Friday Fling! - Lucky Number Four

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed.  It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll stray from my YA focus into the realm of new adult/adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my not-so-guilty pleasure).  These are books that I think are fun, quick (sexy) reads that are definitely worth checking out!

Publisher: C.A. Kunz, LLC
Release Date: January 2014

Dora needs somewhere new to live and fast.  While living with her now married best friends seemed like a good idea and totally doable, their sex life has taken off and Dora is finding it a little hard to concentrate on her own life--not to mention hearing all the good sex is making her wish for some of her own!  A serendipitous roommate posting at the grocery store and three pushy models later, Dora is moving in with three drool-worthy men and she may have truly opened her own Pandora's box.  Attraction ensues, as one might suspect with three hottie roommates, but things are not necessarily quite as Dora is perceiving them

Ms. Pandora...well...she wasn't my favorite character ever in a new adult romance. She's clearly a beautiful young woman who can't fathom that she is, even with multiple handsome young men and her best friend drilling it into her head frequently.  While this was a fun and quick read, I felt like, for me, the character connections fell a little flat.  I wanted to like Pandora more (and to stop calling her Dora because does anyone NOT think of the little cartoon character when they say that name?), but something just didn't click there for me.  I also wasn't quite sold on the main love interest's instantaneous attraction to her.  I'm no stranger to love at first sight storylines but this one was lacking something and I'm not quite sure what.  That being said, I did enjoy this author's writing and general storytelling and I would probably pick up something from her in the future.

Fab {Indie} Friday: Callum & Harper by Fisher Amelie

Release Date: 24 December 2011

Publisher: Self-pub
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased from B&N

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N
(It's only $2.99 and totally worth it.)

Goodreads description:

Life sucks for orphans Callum Tate and Harper Bailey.

Kicked out of their foster homes because they suffer the 'eighteen disease' with nothing but a hundred dollar check from the government and a pat on the back, they're forced to rely on a system that failed them miserably.

So they sit. They sit inside Social Services, waiting for their social workers to call their names and offer them the miracle they know will never come but they sit anyway because they have nowhere else to go, no other options on their very literal and figurative empty plates.

But as they sit, they notice the other. Although captivated, they each come to the conclusion that life is complicated enough without throwing in a boiling tension that can't ever be acted upon because they're both too busy thinking about where their next meal will come from but when their names are called and both are placed on a year long waiting list for permanent housing, suddenly relying on each other seems like a very viable plan B.

And, oh, how lovely Plan B's can be.

Well, except for the psycho from Harper's past that haunts her and, oh, yeah, there's the little issue that neither of them knows they're in love with the other.

Needless to say, Callum & Harper's life just got a bit more complicated.

My Thoughts...

Fab {Indie} Friday Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Release Date:25 May 2012

Publisher: Self-pub
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased from B&N

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N
(It's only $3.99 and totally worth it.)

Goodreads description:

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.

Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.

Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

My Thoughts...

(ARC) YA Book Review: Hushed by Kelley York

Release Date: 6 December 2011

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley


Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

My Thoughts...

WOW.  From the moment that you read the description of this novel, you know it's going to be one wild ride of a story.  Kelley York's story will pull you in and take you on an intense emotional roller coaster as she pulls you into her characters and their lives. If you're looking for that next great read, look no further. Ms. York has crafted a beautiful, compelling story of friendship, love, sacrifice,...and murder.

The first thing that I really loved about this story is the day-by-day format.  Instead of chapters, the story segments are divided into individual days and it works. It helps mark the passing of time in a perfect way--without intruding upon the story. I know that it's a fairly minor point, but I liked it.  But, this story, for me, is all about the characters.

Archer, oh, Archer.  This boy has got some deep-seated emotional problems--that much is fairly clear from the very beginning.  When we meet him, he's already committed, either directly or indirectly, multiple muders and there are at least three more (with the possible fourth) on his hit list--all in order to get revenge for atrocities committed against his best friend years ago.  His emotional state is clearly fragile from the beginning and it's clear that he doesn't fully understand what it's like to have someone in your life who actually CARES about you. I won't lie--Archer was not a character that I loved from page one.  At the beginning, I wasn't at all sure that I was going to be able to enjoy reading from his POV.  However, he grew on me immensely and after not too long I was completely sucked into his thoughts, actions, and emotions.

Rescuer-boy was taller than Archer by a few inches, so he had to look up to see hi face, his dark eyes and mousy brown hair. Every inch was trim and lean where Archer was slim and willowy.  The guy took one look at Archer's expression and let him go, pocketing his hands.

Archer scooped his bag off the ground. "I'm fine. People never watch where they're going."

The guy quirked a smile. There was something about the soft shape of his mouth, something that made him stare a moment longer than necessary. "You say that like you're used to being bowled over."

-p13, eARC

Enter Evan.  I LOVED Evan from the moment that he first inserts himself into Archer's life (see above).  Even from their brief first interaction, I felt like Evan was someone that I desperately wanted to get to know and spend some time with.  He's so awesome.  *cue gushing*  Evan is the kind of person that we all want/need in our lives.  He's constant and understanding and loving (and it doesn't hurt that he's athletic and gorgeous...not that I'm at all his type but whatever).  I loved that he was totally there for Archer and he was willing to stick with him through a lot and draw him out of his shell.  At the same time, Evan totally wasn't willing to just let Archer take everything out on him and become an emotional punching bad (i.e. he won't let Archer treat him like Vivian treats Archer).

Oh, and Vivian.  Man, that chick is crazy.  I seriously couldn't stand her from the beginning and all I wanted was for Archer to get Viv out of his life. I know the girl has issues but you should only be willing to take so much.  I mean, seriously Archer, Evan is the better choice!!!

Something else that this story does incredibly well is portray an LGBT relationship without turning into an issue book.  The book is not about being LGBT or coming out--it is a thriller that just happens to feature a male-male romance.  And it's a heart-breakingly beautiful romance.  It's the kind of romance that I think we all can appreciate and hope to have someday (if we haven't already found it).  It was wonderful.  I wish there were more books like this and I honestly hope to read more like this in the future. Oh, and this book also had something else I want more of: college-age MCs! I love reading about college-age MCs and I bet a lot of high schoolers do/would as well!

Overall, I don't think that I can recommend Hushed enough!  I loved it so much that I read it in one sitting--and hours later couldn't stop myself from going back to reread certain parts. I definitely think that it's a story that I would like to read in its entirety again sometime soon.  It's a quick-paced read that will keep readers on the edge of their seat.

(ARC) YA Book Review: Wintertown by Stephen Emond

Release Date: 5 December 2011
Publisher: Little Brown BFYR
Source: Once Upon a Twilight ARC Tours

Pre-Order It! Amazon

Goodreads description:

Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off. .

My Thoughts...


Wintertown is a charming coming-of-age story about two best friends--complete opposites looking for what they can still share when their lives have taken such different paths.  The uncertainties of both present and future play out in this story of friendship and what happens when best friends grow apart...or maybe just grow up.

Wintertown is an easy book to fall into. The writing flows seamlessly from page to page creating an engaging, easy-to-read story.  Each POV offers the reader a deeper look into the lives of each character, allowing you to get the "bigger picture" of what is going on in the now separate lives of each person. Their individual struggles that they can't seem to articulate to each other become apparent to the reader and you can start to feel a connection with them. However, I felt that this was about as deep of a connection that I felt with the characters. Their friendship and the story of how it has changed and is still changing carries you through the book but doesn't necessarily allow you a deep connection with the characters.

And just who are these characters? Well, from the description, you know that our main characters here are Evan and Lucy.  Evan is your typical slightly-repressed good boy--driven to succeed and have the kind of "successful" life that his parents based on a college education in a "normal" field (like business or law). Evan's "drive" comes from both his upbringing and his father's constant pushing. You get the sense throughout that Evan feels like this is simply the normal path that he is "destined" to take in order to achieve his ideal of a happy life.  Now throw in Lucy, Evan's bff who moved away a number of years ago when her parents divorced and came back different this year. Lucy has been through a lot--none of which you find out until the POV switches to her about 2/3 of the way through the book.  Lucy definitely challenge Evan to stop and actually think about his future and what HE wants--not what his parents want--and I loved her for that.  Evan pushes Lucy a bit as well--forcing her to confront her past and present choices and her future--something which she clearly hasn't considered much before.

As endearing as the story is, the illustrations won me over in the end. At the end of each chapter, we are presented with a comic scene depicting a fictional version of Evan and Lucy in their imagined world of ice and snow. The comic scenes somewhat interpretively depict the inner conflict that the characters are struggling with. In addition, there are little illustration dispersed throughout that add a fun element to the story.  It gives you just a little insight into the characters that you don't get from the words, and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

As I said at the beginning, Wintertown is a very easy-to-read novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.  It takes place in a relatively short time-frame and is focused on the characters' development and choices.  Readers looking for an adventure or action won't find it here. However, if you're looking for a light, fun read, I would definitely say to give this one a shot.

This book reviewed courtesy of OUaT Tours.