May 30, 2014

REVIEW: The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings (The Murder Complex #1)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Source: Edelweiss*
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N
An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

My Review
The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings was a fantastic dystopian that had me gripping for the next chapter and kept me on the tip of my toes. I was throughly enraptured!



Meadow was trained by her father her whole life to survive, to kill or be killed in a world where murder was practically the norm. There are glimpses of this cruel and unusual training and I’m sure parts of it will take the reader aback. I really got a sense of who Meadow was, what was important to her and what truly went through her mind. She was very protective of her family and was willing to do just about anything to keep them alive, especially her young sister. Meadow was stronger than she looked. She didn’t take pride in her killing, but she didn’t regret it either. While I knew it was wrong, I understood that Meadow needed to do such things to survive and I was grateful for Cummings for keeping it that way and not sugarcoating it.



I liked Meadow, but I loved Zephyr because he was so different compared to Meadow. He, too did what he could to survive, but he was street smart, someone who put his head down to not be noticed. He was the comic relief when things got real serious. Zephyr was funny, sarcastic, sweet and warm and he was really too cute for words. And while he was the light in the book, he also was the darkness. He felt extreme guilt for killing people though he didn’t really have recollection of the actual killing. He felt like he wasn’t in control of his body. I felt true sorrow for Zephyr because it was obvious that he felt remorse and disgust.

I was impressed by the world building because it was throughly explained. I was able to adapt myself into this world easily and know exactly what was going on, what it was all about through the eyes of the two main characters. The world was complex, but not hard to grasp. There were different elements that really made this world unique from the making of the Initiative, to the implanted Pins, the Catalogue numbers on every citizen, the 4 Commandments that are not meant to be broken, The Pulse and the nanities. Even some small phrases that were specific to the originality if this book were fit for the world. The world itself was described thoroughly. I could see how bleak and frightening it could be, how cut throat and lonely as well. The people in this world were either starved for food or afraid of being murdered and the food given was just not cutting it and the Initiative wasn't protecting them. Even to get a job was brutal. I loved it and cringed at the same time. It did have a reminiscent feeling between Divergent, The Hunger Games, and the movie Hanna, but it still held its own. 



I think my favorite part of the whole book besides everything else I already mentioned has to do with the pacing. It was steady in the beginning, letting me get a feel of the world, allowing me to get to know Meadow and Zephyr and get attached on some significant level. I saw the lives they lived, the ways in which they survived, and how both became their own personal monster they couldn’t really control. The pace picks up drastically to a certain point and from there it becomes a whirlwind of twists and turns and revelations. It was super thrilling and exciting and totally left my heart racing.



Overall, I adored The Murder Complex. It was a job well done and oh god, I need book two so bad it’s like I’m on some serious withdrawal. 


May 23, 2014

REVIEW: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: November 27, 2012
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N
The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly...

In a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight...

My thoughts, feelings, reactions
Two words: Woah, baby. 



Wallbanger by Alice Clayton was just..wow, probably one of the best books I have ever read. I’ve heard amazing things about this book so I had high expectations, and sweet heavens, it was even more incredible than I first thought! It was saucy, zealous, and just so dang delectable, I couldn’t resist eating this book up. Even now that I’ve finished this book, I’m still giddy with it’s deliciousness. 


Sweet sweet Caroline! She was one delightful character that I was crazy about. Caroline was probably the most hilarious main character I have had the honor to meet and get to know in all of my time of reading books. She was so out there; outspoken, outgoing, successful and bold. One of the best things about her was how laid back, how fun and cute she was. Her quirky way of giving things nicknames and her pep talks to herself were so adorable. Caroline was so sassy and can put up a mean verbal fight with a killer glare to match. She didn’t take any thing from any one and she was not afraid to say whatever the hell she wanted to say. She was a hard worker as a interior designer and a dazzling baker with great taste. Her friendship with Sophie and Mimi was so awesome as well. They were a great dynamic and I loved when they were together gossiping. I don’t know about the rest of world, but I sure have a mad girl crush on Caroline. 

Simon Parker: my favorite wallbanging, photo taking, beach sand collecting, zucchini bread lover of all time. Cocky, cool, and charming, Simon was not afraid to counter Caroline with his own clever comebacks. He was sexy as hell, confident in almost every way and very easy to get along with. Despite his wallbanging, unconventional relationship, Simon was a gentleman with a very kind heart that made my heart go pitter patter and my knees feel like jello. He was just so lovable, I seriously could not resist him even when he nearly messed everything up! I loved his arguments with Caroline and how they could really get under each other’s skin. When they were together they were brimming with electrifying sexual tension. Caroline and Simon were relentless, always trying to get the last word in. The tight animosity became a rocky truce and turned into a friendship with flirtation and sexual innuendos all around. From the start, this attraction they had for each other was turning into a tornado full of tension and force that was so strong, so fierce, I was itching for it to touch down and bring me with it. There was never a dull moment when these two are around. 

Wallbanger was full of non-stop fun. Alice Clayton’s writing was freaking outstanding! For me, it was perfection because this book had everything I could have wanted. She gave the best humor, best romance, best bonds between relationships and friendships. Everything was well developed and each character had their own personality that was brought to life within this book. She really drew out and built up the romance between Caroline and Simon in an amazing way that wasn’t quick or slow. This book had me grinning, laughing and swooning so much. I can honestly say that Wallbanger is the definition of laugh out loud funny at ever turn. 

Overall Wallbanger was witty, funny and so freaking addicting. I couldn’t tear myself away from this book no matter how much I tried. It was entertainment at its finest. This book was just golden!

May 21, 2014

REVIEW: Vivian Divine is Dead by Lauren Sabel

Vivian Divine is Dead by Lauren Sabel
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Source: Edelweiss*
Rating: 2/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N
When a death threat arrives with teen celebrity Vivian Divine's fan mail, Vivian has no choice but to go on the run to Mexico. She soon discovers, though, that her Oscar-nominated performance killing villains on-screen did nothing to prepare her for escaping a madman in real life. Some people say he's a hero, others tremble in his presence, but one thing is clear: he won't stop until Vivian is in his grasp. Why didn't she pay more attention during those judo lessons for her role in Zombie Killer?

Vivian finds an ally in the mysterious and charming Nick. He is everything Hollywood boys are not-genuine, kind, and determined to see Vivian for who she really is. But even he seems like he can't be trusted-what could he be hiding?

Beat up, hungry, and more confused than ever about who she's running from, Vivian is living in a real-life blockbuster horror flick. But there's no option to yell "cut" like there is on set....

Lauren Sabel's Vivian Divine Is Dead is a creepy, witty, fast-paced adventure about family, fame, and having the courage to save yourself.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions
I have two words that completely describe Vivian Divine is Dead to me and that’s disappointing and ridiculous. 



The beginning of the book showed real promise. There was suspense and mystery about Vivian and her impending death threat. It was creepy and scary because what kind of death threat isn’t? I even liked Vivian because while she was a famous movie actress, she seemed down to earth. She didn’t sound stuck up or superior in any way. She was just a teen grieving for her mother, wishing for the attention of her father and broken hearted over a cheating boyfriend. It wasn’t long before some action started, forcing Vivian to go to Mexico.


It was that trip to Mexico and most the middle of the book where it started to go downhill for me. It was absurd that Vivian’s bodyguard/stand in sort of mother figure allowed Vivian to go to Mexico by herself. The fact that someone obviously wanted Vivian dead it rang bells in my mind (and should have for Vivian) when Mary let her go off. While in Mexico, Vivian was no longer that regular teen. Vivian had some ugly American tourism going on. She complained about how dirty and disgusting everything was and it became obvious that she was sheltered her whole life. While it was understandable because of her upbringing, it just turned me off when she was ungrateful for some of the things that were given to her. Her complaining was just the beginning.

My next problem was how Vivian fell in love with Nick, the boy who helped her. Vivian was in Mexico for about 5 days give or take. The L word starting coming out day 3 or 4 which was absurd because they barely had any real interaction and most of that was him calling her a spoiled brat. It didn’t make sense. I could not believe these two were in love, let alone be friends especially after what happened. This was also the time where other characters started to pop up and where a few clues to what was going on came through. The things leading up to this point probably could have been cut because I thought it was unnecessary.

The last half of the book and the end was even more ridiculous because this was where the author dropped the bomb on some of those characters, on who and why Vivian was taken and other twists. I have to admit that there was some things I didn’t expect that surprised me, but other revelations were just so odd. The fact that Vivian was so outraged by the betrayal was beyond me because everything was practically pointing to that person. And the ending by all means, does not wrap up anything at all. We are left hanging in every way and I didn’t like that.

All in all, Vivian Divine is Dead was not the book I was hoping it would be. I just thought that the plot was unrealistic, the romance was forced, and Vivian was just too naive of a character for me to like or understand. 


*Thanks to Harper/ Katherine Tegen Books for sending a copy for review purposes

May 19, 2014

REVIEW: The Liberator by Victoria Scott

The Liberator by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #2)
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N
Bad boy, meet bad girl.

Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.

When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

My Review
Victoria Scott brings bad boy Dante Walker back in The Liberator along with the rest of the crew we’ve all come to love. There’s a splash of new characters here and there, romance for sure and lots of action to keep you on your toes.

I have to say that while Dante has changed from the person he was in The Collector, he hasn’t completely become a new person. For that I was thankful to Scott because she still made Dante, well..Dante. In The Liberator, Dante was still that sarcastic, super funny, cocky, bacon and red color loving guy. But he was different in the sense that he struggled to come to terms with being a Liberator instead of a Collector. He continued to believe he was a demon, bad to the bone, and that he was never going to be good enough for Charlie. I really liked how Scott kept Dante the way he was, but gradually changed him on his own terms. Charlie makes him a better man, but it was ultimately he himself who discovered that he wasn’t all bad and that his love for her was proof of that.


This book definitely showed a more softer, vulnerable side to Dante. We see him doubt himself when it comes to his relationship with Charlie and with his assignment towards Aspen. We see what really haunted Dante, what his true inner demons were. He really learns to let go and care for not just Charlie, but for Aspen and other characters. 

There was appearance of some old characters that we get to further know and love and Scott even throws in a returning characters I never thought I would see again. And of course, she takes away as well and that in of itself was a heartbreak for sure and probably the most vulnerable I have ever seen Dante to be. It was so well written and touching. Anyway, Aspen was the new addition and she was misunderstood for sure. Don’t let her rebellious, free spirit nature fool you because Aspen can kick ass with her big attitude to match. I liked that she was like the female version of Dante in almost every sense, emotion and inner demon wise. And like Dante, Aspen learns a lot about herself, about Charlie, about her purpose. I do wish that there was just a tad bit more of Aspen and Dante in the story. It was mostly in the beginning and especially in the end, but she sort of faded into the background around the middle. However, the sister-brother relationship that formed between Dante and Aspen was my favorite of the whole novel.

Like I said, there was plenty of action and adventure in The Liberator. So if you’re looking for some Liberator vs. Collector fist fights, you won’t be disappointed. It wasn’t just collectors anymore, but Sirens as well that are after Charlie and Dante. Secrets start coming out, especially the ones pertaining to Charlie and Aspen’s purpose. There was mention of scrolls and training at the Hive that adds great twists to the book. Questions do get answered along with why everything is the way it is and what may come. The witty banter rivals all of this, but it no means does it overtake. It just adds the perfect amount of humor and entertainment to keep the novel going. 

All in all, The Liberator was a fantastic follow up to The Collector. Dante grows up a lot and it really shows and I’m sure readers will be surprised by how much. I can’t wait to wrap this series up in the next book!

May 16, 2014

REVIEW: Claimed by Him by Red Garnier

Claimed by Him by Red Garnier (The Billionaire's Club #1)
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: April 23, 2013
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N
Graves Buchanan has had to climb farther and higher than any of his friends, singlehandedly becoming a billionaire in less than two decades, even with a rotten poor childhood in the streets. He likes sex the way he learned it; animal, raw and without any strings attached. But even as messed-up as he is, he cares deeply for his best friend’s baby sister, Chloe Lexington. But Chloe is an heiress, a ‘princess’, and no matter how much he wants her, Graves doesn’t think he has it in him to handle a girl like her.

But Chloe has other plans for him, and she’s not taking no for an answer. She’s been warned against Graves by her brother, Daniel, and against all of his eccentric billionaire friends, but Chloe has merely been biding her time. Now that she’s almost twenty-five, she’s determined to have the man she’s always wanted, and she’ll use anything as incentive to be claimed by him, at last.

My Review
1. Characters

Probably needed more development. Graves gets developed more in the sense we get to know him through his rough exterior down to his sweet heart, but also his tragic past. Chloe was a kind girl, but I never really got to know who she was.



2. Romance

There wasn’t much built up or tension. It was just Chloe going after Graves and then one night of (very steamy hot) sex. I think more establishment of feelings needed to be created. I wasn’t entirely convinced these two were madly in love because I didn’t get the journey to that point. It all moved from friendship to sex to relationship fairly quickly. 



3. Plot

Not much there really. It was a very short novella so not much happens besides Graves finally giving into Chloe and a very abrupt ending. If this was a regular lengthy novel, I’d get more than I wanted out of it all. It just needed to be drawn out just a bit more.



Overall, Claimed by Him was a short, but sizzling hot novel that was very very easy to read. This book was definitely a tease that leaves you wanting way more than what you’re given. While Claimed by Him had mind-blowing orgasmic sexy times and was completely engaging, it probably needed to be longer and developed even further to truly make it amazing.


May 14, 2014

REVIEW: Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Publishing Covet
Publication Date: May 31, 2013
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N
He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions
Holy hot Arum! Jennifer L. Armentrout had me all hot and bothered for Hunter in Obsession like you wouldn’t believe. She really steps it up with every novel she creates and this novel is no exception to the great work she has already put out that I’ve had the pleasure to read. 

Obsession follows two characters: normal human, Serena and bad boy Arum, Hunter. These two come together under the worst of circumstances for both of them. Serena witnesses her best friend’s murder by a Luxen and is needed protection ordered by the DoD with the reluctant help of Hunter. Although Serena was grieving for her friend, she was a strong character. Even with all the craziness of aliens on Earth, she seemed to try to wrap her mind around all of it as best she could. I liked her because she looked weak and timid, but she had some serious feistiness in her. She wasn’t too afraid to fight back physically or verbally. Hunter had a bad attitude and didn’t give a crap about anything. I swear he was pissed off 80% of the time. He was definitely worst than Daemon when it came to opening his mouth. He was cocky and infuriating and commanding and demanding but he was so freaking irresistible. It was really awesome that Serena was able to dish the sarcasm and anger right back at Hunter. He makes her rebel right back and she sort of entertains him to no extent. 

JLA does an amazing job with her writing in this book. It was very easy going and not hard to follow at all. She differentiates Hunter and Serena’s voice tremendously. She gives both characters personality and edge. And what I really loved was way she allowed both of them to grow and change like well developed characters should be. She made Hunter’s character believable because she didn't change that he was an Arum, that he was bad though not completely. She allowed Hunter to care and love Serena in a realistic way in his actions and self control. And it goes the same for Serena because she learned to trust and believe in Hunter even when it was very hard to. What was truly impressive with Obsession was how JLA was able to show the gray area between good and bad for both Luxen and Arum. The lines got extremely blurred here and saying that one side was good and the other bad was not true or clear at all and I was more than ok with that. 

There was plenty of action and fighting between Arum and Luxen that I found  all the running and chasing to be riveting and exciting. It was super cool to visualize the way they fight and how they use their powers. I love the darkness from Hunter, how he could be so scary and relentless while being so absolutely breathtaking all at once. And speaking of action, the scenes between Serena and Hunter, and their building sexual tension hit way past the boiling point of burning hot. I’m going to admit that their scenes were a turn on. Yep, I went there! JLA can surely write one outstanding steamy sexy scenes. *fans self*


I really could go on and on about why I loved this book to pieces and bits. I really enjoyed how Hunter and Serena started of not really liking each other all that much and ending up caring about each other to the point that they were protecting each other with all they had. I was especially swayed by Hunter because he was so adamant in the beginning, but because Serena pushed her way into his life, she became his everything. 

Because of all that and so much more, Obsession was top notch and had me engrossed ‘til the very last word. 

*Thanks to Entangled for sending a copy in an exchange for an honest review

Favorite Quotes

"You have a feisty little attitude, don't you?"
"You're about to get a feisty little foot up your ass."

"I can't get off? Oh, I most definitely can get off."

'To feast? Fuck that. I wanted to devour her.'

'It was almost cute, I thought, except I didn't do cute. But I wanted to do her.'

"Hunter...what are you doing?"
"What I want. And I want you."

'She was my light, my warmth, and I wasn't ready to let her go.'

"Is there really anything such as a good Luxen?"
"Is there really such a thing as a good Arum?"

May 12, 2014

REVIEW: Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich

Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich (Hard Feelings #2)
Publisher: InterMix
Publication Date: August 20, 2013
Source: Publisher*
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N
The New York Times bestselling author of The Valentine’s Arrangement continues her sizzling series with a new novel of a plan that goes awry—in the arms of a soldier…

Picking the wrong men is a talent Meagan Mitchell has perfected. She’s sweet, confident, beautiful—and single. With her thirtieth birthday sneaking up on her, she needs a new plan. No more Mr. Wrongs or Mr. Bads, it’s time to find Mr. Safe…

Army Captain, Reed Porter, lives for the thrill—he’s an Airborne Jumpmaster with a rush addiction. He’s sexy and playful, and he quickly tempts Meagan with his rich Southern drawl and sinful looks. But slowing down and settling down are not in his agenda, making him exactly the type of man Meagan wants to avoid…

As their undeniable attraction heats up, Meagan has to decide if she’s willing to risk everything on a chance at love with a reckless charmer. Is she brave enough to bet her future—and her heart—on Mr. Thrill? Or will Reed finally learn that the feeling of a safe landing is just as addicting as the rush of the fall?

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions
The first book in the Hard Feelings series made me a Kelsie Leverich fan. With this second book, I am completely hooked and addicted to this series for sure. There was just something so compelling about Feel the Rush that I couldn’t put the book down. I have so many good things to say about this book.



Meagan

She was this sexy confident woman who was just so comfortable in her skin. She had a fun side that was not afraid to come out. And what I liked most about her was how she didn’t let anyone intimidate her. Meagan could be comfortable around girls and guys, she could be playful and teasing, but she was absolutely caring too. While Meagan was all sass, she had worries and fears to ground her.



Reed

Now he was the opposite of the Mr. Safe Meagan was looking for in a man to settle with. He was the walking, talking, definition of thrill. Reed was an adventurous and adrenaline loving type of person. At times he was too cocky and smooth, but he rivaled this with the concern and care he had for his soldiers. He wasn’t the type to slow down and though he had a lot to prove, he cared about Meagan and it showed immensely. I also have to mention that he had a sexy mouth in and out of bed, but you didn’t hear it from me. 



Their Romance

The attraction and sexual tension between Meagan and Reed was strong from the start. However, I liked that they “tried” to be friends and hang out together because it gave them a different bond and allowed them to grow. They were pretty mature about it even under the the confusing circumstances. I liked that even when they did step over the friendship boundaries, they were never cruel and still remained respectful. But sweet baby biscuits, did they have some explosive chemistry! They really couldn’t heat up anymore than they did.



Supporting Cast

I have to mention them because they were amazing. They were just funny and super cool. While Reed and Meagan were entertaining all on their own, their friends brought in the banter, the humor, and true fun side of the book. It’s very rare when such characters stand out and these do. They don’t overshadow the main characters, but enhance them. Even better, they all made an impression.



The Plot

I thought it was very well developed because there was background on both the main characters. Their romance heats up every single time and there was enough conflict and angst to keep any reader going. What really made this book was the roller coaster relationship (and I mean this in a good way), the sadness and heartbreak included, and most especially, the shocking twists I never suspected or imagined. Leverich totally sold me there.

All in all, I adored this book so much and I can't wait to get my hands on another book in this series.

*Received a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

May 5, 2014

REVIEW: NASH by Jay Crownover

NASH by Jay Crownover (Marked Men #4)
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date: April 29, 2014
Source: Edelweiss
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N
Will their past determine their future?

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down... and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?

My Review

Jay Crownover’s NASH has done wonders to my heart and to be quite honest, it totally tickled my fancy. She totally did a number on me because of Nash’s story and she continued to solidify my absolute knows no bounds type of love for the Marked Men series. 


I’ve been waiting for Nash’s story since that moment he showed up in RULE and now that I have gotten to know him, I have to say that I’m in awe. Nash was even more spectacular than I thought he was. Out of all the Marked Men, he seemed to be the most mellow and chill. Diving into NASH, I realized that he was wounded and a little bit broken because of the rejection he felt by his mother picking her husband over him. It sucked to see how much she regarded Nash, how she couldn’t see that he was an amazing person altogether. 

I loved Nash’s story because in his darkest hour, Nash finds love in Saint and finds out a shocking truth that was hidden from him for years. I really got to see how Nash connected with Saint, how he built something stronger with Phil, and saw just how much support he got from his friends. His story was beautiful and touching because of all he went through and the love he poured to Saint and most especially to Phil. I got to see a sensitive, vulnerable and more open side of Nash. The best thing was how Nash never gave up on the things he cared about, but he also knew when enough was enough. He realized that he was good enough and that he deserved the best. 

Nash’s relationship with Saint was probably my least favorite so far in the whole series. Not because I didn’t love them together or because I didn’t like Saint, I did. It was just so hard to read Saint being so down on herself because she lacked confidence and self-esteem. I always struggle with characters like that because I’m still trying to do what Saint ended up doing at the end of this book. But what I really enjoyed about these two was their chemistry and the ease at which they were around each other. I also loved how Nash continued to shower Saint with truthful compliments. He allowed her to realize that she needed to see what he saw in her. Even though Saint was awkward and timid, she had a strong sense of familial love, she was loyal to the core, and she cared about Nash despite the misunderstanding all those years ago. I loved watching her blossom out of her shell. 

NASH comes within half an inch of topping RULE for me. The fact that this book had me tearing up in heart break for Nash was a testament that showed how terrific it/he was. Crownover gave me exactly what I was looking for while still keeping everything familiar, warm and loving. NASH was stunning.

*Thanks to William Morrow for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review

Favorite Quotes
"I had a sinking suspicion if I was ever lucky enough to get her naked, I would never let her put on clothes around me again."

"'Saint, you can attack me with any part of you at any given moment of any day. I will not complain...ever.'"

"I was trying to be coherent and reasonable, but my dick was starting to pay way closer attention to what she was doing than my brain was."

"'I hated him, but you...this Nash...all I do is want him.'"

"Jesus.' No, not quite, just Saint"

"'You are the greatest thing I ever created. Don't doubt it.'"

"'Why is your penis wearing a ring?'"

May 1, 2014

REVIEW: The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: April 29, 2014
Source: Negalley*
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N
Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.

My Review
I can describe The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel as a clever, odd and very funny. The book had a very charming and endearing quality because of the main character, Becca and because of the young love that surrounded the book. 



What I do like about this novel is that we get to know Becca and see her in action. She had a very strong, personable voice and had this sarcasm and wit that was very entertaining. The way she breaks up couples is explicitly explained from the initial contact, to the planning and to the step by step take down. Becca wasn’t exactly a “good” character, but she certainly wasn’t bad or evil either. She of course, had good intentions, but was just a little misguided. Her reasonings and justifications were very hard to wrap my mind around, but I could see where she was coming from especially with what she saw around her. Despite Becca’s shortcomings, she does grow as a character. She develops a stronger bond with her sister and mother through the schemes. Becca especially learns the value of true friendship and what love should be. 

Being the break up artist was not all it was cracked up to be for Becca. It seemed like a sweet deal and it felt like she was helping those hiring her and the single people of Ashland, but ultimately it was manipulation and deceit on Becca’s part. She learned the hard way, but the upside was being able to see how wrong she was. Becca was starting to feel and see Huxley in a new light, she realized the difference between liking someone for the excitement vs the real thing, and how love can be seen in different ways. By the end of the book, Becca wasn’t cynical anymore. 



I have to say that Becca was pretty smart and sly for her business. All the diabolical planning she did with her sister was super entertaining. Some of the schemes make you go “whaaaaat” but it somehow worked though. Because of Becca’s sarcasm with her bitterness and clever comebacks, it does make way for more than a few chuckles here and there. I did love Huxley and Steve's relationship because it was the perfect example of high school love that could potentially grow into more later on. I only found Becca’s best friend to be the one downfall of this book because of her behavior. I didn’t like how she was obsessed with wanting and needing a boyfriend for the sake of having one and then ditched Becca when she did. I also found the exaggeration about girls only caring about having boyfriends and looking down on those who are single really extreme. Some parts of the book were over the top and slightly unrealistic, but I really liked The Break-Up Artist. 


Overall, this novel was creative and enjoyable. It was very reminiscent to Mean Girls, but focused on relationships and friendship. Great book all around. 

*Thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review