ARC Review: Secret (Elemental #4) by Brigid Kemmerer

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release date: January 28, 2014
Publisher: Kensington Teen
352 Pages

EARTH. FIRE. AIR. WATER.

Nick Merrick is stretched to breaking point. He's trying to keep his grades sky-high or he won't get in to college. He's trying to keep his brother's business afloat or the Merricks will be out on the street. He's trying to keep the secret of where he's going in the evenings from his twin brother Gabriel - or he fears he'll lose his family. And he's trying to keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who is his 'girlfriend's' partner.

And then Quinn takes to hanging around his sworn enemy, and an Elemental Guide is counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. Storms are brewing. On all sides.

SECRETS IN THE WIND. DANGER IN THE AIR.

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It’s not a secret how much I LOVE this series. These boys, these are my boys. All of them (including Hunter). When I received an ARC of Secret, I may or may not have danced around my kitchen clutching the book to my chest. Think Kristen Bell and the sloth excited.

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Yes, I was that excited. 

Secret is Nick Merrick’s story. Nick is an Air Elemental, he’s the responsible one, always does the right thing…but he’s hiding a secret that is starting to destroy him from the inside. He enlists the help of Quinn to keep up his façade but even that begins to crumble quickly as Quinn is dealing with her own troubles. 

What I adore about these books is the relationships and bonds between the brothers and Hunter. I look forward to their interactions more than anything and I love seeing how they grow from book to book. Nick and Gabe have always held a special interest because of the fact that they’re twins and feel almost everything that the other is feeling. They can sense when the other is in danger, etc. However, Nick is terrified to reveal to Gabe his true self. 

Gabriel knew how to cut to the quick, and this felt so fragile and untested that Nick was afraid to bare skin in the face of that blade. 

What’s worse is that Gabriel knows that Nick is hiding something. From past books we know that Gabe doesn’t always handle things correctly and the brothers come to blows here in a scene that just rips out my heart. I don’t like it when my boys fight with each other. 

Each book also has to have the female counterpart, and in Secret, that’s Quinn. Let me just start off by saying that Quinn is broken. So utterly and completely broken. There’s a line early on that describes her life perfectly:

It seemed fitting that the best relationship in her life would be just as dysfunctional as all her other ones.

Basically, every relationship Quinn has is a lie. She’s Nick’s fake girlfriend. She’s not talking to her best friend, Becca. Her mother is abusive and her brother is a druggie. In the beginning, I felt for her. Her situation is messed up. But as the book progressed, I really wanted her to grow up. She becomes this petulant child who pouts and moans about every little thing being unfair. She complains how nobody knows what she’s dealing with and they don’t care, but she never tells them anything. How are they supposed to know??? And her constant fishing for compliments was annoying. Honestly, she’s the reason why this book wasn’t 5 stars.

There are two additional characters added in this book: Adam (Quinn’s dance partner) and Tyler (who we’ve met in other books). They were both brilliant additions. Adam was gentle and kind, and balanced out Nick’s neurosis perfectly. Their relationship was a slow burn, but extremely worth it in the end. Nick’s confusion about what was going on was so real that you couldn’t help but root for them to make it. 

And then there’s Tyler. Tyler who we know from other books as always trying to hurt/kill the Merricks because of their pasts. Kemmerer really delved into his character and as we got to know more about him, I began to actually like him. Yeah, I know. I was shocked too. He was still a dick to the Merrick’s but I loved the way he dealt with Quinn. He called her out on her bullshit and made her face reality. 

Aside from all the drama in their everyday lives, there’s also the issue of the Guides. And believe me, they aren’t forgotten here. This ending had to be the most nail-biting, suspenseful and heartbreaking one yet. Not gonna lie, I legit screamed at one point. I cannot wait to see where Kemmerer takes it next, but I know that I won’t be disappointed. 

Brilliant. 

I received a copy of this book via the publisher in return for an honest review.

ARC Review: The Edge of Always (The Edge of Never #2) by J.A. Redmerski

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release date: 1/14/2014
Publisher: Forever
405 Pages

He was taking the long road. She was taking the road to nowhere. It just so happened that they led to the same place…

When everything falls apart, love remains . . .

THE EDGE OF ALWAYS

Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged—and a wedding isn’t the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can’t wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew – a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to—until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn’t understand how this could happen to them. He’s trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won’t do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride…

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Needless to say, I was not a fan of the first book. But I decided to give the second book a chance since we’ve gotten passed the meeting and general drama, but boy was I wrong. 

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This series is a perfect example of two people who don’t want to deal with having responsibility. At The Edge of Never, Camryn and Andrew get their happily ever after with an engagement and baby. However, at the beginning of The Edge of Always, Camryn starts to think that maybe having to baby wouldn’t be a good idea because then they would have to stay in one place and actually live their lives. Oh god the melodrama that was her subconscious. I’m sorry, but Camryn really is a horrible person and I do not understand how Andrew loves her.

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This story was extremely predictable from the beginning with the tragedy the two of them share up until the end. But instead of dealing with their tragedy, they decide to hit the road again for another extended road trip. It’s just so convenient how in every town they go to they’re able to perform: the bar just happens to have an open mic night that night, the local waiter just happens to be a drum player and knows the exact song they’re going to sing, a band cancels last minute and they need a replacement performer. They also conveniently make just enough money to last them so that they never have to dip into Andrew’s inheritance money (another convenience). 

The road trip was full of useless plot and drama. It was boring. Their car breaks down, they sing, Camryn has a break down, they have sex, they get drugged (but nothing ever comes of this), Camryn starts to panic, they have sex, Camryn complains….Ahhhhhhh. Finally the road trip comes to a close when Camryn reveals that she finally wants to settle down in Texas…wait no, North Carolina, wait now it’s Texas, nope, finally it’s North Carolina. But in all truth, it doesn’t’ matter because whatever house they buy now they can just sell when they decide to travel again.

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Thank God this was the last one because these characters are seriously ridiculous. There was no depth to their personalities, they were both very one-dimensional. Camryn was the selfish one while Andrew was the selfless one. And their life just worked out so perfectly in, what felt to me, a forced and rushed ending. 

I get wanting to get away from life every once in a while and I know that there are people who choose to live life on the road, moving from one place to another like they need it to breathe. I did not feel this with these two. Camryn was just indecisive and didn’t want to take any responsibly for her actions or life and Andrew was the puppy who followed her loyally. This was one read trip I could have done without.

I received an copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley for my honest opinion and review.

ARC Review: Believe (True Believers #3) by Erin McCarthy

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release date: January 21, 2014
Publisher: InterMix

Robin used to be a party girl… until she got black out drunk and woke up in bed with her best friend's boyfriend. Now she's faced with being THAT girl, and couldn't be more disgusted with herself. She can't even tell her friends the reason for her sudden sobriety and she avoids everyone until she meets Phoenix—quiet, tattooed, and different in every way that's good and oh, so bad…

Phoenix is two days out of jail when he meets Robin at his cousin's house, and he knows that he has no business talking to her, but he's drawn to her quiet demeanor, sweet smile, and artistic talent. She doesn't care that he's done time, or that he only has five bucks to his name, and she supports his goal to be a tattoo artist.

But Phoenix knows Robin has a secret, and that it's a naïve dream to believe that his record won't catch up with them at some point. Though neither is prepared for the explosive result when the past collides with the present…

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Former party girl Robin changes her ways after a night of partying finds her in bed with her best friend, Kylies, boyfriend. Having no memory of what happened or how she got there, Robin swears off drinking and partying. Loaded down with guilt, she decides to move out of the house she’s sharing with her friends, including Kylie. She just wants to forget what happened and hide it away. 

Phoenix is fresh out of his 5 month stay in prison and crashing on his cousin’s couch. He has no money, no clothes, and no job. His girlfriend cheated on him while he was away and his mother disappeared. His life is going nowhere fast unless he can change it. Then he meets Robin.

This is the third book in the True series and while I enjoy McCarthy’s writing, something about this series just isn’t connecting with me. In Believe, McCarthy finally moves away from the recycled plot lines that were apparent in both the first and second installments. She changed it up and I was pleasantly surprised. This is still a series where I find that I enjoy the males more than the females because I feel they are better written. Phoenix was a very intriguing character right from the start. I wanted to know his past and it was nice that he wasn’t the typical ‘bad guy with the rep’. He was actually clean – more clean than anyone else in the series. And once again, the dynamics between the brothers rate high on my scale. 

But despite the good, there were still issues that I couldn’t look over. One thing being the reoccurring theme of rape and rage in NA books. When Robin sleeps with Nathan, she’s obviously not in the right state of mind to be making any decision and Nathan takes advantage of that. I’m sorry, but if someone is too drunk to even give you their name, they can’t give you consent. End of discussion. And then there’s Phoenix’s rage. So many NA books feature the guy with uncontrollable rage – beating up other guys, punching walls, etc. – this is not attractive and I don’t feel like it should be viewed as such. At least McCarthy showed that Robin felt fearful of Phoenix when he was like that, but the issue itself was never really dealt with. He completely destroyed someone’s car and nothing happened. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think we should romanticize fighting. 

Insta love also seems to happen a lot. And most of the time, it’s extremely unbelievable. Believe wasn’t BAM I love you, but Phoenix getting a tattoo of Robin’s face on his ribs less than a month after meeting her is a little extreme.

Another issue I have with this series is the drama that’s not needed. What was the point of Phoenix’s prison friend? He was introduced fairly early on then not brought back until the very end for some pointless drama that ended up being dealt with on the next page. Like what? It was this huge buildup and then done. Poof. The whole ending felt really rushed to me and everything was just tidied up so prettily that the realism was hard to grasp. Overall, an okay read and a definite improvement from the previous installment.

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review: A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: January 23, 2014
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
448 Pages

Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.
            
After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?

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I don't read much young adult historical fiction, and honestly, I have no idea why. Most of what I've read in the genre have blown me out of the water. A Mad, Wicked Folly  is no exception. This was a novel that has continued to draw my eye to it though I did not know much about it, and only a few reviews were listed, but when offered the chance, I readily agreed to read and review it.

All Vicky Darling has ever wanted is to become an artist, and she will do anything to accomplish her goal. When her life is rocked with scandal, and the only way for her to continue her work is by marrying a young man she barely knows, she agrees to do so. Vicky knows that without the help of her future husband's money, there is no way she could attend the Royal College of Art and follow her dreams. She needs him, and she's not about to let the suffragettes, or a handsome policeman get in her way--no matter how much she agrees with the cause, or cares for the man. But when it's all said and done, Vicky must take her future into her own hands and decide what is really important.

All of the characters in this novel had such depth. Vicky, Will, Edmund, and even Vicky's parents come alive on these pages. I loved learning about each and every one of them. They each brought something important to the table that made this novel utterly phenomenal. Vicky is extremely easy to understand, and easily relatable. She's a good person, who knows what she wants and is not afraid to do what it takes to meet her goal. She makes mistakes, and doesn't always say the right thing, but she's a good person. Vicky matured before our very eyes, and Waller portrayed her growth beautifully. Her perspective was enchanting. And William? Swoon. He's perfect. He's a wonderful companion for Vicky. They not only have fun together, but they understand each other and their goals. He's kind to her, and shows her care and kindness even when she has hurt him. Their interactions were brilliant and had me falling in love with them in an instant.

Waller took this story to an unexpected level. When starting this book, I thought I knew what the layout would be, and how this young woman's story would play out. I was sure that romance would end up playing the largest role in A Mad, Wicked Folly. Boy, was I wrong. Waller makes this story not just about Vicky and her choice of a husband, but about life in suppression and how difficult (and grand) it can be to break free. It is also quite a bit about self-discovery, a real coming-of-age tale. It was interesting to read about a girl growing up in such a different era, and learning about her struggles then and comparing them to the struggles of young women now. The historical aspects of this novel really tied in well, and I was glad to see that it wasn't all romanticized. This is based off of real events that shaped the world of today, and the author did a wonderful job of showing that it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies getting here.

There is nothing about this story that I did not enjoy. It kept me on my toes, and though it had a slow start, A Mad, Wicked Folly enchanted me from the very first page. Even the end was fantastic--not everything was wrapped up with a tidy little bow. There were those who never came around, and things that were not solved, but Vicky found happiness with herself and I think that's what is important. I liked this so much more than I thought I would, and I'm happy that I gave it a chance. Don't let the page count through you off, this book is well worth the length, and by the end, you be sad that there isn't more!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

2014 "Real" Book Challenge

Anyone who knows me knows that I love challenges, especially reading challenges. Honestly, that's what got my on Goodreads in the first place because I loved the idea of challenging myself to read a certain amount of books in a year. While I started reading only actual books, I have since acquired a Kindle and now am all over the place.

Jaime over at Fic Fare turned me onto this challenge and I love the idea of the "real" book challenge because I have stacks in my room just waiting to be read.

There are multiple levels to choose from:

1-10 - Real Book Newbie
11-20 - Real Book Enthusiast
21-30 - Real Book Snob
31-40 - Real Book Aficionado
41-50 - Real Book Hoarder
50+ - Real Book Queen/King

My pal, Tellulah Darling, convinced me to sign up and become a Queen with her, so that's what I'm shooting for. At the end of each month, I will do a little wrap up here of all the "real" books I've read. Sound like something you would be interested in? Check it out and sign up here!

ARC Review: The Last Man on Earth (The Graysons #1) by Tracy Anne Warren

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Publisher: Signet Select
352 Pages

From New York Times bestselling author Tracy Anne Warren comes a sexy and romantic new contemporary series about corporate combat in the boardroom and under-the-covers passion in the bedroom...…

Idealistic good girl Madelyn Grayson believes in doing what’s right. Even as a high-powered executive in the mad world of advertising, she doesn’t cut corners, making her ad campaigns sizzle without having to burn anyone along the way.

Rival exec Zack Douglas never wastes an opportunity to land the next big deal—especially when it benefits him. A bad boy with a reputation to match, he has no qualms about doing whatever it takes to get ahead, no matter who gets in the way.

When a hot promotion pops up at their company, both Zack and Madelyn wind up on the short list for the position. But as the two square off, they discover that being heated rivals in the office makes for scorching bed play behind closed doors. Will Madelyn’s steamy, secret affair with Mr. Vice make her compromise her ideals—or worse, lose her heart?

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I really wanted to like this. Promise, I really did…

Madelyn Grayson and Zack Douglas work for the same advertising firm and are both striving to be at the top of their field, so naturally they’re rivals. Madelyn’s coming out of a long-term relationship after turning down a marriage proposal and Zack is the office playboy. Going with the theme of opposites attract, they fall in bed together and begin a steamy secret affair. 

Girl who wants a relationship and a guy who can’t give her one. The entire plot was full of clichés and extremely predictable. What starts as just sex becomes more. Madelyn came out of a relationship with a guy who was also her friend – you knew he was coming back. Zack is afraid of commitment – his past is littered with tragic relationships that ended badly. She wants him to change, he won’t. They break up and both end up depressed and realizing they love each other. Sigh…

Even worse, the characters themselves weren’t all that interesting. Zack at least had some personality. He was charming and funny (when he wasn’t being a spoiled child) and his character growth grows at a believable pace. Madelyn, however, spent the whole book whining about how she’s going to be single for the rest of her life and never have children (she’s like 28 or 29, I honestly can’t remember). She’s also a liar and a horrible friend. She lies to everyone in her life, letting them believe that she’s still in a relationship with her ex. Then she’s upset later when she has no one to talk to about Zack. She lies to her family and even to her ex. She also uses her ex to get back at Zack (didn’t see that one coming *rolls eyes*).

What killed it for me though was the ending. It was so over the top and cheesy that it almost hurt to read. Also, the events were completely out of character for Zack. There are ways to ‘go get the girl’ so to speak that actually keep with your character. 

While the cover was definitely hot, this book was not. The series is titled “The Graysons” which means it’s more of Madelyn’s family. To be honest, they didn’t really impress me much here so I do not know if I will be continuing the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.