Shh! by Stacey Nash
Nineteen-year-old Olivia Dean has the perfect reputation, the perfect boyfriend, and an increasingly perfect CV. She has it all, until Christian breaks up with her in public, calling her out as a self-gratifying sexoholic: the kind that plays solo. But Olivia doesn’t masturbate all night — the only thing she does is sleep … right?
Now all the boys on campus seem to want her attention for the absolutely wrong reason — including resident hottie, Logan Hays. He's pulling out his best moves to gain her attention, so resisting his sexy charm is hard work. With rapidly slipping grades, a disturbingly lurid reputation and demanding parents, Olivia must discover the truth behind her rumoured sleeping problem. If she doesn't, the perfect life she's worked so hard for may slip away, including the one person who has Olivia breaking all her rules — Logan.
What do you do when you’re asleep?
I have been looking forward to this book for the past year when Stacey emailed me asking questions about how college and UNE is today. You see the college that this story is based around is the college I reside in when I'm at university, so naturally that made me excited for it and it contemporary romance/NA which I do love. I also could picture everything that Nash had described and know exactly what area of the college they were in. (Also it is super weird that I am writing this review in my college room).
Olivia is a nineteen-year-old arts/law student who currently has a perfect rep & is following all her parents demanding goals. That is until a college function when her boyfriend breaks up with her publicly and lets the whole college know what she does in her sleep. Being publicly broken up with and then telling the whole college that you masturbate while you sleep, something that you don't actually know, is probably the worst thing to happen.
Just stating a fact: Christian is a douche. Olivia tries and hides away from everyone all weekend, avoiding everyone. Come Monday for class and guess who she has class with; Logan. Logan witnessed the events that happened on Friday night a townie who used to go to Oxley the year before Olivia started. Logan on the outside seems like a bad guy on the outside but once he starts talking to Olivia you can see that he does care about others.
Logan takes Olivia around some of the beautiful places around Armidale, to let he escape everything that is happening back at college. I really enjoyed reading about these places since I have visited them and walked around these areas. As the story goes on you come to understand that Logan is also hiding something, the reason why he took a year of uni.
I liked how the characters changed throughout the novel, Olivia began to understand what was going on, started not caring about what others think of her and standing up to her parents. Logan started to let people in and help him with what was happening to him and his family. The minor characters of Savannah, Dane and Molly were what Olivia needed to help her out through what was going on and even though Dane was friends with Christian.
Nash has created a NA story which deals with something that isn't done very much in both YA/NA dealing with a problem that some people may have. The building of the relationship between Olivia and Logan was by far my favorite part of the story and how they overcame different problems to get to where they were at the end of the story. Also I cannot wait for Wait! which is book two!
Thank you Stacey for letting me read Ssh! early and for including me in the acknowledgements!
Rating: 4.5/5
Keely xx
Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean
Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.
Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.
One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead.
I loved this book, I spent probably 30% of the book crying & I'm sure many won't spend that much crying during the book but it was because one of issues that the main character goes through is something that as affected my family as well.
Chloe is a foster kid after her mother and her mother's twin sister both past away from the same disease. She refuses to let anyone love her because she doesn't want them to go through the same situation that she went through as a child because she knows that she is going to get the same disease some stage her in her life. Blake is a basketball star who just wants a choice in what he can do after high school without his father trying to force him into the army like him.
Until one night when Chloe is no longer invisible and Blake rescues her from an uncomfortable situation. As days go on Chloe and Blake start up a friendship which was interesting as Chloe doesn't want to let anyone in and Blake is popular where Chloe isn't. We also meet Josh who is Blake's best friend and is a teen dad, he was pretty amazing for what he has to deal with.
Chloe wants to take off after graduation until no longer has a choice with what she could possibly face. Blake has no idea if he wants to go into the army or go to college to play basketball, they both are running away/trying avoid what is going to happen.
I really enjoyed the way that this story was written and how it actually dealt dealing with the disease that affected the Chloe's family. It is different from McLean's other series More Than which I absolutely love and more YA than NA which is what her other series is.
McLean has written a beautiful book which deals with a disease that affects many familys and how someone deals with the prospect of having the disease. You can't help but feel for Chloe and Blake as they go on their journey to graduate high school and what to do after it.
Thank you to the author for the earc on netgalley.
Rating: 4.5/5
Keely xx
Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.
Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.
For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .
Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.
WARNING: THE FIERY HEART SPOLIERS AHEAD
I don't know how I feel about Silver Shadows. I feel like that the series has changed from the first three books which I loved, but after TFH and SS I feel like the series has gone backwards to me. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed TFH and SS but just not as much as the first three, Vampire Academy and The Age of X.
Silver Shadows picks up about 6 months after Sydney was taken into re-education by the Alchemists. I admired Sydney a lot in the opening chapters with her bravery and determination to not give into the alchemists and being able to withstand everything that they threw at her. Adrian however I wanted to hit up the side of the head! After Sydney was taken to re-education, he completely lost focus on everything and relapsed into his bad habits that he had worked so hard to kick.
Adrian had a lot of home issues too and being back at court will was good in theory was horrible idea in practice. Queen Lissa wasn't very helpful with Adrian's situation about Sydney since no besides the Palm Springs crew knows about Sydney and Adrian and the fact that she has to be diplomatic enough to not piss of the Alchemists.
Sydney made some allies in the re-education centre and now how she went about it was pure Sydney Sage logic. The new characters in re-education were written perfectly with them wanting to follow the rules but still didn't want to abide by the Alchemists rules. The Palm Springs gang was completely lost about what to do without Sydney and Eddie, god love him, really needs to tell Jill about his feelings *shake some sense into the poor guy*.
Also the cliffhanger man, Richelle Mead you sure know how to leave your fans hanging!
The great thing about Mead's writting is that you are never going to know what she will throw at you and Silver Shadows was no different with car chases & Vegas, oh and the fact that Adrian is in this story the impulsiveness shows!
Thank you Penguin Teen Australia for this e-arc!
Rating: 4/5
Keely xx
The Immortal Crown by Richelle Mead
Gameboard of the Gods introduced religious investigator Justin March and Mae Koskinen, the beautiful supersoldier assigned to protect him. Together they have been charged with investigating reports of the supernatural and the return of the gods, both inside the Republic of United North America and out. With this highly classified knowledge comes a shocking revelation: Not only are the gods vying for human control, but the elect—special humans marked by the divine—are turning against one another in bloody fashion.
Their mission takes a new twist when they are assigned to a diplomatic delegation headed by Lucian Darling, Justin’s old friend and rival, going into Arcadia, the RUNA’s dangerous neighboring country. Here, in a society where women are commodities and religion is intertwined with government, Justin discovers powerful forces at work, even as he struggles to come to terms with his own reluctantly acquired deity.
Meanwhile, Mae—grudgingly posing as Justin’s concubine—has a secret mission of her own: finding the illegitimate niece her family smuggled away years ago. But with Justin and Mae resisting the resurgence of the gods in Arcadia, a reporter’s connection with someone close to Justin back home threatens to expose their mission—and with it the divine forces the government is determined to keep secret.
Firstly before I get into this review I have some news! At the start of The Immortal Crown a bit of my review of Gameboard of the Gods appears at the start! Now I don't know how this happened but I can't believe it and I never thought something I wrote would ever end up in a book, especially a Richelle Mead book!
Now the review! What a fantastic squeal to Gameboard of the Gods! As soon as I was approved for this book I was reading it and being amazed, shocked and jumping up and down all in one from Mead's writing. The Immortal Crown just added to everything that we have already learnt from Gameboard of the Gods and just turned everything upside down and inside out.
Last book we were taken into the provinces of RUNA, this time around we get the world building of Arcadia, a place where women are treated horribly and pretty much only used for cleaning, cooking, sex and providing children. Just to even get Mae into this country she has to pretend that she is Justin's "concubine" which is what they call these women. I just loved how much their relationship has changed since the start of the first book to now the end of the second book.
Mae: Mae's mission in Arcadia has a dual purpose since she found out that her niece is more than likely where she is going and Mae being Mae wants her back. You get to see a lot of Mae's interaction with her new god as she tries to find out where her niece is. The interactions between them is showing us that Mae is now slightly accepting that her god can help her in ways that she needs the god to do.
Justin: We learnt of his predicament in Gameboard of the Gods and now it is even more than before because it's Mae. His god is on his back to finally accept him & for him to give in to the agreement that they have for him to be bonded. Justin's powers develop a lot which is great because he is slowly accepting his fate & the fact that also like Mae he can help others with these powers.
Tessa: After changing into a new school Tessa is trying to find her calling, and she thinks that it could be journalism. The journalist that Tessa is with will do anything for a story and I am not a fan of her. After recent events Tessa has a bodyguard whilst Mae and Justin are out of town and I really liked him because he was helping Tessa understand not everyone has good intentions like she believes them to have.
Overall The Immortal Crown is just the beginning of what is to come in this world of Gods & Goddess playing chess with the Elect with Mead's writing anything can happen between the characters and the world that they are apart of. The cliffhanging ending is a sure way to be desperate for the next instalment of the Age of X series because what happens will make your head spin.
Thanks Penguin Australia for the E-ARC on Netgalley!
Rating: 4.5/5
Keely xxx
Covert Interview by Missy Marciassa
After growing up feeling like the unwanted leftovers of her parents’ divorce, Elle Paquet is finally an independent adult when she graduates from college to become an Information Scientist (the 21st century term for Librarian). What’s her first “adult” decision? She nixes her ten-year plan of going to grad school and marrying her college sweetheart to go work for the CIA and see how things turn out with hot agent Preston Raddick.
While Elle’s formal education may be over, life lessons are only just beginning. Preston teaches her a tough lesson about what a fling is and what it isn’t. Meanwhile, the CIA wants to know if she’s merely interested or truly committed to the agency. And are her skills up for the job? When Elle is given an assignment that tests her loyalty to her family and endangers herself and her loved ones, she learns that affiliation with the CIA means excitement can turn to danger at the drop of a hat, just as love can turn to heartbreak. Life as an adult is far harder than Elle ever imagined as she wrestles with unforeseen complications and new opportunities.
Covert Interview is about the unpredictable turns life can take.
I loved Covet Assignment and reading Covert Interview was no different. What I loved about this book we got to see a stronger side to Elle who is no longer relying on others to keep her safe which is great. Preston shows Elle what a fling exactly is & takes off on an assignment to who-knows-where doing who-knows-what.
Elle is now a CIA analyst on a 90 day probation period and isn't working out at Langley. Instead her cover is that she works for the Library of Congress helping Univeristy Libraries in D.C, Norfolk and Charlotte. The great thing for Elle is that she is dong something she loves whilst still doing data analyst things for the CIA. In Norfolk she meets a JAG lawyer Lyle in speed dating (yea I know) and sparks up at relationship with him when she is in Norfolk because her fling with Preston is over (I am not happy about this).
With only a few people knowing that she actually works for the CIA, she has to make sure that what she says stays hidden & safe. When a mission hits close to home for Elle she has to decided whether or not that this is the right job for her, making her second guess everything.
The opening scene really sets the tone of the work with analyst Elle being targeted like she was a field operative she wants what is best for her & her safety. I loved seeing Elle grow as a character and trying new things (i.e. speed dating) it was also great to see how well she bounced back from heartbreaking decisions. The ending made me really excited for the next Covert book: Covert Cover Cracked!
Thanks Netgally & Missy Marciassa!
Rating: 4 to 5/5
Keely xx
Keeping Her by Cora Carmack
What happens after the happy ending?
Garrick is over the moon that his girlfriend, Bliss, said yes. He's finally found the love of his life. That means his worries are over, right?
But when he invites her to visit London and meet his family, he is presented with a whole new set of problems. How will his privileged and wealthy family react to Bliss's unique brand of awkwardness?
Keeping Her is Losing It #1.5, the novella is set around a year after the end of Losing It and we get to see how Bliss & Garrick's relationship has progressed since they both moved on to performing in theatre. We get a glimpse into Garrick's old life back in London which is completely different to how he is living and working in the states.
For Bliss meeting his parents has made her a nervous wreck and only wants to please his family. Of course, Bliss being clumsy and just Bliss she makes a slight fool out of herself when she first meets his mother (not the best first impression). Bliss is a bit overwhelmed by everything that is in Garrick's life in London and when surprises happen, Garrick only does what he thinks is best for them but when really isn't what Bliss wants.
We get to see them struggle to work through differences of opinions, pressures of his family and friends. Keeping Her was a great insight into Garrick's life in London and how Bliss reacts to it all. While I wish it was a full novel, the novella doesn't disappoint and is worth reading even if you have already read Lossing It #2!
Rating: 4.5/5
Keely xx
Waiting on the Sidelines by Ginger Scott
Nolan Lennox had things figured out. Named after a baseball legend, she enjoyed being the Tomboy, her closet filled with her brother’s hand-me-downs, cut-off jeans and soccer shorts. But when her first trip to high school results in a broken heart from the first boy to ever make her heart flutter and cruel words from an older girl she once thought a family friend, Nolan starts to question the very person she thought she was and wonders if her humble upbringing can compete with the afforded luxuries of her privileged peers.
Throughout the next four years, Nolan struggles to maintain herself throughout her path of discovery, learning just how cruel teenagers can be through the pressures of underage drinking, sexuality and class. And despite how life seems to continue to work against her, she still manages to listen to her heart, falling deeper and deeper for the guy the entire town adores, even if he only sees her as a friend. Can Nolan strike a compromise between her own integrity and the boy she loves? And can she make him notice her before it’s too late?
Reed Johnson came to Coolidge High School with a lot of fanfare. The son of a hometown football legend and the brother of a local football hero, Reed wore all the pressures of carrying a town without hope into the spotlight. Thankfully, he had the talent to back it up. But when he meets a girl who makes him think twice about exactly what being a hero means, he starts to wonder if following in his brother’s footsteps might be all wrong.
Nolan Lennox was everything that was opposite of expected. She didn’t flirt, she didn’t drink and she didn’t sleep around. Nothing about her was easy, but something about her made Reed want to try harder. Though she didn’t look the part, she seemed to be spending a lot of time in Reed’s thoughts, and he wondered if she could be the one who made it all worthwhile. But could Reed handle letting her down? And would breaking her heart break him beyond repair?
I am a big fan of sport in YA, I can't get enough so I had to get my hands on this book!
Waiting on the Sidelines follows Nolan and Reed throughout there four years of high school and the ups and downs of the friendship that they make during freshman year. Working on a science project together really sets the pace of their friendship, Nolan is from lower middles class, wears her brothers clothes and whereas Reed's family is wealthy and on his way to becoming the quarterback for Coolidge High.
The book just flows between each year which is great as we can see how things change about each character and how they mature. Freshman year Nolan has a crush on Reed but his girlfriend Tatum is a piece of work. As there relationship grows, the more that they slowly fall for each other. Getting jobs together, driving together, things start changing between them.
When they finally get together in junior year after some not so great events, things start looking up for them, Reed is quarterback and has scouts looking at him. But when an accident happens, it tears Reed and Nolan apart. Nolan blames herself and Reed becomes a shell of who he is. Nolan starts focusing on herself and her academics, volunteer work & scholarship applications for college.
The journey that Scott takes you on is one of friendship, first love, experiences things you expect out of a contemporary YA with sport thrown in there. I reccommend this book for anyone who is a fan of Miranda Kenneally's books.
Rating: 5/5
Keely xx
Covert Assignment by Missy Marciassa
Covert Assignment is a New Adult, Coming of Age Novel with a strong romantic element. Elle is ready for graduation and full-fledged adulthood: no more living like the leftover of her parent’s divorce. She’s about to graduate with her degree in Information Science (the 21st century term for Library Science) and has a ten-year plan as well-designed as any model for analyzing metadata: earn her JD/MBA, enjoy a couple of years as a single professional, then marry her college sweetheart, Adam, and start her own family.
Yet Elle feels like she returned to an alternate universe her final semester. There are pictures of Adam with a classmate who must be surgically enhanced, but he insists he wants Elle. CIA recruiters show up on campus, and they aren’t just interested in recruiting Elle for future employment: turns out she’s already working for them since they’re funding her thesis. Hot operative Preston Raddick is tasked to work with her. Preston isn’t just hot: he’s hot for Elle, but is he offering happy ever after or happy for right now? A fling with Preston could be the beginning of a new life plan, which is exciting and scary, especially with espionage thrown in. Elle needs a predictive model to tell her which decisions have the greater likelihood for happiness…
Covert Assignment is about the unexpected turns life can take when making “adult” decisions.
If you follow me on twitter you should know that I love Covert Affairs and from previous posts on the blog you should know that I love the Gallagher Girls series. So naturally when I saw Covert Assignment I wanted it. Bad.
Elle has done everything by herself since she has been to college, after her parents divorce and not fitting in with either families she is doing her career for herself despite what her father wants her to do. Elle's boyfriend Adam cheated on her whilst she was at home for winter break, wanting to see what happens she stays with him because two years is a lot to throw away after one mistake right? But then comes along CIA covert operative Preston, hot, older and he likes Elle.
The way that the CIA approaches Elle is such a plausible way for someone to be approached. With the CIA funding her research, she sees that sometimes everything is planned out, bumps come along and new opportunities arise: your future isn't always planned. With Elle getting metadata from the game Sub Rosa and Preston using the data they are finding terrorists who are hiding their activities in the game.
The great thing about Covert Assignment is that it is unpredictable with the aspects of the CIA, the romance isn't instant and Elle still waits to see where her relationship goes with Adam, even though he did cheat on her. Preston is a great influence on Elle, as he allows her to develop and help her understand that her future isn't set in stone, she doesn't have to follow in her father's footsteps. Elle's family was a piece of work and what they put her though I can understand why she wants to please them.
The romance between Elle and Preston is funny when you understand the computer terms (thank you HSC IPT you weren't pointless after all!) and the way that he wants to help her is admirable. There is danger, it wouldn't be a spy book without it but with the CIA and FBI all over Elle shouldn't have much to worry about, you'd think.
Covert Assignment is for those who love Covert Affairs and the Gallagher Girls series. It is a different spin on the New Adult genre and a must read for everyone!
Thanks netgalley for the review copy!
Rating: 5/5
Keely xx
Finding Home by Lauren K. McKellar
Moody, atmospheric, and just a little bit punk, Finding Home takes contemporary YA to a new level of grit...
When Amy’s mum dies, the last thing she expects is to be kicked off her dad’s music tour all the way to her Aunt Lou in a depressing hole of a seaside town. But it’s okay — Amy learned how to cope with the best, and soon finds a hard-drinking, party-loving crowd to help ease the pain.
The only solace is her music class, but even there she can’t seem to keep it together, sabotaging her grade and her one chance at a meaningful relationship. It takes a hard truth from her only friend before Amy realises that she has to come to terms with her past, before she destroys her future.
I'm so glad that I got approved for this on Netgalley because it is an AUSTRALIAN author and is set in Melbourne!
Amy's life has been turned upside down, her mum dies, her dad is touring, she is drinking, moves to her Aunt Lou's and has to make new friends without anyone knowing who her father is. Amy finds her calmness in music, when she sings or plays the keyboard she can relax and let the music take control.
At Cherrybrook High Amy meets Luke and Nick, both musos like Amy and who want her on there performance piece for their final music assessment. Luke, to Amy seems like the perfect guy, someone who she might just love but Amy never looked past the surface of him or any character really which bugged me because why would you go for someone who has a girlfriend and would cheat on her? I wasn't a fan on how she could overlook this situation, even if she didn't like his girlfriend.
Nick is sweet, smart and a good muso, I like how his character was developed and how he portrayed his feelings even if they weren't always in the best way. Her best friend that she makes with Lily isn't the best role model for Amy with everything that she has been going through, especially all the drinking. Amy isn't on the right track when she starts at Cherrybrook High she is still acting out and her drinking which is getting slowly out of control doesn't decrease with Lily as her friend.
Each character has there own flaw, which are really teenage flaws which everyone can relate to. The quick read is a great Australian novel with parts that you can easily relate to and want the characters to become who they can be, despite everything that has happened to them. It was great to see how Amy reacted to everything that she has gone through because it does happen everyday to teenagers and is something that everyone should be aware of.
Rating: 4/5
Keely xx
Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer
With power comes enemies. Lots of them.
Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.
He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.
Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.
With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…
Spirit is Hunter's book and not a Merrick, however, do not fear they are always in it! Hunter has had a difficult home life and now that he is angry about everything that has happened since he moved, it gets worse. Throughout Spirit we get to see a side of Hunter that no one has seen before and it always everyone to understand him a lot better. Kate is new and a guide who has been sent with Silver to find out if the Merrick's are really as bad as they think they are and if they are causing all the fires that have been happening.
Remember at the end of Spark and Calla? Well she's back with vengeance on the Merrick boys and Hunter and this time she doesn't care who gets hurt or killed. She is a piece of work this girl and I would say borderline psychotic. When Hunter is kicked out of home he has no one to turn to, because he has burned almost all those bridges, however, Michael understands what Hunter is going though after going through all this before and decides to help Hunter out.
Kate is a character that you know shouldn't really like her because she is with the bad guys, but someone who end up understanding and liking (wouldn't say love, she is trying to kill Nick, oh and the other Merrick's). Kate is there for Hunter and helps him finally understand the whole being a guide thing, especially after some information is finally revealed to him. Kate has her own vengence to her story, like Hunter in Storm, her mother was killed by a water elemental however, that may not be the case.
A lot of secrets come out in Spirit and everyone plays a roll in the events that take place. This one is more darker I would say because Hunter and Kate aren't calm people and Calla is running around on her rampage with fire. At the end, even if you didn't like Hunter to begin with, you end wanting to give him a big hug and help all his grief and angry out of him.
I will still say Storm is my favourite, however, Spirit is allowing everyone to see inside that façade that Hunter has going on.
Rating: 4.5/5
Keely xx
Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend by Louise Rozett
Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year—everything is going to be different. This year, she’s going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around...
...but if she’s not careful, she’s also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the “good girl” who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all...the almost-girlfriend.
When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself.
It's sophomore year and it is Rose 2.0 out, well at least that is what she wants. Jamie was radio silent over summer after his night in jail and Rose doesn't know what to think. After trouble at the swim team initiation, Rose is once again public enemy number one, with Regina's brother this time the cause of it.
This time around Rose is struggling with her voice and who she is, it is what is the most relate able concept in the confessions series, finding out who you are. She doesn't know what is going on with Jamie, fighting with her mum at group therapy, dealing with the fact that her brother is doing drugs, her best friend is keeping a secret and dealing with what she did at the swim team party.
Rose changed in this one, she isn't angry anymore about what happened to her dad, even though she knows that he was staying for a year instead of six months like he promised. Her mother is pushing for her to take down the site, the one thing that makes her feel close to her dad. Her brother has been absent since the summer which he was partying it up with his girlfriend. Jamie didn't say a word all summer, now finally seeing him again has brought up feelings that she hasn't felt before and is confused as to what is going, something that every teenage girl can relate to.
Tracey and Rose go through a kind of major dilemma in which Rose over reacts to but then again I couldn't blame her. Jamie, Jamie, Jamie he is protective this time around and isn't seen as much as I would like. The way he acts around Rose, Regina and Conrad is the same as a bear looks after a bear cub (okay bad analogy but you get the point) he doesn't want anyone else getting hurt and well that is his fatal flaw (when you read it you will get it and if you have read anything by Shakespeare) he doesn't care about his himself. Angelo is back and well he would have to be one of the biggest influences in helping Rose find out who she is without even knowing it. The ending will leave you hanging onto for more, so I cannot wait for confession #3 to be out!
The aspects of an angry girl are continued through an almost-girlfriend, with the bullying, harassment and this time around the issue of homophobia. These themes that are addressed in an almost-girlfriend are happening everyday in high schools around the world and every teen can relate to these themes, this and the writing is what makes the book a fantastic read for every teen to read and understand why what is happening to them or what they are doing is wrong.
Thanks to Harlequin Teen for the review copy from netgalley!
Rating: 5/5
Keely xx
Georgetown Academy Book 4 by Alyssa Schwartz and Jessica Etting
The Georgetown Academy series is back with another installment which has been release TODAY!!! Also out today from the series is the release of season one, so if you haven't read anything of the Gtown series yet (which you totally should!) you go to Amazon and buy the first FOUR books in the series in one go! How awesome is that? Since I was apart of the cover reveal for book 4, I was given a review copy of Georgetown Academy 4 and as apart of the release I am here to post my review! Also don't forget about the 30 things that we love about GA on http://www.georgetownacademyseries.com/
When the vice president resigns and Ellie and Taryn’s parents emerge as the frontrunners, the girls find themselves back in the spotlight.
Ellie could not care less about becoming the Second Daughter, but she knows how much the opportunity to make history means to her mother – and women everywhere. With her family taking center stage, Ellie must decide whether she can put her feelings for Gabe on hold - again.
Taryn, so used to captivating the hearts and minds of everyone she meets, is unbothered by the increased media scrutiny. But an inopportune screw-up has her beholden to an unlikely – and unfriendly – source for help.
Overnight, Evan has skyrocketed from social pariah to Miss Popular. As she and her reluctant parents adjust to her new lifestyle, the last thing she needs is a front-page scandal.
Brinley can’t stop thinking about her Stowe-bound hook-up…until her father’s intern, Patrick, starts flirting. Is it time to abandon her fling now that she has a more appropriate suitor?
With the second highest office in the land up for grabs, everyone is picking sides. But where does the heart lie when duty, truth, and love collide?
Ellie and Taryn are back in the spotlight when there parents are named frontrunners in the race for vice president, Brinley is still hung up on her Stowe hook up and with the interest shown from Patrick who is a better fit her world and Evan is finally with Hunter but will picking up the wrong coat change her life forever?
Ellie has to put her feelings behind her about Gabe, so that she doesn't ruin her chances at becoming the vice president. But when they said that they wouldn't get involved in their parents political drama, that didn't include with what Ellie's mum says about Gabe's when she is taking a stab his father. However, sometimes it might just be better if she just tells her mother the truth about Gabe and everything that has happened between them.
Taryn and Brooks seem to be getting all well, but when Brinley's dad is in charge of his fathers media campaign, Brinley and Brooks are in charge of Taryn making sure that doesn't say anything that she shouldn't in front of the cameras. But when a scandal that ruin her fathers chance of becoming vice president she doesn't know whether or not she should fess up or let someone else take the blame.
Evan is finally with Hunter and everything seems perfectly fine, expect that her parents want her to spend more time at home, studying, volunteering, not off with Hunter at some socialite party. When she takes the wrong coat from the party she finds what she thinks is mints, not pot candies. Driving Hunters car home from the party she crashes because of the 'mints', when she confesses to Hunter about the coat, he tries to get the person responsible to fess up about what happened.
Brinley doesn't know what to do about the boy drama that she has going on right now, especially when Shane is still texting and Skyping her, then there is Patrick someone for suited for her lifestyle. With her father siding with Taryn's family she has to look like that her and Taryn are friends in public and showing her the ropes of the media. For once Brinley isn't the one with the scandal following her since she kicked her habit, which allows everyone to see a new side of her.
Georgetown Academy 4 is best one yet, scandals, relationships blooming & failing, a vice presidential race and well some characters get what they want & deserve. Once you start you won't stop until your done, following each character through there story is the only way that you will be able to put down the ebook!
Rating: 5/5
Keely xx
Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead
In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.
When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.
Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense. (from goodreads)
There is no secret about the fact that I love Mead's Vampire Academy & Bloodlines series, so when I saw that her new series would be in the Adult genre I jumped two feet first to see if I would love it, and well if there is anything that Mead knows how to do is to create romance, strong female characters who-will-kick-your-arse-literally, kickass scenes and swoon-worthy main characters.
The story is told from three perspectives, Mae Koskinen who is a Praetorian, a soldier, Dr Justin March who is a servitor and Tessa who is brought over from a colony with Justin to become his protege. Mae is sent to retrieve Justin from where he was banished to, to get him to help out with the seemingly religious orientated murders have taken place back in the RUNA. Where it differs from Mead's usual YA situations, it is an Adult book with the influence that drugs, alcohol and sex play a part in.
Mae and Justin start off on the wrong foot, before they even knew who each other were they sleep together, and there relationship goes down hill from there. They are forced to work together, and the secret that Justin keeps from Mae affects there whole relationship, trying to find out who or what is responsible for the ritualistic killings that have been taking place in RUNA.
The influence that the paranormal world is out there and is subtle as no one in the RUNA believes that there are gods out there (expect those who have a house of worshiping), Justin himself believes in it. It plays a major part in who the characters are and why they are like they are even if they themselves do not know it all.
Justin is a drinker, drug addict and sleeps with someone new every other day of the week. He may be brilliant in what he does but he does have some dark issues that come from this whole concept that they are all pieces on the Gods gameboard. Mae being who she is, is genetically advanced and is afraid of any sort of commitment which you see in the first few chapters. She has a dark side which makes her violent and even more aggressive when it comes to fighting. Tessa is a colony girl who is smart and like Justin she can sense that people aren't telling the truth through their voice and body language. She takes a backseat in the main storyline but her influences & abilities help out when needed.
Gameboard of the Gods is a mixture of action, paranormal, dystopian and romance. Once you start you will not be able to stop with Mead's addictive writting style and her way of creating a world which you just sink into.
Thanks Penguin Aus for the e-arc on netaglley!
Rating: 4.5/5
Keely xx
Dare You To by Katie McGarry
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."
"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....
"I dare you..."
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...
This is Beth and Ryan's story, we've heard Echo's and Noah's, now it is time to hear about Beth & what she is going through.
“Screw what Mom and Dad think. Screw the rest of the town. Screw perfection. This girl is mine.”
Who would ever think that a single dare could change someone's life? Ryan's friends dare him to get Skater's Girl (aka Beth) number & name, what he didn't realise is what the dare turned out to be, attraction. Beth knows she feels the same, however, with everything going on in her life can she just be?
“Fine," I say. "Dare accepted."
Game on, Skater Girl. Game on.”
After loving Pushing the Limits and falling in love with McGarry's writing, I knew that I couldn't wait for Dare you To. Her writing captures you and doesn't let you go... I should know seeing as I starting reading and didn't finish until 1am. There is no denying that Ryan and Beth are from different groups, socioeconomic groups and neighborhoods, Ryan is your town's golden boy & jock with secrets of his own, Beth the new girl with dark & hidden secrets.
“I like you. I. Like. You. I'll admit you're annoying. Sometimes you agitate me to the brink of insanity, but you can throw it back at me like no one else. When you laugh, I want to laugh. When you smile, I want to smile. Hell, I want to be the one to make you smile.”
Beth's life with her aunt and uncle is for the better, being away from her alcoholic and drug addict mum and her abusive boyfriend is for the best. Isaiah makes a few appearances in this one, while Beth wants to runaway like she always does, Isaiah knows that it is better for her to just stay. Isaiah knows that he has to let her go, no matter how much he loves her, he wants what is best for her. The scenes between these two are heart breaking and will emotionally get to you. Ryan's perfect life isn't as perfect as it seems, he maybe the town's golden boy on the outside, on the inside he is hiding secrets just like Beth is.
“You're falling for me like I'm falling for you. That's why you're pushing me so hard.”
The rollarcoaster ride this book takes you on is one that you will never forget, the way that these two find out each others secrets and begin to understand this relationship that is forming between the two. McGarry's writing just takes you away in this one, Dare you To is an emotional & brilliant ride that you just have to read in one go!
Thanks to Harlequin (UK) Limited for the review copy on netgalley!
Rating: 5/5
Keely xx
