REVIEW: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

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Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up. She graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.  Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant and has a total soft spot for Lily; and the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head, but Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his no dating rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.  As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan, her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.  With this bold and deeply personal novel Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all too human characters, “It Ends with Us” is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

(Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the early digital copy of this book)

4 out of 5 stars 
Please read my rating system further below.
★ ★ ★ ★

Prior to reading It Ends With Us, I had no idea what it was about. Based off my other reading experiences with Colleen Hoover books, I thought that this book would be a quick and fast read. Prime entertainment. Little did I know that this book was written on a topic that was very personal to the author. Little did I know that I picked up a book that covered the topic of abuse. Little did I know that It Ends With Us would be one of my favorite novels by master storyteller Colleen Hoover. 

Review & Blog Tour - The Eve Project: Machines of the Little People by Tegon Maus

 Ben Harris’s sister died of cervical cancer more than three years ago… his best friend and her husband, Roger Keswick, disappeared the day before the funeral. For the next six months everyone from the local police to the Department of Defense searched for him but to no avail… it was as if he had simply fallen off the face of the planet only to reappear at work as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Then by the purest of coincidences Ben finds himself pulled back into Roger’s life only to discover he has remarried… to Jessica… a woman the looks, sounds and acts just like his dead sister. To complicate things Roger is insistent his home, his car, his life is infested with tiny elf like creatures he calls the Katoy. He claims they run massive machines under his house and watch his every move… every move that is until Jessica is found bludgeoned to death in his living room and Roger is nowhere to be found . . . again.

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Tegon Maus was raised pretty much the same as everyone else… devoted mother, strict father and all the imaginary friends he could conjure. Not that he wasn’t friendly, he just wasn’t “people orientated”. Maybe he lived in his head way more than he should have, maybe not. He liked machines more than people, at least he did until I met his wife. The first thing he can remember writing was for her. For the life of him he can’t remember what it was about… something about dust bunnies under the bed and monsters in my closet. It must have been pretty good because she married him shortly after that. He spent a good number of years chasing other dreams before he got back to writing. It wasn’t a deliberate conscious thought, it was more of a stepping stone. His wife and himself had joined a dream interpret group and we were encouraged to write down our dreams as they occurred. “Be as detailed as you can,” we were told. He was thrilled. If there is one thing he enjoys it’s making people believe him and he likes to exaggerate. Not a big exaggeration or an outright lie mind you, just a little step out of sync, just enough so you couldn’t be sure if it were true or not. When he writes, he always write with the effort of “it could happen” very much in mind and nothing, he guarantees you, nothing, makes him happier. He has consistently placed in the top 3 in 189 writing contest in a variety of genres and has been featured in magazines a couple of times to raise money for Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Review:

Tegon Maus creates a world all his own in Machines of the Little People. His twists and turns keep readers on their toes. Make sure you pay attention, readers, because this fast-paced novel waits for no one. Maus' creativity in this novel is astonishing. He dreams up characters, ideas, and inventions that no one else could perfect. He portrays his characters in such a way that you can't help but become attached to them. His writing style draws the reader in with clever foreshadowing and many problems that are left to be resolved. Despite all its wonderful assets, the novel does have its drawbacks. I, for one, am not a fan of foul language- Machines is definitely one for more mature audiences with adult content and language. I would put it in the 16 years and up age range. The fast paced-ness of the novel can be a bit overwhelming at times, some clarification and "remember-when's" would be helpful every now and again. Keeping an open mind while reading, this book is not for everyone. 

My final rating would be a 3 of 5 stars. 

Reviewer: 

Autumn

REVIEW: Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn

Hot sun. Blue waves. New romances. Old secrets.Gemma had her summer all planned out, but it takes a sharp turn when she gets dumped and finds herself back in the Hamptons after a five-year absence. Being there puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friends (that is, before Gemma ruined her life). But people don't hold grudges forever. Do they? Gemma intends on making amends, but a small case of mistaken identity causes the people she knew years ago—including Hallie and her dreamy brother, Josh—to believe she's someone else. As though the summer wasn't complicated enough already. Filled with summer sun, boys, and friendships gone sour, Katie Finn's first novel in the Broken Hearts and Revenge series sizzles and delights.

3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

As a huge fan of Morgan Matson's books, I knew that I had to read her books as Katie Finn, and I knew that I had to read them fast. Because of my love for Morgan Matson, I think I went into Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend with too high of expecations. My expectations were definitely let down, and I was disappointed that I didn't love Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend as much as I loved Morgan Matson's other books. That being said, Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend is not a bad book at all. It was cute and kept you at the edge of your seat. I was entertained almost the entire time. I guess I didn't love it because I'm used to expecting and loving such stellar books and writing from Morgan Matson. Because of the huge cliffhanger at the end of the book, I will definitely be reading the next book. I need to know what happens to Gema and Hallie!

My rating system: (I do use half stars.)

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW MASHUP: Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Suspicion by Alexandra Monir, The Jewel by Amy Ewing, The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau, Nil by Lynne Matson, The Secret Diamond Sisters & Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow, & Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Watch Grace's reviews (all in one video) for:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.  Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family’s English country manor. For seven years, images of her parents’ death have haunted Imogen’s dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope. Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford’s aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving. Combining spine-tingling mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Suspicion is an action-packed thrill ride.

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring. Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life. Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one and the same?  The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. Exactly 365 days--to escape, or you die. Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s lying naked in an empty rock field. Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that to save their future, Charley must first save him. And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time. 

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.  The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past. 

All-access doesn't mean no problems. The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again. Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow's riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her. Never ask about the past. Don’t expect a future. They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all. Hearts get infiltrated. Promises get broken. Rules get shattered. Love gets ugly. 

REVIEW: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Denard

Philadelphia 1876. The Dead are rising. A zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor Fitt. Whoever controls the Dead Army has her brother. She avoids her mother's choice of husband for the lab of Spirit Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel. The situation threatens her reputation, and the lives of everyone in the city.

3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 
I began to realize that Something Strange and Deadly was probably the book that made me realize that I really really really REALLY like steam punk. I'd always loved movies and TV that was steam punk, so I guess it makes sense that I would love steam punk novels. I loved Eleanor. She was so funny and stubborn to the point where the way she behaved around her family and friends reminded me how I act around my own family and friends. Do I get to call Eleanor a #relateableteen now?! I think yes. Daniel is either equally as stubborn and quirky as Eleanor is, or even more. It's great. Those two are quite the perfect match! If you're looking for a quick and fun read that's historical fiction with quite some steam punk, I'd definitely say that this is the book for you! I'm really glad the BookBusters decided to read this book. Thanks so much to Susan Dennard for also participating with us! (: 

 To join the BookBusters book club, click here

My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: For Real by Alison Cherry

From Alison Cherry, author of Red, a novel PW declares “sparkles with wit,” comes a terrific new book about two sisters and one big question: how do you know who’s for real? No parents. No limits. No clue what they’re in for. Shy, cautious Claire has always been in her confident older sister’s shadow. While Miranda’s life is jam-packed with exciting people and whirlwind adventures, Claire gets her thrills vicariously by watching people live large on reality television. When Miranda discovers her boyfriend, Samir, cheating on her just after her college graduation, it’s Claire who comes up with the perfect plan. They’ll outshine Miranda’s fame-obsessed ex while having an amazing summer by competing on Around the World, a race around the globe for a million bucks. Revenge + sisterly bonding = awesome. But the show has a twist, and Claire is stunned to find herself in the middle of a reality-show romance that may be just for the cameras. This summer could end up being the highlight of her life . . . or an epic fail forever captured on film. In a world where drama is currency and manipulation is standard, how can you tell what’s for real?

I received a free hardcover of this book from the publisher (Random House) and e-copy of this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

  2.5 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 
My favorite part about For Real would definitely have to be that it was original and unlike any contemporary novel I've read before. I found it super creative to have the story take place inside and outside of a reality TV show. It was great seeing main character Claire transform from a very introverted shy girl who was always shadowed by her older sister into a more outgoing and confident version of herself because of her experiences on and off the show. My biggest problem about For Real would've been Claire's older sister Miranda. Miranda was not a good sister and it bothered me a lot that she would not realize what she was doing to Claire. Other than that, this was a very cute and short read that I read in almost one sitting! It was definitely something different and I'm glad BookBusters chose to read this as one of our contemporary reads. 

 Watch the BookBusters YA/NA book club discuss For Real by Allison Cherry on my YouTube channel LovingDemBooks:

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW: Compulsion by Martina Boone

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse. All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead. 

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher Simon & Schuster for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

  4 of 5 stars. Please read my rating system further below). 

What a great debut novel! Compulsion definitely exceeded my expectations, and left me wanting more from the heirs of Watson Island by the end of it. I loved the protagonist Barrie. She was so funny and quirky, and I had a lot of fun while reading from her point of view. I swear, there must be something about guys with numbers as names, but Eight Beaufort was beyond swoon worthy. Barrie and Eight's relationship was a really great addition to Compulsion's charm, though it was already charmed beyond measure with its southern gothic theme. My favorite aspect to this book was the actual magic of Watson island. The people and the island's origins was a really great of stating that things really do go down in history. I'm so excited to get my hands on the next book, I have a feeling that it's going to be absolutely great! 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW: Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow

All-access doesn't mean no problems The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza--with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion--and turn their lives upside down all over again.

I received an Advanced Reader's copy of this book from the publisher (Harlequin) for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 
3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below).

At the end of the first book in the Secret Diamonds Sisters series, I had very mixed feelings about The Secret Diamond Sisters. I did not know if I liked it or not, because reading it made me felt like I was watching reality TV. Reality TV is something I mindlessly watch from time to time, so I found myself in a place asking myself if I was comparing a book to reality TV, even though reading a book is not exactly mindless, though what your reading reminds you of what you do mindlessly. That being said, I'm very glad to say that I enjoyed Diamonds In the Rough much more than I did The Secret Diamond Sisters. Diamonds In the Rough definitely had much more plot than the The Secret Diamond Sisters did, and it seemed like I wasn't watching a reality TV show anymore while I was reading it. I still definitely really enjoy the three point of views in which the story is told, and I'm so glad that the book switched main settings; the new setting made it much more entertaining. Overall, I really enjoyed Diamonds In the Rough and am so excited to read the next book! I bet the series is just going to get better and better. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince. Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour. When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

I received an finished copy of this book from the publisher (HarperTeen) for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

2 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below).

A book about a girl who travels around the world, meets a prince, and they fall in love. What could go wrong? Royally Lost had everything going for itself, it has a great cover, a great idea, and an amazing-sounding plot line. My biggest problem with this book was the dialogue. To me, it felt so robotic and inhuman, like the characters had no emotion, like they weren't even alive. Because of the dialogue, I had such a hard time investing myself in any of the characters, making Royally Lost a fairly big disappointment. The main characters Becca and Nikolai had the most awkward and choreographed encounters. They were unbelievable, and the fact that they're love story progressed from "accidentally" seeing each other around Europe just made me want to snicker to myself because it was so unreal. This book could've still been decent with the encounters that Becca and Nikolai had throughout the book, but the immaturity of Becca and Nikolai and their inhuman dialogue would've had to been stripped of this book. Because of these imperfections, the love story in Royally Lost didn't develop much, and neither did the characters. Overall, there were many problems that I had with this book, including character dialogue, development, and maturity. I was very sad to not have loved this book, it was a book that I was looking forward to reading all of 2014. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace