{Review} Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Posted by Donna
Release Date: July 16th, 2013
Finished Date: December 5th, 2014

Publishers: Simon Pulse
Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance
Source: Bought 
Format: Hardcover

Pages: 273

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

The Review: It’s been a long time since I’ve really enjoyed a book by Jennifer Echols. She was one of the first YA contemporary authors I read and I was instantly hooked, but most recently Such a Rush and The One that I Want I found I didn’t enjoy them as much as her previous books. So yeah, I’m really happy that I really enjoyed Dirty Little Secret because I wasn’t ready to give up on this author.

Bailey and her sister always played as a duo. They’re family brought them up to love music and reach for their dreams, but when Julie got a chance at her dream and signed with a big label, the deal was only for her and not Bailey. Now Bailey’s been left behind by her and family while they go on the road and Bailey’s stuck living with her Grandad after acting out at not having the same chance. Now her days are filled with playing fiddle in a tribute groups at the mall and trying to stay hidden away so she doesn’t embarrass her sister. But when Bailey meets Sam, a music lover like her that pushes her to do the things her family want her to forget. Bailey has to decide if her fiddle and music is worth losing her family and possibly her chance to go to college….

Like I said, I really enjoyed Dirty Little Secret and the main reason why was because it had such likable characters. I really like Bailey. I really sympathised with her situation and really felt as though her family had given up on her to help her sister pursue her dreams, and by doing so, they left Bailey behind. So yeah, I felt really bad for Bailey and could totally see why she acted the way she did. Why should she have to give up her own dreams? It was the mother that I couldn’t stand because she was at the heart of everything. And Sam – even though he had his own problems – he was still really likable and just a little bit swoon worthy. I loved how he continued to push Bailey to go after her own dreams, even though sometimes I felt as though he was trying to benefit from it himself still, I could still see why. They had a deep connection, that felt real and very honest, and there are so many lovable quotes from them.

In the plot of the story was a good one. I loved the music aspect of it and was easily swept away by Bailey getting lost in her fiddle. I have to say, I definitely came away from this story intrigued by the fiddle and I’d happily read a second book involving the characters and what happens next.

In all, Dirty Little Secret is a passionate read about two people coming together through music and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A Review for Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Posted by Donna
Release Date: June 6th, 2013
Finished Date: May 22nd, 2013

Publishers: Simon & Schuster UK
Source: For Review 

Format: Paperback 
Pages: 336

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she's in the air, it's easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. So when her flight instructor, Mr Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. Then Mr Hall dies suddenly leaving his teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, in charge of running the business. The two brothers have always made their hostility towards her clear so she's sure that her dreams of being a pilot are over… 
Then it Grayson makes it clear that he wants her to stay working for him, and Leah doesn't understand why. She's crushed on him for years, but always known he's out of her league… isn't he? As the summer rolls on and they spend more time together the spark between them grows, but with Alec's feelings starting to change too, suddenly things become a whole lot more complicated. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers - and the consequences could be deadly…

The Review: It's been a long time since I've read any of Jennifer Echols work, so I was excited to see what she had in store with Such a Rush, and in all, Jennifer provides a swoon-worthy read! 

Such a Rush is based around a teenage girl named Leah. Leah's absentee mother spends all her money on gambling and booze, leaving Leah to fend for herself. Leah's only escape from her problems are flying air planes for a banner flying company, but when Mr Hall dies - the owner of the company, Leah's future is suddenly looking bleak. When his son's Grayson and Alec take over the company, Leah finds herself in a worse position than ever, because Grayson starts blacking mailing Leah into dating his brother. Can Leah really date Alec when she's attracted to Grayson when it's pretty clear that Grayson feels something for her too?

I really enjoyed Such a Rush, probably not as much as I was expecting too but still, it was definitely worth a read. This is the sixth book I've read by Jennifer and even though I've enjoyed more some than others, her works never disappoints. She provides good summer reads and I definitely plan on reading more of her work. 

Leah despite her problems is a very likeable character. It was easy to get lost in her world and feel her pain that's causes by her mother. She's got no-one other than Mr Hall and her best friend to lean on, so when Mr Hall dies, I think a piece of Leah died too then. Through out the story Leah never wallows, she always remains as hopeful as ever. I was glad when Grayson and Alec entered the picture though- even with Grayson being a jerk, because the story became pretty entertaining and of course, the boys provided that hotness factor. What I liked most was there wasn't really a love triangle involved in the story, it's pretty clear who likes who and I loved that. 

Overall, Such a Rush is a likeable and entertaining read and I can't wait to read Jennifer's next book; Dirty Little Secret. 

A review for Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Posted by Donna

Expected Published: Date: July 19th, 2011
Finished Date: May 25th, 2011
The Blurb: From popular author Jennifer Echols comes a provocative, dramatic story of teen romance, set against the bustling world of a New York City university.
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The Review: After only being introduced to Jennifer's Echols work a few weeks ago, I was super excited to find out this was up for grabs on Galley Grab. Of course, I downloaded it straight away.
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Love Story follows Erin who is studying at New York University to become a romance writer. When Erin has to write a story for her class, she decides to write it about a stable boy that lived on her Grandma's horse farm when she was younger....a guy who also stole her inheritance. What Erin doesn't expect is for the stable boy to transfer into her writing class and will soon realise that he is the stable boy in her sexy story. With two writers, two stories and one undeniable attraction, there are soon sparks flying all over the place. 
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The first chapter of this book starts with a short story written by Erin the main character, but let me say this, it did not have my attention what's so ever. I just couldn't understand why it was there but I soon quickly realised that was my BIG mistake not giving it my full attention. When I finally started getting into the book I had to go and re-read it and it finally made sense. This book does follow Erin's life but during that time Jennifer also adds short stories that both Erin & Hunter have written. Both characters have managed to bring their attraction for one another into their stories which takes you on an incredible journey and it really was amazing to read. 
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What I enjoyed most about this book was the characters. Erin & Hunter were both two strong and independent people but also so stubborn at times. Hunter for me was my favourite of course. He's sweet and caring and you really do feel how he feels about Erin. Jennifer Echols has created these characters to have this amazing talent for writing but it also shows you just how talented Jennifer really is. She's fast becoming one of my favourite authors. 
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The only reason I didn't rate this book 5 stars was because I was left a little disappointed with the ending. The happy ending was there but I guess I was just expecting a massive reunion. I just didn't feel it was really there but maybe it was just me, I'm not sure. 
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I really do think this is another great addition to Jennifer's work. If you haven't read her work I suggest you do, I promise you will not be disappointed. I wasn't! :) 
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Thank you to Simon & Schuster Galley Grab for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

A review for Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Posted by Donna

Published Date: July 10th, 2010
Finished Date: May 18th, 2011
The Blurb: WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . . AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER? There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.


The Review: This is my second book by author Jennifer Echols and it did not disappoint. In fact, I enjoyed this one more than than Going Too Far. 

Forgot You follows the life of 17 year old Zoey Commander. When her life starts to crumble around her, she decides she needs some change and that change is to start dating Brandon, the hottest guy in school. But after an accident on night, Zoey loses part of her memory about what really happened and soon she starts asking questions like, why is Brandon suddenly spending his time with another girl and why does the bad boy Doug think that he and Zoey are dating? As Zoey's journey leads her to find out the truth, readers will left shocked with what truly happened that night. 

This book had a little bit of everything. I was honestly put off by the the fact its only 290 plus pages but Jennifer Echols sure does know how to pack a lot of drama in those pages. It was full mystery, suspense & romance - just what I enjoy from a book. I felt the story itself was incredibly well written and beautiful at times, it makes you feel every single emotion that the characters feel and I loved it. 

The characters were also a highlight for me. I felt that theses characters were so completely alike with their parental issues that I felt they were just right for each other. Not only was Doug a hot guy but he was also a stable one who truly loves Zoey and I think that's what she needed her life. She always seems to pretend around everyone but with Doug, she can truly be who she is. Zoey as a character wasn't perfect and yes, she made some mistakes, but I'm glad that she wasn't this perfect teen. It proves that everyone can make a mistake but you can learn from it. I also really enjoyed some of the secondary characters too but what I'd really love is if there was a second novel to this book. I feel so connected to the characters that I'm sad to leave them behind, so to say the least, if there was another book - I'd buy it straight away. 

Overall, you can tell I loved this story. I have to say I'm completely hooked on this author's work, I honestly need to read more by Jennifer and I can't not wait to get started.

A review for Going too Far by Jennifer Echols

Posted by Donna

Published Date: March 19th, 2009

Finished Date: May 16th, 2011

The Blurb: HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO? All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back. John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

The review: This was my first book by Jennifer Echols and I'll be honest when I say I've never really branched out into this type of genre before, but after reading Perfect Chemistry, I was left wanting more. And boy am I glad I was recommended this book.

This story follows Meg, a troubled girl dying to finish high school and move to Birmingham to get out of her small home town. To entertain herself, Meg finds herself getting into trouble, partying and drinking. One night, after a dare goes a little to far, Meg finds herself in deep trouble when she is arrested by Office After; a nineteen year old handsome cop. Her punishment for getting arrested is to spend a week with Office After on his job, but, is it really punishment when she starts to fall for him?

When I started reading this book I actually put it down for a few days to read something else, not because I was bored with it but because I had a book that I was really excited to read. BUT, I really wish I hadn't. I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something a little more after Perfect Chemistry.

What I enjoyed about this story was how well developed and complexed the characters were. Meg = trouble! but once you get to know her, you find out there is a reason she is like that. She's a loveable person hiding behind her past. Then there's John, well....what's not to like about him! He's amazing and it kinda makes me want a boyfriend cop. ;) He's another character that is hiding behind his past that your just dying to find out what it is. I also enjoyed the banter that takes place between him and Meg, it is enough to keep anyone entertained.

Even though this was a short novel, it was still a great read. I would love to of read this on a beach somewhere as it makes great summer reading. Overall, I loved it and I will look forward to reading more from the author.