Holding On by Emma Hart

This is #1.5 novel in the Memories series by Emma Hart.

My review of #1: Never Forget.

WARNING - This review will contain spoilers from the first novel! Continue reading with caution!

Alec
After Alec betrayed Lexy by keep the secret of her grandmother's illness, he was finally able to gain her trust back. And because Alec got a taste of what it was like without Lexy in his life, he has decided to move to London where Lexy is going to school so he won't be away from her 3 hours away.

But he has a lot to learn in London. He's not a city boy, but he will do whatever it takes to be with Lexy, the girl of his dreams and the one he is so in love with he could never look at another girl again.

Lexy
Lexy knows what Alec has sacrificed to come to London with her. It's a big adjustment and he is doing wonderful, but the city is a harsh, hard life. And an old friend/wanna be boyfriend, Adrian, finds out that she is dating seriously with Alec.

And Adrian is not taking it well that he never got a chance with Lexy, but she gave her heart to someone else. A "country bumpkin". And Adrian is looking for some revenge. Will Lexy have to let Alec go so he won't get hurt in London?

Jen
Jen is excited for the city life in London. Being stuck in a small town is alright, but her passion is to draw and the university in London is the best for drawing. It's been her life time goal and it's finally happening, but she is feeling homesick and missing her boyfriend of 2 years, Carl, who refuses to come to the city.

If Carl can't even make the effort to see Jen at school, will their relationship last? Or will it be time to let the small town go and become another person in the city crowd? And she also has the dilemma about being attracted to Lexy's older brother Bing...

Bing
Bing is glad to be back in London. Now he can hook up with random girls and live his normal life. Yeah, that involves dodging her sister's ex-friend Jayma, but that's okay.

What's not alright is his attraction to Jen, Lexy's best friend. Because Jen is taken by Carl. And even if she wasn't, she is loud, obnoxious, sarcastic, and witty. Which are 4 reasons he loves being around her. Of course he would want the one woman he couldn't have...

All four are about to face the object they most desire. Can the survive their encounters, or will it blow up in their face and leave them with a broken heart? Read Holding On by Emma Hart 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.

Yay! I was very interested in Bing and Jen the moment they were in the same room during Never Forget and boy did we get to see the two of them a lot in this very short novel!

Oh, and yeah, Lexy and Alec were in here as well :) I thought this was a good novel for them to finally figure things out between the two of them. And yeah, I'm still a bigger fan for Alec than Lexy, though she wasn't AS bad in this novel as the first.

But Bing and Jen! As you can tell, I'm a fan of their's and I was very content with the limited scenes we were given in this novella. The comments that come flying out of both of their mouths crack me up. I don't know the last book that made me laugh so much as those two flying insults back and forth between one another.

Even though this book was very short, I really, really liked it. I think I even liked it more than the first novel in this series. But I think I'm going to love the next one even more because it's about Bing and Jen :D

Okay, yes, I really I have an addiction. So sue me, haha.

I most definitely loved this novel and would recommend it to other New Adult readers. I would suggest, though, that if you read this that you might want to read the first one first. It will definitely explain Lexy and Alec's history to help the reader understand the trust issues.

And the best part?!? I have the third book already! I won it in a giveaway from Emma Hart, so I get to read it a few days before it's release. Sweet, baby Jesus, I'm gonna read about the two most hilarious characters I've read in a long time, so off I go!

Everyone should definitely read Emma Hart's novels. They are fantastic!

Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines

This is the first book in the Perfection series by Abbi Glines.

When Woods sees Della at the gas station, not understanding how to put gas in her vehicle, he knew that he was going to have a one night stand with her and would remember every minute.

He just didn't know that she would stay in his mind for months afterward. Nor did he think that he would imagine being with Della when he was with his future fiance, Angelina.

And the one thing he did not see coming is Della coming crashing into his personal life. Because now that she has come back into his life a second time, he's not sure if he will be able to let her walk away again.

A one night stand was not on Della's to do list, but she is just starting to get out in the world, so she supposes that it's okay. Besides, she has other things on her mind; like where her next place of sleeping will be. Or where she is going to be able to get the money to find somewhere to sleep.

But when things go wrong at her current stay in Dallas and she needs to leave fast, one of her co-workers sends her to his condo in Florida. Tripp just wants to make sure that she is safe and is near his friends because he knows that they will take care of her if she needs it.

Trouble comes, though, when Della realizes that she is back at the place where she had the best one night stand of her life. And then she finds out that he is going to be her new boss at the country golf course.

Yep, things are about to get interesting. Because once she sees Woods, everything from that one night comes rushing back to her. And boy, was that one of the best nights of her life.

However, she finds out that he is about to be engaged. After the last encounter she has, Della knows not to get in that situation.

And Della has her own problems to deal with. Because when certain things are said or done, an attack is triggered. And Della is transported to the days where she was locked inside with yelling and confusion. To the days where she needs to get past, because she will not turn into her mother.

The connection between Della and Woods is too hard to ignore, but if Woods doesn't do what his father insists, everything Woods has worked for his whole life will go up into smoke. Now, though, Woods is wondering what exactly he wants in life. Maybe it's Della. But first, he will have to figure out his life and get past the walls Della has put up. And Della has to figure out how to escape her dark past.

Can things work out between Della and Woods, or will they forever be trapped in their own personal hells? Read Twisted Perfection 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.

I've pretty much decided that anything by Abbi Glines is a must read and buy no matter how much it costs because it will be awesome. This book was well worth the wait and the money I spent from the minute I clicked on the available link to buy on Amazon!

I got this and finished it in 3 hours. I didn't take any breaks and I flew through this novel, loving every minute of it!

I've got to say, this is a very dark and edgy book. The situation that Della went through makes my skin crawl. I could never imagine going through that. She may think she is crazy, or will be, but I think Della is very strong and amazing.

This book is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of sexual scenes in here, very descriptive. A lot of language and it really suited for older readers. But it is very emotional and very heart wrenching.

All in all. For older readers, this is an amazing book! I would most definitely recommend it to other NA lovers out there and for any Abbi Glines fans this is a must read!

And Woods. Oh, Woods. What to say about him. He is definitely different than what we were introduced to during the "Too Far" series, but that's what I like about point of view novels. We got Blaire and Rush's thoughts about him in their books, but Woods is definitely a lot different than what they perceived him to be. And honestly? I really liked Woods. He was always trying to make everyone else happy, but realized that he wasn't happy with his life. The struggles he had really showed how much he wanted to change, and what he really wanted in life.

And the ending! I cannot wait to see what happens in the next novel! I had an idea what might happen with Della and Woods, but this ending brings all kinds of possibilities!

Amazing novel! So glad I got it when it was released and finished it! Now I just have to wait until the next one :-/ I would most definitely tell other older readers to read this and hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I did!

The Love Game by Emma Hart

This is the first book in The Game series by Emma Hart.

The game started at a house party. Maddie's friends, Kay, Megan, and Lila, wanted to give playboy Braden a taste of his own medicine: play the player. And Maddie is the nominated person to play him. She has one month to make Braden want to be her boyfriend, profess his love to her, and then she can hump and dump him.

At the same party, Braden's friends Aston and Ryan made a similar bet. They bet that Braden couldn't get Maddie to fall in love with him and sleep with her. He had one month to prove to them that he could get any girl to fall in love with him, even Maddie.

So now the game begins for both Maddie and Braden. They are confident they can get the other to fall for them.

But what they didn't count on was starting to like each other. They both need to keep reminding themselves that it's just a game, and after one month life can go back to normal.

And Maddie has one more incentive to keep herself away from Braden: her brother Pearce. She wants nothing to do with guys that remind her of her brother, and Maddie's first impression of Braden reminds her of Pearce.

However, after getting to know him better, she realizes he's not like Pearce. And that is a bad realization because now she has less motivation of staying away from Braden.

When Braden and Maddie find out that they have been played by the other, though, the feelings that they started to get might vanish. Because how can they believe the other person if they say the love them if they were just playing a game with their friends?

Can Maddie and Braden shrug off the betrayal they feel about the games, or will their "relationship" end when they find out the truth? Read The Love Game by Emma Hart 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 saw this on Amazon for $0.99 and after reading the blurb, had to buy it because it sounded amazing. And it was! So glad I bought this! I have now fallen in love with this author and bought two more of her books for $0.99! :)

I really liked Maddie. She has a dark past and it has come to haunt her in California. She just wants to get through school and keep her nose out of trouble, but her friends decide to spice up her life with this challenge to get Braden to fall in love with her.

And throughout the whole game, she has to keep reminding herself that she can't like Braden. Also, she really makes him work for the little things - like her phone number. It was very funny that a guy like Braden, who could get any girl on campus in his bed, had to fight like crazy just to get Maddie's number.

Like I said, I liked Maddie a lot!

And Braden knew that getting Maddie to fall in love with him would be a challenge. She's not like other girls on campus and he might actually need a whole month to achieve his goal, but he had no doubt that he would succeed.

The premise of this book was great. Both characters were trying to fool the other in a game. And funnily enough, the friends of Braden and Maddie had no idea they were challenging their friends at the same time to do the same thing. It wasn't a set up, just a very big coincidence.

Like I said, I really, really liked this novel and cannot wait to read about the next two characters in the sequel (I'm hoping it's Megan and Aston's story!!).

I will also be playing catch up to read her other novels that have already been published! For anyone who likes New Adult, this is a must read! And the price is amazing for an eBook, so I would definitely recommend it to readers!

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Everything changed for Ellie when she got a random email from a stranger asking if she could watch his pet pig, Wilbur. Even though she knows she shouldn't chat with a stranger on the Internet, the other person seemed down to earth and someone she didn't know. Conversation was smooth between them, and Ellie could tell this other person things about herself that she hadn't told her best friend.

When Graham sent the email to the wrong person, it was a chance for him to make a friend who didn't know he was a movie star. They didn't exchange emails - only their locations. Ellie in Maine and Graham in California. Two ends of the world, colliding through email.

Fate was meant to be for them to meet when the location of Graham's new movie got invaded by bugs. He suggested the small town in Maine where Ellie lives. He wanted to meet Ellie in person and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Right away, though, things were going wrong. Graham knew Ellie worked in an ice cream/sweet shop. When he saw a girl with the name tag "Ellie", he knew it had to be the "eoneill" email address he has been talking to.

Only he found out that it was Ellie's best friend, Quinn, with one of Ellie's work shirts on.

And even though they finally met, things were better than email, but also worse than talking through email. There are just some things one can say through email that are more uncomfortably said in person.

Also, life is full of surprises. Now that Ellie knows Graham is a famous teenage movie star, the context in the emails seem almost childish.

But his celebrity also poses a problem for Ellie. Because her and her mother have a dark secret from their past that they need to be kept a secret. If Ellie keeps hanging out with the famous movie star, she is bound to get noticed and get found by the one person they are hiding from.

Now Ellie has to decide if her past being uncovered is worth spending time with Graham, or if she should avoid him at all costs and wait out his stay in Maine while he shoots his movie. One thing is for certain, things are about to get very interesting and truths are about to get uncovered during Graham's visit to Maine. Find out what happens to Ellie and Graham in This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith!

My Thoughts/Reflections
I've reading Smith's early novel, The Statistically Probability of Love at First Sight, and absolutely adored it, so when my library got this copy, I snatched it up and fell into another world that she created.

This was a very cute novel. The lives of Ellie and Graham were complete opposite of one another, yet they were able to find a way to become friends through the Internet, and then even closer when they met in person.

Granted, it took awhile for Ellie to open to up to Graham, but she had a very dark and long past that always hovered over her and her mother. Plus, she didn't want to make her mom worry any more than she already has been for the last 17 years.

The one thing that I absolutely loved about this novel was Graham's pet pig, Wlibur. One, who has a pet pig? Besides Brittany Murphy in Uptown Girls, but that doesn't count. I love how it was such a random topic to start a conversation between two strangers. Maybe that's why they chatted for so long online. Either way, adorable!

There were some things I could have done without in this novel. I especially didn't care for the reaction Ellie's friend, Quinn, had when she found out that Ellie had a big secret she wasn't telling her, along with the fact that she kept her pen paling a secret as well. I mean, not talking to her for that long? Ellie had a good reason for keeping a secret - especially because it wasn't entirely Ellie's secret to keep!

But that just reminds me how teenage girls are and makes me happy that I'm not in high school anymore.

So, yes, I enjoyed this novel. I think other fans of Smith's will enjoy this. Also, any teen interested in acting, going to college, or just wanting to read a story between two teens wanting to make a new friend would really enjoy this book.

Plus, it's written through both Graham and Ellie's point of view, so both girls and guys could enjoy this novel!

Shadowlands by Kate Brian

This is the first novel in the Shadowlands series by Kate Brian.

When walking through the woods after school one day, Rory was attacked by her math teacher, Steven Nell. It turns out that Nell is a serial killer and has killed 14 other teenage girls all over the U.S. And Rory is going to be his number 15.

But then Rory fought back - something that most of Nell's victims doesn't do and she is the first one to escape. Now she and her family, her dad and her older sister Darcy, are sent in the witness protection system to keep safe from Nell.

That means no contact with anyone, including the boy that Rory is crushing on, Christopher. But that is also very complicated since Chris had dated Darcy for 2 years before dumping her for Rory.

So Rory and her family are off and end up in Juniper Landing, a tourist place next to the beach. And where there are tons of visitors - a great place to show up without having to have a reason to be there.

Except Rory gets uneasy feelings about the town, and the townspeople. She keeps hearing the song that Nell would hum under his breath. She saw his tan coat in a crowd. Rory does not think that they are safe, but no one will listen to her, so she decides she must be imagining things since she is still terrified Nell will find her and her family.

And the townspeople? Everyone is very interested in Rory, which is unusual because Darcy is the one everyone wants to be friends with. But the two good looking guys, Joaquin and Tristan, seem to always be staring at Rory. And Joaquin keeps flirting with her, as much as Darcy hates him doing that.

But Juniper Landing is not the town that it seems to be upon first impression. People disappear and no one seems to notice it - except Rory. She cares where everyone is going, and she wants answers to the mystery of Juniper Landing.

Those answers are answered, but Rory doesn't like the answer that she is given. In fact, everything starts to fall apart when Rory's nightmare comes to life and Nell has found them. Can Rory fight back again and win against Nell, or will he finally get his number 15? Read Shadowlands by Kate Brian to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
The first thing - this novel is probably the one YA novel that creeped me out so much that I was jumping at the little sounds in my house late at night. The writer did a great job writing this - especially the chapters that were through Nell's point of view.

I really liked this book. It is something different for the YA genre and I enjoyed reading a fresh story line that isn't over written today. Running from a serial killer. Hiding in witness protection. Trying to act normal in an impossible situation.

Rory is a great character. She is loyal, especially when it comes to her family, and she is a fighter, which Nell didn't see that as her math teacher and made her an "easy" target for him to pursue.

There is one very important scene in this novel that I could not get out of my head. I felt like it really happened and I kept getting reminded of it throughout the rest of the novel, so the ending wasn't surprising to me. I was actually expecting it. I don't know if the author meant to do that - to have the reader guess what was going to happen - or if I was just that into the novel and was overthinking because the novel spooked me that much.

Even though I guessed the ending and what was actually happening, I still really liked this novel.

I cannot wait until the second novel comes out and I can find out what happens now that the secret is out for Rory. I think it could go in a great direction, but it will definitely be different than this first novel. Almost like they weren't related at all, but I'm okay with that. I just want to find out what happens soon!

I've read reviews where people either love it or hate it. There really is no in between. And some also said that they were confused on what happened in the book, which I can see how that could happen too. I would recommend it to other readers, though, especially my friends because then we could talk about it to make sure we understand the story line :)

So, yes, I would recommend it to readers and I am sitting on the edge of my seat for the sequel to come out!

Tidal by Emily Snow

After getting out of rehab, Willow is going to do better and stay away from the addictive drug that she got hooked on that landed her in rehab. But that's a nice thing to say, hard thing to practice when one is a movie star.

And it really doesn't help that her agent landed her a movie gig as the leading woman actress in Hawaii. Being a movie star is one of the big reasons she started using, but not the whole reason.

However, Willow has no money in her account and needs to get some. By doing the remake of a surfer, she would have the funds to start over and keep clean.

So she goes to Hawaii and works with her surfing coach, Cooper, who is not bad on the eyes at all. But it seems that he might hate Willow on site. Willow doesn't really care because she already tried the love thing once and it went horrible.

But the attraction between Willow and Cooper cannot be denied. It's only a matter of time before they give in and have a fling during the production of the movie.

Except it's turning out to maybe be more than a fling. For both Cooper and Willow.

When a secret comes out about Coopers family, things might change. Especially since Willow also has a dark secret from her past and she wants to make it right. Which might mean that Cooper won't want to be with her after she finds out about what she did three years ago.

What are the secrets that are keeping Cooper and Willow from opening up? Will they be able to jump these hurdles, or will they be overcome by the darkness of their pasts? Read Tidal by Emily Snow 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.

Goodreads recommended me this novel so I found it on Amazon for $0.99 and bought it. It was a cute novel and typical of NA novels.

It was nice to read about different occupations than the usual NA novels with the characters being a movie star and a surfing coach. It was typical because of their dark pasts so that was familiar, but overall I thought it was an okay novel.

Willow seemed like a person I probably wouldn't get along with. She was nice enough but seemed to complain a lot. Which, for what she has been through makes sense but she doesn't want anyone to know about it so she acts spoiled and selfish.

Cooper is very successful and has his own surfing business, but he still very quite about his past and observant.

Overall, this was a cute book, but it definitely wasn't my favorite. For anyone wanting another NA novel to read, I would recommend to you.

As far as I know, this is a stand alone novel and there won't be any other novels following it, but that could obviously change at any time. I'm looking forward to reading more of Emily Snow's novels, which I have a few on my Kindle waiting for me to read!

Amplified by Tara Kelly

This is the first book in the Amplified series by Tara Kelly.

When Jasmine told her father that she was taking a year off before starting college, she didn't expect to get kicked out of the house. But that's what her father did so instead of pleading and crying and begging, she packed up her stuff, put it in the car, and started to find a different place to live.

But then her car died. Thankfully, right in front of an auto shop, but she doesn't really have a lot of cash to pay for her car - not when she has to find a new place to live and an opening at a job she can work at to start getting some money.

It didn't help that the jerk who worked at the auto shop - who called himself "Clover" - was rude and kept saying she was a rich girl who could call her daddy.

After that, she looked everywhere for an apartment - some of which wanted a guitarist, which Jasmine just happened to be and that is what she wants to do with her year off before going to college.

The last place she went to check out the apartment was it for her, but there were problems. One, Jasmine is a girl and they want a guy guitarist/roommate. The three guys didn't want any drama. Two, they want a guitarist that has performed live before - Jasmine hasn't done that yet. And three, the bassist is none other than Clover - or better known as Sean.

Jasmine is fighting her way to get this place and this spot in the C-Side band, but she starts leaking lies. Sure, she's live performed before... Not.

When Jasmine gets the spot, she's excited because she finally  has a place and can start making her own life. But then they tell her they have a gig at a local bar in less than a week... Jasmine isn't ready, and it shows during her performance.

Now she is in a bad situation. Will the band kick her out because she lied and obviously can't handle the pressure of being on the stage, or will she be able to get another chance and get over the fear of performing live?

And that's not even getting into the situation she and Sean got themselves in, but it was just so hard to resist Sean's presence and the way he makes Jasmine feel.

What will happen to Jasmine? Read Amplified by Tara Kelly to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
I think this could qualify as a New Adult novel, since Jasmine is out of high school, so that's why I labeled it with the New Adult Novel. However, it's not very risque as other New Adult novels that have been recently published, so I still think Young Adults can read this and really like it.

Jasmine is a fighter. After growing up with her father always comparing her to her mother who left when Jasmine was 5 and is now in jail, she has grown a tough skin and always finds a way to fix something, even if it is getting kicked out of her house.

So she fought her way to get the spot with C-Side, even if she lied about certain things. She was good and wanted to be a part of the band because they were good as well.

So I really liked Jasmine because she didn't sit down and bawl her eyes out when things didn't go her way. She made her own way and I really appreciate when characters do that.

While I don't know anything about music, I was able to understand most of what went on through Amplified and even enjoyed reading about Jasmine playing the guitar in front of an audience. She loses herself in the music and I was able to see that while reading about her thoughts when playing. I think Kelly did a great job if she was able to allow me as an non-musician understand what was going on.

And I liked the other band members. Felix was just hilarious, Bryn was annoying, but punctual and the "mother hen", Veta was a hoot and always had  Jasmine's back, and Sean was the quiet but handsome one that kept catching Jasmine's eye.

Another thing I think might attract readers is, yes, there is a romance between Jasmine and Sean, but it doesn't end like you think it will and it's not the main part of the book. The whole point of the book is that Jasmine wants to find a place to fit in and also be able to play her music with a band. She needs a place to stay and a way to support herself to do what she needs to do for her year off of school.

And Kelly did a great job with getting all of that in this novel and making it addictive to read. I thought I wouldn't like it when I started reading and gave myself a limited amount that I needed to read before quitting. Instead, I finished this novel in one sitting!

There is another novel that will be coming out this month, so I will definitely be picking that up to read. I do think that Kelly could have ended it with this novel, but I'm excited to read more about these characters and see what happens to them throughout the next novel!

Anyone who likes music, fighting to do what they want to do, and learning how to get friends and trust others, this is definitely a book for you!

Chasing the Skip by Janci Patterson

After Ricki's mother has left again for the umpteenth time, she is sent to live with her father because her grandmother doesn't want to take care of her anymore.

The thing is, Ricki's father is a bounty hunter, so she has to do school online, can't see her friend Anna or her boyfriend Jamie anymore, and is living in a trailer by night, truck by day chasing after teens who skipped their court date.

Not exactly the ideal life for a 15 year old.

And it's not exactly the glamorous life for her since she doesn't really know her father. Ricki's been living with her mother and whatever boyfriend of the week she has, while her father has basically ignored her until recently.

Things start to get interesting, though, when her father goes after Ian, the 17 year old car jacker. Ricki is curious about him, plus he's not hard to look at either. It also makes life intriguing when he keeps getting away from her father at every opportunity.

And Ricki wants to know more about Ian, despite her father's objections about talking to the "skips". Ian has a lot of viewpoints about life that are different than Ricki's, which make Ricki question how she should view life.

When Ricki has the choice of helping Ian or her father, she has to decide how she wants to live her life. And who in her life is the right person to trust and care about the most, since basically everyone keeps leaving Ricki to deal with herself on her own.

Who will Ricki choose: Ian or her father? Read Chasing the Skip by Janci Patterson to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Hmm. The context of this story was very appealing. A girl traveling with her father to snag court date skippers to bring them back and get money for it.

But for some reason, I just couldn't relate or understand Ricki. Yes, I know her mother just upped and left her alone, making her go to her grandmother's house and then finally staying with her dad, so she feels unwanted and unloved by everyone. But she has someone taking care of her. She's not completely alone.

And Ricki keeps wanting to go to her mother in California, but if her mother left her, why would she want to go find her? I would want to stay as far away from the woman that left me with only a note. And not even any money to buy food or take care of the bills.

But that's just me.

And her fascination with Ian? I can see that, in a way, but why would anyone want to be with a fugitive? I guess it must be the bad guy thing going for him. But if my father was chasing after him to take him to court, I doubt it would go anywhere since he was wanted for jail...

Again, that's just my viewpoint.

So, yes, I liked the idea and overall aspect of this book, I just didn't really enjoy the book itself  even though I did finish it. Some readers may enjoy the whole book, but it just wasn't for me.

If you are looking for a book about adventure and traveling, this could work for you. There's nothing horrible in the novel, so any age could read it, especially since Ricki is only 15 in here.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

Exile by Anne Osterlund

This is the second novel in the Aurelia series by Anne Osterlund.

My review of #1: Aurelia.

After finding out who was trying to kill Aurelia, she decided that she was going on an expedition through her country to get to know the different tribes and lands. She defied her father by not marrying the man he chose for her and took control of her own life.

And beside her is Robert. The man she kissed. The man she yells at, all of the time. But Robert is her companion - her friend - and one of the few people she trust now-a-days.

The expedition is not the nicest trip she's ever had. In fact, she's been taken more times than she can count, and is still finding herself in danger of being assassined - even though she found out who was trying to kill her before her trip.

One of the groups she gets captured by surprisingly has her mother located there - a mother she has not seen in 14 years.

Even though she wants to get to know her mother again, the trip is what is important, and she won't let Robert leave without her.

Robert is having conflicting feelings. He wants to protect the Princess, but knows that he is not capable of doing that. He wants her to be safe, but as long as she is on this expedition, safe is far from what she will be.

And is also starting to fall in love with her. Which can't happen because she is the royal princess, even if she is currently exiled from the palace by defying the King.

So both Robert and Aurelia take it day by day, but soon Aurelia realizes that she needs to face the problems at the palace rather than running away from them. However, they find out who is trying to kill Aurelia again, which makes going home a bit of a problem...

Will Aurelia be able to go back to Tyralt and take her royal place again? What will happen with the attraction between Aurelia and Robert? Who is trying to kill Aurelia, yet again? Read Exile by Anne Osterlund to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
This book ended just where the first novel ended, which was nice for me since I read them back to back. And I really enjoyed where this book went. Aurelia has shown once again that she is not the spoiled princess that most are claimed to be.

She gets dirty and takes the blame for the mistakes she's made. She also wants to know the people of her country, who are ruled by her father and one day, by her.

Also, attempting to be assassined is a lot for a person to handle, but Aurelia gets back up and fights back, which I very much admire about her.

My favorite part of the novel is when she is at Robert's family's house and is working on the farm. Who would have thought that a royal princess could milk a cow?!

I guessed who was trying to kill her through this book, so the ending wasn't a surprise.

What was a surprise was how the book ended as a whole! Is there going to be another book? Cause that was not a final ending! There was too much left open and I need to know what happens next. Does anyone know if there will be another book to wrap everything up?!?

Other than the ending being what it is, I really liked this novel and enjoyed how both Robert and Aurelia developed from the first novel. The trust between them only grew, which made their decision choices a lot more wiser than in the first novel.

I would recommend this to any female reader, as it mostly focuses on Aurelia. For those that want a strong lead female character who isn't afraid to get in a bind, this book would also be good for you to read. I would advise that you should read the first novel first, though, as it will make it a lot more clearer when reading this novel.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

This is the first novel in the Just One Day series by Gayle Forman.

Before going to college, Allyson goes on a Europe trip for teens to experience new things. Her whole life has been mapped out, ever since she saved a classmate at the age of 13 when he was choking and she used the Heimlich maneuver to save him.

Right then, she was destined to be pre-med and become a doctor just like her father. Before, Allyson would never argue with her parents - she just wanted to make them happy.

On the last day of the trip, she was supposed to go to London. When she was presented with an unexpected opportunity to go to Paris (since her group couldn't go due to strikes), Allyson does the most unexplained thing - she goes with this boy would offered to be her tour guide.

Allyson just met Willem the night before, when she went to see him perform a Shakespearean play on the streets instead of an assigned play that was part of the tour.

So Allyson runs off with Willem for the day in Paris and finds herself starting to fall in love with him. She knows around 10 things about him, but the feelings she has for him are overwhelming.

When she wakes up the next morning, she wants to spend another day in Paris with him, but finds that he has left her. In the middle of Paris, all by herself.

She finds her way back to her friend and makes the trip back to the U.S. in one piece except one: her heart. That stayed in Paris with Willem.

But off to college Allyson goes where she doesn't find any excitement in her classes or life. Previously an A student, she ends up with a C grade point average first semester. When presented the opportunity to change her major, Allyson starts to act like a living person again and realizes that she may need to start doing what SHE wants to do instead of what everyone else wants her to do.

And one of the things she wants to do is get answers regarding Willem. Because, even though it's been one year since she saw him, Willem is always on her mind.

One year later, Allyson goes back to Paris. She wants answers and is going to try her hardest to get them. But how will her trip go? Will she get all of her answers, or was the trip worthless and a waste of time? Read Just One Day by Gayle Forman to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
I am a huge fan of Forman's previous novels If I Stay and Where She Went, so I was excited to hear about this book and get my hands on it.

For some reason, though, I didn't connect with this novel. At all.

Allyson, or Lulu as she was called for a little bit in the novel, would not be my friend, sorry to say. She was too timid and uncertain at the beginning of the novel, did a RANDOM act by going to Paris with a COMPLETE stranger, fell in love in ONE day, and then was heartbroken when she went off to college for a WHOLE year.

Obviously by all of the caps above, I have some problems with this novel.

If Allyson was a rebellious natured person, I wouldn't have a problem with anything I wrote above. But she was a rule person, went by the book. Then goes to Paris with a COMPLETE stranger?!? No. Sorry. I don't care how much someone wants to change from their previously life, I would NEVER go somewhere with a guy that I just met and knew next to nothing about.

But I stuck with this novel because I had an ending in mind that I thought would make everything that happened throughout this novel that I disliked better. However, I found the ending, lacking and frustrating. It has potential, but the cliff hanger ending didn't float my boat.

There were times that I thought I could like Allyson. She decided to stand up for herself instead of having her parents control every aspect of her life and she decided that she was going to do what she wanted to do. But then she would do something stupid again to make me dislike her.

There is a sequel coming out October 2013 and I think it might be through Willem's viewpoint, so answers could be answered that readers would think about during this novel. As of right now, I'm planning on reading it when it releases, but we'll see what happens when it finally comes in October.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Christmas time has always been Lily's favorite holiday. She gets into the holiday cheer and celebrates with her family.

Except this year, her parents are at Fiji for a belated honeymoon trip, her grandfather went to Florida to see his lady friend, and her brother, Langston, is so hooked on his boyfriend that he's not into the holiday cheer.

Happy Holidays to Lily.

Then her brother came up with an idea - create a notebook full of dares and hope that someone fun, smart, and male will take the dares to do throughout the holiday break. Lily had little hope that someone would play the daring game.

She was wrong.

Christmas is not a holiday that Dash particularly likes - and this year instead of spending it with one of his divorced parents, he's on his own while they celebrate in warmer areas than New York.

So when he saw the red notebook at the bookstore, he figured, "why not?" and filled in the missing pieces. But before giving it back to the designated bookseller, he made a dare of his own. And this is how Dash and Lily got their book of dares started.

Instead of dreading the holidays, Dash and Lily are now conversing to one another by daring each other do to random things - not illegal, well, not always, but just random events to get to know another another.

But will Dash live up to lily's expectations? Or will they forever be adequateness through the notebook, never to meet in person? All I have to say is, they are in for an interesting ride! Read Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan to join them on their adventure.

My Thoughts/Reflections
What a great story Levithan and Cohn created - again! And I love how both characters are book lovers - that's always a plus in my book!

Lily is a silly character. She has random acts and does really weird things, but if she wasn't weird than this book would not have been as entertaining with the certain dares she gives to Dash.

And Dash is so serious and grown up, knowing words at the age of 16 that I don't even know in my mid 20's! It was nice to see him loosen up and have fun during these dares.

By the way, if you're wondering, there are no bad, dirty dares in here. Just fun, simple dares that made the characters think and be creative.

There were a few times where I actually did laugh out loud, and couldn't stop thinking about the amusing scenes even after I read past them. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was very unique and entertaining, but also a story about trusting a stranger and getting to know a possible friend.

I think this would be suited for any readers. It alternates chapters by Lily and Dash's point of view, so we are able to see what they are thinking when they are making the new dares and when they create the other persons dares. And we also get to see a glimpse in their real life away from the dare book.

A great book. I am now converted to Levithan and Cohn's writing and will be making it a goal to read more of their works!

P.S. - if you actually look at my labels, which some may not, I only put "murder/mystery" there because there is a little bit of mystery as to what the dares would be and who the other person is. There is no murder in this novel. Just to clarify :)

Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill

Going to London for a school trip is like an early Christmas present for Julia. She gets to see the birthplace and home of William Shakespeare, see all of the London culture, and the place where her parents met and fell in love.

But her trip started down hill and only went more south from then on. The plane ride was excruciating  the class clown from her class, Jason, was making obnoxious noises, and rude gestures toward Julia. 

And since Julia is a control freak and needs to be prepared for everything, Jason is not her best friend. But then they get stuck as buddy partners for the 9 days they are there - where one goes, the other needs to follow to keep one another company and safe.

The other interesting part of her trip is a mysterious person who texts her on the cell phone her teacher gave her. Julia always has her MTB - her meant to be guy who she thinks she'll be with for the rest of her life: Mark. 

When Julia and Mark were 5 and 6, they were neighbors and got "married" in their back yard. Since then, Julia has been pining for him and thinks that they will be together once Mark starts talking to her again. 

So when she gets contacted by the "mysterious man", she doesn't want anything to do with Chris. Mark is the only one in her future. But Jason finds out about Chris and decides to help uptight Julia get to know him and loosen up during this trip, for a price. 

Now Julia and Jason are roaming around London trying to find the mysterious texter, while also trying to follow the rules for their trip. However, because Julia is partnered with Jason, following the rules is out of the question. 

Julia isn't sure what to do anymore. And it only gets more confusing when Mark randomly pops up in London at the end of her trip. So now Julia is juggling Mark, Chris, and Jason all at once. It's enough to make any sane girl go crazy. What will Julia do? Which boy will be her MTB? Read Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections

I can't believe that this is a debut author! The way Morrill writes, I thought she would have had a ton of books out!

I really loved this story. One, because it reminded me of my trip to London for 8 days during one semester in college. I recognized the sights that Morrill wrote about and could really relate to Julia when she was wandering the streets of London. 

Secondly, this was such an epic story of falling in love and discovering new things. I started reading it and didn't put it down until I read the very last word - that's how much I loved it!

Jason, being the class clown, did make me chuckle a few times throughout the novel. There were some other times that he made me cringe with what he did or say, but mostly he was very humorous and I loved the times where he was actually serious with Julia. 

While reading this novel, I had my own version of how it was going to end, knowing that I was right and couldn't wait to see the reactions of the characters. 

I ended up guessing completely wrong and thrown for a loop when I found out what REALLY happened! And I love that I didn't guess it right - Morrill did a great job twisting and turning this tale into something that was not so easy to be able to guess. 

I loved this story and would recommend it to anyone wanting a book about traveling, falling in love, and making mistakes when it comes to love. I will definitely be on the lookout for more novels by Morrill when she releases upcoming novels!

Every Day by David Levithan

Each morning when A wakes up, it is a new experience because (s)he is always in a different body.

A is not a boy or a girl, but rather a person in a guy or a girl's body for the day. A doesn't like strictly boys or girls, but rather who the body (s)he's residing for the day. A does not know the person (s)he's living for the day personally, but can find facts in the person's brain when (s)he needs to go to school, what sport they play, etc.

This is normal for A. A goes through the motions that are right for each day, act like the person for that day, and wait to see who (s)he will be the next morning.

A has never been the same person twice. The only consistent thing is that A wakes up in Massachusetts.

Living like this didn't bother A. But one day, A was Justin. And Justin had a girlfriend named Rhiannon.

Somehow, A could not forget Rhiannon. She was unlike any girl A had ever met before. Usually A forgets about the previous day to concentrate on the new day and new person, but Rhiannon stuck in A's mind.

Then A did the unthinkable; he told Rhiannon the truth. Everything, exactly what happens to A every day. At first Rhiannon didn't believe him, but day after day A would try to meet up with Rhiannon to prove that everything A said was the truth.

And A started to fall in love with Rhiannon.

However, there were things that kept them apart, physically and mentally. Some days, when A was a female and saw Rhiannon, there was tension between them. When A was overweight, Rhiannon was distant. Other days, there was a spark between them.

It was a complicated relationship. Not to mention that Rhiannon was still with Justin.

So A tried really hard to figure out how to fix this problem. And A was also living a different life a day, trying to make sure he didn't get anyone in major trouble for something that A did while living their life for that day.

Will A and Rhiannon be able to find a way to be together, when A changes bodies every day? Read Every Day by David Levithan to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
Wow. There was so much that I loved about this novel. I have a few friends who love David Levithan but this is the first book of his that I've read. I will be fixing that shortly.

So, A. I kept imagining A to be a guy, even when (s)he was in a girl's body. I bet that other readers read A differently, but that's how I kept imagining A to be.

I also loved the fact that there was every single type of person in here. Straight, gay, transgender, overweight, depressed, suicidal, you name it. Levithan added it. And A was able to be that person for one day. Some days were better than others, but A knew without a doubt that (s)he will be leaving that body after waking up the next morning.

I think that's why I love this book so much. I think any and every reader will find something to relate to with this novel. This isn't a "oh, you might like it because the character likes to read" sort of recommendation. This is just full of amazingness.

It's also realistic when it comes to Rhiannon and A's "relationship". You can imagine that trying to be together with someone who has no idea where (s)he will wake up the next morning is a little difficult. And Levithan shows that. It's not a normal relationship and it is extremely hard for them not to get mad at the other for certain things.

I am extremely glad this is located at my library where I work, because if it wasn't, I would buy it to put it in there. I hope other teens will check it out and find something that they will love about this novel, because I would find it hard not to myself (obviously, haha).

Now, I need to go and get more of Levithan's novels to see if they par up to this amazing book!

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

Dylan
Because she has the traveling bug, Dylan goes from Wisconsin, her home state, to Arizona to "house sit" her aunt's house.

Really, she just got paid to sleep there and take a photography class at the local community college in that area.

Dylan does not take life for granted. She looks beyond the artificial surface of everything and everyone, trying to figure out how things/people work and ask questions that would not seem normal to everyone else.

The one thing that Dylan did not see coming in her summer trip to Arizona was falling in love. Her main goal was to find a friend since she didn't know anyone. When she saw Gray at the college campus, she knew she needed to get to know him better.

The more time Dylan and Gray spent together, the more she kept thinking about him and impatiently waited for the next time they could go on an adventure to learn more about the world around them.

Gray
Gray's life ended 8 months ago when his twin sister died in a car accident. Everything changed for him. He gave up his full ride scholarship for baseball at New Mexico University and went to Mesa Community College in Arizona just to have a reason to get out of his depressing house.

His parents are never around and he stopped talking to his friends from high school.

Gray has lost the will to live.

Until Dylan burst into his life. Every since he met Dylan, he has something to look forward to everyday: seeing her. Dylan is so random and says the most unexpected things that Gray has no idea what they will do from one day to another.

So it was to be expected that he would fall in love with her. She is the most interesting and honest girl Gray has ever met, and he knows that she is the one for him.

But Dylan needs to travel. She wants to see the world. And Gray wants her to move to New Mexico with him when he goes back to college to play ball.

Will Dylan and Gray find a way to be together, even though their lives are not on the same path? Can long distance really work for them, or will the succumb to the inevitable breakup that happens to most summer romances? Read First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
This was an interesting novel. I've never read any of Kacvinsky's books before, and I definitely noticed a different style of writing right away that sucked me in.

Dylan is a great character. I wish I was like her because she is always thinking of others over herself. She doesn't care what she looks like, and is always trying to find a way to help others have a better day than what they were having.

And Gray has had a hard time before meeting Dylan. Which is exactly why it was a great thing for them to meet. Dylan found a way to help Gray through his grief and be able to bring him back to the living.

There were some parts of the book that I felt dragged on, but I did enjoy the overall story and the struggle that the two characters had individually and together as a couple.

This is very realistic to summer or high school romances when the two in the relationship go in opposite directions. I really liked the ending and think that the author did a great job describing a young couple in love for the summer.

This is told through both Dylan and Gray's perspective  so we get their thoughts about one another in detail. I think that any readers would enjoy this book - especially the character of Dylan. She was entertaining and so unique that the reader will be compelled to read more to find out what random thing she will do next.

It also looks like there is another novel following this one, called Second Chance, where it follows after the first novel ends. According to Goodreads, it's only in eBook format right now, but hopefully it will be released in book format so I can  pick it up and see what happens to Dylan and Gray!

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

This is the sequel to If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

This is Mia's boyfriend's story, Adam, not Mia's. Also, if you don't want to find out what happens at the end of the first novel, do no read the rest of this review. There will be spoilers right away.

It's been three years since the fateful accident of Mia Hall's family. Now, Adam is a famous rock star in his group Shooting Star. He has a movie start girlfriend, and has groupies that follow and buy his band's album.

But Adam feels lost. He doesn't enjoy the music anymore. He doesn't get along with his bandmates, who were practically family when they got together 3-4 years ago.

While Adam has become a famous rock star, Mia has become a famous orchestra player with her cello. They both went their separate ways, but not after a few hearts broken along the 3 years of separation.

Adam has panic attacks, so he needs to take medication. He has also become very superstitious and when he finds out that his bandmates are flying to London for their tour on Friday the 13th, he gets a new flight. No sense in tempting fate, he thinks.

So while his band is flying to London, Adam stays in New York for another day. As fate would have it, he finds Mia performing a concert.

Adam buys a ticket and falls into Mia's music - remembering the old days when she would play non-stop. When Mia requests to see him, everything in the past years come flying back between them.

Why did Mia stop talking to Adam? What is going on between the two of them? Will Adam and Mia finally have the conversation that has been waiting for 3 years, or will they disappear into the night with their thoughts and feelings unresolved? Read Where She Went by Gayle Forman to find out.

My Thoughts/Reflections
I loved the first novel of this two book series. It was so heartbreaking and devastating, but strong and hopeful.

This novel was a good addition. Not necessarily needed as the way If I Stay ended was beautiful, but the reader finally figures out what happened to Mia and Adam.

And instead of reading Mia's thoughts, this time, the reader delves inside Adam's head, the boy we were introduced to in the first novel but never quite got his whole story.

Even though when one thinks "rock star", Adam didn't have a glamorous life. In fact, if it wasn't for the songs that came through his mind during a few months, he would have been out of a band and would have lived a boring life in Oregon.

But even so, Adam had superstitious problems and he was also a bit claustrophobic when it came to crowds - not the best thing to have when one performs in front of millions of people and have fans follow one around for autographs.

While this wasn't my favorite sequel to a book I loved, I'm glad I was able to get a more solid ending to Mia and Adam's story.

I would recommend this to anyone who loved the first novel, and I think it would also appeal to a male audience because it is through a male narrative. And even though the cover has a girl on it, don't let it fool you. It is definitely a male rock star narrating this novel!