{Feature} Waiting on Wednesday (#132)

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Donna's WoW

Head over Heels (Geek Girl #5) 
by Holly Smale
Release Date: February 25th, 2015

“My name is Harriet Manners, and I will always be a geek.”

The fifth book in the bestselling, award-winning GEEK GIRL series.

Harriet Manners knows almost every fact there is.

She knows duck-billed platypuses don’t have stomachs.
She knows that fourteen squirrels were once detained as spies.
She knows only one flag in the world features a building.

And for once, Harriet knows exactly how her life should go. She’s got it ALL planned out. So when love is in the air, Harriet is determined to Make Things Happen!
If only everyone else would stick to the script…

Has GEEK GIRL overstepped the mark, and is following the rules going to break hearts all over again?

  Donna's thoughts: I adore this series and I'm so excited that I don't have to wait much longer for the fifth book!

Melanie's WoW

Sword and Verse 
by Kathy MacMillan
Release Date: January 19th, 2016

Raisa was just a child when she was sold to work as a slave in the kingdom of Qilara. Despite her young age, her father was teaching her to read and write, grooming her to take his place as a Learned One. In Qilara, the Arnathim, like Raisa, are the lowest class, and literacy is a capital offense. What’s more, only the king, prince, tutor, and tutor-in-training are allowed to learn the very highest order language, the language of the gods. So when the tutor-in-training is executed for teaching slaves this sacred language, and Raisa is selected to replace her, Raisa knows any slipup on her part could mean death.

Keeping her secret is hard enough, but the romance that’s been growing between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground army of slave rebels—to help liberate Arnath slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.
Melanie's thoughts: Sounds really good and I love a good fantasy book.

<What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

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Happy Reading!

{Review} Spiral of Need (The Mercury Pack #1) by Suzanne Wright

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: September 29th, 2015
Finished Date: December 4th, 2015

Publishers: Montlake Romance
Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: eBook

Pages: 322
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Ally Marshall isn’t just a wolf shifter — she’s a Seer.

But a girl doesn’t exactly need special powers to know that Derren Hudson despises her entire kind. Disdain practically rolls off the Beta of the Mercury Pack . . . disdain mixed with a healthy dose of desire. And no matter how much the ruggedly handsome male appeals to her, this is one call of the wild she’s determined to ignore.

After one betrayal too many, Derren doesn’t have much use for Seers — except for Ally.

Forced into acting as her protector, he finds himself intensely and passionately drawn to the woman who incites his primal instinct to claim.

And when enemies target the pack, Ally’s gift may be just what the Mercury Pack needs.

Can he put his distrust aside, or will he force himself to turn his back on the one woman who makes his inner beast howl?

The Review: If you’re reading this series then you’re probably aware of the author’s Phoenix Pack series and that is where you will have met most of these characters and whilst it’s not important to have read that series, it helps to know who everyone is and the dynamics of the two packs and what had caused it…. Needless to say, this was just as awesome an opener to the series as the previous series. I really liked the characters in this and thought Ally was a very capable heroine, her circumstances weren’t great and I really felt for her situation – her boyfriend found his true mate and that mate was alienating Ally from her whole pack – she was really stubborn and determined and I liked that about her. We all love a good hate to love scenario and that is what we get here because with Ally being a seer, Derren being prejudiced against seers – someone is going to have to work on their preconceptions. To be fair, it isn’t just Derren that hates seers, it’s the whole pack…. So Ally has some hard work cut out for her in changing their minds and the only reason Derren took her to his pack is because he owes a favour to someone. It was fun to read about them both fighting their attraction, with Ally being a seer, she is very empathic and actually feels the emotions of those around her so it can’t have been easy in the beginning when all she felt was distrust and animosity. Obviously they get down and dirty with each other and they certainly steam up those pages both believing that they aren’t forever but as always…. Fate has other plans.

I really enjoyed the story line in this, it was exciting and dangerous with multiple attacks on the Mercury pack that brought some action and violence to the plot. We know the problem the pack has had with seers so Ally is there to remedy that and make them see that they aren’t all self serving, it was good of her to challenge their misconceptions and I liked how it was handled. The reason she ends up with the Mercury pack was really good and totally set the tone of the book so that we don’t exactly know if it’s the pack or Ally that is being targeted because the attacks come strong and fast. Ally has a protector who more or less ordered Derren to take her in until he was able and what a great addition he was to the plot – I would LOVE his book and his brothers! There are a lot of shifting dynamics between neighboring packs plus Ally’s old pack as the Mercury pack really go all out and make an impact. It was great to see some healthy sized cameos from the Phoenix pack and I loved what they injected into the story too. I’m just as excited about this series as I was about the other so it promises to be more good stuff!


Thank you to Montlake Romance for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

{Review} Picture Perfect (Geek Girl #3) by Holly Smale

Posted by Donna
Release Date: June 14th, 2014
Finished Date: December 4th, 2015

Publishers: HarperCollins Children's Books
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback 

Pages: 400
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Book Depo 

 

"My name is Harriet Manners, and I'll always be a geek."

It's the hilarious third book in the No.1 bestselling, award winning GEEK GIRL series!

Harriet Manners knows more facts than most. She knows that New York is the most populous city in the United States. She knows that its official motto is "Ever Upward". She knows that 28% of Americans believe we never landed on the moon.

But she knows nothing about modelling in the Big Apple, and how her family will cope with life stateside. Or how to "become a brand", as the models in New York put it. And, even more importantly, what to do when the big romantic gestures aren't coming from your boyfriend...

Does geek girl go too far this time?

The laugh out loud follow-up to award winning GEEK GIRL and MODEL MISFIT will have you in stitches.

The Review: Picture Perfect is book three in Holly Smale’s Geek Girl series and after reading the previous two book within a matter of days, I just knew I couldn’t stop there. I knew I needed to read the remaining books because so far these books have gotten better and better and I was excited to find out what happens next. 

This time around we see Harriett head to New York but it’s not just for modelling. This time it’s because her father had been offered a new job and their family needed the money – especially with a new baby in the family. Harriett has a bit of a rough time during this book. Moving away from her house and everyone she knows really hits her hard and I did feel sorry for her. But then I also felt she made certain situation worse for herself. This book was definitely Harriett’s rebellious stage – she gets grounded and just makes everything worse for herself by sneaking out the house and running away to New York and she takes advice from the wrong people and jeopardises her relationship with Nick with serious consequences. Harriett just did not have a good time during this book. But the good thing was I also found she grew a lot. By her making mistakes she learnt from them and her journey throughout this book was still entertaining but it also pulls on your heart.

With Harriett in the USA for most of the book we don’t see much of our favourite secondary characters like Nat and Toby but we do see Wilbur and Nick with them being at New York Fashion Show. I love Wilbur. He makes Harriet’s story so fun. And Nick. I just love him *sobs* - I’m praying for him to be in the next book. 

In all, Picture Perfect was a pretty great read. I did enjoy Model Misfit more but this was still a fab instalment. I can’t wait to see what comes next! 

Thank you to HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

 

{Review} Model Misfit (Geek Girl #2) by Holly Smale

Posted by Donna
Release Date: September 26th, 2013
Finished Date: December 1st, 2015

Publishers: HarperCollins Children's Books
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback 

Pages: 356
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Book Depo 

 

“My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek.”

Harriet knows that modelling won’t transform you. She knows that being as uniquely odd as a polar bear isn’t necessarily a bad thing (even in a rainforest). And that the average person eats a ton of food a year, though her pregnant stepmother is doing her best to beat this.

What Harriet doesn’t know is where she’s going to fit in once the new baby arrives.

With summer plans ruined, modelling in Japan seems the perfect chance to get as far away from home as possible. But nothing can prepare Harriet for the craziness of Tokyo, her competitive model flatmates and her errant grandmother’s ‘chaperoning’. Or seeing gorgeous Nick everywhere she goes.

Because, this time, Harriet knows what a broken heart feels like.

Can geek girl find her place on the other side of the world or is Harriet lost for good?

The Review: Our favourite geek is back! Model Misfit is the sequel to Holly Smale debut YA book Geek Girl and what a fantastic follow up it was!

I loved Geek Girl and I definitely wasn't expecting the sequel Model Misfit to be better than it but it certainty was. Model Misfit had more romance drama in it than the first book. I'm a firm believer that romance always make a book better and with Harriett's relationship problems during this book, it  definitely added to the emotional factor of the story. I was deeply hurt for Harriett throughout most of the story - the Nick drama - so when it happened I felt everything along with Harriett. I was devastated for her. She's just one of them characters you can connect to and it doesn't matter that she's fifteen, I almost feel like she's older than she seems. But anyway, adding this emotional drama into the story for me made me enjoy this book all the more. It wasn't just school drama or parent drama it was another layer to Harriett's story and I really enjoyed every minute of it.

I loved that Harriet stayed true to herself through-out all the crazy events that happen in this story. She's not the perfect model. She makes mistakes but I love that about her. She's completely oblivious to the modelling world and I loved seeing what trouble she'd get herself into. And with the story taking place in Japan there is so much more adventure and so many gorgeous scenes and oh, how I wanted to travel to Japan after. And let's not forget that all my favourite characters were back too so it made the story even better. 

In all, Model Misfit definitely has a little bit of everything for ever reader. And this has definitely been my favourite book so far and I can't wait to see what Picture Perfect has in store.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

 

{Feature} Waiting on Wednesday (#131)

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Donna's WoW

United as One (Lorien Legacies #7)
by Pittacus Lore
Release Date: June 28th, 2016

The epic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling I Am Number Four series!

The Mogadorian invasion has come to Earth, and they have all but won the battle for our planet. Their warships loom over our most populous cities—like New York City, Tokyo, Moscow, Beijing, and New Delhi—and no army will risk making a move against them. The Garde are all that stand in their way . . . but they are no longer alone in this fight. Human teens from across the globe, like John Smith’s best friend, Sam Goode, have begun to develop Legacies of their own.

The Garde have always known there is power in numbers. If they can find these new allies and join forces with them, they just might be able to win this war. The time has come for the Garde to make their final stand.

  Donna's thoughts: I can not wait to see how this series ends. Bring it on!

Melanie's WoW

Riders (Riders #1)
by Veronica Rossi
Release Date: February 26th, 2016

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can't remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen--Conquest, Famine, and Death--are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now--bound, bloodied, and drugged--Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he's fallen for--not to mention all of humankind--he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

Melanie's thoughts: This sounds interesting, four horsemen of the apocalypse in an urban fantasy.

<What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

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Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine. 

Happy Reading!

{Review} Nightwish (Echoes of Eternity, #1) by Sydney Bristow

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: August 9th, 2015
Finished Date: November 9th, 2015

Publishers: Self Published
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasty
Source: For Review
Format: eBook

Pages: 258
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Serena Sykes just discovered that the mother, identical twin sister, and niece she never knew existed…are the last remaining witches on the planet. That is, except for Serena, who recently received her own limited, albeit wildly erratic supernatural abilities.

But her newfound family isn’t interested in helping her master those gifts. After all, Serena’s mother has been communicating beyond the veil with the first witch in their line, a sorceress named Zephora who hopes to return to this dimension and destroy an ancient curse that would unleash paranormal creatures across the globe.

To help guide her in this new landscape, Serena turns to her grandmother, an elderly woman suffering from dementia and the only vampire in existence, a man who has his own mysterious agenda. With less than 48 hours to prevent her family from triggering a supernatural wasteland, Serena must learn to control her abilities…if she hopes to save the world!

The Review: Nightwish is the first instalment of the ‘Echoes of Eternity’ series and we’re in for some witchy shenanigans.

In Nightwish we meet Serena Sykes, recent graduate from college with big ideas for her Grandmothers shop. Her world is rocked completely when she discovers that her Grandmother hasn’t totally been honest with her….. for a start – her mother is very much alive, she has a twin sister an also a niece but to top it all off … they are all witches with lineage traced back to the Salem witch trials. As Serena tries to come to terms with this knowledge, she realises that her grandmother is not quite herself, could the dementia be getting worse at a faster rate? She needs answers and the old womans mind is in no fit state to give them and considering she is the only one who can give them – Serena is lost. When a mysterious ‘vampire’ turns up and tells her that he must protect her, she has to learn who to trust on her own but when events begin to escalate and all hell threatens to let loose – it’s up to Serena to master her abilities and save them all.

So, I really enjoyed this book and found it easy to read and become involved with the characters. Serena was easy to route for as we follow her in her new discoveries. I liked her outlook on life and how she handled all of the revelations that came her way especially when she finds out that her mother kept her twin sister and left her behind – that has to do something to a persons self esteem – thank goodness for her Grandma though who loved her enough that it counted. I enjoyed seeing her powers manifest and how she used them, I have a feeling she will be very powerful. She has a love interest that definitely brought the heat to her life but that wasn’t really delved into here, it was more about the discoveries. I have to mention that her mother is a class A b*tch and her sister is one of those characters that you can see has hidden depth that needs coaxing out of her and her niece is adorable, at least the niece is happy to have Serena in her life and she balanced out the other influences.

The storyline was a very good start, definitely a getting to know you and your world scenario but with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Not only do we discover Serena’s new family, we discover her heritage and her power – I liked that we discovered everything at the same time as the character, it endears me to her more as I imagine how I would react too. Her heritage was very interesting and plays a big part in the story – so pay attention – I always liked stories about witches. Her powers are different, they aren’t cut and dried like usual witches and there are limits to who gets what in the family hierarchy – for instance, the oldest always gets more power and that is a plot thread here to. It’s hard to know who to trust throughout the book, there are so many people with agendas that it always has you on edge and I really liked that I couldn’t trust people 100%. I think this book just shows the tip of the iceberg of what potential it has as a series and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Thank you to Sydney Bristow for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

 

{Review} Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Posted by Donna
Release Date: February 9th, 2016
Finished Date: November 25th, 2015

Publishers: Harper Teen
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Source: For Review
Format: eARC

Pages: 304
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Book Depo 

 

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadows is Sophie Jordan at her best.

The Review: Reign of Shadows has such a beautiful cover that you can’t help wanting to know more once you first see it. And with a synopsis that sounds intriguing and deliciously good, plus it’s a YA fantasy story so I was definitely on board with that! 

I really love the concept of this story. I really do. I mean who wouldn’t want to read a story about a Princess who has lost her kingdom to an evil chancellor and has been in hiding for the last seventeen years? A kingdom that is encased in darkness with man eating monsters crawling around? And a romance brewing with a mysterious guy? This book was right up my street but as much as I wanted to love Reign of Shadows I can’t help feeling the whole book was very underwhelming. I clearly enjoyed the book enough to finish it but I didn’t finish it with excitement or the need to have the sequel in my hands straight away like I was expecting to. It was just like meh. And that’s disappointed me the most because I was expecting to love this story. 

I actually really liked Luna to start with and the twist with story was something I was expecting but the more the story progressed the more she started to grate on my nerves. She didn’t act the way a person would with a disability. If anything I tended to forget she even had one because the story is written in such a way that makes you second guess if she a one or not. I also didn’t like how she had no drive to regain control of her kingdom. Although she wanted to experience the outdoors and the world around her, she didn’t seem to have much desire to want her kingdom back. She didn’t seem to want revenge on the person who killed her parents. She just didn’t seem believable as a character. Even though she’s strong and has many talents, you would think she’d want to help her people? I couldn’t believe that she was really that oblivious to why the new King was killing young girls. And when she finally figures it out, with the click of her fingers she decides she needs to stop him. But if anything she just seemed willing to have her life sacrificed rather than help the people that needed not just a select few but her whole kingdom. You could say that’s because she’s been hidden in a tower for seventeen years and wasn’t brought up like a princess but considering she didn’t enjoy her life locked away, you’d think she’d want more? She’d want to keep her parents memories alive? I just didn’t get that vibe from her, it was more a self-centred one.

The rest of the story was up and down for me. I enjoyed parts but it was slow going and there really wasn’t much of a plot to the story. I also had to keep reminding myself this was a fantasy story because it didn’t really feel like it at times. There isn’t much explanation to why the Dwellers are there. Why the eclipse happened. Why it happened when Luna was born. Is she connected to it and is that why she is blind? All these questions kept going around in my head and I got no answers. I also kept waiting for Luna to want to reclaim her throne but that just never came. I think the story definitely lacked progression especially if as a writer, you want people to want to read more. It’s open for debate whether I’ll read the sequel or not at this moment. I guess it’s a case of curiosity nearer the time. But I do think the series has a lot of potential so who knows. 

Thank you to Harper Teen for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

{Review} Darkest Misery (Miss Misery #4) by Tracey Martin

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: August 25th, 2015
Finished Date: October 30th, 2015

Publishers: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: For Review
Format: eBook

Pages: 279
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

 

Red sky at morning, satyr take warning.

Jessica Moore is about to lose her you-know-what. She did the impossible by convincing the Gryphons, the magi, the satyrs and the goblins to work together to stop an apocalyptic prophecy from coming true.

The one thing she can’t do? Make them trust each other—which means their plans are already falling apart. With Gryphons and satyrs making plays for her loyalty, Jess is ready to cut the crap and kill everyone herself.

The tentative alliance disintegrates even faster when a key member is murdered and Jess’s supposed allies turn on her. Grieving will have to wait. Right now, she’s forced to work closely with her least trusted coworker to flush out the culprit, even as she pushes Lucen away to keep him safe.

Dangers that will test her freakish powers await in the Alps, and this time Lucen isn’t there to guard her back. Even if she finds what she’s looking for, it’ll come with a fury-ous heap of trouble.

Warning: Sticking four enemy groups into a conference room is the definition of hell. Throw in a murder, a kidnapping, and a not-so-fabulous trip to France, and you know what? The apocalypse isn’t looking so bad. As long as it doesn’t involve PowerPoints.

The Review:  Darkest Misery is the fourth book in the Miss Misery series and for me, they just keep getting better and better.

In this Jess’s hard fought alliance with all of the clans and the Gryphons is put to the test big style. It’s hard to trust people when they all have hidden agendas and they don’t trust as easily either. Whilst Jess is tied to both the Gryphons and the Satyrs, they may not be able to keep her safe this time around when a manhunt starts on her brought on by one whom she should have loyalty. There are murders happening that seem to be linked to a certain group of people, the alliance will crumble as soon as someone starts pitting the clans against each other and someone is controlling all of the pieces on the board. It’s up to Jess to stop the bad guys from unleashing hell… but is she just a pawn in the game too?
I really enjoyed this fourth instalment of the series and the progression of both characters and storyline were fab! I thought we saw a more vulnerable side to Jess especially when the status of ‘what’ she is was brought up often and in an unsavoury manner. Others might have felt rejected and hurt and sat with it but Jess took that and made it work for her in other ways, spurring her on to get to the bottom of things. There is a love triangle going on here but that is all consensual because of the nature of their selves, this has always been a sticking point for me but it didn’t bother me much here, probably because they didn’t emphasise the addict relationship so much, I like her choice of men and both share good chemistry with her – one is meant to be her partner in love, the other to show that sex can just be sex…. The thing is – both relationships are deepening and both are asking for her time, I think it may get messy done the line.
The story was fab as usual, and leads to a totally jaw dropping conclusion that I didn’t see coming. We have a lot of things going on in the plot – murders, with Jess as a possible target and the reason that the alliance is assembled in one place. A clash of clans, with everyone having a piece of the puzzle but not willing to share what they know. Misdirection that causes the alliance to collapse as blame is placed everywhere and also forcing Jess to leave in search of answers leading to quests and adventure for her and her companion with an astounding finale that will change everything….. and of course there’s always time for some sexytime too. There is tons of action and excitement so that you can really become immersed in this world and the lives of its characters. This definitely had a feeling of being a game changer, politics between clans was also brought to the forefront and opened up the world even more as we are introduced to more characters and agendas placed firmly on the table, so I feel like its exciting times ahead for this series and I look forward to more.

Thank you to Samhain Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

{Review} Summer Crush by Sasha Hibbs, S.D. Wasley, Melissa Frost, Diana Stager, Deanna Dee, Bridie Hall

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: August 21st, 2015
Finished Date: November 13th, 2015

Publishers: Evernight Teen
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Source: For Review
Format: eBook

Pages: 227
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

 

Summer Crush: A wonderfully romantic boxed set of Upper YA short stories by today's hottest authors.

Summer is the time for lazy days at the beach, sun-kissed hair, flip-flops, and sizzling nights with a new crush. Those stolen glances and first kisses can quickly spark a flame. However, the road to love isn’t always a smooth ride.

Every Summer has a story, whether it’s a second chance on love, seeing a friend in a different light, or taking a step in a new direction with someone special. Love and long days create endless possibilities, but can a summer crush really last?

Sutton Summer by Sasha Hibbs:
After breaking Dylan's heart last year, McKenzie returns to Sutton Lake for another summer. McKenzie realizes love was in front of her the entire time, but is it too late for Dylan to forgive her?

Exquisite Torture by S.D. Wasley:
16 year old Ryan thinks he's in for the summer from hell, stuck at his Gran's farm in a remote town ... until he meets the adorable Connie. But why is she so cagey about her past?

Forbidden by Melissa Frost:
The new guy in town has a bad reputation and a bad boy demeanor to go with it. Even so, Olivia can’t help feeling drawn to Gavin. Can she convince her mother he’s not the delinquent everyone believes, or will his past tear them apart?

Taking the Plunge by Diana Stager:
Overwhelmed and alone, Jessica is a teenage mother struggling to give her son the best possible life. Erik, a lifeguard at the local pool, never expected the girl of his dreams to have baby in tow. They have issues, but will it keep them from pursing the relationship, or are they willing to take the plunge?

Boarderline Love by Deanna Dee:
Nearly drowning wasn’t part of Dalya’s vacation plans. Neither was being rescued by a guy with a perfect six pack and a haunted look in his eyes. Mason reminds Dalya too much of her over-protective older brother, but when he offers to teach her to surf, she can’t say no. Can Dalya get past her frustration with her brother to realize how much Mason means to her?

An Ocean of Their Own by Bridie Hall:
Lola spends her days trawling the sand dunes in search of the perfect subject for her art. She finds it in a solitary, beautiful girl. Sarah doesn’t just fill the pages in her sketchbook, she enchants Lola’s heart too. But how can Lola tell her family about Sarah?

The Review: Summer Crush is a selection of short stories about teenage love & self-discovery set in the beautiful season of summer.

We get a little bit of everything here – Sasha Hibbs gives us some unrequited love that caused heartache for one teen only to have it switch around when Mckenzie has a change of heart only to discover that the boy who has crushed on her for years has moved on. She soon makes some realisations about herself when he turns the tables on her…. But will it be too late? I enjoyed this, I wasn’t thrilled about the little triangle that went on but the story wouldn’t have been possible without it. I liked the change it brought about in McKenzie and how she changed herself because of it. It definitely got my feelings going which for a short story is a really good thing.

S.D. Wasley gives us a little bit of spookiness in Exquisite Torture where a young man is forced to spend summer with his Gran, helping her around the farm. He is soon joined by the mysterious Connie who he is attracted to and spends all of his time with. Connie might have some hidden skeletons in her closet and Ryan really wants to uncover those. Again, this was a cool story giving us a bit of mystery with a paranormal feel to this romance. I enjoyed it because it was different, it delved into the towns history and tragic past and it also showed us that we can survive without our internet! Ryan and Connie were really sweet together and the ending was a great little twist.

Forbidden by Melissa Frost gives us forbidden love when a boy with the wrong kind of reputation and a girl whose family appearances are everything come together in a connection that defies the rules. Olivia is from a well to do family, Gavin is the new guy with a bad reputation. Olivia delves past the reputation to find the boy underneath and realises that no one knows the truth, they fall for each other big style but when her mother finds out…. She must give him up – will there ever be any hope for them? So, forbidden love… one of the best kinds to read about and this is a sweet story about that. I liked how Olivia pushed aside her preconceptions and got to know Gavin before forming an opinion of him, it’s very seldom that people are what their reputation states and it is always nice to see the true character. Their connection was natural and the relationship had the added excitement of being forbidden especially when we share stolen moments with them. I hate prejudice and thought the mother was wrong in her judgement, but I was satisfied by the end.

Taking the Plunge by Diana Stager gives us hopeful love where a teen mother is trying to make it on her own with her baby, she takes the baby to swim classes where she is looked down upon by the other mothers but the instructor takes a shine to her and goes all out to win her heart. I really liked this story, I myself was a teen mother and I know how judgemental people can be. I really felt for Jessica when she had to deal with snide comments and such, she felt worthless and had no body to turn to. When Erik started to pay her attention, she didn’t believe he could want her, she was a package deal – but he eventually worms his way in and gives her hope that she can have it all. With a couple of misunderstandings along the way, this story felt real and natural and I applauded Jessica for wanting to wait to take things to the next level.

Boarderline Love by Deanna Dee gives us some heroic love when a young girl nearly drowns and finds love with her rescuer. Dalya gets herself into a sticky situation whilst attempting to surf and is rescued by Mason. Dalya convinces Mason to give her surfing lessons and through these they form a connection, until her older brother interferes. Her brother is forced to re-evaluate his opinion of his sister when he sees her become the rescuer and realises that she can take care of herself more than he ever thought. I enjoyed this story, again it was a really sweet young love and what better way to start than to have someone rescue you? Mason has his own story that ties in to this one which does make you see his efforts in a different light. Dalya is headstrong and it’s clear she needed guidance in the right way and I’m glad her brother saw that she was growing up.

An Ocean of Their Own by Bridie Hall not only gives us romance but also a young lady on the brink of sexual discovery. Sarah was at the ocean with her family, staying there whilst her father was convalescing following a heart attack. She spent her days drawing and after seeing a girl sitting on a cliff, getting inspiration and drawing her…. They eventually meet. Lola is staying along the beach and looks for shells for jewellery making, she and Sarah begin to hang out and as their friendship grows…so does their feelings and they realise that all they need is each other. Sarah wants to tell her family but how can she when her dad is just making progress? I found this story just lovely, it was nice to read of two young womens’ sexuality being awakened and done so effortlessly. It was sweet, tentative and explorative and I was so happy to see that their love brought no bad feelings or prejudice. I enjoyed how both girls spoke of things clicking into place and suddenly realising what they wanted and sharing that passion together.

All in all Summer Crush was an excellent read, it brought some super sweet romantic moments that only young love can bring, given to us in varying scenarios that have that ‘feel good’ vibe to them. I read this all in one sitting and felt good doing it, with a big smile on my face and a good feeling in my heart.

Thank you to Everynight Teen & Sasha Hibbs for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

 

{Feature} Waiting on Wednesday (#130)

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Donna's WoW

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)
by Sarah J. Maas
Release Date: May 3rd, 2016

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

  Donna's thoughts: I just need more Sarah J. Maas books in my life!

Melanie's WoW

The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson #9)
by Darynda Jones
Release Date: January 12th, 2016

In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she's more than a little taken aback. Stranger still are the people entering her life. They seem to know things about her. Things they hide with lies and half-truths. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in and the fry cook, a devastatingly handsome man whose smile is breathtaking and touch is scalding. He stays close, and she almost feels safe with him around.

But no one can outrun their past, and the more lies that swirl around her—even from her new and trusted friends—the more disoriented she becomes, until she is confronted by a man who claims to have been sent to kill her. Sent by the darkest force in the universe. A force that absolutely will not stop until she is dead. Thankfully, she has a Rottweiler. But that doesn't help in her quest to find her identity and recover what she's lost. That will take all her courage and a touch of the power she feels flowing like electricity through her veins. She almost feels sorry for him. The devil in blue jeans. The disarming fry cook who lies with every breath he takes. She will get to the bottom of what he knows if it kills her. Or him. Either way.

Melanie's thoughts: I adore this series, it has fab stories, great characters and is hilarious! Can't wait!

<What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to participate? 
Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine. 

Happy Reading!

{Review} Blood Slave (Realm Walker #3) by Kathleen Collins

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: August 25th, 2015
Finished Date: November 1st, 2015

Publishers: Self Published
Genre: Urban Fantasy 
Source: For Review
Format: eBook

Pages: 195
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

 

Can she find a killer in a town where the basest desires are allowed to run free?

There are zombies in the Dead Zone and Juliana Norris is sent to take care of the problem. And for there to be zombies, there had to be bodies. When vampires are found to be the culprits, Juliana is sent undercover in the red light district of Kansas City. Lying to her mate, Thomas Kendrick, isn’t something she wants to do, but she’s in another vampire’s territory and Thomas would not be pleased. Besides, she’s more than capable of doing the job and she needs to prove it to everyone. Most of all herself.

Charles Morgan is in control of the Kansas City area, making a rich living off his various enterprises. Juliana goes undercover at the strip club Lust and gets sucked into his dark, decadent world. More victims turn up and the Agency is positive they’ve got their man, but Juliana is not so sure. When the Agency refuses to listen, she reluctantly turns to Thomas for help. He intervenes but finds Juliana unaware of the danger she is in and discovers she may just be too deep for him to save.

The Review: Blood Slave is the third book in the Realm Walker series and it was awesome!
Book three sees Juliana being sent undercover into the seedy area of Kansas City, the area is notorious because of the vampire who controls the area and that he allows his vampires to feed from and addict humans to them, something that isn’t allowed in Thomas’s area. There has been a zombie problem in Juliana’s patrol area and when they all tie back to Kansas City – she has no choice but to head there to investigate. Juliana has a quandary though….. she needs to be undercover, it’s dangerous and it’s in another vampires territory but…. With her mate Thomas also being a regent for an area, she shouldn’t be going in unannounced or without telling Thomas who can guarantee her safety. So, she decides to keeps Thomas in the dark about her whereabouts and lies to him about where she will be going.
Jules ends up working in a strip club that is owned and managed by Charles Morgan, the vampire regent of the area and after a while, she thinks she has it all worked out….but then has second thoughts that no one will listen too - so she is forced to lie to her employers, confess all to Thomas and hope she can find the right guy this time.
I really love this series and although these books aren’t particularly long – they are jam packed with story, action and romance that makes them a perfect read that you can read in one go. Juliana has always been a likable character and I enjoy the push/pull relationship she has with her mate. He is old fashioned and believes woman need rescuing whereas Juliana is a modern woman who is independent, likes to be given the chance to do things for herself and sometimes Thomas loses sight of that; so there’s always a clash of wills due to that which gave me an understanding into why she chose to withhold the truth from him. I still love their connection and chemistry, they have an easy going feel to them now which is so much sweeter considering their past.
I loved the storyline here, to be honest, if you took the paranormal element out of the plot – it would still be a good read. For all I love Thomas & Juliana together, it was nice to see her head out to investigate without him. With her working in a strip club she draws a lot of attention to herself and she would not have been able to mingle with the men as freely if Thomas was there. There was no shortage of suspects for the women who had became zombies but not much information to be had so Juliana had to put herself right amongst that type of crowd if she needed to blend in but that also left her open to the perils of those creeps. Thomas’s area seemed elite compared to how things were run in Kansas City and you definitely get the sleazy/seedy vibe from the area where it’s all about partying, drugs of choice, sex and blood. The fact that Juliana was in anothers’ territory really added an element of danger and when you add to that the fact that Thomas didn’t know…. Every move she made was fraught with it. I appreciated that whilst Juliana’s pov was the most prominent that we still also got Thomas’s too showing us what was going on in his head and area also, it actually endeared him a bit more to me and he seemed to be more forthcoming with how he felt and viewed his mate. As the story came to a close, I did not know who was the culprit or a motive so it was great to get all of the emotions possible from the story and as always, I’m left wanting more. I actually can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Thank you to Kathleen Collins for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.