Review: Shelf Life by Stephanie Lawton

Shelf Life by Stephanie Lawton

Genre: New Adult, Coming of Age

Format: eBook

Amazon 

Synopsis:

*Mature situations and sexual content - recommended for ages 17+*
It’s impossible to focus on college biology when your family believes doomsday is imminent and the government is out to get you.
All Pete Wilson’s ever wanted is to become a veterinarian, but those dreams are going up in flames. Commuting to an urban college and helping his parents with their apocalyptic prepper crap is more than he can handle.
Worse, Pete’s asshole neighbor is stirring up trouble, his family’s stockpile has been destroyed and farm animals are turning up dead.
Lindsey Linger is the tomboy sister of his best friend. Now a sexy spitfire, she and Pete are liable to set the barn ablaze as their romance finally heats up. But she’s hiding a terrible secret, and rural life isn’t all bonfires and hayloft romps. That becomes clear one icy winter night when the survival of everyone Pete loves hangs in the balance.
Can Pete be the hero they need, or will this be the end of the world as he knows it?

Review:

The moment I finished Stephanie Lawton's debut novel, Want, I knew I had to read more. Shelf Life is her latest release and I've got to say, it's not your usual New Adult book and is definitely a gem. I wanted a month before I wrote this review. To be sure, I don't change my mind about the book after the buzz of how good it was wore off and I didn't. I still loved the book!

Shelf Life is the first of an entirely new series. I'm thrilled to have been one of the few who got an advanced readers copy as a gift. And I was even more thrilled when the book started out to be page-turning. Pete Wilson, our protagonist, is unique. He was introduced into the book not like the usual male lead characters that surround the current trend of Young Adult and New Adult books out there. Pete Wilson is a coward who then grows into a confident, independent man. This is definitely the something new I needed.

Pete's parents are a little strange. They have a bunker with emergency everything just in case doomsday approaches. They may be a little paranoid but as the book progresses you can't help but love them. Pete's love interest on the other hand, I wasn't too attached to. We are so into Pete's life and how fast things are happening that I didn't get the time to feel any connection to Lindsey. She's messed up and broken and even with her miserable. I still didn't warm up to her. I'm beginning to think there's something wrong with me. Aside from Pete's love interest, he has himself an evil bully who loves throwing punches and making his life a living hell. He definitely added spice to the story that's for sure.

Shelf Life is a refreshing addition to Lawton's collection of work. The book had realistic characters, beautiful writing style and the story development takes you on a wild trip of friendship, heartbreak, and family ties.

4/5 Stars

Review: Bully by Penelope Douglas

Bully by Penelope Douglas

Genre: New Adult, Realistic, Romance, Bullying

Buy Links: Amazon / B&N

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis:

My name is Tate. He doesn't call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all.

We're neighbors, and once, we were best friends. But then, one summer, he turned on me and has made it his mission to screw up my life at every opportunity. I've been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to hide from him. I worried about what was around every corner and behind every door.

So I left.

I spent a year studying abroad and bathed in the freedom of life without Jared. Now I'm back to finish up high school and get the hell out of here forever. I'm hoping that after a year of breathing room, he's moved on and forgotten all about me.

But even if he hasn't changed, I have. I'm not interested in avoiding him or turning the other cheek anymore. We're going to go head to head, because neither of us wants to back down.

Review:

I can’t begin to express how much this book touched my heart and how much I loved the main character, Tate. I’ve been bullied throughout my elementary and highschool years inside and outside of school. So, I can relate to the bullying Tate has gone through.

The book kept me up all night, it made me cry, laugh and then very angry. It wasn’t predictable, it was unique and really good. There was so much angst and pain emanating from the pages that I couldn’t help but sympathize with the main character. And the fact that Tate was strong, determined and a fighter who never gives up just added to my love for the book. She wasn’t too keen on fighting back at first but her strength to embrace the pain and go through every day of highschool with her head held up high is such an inspiration.

The plot had the simple, best friends turned enemies and then fall in love.  Sounds cliche yes, but Douglas manages to make it her own and to string together the simple outline with a whole bunch of events that aren’t your usual romance incidents but something original for once and kudos to her for coming up with something creative with Bully.

Bully is an amazing heart-felt story that will make your heart weep. A sensitive topic, but something I’m sure a lot of readers can relate to. A beautiful addition to the New Adult genre. I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel.

5/5 Stars

Review: On Demon Wings (EIT #5) by Karina Halle

On Demon Wings by Karina Halle

Genre: New Adult, Horror, Ghosts, Demons

Buy Links: B&N / Amazon / Book Depository

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis:

When the life you wanted has crumbled beneath your fingers, there’s nothing left to do but pick up the pieces and soldier on. You’ve done this before.

But what happens when you no longer feel like yourself anymore? When fires spontaneously start-up around you, when you hear growling coming from underneath your bed, and you no longer recognize your face in the mirror. What happens then?

Ghost-hunter Perry Palomino doesn’t have much time to find out. Now, the evil she used to hunt is a lot closer to home. It’s inside of her, taking over her life bit-by-terrifying bit, and there’s only one person who can help her.

If part of her doesn’t kill him first.

Review:

I don’t understand why this scary and creepy as hell series isn’t on every shelf in every bookstore in every country around the world! It is one of the best woman friendly horror books out there. And the most well-written one too.

On Demon Wings is part five in the Experiment in Terror series and by far the scariest. Perry Palomino is a Portland girl with special abilities and Dex Foray is a cameraman from Seattle. They somehow end up in a crazy scary situation, they indirectly meet and end up filming an online show called ‘The Experiment in Terror Show’ together. Perry is the host and Dex, the cameraman. Hence, each book is spent at a different location where these two get bloody, bruised and scared just so they can put up a new episode to the show. And all those months spent investigating haunted hotels, apartments, islands and lighthouses ends up attracting really bad for our main character Perry. It was something so bad that this thing followed her home.

The book scared the living daylights out of me. I even had to stop reading for a few hours so I can get the creepy crawly feeling to go away before I dive in again. I have to say, I really missed this series and it’s really good to be back. There is something about the way Halle wrote this series that makes you come back over and over again. There is nothing better than a book that will make you swoon and faint all in one go.

I don’t know how Halle does it but she always comes up with a better and new plot for each book in the series. It was in no way repetitive and you can tell she wants to avoid repeating herself because every time there's a hint of predictability she retaliates with something way out of the box.

And the characters, wow. Talk about realistic, and fifty shades of messed-up. You can’t go wrong with a former junkie and a sort of psychotic.

Overall, On Demon Wings is a brilliant addition to the Experiment in Terror series. Demon possessions, mutilated animals, exorcisms and ghost visits. What can go wrong with that? This is one indie writer everyone has to look out for, she’s hitting it big.

5/5 Stars

Review: Sweet Contradiction (Sweet Contradiction #1) by Peggy Martinez

Sweet Contradiction by Peggy Martinez

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Country, New Adult

Buy Links: B&N / Amazon / Book Depository

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis:

When Beth Michaels high tailed it out of the hole-in-the-road town she grew up in, she only had two goals. One-get as far away as quickly as possible, and two-never set foot in her parent's home again. But when she receives a heart breaking call from her childhood best friend, Jen, she has no choice but to turn her '56 Ford pickup back in the direction of Salem, Missouri to attend a funeral. There's a new local in town when Beth arrives, and suddenly, it ain't all that easy for her to remember her rules for dating. #1. Cookie-cutter-perfect guys ain't her type. #2. Tie wearin' and church frequentin' is an automatic dismissal. #3. Most importantly, never date anyone from small minded, conservative, Bible-thumping towns like Salem. Unfortunately, Matthew Wright breaks all her rules and then some. Matt might be from a small town and have small town values, but that doesn't mean he fits into a little slot of Beth's preconceived notions. After all, ever so often good guys are good. Now if he could just convince Beth to let go of her past and give him a chance, he's pretty sure there's a whole lotta sweet under that prickly exterior. His own ... Sweet Contradiction. FAIR WARNING: If you are easily offended by books that happen to mention things concerning God, Religion, Etc., in a favorable or unfavorable light, then this book might not be for you.

Review:

I’ve known Peggy for almost a year now and I didn’t understand why I didn’t find the urge to pick up one of her many awesome books until this one. I regret missing out on the wonderful writing of Peggy Martinez.

Sweet Contradiction instantly became one of my favorite books of the year. Not only did it take me only a couple of hours to read, but it was really really good. I’m a bit disappointed that the book was so short! The plot was well thought of, and definitely one that keeps you reading. It wasn’t the fighting action type of plots, it was the more realistic life plots about small town girls leaving home for four years and only comes back when something terrible happens. Unfortunately, something bad did happen and our main character has to return to a place she never wants to go back to.

Beth Michaels was a wonderful protagonist, she was tough most of the time and vulnerable the rest of the time. She grew up with parents who used religion to verbally abuse her as a child. That made her hate her parents and made her very weary about religion. Her only friends were the Collin’s, Jennifer and her mom. They were the only two people who kept her going during all those years of abuse as a child. I admired the strength Beth had to be able to suffer that much for so many years. Then Matthew Wright comes in and breaks all her dating rules and gives her a sense of hope when it comes to life and religion.

Sweet Contradiction was a beautiful read. The plot, romance, and characters were simple and yet, so good.  An amazing summer read for those who enjoy short romances in countrysides. I absolutely loved the book and I can’t wait to read the sequel! Peggy Martinez is an excellent writer and she has definitely got herself another die hard fan to fawn over hers books (all of them)!

5/5 Stars

Review: JANE by April Lindner

(Click image to add to your to be read pile)
Title: JANE
Author: April Lindner
Genre: Retelling, Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Format: Paperback

Buy: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

 

 

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.

Jane Eyre is my all time favorite. When I found out about all the retellings it had. I literally bought them all (I might have missed one). As a result of those purchases, this is the third retelling I've read in the last 3 months and it by far my favorite.

Jane Moore, the Jane Eyre of the story, is exactly how I pictured Jane to be like if she was in the modern times. Nico Rathburn, the Rochester, is no different. I absolutely loved how Lindner portrayed them and all the events in the book. It is not exactly the same as Jane Eyre. THANK GOODNESS. It's unique in it's own way.

April Lindner's writing style is so smooth and straight forward. The way she took Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and modernized it is the best I've read so far. Jane Eyre was written to be heart-wrenching, JANE is almost as heart-wrenching and tear gushing. I can never get enough of Jane Eyre.

Overall, JANE by April Lindner is the best Jane Eyre Retelling so far. It was heart-wrenching, page-turning, and amazing! Thank you April for giving us Jane Eyre but in a different light.

Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

(Click image to add to your to be read pile)
Title: Easy
Author: Tammara Webber
Genre: New Adult, Young Adult: Contemporary Romance
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Rescued by a stranger.
Haunted by a secret
Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

Easy is an exceptional read. It is my first Tammara Webber book and it will not be my last. This book is one of the best Young Adult Contemporary Romances I have ever read. Books like these make me hope that there are many more like it out there, either from the same author or similar authors who have the similar writing styles.

What's different about this book is the fact that Webber chose to begin with an event that changes her characters life. And from then on, the reader is hooked. Keeping the balance between slow and too fast is difficult and can even drop the books level a bit. Webber had this slight problem. But recovered really quickly with yet another awesome addition to the plot.

The romance adds the spice and the realism of the story brings out the authors skills and ability to entertain their audience and communicate the message (if any) she's trying to give out. I loved all the characters. Each one of them made a significant part in the book, no matter how small of a character they seem to be.

Overall, Easy is an amazing read filled with heart-warming moments, romance, action and realistic college atmosphere. I'm looking forward to reading more from Tammara Webber.

Review: Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore

(Click image to add to your to be read pile)
Title: Rouge 
Author: Leigh Talbert Moore
Genre: New Adult, Mature Young Adult, Historical Romance
Format: eBook ARC 

Trapped in the underground theater world of 1890s New Orleans, Hale Ferrer has only one goal: escape. But not without Teeny, the orphan-girl she rescued from the streets and promised to protect.

Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, seems to be the easy solution. If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the penniless stagehand who captures her heart.

Denying her fears, Hale is poised to choose love until an evil lurking in their cabaret-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything.

If you've read Leigh's first book The Truth About Faking, you should probably be warned. This book is a lot more edgy, mature and serious than the YA contemporary romance. This is for the older YA readers.

Leigh took a risk, a risk that takes you on a swooning and raging ride up and down. A risk that every author should take to enhance their writing skills before they hit it big. And this risk is Rouge.

You know you've experienced something so different when you come out of it feeling confused and all together absent-minded. That's exactly how I felt when I finished this book. I was like : Woah. Did I really just read that? And I mean this all in a good way.

I loved how different Leigh's writing was in this one. It was a lot more deep and advanced and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed all the characters, especially Roland, who is constantly there for our protagonist, Hale, when she gets in trouble. Hale is a troubled 18-year-old who only thinks about how to make her and her "Ward's" (Teeny) life better. She always thinks about ways to escape a life on stage and a life living in a secret Brothel where no one knows when she'll be the next body they'll sell. I loved Hale's determination and strength even though she made me react negatively a couple of times. But hey! All protagonists do that to a reader when they make bad choices. Likewise, I harbored dislike towards Teeny and Beau (Hale's Poor Lover), they were both so frustrating. They were the main reasons of Hale's drama in her life and I can't help but dislike them both.

Despite all the terrible things that happened to Hale. She manages to put on a straight face and continue on living to her best ability even if she doesn't want to anymore. Of course, she had a pillar to hold onto and that pillar was Roland. Her long time best friend and first real crush. Roland was my favorite character, who was the only one with real smarts throughout the story. That guy can get you out of anything with one of his trustworthy plans. I couldn't get enough of him.

The plot as mentioned in the synopsis, had so much depth and darkness that I couldn't believe Leigh wrote it. Makes a reader really stop and think that your favorite authors will always manage to surprise you when you least expect it. My hats (all of them) are off at Leigh's brilliance! (Yes, I'm that impressed).

Overall, Rouge is an unexpected experience of the drama and troubles of a teenage female singer in the 1890's, New Orleans and how she provides for herself and the little girl she took under her wing. The story is deep, dark with enough realism to make you so glad you weren't of that time. Leigh is one step closer to being a master story-teller!

Review: The Devil's Metal (Devil's #1) by Karina Halle

(Click image to add to your to be read pile)
Title: The Devil's Metal (Devil's #1) 
Author: Karina Halle
Genre: New Adult, Horror, Paranormal
Format: eBook ARC
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble



It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid.

At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she’ll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places – they’re going straight to Hell.

And Dawn has a backstage pass.

If a non-self-help book could inspire me to write. It would hands-down be this one. The amazing writing style of Halle brought back my worries about reviewing books by experienced writers. What gives me, a lone reader and reviewer, the right to criticize a book that was brilliantly written by an amazing author like Karina Halle? That's one question that will always be left unanswered.

The Devil's Metal contains the basic four things of the 1970's, alcohol, drugs, sex and rock'n'roll. The four things that was basically shunned by many during that time (if I am not mistaken). And the four things that brought this book to life. And the fact that the book was almost based on the authors real experiences, made the storyline even more intriguing.

Dawn is a writer and a music lover. And if you mix them together, you'll have a very talented music journalist, who gets a chance to go on tour and document her favorite band's experiences on this particular tour. I loved Dawn, she is the brave person I'd like to be one day (minus the four basic things of the 1970's) and the kind of writer I'd love to be. Reading her story made me experience so much without even going through it in real life. And that is all thanks to Karina Halle's fabulous detailing writing skills!

The book is categorized as Paranormal as well as New Adult. New Adult, I got the moment I began the book but Paranormal element in the book was vague until the end when things are explained to Dawn (Demons!). Which was different and definitely the kind of different that I love experiencing. Likewise, the best element of the book was how realistic life on a metal tour is like and the fact that it was based in the late 1970's made it all even better.

In the end, The Devil's Metal in itself is a soul-sucking book that is simply unputdownable. Everything Karina Halle writes leaves us at the most annoying cliffhanger and all together, books that sparks up an addiction that I don't think is healthy. I absolutely loved the Devil's Metal and everything written by Karina and with that I've got one more thing to say: Karina, You better be planning to release the sequel very soon!