, but together, their banter was exactly what I wanted. I love when two characters make each other stronger as individuals because of their relationship and that is what we get here. Ruby's fighting spirit was awesome and I just loved how she handled herself throughout the novel.
I can't wait to get deeper into this world! Not only was this book super awesome to read, but it has laid down the foundation for a truly fantastic fantasy series.
I enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses but somethings just weren't on point for me, so it wasn't an automatic 5 star read for me.
But what Maas does here is genius! The manipulation of the Beauty and the Beast story; the richness of the faery world; to Feyre's character development--everything hits its peak here, making this one hell of a read.
While I still struggled to like Feyre, she definitely grew on me; as did the romance. The way everything interweaves and builds really helped with that.
I can't wait to see what is in store for this cast of characters next!
Despite the lightness of the plot, this book kept my attention and entertained from the start. I enjoyed learning more about the characters and the w
Despite the lightness of the plot, this book kept my attention and entertained from the start. I enjoyed learning more about the characters and the world (such a cool alternative history twist!). It was a little lighter on the steampunk than I would have liked and I feel like certain plot twists were super obvious but it was enjoyable nonetheless!
Truthfully, this one bored me a little. It took me far too long to finish it.
I felt like the first 60% was filler--which makes for a slightly dull read when this book is 576 eBook pages long. While the plot does move forward in that time, it definitely dragged while doing so. It's been a long time since I read the previous instalment so trying to get all those details page in my head (despite the killer notes I took when reading Queen of Shadows), specially the family trees (I swear everyone's name starts with a G or an A or an E), didn't make this enjoyable for me.
The last 30% was great! We get more action; the greater plot schemes get revealed and we finally get some drama! And I'm glad to see how the prequel novellas tie into this novel! Made me glad I read them all those years ago.
I think I might be in the minority but I fully believe that this book was better than the first one. I found the plot to be much more engaging and in
I think I might be in the minority but I fully believe that this book was better than the first one. I found the plot to be much more engaging and interesting than it was in The Crown's Game. Despite some slight monotony in the middle of the book with one plot aspect, I found that this story always kept moving and developing in a way that was rather addicting to read. I was flying through the pages.
The character development was also great. When you have essentially 3 key players to keep tabs on, one or more will inevitable fall to the wayside in terms of growth. But I felt like everyone had a great story to tell and I'm glad we got to see them all.
This series is still missing that something to make me give it a 5/5 though. And truthfully, I was leaning more towards a 3.5/5 rating for this particular book because I did find the middle of the novel to be a little stale. But I really liked how everything was brought together in the latter half of the novel and I did feel like this was a much stronger showing on Evelyn Skye's part. I think she has a very bright future ahead of her in terms of her writing and I'll be keeping an eye on what she writes next!
I was optimistic I would enjoy this book despite some mixed reviews. I love political suspense in my novels and**DNF'd at 18% (middle of Chapter 6)**
I was optimistic I would enjoy this book despite some mixed reviews. I love political suspense in my novels and the entire premise of this novel met that love.
But nothing seems to happen!
I didn't pick up this book to watch diplomat children farm. That just doesn't interest me. And that's all that happened besides Elián arriving. I even skipped a few chapters and still, it's all about the farming (and goats).
There's a bit of info dumping along the way which is fine. I just found the accents used in the audio version were distracting (most had particularly slow drawls to them so it took forever to get the information out) and the voice for Greta seemed too old for her stated age.
This was super adorable! I really enjoyed it a lot.
Dimple is such a compelling heroine. She's strong yet fragile at the same time and I definitely s
This was super adorable! I really enjoyed it a lot.
Dimple is such a compelling heroine. She's strong yet fragile at the same time and I definitely saw part of myself in her when it comes to her views on romantic relationships vs career. She's also hilarious.
And Rishi is just so charming and I immediately fell in love with him. But what was really appealing about his character was that he was the hopeless romantic, instead of Dimple. He was the one who really wanted the relationship and felt it necessary and I usually find that it is the female characters who are cast in that role. It was a refreshing take on a standard gender role I thought.
There was something about the pacing though that has me holding back on 5/5 though. Otherwise, thoroughly entertaining!
Truly, I would love to rate this higher because I really do love the concept so much. But I'll just have to save that higher rating for the sequel be
Truly, I would love to rate this higher because I really do love the concept so much. But I'll just have to save that higher rating for the sequel because this one is built up perfectly for the next one. All the right things are there, they're just not at that next level...yet.
This was absolute perfection. I had super high expectations for this and I was not disappointed. I loved the slow burn romance; I loved the character
This was absolute perfection. I had super high expectations for this and I was not disappointed. I loved the slow burn romance; I loved the characters; I loved the plot. The audiobook is amazing! I think this is one of my favourite romance reads ever. EVER!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is a voluntary review; all opinions are my own and not influenced by my source**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is a voluntary review; all opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
DNF at 24% (Start of Chapter 6)
This is my first novel in the Cloud Bay series despite it being the third. But I didn't mind because I adore the "in love with best friend's brother" trope and it intrigued me that this was also a second chance romance of sorts. When I dive into a series that's already established, it usually works in my favour and I end up picking up the other novels because I get interested in the previous stories.
Why this one didn't work? I felt lost almost immediately. Keeping Zach's band members and the different bands straight wasn't something I was able do. I felt like I missed a chapter or two where their relationships are explained--and I hate feeling like I should know something innately when I pick up a book (especially one that is toted as a standalone in a series).
I also didn't connect with these characters. I'm all for slow burn romance but nothing was really happening other than the acknowledgement that they had slept together nearly a decade ago. I didn't see the draw these two had towards each other besides physical attraction. Perhaps that would have come in time but when it is labelled as (or at least gives the allusion it is a) second chance romance, I want that tension to be there from the start. I want those lingering feelings to be there, waiting to be built upon.
Overall: I'm sure fans of the previous novels will enjoy this one but for someone new to the series, it didn't convince me to give the other books a read.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I was**I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I was really intrigued by the premise for this novel. As someone who is studying to become a part of the health-care field, organ transplants have always been an area of curiosity. So I was eager to see how it would add to the larger mystery and dove in.
You might think the plot revolves around Casey coping with the random memories of her donor and that is the "thrilling" part--like a scary movie. But it actually reads more like a mystery once the concept is unraveled a bit. I found the first part (less than 25%) a little dry because it's establishing Casey as her character and her situation--but once the plot starts going, it really keeps going at an accelerated pace.
The mystery was great! I truly wasn't able to figure it out until the big reveal and that always gets bonus points in my eyes. It's high level suspense and danger that really kept me on my toes and engaged as a reader. It's a well crafted story that makes a seemingly unrealistic idea (the idea a person's memories are transferred during an organ donation) but makes it entirely plausible.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
Jamie Howard has done it again! This novel was simply awesome!
This story was super addicting and many aspects contributed to that "I need to know what happens next!" drive.
For one thing, the character development here is positively fabulous! Bianca truly transforms before your eyes into such an amazingly strong heroine. You can't help but root for her as she finally finds her true self after all these years. She isn't perfect but she learns to accept and love her flaws which I appreciate. I think a lot of readers can connect with her in some form or another even if your parents aren't in the world of politics.
But Ian was the one who really stole the show for me. His story was fantastic! You slowly uncover his past and it is such a heartfelt story that you will truly fall in love with him as a character. I didn't expect to be as in love with him as I ended up being.
As for the romance, it was nice to have a romantic relationship that wasn't focused on solely on sex. These two have fantastic chemistry in all aspects and I could really see "why" they would work together. This whole story reminded me that love makes you the best person you can be when you find that right person.
And there are so many places this series can go! I cannot wait to see what happens next!!!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This book is Contemporary New Adult Perfection!
I was sucked into this book the moment I started reading. Not only is the plot fun, it is also heartwarming.
Haley and Kyle are such charming and genuine people that I couldn't help but love them. They are definitely one of my favourite fictional couples ever. It was great to see them grow as characters and overcome their own personal problems with the help of each other. I liked that their issues were real; issues that many readers can identify with like self-esteem and everyday family issues. I loved how they worked on this issues both with each other and on their own. They were a great match for each other and it was so much fun (and often times funny) to watch them fall in love.
If you want a fantastic, funny and touching New Adult Contemporary read, this is the one you NEED to read!
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.***I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This is a very dark book but I knew that going in. If you don't enjoy dark and twisted stories, this is not for you. I also liked that it's not pure erotica either. There is an actual story to be teased out and this novella is setting up the foundation.
I liked that both of these characters are flawed but I didn't particularly love them either. I think once we get to the full novel and some character development can happen that'll change because I'm definitely intrigued by both of them.
I'm really curious to see how the dramatic plot will unfold in the full novel. We just get a hint at the end and it captured my attention immediately! It looks like it will be a very entertaining series and I can't wait to see what is in store.
I had a lot of fun reading this book. It was fast-paced but well developed so it was a great way to spend some time after midterms.
I really liked Sophie and Nathan; both together and individually. Nathan was a total sweetheart that had me swooning really quickly. I liked that he wasn't some egotistical jock that Sophie "changes" as soon as they meet. Neither lost themselves when they met the other and that was really important to me. Sophie easily won me over as well and I loved watching her character develop.
There isn't too much to the plot but that really works to the romance's advantage. There is some great sexual tension between these two which makes reading this book so great (and so much fun!). Despite everything happening in a matter of days, I really saw why these two would work and that sold me on their romance.
Overall: a great sports romance story. One of the best baseball based stories I've read in a while! It's a solid debut!
**I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my**I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I really enjoyed the fact that this story was all about the romance. We don't get any unnecessary drama along the way. It's focus is all on Ren seducing Stacey and showing her that he is serious about her and in turn, Stacey reacting to his feelings and deciding if she wants to pursue a relationship with him. I found that this singular plot helped to develop the characters a little more and focus on their hopes and fears about the relationship. It made the story more character focused--which is what you want in a romance.
I really liked this small cast of characters. Stacey is a great heroine. I loved watching her self confidence grow as the story progressed. As for Ren, he's a good lead. He's mature and driven but a nice guy. He was really sweet with Stacey so I understand her hardship in trying to resist him.
But what I really liked about all these characters (including the side ones like Ren's parents) was their honest and upfront conversations. I enjoyed their candid conversations and how it helped progress the story in a positive way.
While I really liked Ren and Stacey as a couple, I wanted a little more build-up to the revealing of Ren's intentions. We get told a lot that they had this great connection before the novel started; that they've talked and shared a lot over the last few years and consider each other friends. And while I never doubted Ren's intentions (ie that he wanted Stacey as a forever girl), I think it would have sold me sooner on the romance if I had seen some of that tension build between them.
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