Review: ALIBI Series From Twist Literary

Abigail Shelton is dead. 

Spring Valley's golden girl is found floating face-down in her boyfriend’s pool, hands bound behind her back, head bleeding, drugs and alcohol in her system. Her friends are the only suspects – and they all have reasons to want her dead. Everyone has an alibi, but no one is innocent.

ALIBI is a 4-part young adult e-book series. Each one-hundred page installment reveals the perspective of a different character: the secret love, the nemesis, the boyfriend, the best friend. As their tales unfold, we learn that Abby is not as perfect as everyone believes, but she’s not the only one with secrets to hide. This page-turning tale of suspense, betrayal, murder, and lust will keep fans of Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars up and reading well past curfew.

I won't lie, I was kind of stalking Twist Literary (only online people, I wasn't like in their bushes or anything) once I heard about them a few months back. The whole concept of a series written by different authors for different characters is seriously intriguing. I kind of thought I'd be able to tell when someone else was writing, but the authors do it so seamlessly that there's really no difference. What definitely helped is the amazing characterization throughout the story. Every character has their own distinct personality that pulls you in right away. 

Charles. You sir, are weirdly lovable even though I feel like I should stay away because you will break my heart with that beautiful Aussie accent of yours and leave me drowning my sorrows in chocolate. Every time Charles would talk, I would feel this necessity to say his lines in an Australian accent. Let me tell you, I realized my Aussie accent sucks! However, don't let my awful accent deter you from reading all about him and wanting his bod. Annie Miles writes Charles in a way that makes you want to discover the layers under his teen bravado and charm. 

I think I have a slight girl crush on Palmer because she has that confidence that just makes you want to know her. Even if I kind of hated her at times, I still rooted for her in the story. I totally understand why she intrigued so many people. Isabel Eckersley gives Palmer this charismatic air about her that makes a reader even notice there's something about her without seeing her. Her plot twists are also the most interesting for me; I truly didn't see them coming. 

Mason and Rowan are the two characters that I'm still unsure about my feelings for. Every story like this needs an edgy boy or girl, and these two seem to be it. Byrne and Provolo make their stories like those MTV shows you don't want to admit you watch, but honestly love every minute of because they're such a huge train wreck. Yeah. I mean...I don't watch those shows.*Looks anywhere but at you*

With little bits of story leaking out through each of the characters, Alibi will tease and keep you reading to the very end. I was sad to have it end because I got so invested and wanted more. If you're looking for a mystery that is sure to stay with you even after you're done turning the pages, Alibi is a definite not-so-guilty pleasure.

Bonus: If you check out and review any of the ALIBI books now, you can have a chance to win your very own iPad! The contest ends July 31, 2012! Check out the details here!

Series Soundtrack:

Bushes- Hot Chelle Rae

Motel 666 - Jonny Was

Beautiful Lasers - Lupe Fiasco

Sirens - The Pack A.D.

Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge

The Reckless and the Brave - All Time Low

At the Speed of a Yellow Bullet - Head Automatica

The Naked and Famous - Young Blood

Review: Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

"Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth."

Holy wow. This is one of the rawest books I've ever read. I can't say how realistic this book was really since I've never dealt with harming myself like Kendra, but her emotions were so realistically written that her pain was my pain. I literally felt painful when reading about things she'd do to herself. I've personally never felt that in a book I've read to the extent that this book took it to. 

This book has a suspense element to it that definitely kept ome reading to the very end. However, I probably would've read to the end regardless because that's how much emotion Cheryl Rainfield puts into every page. I loved how little bits of memory came out slowly because it's as if I was just as paranoid as Kendra trying to figure out who it was.

Kendra had a lot to deal with at such a young age.  Her family is trying their best to understand her while still trying to save face. I hated how much her mother cared about what society thought. I understood her challenges, but I wanted to cry every time Kendra's mom turned things to herself instead.  I realized as I read, I started  feeling really protective of Kendra while reading. I know that sounds kind of ridiculous since I obviously can't control anything, but as I read I just had this urge to scream things like, "HURT HER AND DIE JERKFACE!"

I liked that this book had a few different messages in it. It didn't just deal with harming oneself, but also had themes of dealing with sexuality and other forms of abuse. I will say that the relationship in this book wasn't as developed as I would've liked, but it really wasn't the message of the book, so it didn't really hurt it.

I definitely think this is one of those books everyone should read at least once just to experience it. Be warned, it may highly likely put you in a down mood for a bit! However, it's one those books that's really just...Real. I don't know if it's life-changing, but this book definitely put a lot of things in perspective for me. I can't see anyone regretting getting and reading this story. Get it. Shout out to NetGalley and WestSide Books for providing me a copy for review.

Sidenote: I know I usually imbed things like random references into posts at times, but I came across this coincidentally on Tumblr while reading Scars. Anyways, it was just one of those perfect images at the time that I just kind of wanted to bawl my eyes out and really wanted to share it here. I'd  post it below, but it's slightly image heavy. So check it out here. 

Soundtrack: 

Best Not To Think About It - Athlete

Prelude 12/21 - AFI

Easier To Lie - Aqualung

Sideways - Citizen Cope

Through The Blue - Evan and Jaron

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

Bop me on the head for not reading this sooner. Seriously, I don't know what's wrong with me. I totally had separation anxiety *stares longingly at iPad* when I had to do something else that didn't involve finishing this book. I feel like there isn't a lot I could say that you haven't already heard about this book, so I'm going to touch on the things that made me have a cheesy little grin the whole time I read it.

First off, what made me initially fall for this book was the the fact I finally got to somewhat experience my dream of going to school abroad! Sure, I've always wanted to go to Europe, but I've always wanted to have a year of education somewhere foreign. I've sadly never had the opportunity to do so, but oh man I'm so jelly of Anna for this and other things.

Oh, Etienne! Let's just discuss you for a moment so I can concentrate. Yes, I'm another girl who totally wants your bod even if you're too young for me. I'm choosing to ignore this fact for now because if you truly were some student nearby, I'd likely consider going there for grad school just to stare at you. Yeah. Well that or to befriend Anna because she's awesome and I want to go see random movies with her. I seriously adored both of them because of their banter. Any person who can have a great discussion (no matter how ridiculous) will totally win cool points with me. Anna and Etienne had that friendship I'd love to have with a guy friend. They were just full a lot of moments I'd totally fangirl over at any age. One important aspect is that their relationship had development! I loved that their friendship grew. It made me want them together instead of expecting it.

This brings me to the other friends. I really liked how each person had their own personality and little side stories. It brought so much more to the story because it wasn't focused on two people. Everyone had flaws, and I liked that no one was given that "perfect" personality. I'd love to have books continuing some characters like Josh because I think there's more to him than what we got. Overall, they were all people I'd love to get to know.

Food. I'm a total foodie, and this book was like written food porn. I wanted to eat everything they mentioned! Someone give me some panini and crack coffee! I seriously just wanted to gorge myself with cake when I was reading. It wasn't fair.

I definitely think it's one of those books you need to be in the mood for. I don't know if that makes sense, but I know if I read this while I was wanting something really deep then I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. However, since I was in the mood for something enjoyable and light, it was the perfect book. If you're like me and haven't had a chance to read this yet, I'd say get on it because you truly won't regret it.

(As I don't understand a lot of French, a few of these songs are lyric appropriate, while others just fit the mood of the book for me.)

Soundtrack: 

Looking Good - The Parisians

Quelqu'un m'a dit - Carla Bruni

Anna(Go to Him) - The Beatles 

Que Veux-tu - Yelle

Time for Nothing More - The Parisians

So Much Trouble - Izia

Elle Me Dit - Mika

You Already Know - Bombay Bicycle Club

Review: Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacey

Bar owner Kevin Kowalski is used to women throwing their phone numbers at him, but lately he’s more interested in finding a woman to settle down with. A woman like Beth Hansen. If only their first meeting hadn’t gone so badly...

Beth’s tending bar at a wedding when she comes face-to-face with a tuxedo-clad man she never thought she’d see again. She tries to keep her distance from Kevin but, by last call, she can’t say no to his too-blue eyes or the invitation back to his room. Then she slips out before breakfast without leaving a note and, despite their precautions, pregnant.

Kevin quickly warms to the idea of being a dad and to seeing where things go with Beth. After all, he’s not the player she thinks he is. But she’s not ready for a relationship and, given his reputation, it’s going to take a lot to convince her to go on a second date with the father of her child...

I only read this because I read the first and it really bothers me to not continue a series once I've started it. I had a really hard time finishing this one compared to the first book. I'm glad they made a story for Kevin because I enjoyed his character in the first book, but he didn't really have much development then.

I was still entertained by the whole Kowalski clan throughout the book. It made me wish I lived around a huge family! I loved their interactions and you could always see how everyone cared for each other. Kevin had a lot to do with my enjoyment of the book because he was always so sweet. Without giving up too much, Kevin was always a guy with a great heart who really didn't deserve to have a lot of things happen to him. However, I don't believe he deserved Beth because she bugged the begeezers out of me.

Sure, we all have our baggage, but she really overdid it. I could understand her hesitations for a while, but she was just so whiny throughout the book for me. Most of her complaints seemed really unwarranted and I really just wanted her to get over herself. I also wished there was a bit more development between Kevin and her in the beginning. I just didn't see why Kevin was so into her. Honestly, I felt bad for Kevin for the longest time because it always seemed like he was the lost puppy waiting to be loved.

I'd say if you read the first installment Undeniably Yours is a cute read for the family interaction and secondary characters. However, if you're looking for something as good as the first then I'd say hold off. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me a copy for review!

Soundtrack:

Hey Pretty Girl - Kip Moore

Will You Still Love Me? - Chicago

Review: Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

"Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over."

 This book was definitely different from what I was expecting. I thought it'd be a light fun read about some prom night shenanigans and consequences, but was surprised to read about something much deeper.

Amy is one lost girl trying to find her way through life and high school. She struggles with a lot of teen issues and goes through a journey of self-discovery throughout the book. Lisa Burstein puts readers in Amy's shoes in a way that is entertaining and heartbreaking all at once.

 Burstein definitely has the whole teenage angst voice down throughout this book. Though the book deals with a few serious topics, I really loved Amy's snarky attitude in the beginning of the book. My only wish is that it continued throughout the book.

I wasn't one to relate to Amy's character, but I did definitely feel for her. I think everyone can relate to the feeling of being lost, but I had a hard time relating to Amy's rather low self-esteem. I understood how she was able to get to that point, but I personally felt it was a bit overboard. I truly did want to root for Amy, but I just couldn't. Sure, I felt for her problems but she was so "woe is me" all through the book that it was sort of tiring. This is vastly due to the Amy's friends. I just couldn't understand why Amy would stay around friends like Lila and Cassie. As a person wanting to be noticed, I just didn't see how her friends solved that problem.

Amy's parents were a major highlight for me because they were crazy! Wait, I take that back; her mother was crazy. However, I liked that I really did feel for her parents because I could tell they did truly care even if they didn't show it in the best of ways. Though some scenes were a bit extreme at times, they were also fairly believable for someone's life that has taken a wrong turn.

Though I liked Amy as a character, the one thing that kept bugging me as I read was her slight touch of superiority towards others.  I kind of felt like she looked down upon people around her and that just didn't fit well with her character for me. I get that people judge others, but for a girl who has very little going for her in life, I didn't feel like she should have a lot of room to talk or think about others the way she was.

Overall, Pretty Amy is a pretty engaging read for people in and out of their high school years. Discovering life through Amy's actions is  a fun read many will enjoy.  Burstein shows exactly what it feels like to be a teenager when they need to decide to grow and face the world around them. If you like seeing true inner struggle in a character, then this book is for you. Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing me a copy!

Soundtrack: 

The In Crowd - Mitchell Musso

Run - Snow Patrol

Freewill - Rush

Review: Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

I'm all for quirky lovable characters usually, but Chloe just didn't do it for me. It was one of those books I really wanted to like but couldn't. Most of this is due to the character of Chloe. It almost felt as if she tried really hard to be eccentric. I'm all for keeping a positive outlook on life and being carefree, but I just couldn't for the life of me get into her. I continuously felt her quirks being pushed on me to give off that impression of how amazing she was. Yes, I got it! You have a fun way of talking and have totally rocking vintage shoes. Please just tone it down some.

What I did like about this book was the fact that it tried tackling some serious issues. They weren't really discussed as in depth as I would've liked, but it did definitely add something of substance to the overall fluffy subject matter. Another aspect I would've liked to see more of were the people around the station. I always wanted to know more about them.

I will say Chloe's character did get better by the end for me, but by the time I got to the end it didn't help me much. Overall, it's an enjoyable fluff read. It's worth checking out if you're looking to pass the time. The main thing I'd recommend is to give time for Chloe's quirks to calm a bit throughout the story. Once I got through a few chapters, it was a much more enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy.

Soundtrack:

Happier - Guster

Offbeat - Clara Chung

Build Me Up, Buttercup - Julia Nunes

Come Back Down - J. Viewz

Review & Giveaway: Casey Barnes Eponymous by E.A. Rigg

It's three weeks into the school year when music junkie Casey Barnes gets a second chance with her mysterious, heartbreaking ex-boyfriend. She comes up with a plan to win him back, but it soon spins out of control as rivalries, revelations about him, and music itself all start to collide. For Casey the newfound attention means learning the difference between wanting center stage and actually being on it.

Okay, I'll admit I'm a person who will think you're just a tad bit more cooler if you have awesome musical taste or if you introduce me to something new musically. Having said this, I adore Casey Barnes for this very reason. She was able to do a bit of both! She isn't your usual teenage character. She's definitely reckless and a bit naive at times, but I also think she has a lot of characteristics that are really admirable for someone her age. Without giving too much away, she has her mind set on things that are more important. Her future in music being one of them.

I don't even know how I'd really explain this book to someone, but if I had to come up with a description I want to say it's like if Gilmore Girls and Juno decided to come together and somehow have a baby with Glee, this book would be it.

One of the many things I loved about this book was the writing style. It completely fits with the way that Casey Barnes acts. I truly felt like I was in her head at all times. Even though this book was fairly short, E.A. Rigg was able to give almost every character that was introduced their own personality and storyline without it feeling underdeveloped. The book is full of fun characters you'll love and hate, all while you're bopping your head to really obscure music you're likely to not be familiar with.

If you're looking for a musical treasure trove wrapped up in a witty package, Casey Barnes is definitely the girl for you. High five to the author for providing me a copy for review. Even MORE epic high fives for having two eBook copies to giveaway to you guys! All you gotta do is fill out the form below! This contest will end on Sunday, May 20 at 11:59 p.m. Keep a look out for the Casey Barnes character interview and playlist next week!

Review: Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom by Brendan Halpin and Emily Franklin

"Lucas and Tessa’s friendship is the stuff of legend in their small Midwestern town. So it’s no surprise when Lucas finally realizes his feelings for Tessa are more than friendship and he asks her to prom. What no one expected, especially Lucas, was for Tessa to come out as a lesbian instead of accepting his heartfelt invitation.

Humiliated and confused, Lucas also feels betrayed that his best friend kept such an important secret from him. What’s worse is Tessa’s decision to wear a tastefully tailored tuxedo to escort her female crush, sparking a firestorm of controversy. Lucas must decide if he should stand on the sidelines or if he should stand by his friend to make sure that Tessa Masterson will go to prom.

Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin tackle both sides of a ripped-from-the headlines story to show that true friendship will triumph after all."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sure, the subject matter is somewhat "controversial",but that isn't why I enjoyed it.

I liked how both authors took an event that's been happening in present times and first gave us an inside look into the subject matter and made it humorous to read. I can't say how on point the story was as I haven't been through anything similar, but I felt this story was very real. This is mostly due to the characterization.

I loved Tessa's character because she wasn't a girl who really had any issues about who she was. She knew who she was and was comfortable with that fact. What she was really dealing with was what was happening around her when she decided to take a stand about who she truly was. Lucas, on the other hand, showed the other side of not really being accepting of someone. Though I understood his hesitation, seeing a friend not accept a person was pretty heart-breaking! 

What I found to be an important aspect of this story was the fact that the authors respected different views. There was never a right and wrong side when it came to religious objections. Which, when it comes to these type of stories, is a pretty large detail when dealing with this type of subject matter. This isn't to say that this book wasn't political, but it was insightful while being respectful. 

The pacing was a little slow for me, but the enjoyable characters and light humor in the story still made this a really easy read. I'd recommend it because the topics of friendship, community and acceptance are real and bring a humorous insight to the subject of equality in our current school system. Read it, learn, enjoy. 

Soundtrack:

Accept Yourself - The Smiths

Every Way - Circa Survive

World - Five For Fighting

Who I Am Hates Who I've Been - Relient K

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

"From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting. 

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one."

I took my sweet little time with this book because I just didn't want it to end. Brashares is one of my favorite authors for the way she writes. I read the earlier Sisterhood novels one after another because I grew so attached to the characters, so knowing that this would was the last one made it harder to let it go. I think my library was getting tired of me continuously checking this book out (sorry people who were waiting for it).

If I were in a relationship with this book, this is where I'd totally break-up with it because of the emotional turmoil this particular story put me through.  Seriously, damn Brashares for getting to know me and waiting for my walls to come down before breaking my heart!

What I loved most about this book was how true it stayed to characters and real emotion. For someone who has finished college and had friends move all around the country, I completely understand the feeling of estrangement from people you've grown up with or known for years. It sucks and really feels like you're lost going through life at times. This entire series showed how people can change throughout their lives. Whether it was a good or bad change, I appreciated Brashares for showing those sides to usually lovable characters.

I'm sure this will be a great read for a fan of the series. I don't think the book could have the same emotional response without reading the others first. Though everything has officially ended with this Sisterhood, I small part of me hopes that years from now it'll somehow continue for the purpose of being brought back into their world. If we're being honest, I'm still not ready to let it go...

Soundtrack: 

We Might As Well Be Strangers - Keane

The Distance - Hot Chelle Rae

Missing You - Imogen Heap

Books Written for Girls - Camera Obscura

Busted in Bollywood by Nicola Marsh

"Shari Jones needs to get a life. Preferably someone else's.Single, homeless and jobless, Indo-American Shari agrees to her best friend's whacky scheme: travel to Mumbai, pose as Amrita, and ditch the fianc her traditional Indian parents have chosen. Simple. Until she's mistaken for a famous Bollywood actress, stalked by a Lone Ranger wannabe, courted by an English lord, and busted by the blackmailing fianc .Life is less complicated in New York.Or so she thinks, until the entourage of crazies follows her to the Big Apple and that's when the fun really begins. Shari deals with a blossoming romance, an addiction to Indian food and her first movie role, while secretly craving another trip to the mystical land responsible for sparking her new lease on life. Returning to her Indian birthplace, she has an epiphany. Maybe the happily-ever-after of her dreams isn't so far away?"

I bought myself a copy of this book because I wasn't able to get through it while it was on NetGalley. Come on, it's Bollywood! Being an Indian female who enjoys her Bollywood movies made me feel like it was mandatory that I read it. There's no way I can't love characters being bombarded with marriage proposals while being trapped in a slew of mixups.

First off, warning...You will want to eat a lot of food from this book. Keep a snack handy. Visit a friendly Indian neighbor, head on over to your local Indian market or just get some popcorn. Really, have some food. You'll love me for it later.

Okay, now that we have that squared away...

What I loved most about this book was that it read exactly like a Bollywood/Hollywood fusion movie in my head. Marsh's writing has you picture scenes along with her as you laugh at Amrita's familial antics and swoon at the characters she creates. This book does have a more adult theme to it, so if you're not into a little sexy time I'd stay clear.

Though Marsh does a great job of keeping things interesting, her characters did lack the depth that made the story reach to a deeper level. Most of the relationships are shown to be fairly superficial, and I think more could've been added to build the tension a little more.

The overall pacing of the story was decent. I will say that it did take some time for the story to really begin and the ending was a bit tiresome at times. It wasn't because it was slow, I just personally wanted to tell Shari to snap out of it and make decisions so I could get a glass of water.

Busted in Bollywood was an enjoyable read overall. If you enjoy a Bollywood theme with a little sweetness, a dash of funny and a big helping of spice, then this book is definitely worth checking out.

This book playlist is wedding themed. Either having to do with weddings or will likely play at any Indian wedding you attend. Enjoy! 

Rab Rakha- Love Breakup Zindagi
Chammak Challo- Ra.One
Ainvayi Ainvayi- Band Baaja Baaraat
Bounce Billo-Imran Khan 

Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey

"When Keri Daniels's boss finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town—and looking for him. He proposes an outrageous plan—for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping trip, Keri can ask one question.

The chemistry between Joe and Keri is as potent as the bug spray, but Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart, and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever?"

I figured this would be a cheesy romance novel, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. Normally when I read these books I find the plot to be pretty unrealistic and ridiculous, but this book was different for me. Stacey presented the story and characters in such a unique way that I felt like I could know all of them. The family within the story definitely helped with this because it was something most people can relate to. The Kowalski family is a family I actually wanted to be a part of because they all had their own roles and personalities.

What I especially liked about this book was that I could feel the tension between the two main characters. Usually these books seem to have two characters that hook-up at a first or second meeting, but Stacey actually let it build until even you wanted them to get together.  Though there were a lot of secondary characters, I liked how everyone somewhat had their subplot. There wasn't a plot in this book that I didn't care about; I wanted to know more about each one of the characters. 

I honestly had very few issues with the book. Keri was sadly the only character that didn't do much for me.  I did like her, but her inner conflicts seemed kind of unreasonable at times. I didn't really feel the breakdown of her character, so by the end I just felt as if she gave in because there were few other options. Poor Joe, I felt for the guy. I could tell how much he had loved her, I just couldn't understand why Keri didn't feel the same. It felt as if Keri was able to throw him away easily while Joe struggled for months. As this book was set in a camping settings, the activities felt kind of redundant after a while. I kind of wanted them to do something else other than ATV cruising. 

Stacey is a writer who has such a lively and fun writing style that you can read for hours and not even notice. If you're looking for a story that is not only realistic, but filled with characters you can actually get to know and care for I'd say this book is for you!

On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

"The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. 

I would learn a lesson I wasn't prepared for.
And Death would be my willing teacher. 

Five years ago Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her lucky break came at the expense of her mother's life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death--by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky--she would never be normal again. 
Now she's the target of Death's Ravens and an innocent boy's life is on the line. When Nate Holden--Abbey's secret crush--starts to climb Alaska's Denali, the Angel of Death is with him because of her. 
Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets."

Alright, I really don't want to be a Debbie Downer on this book, but let's just get the negative stuff out of the way. Starting with our protagonist, Abbey. She's cute. I'm giving her a little leeway with her character because she was dealing with a death that was close to her. We all do some "cray cray" things when upset. However, her very unhealthy crush on Nate was borderline nutso. I do remember what it's like to have a crush on a guy at age fifteen or sixteen, and I'm sure I was a giggling mess, but Abbey kicks it up a notch. I honestly wouldn't have been shocked if I read that she cut a lock of Nate's hair and put it in her secret Nate Shrine. I'm all for girl power and having standards for a guy, but her devotion was pretty hardcore delusional to the point it was getting creepy to read. I actually wish Dane had given a bit more information on Abbey's struggles instead of focusing on her love of Nate. 

The overall love story in the book didn't feel all that authentic or believable for me to even have any real gushy moments over it. Sure, Nate was pretty cute and I really adore any guy who shows love for his younger siblings, but by the end I really felt his character to be pretty unnecessary. I don't want to spoil anything, but I'll just say there were a few, "Really? THAT is what you're going to suddenly do now with little explanation?" The biggest disappointment in this book was that I kept waiting for that real pivotal climax moment for a while, and though it somewhat happened, I was left pretty disappointed. 

Okay, now for the good. There were a few to this book and it's what kept me reading. The whole idea of the grim reaper wanting to feel loved was kind of heart-wrenching if you thought of it from their point of view. Death just needed a hug, I felt for him/it. My favorite scenes were probably the Denali climbing adventure. It was exciting to somewhat experience what it would be like to be in that type of environment and Dane did a great job being rather descriptive for something people would likely never experience. I also really enjoyed the connection between death and the ravens. I know ravens have always been somewhat dark, but having them included in the book gave scenes a pretty ominous feel where I was even sort of hesitant at times. 

Lastly, maybe I am a little biased in this, but I'm so appreciative of having Tanner be a physically challenged character who is just a random character in the book. I really haven't come across book characters who are in chairs who are portrayed as just "normal". I really wish it would happen more because, as a physically challenged person myself, it is an aspect I would love -- to connect with a character who experiences things without going into all the "woe is me" hardships that are normally portrayed when having a condition. Honestly, THANK YOU, JORDAN DANE for not making me feel somewhat invisible. 

I really think the story could be an amazing book with a little more development in places. I see what the author was trying to do, and I really wanted to care for some more of the characters, but just couldn't do it. I almost wish this book continued so I could find out more. It sadly just ended up making me feel incomplete after a couple of hours of devoted reading, and that isn't a feeling I like having after I read a book.

Book Notes: The Brenna Blixen Series by Liz Reinhardt

"What happens when you fall for the perfect guy...twice...in one day? Brenna Blixen spent her freshman year homeschooling in Denmark; now that she's back in the States, she's determined to make her sophomore year unforgettable. And by unforgettable, she imagined awesome classes, fun friendships, and maybe a little romance. What she got was a whole lot of romance, and all at once. The same day that dark, brooding Saxon Maclean charmed her with his killer good looks and whip-smart wit, Jake Kelly stole her breath away with his heart-wrenching smile and intelligent, thoughtful focus. But Saxon is a proud player who makes it clear that he doesn't know why he can't get Brenna off of his mind and out of his system, and Jake's sweet and humble attitude hides a secret past life that might be darker and more complex than Brenna is willing to deal with. Complicating the matter is the fact that Saxon and Jake were once best friends and are now arch-enemies...and the more Brenna finds out about their connection to each other, the more intrigued and worried she becomes. Between keeping the peace with her lovingly over-protective parents, designing t-shirts for her high school's rising punk band, keeping up her grades in classes split between academic and technical high school, and running the track like a maniac, Brenna has enough to worry about without juggling two guys who make her heart thud and drive her crazy all at once. She has to make a choice, but how is she supposed to do that when giving her heart to one of them might mean breaking the other's?"


Jake.Saxon. No wait, Jake. Damn you Brenna Blixen! Yeah, Saxon. Never mind, Jake.

That was pretty much my train of thought while reading these two books. I've been done for a few days now and I'm still just as lost about who to pick.

I don't know how Reinhardt did it, but I've never wanted to kick, hug, punch or do naughty, naughty things repeatedly with so many characters.

Brenna, Brenna, Brenna. I love her. I hate her. She's pretty awesome overall. I see her appeal, but I also have this need to punch her throughout the books. I don't think I've ever yelled at my iPad so much as when reading this series. Now my yelling isn't a bad thing; it's just that Reinhardt has this way of getting you so involved with the characters that you can't help but feel for them throughout their experiences.

These are the types of notes I take while reading.

The boys. Oh mylanta! Jake is the hot artsy boy who I just wanted to cuddle throughout the book. He's just such a sweet guy! He has a dark past, but he's getting through it and trying to better himself. Saxon is just pure...I can't even come up with the proper word. I want to smack him upside the head sometimes, but also have his beautiful dark-haired babies. I can usually pretty easily pick a side in book love triangles, but I can completely understand why Brenna is so torn between them because I still can't make a choice.

Be forewarned, these books have some minor sexy time moments in it. However, if you're looking for a series with great realistic characters that will pull you in from the very beginning, you should definitely check this series out!

Book Notes & Giveaway: Click-An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker

Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with "My buddies and I were out drinking one night," to the egotistical "B" celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will root for Renee to "click" with the right man.

Okay, I loved this book pretty hardcore. From the moment I received it, I was excited to read it. It's kind of hard to explain why I hearted it so much without giving bits of the story away, but I'll try to be like a ninja and keep it out of this. My love for this story is mainly because of the characterization. Sure, I loved some characters more than others, but I don't think there was a character in the book that felt undeveloped to me. I felt like I knew every one of them. Actually, that's just it, I DO know someone in my life that could fit well for each character. I think that's what's so great about the book. After reading about all the vampires, magicians, Keebler elves, and zombies(Okay, maybe not the Keebler elves), it's nice to go somewhere familiar. Though I related to Renee the most, Shelley was definitely my favorite character. I don't know how many times her made-up names and overall personality made me laugh. Seriously, you'll get a little taste of what I'm talking about later in the post and will then completely understand the amazingness that is Shelley.

Reviewing this book alone, I was disappointed about a few story lines being left somewhat open-ended, but now I know there's a sequel so I'll forgive Lisa for making me feel sad. All in all, this was a really fun read you should all buy RIGHT NOW!

Book Notes: Black Painted Fingernails by Steven Herrick

"How about we toss a coin? Heads, it's west and a lift. Tails, it's still west, but no lift.'James is heading into the country on his first teacher-training round when a mysterious girl asks him for a ride. Sophie has him all worked out: 'You live with your parents and they bought you this car, and a very nice car it is too...' At first James can't see past her wild hair and attitude, but then Sophie trusts him with a secret she's been keeping too long.Steven Herrick masterfully reveals the essence of his characters in this tough and tender story about opening up to love and living a life that's true. Black Painted Fingernails is a captivating novel by the author of By the River and other popular, award-winning books."


This book was not for me, though I don't think it was a bad book. The characters were relatable with James, a man finally leaving the nest and Sophie, a somewhat wild and rebellious girl who lives her life on her own terms. However, I can't say I ever really liked either of them. They were just there. That's how the whole book was for me. I never felt like I was enjoying or hating it, it was just something to pass the time with. 


Having the author also write with more of an Australian culture made the story as a whole a little less grasping for me. There were a few terms here and there that I wouldn't understand and it would have me pull away from the story. Though the alternating chapters were nice, I didn't feel as though I had a good bearing on who James was as a character since he was always shown in the present. Also, I felt the handful of chapters in his parents perspective were unnecessary and took away from the flow of the book. Sophie, though confident and probably the most well-developed character in the story, had a lot of back stories where I kept feeling unsure about why Herrick bothered to even mention it. 


Overall, I never felt the characters really grow through the book, they more just changed suddenly, like magic. This book was a slow read for me and just left me frustrated that it wasn't ending so I could move on to something more interesting.

Book Notes: You by Charles Benoit

This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.

You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?

There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen?"

I've been trying to figure out my thoughts about this book since I finished it and am no closer to deciding  than I was three days ago. I loved the second person narrative as it put the reader into the main characters shoes. The characters were well developed and I was able to feel with them. Kyle, the main character, was written in a way that he's able to be relatable within different ages. Though seen as a "loser" and introvert on the outside, he's shown through his inner monologue to be a person with an outlook that is beyond his years. His relationship with his little sister gives the story it's heartwarming touches as she is the one person who he shows real emotion for. Zack, the antagonist, plays a character that I loved and hated all at once. I continually wanted to punch him as I laughed at some of his comments. 

What left me to not completely love this book was the ending. As I read, I couldn't wait to find out what happened as it was hinted to in the opening scene. The end was complete yet left me with a really unsatisfied feeling. Overall, though Benoit was able to write a story that was immediately grabbing and suspenseful,I didn't see it as the mind-shattering novel it was said to be.