caren reads.

2.5 StarsI was so excited for this book. Hacker chicks and mystery? YES, PLEASE. And I'll admit, the idea of the story itself was captivating. It kept me turning pages, ready to figure everything out and hoping it could live up to my expectations for how good it sounded. But I have to say now that I'm finished...it fell a little flat for me. Not because the writing was bad, because it wasn't. Bernard has a nice way with words, and like I said, the story itself was interesting. Sadly, it was the characters that didn't live up to their potential for me.Wicket Tate and her younger sister, Lily, haven't had an easy life. Their father, a drug dealing kingpin, made sure of that. Now he's on the run, and though he's out of their lives--for now--Wick's old habits are still hanging around. She's good with computers; too good. And she uses what her dad taught her in her new life to bring cheating husbands out in the open to their wives. Her way of making sure if she and her sister ever need to disappear, she's got the money to do it. Only, when she wakes up one morning to find her ex best friend, Tessa Waye's, diary on her front porch with a simple note saying Find Me and a fifty dollar bill, she's not sure who it is that's discovered her secret, but she can't stop herself from needing to find out.What follows is a series of twists and turns and a story that, like I said, wasn't bad. In theory. It was, however, predictable. The first half of the book felt like a lot of buildup to something that was kind of obvious from the start, and though I've never been one to complain about romance in any book, this romance felt forced for the sake of having a romance. If that makes any sense. Griff was sweet--and of course I enjoyed the kissing--but it was unnecessary. And Carson...while his presence made sense for the most part, it didn't in others. I'm not sure why he wasn't a good guy other than to make him a suspect in the mystery of it all, when I was pretty sure all along that dude wasn't guilty of anything but being an ass.Not only that, but I felt like there weren't any strong connections in the book, not even with Wick and her sister. And I'm not sure if that was her character, and it was intentional, or if it was a lack of character. But I'll be honest when I say it felt more like the second one. Like possibly the girl was built to be too unfeeling that even when she was trying to feel, it just didn't work. In a story like this I would have expected more emotion and more feeling from the main character, but throughout it all she was just kind of meh, or at least that's how she came off to me. Even with Griff. Even in the end.So yeah, like I said, killer story idea...but one that didn't achieve the potential I'd built up for it.** ARC provided via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

In case you don't remember my reaction to the first book in this series, it was a little like this:Though I, um, enjoyed Beyond Shame very thoroughly, I wasn't completely sold on the world I was reading about back then, but I definitely dug the dystopian theme, and the tenacity of these authors to do it with erotica. It's something different and most definitely edgy. Freshness in books is sometimes a huge problem...because I feel like I read the same things over and over. And even though I still get a little confused on all the world specifics, I'm definitely hooked on these characters' lives now. Obviously I liked the heck out of Dallas and Lex's book, too, but I have to say that so far, this one's been my favorite out of the three.Because it had my two favorite things: a badass chick, and a super delicious guy who made me swoon. Among other things. ;) And yes, I know Lex and Dallas qualify for the same titles...but there was just something about these two being so broken and tentative that made it all the more sweet. A little taste?"Take it deep, baby. So fucking deep."*ahem* So, back to the book...Six and Bren have been shadows in the previous two books, but here we get to see them up close and very personal as they travel down the relationship road and find out whether they're meant to be together or not. While also discovering a little--or a lot--of themselves. I'm not going to spoil you on any of that, though...so you'll have to read to find out...but let's just say it was a nice road to travel (mostly). Along the way was some fighting, some fucking, some kissing, a little angst...some tattooing, a little BDSM, exhibitionism at its finest...and oh yeah, Ace. Still my favorite guy and I am so freaking pumped for the next book I can't even tell you how bad I want to read it right the hell now. I will probably die a million deaths...and as usual, the chicks who make up the duo of Kit Rocha will make it totally worth it.** Copy of this book provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 StarsIt took me until about halfway to actually get into this book. This will probably come as a surprise, but I'm not all that into vampire stories sometimes. I have too many questions in my head and I'm constantly trying to figure out too many things to actually enjoy them. That was definitely my number one problem with starting this book. I couldn't sit back and enjoy it because my mind just wasn't going with the flow I'm sure the writer intended.First it was because of the title... The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. After reading a few chapters and figuring out just what a Coldtown was, I kept waiting for the main character, Tana, to actually become a vampire. Because how can you be the 'coldest girl in coldtown' if you're not Cold? And since I was waiting for it, it made most of the story drag because I was searching for a conflict that maybe, sorta, kinda wasn't there.And second...I don't know that I ever did feel a main conflict here. I feel like this entire book was filler for a second book, and after finally getting into the story during the second half...I'm definitely disappointed. There was no real resolution for the main character. Her story was left open-ended and unfinished. Which if you've read my reviews before, is my number on pet-peeve. Don't leave me hanging! Give me the beginning, middle and end of the story!So if you're like me, and you're not a fan of endings that leave you unfulfilled, I'd avoid this series at least until the second book comes out. But, if you don't mind that, Holly Black's story telling is compelling, Tana, the main character was kind of a badass and Gavriel...Guh. I really, really liked Gavriel. Especially toward the end.

I actually enjoyed the first book in this series, Lost & Found, mostly because: Jesse. Which is rare for me. It was predictable, and cliche. But at least it wasn't riddled with errors and mistakes like most New Adult books, for which I was thankful.But let's get back to Jessee, okay? In the first book, he was sweet, swoony...and come on, hot cowboy? Yes, please. I mean...Besides that epic cliffhanger (grr), I still would have picked up the second book no matter what for the promise of more Jesse, because Rowen was the big thing that killed the first book for me. I thought she was way over dramatic and whiny. But I have to say that in this one, Jesse was the one who bugged me the most. And I wasn't expecting that at all. The entire thing kind of felt like 250 pages of unnecessary everything. Really. I read romance to get to the actual romance part, not to read 225 pages of angst/drama/bullshit and only 20 pages of stuff I actually care about. Which is what I feel like I just suffered through.Both characters claimed to be so in love after all their previous hiccups the previous summer, yet neither was being honest. All for the sake of protecting the other. Which we all know means protecting themselves. I am so not a fan of that. Add in the drama of a dude who wants Rowen, a girl who wants Jesse, Jesse's past and it just fell short. I was looking for less angst and more sweet. I was looking forward to actually liking Rowen, which I'll admit--she wasn't nearly as annoying this time around, but really, there's not much I can say that I didn't dislike except for maybe the return of the Walker family. Oh, and Garth and Josie (when are those two going to admit they love each other already?) and the additions of Alex (she was amazing) and Sid. So overall, I'd say if you're going to read this series: stick with book one and don't continue. Just write your own epilogue, because this one was 250+ pages of the most dramatic, drawn out epilogue I've ever read.

This review won’t even come close to doing my love for this book justice. I’ve seriously been trying to write it for a week and a half, and nothing I type seems to convey just how good I thought Faking Normal was. But I’m going to try (without too many spoilers).Alexi has a secret. One that’s killing her on the inside. And Bodee's biggest one has just been revealed to the world. He’s the outcast—the Kool-Aid kid—who needed a friend at his lowest moment, and now, after Alexi is the one who’s stepped up, he’s offering her the same kind of help.When I opened this book to the first page, I can’t say I was expecting to find one of my favorites of this year, but that’s exactly what happened. I fell head first into Stevens’ pretty words and enjoyed the entire tumble into a heartbreakingly real and emotional journey of a young girl who’s been a victim and doesn’t know how to bounce back.One who isn’t sure she can bounce back.Alexi’s story is one you’ve probably heard before. It’s one you’ve probably read hundreds of times. It could even be one you’ve lived through. And in my opinion, Stevens does an amazing job of telling a tale about a topic that, in some cases, can be trivialized or glamorized in ways that make it easy to understand why some women keep quiet and blame themselves for something they had no real ability to prevent.If only every girl who’s ever been a victim had a Bodee Lennox by their side to push them to face their fears and admit the truth to themselves. A gentle man with a loving heart, quiet presence, and the ability to do nothing more than be there while they fight a battle with themselves about what’s right and wrong.And most importantly: who’s at fault.So pardon me while I flail a little more. But really, I not only fell in love with Stevens’ writing, but I also loved these characters. I identified with Alexi immediately. And I wanted to squish Bodee into my pocket and make him cookies and buy him Kool-Aid and khakis. I even loved Heather, even though she was a little pushy. And Liz and Collie. Kind of wanted to punch Kayla in the face, though. Oh, and I especially loved Captain Lyric. Seriously, I can’t say enough how much this book affected me. There were smiles, tears, a laugh or two, some frustration, lots of swoons, fist pumps and an ending that felt right. All the things I look for in a great book. All things that will earn five stars from me.So, Courtney, what are you writing for us next? *fights to be first in line*

This will contain spoilers. You’ve been warned.This book keeps sending me back to that old quote, the one that says something about following the same path, or doing the same thing, and expecting a different result. Most people would say that’s insanity, but for Reena Montero, it’s her life. For as long as she can remember, she’s been in love with Sawyer LeGrande. Older, beautiful and to her, totally unattainable. He was everything she ever thought she wanted.That is, until she turned fifteen and suddenly he was buying her ice cream and kissing her on the hood of his jeep.The very same night, Sawyer’s girlfriend—who also happens to be Reena’s ex best friend—dies tragically, damaging one innocent girl and an already messed up boy, which sends them both down a path neither expects...Told in alternating points of view between the Before and the After, we’re instantly thrust into the end of their first story and the beginning of their future. Reena’s eighteen, and she hasn’t seen Sawyer in two very long, very hard years.She’s been a little busy giving up on her dreams to raise their daughter.I imagine letting him dangle there indefinitely, a hanged man, but in the end I’m the one who breaks first. “Hannah,” I supply, wondering what else his mother told him. I can’t stop staring at his face. “Her name is Hannah.”“Yeah. I mean.” Sawyer looks uncomfortable, like he’s waiting for something else to happen. For me to just come out and say it, maybe—Welcome back, how was your trip, we made a baby—but I keep my jaw clamped firmly shut. Let him wonder for once, I think meanly. Let him sweat it out for a change.For me, learning that Sawyer had left her with a baby was unforgivable move number one. My disdain for him only grew as I continued to turn the pages. And while Katie Cotugno’s writing is powerful and fresh, her characters painfully real, when I read a book about love, I want to fall in love right along with them. I want to feel that burn in my chest and the flutters in my stomach. I want to cry with them, swoon with them, love with them. But as I continued reading this, that’s not really what happened for me. While there were some clenches and some swoons and even a few tears, in the end, I just didn’t really like either of these characters, nor did I like them together.Nope. I was rooting for them to finally grow up.To me, their relationship was the epitome of toxic, before and after. A girl too afraid to go out and find a man better than the boy she fell in love with when she was a kid, and a boy who was so lost he had no idea what he wanted. Or at least, one who never made me trust that he did. Even after he came back, nothing proved to me that he’d changed. And Reena, while she’d been through hell and back raising a kid at sixteen, she fell right back into the same patterns. Right back into him. She hurt her sweet boyfriend, her best friend and her family in the process. She was a bit of a brat, and a liar, and Sawyer was, too. He was manipulative and just, scary. I didn't see the appeal. The small, sweet things he did were so overshadowed by the huge, terrible things.Which is why I just didn’t get it.Second chances are great—and I’m all for allowing someone to atone for their sins, but you have to work for it. And that was what I didn’t feel, at all. Maybe because we didn’t see into Sawyer’s head. Maybe because of the way in which this story is told, where we had to wait until the very end to see any actual progression in the characters. Maybe it’s because of my own personal experiences with a now dead best-friend who I lost over a boy. I’m not sure. I just know that while this was frighteningly real and powerfully written…it didn’t end the way I would have hoped. Even if it did all come together, and every question I had—mostly—got answered, the damage was already done and my opinions on each of them were already not that great.So I’m left wondering only one thing now that it’s over: how long was it until he left her again?

Yet again, J. Lynn has killed me with a seriously hot boy.What can I say? I have a thing for the douche turned sweetheart. Lucky for me, I'm also a total sucker for friends-to-more, and that's exactly what our two main characters, Sydney and Kyler, are. They've been inseparable since childhood, as close as two people can be...in all the ways except for one.I don't think I have to tell you which one that is, do I? Now in their twenties, Sydney and Kyler are closing in on their college graduation. Christmas break has arrived, and just like every year, they’re headed—along with friends—to Kyler’s family’s house in Snowshoe to get away for a week.The night before they leave, we meet Syndey, who’s harboring some major feelings for her best friend. But like everyone else on campus, she knows Kyler’s rather extensive history as the campus bicycle. She doesn’t like it. It kills her every time to see him with other girls. But she’s not willing to give up their friendship because she’s certain he absolutely doesn’t feel the same about her.But does he?Haha, I’m not going to tell you that. Let’s just say this book killed me in all the best ways. And if you know me…YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, okay? I was drowning in swoons, giggles, flails...I finished it this morning and already want to re-read!There were some editing issues (mostly toward the end, though not as many as others), and some…character issues. As in, Sydney was a bit of a doormat, which I’m not a huge fan of. But she was hilarious. There were several laugh-out-loud moments for me while reading. Funny or not, homegirl made me want to smack her a little. I most definitely wouldn’t have been sitting back, watching the guy I loved bang his way around town—rather carelessly—while I was at home alone. I would have handed him his junk on a silver platter and then went out and found a guy who could appreciate me. Buuuuut, the reasons behind their actions here worked. They were believable, and instead of questioning her (or him) for their inability to see what was right in front of them, I just sat back and enjoyed the ride, which means I loved the story and its characters above everything else.As for Kyler. I loved him. Manwhore and all... because like I said, his reasons, they worked. I understood why he did what he did, and I felt sorry for him because of it instead of hating him like I've been known to do from time to time. Seeing inside his head made that easier. Knowing he wasn't really a complete dick helped quite a bit. So thanks, J. Lynn, for giving us his POV. Although I'm still questioning him saying he had feels. :PAnyway, I definitely suggest you go get a copy of Frigid, sit back, and enjoy yourself while you get to know these two. I'll wait here for your flails.

Yet again, J. Lynn has killed me with a seriously hot boy.What can I say? I have a thing for the douche turned sweetheart. Lucky for me, I'm also a total sucker for friends-to-more, and that's exactly what our two main characters, Sydney and Kyler, are. They've been inseparable since childhood, as close as two people can be...in all the ways except for one.I don't think I have to tell you which one that is, do I? Now in their twenties, Sydney and Kyler are closing in on their college graduation. Christmas break has arrived, and just like every year, they’re headed—along with friends—to Kyler’s family’s house in Snowshoe to get away for a week.The night before they leave, we meet Syndey, who’s harboring some major feelings for her best friend. But like everyone else on campus, she knows Kyler’s rather extensive history as the campus bicycle. She doesn’t like it. It kills her every time to see him with other girls. But she’s not willing to give up their friendship because she’s certain he absolutely doesn’t feel the same about her.But does he?Haha, I’m not going to tell you that. Let’s just say this book killed me in all the best ways. And if you know me…YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, okay? I was drowning in swoons, giggles, flails...I finished it this morning and already want to re-read!There were some editing issues (mostly toward the end, though not as many as others), and some…character issues. As in, Sydney was a bit of a doormat, which I’m not a huge fan of. But she was hilarious. There were several laugh-out-loud moments for me while reading. Funny or not, homegirl made me want to smack her a little. I most definitely wouldn’t have been sitting back, watching the guy I loved bang his way around town—rather carelessly—while I was at home alone. I would have handed him his junk on a silver platter and then went out and found a guy who could appreciate me. Buuuuut, the reasons behind their actions here worked. They were believable, and instead of questioning her (or him) for their inability to see what was right in front of them, I just sat back and enjoyed the ride, which means I loved the story and its characters above everything else.As for Kyler. I loved him. Manwhore and all... because like I said, his reasons, they worked. I understood why he did what he did, and I felt sorry for him because of it instead of hating him like I've been known to do from time to time. Seeing inside his head made that easier. Knowing he wasn't really a complete dick helped quite a bit. So thanks, J. Lynn, for giving us his POV. Although I'm still questioning him saying he had feels. :PAnyway, I definitely suggest you go get a copy of Frigid, sit back, and enjoy yourself while you get to know these two. I'll wait here for your flails.

After Requiem, my thoughts on reading another of Lauren Oliver's books were pretty much this:But of course, as soon as a review copy came available, I jumped at the chance to get it. How could I not? Because while I was severely disappointed in the ending to one of my favorite series, I still know the chick can write. I know she can tell a compelling story. I know she can give me good characters.So I caved.I think part of what helped with that is that Panic isn't a series. It's a single, standalone novel with one story, one ending, and zero chance for a three-year-long relationship that ends in a messy breakup. And if you're wondering if this one disappointed me like the last one, the answer is no, it didn't. I was pleasantly surprised.Each summer in Carp, New York, starts the same way: teenagers with nothing better to do join forces to compete in Panic, a game that tests your limits. That pushes you toward facing your fears...or caving in to them. Nobody knows how long it’s been going on, just that it does. Every year; like clockwork. It's not safe and it's not easy, but in a small town where money is tight and unemployment is rampant, the prize of over fifty-thousand dollars is too enticing for some to pass up. With as many as forty players and two judges, they all know one thing: there will only be one person left standing in the end.Every high school senior in Carp is eligible to play—as long as they’re paying into the pot. Only a dollar a day to enter what could be the best—or worst—thing to ever happen to you.And it all begins with the Jump. The first challenge in a summer filled with them, where each person who plans to compete announces themselves by climbing to the top of a rock and jumping off. It's more of a tradition than anything else, and Heather Nill was only planning to watch while her best friend, Natalie, got in on the action.But a nasty breakup with a douchey boyfriend pushes her toward that rock and right into the game.Unlike Heather, Dodge Mason has been planning to play Panic for a while. And planning to win, too. He doesn't have his sights set on the money, though. Nope. Dodge's main mission is this: revenge.With two completely different purposes and friends that start to overlap, this book takes you through both Heather’s and Dodge’s summer, along with Heather’s friends, Natalie and Bishop. Where all the teenagers in Carp’s lives all trace back to one thing:Panic.I'm not going to go into much more detail than that because I want to try to keep this as spoiler free as possible, but I will tell you this: what I said before still holds true. Girlfriend can write; she can tell a kickass story, and she can suck me in from page one and keep me engaged until the very end. She hasn't lost that, even after living in the same world of characters for years. This was a fresh look at a more realistic world where shit happens, love helps, jealousy burns and revenge is a temptation even for the best of people. There's bravery and love and betrayal and spiders for goodness sakes, and really, if you want to read an engaging tale with equally fascinating characters and a satisfying ending, you'd be silly to pass this one up.** ARC provided via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

3.5 StarsA little bit Cruel Intentions, and a little bit Pretty in Pink, Robin Constantine’s debut novel The Promise of Amazing introduces us to Wren Caswell and Grayson Barrett, two kids searching out the answer to one question: who am I?As the summary says, Wren Caswell is average. She’s never thought of herself as anything special. She’s the youngest of three, and the middle of her class. But one chance meeting—involving cocktail weenies, of all things—changes all of that forever after she saves the life of Grayson Barrett.Grayson was one of the kings at his school until he got caught selling term-papers. Now he’s living a public school life, in the middle of the crowd and no longer a lacrosse star. His friends have all distanced themselves since he was caught cheating, and he’s struggling with who he used to be and the man he wants to become. After Wren saves his life, he feels drawn to her. She’s equally as magnetized. And who wouldn’t be?Any time I checked off the reasons to avoid him, I’d picture him in front of school, leaning against his faded car. Hands in pockets, swoon-worthy grin, deep brown eyes full of the promise of amazing.He even goes so far as to get a job at Wren’s family’s banquet hall, just so he can be close to her. But there are things in Grayson’s past that aren’t quite ready to let him move on yet. Mainly, his old friend Luke. Sociopathic and uber jealous, Luke’s determined to make Grayson’s new life hell to entice him back into the way things used to be. And that includes making sure all of his secrets come out to his new friend, Wren. Caught between wanting to protect Wren and to do what’s right, and wanting to get his friends off his back, things don’t exactly go as planned.This was a great example of the ways in which kids can be…vicious. Mean and vindictive and just bad. But it was also a great showing of the fact that sometimes love can conquer anything, and not all friends are bad. I really liked Wren. She was quiet to everyone else, but I immediately liked being inside her head. She was smart, funny and good to have around in cocktail weenie situations, lol. And Grayson…brb, let me swoon for a minute…okay, now that that’s out of the way, I’ll say this: he wasn’t perfect, but still…he wanted to be. He felt remorse for the bad things he’d done, which made me want to love him all that much more. And when they were together…sigh. Plus. Eyebrow. Ring. Drummer. Yeah.This book won’t be for everyone. There are edges pushed, some of what some may consider cheating (yes, I’m looking at you, PV) and some not so ethical choices made by this group of young kids. But one that those who love to read about falling in love will enjoy.

In Lauren Myracle’s The Infinite Moment of Us, we meet Wren. A senior in high school who’s about to graduate. She’s lived a pretty sheltered life, and up until now, she hasn’t even had a boyfriend. Now that school’s over, though, she’s decided her life belongs to her and nobody else. She’s finally going to make choices on her own, which include deferring college for a year and setting off to Guatemala as a volunteer for Project Unity, where she’ll be teaching English to young children.Those choices also include finally giving in to her crush on Charlie Parker, a boy from school who just may have a crush on her, too.The problem is that Charlie’s life hasn’t been easy. Abandoned at a young age by his neglectful mother, he’s bounced from foster home to foster home, never letting down his guard long enough to let anyone in. But now he’s found a home with foster parents Chris and Pamela, and a younger “brother” named Dev.Throughout the summer before Wren’s set to leave for her year in Guatemala, she and Charlie grow closer…and as with all young relationships, there are slip-ups, and stupidity and tantrums and confusion and all the drama that comes along with it, all leading up to the end of summer when both of them need to make a choice.Stay or go?Wren—who’s finally doing something for herself—isn’t ready to give up her independence. And Charlie, who’s been searching for a family his entire life, doesn’t want to give up the one he’s found. But neither Wren, nor Charlie, can imagine living without each other, either.So what will they do? That’s the question…*deep breaths*I was so excited for this book. Really, really excited. I’m a sucker for the promise of swoon. Which I think sometimes creates unreal expectations in my head for how a book should play out. I want everything to be perfect and fluffy and lovely, and I want to float on a cloud of swoon until the very last page. But when I first opened this up, I found Wren a little awkward—which should have been easy for me to identify with. But it wasn’t. It was just odd. It was difficult for me to follow her thought patterns, and eventually some of the conversations of these characters, too. I stuck with it, though, hoping it was just me being tired.And I will say this, it got a little less awkward. In some places. Mostly toward the end. And Lauren did follow through on that whole swoon thing, because Charlie was sweet and I liked him a lot, but it was all still very…strange. I don’t know if I can really explain it other than to say I don’t think I ever fully connected with Wren the way I would have liked, which is probably why I felt disconnected from the story rather than immersed in it. I found Wren to be a bit bratty (only child syndrome), and Charlie, while super sweet, annoyed me in spots as well. I know, I know, they’re teenagers. They’re supposed to be bratty and stupid, but I still felt like maybe it was overdone for the sake of making them seem young, even while they participated in a very quick-moving, adult-like relationship.In the end, I don’t think this book fulfilled its promise of being deeply sexy and achingly romantic in the ways I’d hoped.And while we’re discussing endings…this one made me woeijfwoiejfowrijorijworjowei. Just when I’d finally felt a little bit invested, it was over. Just like that. If you’ve read my reviews before you know Caren doesn’t do open endings. I need prettily wrapped boxes with ribbons and bows, and I don’t want to be the one wrapping them! Epilogues are our friends!

There are some books you stumble across that are easy to read. Light. Fluffy, even. This book is not one of them.As a married woman whose own life has recently suffered some turmoil, I found it difficult to start. I even had to put it away for a couple of days and build up the nerve to dive back in when I felt more emotionally prepared.Though I don’t think I could have prepared myself to read this. It was heartbreaking and real and really, I don’t have the words to describe it. Tracey Garvis-Graves has such a simple way with words. She tells her stories without any fanfare or unnecessary bells and whistles. Her books aren’t about shock value or pushing the limits, they’re about the characters and their true to life situations. Which is what makes them so fantastic.To anyone on the outside looking in, Claire Canton’s life is perfect. She lives in a big house in the suburbs, has two great kids, a husband who provides for her and a little dog, too. But behind the doors of that perfect home exists a woman who’s lost. And a husband who’s just as mixed up on the inside. Marriage takes work, and if you stop trying—if you take it for granted—it can slip away from you so quickly that you don’t even realize it’s happening until it’s too late.That’s exactly what happens to Claire and her husband Chris.After losing his job, Chris falls into a downward spiral that Claire finds herself powerless to get him out of. She does what she can to make it better, but it seems everything she tries to do for him, he fights her on. It’s his home, and his job to take care of his family, and to have her threatening that causes tension in their marriage that builds to a level that almost ruins them both.When Chris lands a new job that requires him to travel four days a week, things don’t get better as she’d hoped. If anything, to Claire, they get worse. She’s lonely. She’s lost without the man she built her life with.She just wants someone to be there for her for once.And after a routine traffic stop by Officer Daniel Rush, that’s exactly what she finds. A friend. A very attractive male friend who has issues of his own. These two form a quick bond. One that blurs the lines and begs to ask the age-old question about whether men and women can ever actually be friends without it becoming more.The answer is no. They can’t. Not truly. There will always be lines that get crossed and emotions that shouldn’t be in play. But when two people are searching for something they aren’t finding elsewhere, sometimes the temptation of that escape is too great to deny.For Claire and Daniel, their friendship provides something they’ve both lost. It makes them feel whole again in a way they haven’t felt in far too long. Is it wrong? To outsiders, yes. To them? No. It’s a slippery slope. They’ve both made it clear that friendship is all they want, but it doesn’t take long for Daniel to want more, or for Claire to want to give it to him.Until she, as a type 1 diabetic, suffers a DKA episode that lands her in the hospital and shows her that no matter how distant Chris has been recently…he still loves her.He just forgot how to show her.And she forgot how to show him, too.You probably know a handful (or more) of couples who have faced this same kind of predicament. Temptation is everywhere, but as the book jacket suggests, these characters have to decide what’s more important…temptation, honor or love. It’s not an easy journey, but it’s one I feel is worth reading. And no, it’s not just those of us who are married that can understand. I think anyone can identify with the feelings these characters experience. Young or old, man or woman…give it a shot. Especially if you’ve ever felt desperate enough to do something you know you might regret...

Caymen's life is filled with a hefty dose of sarcasm and more creepy dolls than any girl could ever ask for. It's always just been her and her mom...and all those dolls. Until she meets Xander Spence. He's rich, pretty and way out of her league (or so she thinks).And it doesn't take him long to worm his way into her life with blueberry muffins and already-sipped hot chocolates. And oh, is it glorious. He had me pitter-patting all over the place, and I couldn't put this book down!! I loved both of these kids, and their story. The ups and downs of trying to please everyone but themselves until they decide to find something that works for them and nobody else.The only thing I didn't love was the ending. I wanted more! It felt a little incomplete. Definitely brought me down from the swoony high I was floating on. But still, I highly recommend this to anyone who wants great banter, a good story, sarcasm, young love, kissing and a swoony boy.

Holder will forever be in my top five. Which is surprising, I'm sure, considering how much I disliked Colleen Hoover's previous series. I'm convinced these books had to be written by different people. Because this boy...THIS BOY...is pretty much perfect. Swoony, sweet and just...yeah. I'm not typically a fan of re-tellings from another POV, but because of who this was, I couldn't resist.Luckily, this wasn't just a retelling. There were things inside that we hadn't seen before. Moments when he and Sky weren't together, before they'd met (and after) that filled in some nice gaps and made this a nice companion to the original novel. If you were a fan of Hopeless, I suggest reading it. It does start a little slow (at least it did for me) but then when he sees her at the grocery store...I couldn't put it down from that moment on. I loved reliving this story and I'm sure you all will, too.

3.5 StarsMy relationship with Rainbow Rowell has been a bumpy one...she made me fall in love with her after I read Eleanor & Park, and then we broke up for a little bit after I read Attachments. But I'd like to officially state for the record that we're friends again after finishing her latest novel, Fangirl.Why? Because I am this book. I'm a fangirl. I write--or wrote--fanfiction for years. I'm still a somewhat active member in the fandom, and (some of) my stories can still be found on the internet. That made it really easy to identify with Cath, our heroine. An eighteen year old girl headed off to college. She's been separated from her twin sister for the first time, and she really doesn't know which way is up. I will say that even though I liked Cath, I didn't really feel fully engaged with her until almost 40% into the book. But once I was, I couldn't put it down. I will admit there was some skimming going on--the in between chapter scenes weren't really at all entertaining to me. Mostly because I couldn't not think of Harry/Ron slash, and I don't read Harry/Ron slash. I don't read HP fic period. So yeah, it was a little too not-for-my-liking for my liking (if that makes any sense).The other reason is because Levi was much more entertaining. And adorable. I wanted more of him and less Simon/Baz. He was cute, sweet, funny, swoony and yeah, did I mention adorable? Rainbow has a way with the boys. But great book boy or not, I wanted more of Cath discovering herself...and less Simon/Baz. I felt like they were perhaps maybe too large a part of this book. I'm sure others will disagree with me, but I wanted the main focus to be on the characters and I found myself distracted by the not-really-characters instead of centered on the main attraction.Overall, this was a fun, enjoyable read. I laughed. I swooned. I got clenchy. I almost cried!! I definitely recommended this to all fans of Rainbow's previous books, all fans of swoony boys, and most definitely fans of fanfiction!

So many things I want to say. So. Many. Things. The biggest of which is the fact that I hate that this is the end!!! I don't want it to be over yet! I'm not ready to let go, okay, Tiffany? NOT READY!!!Seriously, this was me after finishing:This series kills me. It owned me for the last three days of my life. I consumed books three and four like I haven't consumed a book in a while. If you've read any of these, I don't think I have to tell you why, but if you haven't, this review should be a good indicator that you're missing out! Now's the perfect time to dive in and get acquainted with the Underground. Love them or hate them, these characters are deep and real, and so easy to get wrapped up and invested in. There's great banter, romance, passion, hatred, love and even a little suspense...everything I (or you) could ask for in a great book. And that's about as much detail as I'm going into because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who's been waiting a year for this. Just know this: I think you'll be shocked, and surprised...but I think you'll be happy with the end of this story. I think you'll be really happy. ;)Oh, and just one more thing: I cannot wait for The Priest because I need more Father S.