Never Too Far by Abbi Glines

This is the second novel in the Too Far series by Abbi Glines.

My review of #1: Fallen Too Far.

WARNING - There will be spoilers from the first novel in this series. Proceed with caution after this sentence!

After Blaire found out that she has a half-sister and no one told her - not even Rush who she gave her heart to - and everything has horrible thoughts about her mother that can't be true, she leaves Florida and goes back to Alabama, where her mother and twin sister are buried  To the only home that she has ever known.

But even though Blaire has run away from the problems that have come upon her, she can't escape them. Especially when she realizes she is carrying Rush's child.

She can't trust Rush again though. The secret about her father having another daughter is too much to hide from her - she had a right to know instead of walking on Rush's family saying horrible lies about her mother and herself.

Then Blaire finds herself back in Florida, living with her closest girl friend Bethy and back working at the country club as a server. Only 4 people know her secret about the baby, but Rush isn't one of them. Which isn't stopping Rush from wanting to be with Blaire again, but Blaire is having a hard time forgetting what happened.

Rush is in over his head. He needs to protect Nannette from everything that happened, but he was a wreck when Blaire left him. Now that she's back, he won't lose her again. He will not allow it.

But trying to keep Blaire and Nan to play nice with each other isn't working. Nan won't get over what happened and is treating Blaire horribly. Soon Rush is going to have to make a decision between these two girls - the one he has protected his whole life or the love of his life who could tear his world apart.

Just when Rush might have made a decision, things fall apart when one of the women he loves gets into a boating accident and is unconscious in the hospital. Can Rush really make a decision between the two, or will he be torn into two forever?

And will Blaire ever be able to trust Rush again, or is the damage between them just too much for her to forgive and forget?

Read Never Too Far by Abbi Glines to find out what will happen with Rush and Blaire!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Just a forewarning, this is a NEW ADULT novel, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Adult (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

Wow. I flew through this novel and still wanted more by the end of it!

This was definitely different than the first novel, but that's okay because we got to get to know Blaire and Rush better. This novel also allowed the reader to read Rush's point of view, instead of just Blaire's like the first novel, so that was a nice change to finally understand how Rush thought of Blaire and the situation.

I did think, though, that Blaire wasn't as feisty or determined as she was in the first novel. Probably because she had nothing else to go toward and didn't know what to do in her situation, but I sure did miss her 9 millimeter gun that she pulled out last novel!

This novel definitely had a lot more sex than the first, and very descriptive as well. But we got over the hurdle of first meeting one another in the first novel, so the sexual tension was just bursting through this book!

I was so anxious for this book that I paid more than $0.99 like I usually do! So glad that I did, though, because I couldn't wait any longer to find out more about Rush and Blaire :)

Originally this was supposed to be the end of their story, which I would have found disappointing. Don't get me wrong, it ended well enough but I feel like there could be so much more told about these two. They definitely won't have lives without drama - not with their messed up family tree - and it was just getting good at the end. Plus, other relationships could be salvaged and initiated if it was continued in another novel.

And Abbi Glines has decided to write a third novel in the series! Only after the readers begged and pleaded, but she stated on Facebook and Twitter that she will start writing another one for all of us! So excited to see what's in store for the world that Glines has created!

I would definitely recommend this novel, but be forewarned that there is a lot of sex and language in this novel, plus you should definitely read the first novel to keep up with what is going on. Older readers will probably be better than teens as well. I cannot wait for the next novel, and I'm so glad that I got this one right away!

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

This is the first novel in the Hopeless series by Colleen Hoover.

Sky has finally gotten her adoptive mother to let her go to public school for the first time in her senior year. She wanted to get used to the public system rather than being home schooled since she is going to college the year after.

Right before she starts school, she meets Dean Holder - the only guy she's ever felt anything and she just saw him. Most guys that she makes out with leave her feeling numb, which she likes because she doesn't have to feel for awhile.

But Holder made her feel so many emotions and he hadn't even touched her - just looked at her and Sky was done for.

When Sky went to school, she already had a reputation as the slut or whore, since she has made out with different guys, even though she's still a virgin. Rumors and lies spread fast in high school, Sky figures out.

Holder fascinates Sky and even though she's hear rumors about him and his past, Sky wants to get to know Holder. But he has many different sides and Sky is not able to understand most of them.

He also gets very jealous around Sky, even though they aren't dating and she's not dating anyone else. But when comments are being made about Sky, Holder will most definitely fight back, unless Sky can talk him out of it.

The chemistry between the two has not gone unnoticed, and with Sky's no filter problem, she blurts out that she wants more with Holder. But he pans it out and let's it linger between the two, keeping their "firsts" spread apart and last longer.

However, things slowly start to go horribly wrong. Sky is having flashes and memories about her life before the adoption. Things she finds out she made herself regret. Things about her best friends when she was 3 and information about her real parents that Sky is now just realizing she wished she never remembered.

Because everything Sky has thought about herself is horribly wrong. She doesn't even know her real self anymore after the secrets get unburied. Now Sky has to deal with what happened, and how Holder is involved in all of her past dark secrets that he knew about before Sky did.

To find out what happened to Sky, and what will happen between Sky and Holder, read Hopeless by Colleen Hoover!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Just a forewarning, this is a NEW ADULT novel, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Adult (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

I read Hoovers other novel, Slammed, and enjoyed it, but didn't love it. But this novel? I read it in one sitting and wanted more!

I literally laughed out loud (especially when Sky didn't know what "lol" meant), made me gasp, hold my breath, and I cried. Oh, boy, did I cry at the end. I definitely went on an emotional roller coaster ride through this novel and loved every minute of it!

This novel was so intense - even before the big secret was revealed. Holder is an intense guy and Sky actually feels things when he's around, so that alone is intense.

And speaking of the big secret? I most definitely guessed correctly on everything that was revealed long before it happened. But when I guessed it, I didn't want it to be real. It was so horrible and that is why I cried at the end. Because even though I guessed correctly, I really didn't want my guess to be right.

Hoover did an amazing job. Even if all readers guess what happens at the end, it is still emotional and heart breaking - especially when we read about Sky and Holder's reaction and emotions to the revealing.

Even though I heard tons of great reviews from this novel, it took me awhile to spend money on it for the eBook on Amazon, but I finally did and boy am I sure glad I experienced this novel. I will definitely not be forgetting this story any time soon, and I'm curious to see what Hoover is going to write about for the sequel of this novel. I will, however, be waiting to find out the minute any information about the sequel comes out, because I need to read more about Sky and Holder.

I would most definitely recommend this novel to my friends and any older readers, as the content is very graphic in some areas. Go read it. Now. You won't regret it!

Lost to You by A.L. Jackson

This is the prequel novel to Take This Regret series by A.L. Jackson.

Elizabeth has worked hard to go to college in New York after living in the same town her whole life in California. She's going into pre-law and will not let any distractions get in her way.

Christian is going into pre-law to follow in his father's practice, even though it might not be the exact thing he wants. But it's expected of him so he follows suit.

When the two meet together, a spark and connection come alive. But Elizabeth is not into a one night stand so she tells Christian they can be classmates and friends, but nothing else.

So the both of them keep to their agreement and become best friends, always hanging out and doing their homework together, getting dinner, etc.

Except that the sexual tension between the two of them is growing stronger...

And both are acting as if they are dating rather than being friends.

When one action changes things between them, they have to decide if they want the same things. Because once they cross that boundary, nothing can ever go back to what it was like as just friends.

What will happen between Christian and Elizabeth? Read Lost to You by A.L. Jackson to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Just a forewarning, this is a NEW ADULT novel, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Adult (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

I got this online from Amazon for $0.99 as an eBook because it sounded interesting and it was the prequel before the first novel in the series.

This was a short novella but I found it quite long and at times boring. The story was alright, and I really liked Elizabeth standing her ground and stating what she wants and doesn't want.

But there was a lot of thought processing for both characters and while I like to know what the characters are thinking, I also like action and the characters actually acting on what they feel, which Elizabeth and Christian didn't do that often.

So this was an okay novel, but not something that I will reread or even buy the other novels in the series. I just didn't feel it, even though there are a lot of reviews out there that state they love it. Just wasn't meant for me I guess.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read an NA novel and wants the backstory to the full length novel.

One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy

This is the first novel in the Drew + Fable series by Monica Murphy.

Living in a college town, Fable is able to work at a local bar and get steady tips from all of the drunk, rich students. She also has a reputation that follows her around, saying she is easy and is a slut. Fable only does what she has to in order to bring in money for her family.

Her mother drinks too much and parties with her boyfriend of the month, so Fable has to be the responsible one and take care of her 13 year old brother Owen. Which is getting harder because Owen is getting more defiant and running around with the wrong crowd.

When Drew confronted Fable outside of the bar after her shift, Fable thought it was to hook up, which she was not doing. But Drew threw her a curve ball: he wants to pay Fable to be his fake girlfriend for one week, over Thanksgiving Break.

Fable was going to say no, but when she heard it was for $3,000, she couldn't pass it up, so off to Drew's parents house she went, fake girlfriend status in tow.

Throughout the week, Fable and Drew realized that they have a lot in common. And that they are mutually attracted to one another.

But they made a deal, and in one week they would no longer have to talk to each other.

That will be hard to do though. Because the reason Drew wanted Fable at his house had to do with his father and stepmother. And now Fable is getting closer to Drew's secrets. At first he didn't want her Fable to know, but now that she's getting closer to his dark secrets, he's finding out that he might be able to trust her.

But can he fully give himself to Fable, or will Drew forever be haunted by his dark past? Can Fable find a way to get Drew to open up, or will their "relationship" be over in a week? Read One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Just a forewarning, this is a NEW ADULT novel, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Adult (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

I gotta say, I'm glad I got this book for $0.99 and didn't wait until it was free! I really enjoyed it and flew by, even though I'm upset that there is another one and I have to wait for it!

I absolutely loved Fable. First, her name is awesome, even though she probably gets a lot of crap for it. And secondly, she is single-handedly raising her younger brother and avoiding her mother. She just needs to leave her mother and have one less ungrateful person to take care of, but that's just my opinion.

And Drew. Oh, poor Drew. I figured out what happened to him to make him want a fake girlfriend over the holidays before it was revealed, and my heart was breaking for him over and over throughout this eBook.

There was a lot of messed up topics and events in this book, but I really loved it. Fable is amazing because once she finds out, she doesn't run away yelling. Oh, no. Our Fable stays right by Drew's side and makes him realize that he is not at fault. It's only Drew that is running away, even though he doesn't want to.

The only bad part about this book was that I found out it is part of a series... And the second one isn't out yet! So I have to wait until I find out when it comes out and snatch it, because I need to know what happens. Now!

Okay, enough ranting. I really enjoyed this and I think other readers who are having a New Adult kick like I am will enjoy it as well. I would recommend it for older readers because of the topic content, but I'm really glad I got it and would recommend it to others because I enjoyed it so much!

Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

This is the first novel in the Too Far series by Abbi Glines.

Moving from Alabama to Florida is a big change for Blaire. She just buried her mother who she has spent the last three years taking care of when she was sick, so now she is on her own and meeting her father for the first time in 5 years.

Only, when she gets to her father, Abraham's, house, he's not there. Instead, there is a huge party in the mansion size house and Blaire finds out that she has a hot older step-brother named Rush.

And Rush has a younger sister named Nanette, who hates Blaire on sight, and a younger brother named Grant. All of whom have a different parent from Rush, making them step siblings as well.

Blaire knows she's not wanted at Rush's house when she sees the disgust on his face and the fact that he tells her to get out of his house before he throws her out. Blaire is just about to leave when he suddenly changes his mind, letting her stay in the maid's room for a month.

Blaire will take that deal - she just needs to find a job and start making some money until she can find her own place to live. She didn't want to stay there indefinitely, especially when Nanette and Rush hate Blaire so much.

Thankfully, she found a job on her first day looking at a country club selling drinks to golfers outside on the course. She even started that day, making more money from tips than she expected. By this rate, she would be out of Rush's house, and life, for good!

Which was good, because Rush is acting biopolar - one minute he's being nice and talking to her, the next he's giving her the evil eye and yelling at her.

Everything changes between them, though, when Blaire goes out with her new friend Bethy from the country club who she works with. Because Rush comes with, and things heat up between them, making Blaire realize he was acting biopolar to stay away from her. But now Blaire and Rush are together, even though their time is limited.

Things go horribly wrong when Blaire finds out about a secret about herself. A secret that everyone in this town knew, and no one decided to tell her. A secret that makes Blaire's mother an evil person, which Blaire knows she is not. And a secret that might very well rip her and Rush apart from one another.

What is the big secret? Can Rush and Blaire work through it, or is it too back-stabbing? Read Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Just a forewarning, this is a NEW ADULT novel, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Adult (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

Wow. Just wow. From the first 3 pages, I was hooked because Blaire pulled out a gun from her pick up truck when a stranger knocked on her window. I mean, a pick up truck and a gun!? So amazing!

Okay, I really really loved this book. I've heard so many good things about Abbi Glines and have been wanting desperately to read her novels, though many of the libraries I can lend from don't have them :-( So when I saw this eBook on Amazon for $0.99, I had to get it! And I'm so glad I did - she lived up to my expectations!

Blaire was a great character and I loved her so much. She was used to taking care of everyone, so when she saw a mess at Rush's, she wanted to clean up to make up for living at his place while she was working. She is so lovable and I would most definitely be her friend.

Rush tried so hard to stay away from her, but he was very territorial when other guys - his friends - started to hit on her. He was a lost cause, but he did try very hard to stay angry at her because of the secret everyone was keeping from Blaire.

When Blaire finally saw her father at the end, I wanted to cheer her on. She ripped her father a new one, yelling at him and lecturing him about the way he treated her and her mother when he just left 5 years ago. I was so proud of her, and was very emotional through the ending of this novel.

The second novel comes out at the end of this month! I'm so stoked and I will be spending whatever money I have to to get this eBook off of Amazon. I need to keep reading about Blaire and Rush - like now. But I will wait until the 26th when it comes out.

I would most definitely recommend this novel to any NA lovers out there, and I am going to try my hardest to get more of Abbi Glines novels as well. If they are going to be as great as this one, the novels will be worth every penny!

So, go get this book and wait for the second one on the edge of your seat like I am!

Someone to Love by Addison Moore

After moving from California to Massachusetts  Kendall is determined to focus on school and stay away from boys. But the first thing that happens when she gets to MA is get propositioned by a playboy, Cruise.

Things go quickly from there because Kendall needs to place to crash, since the college student her mother knows through a friend flaked on her. So off to Cruise's house they go. To make sure she doesn't lose her virginity, Kendall says she wants to be the female version of Cruise and wants Cruise to teach her. 

But even though Kendall said that, Cruise doesn't believe her. He doesn't pressure her, but it sure is hard to keep his hands off of the new beauty in town who is just a bedroom away from him. However, he is taking this step by step after getting rejected and cheated on by his last girlfriend.

So after tiptoeing around each other for weeks, Kendall finds out that Cruise is one of her professors at school. That definitely makes things awkward, especially because the topic is about the male and female body and emotions.

Kendall had the rule not to fall in love because her mother is divorcing her fifth husband. She has never seen love before. But Cruise is starting to be a shining light when it comes to lust...or maybe it's turning into love?

After awhile, they break each others wall around their hearts and realize that they do love each other.

Unfortunately, Cruise's ex-girlfriend, Blaire, comes back into the picture and she wants Cruise back.

Can their love survive Blaire's dirty tactics to separate them and make them want to stay away from love, or will their love conquer all that faces them? Read Someone to Love by Addison Moore to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Just a forewarning, this is a NEW ADULT novel, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Adult (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

I got this as an eBook from Amazon for a low price and have now just got around to reading it. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot, and that the novel just didn't work for me.

For one, we are introduced to Kendall as a girl who won't fall in love because her mother's history, but after a few days she wants to jump Cruise's bones and lose her virginity right then and there. Not very realistic if she really wanted to be unloved...

And the relationship between these two just didn't cut it for me. There was a lot of issues that they went through and instead of getting angry like most couples do, they acted like it was nothing. Which is great for less drama, but didn't seem very real to me.

Also, there wasn't that much going on in this novel expect the two of them. And once they had sex, they had it all of the time. Once Kendall lost her virginity, it was all either of them thought about.

I don't know, this just didn't work for me, but I did finish the novel, so that was a plus.

Because this is an NA novel, I would most definitely say that it is for older readers. Teens probably shouldn't get ahold of it because of all the sex and sexual innuendos. I definitely won't be going back to reread it anytime soon - just didn't grab me like other NA novels. 

From What I Remember... by Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas

Kylie wakes up in an unknown room with a massive hangover. Once the room stops spinning, she realizes that she is in bed with Max Langston - the popular, smoking hot boy she has known for 6 years, but hasn't said more than 10 words to.

And she realizes that her graduation ceremony is in 7 hours, and she's in Mexico. A bit problematic, since she is the valedictorian.

Flash back two days, to find out that Kylie is partnered with Max for a horrendous last assignment for English - one she is determined to do so her GPA won't go down and she could lose her spot as the valedictorian.

Only Max couldn't give a flying care for the assignment, and it's a partner assignment. When Kylie and Max get together to work on it, Kylie's backpack is stolen. She will not lose her backpack because her laptop is in there.

With her valedictorian speech. And her screen play she's been writing for 2 years.

So she chases after the thief, with Max trailing behind her. Then they go into the van the bag was placed in, only to find themselves trapped when the dealers start the car and drive.

And the next thing they know, they get out of the van in Mexico without their passports...

Kylie is very studious and serious, so this does not bode well for her plans for graduation  But what is a girl to do when she's stranded in Mexico with a cute boy? Lose all sense of self-control, get drunk for the first time, dance and party, and - wait - did she wake up with a wedding ring?!

As for Max, he has no idea why he followed crazy Kylie into the van and found himself in Mexico the day before graduation.  And the attraction he is feeling for Kylie? Not supposed to happen - especially since he is dating Lily, and has been dating her for a year.

Lily's life is falling apart and all she wants is to cling to Max and hope that he can make it all better. Because now that her life is done for, she will need Max more than ever...

When Max and Kylie get stranded, Kylie calls her best friend, Will, who is getting their passports and crossing the boarder to come save them.

And Will is having a great time with this situation. He's been wanting Kylie to loosen up for years, and it finally happen. He is not going to miss a moment of this. And he might just find a cute boy while in Mexico as well.

But everything comes crashing when Lily finds out about Max and Kylie - when she, Max's best friend Charlie, Will, Kylie and Max are all in Mexico the day of graduation.

Can they all make it back in time to graduate with their classmates, or will it be too late? And what is happening between the studious, serious Kylie and the popular, slacker Max? Read From What I Remember... by Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Oh my. After reading the description, I knew this book would have some laughs, but I thought this book was hilarious! I'm glad Goodreads recommended it to me and I'm really happy it was located in my library, because this book kept my eyes glued to it until I finished it!

This book is told through multiple viewpoints, including Kylie, Max, Will, Lily and Jake, Kylie's younger brother. And I really enjoyed each viewpoint because it gave a different sense to the book, getting different thoughts and also different settings than a book from one point of view.

I have to say, the best parts (the hilarious parts) was when Will was somehow involved. Will is very gay, and he's proud of it, even though he gets crap from his classmates. Also, him and Kylie are movie nerds and quote so many great movies, I was quoting with them!

Kylie is a hoot. She is so shy and quiet at school, but when she is driving away from the goons that "kidnapped" her across the border, she's suddenly a character from Fast and Furious where she is a daredevil and has a very clear mind in intense, critical conditions.

Sure, this book had some scenes where it was literally too good to be true, but overall I really loved it. The reader got to see Kylie finally be a high school girl who gets to party for the first time. She lives in the moment, rather than thinking about what her actions will cost her the next day.

And Max! He's so loud and popular and brave when he's around his friends at school, but the minute they get chased by the thieving goons, he becomes a sniveling scardy cat while Kylie is taking control. It was so funny that I could picture it exactly how it was happening.

Yes, I would definitely recommend this novel to readers. Some parents may not like their teenage children reading this because of the underage drinking, but since most kids do anyway, I don't see the harm. It's about learning how to prioritize and let loose every once in awhile. Plus, it's just plain hilarious and the reader will be flying through the novel, even though it's over 400 pages!

Great novel. Very glad I read it!

Bad Rep by A. Meredith Walters

Maysie's in a bit of a pickle when she got a credit card bill sent from her parents stating that they are not going to pay the $3,000 debt. Maysie likes to spend money. She likes to shop. And now she has to find a second job along with full time schooling, which she has to take summer classes because she slacked the previous semester.

So she and her roommate Riley decided to apply as a waitress at Bartons, she was thinking of the easy tip money. When she spotted Jordan, the hunky bartender with an eyebrow piercing, a tongue piercing and a tattoo on his back, she was definitely thinking about something besides paying off her debt.

Near closing on her first shift, the tension between Jordan and Maysie was sky high. They couldn't keep their eyes off of each other, and they were definitely more touchy feely than they needed to be when getting the drink order.

However, Maysie's sorority sisters stopped by to get a drink. And one just happened to be talking to Jordan, who she very soon found out was dating someone! For the last 3 years! And who was none other than the president of Maysie's sorority, Olivia.

Now Maysie is extremely mad. Sure, nothing had happened between her and Jordan, but he gave the image that he was single and ready to mingle with Maysie. Thankfully, she didn't hook up with him so it shouldn't be awkward at work, right?

Wrong. The tension is flying off of them and everyone can see it. Everyone, that is except Olivia, who is oblivious to everything going around her unless it has to do with the sorority.

So even though Jordan and Maysie have put a stop to their flirting, it's still awkward. And Jordan seems past the point of caring what is right and wrong, because he kisses Maysie at a sorority party where they were caught by Milla, Olivia's best friend.

Now, Maysie is the harlot of campus. Everyone knows about her and Jordan "hooking up" and calls her a lot of nasty names. After awhile, she's able to ignore it and be with Jordan, but things get too out of control and her sorority sisters are pulling horrible prank after prank, assaulting Maysie.

Maysie can't handle it anymore. She really likes Jordan and they are great together, but the rumors that are spreading around campus are too much for Maysie.

Can she get past what everyone is saying, or will she keep running away from Jordan to try and save her reputation? How can they possibly be together when the whole school is against them? Read Bad Rep by A. Meredith Walters to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Wow. This was an eBook that I just had to buy, and I couldn't put my Kindle down until I finished the novel. I think I've found my new favorite genre, and that is New Adult, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Adult (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

Okay, so the book. I loved it when Maysie and Jordan were together, and even when they weren't but were in the same room together, because I could feel the attraction through the pages.

But there is a bad part to this novel. I HATED the sections where Maysie ran away from Jordan and cried, sobbed, moped in her room, only to do it all over again. It drove me crazy. She couldn't make up her mind and let everyone else rule what she should do rather than what she wanted to do.

Letting other control your life is never a smart decision because it basically means the person isn't happy with what they are doing, and Maysie was definitely not happy throughout a lot of this book because she wasn't with Jordan.

Okay, besides my ranting, I really did like this novel. The waitressing part made me think of the old days when I used to waitress, and I really dug that Jordan was in a band and in a fraternity - such a contradiction! I would love to read this novel through Jordan's viewpoint because I might actually like most of the novel. He was always chasing Maysie rather than running away, until he got to the point where he couldn't take the rejection anymore.

I see that Walters is going to be writing a companion book to this one, only about Riley and Garret - a band mate of Jordan's. This book I will not miss because Riley is spunky, rude, sassy, and takes crap from nobody. She is my kind of leading woman!

So, for older readers who want to read about college years and being slighted by society, this would be a good book for you to pick up!

The Seven Devils by Sara Danvers

When Ellen's father tries to drown her in their pool while drunk, Ellen's mother (after accusing Ellen of doing something to make her father mad) decided to move Ellen and her older brother Austin away from their father.

Ellen was all for that, since she was almost strangled to death, but her mother makes is seem like it is her fault, when it's technically her father's fault for being a brutal, angry, abusive drunk. And Austin is permanently angry with Ellen, treating her as if she didn't exist.

Which is how Ellen survives: being invisible.

But when they get to their new town and their new school, Ellen sticks out like a sore thumb. She is the only red head and everybody is gorgeous.

When she gets hassled at lunch in the cafeteria by a bunch of boys, while also getting asked out on her first day by an attractive, but cocky, guy named Derrick, she is saved by a mysterious loner: Neil.

Everyone at school has so much hostility and fear toward Neil that Ellen doesn't know what to do. However, Neil is the only nice person at her school and offers to sit with her at lunch, so she won't turn down that kind of offer.

The more Ellen gets to know Neil, the more she likes him. But with everyone warning her away, she wonders what the big secret is.

Even though she is dating Neil, against everyone's warnings, she's still getting attention from Derrick. He won't leave her alone and he is always showing up.

Suddenly, Neil starts to ignore Ellen, giving her no clue as to what had happened between them. Now that she's suddenly alone, Derrick is around more and more, and Ellen finds that she likes to hangout with him.

But when they start to date, he becomes possessive, threatening, commanding. Ellen wants out, but she's afraid to make Derrick too angry.

After much difficulty and close calls, they do break up and suddenly Neil is around again.

And he has answers to Ellen's questions. The questions she's been dying to ask all year - since that first day she met him. But what are the dark secrets that Neil is hiding? Will it be too much for Ellen to handle? will she end up leaving him for good, or can they work through Neil's past? Read The Seven Devils by Sara Danvers to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
I got this off of Amazon for free and finally got around to reading it on my kindle. I thought it was an interesting story, the beginning sucked me in because Ellen was being choked and drowned by her father in the pool. That is definitely a scene that will capture any reader's attention.

I felt really bad for Ellen. She obviously didn't get love from any of her family members, and learned to blend in and hide from situations. She would jump at every loud noise or when someone yelled too loud, which I can completely understand after what she went through.

I really liked Neil. Sure, there were rumors about him at school, actually, in their whole town, but he treated Ellen with respect, which is more than what Derrick did in that cafeteria.

And he really cared/looked out for her. Whenever she was in trouble, he would come running to save her.

Because I read this on my Kindle, the formatting was a little off, so that bugged me a little bit. There were also some grammatical and punctuational errors that I noticed right away, but it didn't deter me from reading the whole novel.

I'd give this novel 2.5 stars. It was a good book, but there was a lot thrown into it and it seemed it could have been wrapped up faster than what it was. I did like the supernatural aspect of it, even though it seemed thrown in there at random times, where other times it could have been a contemporary novel.

If anyone is looking for a survival, supernatural, high school novel, I would recommend this book, but it wouldn't be my first choice to give to other readers.

I do wonder, though, if there is another novel coming? A sequel? Because if there is, I will read it because I want to know what happens between Neil and Ellen. The ending was very bland and sad toned, so I would want to read more to get a happier ending.

Altered by Jennifer Rush

This is the first novel in the Altered series by Jennifer Rush.

For five years, Anna has been sneaking down to the basement to see the four boys that are being experimented on. Her father is observing them and giving them tests - tests for what, they are not sure, but the boys have been altered someway so they are faster, stronger, smarter than guys their age.

Trev, Cas, Nick and Sam are her only friends - well not Nick because he hates Anna - because Anna is homeschooled and is an only child.

Just recently, her father is letting her come down to the lab during the day to help with the records and testing procedure. But Anna still likes to sneak down around midnight to see the boys when her father isn't around.

While Cas and Trev are funny and she can talk to them about anything, Sam is a different story. Anna has always been attracted to him, much more than a friend to talk to. But Sam is hard to read, so she's not sure what he thinks about.

After the authorities of the project come and try to take the boys away, Sam is able to escape and kill all of the guards. When him and the other boys are leaving, Anna's father says to take Anna with them, to protect her.

So now Anna is running off with the boys she's grown up with, away from everything she's grown used to.

The more the boys try to remember their past and why they are being experimented on, the more questions seem to pop up. Like, why do the boys feel the need to protect Anna? She's just the scientist's daughter - they should despise her.

And why is Anna getting headaches like the boys are? They are having headaches because of the lack of treatment... but Anna never got treatments.

With all of these questions building up, the five of them are still running away from Connor and Riley, the head of the project. They are not going to stop until they capture all of them - even Anna.

Will the group be able to get away and keep their freedom, or will they get captured and be forced to go back to a cage? What is Anna's part in all of this, because it seems that she might not be just the scientist's daughter? Read Altered by Jennifer Rush to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
This is the author's debut novel?!? I would never have guessed, assuming that she has written many before! That's how good I thought this book was!

Right from the beginning I was sucked into this book and read it all in one sitting within a few hours. The world that Rush created was very intense.

Anna is such a sweetheart. She snuck down to see the boys and formed a bond with them. She brought them cookies, books, games, hair products, whatever they wanted. And she talked about outside, what color the sky was, if it was warm or cold. She was their outside source and most of the guys adored her.

But I liked that she wasn't completely a sweetheart - she also took self defense classes once every two weeks, so she was also able to defend herself if the situation ever needed her to do so. And she sure did need them when her and the boys were running from the special ops that were chasing them down.

All of the secrets that slowly came about was very refreshing, and I didn't see all of them coming, which I liked because I hate figuring things out before hand.

My favorite parts were with Cas and Trev - they were the goofy ones of the bunch, especially Cas. No matter how serious the situation was, Cas was always there to make a joke of something.

I really, really liked this novel and I can't wait to read the second one in the series! But Goodreads says it won't be out until January 2014 so I have a while to wait before I can find out what happens after the ending of this one!

I would definitely recommend this novel to other readers, because I think they will appreciate the freshness and action that this novel gives. Really great job!

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

This is the second novel in the Lunar Chronicles series by Melissa Meyer.

My review of #1: Cinder.

WARNING - There will be spoilers from the first novel! Proceed reading with caution!

Near Paris, Scarlet's grandmother has been missing for 2 weeks when she got the comm saying that the police were going to stop searching for her. The police thinks that her grandmother, Michelle, ran away instead of being kidnapped like Scarlet believes.

Now that the police are no longer a part of it, it's up to Scarlet to find her grandmother. And she gets a hint as to how to find her when her father lets out a clue after he had been taken by the same men: they have a tattoo on their bicep of letters and numbers.

And Scarlet just happened to meet a man who had that same kind of tattoo on his arm.

So she went hunting for Wolf, the street fighter, to get her answers. And he has answers, just not the one that she's looking for. But Wolf decided that he will help her find her grandmother, since he knows the people who took her and where they are located.

On the other side of the world, Cinder is escaping the prison she was put into after the horrible ball Prince Kai held and where Kai found out that not only is Cinder a cyborg, she is also Lunar.

Now Cinder needs to run away, and fast, before she is exchanged to Queen Levana, queen of Luna, where Cinder will be executed for being a "runaway Lunar". Or that's what the whole world believes. In fact, she is going to be killed because Cinder is the missing Princess Selene, the little girl Levana tried to kill when she was only 3 years old so she would be the only ruler of Luna.

She successfully escaped prison with the help of Captain Thorne, who just happen to steal an American spaceship before he was caught. And so they are two fugitives who are running to survive for their lives.

But Cinder needs to know more about what happened when she was younger, as the Princess Selene. And the one living person who might have some answers is Michelle Benoit - Scarlet's mother.

So the two cross paths together, both having their very own big problems to deal with, but mutually trying to find the same solution: Michelle Benoit and the answers to their pending questions.

It won't be easy though. Wolf is not a normal man, and the men who stole Michelle are really not normal. Things are about to change for Kai, as well, when an attack occurs on Earth, by command of Queen Levana herself.

Can each character find what they are looking for, or will they run out of time and find that everything will crumble? Read Scarlet by Melissa Meyer to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
I flew through this novel! Since I was already introduced to this setting, I didn't have the troubles that I had throughout the first novel so I was able to understand what was going on and didn't need to pause to understand certain things.

I loved Scarlet even more than Cinder, I think! She's spunky. She knows how to fly a ship, has a permit for a gun, and even used a few throughout the novel! And she is always looking for the good in everyone, no matter what the situation may look like.

The one thing she wanted the most was to find her grandmother, so when she found out that Wolf may have had a part in her kidnapping, she took charge and confronted the undefeated street fighter - very brave for a small female.

And I also liked how this book had different narrators, unlike the first who was only Cinder's point of view. The reader got to experience Cinder, Scarlet, Captain Thorne and Kai's viewpoint, along with one small chapter from Queen Levana.

It was nice to view all of these viewpoints because we got more of a feeling from each characters and what they were thinking about the events from Cinders revealing at the Ball of being Lunar and a cyborg.

I think the most entertaining character was Captain Thorne. He thinks he's hot stuff and is a ladies man, so the introduction between him and Cinder when she busted through his jail cell was very entertaining.

Cinder is one heck of a fighter, though. Not only is she trying to escape her fate from Queen Levana, but she is also trying to figure out how to control her Lunar powers. She doesn't want to mind control anyone, or make anyone do her bidding or see what she wants to see, which makes her polar opposite of Queen Levana.

I very much enjoyed this novel and I cannot wait for more to come! Unfortunately, the third novel, Cress, won't come out until 2014!! It's just now 2013... I don't want to wait that long! However, it's going to have the RAPUNZEL character in it, and I really love that character :) I do hope Scarlet and Wolf will be in it too, though the small synopsis on Goodreads doesn't say as of yet.

This is turning out to be an amazing series, so I would definitely recommend it to other readers!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

This is the first novel in the Lunar Chronicles series by Melissa Meyer.

Cinder is a cyborg. When she was eleven, she went through a procedure after a hoover craft accident that crushed most of her bones, and now those bones are metal and she has a computer programmed inside of her head.

That was also when she was adopted and taken to the states with her new family. Unfortunately, her new mother and the eldest girl, Pearl, didn't appreciate having a cyborg as a family member. And the adopted father passed away not too long after bringing Cinder with him.

But Cinder has Peony, the younger sibling, and Iko, the android of the house, to keep her company.

When her adopted father died, though, Adri, her adopted mother, made her work for her keep and treated her just like an android to do her every bidding. Otherwise, Adri could sell her for money, since she was technically her ward, and Cinder didn't want that to happen.

It just so happens that Cinder is very good at fixing technical problems, so a lot of people bring their adroids, communication devices, and other technical devices to her and she charges them to fix it. It keeps her busy and brings in money to keep her stay at home.

One day, Prince Kai showed up at her shop, needing her to fix his android from his childhood. That was the day everything changed. Kai thought that she was just a normal human, and Cinder wasn't about to tell him that she was a cyborg.

Then her sister, Peony, got sick - critically sick - and Cinder was sold to use as parts and other materials to try to find a cure for this horrible disease. It just so happens that Cinder is immune to this disease. And the doctor who was treating her seems to know a lot more than he is telling Cinder...

Things go from bad to worse as the Queen of Luna comes to try to marry Prince Kai after his father, the king, passes away. Queen Levana has the ability to make anyone see any illusion she comes up with - so no one knows exactly what she looks like. To have a person of that power in control of the Commonwealth would be horrible, but a war is about to occur with the Lunars if Kai can't find a different solution.

Cinder is stuck in the middle, being immune to the disease and having attracted Kai's attention, but she doesn't realize just how in the middle she is until the doctor finding a cure informs Cinder of just who she really is.

Can Cinder help with the cure since she is immune? Will Kai be able to find another way to save his people now that he is king? Or will a war break out between the two species? And just who is Cinder? Read Cinder by Melissa Meyer to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Many of my friends have read this and rated it very high, so I was intrigued to start reading it. But for some reason I found it very slow going at first. I think it's because this novel is a dystopian plus science fiction and I haven't read too many of that genre to really get into the setting.

However, I've heard that the sequel novel is superb and I knew I needed to get through this novel in order to fully enjoy Scarlet, since it's published now, so I trucked through it and actually enjoyed the story!

Cinder has accepted her fate of being a cyborg slave since she has lived with Adri, but she has used her skills for good and was able to fend for herself to fix machines and technology on hand. When Kai showed up at her shop, she was extremely shocked, but flattered that he would come to her and ask for her help.

I really liked Cinder. Even though I didn't understand half of the things she was fixing or how she was fixing them, she is a girl who does what she needs to do in order to survive. And she has perfected her talent for fixing objects, giving her a great image of a mechanic.

Like I said earlier, the setting is what threw me off, but I got used to it after reading past the first 200 pages. It did take awhile for me, but now that I've delved into this world that Meyer created, I can't wait to read more!

There really isn't a lot of similarities between this story and Disney's version of Cinderella, which I found refreshing and unique to other retellings. Meyer had a great way of detail to the point where I couldn't figure out what the heck was being done, but it seemed very legit that I didn't care if I understood it or not - that's how I could tell that Cinder knew what she was doing.

I'm really hoping that this series gets better, like everyone keeps reviewing about. It was a very interesting viewpoint of this story and I'm glad I finally got a chance to see why my friends gave a steller review for this novel.

So if you want a very unique, techy version of Cinderella, that also dabbles in other planet colonization and the world on a brink of another war, this would be the perfect book for you. I would recommend sticking this book out if you have trouble at the beginning, because it does get better and you'll want more by the end of the novel!

The D.U.F.F. by Kody Keplinger

Bianca is best friends with Jessica and Casey. Her friends also happen to be drop dead gorgeous and supermodel tall. Bianca never really noticed that though, until Wesley.

Wesley, the arrogant man-slut at school. He doesn't hide that he gets around with girls, but he's also very nice to them and treats them with honesty.

Though he was brutally honest when he told Bianca that she was the DUFF of her friends - the designated ugly fat friend.

So it goes to show that Bianca cannot stand Wesley, even though the whole school drools over him.

But with troubles at home and Bianca isn't able to talk to Casey or Jessica about it, Bianca starts to lean on Wesley a little bit. Okay, a lot in the fact that she sleeps with him. A lot. It's not a relationship because they are both using one another and have an agreement that no one can know about it. But it's a way to relieve the stress they are feeling from their home life.

Because Bianca's parents aren't doing so well. In fact, after traveling for two years, her mother sent her father divorce papers in the mail. And then her father, a recovering alcoholic, goes on a drinking spree.

After a few months of being with Wesley, she calls it off and starts dating the boy of her dreams from the beginning of the school year: Toby.

But why does Toby's touch feel different than Wesley's? And why does she think about Wesley, period?! Maybe it's because he keeps sending her notes, and calls her and texts her. Isn't he the one that is the player and doesn't stay with one person for more than a month?

And then there are the times that she day dreams about Wesley, not Toby. It seems she may have grown attached to Wesley...

What will Bianca do? Stay with Toby, the guy she's destined to be with because they are so similar or try to handle Wesley, the guy that she can't get out of her head? Read The DUFF by Kody Keplinger to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Kody Keplinger has become a fast author that I have immensely enjoyed reading! She has three novels out and I devoured every single one of them. I also really enjoyed them because they are different from each other.

This novel is no different, though I found it more rough than the others. To be called a DUFF behind your back is one thing, but Bianca was told that she was a DUFF to her face. I don't know how she handled it, but I probably would have done the same thing she did and just believed it to make me feel better. Knowing something and living up to it is sometimes easier than trying to prove it's wrong.

I did laugh out loud during the first time Bianca and Wesley kiss - well Bianca kissing Wesley when he wasn't expecting it. I can only imagine how shocked he was, but he didn't waste any time kissing her back, that's for sure.

Actually, Bianca threw Wesley off quite a bit. The playboy was shocked by the DUFF - that throws a twist into things and makes it even better because he's supposed to be ready for everything. Bianca definitely took him by surprise.

I felt for both Bianca and Wesley because they were having crappy family problems. And they both felt that they couldn't tell their friends because they didn't want to burden them, so they confided in each other. Not something either of them thought they would be doing, but it definitely helped them both.

I cannot wait for more of Keplinger's novels! She does a wonderful job with her books and I'm always sucked into them - usually reading them in one sitting! This book took me less than a day to read - that's how devoted to it I was!

I think teen girls would really love her novels, and this one deals with self-image that I think any females can relate to at one point in their life (usually high school). So I would definitely recommend this book to others!

Major Crush by Jennifer Echols

Out of the blue, Virginia gave up her crown and tiara's of being a pageant girl and decided to join the high school marching band. However, she didn't want to be a part of the band - she wanted to be the drum major and lead the marching band.

Which meant she had to compete against Drew, previous drum major for the last two years.

So it was to everyone's surprise when both Drew and Virginia were chosen to be the drum majors. The first time in their school's history where there were two leaders, let alone the first time that one was a female.

This made the relationship and work area very tense between Drew and Virginia, but after they tanked their first performance at the football game, they realized that they have to get over their anger and tension if they want their marching band to compete against other schools.

However, Virginia is having a hard time of with since Drew's girlfriend, the Evil Twin, keeps spreading rumors about her. So Drew and Virginia make a pact - they will play nice and be friends, and try to win the competitions - otherwise they might as well quit while they were ahead.

It's a good thing Virginia has Allison, her best friend and fellow pageant girl, to keep her sane so she can vent about all of the dreadful things that have happened.

Like, for instance, the new band director making Virginia wear a mini skirt and knee high boots instead of the normal drum major uniform.

And that Drew and Virginia have to do a dip for their performance, meaning that they need to be extremely close to each other, even though they can't stand being around the other.

But things are staring to change. Now that they are friends, they are getting along with one another. And for some reason, Virginia is having romantic thoughts about Drew? So not going to happen for many, many reason.

Everything gets blown up, though, when Drew and Virginia find out who really got the most votes to be the next drum major. Because no matter who got it, the tension shot rocket high between the two of them. And somehow, the deepest secret Virginia has about her family was leaked - but she only told one person what that secret was...

Can Drew and Virginia work things out? Can they both be drum majors and maybe even date one another? Or will there be too much tension between their past and present that they can't overcome? Read Major Crush by Jennifer Echols to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
I'm getting closer and closer to my goal of reading all of Jennifer Echols novels! I think I have one more to read before I'm caught up with the published novels :D

This was a cute novel. I have no knowledge of marching band, so it was all very interesting to me. I was pretty amazed at how popular marching band is in this novel - is it like this for all schools?

Well anyway, I loved Virginia. She didn't take crap from anyone and had some sass to go along with it. Plus I loved how she had her nose pierced and everyone thought it was a crime.

Virginia had a lot of courage to stop pageant showing and do something that she actually wanted to do. And she was proud to be the drum major, even if the whole band was angry she took Drew's thunder by making them partners.

So, yeah, this was a cute novel. I liked how I was introduced to a different topic in a YA novel and a topic that hasn't been written about too much - at least one that I haven't heard too much about.

And I also liked how Drew worked in a family business where he was trying to get out of it, so he was very intense and serious until it came around Virginia, who seemed to push all of his buttons to let him speak his mind for once, instead of the "proper" thing to do.

My favorite part was when Drew wouldn't yell at his evil girlfriend because "a gentleman doesn't yell at girls", but when he got around Virginia, all he seemed to do was yell at her :) Oh, and how Virginia kept stealing Drew's marching band shoes so he had to march in his normal shoes. Ah, the small details in this story that cracked me up!

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

This is the first novel in the On Dublin Street series by Samantha Young.

When Jocelyn was a freshman in high school, she got the tragic news that her mother, father, and baby sister were killed instantly in a car accident. Because she was a minor and had no other family, she had to go into the foster system for the next four years.

During those four years, she also lost her best friend who died at a party, so Joss was very guarded and secretive. She didn't get close to anyone again and was very quiet about her past and her likes/dislikes.

After college, Joss moved to Scotland and pursued her dream to be a published writer. Her parents had a lot of money with her father's job, so she didn't have to worry about working a steady job to pay rent/food, etc.

Joss had to go into her trust fund, though, when she was looking for a new apartment. Ellie's apartment was great and was close to the pub she worked at a few nights a week, so she decided to move in.

And the first thing that happens to her when she has the apartment to herself and taking a bath, Ellie's older brother Braden walked in. On Joss. Naked.

The attraction between them is undeniable. But Joss will not let Braden get inside. She will not allow herself to care about someone because it will just mean more hurt later.

Except that Braden and Ellie are worming their way inside. She is starting to care for them and after she makes an arrangement with Braden to just have a physical relationship with him rather than going out as girlfriend/boyfriend, she's have all sorts of feelings that she doesn't want.

Just when things seem to be going great in Joss's life, another tragedy happens - this time, it's Ellie who got sick and may be dying.

Joss wants out. She doesn't want to go through another death and is ready to run away.

But now she's dedicated to this family. She doesn't know what to do, but either way, things are about to change in Joss's life. Read On Dublin Street by Samantha Young to find out what happens!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Just a forewarning, this is a NEW ADULT novel, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Adult (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

I really liked this novel! It was a random pick from Target when I got a gift card and I was intrigued by the synopsis - so glad I grabbed it!

I can see similarities to 50 Shades of Grey, but it's more low key. The guy is rich and the girl just got out of college who wants to work with books. Other than that, things start to become more On Dublin Street rather than 50.

I cannot even imagine what Joss went through. To hear that your whole family is gone one day and then having to spend the next four years with strangers? I think Joss did very well under the circumstances.

And I love Braden! He knew he couldn't treat Joss the way he usually acts around females and knew how to make her comfortable by being with him. He was trying to get her to loosen up so he can slowly pick away at the wall around her heart that she has built for the past 8 years.

So yes, I very much enjoyed this novel and I think fans of 50 would like it as well. I would also say that older teens/20 years olds would really enjoy this book since it's an NA novel.

This is part of a series, but the second book following is not about Joss and Braden's story. Rather, it's about a secondary character, Jo, who Joss works with at the pub, and her unique lifestyle that she has in order to survive. It sounds very entertaining and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it to see what Young has in store for Jo.

I would definitely recommend this novel (I already have!) and I think many might enjoy this story line!

The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols

When Hayden moved to Colorado from Tennessee 4 years ago, everything went perfectly. She had friends and dated the hottest boy in her class.

That was until she found out Nick only dated her because he was dared to.

Four years later, the dislikeness between the two has not dimmed from each other. They still pick on each other and say cruel things to one another because of what happened when they were 13 years old.

During that time, Hayden has become very competitive in snowboarding and is one of the best female snowboarders in her class. She even won a competition and got lessons from a famous female boarder.

The only problem is that Hayden is afraid of heights. She won't do any jumps when snowboarding - just small tricks that are impressive for the low distance she goes off the ground. The famous female boarder likes very big jumps, and now Hayden has to find a way to keep her secret still a secret.

But once Nick said that she would not win against the guy that won his class, they declared war and have made a competition between the two of them to see who would win.

The prize being the loser has to buy the other one tickets to the dance/concert on Valentine's Day. It seems that everyone in their town has heard of this bet and the guys have sided with Nick to win, while the girls have sided with Hayden to win.

There is no way Hayden can back out of this bet with the whole town vouching for the ultimate win, but she can't do the jump. Everytime she tries, she gets too scared and ends up quitting. How can she win this bet and show Nick that she really is a great boarder if she can't make a jump? Read The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
I got this book from a library because my all time goal is to read all of Jennifer Echols novels she has published. I really enjoyed this book as well! Very cute and funny, but also serious and mature in some aspects.

I think I really liked this novel because I was able to relate to it - well a little bit. I work inside at a ski resort during the winter and have heard a lot of my friends talking about boarding and skiing, so it was familiar in a way that I could relate to the competition between Hayden and Nick.

And I can definitely relate to Hayden's fear of heights because of a broken leg many years ago since I won't even touch a snowboard or skis, knowing I'll probably break my own leg!

Hayden is very confident for a 17 year old, saying she isn't going to go to college but is instead going to be a professional boarder. Unfortunately, she needs to be able to do high jumps and she's terrified of them, so I'm glad Nick came along and challenged her to their bet.

Otherwise I don't think she could have become a professional boarder by the time she wanted to be one!

There were some points where I thought it was immature - especially the miscommunication between the two main characters. But then I thought back to high school years and realized that Echols got that exactly right because high schoolers like to jump to conclusions without thinking through everything.

Heck, adults do that as well! But the things Hayden and Nick assumed were very obvious, so it was more high schoolish than adult mistakes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and I think that other readers who are into sports and competitions  along with  battle of the sexes and exes will really like this novel!

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

This is the first novel in the Slammed series by Colleen Hoover.

The move from Texas to Michigan - Layken can deal. The new school, she can handle, even though it's senior year and she has no friends to speak of. But the fact that the move happened because her father died from a heart attack is not something she ever wanted to happen.

However, everything does happen and now she's in Michigan, where it's suddenly a lot colder than Texas. But the plus side? Her brother's new best friend after knowing one another for 1 minute and who lives right across the street has a very hot older brother. Just a few years older than Lake.

And the chemistry between them is out of this world.

But something horrible happens. It turns out that Will is her poetry teacher at school. So they cannot be together, even though they are insanely attracted to each other.

Now they have to pretend they don't feel anything for each other. And when Lake goes to the slamming nights - where volunteers recite poetry that they feel very emotional about to the point of yelling, screaming, crying, etc. - Lake gets another viewpoint of Will.

Things go from bad to worse, though, when Lake finds out a secret about her mother. A secret that could either destroy her family or bring them closer together.

And Lake wants to go to Will for a shoulder to lean on, but their relationship needs to be non-existent because of the teacher/student thing.

Can Lake make it past this stage in her life and come out in the end a better version, or will everything that happens between her family and her relationship with Will destroy her? Read Slammed by Colleen Hoover to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Also, just a forewarning, this is a NEW ADULT novel, which means that it's a little bit more mature and graphic than a YA novel but not too racy like an adult novel. Mainly, New Age (NA) novels are set in college and are about characters who are starting to grow up, but still do things that are immature.

I've been hearing great things about this novel and found myself with a gift card, so I purchased it having high expectations.

But for some reason I found it a little bit lacking. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the story and was very sympathetic toward both Lake and Will. Their lives and tragic events are what made them who they are and I am very admirable of how they are. So grown up and mature.

I think what might have turned me off from part of this book was the slamming. I'm not a poetry person nor a big public speaker, though I have gotten better at that, so I wasn't able to relate to that aspect of the book. And it's a big part of the book because that's one form of communication to one another.

However, I did enjoy this book. I especially liked the relationship between Lake and her brother Kel, along with the relationship between Will and his younger brother Caulden. If anyone has any siblings, one knows it's hard to get along with them all of the time and both Will and Lake are like another parent to their brothers instead of an older sibling. And both Will and Lake are good at being a parent to their sibling.

This is the first in a series and after reading the synopsis for the second book, I'm not sure if I'm mental prepared to go through the rollercoaster ride of Will and Lake's relationship again just yet. Reading a book with snippets of kissing, only to be let down because of the "grown-up" situation occurring between them was very time and emotion consuming. I may have to wait a little longer before picking up the second one. But I will, eventually!

So while this wasn't my favorite NA novel, I'm glad I read about it after all of the hype I've heard about it. I would recommend this for any female reader since the narration is through Lake.