roselaina

*3.5 STARS.

(Review originally posted here at The Book Barbies.)

This is one of the most original plots I have ever heard of, and I was completely intrigued by the thought when I discovered it. I've never read anything like it, before or since. It was a recipe for a deliciously angsty romance, which is one of my favorite things ever. The book overall was not as good or as angst-filled as I had anticipated, but it was incredibly addicting. I believed Ransom (Yes, that's his name. Not one of the high points of the story.) and his motives for agreeing with his friend's proposal. Their relationship development was slow and beautiful. Although there was a pointless side story and some little details that bothered me, I enjoyed the main one. My emotions were quite engaged throughout the entire book, and it made me cry more than once.

*3.5 STARS.

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined.)

As I'm not generally the biggest fan of Cinderella retellings, I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James when I read it last year. During the reading, there was one secondary character who stood out: Wick, the major domo/butler who had some additional relationship to the prince that was quite the mystery for a while. I unfailingly loved him in every scene in which he appeared. When I later saw that he had his own story, I jumped at the chance to read (well, listen to) it.

May I reiterate, just in case you missed it: A love story where the hero is a butler! How awesome is that?

Forced to run away from home or face a marriage to a horrid man, Phillipa chose the former. When she heard that the prince and princess had a need of someone to help their sick baby, Phillipa jumped at the chance. She had previous experience with children and medicine, so the position was perfect for her. She felt an immediate attraction to Wick, and the feeling was reciprocated, although neither disclosed it at first. Yet there were bigger problems than her deception separating them: As Phillipa was not actually a servant, their stations were not compatible with the prospect of a future together. Phillipa was far above Wick in station, and Wick was a stickler for living according to rules and protocol. How could the two ever have a future together?

One thing I can definitely say about Phillipa and Wick is that they had magnificent chemistry, and it culminated in a couple scenes that had steam rising from my dashboard. As Storming the Castle was a novella and there was not room for the development of a full-length novel, their relationship felt rushed, especially since my preference generally runs toward the drag-it-out-as-long-as-possible end of the spectrum. In addition, the progression of their relationship toward the beginning was a little strange and awkward. Overall, though, their story was cute and ultimately satisfying, and it made for a very enjoyable few hours.

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined.)

Eloisa James is one of my favorite historical romance authors, and she has done a series of stories with fairytale elements. The Duke Is Mine is, as you can probably tell from the cover, a story with a strong influence from the fairytale The Princess and the Pea. I wasn't particularly excited about this idea, because I've always found that to be a ridiculously stupid story. It's never made sense to me. But I adore James, and the summary of the book caught my interest immediately, so I read it anyway.

There were several things I enjoyed about this book. My favorite element was the witty tone and wonderfully snarky banter that made an appearance at times. I also really loved that both the hero and the heroine had what might be considered physical flaws. Olivia was curvy, and Tarquin had a thick white streak in his hair. Such a unique touch! I hadn't read another book where this was the case, but I liked it. It was a way to make the hero less than perfect physically without giving him actual disfigurement or horrible looks or something. I liked how both of these played into the story as well, particularly Olivia's weight.

Olivia was awesome, hands-down. Her sense of humor was hilarious and very similar to mine, so I appreciated reading from her perspective. The aforementioned snark predominantly played out there. She had traits that could have been annoying, if over the top, but she balanced them well. It was also interesting and touching to read about her relationship with her sister. I also really liked Tarquin, with all his logic and reason and poems to nonexistent women.

Overall, the romance was great. There was some drama toward the end that was a little boring and predictable, but it was necessary for the story. There were also surprising elements such as the ability to make me tear up a couple times, and I snorted with laughter on more than one occasion. So, although there were some weak elements, The Duke Is Mine was a highly enjoyable romance with a great take on the fairytale twist.

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)

THIS BOOK. Oh my gosh, you guys. I cannot even tell you the last time I laughed this hard at a historical romance (and not in a bad way, just to be clear). Historical British humor is extremely difficult to convey. It is a subtle art, and not many authors have ever captured it in a way that seems authentic. It is either too understated or obscure, or the humor conveys a much more contemporary tone. I don't know how she did it, but Dare avoided this trap, and she did so tremendously. From the first page to the last, I seemed to laugh every other page. Yet A Night to Surrender was so much more than just humor.

Spindle Cove is such an original setting! I applaud Dare's imagination on this one. It is so different from the typical settings, but it is well thought out and completely believable. I am so excited to see what the rest of the series has in store.

The two mains were wonderful. Their banter was intelligent and funny, their chemistry tangible and smoldering. Speaking as a befreckled woman, I love that Susanna had more than just a “smattering across the bridge of her nose,” as is so prevalent in the romance world. Bram was occasionally frustrating (as men are wont to be), but overall, I loved him.

I loved all the secondary characters! There were several of them, but they were all so colorful and interesting. I particularly loved one of them, and I had it in my head from the beginning that she should wind up with one of the secondary men. Lo and behold, they actually have a couple of scenes focused entirely on them toward the end of the book! I may have squealed and flailed a little. I'll never tell. Except that I totally did. In public.

Only one complaint: It contained a soldier saying “I'll make men of them.” Cue me internally belting “I'LL. MAKE A MAN. OUT OF YOUUU!” for the next 24 hours. I do love that song, but it was rather distracting.

Quotes!

❝Susanna could have gleefully crushed its pages to powder with a mortar and pestle, labeled the vial with a skull and crossbones, and placed it on the highest shelf in her stillroom, right beside the dried foxglove leaves and deadly nightshade berries.❞

(Robinson Crusoe, anyone? Or your own personal book that you loathed like no other.)

❝Rather like the refrain of a song. A cheerful, stubborn sort of song. The sort of tune that persisted, dug a trench in a person's mind and kept merrily chirping there for hours, days...even when that person would rather be rid of it. Even when that person would slice off his own great toe just to turn his attention to something, anything else.❞

(Ha! Oh, the irony.)

❝Where two or more ladies are gathered, there will be food.❞

❝But when seduction is your aim, you can't go wrong with alabaster orbs.❞

❝Excellent vintage. Makes me sound almost intelligent.❞
❝Only a man could be so unkempt and manage to look more endearingly handsome than ever.❞

A Night to Surrender is a marvelously entertaining and romantic way to spend your time. I would definitely recommend it.

Endnote: I GOT #2 IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY. I am physically forcing myself to finish my other book today so I can read it. I can't wait!

*3.5 STARS.

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined.)

Because You're Mine by Lisa Kleypas and I had a rather tumultuous relationship. There were things I loved about it, and there were things about which I was not particularly fond.

First of all, the book is split up into two sections, both by setting and situation, and the split happens around the halfway mark. The first half of the book or so was fantastic! I absolutely adored the Capitol Theatre setting. The secondary characters that inhabited the theatre were fun and creative, and I truly felt like I was in a theatre in the 1800's. I loved the whole experience of it, every single second. I also enjoyed that Maddy was the one actively pursuing Logan; it made for a nice change of pace. I feel like I haven't read a lot of those.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the narrator. My consumption of this book was split up around 1/3 audiobook, 2/3 reading. I'm very picky about my narrators, but the narrator, Rosalyn Landor, was great! It makes me super happy that she has recorded several other Kleypas books, and I will probably be checking those out in the future, once I go back to school and listen to more audiobooks again.

Although some people apparently seem to disagree, I really liked Maddy. She had a genuinely sweet and caring nature, but not the type that made me want to gag uncontrollably. And Logan. One thing I particularly adored about this book was the whole “Hero doesn't want to want the heroine (but totally does anyway)” trope. LOVE, LOVE, SO MUCH LOVE. I have such a weakness for these stories. They tend to go along with super-duper explosive chemistry in the build-up, which is one of my favorite elements in romances.

There were a few little things I wasn't particularly crazy about. If I read one more “Save him, God, and I'll ____,” plot, I will chuck the book across the room. I've never liked that, and it seems to be appearing everywhere lately. I don't appreciate it. However, my main problem was with this next scene.

WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT AHEAD.❝“No,” she gasped as he reached that sensitive area, and she twisted away with a shudder. She had never imagined that he would do such a thing. “No—” But Logan caught her and pinned her in place, his grip tight on her wrists. “Don't ever say that word to me again,” he said, his voice steely. “Not in bed, or out of it.” The statement shocked her. She understood that she had hurt him, and that this was the form of his revenge, to inflict his will on her. “You mustn't,” she managed to say, her wrists straining in his grasp. “I don't want that.” Logan laughed, the sound mocking her as he bent his head once more. Madeline's eyes pricked with tears of fury and shame, and she felt his mouth on her, there where she had never imagined it, never thought it possible. Although she tried to close her thighs, her traitorous body disobeyed, spreading wide to receive him. His lips were hot, burning her, his tongue a sleek invasion that made her groan and cry out in mortifying pleasure. She ceased to be herself, reduced to a wanton creature who clung and arched with frantic need until a great rolling wave of climax came over her, leaving her limp and weak in its aftermath. Before the glow of sensation had faded, Logan moved his body over hers. She felt him enter her, and she tried to protest the massive intrusion, pushing feebly at his chest. He forced himself inside her swollen depths until she groaned in surrender and opened to him. (Emphasis mine)❞This book was written in 1997, but this scene reads like a book written a decade earlier, when the "force her and she'll eventually enjoy it" attitude was prevalent in romance. A lot of more recent historical romances often flirt with the line of dub-con and even non-con. I get that. I've read plenty. However, this was entirely beyond the line, much further than I am comfortable with. (My inner Friends nerd is screaming "THE LINE IS A DOT TO YOU!"). I docked the book .5 points simply based on this scene. Rape isn't romance. Period. I get that it has its place in erotica where a journey is actually being taken through the sexual act and whatnot. But it's on my Squick List. If I'm to believe that the hero truly loves the heroine, and they have not entered some sort of agreement about forced sex, I am going to be very put off by the act. Rape is an exertion of power and dominance; it's not romantic.

I feel like I've spent more time criticizing this book than praising it. While there were definitely things I would change if I could, I really did enjoy the book overall. The chemistry was fantastic, and the end was utterly romantic and sweet without being super sappy. If you are a historical romance fan looking for an audiobook, this is a good one.

Quotes:

❝No doubt she wasn't the first woman to fail at seducing a man—but how many of them were required to face him the very next day and pretend nothing had happened?❞

❝She was certain that her sisters would never have entertained such wicked thoughts. On the other hand, they had probably never met a man like Logan Scott.❞

(Review originally posted here at The Book Barbies.)

There seems to be a lot of love for this book floating about, and if you feel that way, I advise you to put on your big girl pants or skip my comments. I usually really like SEP, but I didn't get the appeal of this book at all. The heroine, Gracie, was spineless and “homely” (which she handily mentions 473,892 times, just in case you somehow miss it). She was self-deprecating like whoa and not in a humorous way. And then we have the hero, Bobby Tom. The guy was a sexist pig, and his behavior was too much for me to forgive, even if there had been a strong redemption element. But there wasn't even that. But he had a good side seemed to somehow be a good enough excuse for it. Guess what? Pedophiles and serial killers have good sides, too. THAT MEANS NOTHING. The side story was enjoyable in theory, but it took up too much of the book and got boring. The book did have some redeeming qualities, such as a fairly interesting main storyline and the fact that all the 90s references were totally cracking me up. As a whole, though, I was not impressed.

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)This is the first ebook I ever bought, and it was absolutely worth it! This trilogy just got a little bit better with each book! I enjoyed the others, but this was my favorite out of all three. I honestly think my favorite thing about Milan is her original characters. Particularly in [b:Unclaimed 10301090 Unclaimed (Turner, #2) Courtney Milan http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1296060606s/10301090.jpg 15203064] and Unraveled, none of the characters were like any others I had read before. Smite specifically appealed to me. I do not always go for the “severely damaged” hero, but Smite was different. He used everything that had happened in his past to his benefit. He was so unique in the way he dealt with things. I loved everything about him, from the Lord Justice side of him to his “sentimentality quota.” I also loved the way Milan wrote him - he was not someone to be “fixed.” That's not what Miranda was for. Miranda is a woman who loves Smite for himself, which is exactly what Smite needs.❝“I was so hoping...” – “What? That he'd fall in love and turn into an ordinary man?” Miranda choked on the words. “Anyone who loved him would never want that. It would be like loving the ocean, but wishing it would change into a glass of water.”❞I grew so attached to Miranda and Smite. I liked Miranda a lot, and we've already covered how much I adored Smite. I loved watching him progress as a character, seeing him fight against his growing feelings for Miranda. Their relationship was such a marvelous thing to watch unfold. I was also captivated by the relationship between Smite and his brothers, Mark in particular. There were several times when I nearly teared up from their interactions. The Turner family is so unique, and seeing them learn how to be a family after everything that had happened was so touching. It made my heart happy.Quotes:❝Never had one little punctuation mark mattered so much.❞❝I don't believe I would like you half so well if you weren't sarcastic.❞❝It was almost enough to make a man think sentimental thoughts. Almost.❞I normally do not specify if a historical is part of a series; everything is part of a “series” nowadays. However, I would very much suggest that you read these in order. The relationship between the brothers is complex, and the things we learn of their past are revealed gradually throughout all three. Plus, they're all fantastic! It is certainly no hardship to read them all.

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)I first heard about this book when it was the pick for the Sizzling Book Club at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. I made a note that I wanted to read it because I was interested in the premise (and, of course, the lovely cover). However, I did not get around to it until a few months later. I decided to read the series in order, starting with [b:Unveiled 8663392 Unveiled (Turner, #1) Courtney Milan http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1289749528s/8663392.jpg 13534887], which I already reviewed here. I enjoyed Unveiled, but I found to my slight dismay that the most interesting character was only a lowly brother of the hero, and, as a grown male virgin, would probably never have a book of his own. Then, lo and behold, I looked at the summary for Unclaimed again...and proceeded to do such a flail!dance as you have never seen before. Let me reiterate this. Sir Mark Turner is a fully grown man. And a virgin. By choice. I have never read a historical romance (or of any subgenre, actually) where this was the case. I was immediately fascinated by Mark and his choices, his reasoning, and the public's reaction to him and his book. Having never read a book where a courtesan (or former courtesan) was the heroine, I was also wondering how it would be handled. Milan did a fantastic job with them both. I felt the book lost a little of its magic for the last quarter or so, but it was still thoroughly enjoyable.One of my favorite things in this book was the emphasis on honesty, particularly in regards to Mark. It made for some tremendous interactions, particularly in the beginning of the book when Mark and Jessica were getting to know each other.❝It's what I like best about you – your willingness to insult me to my face.❞Oh! And another of my favorite things. Upon inspection of the cover, you will find a large, not-particularly-aesthetically-pleasing ring on the hero's finger. I noticed this when I first picked up the book, thought it a bit odd, but did not dwell on it. But get this: the ring actually exists! In the book! Far from the famous use of the flawless cover!hero to represent the horribly scarred story!hero, the cover for this book actually matches the story. I may be unreasonably excited about this, but I really think it warrants mention. I enjoyed Milan's writing style. She had fantastic inner narration for both Jessica and Mark, and their dialogue was sharp, honest, witty, and fraught with sexual tension. Unclaimed had some particularly great quotes, from hilarious to insightful to emotionally moving.❝No man with a moustache like that should ever try to look innocent.❞❝Oh, the subtlety of a randy teenager.❞❝I can't stop worrying just because someone assures me it's unnecessary.❞❝“You've always been your own knight,” he said, “riding to your rescue. I'm just the man who came along and saw how brightly your armor shown.”❞recovers from swooningCourtney Milan is quickly becoming one of my auto-buy (or at least auto-put-on-hold-at-the-library...I am a broke college student, after all) authors. Her writing is stellar, her characters truly original, and I like supporting her.

(Review originally posted here at The Book Barbies.)

My love of Jill Shalvis and her fabulous books continues! After reading Slow Heat, #2 in this series (yes, I read them backwards), I was excited for this one. It didn't let me down! I loved both the hero and the heroine. I enjoyed the way baseball was woven into the story, even though it is not my favorite sport. There were some great friendship portrayals, from Pace and Wade's close but easygoing and fun friendship to the one developing between Sam and Holly throughout the story. The dialogue was snappy and hilarious, and the chemistry between Pace and Holly was smoking. I could also totally relate to Pace and his Dr Pepper withdrawal. Poor guy! The love confession at the end was original and cute and fabulous. It also made me really happy to see the pre-set up for Wade and Sam, the h/hr from Slow Heat. All-in-all, Double Play was a great read, and you don't even have to love baseball to appreciate it.

*3.5 STARS.(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)I probably never would have picked this book up on my own. For one, the copy at our library is so mangled and tape-covered that it just makes me sad. For another, I did not think I was in a Christian historical romance mood. Lucky for me, my friend Lynne is absolutely crazy about Thane, the older-brother's-best-friend-turned-love-interest in this book. She reminded me that I should read it. So I picked it up. I'm so glad I did! I adore Oke's Love Comes Softly series to death; I grew up with my mom reading them to the family, and I just re-read them all last year. In a weekend. Oke tends to read rather quickly. Roses for Mama was no different. It seemed to fly by in an instant! However, in that instant, I grew attached to the characters, laughed and teared up with Angela, and fell head over heels for the amazing Thane.Where do I start on Thane? He seems to just be this nice, normal boy next door. But there is this quality about him that makes you smile any time he is near. He is funny and sweet and sensitive and wonderful and good with children. He definitely made it onto my list of fictional crushes!On the other side of the coin, we had the horrible guy who was in competition for Angela's affections. Carter. Uggh. That really about covers it. He was horrible, and I really wish we would have had fewer scenes with him and more with Thane. He calls her a “the most sincerely selfless little creature” he has ever met. Condescending, much? Excuse me while I hurl.I enjoy Janette Oke's writing. She doesn't get bogged down with unnecessary details. If she wants to skip over two months in a sentence, she will go ahead and do it. This approach has positives and negatives, but she pulls it off. The book got a little preachy at times, but as it's Christian fiction, I can let it slide.Just one quote today, but it's a great one:❝She had seen a number of young women from town watching Thomas. Some were quite bold in their nods and smiles. Angela felt sure that her mama would not have approved of such forwardness.❞I know this is period and genre-appropriate, but I almost doubled over laughing. Fabulous.Also, since this is one of Lynne's favorite books as well as being a Christian book, I am going to pretend there were no incredibly blatant incestuous themes. Except that there totally were. Or maybe it's just me. It was a very similar situation to that in [b:Forbidden 7600924 Forbidden Tabitha Suzuma http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1302655056s/7600924.jpg 10018976], so I was probably influenced by that. Whoops.All in all, this was a quick, touching, cute read! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical Christian romance.

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)

Getting Over Garrett Delaney was a delight to read. Sadie was a hilarious, refreshing voice. I laughed out loud at least five times in the first twenty pages. Her narrative was so refreshing - candid, honest, and somewhat self-deprecatingly humorous.

In the beginning of the book, Sadie is hopelessly in love with her best friend, Garrett Delaney. I could understand and empathize with Sadie regarding her feelings for Garrett. She had the epitome of the hopeless teenage crush. We've all been there. I could even see what she saw in him. But I did not at any point actually want her to wind up with Garrett. I really think McDonald did a great job of achieving a difficult balance writing these characters in their situation.

❝He was the one I'd been waiting for, sent by the heavens to make my life infinitely better and exquisitely painful all in one fell swoop.❞

After a chain of events winds up separating them for the summer, Sadie uses this time to start project Get Over Garrett. She assembles her own twelve step program (with prompting from her real-life life coach of a mother) and writes her own thoroughly amusing self-help guide, a segment of which is provided between chapters.

❝Admit it: you've been shopping for him all this time – hunting the sales racks in the secret hope that yes, this low-cut shirt is the one to make him see you in a whole new nonplatonic light, those skinny jeans will spur a blinding epiphany, and this raspberry lip gloss will finally make him fall hopelessly in love with you.❞

Sadie starts working with a new (quirky, diverse, and entertaining) circle of people. As she begins to get to know them and develop friendships outside of Garrett, Sadie realizes what she has been missing. She grows. She rediscovers herself. She finds real friends. She opens her eyes to romantic prospects outside of Garrett. She learns to stand up for herself. I loved accompanying her on this journey.

One random awesome thing: Sadie asks for references for television shows to try, and LuAnn recommends Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, and The Vampire Diaries. Clearly, LuAnn and I should just hang out together and watch lots of television because yes.

One random pet peeve: She refers to An Affair to Remember as a black and white tearjerker featuring doomed love without a happy ending. Tearjerker, yes. Black and white? Doomed love? No.

Have some quotes! I saved about a billion of them.

❝“And we can even go to the library,” she adds brightly, as if it's some kind of bribe. Which, to be honest, it kind of is.❞

Ha! Welcome to my life.

❝Oh, to be young and in (requited) love!❞

❝“You know, it's not good for you,” he says through a mouthful of muffin. “All that sitting around, reading. What are you going to do when the zombies come? You'll be too out of shape to run.”❞

Yes. Yes, I will. But I'm sure I'll have picked up some fantastic tips from the mountain of books I've read that will offset said lack of indefatigable mobility.

❝He's a boy, “nice” is like a soliloquy from them. We're lucky he didn't just grunt.❞

❝Don't write off a book (or person, or movie) just because it has a pink, sparkly cover.❞

True story.

Bottom line: I really think this book has a fantastic message. It was uplifting and empowering, but it did not feel preachy or stereotypically self-helpish at any point. Rather, it was consistently realistic and entertaining. Reading it was a very enjoyable experience. I would recommend it to any girl or woman who has “gotten over” a boy of her own. Or really, anyone who just likes a great story with good characters and a substantial dose of realism and humor.

*4.5 STARS.(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)I did not know what to expect with this book. The only “kidnapping” books I've read are [b:Perfect 129617 Perfect (Second Opportunities #2) Judith McNaught http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171988350s/129617.jpg 1391556] by Judith McNaught and [b:Precious and Fragile Things 8487352 Precious and Fragile Things Megan Hart http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1280528992s/8487352.jpg 13352674] by Megan Hart, which are vastly different from one another. Neither are young adult, although both are fantastic. Stolen was tagged with “romance” on Goodreads, but that does not necessarily guarantee a love story. Despite all this, I was still super excited to read it.I was so addicted to this book! For the first half, I kept only catching little 5-20 minute segments to read. It was maddening because the book was super intense and made you completely lose yourself in it. But I just couldn't quite get there because I kept getting interrupted. Finally, I'd had enough. I was planning on snagging another 20 minutes one night before I went to bed. Instead, I stayed up until 2 AM finishing it, despite the fact that I had to be up early the next morning. It was so good! Articulating how I feel about this book is going to be a challenge. Basically: I loved it. But describing why is a bit of a challenge. For one, when they're fictional, I love twisted, messed up relationships. A lot. The promise of this is a lot of what drew me to it in the first place. Stolen is rather controversial, due to the touchy subject matter. I've heard it's one of those books where you either love it or you hate it. I can definitely see how that would be the case. Ty kidnaps Gemma. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. There is more to the story, more that makes it possibly even more creepy. It is not an easy book to read. Regardless, I absolutely loved it. I never wanted to leave this world, whether it was due to interruptions or the end of the book.Christoper's prose is top notch. It is real and harsh, but beautiful and unique at the same time. The format of the first person voice written to the second person really worked. It was perfect for the story. It truly added a whole other quality that any other approach would not have included. I never would have thought of it, and I applaud Christopher's originality. Oh, and her descriptions of the land were wonderful. I have never been to the desert of Australia, so I cannot speak for the how realistic it was. But it did give a very convincing sense of authenticity. I honestly just loved the writing itself. A few samples:❝The deep blue of your eyes had secrets. I wanted them.❞❝I remember that feeling of skin. It's strange to remember touch more than thought. But my fingers still tingle with it.❞❝Instead, you smiled. Or tried to. It was like your eyes and your smile were fighting each other.❞This book messed with my head and heart so much. My emotions were in upheaval the entire time. I didn't know what I wanted. I didn't know what I was supposed to want! This is actually a testament to how well written the book was, I think. There were mixed signals galore. You would think this would be horrible, but it wasn't. I was not sure how anything was going to work out. I was on the edge of my seat, clenching my blanket, biting my lip the entire time. And I loved every second.This is no fun, lighthearted book. It will mess with you. If you are prepared, though, I would highly recommend it.

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)


I'm a little late to the party with The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, but it was worth the wait! I only wish I had read it sooner because it was great! I was worried it would not live up to my expectations. I always try to keep my expectations at normal level, but this book was crazily hyped, had a lovely cover, and a thoroughly original name. It lived up to them, though.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was very original, and I loved the premise of it. The prologue draws you into the story right away. I really enjoyed that aspect of it. Not even two minutes into the story, I was completely hooked. The story focused more on family than I thought it would, but rather than detracting from the story, it added a lot of depth to the characters. I was interested in reading how all the relationships developed, how everything was interwoven in surprising ways.

The characters were great! Hadley and Oliver had terrific interactions. They were so cute, but not unrealistic or nauseating. There was witty banter and good conversation, and but they also had great quiet moments. I truly believed everything they felt.

If I could complain about one thing, it would be that I would have loved more plane scenes. The book was pretty short; surely there could have been a few more! I'm a huge sucker for plane stories. However, the way it was worked very well for the pace of the story.

Quotes:

❝The day ahead of her is like something living and breathing, something that's barreling toward her at an alarming rate, and it seems only a matter of time before it will knock her flat on her back.❞

❝In the end, it's not the changes that will break your heart; it's that tug of familiarity.❞

❝Is it possible not to ever know your type – not to even know you have a type – until quite suddenly you do?❞

❝He's like a song she can't get out of her head. Hard as she tries, the melody of their meeting runs through her mind on an endless loop, each time as surprisingly sweet as the last, like a lullaby, like a hymn, and she doesn't think she could ever get tired of hearing it.❞

A cute, unique story that will make you believe in first love. Definitely recommended!

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)

I waited months and months for A Million Suns, and it was worth every agonizing second. I was blown away by the second installment in this series, and now I'm even more excited for the third (if that's possible). I am anxiously awaiting to find out things that were left up in the air in this one.

I love Revis's writing style. The “chapters” - I really think of them more as sections - vary in length. Sometimes, they are really short, but they always pack an incredibly powerful punch when this is the case. She really captures the voices well; I love getting a look inside Amy and Elder's heads.

Can I just take a moment to address how much I adore the development of Amy and Elder's romance/friendship? Not everything has to happen at the speed of light (read: in the first book of the series). I love some good build-up, and Amy and Elder do not disappoint. It makes them more believable, to me. This romantic element of the book is really great.

A Million Suns was fully of surprises; everything was not predictable. I really appreciate that quality in a book. There were two surprising twists in particular that I did not see coming. The plot itself was very fascinating, and it was an interesting way to propel a story. Watching Elder and how he managed the role of Eldest was something that made me understand Elder more as a character, which I enjoyed. I also like that Revis is not afraid to take leaps with her writing.

Quotes!
❝Love without choice isn't love at all.❞

^ Love love love this quote.

❝It's like tasting dessert before supper is served; it's only made me want more.❞

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined.)

I ran across Scandalous at our university used book sale a few months ago, read the summary, and was thoroughly intrigued. After all, you get the “pose as my girlfriend/boyfriend/fiancée” storyline all the time, but how often do the love interests pose as SIBLINGS? To my recollection, I've never read another book where that happened. But if you have a good one where they did, pretty please leave a comment, because I would love to read it. Anyway, suffice to say, I absolutely had to pick it up.

Sadly, Scandalous did not quite live up to the expectations set forth by the awesome premise. I felt like there were way too many details, especially toward the beginning; they really bogged down the writing, not allowing the pace of the story to flow. It took a while for anything to actually happen to grab my interest, besides the little snippet at the very beginning. Once they actually met, though, I enjoyed the story more. The way the “posing as siblings” aspect came about was interesting, although it was not nearly as prominent as it was supposed to be. The vast majority of the book takes place inside the house due to medical circumstances.

There was an interesting sidestory that added a bit of mystery and suspense to the book, but it was kept down to a good size. It was enough to stay intriguing, but not enough that it felt unnecessary or started to overtake the main plot. It also added some good drama when things came to a head.

I did like Gabby a lot! She was totally willing to take Marcus down a peg or two when needed. Which he definitely did sometimes. They had good chemistry, and I loved reading about them! They had a super cute story, and the end left me smiling.

Overall, I did like this book, although I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did.

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined.)

Julie James really is a never fail author for me. Her contemporaries are among the best, and Something About You was no exception. I actually read Something About You after I read A Lot Like Love, which was the reverse of how they were intended to be read. But there were some comments in A Lot Like Love that made it absolutely mandatory that I read Something because it sounded simply splendid. And it was.

From the first time they appeared on the pages together, Jack and Cameron had chemistry that simply leaped off the pages. There was definitely animosity between them, due to an incident that has occurred years earlier. But the intense dislike clearly also masked immense attraction on both parts. The dialogue between the two was snappy and sharp, but eventually good-natured and amusing as Jack and Cameron began to develop feelings and grow to trust each other.

The book was a fantastic romance with a good dose of mystery and suspense. And glowering. Special Agent Jack McGlowerFace Phallus Pallas was immensely swoon-worthy with his affinity for reading and all his protective, Alpha male ways. I respected Cameron, who was a strong female lead. As much as I loved them separately, they were particularly awesome when together. Thankfully, this was a romance, so I got my fill of that! Something About You was a terrifically satisfying romance. You won't want to put this one down. At least, I know I didn't!

*3.5 STARS

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)

I first saw Queen of Kentucky when Jen over at Makeshift Bookmark reviewed it. While I didn't feel the need to run out and buy it, I was immediately taken in by the adorable cover. The book lives up to the promise of the cover: it is cute and sweet. It wasn't amazing, but it was an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. The details were fantastic. I live in the country in the Midwest, not a farm in the South. However, Whitaker was able to make me believe I was there, feeling everything Ricki Jo felt and seeing everything she saw. The details of the farming seemed very authentic. I loved Luke! He was so flipping cute! I wanted to hit Ricki Jo over the head sometimes for not noticing him. And for various other reasons, most of which she finally comes to realize, thankfully. Ricki Jo was hard for me to understand or sympathize with, but I still enjoyed reading about her journey. Whitaker did a great job of crafting a 14-year-old's voice.

On the other hand, there were some things that bothered me a little. The absolute foremost one was the ending. It was super abrupt! Everything just suddenly stopped, was summarized in like two pages, and it was done. I would have loved another ten pages or so. Also, I'm going to get on my soapbox here for a moment, but authors seriously need to at least do a little research related to domestic violence if they are going to include or reference it.

Let's talk guys for a minute. Luke was Ricki Jo's best friend, and their friendship was fifteen kinds of adorable. I smiled so much because of them. However, Wolf, the popular guy Ricki Jo liked, was ridiculous. I had absolutely no idea why she liked him. So he was cute. Who cares? He was a huge jerk. And he never hid it, ever. Sure, there were a few moments when we saw him behave decently, but I was utterly clueless as to how Ricki Jo could develop a crush in the first place, much less continue to like him after interacting with him.

Only one quote today, but it was a good (and all too true) one.

❝Obsessing over a boy makes the time fly.❞

Despite some things that weren't so great, The Queen of Kentucky was worth reading. It had the super cute sweetness of first love, which is always good. It flew by, despite being almost 400 pages. It was also a great coming of age story. And let's not forget the cover. It's definitely going to make my Best Covers of 2012 list. So cute! At the end of the day, that word really sums up both the cover and the book: cute.

(Review originally posted here at The Book Barbies.)

Well, it is official! For the first time since my book blogging career began back in December of 2011, I have read a 5 star book (re-reads excepted)! There have been some super close calls (Shatter Me, Outlander, What I Did for a Duke). But Unravel Me was the first that made me give the full-out five-star rating, which I (obviously) save for a very select few books.

I almost filmed a vlog several times over the first couple days after I finished. But I thought if I gave it some time, I would be able to form more coherent, logical thoughts. Because let's just be honest: My review at that point, especially in vlog format, would have been nothing but spoiler-filled, incomprehensible, crazy flailings. Well, it's been some time. It's been more than some time, actually. And it's still difficult to formulate the words for this book.

I'll start with the obvious: Ms. Mafi's writing. The woman absolutely astounds me with her ability to craft words. The cadence, the unique symbolism, the emotion, the way her words flow together. I cannot wrap my brain around how much I love her writing. This was more evident than ever in Unravel Me. I am thoroughly convinced Tahereh Mafi could write a tome on the complexities of soil, and I would read it.

I loved the further development of the secondary characters. Some I decided I did not like (Castle). Some, however, were the complete opposite. For example, Kenji! My love for Kenji grew threefold after reading Unravel Me, and it was already pretty high. I just loved his sense of humor and how he used it, even though he can be serious. I find him a very interesting character, and I hope to continue to get to know him over the next books.

Warner. You knew it was coming. I loved seeing his character developed even further than it was in Destroy Me. I enjoyed every single scene with him in it, and I wanted to see him even more than we did. I became more intrigued by his not-fully-good, but not-fully-evil character. The chemistry between Warner and Juliette was incredible. And just in case you couldn't tell, for me, the SS Adam has officially sunk (or been “destroyed,” if you will ;D ). Mafi got me to completely jump ship, and that doesn't happen with me! Admittedly, I am a lot less stubborn regarding the pick-one-and-stick-with-it approach to shipping than I used to be. I'm the queen of multishipping lately; rarely do my loyalties shift so drastically. But Mafi accomplished it. Although I do still like Adam.

There are a few more things I could discuss regarding this book. For instance, the world-building was developed a little further in this book, which I appreciated. But at the same time, I could possibly ramble on forever. It is also very difficult for me to discuss a lot of things without spoiling the book. So I will wrap it up.

To be honest, I was the teensiest bit concerned that maybe Unravel Me wouldn't live up to my sky-high expectations. I needn't have worried. I absolutely plan to read this book again. Probably soon. I've already read Shatter Me and Destroy Me twice. May as well make it even!

The Shatter Me series is hands-down my favorite currently-in-progress YA series. Just catching a glimpse of the Unravel Me spine on my bookcase is still enough to make me want to start physically flailing or take the book out and hug it to me. Which I did off and on for about two days after finishing this book. Shut up. You know you wanted to do it, too. I await #3 (and #2.5, as well!) with a breathlessness that may eventually warrant medical attention. I have no doubt it will be worth it.

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined.)

I am and always will be a football girl at heart. I find watching baseball games on television boring, but I do love the fun and atmosphere of actually attending a game. In Slow Heat, Shalvis was able to capture that magic and hold it through the entire book. I was enthralled by the world of professional baseball, the team, and everything that happened behind the scenes. Everything that's never really shown in real life to those of us not involved in it.

I loved this book! The chemistry between Wade and Sam was absolutely SPECTACULAR. It was practically tangible. Yet, there was so much more than just chemistry there. There was a romance that was beautiful enough to melt your heart. Wade and Sam had one night of steamy, slightly drunken history, and that was it. When it came to interaction, they were still anything but close.

❝But it was lust. Nothing more. Because Wade didn't do more. And she didn't do less.❞

This quote just took my breath away. It was, essentially, the reason they couldn't be together, in Sam's mind, for the majority of the book. He was a playboy, and she wanted commitment. Therefore, she didn't even see the point in trying. The way it was stated, so stark and straightforward, almost made me cry. A brilliantly composed quote, truly. Watching the two of them interact and get to know each other for real, even through false pretenses, was so touching. I was rooting for them the entire time, and when the eventual HEA came about, I heaved a sigh of deep, contented bliss.

Oh, and Shalvis began each of the chapters with quotes again. I love how she does that! I don't even want to know how much time goes into that process. I know how difficult it can be to select the perfect quote for things. I used to use quotes for the titles of the entries in my old personal blog, and I was pretty picky about it a lot of the time. You can tell that she carefully selects them. The quotes have to be relevant to the main topic - baseball, in this case - and they have to somehow allude to the events in the upcoming chapter. BUT they can't be SO spoilery as to give anything away. Finding the quote with that perfect balance for each chapter has got to take a killer amount of work, but as a quote enthusiast, I appreciate it so much. I think it adds a lot to the book.

One negative: There were quite a few comma splices in the book, apparently. I don't remember this, so it didn't make a particularly lasting impression. But it was in my notes, so I figured I would at least mention it.

I also have in my notes that this book has a great example of the fact that realism in love scenes doesn't need to be a mood killer. In fact, this really applies to all Shalvis books. I've read articles where people harp on romance novels for romanticizing sex by not being realistic about it (STDs, condoms, whatnot). While I have read books where this is the case (mostly historicals and less recent contemporaries), this does not apply to Shalvis one bit. She's always upfront about these things, like many contemporary authors, and she manages to not tear you out of the book!world with the awkwardness. It's a delicate balance, I think, and Shalvis accomplishes the balance of realism and romanticism wonderfully.

One interesting fact about Slow Heat was that it was one of those rare books where I had a clear visual in my head for both main characters. Not even just one, but both! Specifically, Wade (Wilson Bethel) from Hart of Dixie and Sam (Poppy Montgomery) from Without a Trace (which I haven't seen in years). Random, I know, but there you have it.

Overall, Slow Heat was a delightful read! If you love sports romances, I would absolutely recommend it to you. If you don't know if you like sports romances, I would recommend it to you, too! I could totally see handing this book to someone to show them the awesomeness that is good sports romance.

Quotes:

❝Unfortunately for her more womanly parts, all she'd tackled lately was the job.❞

❝Wade smiled. It was his professional smile, the one that could melt a woman's panties at fifty paces and make men wish that they had half his athletic prowess, and it was a charmer. She knew its potency, braced herself for it, and still felt her panties melt.❞

❝I need a steak. Or a plate of burgers. Hell, I don't care what it is as long as it's red meat and no longer mooing. ❞

❝French fries and sunsets were God's gift, he decided.❞

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined.)

I started the Stephanie Plum series nearly 8 years ago and have been a loyal fan ever since. Explosive Eighteen is the latest in the series, so I obviously had to read it. Especially since Smokin' Seventeen ended in a cliffhanger. Also, the last few installments have not been quite up to par with the standards the series previously set, so I was interested to see what this one had to offer.

Any Plum book is going to be an enjoyable read, period. Evanovich has a knack for finding the most absurd problems, and the comments about said circumstances are unfailingly hilarious. The characters are crazy, in good ways or bad. You can't read a Plum book and not laugh. 18 was no exception to this rule. Stephanie and Lula continued to crack me up, and the one-liners abounded. My favorite one was probably the first one listed in the Quotes section below.

However, I have found myself getting frustrated in the last few books. I have been a steadfast Ranger fan from the very beginning. I never wavered for a moment. I nearly bought myself a “Babe” t-shirt at one point. However, with the ridiculous absurdity that was the Stephanie/Ranger interaction in 17, I found myself just wanting Stephanie to give it up and pick one. Of course I want it to be Ranger. Of course. But the triangle is nowhere as fun as it used to be. It's just getting old. Maybe that's just what happens after 20+ books (including the Between-the-Numbers novels).

There were some things I liked about 18. I love that Tank made an appearance! I've missed him. There was Steph/Ranger interaction that wasn't chock-full of WTF-ery, ala 17. There was a fun surprise that I can't mention for fear of being spoilery. I liked that the mystery about the vacation was drawn out, although it went on for a little long. Overall, 18 was definitely an improvement over 17, and I can only hope that 19 continues the trend.

❝I was driving a truck now. Appropriate, I thought. Empowering. I'd practically grown testicles.❞

❝Sometimes there's a fine line between a cowardly act and a brilliant decision...❞

❝It's like you're a reality show, all by yourself.❞

❝“He didn't impress me as much of a good time, so I didn't invite him in. Did he catch up with you?”
“Yeah. He was waiting downstairs.”
“And?”
“I shot him, and he left.”
“Nice. I was thinking we should put the frozen pizza in the oven. Is there any more wine?”❞

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined. NOTE: Review for both Leaving Paradise and Return to Paradise.)

I was very intrigued by the premise of this duo; there was so much you could do with this unique storyline. I started Leaving Paradise with some pretty high expectations. After all, I had been impressed by Elkeles before (particularly with Perfect Chemistry. SO MUCH LOVE.). My sister raved about these books. They both had a 4+ Goodreads rating. Everything pointed toward them being pretty darn great. I did enjoy them, but unfortunately, they both fell short of my expectations.

Like I said, I was super interested in the premise of these. I'd never seen a book address this subject before. I couldn't wait to see how the dynamic would be handled. It would definitely be a difficult subject to tackle, and I think Elkeles did well with it. It may have been that I wasn't in the mood for it that day, but the books were a little too much of a downer for me. It wasn't your typical teenage angst with the additional problems of the whole he-went-to-prison-for-hitting-her-with-a-car thing, because believe me, I enjoy a good angst-fest; it was that everything sucked for these two. There was barely a shred of light or optimism to be found. This can be a fantastic mechanism for writing, if used well (see: Forbidden, When He Was Wicked, several hundred fanfics I've read, and more), but in these, it just felt depressing. The books were too underwhelming; they didn't grab me quite enough to have the desired effect. I didn't like how the first one ended, although I understood why it ended the way it did. I was also extremely appreciative of the fact that I had the second readily available, as opposed to having to wait 3 years for it to come out. I read both of these books in one day, which is partially why I'm reviewing them together. Because, in my mind, they were just one longer book.

One thing that I definitely loved was the wonderful build-up to Caleb and Maggie's relationship. Build-up is, quite typically, a huge factor in how much I enjoy a relationship in a book, television series, or anything else. Just because, quite honestly, the majority of the time, it's just nowhere near as good once the relationship actually happens. They get boring, or the characters start acting like a cookie-cutter couple, and lose their individuality. It happens. Anyway. Behold tangent #783; stay tuned for more in the future.

Another thing I appreciated in these books was the realistic approach to things. Elkeles is extremely talented in giving all her books a definite sense of authenticity. The Paradise duo was no exception. These circumstances could have happened in real life, and nothing was glossed over. Elkeles did a great job with this. Overall, although they did not meet my expectations by any means, the Paradise books were still worth the read. I liked watching how Maggie and Caleb grew up as individuals and together as a couple.

❝I can't believe I'm seventeen and thinking about the good old days.❞

❝Thinking too hard and too long is dangerous for anyone with demons they're trying to fight off.❞

❝According to Vanessa, my limp and scars don't matter. I'm a cool chick. I just have to start believing it.❞

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)

Julie James has done it again. She is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors for a lot reasons, and A Lot Like Love contained many of them. It had witty banter, a couple with scorching hot chemistry, and references to Pride and Prejudice. A Lot Like Love was the perfect combination of suspense and romance for me. It had just enough of an action/suspense plot to be plausible, but it wasn't so much that it lost my interest, which happens a lot of the time.

I liked the originality of the couple. There are a million “pose as my girl/boyfriend” plots out there, and I always enjoy them. But this was a great twist on it. How many of the women agree to the proposition to save their brother who is in prison because he hacked into Twitter? I loved the unique characters, the wine-loving, billionaire heiress and the FBI agent who specializes in undercover. The way their relationship developed felt very authentic to me, despite it taking place over such a short time. Nick had a hilarious inner voice, what with his constant “if I were one of those sensitive, touchy-feeling types” comments, which were usually cover up for something he was totally feeling/doing. Jordan really knew a ton about wine and was a good business woman. I liked her a lot as a character. She also made me want to try wine again. Wine is one of those things I want to love but just don't. But this book made me want to give it another shot. We'll see how that goes.

I loved the family relationships in this book. Jordan's relationship with her brother Kyle was hilariously sarcastic, but you could totally see the affection between them. It was very genuine. How much do I love that Kyle looked like Sawyer from LOST? I only watched LOST a year ago, so references still make me happy. Not to mention, Sawyer was always one of my favorites. In addition to his looks, I just loved Kyle in general. I am super excited that he's getting his own book next. Nick's relationship with his mom was fantastic. She was the stereotypical Italian mother, but he called her “Ma” and was super cute about it. And again, the love between the two of them was clear even when it was not blatantly displayed.

I would like to take a moment to discuss the cover, though. I have always loved it. The woman's dress is absolutely stunning. I love the design and the color. I did not realize until I picked up the book for the third or so time that the man's hand is on the woman's butt. I just can't help but think that was not necessary. Low on the waist? Sure, absolutely. But for it to be on her butt really detracts from the classy feeling of it. Not a lot, but it was just a little detail that mildly annoyed me.

All in all, A Lot Like Love was definitely among the best contemporary suspenseful romances I've read in a while. I enjoyed every minute of it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful romance with some laughs thrown in, a few spicy scenes, a touching romance, good family relationships, and an ending sure to make you smile.

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)

I fully intended to review at least one the books I read earlier in the month that are due back at the library. Instead, I am reviewing this book. Because I just...need to. I got The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer from the library on January 26 (this past Thursday). I was in the middle of another book right then, but I knew that I was going to want to discuss Mara with someone when I was finished. So I gave it to my friend Lynne. She flew threw it, and the next thing I knew, she was at my door later that afternoon, telling me I needed to read it ASAP. I was going to read it over this weekend, but I heeded her and picked it up that night. And finished it a little after 2 in the morning, much do my dismay. I was right. I DID need someone to discuss it with, but everyone was asleep. So, after sending a lamenting text to Twitter, I switched off my reading lamp and went to bed. Only problem was that this book? Isn't exactly conducive to sleep. I tossed and turned, mind wide awake and still spinning with possibilities, until giving up and sticking my well-used DVD of Two Weeks Notice into my laptop, plugging in headphones, and watching my tied-for-absolute-favorite movie until I fell asleep. Thankfully, the next morning, Lynne and I were able to debrief and exchange theories and just talk about everything pertaining to Mara. It was a great (and much needed) talk. I just love talking about books, particularly with people who love them as much as I do. ♥

Lots and lots of spoilers ahead. Proceed at your own risk.

The first word that comes to mind when I start to describe this book is somewhat less than appropriate. So, we'll just call it a mind...warp. Yes. Mindwarp.

I don't do thrillers. I might watch an action/adventure or mystery movie with just a hint of thriller and suspense mixed in, but I don't do thriller/horror stuff. I don't enjoy scaring myself; I simply don't see the point of it. So this book pushed my boundaries a little. But it was so fascinating because you didn't know what was simply Mara's PTSD and what was...something else. The scene where she comes back to the empty house and the water turns itself off and her earrings were at the bottom of the tub? Holy crap, I am pretty sure I barely breathed. It was just so thrillingly creepy. I'm glad that was as creepy as it got, though, because I am not sure I would have finished it otherwise. But! I will say that Hodkin masterfully crafted this book, because I would be tingling from nerves one second and laughing out loud the next. It was a great balance of suspense, intrigue, humor, and romance. This book also induced a lot of gasps. I'm not entirely sure why that happened, because I'm not a gasping person. I was just so on-edge for the entire book that every little thing set me off.

I find it interesting that all the names of the main characters are Biblical. Mara, Daniel, Jude, Noah, Joseph. It's interesting, and I wonder if that will be at all relevant later.

Speaking of Mara, Daniel (whom I loved and would love to see featured in a spin-off), and Joseph, I loved their sibling relationship. I was touched by the affection and protection between them, and their exchanges cracked me up. They were just so realistic and made the siblings believable.

❝Your level of neuroses will only find love in a made-for-TV movie.❞

❝It's too early to be such an asshat.❞

not

Lolita

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)I like that the opening of Hallowed mirrored that of [b:Unearthly 7488244 Unearthly (Unearthly, #1) Cynthia Hand http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324782984s/7488244.jpg 9621771]. It provided a nice symmetry, yet there were sufficient changes to compel you to read further. Like the first, this book was a quick, thoroughly addicting read.In Hallowed, Hand took the opportunity to reveal more about the angel history as it appears in the Unearthly world. I became less confused on the front of Watchers vs. Black Wings and things like that. I truly enjoy reading Hand's version of the history and reality of angels. It never feels like an infodump, yet I came out of the scenes more knowledgeable than I was when I started them. This is quite a feat, because I have a severe dislike of the infodump and tend to barely skim them unless absolutely necessary. Anyway, it is nice that we got some more answers in this book, although I still have more. Which is the point, I suppose; it would hardly be an effective series if I had no lingering questions to be answered in the next book (or the one after that, etc.).Hee! I loved the small reference to the cherry Jolly Ranchers, which threw me back to Unearthly.Oh, Christian. I still loved Tucker, but I actually connected with Christian in this one. In the first book, he wasn't quite cookie cutter, but he really had nothing in particular to compel me toward him. In Hallowed, however, I started to really get to know Christian and truly like him. I very much enjoyed his interactions with Clara.I won't spoil it, but there is a surprise guest who appears in the book who is completely and thoroughly intriguing and awesome. I want to know more! Alas, it is still a long time until the next book. Ten months is so long... I still get a weird vibe from Angela and harbor an inherent, if irrational, distrust of her. I actually discussed it with my friend Lynne, and she does, too. I really wonder if it is intentional on Hand's part, whether as foreshadowing or to be misleading. Or maybe it is all in our imaginations - Lynne and I tend to be extremely similar in our reactions and opinions, so it is not a particular surprise that we both feel the same way.Quotes Time!❝Yeah, somehow I have the feeling that my first visit to a therapist would end with me in a straitjacket getting comfy in my new padded cell.❞❝I'm having an argument with myself. And I'm losing. So not a good sign.❞❝This was dumb and admittedly creepy in an Edward Cullen kind of way, but it was the only thing I could think to do.❞❝It's not stalking if you're happy to see me?❞❝I keep showering and I brush my teeth and I carry on.❞There were several plot twists in Hallowed. I saw a couple of them coming a mile away, but others caught me completely unawares. I appreciate an author who can do that. There were definitely heavy moments in Hallowed; it was not all sunshine and rainbows. Regardless, it was a great read. I am fascinated by Hand's world, I love both Tucker and Christian, at the end of the day, I am completely addicted to this series. The next installment cannot come out fast enough! I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Unearthly or who simply enjoys YA paranormal fiction.

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)

*4.5 STARS

Jill Shalvis is easily my favorite recent discovery. Her Lucky Harbor series is exactly what I needed in my life right now. I will review the first two soon, but I just finished this one. Since I actually have time to write a review, am inclined to do so, and am seriously feeling the need to gush about this book, though, you are getting the reviews for this series out of order. Sorry!

Last night, I was at a leadership overnight, and everyone went to bed at 4 AM. Despite having been exhausted half an hour earlier, I was wide awake. I decided to relax by reading for a few minutes, then go to bed. I finally went to bed just after 5, having finished reading The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2) and the first chapter of Head Over Heels. And let me tell you: If I had had Head Over Heels at that moment, I absolutely would have stayed up the rest of the night. No doubt in my mind. That is how invested I was in Chloe and Sawyer. From the first time they appeared in the first book of the series, I wanted to know more about them, both as separate characters and together. The dynamic between the two of them fascinated me, and by the end of the second book, their chemistry was practically sparking off the pages of my book. I have been impatiently waiting for their book since I first met them less than a week ago, and after reading the sneak preview last night (this morning?), I was absolutely rabid in my desire for this book. Let me put it this way: Hallowed FINALLY came into the library today. I read Head Over Heels first without even a second thought.

As excited as I was for this book, though, I was equally nervous. Sometimes, an amazing couple is built up in the background of a series. Then they finally get their own book, but it's disappointing because even if the book itself is fine, it just doesn't live up to the build-up. This has happened to be twice in my recent reading history. I didn't want that to happen in Head Over Heels, or I would be heartbroken. Thankfully, this was absolutely not the case. I loved this book! I loved everything about it. Every character, every argument, every so-much-sexual-tension-it-will-curl-your-toes-and-they-haven't-even-had-sex-yet interaction, every scorching kiss, every family bonding moment, every joke, every revelation, every piece of advice, every romantic moment. Here, have a list. Lists are always the answer.

Things I loved in/about Head Over Heels:

    • Chloe. Oh, Chloe. She is one of those characters that you start out the series thinking she's just another free spirited character. Then, as you learn more and more about her, you understand all these layers and complexities that make her unique and fun and wonderful. I usually despise the “I can't say ‘I love you,'” hang-up. But she had legitimate reasons, and Shalvis made me believe it. I also like how she used it, but I won't go into that.
    • Sawyer. His confusion about Chloe and how he felt about her in the beginning was just so adorable. He was so stoic and straight arrow, and she disturbed his world. Always one of my favorite tropes. He was just such a legitimately good guy.
    • Chloe and Sawyer's relationship! I don't frequently read law enforcer/trouble maker romances, but this owe was wonderful. Even though the relationships are quite different, they reminded me of Stephanie and Ranger (my OTP) from the Stephanie Plum series a couple times, which was a definite plus for me. But they were completely unique, and their relationship just had such an endearing quality. I loved the progression of it, from the confusion and the fighting against their feelings and the arguing and cautious stand-offs to the moment they finally cave to the HEA. I believed it every second of the way.
    • Lance's background story, even though it made me happy and broke my heart all at the same time
    • Severe asthma is not generally an issue addressed in books. I know practically nothing about asthma, but I thought it was handled well. Chloe's asthma was also something different about the book that made it memorable.
    • It dealt with everyday things like morning breath in a cute and realistic fashion.
    • Maddie, Tara, Jax, and Ford all stayed the same. They were friends and family and cracked jokes and picked on each other and interacted like people really do. They didn't become sickeningly sweet or corny or unrealistically wise. They just were.
    • They referenced Friends! ♥
    • Shalvis continued starting each chapter with a little bit of wisdom, and the wisdom selections she chooses somehow really fit the main character of the book. Chloe's cracked me up, of course. Exhibit A)

❝Always remember, you're unique. Just like everyone else.❞

    • This one specific moment in the book that just hit me. At one point in the book, Chloe wakes up, and the first thing she feels is Sawyer. She thinks he is there, even though there's no reason for her to think that, but once she opens her eyes, she realizes he isn't. This was the moment I truly believed she had fallen for him. I've read the "reached for him but he wasn't there and it felt wrong" scene a million, but this was different. Even though it could be explained in a million ways -- she had been dreaming about him, she subconsciously recognized his lingering scent in the room, etc. -- I just felt like this revealed her innate desire to be with Sawyer. All the time, both sleeping and awake. And this was a huge step for her, so far beyond all previous relationships. Her expectation and disappointment were tangible, and I felt what she felt at that moment. It was a brilliantly written little moment.
    • This quote. It is from Sawyer's POV after Chloe passed out from lack of oxygen due to her asthma during sex with him. Normally, I wouldn't bring something like this up because I try to keep spoilers to the minimum. But this was another of those little lines that got to me with its simple, stark power.

❝Earlier, in his shower, her breathing had started out quiet like this, but then she'd gone up in flames for him. He'd loved it, loved the way she'd panted for more, clutching at him as if she was afraid he'd stop... And then in the very next beat, when she'd started to suffocate, all he'd wanted to do was breathe for her.❞

Head Over Heels