Book Haul: 02

Sometimes it's just impossible to ignore those emails from Book Outlet. Maybe one book catches your eye so you go to the website and start browsing. And it seems silly to place an order for just a book or two. I mean, you need to order enough to justify the shipping charges, right? And before you know it your cart has almost a dozen books in it but it's okay because... look at those prices, right? A $15 trade paperback for $3.99? Yes please and thank you!

This is my first haul in ages that doesn't have a single YA book. I've been reading lots of new adult lately so that's what I gravitated to. Also, everything here is a contemporary. No dystopian, no fantasy, no paranormal... just lots of contemporary new adult romance. 

Misunderstandings by Tiffany King - I'm looking forward to starting the Woodfalls Girls series. I already have No Attachments so finding the second book at Book Outlet was a real coup. On a side note, I met Tiffany about a year ago at a signing for Tracey Garvis Graves and she was so,so sweet. 

Nowhere But Here by Renee Carlino - I have read so many phenomenal reviews of her books. Sweet Things and this one, in particular.

Clipped Wings and Inked Armour by Helena Hunting - This series was on my radar but I was going to pass on it, unsure if it was for me. Then I saw some reviews by trusted sources and I was sold. 

A Song for Us by Teresa Mummert - I have yet to start the series but I own the first two books and when I saw the third for only $2.99... sold!

Before Jamaica Lane and Fall From India Place by Samantha Young - So am I the only one who has not yet read Samantha Young? I feel like I'm late to the party but I hear great things.

Collide and Pulse by Gail McHugh - Very excited to start this series! It has crazy high ratings on GoodReads.

Sempre: Redemption by J.M. Darhower - Like with A Song for Us, I purchased this second book in a series I haven't started yet because it was such a great price. I've heard that Sempre and Sempre: Redemption are pretty dark and gritty so I'm intrigued.

So have you read any of these? If so, let me know how you liked them! What have you hauled lately? And are there any other Book Outlet junkies... I can't be the only one. ;) Tell me about it in the comments below! 

Review: Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

I wanted to love Doon. I really, really did. It seemed to offer so many elements that typically makes a book a winner for me: time travel, romance, Scottish setting, strong female friendship. (Plus a seriously gorgeous cover.) I was totally excited about Doon as soon as I saw several BookTubers talking about it and I was ready to fall in love. Unfortunately... not so much.

Doon is the story of two best friends, Veronica and Mackenna, who travel to Scotland to spend the summer after their high school graduation. Through some rather unclear/sketchy magic (rings? spells? a calling?) the girls cross the Brig O' Doon and are transported into another realm. The kingdom of Doon is quite the contradiction: a medieval feel, courtly manners, no electricity, but there's also modern plumbing, a pizzeria and sushi. Ahem. Once there, Veronica sees the boy she has been having visions of, Jamie, who happens to be the Crown Prince of Doon. Mackenna, naturally, is quite taken with Jamie's brother Duncan. The girls are met with suspicion and initially accused of being in league with the witch who has long plagued Doon's existence. And there begins their time in Doon.

My issues with Doon became apparent quickly with an overused trope that I am well and truly tired of. Each girl describes the other as drop-dead gorgeous but neither sees it in herself. (Yawn. I'm so over beautiful girls who are completely unaware of their beauty.) Likewise, the two love interests, both princes (of course) are devastatingly attractive. I know this because we are told repeatedly. Veronica was pleasant enough but her lovesick demeanor became puzzling in the face of Jamie's apparent indifference. But I would take her somewhat lackluster personality over Mackenna any day. I found Mackenna abrasive from the very beginning. Once in Doon it was even worse. Her flippant attitude when faced with a strange land, different customs, not to mention an accusation of witchcraft seemed completely out of place. Instead of laying low, trying to allay the people's fears, and basically make nice during her time there, Mackenna smarted off at every opportunity and generally made every situation worse. As a theater buff, she constantly tossed around phrases like "Holy Hammerstein" and "Sweet Baby Sondheim." It was just plain silly and became annoying quickly. Besides her devotion to her friend, she simply was not a likable character.

I was anxious to immerse myself in the plot and get to understand the history of Doon and the magic surrounding it. It was not to be. And that was ultimately my greatest disappointment. There was so much promise and so much that could have been done but the plot was seriously lightweight. There was never any real sense of urgency or danger conveyed. Any scene that could have had real intensity was wrapped up quickly and easily. Squeaky clean romance was the focus and plot and character development took a backseat. I was just left wanting more.

To be so romance-focused, Doon is very much on the sweet/clean teen side. There is nothing beyond a few kisses. I've seen a couple reviews that refer to Doon as Christian YA fiction and if that's the case it would certainly explain the oh-so-chaste romance.

With the lightweight plot and the my-prince-has-come romance, Doon seems suited for the younger end of the YA audience. I imagine 13 year old girls will enjoy the pseudo-magical land and the sweet/swoony romance aspect. But I really wanted more and unfortunately Doon didn't fully deliver.

Review: Thrive (Addicted series #2.5)

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

I'm going to love Lily how I want to love her. 

Overwhelmingly, uncompromisingly. 

Look away if you have to. – Loren Hale

I am such a fan of this series. I remember reading the first book, Addicted To You, a year or more ago and getting that delicious feeling that I had just stumbled upon something wonderful. Each book has drawn me in deeper and made me love these characters more. I don't know what I'll do when the final book is released and it's time to say goodbye. (Don't think about, don't think about it, don't think about it...)

Thrive encompasses a two and a half year time period that has already been covered with Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower. But here the focus is back on Lily and Lo and what they were experiencing during that time. The POV alternates between them and I loved having the story told that way. I have such a soft spot for these two damaged souls. Being in their heads and experiencing their pain is hard at times but it just makes my empathy for them that much stronger.

People make mistakes every day, some small and some big, 

but I just wonder when I’ll stop making them. Or is this 

a lifelong thing? Do we all just wander through life, 

fucking up and trying to put ourselves back together 

only to continue on again? – Lily Calloway 

While we have already read about the filming of Princesses of Philly and its aftermath, and we've read about Paris riot, and the allegations against Lo's father, nothing here felt like a rehash. Those events were previously seen through the eyes of Connor and Rose and Ryke and Daisy. And while Lily and Lo were present we only got the perspective of others as to what they were going through. Here we get it straight from Lily and Lo. What they hid from the others, how they coped... or didn't, and how the events impacted them and their continued struggle for recovery.

We're going to have our happy ending. 

It's just going to take us a while to get there.

I loved Lily's strength here. She and Lo have long been there for one another and Lo is her rock. But there are times here where it is Lily's strength that carries them. She is there for Lo during his darkest times (Lo: "I don't want to be the weak one." Lily: "You won't be. Not for long.") and I just wanted to cheer for this sweet, awkward, lovable girl who has come so far.

She still has that delicate round face, the gangly arms and legs. 

She's adorable. In every sense of the word. 

And she's all mine to take care of. - Loren Hale

Krista and Becca Ritchie have created an amazing cast of characters with such depth and they continue to grow and evolve with each book. I love their banter and their bickering, their fierce loyalty to one another and the way they quickly close ranks when any of them is dealt a blow. We should all be so lucky to have family and friends like these.

The only thing left to say is: if you haven't already started this amazing series, what are you waiting for? :)

 

Review: This Girl by Colleen Hoover

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

There are two sides to every love story. Now hear Will's.

More Will Cooper? Yes, please! I loved that Point of Retreat (the second book in the Slammed trilogy) was told from Will's POV so getting more of that in This Girl was wonderful. This Girl picks up right where Point of Retreat left off. As Lake and Will reminisce about the evolution of their relationship, Lake asks Will to share his memories. "What was it like the first time you saw me?" "Tell me about our first date." And it's in this way that we get Will's side of the story - his point of view of the events from Slammed.

It was a treat to get inside Will's head for so many of the events that took place in Slammed. We were only privy to Lake's view and her perspective so finding out what Will was thinking and going through was fantastic. There were so many times in Slammed that his reactions made me wonder how he was feeling or what he was really thinking. And here it was. It was obviously in Slammed how much he struggled with his feelings for Lake but here it was like it was multiplied tenfold. Will didn't just struggle with his feelings for Lake. He agonized. He was tormented. It made my heart swell how first and foremost in his mind was what was best for Lake. And when he wavered, when he faltered, and his love and desire for this girl overwhelmed him and he felt as though he had crossed a line, oh how he tortured himself over it. It broke my heart for him time and time again.

God, what I wouldn't give to be able to hold her right now. 

If I could just take all of this away from her, I would.

I was concerned at first that the narrative would feel repetitive - a rehash of Slammed - but it wasn't at all. Will's perspective brought a fresh take to it all. The scene in the school hallway when he saw Lake there... I could feel it all over again. When he found Javi kissing Lake... his conversations with Julia... his reaction when Lake performed her slam... it was all here. And I loved it. So many times in Slammed when I felt like Will was handling the situation so much better than Lake, I was proven wrong here. So wrong. Will was honorable and had integrity but that was truly put to the test when faced with his love for Lake. I thought I couldn't possibly love Will Cooper any more than I did. I was wrong.

And that epilogue. Oh, my heart! That did me in and the happy tears were flowing. It simply could not have ended better.

This Girl is a not-to-be-missed ending to the Slammed trilogy. I loved every minute of it... even when it was breaking my heart. Hats off - yet again - to Colleen Hoover for her amazing ability to create a story and characters that stand out from the crowd and make me love them fiercely.

"You want to know my sweet?" I ask her.

She nods.

I kiss her on the forehead. 

"You. Always you."

Review: Crushed by Lauren Layne

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Crushed is a new adult/contemporary romance that has it all: well-developed characters that I cared about, a story that pulled me right in, many laugh out loud lines, steamy moments, and it packed an emotional wallop that I didn't expect.

Michael fled his privileged life in New York after a failed attempt to win the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately she was also his best friend’s girlfriend and now he’s lost them both. Added to his heartache is the revelation that the man he’s always called Dad is not his biological father. Searching for answers, Michael flees to an upscale community in Texas with plans to confront his father, using whatever methods necessary. This includes getting close to Kristin Bellamy, the young woman dating Michael’s half-brother, Devon.

Chloe is Kristin’s sassy, curvy sister. And she’s also been in love with Devon since they were childhood friends. She’s stood by as her sister and Devon have dated the last six years, always overshadowed by Kristin and knowing that Devon will never view her as more than a friend. But when Michael offers to help her get the guy, Chloe jumps at the chance. But as she gets closer to Michael and starts to make changes, will she want the guy who finally notices her… or the guy who saw her all along?

I absolutely loved Chloe and found myself wishing this smart, sparkling girl was my friend. Despite the fact that she often felt eclipsed by her sister’s outward perfection (size 2, shiny, straight hair, pretty face), that didn't stop Chloe from being outgoing and funny and compassionate. She rarely failed to speak her mind and I loved her sarcasm and quick wit. She also didn't stand on the sidelines and wallow. This girl was willing fight for what – and for whom – she wanted.

Michael held been dealt some emotional blows that rocked him to the core and left him feeling alone and without an anchor. No connection to those around him. Taking the job as the club tennis pro/personal trainer was a far cry from his previous life in New York but it gave him access to those he needed to get to his biological father. But he never counted on Chloe, with her unruly curls and her determination to be his friend despite his efforts to close himself off from everyone. Michael could be so gruff and so abrupt but I still felt for him and it broke my heart how he felt so unworthy of love and incapable of giving it in return.

The unlikely friendship that formed between Chloe and Michael was just a joy to read. Michael could be as closed off as he wanted but he was no match for Chloe’s dogged determination to be his friend. Their banter was truly laugh out loud funny and felt so genuine, never forced. I loved watching as they both grew and changed over the summer and began to question their initial goals and motivations.

My only quibble is the reunion of sorts that came near the end that seemed a little too good to be true and might have stretched believability just a bit. But I was so invested in the characters and the story by that point that I was willing to go with it and just enjoy.

There were so many elements of Crushed that I enjoyed: the character development (which was so well done), the slow, simmering burn of the romance, the humor, the secondary characters and the back story. This is one that I highly recommend and I will definitely be reading more by Lauren Layne.

Crushed is a companion novel to Broken but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

*ARC provided by NetGalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review.

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About the Author

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren's gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.

Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you'll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

http://laurenlayne.com/