Going Under - S. Walden

Brooke Wright has only two goals her senior year at Charity Run High School: stay out of trouble and learn to forgive herself for the past. Forgiveness proves elusive, and trouble finds her anyway when she discovers a secret club at school connected to the death of her best friend. She learns that swim team members participate in a "Fantasy Slut League," scoring points for their sexual acts with unsuspecting girls.

Brooke, wracked with guilt over her friend's death, decides to infiltrate the league by becoming one of the "unsuspecting girls," and exact revenge on the boys who stole away her best friend. An unexpected romance complicates her plans, and her dogged pursuit of justice turns her reckless as she underestimates just how far the boys will go to keep their sex club a secret. 

This is not a just a romance story about high school kids.  This story deals with VERY serious issues, so if you are looking for a light and fluffy book, you may want to put this book to the side and wait for a time where you can give in to something a little heavier.   

Brooke Wright is not a perfect girl.  She’s made mistakes, and one that she can never take back has been haunting her since her best friend died.  She’s determined to be miserable because she can’t make up for the mistake she made, and she can’t forgive herself.  All she can do is try to get the justice she thinks is deserved.  That’s the plan anyway… 

As the pieces start falling into place and she finds out it’s more than just one guy, there is this secret club at her school where boys are given points based on the sex acts performed and the girl it happens with.  Everything starts clicking into place for Brooke, and becoming more dangerous.  

 

On the other hand, the guy she literally ran into at her best friend’s funeral not only attends the same school she has just transferred to, but is in some of her classes, and seems to have the same eyes for her that she has for him.  She tries to keep herself away, feeling undeserving because of mistakes she has made, and knowing she has a plan to stick to that involves another boy.  But she can’t seem to keep away from Ryan.  Although it always seems like we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop with Ryan, what we do know about him turns out to be pretty wonderful.  I certainly couldn’t blame her for falling for him and distracting herself from her not so stellar plan.       

Can Brooke have a separate part of her life just for her that includes this amazing guy and still seek the revenge she feels will free her by setting up this group of guys to take a hard fall? What will happen when her separate lives clash together and her world falls down around her? Definitely worth the read to find out!

 

I think S. Walden is a brave woman.  Not only does she tackle some tough subjects, but she pushes you right through them and makes you live them along with these character.  Even though there were parts I wanted to look away from, I kept pushing through cringing the whole time. It’s very real at times.    

While I did feel this story took a little while to get going, once it found its stride, I stayed interested.  I loved some of the other characters we were introduced to and was happy Brooke was able to maintain a previous friendship from her original school and make new friends too.   

Here are my only complaints… 1.  I wanted more Ryan! I felt like their relationship could have been explored a little more.  I mean, here is this guy she considers throwing away her plan for…give me a little bit more reason why.  Don’t get me wrong – Ryan is great! But I was left wanting a little bit more.  2.  The only other thing I wish is that we had more time at the end.  We jump years twice and I think I personally needed more of what was going on with the characters in that time period, especially at the very end.   

Otherwise, this book was a definite must read for me!

 

 

Date Me (The Keatyn Chronicles #3) - Jillian Dodd

I’m not scripting my life anymore.
I’m living it.
I’m done with the God of all Hotties.
I’m going to give my heart to the boy who I think deserves it.
The boy whose kisses are hotter than molten lava.
The boy who offered me the key to his heart.
The boy who asked me to Homecoming in a big, sexy way.

There are so many things to look forward to.
Parties at the Cave. Homecoming festivities. Drama Tryouts. Shopping trips to NY.
But things aren’t always as perfect as they seem.
I find out that my best friend has been keeping a secret from me.
Not that I can blame him.
I have secrets too.
But, for now, I’m going to pretend I’m just a normal girl.
I’m going to pretend he’s not still out there.
I’m going to pretend he’s not getting desperate.
I’m going to pretend I’ll never see him again.
But, I will.
And this time, I might not get away.

Oh Jillian, how I love and hate you all at the same time sometimes.  And myself… I am all torn up after reading this book.  Now I feel like I don’t know who to champion and who to love.  

While yes, this book picks up exactly where Kiss Me left off, and it is only a short window of time into their lives, SO MUCH happens that I can’t even wrap my head around all of it.  This is definitely one that is going to be a re-read before the next book comes out (too far away from now :().   

As much as I may not have liked all the turn of events in this book, I have to say – I’m not sure there is a better storyteller than Jillian Dodd.  For every single one of her books,I have always felt this addiction to them.  This need to read them so voraciously that I can't get anything else done.  My mind is too focused on her words.  This book, is no exception.   

Here is what I did love… KEATYN! I loved her in this book.  I know it hasn’t been a long time but I love how much she has changed since book one.  I know she misses home, and she misses her family, but being on the East Coast and out of her bubble has changed her.  She is really sticking to being the person she wants to be and not the person others expect her to be.   I loved that she opened up and finally decided to give her heart to Dawson, 
   "I wanted you to know that I more than heart you..."   "I love you, Dawson."

awwww!!!

I love her friendship with Riley and Dallas.  Riley in particular has really proven what a good friend he is and when all was said and done, was there for her when no one else could be because he was the one she trusted.  It ALMOST made me want them to get together, but not enough that I’d want her to risk/ruin her friendship with him. 

I hate to type this…but I even loved Aiden in this book.  I feel like we got to see another side of him, talking about sunsets and his family.  There were still some things he said/did at different points in the book that I didn’t agree with, but for the most part – I am learning to love Aiden so if he truly is who she winds up with in the end, I maybe won’t be as crushed. 

I still love Damian, and think he could possibly be the dark horse, but I guess we’ll see more after the next book.  When all is said and done though, Damian is always the guy Keatyn has trusted to have her back.  He reminds me a little of her relationship with Riley and Dallas, so that may be what takes him out of the running. 
  "Damian has been making me feel better since my dad died and lying on his chest makes me feel like no  matter how bad things seem, it will all be okay."

And there is my Dawson… </3 He has a stupid boy moment in this book that made me want to scream, but I think the good in him outweighs the bad in him and I’m not counting him out just yet… Seriously, how can you not love a guy that says things like, 
  "You own me.  You know that, right? Totally and completely own me."  or
  "I love you too, Keatie.  I know we did things a little bit backward, but it worked for us.  You made me believe in love again."  

GOD I love him!!! And I feel like it's okay to say no, he doesn't cheat on her...because I think that is important and spoiler-free enough.  

So I ended Stalk Me, Team Cush… I ended Kiss Me, Team Dawson… and I ended Date Me Team Confused! I still love Dawson, and I think he can fight and get her back and prove he’s the guy for her but I’m starting to come around on Aiden and I believe Damian could throw his hat in the ring too… Team Dawsaidmian? Maybe I should just be Team Keatyn and be done with it! Oh, who am I kidding, Jillian has written these boys so loveable that I couldn't not be on a Team.  

Impassion (Mystic #2) - B.C. Burgess

Layla
According to the fairy tales Layla Callaway read as a child, she'd stepped into one. She suddenly has the extended family she always wanted, a beautiful home in Oregon, and the ability to perform astonishing magic. But her perfect world has a price, and she may end up paying with her life.



Quin
Quin Kavanagh wants nothing more than to shed his playboy past and devote himself to Layla, but his womanizing reputation threatens to destroy their budding relationship and shatter his dreams.

The Enemy
Obsessed with Layla's immense power, Agro eliminates leads on his way to Oregon. But there's a stranger lurking much closer to Layla's new home, and he's closing in quicker than anyone knows. Leaving a trail of tragedy in their wakes, both wizards crave what Layla has, and they'll stop at nothing to get it.

Stretching from coast to coast and teeming with loathed villains and beloved heroes, The Mystic Series is rich with emotion, magic and intrigue. Whether the reader is laughing, crying or falling in love, they'll find themselves invested in Layla's fate through the rich dialogue and emotionally driven characters that weave the web of this fiery tale. 

I should probably note from the start that I am Quinsessed! I looked back and my “updates” on goodreads for this book and the first book and the only thing I noted, both times, was that I heart Quin! So, my reviews may have a biased slant toward Quin, but I think anyone else reading it will feel the same way.   

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorite PNR series!! B.C. Burgess has written a family we all wish was our own, an enemy we can all hate together and a couple we all want to get behind.   

Since this books picks up as soon as the last book ended, and it’s not very long as far as time, Layla is still going through all the emotion of losing her mom (Katherine), moving across the country, finding a family she didn’t know she had and all the emotions of reliving her parent’s relationship…oh yeah, and the fact that she is a witch.  Although being a witch is what she seems to be adapting to the best.  She is also learning the dangers of being a twice bonded child.  

We also learn a little bit more about Quin, and I have to say – I for one am glad he wasn’t this perfect guy just waiting for his dream girl to come along.  He knew ever finding her would be a long shot and while he never gave his whole heart, I’m glad that B.C. Burgess didn’t make him some super sexy virginal character, it would just not have been believable.   Even in the short time they've been together, their interactions and reactions to each other and situations shows you so much of the bond that they are sharing.  

We also meet Finley, who I guess is throwing his hat in Layla’s ring…however I don’t trust him and because I’m Quinsessed, I want him gone… I think I know who he is, and if I’m right… well, let’s just say I’m never going to be Team Finley! He does share something special with Layla though, so he could be a possible contender (here's hoping not!)

A discussion board asked us to Vote between FInley and Quin and answer why... I of course chose Quin and my why is because I think they were born to be together! I hope I am right!!! :)

All in all I thought this was a great follow-up and it definitely left me wanting more!

Descension (The Mystic Series 1) - B.C. Burgess

A Magical Journey of Epic Romance

Layla
After three years caring for her dying mother, Layla Callaway learns she was adopted under unusual circumstances. Following a cryptic message to seek her birth family in Oregon, Layla uproots her life to find out the truth about her past. And herself.

Quin
Quin's natural charisma is attractive to plenty of women, but he longs for the one he's been dreaming of his entire life. When that day arrives, not only is he breathless, he's confronted with the challenge of a lifetime - an innate need to keep her safe and forever by his side.

The Enemy
Through manipulation and dark magic, Agro uses the powers of others to elevate his supremacy and wealth. When he discovers Layla didn't die at birth, he sets out to find and possess her.

Stretching from coast to coast and teeming with loathed villains and beloved heroes, The Mystic Series is rich with emotion, magic and intrigue. Whether the reader is laughing, crying or falling in love, they'll find themselves invested in Layla's fate through the rich dialogue and emotionally driven characters that weave the web of this fiery tale.

Holy emotional and heartbreaking story…

Here is what I knew before I started reading it… This series was recently picked up by Bandit Publishing, it’s a PNR, and Jillian Dodd loves it.  Since I love Jillian Dodd, that was all I needed to know before deciding to read it myself.  I have to be honest, unlike a lot of other readers, I wasn’t immediately sucked into this book. 

The prologue was a bit confusing to me and sort of hard to get through (for me).  I actually put the book down and walked away from it part of the way through.  I went back to it the next day and got through it and another chapter, but still wasn’t initially sold.  I decided the book and I needed some time apart and I went ahead and read two other stories before returning to this one.  THE THIRD TIME WAS THE CHARM!!! 

From the cryptic message on, I started to feel invested in Layla.  I wanted to know everything, even though based on the prologue and the letter you kind of know a lot.  I felt like we really were on a journey with her.  I loved that she was strong for her mom and independent and I felt like I could even related to her a bit.   

Her story is one of Love, but not just the romantic kind.  It’s the love of and for the woman who raised her, of friends who supported her, of the family she didn’t know she had and parents who were willing to give up the most precious things for her safety…it’s all about love.  And even maybe, hopefully *fingers crossed* love for her with Quin, who she meets when she gets to Oregon.   

Quin is protective and caring and gentle and loving with Layla, pretty much from the time he sees her…and I’ll be honest, I fell in love.  He reminded me a bit of Caleb from the Significance series (not entirely the same, just enough that he came to mind while I was reading – no imprinting though).   

There were still times where I thought the story slowed down a bit too much for me, and I found I was coaching myself through, because like I said, you kind of know what is going to happen – and I wanted to get back to Layla and Quin to see what could possibly happen.  The bonus was though, that during this time we are looking into the past and OH MY HEARTBREAKINGLY WONDERFUL… we get to spend time and see how it all came to be what it is now.  I laughed, I cried, I ugly cried…making that impossible choice and OMG I fell in love with Aedan the last few chapters of time in Idaho with Katherine made everything else fall together so completely that I couldn’t be but thankful for the entire story.  My heart on the other hand, torn to shreds.  A love like that…beautifully written.   

So of course as any girl with a love for the PNR will do when she finishes the first book in a series, I logged on and downloaded the next book this morning.  Aedan and Rose, Quin and Layla – it’s all I could think about.  How will it all turn out… I cannot wait to read and see. 

 

 

Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2) - Jamie McGuire

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

*** IF YOU HAVE NOT READ BEAUTIFUL DISASTER, STOP! DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK (OR THIS REVIEW) UNTIL YOU HAVE READ BEAUTIFUL DISASTER!!! THANK YOU! ***

I waited forever for this story… I pre-ordered it and then stalked it on my Kindle waiting for the magic time when it would appear.  I wanted to LOVE this story since I absolutely ADORE Travis Maddox and have read Beautiful Disaster more times than I care to admit out loud.  BD is definitely one of my favorites.  

 

The prologue (which was released earlier as well), was heartbreakingly beautiful.  It made me cry the first time I read it.  This time when I read the whole book, I still teared up.  My heart broke for little boy Travis and I was completely moved by his mother’s final advice to him:

                “One of these days you’re going to fall in love, son.  Don’t settle for just anyone.  Chose the girl that doesn’t come easy, the one you have to fight for, and then never stop fighting.  Never” – she took a deep breath – “stop fighting for what you want.  And never” - her eyebrows pulled in – “forget that Mommy loves you.  Even if you can’t see me.”  A tear fell down her cheek.  “I will always, always love you.”               

Honestly, I’m starting to get choked up just thinking about it.  If the entire book had this kind of emotion written behind it, I would so have been so in love with it too…but for me, and believe me this is as hard for me to write as it will be for people to read, (queue the negatives on Amazon and the boos and hisses around the world) this book was just missing something.  I KNOW!!! I know how terrible that sounds.  I was so torn up about this after I put my kindle down last night.  I wanted to scream “FUUUUCCCKKK!!!!” but that felt like I was being overly dramatic.  It’s so hard for me to give Travis Maddox anything less than 50 stars because I love him so much…he is the only book boyfriend I have that can give Kellan Kyle a run for his money, but damn if there just wasn’t something about him that was missing in this book.   

First, I’d start by saying I know this is a companion book to BD…I knew we were going to get a lot of the same story, and honestly I was okay with that.  I didn’t mind the dual dialogue because it is the same story…but in BD we actually got to see time spent without Travis (dates with Parker, time with Finch, etc.) and we got inside Abby’s mind while those things were happening– here we were missing the Travis scenes I was expecting to see… we didn’t go along with him to pick up Toto, although we were a part of the conversation he had with Shep about it…we went along with him to pick out the new couch but not to the tattoo shop OR the jewelry store?  WHAT? – the second tattoo isn’t even mentioned, huh?!?! We didn’t get the scene while America & Shepley are broken up and they are pulling guys off both girls at Red (yes, we knew from Shepley in BD that he didn’t want other guys dancing with his girl but wouldn’t you have liked to see that from their POV, I did!) And for a guy who picked out the ring shortly after they finally got together, we didn’t get to see what getting married to Abby felt like from his POV? KILLING ME! 

The other thing I would say, and maybe it’s my fault for building the excitement up in my head, is that I was just expecting more from Travis.  All that rage, anger, passion, and emotion I felt from him in BD – I didn’t feel as much as I thought I would reading it from his POV.  Weird right? I felt it more told from Abby than from Travis.   

On the plus side, there were scenes outside of the prologue that I did love from Travis’s POV…like the first time they went out together when she was trying to be unimpressive with her attire.  Or her surprise birthday party and the aftermath.  Or just simple things like when they studied together:

                “It was kind of cool how she watched me while I talked.  Almost like she as both hanging on to every word, and amazed that I knew how to read.”            

But I don’t want to give away too many quotes…

 

I’m slightly torn on the epilogue.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see into their future, that was the one thing I didn’t like about BD is where it ended – I wanted more.  But for me, the way it went down in this epilogue was kind of weird.  I like the direction Travis is in, I just wish we had been a part of more of it, if that makes sense without giving anything away.  The storyline in the book and the storyline in the epilogue definitely could lead to a story for Trent and a story for Thomas, but I guess I felt like 11 years was a big jump and there were things in that 11 years that I wanted to be a part of and feel left out of.   Those were the things I wanted to see a little more into I guess.   

I don’t know, this whole thing makes me feel so conflicted.  I always give Travis 5 stars because he’s Travis Maddox…he is a good part of the reason I LOVED Beautiful Disaster.  (Quoted from my review of BD “Oh Beautiful Disaster, how I love thee...let me count the ways...Travis, Travis, and more Travis!!!”), but if I’m being honest with myself, for me Walking Disaster is not a 5 star story.  (Is it possible to feel physical pain from typing a sentence?) My honest self would say it’s 3 ½ stars – my love for Travis and Jamie’s writing ability want to give it at least 4 – so take that for what it’s worth.