Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

Title: Where the Road Takes Me
Author: Jay McLean
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 315
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

Because I was abroad when I read this book, I read it in a few disjointed sessions. This threw me off a bit because, honestly, Where the Road Takes Me could probably be three different books in and of itself. At the beginning of the novel, I was slightly turned off. The romance was too fast-paced and the characters weren’t doing much for me. However, as time went on, the book grew on me and ended up earning 4 stars.

For those who have never heard of Where the Road Takes Me:

Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.

Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.

One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead.

I actually ended up enjoying a lot of the characters! Mary, Chloe’s foster mom, and the rest of Chloe’s foster family were fantastic. I also loved the scenes with Blake’s mom. The cast was just so well done. I loved how each person could’ve had their own spinoff. Clayton, Chloe’s former foster brother, had so much depth and really moved me. I would love to read a novel dedicated to his story. Josh, Blake’s best friend, is a teen dad whose family and friends abandoned him. Yet he’s still a fantastic role model and person; I would really love a book just for him, too! The characters were just generally very likable.

All except for Chloe, that is. I’m not saying I hated her… I just hated a lot of her decisions. (This may be a mild spoiler, so tread carefully) I’m sorry, but does she not understand how cancer works? It’s not undefeatable. If you catch it early, you have a greater chance of treating it and conquering it. Especially breast cancer! If your mom and your aunt died from breast cancer and you know that there’s a 50% chance that you have the gene to develop it… then you’re at an advantage! You know to keep your eyes open and watch your body. Yes, you have a 50% chance of getting the cancer, but you have a much higher chance of surviving it, because you know what to look for and what to expect. Yet she just pushed people away and prepared herself for inevitable death. I felt that that was unnecessary and plain dumb, if I’m completely honest. It was selfish and idiotic. I disliked that part of the book.

Fortunately, like I said, the book had so many different elements that it could honestly be almost three different books! There was the road trip aspect toward the last third of the book, which was really cute. You didn’t get to see too much travel or development, but they did go to a few different stops along the way, which was fun. So though I wouldn’t call this a “road trip novel,” it definitely had a nice road trip element. There was the cancer element, which added another layer of seriousness and a level of passion to the book. It helped deliver the theme that life is too short to worry about pushing people away. You need to just embrace the world. There was also the foster family aspect and Chloe’s struggle with letting her mom go. That was really moving and a very subtle development and undertone. I really liked watching the relationships change!

Overall, I wouldn’t say this was a wow book, but it was thoroughly enjoyable! I liked the mish-mash and variety of the novel. It’s probably around 3.5 stars, though I think I'd have to round down to a 3. I definitely recommend this if you’re not quite sure what you want to read and want a little bit of everything! A good book to read if you’re on a long car ride or on the beach.

This Ordinary Life by Jennifer Walkup

Title: This Ordinary Life
Author: Jennifer Walkup
Format I Read: ARC
Pages: 240
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary
Release Date: October 1, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

Though this book had an interesting concept, the characters and the plot fell a little flat for me. Honestly, if the book wasn't such a short and sweet read, I may have given up and DNF'd this. I ended up giving it 3 stars, but I was actually planning on 2 stars until the very end. However, it did have some solid points and redeeming qualities!

For those who don't know what This Ordinary Life is about:

High-school radio host Jasmine Torres's life is full of family dysfunction, but if she can score the internship of her dreams with a New York City radio station, she knows she can turn things around.

That is, until her brother Danny’s latest seizure forces her to miss the interview, and she’s back to the endless loop of missing school for his doctor appointments, picking up the pieces of her mother’s booze-soaked life, and stressing about Danny’s future.

Then she meets Wes. He’s the perfect combination of smart, cute, and funny. He also happens to have epilepsy like her brother. Wes is living a normal life despite his medical issues, which gives Jasmine hope for Danny. But memories of her cheating ex-boyfriend keep her from going on a real date with Wes, no matter how many times he asks her.

Jasmine can’t control everything. Not who wins the internship, not her mother’s addiction, not her brother’s health--not even where her heart will lead her. She wishes she could just have an ordinary life, but maybe what she already has is pretty extraordinary after all.

Right away, I loved the idea. Epilepsy is such a misunderstood and looked-over illness. Yes, mental illnesses are getting more attention in literature nowadays, but we've still got a long way to go before we diversify our literature enough to include representations of all the struggles teens may face. I had never read a book with characters who have epilepsy--I loved that Walkup was tackling this! Not to mention that I'm a sucker for older sisters who take on the mom role; the relationship between the siblings always pulls at my heartstrings. I adored Danny and Jasmine's relationship. They were completely adorable, and I loved how Jazz interacted with Danny. It was hilarious how she acted like an overprotective mom to the point that Danny kept whining, "I'm a big boy!"

Unfortunately, I didn't really see much character depth or development, which disappointed me a lot. I love a good character-driven story. This Ordinary Life just didn't have that. I felt like all of the characters were very forced. Jasmine was the radio girl. Wes was the witty boy. Frankie was the helpful best friend. It seemed that Walkup was just trying to fit the characters into the role and then failed to develop them any more than that. This meant that I just didn't find the characters or their interactions very believable. They weren't real. If I'm completely honest, Wes was the worst. Yes, of course I liked him. He was a fun, likable character. But, as a seventeen-year-old myself, I can tell you that people like him don't truly exist. The charming, witty, slightly off-center quirky, upfront guy: he isn't real. His conversations with Jasmine? They would never happen. No one would actually say that, no one would actually text like that. I just couldn't let myself go in this book because it didn't feel real to me.

I just felt like Walkup grazed the surface with everything. She just plopped stuff into the novel to check off some boxes. Cheating ex-boyfriend? Check. Quirky love interest? Check. Fun best friend? Check. Unique main character who think she's carrying the world on her shoulders? Check. This book just felt like it was trying too hard with everything. That made the novel drag on a bit. Luckily, the book wasn't long so I didn't start to resent it too much.

Again, there were some redeeming qualities. I loved the idea. I loved the topic that Walkup was tackling. I loved the relationships (especially the familial ones). I loved the end, which tied everything up nicely. So, though I was considering 2 stars, I bumped it up to 3. This book just didn't end up being my cup of tea.

I recommend this novel to someone interested in the epilepsy aspect; interested in a quirky romance as a quick, short and sweet read; interested in complex family dynamics; and interested in radio and chasing dreams. Like I said: well done and interesting, just not for me!

Abby Road by Ophelia London

Title: Abby Road
Author: Ophelia London
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 400
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult
Release Date: March 2013
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

Let me start this off with a warning: Abby Road is not what you expect. It’s a whirlwind of topics, a hurricane of emotions, and a tornado of character development. It’s a wild rollercoaster, from start to finish. It offered a fantastic sense of catharsis that pulls you in.

For those who aren’t familiar with Abby Road:

Fame can't buy her love...

It’s been exactly one day since rock star Abigail Kelly fled her chaotic life in L.A. to her sister’s home in Florida. One day without her demanding manager, paparazzi, ridiculous tour schedules, and recording sessions. For the first time in five years, she has the summer off. To be anonymous. A summer to not think about losing her brother...or that her once-normal life has turned into a mess of panic and heartbreak.

But all it takes is one twist of fate—to enter a stranger's surf shop while trying to dodge some fans—for everything to change.

Because the shop owner happens to be a really cute guy with an amazing laugh. With Todd, an ex-Marine sniper turned surfer, she feels things she hasn’t felt for a long time. Possibly never. But when the real world comes crashing back in, Abby is caught between the superstar she’s become...and the painfully real human being she longs to be.

Honestly, I’m still a little confused about what I just read. Don’t get me wrong: Abby Road was a great read that sucked me in and trapped me in London’s world from start to finish. However, it was a mish-mash of just about a million different stories. When I first read the synopsis, I thought it would be a breezy summer romance. Abby would fall for Todd in this small beachside town and it’ll be a refreshing reprieve from her crazy celebrity life. Surprise! That was just the tip of the iceberg.

London weaves a tale that includes a handful of major plotlines and ideas. First, there’s the summer romance mentioned about. Second, there’s Abby’s struggle to accept her brother’s death and free herself from the haunting guilt of that night. Third, there’s the difficulty of Abby and Todd’s relationship surviving her L.A. rock star life. Fourth, there’s the battle for Abby to finally stand up to her manager and take control of her own life, to be a happy and healthy person.

Surprisingly, I didn’t hate this wild mix of plotlines. At first, if I’m completely honest, I didn’t like it. By the end of the book, it grew on me. This book was a really refreshing story of redemption and personal development. It explored a young woman’s ability to be her own savior. I found that to be an astoundingly redeeming quality.

I really enjoyed the characters. Todd was definitely swoon-worthy and I liked his backstory. His romance with Abby was lovely. It felt very real and heart-warming. They had so much chemistry. I wish we could’ve seen more of the development of their relationship! Unfortunately, London skipped the three months that they got together and skipped right to the move back to L.A. I also loved the minor characters: Hal, Molly, Lindsey, etc. They were fantastic additions and I loved the scenes with them. In particular, I ended up really loving Lindsey. She was such a fantastic sister and she really grew on me! Abby herself was a little frustrating. She wasn’t the most likable main character, though I didn’t hate her either. Fortunately, her character development made up for any complaints I had about her throughout the novel!

One complaint I did have was the chapter transitions. London would skip entire weeks and months without any real indication. Within the first few pages of the chapter, she would clarify, of course. But it was definitely disorienting and threw me off. I would’ve liked to see some smoother transitions.

The writing was also a mix of good and bad. Though I liked the tone and style that London used, the dialogue and transitions could fall a little flat. Sometimes I had to reread paragraphs to find out what just happened or if I missed something. The characters were often very obscure in how they spoke; I sometimes felt like London cut scenes out but didn’t compensate in later scenes. It was a little disorienting. Fortunately, it didn’t detract too much from the story; it was just a little off-putting.

Overall, I’d give Abby Road 3.5 stars. It was a cathartic story that really had me invested. For those who like summer beach romances (the first third), glitzy celebrity romances (the second third), and/or personal discovery and redemption stories (the last third), definitely try out Abby Road!

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Breathe, Annie, Breathe
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 306
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: July 15, 2014
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

You have no idea how much it pains me to say this… but this book was a bit of a disappointment. For the last few weeks, all I’ve heard about this book is gushing—gushing about the romance, the chemistry, the steam, the beauty of this book. Maybe I had high expectations. Maybe this book just wasn’t for me. Either way, it only earned 3 stars.

It was entertaining, sure. I didn’t get bored or feel that it dragged on. It just had no spark. It wasn’t a wow book.

For those who don’t know what Breathe, Annie, Breathe is about:

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

It was a great concept. I personally don’t run, but I admire people who use exercise as an escape. I loved that this book was exploring that, exploring the therapy behind running. And I loved how the book tracked her progress as she approached the big day, her marathon. I also enjoyed how the physical progress reflected her mental and emotional healing. That was really interesting to see! It was also really cool how Kenneally included Annie’s workout calendar at the end of every few chapters. That was a cool way to track the timeline and it really made the book more cohesive. I thoroughly enjoyed the running aspect of the book!

Unfortunately, it was the romance that didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It just didn’t click with me. I liked Jeremiah and Annie’s scenes together, but I didn’t feel any undeniable chemistry or any steamy sexual tension. Sure, I aww’d a few times. Don’t get me wrong, they had cute scenes. I liked their relationship. But I didn’t feel the electric charge, the sparks that I was promised. There wasn't enough development for me to get totally invested in their relationship. It was just too sudden and too forced to me.

Also… can we talk about their hookup? (This may be a mild spoiler, though it happens early on in the book. Tread carefully) They hookup on one of Annie’s early runs in her training. Out of nowhere. He takes her to the shade of some trees to cool down, they end up by a river, and suddenly their clothes are flying off. It literally had no foundation, no lead-up. I actually had to double back and reread the last few pages to see if I missed something. I felt like Kenneally just pressed the jump-start button to get the romance rolling; it just wasn’t natural.

Overall, Breathe, Annie, Breathe just didn’t strike a chord with me. It was a nice, light read that went by quickly, but nothing to write home about. Nonetheless, I recommend it for anyone looking for a relaxing read on the beach this summer!

Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Fall With Me
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Format I Read: Paperback
Pages: 389
Genres: Romance, Realistic Fiction, New Adult
Release Date: March 31, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

Let me preface this review with this: I have not read the rest of the Wait for You novels. I do own a few of them, but I haven't read them. Fall With Me is the fourth in the string of relatively standalone novels. This book was similar to When I'm Gone by Abbi Glines, as both can be read as a standalone but are more satisfying if you've read the prior books. The rest of the cast in the novel has been featured in the previous books; being more aware of who they are (and who is dating who) would make the book much more enjoyable! So though Fall With Me can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the rest of the series first.

However, in general, this novel was pretty satisfying! For those who don't know what it's about:

Eleven months ago, bartender and weird-shirt-wearing extraordinaire Roxy and Officer Reece Anders had a one night stand. Well, kind of. She’s been in love with him since she was fifteen, and he wishes that night they shared never happened. She’s sworn him off forever, but the past and future collide, forcing her to rely on the one man who broke her heart not once, but twice.

Her best friend since birth has been in a long-term care facility since he became a victim of a hate crime years ago, and the person who put him in there is out of prison and wanting to make amends with him and Roxy. She’s not sure she has room for forgiveness in her and when she begins to receive frightening messages and is on the receiving end of escalating violence, she thinks she knows who is to blame. The man who already destroyed one life already.

But Reece isn’t convinced. The threats are too personal, and even if Roxy doesn’t believe him, he’s not willing to let anyone hurt her. Including himself. He’s already messed up more than once when it comes to Roxy and he’s not going to let history repeat itself.

I liked the book. It was interesting. I love how Armentrout tackles issues. It was so cool to see a novel that straight-up said, "You don't have to go to college to be successful." The messages in Fall With Me were just so fantastic. There was an air of forgiveness in the Charlie plot line (Charlie is relatively brain dead after an incident that Roxy takes the blame for). There was the reminder that the most important thing in life is to be happy, not focus on others' expectations of you. You have to live for yourself. And then there was also the theme of falling. Yes, falling for someone and putting your faith in another person is risky and scary. But it's so worth it. You need to let yourself go in order to enjoy life. Honestly, I love the deep, reassuring messages that Armentrout always threads into her novels.

Unfortunately, the novel itself was a little lackluster for me. Like I said, I liked it. I just didn't really love it. There were so many plot lines going on: the Charlie struggle with his failing health and Roxy's guilt, Roxy's stalker and the investigation of a serial rapist, and Roxy's relationship with Reece. It was a little overwhelming, but still very well done.

I also have something to say about Armentrout's writing style. I usually love how realistic she makes it. It feels like stream of consciousness, in that it feels like Roxy (and Armentrout's other characters) is actually talking to the reader. She includes references to things like Harry Potter and Doctor Who and Game of Thrones in a way that the book doesn't feel very far removed from real life. That's very refreshing in a book! However, it can make the writing style a little juvenile. Roxy said (in her head) that she was going to make some sort of her food "her bitch" at least a handful of times. It was funny at first, but then it just because silly. People rarely actually say that kind of stuff and it feels like the author is just trying a little too hard.

Additionally, I struggled with some of Armentrout's minor characters. Particularly, a random character named Jacob, who was only featured for one scene. He seemed very forced. I also didn't like Katie, just because the way she was treated in the novel was so weird. Katie, Roxy's close friend and a stripper, is very fun and strong-willed and flamboyant. Roxy constantly defends her and I loved how Armentrout drew attention to the fact that the stripper occupation shouldn't have such a stigma. However, I felt like she was just a stock character. She was constantly wearing flamboyant and bizarre clothes; she constantly popped into a scene and then popped back out; she didn't really seem to have any depth. I wished that Armentrout developed her a little more because I felt that she had a lot of potential!

But along with Roxy's defense of Katie, I loved Roxy's take on feminism! Armentrout wonderfully delineated the fact that a woman can be strong and still want a man. Roxy often admitted that, yes, she can do things herself, but that doesn't mean she loves Reece's affections and protections any less. I thought that was a really fantastic statement!

Overall, the novel was good. A nice read that gives you a hefty dose of everything: romance, excitement, and redemption!

The Cage by Megan Shepherd

Title: The Cage
Author: Megan Shepherd
Format I Read: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, (Romance)
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

Ever since I saw the cover for this book, I've been dying to get my hands on it. It sounded fantastically intriguing and I loved Megan Shepherd's ideas--her retellings of classics seem so fascinating. I couldn't wait to see what she'd whipped up for The Cage. Unfortunately, I think this set my expectations up too high. The book was well done, with a captivating concept, but it just fell a little flat.

For those who haven't heard of The Cage, here's the synopsis:

When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments—tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle, and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures—all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.

Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer—a handsome young guard called Cassian—appears, they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: Their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken the five teenagers for an otherworldly zoo—where the exhibits are humans.

As a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer—though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so . . . what world lies beyond the walls of their cage?

The book started off great--Shepherd immediately sucked me in with the intrigue and mystery of the cage. She hinted at Cora's past, which involves eighteen months in a juvenile detention center. She then hinted at Lucky's connection to her past. It sparked an immediate interest in the characters. I became invested in them right away. They were just so likable and captivating at the beginning. Shepherd continues to develop this interest by alternating the chapters' focus, designating certain chapters to certain characters (though she remained in third person the entire time). This created a very interesting effect. Unfortunately, it didn't really resonate with me. I found it a little too confusing and disorienting!

Unfortunately, for me, the book started going downhill around halfway through. The only thing that really kept me reading was my psychology class I took last year. If I hadn't taken psychology, I may have dropped the book, if I'm completely honest. I just started to hate the characters so much. They all turned on each other; all of that likability that I described at the beginning faded away and I wanted to throttle just about everyone. The entire cast of characters grew so petty and delusional. The sole reason I continued was because I justified it all with psychology. It was nice how Shepherd kept referencing lab rats and using the psychological experiment reference; it helped remind me that the degradation of the characters was expected. It wasn't because of Shepherd's bad character development--it was the natural psychological response when stuck in captivity with six other people. This helped me keep going. I just don't deal well with novels like this; other people may love it!

As the book went on, the only solid base that remained was Cora. She was the only one who held strong and the only one who I remained even remotely partial to. But then she had to go and fall for her captor! She just became so flimsy as the book went on. She rants and raves about how she's always treated like a victim, how she's really stronger than anyone else thinks. But she keeps giving in to her attraction to Cassian (one of the aliens, or Kindred, who kidnapped her) and swooning over him?! I just felt like her character traits (both as described by Shepherd and as described by Cora herself) did not match her actions whatsoever. She was strong one second but weak the next. It grated on my nerves a bit. Luckily, my dislike for her only really developed at the very end of the novel. For most of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed her as a main character.

Nonetheless, I loved the whole concept of the book. The idea that more advanced and intelligent aliens could use humans the same way that we use animals. The idea that humans could be looking out of the zoo (or cage) instead of looking in. It was all such a fascinating idea. I also enjoyed what a puzzle the book was. The reader never really knew what was going on; I felt like every other chapter had a big reveal. It kept me on my toes and made me constantly wonder what was going to happen next. One thing The Cage has going for it: it wasn't predictable!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the concept! The execution was a little rocky and disorienting, though that may simply be because the idea was an ambitious one to tackle. However, the biggest nail in the 3-star-coffin was the devolution of the characters. I understand why it had to happen and I don't fault Shepherd for it at all; it just wasn't the best read for me because I can't handle when characters become so frustrating!

Even so, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books like Alienated by Melissa Landers or anyone who enjoys psychological novels. It was an interesting and innovative read!

Well done on such an ambitious new book, Ms. Shepherd!

When I'm Gone by Abbi Glines

Title: When I'm Gone
Author: Abbi Glines
Format I Read: Paperback
Pages: 273
Genres: New Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Release Date: April 7, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

This is the first book I've read by Abbi Glines. I've like other authors that she's typically compared to, so I figured I'd give her a try. I received a copy of When I'm Gone while I was at BEA, so it was the perfect chance to finally read one of her books. Overall, I wasn't amazed, nor was I disappointed.

When I'm Gone is actually the eleventh book in Glines' Rosemary Beach series. However, as far as I can tell, they're relatively standalone books. Unfortunately, because the book belonged in a series, I felt that I missed out on a lot of the connections and references to previous books. Glines threw a lot of characters at the reader, expecting the reader to be familiar with them. I was sadly unfamiliar with them, making the cast of characters a little overwhelming and confusing. Because of this, I would recommend reading books earlier on in the series before tackling When I'm Gone; I suspect that doing so would make the book (and the journey) much more gratifying.

For those who don't know what When I'm Gone is about:

Mase Colt-Manning has always preferred his humble life as a Texas rancher to his birthright as the son of a legendary rock star. In fact, he rarely visits his father’s rarefied world in Rosemary Beach, especially if it means bunking at his vile half-sister Nan’s house—until one visit leads to a chance encounter with a young, gorgeous house maid who awakens him with her off-key but spirited imitation of a country music star…

Reese Ellis finally has her freedom. After escaping a lifetime of abuse from her parents and classmates for an undiagnosed learning disorder, she seizes the opportunity to be a house maid to some of the richest families in Rosemary Beach. But her job is in jeopardy when she causes an accident at the home of her most important client, Nan Dillon. When a hot, half-naked stranger with a cowboy’s swagger comes to her rescue, she’s intrigued—then afraid once he shows his own interest. Reese has never met a trustworthy man in her life. Will Mase be any different?

I really enjoyed the depth behind the characters. It was very interesting how Reese had a learning disorder and I really admire Glines for tackling such a topic. Despite today's medical advances, some people are still so ignorant about learning disorders, which leads to many children who struggle through school and life. I feel like that's a situation that isn't really discussed very often, though it's such an important one to talk about. It made the book both unique and meaningful!

Beyond her learning disorder, Reese's rocky past--both with a sexually abusive stepfather and an emotionally abusive environment--really added a layer of depth to her character. I also appreciated how Glines approached Reese's situation. I feel that so many books involving victims of abuse feature the main character jumping into the man's arms as soon as she sees his abs. Glines handled the topic in a much more mature and realistic way. Reese's attraction to and relationship with Mase progressed gradually and naturally. She started off fearful of all men, but slowly began to trust Mase (and his gender) as time went on. It all felt very real.

However, though Reese's attraction to Mase seemed believable, Mase's attraction to Reese didn't seem as believable. He fell a little too hard a little too fast for me to be fully invested. I just didn't feel convinced. However, once I got past that, the romance was very enjoyable. It was one of those books that gives you the nice bubbly feeling in your stomach--the butterflies that take flight every time Mase runs to Reese's rescue.

Overall, When I'm Gone was an enjoyable read. I look forward to trying out more of Abbi Glines' books! She's a great writer and storyteller. When I'm Gone just didn't strike the right chord with me to get 5 stars.

Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Scorched
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Format I Read: ARC
Pages: 320
Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

For those of you who don't know, I absolutely adore Jennifer L. Armentrout. She's probably one of the sweetest, most fun, most down to earth authors I've ever met. I've had the pleasure of meeting her three times now: at Bookcon 2014, at Apollycon 2015, and at BEA 2015. She's literally a book machine. She cranks out books like crazy. Yet somehow she doesn't lose quality; she manages to maintain both quality and quantity.

For those who are unaware of what Scorched is about, here's the synopsis:

Sometimes life leaves a mark…

Most days, Andrea doesn’t know whether she wants to kiss Tanner or punch him in the gut. He is seriously hot, with legit bedroom eyes and that firefighter body of his, but he’s a major player, and they can’t get along for more than a handful of minutes. Until now.

Tanner knows he and Andrea have had an epic love/hate relationship for as long as he can remember, but he wants more love than hate from her. He wants her. Now. Tomorrow. But the more he gets to know her, the more it becomes obvious that Andrea has a problem. She’s teetering on the edge and every time he tries to catch her, she slips through his fingers.

Andrea’s life is spiraling out of control, and it doesn’t matter that Tanner wants to save her, because when everything falls apart and she’s speeding toward rock bottom, only she can save herself.

Sometimes life makes you work for that happily ever after…

I originally thought that Scorched was going to mark Armentrout's loss of quality. It started off as a canned, steamy romance. It really didn't have any depth. It was the typical "he's a manwhore, but I'm still attracted to him ugh." After that introduction, there was the cliche, fast-paced "maybe he does have more depth than that." And then there was the expected "let's f*ck like rabbits" when they finally worked out their differences. But after this stereotypical first third of the book, it finally picked up.

I like to think that Scorched has two different plots. There's the romance, as previously described. But then there's the more serious, more important plot. There's the meaningful exploration of undiagnosed mental disorders, anxiety, and self-medicating as a form of coping. The main character, Andrea, binge drinks. Everyone else sees that she has a problem, but she brushes it off. She insists that she's in control. The entire story builds up, with her trying to justify her problems and trying to be the girl that she thinks Tanner deserves.

The end was absolutely amazing. I loved the last fourth of the book. There was such an astounding level of forgiveness and such a fantastic depth to the characters. That last section of the book redefined Armentrout's work. Yes, Armentrout has always been a lovely writer who adds such lovely realism (she includes references like Tumblr and One Direction that make everything feel so close to home). Yes, she has always written incredible romances and relationships. Yes, she writes a great story. But this time, she wrote more than that. She wrote a book that deals with a serious issue that is so rarely talked about--a reassuring novel that shows that redemption is possible. That even when you hit rock bottom, you can get back to the top. It was truly moving and I'm proud to be able to say that I read it.

Yes, I gave it 3 stars, merely because of the first third. I couldn't handle the steamy romance; it wasn't exactly my genre. I love New Adult as much as the next girl, but I felt that this was a bit out of my realm.

But if I could rate the last fourth of the book as a standalone? Definitely 5 stars. Congratulations to Ms. Armentrout for exquisitely handling such an important topic.

Inspire by Cora Carmack

Title: Inspire
Author: Cora Carmack
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 284
Genres: Romance, Fantasy, New Adult
Release Date: December 15, 2014
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

I'd have to say that Inspire fell in the middle of the pack for Ms. Carmack this time. I love the Rusk University novels. Losing It and Faking It were meh for me. Inspire was just about in the middle.

I loved the concept. Kalli, the main character, is really Kalliope, the muse. She needs to inspire to survive. If she doesn't assist artists by bleeding out her inspiration, she will go mad. She struggles to live a normal life. And then she meets Wilder. She believes him to be a rational business man, someone who won't be endangered by her inspiration. Because too much inspiration can lead some people to insanity. Greatness is dangerous, which she had to learn the hard way. Kalli struggles to juggle her life without dropping any of the pieces. But is it possible for a muse to be normal?

The mythology was super fascinating. Ms. Carmack definitely did her research! The plot was impressive. Nonetheless, the book fell a little flat. Kalli was just a little too much for me. Her struggle and her insanity at times were a bit too overwhelming. Wilder was all things smolder and kind. He was the bad boy under the good boy facade. As much as I loved Kalli, I felt like Wilder who was the character who shined. He had more depth and complexity, in my opinion. I loved his character, though he did get a bit wishy-washy at the end.

Which brings me to the end. I didn't like it, but I kind of did at the same time. It was very abrupt and ended as a huge cliffhanger. I felt like the entire novel built up to something, some resolution, and suddenly "JUST KIDDING. BAM." It was disarming, to say the least. But I'm still interested, so I guess that says something.

So I'm torn with this novel. I'll definitely read the next installment because I'm dying of suspense. But the plot was just a little spotty and it kept tugging me back and forth. Kalli was a little too on edge for me. However, I'm still impressed. Ms. Carmack strikes again!

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Title: Maybe Someday
Author: Colleen Hoover
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 385
Genres: Romance, Realistic Fiction, New Adult
Release Date:  March 18, 2014
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

This book definitely caught me off guard. I found myself simultaneously pulling away and being drawn back in.

Sydney finds herself with no place to go after she catches her best friend and her boyfriend in their lie. They've been cheating together, and Sydney's left angry and confused. Luckily, the man in the apartment across the way is willing to take her in. Deaf, yet musically gifted, Ridge is an enigma. He's been stuck with writer's block, but Sydney inspires him. They make a deal that he'll let her stay in his apartment if she helps him write songs. Together, they're fantastic. But it's not that easy... Especially when Ridge already has his perfect match, Maggie.

I really loved the chemistry between Sydney and Ridge. I loved how eager Sydney was to make Ridge feel normal and her willingness to fit in to his deaf lifestyle. The whole dynamic was really cool. I really loved the book until Maggie came along. She kind of ruined it for me. She was so sweet and I loved her character, but she shattered my hopes.

I felt myself rooting for Sydney and Ridge, but also fighting against them because Sydney was becoming the cheater. The push and pull kept me from enjoying the book fully. However, I did like how the book ended. It had a good ending and everything tied up.

There was nothing inherently wrong with the book. The character development seemed steady. The characters themselves were good, though Ridge made me a little angry. I'm just not a girl who likes reading drama like this. It physically hurt, the pain everyone was going through. From Sydney's pain that Ridge is choosing Maggie, to Maggie's pain at knowing Ridge loves Sydney, to Ridge's pain at being put in his position, I hurt. I stuck through and the book redeemed itself, but it hurt nonetheless. Because of that, I had to give it 3 stars. However, it would be a high 3!

If you like music or new adult, this is definitely for you. Especially if you like drama! Well done, just not quite my style.

Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

Title: Hollowland
Author: Amanda Hocking
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 312
Genres: Supernatural, Romance, Adventure
Release Date: October 6, 2010
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

The zombie apocalypse. I know it's overdone. Walking Dead, World War Z, and even iZombie (what even) have built an entire new genre of pop culture. Yet Hollowland manages to pave its own path with its plot.

Remy escapes after her quarantine is overrun by zombies. Supposedly, her younger brother Max left protected by soldiers. But he was in the infirmary... why would they protect a sick kid? That's the question on everyone's minds as Remy collects a rag tag group on her venture across America. Her rescue team includes Harlow, Lazlo, Blue, Ripley, and more. Harlow is a weak, whiny young girl from the quarantine. Lazlo is a rock star from before the apocalypse. Blue is a doctor, or at least he would have been. And Ripley is a lion--yes, a lion.

Throughout this trek, Remy encounters the countless possible reactions to the apocalypse. She experiences the quarantines that she initially stayed in. She meets a cult, who believe that their "father" is basically the messiah. She runs from a group of Marauders, violent looters who thrive on murder. She is assisted by a peaceful refugee camp underground. And finally--she visits a carefully structured and regulated military quarantine. It was fascinating that Hocking included so many possibilities. She showed how many different ways a person can react to the apocalypse, both good and bad.

In general, the book was well done. I was interested by the plot and the conflict. Like I said, I also liked the series of conflicts brought up by the various groups. The end really caught me too. I thought the plot was captivating enough for 4 stars.

Unfortunately, the characters did fall flat for me. Harlow grated on my nerves. Remy honestly didn't always seem realistic. Lazlo just didn't sit right. Remy's relationships felt too fake and forced. I didn't feel like any of the characters had depth, and I didn't connect with them at all. Even when they did evolve or grow, I felt like it wasn't quite believable. Because of this, I'd have to bump it down to 3 stars.

For people who like zombies and adventure, this is a great book. For people who like character-driven novels, maybe take a pass. Nevertheless, well done to Ms. Hocking!

The Rising by Terra Harmony

Title: The Rising
Author: Terra Harmony
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 271
Genres: Fantasy
Release Date: November 7, 2013
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

I wouldn't say I hated this book, but I definitely didn't love it. It was an interesting concept, sure. Who would've thought to put mermaids and werewolves together? But it just fell a little flat to me.

Basically, Serena is part of the Undine (mermaid) community. In order for her species to reproduce, they need to go onto the beach to mate like humans and later give birth on the beach. However, the werewolves, who used to protect them on shore, revolted in a massacre during a mass birthing. Serena was the only survivor of that massacre. She constantly sneaks out of the water, which is against the rules. As punishment, she becomes the Werewolf Liaison. This brings her to Liam, a werewolf, where the truth behind the revolt unfolds.

The book lacked a solid romance, which hurt for me because I'm a huge romance girl. The (mild spoiler) battle at the end just suddenly killed off a ton of people for what felt like no reason. I just felt like that was completely unnecessary.

However, one thing I will say about this book: the backstory and the setting were amazing. The creation of the werewolves and the relationship between them and the mermaids (or the Undine) were so well thought out and fascinating. I loved the world that Ms. Harmony created. It was a very interesting take on the mythology, which I give mad props for. I just didn't feel any connection to the characters or the plot really.

For mermaid (or Undine) lovers, definitely check it out though. It's a really cool explanation! However, if you like romance, this may not be the book for you.

Rae of Sunshine by Micalea Smeltzer

Title: Rae of Sunshine
Author: Micalea Smeltzer
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 287
Genres: Romance, Realistic Fiction
Realistic Fiction: November 23, 2014
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

So I read this book over Christmas break, so it's not too fresh in my mind. However, I do remember that this was closed to not being finished. I had to push through. Which speaks for itself.

Cade, a star on campus, takes a sudden interest in the quiet freshman Rae. Rae is hurt and struggling to fit in on her own. She struggles with various psychological difficulties every day.

I felt like it was an interesting concept.  I could understand Rae's pain and suffering. However, I didn't quite understand the romance. I didn't like how Cade was a sudden panacea for her psychological struggles. That's not quite how human mentality works.

I felt like it was too fast-paced. Yes, Cade is a good guy, but what star football player would take such an interest in a random freshman? I was a little skeptical. I was also a little unsure about how quickly Rae seemed to change. If she was really as pained as she was played out to be--so much so that she's plagued by panic attacks and such all the time--, how did she leave all that behind in such little time? She may be falling for Cade, but he wasn't a cure. That's not quite how it works. It just seemed too fast for me.

I did like how Cade's interest and the characters defied stereotypes. Thea, Rae's roommate and Cade's sister, was anything and everything pink (including her personality). However, we learn that she was really more than that. There was more to her than a happy-go-lucky girl. The same went for Cade.

The book was well done. It just didn't quite stick with me. It dragged on because it felt too unrealistic. So I'd have to go with 3 stars.

Sleeping Tom by E.V. Fairfall

Title: Sleeping Tom
Author: E.V. Fairfall
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 343
Genres: Romance, Psychological
Release Date: February 14, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Please read through the entire review!

After plowing through this novel, I have to say: it was alright. I wouldn't say it was amazing or earth-shattering. The concept was good. The execution was good. The writing was a bit better than good. The ending salvaged it a bit. However, I wasn't in love. The biggest appeal to a novel is the characters. And these characters just didn't do it for me.

I'll start with a quick synopsis for those who are still a little unfamiliar. Basically, Rebecca suffers from an abusive relationship. Her boyfriend abandons her at a bridge. Gabriel, a dark stranger, picks her up and lets her stay at his house. He's harsh and aggressive, completely unsympathetic to her situation. However, Rebecca (who has renamed herself Caden to try to shed her weak side) soon learns that Gabriel is more than just Gabriel. During the day, he is Gabriel. At night, he is Tom. Tom is a playful child inside a man's body. Caden must juggle these two personalities as she tries to discover the truth about Gabriel and the truth about herself.

I initially liked Caden's own struggle. I enjoyed her personal turmoil as she tried to figure out who she was: Caden, Rebecca, or both. Caden was strong and forceful, her own being. Rebecca was submissive and subservient, a people pleaser. The struggle was interesting. However, it soon became exhausting. At a particularly point in the book (around 70-80% maybe), every other sentence was "Rebecca this, Rebecca that." I started to consider that Caden had dissociative identity disorder. I felt as if Ms. Fairfall was trying to convey a theme that just wouldn't fit. She was trying to explain that your past and the events don't define you, but they do change who you are. It was a good concept, but it just became too forced. Again, the struggle was effective at first, and it made me immediately interested at the beginning of the book. It was a good hook. I just didn't feel like the follow up was successful. It was distracting and confusing.

Not only that, but I just didn't like Caden. I completely understand that she's a victim of abuse, and that has damaged her views of love and relationships. I understand that she's human and she isn't really supposed to be likable. She's supposed to be real. But when the main character is so unappealing that I considered closing the book? That's a little too much. She wasn't really likable at all, past the first quarter of the book. We learn how much she hates Angelica, yet we clearly see that Angelica isn't terrible. We see beyond the facade she puts on at parts, yet Caden is still aggressive and bitterly jealous. I felt that the slut shame and the hate toward Angelica was far too extensive.

Caden's actions with Tom Gabriel also left much to be desired in terms of likability. She thinks, Ugh, Gabriel is so aggressive and he broke a mug, he's such a jerk, but he's so manly. Aw, Tom is so adorable, but gosh I wish he was Gabriel. She likes Tom more than Gabriel for the first half of the book, yet suddenly flips and gets sick of Tom? Yet she still likes Tom more than Gabriel? But wait no, now she only wants Gabriel? I just felt that it was so back and forth that it had no reasoning behind the switches. It just seemed to add drama. Fortunately, she did seem to make a definitive choice in the end, just in time for (spoiler-DUNDUNDUN).

Beyond her relationship with Tom Gabriel, she was also terrible to her mother. There was a chunk in the middle of the book where Caden returns to her mother's house and gosh did I want to slap Caden every other page. The way that Caden was written, my sympathy for her decreased as I continued reading.

Caden was also a complete masochist. I don't have enough fingers for how many times I wanted to scream at her. She just kept torturing herself. Living with this constant back and forth between Gabriel and Tom was not healthy, yet she stayed. I understand that she felt like she had few options. But at a certain point, she just had to leave. She left one abusive relationship for another unhealthy relationship. Hadn't she learned her lesson? Again, I understand that those who suffer abuse usually get stuck in this cycle. I just felt like that wasn't explained enough for it to be a valid excuse.

However, I will say that there were redeeming qualities. I thought the concept was fascinating. It was very interesting how Gabriel was day and Tom was night, yet their personalities were better fitted for the opposite. As a psychology student, I also did a little fist pump when the librarian corrected Caden: it's now "dissociative identity disorder," rather than "multiple personality disorder."

I felt that the structure was helpful and effective; Ms. Fairfall labels the days and nights so that it's easier to understand when Tom is out to play and when Gabriel is out. I did find a few grammatical errors ("try and", rather than "try to"; "then" rather than "than").

I felt like the ending with Nikolai was kinda why? However, I did like the lead in to the sequel. I'm interested enough to want to read Waking Gabriel, which I guess speaks for itself. Hopefully, it'll be different now that Gabriel has changed and now that (insert spoiler).

I just don't quite know what to say. I truly did want to stop reading around the halfway mark. Fortunately, I pushed on and it did salvage itself. My advice though? Make your characters likable. Make them more than their past, just as the theme tried to convey. I want to know more about Rebecca (and Caden) than the fact that she wears black, was in an abusive relationship, and dyed a heart on her carpet. I just didn't get that. Again, I understand that that's the problem with abuse. It takes away someone's personality and makes them a shadow of herself/himself. But you have to pick: is this going to be a novel about abuse or a novel about psychological struggle? Is it going to be about Caden/Rebecca or about Gabriel/Tom? I felt that you had to just choose one in order to do it justice. The abuse was a huge distraction that made me constantly wonder what was going on.

Overall, I'd give it 3 stars. I am looking forward to the sequel though. The concept was interesting enough that I'll come back for more.

Best of luck with the release, Ms. Fairfall!

(Sorry I'm such a harsh critic. I love you, I promise.)

Transformed by E.V. Fairfall

Title: Transformed
Author: E.V. Fairfall
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 273
Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural, Romance
Release Date: January 1, 2014
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
There may or may not be spoilers, so tread carefully. (correction: lots of spoilers oops)

I was initially drawn to this book by its cover. It's absolutely beautiful, truly a work of art. The book was similar. On the surface, it was wonderful. The author does a fantastic job of conveying herself and the writing is, in short, fantastic. The concept was fresh, exciting, and fascinating.

To take on such a new view of the creation story was truly a feat. Not only that, she incorporated a plot twist! The plot was well thought out and executed well. I especially liked the way Thea's plan worked out, but not as she had wished. It was interesting that it all fell together. I loved that!

For those who enjoy adaptations of myths or new interpretations, you should definitely read. It was completely fresh and engaging as a whole, though it lagged in a few spots.

So props to Ms. Fairfall on her debut novel! Well done!

However, now for the criticism (and spoilers):

<spoiler> At times, I felt disjointed. I felt as if Thea wasn't acting how she should. However, this was understandable, as she is not typically a human. Her human form is accelerating her emotions and her actions. That made sense.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for all of the characters. At multiple points in the book, I felt as if the character development was too rushed or a character's actions didn't fit with their person. I can give you two examples.
1. Chamber: As much as I fell in love with Chamber, I felt like he was just too rushed. From the "ooh look at the driver's eyes *swoon*" to the insta soul mate love, I was just flat down skeptical. I could deal with it though because of the soul mate concept. However, I couldn't deal with how he flipped back and forth what felt like a dozen times. He constantly seemed to go from "I hate Thea, how could she do this to me" to "I love her, I can't leave her." I felt like he was just jerky in terms of character.
2. Brice: I hated him. Absolutely hated him. Which made me angry at May for loving him. But I also just didn't get his character. I felt like he was just a stock character for a villain. Yes, a villain is a villain, but he needs depth. He needs reason. I didn't feel like Brice had that. He was skeptical about the immortality, yet he was willing to kill Thea for it? I just didn't feel like he was real.
3. May: I didn't understand her at all. First, she was a stereotypical bitch. Then, she ended up as Thea's roommate? I felt like she was as shallow as a puddle. She had zero personality. </spoiler>

To sum that part of the review up, I felt like Transformed was a bit too plot driven, rather than character driven. The plot was wonderful, yes, but I felt like the characters were too lacking. Don't get me wrong, it was well done. I just felt like the story was empty in a few places.

I was willing to try out the novel for the author, especially as I initially thought it was my taste. However, with such heavy plot, I probably wouldn't have finished it on a normal day. I would've probably given up. I'm glad that I finished it because it had a nice ending (though mildly unbelievable--how?).

Therefore, though it wasn't exactly my cup of tea, it was well written and had a solid plot. I take off one star for lack of character development and one star for some jerky progression and lack of realism.

I would still definitely recommend reading it if you enjoy the concept. I found the entire way the puzzle fit together fascinating. It truly was well done! I'm just a huge critic.