Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

                                                               
                                          Rating: 4/5 Stars
                                          Publication Date: May 28th 2013

   
     Synopsis: 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....

     Review: To Start off, it took me awhile to really start to like this book. Beth was probably my least favorite character in Pushing The Limits, so to say i was kind of dreading this book was an understatement. The book follows Beth after some stuff goes down with her mother and her mothers abusive boyfriend, she's sent to live with her uncle who abandoned her when she was a kid. It's in Groverton she starts to see what she is worth more than she thought and that she does deserve to be happy. Ryan, the male lead was such a nice guy and I totally fell for him like Beth did. Ryan has a messed up life too, his parents control him and don't even acknowledge his older brother exists after he came out. This book wasn't as heavy as the one prior, at least in my opinion Echo is still the one with the most messed up back story. Speaking of her, I loved that  we saw Noah and Echo in this book and so glad to see them still totally in love with each other since they are one of my all time book otp's. I found Beth to be overly negative an pretty annoying throughout the whole book. To me, she was too hung up on the past and did nothing but push Ryan away, I'm surprised he didn't give up... I admire him for that. Beth also kept returning to her mother no matter how much she hurt her, she literally told her she hated her, wtf??? This wasn't my favorite but I still liked it a lot considering Katie wrote it and it got better towards the tail end, but I expected it because it was about Beth.

    As for Isaiah, I know they needed some kind of closure for the whole "he loves her" thing but I believe it was poorly done, Isaiah wouldn't have given up as easily as he did... He knew he didn't love Beth, not the way he believed. I'm glad that the next book is about him finding love because i felt really bad for him after this one. I assume since Beth has given up her previous life we won't see her in the next book which i'm upset about because i'd really like to see if her and Ryan work out in the long run. I feel like more could have happened in this book but none the less i enjoyed it and for sure will be continuing the series in the near future! 

Cassie's October-December Book Haul!

Hey all, both Riss and i have been MIA for awhile but it's my resolution this year to come back and blog more often/read more! my goal is 55 books this year and i'm half way into my first book for the year so here's to hoping i continue to read and remember to blog!

These few months have been kinda slow on the book buying since i haven't been reading much i had no reason to buy but these books i just couldn't let get away!!!

Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton (Book Outlet; $2.99)

• Playing house was never so much fun—or so confusing. With her boss on her honeymoon, Caroline’s working crazy long hours to keep the interior design company running—especially since she’s also the lead designer for the renovation of a gorgeous old hotel on Sausalito. So with her hotshot photographer boyfriend gallivanting all over the world for his job, she and Simon are heavy-duty into “absence makes the heart grow fonder” mode. Neither has any complaints about the great reunion sex, though! Then Simon decides he’s tired of so much travelling, and he’s suddenly home more. A lot more. And wanting Caroline home more, too. Though their friends’ romantic lives provide plenty of welcome distraction, eventually Caroline and Simon have to sort their relationship out. Neither wants “out of sight, out of mind,” but can they create their own happy mid-ground cliché?

Collide by Gail McHugh (Book Outlet; $2.99)

•  On the heels of graduating college and trying to cope with her mother’s death, Emily Cooper moves to New York City for a fresh start.
  
  While harboring secrets of his own, Dillon Parker takes care of Emily through her grief. Knowing he can’t live without her by his side, he’s sweet, thoughtful, and everything Emily has ever wanted in a man.
  
  Until she meets Gavin Blake—a rich and notorious playboy who is dangerously sexy and charming as hell. Emily tries to deny the instant connection she feels, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is not inclined to let go so easily. Recovering from his own painful past, Gavin will stop at nothing to win Emily over. 
  
  This unexpected encounter compels Emily to question her decisions, forcing her to make a choice that will destroy friendships, shatter hearts, and forever change her life

Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs (Half Price Books; $4.00) 

• Naked Lunch (sometimes The Naked Lunch) is a novel by William S. Burroughs originally published in 1959. The book is structured as a series of loosely connected vignettes. Burroughs stated that the chapters are intended to be read in any order. The reader follows the narration of junkie William Lee, who takes on various aliases, from the US to Mexico, eventually to Tangier and the dreamlike Interzone. The vignettes (which Burroughs called "routines") are drawn from Burroughs' own experience in these places, and his addiction to drugs (heroin, morphine, and while in Tangier, "Majoun"—a strong marijuana confection—as well as a German opioid, brand name Eukodol, of which he wrote frequently).

Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Amazon; $9.00)

• She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.
  
  Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.
  
  They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Book Outlet; $3.99) 

• mpossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.
  
  All Katy can do is survive.
  
  Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?
  
  Together, they can face anything.

Searching For Perfect by Jennifer Probst (Book Outlet; $3.99)

• The up-and-coming matchmaking agency Kinnections is the hottest thing to hit Verily, New York—just like Kennedy Ashe, social director for the service she owns with her two best girlfriends. A coach, consultant, and cheerleader rolled into one super-sizzling package, Kennedy creates dream dates, encourages singles to shine, and never refuses a challenge—not even Nate Ellison Raymond Dunkle, rocket scientist, nerd extraordinaire, and Kennedy’s newest client.
  
  Kennedy vows to work her magic and transform this hot mess in a lab coat with a disastrous relationship track record into the most wanted man on the Verily dating scene. If only she could turn the wand on herself . . .
  
  Though she radiates confidence and sex appeal, Kennedy harbors deep-seated insecurities from a tormented past and lifelong struggle with weight issues. When she realizes she and Nate are cut from the same cloth and might be perfect together, can Kennedy learn to let her heart lead the way? Or will her fears sentence her to the sidelines as Nate finds love—with someone else? 

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski (Book Outlet; $3.99)

• As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 
  
  One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. 
  
  But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 

The Fever by Megan Abbott

• The Nash family is close-knit. Tom is a popular teacher, father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and his sister Deenie, a diligent student. Their seeming stability, however, is thrown into chaos when Deenie's best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in class. Rumors of a hazardous outbreak spread through the family, school and community.
  
  As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town's fragile idea of security.

Alienated by Melissa Landers (Amazon; $10.00)

• Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
  
  Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.
  
  Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.
  
  But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
  
  Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet. 

Beautiful You by Chuck Palahniuk (Recieved from publisher for review) 

• From the author of Fight Club, the classic portrait of the damaged contemporary male psyche, now comes this novel about the apocalyptic marketing possibilities of female pleasure. Sisters will be doing it for themselves. And doing it. And doing it. And doing it some more . . . Penny Harrigan is a low-level associate in a big Manhattan law firm with an apartment in Queens and no love life at all. So it comes as a great shock when she finds herself invited to dinner by one C. Linus Maxwell, aka "Climax-Well," a software mega-billionaire and lover of the most gorgeous and accomplished women on earth. After dining at Manhattan's most exclusive restaurant, he whisks Penny off to a hotel suite in Paris, where he proceeds, notebook in hand, to bring her to previously undreamed-of heights of orgasmic pleasure for days on end. What's not to like? This: Penny discovers that she is a test subject for the final development of a line of sex toys to be marketed in a nationwide chain of boutiques called Beautiful You. So potent and effective are these devices that women by the millions line up outside the stores on opening day and then lock themselves in their room with them and stop coming out. Except for batteries. Maxwell's plan for erotically enabled world domination must be stopped. But how?

Don't Look Back by Jennifer L Armentrout (Half.com; $5.00)

• Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. 
  
  Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash. 
  
  But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

     Rating: 5/5 stars 

     Recommend: Yes! 

     Synopsis: Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

     Review: This book was fabulous! I initially wasn't sure i'd like this series considering i'm not big on sci-fi and fantasy, as you know from my reviews i'm a romance girl. But i am so glad i picked this one up and the second book was just as good as the first! This one really dove into the budding romance between Daemon and Katy as well as the DOD and what they want from the Luxen and now Katy since she's found herself entwined with the aliens. It really hits deeply on why Daemon is the way he is and also proves to us that his affections for Katy are real and not just due to the connection they have. This was a great continuation and i have high hopes for the final three books in the series, especially since what happened at the end on this book, mmmm it's gonna be so good!! 

     What I Liked: Daemon was a million times more likable in this one since we were given the chance to see his more vulnerable side, Daemon also proves that he does love Katy, truly and deeply and would do anything to protect her and keep her away from harm. I kind of love the Arum also, they are a very cool antagonist and I also liked te DOD and their shady practice coming to light. The events of this book really set the characters up for a really thrilling next book and I just can't wait I read about it all. The path of the relationships in this book are so realistic, to me atleast nothing feels rushed or pushed to be something it's not. JLA is a master at relationship and character development. Also, DAWSON!?!?!?!?! BETH!?!?!?! WHAT!?!?!?!

     What I Didn't Like: We said goodbye to one of our beloved characters in this book, it hurt so badly. I can't help but think in the next three books that we're going to lose so many more characters we know and love, i am not looking forward to that at all. 

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

     Rating: 5/5 stars

     Recommend: absolutely 

     Synopsis: Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

     Review: I was totally unsure if I would like this book since me and sci-fi don't mix, but boy was I wrong. I absolutely ADORED this book, I don't think I have a single big complaint about it. Obsidian follows Katy, a book blogger who moves from Florida to West Virginia with her mother after the death of her father. Katy doesn't have high hopes for small town living, until she meets her neighbors. Dee and Daemon Black are supermodel gorgeous and Daemon has the attitude to match. As Katy gets closer to Dee and tries to not be attracted to Daemon, she learns things about them, things that could kill her. This was such a fun book, it was never dull and that is really saying something considering I find many books boring at points. I hate that I Waited so long to pick this one up, I could already be through the series if I had done it earlier! 

     What I liked: everything. I'm being serious, I loved everything about this book. Katy was a great narrator, Dee was absolutely precious, and Daemon was just UGH. The sexual tension from the first meeting was very apparent but I really liked how the author waited and built up to the first kiss and that it never went father then that, especially considering this is the first in a series. The town was creepy and the way she subtly gave you hints as to what was going on was really fantastic. 

      What I Didn't Like: The only thing i had an issue with was that guy getting rough with Katy at the party, i didn't like that at all. Also, i would have liked a little more of Katy with her mom, but i'm sure that will come later in the series. 

Review: Unwritten by Chelsea Cameron

        

*ARC recieved from Netgalley*

     Rating: 3/5 stars

     Recommend: probably not. 

     Synopsis: Blair Walton isn't your average curvaceous tattooed children's librarian. She's also one half of bestselling romance author, Scarlet Rose. Along with her BFF Raine, she spends her nights writing books so steamy, she's afraid they would shock her Southern conservative grandmother to death . . . if she knew about them. That's why she and Raine write in secret.

On deadline for their latest book and out of ideas, Raine suggests (demands) that Blair find a guy and "do some research". Declan Bennet has all the qualifications: He's British, looks fabulous in a suit, has glorious blue eyes and gets bonus points for being an amazing single dad to his adorable son, Drake. But what starts out as a research project quickly turns into something much more. And Blair's not the only one with secrets.

     Review: I wanted to like this book more, i swear that i did. I was excited when i got approved for this book on Netgalley because I've heard nothing but amazing things about Chelsea M. Cameron's writing, but to be honest with you, this book left we severely underwhelmed. The story follows Blair, who is a children's librarian by day and a steamy romance novelist (with her best friend) by night. One day a little boy named Drake wanders into the library and Blair falls in love with the little boy's charm. Awhile later, Drake's father comes in to meet the woman his son will not shut up about, he's gorgeous, British and named Declan. From there, Blair and Declan begin a relationship and start to fall in love, but both of them are keeping secrets. I'm not gonna say this book was bad because it wasn't, it was well written but the story itself was frankly pretty lame, it felt like she tried to build it up but then just dropped us.... she bought us dinner then never called again, basically. 

     What I Liked: i loved the writing aspect of Blair, i thought that the concept of her being a closeted romance novelist was a really cool idea. Declan was so dreamy, ugh, he sounded really hot and Drake was just so cute i could not stop awing. Raine was a wonderful best friend, she did everything right and never asked questions. All of the secondary characters (with the exception of Drake's bitchy nanny) were fabulous, i loved all the people that we met that worked at the library, they added a nice other aspect to Blair and to her life. My number one favorite thing about this book was that Blair wasn't a virgin skinned, skinny supermodel, she was a curvy woman that was covered in tattoo's and that was really refreshing to see in new adult novel, i feel like the curvy girl is  often left undiscovered. 

     What I Didn't Like: Honestly, what was the point of the library fire? It was so pointless in the scheme of things, i was hoping that it would turn into something but it was.... pointless. Declan's secret was totally lame, i was expecting skeletons in his closet... literally, but i got basically nothing. Declan had the makings of a really good psycho at some points and i really wish Cameron would have gone that direction, now that would have been a hell of a book. I also wanted more of Blair hanging out with Drake, they were so cute together. Also, her and Declan get real serious, real fast at the end and i just don't think that they would have gone that fast had they been a real couple. One more thing.... the i love you's. what a TERRIBLE place to do that... wow. 

Her Perfect Game by Shannyn Schroeder

                                

      *ARC recieved from NetGalley*

     Rating: 3/5 Stars 

     Recommend: like the first, probably not. 

     Synopsis: Charlie Castle is an expert archer and a fierce warrior—in her favorite video game, anyway. But college life was a program she couldn't quite master. To land a cybertech job without a degree, she's entering a "hackfest" over spring break—where she also hopes to meet the sweet gamer who's been flirting with her online. Instead, she runs into the hot guy who walked away years ago, and can't fight the desire that comes rushing back. 

Jonah Best has never gotten over Charlie, whose kisses were always as deliciously creative as her coding. But now that they're face to face again, he doesn't know how to admit that her online admirer is really him—or how to convince her that he's offering her a job for her incredible skills, not her sex appeal. Can Jonah cut through their communication glitches and persuade Charlie that the next level up for them should be forever?

     Review: This book, like the first (reviewed here) was just not that good. I did enjoy this one slightly more than i enjoyed the first, which is why this one got 3 stars instead of 2.5. This book takes place during the same spring break the first one did, but this one follows Charlie, one of Layla's best friends. Charlie is a computer hacker who spends most of her free time playing a RPG called The Order of Resskaar, where she has a not so slight crush in a fellow player named Win. Jonah taught Charlie everything he knew about hacking and after getting sent back home to Chicago (he ran away without a word three years prior) to attend a Con for work, he and Charlie reconnect and  both start to remember why they loved each other. Like the first book, this one was also around the 130 page mark, which made it seem rushed and basically unfinished, with an abrupt ending . At least this one has a pre-established relationship so that made the fastness of it slightly better, and i mean slightly. Charlie was better than Layla but miles but she was still flat and lifeless on the page, and Jonah was just creepy with the whole Win thing, i could not get past that. No connection was felt to any of these characters and that's quite upsetting because i thought this one was going to be miles better. To be honest, if they approve me i'll still read the third one because I've gone this far, i might as well finish the trilogy. 

     What I Liked: The RPG/Hacking setting was really interesting, also the fact that the story is set at a Con. That's about it. 

     What I Didn't Like: Jonah being Win, that creeped me out beyond belief. How fast Charlie fell back into bed with Jonah, if i was her i would be PISSED but she's just like, okay wanna have sex? like no, not realistic sorry. The lack of detail was just so hard to swallow, especially considering Charlie and Jonah had this deep romance, this story would have been the perfect use of a flashback, but nope, it was completely underdeveloped unfortunately. Also, why didn't Charlie question the fact that "Win" was going to pay for her registration and let her stay in her room, that is beyond creepy, especially considering she's never even seen what he really looks like... Charlie, are you an idiot? The fact that she made this so short, this had the potential to be a really great book, but she skipped the details and it ended up being novella length, if this was the size of a normal novel i think it would have been much better than it actually turned out to be. 

Cassie's August Book Haul

 This month was also a pretty good book month, i really excited about the books i got. I decided that if i get more than say one book a month i'll be posting my haul, i think that a lot of people are interested in those so i figured i'll do them! If you've read any of these and wanna chat about them let me know! You can also hit me up on twitter at @discocassie :)

I've already read The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst, the review for it can be found here.

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines (eBay; $4.00)

• Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it’s his cousin Beau who catches Ashton’s eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, and even though he’s dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.
  
  Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer’s girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That’s why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he’s been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer’s absence, Beau knows he should say no.
  
  Ashton and Beau don’t want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It’s getting way too hard to resist....

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young (Thriftbooks.com; $3.59)

• Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…
  
  Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.
  
  Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.
  
  But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

Searching For Someday by Jennifer Probst (Half Price Books; $3.00) 

• Kate has given up on love—at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people—a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success.
  
  But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love... only to find herself falling for him along the way.

Bared To You by Sylvia Day (Half Price Books; $3.00) 

• Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness… He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily…
  
  Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds…and desires.The bonds of his love transformed me, even as i prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst (Half Price Books; $0.50) 

• To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.
  
  Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition.
  
  A marriage in name only with certain rules: avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?
  
  Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

The Marriage Trap by Jennifer Probst (Barnes and Noble; $4.48) 

• To satisfy his late father’s wishes, hot and single billionaire Michael Conte must find a bride—someone who will fit into his traditional family back home in Italy—and fast, so his engaged sister will be allowed to wed. With no intention of being tied down, Michael “proposes” to fiery, free-spirited photographer Maggie Ryan: if she will play the part of his fiancée during her trip to Milan for a photo shoot, he will keep away from her married best friend, Alexa, and stop making Maggie nuts with their too-close-for- comfort flirtations.
  
  But once in Italy, sexual tension sparks the hottest no-strings- attached arrangement on any continent. Could marriage be the most enticing trap of all?

The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton (eBay; $6.00)

• When Grace Sheridan returns to Los Angeles to become a working actress, it’s a second shot at a life-long dream. With some help from her best-friend agent, will that dream become a reality—or at thirty-three, has Grace missed her chance at the big time? And when an unexpected sizzling romance with Jack Hamilton, the entertainment industry's newest “it” boy, threatens to shine an uncomfortable spotlight on her life, how will that affect her career…and his?
  
  Funny, borderline neurotic Grace is perfect in her imperfections, and the sexual chemistry between her and charming yet blissfully unaware Jack is off the charts. With laugh-out-loud dialogue and a super-steamy romance that will get your heart racing, sneaking around in L.A. and dodging the paparazzi has never been so fun.

Review: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

     Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
     Recommend: Absolutely, 100%

     Synopsis: The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly...

     Review: I LOVED this book.... like really really loved it. The story follows Caroline, a twenty-six year old interior designer who lives in San Francisco. Her boss, Jillian, offers to let her rent the apartment she sublets, an apartment she had prior to becoming engaged. The story begins the night that Caroline moves in, it's that night she first encounters the sex fiend next door, really named Simon, nicknamed to Caroline and her friends, Wallbanger. Simon, who is a photographer, turns out to be so much more than Caroline first thought he was. As they get to know each other, they realize that they were much more alike than originally thought and that changes everything. This book was incredibly good, the characters were fantastic, and the sexual tension was through the goddamn roof. I was totally and completely engrossed in Simon and Caroline's love story and as predictable as it was, i couldn't help but bite my nails as i turned each page. This was my first Alice Clayton novel and it for sure will not be my last, i love her writing style and her humor. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Cocktail Series and her Redhead Series as well!

What I Liked: The development of Caroline and Simon's relationship was, to me, very realistic. I felt like they could have been real life neighbors that happened to fall in love. Caroline, oh Caroline, i loved her personality and just her everything. She was hilarious and could always throw it right back at Simon. The verbal foreplay between the two was perfect, they were always going off on each other and i loved that. The slow realization of the feelings, specifically on Simon's part was great. Since this wasn't a duel POV book, everything we got about Simon came from Caroline and i feel like Clayton really gave good clues and cue's as to how Simon was beginning to feel about Caroline. Clive the cat!!!! That little fur ball was comedic gold and i am so glad that he was a part of this book, especially the last two pages of the book from his POV, priceless. I have a very hard time normally connecting to female characters, i always have, especially in New Adult but i just totally clicked with Caroline. She wasn't dumb, she could hold her own in a battle of wits, she knew what she wanted and didn't back down from a challenge, she was pretty bad ass and i loved her for that. The sexual innuendos present in there text's was amazing, i love how easily Simon and Caroline could talk to each other and how well they clicked from pretty much the moment they met.

What I Didn't Like: The last twenty or so pages of the book was all sex and i really could have done without that. I'm happy that Caroline got her O back, but i didn't need descriptions of them having sex on every surface of her house. I wish there was a little more of Jillian than there was, we saw a lot of Mimi and Sophia so i was just hoping there there would be more of Jillian, i really liked her a lot. I think there should have been a bit more struggle to get her O back, i don't know it seemed to come back real fast after all that time. The thing with James was useless and pretty pointless to the story in my opinion, i just didn't like it and didn't like that Caroline went out with him again after how he used to belittle her. Spain was also really fast, but i did like how they both kept bringing it up that there relationship wasn't exactly normal.

Some of my favorite Lines from the book: 

• "Sweet Lord, there were out-of-control pussies on both sides of this wall tonight" 
• "You smell like tequila and sexual repression, Caroline. Get Off Me." 
• "Get your ass over here right now, you motherfucking scary movie pusher," 
• "God, he gave good meatball" 

Her Best Shot by Shannyn Schroeder

    *ARC recieved from NetGalley*
     Raiting: 2.5 Star
     Recommend: probably not.

     Synopsis: Layla Sharpe is definitely more math ninja than bikini babe, and her future has been calculated with razor precision. Convinced to let loose over spring break, Layla is finally ready to party—until her car breaks down halfway to her destination, leaving her stranded in Georgia with a mouthwateringly hot pool shark. She knows more than enough about angles to learn the game, but this week she wants him to appreciate her curves… 

Phin Marks has never met a girl like Layla. She’s more Star Wars geek than seductress, and when he offers her a place to stay while her car is in the shop, he’s counting on the attraction between them to set the nights ablaze, no strings attached. But every moment he spends with Layla makes it harder to let her go. Can he persuade her to gamble in the most dangerous way possible…on forever?

     Review: I was very disappointed by this book to be totally honest with you. First of all, it wasn't even a book, it was more like a novella clocking in at just about 130 pages. The book follows Layla, who on her way to Texas for  spring break get's stranded in Atlanta after her car decides to break down. Stuck, low on cash and about to have a panic attack, she` ends up at a bar. Enter Phin, a phenom pool player, who pretty much turns her entire spring break upside down. Like books prior, i felt absolutely no connection to any of the characters, they were flat and uninteresting with no discernible personalities. This also felt more like a pre-detail draft or an outline than a full story, Schroeder put little detail and what she did put was really unnecessary in the grand scheme of the story. I was expecting a lot more from this book, but i'm still going to give the second book in the series a shot because, well why not.... i'm sure it will be a short and quick read. 

     What I Liked: Nothing. Except maybe the whole pool playing thing, that was pretty cool but like the rest of the book it was grossly underdeveloped. 

    What I Didn't Like: let's see here, where to start... oh i know, THIS WAS SO RUSHED I LITERALLY GOT WHIPLASH. Layla wanted to drop her entire life for a guy she knew for LESS THAN A WEEK, what a joke, no one is that crazy, Phin did the right thing by scaring her off. Too much sex, it wasn't needed for the story, one or two scenes fine but five is overkill, especially considering this book was so short. The whole thing was just totally unrealistic to me, i didn't buy into any of it, and i am usually very gullible when it comes to new adult. Not enough plot at all, it was like she hit major plot points but gave very little detail and it really made the growth of the relationship lost on me, it made absolutely no sense to me any of it, especially Phin claiming to love her. 

Reckless by Priscilla West

*Copy provided By Netgalley for a review* 

    Rating: 3 Stars

    Recommend: Depends on the person. 

    Synopsis: Everything about him warned me to stay away.

I’d seen bad boys before, but he had it all and more. The rippling muscles covered in tatts, the piercing eyes hiding dark secrets, the silky voice that could make a girl come with just a whisper . . . 
He was exactly the type of guy that would get me in trouble, but when he jumped off the stage, inked skin glistening with sweat and breathed his seductive words into my ear, I couldn’t resist the temptation.

It was supposed to be the best one-night stand of my life, but fate didn’t let it play out that way. Things happened. I got upset. I got hasty. And worst of all, I got reckless.
After that disaster, I thought it was the last I’d see of him. But what I didn’t know was that I’d started something.
Something that could shatter the very thing I had worked so hard to protect.

I should have known back then that the most seductive things in life are also the most dangerous.

   Review: I liked this book.... kind of, it was a typical New Adult romance except it was set on tour rather than in a college. The story follows kinda wild/kinda not accountant Riley, who after encountering a rock star in a bar and giving him blue balls, ends up as his bands tour accountant for two weeks. Jax is your typical NA romantic hero, he's covered in tattoos, sleeps around and is in a band but he, as always, has a sweet side that can love. Riley tried to fight the connection they have in an effort to remain professional, but it just doesn't work. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with this book, it was more of a whole book issue. I found it very difficult to connect to any of the characters... they felt flat and under developed to me, but since there is a part two coming out i'm hoping that will fix the underdevelopment for me. I just felt this book lacked any spark, most of the time i read a book i feel a spark, like i too am falling in love with the characters, but i felt nothing at all with this book and that sucked because i was really looking forward to this read. I feel like West missed an opportunity to write a really great and kind of unique NA Romance but she totally missed the mark and wasted such a great plot.

   What I Liked: To be honest with you, there wasn't so much i explicitly liked, i more or less just tolerated most of it. The romance was okay, they were cute. Jax was an okay character, i didn't feel any attraction to him but maybe that's just because i didn't exactly understand him as a character. The sex scenes (or you know, singular sex scene) was hot... so that was a plus (Also, that damn hot tub scene, WOW). I loved the bands name, "The Hitchcocks" and Jax's love of the old Hitchcock films, that's the only thing i think i could connect with him on.  I did like the end, it has me intrigued so i'll be reading the second one, if the end hadn't happened i wouldn't be continuing with the second part, but now i need to know what goes down. At least Riley wasn't a complete airhead, in the beginning that is, i loved her snark and her doing her own thing but that faded out as soon as she got together with Jax.

   What I Didn't Like: You didn't see the rest of the band often, which considering they shared a tour bus is really hard to believe. The constant pot smoking when you did see them just totally turned me off to them, especially Chewie, who clearly has a problem. I didn't understand Riley and Jax's connection, i didn't see it at all and i don't know why but i just... didn't. Riley got so CLINGY  at the end, oh my god she was about to go beg Jax for another chance because she 'loves' him,  like girl please you've known him for a week you need to cool it down. Riley's personality, how ever small the change, changed once she got together with Jax and that really annoyed me, she turned into a love sick puppy and i almost DNF because that pissed me off beyond belief. 

The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst

    Rating: 5/5 Stars
    Recommend: ABSOLUTELY!

    Synopsis: To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition. A marriage in name only with certain rules: avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?

Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

    Review: I really loved this book, i was hooked for the very first chapter on the story and even more so after Alexa and Nick met again after all those years. Nick was Alexa's first kiss when she was fourteen and he is also her best friends older brother. Nick also just so happens to be the first boy that ever broke Alexa's heart. This book was really fantastic, i couldn't put it down and if i didn't need to sleep i would have finished it probably around 5 AM after starting it around 7PM last night. It was a nice, quick, fluffy read that had me rooting for the relationship the entire time and when things went sour, it really upset me. All in all i think this book should be read by anyone that loves cute contemporaries that have pretty phenomenal sex scenes. This was my first 'marriage in name only' book and i loved it and i will absolutely be coming back to this particular plot when i choose future reads! 

    What I Liked: The sexual tension between them was INCREDIBLE, you could almost cut it with a knife. Alexa is so snarky and the constant flirty banter was really amazing and i kinda fell in love with both Alexa and Nick. Maggie was an exceptional character, she was both a loyal friend and sister, never taking one's side over the other. The family dynamic of Alexa vs the nonexistent family dynamic with Nick's family was something that was both heartbreaking and necessary to know considering how he acts. Nick wasn't just a heartless bastard, Probst gave him a good reason and a shady past and it made all of Nicks reactions and such plausible. The fact that they were both into each other when they were kids was absolutely adorable and added a really great layer of familiarity to everything they did together, whether it was banter or make love. I did like the intro of Michael, i really enjoy him and his Italian charm... it makes me very excited to read the next book in the series involving him and Maggie! I think my favorite part of this book though, was how well Nick and Alexa got along, as she says in the book they are total opposites but they just work somehow and i feel like that is the perfect way to sum up the relationship they had. I also thought it was great how they acted like they did as teenagers when they were around each other, it really showed that even though years passed, they never did forget about one another. 

    What I Didn't Like: There wasn't too much that i didn't like about this book. i felt like everything made sense and was realistic in nature, so everything was okay with that. I guess my only issue was that it was a bit predictable but many books in this genre  are and i'm fine with that so that's not really something i didn't like. This was just a really good book and i found it to be mostly flawless! 

Review: The Real Thing by Cassie Mae

*ARC copy provided by Netgalley*

    Rating: 4/5 Stars

    Recommend: sure! 

    Synopsis: Eric Matua has one friend—his best friend and childhood sweetheart, who needs a place to stay for the summer. Mia Johnson has thousands of friends—who live in her computer. Along with her email chats and Facebook notifications, Mia also devours romance novels, spending countless hours with fictional characters, dreaming of her own Romeo to sweep her off her feet. When she starts receiving supersweet messages from a stranger who thinks she’s someone else, Mia begins to believe that real love is possible outside her virtual world. 

When the two friends become roommates, Mia finds herself falling harder than she ever thought she could. But Eric keeps his desires locked away, unsure of himself and his ability to give his best friend what she deserves in a boyfriend. As her advances are continually spurned, Mia splits her time between Eric and her computer. But she soon realizes she’s about to lose the only real thing she’s ever had.

    Review: The story follows best friends Mia and Eric, who have been besties since high school. After high school Eric moved away to Samoa and after three years decided to go home to Florida. He spends the summer in his mothers beach house and Mia ends up joining him for the summer. Problem is, they've both had crushes on each other for as long as they could remember. When things start to heat up they have to figure out how to keep their friendship while also falling in love with each other. 

    This was a good book, it was my first by Cassie Mae and I have to say that I loved her writing style and how she didn't shy away from writing certain situations and how she made it seem like such a real relationship. Nothing seemed far fetched and everything that Eric did made sense with all the problems he had. I liked this one a lot and will  be picking up more Cassie Mae books in the future.

    What I Liked: I loved that Eric was the one with the problems. Most of the time in these books it's the girl with the issues that pertain to their body or mental illness it was refreshing to see these problems from the male perspective. The romance was adorable and I love how Mia loved Eric even when he wasn't the most in shape person, and how their crushes grew even stronger with distance. Mia's internet addiction was shown in a very real and authentic way, I know because I've been there and I liked how she overcame that obstacle in her life. It was also cute how each chapter starts with a Facebook status, I liked that very much. 

    What I Didn't Like: I wish we had seen more of Eve and Rachel, I really loved them as characters and I even grew fond of Tolani and his son. Going along with the previous sentence, I wish we could have seen more secondary characters to break up always seeing Mia and Eric together. I found the Scott story line pretty pointless with were I went, I would have like it much better if he had turned into a stalker or something sinister. Eric got over his anxiety really fast and was able to sleep with Mia, I don't think he'd be able to go from barely touching her to full on sleeping so quickly but I guess I don't really know personally how that works. I also would have liked to see more interaction with Mia's dad, they had a very sweet relationship and I would have liked to learn more about it and about what happened to Mia's mother. 

Cassie's July Book Haul

 This month was a good book month, I just recently started getting into actually purchasing books rather then getting them from the library. All of these books were purchased bargain from a group of places and I'll list where and the price below with the goodreads synopsis of each book. Let me know if you've read any of these! (Note: I read perfect chemistry and rules of attraction earlier this year, I didn't have my own copies though :3)

My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea M. Cameron (Thriftbooks.com; $4.07)

• Two secrets. One bet. Who will break first?
  
  Taylor Caldwell can't decide if she wants to kiss her new college roommate or punch him.
  
  On the one hand, Hunter Zaccadelli is a handsome blue-eyed bundle of charm. On the other, he's a tattooed, guitar-playing bad boy. Maybe that's why Taylor's afraid of falling in love with him, or anyone else. She doesn't want to get burned, so she needs him gone before it's too late.
  
  Hunter himself has been burned before, but Taylor's sexy laugh and refusal to let him get away with anything make her irresistible. Determined not to be kicked out of her life without a fight, Hunter proposes a bet: if she can convince him she either truly loves or hates him, he'll leave the apartment;and leave her alone.
  
  But when the man behind Taylor's fear of giving up her heart resurfaces, she has to decide: trust Hunter with her greatest secret, or do everything in her power to win that bet and drive him away forever.

The Secret Of Ella And Micha by Jessica Sorensen (Barnes & Noble; $3.99)

• Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.
  
  Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home. 
  
  Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.
  
  Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes. 

One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy (Amazon Used Marketplace; 4.00)

• Temporary. That one single word best describes my life these last few years. I’m working at a temporary job until I can finally break free. I’m my little brother’s temporary mother since our mom doesn’t give a crap about either of us. And I’m that temporary girl all the guys want to get with because I give it up so easily. According to the rumors, at least.
  
  But now I’m the temporary girlfriend of Drew Callahan, college football legend and all around golden guy. He’s beautiful, sweet—and he’s hiding way more secrets than I am. He’s brought me into this fake life where everyone seems to hate me. And everyone seems to want something from him. The only thing he seems to want though is…
  
  Me.
  
  I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know is, I think Drew needs me. And I want to be there for him.
  
  Forever.

Down To You by M. Leighton (Amazon Used Marketplace; $5.50)

• The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not. Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white. But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins. 
  
  Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her. Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together. 
  
  Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them. Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire. She wants them both. And they want her. How will she ever choose between them?

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (Goodwill; $0.99)

• When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. 
  
  Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.
  
  In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

The Men Who Would Be King: The Courtships Of Elizabeth I (Half Price Books; $2.00)

• In the only history available on this ever-fascinating subject, readers will meet the many men who competed fruitlessly for Elizabeth's hand and affections. From her childhood—overshadowed by the marital upheavals of her father Henry VIII and the tragic first encounter with courtship, to the fantastical flirtations of her old age, Elizabeth refused to commit herself to any man. During the marriage negotiations, which spanned half a century, romance blended with diplomacy as one illustrious suitor after another endeavored to ally himself to her in the most intimate of treaties. She played one suitor against another, exploiting her situation to the full both for England's profit and her pleasure. One man did come close to winning her—ambitious, devious Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, suspected by many of having murdered his wife, was the most persistent of the suitors to the Queen, and though he never attained the prize he longed for, he was dearly loved by Elizabeth all her life.

Rules Of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (Goodwill; $1.99)

• When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now