Review ~ Pieces of You (Shattered Hearts #2) by Cassia Leo

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: January 21st 2014

Publisher: Random House UK, Transworld Publishers

Description:
Claire Nixon and Adam Parker each have a painful past too heavy to carry alone. Claire once tried to push Adam away but his relentless pursuit of her heart made her walls come crumbling down, and now they know they’re much stronger together than apart. 

But now Claire's attending college a hundred miles away from Adam, and the distance is forcing a crack. To add to the strain, Adam is sent to Hawaii on business, and doubts start creeping into both their hearts. 

Claire’s also dealing with her ex, rock star Chris Knight, being back in her life. Chris wants Claire more than anything, and he knows just how to get her: only he has the power to mend the final missing piece of Claire's broken heart. How can Claire ever choose between taking a chance on new love, or a second chance at having a family and a home?

My Opinion

I was glad that I requested all three books at once when I saw them as after finishing Relentless I moved straight onto reading Pieces of You. This book did worry me slightly as Relentless gives a clear indication of how this story was going to go and it was the emerging love triangle that had me slightly worried as I didn't know where the main focus would be. However, I did find myself enjoying the book.

I found Pieces of You more emotional than the first as with the re-introduction of Chris as a main character it brought more baggage and old memories up as they try to deal with what Claire did when they were apart. I was torn between liking Chris for the way he coped with everything as he becomes a vital part of Claire's life again and disliking him because I favoured Adam. By the end I still preferred Adam, but I didn't find Chris annoying like with the first book as he seemed to have matured and was there at the right moments. The character development in this book was great.

As you can probably see from my vagueness, I'm trying not to give anything away in case you haven't read Relentless. I always find reviewing sequels hard as I don't want to ruin the plot for anyone so I'm going to limit most comments. However, one thing I liked was the point of view switch. Unlike in Relentless, you get Adam, Claire and Chris's point of view in Pieces of You. When I saw this in the table of content I was slightly hesitant and wondered if three people telling the story was going to be too much and overwhelming with information. However, I was surprised at how well the book flowed. Three people were just about right and it gave and insight into every important character what with being written in first person. It definitely gave you a lot of detail and it also created minor stories within the bigger picture to keep things interesting.

Overall Pieces of You was a good sequel. It was just as fast-paced and engaging, so much so that I didn't realise how long I had been reading it when I stopped. The love triangle does not overshadow the emotional content and it was great to read about the characters developing.

Oh, and it also leaves you on a terrible cliffhanger so you may want to get the third book at the same time to avoid shouting in frustration! 

Review ~ Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 28th January 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Description:

Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. ESPECIALLY not boys.

Natalie and Brooke have had each other's backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.

Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can't remember and Brooke's boyfriend, Aiden, can't forget. Suddenly there's a question mark in Natalie and Brooke's friendship that tests everything they thought they knew about each other and has both girls discovering what true friendship really means.

My Opinion

Personally, I am slightly disappointed by this book. It started off well but then just became predictable with every twist glaringly obvious way before it was revealed. Basically I continued reading it because I was waiting to see Brooke's reaction. I didn't hate the book, there was something that kept me reading (which I will explain later) but it just fell a little flat and I feel indifferent to the story so I'm finding it hard to write this review as I just didn't connect or engage with it very well.

Anything to Have You started off well. I liked the friendship between Brooke and Natalie it was believable and I could sympathise with Natalie's attitude of not wanting to party but being dragged out by friends. The characters worked well together and I think Brooke's wild side complimented Natalie's more reserved, introverted nature. They bounced off each other and I liked the banter between them.

However, everything slowly started to go down hill after the first party. The author tried to set it up so there would be questions as to who had done what but it was just blatantly obvious, and after that the clues as to Natalie's condition were unmissable - well to everyone but her that is. I just found it irritating that she didn't consider the one factor that was so obvious. As well as this, the dual points of view were annoying. The book is written in first person and in parts so you get big chunks from Natalie or Brooke's point of view. This surprised me when I first saw it as I wasn't expecting a switch at chapter 8 and I thought it might be an interesting spin. However, most of the time it started off repeating previous events just from Brooke's pov. To me it felt like it was just padding and that there wasn't enough story to begin with so to fill it out the author retold sections which wasn't necessary. I feel that if you are going to do dual povs then the story needs to be moved along by it not moved backwards. Personally I feel that the author should have used third person if she was going to tell certain situations from both Natalie and Brooke to limit the repetitive nature.

Overall, I don't really have much to say about this book. It was predictable and slowly went downhill but ended alright. It wasn't bad but I think it's just an average read as there was nothing that made me go wow. I just feel very indifferent.

Review ~ The Kiss Before Christmas by Sophie Pembroke

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 19th December 2013

Publisher: HarperImpulse

Description:
An English Girl in New York

As the snow starts to fall on Manhattan, PA Dory Mackenzie is a long way from home, far from the comforts and cheer of her cozy family Christmases back in Liverpool.

So when her boss Tyler Alexander offers to pay her pricey ticket home for New Year, Dory just can’t say no… even if she has to pretend to be his girlfriend for the holidays!

Tyler may be hiding the real reason he needs a girlfriend-of-convenience but that’s the least of Dory’s worries when she’s up against the disapproval of his high society mother, and the suspicions of his gorgeous older brother Lucas, the black sheep of the family.

There’s no fooling Lucas, and it’s not just the truth he wants to get closer to… So before the bells have even rung out for Christmas day, Dory finds herself caught up in the Alexander family’s dramas – and sharing more than just a few kisses under the mistletoe!

My Opinion

When I read the description for this book my mind went instantly to the movie "The Proposal." It sounded exactly like the narrative for that only with the genders reversed. Now, I love that movie so it didn't put me off requesting it, all I hoped it wasn't a total rip off and I was so glad that it was not what I expected at all. It couldn't have been further from the movie and I think I like this storyline more!

The Kiss Before Christmas was a quick, easy, festive read that left me with that warm, fuzzy feeling by the end of it. It engaged me brilliantly and I couldn't put it down. The writing flowed seamlessly and I liked how, unlike a lot of novellas I read, The Kiss Before Christmas wasn't jumpy. It flowed from one scene to the next and they all linked well to create a flawless story. There wasn't much detail in the characters backstory, but for once I didn't care. You get a few fact but other than that you are focused solely on the present relationships and I thought the author did this beautifully. It's not usual that I don't mind missing a backstory but this book really didn't need more than it had.

I found myself surprisingly drawn to Lucas. He had a relaxed manner and being the black sheep of the family differed from Tyler and the rest. I was engaged and drawn in with the romance as it built and I loved how it developed. It was a slow build which allowed me to invest in the characters relationship fully. The web of lies surrounding it all added another depth of emotion as you could feel for the characters.

I wasn't sure how the author was going to tie everything up-I knew the ending but couldn't guess how she would get there. Because of this I found myself surprised when the last little twist revealed itself, which was a nice development.

The only slight complaint I have about this book is the cover. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty but I'm just so tired of seeing the same couple on Christmas novellas. This is the fifth book I have read this year with them on so I would have liked something a little more original.

Overall though book title was a great festive romance. My heart melted for the characters and I felt for their situation. Their story was engaging and I couldn't stop reading!

Review ~ Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimee Carter

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 26th November 2013

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Description:

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

My Opinion

Having never read anything by this author I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw Pawn. The Goddess Test never really interested me but this book caught my eye. Not only is the cover striking and stood out as something I may like but I really liked the title. It sums up the book in one word and although I didn't know that going in it sounded like the book would have a good concept behind it.

Basically, Pawn lived up to my expectations in what it was and the kind of things that would happen. It has the general dystopian aspects: tyrant/dictator, oppression of society, a strong character determined to do something about it and a hint of romance. It was the standard dystopian book but I found myself enjoying it. It was also a surprisingly quick read that moved at a fast-pace.

The start of the book really intrigued me, especially with Kitty's talk about not caring about death. From the start she seemed like a strong willed, determined character and I did find myself liking her. It set the scene and the tone of the book well and what life is like if you're not a VI or VII, where something as small as stealing an orange can get you killer. I also liked the way the plot unfolded and the idea of Masking people. It was like clones in someway but not in others. It was simple to understand without the need for genetic jargon and because of that I was glad that it didn't need to constantly be referred to or explained.

For me the only downside was up until the end there wasn't much explosive action. There were a lot of word games, threats and manipulating but not action which was slightly disappointing as when everything did kick off it was great. I didn't see some of the things coming and the ending was exciting and has me wanting to read book two, I just wished it was like that all the way through. Saying that though, because this book was short, I didn't find that the pace was affected by this.

Overall Pawn was an interesting read with a concept I really liked as it was solid and strong throughout. The characters were interesting and there was even a hint of romance added among the dystopian world Aimee Carter creates. I may have been persuaded to give The Goddess Test a chance after reading the author's writing now.

Review ~ Revenge of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 19th December 2013

Publisher: HarperImpulse

Description:
All she wants for Christmas is…revenge.

When chalet girl Amy Wright finds her ex’s name on Chalet Repos’ guest list she sees her chance to get back at him – Josh Carter, the guy who broke her heart. Getting revenge without losing her job will be tricky but luckily the other chalet girls are on hand to offer their support. Pretty soon she’s in too deep and realises she doesn’t want to hurt him anymore. She wants him back.

There’s just one teeny complication…

My Opinion

I'd been eagerly checking NetGalley every day or so to see if this title had been put up when the author contacted me with a copy of the book. I squealed-literally-when that email came through! I was so excited to read this third book in the Chalet Girl series by Lorraine Wilson as they are some of the best winter novellas I have read in a long time.

Out of the series I think this one is, by far, my favourite. It was fun, playful and I loved the revenge aspect. It was funny yet made you symapthise with Amy at what she had been through. You could understand her reasons for messing with Josh and it made her likable. It just made me smile-especially the chilli scene.

Also, I liked how this novella differed from the others in the series. Rather than have the characters not know each other, it was interesting that they had a history and had been a couple. As well as this the book focused more on the present events and moving forward rather than on the past. Unlike the other books in the series Josh and Amy's pasts weren't explained in as much depth and it was about trying to get over the details we were informed about.

Another thing I liked was that the romance was an under the surface thing until the end and the build up was great. The emotions in both the revenge and relationship felt real and my heart broke for Amy. However, she developed a lot surprisingly. I loved how she transformed towards the end in to a confident character who was determined to do what she needed. As well as this the support from her friends was also believable and made you love them even more, especially Tash.

Overall, Revenge of a Chalet Girl, lived up to and surpassed my expectations. I love how the author keeps Holly and Scott in each book and centers the story in their chalet as it links them all well. It made me smile, it made my heart break and it was fun and playful. It's definitely my favourite of the series. I highly recommend these perfect fireside reads for cold winter days.

Review ~ The Snow Queen by Alana Albertson

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 2nd December 2013

Publisher: Bolero Books LLC

Description:
Five years ago, Cambridge Ballet's Sugar Plum Fairy vanished after performing The Nutcracker. Despite extensive city and statewide searches, no traces of her, besides her ballet slippers, were ever found. Every year since, another member of the cast has gone missing after closing night: a Spanish Hot Chocolate, an Arabian Dancer, The Dew Drop Fairy, a Flower. Nieves Alba, who as a thirteen-year-old played Clara in the first ill-fated performance, is now cast as the Snow Queen. On closing night, every police officer in Boston surrounds the theater, determined to catch the perpetrator whom they’ve dubbed “The Nutcracker.” Can Nieves break the curse or will she be the next victim of America's favorite ballet?

My Opinion

It was the beautiful cover that first attracted me to requesting this novella. It also had an interesting Christmassy theme with a darker twist which is something that sounded like something I would love... and in away that's what I got.

The Snow Queen is a very short novella that didn't even last me an hour so I can't say a lot without revealing too much. The story was an okay Christmas/festive read however, because of the length you never get much detail or create relationships with any of the characters. It also meant that a lot of the ballet terms are never explained. The author obviously knows her stuff when it comes to ballet and that shows clearly, but coming from someone who has next to no knowledge it left me a bit confused as to what she was referring to - my knowledge fizzles out at pirouette.

As well as this because of the length everything felt a bit rushed, especially the ending which confused me. It felt like it posed a lot more questions than it answered and there were quite a few loose ends that needed tying up. 

The Snow Queen was quick, easy and the writing flowed well but I think it would be better if it was longer. For me there was so much that could have been developed and because it was an interesting concept I would have loved to read more. The relationships were so brief and went from one thing to another in an instant so I never felt anything for the characters. I couldn't grow to love or hate any of them and I couldn't fall for any of the romances.

Overall, it was a quick and easy story to get lost in but I feel there could be so much more potential and narrative to get from it to flesh it out and make it a great read. It feels a little underdeveloped right now for me but I liked the concept.

2.5

                                                   

ARC Review ~ Midwinter Magic by Erica Ridley

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 1st December 2013

Publisher: Intrepid Reads

Description:
After an eye-opening congressional hearing, former corporate shark Jack Morgan redirects his ill-gotten gains toward charity work. However, his attempts to bring holiday cheer to a Bolivian village meet with one disaster after another: canceled flights, crumbling luggage, implacable customs officials. His plans disintegrate further when he runs into a sexy tourist with . . . wings?

As Jack's guardian angel, Sarah Phimm has her work cut out for her. When his latest volunteer mission risks his life, she's forced to reveal herself to him—but only in part. She can't risk him knowing the truth. He's everything her immortal heart desires, but can never have. She soon discovers that keeping him safe amidst death bridges and tumbling telephone poles is far easier than guarding her heart.

My Opinion

I have been hunting around for Christmas novellas a lot at the moment, especially ones with romance as although they are slightly cheesy, they are normally feel good reads.So, when I saw a Christmas novella by Erica Ridley on NetGalley, of course I downloaded it. I loved her novel Charmed when she contacted me about a review so I was intrigued about this little novella.

Midwinter Magic for me was a slow starter. It took a long time for me to get into it and personally I felt it only started to pick up around the fifty per cent mark. I found the beginning to be very slow and repetitive with the same things being said over and over. It was like I was stuck in a cycle of "Jack wants to help," "Sarah wants to tell him and help other people but she can't break the rules." There was a lot of this repeated because the book was written like it was narrating their thoughts. Personally I would have liked more interaction with the character and more speech as I found myself skipping sections due to the repetitive nature.

However, saying that, at just over fifty per cent the book really changed and started to pick up.Erica returned to the playful style that I had become accustomed to in Charmed and I found myself hooked and finishing the novella in hardly any time at all. There were parts that made you smile, there was action and a trip to Nether-netherland which is always good in my books. There was a slight Christmas aspect but being set in Bolivia it wasn't the white Christmas I love in these types of books.

Overall it's a quick, easy read with a Christmas theme. It's what you would expect from a book like this and was enjoyable. 

Review ~ Impostor (Variants #1) by Susanne Winnacker

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: Jan 2nd 2014

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Description:
Tessa is a Variant with extraordinary abilities. She could be a hero, but all she wants to do is fall in love ...

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she's spent the last two years with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. There she trains with other Variants, such as long-term crush Alec, who each have their own extraordinary ability.

When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again. Tessa hates everything about being an impostor - the stress, the danger, the deceit - but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she'd do anything to keep.

Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

My Opinion

I can't help but feel really let down by this book. The blurb sounded really interesting. Superpowers, romance, murder, mystery? I couldn't ask for more from a description. However, I just feel that it was a really average read now I have finished it. For me there wasn't much originality in the book and it seemed like Sophie McKenzie's Medusa Project with a slight serial killer twist.

For me, the main issue was that it was all just very predictable. I felt that the author kept trying to lead you in certain directions to believe who the killer was but in the end it was so blatantly obvious that it was a false set up, it only left one possible conclusion which I figured out at forty per cent. For that reason there wasn't much suspense in this book for me. The fact that there was a relatively small cast who weren't developed that well with background also made it easier to figure out. I feel that if the author had gone into more depth about each suspect then it would have been less predictable.

As well as this, I found the book to be kind of sick and twisted. A gilr pretending to be a dead girl and lying to her parent??? And then at the end they have to lose their daughter all over again??? I know it says it in the blurb but reading it is different when you get dragged into the story. I just felt it was twisted and wrong. Like why did she have to turn into Maddison, she could have investigated just as well as some one else.

The other thing was the irritating unrequited love that was added to the story. It was painful to read. It doesn't make Alec likable and it switched from romance to murder, romance to murder. It rendered the book jumpy and I just didn't like it. Tessa seemed naive and had a lack of common sense which drove me insane.

The one thing I couldn't figure out was everyone's motives. I knew that Alec and Kate were keeping from Tessa but the author gave no clue as to what that was. However, when everything comes together at the end I did feel it was a bit anti-climax and a let down. I finished on a 'was that it?' which is never good for a book.

Overall the premise was interesting but for me Impostor lacked development and structure. It was too jumpy and predictable. It was a quick and short book but I feel it needs more development in the mystery and character aspects to turn it into a good mystery/suspense. For me, Impostor is average.

Review ~ Echo Bay by Gina Robinson

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 17th September 2013

Description:
SOME MEMORIES ARE TOO PAINFUL TO FACE
Tara Clark is spending her first Christmas at her grandparents' resort lodge since herbrother died near there in a snowboarding accident on Christmas Eve ten years ago. When her matchmaking grandma sets her up with tiny Echo Bay's newest resident–none other than her ex-fiancé Ryan Sanders–not even a record snowfall can dampen the rekindling of a love that wouldn’t die.

SOME LOVES ARE TOO STRONG TO DENY
When Ryan Sanders returns to the small town he grew up in, his life feels nearly complete. But as the snow piles up in the week before Christmas, and his ex-fiancée Tara shows up, Ryan has to face the truth that he has never really gotten over her. And with Christmas Eve fast approaching, all he wants for Christmas is Tara.

My Opinion

I've had this book on my iPod for a few months, yet I've been putting off reading it because of the Christmassy and festive theme. I just couldn't muster the energy to start thinking that far ahead but now coming to the end of November I decided it was okay to start reading it finally!

I'm not sure this is going to make sense but this book felt like it had a homely, Christmas feeling and atmosphere that just enveloped you in the beautiful landscape and setting the author creates. Everyone in the book pulls together, knows each others business and I liked the over all effect the author gave the lodge. It was a friendly and welcoming vibe that almost made me fall in love with the place in my head.

I loved reading books set in ski resorts in the winter. For me they are the perfect fireside reads, especially when they involve romance and this book had both. I liked that the book included struggles that Tara had to face by moving back to Echo Bay and I liked she was strong enough to face the fears on the slopes. The ski sections were a nice change of pace in the book.

As well as this I loved some of the sweet moments in the romance - especially the first one in the forest. They were playful, sweet and put a smile on my face. They were the moments that felt most realistic and natural in the book for me, in regards to their emotions. I really wanted more of these sections as for me, the build up to the romance is always better than the actual romance. This was was of the problems I had with the book. There wasn't much of a build up. Tara and Ryan were a very much hot and cold couple and I found some of the shifts in personalities slightly annoying. 

When Ryan and Tara weren't together, there are a lot of thoughts and for me this slowed the pace of the book dramatically. As well as this sometimes they could be quite repetitive as the book would switch from Tara and then to Ryan. I like seeing inside a characters mind but for me that's all this book seemed to be. I wanted a bit more action, whether on the slopes or interaction in the romance. 

The only other issue I had was the meddling grandparents. At the start of the book it was cute and sweet. However, when Margie was still interfering towards the end I found myself starting to dislike her. I just wanted her to let the relationship unfold by itself, and I felt it lessened the romance.

Overall though, Echo Bay was an enjoyable winter read. It made me feel Christmassy and although it's a bit slow and stiff in parts, the sweet heart warming moments and HAE makes up for it.

Review ~ Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 28th Feb 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins UK

Description:
In the world of Divergent, society is divided into five factions – Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful) and Erudite (the intelligent). Every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice Prior, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is. Her choice shocks everyone, including herself.

During the initiation that follows, Tris and her fellow initiates undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them, Tris must determine who her friends really are – and where the boy who seems to both threaten and protect her fits into the life she's chosen.

But Tris also has a secret, kept hidden because she's been warned it can mean death. As unrest and growing conflict threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris learns that this secret might save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the scene with the first book in the Divergent trilogy – dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences and unexpected romance.

My Opinion

I have been meaning to buy this series for a while but of course being a reviewer I get a lot of books sent to me that I end up reading those first. So when the first two (Divergent and Insurgent) became available on NetGalley because of the release of the final book Allegiant, I knew I had to request them immediately and was so glad that I got accepted!

I knew this series was big but I never really knew what it was about or what was involved so going into reading this, I didn't know what to expect. I assumed it was going to be like most YA out there but boy was I wrong. It was so different to anything else I have read before - especially in terms of violence. I was expecting it to be quite muted and tame but I love that it wasn't. The author created the characters brilliantly and I loved the strong mindedness of Tris, especially towards the end. 

Divergent was action packed from start to finish and it kept m hooked all the way through. Honestly, there was a moment where I wanted to skim read a section. The writing moves at a fast pace and everything is described vividly. The fights were choreographed well so you could see what was going on. The world building was great and I liked the unique idea of Factions. I did find parts of Tris' revelation towards the end a little predictable but I was more interested in enjoying the book as I read it than think ahead. The writing just immersed me in Roth's world.

I think my favourite part of the book was the training and the development between Four and Tris. I liked how she grew into her role and became more herself. I also thought some of the technological side of things such as simulations were inventive and different.

Overall Divergent was a great read and I can't believe I waited so long to finish it! I've already read Insurgent and my review will be up in a few days so now I'm just waiting for the paperbacks to arrive so I can finish the trilogy! I would highly recommend you read them if you haven't already, especially before the movie comes out next year!

Review ~ The Trouble with Mojitos by Romy Sommer

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 17th October 2013

Publisher: HarperImpulse

Description:
Turquoise blue waters. Sandy white beaches. Mojitos... Film location scout Kenzie Cole has found herself in paradise. Working in the Caribbean for a week is just what she needs to escape the long line of exes in her closet. Though the last thing she expects is to be picked up at the resort bar by a disgraced former Prince!

Luckily for Kenzie, exile is suiting the man formerly known as Prince Fredrik very well. And it’s not long before his rugged, pirate charm is proving hard to resist.

But Rik’s been spending his time in paradise exorcising demons of his own and he has danger written all over him. If Kenzie was sensible she’d run a mile instead of lose herself to lust - although, they do say sometimes you have to get lost before you can be found....

My Opinion

Well this book just has me stumped. On one hand it was a nice, sweet book but on the other I feel it was lacking something and that is what's bugging me - I can't put my finger on it what was missing. I did enjoy it but I had this empty feeling once I'd finished it, I was slightly confused (I'll explain why in a bit) so I decided to sleep on my review and see if I could figure out why this book has stumped me.

Firstly, I love the setting in this book. I would love to live in the Caribbean and so imaging the authors world was like a dream come true for the few hours it took me to read The Trouble with Mojitos. I also liked the fact that Kenzie and Rik were exploring islands that had been left untouched for years, it made a nice change from touristy sites and romantic getaways in places like Paris. 

As well as this the author definitely managed to cram a lot of history into the small amount of pages. I liked how Rik's history was dragged out from the book and although there are a lot of obvious hints as to why he is in the situation he's in, I liked that we had to wait to get a confirmation on our assumption. I would have liked a bit more detail on what actually happened with all of Kenzies other 'bad guys' as well though. I felt her back ground was a bit underdeveloped and rushed, with a story about one guy coming out right towards the end.

For me the book started and ended well but the middle fell flats slightly as the pace slowed down. I think is where the main issue appeared for me. I just felt really detached from the characters and didn't engage with their story. I found it all a little predictable and although the romance was sweet, I didn't find it passionate. For me I wanted more playful flirting and teasing from Rik's side as the build up to the romance is my favourite part normally. He said he was going to be able to make her beg for him by the end, but he never really did a lot to follow through on that in my opinion. I just wanted more.

I did like the ending though and I was glad the book picked back up when Kenzie returned to Europe. At least Rik had a bit more fight in him. However the epilogue just didn't make sense. It was like I had walked into a totally different book and because there was no mention of rings at all in the previous chapters I was just the confused so although the book redeemed itself it then crashed back down on the last few pages and rather than a happily ever after ending I was left frowning as I tried to remember if I could have missed something.

Overall The Trouble with Mojitos is a sweet read that did keep me turning pages. It was quick at had a lot of detail in certain aspects but not in others. It was enjoyable but personally I feel it lacked the wow factor which is maybe why I feel indifferent to it - it needed more of a build up in the romance. If you like quickly sweet reads though you may want to check it out, it's by no means a bad book - I just didn't connect.

ARC Review ~ The Edge of Always by J. A. Redmerski + Excerpt

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 7th November 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins UK

Description:
The hotly anticipated sequel to the bestselling New Adult novel, THE EDGE OF NEVER – a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller

Camryn Bennett and Andrew Parrish wanted a life less ordinary – and together, against the world, it’s only getting better. But out of the blue, their perfect life together is rocked by tragedy…

Struggling to cope with a different future, Andrew soon realises that Camryn is hiding a world of pain. Desperate to bring her back to life, Andrew is sure that if they can get out on the road again, everything will fall into place. If only he can convince Camryn that their love is worth fighting for…

My Opinion

It was receiving an email from HaperCollins with an invitation to review this book in advance that gave me the much needed to kick to start The Edge of Never and if you've read my review of that then I loved it so much I couldn't wait to start The Edge of Always. In fact I started this book an hour after finishing the first and I'm so thankful I was able to get an advanced copy - this book didn't disappoint!

The Edge of Always is just as good as the first. I was a little worried with how the author was going to continue the series due to the way she left The Edge of Always but I was thankful that Camryn and Andrew didn't loose any of the carefree spirit and rebellion against conforming to societies wishes. Personally I felt the start was incredibly predictable and there for I spent the first few chapters waiting for something to happen rather than just read the book. I was turning pages and just hoping I was wrong - I wasn't - and therefore it was a little slow to get into. 

However the writing soon picked up and I was once again thrown into the romance that Camryn and Andrew share and the relationship I have come to adore. I didn't find The Edge of Always as emotional as the first book but for me it was more on the sweet side. Maybe that was because it was written more from Andrew's point of view and therefore it was about him trying to help Camryn - I don't know - but at least it didn't make me cry this time! I still felt for the characters and connected with them however I just didn't feel so emotional which I think was a nice change of pace from The Edge of Never.

Once again, I love the message of not conforming and the desire to travel. I could relate to it well, having my on list of countries I want to visit. The whole section on the road and travelling I loved and it was great to see Andrew return to his normal self. I just loved the carefree attitude and spontaneity the characters had, it was unique and original for me.

Finally I just love the romance between the two. The love they feel for each other is believable with becoming one of those sickly romances that is full of cliches. I like how the trust each other enough and neither of them was ever possessive or jealous. It was a nice change.

Overall The Edge of Always is a brilliant sequel to The Edge of Always and the author did a great job of following up on their story. I also liked the ending - it rounded things off nicely. If you haven't read The Edge of Never yet, go out and buy it before the Edge of Always is released! You won't be disappointed so don't make the mistake I did of putting off reading it. They are beautifully written and full of emotion.

You can pre-order The Edge of Always here: Amazon and because I am on HarperCollins' mailing list I have an extract to run alongside my review so enjoy!

***WARING***

If you haven't read The Edge of Never yet do not read on as the extract contains spoilers to the ending of the first book!

Excerpt:

Review ~ The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: November 15th 2012

Publisher: Harper Collins

Description:
Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?

Due to sexual content and language, this book is recommended for 17+ – Adult Contemporary Women’s – New Adult Fiction

My Opinion

Wow, talk about an emotional roller coaster! This book went from light-hearted flirting, playful teasing and a hot romance to flipping and turning into a dramatic, torturous ending that made me cry. I'm still shocked by how many different emotions it brought out of me as I write this now and I've had nearly two days to try and digest this amazing read.

I think the main reason I got so emotional with this book was because of the characters - I just fell in love with them and their story. They were believable, easy to relate to and made me both smile, laugh and cry. I could sympathise with them and connect really well which is what made this book so different from a lot of New Adult books I've read - I actually cared what happened to them!

I also loved the fact that they weren't perfect. They had bad mouth (brilliant), a playful and witty sense of humour and they weren't afraid to challenge each other. Camryn was a bit more reserved and held back with what she thought but I loved how Andrew brought out her confidence and she developed. As well as this I could just tell I was going to enjoy this book when they first met. Camryn was not automatically swept of her feet and was stand-off-ish with him which just made me laugh.

Another thing I really liked about this book was the message about not conforming with society and doing whatever you want that brings you happiness rather than those around you. I could relate well to the message and thought it was a nice change to see characters who actually wanted to follow their own desires. I don't know why but I really like the line "Coincidence is just the conformist term for fate." I think for me it summed up the message that Camryn and Andrew were choosing their own path.

I did see the ending coming a few chapters before the reveal was made, which made it a bit predictable. However saying that it still made me cry, especially Andrew's letter. Oh my God, my eyes just teared up which is something that doesn't happen often. The book just did a one-eighty and my emotions couldn't cope - it was just great and mind boggling.

Overall I can't believe I waited so long to read this. It has been sat on my Kindle for months and having forgotten the blurb that initially interested me I put it off as the cover always looked slightly depressing to me. How wrong was I? I wish I had started it sooner but at least I don't have to wait for the sequel now (which I started earlier today)! I would highly recommend this book.

ARC Review ~ Secrets of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Expected Release Date: October 24th 2013

Publisher: Harper Impulse (HarperCollins UK)

ISBN: 9780007544073

Description:

Set in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Verbier, the winter playground of the rich and famous, Secrets of a Chalet Girl is the second book in Lorraine Wilson’s fabulous Ski Season series.

My Opinion

When Lorraine Wilson emailed me to tell me Secrets of a Chalet Girl was up on NetGalley I headed straight over to request it and was so happy when it appeared in my approved list. After loving the first novella Confessions of a Chalet Girl I couldn't wait to read the sequel and it was a perfect gloomy-day read that I could snuggle up by a fire with. Secrets of a Chalet Girl was a quick, fast-paced read that I finished in an hour. It kept me turning pages and I couldn't put it down. 

The author definitely doesn't hang around with the writing. Diving straight into the story at Holly's Hen Party, it picks up with the girls playing truth or dare which set the mood for the book well - especially when dares are rapidly directed towards guys. It caught my interest straight away, making me wonder which direction the book was going to head in. However, a shy girl coming off the back of some bad ordeals, sexy guy and pushy friend gave me some idea.

One word I can think of to describe this book is playful. I liked the teasing and games, it was flirty and engaging. I would say this book was milder than Confessions of a Chalet Girl and wasn't as steamy in the romance section but I liked that as it made it different so it didn't feel like I was reading the same book all over again. The romance between Flora and Zac was sweet and although they both have their own problems I liked how the author didn't dwell on the negatives too much. The characters wanted to be better and more confident and I liked that they were trying to change themselves from the start. Unlike a lot of NA the ordeals were a motivation to change rather than constantly making the character whine.

Secrets of a Chalet Girl is a very quick read and once again I was surprised by how much the author managed to cram into the novella. The characters had a background and a past, we also got to see some of Zac's. As well as this there was the developing romance, a little about the future and a wedding. There was a lot of story in the small amount of pages but I still find myself wanting it to be longer as I enjoy Lorraine's writing!

I also love the setting of this series. Now, I would rather be on a beach any day but there is something about snow and ski slopes that intrigues me, especially in romance books. I don't know what it is about the snow but I just like imagining winter wonderlands. It also makes it the book a perfect autumnal/winter read during the evening.

Overall I really enjoyed Secrets of a Chalet Girl. It was playful, hot and made me smile. It was an easy read that, once again, was written beautifully and I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to see what Lorraine Wilson releases next!