Book Loving Mom

Review coming soon.

Review coming soon.

I'm a big fan of forbidden romance and New Adult books, but religion is something that I tend to stay away from. Despite that, I was still very curious about this book and knew I had to read it. What a great decision that was!! The religious aspects didn't bother me at all. It wasn't preachy, it's just part of the story. This was Sexy, fun, and slightly heartbreaking at times. It was a perfect mix of everything that makes up a good New Adult book. Oh, and there is relatively low drama considering the issues at hand. Friends, family, love, and sacrifice are all things we see in this book and I really, really enjoyed it!Lexie was a fun character to get to know. She is hilariously funny at times and I found myself smiling and laughing through a lot of the book. She was a little obsessive at times too, but even though I couldn't understand her situation, I did understand her feelings. Love is tough thing. It totally consumes you. I get that she was completely wrapped up in her feelings no matter how much she tried to ignore them. I thought it was great to see her getting lost in other things while abroad in Rome. She really wanted to do good things. Right things. When she finds herself in another not so great situation, she needs to decide what she has to do. Even if it hurts her or others, she knows what is right and wrong, and what decision is being selfish on her part. She really grew a lot as a character. Rome was exactly what she needed. She found great friends, found herself, and found her direction.The romance in this book is really tension filled, and really sexy!! Of course, you know from the synopsis that she gets all hot and heavy with her step brother, Trent. Totally forbidden, and totally mind blowing!! They know that it's wrong, but they can't seem to stop wanting the other. Even with a whole continent between them. They both try to get over it and move on, but it's harder than they think. They thing they are doing the other a favor, while really they are both hurting inside. But what about their family. They don't want to destroy that. The family aspect in this is fantastic. Loving and supportive parents who are happy to have children that love each other. Only they don't know how much or in what way they love each other.Then there is the budding romance with the soon to be Priest. I thought that the chemistry between them was amazing. He was such an amazing friend and he was there for her when she needed someone. He keeps her busy with a museum tour which she finds she loves doing. He becomes a fantastic friend, but it's obvious that his feeling run deeper. He belongs to the Church though, and he is definitely forbidden. When things start to change between them, they both need to decide where their hearts really lie and if they will make decisions that they will regret.This has not one, but two forbidden romances and it was done so well!! It's not a love triangle though, I promise. There is so much more to it than that though. It's not like they have a bad home life. In fact their parents are really great. Then, over in Rome, it isn't some one night stand or crazy fling. She gets to know Reverend Moretti well and they have a strong friendship. Both love interests are based on a friendship and that's what makes it so believable and also so hard. I can't tell you who I wanted her to pick or how it ends up, but I think that it was true to the story and who Lexie is as a person. This was everything that I love in a great New Adult book.*An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.

*Actual rating is 4.5 starsWhat a fabulous story about finding yourself!! This was inspiring, heartbreaking, and beautiful. Have you ever felt alone and lost and just wanted to find happiness in yourself? This is a perfect book about it. I loved getting to know Elise. Not the person she thought she wanted to be, but the real her that was hidden even from herself. I loved the great messages that this book had too. It was very easy to get lost in. I think that anyone can find a little bit of themselves in this book.Elise was a character who I really wanted to feel sorry for, but also just wanted her to be happy with herself and not care so much what others thought of her. She is lonely, sad, and just wants to fit in. She had never done anything to be an outcast, she just didn't have friends. She thought that she could study celebrities, style, all the "cool stuff" and then maybe she would finally fit in and have friends. It was sad that she felt that way. I don't condone her hanging out at a warehouse party at all hours of the night and sneaking out, but it's realistic that a teenager would do something like that. What I did love is that is how she was able to find herself and even when people still expected things out of her, she was able to see that she didn't need to do what people expected, but she needed to be and do what was in her heart. She was easy to like and I could see a lot of myself and people who I know in her. It was easy to understand why she did the things she did whether right or wrong. Mostly, I loved that she stayed true to herself and that was what made her happy.The other characters were great. I loved that Vicky liked her for who she was almost instantly. She didn't care where she came from, or what she wore, or what her past held. She liked Elise for exactly the person she was. Char was really awesome too. He cared about her, helped her, and was there for her when she needed him... mostly. I also liked that her family was a big part of the story. Her parents are divorced and she splits her time between them, but they never make things hard on her and they love her and wants what is best for her. Even when things aren't great, they are good parents.I loved the writing and simple beauty of this book. It isn't super deep or anything, but it's honest and real. I loved the song lyrics at the beginning of the chapters and how they relate. Music is a big part of her life and I love that she found herself in it. She may not make music, but the music makes her. She can be happy through music and make other people happy. This book has heartbreak. It has emotion, but it also has truth. It really hit a high note with me and I loved it. This book was wonderful and a book I recommend to anyone!!*An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.

*Actual rating 3.5 starsI really enjoyed the first book and was excited to jump right back into the story of Katherine and her Uncle Tully! The way the first one ended could have very well made it a stand alone book, but I am glad that the author decided to continue the story. This time we are off to Paris, and the setting is fabulous. I already loved the characters, so all I needed was more adventure, more beautiful descriptive writing, and a good resolution to the issue at hand. I got all of that from this book as well as a touch of romance that I am always happy to read!!Katharine has now been at Stranwyne Keep for 2 years. Things are slowly being rebuilt, but then someone comes to try and take her Uncle Tully and she knows they must hide. She puts together a plan and escapes to Paris with her uncle, her maid Mary, and her Solicitor Mr. Babcock. Only things are much harder than she anticipates. She is also determined to find Lane while still trying to keep her uncle safe and hidden away. I do believe that she is a little too easy to trust others, but I can understand her urgent need. The thing that I loved about her in the first one was the same thing I loved in this one though. She is very outspoken and she is brave and determined. She is a fantastic example of strong women back in her time! She doesn't let others tell her what to do, what to think, or how she should feel. She is very much her own person. And when things go bad, she could easily have just fallen apart, but it just made her determination stronger.Of course there is much more at stake here than her uncle's safety. Both sides of a war want him for his brilliant mind and will do whatever it takes to get him. They will kidnap, torture, or kill people who get in their way. They both want the power of a weapon that can destroy a ship. Uncle Tully is only safe as long as they don't know how to do it and need him though. I still absolutely loved him in this, and I loved how you could see that Katharine helped him be better.Once again, the setting is beautiful, creepy, and atmospheric. I enjoy being able to imagine what I am reading and this author does such a fantastic job at letting you visualize it. She is also amazing at getting the characters emotions to you. Especially the fear and the urgency of things. There are some great twists, which admittedly I pretty much had figured out, but still made for a great story. I loved how the romance plays a big part, but never overshadows the important things in the story. Mostly, the character development is incredible. I loved the whole cast of characters, even the unexpected ones that I thought I would dislike. Sharon Cameron has done a fabulous job. I am now solidly a fan of her writing!*An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.

Review coming soon.

Review coming soon.

*Actual rating 3.5Every once in a while I love a good middle grade book, and I also love audiobooks, so when approached about this tour I was very excited for it. This book was such an adventure. It was fun and different, and I absolutely adored the characters. Unlike a lot of books where friends go through things, the characters in this are not friends. In fact, Zoe doesn't even like Zak at all. It makes it really great watching them become friends through their journey. They go through quite a bit of danger, mystery, and excitement. It really is a bonding experience for them, whether they want it to be or not. The other fun thing about this was that it was set in India. It involved Hindi Gods which is something I have never personally read about. There is magic, mythical creatures, and adventure! It is a book I think will appeal to a lot of middle grade and fantasy fans!Zoe was a character who I didn't care for much at first. She came across as a little snobby, and a bit mean. I get it though. At that age and especially while dealing with a boy who is a bit annoying and extremely immature, it's hard to stay pleasant. She is smart, all about rules, and just wants to spend some time with her mom on this trip. When things start to get out of hand, mostly due to Zak, everything about the trip changes. She deals with the situations pretty well, but I loved that she still had that fear and emotion to her too.Zak is so out of control. I really didn't mind him though. Yes, he was annoying, but he's a young boy. He doesn't always think about consequences of things. He likes to joke around and he wants to have fun. He doesn't care for rules that much, and he doesn't realize how wrong some certain things are. (like stealing for one) He doesn't do it on purpose. He isn't a trouble maker, he is just a boy who is having fun without thinking about the end result. I think that as things get crazier and crazier, he realizes that he takes it too far sometimes, and he sees just how this adventure is affecting Zoe. He does mature a bit and I liked seeing that growth.The narrator for this was great. I thought she captured Zak and Zoe really well. Their personalities were able to shine through, and they truly sounded like children their age. Her voice was the perfect one for this particular book. I was able to really get into the story and enjoyed it very much.This book was very fun. I loved how things seemed to never go quite right for them, but they managed somehow to get out of every situation they were thrown into. I loved seeing the friendship between them form even before they realized it was happening. I also loved the settings and all the secondary characters. It was a well rounded story overall. The characters grew, the story was very fast paced, and the descriptiveness was great without being too much. It is definitely more of a book for younger middle grade. It was a great book and I am looking forward to more of Zak and Zoe's adventures!*An audiobook copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.

Wow! This book is so messed up, but so incredibly good. Review coming soon.

Review coming soon.

This book was so great!! Besides that, the audio made it better for me. This book sucked me right in and held me close throughout! Starting off with a tragic accident, it instantly had my attention. I then slowly, but surely became totally wrapped up in Ezra's story and his life. I loved the friendships formed, and even the friendships lost. I felt a true sense of how it really is in high school, so it felt very real to me. This could have been anyone's story that I was reading, not a fiction tale. I actual started to feel like I really knew the characters by the time I finished this book. The audio just made it that much better. Also, a note on the title. This book was originally going to be titled Severed Heads, Broken Hearts which was fitting, but I think that The Beginning of Everything is a perfect title and fits the book really well.Ezra was a character that you can't help but love. Well, I couldn't anyways. I loved his humor and he was really a great guy. Yes, he made some not so great decisions, but who doesn't when you're that age. He isn't the stuck up popular guy, even when he is popular. After his accident, he isn't himself, but he doesn't let it destroy him. He still keeps his sense of self. He is still a fun person. He still wants friendships that mean something. High school is a tough place though. Trying to find his place between being Mr. Popular, and being with his old friend Toby (and new ones) is a fine line that he's not quite secure walking. He does mess up, but ultimately he knows what is right and wrong, and who is really a good friend.Cassidy is the other main character in this. Cassidy is like his new start. She is different, not afraid to speak what's on her mind, and still quite mysterious too. She makes him want to open up and be himself, not what other people want him to be. He isn't afraid to do that around her. He doesn't change to please her though, he just lets himself show because he feels like she lets him do that. She was his stepping stone in a way. I loved watching their relationship grow.The reader captured Ezra perfectly. I thought that his voice matched his character well. I wasn't a huge fan of the female voices or a few of the other male voices, but it was easy to tell each character apart. Since this is largely Ezra's story, I have to say that this reader was a great choice though. I think he really brought the book to life. This book had so much to offer. The plot was wonderful and the character growth was incredible. Robyn Schneider sure writes characters that you can easily relate to, connect with, become friends with. I felt like I was making friends right along with Ezra. When things weren't going well, I ached with him. I felt the story all around me. I was part of it. I thought the writing was beautiful, and even though it was emotional at times, the humor kept it from having too much of a serious feel. It was a fantastic combination of awesome! I will be looking out for more books from this author!* An audiobook copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.

Ahhhhh!! I need the next book now! Review coming soon.

Being a fan of Holly Black's Curse Workers Series, I knew I had to read this book!! Not to mention, it just sounded awesome. Also, she's a local author which is super cool so I feel the need to read anything she writes. With all that being said, I really enjoyed this. I thought that the take on vampires and the world that they live in was really cool. I liked that the humans not only knew they existed, but it was also kind of a glorified thing to be a vampire. Oh, did I mention that the first Coldtown, which is where they go, is also a town right near where I live. Yeah, total bonus points for the story taking place near my area. Okay, so on with this review. I'm getting sidetracked.Tana was a character who annoyed me, but I also liked her. We first meet her while passed out in a bathtub which is quite funny. It's also very realistic to kids her age. I mean, I never personally got drunk and passed out in a bathtub, but I had my nights to remember (or not) when I was her age, so yeah. She then finds everyone dead, but is able to somewhat keep her head about things. I suppose when you live in a world where vampires can come at any moment and infect you it's not hard to believe it would happen. She then makes a few stupid decisions, but I can see why. She really has a good heart. She's a bit abrasive at times, totally tough, and bad ass, but she's also willing to help people. Perhaps a bit too trusting, but that's not necessarily a bad trait. Even though I wanted to knock some sense into her a few times, I think had I been in the same situations, I might have made a lot of the same dumb decisions she did.Gavriel is the moody vampire who against everything, Tana begins to fall for. That was kind of a given. Saw that coming from the beginning, but it didn't change my enjoyment of things. It wasn't an insta-love thing. She actually knew she was crazy having thoughts of kissing him. She knew how dangerous he was. He is in and out of the story, but any scene he was in, he seemed to take center stage. He was very entertaining for me to read. Not that he's particularly funny or anything, there was just something about him. Of course he is all secretive and has some things he's hiding, but that's just the way these things work. For a scary vamp, he was pretty awesome and I came to really like him.This was really great. It wasn't fast paced, but it was a good steady story. I never felt bored with it. Even when the story seemed slow, I was still enjoying the characters and what was going on. This was a really great take on vampires. I loved how it wasn't just vampires and humans, but an in between. The infection or disease that the vampire bite will cause, but won't turn you to a vampire. It will drive you mad with blood lust though. I can't go into it any more than that, but it I liked it! There are so many vampire novels out there that it's hard to stand out among them, but I really think Holly Black created a fantastic vampire story. It was gory and awesome and I fully enjoyed it!!

Talk about a heartbreaking story!! This book just beat down my emotions slowly and surely and it was so devastating and beautiful. I have never wanted so much to be able to jump into a story and help the characters as I have with this. I think that I would have loved this book either way, but Grace Grant is such a fabulous narrator and she really brought the book to life for me. I was hooked on the story and the characters, and I wanted them to find happiness somehow. This was a truly emotional ride for me. I was bothered about some things in this, but it wasn't enough to make me not enjoy it.Cass is stuck in a life that she wants so badly to escape. She is supporting her drug addict mother and her abusive also addict boyfriend. She lived in a crappy trailer in an unhappy, terrifying life. She wants nothing more than to help her mother and boyfriend though. As much as she wants to escape, she doesn't want to do it alone. She does want them by her side, but only if they will get help and get better. My heart broke so much for her. I wanted to scream at her for letting herself be treated the way she is, but at the same time, I understood that she was scared and had no way out. She won't leave her mother, and Jackson has been there for her and as terrified of him as she is, she wants to help him be a better person. When Tucker White comes into her life after going to the dinner where she works, things get more complicated. She can't understand why he keeps coming back, why he wants to protect her, what he wants from her. When her life starts to spiral out of control, I wanted to hold her, help her, do anything I could to make things better for her. Cass is a very tough chick. Sadly, it's because she has to be or else she will just fall apart.Tucker was a character I instantly liked, but didn't understand. He seems to zero in on Cass almost immediately and I just didn't understand why he would go out of his way for her when she wasn't interested and had a boyfriend. I get that he wanted to protect her when he saw her boyfriend being a jerk, but he went above and beyond what a normal person would do. I'm glad he did, and now knowing more about him I get where some of it was coming from, but I still think it was unrealistic. But, that's why it's a book. With that said, I thought he was really a great guy and I loved how much he really wanted to get Cass out of her bad situation. He has some major skeletons in his closet too and I enjoyed getting to see them come out and know who the real Tucker White was underneath.The romance was very gradual and I thought that it had a very real feel to it. Not at the beginning, but after they start to get to know each other more. It wasn't perfect and all happy. In fact, it had such a bleak feel to it that I wanted it to happen, but I had no hope of it. I think that is how it's meant to be. The desperation, the hurt, the need for what they can't have. It was done so well.Grace Grant was the reader for this and she did awesome!! She is very good at distinguishing between characters so you always know who is talking and what is going on. She did the southern accent really well. And as always, the emotion she puts into the story comes through so well that you really feel what the characters feel. It's easy to get wrapped up in the story with her narrating.This is not your typical girl and boy have issues, meet and fall in love book. There is so much more and though there is resolution, it's not a super tidy ending. This is one heck of a ride. It's tough to read at times. I was aching with the realness of the situations happening. I thought that the topic of addiction and abuse were addressed very well. This is very raw and gritty. No sugar coating in Cass and Tucker's story at all. In fact there are some very harsh and tragic events that happen through the book which act to both push them apart and together at the same time. They care about each other enough to do something completely unselfish for the other, even if it might hurt themselves in the process. Overall, this was a beautiful and tragic story and I can't wait for the sequel, White Trash Damaged, to see where the story will go next.* A digital audiobook of this was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.

Review coming soon.

Ugh! Not great. At all.