With the end of the month comes new and awesome books to look forward to! Here is a list of books that I cannot wait to get my hands on!
(more…)Goodbye March, Hello April
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The Do-Over by MK Schiller
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Series: Standalone
Release Date: October 7th, 2013
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Arrogant womanizer Kyle Manchester hates blind dates; however, when best friend, Brad calls in a favor, insisting Kyle take out his girlfriend’s sister, Kyle reluctantly agrees. Attorney Lanie Carmichael’s appearance is no surprise. She is dowdy, awkward, and dressed in so many layers she resembles a wedding cake, but not in an edible way. Her brazen attitude though, astonishes him, especially when she explains she has no interest in gorgeous Kyle. Lanie Carmichael is in love with Brad, and wants Kyle’s assistance in winning his best friend’s heart.
Kyle gradually accepts, justifying that the mystery of Lanie has sparked his natural, thirsty curiosity. As an ambitious journalist, he also can’t resist the Pulitzer worthy scoop she offers him. However, as Lanie sheds more layers, both emotionally and physically, Kyle begins to examine his life choices, and his true feelings for this enigmatic girl. With Kyle’s support, Lanie begins to unravel the secrets of her past, and the deep pain that has quietly defined her life. As they each learn more about themselves and each other, both question how a relationship built on fraudulent lies between two broken people could ever survive.
<strong>Ending</strong>
HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Abortion
• Emotional abuse
• Abortion
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Heroine fancies herself in love with the Hero’s best friend
– The Hero is a mega player and sleeps around a lot
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Heroine fancies herself in love with the Hero’s best friend
– The Hero is a mega player and sleeps around a lot
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 4.25/5 stars
(more…)Blue Lines (Assassins, #5) by Toni Aleo
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Series: Assassins*
Release Date: December 9th, 2013
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Opposites do more than just attract in Toni Aleo’s latest Nashville Assassins novel about a very bad boy and the good girl he can’t resist.
The instant Piper Allen sees Erik Titov, she wants him—wants his rock-hard body, sure, but the strength and mystery that lies behind that superstar hockey jock demeanor, too. So when he sidles up to her at a bar and slinks his arm around her waist, she’s lost. What follows is the wildest night of her life . . . followed by inevitable heartbreak the next morning. And then, a few weeks later, a very big surprise: two blue lines on a pregnancy test.
Only a check to the head could make Erik fall for a nice girl like Piper. But since their crazy-sexy night together, he’s been trying to forget about her alluring body by falling into bed with every woman in Nashville, and it’s not working. So when Piper shows up at his house with a baby-bomb to drop, it doesn’t take much for Erik to suggest the nuclear option: marriage. While it’s supposed to be all for show, the second they say “I do,” the ice between them starts to melt into sizzling steam.
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, and Empty Net.
<strong>Ending</strong>
HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Objectification of women
• No OTT sad parts
• Emotional abuse
• Objectification of women
• No OTT sad parts
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Not Safe
• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Hero wanted to sleep with the Heroine’s (horrible) twin in past books
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
– The Hero was not celibate during his separation from the Heroine; they met up again 6+ months later.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Hero wanted to sleep with the Heroine’s (horrible) twin in past books
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
– The Hero was not celibate during his separation from the Heroine; they met up again 6+ months later.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
*Each novel in the series is Standalone
(more…)Getting Over Your Ex… Teen Edition
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Breaking up and getting over your ex is very common. However, it’s especially difficult when you’re still in love with them. Here are some fabulous books featuring unrequited love and self-love that centre moving on and prioritizing yourself.
(more…)Ruin, A Series by Rachel Van Dyken
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About the Series
I’ve devoured this series. I’m crazy in love with Wes and Kiersten’s story! The main theme in the series is fear and conquering the fear fostered throughout all these different characters’ life-altering challenges. But as Wes always says, “Do it afraid.”
The review of the series includes reviews on each of the following books (listed in order of release):
Note: Each book in the series is Standalone (except for the novella Fearless, which is an extended epilogue to the first book in the series, Ruin).
(more…)Half Bad (Half Bad, #1) by Sally Green
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Series: Half Bad Trilogy
Release Date: March 4th, 2014
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
“Brilliant and utterly compelling – I loved it. The new Hunger Games, I suspect.” ~ Kate Atkinson, New York Times bestselling author of Life After Life
WANTED BY NO ONE. HUNTED BY EVERYONE.
Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world’s most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan’s only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it’s too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?
Half Bad is an international sensation and the start of a brilliant trilogy: a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive
<strong>Ending</strong>
Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
• Main character is bisexual
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Torture
• Captivity
• Violence (Blood and gore)
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Bullying
• Discussion of suicide
• Captivity
• Violence (Blood and gore)
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Bullying
• Discussion of suicide
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Allusions to sex
• Sexual fantasies
• Mild language
• Underage drinking
• Drug use in relation to poisoning and drugging of prisoners
• Sexual fantasies
• Mild language
• Underage drinking
• Drug use in relation to poisoning and drugging of prisoners
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
(more…)Some Silly Fun: Magnetic Poetry!
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The theme of Love kit, courtesy of Magnetic Poetry. I thought this was highly amusing! Enjoy!
A Girl By Any Other Name by MK Schiller
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Series: Standalone
Release Date: January 17th, 2014
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Everyone tells him he needs to move on, but how can a man function without his heart?
Ten-year-old Caleb Tanner wants nothing to do with Sylvie Cranston, the annoying weird girl who moves next door to him and gets him in trouble for swearing. But at twelve, they become friends when he teaches her how to hook a fishing line and she shows him the value of a selfless act. At fourteen, he falls in love with her.
At sixteen, she dies.
Or so he’s told. But Cal never believes it. Sylvie has become part of his soul. He knows her like the study beating of his own heart. He’d know if she was dead. Cal looks for her, prays for her and finally, he just waits for her.
Nine years later, she walks into the community college English class Cal is teaching. Only this girl claims her name is Sophie Becker and she doesn’t know him. Cal knows better. He’s determined to get the girl he loves back – and protect her from the danger that took her away all those years ago.
<strong>Ending</strong>
HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Hero’s father died when he was a child
• Heroine’s mother was murdered and has a turbulent relationship with her father
• Hero still dealing grieving with the death of his best friend (who died when she was 17).
• Hero suffered gunshot wounds when his BFF died
• Hero is also convinced his BFF is alive
• Heroine’s mother was murdered and has a turbulent relationship with her father
• Hero still dealing grieving with the death of his best friend (who died when she was 17).
• Hero suffered gunshot wounds when his BFF died
• Hero is also convinced his BFF is alive
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW drama (Hero has a friends-with-benefits situation going on)
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine (Neither are celibate, but of course, Hero has a lot of ex-lovers, while the Heroine has only one.)
• Does have the Heroine pushing away
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Does have OW drama (Hero has a friends-with-benefits situation going on)
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine (Neither are celibate, but of course, Hero has a lot of ex-lovers, while the Heroine has only one.)
• Does have the Heroine pushing away
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 4/5 stars
(more…)A Girl Named Digit (Digit, #1) by Annabel Monaghan
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Series: Digit
Release Date: June 5th, 2012
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
“A first novel that combines adventure, mystery, love, and humour.” ~ Booklist
Farrah “Digit” Higgins has left her geek self behind in another school district so she can blend in with the popular crowd at Santa Monica High and actually enjoy her senior year.
But when Farrah, the daughter of a UCLA math professor, unknowingly cracks a terrorist group’s number sequence, her laid-back senior year gets a lot more interesting.
Soon she is personally investigating the case, on the run from terrorists, and faking her own kidnapping – all while trying to convince a young, hot FBI agent to take her seriously.
<strong>Ending</strong>
Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Allusion to violence
• No OTT sad parts
• No OTT sad parts
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Some kissing
• Alcohol use
• There’s an age difference between Heroine and love interest:
– Hero is 23
– Heroine is 17-going-on-18
• Hero is waiting until she’s 18, which she turns in a few months, to go any further.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Alcohol use
• There’s an age difference between Heroine and love interest:
– Hero is 23
– Heroine is 17-going-on-18
• Hero is waiting until she’s 18, which she turns in a few months, to go any further.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
(more…)Poetry from Falling For You by Lisa Schroeder
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From the bestselling book Falling for You by Lisa Schroeder, here’s a sneak peek at one of the amazing poems written by Rae who’s the heroine in this novel! I hope these poems reach out to you as they did me … and drive you to purchase this book!
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