Review: Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins

Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
Release Date: December 18, 2018

Zae has a great life. She lives with her mom, dad and younger brother in the house she's been in her whole life. She has a great boyfriend. She does cheerleading at school and has 3 amazing best friends.

But things started to go downhill fast around spring break Junior Year. First she caught her boyfriend cheating on her at a party. Then she finds out her parents are splitting up due to cheating.

Now, Zae doesn't believe in love. She comes up with a plan to have fun and basically "act like a guy" by getting as many kisses as she can during spring break. Guys do it all of the time, why can't Zae and her 3 best friends?

At first it's fun, but after awhile, past kisses come back to talk to Zae, crushes are off the table and jealously runs among the friends, and feelings are hurt in the end. Zae realizes that her good idea of fun may have terrible reprecussions. And mix that with the secrets she finds out about her parents, Zae is realizing that love is a very complicated thing.

I love Wendy Higgins, and I am not surprised that I adored this book of hers as well! Not only was this a good YA book, there were so many issues that readers can relate to. It is so real and there are so many messages that are given in this book.

This book is about love. It starts off with love and heartbreak, and the reader essentially goes through every stage of love you can think of: child's love for parents, husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, best friends, crushes, endearment, heartbreak, and pinning/wanting something to be more.

I loved the aspect with the poetry from English class. To know that someone is watching you, paying attention to you, attracted to you but it being a secret is a complicated mystery. On the one hand, you really want to know who it is, but on the other hand, you are unsure if you want to know because you may not like that person as much as you did when it was a mystery.

What Zae and her friends did - the kiss list - is something I would never do, let alone think about doing. I can see how the girls wanted to give the guys a taste of their own medicine, sure. But after reading about their drama for the rest of their junior year makes me happy that I didn't have to deal with that mess. I was simply at school to go to class, do homework, and then read my books. Because I know that high school is really similar to this novel, so I was one of the lucky ones I feel like :)

And I felt so much for Zae and her brother when they were going through their parents separation. I feel like they should have included her brother in all of the information about why they were separated because I think an honesty policy needs to be used in this situation, but I may be alone in this thoughht process.

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the ending! It made me so happy to see Zae figure out her life and to realize that love is ever changing. She grew so much during this novel and showed the reader that you can experience so much when the opportunity rises. Doors open all of the time, you just have to take a chance to try something new.

This book was so great, and I know there will be many happy readers when this is released in December! There is so much to learn from this novel and to realize that not everything is as it seems. I'm so glad I got a chance to read this early! :)

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Review: Mating Season by Theresa Hissong

Mating Season by Theresa Hissong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

Tessa is thankful that she was able to find two places to work at in her new town after having to escape her crazy ex-husband, even it if means she only gets one day a week off to do things for herself. Some days make it seem rough and hard, but nothing will compare to her life before when she was scared and bossed around.

Drake is growing impatient finding his mate for his shifter, but he knows that it will be impossible to find the one if he is always on his land and not pursing his bear's mate. But Drake hates humans, and the only place where they do not come is his land that he shares with his 2 brothers.

After hibernation, Drake and his brothers need to get ready to plant their crops to make their money for the new season, so he heads into town to get parts for their tractor. Who knew that the person who will be delievering their parts would be none other than Tessa, a human, who is also Drake's mate.

Tessa knows about shifters, but she's never met one before Drake and his brothers. And she's definitely never met a bear shifter. To say she's intrigued is an understatement, but she has no idea what being a mate is...

Just when Tessa and Drake are getting used to the idea of being mates, trouble comes into town when Tessa's ex is hunting for her. But if you've ever encountered a grizzly bear, you will understand that things are about to get...grizzly...when Drake's mate is threatened...

Wow! This is my second book by Theresa Hissong and I loved it! The first wasn't for me, but give me a good shifter book and I'm in it! I loved how tough but shy Tessa was and I loved how rough and moody Drake was.

I especially loved the 360 of Drake's attitude when he accepted that Tessa was his mate and how attentive he was to her. Now I want a bear shifter as a mate, cause the lifee they want to give their mates sounds amazing!!!

It really sucks how bad Tessa's first marriage was and how it got worse as time went on. I'm glad she was able to get out of that situation, even though he wasn't letting her go.

And it was great that Tessa was really able to help Drake get past his hatred toward humans because hating a whole species is not healthy.

I'm very glad I got a chance to read this book, and I will probably be seeking more novels from this series soon to see how the 2 brothers find their mates - especially since they are the ones actively seeking their mate!

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Review: Price of Duty by Todd Strasser

Price of Duty by Todd Strasser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.

Being in a family that has served the country by being in the military, Jake felt that it was his duty to also enlist into the Forever War. He wasn't pressured by anyone, but he knew that his grandfather would judge him. Funny thing is, his father was sad and disappointed that he enlisted.

After his convoy got invaded by the enemy, Jake was one of the lucky ones who survived. His leg is in a cast, and his left arm and hand got serious injuries. Because of his wounds, he was able to go home for awhile to rest and recoup, before going off to rehab to finish off his time.

But being back home is weird. He was excited to go back to normal, but nothing is normal anymore. When fireworks go off, Jake thinks that there is gunfire happening.

So now Jake is trying to figure out how to live, and what choices he wants to make for his future.

Jake has a lot of difficult decisions to make, and a lot of past events to reflect upon.

Wow. I seriously liked this book!! It was short, but had a HUGE message in this novel, and the content was so gutwrenching to read about. My heart was breaking for Jake and what he went through overseas and then what he was going through once he got home. Everyone called him a hero, but Jake felt anything but being a hero and that shows how much he was affected by what had happened to him.

I can't even imagine being in Jake's shoes, and then to come home to "normal" only to have it not be normal anymore? I mean, he missed holding his gun, and he wasn't even at war for that long.

This book definitely shows how much war wears on a person and makes them change as a whole. Everyone always says that they look and act the same, but someone who is going to PTSD will look and act like normal. It's what's going on inside of them that really matters and will really make you understand the struggles they are going through.

This is a powerful book. A memorial book. And one that I really think teens should read.

Especially for the fact that Jake and his friends he made stated that they thought it would be good because they love playing Call of Duty video game. That, to me, makes that so real since I know how many teens do play that game. And it is completely true that being in war in real life is nothing like being a character in a video game.

I am so glad that I finally got around to reading this book, and I definitely won't forget it anytime soon!

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Review: Pulled Back Again by Danielle Bannister

Pulled Back Again by Danielle Bannister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

Jada and Tobias moved from their home to try to hide from Hawk when he got out of prison. Tobias is terrified of what Hawk is going to do for revenge, and is scare of what Hawk has become. Jada didn't think Hawk was that far gone, but when she went to visit him, she saw how unhinged he has become.

And they are both terrified of what will happen to their family, but they started to see a silver lining when they heard nothing after Hawk got released.

But after a horrifying phone call, Tobias and Jada will be thrown into chaos again. And they are going to have to rely on their Twin Flame connection to make sure they don't lose each other in the horrible situation that is ahead. Because if they can't save each other, history may be repeating itself again and again...

This was a good ending to this series. I was a solid 3 star girl for all three novels because there were things I liked and things I didn't like. This third novel, though, nicely summed everything up and made a great 360 turn to fix things that were super mixed up from the previous novels.

I really wished that I had a better connection with the characters, but ALL of them were just too flawed and damaged for me to find strength in them. I mean, they did at the end find the strength they need, but that took 3 books and many many pages of my life to get there.

I thought it was fitting how Hawk was able to help Tobias in the end, and I absolutely loved the epilogue. That alone was redeemable in my mind of all the horrible things that happened in this novel.

I'm glad I got a chance to read this series, even though it wasn't my all time favorite. I definitely will not be forgetting certain things about these books!

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Review: Pulled Back by Danielle Bannister

Pulled Back by Danielle Bannister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

Jada has had a pretty crappy life so far in her 17 years. When she was born, her mother passed away in childbirth, which has made her father very bitter and angry at Jada. It only gets worse when he decides to move them to her mother's hometown for Jada's senior year in high school.

When they arrive, Jada finds out something interesting: she was one of 3 babies born on the same night, on the same day, in the same hospital. And she meets the other two: Tobias and Hawk. Hawk is insistent that he and Jada are meant to be. What else does it mean that they were born on the same night?

And even though Hawk and Tobias are best friends - and next door neighbors - their feelings toward each other are getting strained because of their own personal feelings toward Jada. Because while Hawk thinks he is destined to be with her, Tobias has this pull, this connection, with Jada that he cannot describe. Whenever Jada is near, Tobias doesn't feel sick anymore. And being sickly all of his life with asthma and only 1 working lung, he knows that something is unique about him and Jada together.

But everything is falling apart around everyone. Tobias is getting sicker, and he's being forced to stay away from Jada, who is the only person he feels 100% healthy around. Hawk's anger is getting worse and worse, and ever since Jada came to town, he can't control his actions anymore. And Jada's father is getting meaner and drunker every day they are in this town.

Tragedy struck this town once, 17 years ago, and fate has made it that tragedy is about to strike again. Because even though these three don't know their history, they have a tragic past that might be repeating itself...

So. I liked this book. I did! But I'm just so ready for something happy to happen to these characters and for them to get their happily ever after. Because even though they don't remember their past life, I'm still haunted at how book #1 ended and I need for them to be happy and content and live a long, blissful life.

But I don't think that is going to happen. Oh, sure, the ending to this book SEEMED happy enough, but I can see the dark cloud forming around that cursed town of theirs, and I don't think things are going to be all hunky dory soon...

I am still so mad at Jada. Seriously, if you are being abused, even verbally, let alone physically, tell someone! Report it! DON'T TAKE IT AND ACT LIKE YOU DESERVE IT!!! It just frustrates me to no end, and it makes me so sad that this is how the female Twin Flame is always going to live. It just breaks my heart.

And Tobias. I loved how strong he got and how brave and determined he is. Every breath is a struggle for him, but he does a lot of brave things to make sure that Jada is okay.

And do NOT get me started on Hawk. I seriously have never wished death upon a character as much as I do with him. He is a nasty man, and I despise him so much.

I'm excited to read the next one, and will be crossing my fingers and toes and legs and arms the whole time I'm reading, hoping and praying that things end up good in the end. Because if it's another ending like book #1, I'm throwing my book across the room. No, seriously. And I've only done that one other time in my life, so it's that serious.

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Review: Pulled by Danielle Bannister

Pulled by Danielle Bannister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC from Red Publishing Company. This is my honest review.

Naya went through a horrible event when her parents died in a car accident. Ever since then, she has been disconnected and has panic attacks and black outs. She's hoping that starting over at her dream college will be the right track to get herself under control and make happy memories again. Even though her boyfriend, Seth, decided he was coming with her... despite the fact that he has no interest in performance art, which is what this school is known for.

When she meets Etash for the first time, she is stunned by the connection she feels for her. It's instant and so powerful she has no idea what is going on.

But she's not the only one who feels it. Etash is shocked and confused about this girl who he can't get out of his head. With the scar on his face, Etash is used to being ignored and made fun of and whispered behind his back, but Naya isn't doing any of that. In fact, it seems like she may be feeling the same connection that Etash is feeling.

When Etash and Naya get the lead roles in the upcoming play, they find the connection is only getting stronger the more they are near each other. Both have tried to fight the connection - for multiple reasons - but it's impossible.

Then things go downward fast when Naya runs from Seth. Secrets are revealed, and high strung feelings are being thrown around, and the pressure is on for Naya and Etash.

This book...wow... The connection between Naya and Etash was very intense, and I could definitely see the struggle they had figuring out what was going on between them.

The reason this was rated as 3 stars and not a bit higher is because I was so mad at Naya with her decisions to stay with Seth. I was so mad at her and I just wanted to shake some sense into her. I wanted her to go to the police and get a restraining order against him, but she just accepted whatever he did to her. Even til the very end, she was still making excuses, and I wish that this wasn't true in real life, but it is. And it makes me very sad knowing this, and knowing it's common.

Also, I felt so sad for Etash and the bullying he gets because of his scar on his face. Again this is common in real life, and it's just heartbreaking. Obviously he has been through something terrible if he got that wound, so why do people think it's okay to pick on him?

There were so many bombshells that happened at the end of this book that I feel like a hole has been ripped into my heart. The shocking realization on how Etash and Naya's story really started, and then that ending. So many thoughts and feelings went through me, I couldn't even put it into words if I wanted to.

All I have to say, is thank god Danielle Bannister made another novel, because that was gutwrenching to experience.

I think many readers will enjoy this novel, and now I need to dive into book #2 and hope that it has a better ending than this novel!

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Review: Reckless King by Maya Hughes

Reckless King by Maya Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Heath is known as the laid back and fast skater on the ice among his friends and teammates. But what no one knows is that he struggles with an anger that builds inside of him. That's why he is always pushing himself to train - it's the only thing that curves his anger.

Kara is working her tail off to become a professor and teach like her adopted parents. Kara had a hard life before leaving that situation, so now she wants to show her parents that she appreciates everything they did for her.

When Kara and Heath see each other for the first time across the bar, it's an instant connection and attraction. And because of the intensity they both feel, they waste no time getting to know each other.

With the pressure of hockey and the pressure of obtaining her scholarship, the times Kara and Heath can see each other are few and far between. But both know that this is something they want to fight for.

Things get complicated when they find out that Kara is Heath's TA for his independant study class. Now, they have to be professional, teacher/student relationship to not risk their dreams.

But when the pressure gets too much for Heath and Kara, the only thing they want to do is go to each other. Will they lose everything or will they lose each other with the decisions they make?

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!!! Maybe not aaasss much as book #1, but it was still amazing. Heath is smoldering and boy, when he wants something, he makes it his sole mission to get it if there's any possiblity that it's available. And the way he was with Kara? Holy Crap! I wish I was Kara....haha

And I was very surprised with Kara. The way we were introduced to her, she seemed shy, school oriented, very focused, but when she first met Heath, she was bold and brave and she went for what she want. I was shocked, but I was so rooting her on!

Plus, I loved that she went out to a bar by herself and stuck through it even though she was definitely uncomfortable being there by herself. She showed that a single woman can do things on her own and still have fun without a group of people relying on her.

The personal issues that Heath and Kara were both going through were heartbreaking. Heath has so many emotions running through him and it makes the reader see that even though a person can look happy and be laid back and cool, you never know what is going on inside of them. And Kara is haunted by her past, but you would never know that by watching her go for her goals to have a great future.

There were so many great moments in this novel, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this novel. It's a series that is going to be an insta buy for me the second the next books are released.

And let me tell you, I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!! I need Emmetts book NOW!!! It's been killing me not knowing everything ever since I read the prequel book, so I'm so glad it is going to be next!!

I definitely recommend this novel, and this series, to any reader because I love them so much :)

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