Leave of Absence

I apologize to my faithful followers and to NetGalley for taking an unexpected leave of absence. I had a car accident and then I had another one. In the midst of dealing with the insurance company and getting injured my Kindle completely went out with all my books including books for reviews that I had, our PC at home crashed and my son dropped my phone and since then it won't charge properly and freezes every time I try to load a page off the internet. Suffice to say I am electronically without at this time and am borrowing a laptop to write this apology.  I will try and download my books again and try to catch up with my reviews soon! 

Thanks for your time and patience.

Review That Time I Joined a Circus by J. J. Howard

An Different Kind of Read

That Time I Joined the Circus is the story of a teen girl's journey of self-discovery when she is met with tragedy and has to travel to look for her mother in a circus.

I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

O.k. this book really through me for a loop, overall I liked it. I really appreciated the story line, the writer's descriptions of the circus life, and the characters however I just felt like I was playing catch up through out the whole book.  The story is written in the present and past simultaneously by alternating chapters in the protagonist, "Lexi", "Xandra", or "X's" voice leading up to her tragedy. I kept having to go back and forth to read things and although the concept is brilliant, I just think the execution was off.  I identified with the characters to a certain extent but I just couldn't seem to keep that connection through out. There is an insinuated sex scene but no details and some sweet love scenes. I love the cover. Overall an interesting although different kind of read.

3 Stars out of 5 Stars

Review of Our Song by Jordanna Fraiberg

A Decent Read

Our Song is a YA contemporary romance novel about a girl who hears a mysterious melody in her head after being revived in a near fatal car accident.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley. 

The story told in Olive's POV, was intriguing up until three-quarters of the way into the book. After much awaited and drawn out suspense regarding why Olive was hearing the mysterious melody and who this mysterious boy Nick was, it became a little muddled. I felt like the author lost her train of thought for a moment then suddenly re-focused once again on what she was trying to convey. And although I really enjoyed Olive's personal growth through her life affirming experiences with Nick, there were certain scenes in the book where it was a little confusing like certain things were omitted or maybe time just transcended when Olive and Nick were together? I do have to say that in the end the story did pleasantly surprise me by not turning out the way I expected it to. 

The characters were well developed although some behavior was a bit tiresome; knowing someone personally who went through this, I found myself empathizing with the characters. The writing was a little rushed at times and at others a little confusing but I think it was the author's way of giving us a glimpse of Olive's state of mind as she goes through her NDE(Near Death Experience). It was a ARC so some formatting issues were present but not enough to make a difference in the reading experience. There is mention of sex with one sex scene described in a technical way and drinking. The cover is fitting. All in all a decent read.

3 Stars out of 5 Stars

Review of If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

An Eye-Opening Read

If You Could Be Mine is a coming of age story about a teen girl growing up in Iran who is in love with her best friend, who is a girl.

I received this ARC through NetGalley and Alqonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. A special thank you to the author for writing this book and for the opportunity to read her book.

The story is gripping, sad, and makes you reflect about all the things that we as women in free countries take for granted. The theme is controversial in itself but to have it revealed in the backdrop of Iran where women are not allowed many rights and sometimes the punishment is death if certain codes are violated was impressive. The characters are engaging however I felt a sort of disconnect with Nasrin, Sahar's love interest. The writing was fluid and I read the book easily however because it was an ARC there were quite a few formatting issues, sentences, words, and letters from words missing so it was a little frustrating when sentences were incomplete. I have to applaud the writer for giving us a glimpse of what life is like not only for a young woman in Iran but a transsexual and gay person as well. There is mention of drugs, drinking, details of a sex change, and pregnancy. The cover is lovely. An eye-opening read. 

3 Solid Stars out of 5 Stars

Review of The Silver Chain by Primula Bond

A Disappointing Read

The Silver Chain is an erotic contemporary romance about a promising photographer trying to make it in the big city of London when she unexpectedly finds herself in a contract that requires more than showing her work.

I received this ARC via a special invitation through NetGalley and AVON Publishing in exchange for an honest review. 

Well, I am going to go off my format a little, I don't pretend to be a scholar however I love to read especially about other countries and other cultures, ways of life. With that said I enjoy figuring out certain expressions or looking up words from other languages so I get the gist of the conservation or what the author is trying to get across. I am open to all kinds of reads and all kinds of different styles of writing however this book perplexed and confused me all throughout.

Maybe I just wasn't getting the references, dialogue, analogies, and comparisons but I found myself in a whirlwind of confusing and sometimes contradicting situations with characters I really didn't care for. The story line started off with a promising drama element then transitioned into what I thought to be a little tongue in cheek poke at other popular books then it became something more like an attempt to mimic certain situations from those books. I felt let down because the author would build up these promising situations to bring insight to why the characters were the way they were, only to offer some confusing analogy or dialogue sequence that would completely deflect from the situation at hand. The sex scenes were a little awkward and halting. This is an erotic book with elements of BDSM, graphic sex scenes, cussing, drugs, and drinking. In my humble opinion a disappointing read. The cover is simple but eye-catching.

2 Stars of 5 Stars

Review of Pretty Dark Nothing by Heather L. Reid

A Frustrating Read

Pretty Dark Nothing is a debut book in a YA paranormal series about a girl who has some sort of connection between demons and angels.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley and Month9Books. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read her book.

I was quickly sucked into this story; I loved the horror aspects of this book.  The author's descriptive writing and the flow of the book made it easy but the characters although well developed just seemed a little off especially the protagonist and her love interests. I couldn't comprehend or empathize with some of the behavior especially when it came to the protagonist but I made allowances and just let the author take me where she wanted me to go. In my humble opinion, the secondary characters helped this book immensely, one can only tolerate a certain amount of selfish behavior. The protagonist did eventually redeem herself but at what cost in the story? 

I was blindsided by the abrupt ending when the premise is suddenly revealed in a confusing and obscure flashback not to mention a heck of a cliffhanger that left me quite annoyed. I found myself scratching my head and went back and read the last chapters again to make sure I wasn't missing something. This was a ARC so typical formatting issues were present but I read this book in hours so it didn't take away from the book. There is a sex scene although no graphic details just insinuated, and another sex scene is also implied, mention of teen pregnancy, mention of attempted suicide, cutting, and some cussing. The cover is haunting but beautiful. A frustrating read. 

2.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

Review of When The Siren Calls by Tom Barry

A Hard Read

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley and Troubador Publishing Ltd. 

Spoiler Alert:
When the Siren Calls is a contemporary erotic romance about a married woman who feels unfulfilled in her marriage and finds herself torn between having an affair with a con artist and being faithful to her husband.

The story line is predictable; the author's descriptions of Tuscany are somewhat engrossing. The pace is rather slow and quite frankly I had to come back to this book several times before really being able to get into it. The story is told in several characters' POV in no particular order. The characters are flat and insipid; I really had a hard time identifying with any of them because they just didn't seem personable at all. It's an adult read; there is cussing, sex scenes, references to drinking and a scene where a woman gets taken advantage of while drunk. The cover doesn't make sense to me however it is a little haunting. A hard read. 

1.5 out of 5 Stars

Review of This Girl by Colleen Hoover

A "Butterflying" Beautiful Ending

This Girl is Will's story told in his POV through a series of flashbacks as he reminisces and tells Layken about their relationship leading up to their honeymoon.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley and Atria Books. Thank you to NetGalley and Ms. Hoover for the opportunity to read this book.
Even though we already know the story, Ms. Hoover found a way to tell it in a way that both surprises and enlightens the readers. The story begins on Will and Layken's honeymoon night as she begins to ask him questions about their trials together. The author manages to develop their love story a step further gives the readers what most women want to know, what the man is thinking as he falls in love. I have to say that I am truly impressed with Ms. Hoover's writing and the way she is able to bring life to her characters. There are drinking references, some very sensual sex scenes, and cussing. I like the cover. Ms. Hoover is a "butterflying" good writer. A good read. 

4.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

“That was my sweet. Having that moment with you.

All the little moments I got with you were always

my sweet.”

-Colleen Hoover, This Girl

Review of Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick

Absolutely a Fantastical Read

Gorgeous is a fantastical coming of age romance about a small town high school graduate, working as a cashier in a dead end job and the man she is destined to marry. 

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley and Scholastic Press. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read his book.

O.k., I do NOT want to give anything away. The story line is imaginative; it is outlandish and fantastical, it's a smidgen of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? with a bit Wizard of Oz that somehow meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory only Willy Wonka is Tommy Hilfiger and the factory instead of wonderful sweet creations being made, are out-of-this-world-fashions made for one person alone. The writing is quite descriptive and engaging; a bit unrestrained but over the top in a good way. The characters are funny and heartfelt; I was really pulling for "Becky" in this book. I laughed throughout the book and even teared up a few times because I remembered what it was like growing up feeling like a nobody. There is a lot of cussing, references to drinking, drugs, and a sex scene but not descriptive. I absolutely love the cover. An absolutely fantastical read. 

P.S. I have to apologize to NetGalley for taking so long, I lost all my books to my malfunctioning Kindle and had to backtrack luckily this book was still available to read. 

3.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

Review of Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

A Fun Erotic Read

Wallbanger is a contemporary erotic romance about a woman, who just recently moved into her place of residence and her neighbor.

First of the all the title certainly got my attention. Then the "Spank", "Meow", and "Giggle" that were introduced all in first chapter...let's just say that my expectations of the book were set high after that first chapter and I have to honestly say that the author delivered. The story told in mostly in Caroline's POV was predictable although engrossing with all the shenanigans that were going on throughout the book. The author's development of the characters and their relationships were done well; the book flowed well and writing for the most part was smooth although some of the transitioning into certain chapters was a little off. I absolutely loved the chapter with the internal conversations in the different characters' POV and the chapter done in Clive's POV. I found myself snorting, giggling, and laughing all throughout the book. It is an erotic romance so for mature audiences with definite sexual encounters of the very steamy kind along with dirty talk, references to drinking, and cussing. I liked the cover although in my mind I picture it in a different way, like maybe a kitchen counter involved and flour all over the place. All in all, definitely a fun read.

4 Stars out of 5 Stars

Review of ARC The Deepest Night by Shana Abe

Continuation of the Drákon.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley and Bantam Dell Publishing(Random House).

The Deepest Night is the continuation of Eleanore or "Lora's" story as a Drákon.

Spoiler Alert

Once again I was enthralled by the author's eloquent writing and the evolvement of the main characters; the development of the secondary characters was also a nice surprise. We again get glimpses of "Louis'" POV and Jesse's too but too infrequent and not at all in measured terms. It's as though the author just decided to sporadically insert one of the two male POV at certain times. Yet again there are things that I don't understand but that is part of losing yourself in a story and enjoying it however I now have more questions than I started with; as there are now three dragons involved not just Louis and Lora. I do plan on reading the next book because I am hoping the author will address all the unresolved issues. Although I do have some problems with the way the story line progressed, it was all in all a decent read. There is mention of drinking and some sensuality. Once again the cover is gorgeous.

3 out of 5 Stars

APOLOGIES

I apologize for not keeping up with the blog, I have been ill then my family got a nasty stomach bug. 

My kindle has gone to that electronic place in the sky :( 

It's much harder than I expected to keep all the balls in the air, with work, home, kids, etc. 

Again I Apologize...posting several books very soon. 

A Reading Nurse Blog is Hosting a 5 Autographed Book Giveaway!

A Reading Nurse Blog Recounts her adventure in The Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego where she scored some really cool books! 

 Check out her blog for an opportunity to win! 

http://areadingnurse.blogspot.com/2013/04/spring-into-future-panel-and-signing.html

Spring Into the Future Panel and Signing! Including a 5 book giveaway! 

Cynthia Hand - Unearthly Series 

Anna Carey - Eve Series 

Tahereh Mafi - Shatter Me Series 

Veronica Rossi - Under the Never Sky Series 

Ransom Riggs - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Review of Colleen Hoover's Slammed and Point of Retreat

I am going off my format to do a double review because this author is one of the best indie authors I have come across since I began to read and review ebooks.  Her writing is phenomenal and really heartfelt.  If you haven't read this series and you are interested in contemporary romance,  these books are a definite recommend in my book. 

Good Reads!

Slammed is a contemporary romance novel about a couple who falls in love while going through similar life experiences. 

I am going off my format yet again; lately I have been doing that because of really good reads or reads that weren't. This book is definitely a good read! The book is unlike anything I have read before; quotes, poetry, lyrics to songs all weaved in perfectly, setting a backdrop for the romance blossoming in your mind. In my humble opinion Ms. Hoover has managed to find the perfect formula for what a romance novel needs; real life drama, swoon-worthy lines, and perfectly flawed characters that are worth rooting for. Her character building is genuine and heartfelt and is exactly what I am looking for in a story. The only complaint I have is the way the ending was done, which was a little abrupt. This is definitely going on my recommend list and I am anxious to read what Ms. Hoover has in store for her characters in the next book of this series. There are some sensual scenes and there is some cussing. The cover is appropriate.

Rating 4 out 5 Stars 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley and Atria Books. 

Thank you to the author for writing such a beautiful story and for giving me an opportunity to read her follow up book.

The Point of Retreat is the continuation of Layken and Will's love story.

The story picks up where Slammed left off and is told in Will's POV. The author managed to really capture Will's voice and developed the story quite well. The main and secondary characters who are perfectly flawed evolve but the new characters that are introduced are absolutely phenomenal. I loved Eddie in Slammed but Kiersten, Sherry, Caulder, and Kel steal most of the scenes in this book. I really enjoyed this book although some of the foreshadowing that leads to the drama was a bit predictable. I truly became emotionally invested yet again with Ms. Hoover's characters and all their ups and downs; this book is an absolute honest read. I love the title and the cover is perfect. There is some language, sensual scenes, references to drinking, drugs, and pregnancy mentioned. 

This book is "butterflying" good read!

Rating 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Review of Transcend by Christine Fonseca



A Dark Read

 I would like to thank the author, Ms. Christine Fonseca and We ♥ YA Books for the opportunity to read this book. I was gifted this book for an honest review. Thank you Ms. Fonseca for your patience and understanding with regards to my Kindle situation!

Transcend is a dark psychological read about a young man who loses himself after going through a disillusionment.

The story starts off really well but then somewhere along all the emotional drama the protagonist goes through, I just sort of got lost. The book switches back and forth from first person to third person, possibly to show the state of mind of the protagonist? I went back and forth several times to reread certain passages to make sure I was reading correctly and ultimately ending up reading a good portion of the book twice. Some of the characters are developed well but others are unfortunately not; however I feel that it is the author's intention to hold back until the climax of the story.  I really enjoyed the author's suspense building and the way she set the back drop to the book however I felt the story was a bit disjointed until the end. There are some sweet kissing scenes some really dark thoughts possibly actions (?) but no mention of sex, alcohol, or drugs; nor is there any curse words at least any that I can think of at the moment. I love the cover.
**I will mention that my Kindle gave me issues towards the end of book when I most wanted to finish it, my kindle froze but luckily it started up again and I was able to jump right back in where I left off and finished the book.

Rating 2.5 out of 5 Stars

Review of Collen Hoover's Hopeless



Heartbreaking Good Read

 Hopeless is a contemporary romance about a girl and a guy who find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another because of something that occurred in each other's past.

O.k. I am going off my formatting again because I NEED to get everything that I am feeling off my chest. I read this book about a month ago but I didn't know if I could review it; this book was so emotionally wrenching, it took me to sweet romance highs then brought me crashing down to the raw emotion of betrayal by the people who are supposed to love and protect you . I CRIED, probably more than I have in a really long time. The story line is carefully weaved so it twists and turns just so giving you glimpses of what is to come then suddenly you are blindsided by the emotion of it all. The author developed the main and secondary characters well, each doing their part to bring together all the pieces of the puzzle that is Hopeless. The writing is smooth however there were a few moments that I had to pause and reread, normally this is one of my pet peeves but I felt the need to go back and really “hear” the characters. The dialogue and banter between the main characters is sweet and at times quite sexy but it is also heartfelt and raw. I really enjoyed Sky and the kind of relationship she had with her mom and friends. Holder is so perfectly flawed, although at first I thought he was just a little mental. I normally don’t like to delve into these kinds of stories because it reminds me that I have a story of my own but the author put words to the emotions I have kept locked inside for so many years. The cover is hauntingly beautiful. It was a heartbreakingly good read.

Rating 4.5 Stars of 5 Stars

Under the Weather

Sorry guys but I had complications with my throat infection due to asthma issues and allergies.  Now the stomach flu is going around in my household. I will definitely post reviews soon. 

Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Review & Giveaway: Touched by A.J. Aalto (Blog Tour)

Hi Guys! I have been under the weather so I apologize for not posting any recent reviews although I have several I need to do. Please check out Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance; this blog is everything I aspire my blog to be. Jennifer Bielman is an honest reviewer and she always has these great giveaways going on, so please check out her blog and show her some love. She is promoting a giveaway of Touched by A J. Aalto and Jennifer's review is a two thumbs up! -5 Stars!  

Thanks for your time and patience and look for several reviews coming back to back! :) 

Carpe Diem

http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/

April Kindle Fire Giveaway!

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

  Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

  Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
2. Author Jennifer Laurens
3. Author Lena Sledge
4. Kelly's Lucky You
5. Author Lori Verni-Fogarsi
6. Phantasmic Reads
7. Author Rebecca Talley
8. Author Ednah Walter
9. Author Heather Bixler
10. Girls With Books
11. My Life With Books
12. Author Rae Z. Ryans
13. All Fantasy Worlds
14. Author Michael Young
15. Book Angel Booktopia
16. Lori's Reading Corner
17. Books R Us
18. Books 4 Tomorrow
19. Author T. Lynne Tolles
20. Good Choice Reading
21. Curling Up With A Good Book
22. Auggie-Talk
23. A Bookish Escape
24. Paranormal Book Club
25. Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf
26. Amethyst Daydreams
27. Pink Fluffy Hearts
28. Love. Without You
29. Books, Books, the Magical Fruit
30. Author Lisa Voison
31. Tasty Book Tours
32. Fae Books
33. Author Cindy C. Bennett
34. Author Emma Michaels
35. Author Lia Fairchild
36. Fade Into Fantasy
37. Pieces of Whimsy
38. Author Rachael Renee Anderson
39. Feed Your Reader
40. Lovely Reads

Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 4/30/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $199 US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flash Giveaway at The Cover Contessa!

Flash Giveaway!

International Girls YA Book Club has hit 1000 Likes!

In Honor of the Milestone there is a Giveaway of a Hardcover Copy of Clockwork Princess(Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare.

Clockwork Princess(Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Book Description:

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

Danger and Betrayal, Secrets and Enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices Trilogy

Visit The Cover Contessa for a Chance to Win! 

David Estes' Ice Country Tour Wide Giveaway

I am proud and honored to be a part in hosting  David Estes' release of his second book, Ice Country to his third YA Series called The Country Saga.  

Please show Mr. Estes some love! 

Ice Country

(The Country Saga #2)

by David Estes

Book Synopsis

Dazz, a hard-edged, fun-loving Icer, likes fighting, particularly while at his favorite watering hole. However, while recovering from a particularly bad break up, his decision to engage in a brutal pubroom brawl leads to a series of events that thrust him into a dark and mysterious scandal involving King Goff, the ice country ruler.

When his sister is abducted in the dark of night, Dazz pledges to do whatever it takes to get her back, embarking on a quest that threatens to rip apart the very fabric that's barely holding his shattered family together. 

Along the way he meets a group of unlikely allies in the form of a travelling group of fire country natives. Can Dazz, when joined with his best friend, Buff, and new tan-skinned friends, defeat the King and his guards before it's too late for his sister?

Quick Facts:

Release Date: April 4th, 2013

Genre: YA Dystopian

Formats Available for Purchase: Paperback (only at Amazon) Kindle, epub and Smashwords

Links to buy Ice Country:

Kindle- http://www.amazon.com/Ice-Country-Saga-ebook/dp/B00C450JEQ/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1365037507&sr=8-1&keywords=ice+country+estes

Nook- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ice-country-david-estes/1114967514?ean=2940016746463

PRAISE FOR "ICE COUNTRY":

-"5 stars! David Estes creates captivating and original worlds that you love to get lost in!" Alexandria Theodosopoulos- Goodreads

-"Richly filled with new characters and story without leaving the old behind...a seamless transition into another side of a fantastic world." Kerri Hughes-

The Author:  David Estes

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife and soul mate, Adele, who he’s now been happily married to for more than two years.
A reader all his life, David began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and has completed 14 novels, 12 of which have been published. In June of 2012, David became a fulltime writer and is now travelling the world with Adele while he writes books, and she writes and takes photographs.
David gleans inspiration from all sorts of crazy places, like watching random people do entertaining things, dreams (which he jots copious notes about immediately after waking up), and even from thin air sometimes!
David’s a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, an obsessive Goodreads group member, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table. He loves responding to e-mails, Facebook messages, Tweets, blog comments, and Goodreads comments from his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends.

Learn more about the author at: ​http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com​

Book Content

​*We do our best to provide language and sexual content information for those interested in reviewing books. If you feel the content would get in the way of an honest review, we recommend hosting an interview or guest post. All author posts, excerpts, and interviews are required to be PG.

​The book is suitable for all audiences.​

T​​​our Giveaway

 

Tour Wide giveaway: 5 e-copies of "Fire Country" (The Country Saga #1) and 2 e-copies of "Ice Country"

(The Country Saga #2).

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/de7c9f42/

Review of The Star Dwellers by David Estes

Second in Dystopian Series

The Star Dwellers is the continuation of Adele and Tristan's story in the Dwellers Series.

The story picks up where Moon Dwellers leaves off with Adele and Tawni going to rescue Adele's mother from prison and the rest of the group including Tristan staying behind with Adele's father, Ben. As I started to read this book I noticed the author's writing was a little more relaxed, still told in both main character's POV;  taking the world building a step further. As it evolved the author developed and revealed the characters' relationships in an honest way. I was drawn in because every time I anticipated something happening I was surprised with a twist and turn taking the story to a different level; it has moments where you laugh, smile then there are those where you tear up and want to cry. Mr. Estes does not disappoint in the action department but most of it happens towards the end of the book. There are still many questions I need answered and I can't wait to read the next installment to this series. The book is definitely a YA read. 

Rating 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Review of Love Unscripted by Tina Reber

A Predictable Read

Love Unscripted a contemporary romance novel about the trials and tribulations of a self-made woman and an up and coming actor.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read her book.

The story line is predictable and the writing sounds somewhat immature although the story is told in the POV of a woman in her upper twenties. The book is quite long and all the details about the mundane things in their lives are a bit tedious. The protagonists are "sweethearts" but Taryn has a lot self-esteem issues even though she seems to be perfect and Ryan the quintessential "HOT" actor of the moment is a little too controlling for my taste. Their egos are very fragile;  the more I read the more I grew tired of all the going back and forth between the main characters especially the fickleness of Taryn's emotions. The climax of the story and the details leading up to it were foreseen however I was expecting something much more.  By that time I just didn't care about the story anymore even though some chapters before I started to feel for the couple after going through what they went through.  I thought that maybe that would be the turning point in the book. Another reason I took another star is that there are things that are contradictory and I had to go back and forth to make sure I was reading correctly(One of my pet peeves when reading!).There are a couple of redeeming things in this book, one is the relationships the main characters have with their families and friends and two, that the author wrote some very sensual sex scenes between the protagonists but she didn't focus every other chapter with their lovemaking in graphic detail like other books I have read recently and I liked that. This is an adult book, there is mention of sex, drinking, and abuse of prescribed medication. 

Rating 2.5 out of 5 Stars

Side Note: If you would like to see spoilers to this review here is the link: 

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/573571021