Review: Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Release Date: June 5, 2018 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary 

Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

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All first editions will be signed by the author—available while supplies last!

Father of the Bride meets Sixteen Candles in the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson.

Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.

The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.

There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.

There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.

Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.

Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.

Review:

Y'all this book is HILARIOUS and HEARTWARMING and even a tad BITTERSWEET. 

Honestly, I had forgotten how amazing Morgan's books are; however, Save the Date has made me want to go back and read the ones I've missed.  

When I started this book I was in desperate need of a happy book. I had just finished a chilling, gut wrenching thriller, and while it was enjoyable it definitely didn't bring sunshine and rainbows to my life and I needed some of that ASAP. Luckily, Save the Date was 100% what I wanted, because while Charlie did face her fair share of trials and tribulations, there was a lot of fun to be had along the way. 

There was something about Charlie's voice that just clicked with me from the get-go. It was funny, charming and, most importantly, it seemed real. For the most part, Charlie is a normal, everyday girl. Sure, her mom has a world famous cartoon strip featuring their family, but at the end of the day, Charlie's just like you and me. 

She's caring. She'll do anything for the ones she loves. There's nothing she loves more than when her family is together, but that doesn't mean there isn't drama because there is A LOT of drama when it comes to her family. She's still obsessing over the boy that got away.

I could go on and on, but to sum it up, she reminded me of me when I was in high school. I found it easy to relate. What I loved the most about Charlie, however, was that she wasn't perfect. There were so many times I wanted to shake some sense into her, to make her realize that she wasn't always being a good friend, that sometimes she could be a bit selfish and self obsessed  However, I did appreciate seeing these moments occur. Everyone has those times were it's all about them. I know I have, and Charlie was 100% having one of those moments over the course of the weekend. But that doesn't mean their wasn't growth, because there was. I loved seeing her change over the three day period. She started to see the whole picture and realize that things weren't always as black and white as they seemed. There was a lot of gray space, and while it killed her that life couldn't be the way she always thought it would be, she did have the ability to adapt and survive and she would do just that. Adding to this, I enjoyed seeing her mend her relationship with her brother. There were so many times I wish she would give him a chance, to listen instead of jump to conclusions, and more and more of that began to happen over the course of the book. 

Additionally, I couldn't get enough of her family. Seriously, can we PLEASE have more books about the Grant family?! I need more of their hijinks in my life! At first I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep them all straight. There were sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc. It was a family affair for sure; however, Morgan made each and every character stand on their own. What I loved the most, however, was the fact that she captured so many different types of family members within Charlie's family. The always-squabling former couple, the uncle that has to be the cheapest human being alive, the brother that is smart as smart can be  but doesn't have a lick of common sense...They are a huge part of what made this book so enjoyable, so heartwarming, and without them I don't think Save the Date would have been nearly as good of a read. 

As I mentioned before, Save the Date takes place over the course of three days. Originally, I was a bit leery of this aspect. Could the story possibly be well developed over that short of a time frame? Would I get everything I wanted out of the story? The answer: I shouldn't have been worried one bit. Morgan covers a lot of ground within Save the Date, and I never felt that it was too little or too much. There weren't any moments where I thought "wait, that's it?" or "what's happening again?". Everything flowed very well. I enjoyed the focus on the wedding, and while I know some readers didn't like the movie feel to this book, I did. It did feel like it could easily be a blockbuster comedy movie, and honestly, I would love to see Morgan do more of these kind of books. She has a knack for writing funny, laugh out loud scenes as well as scenes that contain so much heart that your own heart may explode from it all. 

I could go on and on about Save the Date, but I'll end it here. This book is heartwarming and comical. There's so many times I couldn't stop laughing or couldn't stop smiling and going "awww!" This book may be about a wedding and the hijinks that ensue, but at its heart it's a book about growing up, learning how to adapt, and making the best out of the messy. It's currently one of my favorite books of the year, and I have no doubt it will hold a place in my top ten of the year list. 

5 stars!! 

Review Tour: One Baby Daddy by Meghan Quinn

One Baby Daddy (Dating by the Numbers, #3) by Meghan Quinn
Release Date:  May 17, 2018

Publisher: Self Published 

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: ARC provided by publicist in exchange for an honest review 

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"What are you doing now that your team is out of the running for the Stanley Cup?"

Forget.
I need to forget. I need an escape.
Only one person isn't falling for my reputation as the NHL's Golden Boy; she captured my attention the minute she called me out for snooping through my best friend's house. She didn't want to hear my reason--she only wanted to playfully give me a hard time.
Adalyn is bold, sassy--and the perfect escape.
She's everywhere. In town and in my dreams, and suddenly I need to spend every waking moment with her.
And I do, making this summer the best off-season I've ever had.
But in the midst of getting lost in Adalyn, what I don't expect is to get her pregnant.
And what I definitely don't expect is having to fight for her affection.

Review:   

To be completely honest, I wasn't 100% pumped about Hayden's book. He was one of the most aloof, distant characters in Three Blind Dates, and while I knew he was getting over a certain somebody, I wondered if I would truly find a book about him all that interesting. 

The result? As per usual, my worrying was for nothing, because (surprise, surprise!) One Baby Daddy is by far my favorite book in the series. Don't get me wrong, I loved Three Blind Dates and I really enjoyed Two Wedding Crashers, but One Baby Daddy knocks both right out of the park. This book contains 3 Ss (a.k.a the "musts" in my romance reads): sweetness, a swoon factor, and sexyness. If Hayden and Adalyn's romance doesn't make you feel some kind of emotion, I'll be shocked. 

In Three Blind Dates we learned that Hayden had his heart broken prior to his arrival in LA; however, much of the details remained a secret. Luckily, One Baby Daddy not only shows Hayden and Adalyn's romance from the very start but also those moments in LA. 

I LOVED the way in which Meghan set this book up. It was so much fun to see Hayden and Adalyn fall in love. From the moment they run into each other in Racer's kitchen, I knew that they were going to become a favorite couple of mine. There was so much chemistry, so much sass (from Adalyn in particular!), so much oomph! I was hooked. 

It also didn't hurt that I adored Hayden and Adalyn to pieces. 

As it turns out, Hayden has quite the personality when he's not down in the dumps. He's sweet as well as sassy. He can dole the trash talking out just as well as he can take it. He's an amazing friend - his friendships with Racer and Calder brought so many smiles to my face, I couldn't get enough of them- as well as an amazing son - the story about his mother's cooking lessons? SO ADORABLE! - and as Adalyn finds out, he's an amazing boyfriend. Honestly, he may just be my favorite hero of the year, and that's a big honor considering how many romance books I read. 

Like Hayden, Adalyn can be sassy when she wants to be (a.k.a all the times she's with Hayden), and she's also fearless as well as fierce. As she shows in the book, she can stand on her own just fine, no matter the situation. I had so much respect for her, and it also didn't hurt that I found her personality to be hilarious. 

Just like Three Blind Dates and Two Wedding Crashers, the romance in this is HOT, HOT, HOT. I loved/hated the slow burn aspect to it, because while I loved the build-up, there were so many times I was internally screaming, Just kiss already!! Hayden and Adalyn's banter was also a highlight. They both knew how to dole out the trash talking at just the perfect/worst moment. I laughed out loud several times, especially during the dinner scene in New York. Besides the romance aspect, Meghan included storylines about their families, careers, and friends. I enjoyed being exposed to so many aspects of their lives, and I especially liked that they experienced the same ups and downs that any twenty something is facing (hectic work schedules, sudden career changes, family pressure, etc.) It made the book more realistic and heartwarming in my opinion. 

Overall, One Baby Daddy is by far my favorite book in the series. I can't tell y'all how much I didn't want it to end. The last 10 percent of this book crept up on me so fast! I kept thinking, how can that it be ending so soon?! 

If you've loved the previous books in the series, you're sure to love this one, and if you haven't read the previous books in the series but love a good slow burn romance, give it a try. These books stand alone quite well.

5 stars!! 

About the Author:

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

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Review: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Publisher: Gallery Books 
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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The heart may hide, but it never forgets.

The first women’s fiction novel from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Autoboyography, Dating You / Hating You).

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly teen friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco reading books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

Review: 

I never expected this book to ripe my heart to pieces; however, that's exactly what Christina Lauren's  Love and Other Words managed to do. 

At its heart, Love and Other Words is a book about second chances as well as growing up. It's split between two timelines - then and now - and Christina Lauren did a fantastic job of making each timeline rich in emotion as well as purpose. With books like these I tend to have a favorite timeline; however, I can't say that occurred here. I loved both equally, and never once did I feel that the story would've been better without one or the other. It's quite the opposite in fact: the two timelines are what made Elliot and Macy's story so developed, so three dimensional. I adored seeing them find each other as teenagers and then re-finding each other as late twenty-somethings. It was messy and heartfelt. 

Macy and Elliot aren't perfect by any means. They had their flaws back in their youth and they still have their flaws in present day, but that's what makes them relatable as well as lovable, in my opinion. I loved seeing them get things right as well as wrong, seeing them succeed as well as crumble, because it showed that life isn't always perfect, that sometimes outside forces are beyond our control, that sometimes you just have to believe that what is meant to be will find its way. 

Macy is fiercely independent; however, over the years she's managed to twist being independent into also being incredibly closed off. She likes being in control, because when she hasn't been in control in the past, it's only managed to hurt her. My heart broke for Macy. Over the course of her life she suffered so many losses. While I wanted her to open up to Elliot, I could also understand why she would be so reluctant. It is hard to open yourself up to potential heartbreak. 

Elliott is similar to Macy yet so vastly different at the same time. He starts the story off as a timid, quiet preteen, finding refuge in his books and favorite words, but by his twenties he turns into this thoughtful, passionate individual, one who wears his heart on his sleeve. I adored Elliott. I loved how he was with Macy, how willing he was to put everything on the table for another chance. He made me swoon too many times to keep count. 

Together, Elliott and Macy have an easy, natural bond. There's incredible chemistry between them, and I adored just seeing them interact with each other. No matter how many Macy pushed, they always came together like magnets, never resisting the ever-present pull. Throughout Love and Other Words, I was dying to know what had dragged them apart. I had my theories, but I never imaged it would affect me as much as it did. I sobbed for the last few chapters, but honestly, I don't think I would've wanted it any other way. It's what made the journey so memorable. I'll be thinking about Elliott and Macy's story for days to come. 

Overall, Love and Other Words is an emotional roller coaster of a read. It's heartbreaking as well as romantic. It's smile including as well as swoon-worthy. It will make you shed some tears, and I'm not talking about pretty tears. Nope, if you're anything like me there will be A LOT of ugly crying. It's just fantastic, and honestly, I can't suggest it highly enough. It's taken me a long time to finally read a Christina Lauren book, but I can now say I'm here to stay. I can't wait to read their past and future books. 

4.5 stars!! 

Review: The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

Genre: Adult, Women's Fiction, Mystery 

Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

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A gripping domestic page-turner full of shocking reveals, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Amanda Prowse and Kerry Fisher.

The small suburb of Pleasant Court lives up to its name. It's the kind of place where everyone knows their neighbours, and children play in the street.

Isabelle Heatherington doesn't fit into this picture of family paradise. Husbandless and childless, she soon catches the attention of three Pleasant Court mothers.

But Ange, Fran and Essie have their own secrets to hide. Like the reason behind Ange's compulsion to control every aspect of her life. Or why Fran won't let her sweet, gentle husband near her new baby. Or why, three years ago, Essie took her daughter to the park - and returned home without her.

As their obsession with their new neighbour grows, the secrets of these three women begin to spread - and they'll soon find out that when you look at something too closely, you see things you never wanted to see.

Review: 

The truth was, despite appearances, she didn't know much about her neighbors at all. - eARC, Loc 663  

Throw in a Liane Moriarty comparison, as Sally Hepworth's The Family Next Door does in its synopsis, and a book quickly becomes a instant must read for me, no questions asked. 

As it turns out, The Family Next Door is indeed perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty. Gripping, well constructed, and deeply emotional, The Family Next Door sets out to answer an important question: how well do we know our neighbors? 

The Family Next Door focuses on five neighbors: Isabelle, Ange, Fran, Essie, and Barbara. Five seemed like a daunting number at first. I was worried about keeping everyone's narrative straight. Luckily, Sally Hepworth makes it easy. Each character is well developed, possessing a unique voice as well as their own distinctive issues. What I liked even more, however, was how the stories overlapped and came together. At the beginning of the book, the five women weren't all that close, but as the book progressed, they came closer and closer together, and I loved the freindship that developed. It wasn't perfect by any means - some bonds were stronger than others, sometimes lines were crossed and words misconstrued - but it gave the book an authentic feel. Additionally, I appreciated that none of the five women were flawless. I won't go too much into each women, but I will say that I found all to be likable as well as easy to root for. Even the ones who appeared villain-like were still likable - I could always find the redeemable amongst the bad. 

Additionally, I thought Sally Hepworth did a fantastic job of developing the plot. It was intricate as well as suspenseful. It was so hard to put this book down once I started. I just wanted to know more - what was Fran hiding? What were Isabelle's true intentions regarding her move? What was going on with Ange's husband? All these questions and more drove this book in a fast and tantalizing pace. I especially appreciated that Sally Hepworth relied on everyday problems to drive the book forward. It brought a realistic feel to the book. I also enjoyed that nothing was as it seemed. Sally Hepworth put so many fantastic twists and turns into play. I also thought she did a great job of evoking emotions with her story lines as well as her characters. Let me say it's so hard to maintain dry eyes during some of this book. 

In all, Sally Hepworth's The Family Next Door is a compelling addition to contemporary fiction. This may be my first book by her, but it certainly won't be my last. 

Also that ending? PERFECTION! It was bittersweet in some respects, but I couldn't have been happier with how we left the characters. 

4.5 stars!

Review: Haven by Mary Lindsey

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere. He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in, and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart.

Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls, though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth living for. Worth dying for.

Review: 

For the past few months I've been hearing non-stop good things about Mary Lindsey's Haven, and even though I had a copy I was hesitant to start it. I was worried that I wouldn't like it as much as everyone else.

As it turns out, I shouldn't have had a worry in the world, because Haven is AMAZING! Seriously, I should've listened to the everyone and read it sooner! 

Haven is told through Rain's POV. I tend to have a love-hate relationship with male POVs; however, in this situation I really enjoyed it. I thought Mary did a fantastic job of capturing the voice of a teenage boy. It seemed realistic as well as authentic. 

It also didn't hurt that I loved Rain from the moment he was introduced. Rain is confident as well as tough and maybe just a tad bit arrogant. He's never had the easiest life; however, with Aunt Ruby he's been given a second chance, one he hopes he won't screw up. His relationship with Aunt Ruby warmed my heart. They had such a natural, easy-going aunt-nephew relationship, and I loved seeing them form their own makeshift family. Additionally, I loved Rain but I think I loved Freddie even more. Freddie is 100% her own person - she does want she wants, says what she wants, and doesn't worry about the consequences. Her sarcastic tone won me over. I especially loved how FINALLY we have the girl calling the boy a ridiculous nickname. In this case, she called Rain "sprinkles" and it made me laugh every single time. I liked the variety of other side characters introduced as well. Also just throwing this out there: I would do almost anything for a book about Petra. I feel like she has a lot of good stories to tell. 

Haven contains one of my favorite things: a mysterious small town. Mary did such a great job of setting the scene. I found it easy to picture New Wurzburg. I also liked how it was a town with a lot of secrets. Everyone seemed like they had something to hide. Additionally, the town itself gave a creepy feel. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, dying to know what was lurking in the shadows. 

The plot in Haven is fast-paced and twisty. I especially enjoyed the supernatural edge to it. I won't say what supernatural beings are involved; however, I will say that their world is incredibly well developed. Additionally, I liked how nicely everything came together. There were so many times at which I chalked up a weird event to be nothing, but later on I realized it was essential to what was happening. It blew my mind time and time again and kept me coming back for more. There were so many times at which Mary completely threw me for a loop. 

Last but not least: the romance. Freddie and Rain had such great chemistry. I loved how they pushed and pulled at each other's buttons, especially at the beginning. Rain was determined to win Freddie over. There was also no insta-love feel to it, which is always a major win in my opinion. 

Reminiscent of Beautiful Creatures, Mary Lindsay's Haven weaves together an enthralling supernatural mystery. I can't wait to see what Havoc (book #2) brings! 

4.5 stars!!

Haven is now out!

Source: Hardcover provided by publisher for review - thanks EntangledTeen!

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Review: Cinderella Screwed Me Over by Cindi Madsen

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, Darby has lost all belief in the happily-ever-after that the fairy-tale princess promised her. She’s sworn off love, Prince Charmings, and happy endings and she’s happy about it. Really. Or at least she was…until she met Jake, her gorgeous neighbor and the manager of her favorite restaurant. But Darby has rules about dating, ones she’s culled from her years spent with so-called “princes,” and starting something with Jake would break all of them.

Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn’t fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone-bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, can Darby take a chance on a happily-ever-after?

Full of wit and sarcastic humor, Cinderella Screwed Me Over proves that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp.

Review: 

Confession time: I started Cinderella Screwed Me Over  a couple of months ago and never got past the first chapter. I thought it wasn't for me. Recently, I decided to give it a second chance and I'm so incredibly happy I did. (See sometimes you just have to be in the right kind of mood for a book). 

Cinderella Screwed Me Over reminded me of some of my favorite romantic comedy movies. 

After a series of horrible, soul-crushing relationships, Darby's given up on love and HEAs. She thinks that Cinderella and the rest of the Disney princesses have screwed her over, because men like Prince Charming and Prince Eric  aren't nearly as perfect as they seem on the big screen. But Jake, the owner of Darby's favorite restaurant as well as her neighbor, won't give up on Darby and her pessimistic views. He thinks they can make it work, no matter how hard Darby tries to push him away....

Darby is cynical and sarcastic. She has a slight case of foot-in-mouth disease. More importantly, she's never afraid to speak her opinion, no matter how controversial it may be. When the book begins, Darby sees love in a glass-half-empty kind of way. At first, I had a love/hate relationship with her. I could understand why she had given up on love (some of her past relationships had been rough). At the same time, however, I wanted her to take the risk - to give Jake a try - because while you might not always achieve the most perfect HEA, you can get pretty darn close with the right person. Also, I loved Darby's sass. Some of the things she said (especially on her blind dates) cracked me up. 

Jake is charming and relentless hero. He has the patience of a saint. Seriously, Darby wasn't always the easiest person in the world. The minute Jake was first introduced I wanted him to be the one. There was something so incredibly likable about him and I loved how he wouldn't give up on the people and things he cared about. 

Cinderella Screwed Me Overis a romance; however, Cindi Madsen also addresses how fairy tales sometimes give girls unrealistic expectations on love and romance (a.k.a "Cinderella Screwed Me Over"). I thought she did a fantastic job of weaving Darby's case studies (i.e. how each of Darby's boyfriend's compared to a Disney prince and what she learned) into the book. They were interesting as well as thought-provoking and I especially loved how close they were to the "true" story. The romance here was slow-burn, and throughout the book it had the "will-they-or-won't-they" feel I love. I especially liked how some parts kept me guessing. For instance, Darby's biggest heartbreak isn't fully revealed until the very end; however, there's slight clues that pop up every once in a while that had me predicting what exactly went down. Additionally, I enjoyed how Darby's best friend's wedding preparations were included as well as Jake and Darby's respective jobs. 

Overall, Cinderella Screwed Me Over is a unique, compelling romance. As I said before, I'm so incredibly happy I gave it a second chance!

4.5 stars!!

Cinderella Screwed Me Over is now out! 

Source: Publisher 

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Blog Tour: Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia (Review & Excerpt!)

From the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, comes BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS—a red-hot romance that will break your heart and put it back together again! Don’t miss this stunning new title from Kami Garcia!

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

From #1 New York Times–bestselling author Kami Garcia comes a red-hot romance that will break your heart and put it back together again.

Her heart has to break before it can open.

When star soccer player Peyton Rios receives an offer from her first-choice college, senior year starts off exactly as planned. But when Peyton uncovers her boyfriend’s dark secret, she confronts him―and finds herself falling down a flight of stairs. Peyton’s knee―and maybe her dream of going pro―is shattered. Everyone is talking: Was she pushed, or did she fall? Peyton knows the truth, even if no one believes her.

He has to let someone in before it’s too late.

With her future on the line, Peyton goes to stay with her uncle in a small Tennessee town to focus on her recovery. Dating is the last thing on her mind―until she meets sweet, sexy Owen Law.

But Peyton doesn’t trust her heart, especially when she senses that Owen is hiding something. When their secrets are finally exposed, Peyton has to decide if love is worth fighting for.

Review:

I love Kami Garcia's books and I love YA contemporary so it was a no-brainer for me to add Broken Beautiful Hearts to my TBR pile. I had heard mixed things about it; however, I was hopeful that I would enjoy it.

As it turns out, I'm so glad I gave Broken Beautiful Hearts a try. This book is the perfect combination of heartbreaking and heartwarming. I laughed, I smiled, I cried...I honestly wish it would've went on for ever, that's how much I enjoyed Peyton's story.

Peyton was hands down my favorite part of Broken Beautiful Hearts. From the moment she is first introduced I connected with her. She was smart as well as ambitious, and more importantly, I gave her major credit for standing up for herself, for speaking the truth no matter how many people told her she was lying and/or wrong. She was much braver than she gave herself credit for, and I also was incredibly proud of her for continuing to live her life, no matter the obstacles she faced. It wasn't always smooth sailing - especially with new boys and mean girls on the horizon - but it's part of what made her journey all the more realistic. Ultimately, Peyton learned to stand on her own, to speak up, and be brave, and it was such a fantastic journey to witnesses.

In addition to Peyton, I loved her family. Her twin cousins were lovable yet disastrous. Some of the things they did/said were hilarious in a "I-can't-believe-this-is-happening" kind of way but one thing was clear: they'd do anything for their cousin. I also have to mention Owen, the love interest. He was sweet, sexy, and strong, and like Peyton, facing his own demons.

The plot in Broken Beautiful Hearts mainly revolves around the outcome from Peyton's fall.

Kami Garcia does a fantastic job of handling abusive relationships. I felt that it was realistic portrayal, and I especially appreciated that she addressed several different situations that can occur. Throughout Beautiful Broken Hearts, Peyton deals people (friends and strangers) refusing to believe her, her friends turning their backs on her, and her ex-boyfriend stalking her, refusing to take no as an answer. It was heartbreaking yet it was important to see, because as much as I like to think things like this don't happen they do. It's what makes people so afraid to report abuse, and ultimately, it's what makes stories like Peyton's that much more important.

Last but not least: the mystery and the romance. There's a mystery that pops up in this half-way through, and it made me even more addicted to the book. The outcome surprised me, and I thought Kami did a great job of bringing it all together. As for the romance, I appreciated that it didn't overtake the novel; instead, it was a sweet side part and part of Peyton's journey in moving on. Owen and Peyton had great chemistry and funny banter.

In all, if you love YA Contemporary, I definitely suggest giving this try. Peyton's story is one I won't forget for some time.

4.5 stars!!

Broken Beautiful Hearts will be released February 6, 2018!

Source: eARC provided by publisher - thank you!

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Pre-Order a digital or print edition of BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and be the first to hear an exclusive announcement from Kami about her next book--a secret project her publisher is keeping under wraps!

Fans of Beautiful Creatures, Dangerous Creatures, and The Legion series won't want to miss this exciting news!

This is a limited time offer! So hurry! Registration ends on February 28, 2018! You must register your preorder to receive the exclusive announcement from Kami!

“Something wonderful happened to me as I read this—I fell in love. Genuine, shattering, deep, heart-pounding love. Thank you, Kami Garcia, for Peyton and Owen. We need their story." —Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe

About the Author: 

Kami Garcia is the #1 New York Times, USA Today & international bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures and Dangerous Creatures novels. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES has been published in 50 countries and translated in 39 languages, and the film Beautiful Creatures released in theaters in 2013, from Warner Brothers. Kami’s solo series, The Legion, includes the instant New York Times bestseller UNBREAKABLE, and the sequel UNMARKED, both of which were nominated for Bram Stoker Awards. Her other works include THE X-FILES ORIGINS: AGENT OF CHAOS and the YA contemporary novels THE LOVELY RECKLESS and the forthcoming BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS (February 2018). Kami was a teacher for seventeen years before co-authoring her first novel on a dare from seven of her students. If she isn’t busy watching Supernatural, Kami can teach you how to escape from a pair of handcuffs or bake a Coca-Cola cake. She lives in Maryland with her family, and their dogs Spike and Oz (named after characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Visit Kami at www.KamiGarcia.com. 

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Excerpt: 

Tess pulls into the hospital driveway and stops near the glass doors to the ER. She leaves the car running and hops out. “I’ll be right back.”
Once I’m alone, the panic hits me full-force. Some of the shock of Reed pushing me has worn off, and now all I can think about is my knee.
What if I can’t play soccer anymore? Permanent damage could keep me off the field—and end my career before it begins. Every once in a while you hear about a situation like this on the news. A high school athlete blows out a knee or an elbow during senior year, and it’s game over. What else will I do if soccer isn’t an option?
Nothing. I’ll do nothing.Going pro has been my dream for as long as I remember.  The folded acceptance letter is still tucked in my back pocket. I don’t have a plan B.
Tess returns with two nurses, and the three of them to help me out of the car and into a wheelchair. Inside, a nurse wheels me through a pair of double doors that lead to an examination area, where hospital beds are lined up along the walls and separated by privacy curtains. Once I’m settled in a hospital bed, Tess sits with me as the nurse takes down my personal information.
“Can you tell me where it hurts and describe the pain?” the nurse asks. “I’ve had some shooting pains, but there’s also a weird pulling feeling.
Is that bad?” I ask.
“I’m not a doctor, sweetheart. But don’t worry. This is an excellent hospital.” The nurse takes notes on a form attached to her clipboard. “How would you rate your pain, on a scale of one to ten? One being no pain and ten being unbearable pain.”
“If I don’t move my knee, it’s around a five. But if I bend it, the pain shoots up to an eight or nine.”
More like a ten.I’m trying to be brave. A ten seems like a pain level of someone who survived a car crash, not a fall down the stairs. But if the nurse asked me to rate how scared I am right now, it’s a twelve.
“How did you hurt your knee?” the nurse asks.
If I say Reed pushed me intentionally, he might get arrested. If Tess weren’t in the picture, I would’ve called the police already.
But Mrs. Michaels can’t support herself and Tess on her own. She tried before and it didn’t go well. It seemed like every year they were moving into another crummy apartment. When Mrs. Michaels ran out of friends’ couches to crash on, Reed started working even more extra hours to help out.
“I fell down a flight of stairs,” I say.
“Did you hit your knee against anything?” She scribbles more notes on her clipboard.
“My kneecap hit the ground.”
“On the sidewalk,” Tess adds, wringing her hands.
The nurse finishes writing. “A doctor is going to come and take a look. Can I call someone for you?”
“I already talked to her mom,” Tess says. “She’s on her way.”
“I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes.” The nurse pulls the privacy curtain around the bed, and Tess and I are alone again.
“Thanks for not saying anything,” she says.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I’m telling the truth.”
Tess presses the heels of her hands against her temples, like she’s fighting the worst headache of her life. “I don’t know what you want me to say. You’re my best friend. I want to believe you. But we’re talking about Reed. He’s my brother. He wouldn’t lie to me. And he loves you. He’d never hurt you.”
Until tonight I thought the same thing

Kami Garcia’s BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

Review: Also Known As by Robin Benway

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

From New York Times bestselling, National Book Award winning Robin Benway comes a hilarious and romantic series about a normal girl . . . who just so happens to be a spy.

Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.

Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.

Review: 

A long time ago I read Robin Benway's THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE and I LOVED it! Seriously, if you haven't read it already go do so immediately! Fast forward all these years later and I'm wondering why I haven't read more by Robin Benway, especially since I even own a few of her books. Ergo, I decided to fix this by reading ALSO KNOWN AS. 

The result? I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. Adorable, quirky, and suspenseful, ALSO KNOWN AS is a wild adventure from start to finish! I don't think I stopped smiling once when reading, that's just how cute it is!

What I Liked: 

1) The characters - Robin Benway has introduced such a fantastic cast of characters. Maggie, Roux, Angelo, Jessie, and Maggie's parents...I adored them all! What I loved even more, however, was how much they stood on their own. They had their own personalities as well as their own quirks. Maggie, the lead, is my favorite. She's sassy, fearless, and - most importantly - a kick-a$$ spy! Her transition to regular school was hilarious (think Cady's start in Mean Girls but without all the cattiness). Roux, Maggie's best friend, was the perfect side kick. Her sarcastic, tell-it-like-it-is personality had me in in stitches multiple times. Jessie, the love interest, was sweet and nerdy. At first I thought he was going to be the stereotypical rich boy, but there was a lot more to him than that. 

2) Friendship- I feel like friendship in YA isn't nearly as prevalent as should be in YA so I loved seeing such a strong bond between Roux and Maggie. The adventures they went on always had me laughing (especially the party debacle - I couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard!), and what I loved even more was that they had their ups and downs, which made their friendship all the more realistic. 

3) Dialogue - It's snappy and quick - think Gilmore Girls. Better yet, I feel like Robin truly captured the voice of teenagers. The conversations flowed naturally. 

4)Present Parents - Like friendship, present parents is sometimes lacking in YA; however, that wasn't the case here! Maggie's parents were supportive, loving, and caring. Sometimes they went a tad nuts, but all in good fun! 

5) The Mystery! (Also SPIES!!) - The mystery was super suspenseful! I never knew quite how it was going to end, and I loved how Robin Benway pulled it all together. There were several times I didn't realize an occurrence was as important as it was. 

5) Romance - Falling in love with your target? Now that's complicated business! The romance between Jessie and Maggie was fantastic! It developed at such a great pace, and I liked how they started off as friends. 

What I Didn't Like: 

1) That it didn't go on forever - No, I'm kidding! Honestly, there's nothing I didn't like about this. 

Overall, ALSO KNOWN AS is a gem! I already have a copy of GOING ROGUE (Book #2) on hand, and I can't wait to start it. Fingers crossed it doesn't suffer from the dreaded sophomore slump! 

Last but not least: If you love Ally Carter's GALLAGHER GIRLS there's a 99.99% chance you love this as well! 

4.5 stars!!

Also Known As is now available! 

Source: Publisher 

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Review: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart.

Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”

Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.

True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.

The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.

Review: 

Maureen Johnson is one of my favorite YA authors. Not only have I devoured and loved the majority of her YA contemporary books (The Key to Everything, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, The Last Little Blue Envelope, and Girl At Sea), but they've always toped my "best of" lists. Therefore, when I caught wind that she was releasing a new series - one focusing on a teenage sleuth, a decades old murder mystery, and a boarding school setting - I was jumping-up-and-down-can't-contain-my-happiness excited. I had high hopes; however, I had faith that Maureen would deliver.

As it turns out I was one 100% right. Truly Devious just may be Maureen's best work yet! Suspenseful, swoony, and incredibly well written, Truly Devious is a wild ride from start to finish. 

Truly Devious beautifully blends together two murder mysteries - one from the past as well as one from the present. At first I didn't know how Maureen was possibly going to stretch the murder mysteries over three books; however, now that I've finished the book it's crystal clear. There's A LOT at play and I can't wait to see how it unravels. 

Both mysteries are nail-bitting/edge-of-my-seat suspenseful. There's so many twists, so many turns, and so many more connections than I could have ever possibly imagined. Out of the two, however, I think the one from the past hooked me in the most. For one, I enjoyed the flashbacks Maureen offered. It gave insight to the key players from that fateful day - Albert Ellingham, the butler, the FBI detail assigned to Albert, etc -  and each "confessional" introduced an exciting new clue. I also liked that details surrounding the case where slowly revealed. It offered up an extra dose of suspense, especially when Stevie took it upon herself to "re-open" the case. 

The setting also added a layer of chill to the novel. Ellingham Academy is by no means your typical boarding school. It's located in the middle of nowhere, cut-off from civilization in many facets. It also contains crazy artwork, secret hideaways/passages, and a mega mansion. Maureen did such a fantastic job of setting the scene. 

Stevie is great lead!  She's smart, funny, and utterly charming. When the story begins, Stevie is beyond ready to have a fresh start. She never fit in well at home - her conservative parents never understand her, she always does or says the wrong thing, and the majority of her friends are online rather than in person. At Ellingham Acadmey Stevie slowly starts to get comfortable, finding an unexpected home. She makes friends, pursues a boy, and learns how to speak up for herself. I clicked with her from the start, and I loved seeing her embark on this journey.  In addition to Stevie, I enjoyed the wide variety of other characters introduced in the past as well as the present. There were unique as well as complex. My favorite of the bunch, though, is Stevie's love interest. I could never quite figure him out but I loved how he made Stevie more adventurous, more willing to go with the flow.

Overall, Truly Devious is yet another stellar book by Maureen, and given the crazy, I-can't-believe-this-is-happening ending I can't wait to see where it goes next.

Truly, Devious is now out! 

5 stars!! 

Source: eARC provided by HarperCollins - thank you! 

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Review: Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

It’s Kind of a Funny Story meets Daria in the darkly hilarious tale of a teen’s attempt to remake her public image and restore inner peace through reality TV. The only thing 17-year-old Jane Sinner hates more than failure is pity. After a personal crisis and her subsequent expulsion from high school, she’s going nowhere fast. Jane’s well-meaning parents push her to attend a high school completion program at the nearby Elbow River Community College, and she agrees, on one condition: she gets to move out.

Jane tackles her housing problem by signing up for House of Orange, a student-run reality show that is basically Big Brother, but for Elbow River Students. Living away from home, the chance to win a car (used, but whatever), and a campus full of people who don't know what she did in high school… what more could she want? Okay, maybe a family that understands why she’d rather turn to Freud than Jesus to make sense of her life, but she'll settle for fifteen minutes in the proverbial spotlight.

As House of Orange grows from a low-budget web series to a local TV show with fans and shoddy T-shirts, Jane finally has the chance to let her cynical, competitive nature thrive. She'll use her growing fan base, and whatever Intro to Psychology can teach her, to prove to the world—or at least viewers of substandard TV—that she has what it takes to win.

Review: 

Lianne Oelke's Nice Try, Jane Sinner is a lot of things so to give you the basic rundown I've created a list. 

1) It's blunt. 

2) It's laugh-out-loud funny. Some parts made me laugh so hard I cried. Seriously, that's how hilarious this book is. 

3) It's hopeful. 

5) Most importantly, Jane Sinner is a riot! 

Love it or hate it but there's something vastly compelling about reality television. Luckily, that compelling aspect perfectly transitioned over into Nice Try, Jane Sinner's House of Orange. Three words to describe House of Orange? One hot mess, but it was a mess I couldn't look away from. The challenges were ridiculous yet hilarious - I'm still dying over the one involving living in the van. The production team was this weird mix of smart yet silly. The Hoocaps always managed to crack me up, and Alexander, the man behind the show, was one wise guy. He sometimes made stupid decisions, but boy, did he know how to make for quality television reading. I also enjoyed that show involved college students. It added another interesting angle. Plus it was fun to see a YA set in the big world of college. Some of the professors and guidance counselors reminded me of ones I've encountered over my years.

What also makes this book so fantastic and interesting crew of characters Lianne has at play. None of them are truly the *standard* reality TV shows stars, and honestly, that's part of what makes this book so lovable and relatable.

Jane, main character extraordinaire, is so utterly fabulous I don't even know where to begin. I'll be honest: it may take a while to warm up to Jane's particular mix of humor/sarcasm/sass. Once you get to that point, however, it's smooth sailing. Like House of Orange, Jane is a kind of a mess - a lovable mess for sure but still a mess. She hasn't been the best friend, student, sister, and/or daughter lately, but she's trying - she really is. She's just chosen to hide behind her self-made shield of humor, sarcasm, and incorrect idioms. Jane's a tough cookie - you hit her, she'll hit you right back - but at the same time, there's this sense of vulnerability to her. She's scared - scared of not winning, scared of losing the last of her friends, scared of falling in love, and scared of falling back into that place she was last year. Her feelings and thoughts felt so real, and I could easily relate. I'm often the person who hides behind humor and jokes so I could understand why Jane used that method - it's easy and painless. Over the course of the book, however, I rooted for her to open-up and to be straightforward.

In addition to Jane, I enjoyed the side characters that came along for the ride. There's a fair share so I'm going to just focuses on my favorites. Marc reminded me of one of those greasy guys from Jersey Shore, and while he was a jerk more times than nice, I still came to like him, especially when he did such ridiculous things. Robbie was a wild-card. I could never quite figure him out. Sometimes I thought he would be a great potential boyfriend for Jane, but other times not so much. Like Jane, Robbie had his own issues to figure out, and I did like the ways in which Jane and Robbie helped each other. Jenna, Jane's unlikely friend, was also a favorite of mine. She was hard to figure out, but I appreciated the way she always went to save the day.

Nice Try, Jane Sinner is told through Jane's journal entries, and I thought Lianne did such a great job of fleshing them out. Never once did I feel that I missed out on something important or that I needed more details. I also liked the emphasis it put on dialogue, especially since the dialogue was golden.

I could go on about this book all day, but I'll stop here and leave you with this message: give Lianne Oelke's Nice Try, Jane Sinner a try! Regardless if you love YA or not, Jane Sinner is a character that I feel all age groups could relate to. This was such a fantastic debut, and I can't wait to see what Lianne has for us next.

Nice Try, Jane Sinner is now out! 

Source: eARC provided by publisher for review - thanks HMH! 

4.5 stars!! 

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