Review: Lucas (Preston Brothers #1) by Jay McLean

Summary:

In a sprint, every millisecond counts.
When you’re waiting for love, those milliseconds can feel like eons.

High school senior Lucas Preston has it all: star of the track team, a scholarship waiting for him, an apartment to himself and a revolving door of girlfriends. He also has an older sister, five younger brothers and a father who relies on him to make sure those brothers don’t kill each other.
His saving grace? Lois “Laney” Sanders, a girl he started to fall in like with when he was just eleven.
A girl who became his best friend, his confidant, his courage.

It took only sixteen clicks and eight seconds for Lucas to realize that his like for Laney had turned into love.
Eight life-changing seconds.
It’s also the exact length of time it took to lose her.In a sprint, every millisecond counts.
When you’re waiting for love, those milliseconds can feel like eons.

High school senior Lucas Preston has it all: star of the track team, a scholarship waiting for him, an apartment to himself and a revolving door of girlfriends. He also has an older sister, five younger brothers and a father who relies on him to make sure those brothers don’t kill each other.
His saving grace? Lois “Laney” Sanders, a girl he started to fall in like with when he was just eleven.
A girl who became his best friend, his confidant, his courage.

It took only sixteen clicks and eight seconds for Lucas to realize that his like for Laney had turned into love.
Eight life-changing seconds.
It’s also the exact length of time it took to lose her.

Review:

If you love Jay McLean’s books you’ll most definitely love Lucas. If you haven’t read her books, you should. This one can be read as a standalone; there are some emotional cameos from the characters from the More Series, but you’ll be way too consumed with Lucas and Laney’s story.

I think, ultimately, that’s what true love is, you know? To want to be someone’s hero when they’re faced with villains. To want to be the one who saves them. To be their wonderwall.

Review: Keepsake (True North #3) by Sarina Bowen

Summary:

There’s a first time for everything.

Lark Wainwright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.

When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.

Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.

Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.

Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he’s good for much more than farm labor.There’s a first time for everything.

Lark Wainwright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.

When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.

Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.

Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.

Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he’s good for much more than farm labor.

Review:

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I’m so sorry to be posting this one week after release day, but I’ve been through some stuff and honestly couldn’t bring myself to read, and less so to write reviews. I did enjoy this book, though. It was quite intense and emotional.

Review: Playboy Pilot by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling authors of Stuck-Up Suit andCocky Bastard, comes a sexy new standalone novel.
Money or love? Which would you choose?
You probably just answered the question in your head thinking it’s an easy decision.
For me, it’s not. Did I mention it’s a lot of money? A hell of a lot.
I needed to go far away to think it through.
As I embarked on an impulsive trip, I hit a detour when I met sexy Carter in the airport lounge. We struck up a heated conversation.
Then, he left.
I thought I’d never see him again.
But fate had other plans.
Surprise! He was the pilot of my flight.
The bigger surprise was the adventure that followed after the plane landed.
Carter was dangerous and always on the move.
Even though our connection was magnetic, I knew it was only temporary.
He would give me tickets, and I would follow him around the world to exotic places.
A bevy of flight attendant exes and rumors about Carter’s reputation were never far behind.
I didn’t know what to believe.
But I was addicted. Nothing else mattered anymore. And I was going to get hurt. Because a part of me wanted to be the one to finally ground the playboy pilot.
At the very least, he was taking me on a thrilling ride.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

Review:

I was hooked from the very first page, I immediately thought this’d be a great read, but then Kendall’s plans were revealed and I just, I can’t believe she even thought about doing it! In order to get her grandfather’s inheritance she has to do something, which isn’t bad per se but it’s absolutely wrong to do for money! At least in my opinion. So I kind of pretended that wasn’t actually happening, so to be able to enjoy the book. That was actually the only thing I didn’t like about Kendall.

Because the book was definitely enjoyable, not amazing but pretty good. Carter’s one of those completely unapologetically outspoken guys, cocky as hell, he can say the rudest things and somehow seem charming. It was sooo funny! Yes, he’s a playboy, I mean he’s a young hot pilot, of course he is. He’s been hurt when he was younger, so that didn’t help him wanting to open up to someone. But once he meets Kendall and goes on this crazy adventure with her, something starts to change. It’s not that original but it’s fun nonetheless.

Overall, the book was funny and cute, Carter’s rude humor was addictive, I just wish that that one thing wasn’t part of the story.

Review: The Goal (Off-Campus #4) by Elle Kennedy

Summary:

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

Review:

Just finished this one and I’m a little bit disappointed. I mean, it wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t feeling like staying up all night to keep reading. 

Review: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Summary:

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

Review:

Oh gosh! It’s been a week since I read this book and I’m still feeling so very weak and shaken. Bardugo outdid herself.

“Have any of you wondered what I did with all the cash Pekka Rollins gave us?”
“Guns?” asked Jesper.
“Ships?” queried Inej.
“Bombs?” suggested Wylan.
“Political bribes?” offered Nina. They all looked at Matthias. “This is where you tell us how awful we are,” she whispered.

Crooked Kingdom starts exactly where Six of Crows left off. The main concern, although someone won’t admit it, is to save Inej. The whole book is full of those things that made this story so amazing. The writing style just keeps getting better, Kaz’s scheming always more unpredictable, the adventures crazier, the atmosphere darker, the characters more developed, the relationship more emotional. These characters are all put to test, and so are the readers. I was so incredibly scared a lot of times, just to be reminded that, yes, this crew is the best squad ever. But they’re not invincible.

“Everything is a negotiation with you, Brekker. You probably bartered your way out of the womb.”

I think this series will always be among my favorites. I’m so sad to know that it’s over, but I’m also happy it ended on such a high level! I’m definitely going to reread it a few times, but I’m also so excited for Bardugo to amaze me with her next work!

Review: Flawed (Flawed #1) by Cecelia Ahern

Summary:

You will be punished…

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.

But then Celestine encounters a situation where she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found flawed.

In her breathtaking young adult debut, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society where perfection is paramount and flaws lead to punishment. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her everything.

Review:

Well, I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I think it was definitely an interesting debut YA dystopian for Ahern.

The whole thing is based on this society in which perfection is required by law. Those who are deemed flawed are punished and discriminated. It was an interesting premise, and Celestine, the main character was just as brainwashed as everyone else. She never thought too much about it, because no one close to her had ever been flawed, until she witness something that finally had her reconsider. Her actions will bring a lot of attention on her, from both those supporting and those against the system.

This book was all about the moral dilemma, and Celestine’s development. I feel like this wasn’t enough to make a dystopian novel, though, like it was just the prologue. The real action was just about to start when the book ended. And there were a lot of things about the flawed system that weren’t clear. I’m still not sure what’s allowed and what’s not.

I’m really curious and excited to read the second book, though. Overall, it was a good read, it kept my attention and curiosity. It has a lot of flaws, but a lot of potential.

Review: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Summary:

Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that?

Review:

This is my second Morgan Matson’s book and I found all the things I loved from Since You’ve Been Gone in this one. The amazing friendships, the cute romance, the family drama, which are pretty common in this genre, but what’s unique about it all it’s how real and how honest these relationships felt.

Review: Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci

Summary:

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy, licking her wounds—and perhaps a gelato or two. But when her American-expat friend throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop when she sees a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello was the man—the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious! And so is Marcello…

Slipping easily into the good life of summertime in Rome, Avery spends her days exploring a city that makes art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over her unexpected what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could this really be her new life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twin-set cardigans and crustless sandwiches?

A celebration of great friendship, passionate romance, and wonderful food, Roman Crazy is a lighthearted story of second chances and living life to the fullest.

Reviews:

What a ride! I’ve always loved Alice Clayton’s books, so as soon as I saw she was co-writing a new one set in Rome, aka where I live, I was super excited! I was beautifully surprised!

After finding out that Daniel, her husband of 8 years, has been cheating on her, Avery decides to finally turn away from that life and have a change of scenery. She heads out to Rome, where her best friend, Daisy, lives. Bless them! I absolutely loved their friendship! I adore well portrayed female friendships, and this book gives them a lot of room. But surprise, surprise. Marcello, the guy Avery loved so much 9 years before during her study abroad in Barcelona and whom she left without much of an explanation, works with Daisy. Things get deliciously complicated.

Oh the sizzling romance! As soon as they see each other again, it’s plain that there’s unfinished business there, that they’ve never quite stopped thinking about that beautiful time they had in Barcelona. And as they discover each other again, Avery finds out so much about herself, so much about what she gave up to be with Daniel, and what she won’t ever give up again. She’ll put herself first, always.

This is a book about second chances, not only at love, but at life. The first half was a bit slow, but I didn’t mind because it’s amazing how everything about Rome was well portrayed! Seriously, it felt like I was actually walking through the city.

Review: Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1) by Sarina Bowen

Summary:

The first novel in a sexy new series featuring the hockey players of the Brooklyn Bruisers and the women who win their hearts—from the USA Today bestselling author of the Ivy Years series.

In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold…

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast….

Review:

I was so lucky to receive an ARC of the first book in Sarina Bowen’s new series, Brooklyn Bruisers. This author knows how to write romance, and she’s never disappointed me. A few chapters into Rookie Move and I knew she had me once again.

Review: Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

Summary:

The bestselling author of the Shatter Me series takes readers beyond the limits of their imagination in this captivating new middle grade adventure where color is currency, adventure is inevitable, and friendship is found in the most unexpected places.

There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it’s been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other.

But bringing Father home is no small matter. In order to find him she’ll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named Oliver whose own magical ability is based in lies and deceit–and with a liar by her side in a land where nothing is as it seems, it will take all of Alice’s wits (and every limb she’s got) to find Father and return home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father, Alice must first find herself–and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.

Review:

I wish I could go back to when I was a little girl and have someone (possibly Tahereh herself) read this book to me. The incredibly beautiful, colorful and vibrant writing style had me falling completely in love.

She stopped too many times, wandering off the main path, catching deep breaths and holding them, too selfish to let them go. She spun until her skirts circled around her, smiling so wide she thought her face would break and blossom. She hopped around on tiptoe, and only when she could stand it no longer would she exhale what wasn’t hers to keep.