Ugly Love

Ranking 4 out of 5

Favorite Quote: "But then I met you, and every single day since then, I've wondered how someone could be so beautiful if there wasn't a God. I've wondered how someone could make me so incredibly happy if God didn't exist. And I realized...just now...that God gives us the ugliness so we don't take the beautiful things in life for granted."

Summary: When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn't think it's love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her. 

Never ask about the past. Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all. Hearts get infiltrated. Promises get broken. Rules get shattered. Love gets ugly.

Review: I decided to read this book because I've liked every novel I've ever read by Collen Hoover. Plus, this particular story had a pretty high rating on goodreads, and I heard something about it being turned into a movie. I just love being able to go see a movie and tell all of my friends "I read this book." (It makes me feel so smart! My friends also love spoilers so I get to have all the power!!) Before I go into anything about this book, I just wanted to let you all know that it contains some sexual content. It was for this specific reason that I was afraid of reading it, but I told myself "Hey! Got to try something new, right?!...." However, after reading it I can assure you that, if you aren't into that sort of thing, all you have to do is skip over those few pages/parts. (You won't miss anything that connects drastically with the plot.) 

Okay, to move on... This book was surprisingly good. I was kind of shocked by some of the inspirational content. (*My favorite quote.*) At moments, it left me smiling blissfully and other times I was just like...dang.... 

The story switches point of views, but not in the way you would expect. You'll read a chapter from Tate's point of view in the present and then the story-line switches to Miles point of view where he tells the story of his past. I really liked this aspect. In most contemporary romance novels nowadays one or more of the main characters will have suffered from a catastrophic event or set of events, but the reader isn't really made aware of the details of these events/event. That is what is so great about Ugly Love. You get to live through the WHOLE backstory of the darker character (which I appreciated immensely). Honestly, this is what made the book for me.

Besides that, I'd have to say, it was nothing spectacular. It is a typical romance novel without any quirky tidbits or unique plot twists, characters, settings, themes...(*other literary terms*) Even with that said, you should definitely give it a read. It's a good book and it may surprise you. (In a thumbs-up-way not a thumbs-down way!) 

Side Note: I'm taking book recommendations. If you have found an amazing read...or you wrote one. (Even if it is on Wattpad. Because I love Wattpad.) Hit me up! Oh...and also if you have any suggestions for songs I adore listening to music while I read!

Personal Demons

Rating: 2 out of 5

Favorite Quote: I walk up right behind Frannie, where she's sitting near the door, in time to hear her say, " You know what, Tay? Go to Hell," and I smile, because I think it's cute that she's inviting her friends along.

Summary: If you had to choose between Heaven and Hell, which would it be? Are you sure about that...? Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance--even her closest friends--and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions--for Hell--and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he's as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance. Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn't get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul. But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay...for all of them.

Review: Ugh! The summary of this book sounded so good, and really pumped me up, but I was highly disappointed. The characters were just...bad. Frannie, the mainish character, was so wishy-woshy. By the end of the book I had no idea who she was as a person. At one moment she was this sweet and nice girl, but a paragraph later and she would be a complete princess. Overall, she just was not the solid character needed to lead a good book. Then Gabe, the tempting angel, was completely flat. He was solely the "good force" and was beyond boring which is really sad considering he was supposedly fighting for the affections of a "kick-butt" protagonist female. The only decent character was Luc. Luc, a demon sent to tag Frannie's soul for hell, was pretty hilarious with his bad-boy banter, but towards the end he started to become just as boring as Gabe. If it was that bad why did I give it a two? Well, despite everything, there were parts of the book I enjoyed....and I finished it. (That's got to count for something, right?)

Slammed

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Favorite Quote: (It is really the letter at the end, but that gives too much away. Don't worry though this quote is extra long and equally as good.)

"Sometimes life gets in your way. it gets all up in your damn way. But it doesn't get all up in your damn way because it wants you to just give up and let it take control. Life doesn't get all up in your damn way because it just wants you to hand it all over and be carried along. Life wants you to fight it. Learn how to make it your own. It wants you to grab and ax and hack through the wood. It wants you to get a sledgehammer and break through concrete. It wants you to grab a torch and burn through the metal and steel until you can reach through and grab it. Life wants you to grab all the organized, the alphabetized, the chronological, the sequenced. It wants you to mix it all together, stir it up, blend it."

Summary: Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

Review: This book gave me some serious feels.  I mean, throughout the whole book my feelings resembled a rollercoaster. The plot is so full of twists and turns that enhance the reading experience, but it also makes it very difficult to write a review without spoilers. For this reason I am just going to do an overview of some of my favorite characters:

Lakeyn: Lakeyn is a magnificent protagonist. In the beginning, she lives in this pit of immaturity and hatred, but by the end of the book she turns into a strong woman.

 Will: Ugh…and Will. Will starts out being the simple boy-next-door; however, as the story progresses we learn how truly multidimensional he is.

Lakeyn’s Mom: I was extremely skeptical of Lakeyn’s mom in the beginning of the book. To be honest, I got the feeling their relationship would take a dark turn towards the end, but I was totally surprised! Lakeyn’s Mom instead inspires Lakeyn to take a hard look at her life and decide what matters. She also gives some insightful and powerful views on “life”.

Eddie: I absolutely loved Eddie. She is the epitome of the perfect best friend. She is extremely loyal, honest, deep, and just plain amazing. (Very descriptive right?)  Despite her outward appearance, she is a very kind and gentle. She also supplies Lakeyn with much needed support, as well as, a new perspective.

Read it! You won't be disappointed!

White Hot Kiss

Rating: 5! out of 5

Favorite Quote: “People with the purest souls are capable of the greatest evils. No one is perfect, no matter what they are or what side they fight for.” 

Summary: One kiss could be the last.  Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Review: I'm not going to lie. I decided to read this book after seeing Erika and Cody's book event. The stuff they were saying about the story line and the characters really got me excited! So make sure to check them out at Books, Stars, Writing and Everything In Between and Literary-ly Obsessed. Okay, continuing on...I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK. Recently, I have been in a reading slump, due to all the exhaustion summer classes has brought me, but this book has definitely reignited my flame. (Which sounds oddly disturbing, but let's just move past that...)

 Any way, the book is centered around a girl named Layla. Layla is a "hybrid" sort of thing. (I don't think they really have a name for what she is in the book.) Any way, She is half demon, half gargoyle. (I know you're thinking "Gargoyle?" but let me assure you that Armentrout does a fantastic job at making the gargoyles fit into to the story without making them seem too unrealistic.)  Gargoyles and demons are sworn enemies. Gargoyles are the warriors of  "good" and demons are the epitome of "evil." For this reason, Layla has never truly been accepted any where. Sure, she lives with the wardens (a.k.a. Gargoyles) and even has a close knit relationship with of few of them (Zayne, her childhood friend and crush! *winky face*) , but it seems as if they will never be able to get past her differences. One night, after an outing out with a few of her human friends, she runs into a little situation. (And by a little I mean life-changing.) All of a sudden, she finds herself befriending a (ridiculously hot) demon, and exploring the side of herself she has always been taught to hide.

Ugh! This book was packed with adventure, butt kicking, and steamy romantic connections. However, besides the obvious appeals (*cough* HOT DUDES) this story really pushes the idea that good and evil is beyond what lies on the surface level--which I really appreciated. As Layla moves through the story and her character (along those of others) develops, the reader gets to see Layla embrace more of who she is.

Finally, I'm team Roth all the way! I mean, I get the appeal of Zanye, but I don't think he will ever be able to completely understand Layla the way Roth does. UGH!

Book Combo Tag

First of all, I would like to thank Confessions of a Book Addict for nominating me! (Sorry it took me so long!)

I tag:

Erika from Books, Stars, Writing. And Everything In Between

Tasya from The Literary Huntress

Mia from Mia in Narnia

1. Which two authors would you like to see put their writing skills together and write a new book?

Sarah J. Mass and Sarah Dessen. Mass has really great action scenes and the ability to produce strong characters, but Dessen is able to create such beautiful romances and realistic relationships. I feel like together they would make THE ultimate action-packed romance.

2. What’s your favorite author collaboration?

I don't know if this really counts as a "collaboration," but I have always loved the House of Night novels. (For those of you who don't know, that series is written by a mother-daughter duo. AND you should totally check them out!)

3. If you could combine two completely different stories and make them a book of their own what would it be and what would their combined title be?

This one is hard....Let me consult my kindle for a moment..(twenty minutes later) Angelfall by Susan Ee and Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. They both have this really cool dystopian future thing going on, and I feel like you could make it into a really awesome story. For instance, angels are taking over earth and so the government is building "pretties" (specially engineered soldiers) to fight the war. (A title...I want it to be more than just a mash up of the names...) The Invasion.

4. Which two characters from different books would you ship?

This is another hard one...Gale from the Hunger Games and Dee from the Lux Series. Gale is a good guy, but he has been through a lot. Dee is super sweet and would be able to mend his broken heart, but she is still stubborn enough put up a good fight.

5. Which two worlds from two different stories would you like to see come together to make one  epic world?

I think it would be cool to throw together Evermore and The 5th Wave. The Evermore world is filled with illusions and other dimensions, and The 5th Wave has an apocalyptic feel. 

6. Which duology/ trilogy/ series would you have liked to have been one book?

None. Yep. I honestly, haven't read a dulogy/trilogy/series where I would want less books. Call me a nerd, but that's just who I am.

Psychic Eye

Rating: 2.8 out of 5

Favorite Quote: “You’ve missed a lot of things. But mostly I think you’ve missed several opportunities to leave. Let me assist you to the door so that you won’t miss this next one.”

Summary: In Royal Oak, a suburb of Detroit, thirty-something Abby Cooper lives a life that's kind of like vanilla ice cream - good enough, but a little bland. Her work as a P.I. - Psychic Intuitive - can be rewarding, but she feels like somehow she's missing out on the hot-fudge topping...Now she's getting what she wished for - when a client winds up dead and the clues start pointing in Abby's direction. Turns out she knows too many details about the murder for her own good. To make matters worse, the hot blind date she just met is the lead investigator on the case. And gorgeous Detective Dutch Rivers is convinced she's a fraud. No matter how great her psychic abilities, Abby doesn't know if she can solve this case. Unfortunately for her, though, the killer thinks she can....

Review: This books was a fun and easy read. I went into it having low expectations, but I really enjoyed it. It had lots of good puns that had me laughing a little too loudly.  Abby, the protagonist, is fun, sassy, and relateable. The whole psychic thing may throw you off at first thought, but the way the author portrays Abby's "unique" abilities is light and simple. Dutch, her love interest, is a cop and a skeptic, so it's entertaining to see that dynamic work itself out. However, as much as I liked the story, it was kind of predicable. Definitely, not life changing, but overall it was a decent book.

Laugh Out Loud

3 out of 5

Favorite Quote: "Nightgown? You think I sleep in a nightgown? What century is this?"

Summary: Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend's house every night because she has nowhere else to go. Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with— secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross. Ryder's the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can't stand—a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed. But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually like him. Only there's one small catch: he thinks he's been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she's the girl he's really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?

Review: This book was fun, light, and easy to read, but it lacked that special something to really make it great. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I just wish that some of the characters' stories where more dimensional. (I mean, come on. Sonny had so much going for her...a father in jail, a crappy mom...) I love romance, but I would like a little more substance. (I get it. The dude is hot, but with everything else going on in her life you would think she would be worrying about him a little less...I really just wanted to shout: GIRL, YOUR HOMELESS! Get your priorities straight!) However, I did enjoy the Wesley and Bianca snippets. (The movies is COMPLETELY different from the book! If you haven't read it, you should! It was GREAT!) 

Beautiful Bloggers Award!

I have been nominated for the Beautiful Bloggers Award by Erica Gold, from Books, Stars, Writing. And Everything In Between!

Rules: 

1. Link to the blogger who nominated you.

2. List seven random facts about you.

3. Nominate seven creative, beautiful bloggers, and notify them.

Okay, before I begin I would just like to thank Erica Gold! I am a complete newbie to the book-reviewing world, but she has accepted me with open arms. I could not be more blessed. <3

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1. I have an unhealthy habit of chewing on bottle caps.

2. I adore the color blue.

3. I can trip over anything, even air...

4. I never let guys open doors for me. (I know, its suppose to be "gentlemanly", but it just drives me insane! I mean, I can open a door! I'm not that weak.)

5. I am obsessed with sour things--especially candy!

6. I can't sleep without a fan.

7. I love pajama pants, in fact, the first thing I do when I get home is put on my favorite pair--even during the summer.

My Nominees: (Being new to the community, I haven't really had the chance to meet many fellow reviews, so I went through book blogs of my groups on goodreads, and here are a few I found to be very interesting.)

1. Tasya from The Literary Huntress.

2. Scarlett from The Book Goddess.

3. Saloni from My Fantabulous Bookshelf.

4. Mia from Mia in Narnia.

5. Chloe from Stupid Words Again

6. May from Yoohee Reads.

7. Jessica from Confessions of a Book Addict.

You all have terrific blogs, and I can't wait to meet you!

Update!

Three posts in one day....I know I am being a little bit crazy! But, I wanted to update you guys a little....especially since I have been a little (completely) inactive the last week. It isn't that I'm bored, or lazy. (Trust me, I love doing this!) I have just started two concurrent college classes this summer. (I know, I'm cray....you should know that already and love me anyways.) However, (I say however, a lot.) I promise to do a book review every week along with a few fun things. JUST DO NOT LEAVE ME! (You guys make my days better.)

P.S. I could definitely use some recommendations on what to read next. I am sure you guys have some good ideas, and do not worry....I am willing to try anything. (I hope I will not regret saying that...shoot.)

Flat-Out Love

Book Rating: 5 out of 5

Favorite Quote: (The struggle of finding a good quote that doesn't give away anything...ah!) "Flat Finn, this Julie. Julie, this is Flat Finn."

Summary: Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it. When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes. And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul. To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

Review: I loved this book! Why? The suspense! The mystery! The characters! Julie, is a fun-loving girl who falls in love with a broken family and makes it her mission to pick up the pieces. (Seriously, it's so cute how much she cares.) Along the way, she confronts some of her own struggles that change not only her life, but the lives of these people she has come to know....polarplunge. She also grows quite close to a particular someone(s)....;) Finn, because of his adventure and charm. Matt, for his kindness and brain. The best part? I really had no idea what the big secret was...(the reveal at the end completely shocked me!) I mean I knew SOMETHING was up, but not that.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

Book Rating: 4 out of 5

Favorite Quote:
"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them."

Okay, so moment of truth....I don't know how to feel about this book. Honestly, the beginning is slow and I sort of knew the plot considering my brain has been poisoned by watching the movie, but even with that in mind, I found this book to be quite enjoyable. Seriously, if I was thirteen I would definitely have a thing for Harry. (I mean come on, he is nice, he has magic abilities....and my tween self had very low standards.) I also, really appreciate the fact that you get to learn about this new world through the point of view of someone as clueless as you. It deepens the connection between the reader and the main character. However, what really makes for a great story is a combination of  a strong protagonist and quirky minor characters (the main character's friends, family, and mentor) which this novel obviously has *cough* hermioneandronforever. The overall story was very unique, and I did laugh on more than one occasion. HOWEVER,  I did feel a little underwhelmed, but I think that was mainly because of how young Harry is. I feel that as he grows older and the series continues I will become more emotionally invested....maybe?! (What? I can't know for sure yet, GOSH!)

Group Read-Along

Okay, I know I'm new and pretty much talking to myself here, but I am looking to FINALLY start reading the Harry Potter series. I know what you all are thinking. (How can she call herself a book lover without reading one of the most famous series?) But I am committed to falling in love with this series, and I thought: Why not do it with others? So, if your interested in reading this series (again or for the first time) leave a comment below with either your e-mail address or goodreads name. I promise to get back to you!

Update 5/25/15: I found someone to being my reading buddy on this series and I'm SO EXCITED. Sadly, she had already read the first book, so I had to read that one alone. (I know, poor me.) Anyways, I have no idea how this "reading buddy" thing works, but if any one is interested comment below. (It does not have to be a Harry Potter book.) I would be truly honored to read with you!

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Book Rating: 5 out of 5

First Book Review = SO EXCITED! 

So I was a little skeptical about this book at first because I loved the Throne of Glass series so much and I was afraid that this book would not be able to live up to my Sarah J. Maas standards.....but I was SO wrong! I absolutely loved this book. (I practically love every book, so you better get used to it.) It had everything I wanted and more: an action packed plot, a kick-butt heroine, and dreamy love interest. Honestly, I found the main character to be relatable in a way that completely draws you in. I would recommend this book to any of my friends.

Welcome!

I just wanted to welcome everyone to my blog! Here I will update everyone on my reading life....and let's be honest, my fandom life! I love reading just about anything, but I especially enjoy reading anything with *cough* romance. Fill free to be share any of your favorite titles with me; I will definitely read them!