Review: The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester

I had to include a picture of the back cover as well this time around. These were taken on my phone so they aren't the best but they'll do. 

Rating: 4.5/5

Recommend: If you're a fan of Dan and Phil obviously 

I want to start by saying that this review will be a bit different from ones I've posted in the past. As this book is non-fiction I feel a bit weird calling this a review because these are two real people who are talking about their actual lives so it's a little strange but I will still be giving my honest opinion. 

Review: As a long time subscriber of Dan and Phil I preordered this book months ago and was so excited to receive my copy that I sat down and read the whole thing in one go as soon as it arrived. That being said, there really isn't as much textual content as I expected. There were a ton of great stories and looks behind the camera and stories behind some of the videos, but I really did expect a bit more about their lives outside of youtube and their careers. This is of course a look into the world they've created online so it's not that surprising but I would have liked to hear a bit more about young Dan and Phil, however cringeworthy that might have been. 

Everything about this book was just so Dan and Phil, from the collages and aesthetic pages to the fanfiction included in the back pages that they wrote themselves, I have to admit, Dan's was pretty good, and even the dining chair quiz just seemed to be perfectly at home in this world they've built. At the end of the day this book is for them and their audience as a closer look at the corner of the internet we all inhabit and a way to remember all of that and of course to remember the two guys who started it all. I'm a bit biased but I'd recommend this to any Dan and Phil viewer out there, new or old, anyone who has never heard of them might not enjoy it but why not pick it up and browse a bit if you ever come across it at the store, give it a try. 

Review: Solitaire by Alice Oseman

Rating: 4.5/5 (Rated up on goodreads) 

Recommend: Absolutely!! 

Review: This book kind of had my hooked from the moment I saw it in the bookstore a few months ago. I can't really explain it but I saw the cover and just picked it up and thought it would be something I was into, sadly I didn't have the money for it that day so it had to be left behind. When I did I have the money for it I grabbed it off the shelf and started reading it almost immediately. I was right, I was absolutely hooked from the first page and just couldn't put it down. The main character, Tori Spring, reminded me a lot of how I was in high school, I don't think I was as cynical and pessimistic but I was definitely both of those things and it's rare I find a character I relate to so much in books these days. The conversations between the characters felt so real and like something you might overhear in a school hallways or even be something you recognize as a conversation you've had with your own friends. Books like this are difficult for me because the dialogue always seems a bit forced but in Solitaire it all felt natural and was very easy to read. I did kind of guess the ending when I was about halfway through the book but there was enough of a twist that I didn't exactly see everything coming before I'd even got to the end. I truly just really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from Alice Oseman in the future. 

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Rating: 4.5/5 

Recommend: Yes!! 

Review: So this was one of those that I just had to read because I saw so many people talking about it and I don't regret it. I wasn't so sure about it at first because it took a bit for me to get into it but I'm going to just blame that on the reading slump I seem to be in. I did really enjoy the Glendower quest and the psychic elements to the story as it's something I personally haven't encountered a lot in books and it was really interesting to me to see the story and journey play out. I know that it's not over as this is only the first book in a series but it got me hooked and I'll definitely be continuing the journey with these characters and their story. 

Review: The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: If you've read The Bone Season then obviously I recommend this one

Review: I will admit it took me a bit to get my stride with this one but once I did I found this hard to put down. I think I just needed to get used to the world and the characters again but of course it wasn't hard to fall back into this world. I loved learning more about the way the syndicate works and seeing all of these people we only heard about in passing become important characters. I can't wait to see this world expand more and these characters continue to grow and the story of Paige Mahoney progresses. I do wish we'd seen a little more of the other seals and of course Ivy that's just because I like seeing exactly how every little thing ties together. That being said, I really did enjoy this book and can't wait to read the next installment in this series.

Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Rating: 4.5/5

Recommend: Definitely!!

Review: So I really had absolutely no idea what to expect when getting into this book. It was the group read for my genre challenge this month and everyone kept posting about how much they loved it so of course when I see posts like that I get skeptical because I usually tend to be a bit disappointed with books that people speak so highly of. I was not disappointed in this one. The story was amazing and told so beautifully that I just flew through this book practically in one sitting. Ari had such a great voice and these were characters and family dynamics that I related to in a way I never have with another book or other characters before, probably because I'm a Mexican who grew up in Texas, but I really did love seeing something so familiar to me in a book that's so loved by so many. I really cannot say enough about this wonderful book and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and quick read.

Side note: I really wanted to make my first video review on this book but I really haven't had too much time to film. I still plan on making a video for this book just to get a little more into what I thought about the characters and things like that and a link will be posted here when that finally goes up.

Also, here's the genre challenge I'm participating in just incase some of you are interested.

Review: Love by the Book by Melissa Pimentel

*Electronic copy received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend: Yes

Review: I've never read a book in this genre before and felt this was a good introduction. It was light, and humorous and just generally very enjoyable. I found Lauren, the main character, to be likable and the conversations between her and her roommate seemed a lot more like actual conversations you'd hear between friends unlike the dialogue in some books. I also particularly enjoyed the openness Lauren had about her sex life and being against the idea that all women just want a relationship and a domestic life. I really would have liked to see a bit more between her and Lucy that wasn't talking about relationships but this book was a lovely read and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a fun read and maybe trying to broaden their horizons with some new genres.

Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Rating: 4.5/5 

Recommend: Definitely!!

Review: I have to say this book exceeded my expectations. I'd never heard of it until it was chosen as the group read for the genre challenge I'm participating in and wasn't sure if I would like it but it sounded interesting so I bought it on my kindle. I was immediately entranced by this book. I was only a little familiar with the story of Achilles before I started the book but the author had a way of making him so lively and real. I loved the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus and how above all else they really just wanted to keep each other safe and refused to leave each other behind, even when others tried so desperately to keep them from each other. This book was such an easy read and I really didn't want it to end even though it obviously had to. I do think the ending was rather bittersweet but was rather perfect and the happiest ending these two would ever get. I really did love this book and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to venture into the genre. 

Review: Mind's Eye by Douglas E. Richards

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend: maybe

Review: Going to attempt another short and spoiler free review for you guys today. Mind’s Eye is a book that was recommended to me by an online friend awhile back and I just got around to it recently completely unaware of what I was getting into which was at once pretty cool and pretty worrisome. I did like the book I just felt it was a little too slow in some places and a little too fast paced in others, some parts that could’ve been sped up seemed to drag on and some that I wished we saw more of were just passed over it seemed. Again I liked the tech in this one even though it isn’t necessarily something I think is desirable but it worked well with the story and gave a plausible explanation for Nick’s ESP. I also was not expecting the twist at the end which I know is something I’ve mentioned I liked in books on here before. Looking back I feel like I should’ve seen it but it still managed to surprise me and I really liked that. It did take me some time to get into the book enough to get to the point where I couldn’t put it down until I was done but when I got there I wasn’t disappointed with the way things played out. Again I’d recommend reading a bit of it before deciding if you want to invest in it but if you know it’s something you’d be into I promise you won’t regret it. 

Review: Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes!!  

Review: So I'm not very familiar with Russian folklore but oh my gods this story was awesome. Valente was great at making sure you were able to picture everything happening to Mayra and you found yourself routing for to succeed even though you're not really sure what she needs to achieve at some points. The book jumps around a bit and the timeline is a bit weird because it's never stated how much time has passed but I absolutely loved the way magic played into the story and how a lot of it was more subtle than I expected when I started the story. Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading it again at some point. 

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Rating: 4.5/5

Recommend: Absolutely!!!

Review: I’d heard a lot about this one, both good and bad things, so when I decided to finally take it off the shelf I tried not to let the reviews influence my opinion. I admit it took me a bit to actually fully get into the swing of the story but once everything got started I found it difficult to pull myself away from the world created by Morgenstern in this book. I could so clearly picture everything in the circus and often found myself wishing it was a place I could actually visit. The writing style is perfect for a story of this nature and the story itself is completely magical, though difficult to explain without giving spoilers. It’s safe to say I fell in love with this book and highly recommend it to anyone who might be interested. 

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! 

Review: Proxy by Alex London

Rating: 4.5/5 

Recommend: Definitely!!

Hello dear readers, I’m going to keep this one short and sweet as my first review back to the blog, well, as short of a review as I get. I’m also going to try to keep this review fairly spoiler free so that might help with the length. It’s been a long few months without internet but no internet did give me time to whittle down my ‘to be read’ stack.

Review: The first book I read was Proxy, which has been sitting on my nightstand calling my name for quite some time now. I have to say I was not disappointed, and I had some pretty high expectations after hearing such great things about it. The story follows Syd a proxy for spoiled rich kid Knox as he runs from Guardians after being sentenced to death for Knox killing a girl in a car accident. I have to say I don’t usually read books with such an emphasis on technology but this one just sounded too good and I had to pick it up. The tech in this book is unreal, at once enviable and a bit horrifying it added this great element to the story that I don’t think it would’ve had if it wasn’t incorporated into the society in the way that the author wrote it. I do think the pace left a little to be desired with characterization but what we did see of character growth and development was pretty realistic given the situation and I know all of this will probably be covered in the sequel. I do not regret my decision to read this one a single bit, and I highly recommend it to anyone who might be interested. I really just can’t wait to read the next one. 

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. 

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. 

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" 

Review: Accession by Terah Edun

Rating: 2.5/5

Recommend: probably not

Synopsis (from goodreads): Sixteen-year-old Katherine Thompson wasn’t trained to rule a coven. That was her sister – perfect, beautiful Rose. But when a mysterious plane crash kills off the heir presumptive of the Sandersville coven she has no choice.

After stepping in to fill her sister’s shoes, Katherine realizes she didn’t have a clue – faery wars, depressed trolls and angry unicorns are just the beginning.

For centuries, her family has served the high Queens on both sides of the Atlantic but it is a well-known rule that mid-level witches stay away from high-level Queens.

But when Katherine’s youngest cousin vanishes without a trace in the Atlanta court and no one wants to investigate, Katherine decides to step into the darkness on her own. She will soon discover that nothing, especially in a queen's court, is as it seems

*e-ARC recieved through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Review: I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. The synopsis was promising and the beginning of the book seemed like it was setting up a really great story but it just didn't click. There were some continuity errors and side characters that seemed promising and were then almost completely forgotten about. I would've liked to see Katherine reaching out to Connor more since they are made out to be friends and even a brief mention of her sister's boyfriend after Rose's death would've been nice since he was also injured and Katherine seemed ready to interrogate. I would've also liked to see how the town and this government fully work. They mention a lot of events and people that never get fleshed out and with the queen trying to go about life as normal I feel like she would try and keep up those appearances and relationships effectively dragging Katherine along with her. Some might greatly enjoy this novel but I don't think it's something I'd purchase for myself. 

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: Channel 20Something by Amy Patrick

*Received as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend: yes

Synopsis: The story follows 22 year old Heidi Haynes and her job as a small-market weekend news anchor in Mississippi. She's spent the last few years playing it safe from picking a job close to home to dating a nice and safe practical guy to settledown with. Heidi's world is turned upside down when new sports reporter Aric Serrano, a guy who is exactly her type and exactly the type she's been hoping to stay from, arrives on the scene. 

Review: I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I didn't really have any expectations for this book but as someone who doesn't read much romance this really could've gone either way for me. I like the workplace romance approach and I enjoyed that it wasn't really a forbidden love story kind of thing either. I also particularly enjoyed that they were friends first even though there was an undeniable attraction that they felt for each other, I haven't seen that very often and found it refreshing. Overall I think this book is great for anyone just getting into the NA genre or just anyone who wants a fun and quick read. 

What I liked: I really enjoyed that the author spent a lot of time with Heidi at work and showed her passion for her job because it very easily could've happened where the job was just a blip mentioned at the beginning to establish the setting of where they meet and maybe sneak around. Showing them both not only falling for each other but also working to achieve their goals and get better at their jobs was really great and provided great imagery and location for some of the events that take place.

What I didn't like: One of the only problems I have with the book as that after the beginning of the story where characters and are established and Aric arrives we never really see the other people on the newscrew or Mara and Kenley who Heidi claims are her best friends. I loved their dynamic at the beginning of the novel and would've enjoyed seeing her have a girl's night with Mara to discuss her growing relationship with Aric or to at least see a phone conversation with Kenley, one at the end not included, about what she should do about their relationship. When people are thinking about making decisions like that, especially about starting new relationships, and are as hesitant as Heidi is talking to their friends is something that a normal 22 year old woman would do and I just would've liked to see those friendships explored a little more than they were.