Quick Update - The Perils of University...

Hi Guys!

I know there hasn't been a post on here for a long time so I just wanted to update you and to tell you that the blog is still up and running.

The truth is that my course at university has me completely swamped and even though I'm trying to find time to read I just haven't been able to find the time.

A quick update on the book that I'm currently reading (and have been for about the past two months): So I'm currently reading "The Edge of Never" by J.A. Redmerski and I'm on page 406 of 459 so I'm almost finished but I can't even find the time to read those last few pages and trust me when I say the suspense is KILLING ME! This book is an amazing contemporary novel and one that I would definitely recommend that you run out and buy, you won't be disappointed.

I'm slowly accumulating a stack of my pre-ordered books that are being released so I'm counting down the days until uni is over and I can start to read them.

Thank you all so much for sticking with the blog and you will hopefully be hearing from me soon.

Sophie.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick...

Series: -
Published: June 14th 2012 by Dial Books For Young Readers
Pages: 394
Date Finished: July 7th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

Review:

I didn't really know what to expect going into this book because by the time I finally got my hands on this book it had been so long since I had read the synopsis. But that isn't to say that I didn't have high expectations for this book, I remember loving the synopsis of this book when I first read it as well as seeing all the great reviews this book had gotten in the time it took to arrive. And for me this book didn't disappoint.

The plot. I really enjoyed the plot of this book and I think that I would have enjoyed it even more if I had been able to read it without such long breaks in between (and by long breaks I'm meaning days at a time). I really enjoyed seeing the contrast between both Samantha and Jase's families and also seeing how that even with those vast differences they were still in a way very much the same person and perfect for each other. I thought that the plot of the book was really interesting and dealt with a lot of other subjects other than teenage romance which I found made the book really interesting and hard to put down.

The characters. I have mixed feelings about the characters in this book. I thought that the main characters were written really well, but I also found that because there were so many side characters that they were all very one-dimensional and just didn't really have all too much impact on the story.
Samantha. I really enjoyed Samantha's character in this book. I thought that she was very relatable and I love seeing her grow throughout the book into a more independent and head-strong person. I also loved watching her become more confident through her relationship with Jase and seeing how he was able to bring Samantha more out of her shell. I really felt for her when she was struggling with the big decisions that she had to make, but I was really glad that in the end she chose the option that she did and that everything turned out well for her in the end.
Jase. I really enjoyed Jase's character in this book also. I thought that he was a very relatable person and he seemed like such a humble and down-to-earth person. I loved seeing the dynamic within his family and seeing how much it differed from Samantha's and even though they came from such different backgrounds they were able to have such a deep connection with each other. I really felt for Jase when his dad was in hospital and all of the extra responsibility he had as well as dealing with finding out about what Samantha knew.
Tim. Tim is probably one of the only side characters (though in the end I guess he became somewhat of a main character) that was written really well. I found myself really growing to love Tim's character in this book. When I first started reading about him I couldn't stand him. But as he started to turn his life around I found that he became a much more caring person and a great friend to both Samantha and Jase.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I think that it would have to be a staple in your summer book collection. I found it to be a fun, easy read but I thought that it was also a book with a lot of depth and meaning to it and it will be one that I will definitely be re-reading over the summer.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen...

Series: -
Published: June 4th 2013 by Viking Juvenile
Pages: 435
Date Finished: June 23rd, 2013
Rating: 2 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

Review:

I had extremely high expectations going into this book after reading all and loving all but one of Sarah Dessen's books, I found sadly that this book just really didn't live up to the expectation that I have when it comes to a Sarah Dessen book.

The plot. I found myself not really being able to immerse myself in the plot of this book and I think the main reason for that is because really what the book centres around just didn't interest me. I found the pacing of the book to be rather slow and I felt that the story dragged on a lot and it was a really very easy book for me to put down, which is something I'm not usually able to do when it comes to a Sarah Dessen book. I felt that the plot wasn't really going anywhere so I decided after many times of almost putting it down that it was finally time for me to move onto another book and come back to it at a later date and re-read and finally finish the whole book.

The characters. For me I found that I couldn't relate to any of the characters which was a big surprise and also a disappointment as I had loved all of the other characters in Sarah Dessen's books before and I think this was also another big reason why I found myself not being able to enjoy the book.
Emeline. For me Emeline's character just fell flat which I found really disappointing. I didn't think that she was a very interesting character and I just couldn't find myself being able to relate to her so in turn I couldn't really sympathise with her in the things that she was going through and for me to really enjoy a book I have to be able to connect with the main character.
Theo. Theo was a character that really annoyed me. I can't really pin-point one thing but there was just something about him that always got on my nerves.

Overall for me this book wasn't one of Sarah Dessen's best, but I will be giving this book a re-read sometime soon because I think one of the main reasons I found that it dragged so much was because of the long intervals I had when reading the book and I will re-review this book when I give it a second read. But as my feelings on the book stand right now, this isn't a book I would say you had to immediately rush out and buy.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen...

Series: -
Published: May 15th 2010 by Penguin Group
Pages: 432
Date Finished: June 10th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:
After her mom vanished in a stench of drugs and alcohol, Ruby continued to live in the family house alone. Finally found out, the introspective teenager is sent to the luxurious home of her older sister, Cora, whom she hadn't seen in ten years. Everything there seems unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and supremely weird: her fancy new room; her lavish new wardrobe; the exclusive private school where she never quite fits in. Most mysterious of all is Nate, the friendly boy next door who seems to have a deep secret of his own. Another subtle character-driven teen novel by Sarah Dessen, the author of Just Listen and That Summer.

Review:

Well it took a year and a half but I finally managed to finish this book. I had picked it up multiple times before and never got past the first couple of pages, either it wasn't what I felt like reading at the time or something better came along. But I finally finished it and wow... It was amazing.

The plot. I loved the plot of this book. There was just something so REAL and honest about it, it almost felt like Sarah Dessen had seen the events happen in this story and then retold them to me on the page, I completely fell in love with it. I really felt for both Ruby and Nate with their home lives and I really thought it was a great twist to the book finding out about Nate part way through I definitely had not seen that coming and it shoed me just how strong of a person he is. I thought that the storyline of this book was heartfelt, believable and moving and it was one that kept me up into the early hours to finish.

The characters. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book, I thought that both the main and side characters were written extremely well and I found myself loving all of them.
Ruby. I really enjoyed Ruby's character in this book and I thought that she was extremely relatable and a great character to have the POV of the book told from. I really felt for her in her situation and how she had to got through such a massive change, but I thought it showed just how strong and resilient she was in that she was able to make the best of the situation she was in. Sure, she did make a few mistakes but overall she in the end decided to take advantage of the situation and I felt that it changed her for the better.
Nate. I also really enjoyed Nate's character. I loved seeing just how strong he was and that even after what he endured he was still so kind and caring. I really enjoyed seeing how he changed throughout the book and finally took the steps he needed to protect himself.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and it will be one that will stick with me for a while. This is one that I would recommend everyone to read.

Dare You To by Katie McGarry...

Series: Pushing The Limits (Book #2)
Published: June 7th 2013 by Mira Ink
Pages: 352
Date Finished: June 5th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 15+ (Due to mature themes)

Synopsis:

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

Review:

All I can say is... Wow, this book completely blew me away. I had extremely high expectations going into this book after reading and loving "Pushing the Limits" and I was really interested to read Beth's story and find out more about her and this book didn't disappoint.

The plot. I LOVED the plot of this book. I loved being able to see into both Beth and Ryan's lives through the duel narration that happened throughout the book and seeing that they were in a way going through some of the same things and how they helped each other through all of it. I really enjoyed watching how Beth and Ryan's relationship changed throughout the book and seeing how their relationship both changed them for the better and helped them to stand up to the people that they needed to and ultimately do what was right for them. I thought that the book was paced extremely well, the whole story was really realistic and it was one that I couldn't put down.

The characters. One thing that I really love about this series is that with each book I get to meet a whole lot of new characters but also see the old ones and get to know a bit more about them. I feel that I have become more attached to Noah, Isaiah and Beth and I have also come to love Ryan.
Beth. I really enjoyed Beth's character in this book. I thought that she was very relatable, quick witted and extremely entertaining to read about. I really enjoyed how she was a three dimensional character and through the duel narration in the book I got to see that she wasn't nearly as tough as she portrays to the world. I liked how she was fiercely loyal to the people she loves and also how through the book she changed and started to let people into her life.
Ryan. I also really enjoyed Ryan's character. I loved being able to see into his home life and see that it wasn't as great as what his family portrayed to the world. I loved seeing how he also changed throughout the book and finally stood up to his dad and did what was right for him in the end which I think also had a lot to do with Beth's influence on him.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it was a fantastic second edition to the series and it really made me thankful for the life that I have. This would have to be one of my favourite YA series and I would recommend it to anyone. I will definitely be pre-ordering the next book in the series "Crash into You" very soon.

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer...

Series: Elemental (Book #3)
Published: May 28th 2013 by K Teen
Pages: 301
Date Finished: June 3rd, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 15+ (Due to mature themes)

Synopsis:

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.

He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

Review:

I had extremely high expectations going into this book after reading and loving the first two books in the series and I was really interested to see what Brigid Kemmerer had in store for Hunter's character, and I wasn't disappointed.

The plot. I really enjoyed the plot of this book even though it wasn't what I was expecting at all. I really felt for Hunter in everything that he went through in this book and I thought that it showed just how strong he was in the way that he dealt with it all. This book was an emotional roller-coaster from the first page and it was a book that I couldn't put down, it was full of suspense, mystery and just a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Something else I really enjoyed in this book was the duel narration and being able to see the story from both Hunter and Kate's perspective and being able to see what they were both dealing with at the time and also things to do with their pasts. I thought that it was a really fast paced, easy and enjoyable read.

The characters. I find myself becoming more attached to each of the characters with every book I read in this series, I loved seeing how all of the brothers developed a little bit more and seeing how they all are starting to work more as a team.
Hunter. I really enjoyed Hunter's character in this book and I thought that he would have to have had the hardest life out of all the boy's books I have read so far. I really felt for him in everything that he went through in this book but I thought that he handled it all extremely well. I loved seeing how he grew throughout the book with the help of the Merrick family and also through the help of Kate. I really enjoyed seeing how he finally started to open up and trust people as he started to discover more about himself and also his past.
Kate. I also really enjoyed her character in this book. I thought that she was very quick witted, strong and very entertaining to read about. I loved seeing how great of a match her and Hunter were for each other and how they had gone through a lot of the same things and were trying to work through a lot of the same issues and eventually bought out the best in each other. I really admired her character and the sacrifice that she made for Hunter and it showed how in that short time just how close she had become to him.

Overall I thought that this was a great third book in a fantastic series and this would have to be one of the best YA fantasy series I have read for a while. Each book just keeps getting stronger and the characters all become more interesting the more I read. This is a series that I would highly recommend and I will be pre-ordering the next book in the series as soon as possible.

Reckless by S.C. Stephens...

Series: Thoughtless (Book #3)
Published: April 25th 2013 by Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 532
Date Finished: May 27th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 16+ (Due to mature themes)

Synopsis:

Can love survive when life gets Reckless?

When the band hits it big, Kiera and Kellan must ask themselves: Can their love for each other survive the constant pressures of superstardom? The friendships they've formed, the new family they've found, and the history they've forged will all play a part in helping them navigate the turbulent waters of the band's exploding popularity. A greedy executive hell-bent on success, a declining pop star looking for an edge, and a media circus that twists lies into truths are just some of the obstacles the lovers will have to overcome if they are going to remain together. Fame comes with a price-but will it cost Kiera and Kellan everything?

Review:

I. Am. Speechless. I had extremely high expectations going into this book after reading and loving the first two in the trilogy and I was really interested to see what challenges Kellan and Kiera would be face with in this book, and it didn't disappoint.

The plot. I completely fell in love with the plot of this book. I loved being able to have a behind the scenes look into what it takes to be both a writer and a musician and really just how annoying record labels can be. I also really enjoyed seeing how Kellan and Kiera's relationship grew throughout all the things that they went through in all three books and how they finally got the life that they each deserved and seeing how happy they were with each other. But most of all I loved the epilogue of this book, I really enjoyed seeing how S.C. Stephens finished Kellan and Kiera's story and I thought that it was a great way to tie up all of the loose ends in the series and I thought that it was perfect.

The characters. I thought that all of the characters were written extremely well in this book and I feel really attached to them all.
Kiera. I really enjoyed her character in this book and I loved seeing how she came more into her own especially when it came to Kellan and her relationship as she finally realized that she had nothing to worry about with him and that he was always faithful to her. I also loved seeing how she became more confident through her writing and how she finally wrote the story of her, Kellan and Denny which I knew was hard for her but I think that they had all moved on enough and it was time for her to write it.
Kellan. I really loved Kellan's character in this book as well as the whole series. though he did make a few mistakes in this book he did those to protect Kiera and to respect her wishes. But in the end everything worked out for the best and I was so happy to see all the success that the band was having by the end of the book and just how content Kellan was with his life with Kiera and his family.

Overall I thought that this was a great book to end the series on (even though I wish that their were a lot more books to come) and I thought that it finished the series very well in that there were no unanswered questions. This is a series that I would recommend to anyone and one that I will be reading again very soon as the characters and storyline was amazing and it is a series that you will stay with you long after you have finished it. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry and ultimately you will fall in love with the series.

Effortless by S.C. Stephens...

Series: Thoughtless (Book #2)
Published: November 22nd 2012 by Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 496
Date Finished: May 24th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 16+ (Due to mature themes)

Synopsis:

After being caught in the middle of a love triangle which led to a devastating betrayal, Kiera pledged to learn from the mistakes she’d made. She was determined to never again inflict that kind of pain on anyone, especially the soulful, talented man who held her heart. But life offers new challenges for every relationship, and when Kiera’s love is put to the ultimate test, will it survive? Love is easy . . . trust is hard.

Review:

I had really high expectations going into this book after reading and loving "Thoughtless" and this completely lived up to my expectations, I loved it!

The plot. I really enjoyed the plot of this book, it was an emotional roller-coaster from the first page but I loved every minute of it. I thought that it was a really well thought out book and I loved that Kellan and Kiera's relationship was what a real relationship is like and how it had it ups and downs and I think if S.C. Stephens had sugar coated their relationship (like a lot of authors do) this book wouldn't have been half as good. I thought that the book flowed extremely well and it was a complete page turner and had me up to the early hours because I had to see what happened next for Kellan and Kiera and I thought even though the ending was extremely cliché and predictable, it matched the book really well and I was happy to see that after all the hard times that they went through they had a happy ending in this book.

The charcters. With each book in this series that I read I become more invested in these characters and find myself loving them even more, even the side characters I think are written extremely well and have become some of my favourite characters.
Kiera. I thought that she was great in this book and I really enjoyed reading the book from her perspective. I thought that she was a really relatable and strong character and I loved seeing how she grew throughout the book. I really felt for her in her situation and how she felt doubt with Kellan and their relationship and though she made a few wrong decisions throughout the book I was glad to see that in the end everything worked out for her.
Kellan. I also really enjoyed his character in this book, like Kiera I really felt for him and the situation that they were both in. I also really felt for him as he came to terms with what he found out while he was on tour and I loved seeing just how he grew throughout the book and how maturely he handled the situation at the end of the book.
Denny. I found myself really liking Denny in this book. Even after everything that Kiera and Kellan had put him through he was still there for them and ready to support them which I think says a lot about who he is as a person and I was really happy to see that he had found someone that made him happy after what happened with Kiera.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and this is a series that I would recommend to anyone and I cannot wait to start reading the next book in the series.

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover...

Series: Hopeless (Book #1)
Published: May 7th 2013 by Atria Books
Pages: 406
Date Finished: May 19th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 15+ (Due to mature themes)

Synopsis:
Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies. In this #1 New York Times bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, author of Slammed and Point of Retreat, Sky meets Dean Holder, a guy with a reputation that rivals her own. Holder has the ability to invoke feelings in Sky she's never had before. In just one encounter he leaves her terrified yet captivated and something about him brings up a rush of memories from the past that she’s worked so hard to bury away.

Sky knows Holder is nothing but trouble and tries to keep him at a distance, but he is adamant about learning everything he can about her. Sky finally caves to his unwavering pursuit, but she soon finds out that Holder isn't the person he's been claiming to be. When the secrets he's been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky's life changes forever.

Review:

All I can say is WOW... I had extremely high expectations after reading and loving the first two books in Colleen Hoover's "Slammed" series so I was really interested to see if this book would live up to what I was expecting from it and it definitely did.

The plot. I loved the plot of this book, I thought that there were so many unexpected things that happened in it (I will admit that I didn't actually read the synopsis of this book before I bought it). And even though I thought that it was somewhat of an unrealistic storyline Colleen Hoover was able to make it believable. There was so much emotion in this book and I felt for both Sky and Holder with what they found out towards the end of the book and how they were both connected with such a horrible thing. I thought that this was a very emotional book that was written extremely well.

The characters. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book and thought that they were written extremely well. I loved seeing all of their individual personality traits shine through I their characters and how they all interacted with each other.
Sky. I really enjoyed Sky's character, I thought that she was relatable, funny and a great characters have the POV of the book told from. I really felt for her with all the things that she found out about her past throughout the book, but I thought that she handled it all very well. I loved seeing the change in her as her and Holder's relationship deepened and just seeing how he managed to help her through what she found out about herself.
Holder. I really liked Holder's character throughout the book and I thought that he was funny, witty and pretty hilarious when he wanted to be. I really enjoyed seeing just how much he loved Sky and all that he would do for her and how he helped her through what she was going though even though he was also dealing with the things that he found out about, he was strong because he needed to be for Sky. I loved seeing how they both bought out the best in each other and ultimately helped each other become better people.

Overall I really enjoyed Hopeless and it's a book that I would recommend to anyone. I'm going to be pre-ordering "Losing Hope" very soon and I cannot wait to read this story from Holden's POV.

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger...

Series: -
Published: September 7th 2010 by Little Brown/Poppy
Pages: 280
Date Finished: May 14th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 15+ (Due to mature themes)

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

Review:

I had somewhat high expectations going into this book after seeing all the hype around this book when it first came out and then seeing all the rave reviews that it got on Goodreads. But this book was definitely not what I was expecting at all, it completely blew me away. The plot. I loved the plot of this book! When I first started reading this book I was expecting it to be just a light hearted fun read, but as I read further I found it to be a book filled with emotion and I found it to be very...more I had somewhat high expectations going into this book after seeing all the hype around this book when it first came out and then seeing all the rave reviews that it got on Goodreads. But this book was definitely not what I was expecting at all, it completely blew me away. The plot. I loved the plot of this book! When I first started reading this book I was expecting it to be just a light hearted fun read, but as I read further I found it to be a book filled with emotion and I found it to be very thought provoking. I loved seeing how Bianca and Wesley's relationship developed throughout the course of the book and seeing just how much Bianca's feelings changed by the end of this book. I thought that the book was set at a great pace and everything happened in a realistic way and I thought that it was just a fun, fast, light and surprisingly emotional read. The characters. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book and I thought that they were all written really well and I also thought that there were just enough characters so I got to know each of them very well by the end of the book and I thought that they all had an impact on the story. Bianca. I really enjoyed Bianca's character in this book. I thought that she was very relatable and s great characters to have the books POV told from, I loved her snarky personality and I thought that it added a lot more to the book. I really felt for her in her home situation and how she felt like she needed to escape from what was going on in her life. I loved seeing her change throughout the book and how she went from being someone that didn't really believe in love to where, though, she still doesn't believe in love she is open to the possibility of it and that is all thanks to the effect that Wesley had on her. Wesley. I will admit when I first read his character in this book I really didn't like him, I thought that he was arrogant, self-absorbed and just not a very good person. But then as the book went on and Bianca became closer to him I got to see why he did the things that he did and I really felt for him. I loved seeing how he changed throughout the book and the impact that Bianca had made on his life and how she had helped shape him into a better person by the end of the book. Overall I immensely enjoyed this book and it is one that I would recommend to anyone and I will definitely be reading some more of Kody Keplinger's work very soon.

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer...

Series: Elementals (Book #2)
Published: August 28th 2012 by Kensington
Pages: 345
Date Finished: May 12th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can't. Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it. And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Because Layne has a few secrets of her own...

Synopsis:

I had very high expectations going into this book after reading and falling in love with the first book in the series "Storm" and hearing from my friends that the second in the series was so much better than the first and I have to say I completely agree with them. The plot. I really loved the plot of this book. I felt that this book had so much more emotion in it and that is something that I loved about this book. In "Storm" I saw Gabriel as a someone who was really stand-offish but in "Spark" I...more I had very high expectations going into this book after reading and falling in love with the first book in the series "Storm" and hearing from my friends that the second in the series was so much better than the first and I have to say I completely agree with them. The plot. I really loved the plot of this book. I felt that this book had so much more emotion in it and that is something that I loved about this book. In "Storm" I saw Gabriel as a someone who was really stand-offish but in "Spark" I got to see the reason behind that, his struggle with not being able to be close to his element, trying to protect the people that he cares about and how he struggles with the feelings he has about himself. I also loved being able to see into Layne's life and seeing all the struggles she went through to do with her home life, people at school and also how she saw herself. I loved how as their relationship grew throughout the book they bought out the best in each other. Gabriel managed to bring Layne out of her shell and Layne helped Gabriel start to be more trusting. I thought that this book was very fast paced and one that I found I couldn't put down. The characters. I thought that all of the characters were written amazingly well, they still felt like they all were individual from each other and I felt myself becoming more invested in the characters with each page that I read. Gabriel. I really enjoyed his character in this book. I loved seeing how he grew throughout the book and seeing just how much he cared for Layne and how far he would go to protect her and the people she cared about. I also really liked seeing how he started to grow into a better person and started to take responsibility for his actions and I think that has a lot to do with Layne and their relationship. Layne. I really enjoyed her character in this book also. I thought that she was very relatable and I really felt for her with her home situation, though I thought that she dealt with it very well and I thought that she was a very strong character throughout the book. She didn't let people's opinions of her influence her decisions and I loved seeing how she bought the best out in Gabriel. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it was a great second book and the best book in the series so far. This is a series that I would recommend to anyone and I cannot wait to pick up the third in the series ASAP.

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer...

Series: Elementals (Book #1)
Published: April 24th 2012 by Kensington
Pages: 353
Date Finished: May 11th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys; all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming.

Review:

I had pretty high expectations going into this book going off my friends recommendations as well as all of the rave reviews this series has gotten on Goodreads. But even with all that I was still wary as to if I would like it, because I have been finding lately that I haven't been able to finish a YA fantasy book, but I decided to pick this one up anyway and give it a go and I absolutely loved it.

The plot. I really enjoyed the plot of this book, I thought that it was a little bit slow to start but once the storyline picked up about half way through I couldn't put this book down. I thought that this book had a great storyline and I thought that it was unique to a lot of other YA books that I had read. I loved the idea of having control over the elements because I had read nothing like it before and it definitely put an interesting twist on the story for me. I also really enjoyed the duel POV because I loved being able to see things from both Becca and Chris's perspectives and seeing how they felt about the things that were happening throughout the book. Once the book started to pick up in the second half I thought that there was a lot of suspense and mystery and definitely a lot of things that I did not expect.

The characters. I thought that all of the characters were written really well. They all had their own personalities and were all unique from each other.
Becca. I really enjoyed Becca's character. I thought that she was very relatable and took everything that she was told throughout the book and everything that happened to her very well. I really felt bad for her in her struggle to figure out her feelings for both Hunter and Chris and also with her struggle to try and keep herself safe with knowing the information that she did.
Chris. I also really enjoyed his character. I loved being able to see inside his head for quite a lot of this book and also see a lot more of his family and the dynamic that there was within their family. I really felt for him in his situation and how he was struggling with his feelings for Becca but how he also wanted to keep her safe.

Overall I thought that this was a really enjoyable book and I thought that it was a great first book in the series and it would be one that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of YA fantasy books.

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens...

Series: Thoughtless (Book #1)
Published: October 25th 2012 by Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 544
Date Finished: May 9th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 16+ (Due to mature content)

Synopsis:
For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source – a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

Review:

I didn't really have any set expectations when I went into reading this book just because I had heard such mixed reviews on it. But I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The plot. Overall I found myself really liking the plot, though I will admit I enjoyed the first half more than the second. I thought that this book was written extremely well, everything flowed nicely and all of the emotion within this book was also portrayed extremely well on the page. I loved seeing how Kiera and Kellan's relationship grew into something more than just friendship and then I found myself hurting for the both of them when it came to their separation and the things that they were putting each other through. And then came the ending, I thought that the ending was a little cliché but I also thought that it was the right way to end the book and I thought that it fit perfectly.

The characters. I thought that all of the characters were written very well and I loved seeing how they were all so different from each other. Though, I will admit Kiera's sister really did annoy me and I thought that there may have been one or two too many side characters.
Kiera. I really enjoyed reading the book from her perspective, I thought that she was relatable and I loved feeling her emotion throughout the book. I really felt for her throughout this book, I felt her happiness when she was with Kellan, her guilt over what she was doing to Denny and then her sadness. I loved seeing how Kellan managed to bring her out of her shell and also how she seemed to change Kellan for the better.
Kellan. I also really enjoyed Kellan's character in this book. I felt horrible for him when it came to Kiera and his separation and even thought the book wasn't showing any of his emotion it was clear from what had happened previously what he was feeling and it really broke my heart. I thought that he in the end bought out the best in Kiera and she bought the best out in him.

Overall I really found myself liking this story. Sure, I thought that it was a bit long but I still really did enjoy the book I felt myself become quite invested in the characters and I will be buying the next two books in the series very soon.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green...

Series: -
Published: January 10th 2012 by Dutton Books
Pages: 313
Date Finished: May 7th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Review:

So I know that I am probably the last person on earth to read this book, but I thought I would add my review to the pile.

I was both excited and also nervous to read this book, just because of all of the amazing things I had heard about John Green himself and also this book. I was really afraid that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. Well this book didn't only live up to my expectations, it completely blew them out of the water.

The plot. I completely fell in love with the plot of this book. It would have to be probably the most depressing book I have ever read, but at the same time it seemed to make me smile. I loved having the perspective of this book told from someone with cancer, I thought that it bought a real genuine quality to the book and really turned it into something special. I thought that this book flowed extremely well and way beautifully written. But really the thing that made this book for me (and I'm guessing a lot of other people) would have to be Augustus.

The characters. I thought that all of the characters were written amazingly in this book. They were all so real and genuine and they really made this book into something special.
Hazel. I really enjoyed Hazel's character. I thought that she was very relatable and she was a very enjoyable character to the POV of the book told from. I thought that she was very strong willed and always did what she wanted and made an impact on a lot of peoples lives within this book. I loved seeing how she grew in her relationship with Augustus and how he helped her to become a better person.
Augustus. I really have no words to describe just how much his character had an impact on me. From the start when he came into the book I knew that he was going to be something special. I thought that he was caring, witty and charismatic and he was so kind and selfless especially when it came to Hazel. Seeing him in the last part of the book really made me sad but till the end I could still see glimpses of his old self and even after he was gone in those last few pages I still got to see some of the old Augustus.

Overall I am completely in love with this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry (which only one other book has been able to do) and it has really made an impact on how I see the world. This is a book that I think everyone should read and I will definitely be purchasing a hardcover to go alongside my paperback, that is how much I love it.

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover...

Series: Slammed (Book #2)
Published: February 14th 2013 by Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 320
Date Finished: May 4th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 15+ (Due to mature themes)

Synopsis:

Layken and Will have managed to overcome the obstacles that threatened to destroy their love, proving that they are destined for one another. What they are about to learn, however, is that the things that have brought them together may be the very things that ruin their connection forever…
Layken is left second-guessing the relationship whilst Will is jumping over hurdles to prove his love for her. What the young lovers discover about themselves along this journey may change their entire world and the lives of those who depend upon them the most...

Review:

I had to admit I was a little afraid to start reading "Point of Retreat" purely for the reason that I loved "Slammed" so much, but this book did not disappoint. The plot. I LOVED the plot of this book! I really enjoyed having the story told from Will's POV because I was always wondering throughout "Slammed" what was going through his head. But now that I have been in Will's head I don't really ever want to leave. I found just like "Slammed" that this book was an emotional roller-coaster from the...more I had to admit I was a little afraid to start reading "Point of Retreat" purely for the reason that I loved "Slammed" so much, but this book did not disappoint. The plot. I LOVED the plot of this book! I really enjoyed having the story told from Will's POV because I was always wondering throughout "Slammed" what was going through his head. But now that I have been in Will's head I don't really ever want to leave. I found just like "Slammed" that this book was an emotional roller-coaster from the first page and to be honest I loved every minute of it this book had me laughing out loud, screaming at it and almost crying at points. I really felt for both Will and Layken when they were having relationship trouble and then I really felt for Will when the major event happened about two thirds of the way through. I thought that this book was paced very well and written beautifully, I loved the verse at the start of each chapter and also how the poetry and journal entries went throughout the book. I managed to finish this book in a couple of hours, I couldn't put it down. The characters. I thought that all of the characters were written extremely well, I loved being able to get more familiar with old characters and getting to know the new ones that popped up throughout the book. Will. This book has made me love Will even more if that was possible! I loved being able to see all the thoughts he had throughout the book and really I just enjoyed being inside the head of a writer. I loved seeing just how intense his love for Layken is. I loved seeing just how vulnerable Will actually is in this book and being able to see that other side of him. I really felt for him when he was having relationship troubles with Layken and then again when the incident happened. This book also showed just how far Will will go for the people he cares about, which I think just makes him an amazing character. Layken. I really enjoyed Layken's character in this book also. I really felt for her in this book and everything that happened to her. I could see her struggle throughout the book as she was trying to figure out what was the best solution for her when it came to Will and her relationship. I think that she also handled what happened to her extremely well and it just showed how much of a strong willed person she is. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I will be going to pre-order the next book in about the next minute, I need to het my hands on the next book ASAP. I thought that this was a great second instalment to the series and I loved that it was told from Will's POV.

Slammed by Colleen Hoover...

Series: Slammed (Book #1)
Published: February 14th 2013 by Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 352
Date Finished: May 3rd, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 15+ (Due to mature themes)

Synopsis:

Layken's father died suddenly, leaving her to gather every ounce of strength to be a pillar for her family, in order to prevent their world from falling apart. Now her life is taking another unexpected turn…
Layken's mother gets a job which leads to an unwanted move across country. However, a new home means new neighbours… and Layken's new neighbour is the very attractive Will Cooper.
Will has an intriguing passion for slam poetry, and a matching passion for life. The two feel an irresistible attraction but are rocked to the core when a shocking revelation brings their romance to a screeching halt.
Layken and Will must find a way to fight the forces that threaten to tear them apart… or learn to live without each other.

Review:

I have to admit when I picked up this book I had no idea if I would like it or not, I saw all of the amazing reviews and then finally decided to pick it up. And WOW this book was an emotional roller-coaster from page one.

The plot. I absolutely LOVED the plot of this book. I thought that the plot was really interesting and I was always kept on my toes when it came to the status of Layken and Will's relationship. I really felt for them both, how they had the huge obstacle that was in the way of them being together and them trying to find a way to just be friends. I thought that both the characters home situations really helped to shape them as believable characters and it was sad but also very interesting to see how their situations ultimately brought them closer together. I thought that the book was very well written and it flowed extremely well, I was able to finish it in a matter of a couple of hours, it was unputdownable.

The characters. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book, I thought that they were all extremely well written and they all had their own personalities that shone through in the book.
Layken. I really enjoyed Layken in this book, I thought that she was very relatable and I really felt her pain and confusion when it came to her relationship with Will and how she was trying to find a balance between her feelings for him and their friendship. I also really felt for her when it came to her home situation, I never saw what eventually happened coming and I can't imagine how much of a shock it would have been, but I thought that she handled it very maturely. It was great to see her grow throughout the book and become an even more mature person by the end.
Will. I also enjoyed Will's character. I thought that he was a great person and also someone that was great for Layken. He understood her situation and in the end helped her through it and stuck by her. I really felt for him in this book and especially when he found out that the obstacle that was keeping them apart was to do with him. I felt for him and his home life, I thought that he was mature beyond his years and I just ultimately thought that he was a great character.

Overall I thought that this was an extremely moving and thought-provoking book and I am so glad that I decided to pick up "Point of Retreat" when I got "Slammed" because I need to start reading it ASAP! This is a book that I would tell everyone to read and I think that it is one that everyone needs to rush out and buy.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen...

Series: -
Published: May 10th, 2011 by Puffin Books
Pages: 402
Date Finished: April 30th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?

Review:

I had really high expectations when I went into this book after seeing all of the rave reviews and just from my experience from reading about ninety percent of all of Sarah Dessen's books, and I am glad to say that this book did not let me down.

The plot. I really enjoyed the plot of this book. I will admit I did think that it was pretty slow to start but about a third of the way through it really picked up and in the end I found that it was a very enjoyable and easy read. I thought that the pacing of the book was great and that there was always something interesting going on whether it was to do with the model of the town or Mclean thinking about her past. I also loved seeing how Mclean and Dave's relationship grew and how Mclean finally decided to let someone into her life. I loved the ending also, sure it was an obvious ending but I still thought that it was the ending that was right for the book.

The characters. I really enjoyed all the characters in this book, sure I was extremely confused when it came to all of the friends characters even when I was at the end of the book. But in saying that I still thought that all of the characters were written extremely well and were all individual and interesting in their own way.
Mclean. I really enjoyed Mclean's character. I thought that she was very relatable and a really great character to have the perspective of the book told from. I loved seeing how she grew throughout the book and started to really feel a connection to the town and the people in it and I think that has a lot to do with her growing relationship with Dave.
Dave. I also really enjoyed his character. From the moment he came into the book I knew he was going to be a character I would like, I thought that he was, funny, witty, caring and just an overall great person. I loved seeing how quirky he was that really enhanced him as a person and he really embraced all of his quirks and didn't hide because of them which was great to see.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I am a little sad that it's only a stand alone book because I would have loved to see what became of Mclean in the future. But overall I thought that this was a very enjoyable book and one that I would tell everyone to read.

Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout...

Series: Covenant (Book #4)
Published: April 4th 2013 by Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 345
Date Finished: April 23rd, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

Review:

This book has left me speechless. I had sky high expectations going into this book after reading and loving both Deity and Elixir and I was really excited to see what would happen next for Alex, and I am glad to day Jennifer L. Armentrout did not dissapoint. The plot. I loved the plot of this book. Sure, I thought that it was a little bit slow about three quarters of the way through but a apart from that I thought that the plot was very action packed and there were so many unexpected plot twists...more This book has left me speechless. I had sky high expectations going into this book after reading and loving both Deity and Elixir and I was really excited to see what would happen next for Alex, and I am glad to day Jennifer L. Armentrout did not disappoint. The plot. I loved the plot of this book. Sure, I thought that it was a little bit slow about three quarters of the way through but a apart from that I thought that the plot was very action packed and there were so many unexpected plot twists and things that took me completely by surprise. There were times that I was laughing out loud and also screaming at this book because of the things that were happening. I loved seeing the relationship between Alex and Aiden grow and how their relationship changed into something deeper and how they helped each other through the memories of what happened when Alex was not herself and also face and overcome the challenges for both of them in this book. I completely loved the cliff hanger ending, it gave nothing away about what would happen in the next book and has left me NEEDING to get my hands on the fifth book as soon as I can. The characters. I love all of the characters within this book and I feel more attached to each of the characters with each book I read. Alex. I really enjoyed her character in this book. I loved seeing her grow within this book and seeing her overcome the massive things that she had to go through within the book and coming out of all of those challenges for the better. I thought that she matured a lot in this book which was nice to see. Sure, I love the immature Alex also, but I loved seeing the more mature and rational Alex. Aiden. I also love his character in this book. I really felt for him in this book, especially after reading what he went through in Elixir and seeing how he felt when he saw Alex in the state she was in when she was connected to Seth. I loved seeing how even when Alex was at her worst he still never gave up on her and always believed that she would be able to overcome whatever was put in her way. I thought that Aiden also became a lot stronger in this book and had to take a bigger leadership role within his group and make a lot more hard decisions, and I think he handled it very well. Overall I am completely in love with this book and I thought that it was a perfect edition to the series. I thought that the book ended on a perfect cliff hanger and I will be pre-ordering the next book as soon as I can.

Vesper by Jeff Sampson...

Series: Deviants (Book #1)
Published: January 25th 2011 by Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins
Pages: 288
Date Finished: April 17th, 2013 (Unfinished)
Rating: 2 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Emily Webb is a geek. And she's happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she's never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she's definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls' boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that... the same night one of her classmates - also named Emily - is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn't know why she's doing any of this. By day, she's the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it's no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she's not just coming out of her shell... there's something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely - something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she's not the only one this is happening to - some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters - and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

Review:

I was really looking forward to reading this book. It had a great sounding synopsis as well as great reviews on goodreads. But sadly this book didn't live up to my expectations.

The plot. The plot of this book was nothing like I was expecting, when I originally read the plot it sounded very mysterious and something that I would love, but sadly it wasn't executed in a way that I enjoyed. Sure, I only ended up reading till about half way through, but the storyline was on a path that really did not appeal to me. I thought that the storyline was unrealistic even for a fantasy book and I really just didn't think that the book flowed well.

The characters. I really couldn't connect with any of the characters and I think it was because of the way that they were written. I thought that they were all very one-dimensional and didn't seem very relatable at all.
Emily. For me she was not relatable in either of her personalities. I thought when she was "day time Emily" she ended up coming across as quite needy to me and even the way she spoke I thought didn't match her character. "Night time Emily" was not relatable for me either, I thought that she was too over the top in what she did, and Emily overall with both her personalities was not a character I could relate to or one that I liked.


Overall this book just wasn't for me and it's not one that I would tell you to go rush out and buy, but if I end up finishing this book I will update the review.

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire...

Series: Beautiful (Book #2)
Published: April 2nd 2013 by Atria Books
Pages: 433
Date Finished: April 14th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 16+ (Due mature content)

Synopsis:

Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. Can you love someone too much?
Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

Review:

This would have to be the best book that I have had the pleasure of reading this year so far, it was a completely perfect book for me.

The plot. When I first heard that this book was going to be from Travis's POV my expectations for this book went through the roof, I loved his character in "Beautiful Disaster" and I couldn't wait to finally be able to get inside his head and to finally see the emotion that I saw in "Beautiful Disaster" being played out within his head. I loved having the story of "Beautiful Disaster" played out from Travis's POV and being able to see parts of the story that we didn't get to see in "Beautiful Disaster" because Abby wasn't around as well as seeing a lot more into Travis's home life which gave me a much better insight into why Travis is the way he is. But one of the best parts for me would have to have been the epilogue, I loved seeing into Abby and Travis's future, seeing that they had both made something of themselves and were both very happy in the life that they had made together and I thought that it was a perfect ending to the book.

The characters. I loved all of the characters in the book and also being able to see them in the way that Travis thought of them, I thought that it was very interesting seeing the difference in what both Abby and Travis thought of the same character.
Travis. I couldn't find a fault with his character in this book, sure he made some mistakes but for me since it was being told from his POV he MADE the book for me. I loved seeing how much of an emotional character he was and seeing the vulnerability that I didn't get to see in "Beautiful Disaster" I also loved seeing the back story into Abby's nickname at the start of the book though I also found that to be quite heart-breaking also and how that event helped shape him into the man he was when he was with Abby. I loved seeing his transformation throughout the book up close and from his POV when he started having a relationship with Abby and how she changed him for the better. This book really just made me love his character even more than I already did after reading "Beautiful Disaster".
Abby. I also really enjoyed her character in this book and seeing her through Travis's eyes. I loved seeing just how entertaining Abby was to Travis and how she ended up changing him for the better. I thought that she was a great match for Travis and really helped him to become the person that I saw in reading the epilogue.
America and Sheply. I love them both even more after reading both of the books in the series because I now know them both equally as well. I loved seeing how their relationship played out in situations that I didn't get to see in "Beautiful Disaster" and this book made me love Sheply's character even more, I thought that he was funny, witty and a great person.

Overall this a book that I thoroughly enjoyed and one that I will be reading over again alongside "Beautiful Disaster" very soon this was an amazing second book in an amazing series and is one that I would recommend to anyone.

Covet by J.R. Ward...

Series: Fallen Angels (Book #1)
Published: October 29th 2009 by Signet
Pages: 474
Date Finished: April 12th, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: 16+ (Due to sexual and other mature content)

Synopsis:

Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about—his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he’s good with that — until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart—and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

Review:

I had very high expectations after reading and loving J.R. Ward's "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series and I was interested what she would do with the concept of fallen angels, well she did not disappoint I thought that this was a great first book, so good in fact I bought the next three in the series when I was about half way through.

The plot. I really did enjoy the plot of this book. I loved how it was set in the same city as the BDB series and also had a small side character in BDB becoming the main love interest as well as bringing in other side characters from the series. I thought that having those familiar characters and the familiar setting feel like the elaborate storyline and world set up was that much of a leap. I thought that the overall feel of the book was a lot like the BDB series also, but in saying that the book also stood on it's own and it had so many differences that I didn't feel that this was a repeat of the series. I loved having the multiple POV in this book also, I thought that it bought a whole different element to the book and really was able to draw me in a lot more because I was able to relate to all of the characters from seeing inside their heads.

The characters. I thought that they were all written flawlessly and they all had their own different personality traits and were all likeable for their own reasons.
Marie-Terese. I really enjoyed her character and seeing how she developed throughout the book into a more trusting person. From the start of the book I liked her, I loved seeing her strength in what she had been through with her family situation and the lengths she had gone to to make sure that her son was safe.
Vin. I also enjoyed Vin's character in this book. I liked seeing the transformation he went through from the start of the book and how he started to feel love for another person when he met Marie-Terese. I liked seeing how their relationship slowly changed him for the better.
Jim. I liked seeing how the situation he was in ultimately changed him into a better person and how he started to let people into his life which he hadn't done for a long time and I also really enjoyed reading everything that happened to him in this book.

Overall I thought that this was a great first book the series. I thought that it was well written, well thought out and just ultimately a great book and I cannot wait to see what is in store for Jim in the rest of the series.

Eden by Jamie McGuire...

Series: Providence (Book #3)
Published: April 3rd 2012 by CreateSpace
Pages: 276
Rating: 4 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

She had seen the unspeakable. She had learned the unknowable. Now, she would fight the invincible. In the third and final installment of the Providence series, Nina Grey will marry the wrong man, carry the child that was never supposed to be born, and fight a war she can't win. Faced with the impossible task of protecting his new wife and unborn child against the throes of Hell, Jared Ryel is allowed no mistakes. Pressured to return the Naissance de Demoniac to Jerusalem, he revisits St. Ann's to learn the answers were in front of him all along. Together, they must survive long enough to let their child save them - and the world.

Review:

I had pretty high expectations after finishing "Requiem" and really liking it, and this book didn't let me down. I thought that it tied up all the loose ends in the series very well and I thought that it was a very well done and very well thought out end to the series.

The plot. I will say right off the bat that this would have to be the book that I liked the least in the series, but that is not to say that it wasn't a great book because I really did enjoy the plot of this book. For the most part I thought that the storyline was very fast paced and entertaining, though, towards the end of the book I did think that it started to drag a bit with all of the fight scenes. But apart from that I thought that the book flowed very well and I thought that the ending came to a natural conclusion and I didn't feel that it was rushed which I have found in countless other series that I have read over the years. I liked seeing more of the strategical side of the work that Jared and his family does and also seeing how Nina started to take control and make some of the decisions and I thought that it was very interesting to see Jared not being fully in control at times because it was something that I was so used to seeing.

The characters. Like all of the other books that I have read from Jamie McGuire the characters were written very well and I loved seeing all of their different personalities and quirks shine through as I was reading them.
Nina. I enjoyed reading Nina's character in this book and how I got to see her take more control of the situation that she found herself in and start being on the offensive when it came to protecting her family rather than it being primarily Jared's job. I thought that Nina took everything tha happened to her in her stride and made the best out of a situation when she could. I really felt for her as she had to watch everything that was happening to the people around her that we're associated with her in one way or another and how she was powerless to do anything. But ultimately I found myself really liking Nina's character at the end of the book, and with reading this series in about three days it was great to be able to see the progression her character has made throughout the series and seeing what she was like at the start of the series and how she changed into the stronger, more determined person that she is now.
Jared. Like in all the other book I found that I couldn't fault Jared's character. He always had Nina's best interests a heart and even though he had to make her do some things that she didn't want to do it was always in the interest of keeping her safe. Something else I loved about his character was even though asunder under a lot of stress in this book he still always found time for Nina and did whatever she needed him to do for her.
Bex. He is a character that I haven't talked about yet , but I really found him entertaining while reading him in this book. I thought that he was so sweet and really looked up to and admired his brother and sister and strived to be like them. I also really loved his great one liners and I found that he was very entertaining to read about.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it was a great conclusion to the series. I thought that it tied up all the loose ends and left no question unanswered. As a whole I have really enjoyed this series and it is one that I would definitely recommend.

Requiem by Jamie McGuire...

Series: Providence (Book #2)
Published: June 11th 2011 by Jamie McGuire LLC
Pages: 257
Rating: 4 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Dreaming of the dead might mean a restless night for anyone, but for Nina Grey it was a warning.

Still healing from her last run-in with Hell, Nina struggles with not only her life as a Brown University student, but also as an intern at Titan Shipping, her father's company. Recurring nightmares about her father's violent death have become a nightly event, but being overwhelmed with guilt from Ryan's unexpected departure to the Armed Forces, and heart ache over Claire being across the ocean to protect him, Nina believes her sleepless nights are the least of her problems—but she's wrong.

Worried about Nina's declining health, Jared must steal back Shax's book for answers. Fighting new enemies, and with the help of new friends, Jared's worst fear comes to fruition. Desperate, he is faced with a choice: Fight Hell alone, or start a war with Heaven.

Review:

I had extremely high expectations going into this book after reading and loving "Providence". I thought that this book was a little slow to start and I will admit that "Providence" was a little bit better but for me this was still a four star book.

The plot. I really enjoyed the plot of this book. Though I didn't think that this book held as much of the mystery as "Providence", but I think that may be due to the fact that we had already found out the major secret of the series. I thought that the pacing of the book was great and I loved how I got to see some more of how Jared did his work and all of the twists, turns and unexpected things that happened within the book. I found this book to be a quick, fun and entertaining read and one that had me turning the pages up into the early hours.

The characters. I thought that just like "Providence" all the characters were written extremely well in this book and all their individual personalities shone through. Though I will admit there were a few characters I didn't like.
Nina. I still really enjoyed Nina's character in this book and I thought that she was still very relatable and took everything that was happening to her in the stride. I thought that what happened to her throughout most of the book was a very interesting twist and something that I was not expecting. Another thing I loved was just seeing how happy Jared made her in this book and seeing how their relationship progressed, though I thought that the ending was a little predictable I was still very happy for them.
Jared. I loved Jared in this book! He would have to be the only character within the book that I couldn't find a fault with. I loved seeing the lengths he would go to when it came to protecting Nina and how he genuinely felt like the luckiest guy alive to be with Nina and to have her in his life.
Ryan. He would have to be the one character that I did have a problem with. I can't pin-point one specific thing that I didn't like about his character in this book but whenever he would come up I would get the same annoyed feeling. I thought that in this book he seemed very needy and he was a complete contrast to the guy I had gotten to know in "Providence".

Overall I thought that this was a very quick, enjoyable read and I very good edition to the series. Though I will admit I did find "Providence" to be a little bit better this is still a book that I would recommend and I cannot wait to see what happens in the last instalment of the series.

Providence by Jamie McGuire...

Series: Providence (Book #1)
Published: November 17th 2010 by Jamie McGuire LLC
Pages: 484
Rating: 5 stars
Age Recommendation: -

Synopsis:

Struggling with her father's death, Nina meets Jared Ryel, presumably by chance. However it soon becomes clear that he knows more about her than even close friends. When her father's former associates begin following her in the dark, Nina learns that her father was not the man she thought he was, but a thief who stole from demons. In searching for the truth behind her father's death, she stumbles upon something she never expected, and something Hell wants, that only she holds the key for. Jared risks everything to keep the women he was born to save, by sharing the secret he was sworn to protect.

Review:

I had very high expectations going into this book after reading and loving "Beautiful Disaster", though I really didn't have much of an idea what this book was about as I decided to buy the first three books in the series on a whim. But I am happy to say I really enjoyed this book.

The plot. I really enjoyed the plot of the book and I thought that it was a really unique storyline. Sure the plot of guardian angels isn't anything new, but the way that the story was written and all of the different ins and outs of this world were like nothing I had ever read before, and I really loved the idea of angel assassins. I also really enjoyed seeing how Nina and Jared's relationship developed throughout the book and seeing the highs and lows of their relationship and really, just how much they loved each other. I thought that the book was paced very well and I thought that there was a lot of suspense and mystery in this book. Something else that I thought was done very well in this book was how Jamie McGuire managed to make a book that was based on such an unrealistic topic and make it seem believable and realistic, overall I thought that it was a very well written book.

The characters. I know from after reading "Beautiful Disaster" that Jamie McGuire has a knack for writting characters and this book was no exception. She had such great attention to detail when it came to writing each and every one of the characters in this book and they all shone for their own reasons.
Nina. I really enjoyed having the book told from Nina's perspective and I think that if it was told from anyone else's POV it wouldn't have had half as much impact as this book had for me. I thought that Nina was a very relatable character and coped very well with the situation she was in and was very open minded to it. I thought that she was very strong willed and always stuck to what she thought was right and would do anything to protect the people she cared about. Thought I thought she did make some poor decisions towards the end of the book in regards top her relationship with Jared, ultimately things turned out the way that they should have and I was so happy for her when it came to the end of the book.
Jared. I really loved Jared in this book. I thought that he was amazingly dedicated to Nina and would do anything for her. I really felt for him with the situation he had been in his whole life and how he had to battle with his feelings on a daily basis until he could finally talk to Nina, but I felt really happy for him as I got to see just how happy Nina made him. I really felt his pain as he was trying to cope with the decision that Nina made about their relationship, but ultimately I really did love Jared's character and I cannot wait to read more about him the next book.

Overall I really did enjoy this book and I was pleasantly surprised, sure I had no idea what to expect when I went into this book because I didn't do my research, but it just goes to show that sometimes by picking up a book by chance, you could just stumble upon a great book. I thought that this was a great first book in the series and I am really excited to see what is in store for Nina, Jared and Claire in the next book.