Tag Archives: 4 1/2 stars

Review: The Selection

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For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

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Ok, I’m going to be honest with you here. I’ve been seeing this series everywhere on Instagram. Yes, I totally bought the book based on the cover. But look at it! Beautiful.

I’m glad I did buy it though, I was not disappointed. America is a great character, only a teenager but strong enough not to be pulled down by the competition of the other girls around her. She’s so relatable too. America’s family is a Five aka lower middle class. She does the competition to help her family with no intention of falling for the prince. Honestly, I didn’t even really like Prince Maxon at first either. He just didn’t seem confidant enough. He did grow on me though.

The ending doesn’t leave you feeling satisfied though, but don’t worry, the next few books are already out. In fact, I have book 2 waiting for me to read. So if you’re looking for a new Young Adult dystopian/post apocalyptic read, check out The Selection. Let me know what you think.

My Rating:  4 1/2 stars

Find the bookGoodreads          Amazon

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Review: How Do You Know?

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What if you were approaching the end of your thirties and all of the life milestones you took for granted in your youth suddenly seemed out of reach?

On the eve of her thirty-ninth birthday, Maggie Piper doesn’t look, act, or feel much different than she did at twenty-nine, but with her fortieth birthday speeding towards her like a freight train, she wonders if she should. The fear of a slowing metabolism, wrinkling of her skin, and the ticking of her biological clock leaves Maggie torn between a desire to settle down like most of her similarly-aged peers and concern that all is not perfect in her existing relationship. When a spontaneous request for a temporary “break” from her live-in boyfriend results in a “break-up,” Maggie finds herself single once again and only twelve months from the big 4.0. In the profound yet bumpy year that follows, Maggie will learn, sometimes painfully, that life doesn’t always happen on a schedule, there are no deadlines in love, and age really is just a number.

Meredith Schorr, best-selling author of light women’s fiction, digs deep in her newest novel and raises the age old issue of the ‘proverbial clock’ that haunts many women, in a way that is refreshing and sassy no matter your age or relationship status.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

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Maggie has the perfect boyfriend…she just doesn’t know it.  Usually the grass isn’t greener on the other side, but it takes some people venturing over on that other side of grass to see that.

Maggie doesn’t have the excitement and butterflies with her live in boyfriend Doug anymore.  They’ve been together a long time.  He’s a great guy and all, she’s just starting to doubt their relationship.  And it doesn’t help that her 40th birthday is looming in the near future.  So Maggie decides to tell Doug her feelings and they break up.

I loved how real this book was.  I got into the story so much, I was legit scared for Maggie.  I was silently screaming in my head, “No!  Don’t do it!  Don’t break up with him; you’re going to regret it!”   I honestly felt nervous for Maggie that she lost her chance and wasn’t going to find happiness with another guy again.

I loved how I didn’t know where this book was going and where it would end up.  And I’m not going to spoil it and tell you either.

See how I used the word “love” a few times in this review?  That pretty much sums up how I feel about it.

This is my second Meredith Schorr book, and you can definitely call me a fan.

My Rating:  4 1/2 stars

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Find the book:

Goodreads

Amazon

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***Disclosure.  I work for Booktrope Publishing which is also the publishing company of this book.  However, I receive no monetary or any kind of compensation for sales of this book, or for writing a positive review.  This review was my honest opinion. And I was given a free copy in exchange for my honest review.***

Review: Relapse by S.L. Stacy

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Jasper might be gone for good, but Siobhan can’t escape the memory of him.

Or, rather, Psyche’s memories of him—memories of a kinder, gentler man, not the one who lied and manipulated her. She should have tried harder to reach him—to save Jasper from the darkness consuming him. Guilt—maybe that’s the reason why she still sees his face everywhere she turns. That, or she’s going crazy.

And Siobhan really doesn’t have time to lose her mind. Her best friend is in love with their enemy and is addicted to an alien drug. The Alpha Rhos blame her sorority for their sister’s death and take their quest for vengeance too far. Desperate, the Gamma Lambda Phis call on the help of the most deceitful Olympian of all, making her a promise they’re not even sure they can keep.

Once again, Siobhan finds herself not knowing who she can turn to or who she can trust. She comes to realize that her greatest enemy is the darkness within herself.

(Blurb from author S.L. Stacy’s page)

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This is the second book in the Reborn Series.  You can see my review for book 1 here.

First off, I want to give a big thank you to Ms. Stacy for putting the pronunciation of Siobhan, the main character, right at the front of the book.  Seriously; I didn’t know how to pronounce it throughout the first book and was making up ways to say her name in my head.  I really did appreciate that it was added to the front of the book to refresh my memory for Relapse.  🙂

Alright, so the story continues from where it left on from book one, then all of a sudden, halfway into the book, BAM, another point of view.  Siobhan’s friend and housemate, Carly.  At first I thought, noooooooo, it’s already so good.  Why the sudden change?  Then I read, and oh Mylanta.  Honestly, I like Carly’s point of view better.  Forget about Siobhan.  Just kidding.  Kind of.

The writing style that Stacy had with Carly’s point of view reminded me of Karen Marie Moning.  This is a HUGE compliment.

If you’re looking for a fresh new series like nothing you’ve ever read before, try this one.  I can’t wait to see what comes next.

My Rating: 4 1/2 stars

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 Favorite Quote from Book:

Take us to the in-between, 

Where earth meets sky, and wake meets dream.

And time rushes by, unseen.

Take us to the infinite night,

Where up is down, and left is right,

And dark vanquishes light…

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Find the Book

Goodreads

Amazon

***I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

Revenge Review

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Title:  Revenge – Volume 1

Author:  JJ Knight

Published:  2014 by JJ Knight

Genre:  New Adult

Purchase:  Amazon

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Jess moves to LA for her dream job as a music intern. On her first day, she bumps into Dylan busking on a street corner.

Dylan Wolf has a gritty voice. His eyes are soulful. His incredible body is to die for, tattoos and all.

When Dylan looks at Jess, she feels emotions she’s never had before. He can be sweet, but his dark moods scare her. When he sings, the whole world falls away.

Jess and Dylan’s meeting hasn’t gone unnoticed. At her job, Jess is summoned to the mysterious ninth floor. Her new assignment is to get close to Dylan. By seducing him.

One thing is for sure: If she takes this assignment, Jess will never be the same.

(Blurb from author’s website.)

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I read Revenge the other night.  Yup, you read that right, I read it the other night, in one sitting.  Holy moly.  It was fantastic.

As you read in the blurb, Jess moves to LA for her dream job.  Jess lives with two girls, and their lifestyle isn’t like hers at all.  For instance, they bust in on her in the bathroom to use the shower, and have no issues getting naked in front of her.  But Jess has this amazing personality; she doesn’t like it, but she goes with it, and moves on.  She’s adaptable like that.

While she’s walking the streets of LA she sees this cute guy who’s about to start playing the guitar.  He notices her too, and starts singing a song about Jess’s blue shoes.  The song ends and Jess gets mugged and either punched or elbowed in the eye.  The guitarist runs after the mugger, returns the wallet, and ends up walking away giving Jess the bird.

What?

Well, I can’t give anything else away.  You should read it without spoilers.  🙂

But seriously, I was so engaged in the story and was so disappointed when it ended.  My only complaint was that it was way too short!  I went on Amazon to find the next one and I guess the whole series is about the same length, around 125 pages each book.  It’s times like now that I wish I had Kindle Unlimited.

But anyways, if you’re looking for another series to suck you in, read this!  I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2!

My Review:  4 1/2 stars

 

 

***I received this book free from the author’s coordinator, in exchange for an honest review.***

To the Breaking Pointe Review

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Title:  To the Breaking Pointe

Author:  Cindy McDonald

Published:  2014 by Acorn Book Services

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Purchase: Amazon

 

 

 

 

This is the third Cindy McDonald book that I’ve read and reviewed, and McDonald doesn’t disappoint.

Silja Ramsey left the love of her life, Grant, to pursue her dream in ballet in Russia.  Both Silja and Grant assumed that the other moved on, especially since five years had passed, but that idea is the farthest from the truth.  They both still think of one another, a lot.

Silja then finds out that the ballet company she works for is barely keeping it doors open, and the owner is pimping out the dancers to cover costs.  On top of that Silja finds herself in a relationship with a dangerous man, and manages to text Grant for help right before she disappears.

I read this book in three days.  It kept me up late at night because I had to find out what happened.  I usually favor books with singular point-of-views, but for McDonald’s books I really don’t mind the multiple point-of-views; in fact they help give the reader more insight into what’s going on.

I found myself completely encapsulated in the story that McDonald created; she truly has a talent for writing.  To the Breaking Pointe was a great romantic suspense novel, and I definitely recommend it.

My Rating:  4 1/2 stars   

***I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.***