Review: Fresh by Margot Wood

FRESH

Margot Wood
Publication date: August 3, 2021
Genres: Young Adult/New Adult, LGBTQ+, Contemporary
Format: eARC
Source: Amulet Books and Netgalley
4 Stars

Some students enter their freshman year of college knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives. Elliot McHugh is not one of those people. But picking a major is the last thing on Elliot's mind when she's too busy experiencing all that college has to offer--from dancing all night at off-campus parties, to testing her RA Rose's patience, to making new friends, to having the best sex one can have on a twin-sized dorm room bed. But she may not be ready for the fallout when reality hits. When the sex she's having isn't that great. When finals creep up and smack her right in the face. Or when her roommate's boyfriend turns out to be the biggest a-hole. Elliot may make epic mistakes, but if she's honest with herself (and with you, dear reader), she may just find the person she wants to be. And maybe even fall in love in the process . . . Well, maybe.

Fresh was lively, quirky and fun and had me feeling happy that I picked it up and gave it a try. Eighteen-year-old Elliott is a college freshman who has shown up at Emerson College ready to spread her wings and take on the world, or at least her dorm in the Little Building. What ensues is a whole lot of hook-ups, parties, new friends, and new experiences. What doesn’t happen is attention to classes, studying, and an appreciation for her place at the private university. At times Elliott has a shocking lack of self-awareness, which makes her a perfectly flawed narrator, and completely believable as a young woman straddling that no man’s land between teenager and adult.

While Fresh was full of razor-sharp humor and laugh out loud dialogue, the sex-positive story also dealt with topics like misogyny, shaming, intimacy, sexual assault, and the ups and downs of friendship. Elliott was often a hot mess – sometimes immature, sometimes downright reckless – but she learns, and she grows, and her journey was well worth the ride. My only complaint (and it’s a minor one) would be the footnotes. There are ninety of them throughout the novel and I think it’s going to be a love-‘em-or-hate-‘em aspect for readers. I found them to be overdone and a distraction, particularly in the digital version.

Anyone who remembers Margot Wood from the old Epic Reads Tea Time videos will read this while hearing her voice, seeing her facial expressions, and her wild gestures. This coming of age story is funny and heartfelt and, like me, after reading it you’ll never be able to think about tender chicken again. If you know, you know. :) 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary advance copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

FRESH RIS AVAILABLE ON AUGUST 3, 2021

FIND IT HERE:

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Review: In the Penalty Box by Lynn Rush & Kelly Anne Blount #NewRelease #EntangledTeen

IN THE PENALTY BOX

Lynn Rush & Kelly Anne Blount
Publication date: January 5, 2021
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Entangled Teen
4 Stars
ADD TO GOODREADS
 

The Cutting Edge meets Friday Night Lights in a sizzling new hockey romance from bestselling authors Kelly Anne Blount and Lynn Rush.

Willow
Figure skating was supposed to be my whole world. But one unlucky injury and now I’m down...but I’m definitely not out. I just need to rehab—a boatload of rehab—and who’d have thought I could do it on the boys’ hockey team?

Of course, the infuriatingly hot captain of the team seems to think I’m nothing but sequins and twirls. What’s a girl to do but put him in his place? Game on.

Brodie
Hockey is my whole world. I’ve worked my tail off getting my team in a position to win the championships—hopefully in front of major college scouts, too—so what’s a guy to do when a figure skater ends up as our new goalie?

Of course, the distractingly sexy skater thinks I’m nothing but a testosterone-laced competitive streak. And surely she’s only biding her time to heal, then she’s gone. Game over.

Figure skater Willow is back at home to recover from an injury. She is determined to rehab, get back to 100%, and return to the elite training facility where she has her eye on the Olympics. But not only is her recovery taking longer that she wants, it seems like her parent’s are arguing all the time.

Brodie lives for hockey and, going into his senor year of high school, the pressure is on to take his team to the championships and become a third generation Boston College hockey player. But things at home are falling apart. Since the death of his mom, his dad is gone all the time, and he’s trying his best to be there for his little brother.

Here was this amazing guy sitting before me who was sweet, sensitive, and so very loyal. He was strong and an amazing athlete, but he had to carry so much on those broad shoulders of his. Way more than a seventeen-year-old should. - Willow

I really enjoyed my time with Willow and Brodie. It was great to read about two athletes who were so focused and dedicated. Willow’s take-no-prisoners attitude had me silently cheering her on and I was so impressed with her tenacity and determination. But it was Brodie’s story that really engaged my emotions. I have a soft spot for characters who shoulder a lot of responsibility at a young age and that certainly fit Brodie. This was a young man who was still grieving the loss of his mother, living without the emotional (or even physical) support of his father, and taking on the burden of care for his sick little brother. Rush and Blount did a great job at showing Brodie’s struggle to keep all the balls in the air as well as his inevitable breaking point.

Watching as Willow became more entrenched in the hockey team, and formed bonds with her teammates, was a real highlight for me. For the most part she was judged on her talent and what she brought to the team, and most of her new teammates welcomed her with open arms. There were a few holdout’s, however, and I appreciated how Willow handled herself when faced with opposition. The team was a tight-knit group of friends, both on and off the ice, and it was fun to be a part of their banter and ribbing and support. If I had any quibble at all it would be that the dialogue didn’t always ring true. Granted, I don’t spend a lot of time with teenage boys, but it seems unlikely they use terms like “what’s the tea” when it’s just the guys.

The intensity with which she played hockey, battled off all those slapshots from Right Hand of God, and then the crap Pax, Eric, and even some of the town had thrown at her, she’d handled it all with grace. The grace of a figure skater and the guts of a pro hockey player. - Brodie

In the Penalty Box was a sports romance that was heavy on the sports – and I loved that! As a hockey fan, I enjoyed the training scenes, the pick-up games, the trash talk, and the mental and physical strength that was required. The romance aspect was definitely on the slow-burn side and rated-PG. This was a great YA contemporary with a strong focus on friendship, loyalty, and overcoming hardship. Definitely recommended!

Disclosure: I received a a complimentary copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

YOU CAN FIND IN THE PENALTY BOX HERE:

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Review: The Girl in the Love Song by Emma Scott

THE GIRL IN THE LOVE SONG

Emma Scott

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult/New Adult, Romance

Released: June 1, 2020

Source: Purchased

Rating: 4 stars

Miller Stratton is a survivor. After a harrowing childhood of poverty, he will do anything it takes to find security for himself and his mom. He’s putting all his hopes and dreams in the fragile frame of his guitar and the beauty he creates with its strings and his soulful voice.

Until Violet.

No one expects to meet the love of their life at age thirteen. But the spunky rich girl steals Miller’s heart and refuses to give it back.

Violet McNamara’s life hasn’t been as simple as it looks. Her picture-perfect family is not so perfect after all. Her best friend Miller is her one constant and she is determined not to ruin their friendship with romantic complications.

But the heart wants what it wants. As Miller’s star begins to rise to stratospheric heights, what will it take for Violet to realize that she’s the girl in all of his love songs?

Talk about a heartbreaker! It’s not like I expected anything different from Emma Scott, but the angst was off the charts here, my friends. Miller and Violet met at the age of thirteen and were instantly the best of friends. Their friendship was deep and meaningful, and they shared the secrets of their home lives with each other – things no one else knew. Their bond only strengthened over the years and although they both loved each other, neither of them were willing to speak up about their feelings and risk their friendship. They needed and depended on that friendship too much.

We were both only thirteen, but that day I knew I'd love her forever.

Emma Scott managed to make my heart hurt for Miller in the first few pages. From the very beginning I ached for the boy who was living in poverty,  whose mother wasn’t strong enough to provide the care and support he needed, and whose home life became unwelcoming and then dangerous when his mother’s boyfriend moved in. His situation was unimaginable but probably all too realistic. With Violet, her life looked charmed from the outside – a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, successful parents, a golden future – but behind closed doors there was tension and anger. The dynamic at home was bad enough that it tainted Violet’s view on love and relationships and so she continued to stifle her feelings for Miller, convinced that love couldn’t last and only led to heartache.

I play for her the songs I'd been writing in her room, with her sitting not a foot from me, oblivious to how perfect she was.

And therein lies the angst. These two people who were in love, who only felt truly seen by the other, who were like each other’s missing piece… but neither would take that chance. All through high school, they danced around each other, coming together and pulling apart like magnets. Sometimes it was circumstances that kept them apart but most often it was their own fears. But despite my frustration with all the time they were apart and pining, there was a lot to love. Like Miller’s utter devotion to Violet, and Violet’s unwavering belief in Miller. And the depiction of found-family was just… perfection. *chef’s kiss* The connection and support between Miller, Ronan and Holden was so special. (And I love that we’ll get Ronan and Holden’s stories in the next books.)

For a few beautiful, shining moments, he'd been all mine. Now he belonged to the world.

It was all wrapped up with an epilogue that made me both smile and brought on happy tears. So, even though the stubbornness and the angst had me wanting to knock Violet and Miller’s heads together at times (or lock them in a room together until they sorted it all out), the destination was absolutely worth the journey.

YOU CAN FIND THE GIRL IN THE LOVE SONG HERE:

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Review: Broken Outsider by Lora Richardson #NewRelease

BROKEN OUTSIDER

by Lora Richardson

Series: Sparrow Sisters #3

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: October 22, 2020

Source: Author

Valerie Sparrow loves boys. She likes looking at them, talking about them, dating them, and most of all, kissing them. The one thing she refuses to do is have relationships with them. She can’t count the number of times she’s come across a girl crying over a boy. She wants the fun parts, not the crying parts, so she doesn’t let her heart get involved. But when a gorgeous new guy moves to town, she begins to think things she doesn’t want to think and feel things she’s afraid to feel.

Wes Callahan wants a fresh start. He left his troubles behind in Chicago, but his heart is still bruised. He’s not sure he can trust anyone again, especially not in this town where he’s an outsider and everyone else has known each other their whole lives. Hoping to get through the year without opening his heart, he meets Valerie, a candid, fascinating girl who makes him rethink this plan.

When Wes’s father gets called into service with the National Guard, the Sparrow family invites him to live with them for two months. The only condition is that Wes is off-limits. That’s no problem for Valerie, because she doesn’t do relationships. Right?

In this third and final book in the Sparrow Sisters series, it felt like the small town of Alden and its residents were welcoming me back with open arms. The familiar faces and places helped make this another heartwarming read from Lora Richardson.

Valerie was the Sparrow sister that was outgoing and carefree and bounced from boy to boy, never interested in more than casual dates and kisses. She’d seen too many heartbroken girls crying over boys to risk her own heart. That started to change when Wes moved to town. Still reeling from his parent’s recent divorce, Wes was feeling guarded and reluctant to trust anyone. But Valerie’s vivacious charm and openness had him willing to take a chance. But how did a boy who didn’t do casual have a future with a girl who didn’t do serious?

Valerie did a lot of changing and growing over the course of the story and I appreciated her willingness to let go of old habits and beliefs and consider new ideas. Seeing her open up to someone who was worth the risk made me want to cheer for her. And Wes was definitely a boy worthy of the chance. Having moved to Alden from Chicago, he was not only experiencing a bit of culture shock, but also feeling pretty raw after his parent’s divorce and being treated badly by those he considered friends. I really liked how even though he was hesitant to trust again, he was still willing to put his heart on the line when it came to Valerie. While there was very little conflict, it was refreshing to just let the story flow without any drama and angst.

Valerie’s sisters and parents played a significant role and it was great to see the focus on such strong family connections. Add to that a slow-burn romance (very much on the sweet side), a coming-of-age theme, and a small-town setting, and you have a heartfelt story that felt like a Hallmark movie for the young adult set.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

Review: Broken Rebel by Lora Richardson #NewRelease #YAContemporary

 

August was not the best reading month for me and everything I was reading felt pretty mediocre. The result was that I was starting to feel slumpish. Enter just the right book at the right time. Lora Richardson and her latest YA contemporary to the rescue! Once I started Broken Rebel I read it in just two or three sittings (something I never do) but that's what happens when you fall into a story that is just so completely readable. (Is readable even a word? It is now.) Richardson pulled me right out of that slump and gave me what I'd been missing all month: characters I loved, who were kind, decent people, and who were imminently easy to pull for. I got all that and more in Broken Rebel. Now, read on while I gush some more and tell you why you need to pick up Broken Rebel, too.

BROKEN REBEL

Lora Richardson

Publication date: September 3, 2020

Series: Sparrow Sisters Book 2

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: eARC

Source: Author

4 Stars

GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

 

He’s a reformed bad boy who wants the good girl. Lucky for him, she craves excitement.

Audrey Sparrow lives her life the way other people want her to. She dates the boy her parents like, she studies hard, and she never gets into trouble. Scared of the secret desires deep within her, she pretends she’s happy with the way things are. Then one day, a boy on a motorcycle drives up and asks her if she wants a ride.

Johnny Bright can’t outrun his reputation. No matter what he does, people in this town will always judge him based on his reckless past. He’s been enchanted by Audrey for as long as he can remember, but there’s no way she’d be seen with a guy like him.

Both misunderstood, both searching for something, Johnny and Audrey are drawn to each other. Can they make it work even though the entire town is against them?

TOP 5 REASONS YOU NEED TO READ BROKEN REBEL

#1 - A Totally Relatable and Likable Main Character

Audrey was a sweet girl and so easy to like. I felt such a kinship with her. As a teenager I, too, kept the peace and made decisions based on others' expectations. I loved seeing her slowly exercise her own voice and make her own choices even when they weren't understood or accepted by some people in her life. 

#2 - A Sweet and Swoony Misunderstood Boy

Every girl should be so lucky to have Johnny Bright as their first love. There were plenty of people in town who were determined to keep Johnny pegged as a troublemaker even though that was in his past. He actually had a heart of gold and was determined to be worthy of Audrey.

#3 - A Setting That Makes Me Want to Move to a Small Town

I'm a lifelong city girl girl, but Lora Richardson's portrayal of small town life has me ready to chuck it all and start a simpler life in a little hamlet like Alden, Indiana. Her descriptions of the small town made it feel like another character in the story. Audrey's family home with the wide front porch, the Meadowlark Creamery where Audrey served up ice cream treats, Gladiola Park where the residents gathered for a 4th of July picnic... they all painted a picture of a place I want to see.

#4 - A Cast of Secondary Characters That I want to Be My Neighbors

I enjoyed getting to know more of the residents of Alden. Audrey's sisters Cat (whose story was told in Broken Hollywood) and Valerie, her loving parents, her friend Ruby, her Aunt Glory, Johnny's hard-working mother... they all made for a richer story.

#5 - A Soft Romance That Melted My Heart

Audrey + Johnny gave me total heart eyes. It's as simple as that. They were so good together - and so good for each other. Johnny didn't want Audrey to be anything other than what she was and encouraged her to speak her mind and make her own choices. And Audrey never judged Johnny for his past and pushed him to see his own worth. I loved how Johnny viewed Audrey as something special and the careful way he handled her heart.

All that's left to say is this: if you're looking for a sweet, YA contemporary, look no further than Lora Richardson's Broken Rebel. You won't be disappointed.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

Review: Broken Hollywood by Lora Richardson (#YA #NewRelease)

BROKEN HOLLYWOOD

Lora Richardson

Publication date: August 13, 2020

Series: Sparrow Sisters Book 1

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: eARC

Source: Author

4 Stars

GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

You all know how highly I think of Lora Richardson and her refreshingly sweet and authentic YA contemporaries. I love how she stays true to her brand of YA, which always features small town settings, genuine characters, loving families and supportive friends, and sweet romance. With Broken Hollywood, Richardson shifts into upper YA with characters that are a little older, but still with a coming of age theme. Broken Hollywood is the first in a trilogy with each book focusing on one of the Sparrow sisters. I highly recommend grabbing this one when it releases on August 13th!

S Y N O P S I S

He’s a movie star who needs a break from fame. Lucky for him, she has no idea who he is.

Catherine Sparrow is obsessed with caves. She spends nearly every day at Alden Caverns with Otto, her eighty-year-old best friend. Known to most of the boys in town as Cave Girl, Cat long ago decided to leave dating to her sisters. But then Otto’s gorgeous grandson Jesse arrives.

Jesse Relic, the hottest movie star in Hollywood, needs to get out of LA. Burdened by guilt and weighed down by sorrow, he runs to the only person who can possibly help him get his life in order, his grandfather Otto. Hoping to hide from the world in his grandfather’s caves, he does not expect to find a beautiful, intriguing woman working there. The best part? She doesn’t recognize him.

While hiking a passage of the cave together, Jesse and Cat are trapped inside when she injures her knee. The intensity of their predicament ignites sparks in the tiny cavern. As they grow closer, Jesse knows he has to tell Cat he’s an actor. But she loves her simple, quiet life, and his life as a celebrity is louder than most. If he tells her the truth, will he lose her forever?

Broken Hollywood is the first book in the Sparrow Sisters Series. If you want an intense slow-burn romance that will make your heart race, you’ll enjoy this celebrity meets ordinary girl love story!

M Y   T H O U G H T S

At nineteen years old, Cat was right where she wanted to be. Deciding that college wasn't for her, and having no desire to leave her small town, Cat was happiest when she was at the caverns, the local attraction where she worked. The owner, Otto, was a combination of boss, best friend, and surrogate grandfather. When Otto's grandson Jesse arrived unexpectedly at the start of the summer, Cat was initially wary but they soon formed a friendship that seemed to have the potential for so much more. When Jesse's secret is revealed, Cat has to decide between the safety of her small town and taking a leap into in a world that is totally unfamiliar. 

Cat was such a sweet girl and so easy to like. My favorite thing about her was how well she knew herself and what she wanted. She had the courage to go against what was expected of her (heading to college right after high school) and forge her own path instead. Having spent nearly ever day at the caverns since she was eleven years old, they were both her passion and where she felt most at home. 

At twenty-four, Jesse had become a household name as an actor but a tragic accident left him reeling and feeling unmoored. He retreated to the small town of Alden, Indiana and the grandfather he hadn't seen in years. He found a place where he could grieve in peace and just be himself. Meeting Cat was just what he needed and her forthright nature pushed him to open up. 

Jesse and Cat balanced each other so well. She was practical and liked to have a plan; he was more spontaneous and willing to go with the flow. They became such a great support system for one another and I loved their talks and they way they truly listened to one another. When Cat realized that being a part of Jesse's life meant leaving her comfort zone, he never pushed her but instead promised to be by her side and support her when she was feeling unsure.

Lora Richardson has a real gift at creating characters who are genuine and earnest and completely without artifice. They come from small towns and care about family and friends. It's a refreshing change from the jaded, hipster, mature-beyond-their-years characters in so many contemporary YA novels. Broken Hollywood delivered a coming of age story with a side of sweet romance. And, as always, Richardson has me coming back for more.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

Short Take Reviews x 5: 4 Contemporary Romances + 1 YA

Here's a handful of quick reviews that are something of a mixed bag. A few were really enjoyable but a couple were not so great, including, I'm sad to say, an arc I had high hopes for. They can't all be winners! If you've read any of these, let me know what you thought... I'd love to hear.

    

THE CLOVER CHAPEL (JAMISON VALLEY #2) | 4 STARS
by Devney Perry

After loving Perry’s The Coppersmith Farmhouse, I was excited to return to the small town of Prescott, Montana. Nick and Emmy shared one wild night in Vegas which ended with a spontaneous wedding. But the next morning Nick was gone, leaving Emmy hurt and confused over what had happened and why he left. Flash forward nine years and Emmy, who has come to Prescott for a fresh star, runs into none other than Nick. While the story depended on the reader believing in Nick and Emmy’s near instant connection and the fact that they still carried a torch for each other almost a decade late, I was more than willing to roll with it. Perry managed to have me so firmly onboard the Nick & Emmy love train that even Nick’s insistence that she was his wife (which, technically she still was) had me swooning instead of rolling my eyes. When drama arrived at their doorstep I was so invested that I was turning the pages as fast as I could. While I didn’t love this one quite as much as the first book, I was still all-in for Nick and Emmy’s story. (The Clover Chapel is the second book in the Jamison Valley series but can easily be read as a standalone.)

FIGHT FOR ME (THE ARROWOOD BROTHERS #2) | 3.75 STARS
by Corinne Michaels

Come Back For Me, the first book in the Arrowood Brothers series, had the perfect set-up for Declan and Sydney’s story so I was excited to learn their background and watch how they reconnected. Declan and Sydney had been Declan+Sydney since they were kids. The best friends/lovers were a perfect match – until Declan abruptly broke things off and walked away. Years later, forced to return to his childhood home for several months, Declan had to face the fallout from his actions. There were times when I wanted to throttle both characters for keeping secrets, and their back and forth started to feel a little repetitive, but in true Michaels fashion, she made me care. And when the real emotional scenes came, I was right there, dabbing my eyes and forgetting all about wanting to throttle anyone, and just wishing for a happy ending. (While it’s not necessary to read Come Back For Me first, the brothers’ background is explained a lot more in that one and would probably help make sense of Declan’s decisions and actions.)

PERFECT LOVE STORY | 3.5 STARS 
by Natasha Madison

Hailey seems to have the perfect life – until her husband is killed in an accident and she learns that he wasn’t only her husband. He had another wife - and children. Devastated, she retreated to a beachside home to lick her wounds. Jensen (totally digging that name) was married to his high school sweetheart and thought his whole life was mapped out until his wife walked out on him and their daughter. When a new woman moves into the house he built for his ex it raises his hackles and the sparks fly. There’s no other way to say it: Jensen was a total dick at the beginning of the book. The way he treated Hailey was pretty atrocious and uncalled for. To Hailey’s credit, she didn’t just take it and she let him know what she thought of him. Eventually they did find common ground in their shared losses/betrayals and a relationship grew from there. Their story was mostly drama-free which I appreciated, but I also didn’t feel much of a connection with either character or their relationship. Even so, I appreciated their openness and honesty with each other and the ease they had together. Jensen’s daughter was totally cute and it was heartwarming to see the bond grow between her and Hailey.   

    

THE PLAYER | 3 STARS 
by Claire Contreras

The Player was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Warren was an international soccer star at the top of his game and Camila was a mere mortal who lived in NYC and worked for a non-profit. A chance meeting had Warren desperate to get in her pants during the two weeks he’s in NYC. So yeah, that felt like the entire premise for at least the first half of the book. Eventually they started spending time together and some real feelings started to develop but it took so long for there to be anything substantial to their relationship that it was hard to feel invested. As much as I liked Warren, Camila was hard to take. She had a total bias against anyone with money and was hung up on social class/standing. It was maybe a bit understandable considering her past but she took it to an extreme. And she played hard to get for so long I couldn’t understand why Warren persisted. When a secret was revealed late in the story, Camila overreacted and used it as an excuse to push Warren away (even her sister tried to reason with her), and Warren’s grand gesture, while huge, felt undeserved and as if he was the only one compromising. As much as I liked Warren and his story, Camila wasn’t particularly likable and that made it hard to pull for her.

THE MALL | 2.5 STARS 
by Megan McCafferty

I had such high hopes. I mean, it’s a book set in 1991 and is practically an ode to late 80’s/early 90’s pop culture (90210, Designer Imposter perfumes, Wilson Phillips and Color Me Badd). And it’s Megan McCafferty, the creator of the Jessica Darling series (which, by the way, never got the attention it deserved). But I’m sad to say, The Mall just didn’t do it for me. Main character Cassie was quite a pill. Cassie was wallowing in post break-up status and absolutely oblivious to anything or anyone around her. She was super judgey about everyone she encountered and behaved like a total brat with her parents. So there was that. It’s the summer between high school graduation and college and Cassie was meant to be spending it working with her longtime boyfriend at America’s Best Cookie. Instead, he cheats on her, they break up, and she gets fired (I never did understand why she got fired.) She finds a job at another mall shop, working with her former bff, and gets pulled into a bizarre scavenger hunt while continuing to be whiny and self-indulgent. By the end it seemed like she supposedly learned a lesson from the other mall-ites she encountered which felt too after-school-special for me. I’m bumping this one up by a half-star sheerly for the nostalgia factor of all the 90’s references. (Side note: The 90’s setting, while fun, seemed like an odd choice considering that anyone old enough to actually remember and appreciate the references is much older than the intended YA audience.)

Have you read any of these books?

Review: Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

RAGE AND RUIN
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publication date: June 9, 2020
Series: The Harbinger #2
Genres: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Format: eARC
Source: Inkyard Press and Edelweiss
4.5 Stars
 ADD TO GOODREADS
 

Rage and Ruin releases on June 9th. 
Pre-order your copy now!

Signed hardcover from Fountain Bookstore

Amazon Hardcover | Kindle | Kobo | Apple Books

Barnes and Noble | Audible

S Y N O P S I S

Half-angel Trinity and her bonded gargoyle protector, Zayne, have been working with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.

As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all. 

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Wow. What a wild ride this was! Jennifer Armentrout totally kicked up the action and the intensity in Rage and Ruin. Half-angel Trinity is teamed up with her Warden (gargoyle) protector Zayne in an effort to find and destroy the Harbinger. The only problem: they don’t know who or what the Harbinger is; only that it is killing demons and Wardens alike. With so much on the line (just the fate of the whole world), Trinity and Zayne pull out all the stops to find the Harbinger before it’s too late while also fighting their growing feelings for each other.

Rage and ruin had not corrupted me. They powered me. 

Rage and Ruin picked up right where Storm and Fury left off. Trinity is dealing with the aftermath of those events – or rather, she’s trying to carry on while not really dealing with what happened. Her father’s vague warnings about the Harbinger weren’t exactly helpful and she and Zayne are basically feeling around blindly in the dark trying to catch an unknown entity. Like a needle in a haystack. Enter Roth, the Crown Prince of Hell himself. I loved that Roth played such a big role in this entry and he was right there in all his uber-hot, snarky, less-than-humble glory.

Complicating matters was the serious attraction between Trinity and Zayne that was growing into something a whole lot deeper. Which was, unfortunately, also something that was a whole lot forbidden. I’ll admit I was never really on the Zayne Train in the original Dark Elements trilogy (100% #TeamRoth, baby), but here in this series, with Trinity, I can totally see Zayne’s appeal. This guy is an absolute rock (gargoyle… rock… see what I did there?) in his support of Trinity. He is protective without ever holding her back, he’s in awe of her strength without ever being threatened by it, and he works around her eyesight issues with care and concern and not pity. There was so much tension and chemistry between these two and the push and pull going on was delicious torture.

There was a fantastic build-up going on throughout the book and Armentrout did an amazing job amping up the stakes and providing plenty of action leading up to the final climax. And what an ending it was! People, when I say I was shocked by the final showdown, I mean I was floored. I reread the same scene over and over, thinking I had to be misunderstanding something. I had to be missing something. This couldn’t be happening. I’ll say it: I cried buckets. And then yet another twist in the final chapter left me reeling once more. My mind was blown. I was not okay. I can’t decide if Jennifer Armentrout is an evil sadist who obviously feeds on the tears of her readers (sorry Jennifer, nothing but love… really) or a plotting genius who knows how to write one epic cliffhanger. Because like I said, I am not okay.

If you love Jennifer Armentrout, if you love paranormal/urban fantasy, if you love kick-ass heroines who are still totally vulnerable, if you love swoony heroes, and lots of action, and plenty of humor, and plot twists that will blow your little mind… do yourself a favor and read this series. Grab Storm and Fury and then dive right into Rage and Ruin. And then you can join me in the tortuous wait for the final book. 

Disclosure: I received a a complimentary copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

#1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Border Jack Apollo, six judgemental alpacas, two rude goats, and five fluffy sheep. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications.  Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Website: https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JLArmentrout

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_l_armentrout/

Review: Anticipating Spring by Lora Richardson (#YA #NewRelease)

ANTICIPATING SPRING
Lora Richardson
Publication date: March 23, 2020
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Author
4 Stars

GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

Note: At the time of this post, Anticipating Spring is free on Kindle Unlimited or available for purchase for just $0.99! Grab your copy now and experience this heartwarming story for yourself!

S Y N O P S I S

Joe Hudson broke my heart. The last thing I want is to be trapped with him at basketball camp.

Coaching a skills camp for little kids was supposed to be a fun way to say goodbye to my high school basketball career. A bridge between my old life and new beginnings. But coaching with the guy who broke my heart last summer?

That was not the plan.

But there he is, across the gym. He hasn't even said anything yet, and already I’m remembering the way my name sounds on his lips. As he comes closer, old feelings are stirred up and all I can think of is the way he used to hold me.

No.

Joe is my past—a very painful and heart-wrenching past. He will never be allowed to hold my heart again. But we’ll be stuck together day after day, so we have to figure out a way to play nice. And I have to figure out a way to keep him from getting under my skin. 

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Anticipating Spring is the fourth and final book in Richardson’s Unexpected Love series and it was bittersweet to say goodbye to all the characters I’ve come to know and love. Here, the focus is on Maggie and Joe. Readers already familiar with the series know Joe as Greta’s older brother, and Maggie was mentioned several times in the first book, particularly after their break-up. Their relationship was sometimes hinted at so I was excited to finally get their story.

"I've missed you, Maggie. You were good for me, even if I wasn't good for you."
I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to contain the ache. "You were good for me, Joe. I mean it. We were good for each other, even if things didn't work out."

Maggie and Joe met at a time when he was vulnerable and struggling. Over the years they connected here and there, slowly forming a friendship of sorts, before finally starting a relationship. When the story begins it’s been about a year since their break-up and now Maggie finds that she and Joe will be coaching a summer basketball camp together. She’s determined to make the most of it but the truth is she still has feelings for Joe and so much about their relationship and break-up feels unresolved. At the same time, Maggie is also dealing with feelings of uncertainty about leaving for college at the end of summer as well as the declining health of her beloved grandmother who lives with her family.

Maggie was such a truly likable character. She was family-focused, a good daughter and a good friend. I loved her openness and her willingness to share what was on her mind and really give of herself. Unfortunately, it was her total openness and Joe’s emotional distance that eventually drove a wedge between them. I loved watching as they tiptoed around each other and finally talked about their break-up. It opened the door to a renewed friendship… and maybe more.

"Maggie? I hope you don't have any regrets about us."
"Joe, I have a million regrets about us."
He blinked, taken aback. "But it's me who messed up. You were perfect."

Anticipating Spring was told almost completely from Maggie’s point of view but there were short chapters from Joe’s perspective. I adored those. Being in Joe’s head, understanding his thought process, and realizing how he really felt about Maggie was priceless. Lora Richardson has created another sweet, heartwarming, small town romance that gave me all the good feelings (the road trip was the best!) and left me with a smile on my face. I may be saying goodbye to these characters and this series, but I’m already looking forward to what Richardson delivers next.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

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ABOUT LORA RICHARDSON:

As a child, Lora lived on a pig farm. She spent time swimming in the creek with snakes, playing in the hayloft, and tapping out stories on her mother's typewriter. These days she lives in a small city in Indiana with her high-school-sweetheart-husband and their two children. She spends her time reading, writing, and hanging out with her people. She still has pigs, though now they are of the guinea variety.

You can find Lora here: * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * GOODREADS * INSTAGRAM *