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.)

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Format I Read: Paperback
Pages: 466
Genres: Supernatural, Romance, Mystery
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Stars: 5
Goodreads Link

I just found this review (or the beginning of it at least) saved in my drafts. I reread this novel around the end of last year I guess?

Since I read it the first time, I've felt an attachment to the book. I bought a nice new copy, and it has a special place on my "Favorites" shelf. Yet I really couldn't remember the content. I realized that I had begun to mix the novel up with other novels and confuse the characters and events. This obviously meant it was time for a reread.

So I did just that. I reread it. And it did not disappoint. You know how you can tell it didn't disappoint? I devoured it. Completely devoured it. Within around 5-6 hours, I was done. Michelle Hodkin has an amazing talent. The suspense nearly killed me. It turned out it was a good thing I forgot everything because the shock, surprise, and captivation was all the more real.

I don't think anything impresses me more than authors who write mystery. It takes guts, dedication, and pure unadulterated talent. Ms. Hodkin strung me up, pulled me in, chewed me up, and spit me back out. By the end of the novel, I was pretty damn mindf-cked.

If you're a fan of Stephen King with a young adult twist, this is not a novel to pass up. It's one of those stories that will leave you whispering wow into an empty house at 1am (because you couldn't stop reading). I couldn't recommend it more.

All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

Title: All Lined Up
Author: Cora Carmack
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 320
Genres: Romance, Realistic Fiction, New Adult
Release Date: May 13, 2014
Stars: 5
Goodreads Link

So it's been a little while since I read this one, but I've read it multiple times. Which should speak for itself.

Ms. Carmack is truly a literary genius. Of her extensive repertoire, I've read All Lined Up, All Broke Down, Losing It, Faking It, and Inspire. I've fallen in love each time (though I do have my favorites).

All Lined Up is a book that I come back to time and time again. It's such a fantastic read that I constantly revert to it if I want to achieve a feel good mood.

The writing draws you into the minds of both Dallas and Carson. Carmack completely masters the dual POV, seamlessly transitioning between the two main characters. I don't think I've ever read an author who captures personalities as well as Ms. Carmack does. There is nothing fake about these college students; their language, thoughts, and actions are completely realistic.

It amazes me how easily this book can draw me in, when I don't even enjoy sports. Yet I found myself cheering on the Rusk University football team and swooning over a quarterback. There is nothing boring about this novel: the characters, the plot, the sports analogies, the relationships. Nothing fell short of perfect.

I honestly don't know what else to say about this book. I've read it a handful of times. That should truly be all that I need to say. It's good enough that I keep coming back.

Getting it from the library just may not be enough. You're going to need a copy that you can love and cherish, even if it's a digital copy. You won't regret it. Cora Carmack's Rusk University novels will suck you in, just as they have to me!

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.

Fractured by Sarah Fine

Title: Fractured (Sequel to Sanctum)
Author: Sarah Fine
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 357
Genres: Supernatural, Romance, Action
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Stars: 4
Goodreads Link

Okay so let me preface this with a reminder that I was in love with Sanctum. Truly in love with it. I thought it was absolutely amazing.

This one? Not so much. I still loved it, trust me; I absolutely love Malachi and Lela. However, in the real world, I felt like their relationship got a little shallow. What used to be so true and deep, now became petty in light of their high school drama. Both Lela and Malachi had other people interested in them. Which bothered me and I felt like it dirtied their relationship in a way.

I also didn't like a lot of Lela's choices. I understand that she was just stumbling her way through being Captain, but I felt like she wasn't the best leader. Especially with her motley crew. A lot of her decisions put them at risk; and she often let her emotions get in the way of her leadership. I did think she did relatively well considering the situation though.

And I did like the concept. I still think that the Mazikin concept is insanely fascinating and it didn't get old. As a reminder, for those of you who don't know, the Mazikin are creatures who possess bodies. And they summon the Mazikin "spirits" from their realm and put them into human bodies in this creepy ritual. And when the Mazikin gets put into a body, the body's soul gets put into the Mazikin realm. Which is apparently terrible and basically hell. So the Mazikin were originally in the Suicide afterlife from Sanctum, but then they were released into the real world. So Lela and Malachi are sent back to the world of the living (even though both are technically dead) to be part of the Living Division of Guards, meant to stop the Mazikin from multiplying and taking souls in the real world. So that's basically what it is. Plus Lela is back in school and has to put up with the aftermath of Nadia's suicide in real life.

Which I did like. I enjoyed the realistic side of it all--the non-supernatural part. With Lela working her way through life and adjusting to school without Nadia. And putting up with Nadia's old friends and building a friendship with previous Miss Bitch. And the problems of her past plus her new job. That she's a foster kid with a track record, meaning the police are monitoring her--a bit of a problem when you're wandering the city killing supernatural beings. But Diane is still on her side. I really liked all of that. It brought me back down to earth I think, when the Mazikin stuff got too deep.

But on to what I really want to talk about.<spoiler>MALACHI IS FREAKING GONE ARE YOU KIDDING ME THE ENTIRE BOOK I WAS LIKE YAY THEY'RE TOGETHER OKAY THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE BUT IT'S OKAY AND THEN YOU FREAKING TAKE AWAY MALACHI AND MAKE HIM POSSESSED BY A MAZIKIN AND FREAKING JURI OF ALL PEOPLE HOW COULD YOU I'M SCARRED I'M DEAD I CAN'T HANDLE THIS HOW COULD YOU TAKE MALACHI AWAY I'M ABSOLUTELY SCARRED IT RUINED ME. I'm sorry that ending just really killed me inside because I was SO HAPPY with the ending of Sanctum. Because they were separated and then SURPRISE they ended up together! And this one was the opposite. They were together and then SURPRISE Malachi was freaking sent to Mazikin hell. It just really hurt and I can't wait for the next book because I need Lela and Malachi to be back together.</spoiler>

Now that I have that out of my system.
As much as the ending killed me, I still thought it was a great installment in the broad picture and plot/series. However, if you're weak in emotions, you may want to just stop with Sanctum before you get your heart ripped out of your chest with Fractured.

So though I loved it, it has to get a 4/5 from me, because it really hurt. It was superbly well done, but it painful because it made me very sad. Which I have a problem with, as a reader. But you may like it! It was a wonderful second installment--just left me really desperate for the third!

*I apologize for any rambling or confusion in this review; I read the book over winter break and never got around to reviewing it, so it may not be the best*

Sanctum by Sarah Fine

Title: Sanctum
Author: Sarah Fine
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 433
Genres: Supernatural, Romance, Action
Release Date: Ocotber 16, 2012
Stars: 5
Goodreads Link

Okay so I really don't know what to say about this book, other than that it reminded me why I love reading so much.

It was amazing. I don't know if I think that simply because I haven't really had time to read in a while, but I just thought it was flawless.
It had such raw emotion and the characters were so real. It approached the depression and suicide aspects with such rationality and poise. I felt like it addressed them without being controversial or truly getting into the argument. The focus was suicide, but it wasn't. It artfully wove it into the story, while still keeping the main plot with Lela's adventure, if that makes any sense.

The romance was also completely rational and unrushed. I didn't feel like, for a single moment, the romance was far-fetched or one of those teen "I just met him and wow he's hot okay time to kiss smooch". It really progressed and was just amazing. The romance and development reflected the characters involved, which was great.

I also just seriously loved the characters; they all had so much depth and such vivid back story.
Lela's past really affected the person she was, as clear in the book. And I loved how the author avoided the cliche "she's hurt and scared of everyone but oh look hot guy just kidding he can touch her". Again, there was a lot of progress in the book, rather than the cliche teen romance. She didn't immediately jump in Malachi's arms. It was realistic development.

Malachi and Nadia also weren't just side characters; they really had their own background and their own story. I really loved Malachi's side story. I felt like it was kind of forced (especially in how Lela found out about it), as were some other aspects of the book. The author definitely had some moments of awkward plot development and wording, but overall it worked.
I also loved Nadia's depression, which sounds horrible, but it's true. I liked how there was no real reason behind it. She didn't have a rough past like Lela did. It just showed the irrationality and the inexplainability of depression. It just is. You feel unloved and there's no true reason behind it. Nadia was infinitely loved, yet she couldn't realize it. That's exactly the case with depression and I thought the author portrayed that wonderfully.

Overall, I just seriously thought it was an amazing book and I'm so glad I bought it on the Kindle. I will now have it forever so that I can reread it over and over again!

OH and I also absolutely loved the ending; no spoilers, but I just loved how it all fit and it literally had me grinning at the end. It just made me so happy and I can't wait for more from this author and this series!

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

Title: The Edge of Never
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 426
Genres: Romance, Realistic Fiction, New Adult
Release Date: November 15, 2012
Stars: 5
Goodreads Link

When I started this book, I thought it was a book called Sovereign, which is dystopian. So you can imagine my confusion when it's a realistic fiction love story, with an escapist main character, a naughty love interest, and tangible sexual tension. Not to mention, I was reading this on my Kindle, and didn't realize that the book wasn't in fact Sovereign until about halfway through. So the first half of the book, I was anxiously waiting for some apocalyptic event to cause dystopia. So that kinda screwed me up. But if I had known what the book was, I'm sure I would have enjoyed the first half more :')

But anyway. I loved it. Loved, loved, loved it. It had alternating points of view between Camryn and Andrew, who meet on a bus while both are looking to escape reality. Camryn's best friend's boyfriend (cliche, I know) has confessed that he loves her and comes onto her, even when Camryn rejects him; she tells her best friend about it, but she doesn't believe Camryn and accuses her of being a terrible friend. So Camryn decides to take a break from life and get on a bus to Idaho--destination chosen because the bus counter attendant was eating a potato. On the other hand, Andrew receives a call that his father is dying, but he wants to procrastinate the arrival and reality by taking the long way home--with a bus. So they meet on the bus and the rest is history.

Of course, they hate each other at first. Camryn has her defenses up, but Andrew is just charming enough that they start to fall.
And the romance is just... lovely. I loved them together. And I loved that Camryn was so cautious at first; which is great because I'm sick of girls jumping in stranger's arms.

Later, at the end of the book (don't worry this isn't a spoiler), it's mentioned that they've known each other for less than a month. Which makes their love story seem crazy. But then I reminded myself that throughout the time they knew each other, they were on the road and were together 24/7. It makes the relationship a little more realistic and less "love at first sight" unreasonable.

Also, just warning you, for around the last fourth of the book, make sure you have nowhere to be. Because there is a MAJOR plot twist that I personally never expected; which led to me staying up way later than I had planned to keep reading.

Another thing is sex. So warning; this is a New Adult book, and therefore it's for mature readers. Both characters are in their early 20s, so they're not afraid of sex and aren't afraid of some sexual escapades. So if you're uncomfortable with that, you may want to forgo this book.
I personally loved the couple so much that I didn't mind the sex scenes, but again, if you have a weak stomach for sexuality in books, you may want to consider not reading this. It's not 50 Shades of Grey caliber, but it is significant.

In conclusion, I loved the book. It was a feel good read that turned "gasp-heart-palpitation" worthy with the plot twist and then turned feel good again. The relationship was realistic considering the circumstances and was not an immediate, irrational love. I felt like the characters were realistic and the writing was well done.
It ended well too. It left you feeling satisfied and happy with the ending (though there is a sequel, which is dangerous because for once I was actually happy with the ending of the first book).

Definitely worth a 5/5 rating. Perfect for anyone who wants a nice romance with some excitement and spontaneity. And insane chemistry!

*I apologize for any rambling or confusion in this review; I read the book over winter break and never got around to reviewing it, so it may not be the best*