ARC Review: The Best Kind of Broken

The Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine
Goodreads
Publsihed: March 4, 2014
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book. In no way did that sway my opinion.

Summary

Pixie and Levi haven't spoken in nearly a year when they find themselves working―and living―at the same inn in the middle of nowhere. Once upon a time, they were childhood friends. But that was before everything went to hell. And now things are... awkward.

All they want to do is avoid each other, and their past, for as long as possible. But now that they're forced to share a bathroom, and therefore a shower, keeping their distance from one another becomes less difficult than keeping their hands off each other. Welcome to the hallway of awkward tension and sexual frustration, folks. Get comfy. It’s going to be a long summer.

“You are not my friend, Pixie. You are a piece of my heart and a part of who I want to be.”

Sometimes a book catches you off guard and it steals your breath from your lungs and you wish that everything was real and when the book ends, and you’re pulled from the world you’ve been in for so long, it’s like a piece of you is missing. This book left me wanting more, in a good way. BEST KIND OF BROKEN follows our little heart-breaker with an artistic heart with physical and emotional scars that stretch for miles: Pixie. Also known as Sarah. With a wicked not-so-step mother, a dead best friend and a boy names Leaves who is all grown up and too hot to handle who unintentionally abandoned her. Pixie is stuck in life, in her grief, in her love and in her friendship. When she takes a job at her aunt’s hotel, she runs into the past and with that, our swoon-worth main guy. The question haunting this novel is this: how much can love overcome? And will it overcome you? With the heart-stopping romance and the true to life issues (loss, love, hate, exception, self-hate) BEST KIND OF BROKEN is everything a New Adult book should be.

It was steamy but no cheesy and romantic with self-discovery sewn into the very fabric of this book in a way that is undeniably sweet.

“Winning is an effect of trying. You have to want it badly enough to go through pain, discipline, and failure to find it. To confront it. To claim it. But most of all, you have to fight for it. Everything else—anything else—is absolute surrender” 

If you can’t tell by the long and repetitive rant above, I adore this book. It is truly a nod to the NA genre and is, well, perfect. Pixie is a strong female lead. She has her own share of problems that she is trying to work through. She does this with her painting. Me liking art myself, I could totally relate to this. The whole thunderstorm and lighting thing. I love how Pixie was portrayed in this book. She wasn’t weak but she still needed saving. I think that’s a good lesson to heed. You may not be weak but everyone needs to be saved. No matter how strong you are for however long, you have to have someone you can just be you with, and for Pixie, that was Levi. *swoon^2*

Levi. He is the only person who can compete with Pixie in the brokenness league. He hold this all-consuming guilt that he was responsible for the accident. AND THAT JUST NOT TRUE!  God, I love him. He is just so real. He’s not overly touchy-feely but he still needs someone. That someone being Pixie. 

 “When you bring something back from the brink of death, it fights harder to thrive.” 

Their story was just so captivating. The author did an amazing job with the true to life characters and plot development. Developing the characters is where a lot of good books fail and this book did a fantastic job with this. Perfect. The characters…I felt like I knew them. Like I was there with them. Or at least a bystander to all the drama and heat and the steam with a good dose of sugary sweet.

I loved the flashbacks this story had. They were well placed and they didn’t feel out of place. When something that the character thought or said needed explaining, a flashback rolled in with all the answers and it was nice. Sometimes I am left wondering what in the world happened and with BEST KIND OF BROKEN that as not the case at all.

Okay, enough ranting. Just order it. You need this books in your life. Like, yesterday. Or maybe even forever ago. 

I love this. Just talk people. I think I'm all out of words for the day!

Quoteable: Sins and Needles by Karina Halle

Goodreads

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

Would I read this book based solely on the quotes?

Hells to the yes. Those quotes are gorgeous and seemed to be woven into the books very essence. They're beautiful and kind of perfect. 

They both seem like a statement. They aren't questions, so they don't leave a question in my mind that I would definitely read this book based solely on the quotes. 

What do you think? Would you read this book based on the quotes? Do you ever read books based only on the quotes?

Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
January 29, 2013
Blazer + Bray
Goodreads

Summary

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

“Paranoia had crept into that part of my brain usually reserved for reason.” 

When it comes to books, I really don’t get creeped out easily. THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN? Nope. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD? Nope. THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER? Oh yeah. In the other two, the gross factor was human. In this one, it was animals. And Dr. Crazy Psychopath Scientist Brilliant Dude, I will hunt you down. THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER was an equal dose of nasty, curiosity, paranoia, romance and just plain no. And when I say ‘no’ I mean what he did to animals while they were awake was truly disgusting and wrong and he needs serious help. I mean I wanted to strap him to the electric chair pages after first meeting him. To him everything, everyone, was an experiment. Also, that man is sexist.

Okay, onto the love triangle. In the beginning I was all over the boy- turned- really- hot-scientist, Montgomery. I mean he was sweet, wanted the best for our mad main girl, and tried to protect her from her rather insane father dearest. When we got to the island he changed, not much, but just enough for me to be weary of him. The creations didn’t seem to be all Dr. Crazy Pants. When he talked about it, he seemed to know what he was talking about. Then we have Edward. Despite the unfortunate naming, I really liked him. Right off the bat, he genuinely liked Juliet. He wanted to protect her and save her from the disaster that takes the form of her sick and twisted and more than a little mad father. Both of these two rather amazing guys have a secret as dark as the night sky; one is a creator and the other has been created. One had the choice and the other had the choice taken.

The plot was twisted and enchanting and so very beautiful as much as it was wrong. With the changing and the humans in place of God, I found myself strangely fascinated with the unusual and haunting. Of course the whole animal aspect made me want to give a few lethal injections and much as I wanted to strap him into the electric chair.

Despite all the praise for the vivid descriptions, I found myself not as into the book as I would have thought. I can’t exactly say why, I just found myself needing to finish the book as much as I wanted to just get a new book and never pick this open this one again. I know, mixed feelings much?

In the end, I can’t give this book a rave review but I will recommend it if not just to try something unusual and new. Megan Shepherd is an author to look out for with her lush descriptions and excellent, descriptive and enchanting writing style. THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER is a wonderful debut and I’ll be pondering it for a while after finishing it. 

I'm pretty much the last one to read this one. Have y'all read it? What did y'all think? Leave a link in the comments so I can visit your blog!

Waiting on Wednesday

Hello all you lovelies! How is your Wednesday going?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Now and Forever by Susane Colasanti

Goodreads

May 20, 2014

What if your boyfriend was the world's biggest rockstar?

Sterling is crazy in love with Ethan. Not only is he the sweetest boy she's ever met, but he's an incredibly talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. And since forever, he's believed he has what it takes to be a star.

When Ethan becomes an overnight sensation, he's thrown head-first into the glam world of celebrity-and so is Sterling. Before she knows it, she's attending red-carpet premieres, getting free designer clothes, and flying around the country to attend Ethan's monumental sold-out concerts.

It's a dream come true...but whose dream is Sterling living? And what do you do when "forever" comes to an end?

Review: Running on Empty by Colette Ballard

Running on Empty by Colette Ballard
Goodreads

Summary

What does it feel like when you die—in those final moments? Do you feel the physical pain, or just the pain of your regrets? What does it feel like when you realize you can’t answer these questions because you’re not the victim?

You’re the killer.

River Daniels lives an ordinary life as a high school junior growing up in the confines of rural Texas until her boyfriend’s brutal attack leaves her both a murderer and a fugitive. When River’s closest girlfriends come to her aid, they make a hasty decision to not only help her, but leave their own troubled lives behind and join in her escape. The girls manage to elude police for months, but with every near-miss, River’s life spirals further out of control, until she finally hits rock bottom. Realizing she must stop endangering her friends and find evidence proving she acted in self-defense, the girls decide to make a risky move. River must face her ugly past and the one person she was protecting the night her world caved in, the guy she has loved for as long as she can remember.

RUNNING ON EMPTY is an enticing mix of old emotions, dramatic suspense and a barbaric asshole who haunts people’s lives long after he’s dead and gone. In this stunning debut, Ballard brings the reader into the fast- paced world of a half- dead, almost raped girl on the run. This book was fast paced and fabulous. We get to see (after she runs) how she goes from the walking dead to a girl who will be free and will tell the true story. This is when I start to love the story of course. Why? Because this is when we have our love interest back who is basically the definition of my dream guy. Definition. Best thing? He’s in Texas like me! Well...fictionally, but come on. Give me a break. 

Let’s talk about the love, shall we? It sweet and not simple at all with a touch of friends who are head over heels for each other but neither one knows. Our main man, Justice, has horses, an accent, calls her Darlin’ and is all shades of sweet with more than a touch of protectiveness for good measure. *sighs, swoons and fangirling* 

Now besides the utterly amazing guy this is a book more about self-discovery and standing up for what you deserve and, even more than that, healing. It’s about preserving humanity and finding love in the darkest places. RUNNING ON EMPTY is about pulling yourself out from the dead’s grip and the power of friendship. 

This isn’t a book I normally read but I found myself enjoying immensely, even in I did skip around sometimes to get to the romance and to the action. In the wise words of Hannah Montana, “nobody’s perfect.” 

In the end, this book had it all, the totally swoon-worthy cowboy, heart-pounding action, a kick-butt main girl and a jealous boyfriend who doesn’t know the difference between rape and consensual sex. Thanks God River disposed of him…even though it wasn’t intentional. 

Overall, this was a wonderful mix of mystery, romance with a girl on the run seeking Justice...in more way than one! This was full of healing and although it wasn't perfect, I loved it to pieces.

Okay, how many of y'all have read this? What did you think? It almost felt like the book was written by two different people to me. Oh, and the cover is cool, yes? 

Book Look #16

The Book

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Goodreads

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

The Look

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd by nobentspines featuring a chef cutlery

What do y'all think! Leave me a link to your blog so I can check it out!

ARC Review: White Hot Kiss

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrount
Goodreads
Published: February 25, 2014
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for giving me a copy to review. In no way did this sway my opinion.

Summary

One kiss could be the last. 

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. 

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. 

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. 

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed an author who was able to make every single paranormal thing with legs too hot to handle. Let’s see, she’s done Demigods, Aliens and now Gargoyles? I mean, it’s no surprise I loved this book. I’ve said more than one that I ADORE Gargoyles and I want more of them in the literary world. Especially ones like the ones in WHITE HOT KISS and THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURSED. Both are utterly swoon-worthy with main characters that are kick-butt. But the MC in WHITE HOT KISS had a few imperfections that I as a reader, could not look over. One of them is being mean to perfectly nice people, even if they are going after the guy you’ve loved forever.

Layla. She’s half demon half warden. And her mama is someone we all know about. Her past is covered in secrets and lost memories. Layla, although I liked her, annoyed me equally as much. She certainly had spirit but she was so confused with, well, everything. And I guess I would be too if my ‘family’ lied to me with practically every word they said and the half of myself I was most in tune with was the one side I was supposed to hate. Hate with a fiery passion, none the less. All her life she’s been looked at as an unnatural hybrid who should be condemned to death. She can steal your soul with a kiss. Since she was young, she’s been in love with the totally off limits warden. Who has a soul. Of course, then you have Roth *fans self* who of course is a demon who has no soul! Problem solved right?

Wrong.

With some wacky demon dude who feels like an apocalypse is the solution for everyone’s problems, including his, and a kind of cheesy love triangle, Layla has her hand full. If she chooses to stay alone forever and love Zayne (the warden) from a distance, she’ll be miserable. If she chooses the utterly heart stopping Roth, she’ll be happy, but it might also mean the end of the world.

Overall, this book was mostly just a fun read in-between books. I love this one because it didn’t require much (or any really) thought process and that is sort of what I needed. It was cute with an ending that FREAKING RIPPED MY SOUL TO SHREDS and Roth. Need I say more? I mean, Roth guys. Roth. Demon. Who’d of thought I liked the demon more than out little Warden Gargoyle friend. But I do.

I really, really do. Roth has secrets too of course, but HE NAMES HIS SNAKE BAMBI AND DRAGON THUMPER! AND HAS KITTENS. *takes a deep breath* I’m fine. I’m fine.

Just read the book y’all. Read. The. Book. With the author’s wicked ability to transform the book into reality, this is another one of her books that you do not want to miss. Pinkie Swear. 

I lost myself the moment I found you.

 Soooooooo.....who's read this one? Aren't gargoyles AWESOMESAUCE?! I really need someone to rant to.

ARC Review: Her Knight in Shining Armour

Her Knight in Shining Armour by Robyn Rychards
Publsihed: March 1, 2014
Goodreads
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy to review. In no way did this sway my opinion.

Summary

She may not need a knight in shining armour to save her, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to look a gift knight in the visor...

Paisley doesn’t need a knight in shining armour to rescue her from her high-powered, abusive ex-husband. She’s got it covered on her own: she's changed her name, liquidated her assets, and has a plan to disappear in the Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Psychiatrist Sterling James has absolutely no intention of being anyone’s saviour. The only woman he has any time for is his sister. But circumstances change when Sterling finds Paisley in an unexpected and life-threatening situation. Brought in to the drama of her escape, Sterling finds himself invested, and he can't move on until he knows Paisley is going to be safe. 

It should be a simple enough exercise to get Paisley out of the park and into her new life. But nothing is ever as simple as it should be, and Sterling soon discovers that even if her ex-husband buys the set-up, he might not be able to watch Paisley go...

From the summary I gathered that this would be a novel about a woman running from the abusive arms of her ex-husband. Her plans go awry when she was attacked by a bear (yes, a bear) and is saved by the hot, wealthy and utterly sweet Sterling. Their tale goes on following the pair through the wilderness and from her ex. Their romance develops and from there are there are many spoilers and such. 

I thought this book was well written and the characters were well developed but it felt a little… strange. You would think that for someone who was abused for the last ten years of her life she would be a little more skittish and scared yet when she was presented with a guy essentially the same background as her ex she meets him with fire. You know? She stood up for herself and it was…unexpected. Though I knew she would be strong and brave just from reading the summary. 

I love the descriptions in the book. It made the scenery feel real. As for the emotions…not so much. It all felt too rushed. The story felt like everything was being thrown into the scene and not really thought through. I don’t know. I felt like I should be more…satisfied?...with the story than I was. Or maybe I loved the story but didn’t feel like it fit with the situation. Yup. That’s it. She should be for mouse-like. And their feelings for each other developed way too fast. It was like once she thought she could trust him she was head over heels…almost. 

Anyways, the story I liked but the background? Not so much. 

I liked the characters and although Paisley did have her occasional moments of fear she didn’t bug out or anything like you’d expect. She was open and Sterling had his fair share of demons as well. 

In the end, I liked this book (less than what I expected) but it was still worth the read. More than anything, it’s a filler book. 

Soooooo....how do y'all feel about camping? And bears?

Book Look #15

The Book

Goodreads /Amazon

An orphaned, small-town, southern girl, held hostage by responsibility and self-doubt.

A Hollywood A-list mega-star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose. 

A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both forever. 

When his co-star and real-life girlfriend is caught cheating on him with her married and much older director, A-list hottie, Jack Eversea, finds himself in sleepy Butler Cove, South Carolina. Jack hopes the sultry southern heat in this tiny coastal Lowcountry town will hide him not only from the tabloids and his cheating girlfriend, but his increasingly vapid life and the people who run it. He doesn’t count on meeting Keri Ann Butler. 

Keri Ann has relied on herself so long, dealing with her family’s death and the responsibilities of keeping up her family's historic mansion, that boys and certainly the meager offering of eligible boys in Butler Cove, have never figured into her equation. But fate has other plans. Suddenly face to face with the man who played the movie role of her favorite fictional character, Jack has Keri Ann yearning for everything she has previously avoided ... and Jack must decide whether this funny, sassy girl is worth changing his life for, before his mistakes catch up to him.

The Look

Eversea by Natasha Boyde by nobentspines featuring a red purse

What do y'all think? I adore this book to pieces!!