Review: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Forever Song.
Series: Blood of Eden, #3.
Author: Julie Kagawa.
Publication Date: April 15th, 2014.
Publisher: Mira Ink.
Format: Paperback, 384 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:



Vengeance will be hers.

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the ultimate question: is she a human or monster?

With the death of her love she has her answer.

Monster.

Embracing her inner darkness, Allie is now determined to hunt and kill Sarren, the psychopath who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long and Sarren is leading Allie’s dangerous fight to the one place she must protect at any cost – Eden, the last safe-zone on earth. Forced into a battle that it may be impossible to win, Allie is about to face her darkest days.
And, if she succeeds, she could face surviving forever alone.

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It seems like forever ago that I read and loved the second book in this wonderful trilogy. So I have to say I was a little apprehensive about starting The Forever Song, not just because it’s the conclusion to the story, but because I wasn’t sure how much I’d remember from the first two books. I didn’t have to worry for long though, because as soon as I started reading The Forever Song, everything came flooding back! The Forever Song was the most perfect and heart-wrenching conclusion to the Blood of Eden trilogy – I couldn’t have dreamt a more wonderful, beautiful and incredible ending.

Allison’s character has drastically changed since the first book in the series; she’s grown from this weedy, scared little girl, to a completely wonderful, strong, beautiful, loyal and badass woman. In The Forever Song, we get to see Allison’s dark, dangerous and murderous side – fuelled by anger and grief – and I really loved reading about her in that state of mind. It was so completely different from the other books, but just as incredible. Allie is definitely my most favourite female character that I’ve read about – I love her determination and her inner struggle with herself, to not become the monster she fears she’ll be. She’s headstrong, and erratic and often ruled by her emotions rather than common sense, but I think that just makes her even more of an amazing character.

Kanin is Allison’s sire, and a master Vampire. From the moment I was introduced to him in the first book in this trilogy, I loved him. Kanin is the most compassionate and deep and detailed secondary character that I’ve ever read about. He becomes a father figure to Allison, and there is a loyalty and connection between the two that goes beyond their blood tie. They’re family, and I’m one hundred percent sure that Kanin loves Allison like she were his own daughter, and the pride he has in her is incredible. I love Kanin’s character for all those reasons, and so many, many more.

Jackal is Allison’s blood brother of sorts – sired by Kanin years previously. He’s a sarcastic, rude, egotistical, self-involved, murdering and twisted character that you just can’t help but love - especially the more you read about him. In the first book, I hated him with a passion, but in the second I grew to love him in a weird and freaky way. And in The Forever Song, I loved him even more. He hasn’t changed since the first book, and is still awful and cruel, but there’s this comedic aura around him, and I can’t help but laugh at some of things he comes out with. You may question my sanity slightly, but read the books and judge for yourself!

Overall, I loved The Forever Song so much; I’m finding it ridiculously hard to put how I feel into words. I flew through the novel, desperate to find out what would happen next. One minute I was crying like an idiot, and the next I was laughing my head off. The Forever Song was dark, intense and filled with twists and sinister plans. I absolutely adore Julie Kagawa’s writing, she has this incredibly ability to not only create an intricately woven world, but to also make you feel like you’re right there along with the characters. She’s just absolutely phenomenal! I will be recommending this series to every single person I know who reads – I’ll be stopping people in book stores and shoving copies of the series in their arms and telling them to read it. It’s one of those series that just sticks with you, with every little detail clinging to your mind - not letting you forget it even when you’ve read the last page and put the book back on the shelf. If I could give The Forever Song, and the Blood of Eden trilogy, more than 5 stars – I would! I’d gladly give it a thousand stars, because it well and truly deserves it. If you haven’t picked up the first book yet, go do it now, you won’t regret it.

Quotes

This time, there was no doubt. No hesitation. Even if it hurt. Even though remembering Zeke ripped my heart into a million tiny pieces, I would not let this thing win. And if that meant fighting the monster until the end of time, that’s what I was going to do. - Page 61 & 62.

I remembered my Zeke: brave, determined, compassionate. The boy who hadn’t let the fact that I was a vampire scare him away, who had offered his heart to a monster, because he could see the human inside. The only living being I would ever open myself up to, because I’d trusted him.
Because I’d known he would never hurt me. - Page 127 & 128.

“I thought we had more time, even though I knew better. Life is so fragile, and someone can be taken from you at any time. I’ve always known that.” - Page 225.

Review: A Kiss in the Dark by Cat Clarke

Title: A Kiss in the Dark.
Author: Cat Clarke.
Publication Date: April 3rd, 2014.
Publisher: Quercus.
Format: Paperback, 384 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:



When Alex meets Kate the attraction is instant.

Alex is funny, good-looking, and a little shy – everything that Kate wants in a boyfriend.

Alex can’t help falling for Kate, who is pretty, charming and maybe just a little naive…

But one of them is hiding a secret, and as their love blossoms, it threatens to ruin not just their relationship, but their lives.

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I’ve only read one other book by Cat Clarke before, and that was quite a while ago – however I really enjoyed it and thought Cat’s writing was fantastic and really detailed, unique and interesting. When I first started reading A Kiss in the Dark, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What was this huge secret? How will it affect the couple’s relationship? You find out much more quickly than I expected what the secret is and it really shocked me – I honestly wasn’t expecting it at all! I can’t say much more, otherwise I’m afraid I’ll spoil the whole thing, but I flew through A Kiss in the Dark, finishing it in just two days – I absolutely adored it! A Kiss in the Dark is a fast-paced, compelling and beautifully written novel that’ll keep you engrossed until you’ve turned the very last page.

Alex is one of our two main protagonists throughout A Kiss in the Dark, and I really loved his character. Alex was a kind, funny, and really sweet and lovely character that you just can’t help but fall for (although he’s a bit too young for me!). He’s made some bad decisions, and kept a big secret from Kate but you can tell he’s really battling with himself over the situation. He’s in love with her, and just doesn’t want to lose her – so although I’m not saying that keeping everything a secret was the best idea, I could understand where he was coming from.

Kate is our other protagonist and the love interest throughout the first half of the book. I really adored her character; she was just so cute and sweet! Kate is smart, weird, and really a very loyal and wonderful girl and I loved reading about her. However, when the novel swopped to her perspective, and she found out Alex’s secret, my opinion of her went completely downhill. Eventually, nearing the end of the book, I started gaining more respect for her – but the decisions she made were appalling. I understood that she was hurting and upset, and people do crazy things when they’re like it, but what she did was down-right awful and spiteful. I’m glad, however, that things started to change as the book drew to a close – and I started to love her character once more.

Although Alex’s and Kate’s relationship was slightly insta-love, I actually really loved it. They were so passionate about each other, and everything was so sweet, that I instantly became jealous I didn’t have a relationship like it myself! It was so clear how absolutely besotted with each other they were, that it became a little cheesy at times, which isn’t a huge flaw, but one all the same that irritated me a bit. However, I really loved both their characters. I absolutely loved the ending of A Kiss in the Dark, it sort of bitter sweet, and I believe it ended perfectly. It was left open, which I thought was great, so the reader can decide in their own mind what would happen next. Usually I hate endings like this, but I thought it was perfect in this situation. A Kiss in the Dark is split into two sections; the first in Alex’s perspective, and the latter in Kate’s. As I’ve mentioned on many different occasions in the past, I love multiple perspectives in books, it’s great to get into the heads of the other characters in the story, to see what they see and feel what they feel. Although I loved reading Alex’s point of view, I wasn’t as keen on reading Kate’s – mostly because I found it quite hard to connect to her – even though I loved her character in the first half of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading A Kiss in the Dark; it was a fantastic and incredible novel that I’d recommend to anyone who loves contemporary romance, but also has an open mind. Cat Clarke’s writing is wonderful and beautifully scripted – I was laughing one moment, and then crying the next. It’ll have you riled up and angry, with your stomach in knots, and shedding tears a few pages later – she really is fantastic and writes some very realistic teen romance. I believe it well and truly deserves the 5/5 star rating I gave it, and although it wasn’t absolutely perfect, it was incredibly well done – with many different twists and turns throughout the story. I can’t wait to read even more from Cat Clarke in the future, she’s definitely an author to keep an eye out for!

Quotes

When we sat down, Kate scooted her chair across so she was sitting next to me and we could hold hands. When the waitress came over to take Kate’s order she smiled as if maybe she remembered what it was like to be our age and in love. Because I think that’s what it was, even then. I was in love with Kate. I wasn’t sure when I’d started loving her, or exactly what it meant, but that didn’t stop me knowing it. And it made me feel good to know it, even though I had no intention of putting it into words. I didn’t want to freak her out.

I was in love with a girl and she was in love with me. This was what people talked about, what songs were written about, what made the world go round, apparently. Now I could understand what all the fuss was about. I wanted to stop random people in the street and tell them I was in love. But I didn’t, because that would have been weird.

I didn’t move. The snow turned into icy rain. The light in the front room went out. Before long I was shivering uncontrollably. I watched the door even though I didn’t expect it to open again. I wondered how long I could stay out in this cold before I would die. If I curled up into a little ball on Alex’s front doorstep would I be dead by morning? Would Alex come outside, all dressed up for court, and find me frozen to death, a fine layer of ice blanketing my body?
No one would be able to hate me if I was dead.

Review: Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Don't Look Back.
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Publication Date: 10th April, 2014.
Publisher: Hodder.
Format: Paperback, 368 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:



My breath caught and I dropped the letter, scuttling back on the bed. Heart racing, I closed my eyes, but I could still see the words...

Samantha Franco has the perfect life. Until, that is, she and her best friend Cassie disappear and only Samantha resurfaces...with no knowledge of what happened.

And Cassie stays missing. Gradually, Samantha begins to piece together her memories of that night. If she can do that, she may yet be able to save her friend. And, little by little, something begins to emerge...

Then she gets the note:
DON’T LOOK BACK.
YOU WON’T LIKE WHAT YOU FIND.

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I’ve only read one other book by Jennifer L. Armentrout before, and I absolutely adored it – so I have to say, when I first started reading Don’t Look Back, my expectations were ridiculously high. I’m so glad to say that they were not just met, but blown away by this book. When I received Don’t Look Back in the post one morning, I opened the package, not knowing what I would find, and I squealed like an idiot – and actually jumped up and down when I realised what it was. I’m pretty sure I scared my mum half to death! Don’t Look Back is a fast-paced, action-packed, pulse-racing and beautifully written book that’ll have you in tears one minute and laughing the next. There are so many twists and turns throughout Don’t Look Back that I just didn’t see coming and it has instantly become a favourite of mine. Throughout the entire book you’ll find yourself captivated and drawn head first into the gripping and mind-blowing story that Jennifer L. Armentrout has created, and you definitely won’t want to put it down!

Sam is our main protagonist, and I really loved her character! She was smart, kind, funny and a really caring person who really regretted who she was before the accident. You could really tell how disgusted she was with the person she used to be, with who her apparent ‘friends’ were and how they acted. It was amazing to see her continue to grow as a person, and slowly start not just to take her life back, but remodel it at the same time. At first, Sam really did try to fit back into her normal life, and I thought it was really great how she tried to keep things normal with her relationship with her boyfriend, Del. She really tried to fall back in love with him – and tried to be a part of her friendship group – but they just weren’t her anymore. Sam’s was a really incredible character, she was so well developed and I just loved everything about her.

Carson is the love interest throughout Don’t Look Back, and BOY did I love him! He isn’t usually the type of guy in books that I read that I fall in love with instantly, but I fell so hard that I’m surprised I’m still conscious! Carson is Sam’s twin brother, Scott’s best friend. His father also works for Sam’s and Scott’s parents – which means he’s a commoner, and you quickly learn that Sam used to think he was beneath her because he wasn’t rich. No matter how gorgeous he is. Carson has the most amazing personality though; he’s patient, kind, respectful, funny and absolutely swoon-worthy. He has his doubts about Sam’s sudden personality change, and he’s expectedly cautious. But eventually he realises that Sam has changed, and he begins to open up to her. Watching their relationship develop and unfold was fantastic, and beautiful. There wasn’t a speck of insta-love, but insta-attraction, and feelings that just developed from there. It really was amazing to read about.

Overall, I absolutely ADORED Don’t Look Back. I started it one evening, and I just could not put it down! I had to force myself, literally, to set the book aside for a while, but once I picked it up the following evening, I kept reading until I turned the very last page. Don’t Look Back is a creepy, intense and heart-racing psychological thriller that’ll keep anyone on their toes. Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing is absolutely flawless and perfect in every way – I can’t find a single thing I dislike with her writing and plot lines – she has this incredible ability to create brilliant and unforgettable characters and relationships that’ll last even after you’ve turned the last page. If I could give Don’t Look Back more than 5 stars, I really would! I’d give it 5 billion stars if it were possible. I’m finding myself all of sudden feeling the urge to buy every single thing Jennifer L. Armentrout has written and I highly recommend this novel to anyone who’s a fan of thriller – you definitely won’t be disappointed!

Quotes

Trey leaned back farther, amusement dripping from his pores. The table of girls stared at me as if I’d stripped naked and done a little jig. I gripped my bottle, wanting to throw it at one of their heads.
“Jeez, that’s rude on so many levels.”

Rounding the corner, I smacked right into a rock-hard body with enough force that the poor guy let out a grunt and hit the floor. Thrown off balance, I toppled down on him. In a second, I recognized the clean, citrusy scent.
Carson.
Our bodies were pressed together in all the wrong places. Or the right places, depending on how I wanted to look at it. Not that I thought it was right. It was definitely wrong, especially the way his chest felt incredibly muscled under mine, his stomach like steel. Heat zinged through my veins.

“Are you finally going to kiss me?” I asked, dizzy with anticipation, want, and a thousand other things.
One side of his mouth tipped up. “Maybe.”
I leaned in, breathing the same air as him. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
“Me neither,” he teased, his chest rising unsteadily against mine. Letting go of my hand, he cupped my cheek, running his thumb along my jaw. My hand fluttered to his chest, and his heart was pounding as fast as mine.
And when he lowered his head, the sheer look of passion in his eyes stole my breath.

Review: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Title: Fire & Flood.
Series: Fire & Flood, #1.
Author: Victoria Scott.
Publication Date: March 6th, 2014.
Publisher: Chicken House.
Format: Paperback, 366 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:



Tella's brother is dying. He's got cancer, and Tella is helpless to save him. Or so she thought. When an invitation arrives for Tella to compete in the Brimstone Bleed, a deadly competition that will lead her through treacherous jungle and scorching desert, she doesn't think twice. Because the prize is a cure to any illness.
But Tella will be facing more than just the elements...

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The first word that popped into my mind when I first started reading Fire & Flood was that it was completely and utterly bizarre. However, the more I read of the book, the more I absolutely adored Fire & Flood! Adored it in a creepy ‘I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I WANT TO HAVE YOUR BABIES’ sort of way - and in a slightly less creepy ‘I’M FANGIRLING SO MUCH I CAN’T SLEEP’ sort of way. Fire & Flood is a fast-paced, action-packed, thought-provoking novel that’ll have your heart racing and your mind speeding ahead and second guessing every little detail you read. Although the world-building wasn’t that well developed, the amount of details Victoria Scott wrote about, and all the things she described made me feel like I was right there along with the characters in the competition. I honestly can’t seem to get across how much I loved this book – but I’m going to do my very best to try!

Tella is our main character, and to be perfectly honest; I wasn’t really sure what to make of her at first. She seemed a little too superficial for my tastes and some of the things she came out with were pretty darn weird. But as the normal progressed, Tella really changed and grew into a pretty bad-ass character that I ended up loving! It turns out as you read more of the book that Tella has a very maternal instinct, and I loved this. She became fiercely protective of all the Pandora’s in the book, no matter what they’d done for their Contender. Tella was a fascinating character, and although she was a bit obnoxious and judgemental, I really liked her character. I just guess that now days, so many people are like it that it just becomes second nature to them.

Guy is the main love interest throughout Fire & Flood, and boy did I love him! He’s dark, quiet, brooding and sexy – you all should know by now that he’s just my type. He may be a slightly hostile character who’s pretty darn unsociable, but he is also ridiculously protective, smart, caring and kind guy who also has an awesome sense of humour under all the brooding! I loved how Guy’s and Tella’s relationship wasn’t insta-love at all, of course they were drawn to each other somehow – but I loved how Tella often referred to some of the looks Guy gave her as ‘serial killerish’. I just thought it was really refreshing to see two characters actually get to know each other properly, rather than them knowing each other for a few days and suddenly thinking they’re in love. I just thought their relationship was just beautiful.

Overall, I thought that Fire & Flood was bloody fantastic! Although Victoria Scott’s writing is far from perfect and flawed in many ways, it was still an incredible novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Fire & Flood was an easy 5 star read, and I believe it well and truly deserves that rating. I honestly can’t wait see what happens next in this story and find out what happens to the characters – my hands are just itching to get a hold of Salt & Stone, it’s such a shame that we have to wait so long for it to be released! I’m really looking forward to reading more from Victoria Scott in the future, as I can’t wait to see how she handles writing other genres. If you haven’t picked up a copy of Fire & Flood yet, I highly recommend that you do as soon as you possibly can!

Quotes

If my hair gets any frizzier, I'll shave it to the scalp.
Or light it on fire.
Whichever is easier. - Page 03.

I pause outside the door, wondering if I’m about to get busted for breaking and entering. Then I turn the handle and find myself at the top of another winding staircase.
You’ve got to be kidding me. What is this – Dracula’s bachelor pad? - Page 34.

When I first saw the sand, I thought it was beautiful. Like maybe it'd be fun to just roll around in and make sand angels. Now I know the truth, that sand is actually the love child of proud parents Marie Antoinette and Joseph Stalin. - Page 237.

Review: Unremembered by Jessica Brody

Title: Unremembered.
Series: Unremembered, #1.
Author: Jessica Brody.
Publication Date: February 27th, 2014.
Publisher: Macmillan.
Format: Paperback, 320 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:



A catastrophic plane crash leaves on survivor:
a girl with no memory.
Who is she? Where does she come from?
Nobody knows and no one comes forward to claim her.
The she meets a boy who calls her Seraphina and claims they were once in love.

Can she trust him or is she safer leaving the past...unremembered?

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Unremembered is fast-paced and action-packed novel, filled with suspense and twist and turns that you just don’t see coming. Unremembered completely took me by surprise and blew me away at the same time – I just couldn’t put it down! I couldn’t find a single flaw with this novel, and that’s actually quite surprising to me, as I always seem to find something wrong with books – but maybe I just didn’t want to find any. Unremembered was a beautiful and brilliant novel that has quickly become one of my favourite books that I’ve read this year!

Seraphina is our main character, and I absolutely adored her! She wakes up in the ocean, being the only one to of survived a catastrophic plane crash and has no recollection of who she is, let alone the simple every day things around her. I loved how Sera kept a completely cool and even head throughout most of the book, and didn’t drive herself insane trying to remember her past. Although Sera remembers nothing about herself, I loved being on the journey with her, finding out different things about herself – especially what she loved and hated – it was really extraordinary. When Sera’s true personality starts to surface, we learn that she’s actually a kind, caring and very loving girl, who has just been dealt a very poor hand of cards.

Zen is the love-interest in Unremembered and I loved his character as well – he was absolutely perfect. Zen randomly appears not long after Sera wakes in the ocean; he tells her that her name is Seraphina, they once in love and that her life is in danger. Now, I don’t know about you, but if a gorgeous boy turned up out of the blue and said we were in love – I don’t think I’d really complain! However, Seraphina is naturally cautious of Zen at first, and tries to ignore him, but in the end is won over by the things he tells her and his sweet, caring and lovely personality. I wish I could have my own Zen, but alas – I cannot!

Although Sera and Zen have a history, and have been in love for a while before Sera lost her memories and everything went wrong, Sera’s and Zen’s new relationship is definitely not insta-love. And for that, I am extremely glad! Throughout the book you’re able to see the transition in Sera’s eyes; from Zen being a complete stranger whom she didn’t know. To remembering their love and falling in love with him all over again – it really is beautiful and done so well. There are so many ways that Jessica could have gotten this transition completely wrong, but I think it was done perfectly and I really can’t fault it.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Unremembered – it was such a fantastic and wonderfully done novel that has stayed with me, even after I turned the last page. Jessica Brody’s writing is beautiful and very unique and interesting at the same time. I believe Unremembered well and truly deserves the 5/5 star rating I gave it, and If I could give it more – I really would! I can’t wait to continue on with this series as soon as possible, as I’m sure it’s going to be just as incredible, and a fantastic series overall. I also can’t wait to read more by Jessica Brody in future, as I’m really interested to see how she handles writing other genres! I’d recommend Unremembered to anyone, even if you’re not a huge sci-fi fan, I’m sure you’ll all love it. Jessica is definitely an author to keep an eye out for!

Quotes

Forgetting who you are is so much more complicated than simply forgetting your name. It's also forgetting your dreams. Your aspirations. What makes you happy. What you pray you'll never have to live without. It's meeting yourself for the first time, and not being sure of your first impression. - Pages 5 & 6.

‘Do you remember?’ he asks, leaning in and pressing his lips to my cheek.
‘Yes,’ I whisper. ‘Always yes.’ - Page 186.

Circumstances cannot change how you feel. When you truly love someone – on a level that goes deeper than your mind, deeper than your memories, all the way to the very thing that makes you human – you do whatever it takes.
You save him. - Page 266.

Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Title: Crash Into You.
Series: Pushing The Limits, #3.
Author: Katie McGarry.
Publication Date: November 26th, 2013.
Publisher: Harlequin Teen.
Format: Paperback, 474 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:



The girl with straight A's, designer clothes and the perfect life - that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy family...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker - a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

The last thing Isaiah needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks. But when their shared love of street racing puts their lives in jeopardy, Isaiah and Rachel will have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

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Katie McGarry has done it again – she’s created an amazing and beautifully written contemporary novel that I just couldn’t put down! I laughed, cried and gushed over every little thing in Crash Into You, and although it was a large book, I sped through it incredibly fast. Katie McGarry is one of my favourite authors – if you’ve not read any the books in this series then you are well and truly missing out! I recommend them to anyone, it doesn’t matter if you’re older; I’m sure you’ll fall in love with Katie’s writing and characters. I’m running out of words to say how much I adored this book, and I think that it may possibly be my favourite of the three so far – but we’ll have to see!

Isaiah is smoking hot ball of passion and emotion – and I fell in love with him from book one. I was so excited to know that he was having his own book, because there just wasn’t enough of him in the previous books, and I really wanted to see him have a happy ending. Although Isaiah may seem like a tough guy, he hides behind his tattoos and piercings – hiding his dark past and has already assigned himself a bleak future. He’s really a kind, caring, brave, compassionate and gentle guy who just wants to be loved (even though he’d never really admit it!). I can’t find a single fault with Isaiah’s character, he’s amazing and I love everything about him, he’s had a hard life but is trying to turn things around and refuses to be sucked down by drugs and theft. Isaiah’s a motivated and slightly hot-headed guy, but I think he deserves nothing but the best.

Rachel is also an amazing character as well, and so different from every other female lead I’ve read about. Although I couldn’t relate about her love of cars, I understood her family troubles and I felt like I could feel all of her desperation and need to be seen for who she really was. Rachel may have had everything she’s ever wanted, with a big family and plenty of money – but behind the facade there are cracks. She’s constantly trying to live up to her dead sister who she was born to replace and tries to keep her real self confined to please her parents. However her mask is slipping and she is constantly struggling to be who her parents want her to be. Rachel is a beautiful character; kind, caring, shy and suffers from awful panic attacks. As a panic attack sufferer myself, I could understand how she feels and my heart well and truly went out to her.

Abby is Isaiah’s friend that he’s known since they were kids, at first, I wasn’t sure if I liked her that much at all, but as the book went on I grew to love her. She and Rachel struck up an unusual and wonderful friendship that made me smile like a complete idiot. She may not have been a huge part of the book, but I thought she deserved a mention! Moving on; Isaiah’s and Rachel’s relationship was on fast-forward from the beginning, but it didn’t feel like insta-love at all. They knew how they felt about each other from their first encounter and went from there and eventually fell in love. Their relationship was amazing and I loved seeing it progress and their reactions to each other and affection were definitely swoon-worthy!

Katie McGarry is a writing-genius and god all wrapped up into one. Her characters are incredible, loveable and her writing style beautiful, fun and heart-wrenching all at the same time. I wish I could read more about Isaiah’s and Rachel’s relationship as I want to read more about them, and I also wish that Katie McGarry would write lots more books in this series. I think a book on Abby’s character would be absolutely fantastic! If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would – but unfortunately that’s not really possible, so I’ll just finish with saying that Crash Into You was an phenomenal book that everybody and their mothers should read. I can’t wait to read the next companion novel in this series, and anything else Katie McGarry may write in the future. I’m completely hooked and I’m sure I will never stop loving Katie, this book, or the others in this series.

Quotes

"You can ignore me, Rachel, and you can try to treat me as a friend, but none of that will erase the fact that I think about kissing you every second I’m awake and dream at night of my hands on your body. And it sure as hell won’t erase that I’m terrified by how much I like you."

"One day I’ll get a tattoo for you."
Warmth explodes in my chest, in awe that he would mark himself for me. "You don’t have to."
"I will." His fingers trace my cheek and chills of pleasure run down my spine. "It’s what I do. Each tattoo represents the only happy memories I’ve had. And you, Rachel, you’re the happiest."

Maybe this is what happens when you fall in love. On the outside a lighter is nothing amazing, but it holds all the ingredients that can create something wonderful. With a few pushes in the right direction, you can inspire something so brilliant that it pushes back the darkness.

Review: My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul to Steal.
Series: Soul Screamers, #4.
Author: Rachel Vincent.
Publication Date: July 17th, 2011.
Publisher: Mira Ink.
Format: Paperback, 375 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:



Sometimes dreams do come true...
And that’s the last thing Kaylee needs.

Working things out with Nash – her maybe boyfriend – is hard for Kaylee. She’s already coping with being a teenage banshee. Worse, Nash’s gorgeous ex-girlfriend just transferred to their school.

Sabine’s no ordinary girl. She’s a mara, a real-life walking nightmare. Draining people’s energy through their darkest dreams sustains Sabine...and makes her Kaylee’s top suspect in a cluster of super-creepy deaths.

To win back Nash, Kaylee’s determined to unearth the truth. But Sabine knows the deathly secrets of Kaylee’s subconscious – and she’s not afraid to use them to get whatever and whoever she wants...

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I wasn’t initially sure whether I had enough opinions on this book to write a good enough review for it. However, seeing as it was sent to me for review, and add in the fact that I’ve not reviewed a single book in this series yet – I decided to bite the bullet and do so! I’ve not read any novels with Banshee’s in, and I really don’t think there are that many out there – so it’s great to see an author do something different. Rachel Vincent has created another fantastic book in her Soul Screamers series; my expectations where very high when I started reading My Soul to Steal and I can say they were well and truly met. I expected nothing less from Rachel, who has already wowed me with the first three books in this series.

Kaylee is back and booming – and whining – in this next instalment in the series. Although I’ve loved her character in the past three books, I have to say she really irritated me in this one! I hated Kaylee’s attitude towards the situation with her ex-boyfriend Nash and his ex-girlfriend Sabine. The whole ‘I’m not taking you back but I’m refusing to let you be with her’ attitude drove me insane. I understand that she’s hurting due to reasons from the previous book – but couldn’t she be man enough (I’m not sure if this is the right phrase to use, but hey!) to be by Nash’s side while he’s dealing with his problems, rather than bugger off and leave him to suffer alone. I don’t think that’s the attitude you have towards someone you love – even if they’ve hurt you.

Nash – oh dear, where am I going to start with you? In the first two books, I was very much so ‘Team Nash’, (I almost started my own fan-club) but in My Soul to Keep – I hated his guts completely. In this book, he definitely scored more points and my hatred of him turned more towards slight annoyance and a bit of a crush. (I’m not going to start waving pom poms and chanting his name though.) Nash has a back bone in the first three books – but in My Soul to Steal, he seems to have let Kaylee rip it out and use it as a musical instrument. Please, Nash – grow back the balls you seem to have lost since you messed up your relationship. If you want her that badly, don’t let her treat you like a dog that’s misbehaved – you’re giving off completely the wrong signal!

Todd is Nash’s brother, and gosh – I love him so much! From the moment he was introduced into this series, I felt like throwing my hypothetical ‘Team Jacob’ t-shirt in the rubbish and buying a ‘Team Todd’ one instead. The only problem with Todd is that he’s dead – it’s really a darn shame, as I think Kaylee and Todd would make an excellent couple. As for Sabine; gosh, I hated her so much – yet at the same time I loved her. Is that weird? Sabine is bad-ass - as in the bad-ass that will try and steal your boyfriend but try and be your friend at the same time. Sabine annoyed me and frustrated me, but by the end of the book I grew quite fond of her. I will admit that I wished she’d get killed off at first – but now I just think she’s going to bring quite a lot of laughs to the series.

As much as I criticised and complained about this book, I really did enjoy it – and this book, and the series for that matter – are in my list of favourite books. Rachel Vincent’s writing is wonderful, funny and such a pleasure to read. I’m sure all of these irritations are just little road-blocks in the way to her making the series what it is – and I completely understand. This series would not be the same without all the drama! As it turns out, I had a hell of a lot more to say about this book than I thought I would – and I can’t wait to pick up the next book in this series and see what happens next! Please, no one take any of my ranting about this book seriously, it’s just me letting off some steam and trying to be funny – I really believe this book well and truly earned the 5/5 star rating I gave it. I definitely wouldn’t give it anything less.

Quotes

Whoever said it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved was full of crap. If I'd never loved Nash in the first place, I wouldn't know what I was missing now. - Page 08.

Anger is great. It's powerful, when you need something to hold you up. Something to steel your spine. But in the dark, when you're alone with the truth, anger can't survive. The only thing that can live in the dark with you is fear. - Page 90.

Then strong, warm arms wrapped around me from behind.
"I've got you," Tod whispered in my ear. - Page 363.

Review: Wait for You by J. Lynn.

Title: Wait for You.
Author: J. Lynn.
Publication Date: August 15th, 2013.
Publisher: Harper Collins.
Format: Paperback, 404 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:



Some things are worth waiting for...
Some things are worth experiencing...
And some things are worth fighting for...

Avery knows she should stay away from Cam Hamilton: he might be the hottest guy on campus but she really doesn’t need that sort of drama right now. Love is best left in the past – along with her troubles. But sometimes, the last thing you want, is just the thing you need …

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First off, I need to say; Holy cow! Secondly; I never thought I’d find any contemporary novel with characters, writing and a plot line as good as Katie McGarry’s Pushing the Limits series – but I am so pleased to squash those thoughts as I was completely wrong! Wait for You is an incredible novel, with beautiful writing with an inspiring and heart-wrenching story. I had to force myself to not read this book in one go, and spread it out over the space of a week or so – as I didn’t want to rush it and have the book be over too soon. Needless to say, I was addicted to this story.

Avery is our main protagonist and I absolutely adored her. Not only is Avery smart, but she’s funny and kind – but she hates to depend on people. Avery has her own personal demons, which are revealed overtime throughout the book – and my heart just broke when I read about them, and how badly they’ve affected her. I felt like I just wanted to reach into the book and give her a big hug! As Wait for You progresses, Avery starts to open up more and you learn more about her character and you watch her develop into an even better version of herself – and she even becomes happier with her life. I thought Avery was a really relatable character and ticks a lot of boxes when it comes down to what I look for in a protagonist - I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her life, her issues and her first love, all of these were so raw and full of emotion that I just couldn’t put ti down.

Cam is the main love-interest in Wait for You, and BOY did I love him! At first, I was expecting not to like Cam at all, mainly because; he’s a jock and extremely popular – I just expected him to look down on people. How wrong was I?! Very! Cam is sweet, kind, swoon-worthy and funny with an ego the size of a house – however he doesn’t use any of these things to be cruel or rude to people. Cam is kind to everyone he meets, he may be way over-confident, but you learn that he uses it in a joking way – and doesn’t have superiority complex. I wish I could have my own Cam, as he’s the type of guy any girl would love to fall in love with – even if he’ll probably end up breaking your heart!

What I loved most about Avery’s and Cam’s relationship was that it definitely wasn’t insta-love. They meet at the very beginning of the novel, and although they seem interested in each other – they don’t get together until at least half way through the book. Their relationship took months to build, and they started off as friends and slowly became more – which is what made the book even more incredible for me. The romantic scenes in Wait for You are incredibly well done, with not a hint of cheesiness. They’re hot, steamy and will make you feel and think all sorts of naughty things! I didn’t just write that, did I? Don’t judge me! The romance in this book will blow your mind and keep you needing more, even after the last page is turned. Watch out for the feels!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Wait for You; it was a tear-jerking, mind-blowing and fantastic book that made me laugh and cry, sometimes even at the same time! I really didn’t want Wait for You to end - I wish that It could have gone on forever, as I’m sure I would never get bored of reading about Avery and Cam’s lives. I couldn’t find a single fault with this book and J. Lynn’s writing is flawless and absolutely beautiful. I believe it well and truly earned the 5/5 star rating I gave it, and if I could give it more – I definitely would! Wait for You has quickly become one of my favourite books and definitely one of my favourite reads of this year. I’d recommend this novel to anyone who’s looking for a wonderful contemporary read – also for fans of Katie McGarry’s writing – as I think their writing has quite a few similarities. I can’t wait to read more from J. Lynn/Jennifer L. Armentrout in the future, and I can’t wait to read the next book in this companion series!

Quotes

My stomach knotted and I prayed to God, Shiva and Zeus that Jacob didn’t say anything that’d make me want to kill him later. - Page 87.

‘Oh, you know, mischief and mayhem,’ he replied.
‘That so reminds me of Harry Potter,’ Brit said, sighing. ‘I need a reread.’
We all turned to her.
Two bright spots appeared on her cheeks as she tossed her blonde hair back. ‘What? I’m not ashamed to admit that random things remind me of Harry Potter.’
‘That guy over there reminds me of Snape,’ Cam said, jerking his chin toward the table behind us. ‘So I understand.’
The guy with jet-black hair did kind of look like Snape. - Page 88.

‘Fuck, Avery. You think I don't want you?’ His voice came out low, almost a growl. ‘There's not a single part of you that I don't want, you understand? I want to be on you and inside of you. I want you against the wall, on the couch, in your bed, in my bed, and every fucking place I can possibly think of, and trust me, I have a vast imagination when it comes to these kinds of things. Don't ever doubt that I want you. That is not what this is about.’ - Page 271.

If I had any doubts about the seriousness of our relationship, they were vanquished that evening.
Cam brought Raphael over to my apartment.
Nothing got more serious than allowing a tortoise to crawl across your kitchen floor. - Page 290.