REVIEW: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: September 9, 2014
Source: Edelweiss
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray.

My Review

Illusions of Fate brought me back to the warm moment when I  finished and devoured Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy. It just brought me back to that place where I just knew I was reading something that good, something that hooked me beyond measure or explanation. Right from the get-go I was completely immersed into White’s latest novel that contained ample amount of whimsicality, magic and edge.

There are many things I love about the main character of this book. Jessamin was such a breath of fresh air, a surprise and a delight to read and be in her head. She wasn’t just independent or strong or brave. She was all that for sure but she was intelligent in a way that she was eager and ready to learn whether it be history, literature or magic. She had sass and snap and just the way she held her head high even when she was stared at or gossiped about made me admire her more and more. 

When it came to Finn, it wasn’t hard to fall in love with him. It was nearly effortless from his out of nowhere first appearance, to his charming personality and his eccentricity. There was just something about him that was so fascinating and magnetic and just gosh darn likable. I loved how he was just so flirtatious and slightly mad. I sort of liked the underlying unhinged powerful quality he exuded. When he wasn’t flirting, he was joking around and being so humorous and even a little naughty. 

My most favorite part of Illusions of Fate was the magic, the fantasy, and the intrigue. Jessamin gets thrust into the cold and rich world of Albion whilst leaving behind her warm and bright island of Melei. When comparing Albion to Melei, Albion lacked the inviting sun and the family traditions and gatherings. Avebury, where Jessamin  lived in Albion, was described thoroughly and richly from the architecture to the cold weather to the snooty people and their elegant attire. White even included how people of Albion treated those who come from the islands through Jessamin’s experiences and encounters of other people. How there was discrimination and prejudices from those with colored skin to those who are not as privileged to those who lacked the power Finn had. All of this just made this book inherently marvelous. 

The main plot was what really had me spellbound the further I got into the book because it just got better and better. It wasn’t just simple magic, it was a war of power and the villain, Downpike, was ready to do just about anything to get his hands on it. He was diabolical, vengeful, evil, and crazed. He was the perfect villain to the hero in Finn and the heroine in Jessamin. The conflict and revelational twists that surrounded these three was absolutely surprising and astounding. I never thought things would go that way and it was freaking awesome. 

My only gripe with this book had to be the romance. There was nothing wrong with it per se. I loved the development of Finn and Jessamin’s relationship and how both had to win over the other. I loved how they were beguiled by one another then at odds until they finally settled onto common ground of partnership and love. I just wish there was more of that romance. I needed just a little more to satisfy. Despite that, I was enchanted by their subtle romance anyhow. 

All in all I thought Illusions of Fate was nearly impeccable. Readers will enjoy the fantasy ride brought on by the magic feud between Finn and Downpike along with Jessamin’s smart thoughts and comebacks. There’s much to love when it comes to Illusions of Fate!

My Brazen Addiction: the one with Duchess and Florence

Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey (Line of Duty #4)
Publication Date: November 25, 2013

The fighting was just foreplay...

Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead can't stand each other. She plans exclusive parties for her rich familys charities. He's a rough and tumble cop who rigs explosives for a living. Could two people be any less suited for conversation? They think not and prefer to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, their two best friends are deeply, disgustingly in love. Forced together, the mutual attraction simmering beneath the surface of Brent and Hayden's non-relationship grows with every argument until it explodes into a scintillating night of mind-blowing sex. And it wont be the last, as far as Brent's concerned.

Hayden has a secret, though. Her father's company is relying on a merger to save them from financial ruin, and only Hayden's marriage to the CEOs wealthy son can secure the deal. If she's to protect her family, she'll have to forget Brent. And he has no intention of being forgotten. 

Get Asking for Trouble: Amazon | B&N

Oh my sweet Florence and Duchess!! 

Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey was...asdfghjkl !! I can’t even. It was so effing good. Like I just took a bite out of the best chocolate bar I ever had the pleasure of biting into and then experiencing a foodgasm that rocked my world, the universe, and the stars shortly thereafter. Tessa Bailey just never fails to leave me thinking: damn, that was fucking amazing!


I have the biggest most softest soft spot for Brent since I met him in Officer of Limits. He totally had me rolling on the floor laughing from his jokes. It wasn’t any different in this book. In fact, he had me smitten for his goofball side and his sexy dirty talkin’ big woohoo in bed side. Because holy sweet mother of pearl, I was feeling tingles with Brent and not the my foot fell asleep tingles either if you know what I mean. Anyway, I loved Brent so much because he had those sides to him, but he also had this honorable, respectable, protector and provider side of him as well. He wasn’t just this big bad cop or a smug, cocky guy. He was just this sweetest thing. He was like a big fluffy teddy bear I wanted to wrap my whole body around. He loved his family, he was a great friend, he worked so so hard, and he was happy and he didn’t complain. He was just so freaking wonderful. 


"Be warned, though. If you take away the use of my hands I'll only make up for it with my mouth."

"If you have any doubt about my ability to fuck the ever-loving sarcasm right out of you, I'll be more than happy to clear it up."

Hayden was the perfect match for Brent. I adored Hayden because she wasn’t afraid to dish back the shit that Brent gave her. She was confident and strong and caring and selfless. She was just as funny as Brent. I freaking loved that they argued, teased, and made fun of one another. They acted like they hated each other, but it was so obvious that there was some underlying sexual tension ready to burst out. Like a rated R version of a boy pulling a girl’s pigtails because he totes liked her.


"You are an enormous dick."
"Correction. I have an enormous-" She hung up. 

The thing I loved most about Brent and Hayden being together was how they slowly saw how different they were. As they explored their sexual relationship, they got to know one another on a deeper level and their preconceived notions about each other were challenged. Brent thought he was beneath Hayden and that he didn’t belong in her world while Hayden thought Brent would only see her as a spoiled rich girl. These things were totally changed and though there was drama and angst and fights, I loved every single second of these two so so so much!

"Don't let the door hit you on your well-spanked ass on the way out."
"Your concern is touching, sweetheart. Miss you already."

On my bedroom scale from 

 (1) COLD: I’m just not feeling it to (5) HOT: I need a fan...


Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey was a freaking five: burning hot! I need a fan and some ice water and where in world is my boyfriend?! Tessa does not fail to bring the sexy and I mean triple x sexxxy. Holy banana cream pie were these sexy times smokin’! The best thing was how the power was balanced and thrown back between Brent and Hayden. Hayden would be in charge in bed (which was awesome) and then Brent would dominate (even more awesome) and my goddddd, help me I was dying. It was sensual and provocative and downright panty melting orgasmic worthy. I just neeeeeeed more. 

"I'm never soft around you, duchess."



The brazenly addicted verdict...


Tessa Bailey has done it again! Each book she comes out with just gets better and better. Asking for Trouble completely swept me off my feet, made my face hurt from the laughing and I’m pretty sure I nearly broke the highlight thingy majig on my Kindle because of all the quotes I wanted to save forever and ever. This book was the whole package and most definitely my favorite enemy to lovers trope ever.

 

P.S. Brent Mason you belong in my bed 24/7.


"I guess you haven't figured it out yet, huh? This week alone I let you cuff me, stuff me into a suit, and inflict me with Blue-Ball Syndrome."

Overall rating: 5 stars for Brent babyyyyyy


Blog Tour: TEACHING ROMAN by Gennifer Albin

TEACHING ROMAN by Gennifer Albin (Good Girls Don't #2)

Publication Date: June 26, 2014

Rating: 5/5 stars

Get it: Amazon | B&N

Jessica Stone has her life in perfect order until her perfectly boring boyfriend Brett puts things in perspective. So when she receives a call to action from her heartbroken best friend Cassie, she ditches her plans for Winter Break in gloomy Olympic Falls and sets off to Mexico for some fun in the sun.

Determined to use her oceanview to prep for her MCATS, she doesn't plan to run into anyone from Olympic State, least of all the cute communications prof she's been crushing on for a year. When he unexpectedly saves the day, the two are thrown together in a distinctly extracurricular activity.

Roman Markson doesn’t expect to run into anyone he knows from Olympic Falls while visiting his family in Puerto Vallarta, especially not a former student. Although Jess Stone has a way of catching men’s attention, a relationship with her is strictly off-limits. However, the rules feel less strict in Mexico, so they agree to a plan: one week in paradise and nothing more.

But avoiding each other back on campus is harder than they anticipated, especially when they can’t stay away from one another. Neither is sure what they have to learn—and lose—before life teaches them a lesson they’ll never forget.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

It’s no secret that I absolutely unconditionally love and adore and cherish Gennifer Albin’s Catching Liam so freaking much. I love that book so much that I have been waiting anxiously for the next book in the Good Girls Don’t series for what seems like ever and I have to say that the wait was well worth it and more. 


Teaching Roman was everything I was hoping it would be and gossssssh, I was so so happy by how everything went down with Jess and Roman. These two characters were amazing and holy crap on a cracker, I was so taken by Roman like cray. He was nothing and all the things. He was gentle and intelligent and sexy and caring. Roman was so effing irresistible. 

Jess was a sweet girl who loved organization and lists and was very driven to be a doctor. She took a chance and a risk to be with Roman. It was so out of her character, something she thought she would never do, but I thought it really put her love life in perspective. I loved that she gave in to what she was feeling even though she was scared of the unknown. She made mistakes and did her fair share of running, but she made me proud in the end. Jess was a tough girl who knew what she wanted and she made sure of it when the time was right.

Roman and Jess were so adorbs, like no joke. I always love when flings turns into the real deal and with these two, it definitely was the real deal. They were so sweet and warm towards each other. They were the type of couple where it hurt to look at them yet you couldn't look away because they were perfection. I have to be honest that their romance development was pretty fast, but Roman and Jess just felt like they knew each other for so long. They clicked in some cosmic way both intelligently and romantically. And I have to say that Roman in bed...wow, can I be teacher’s pet? I was slightly jealous of Jess. What I loved about their relationship was the equality of it. Both of their dreams and ambitions were important to one another and there was a level of maturity that both had that a lot of relationships lacked. They were both willing to sacrifice something so that the other could fulfill their goals and I was touched by that a lot. Their relationship was very genuine, something I could tell that would last and not be fleeting.

Teaching Roman had its ups and downs and angst and drama and the best of tenderest moments with some really intense ones as well. The Roman and Jess love story was not easy, but it wasn’t as difficult as they thought it would be either and I was so throughly enamored by these two I was up for their back and forth anyhow. While no one can ever hold a candle and birthday cake towards by beloved Liam McAvoy, Roman does come real close.

All in all, I loved Teaching Roman with just the amount of enthusiasm as I did with Catching Liam. Gennifer Albin did not disappoint and I’m hoping to get Cassie’s book real real soon! 

Favorite Quotes

"Have you discovered some type of magic potion that reduces your need for sleep?"

"Hours and hours of amazing sex"

"Your shows? Are you a sixty year-old woman? Gonna do some Sudoku and start adopting cats?"

"Don't be a bitch."

"Don't be a sixty year-old woman!"

"...and I want a size report. What's Professor Markson packing under those khakis? Inquiring minds want to know."

"What on earth do we need batteries for?"

"I thought I would loan you my vibrator. It seems like you need it more than I do."

"I cook better than I screw." 

About the Author

Gennifer Albin holds a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Missouri. A recovering academic, she turned to writing her own books.  In her free time she sits on the National Novel Writing Month Advisory Board, laughs (and cries) with her mom writers group, and watches too much Doctor Who (if that's possible). Gennifer lives in Poulsbo Washington with her family.

Website | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter | Goodreads

This blog tour was brought to you by InksSlinger PR

REVIEW: My love letter to FAKING IT by Cora Carmack

FAKING IT by Cora Carmack (LOSING IT #2)
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

Dear FAKING IT, 

Your companion and my sorry-not-sorry absolute favorite LOSING IT will always be near and dear to my heart and will be difficult to surpass by my biased unwavering love and loyalty, but FAKING IT, you must know that there was something about you that melted and captured my heart. The reason might be a certain someone with a four letter name.

First, let’s talk about this faking it ‘til it’s real trope (which I looooove) going on here. It was so unexpected for both Cade (*sighs*) and Max because it’s not everyday a girl comes up and asks a guy to be their pretend boyfriend. And let me tell you, I was riveted from that point on. The attraction and the connection and chemistry and sexual tension just kept on building and building until it exploded into this gooey, swoony, heart racing thing that I was all down for. Cade and Max’s little charade started to become something more as they got to know one another, as they hung out more, as they got around the other’s walls and especially when the kisses (can’t blame ‘em) were just too good to stop.

I was a fan of Cade already from LOSING IT. I was pretty sad that he couldn’t be with Bliss and wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him being with someone else. But holy hot Golden Boy did Cade step it up because damn I can’t even. Cade was sweet, genuine, and so selfless, but he was also so freaking seductive and sensual too. I did not think he had it him, but woah baby he sure did. I adored how he readily agreed to Max’s charade and ultimately ended up helping her push through her demons in the long run. He always made sure that Max knew that she was the most beautiful, worthy and spectacular woman there was. Cade just knew how to make a girl feel good about herself and he meant it in every way.

As for Max, the girl had some serious family drama, but I loved how she fought for her love of music, how passionate she was about singing, how she lived at the beat of her own drum. She was this firecracker of a girl who was fearless and mesmerizing and her only kryptonite was her conservative parents. I really liked her dyed hair, her beautiful tattoos, her sassy mouth, and just how far she has come emotionally and mentally. I just really dug Max’s style.

So FAKING IT, my only complaint about you was the abrupt ending that really did end too quickly! It wasn’t that I wanted more (let’s be real, I do) I just wished it was drawn out a little bit more than it could have been. Nonetheless, FAKING IT, you have given me an outstanding read! I ate you up, giggled, squealed, fanned myself during those intense make out seshes, and probably hugged you so tight when I finished, you probably couldn’t breathe (if books did breath). In other words, my sweetest FAKING IT, you rocked my bookish world and then some. 



Love love love,


Jessirae xx



P.S. Milo and Spencer made such an impression on me, please tell your maker, the amazingness Cora Carmack, that they each need a book of their own!

REVIEW: The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno

The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Source: Edelweiss
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

You take it for granted. Waking up. Going to school, talking to your friends. Watching a show on television or reading a book or going out to lunch.

You take for granted going to sleep at night, getting up the next day, and remembering everything that happened to you before you closed your eyes.

You live and you remember.

Me, I live and I forget.

But now—now I am remembering. 

For all of her seventeen years, Molly feels like she’s missed bits and pieces of her life. Now, she’s figuring out why. Now, she’s remembering her own secrets. And in doing so, Molly uncovers the separate life she seems to have led…and the love that she can’t let go.

The Half Life of Molly Pierce is a suspenseful, evocative psychological mystery about uncovering the secrets of our pasts, facing the unknowns of our futures, and accepting our whole selves.

My Review

I have so much words and feelings and thoughts for The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno. It would be a severe understatement to say that this book was just beautiful and breathtaking and one that swept me off my feet. From the beginning I realized that this book was going to be different in so many ways. We really dive deep into a young girl suffering from the clutches of a mental illness and watching her come to terms with it hoping she finds the happiness within herself.


I didn’t so much as learn who Molly was, but I learned, felt, and experienced what she was feeling and thinking and struggling with every single day. She was a very sad girl who struggled to wake up day by day. The mere act of brushing her teeth and combing her hair and getting dressed was tiring and awful. She was quiet, reserved, and though she had two loving parents and siblings and two good friends, Molly still felt alone and lonely and sad. She was a depressed, she was living and forgetting and losing half of herself with no one to tell that she was. Molly may sound like character you rather not read about or get to know, but her desperation and need to find out why she felt she had no control of herself was profound. It was very obvious how erratic Molly’s thoughts were. They quickly flowed together at a rapid pace. She moved from one thought to another on and on. I have to admit that this was disorienting, but it totally worked because I got to feel how out of control Molly felt. The sense of being utterly lost and on the edge of sanity was always present. The panic and confusion reached out toward me like an extension cord and just sucked me right in. I liked the way I was firmly placed into Molly’s mind. Leno really captured Molly’s thought process and her voice and brought that to life on the pages of this novel. I felt the chaos, messy and confusion rippling from Molly every time she lost time, every time she tried to reorient herself, and every time she was starting to remember something new.

After witnessing an accident and death, the ball starts rolling for Molly. Things become stranger and more unusual even for her. We’re taken on this journey of Molly figuring out for herself what is wrong with her as patches of memories start to trickle back to her. As she sorts it all out, I collected clues, came up with my own theories, maybe even guessed what I knew to be true deep down inside of me, but waited for it all to be confirmed. Leno had little subtle hints dropped that were clever in their placement and worked well at keeping me on the edge of suspense. Along this morbid trip down memory lane, Molly realizes secrets and lies that are being kept and told to her. But on the other hand, she discovers a friendship and a love that changes everything for her. She figures out the lost part of herself has been there this whole time and she tries to reconcile the guilt and pain from what she has discovered and learns to stand on her own. For me, there was so much emotion and depth to both Molly’s character and what she went through and I commend Leno for creating a book that contains many memorable, very quotable lines.

Overall, I found The Half Life of Molly Pierce to be extraordinarily poignant and enigmatic. It was brilliantly written, utterly thought-provoking and so ensnaring that just one more chapter simply became two, four, six, the end.

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

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!

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?"

REVIEW: Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 18, 2014
Source: Edelweiss via publisher*
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship, the agony of loss, and the unique experience of being a teenager in this poignant new novel about a girl grappling with her best friend's life-threatening illness.

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.
Even when she isn't sure what to say.

Even when Olivia misses months of school.
Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

In this incandescent page-turner, which follows in the tradition of The Fault in Our Stars, Melissa Kantor artfully explores the idea that the worst thing to happen to you might not be something that is actually happening to you. Raw, irreverent, and honest, Zoe's unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor wasn’t your ordinary hard-to-deal with book that centered around cancer. I believe this one stands out among the rest and exceeds any type of standard there is for such a novel. It was more than the cancer itself, it was about true friendship between two girls who loved each other like they were sisters. 



I always find it rare to read a book with someone else looking on the outside-in of someone with an illness. In Maybe One Day, Zoe was that person. I liked her right off the bat because she was just so normal in the sense that I could possibly meet someone exactly like her on the street. She was funny and silly and complained about parents and crazy cheerleaders and boys like a normal teenager would. What really made me love Zoe with great certainty was the way she stood by Olivia’s side before and after she got cancer. Everyone was concerned for Olivia and like a few characters mentioned, no one was looking after Zoe, but she wasn’t thinking about that at all. She kept thinking about her best friend. Zoe, of course, was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. She made bad calls, she had a shaky relationship towards her feelings on dancing, and she struggled with teaching Livvie’s dance class. 



Zoe's friendship with Olivia wasn’t just mere friendship, it was love and devotion and the willingness to do everything for that person because she wasn’t just a best friend, she was family. And this love, this beautiful, heart breaking friendship went both ways. Zoe loved Olivia just as much as Olivia loved Zoe. It was painfully obvious throughout the whole book even when they fought, even when Olivia wasn’t feeling so good and even when Zoe felt like she did her friend wrong. I have never read or experienced such a strong bond between two people as much as this one. I reveled in it, I rejoiced, and I cried like a freaking baby. 



At first, I was hesitant to read Maybe One Day. The beginning was pretty slow for me. I was waiting for that ball to drop and even though I knew it was coming, it still packed a punch to the gut. From there, I flew through this book. The writing was as easy to read as it was to take in a breath of fresh air. I couldn’t stop myself from getting to that end, to find out what was going to happen to these two girls I was so tragically in love with. What really blew me away was the honest, real and genuine way Kantor told the story through Zoe. She didn’t cut corners or exaggerate certain emotions or even scenes that others may have. I felt every single smile, laugh, sorrow, pain, and loss right down to the bone. And I felt this not only through Zoe, but in Olivia, with her pain and fear and especially in Olivia’s parents. I just felt their heartbreak, their hope dwindling away.

 

I really thought Kantor did an excellent job with this book. She not only focused on how Zoe was handling Olivia’s sickness, but also Zoe’s life in general, her feelings and outlook in certain things and how they changed. Zoe grows in this novel despite the pain she felt at watching her friend suffer in the hands of such a cruel disease. She questioned a lot of things, from God, to dancing, to how unfair life was. 



Overall, Maybe One Day was such a powerful, thought provoking, and captivating novel. It showed the importance of life, family and friendship. It completely grabbed me in such a moving way.

*Thanks to HarperTeen for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Favorite Quotes

"You're a couple of salt and pepper shakers. And now here I was, just a stupid lonely pepper shaker. What was the point of a pepper shaker without a salt shaker? I didn't even like pepper."

"I tried to imagine a God who would never let anything really awful happen to us for no reason. A God who loved us too much to take us away from each other."

"Time does not care how precious it is, how hard you are working no to squander it. Time passes."

REVIEW: Tempted by the Soldier by Nicolette Day

Tempted by the Soldier by Nicolette Day (Falling for You #2)
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Publication Date: February 24, 2014
Source: eARC via publisher*
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

When one touch isn’t enough, why resist?

Road trips are supposed to be fun. Or, at least, full of hot sex. For photographer Lilly Grayson, the fifteen-hour drive to her friend’s wedding with Nate Jennings will be neither. Not that Nate isn’t sexy—the man is six-foot-three-inches of mouth-watering Marine. But Lilly’s been there, done that…and he walked away. Now it’s time for a little payback. The kind that’ll make a man desperate for a taste of what he can’t have.

And Nate wants a taste—so badly that he can barely keep his hands on the wheel. But the scars and ghosts of his last tour still haunt him. He can’t give into temptation, not this time. Lilly deserves a whole man—one who can love her the way she deserves to be loved, even if she doesn’t believe it can happen. And that can’t be Nate. Not when he’s leaving again in two weeks, and this time, he’s not sure he’ll return…

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Oh Nicolette Day, you slay me! You really do. Tempted by the Soldier was exceptional and twice the superbness of its shorter predecessor. The angst was there, the romance was spot on, the sex scenes were scorching, and the banter was off the charts!



I have been waiting for Tempted by the Soldier since I finished No Strings Attached and needed to read more about Lilly and Nate. Those two were so freaking hot in and out of the bed (if they were even using a bed). But before I get into that.. Lilly was just so snarky and funny. She talked too much but had the best comebacks when it came to Nate. The girl was so witty! And Nate, god. He was so sexy even though he suffered from PTSD and misplaced survivor’s guilt. He was such a tortured soul, yet so strong willed too. My heart broke for the agony and pain he was in emotionally and mentally.



Nicolette Day totally dazzled with this book. I loved the way she added in a little bit of Hayden and Jace in the book while still keeping the focus on Nate and Lilly. The road trip along with Nate’s old memories really gave insight to who Nate was and how he came to carry so much guilt and even Lilly’s background and fears were a very nice touch as well. But what I really loved so much was the outrageous sexual tension that just kept on brewing between the two along with their most entertaining, humoring arguments. It was a great balance that was part hilarious and part sexy. Most of the time I just wanted them to kiss or just do it already because I think I was dying of deprivation for them! Day also coupled sweet tender moments and even really intense, heartbreaking ones to really balance and give the book even more depth. Because Day develops Nate and Lilly’s characters and builds up their relationship to an explosive climax (no pun intended) you can’t help but root for them and fall in love with them and just experience them in the most passionate way. I’m telling you this book had it all. There were ups and downs, some fighting and crying and lots of kissing and the most funniest zipper incident I have ever read!



All in all, Tempted by the Soldier was flawlessly written. It was delicious, romantic and freaking orgasmic. Nicolette Day, I need seconds and thirds and fourths please because I just can’t get enough! 

*Thanks to Entangled for sending a copy for review purposes

I was not compensated for my opinion

Favorite Quotes

"The only issue to work out was that Nate Jennings suffered from a severe case of assholeitis."

"Yet another reason to hate him. The bastard had broken her libido with his wonder penis. Jerk."

"All the blood in his body was headed south, and if she kept this up there wouldn't be any left north of the border to keep him going."

"I want your taste in my mouth. I want you riding my cock. Screaming my name. Begging me for release." 

"If you tell me you can't do this now, I swear to God, I'll drown you in this sink."

"But I have cookies if you're interested."
"Oh, I'm very interested in your cookies."

"Need a ride, Princess?"
"Take me home, Soldier Boy."

REVIEW: ROME by Jay Crownover

ROME by Jay Crownover (Marked Men #3)
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

My Review

Oh my freaking god, Jay Crownover just knows how to write a romance and one that completely rocks you to the very core. ROME was the best out of the Marked Men series thus far. It totally skyrocketed my love for this series and Crownover’s writing 10 fold. 



I have to start with Cora because that girl was so kick ass. I always wanted to know her story since she was first mentioned and now I really got to know the loud mouth fireball of a girl who took care of all her boys. And I must say that I loved her to death. She was just so fierce and loyal, I really admired her for never backing down without a fight. I understood her fear of giving her heart to another after being burned and her quest to find Mr. Perfect, I was glad she finally opened up herself to someone. She did her best to be there for Rome, to keep his demons at bay by helping him make things easier. She meddled and got her nose into everything but she surprised me by being straightforward and pushing through. She was match for match when it came to Rome. 



When I thought I couldn’t have loved Rome more.. boy was I wrong. While Rome wasn’t the warm, fun, carefree older Archer he was before, he was not with his loving, protective nature and sexy as hell self. He was really lost and frustrated and all his hardships and brokeness really made me feel for him. Rome definitely struggled with the aftermath of Remy’s lies, how he felt like no one really needed him anymore and mostly the survival’s guilt that continued to haunt him. Despite all these setbacks, Rome was an honorable, dependable, and completely selfish when it came to those he loved. He tried his hardest to be the best he could be for Cora. He loved her as she was and took her as she was. She was the balm that soothed Rome’s wounds. And no matter what, I thought Rome was an amazing guy who needed to realize that he didn’t have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders and had to accept the help and love from others just as he gave them.



Out of all the books in this series, I thought that ROME just had more depth, seriousness, and maturity in the relationships and in the issues the characters faced whether it dealt with family, friends or love. I really liked seeing both Rome and Cora go through ups and downs together and individually. Cora worked on loving Rome, while Rome worked on trying to keep his nightmares in check. I also thought that this book was exceptionally emotional and intense, especially with certain parts that nearly had me in tears. I can definitely say that Crownover really moved me with Rome and Cora’s story. I also appreciated how ROME skipped all the small bullshit fights that I tend to roll my eyes at in other novels. The characters in this book made mistakes, but they own up to them rather than make halfhearted excuses. I also have to mention Crownover’s ability to write descriptive yet sensual sex scenes that leave much to the imagination. She always gives the perfect amount of tension, seduction, and heat that I’m always looking for. 



Crownover didn’t just give me an impeccable and exquisite story that deals with grief, guilt, loss, and love. She gave me a book that had meaning, that reminded me that perfection can be found in most imperfect people and that there are always people there to love, help and support you. And fans of RULE and JET will also appreciate the appearance of many beloved characters that stole our hearts from the very beginning. The whole gang was this in one and we get a glimpse of what they are doing now, what their future may entail and Crownover leaves a shocking revelation that will certainly have you (especially me) squirming for NASH’s book.

*Thanks to William Morrow for sending a copy for review purposes

I was not compensated for my opinion. 

Read my review for JET (Marked Med #2)

Read my review for RULE (Marked Men #1)

Favorite Quotes

"I bet if he ever bothered to smile, panties across the nation would melt."

"Captain No-Fun better get with the program real fast or it was going to get ugly."

"Love isn't perfect. It's hard work and sometimes it's more effort to be in love than it is to just run away. If you keep looking for perfect, the real thing is going to pass right by you."

"I don't know, Half-Pint, something tells me reining you in is probably a pretty good time."

"My perfect guy has got to come already together and be good enough no assembly required by me."

"You suck."

"Only when asked nicely."

"That's okay, little brother has enough down there for you and everybody else in the room."

"I've been there and done that and seriously I wish I could give the T-shirt back."

"Oh, old friend, how I missed you."

"You talking to me or my dick?"

"Thanks, Half-Pint."

"Anytime, Captain No-Fun."

REVIEW: Dirty Trick by Christine Bell

Dirty Trick by Christine Bell (Perfectly Matched #1)
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Publication Date: September 23, 2013
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

This matchmaker’s about to meet her match…

Grace Love is lousy with men. She can spot a match for someone else a mile away, and her balls-on instincts are why her matchmaking business is thriving, but finding her own Prince Charming? The only guy who makes her sixth sense tingle is her playboy best friend, Trick, and no way is she risking their friendship, no matter how hot she knows the sex will be.

SWAT officer Trick Matthews is a patient guy, but Grace’s inability to see what’s right in front of her is grinding on his last nerve. Yeah, he blew his shot at breaking out of the friend zone when he tamped down the urge to lick her from head to toe the day they met, but he’s got a plan that’ll change her mind. Incognito at Salem’s hottest Halloween party, he’ll show her exactly how good they could be…and that he’s the man for her.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Christine Bell really stepped up her game with her new Brazen book, Dirty Trick. Not even a page in and I was completely hooked! By the end, I was half blown away and half upset that I had finished it. I thought Dirty Trick was damn near perfect from the wittiness, the sexiness, and my god, don’t even get me started on Trick. It had absolutely everything I loved and it reminded me just how much I adore Bell’s writing style. 



Lets start with independent, super cool, extremely funny Grace Love. I absolutely adored and cherished her the moment she showed up on page. I loved that she had both fragility and strength within her and how she was smart but shy and guarded too. Sometimes she didn’t know what she was doing, but I found her to be very endearing and sweet. I loved her devotion and passion for her job and how much she cared for those she held dear to her. 



Trick was absolutely amazing. Sure, his approach was wrong, but I would be lying if I said it wasn’t hot and sexy. He had good intentions for Grace and I loved that he finally stepped up to win her heart once and for all. I had no doubts when it came to his love for Grace; it was true all the way. I appreciated the way he helped Grace gain more confidence and finally put her past demons behind her. He was the sweetest, kindest, most loving person ever, he was nothing short of perfect. 



I’m a sucker for a friends-to-lovers trope, but even more so now that I have lived, breathed, and loved Trick and Grace. I think these two completely moved all the other friends to lovers couples I have loved in the past and became number one. Their chemistry was explosive and their scenes together were dynamite but tender and gentle too. Whether they were friends or lovers, they just belonged.



I was utterly impressed and floored by this book. I was thoroughly entertained and riveted by every aspect and I probably swooned more than a few times. I enjoyed the match making service Grace ran with her best friend and the “tingles” she felt. I thought it was a great addition to the novel that kept the ball rolling for Grace professionally, but also helped her romantically without her realizing it to begin with. 



Dirty Trick was very well written and had the perfect amount of wit and romance matched with the realistic and authentic scenes between Trick and Grace. Bell definitely made me laugh, made my heart beat faster and she sure as hell made me smile all throughout the book. 

REVIEW: Perfect Lies by Kiersten White

Perfect Lies by Kiersten White (Mind Games #2)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 18, 2014
Source: Edelweiss via publisher*
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

My Review

I’ve been super excited for Perfect Lies the second I finished Mind Games. I thought Mind Games was amazing, but Perfect Lies was just explosive. Kiersten White ups the ante with more suspense, action and edge than ever before. 



Fia has always been my favorite of the sisters. I adored her snarky, crazy, erratic thoughts. Fia was always a loose cannon and this time, she was quickly unraveling and losing control. All the spilled blood and sacrifices she had made and done to protect Annie was catching up to her. I didn’t know if she was going to tip over the edge and meet her downfall due to her unhinged state of mind. I just wanted to protect Fia because she was in deep, so in over her head, so fragile and broken. With her trying to destroy Keane from the inside, it seemed like she was destroying herself because it was harder and harder for her trust people and to figure out what was truly right and wrong. 



Annie really turned around in this book. I always thought she was more quiet, reserved, and a little helpless because she just allowed everyone else to take care of her. That Annie was no where to be found in Perfect Lies. Being away from Fia allowed her to stand on her own, to make her own decisions, and to just push herself to not be helpless little Annie anymore. She worked hard to decipher her visions, did what she could to help Fia, and just made herself be stronger mentally and even physically.



As I said, there was more suspense and edge. It was very fast paced to the point where one chapter was just not enough. I never really knew what was going to happen, what Fia was going to do next or what Annie was going to see. Old characters came back and new characters emerged. Some characters I disliked or didn’t care for became instant favorites and some characters I actually liked and adored slowly became characters I ended up having a heavy heart for. 



Like its predecessor, Perfect Lies was split between Fia and Annie’s perspectives with different timelines. I suggest not to think so much about these alternating timelines the way I did because you can get easily confused and possibly over think the events altogether. Trust me when I say everything comes together in the end. The events of what was happening to Annie get explained when it was Fia’s turn. The more you read, the clearer things get. Kiersten White really weaves and intertwines these timelines together. She really gives both Fia and Anne two distinct and easily identifiable voices. The best part is that though these two sisters are separated nearly the entirety of this book, the love they have for each other was stronger than anything. They were always thinking about protecting each other even when so much was already happening around them.

To make this book even more marvelous, we see unlikely friendships form and a romance that was dark and manipulating while the one was sweet and genuine. There was a lot of intensity, sad and even witty moments happening and I liked that each chapter was always another piece of the puzzle of Annie and Fia’s story falling in to place.



Overall, Perfect Lies was a brilliant follow up and end to the Mind Games duology. It was thrilling, exciting, and even a little disturbing. It was the best paranormal-suspense-mind twisting book I’ve read to date!



*Thanks to HarperTeen for sending a copy for review purposes

I was not compensated for my opinion. 

REVIEW: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #3)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Source: Edelweiss via publisher
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.
In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

My Review

In Under the Never Sky, Rossi impressed me with the world she created. In Through the Ever Night, she floored me with an upstanding, surpassing sequel that made me love Aria, Perry and Roar one million times more. And now in Into the Still Blue, Rossi completely took my breath away and left me whole and satisfied at such an end for a trilogy I’ve been holding so close to my heart. 



What I truly love about this last and final book is the balance of everything. It had developed closeness between characters, descriptive world building that never seemed to amaze me despite how familiar I was with it and adventure through the journey to getting to the Still Blue. The stakes were higher, deaths were inevitable, the love whether friendship or romance between one another was stronger and Outsider and Dweller came together. Best of all, the questions that have been roaming through my mind got answered.

There was no doubt in my mind that Aria and Perry’s relationship was rock solid and it continued to be throughout the whole book, probably more so with everything they went through. Like in the previous book, they had their own battles to contend with and I thought through each situation, they persevered. Even in the first book, I knew their relationship was authentic and natural. I appreciated that Rossi continued on with that here. While Perry and Roar’s relationship was rocky in this one, Aria with Roar was even stronger than ever, which gave me hope for all three of them. I really loved this trio so much. They were such a great team.

I thought the characters in this book went through so much more and not just the main three. There were definitely lots of struggle and pain but not without glory and triumph. Many characters who I hated were able to sway me and bring themselves some sort of redemption. And of course, this book was not without loss and sacrifice that left me with a heavy heart. I liked that a lot of acceptance and tolerance of one another seeped slowly, but surely into everyone. It was hard to see the hate, but even better to see the love.

Sable, the villain in all of this, although I hated him, was truly despicable. He was narcissistic, egotistical and oh so manipulative. I truly got to see what kind of leader and monster he was and how far he was willing to go to get what he wanted. He didn’t hesitate and was just so ruthless in nearly every way. He also had that creepy factor when it came to some situations in the novel; he definitely made my skin crawl. 

Into the Still Blue showed the life in the cave and the life in the Komodo. This was nice to see because it showed the different worlds of the Dwellers and the Outsiders, but it also showed just how much they needed to band together in order to survive and make it to the Still Blue. I thought Rossi did a great job of showing how some decisions were not going to be easy and not everyone was going to have a happy ending. Rossi didn’t hold back on this aspect and I thought she stayed true to the story. There were a few surprising revelations and twists, not so much to give too much shock value. However, the suspense of what was to happen next gave way for more than one heart stopping moment. In general, there was plenty of action, brutal beating and killing, and on the edge scenes that made this book that much more enjoyable and thrilling.

All in all, I thought Into the Still Blue was a mesmerizing finale. It was rich, beautiful, heartbreaking and certainly hopeful. I will surely miss the Aria, Perry and Roar as they have become friends I have gotten to know these past few years. 

*Thanks to HarperCollins for sending a copy for review

I was not compensated for my opinion

Read my review for book two: Through the Ever Night

Read my review for book one: Under the Never Sky

Favorite Quotes

*quotes taken from an eARC, all are subject to change from final finished copy.

The rough-edged hunter with the fierce glare she'd met half a year ago was almost gone. He was confident now, steadier. Still fearsome, but controlled. He was everything she'd expected him to become.

"Yes. Of course... I'll always... like you, Aria."
"I'll always like you too."

You know how hard it is to find trustworthy people. How impossible it is. People will turn on each other for the smallest reasons. For a meal, they will toss a friend aside. For a warm coat, they will stab each other in the back...

"So he got Brooke and her," Soren continued, indignant. "How does that even happen? He barely talks!"

"You know I'll go anywhere with you, Perry."

"Keep her safe."
"Of course. With my life."

"We all have the potential to do terrible things, Soren. But we also have the potential to overcome our mistakes."

"Your pants falling down is natural?"
He grinned. "Yeah. If they fall any further, it's going to be very natural."

"We can bring them together. Can't you see it? Can't you picture what we could be?"
"I can picture all the ways I want to end your life."

"Fine. Then I love you, my little Night Crawler."