#ARC Review || Hit Man by Michele Mannon || I May have a Thing for Mercenaries? Maybe?

Hit Man by Michele Mannon
eARC via NetGalley + Publisher
Goodreads || Amazon
Published || December 6, 2016

He always gets what he wants.

The seasoned seducer, who probably charms the panties off of every woman he meets. Diego is handsome. Arrogant. Dangerous. Far more dangerous than anyone I’ve ever met. And with one look from across a crowded room he has me; hook line and sinker, I’m his for the night.

Diego is not a man to mess with, I know that. I just can’t seem to resist his kiss, his touch. But can I trust him with my heart, with my body?

I’m being hunted for something I may or may not have seen, and Diego is my only way out of a world of death and destruction. If only I can believe his dark promises.

Happy Christmas Eve to all who celebrate!

Verdict: I’m in love; somebody hold me

Lord have mercy, but do I ever love mercenaries and romance and accents and YES talk dirty in different languages. And then maybe translate so I know what you said. And then switch back to the foreign language please, because it sounded a hell of a lot hotter that way. SWOON. In Michele Mannon’s newest novel HIT MAN there is all of this and soooo much more. Like things being blown up. A woman with novel aspirations so do amazing things. Incredibly amazing things. Of course, then there’s the hit man who-much to his dismay-is falling head over heels for her. Things don’t go as planned, and people get caught in the crosshairs of unimaginable horrors…

Let’s begin this review journey with some character analysis: Aubrey and Diego. As you may have figured out via pronoun usage, Aubrey is out resident do-gooder and Diego is out hired exterminator of human beings. Obviously his job has left him a little rough around the edges—and he claims he’s loved only three people in his entire life: his mother, father, and sister. When Aubrey comes crashing into his mission in a suspicious way, he takes it upon himself to figure out what this American is doing. I’m sure you know what follows: things are shot into the sky, cartels are run by powerhouses, and government conspiracies. It’s all rather dramatic in the best way possible.

And then we’ve got Aubrey, who, despite all of her amazing intentions, is fantastic at getting herself into situations that most people wouldn’t walk away alive from. Of course, they don’t have a hit man following them around like a protective puppy dog.

So cute. 

As you can probably tell, I love both of these characters so much. I think it’s kind of hard to craft a human with real flaws that don’t seem overdone, or oversimplified. You’ve got to make them 3-D. Diego and Aubrey are. Full color. Living. Breathing. Freaking hot as hell. Make incredibly poor decisions. Are actually really rude.

BUT. Despite being rude is all about consent when it comes to sex. So, you know, ALL THE STARS. This right here is a HUGE thing for me. It’s a button pusher, as well it should be for everyone. Something shouldn’t be done to/with your body without your permission. The fact that Diego made sure that the active consenting of sex was clear was my favorite. Like, yes. Please pass this valuable skill on to every human being ever. PLEASE.

All that being said, I did grow annoyed with these two folks on occasion. This is the reason for the deduction of the half star. I think four and a half though is a quite nice rating.

I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did. It did take me a bit to get to it, and then a bit more to commit to actually reading it. Then, still, I had finals in college. However, now that I’ve finished, I kind of want to read it all over again. YES. It was that good.

South of Sunshine by Dana Elmendorf // Love in a Small Town (with song lyrics)

South of Sunshine by Dana Elmendorf
ARC via Netgalley
Published April 1, 2016 // Albert Whitman
Rating: 4 Stars
Goodreads // Amazon

Summary 

What is Kaycee willing to risk for the sake of love? 
And what will she risk for acceptance?

In Sunshine, Tennessee, the main event in town is Friday night football, the biggest party of the year is held in a field filled with pickup trucks, and church attendance is mandatory. For Kaycee Jean McCoy, life in Sunshine means dating guys she has no interest in, saying only “yes, ma’am” when the local bigots gossip at her mom’s cosmetics salon, and avoiding certain girls at all costs. Girls like Bren Dawson.

Unlike Kaycee, Bren doesn’t really conceal who she is. But as the cool, worldly new girl, nobody at school seems to give her any trouble. Maybe there’s no harm if Kaycee gets closer to her too, as long as she can keep that part of her life a secret, especially from her family and her best friend. But the more serious things get with Bren, the harder it is to hide from everyone else. Kaycee knows Sunshine has a darker side for people like her, and she’s risking everything for the chance to truly be herself. 

OOOOhh my goodness, y’all. This book was equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. Kaycee lives in Sunshine, a little town filled with some majorly conservative folks. This girl, she’s tried to like guys; she’s kissed them and been left by them and in general she’s fine with that. As long as she pretends her little secret isn’t actually real she’s able to deal with, well, everything. And that’s what she’s doing until the new girl, Bren, rolls into town with her 6’ figure, tales from her world travels, and her eyes that boldly stare back at Kaycee. Having never encountered another like her Kaycee finds herself torn between embracing her sexuality and living the life she’s comfortable, but not really happy with.

I put the book down quite a few times because, oh my sweet goodness, things happen. Do they ever happen. And it makes me smile and laugh and break my heart. The minor characters (like the school librarian and the surprisingly nice…) help hold this story together.

I’ve created a short little playlist of song that I think go with the book along with the specific lyric that made me thing of the song in particular.

Everlong // Foo Fighters

“And I wonder / When I sing along with you / If anything could ever feel this real forever”

SOUTH OF SUNSHINE is Kaycee’s self-embracing story. She doesn’t know what she wants other than the idea that she wants to be accepted. Bu her mother, by her best friend, by the people she calls her family, and by Bren. She has to learn to accept herself, however.

Coffins // Misterwives

“You said you’d stand even if this would all fall”

In the beginning of Bren and Kaycee’s hush hush relationship, Bren (who is the most understanding girl on the plant, I love her) come to realize that Kaycee’s mom doesn’t know that her daughter is into girls. Instead of wanting her to run and tell her and shout their relationship to the world, she does the sweetest thing. She promises they’ll get through it together. This is where I fall for her a little bit. In a few books where a character is coming out, the love interest is angered at having to keep their relationship out of the public eye. Bren is the opposite, I mean, yes, she wants the world to know that Kaycee is hers but she also understands that this is hard for Kaycee. She lets her go at her pace.

Falling Apart // Papa Roach

“I refuse to believe the apocalypse inside of me/ I can’t even trust myself”

This song reminds me of Kaycee’s struggle with her mother’s, and her own, faith and how God viewed her regarding who she can’t help but feel attracted to.  

The Fighter // In This Moment

“I will fall and rise above / And in your hate I find love”

In this ultra-conservative southern town, our main girl feels like the world is against her. Or at least how she loves. I think the rest of this lyric is mighty self-explanatory.

What’s amazing about SOUTH OF SUNSHINE is that these are actions that I could be myself making, and reactions I could see myself mirrored in. It may not be the same situation, but when you’re trying to figure yourself out it’s pretty much impossible to not make any mistakes. I love how real the characters are.

Little Toy Guns // Carrie Underwood

“I wish words were like little toy guns / No sting”

You know that saying “sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?” Yeah, that saying is a complete lie. Words hurt, and it’s psychological damage that we don’t see even if it there for the viewing.

And goodness high-schoolers are mmmeeeeean.

Y’all need to go get yourselves a copy. Do songs pop into your head when you’re reading? 

Make My Wish Come True by Fiona Harper

Find it on Goodreads
November 1, 2013
Review copy via Netgalley

Family-orientated and Christmas-dinner cook extraordinaire Juliet is trying to keep it together in the wake of her marriage breakdown two Christmases ago, but the cracks are beginning to show.

Bright and vivacious Gemma was always the favourite daughter…So she has no qualms about leaving Christmas in her sister Juliet’s capable hands; and escaping the pressures of her glamorous job, and the festive madness by jetting off to somewhere warm. 

When Gemma shirks responsibility once too many and announces she’s off to the Caribbean (again!); Juliet finally snaps. Gemma offers her sister the perfect solution – to swap Christmases: she’ll stay home and cook the turkey (how hard can it be?) and Juliet can fly off into the sun and have a restorative break.

In the midst of all the chaos, there’s Will, Juliet’s dishy neighbour who’s far too nice to float Gemma’s boat and may secretly harbour feelings for her sister; and Marco, the suave Italian in the villa next door, who has his own ideas about the best way to help Juliet unwind. 

Will the sisters abandon caution and make this a Christmas
swap to remember? 

Well now I want to punch people. And hug people. And go to England. The cute cover is slightly deceiving of the story between the covers. And I don’t mean the story was bad. Because it’s not, but it’s also not altogether what I expected. Which can be perceived as either a good or a bad thing. Right now, I’m not really sure what it is.

I know I read this in March, but I wanted some Christmas. I mean, I set it to Michael Bublé’s Christmas album yesterday and drank hot chocolate. This book, in all honesty, wasn’t very Christmas-sy. It was more ‘our family has a lot of issues we avoid and we kind of hate each other but tiz the season let’s give this one last shot and maybe find love along the way.’

This story is the tale of two sisters, two men and how they find themselves and rekindle the sense of family that was destroyed at a young age. Neither of the sisters really appreciate the other, so I think that this book basically tries to work through the problems. Misconceptions are revealed and worked through. A few plot twists here and dash of me wanted to punch people in the face here and there and- voila! Le book! The sisters swap Christmas’ and learn how the other one lives, and a little about each other along the way.

I would love to say I loved this book, but I didn’t. I couldn’t connect with it the way I wanted too and honestly, I didn’t like any of the male supposed love interests. I found them to be rather. . .annoying? Too perfect? I don’t really know how to put it. *chuckles* Anyway, I can’t recommend it. Not for any particular reason, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Christmas recs to remember?

Review: Anything Could Happen by Will Walton

Anything Could Happen
             // by Will Walton
Published: May 26, 2015
Push Publishing
Goodreads // Amazon
Edition: ARC Format via #booksfortrade

When you’re in love with the wrong person for the right reasons, anything could happen.

Tretch lives in a very small town where everybody’s in everybody else’s business. Which makes it hard for him to be in love with his straight best friend. For his part, Matt is completely oblivious to the way Tretch feels – and Tretch can’t tell whether that makes it better or worse.

The problem with living a lie is that the lie can slowly become your life. For Tretch, the problem isn’t just with Matt. His family has no idea who he really is and what he’s really thinking. The girl at the local bookstore has no clue how off-base her crush on him is. And the guy at school who’s a thorn in Tretch’s side doesn’t realize how close to the truth he’s hitting.

Tretch has spent a lot of time dancing alone in his room, but now he’s got to step outside his comfort zone and into the wider world. Because like love, a true self can rarely be contained. 

ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN is a poignant, hard-hitting exploration of love and friendship, a provocative debut that shows that sometimes we have to let things fall apart before we can make them whole again.

Will Walton enters the world of young adult with a debut about a boy who falls in love at the wrong time, who as able to watch things unravel and put together the torn strands, and who through it all remains an eternal optimist. In his head, Tretch never ceases his quiet chanting it will get better. He worms his way through coming out, falling in and out of love, finding out what love really means, and exploring a friendship that has the potential to stay steady until the world falls down. In all honesty, this book did draw emotions that were overly enthusiastic or overly drastic. But, this book let me breathe, It gave me hope. it kept me optimistic. It let me smile and chuckle. It drew from me hope. It seems like a bunch of coming out and into stories like to touch on the tragic- and although ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN broached the subject of bullying- it didn’t make me gush tears. Which I thoroughly appreciated.

So let’s talk plot and characters. Yes?

First off, we’re going to have a little chat about why I think Tretch is such a strong and such a dynamic character. I love his optimism. Right off the bat-and I’m talking the first sentence of the book- we know that Tretch is in love with his best friend, Matt. He realizes he is in love with his best friend while sitting in a service at church. Which I found a little amusing. Okay, so through the book Tretch is kind of thinking about how he’s going to deal with his sexuality and how he is going to deal with just being him. This is a point that I think is really important. It makes a person look at this book as more than a coming out story, but rather a coming of age story. (ten point to Walton, who seems to write this with the up-most ease) Tretch’s family is dealing with lots of stuff just on their own too: death and love and dying and cancer and Christmas and leaving and coming and going and living. No wonder Tretch is so overwhelmed. To relax and just be himself, he dances. To Taylor Swift and Ellie Goulding. (Anything Could Happen-do you see it now?)

Onto who our main boy fancies himself in love with- Matt. Oh, Matt. As sweet as you are, you are so oblivious. Though I can’t really blame you. Tretch did an awesome job at only giving himself half of you-and the world- to love. I really do like Matt. Not as much as the boy in love with him. ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN was coming of age book for too. Maybe even just as much as Tretch. Not so much because he was figuring out who he is, but more so because he is trying to learn about girl and family and friendship. Although, for a middle school-high school kid, he’s got a pretty good grasp on all three of those already. He is the one who- I think- was the hardest to come out too to Tretch. Because of the whole having a crush thing. I loved their friendship. I love how neither one of them want to let go of it. How they want each other to be happy whether they’re with the other or not.

This book is set during winter break.

I think that was the perfect amount of time. I also think that everyone should read this book. Please, please go buy a copy. *puppy dog eyes* It’s totally working, isn’t it?

ARC Review: Joyride by Anna Banks

Goodreads / Amazon
ARC via Publisher + Netgalley
Published June 2, 2015

A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber’s mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

“Do I have you like you have me?” (ARC).

Brutally and beautifully honest, Anna Bank’s novel “Joyride” tell the story of a police chief’s son and a Latina girl trying to bring her family into the US from Mexico and all the hurtles and heartbreak along the way. My final though for this book: holy freaking bleepers.

For all those who say young adult novels don’t talk about relevant issues, why don’t y’all read this lovely? And then why don’t y’all come to Texas, where I know this is a hot issue. What’s this controversial issue? Immigration and all the fun stuff surrounding it. Raw and real, this story reaches the hard to talk about things like being sent back, being sent for, the people bringing them illegally who aren’t always as honest as you’re hoping they are, the heartbreak at being separated from your family and finally the police. Now, tell me if any of those issues are black and white. Carly dealt with all this and the pressure her older brother (who I’m pretty sure if half drowning in hope and half drowning in fear) puts on her to help out with the quest to reunite their family. Carly doesn’t really agree with all these ideals- she wants to graduate and make money from job that do more than give people food. She wants a degree.

Enter Arden. This boy made me wanting to ooh and aah over all the sweet things he did and said. He also made me cringe a little bit at the lack of thought that the consequences she would reap verses the ones he would. After his older sister commits suicide, he’s life is completely shattered. His father (the racist police chief) is more of an asshat than ever, his mother slips into a desperate oblivion and is unable to think about things that impact him and his Uncle (who happens to be complete awesomesauce) is drunk and depressed. How do these two meet? Basically Arden tries to scare his Uncle out of driving drunk (Carly happens to be on shift that night) and is confronted with a gun wielding Carly who in the words of the wise Uncle, is a little spitfire. CARLY WAS AMAZING. Have I mentioned that?

This book was super fantastic because of the characters. They’re people you can connect to, feel sorry for, hope for and totally fall for. The story was one where the characters have to fight for something real. Like, holy crap it was real. It was nail-biting real. While Carly was fighting for her family, she realizes she’s fighting to find out who the hell she is. Her whole life has been ruled by the prospect of just getting them back, not what they’ll come back to. Arden, he’s fighting to regain what he lost- a partner in crime and a part of himself. When he asks if he has her like she has him, it’s totally swoon inducing and oh so very sweet in a oh you’re just the vanilla ice cream on the cherry cobbler kind of sweet. And is there really a better kind?

ARC Review: The Artisans by Julie Reece

ARC via Month9Books
Goodreads / Buy It
Published May 19, 2015

They say death can be beautiful. But after the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands.

To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day.

Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad’s drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.

But Raven’s stepdad’s drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she’s ever known out of jail, or worse.

Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries’ clothing line, signing over her creative rights.

Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can’t imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes.

But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?

Dios mío. This book is one of the most amazing books I think I’ve ever read. The Artisans has everything I’ve ever wanted in a book, plus has me liking things I’m usually not too fond of (like ghosts and ghouls) a whole flipping lot. A modern twist on Beauty and the Beast with a dash of a few other fairy tales for good measure, this tale is one of a curse, a steampunk dress-maker in a modern world and a boy entwined in the middle of it all (whether it be by his own design or not).

When Raven’s stepfather messes with the wrong family, he’s finally in over his head. Gideon Maddox calls for him to come pay his debt, but he’s unable to go and Raven goes in his place. She strikes up a deal with the bad boy who has a troubled past and magic that goes on for days. Terribly handsome, terrible lonely and terribly hopeless, Raven is just what Gideon needs to battle the demons of his past and the ones that reside in the halls of his mansion. Raven stays at the mansion with Gideon and his two in house servants and makes clothes for Gideon’s clothing line. Nightmares keep her awake and soon she really can’t rest until she’s figured out everything. Everything about the house and everything about the boy who isn’t as bad as everyone believes.

“You are everything I never knew I wanted” (ARC).

Okay, so that was a really bad over view of the novel. Nothing can really describe how amazing this book is. I mean its romance and mystery and self-discovery and heartbreak and meaning and finding meaning and friendship and family. That doesn’t really describe it any better though, does it? Let’s just go with its amazing. So, so amazing.

The characters are fantastic: Raven, Gideon, Ben, Maggie, Dane, Cole, Edgar. I love them all. Cole is the ghost who made me like ghosts. Something I’d never thought would happen, by the way. But he’s just so completely sweet. Maggie and Dane are the best friends that anyone could have. They sort of made me ask the question how far are you willing to go for the ones you love? As a matter of fact, this whole story made me ask that question. Well, that and where can I get a Cole or Gideon or Dane? Costco? Ikea?

The mystery with the whole curse really had me going for a bit, but the way it was composed was breathtaking and wonderful. I sat down and I read it all. That’s how good this was. Now, this isn’t a debut novel. That kind of surprised me. It felt fresh. But, since it isn’t a debut that means I can totally binge of the other books this author has written.

I suppose what I’m trying to say is this: go read or pre-order or order it right now.

Oh, one last thing. That nursery rhyme. Be still my heart. 

Review: Until You Find Me by Amber Hart

Until You Find Me by Amber Hart
Goodreads
Copy via Netgalley + Publisher

Amber Hart pushes contemporary romance to its wildest limits in this heart-pounding novel, the story of a girl who travels to Africa to protect the legacy of one man . . . and stays for the love of another.

Raven Moore, a twenty-year-old college student from Michigan, feels out of place in the beautiful, treacherous jungles of Cameroon, staying in the habitat where her father gave his life to help protect endangered gorillas. He left home years ago; now Raven refuses to return home until she unravels the truth about his last days.

Raven certainly doesn’t count on crossing paths with a handsome young hunter—especially one as charismatic and intense as Jospin Tondjii. Instantly, she’s hooked. But Jospin is hiding a dark truth: He is the heir to a powerful poaching empire, part of a ruthless black market that is responsible for the dwindling gorilla population.

Their fathers may have been enemies, but Raven and Jospin forge a bond that goes beyond blood, a relationship that is tested as Raven draws closer to the source of her father’s death. Can she and Jospin bear the weight of the secrets of the wild—and the secrets of their pasts? Or will the rain forest destroy them both?

You know when a book- a story – just seem right? Like, there’s a message beyond the plot line; something bigger is in the works. You’re having a social issue (or should I consider it political) shoved in your face. You’re being forced to think about it. I think about these kinds of issues, animal rights, all the freaking time. It’s so refreshing to have a book like this. Its really refreshing to have the semi-reluctant poachers side, as well as the girl who has a grudge against the animals being poached. And it’s lovely to see them both grow.

 You have the issue presented without all the guts and gore plus you get some romance. (have I mentioned how much I love romance and the recognition of social/political issues?) You still have the issue, it’s still right in your face, but it’s not so ugly you have to turn away from it in order not to cry. This book makes me both hope and hate humanity. Hope for it because we saw someone come to care, saw someone come to change, saw people who want to help. Hate because humanity sucks because humans have egos and pride and do shitty things to make a name and have wealth. Hate and hope. They sort of seem to go hand in hand. 

This books is that kind of story. I love the characters and the different world that what I am used to. The world where selling the dead exotic animals are common, where leaving a rhino for days, waiting to die, after cutting up its face while it can feel but not move is not unheard of. If you can’t tell, I despise these people to the depths of my soul. The poachers in this novel hunted gorillas. You got to see that they only see the animals as a means to money. And that made me furious, although it’s probably good that I was able to recognize that. “That” being that they really did have no moral compass when it comes to animal- and human, really- lives. 

  I love the people and the places and the animals and the love and the hope and the trust and the falling. Oh, how I love the falling. It was being reformed and healing and it made me want the next book to gobble up. Yes, it was that good. 

Also the character building was fantastic. Fan-freaking-tastic. I got to know everyone and have some and love some and like some. And, as expected by me, I totally loved the gorillas best. I wish I could have seen them more, though I understand why I didn’t. With the main girl’s opinion on them and all. EEEKS  BUT I JUST WANT TO SAVE THEM ALL. 

Basically just read this. 

Want to help with all this stupid stuff? Look at this and this.

A Holiday Book to Believe In

So I was approved for this book on Netgalley and the cover is SO CHRISTMAS-Y and BEAUTIFUL! I can’t wait to get started on it . . . on school whyyyy must you drown me in work??

Family-oriented Juliet is a Christmas-dinner cook extraordinaire and is trying to keep it together in the wake of her marriage breakdown two Christmases ago, but the cracks are beginning to show.

Her bright and vivacious sister Gemma was always the favorite daughter. Gemma has no qualms about escaping the festive madness and the pressures of her glamorous job by jetting off somewhere warm and leaving Christmas in Juliet’s capable hands.

When Gemma shirks responsibility one too many times and announces she’s off to the Caribbean (again!), Juliet finally snaps. Gemma offers her sister the perfect solutionto swap Christmases. She’ll stay home and cook the turkey (how hard can it be?) and Juliet can fly off into the sun and have a restorative break.

In the midst of all the chaos, there’s Will, Juliet’s dishy neighbor who’s far too nice to float Gemma’s boat and may secretly harbor feelings for her sister; and Marco, the suave Italian in the villa next door who has his own ideas about the best way to help Juliet unwind.

Will the sisters abandon caution and make this a Christmas swap to remember?

Find it on Netgalley

#BookReview Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker

Five Ways to Fall by K. A. Tucker
June 24, 2014 Atria Books
ARC in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley
Goodreads

What are you in for? 

Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.

Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s ready to lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.

If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking…

History does a funny thing of repeating itself. . .

She’s 21 and she’s in Cancun. Cancun is really where it all starts. One too many (okay, let’s be honest here. She probably should have stopped at one) margaritas down the hatch and a falling off the chair incident pretty much led to meeting a man who’d have her heart and soul in a knotted heart by the end of the novel. Oh, if only things were really that easy. Of course, then we wouldn’t have had such a seriously epic book. Seriously. Epic. What makes this book epic, might you ask? Weeellllll, the writing for one, is simply fantastic. It transports you into the book. (10 points to you!)

In FIVE WAYS TO FALL, Reese MacKay got married in six weeks and was cheated on her entire marriage. Although you’re gonna find this whole quick to pull the trigger marriage incredible stupid (I wanted to slap her) I did understand that she wanted to feel loved. Something that was rare in her child, and adulthood. Anyway, that guy? Yeah, he’s an idiot and I hate him. Noooow Ben? Oh sweet lord. . . That boy. Reese is messed up. She’s vengeful, can’t let things go and she’s so freaking in denial that I just wanted to slam her face into chocolate pecan pie that she’s so very fond of. But besides that, she’s smart as a whip and she’s not afraid to be herself. And that’s awesome. Purple hair and all.

Onto Ben. Ooooh Ben. *stares at the Kindle starry-eyed* *wipes drool off face* This boy, although freaking gorgeous, funny and oh so incredibly sweet, he’s been through hell. His home life hasn’t been the easiest to say the least. And it does affect him. It does. He’s afraid of love and marriage and the whole nine yards because of it. He sleeps with anything that has legs.  But with each other, it’s like they’ve found the best part of themselves. I mean not at first. It’s an evolution. Like everything is. But is a freaking gorgeous evolution, to say the least.

And it’s one that you should definitely not miss.

The story, in total, was the perfect pace, length. The character development was stellar and I just love it. The reason it’s only 3.5-4 Stars? There were moments where Reese seriously got on my nerves. Seriously got on my nerves.

Hehehe. Anyways. Y’all need this. No questions asked.

 “You know you’re a pig, right?”…“Yeah, but I’m your pig tonight.”

 Confession time. This is my first book by K. A. Tucker. How are the others?? Are they just as amazing?!

ARC Review: Stupid Girl by Cindy Miles

Stupid Girl by Cindy Miles
ARC provided via NetGalley
Published May 13, 2014
Goodreads Profile 

Summary

Only fools fall in love…

After her senior year of high school leaves behind nothing but heartache, Olivia Beaumont is sure of this: She’s no stupid girl. She sets out for Winston College, promising herself that she will remain focused on her first and only love – astronomy. But all it takes is cocky sophomore Brax Jenkins and an accidental collision with a football, to throw her entire year off course. 

A quick-tempered Southie who escaped the inner city streets of Boston to pitch for Winston, Brax is known to play way more fields than just the baseball diamond. So, when his name is drawn to take part in his fraternity’s hazing dare, Brax eagerly accepts the mission to take Olivia’s virginity. But he doesn’t plan on falling hard for the sweet and sassy Texas girl who sees right through his bad-boy persona. 

As Olivia and Brax battle their feelings for each other, echoes of the past year begin to surface. A boy who once turned Olivia’s whole world upside down reappears, and “harmless” pranks wreak havoc. Pretty soon the aspiring astronomer is on the verge of revealing her most difficult, heartbreaking secret. All the while, Brax must wrestle with the irrevocable dare, and Olivia struggles against all logic as she does the one thing only a stupid girl would do: fall in love.

“There’s no one else in the universe except you. Those freaky eyes soften and fill with absolute wonder, every single solitary time you appear anywhere within his range of sight. You’re all he sees.” (ARC)

In all of us there is a fangirl (or fanboy) waiting to make an appearance in the form of rather large swoons, multiple squeals and lots of screaming and hysterical giggling. If you see such a sight (i.e. In a subway, park, church, house) don’t approach, or if you do, ask what they’re fangirling/boying over and be prepared to be bombarded with incoherent sentences. This book, STUPID GIRL, turned me into your run of the mill fangirl. And it was *enter French word +ing* fantastic. When you first see this book, you see the lovely cover and the glorious font. You, or at least I, wondered what it was about. What did I get out of the summary? I got Brax: a self-proclaimed Southie who’s a bad boy with regrets who’ll fall for our main girl. I see Olivia: Also known as Gracie to Brax. She’s a rancher from Texas with a heart of gold who been through hell and back. And she’s made it out alive only to lose her heart to a boy who may or may not kick that bruised organ to the curb.

This is what I got. I got Brax: a self-proclaimed Southie who falls hard (and I mean helpmeivefallenandicantgetup kind of hard) for Gracie and has his seven devils circling around his head. Brax who plays baseball (he’s the pitcher-a cocky one at that. Oh lord the baseball pants) and has an explosive temper and is fiercely protective of the girl he was dared to take the virginity of. Oh, and he has tattoos. Can I get a swoon? I got Gracie: a girl rancher who’s used to being kicked off and horse and being the butt of cruel jokes because of before and who survived hell. I got Gracie who’s a stupid girl with a passion for astronomy and the sky. I got Graciewho never opens up but then gets literally knocked off her feet by Brax. I got Gracie with the best brothers, sweetest mama and retired Texas Ranger grandpa who are all insanely protective over her because of what happened before. But they all know that she has to keep her head held high and live.

I got the kind of writing that makes everything just plain freaking better. I felt like I was inside of Gracie’s head when she sounded out the way Brax said words in his totally swoon worthy Southie accents of his. God, I love him. (I’m making a swoon journal this summer and he totally is making that list) I love the way both of them love the other’s accent. Its rather adorable.

Okay, as you saw, they both have a rather ugly past and at times it really does seem like every single component on god’s green earth is trying to keep them apart, but what makes this amazing, is that they fight tooth and nail to overcome everything. Sometimes things get hard. Sometimes things get downright tragic. BUT Y’ALL I CAN’T FREAKING EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW THE FEELS INVADED ME IN THIS MAGICAL BOOK!

Oh, one thing that annoyed the crap out of me is the way y’all was spelled. I’ve said this before. It is you + all. Where does the apostrophe go children? THAT’S RIGHT! Between the y and the a. WOAH! *mind blown* Get it right people.

That’s all. Jackie. Out. Peace!

AHHH I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK, Y’ALL