Asa (Marked Men #6) by Jay Crownover

Title: Asa
Series: Marked Men #6
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: April 21st 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

Review

This is a sad review to write, as it signifies the end of a great series. I actually listened to the audio book versions of the entire series.  Let me tell you, that is the way to go; the variety in narrators and multiple narrators in each story really got me into the book.  Plus if you are a fan of a Southern accent, Asa has a wonderful one.

Asa grew on me, his troubled past and previous lack of care for others did not sit well with me.  It did give him plenty of room to grow though and that he did.  He eventually grew on me as a character and as a part of the crew's family.

The hurdle/issue Asa and Royal had to overcome was a difficult issue and kind of intense and hard to wrap my head around.  I could not really imagine being in that situation ; the whole thing made me rather uncomfortable.  Aside from that aspect of the plot, Asa was a great read and ended the series in a wonderful way.  I loved not only hearing Royal and Asa's story but also hearing all the other happy endings.

Rowdy (Marked Men #5) by Jay Crownover

Title: Rowdy
Series: Marked Men #5
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: October 21st 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

After the only girl he ever loved told him that he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and set out to live up to his nickname. A good ol’ boy looking for good times and good friends, Rowdy refuses to take anything too seriously, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Burned by love once, he isn’t going to let himself trust a woman again. But that’s before his new co-worker arrives, a ghost from the past who’s suddenly making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in house with too many rules and too little fun—a world of unhappiness she couldn’t wait to forget. But one nice thing from childhood has stayed with her; the memory of the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been head over heels in love with her little sister.

Now, fate and an old friend have brought her and Rowdy together, and Salem is determined to show him that once upon a time he picked the wrong sister. A mission that is working perfectly—until the one person that ties them together appears, threatening to tear them apart for good.

Review

Goodness, what to say about Rowdy's story.  Rowdy has a lot going on and I liked it.  The rest of the Marked Men's story's continue, much to my enjoyment.  Similar to Nash, Rowdy was not a main focus character for me yet I still really enjoyed learning more about him.

Rowdy is a tough guy but also a sweetheart and I loved that trait.  I really really liked the dates he took Salem on and how it was a perfect blend of cute romance with steamy romance. While their romance is fiery it also grows throughout making it feel more real.

Between Salem's sister's drama and Rowdy's family surprises, I was flying through this book.  The plot never lets up. While some of the sister drama was a bit of a turn off, in the end I felt like it really came together.   I am definitely glad to have learned and understood more about Rowdy's character. This was another great addition to the series!

Nash (Marked Men #4) by Jay Crownover

Title: Nash
Series: Marked Men #4
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Release Date: April 29th 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

Will their past determine their future?

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down... and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?

Review

Nash has never been one of the characters I felt drawn to.  I have always thought he seemed like a more distant secondary character.  It was nice to get to learn more about his history and his role in the marked men family. The details and aspects of his life really add to another layer of depth in the overall series.

Nash has some sadder moments than Rome.  Even though there were some steamy scenes and happy moments, this book felt a little less happy than the others.  When I finished the book, I felt that I had enjoyed it but did not leave with the grin on my face that some of the other books evoked.  Saint, the main interest in this book, has some personal demons to overcome.  At times I really could relate or feel for her but then at other times I just found her to kind of bother me.

This one was not my favorite but it was still enjoyable and added to the overall series.  At times I felt like I was merely reading to continue some of the other secondary character's stories, not quite for Nash and Saint's story line.  But I love a lot of those other characters so it all worked out!

Rome (Marked Men #3) by Jay Crownover

Title: Rome
Series: Marked Men #3
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: January 7th 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

Review

I LOVED this book.  (Even after finishing the whole series, this is hands down my favorite book) I love Rome and I love Cora.  Of the first three books Rome felt like it had some of the heaviest themes, PTSD specifically but Crownover did an amazing job of incorporating his struggles into the story line without it feeling forced.

I have always been a fan of Cora, I can picture her perfectly and just feel her spunk and feisty-ness every time I read.  Her love for all the marked men and the girls is fantastic.  She really encompasses friendship and tough love.  The dynamic between Rome and Cora is wonderful- they fight, they love and they conquer.  While some aspects of the plot were a bit predictable other parts were such a pleasant surprise.

I for sure recommend this series but especially this book.  If you were on the fence after Jet, really give Rome a try!  Even though Rome was not my favorite in books one and two, he really really grew on me.

Jet (Marked Men #2) by Jay Crownover

Title: Jet
Series: Marked Men #2
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: May 28th 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.

Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.

Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes?

Review

It took me a tad longer to get into Jet and Ayden's story than it did Rule and Shaw's.  Once the plot picked up through, I was hooked again into the Marked Men world.  While I did enjoy their story, there were times when I wanted both of them to get over themselves.   Both Jet and Ayd had issues to overcome and circumstances that continued to make it challenging for them.

This book stands alone really focusing on Jet and Ayden yet all the secondary characters from book one are present.  I love the addition and tie in from the other characters.  Not only does it strengthen my attachment towards Jet and Ayd but it also had me feeling attached to all the others as well. When the plot slowed or I was getting slightly annoyed with the Jet and Ayd it was a reprieve to get to hear more about the rest of the group.

I definitely recommend Jet and the Marked Men series if you are looking for a steamy, new adult read with a fantastic case and great plot.

The Score (Off-Campus #3) by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Score
Series: Off-Campus #3
Author: Elle Kennedy
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: January 11, 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

He knows how to score, on and off the ice

Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di-Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands.

It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over
Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.

Review

I have been loving the Off-Campus series so I was thrilled when I finally got The Score.  I love the setup of the series; that while they are all stand-alone the book takes place in the same setting with a familiar cast of characters.

It is hard for me to pinpoint my exact reasons that this was only three stars for me instead of the 4-5 of the first two books.  Basically I felt like this one had a lot more sex scenes which ended up outweighing some of the other elements in the story.  Though if you are looking for a steamier read, this one has plenty of steaminess! I liked Dean as a character as aside from his semi-cliche trope of player until he finds the right girl.  Aside from that I loved that he had a good heart and was a smart guy.  The Twilight jokes between Dean and his friend are fantastic as well.  I just did not connect really with Allie which impacted my overall rating.

All that being said, The Score was still an entertaining read, probably the most sex heavy in the series thus far.  The ending though, the author for sure drops a bomb and walks away, leaving you shocked and wanting the next book. 

Blog Tour: Roses and Rot by Kat Howard

Title: Roses and Rot
Author: Kat Howard
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: May 17th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Imogen and her sister Marin have escaped their cruel mother to attend a prestigious artists’ retreat, but soon learn that living in a fairy tale requires sacrifices, be it art or love.

What would you sacrifice in the name of success? How much does an artist need to give up to create great art?

Imogen has grown up reading fairy tales about mothers who die and make way for cruel stepmothers. As a child, she used to lie in bed wishing that her life would become one of these tragic fairy tales because she couldn’t imagine how a stepmother could be worse than her mother now. As adults, Imogen and her sister Marin are accepted to an elite post-grad arts program—Imogen as a writer and Marin as a dancer. Soon enough, though, they realize that there’s more to the school than meets the eye. Imogen might be living in the fairy tale she’s dreamed about as a child, but it’s one that will pit her against Marin if she decides to escape her past to find her heart’s desire.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

About Kat Howard

Kat Howard lives in New Hampshire. Her short fiction has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award, anthologized in year's best and best of collections, and performed on NPR. Roses and Rot is her debut novel. You can find her on twitter at @KatWithSword.

Also, Shane Leonard took her photo, and she's super grateful.

Website | Twitter 

Review

Roses and Rot was everything I was hoping for yet at the same time nothing I was expecting.  The cover gives the reader this mysterious almost haunting vibe and without fail the book provides that but it also brings the reader into this magical dark world of tithes and faeries.  A world that while at times haunting it was also intriguing and desirable. The characters are passionate, full of talent, and ready to immerse themselves in their art.  The setting perfectly matched the overall mood and writing style.

The writing style did take me a bit to get used to, each sentence and word choice felt intentional. I had to slow down my reading and really take in everything that was written, after a while I really appreciate the lovely prose.  The plot is interwoven with narratives from Imogen's writing - dark brutally honest and harsh fairy tales.  The fairy tales that don't always bring a smile to your face and do have true evil in them.

There was so much going on with the plot, between the secondary characters' development, the flashbacks, and the magical world of the faerie,s the plot never dulled.  I truly enjoyed being kept on my toes, nothing really transpired how I guessed it would. While there is romance in the book, the real love is the love between two sisters and what happens when that love challenged.   Roses and Rot is filled with magic, surprises, and dark fairy tales up to the very last page! 

Tour Schedule:

Week 1:

6/6: Such A Novel Idea - Playlist

6/7: Cosying Up With Books - Review

6/8: That Artsy Reader Girl - Art History Post

6/9: The Quiet Concert - Review

6/10: Fiction Fare - Q&A

Week 2:

6/13: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A

6/14: Curling Up With A Good Book - Guest Post

6/15: Lilybloombooks - Review

6/16: Reads All the Books - Review

6/17: Fangs & Fur Fantasy Books - Review

Giveaway:

1 Finished Copy of ROSES & ROT (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rule (Marked Men #1) by Jay Crownover

Title: Rule
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: May 7th 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight--A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want--and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

Review

Rule is my first Jay Crownover book, I am now a fan! Rule was the perfect new adult palette cleanser I was looking for. It was funny, steamy, and emotional yet still an easy read. I was easily transported right into Rule and Shaw’s world.

Rule is a bad boy; he sleeps around a lot, is full of tattoos and has some personal struggles. Shaw on the other hand, is his opposite. The good girl wanting the bad boy worked for me. Even though it was clear at times what was coming, the writing was just fantastic and had be overlooking any predictable plot points. Nothing felt forced, the drama fit wonderfully with each character and the overall story line. My only wish was that the ending was a bit longer, it felt a tad rushed.

Rule was a well done dual narrated audiobook. The steamy scenes perfectly complimented the emotional roller coaster Shaw and Rule were facing. Rule was my first but definitely not my last Crownover book; looking forward to the next one!

The Deal & The Mistake by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Deal
Author: Elle Kennedy
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: February 24th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy...

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it’s going to be oh so good.

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

Review

I adored this book. Elle Kennedy had me hooked from the first chapter.  The Deal was one of those books you take with you everyone just so you can keep reading it.  I was lugging my kindle all over the house, I needed more and more.  Between the great story line and steamy scenes, I was flying through this book.

The Deal does have common character roles, popular athletes and a smart but quieter girl. Before you think, "Oh,  no this sounds predictable and I have seen it before," STOP! Don't worry, while The Deal does focus on two very stereotypical roles, Kennedy keeps the dialogue fresh and the characters like-able.  My favorite three aspects of this book are Hanna, Garrett, and the hockey team.  Hannah is a strong female character who is not afraid to give grief and attitude.  The banter between the two is fantastic.  I loved how Garrett, a former player, was not a jerk to Hannah (at least not for the sake of being plain mean).  He wanted to protect her and be a good guy.  Lastly I loved the hockey aspects and the teammate's secondary roles.

Go read The Deal!  It's full of fun banter, hot hockey players and a smart girl.   Both characters grow over the course of the book with the reader along for the steamy but heart warming, aww-inducing read!

Title: The Mistake
Author: Elle Kennedy
Publisher: Createspace
Release Date: May 6th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

He’s a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

Review

The Mistake is a companion novel to The Deal.  It stands alone but the reader gets brought back into the college hockey team's world.  This book focuses on John Logan, another hockey player.  Logan tries to run away from his problems and end up at the Freshman dorms where he meets Grace.

As the story progresses the reader learns more and more about Logan's back story and family.  The story also follows Grace through her up and downs and self-reflection.  The dynamic between the two is steamy without any attachments and feelings.  Those come later.  Unlike book one, this book is less of a slow build but rather a roller coaster romance that starts right away.  The writing style is incredibly readable between the alternating POVs and adorable moments.

I hands down recommend this series if you are looking for a fast and steamy read!  I cannot wait to see what The Score has in store.

Last Will and Testament by Dahlia Adler

Title: Last Will and Testament
Author: Dahlia Adler
Series: Radleigh University #1
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: May 19, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Lizzie Brandt was valedictorian of her high school class, but at Radleigh University, all she's acing are partying and hooking up with the wrong guys. But all that changes when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, making her guardian to her two younger brothers. To keep them out of foster care, she'll have to fix up her image, her life, and her GPA—fast. Too bad the only person on campus she can go to for help is her humorless, pedantic Byzantine History TA, Connor Lawson, who isn't exactly Lizzie's biggest fan.

But Connor surprises her. Not only is he a great tutor, but he’s also a pretty great babysitter. And chauffeur. And listener. And he understands exactly what it’s like to be on your own before you're ready. Before long, Lizzie realizes having a responsible-adult type around has its perks... and that she'd like to do some rather irresponsible (but considerably adult) things with him as well. Good thing he's not the kind of guy who'd ever reciprocate.

Until he does.

Until they turn into far more than teacher and student.

Until the relationship that helped put their lives back together threatens everything they both have left.

Review

So, I pretty typically avoid New Adult books because I haven't had the best of luck with them. Whether it's true or not, I feel like the genre is oversaturated with plots about broken MCs saving each other with a heaping side of really great sex and that's not the type of story I'm usually in the mood to read, especially over and over again. I have enjoyed a few lighter, more fun-focused NA books, but I usually don't bother to weed those out. So, it's safe to say that if it weren't for my book club choosing this book as our September read, I probably would never have picked it up, at least not anytime soon. So I owe a huge thanks to Betty @ BookRockBetty because color me surprised, I really really really liked this one.

Something about Lizzie just spoke to me. Maybe it's because she was someone who didn't kid herself or others and I could see a little bit of myself in that. Whatever it was, I LOVED her voice. She was also fun, witty, sexy, strong, caring and REAL. Maybe she was also a little bitchy to those she didn't like but I appreciated her occasional verbal smackdowns. Life handed her a really shitty (really sad) hand of cards and yet she carried forward and turned her life around in a way that was really, really admirable. She did the best she could for herself, her brothers, and really grew up in the process. I loved her character ARC.

Connor on the other hand might be every book nerd's dream guy - nerdy, smart, kind, patient, vulnerable, sexy, and really great in bed (yes, I said that). I loved how he was there for Lizzie when she needed someone to be, but that he was real enough to freak out over the fact that she was raising two kids (and then get over it). He was such a great guy and unbelievably swoon-worthy. And yes, maybe he was her TA and 6-7 years older but it never felt creepy to me in that teacher-student-relationship way. Then again, I don't count a TA as a teacher. To me, he was a grad student and that is totally within relationship limits so I had no problem with their relationship.

This book was heavy, obviously, but it didn't have the same feel that I tend to shy away from in NA. Probably because neither character had that "broken" or "mysterious" feel to them. Lizzie lost her parents and she grieved but she also kept going. She was pretty damn normal. And there really weren't any typical tropes present - no miscommunication or self-made problems or weird attractions (like when a guy and a girl never talk but gravitate toward each other because they have the whole "damaged" thing in common). I'm probably being insensitive towards the genre - and I apologize for that - but I've had quite a few frustrating reads which makes me appreciate this one all the more.

I'm glad I read it and I'm definitely going to be reading more of Dahlia Adler's work.

All Broke Down & All Played Out by Cora Carmack

Title: All Broke Down
Author: Cora Carmack
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: October 28th 2014
Source: Bought

Summary from Goodreads:
In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can't only fight for what you believe in... sometimes you have to fight for what you love.

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians you name it, she's probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He's in for a different kind of fighting. And though he's arrogant and infuriating, she can't help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it's trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He's met girls like her before fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn't think he's broken, and he definitely doesn't need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about: his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.

Review

It is no surprise that I loved this book after really enjoying All Lined Up.  Holy steamy book, All Broke Down is by far the steamiest of Carmack's book. Similiar to book one, football plays a role in the story but in such a way that it truly adds to the character's backstory.  I am by no means a huge football fan but I thoroughly enjoyed the team dynamics between the guys. The blend of friendship, competition, and romance makes for a perfect sexy summer read.  Those sexy scenes took me by surprise but I was all for the kicking it up notch.

This story focuses on Silas, who was not a favorite in book one but this bad boy for sure forced me to have a change of heart.  The chemistry and raw emotions between Dylan and Silas felt honest.  Dylan carries some family issues with her while Silas has almost the complete opposite upbringing; they face struggles but are still able to communicate and make it work.  This book is just as strong, if not stronger than book one.  Even though the story standalone, the previously introduced characters play smaller but great supporting roles.

Title: All Played Out
Author: Cora Carmack
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: Source:

Bought

Summary from Goodreads:
First person in her family to go to college? CHECK.
Straight A’s? CHECK.
On track to graduate early? CHECK.
Social life? …..yeah, about that….

With just a few weeks until she graduates, Antonella DeLuca’s beginning to worry that maybe she hasn’t had the full college experience. (Okay... Scratch that. She knows she hasn't had the full college experience).

So Nell does what a smart, dedicated girl like herself does best. She makes a "to do" list of normal college activities.

Item #1? Hook up with a jock.

Rusk University wide receiver Mateo Torres practically wrote the playbook for normal college living. When he’s not on the field, he excels at partying, girls, and more partying. As long as he keeps things light and easy, it's impossible to get hurt... again. But something about the quiet, shy, sexy-as-hell Nell gets under his skin, and when he learns about her list, he makes it his mission to help her complete it.

Torres is the definition of confident (And sexy. And wild), and he opens up a side of Nell that she's never known. But as they begin to check off each crazy, exciting, normal item, Nell finds that her frivolous list leads to something more serious than she bargained for. And while Torres is used to taking risks on the field, he has to decide if he's willing to take the chance when it's more than just a game.

Together they will have to decide if what they have is just part of the experiment or a chance at something real.

Review

"The future is never just one choice.  It's a thousand.  And they never stop.  You will choose your future every day of your life.  And should you wake up one day to find that you regret the choice you made the day before, then you make a new one."

All Played Out hands down is my favorite book in the series so far.  This one is not quite as steamy as All Broke Down but I felt more of a connection with Nell.  Nell is a smart, nerdy, goal driven individual that would rather dive face first into her school work than get distracted by other things. Nell decides she needs to change her ways and makes a to-do list to really 'experience' college. Lucky her, a super attractive football player has taken it upon him to help her complete her college bucket list.  Torres reminded me of a large teddy bear; he is sweet but also a protector.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is that the secondary characters continue to play roles throughout the entire series.  Nell becomes friends with the other girls and starts to expand her horizons and truly feel like she is growing and living.  I believe college is not only a educational experience but also a social experience.  It is not the easier to open up and try new things, I find it awesome that Nell decide to take on new challenges.

If I were to recommend one new adult series, hands down it would be this series.  The romance is a perfect amount of steamy, the characters have different histories and are well developed, and the plot is fast paced, not too heavy, and fun!

All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

Title:All Lined Up
Author: Cora Carmack
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date:May 13th 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

Review

Cora Carmack's books are my first choice when I am in the mood for a reading change up.  There are times when the heavy emotional books, intricate world building, and intense reads give me a book hangover and all I am in the mood for is something easy to read, that will bring a smile to my face.   Without fail, All Lined Up provided that and more, I was laughing and swooning in the fast and fun book.

All Lined Up was a great mix of romance, humor and college drama.  I love the slow building tension between Dallas and Carson.  The college emotions and thoughts about romance, dating, and love felt so genuine.  There is the awkward meet up at a party, the playful exchanges, and of course the football aspects that just all fit together in this great college book.  Carson faces struggles balancing life and school while being a student athlete.  Dallas is getting over her first love while trying to find her place in a new environment. The narration changes between both Dallas and Carson giving the reading insight into the true feelings of each character exposing those vulnerable self conscious moments and those second guessing/over analyzing thoughts.  It all felt so honest and real.

Aside from the main characters, the secondary characters compliment the story so well.  Dallas has a rock star best friend that supports her, has her back and challenges her at the same time.  Fantastic characters, realistic emotions, and humor!  All Lined Up has some awesome lines, for example:

"Or even worse...panting after him like he's bacon dipped in Nutella wrapped in  more bacon."

"Do they make WD-40 for flirting? Because I am rusty."

I hands down recommend All Lined Up!  It is the exact kind of new adult book that I love; the fast paced plot, fantastic characters, and well done love story make a perfect read.  I highly suggest picking up a copy and laying by the pool/on the beach with this great book!

Finding it & Seeking Her by Cora Carmack

Title:Finding it
Series:  Losing It #3
Author: Cora Carmack
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Release Date:October 15th 2013
Pages: Paperback, 304 pages,
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong...

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

Review

Kelsey never really captured my attention in the beginning of the series so starting was a bit rough for me.  Kelsey seemed to be on a path of self destruction, sleeping with different guys every night and drinking her days away. It was a bit predictable to guess that she had something else going on.  The story picked up after she started getting to know the tough guy who seems to be on a mission to get to know her. Jackson was her knight in shining armor and the romance is powerful, strong, and fast yet.  I enjoyed their chemistry, dynamic, and tension; the writing did an excellent job of blending the romance with some unease.

One of the big secrets, while not predictable, did seem to be a bit unoriginal.  Finding It was simply a middle of the road, average read.  I felt like I could not connect with the characters and they were not the most like-able people.  The overall tone was serious, full of deeper issues, personal growth and no humor.  The humor is what I feel in love with in the first book and the second book but seemed to be missing in this one.  Finding It just fell flat for me.  It was not bad by any means, I just had such high expectations after really enjoying Losing It.

Title:Seeking Her
Series:  Losing It #3.5
Author: Cora Carmack
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Release Date:January 28th 2014
Pages: Kindle 160 Pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
A few months after being honorably discharged from the military, Jackson Hunt is still struggling to adjust back to the real world. He needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he’s going to keep his own demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.

Bodyguard (and baby-sitter) to spoiled-rich-girl Kelsey Summers isn’t exactly what he’d been looking for, but it’s a chance to travel, to get away from the home that has felt stifling ever since his return. It would be a pretty sweet gig if it weren’t for the fact that Kelsey’s father doesn’t want Kelsey to know she’s being followed. Hunt feels guilty (and a little bit creepy) as he watches her from afar. She’s vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When he sees her falling into the same patterns that he suffered years ago, he decides it’s time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know her is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.

Review

Seeking Her is a novella that allows the reader to see the story from Jackson's point of view.  I wish the novella was like Keeping Her in that its focus is about the ever after, instead it is the same story just from a different view.  While others may like the change in POV, I feel like the story is too similar and I have a tendency to lose interest in reading the same story line just slightly different.

As mentioned before, I had a hard time connecting with both Kelsey and Jackson making the story hard to get into.  I would not recommend this one unless you loved Jackson and just want more from his perspective.  And you have to be okay with him being a bit stalker-ish.  Even with all that said, the writing is fast paced and an easy read.  I cannot wait to start Carmack's next series!

Faking it by Cora Carmack

Title:Faking It
Series:  Losing It #2
Author: Cora Carmack
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Release Date:June 4th 2013
Pages: Paperback, 304 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

Review

I absolutely devoured Losing It, so I was so excited to start Faking It and hear more about Cade since he got the short end of the stick in the first book.  I will first start off by saying I love how the books are a series yet since each book is about a different character, they can be read as a stand alone. Reading them in order gives the reader a bit more background and back story but the overall plot is quite stand alone with no cliff hangers.  I enjoyed the feeling of completeness after finishing this one!

Cade and Max have a whole different kind of relationship, one that started as pretend and turned into something real.  The biggest reservation I had, which is not really to the writing or story telling of the book but more a personal preference thing was that I was not a huge fan of the fact that Max was in a relationship for a bit while in the fake but real relationship with Cade.  Besides that aspect, I loved their chemistry and banter.  Both characters carried a past with them and needed help overcoming it; they were well developed and thought out characters, they never fell flat.

The whole situation was a comical one, while I thought the story had a bit more serious tone to it compared to Losing It, it was still quite enjoyable!  I loved Cade, he was a sweet, loving, and overall just good guy. Max had a lot going on, she had a lot of hurt and sadness in her past yet a strong personality and facade.  Together they made a great couple and a fun book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, it did not quite have the light-hearted nature I fell in love with in book one yet it had a different rough but strong story line.  I recommend it if you enjoyed Losing It just keep in mind there is hardly any awkward, clumsy Bliss (who I thought was fantastic).

Keeping Her by Cora Carmack

Title: Keeping Her
Series: Losing It #1.5
Author: Cora Carmack
Publisher: William Morrow
Release Date:August 13th 2013
Pages: ebook, 176 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.

Review

Thank goodness Cora Carmack wrote this novella; I needed more Garrick and Bliss!  Keeping Her is a cute, sweet glimpse into their happily-ever-after; warming your heart, leaving you grinning and feeling complete when you get to that final page. 

While this book would be generally considered a novella do not let that sway you from reading it, it felt more like a really short book :) Keeping Her is a perfect example of a novella done right; it adds to the story line and has character development without being redundant or without focus and purpose.  The romance/relationship between the two is a bit more serious yet still full of awkward and cute moments.

'That kid better watch it.  I'm totally a Slytherin.' I shook my head smiling.  

'Love, I'm going to need you to pull back on the crazy a bit.'

'You're right.  Realistically, I'm a Ravenclaw.'

Bliss continues to be unique and quirky, all while facing her soon-to-be in-laws for the first time!  The situation is of course a sticky and tense one.  Carmack captured the feelings and emotions between the couple and the parents; the real stress and tension was offset by their love for each other making it a great read!

"When I saw her name on the caller ID, it was like seeing the Dark Mark hovering above my apartment."

"My odds were looking about as good as a main character in Game of Thrones."

I highly recommend reading Losing It and following it up with Keeping Her! They are relate-able, believable and just fun books  I cannot wait to start Faking it :)

Losing It by Cora Carmack

Title:Losing It
Author: Cora Carmack
Series: Losing it #1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date:October 15th 2012
Pages: Ebook, 204 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible - a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

Review

Nicole and I had the pleasure of meeting Cora Carmack at the Baltimore Book Festival. She spoke on a couple panels with other fantastic authors.  After hearing the New Adult panel and listening to Cora describe her books I just knew I needed to give them a chance.

Losing It is a perfectly awkward blend of college life and relationships; I was devouring the pages of this fun, lighthearted book! Bliss was starting her last semester of college as a virgin and decided that she needed to change that.  From the moment the book started I was grinning; Bliss was such a real, quirky, entertaining character.  Here are some of my favorites:

Somewhere between Save by the Bell and Gossip Girl, it became unheard of for a girl to graduate college with her V-card still in hand. 

I was terrified I'd melt into a puddle of arousal and awkwardness if I met his gorgeous eyes again.  

Was he trashing my place because I'd run out and left him there like the biggest jerk this side of Kanye West at the 2009 VMAs?

Not only was Bliss a fantastic character, Garrick the gorgeous main character who happens to have a British accent was equally as fantastic.  The dynamic and chemistry between Bliss and Garrick was radiating off the pages.  The romance was funny, real, and sexy all at the same time.  Bliss would over analyze situations, she is clumsy, she is a nerd, she gets nervous, she is a relate-able honest character.

The secondary characters are primarily Bliss's theater classmates and friends; each friend fills a different role in the story and supplement the fast paced plot.  The ending was satisfying but I was so invested in the characters I just needed more so thank goodness there is a novella!

Overall, I highly recommend Losing It if you are looking for a light-hearted, non-angsty story about an awkward college student that has fabulous inner monologues and funny one liners all while battling the sexual tension she has with her new professor.

Boomerang by Noelle August

Title: Boomerang
Series: Boomerang #1  
Author: Noelle August
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: July 8, 2014
Pages: 304
Source: EW

Summary from Goodreads:
Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?

Review

After reading the synopsis for Boomerang, I just knew I had to read this book. Competing for a job against the guy you just had a one night stand with and still find attractive is right up there on my list of most entertaining premises ever. And this book was every bit as fun as I thought it would be.

The situation Mia and Ethan found themselves in was just the right set up for awkward moments, mixed feelings, office drama, sexual tension, close-calls, healthy competition, witty banter - you name it. All of which made for one hell of an enjoyable reading experience. I had several laughs with this one - the toaster panties being the most noteworthy.

I think Mia and Ethan were the perfect set of characters for this storyline - young, hot, ambitious, funny and interesting enough to make them memorable but not so interesting that they had baggage (if you know what I mean). Their attraction seemed a little superficial, but again, it worked at this point in the story. I would expect their connection to go a little deeper as the story progresses.

And there was lots of other personality outside of Mia and Ethan's romance that added to Boomerang's greatness. There were some pretty amusing secondary characters and a really great friendship between Mia and her best friends. I also loved that Boomerang was a dating website and both Mia and Ethan had to go on some blind dates for "market research". Honestly, everything about this book just worked for me.

I am always a little hesitant reading new adult because they tend to be a hit or miss for me. But Boomerang wasn't too issue-heavy or too sex-heavy or any of the other trends that seem to be common in new adult these days. It was the perfect new adult read for me.

I highly recommend this one if you are in the mood for a rom com (of sorts) or dying to know what toaster panties are. It was highly entertaining.

Hopeless (Hopeless #1) by Colleen Hoover

Title: Hopeless
Series: Hopeless #1
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: December 19, 2012
Pages: 327
Source: Audiobook, Audible

Summary from Goodreads:
Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

Review

Was I reading the same book as everyone else? Because there are an overwhelming amount of glowing reviews for this book and I just don’t understand it. At all.

Holder is not likeable. Maybe Holder was a good guy in the last 1/4 of the book but what about the first 3/4? I don’t care that his most controversial behavior is explained in the end, it is not at all excusable or justified. He was temperamental, invasive, controlling, insulting, selfish, threatening and unpredictable. His behavior was so off-putting to me that “off-putting” is putting it mildly. How is it ok to show aggression toward a girl, stop talking to her for weeks with no explanation, and then CLIMB IN HER BEDROOM WINDOW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. Not to apologize. He didn’t want Sky to forgive him (he said this). He just needed her to need him there more than she needed an apology (he said this too). This is just one example. Excuse me while I go throw up in my mouth.

I like Sky only slightly better than I do Holder. I have no respect for her because she has no respect for herself. And that has nothing to do with the several boys she lets take advantage of her (although that certainly doesn’t help) and everything to do with how she is so accepting/forgiving of Holder when he gives her every reason not to be. She admits to being TERRIFIED of him on SEVERAL occasions and yet she lets him continue to control her. And I thought that she acted pretty irrationally, selfishly, and without thought in the second half of the book. I understand the horribleness of her situation and I am not trying to be insensitive, but I’ve read books involving sensitive subjects and they were handled much better than this.

Now I am not going to say this book was ALL bad. I liked the friendship between Six and Sky. I think Breckin was awesomesauce. And I think Karen was a really good parent to Sky. There were some good lines in this. And the ending wasn’t terrible. Then again I could have been misplacing my glee over finally finishing this book. That is the extent of the things I liked. And sadly, the things I didn’t like totally overshadowed them.

So no, I don’t think I can recommend this book. There are so many books either of the contemporary, swoony boy, and/or sensitive issue variety that are better than this one in my opinion. Then again, I seem to be a black sheep.

And for the record, There were an awful lot of panty dropping references for a girl who considers herself a virgin and a book involving child molestation. Just saying.