Nearly Broken

We’d both gone missing at one point, but Claire had one thing I didn’t. Someone to notice. So why was I the one still here and she the one still gone? 

Nineteen year old Megan Smith has spent the past year working in a small town diner in the middle of nowhere. Life is quiet, simple, safe. Then comes the news that her look-a-like has gone missing. 

Claire.

Still damaged both physically and mentally, Megan's not looking to be noticed. Wherever she goes from here, it's a road she needs to take alone. But when Nickolas Ellis takes the job as the new nightshift cook, it scares her how easily her defenses crumble down, down, down for him. But there are secrets she can't bear to share with just anyone, unspeakable acts that continue to haunt, and when the similarities of Claire’s abduction couples with the fear of an unwanted visitor in town, the urge to run before it all happens again intensifies, threatening the only happiness Megan's ever found.

Title: Nearly Broken
Author: Devon Ashley
Release Date: June 4th 2013
Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
When they said this book was dark, they meant it. I don't think anything could have prepared me for the morbid life Megan has had to go through. This book discusses very traumatic circumstances that is not recommended for feint hearted. 

When left with the choice to stand and fight against your darkest fears, will you stay and face them, or continue to hide and run? Megan has to choose and if you decide to read this book you will get to be right there with her. 

Megan is finally safe. She is happy, in this small nowhere town. Where her past surely wont find her. She has escaped the nightmare of her kidnapping. But just when she starts to feel comfortable, letting down her guard down to the new night cook Nickolas, she is mistaken for another girl, Claire. A girl that looks exactly like Megan, who has gone missing as well, but this girl has someone to notice she is gone, she has someone to care what happened to her, so why hasn't she turned up. 

A man comes to the small town and Megan's carefully patched together world comes crashing down. She has to choose between keeping her secrets and confronting her demons, or releasing her burden to be free.

Remember this story may not be for everyone. Be sure this type of mature content is right for you! If you do choose to read it I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to the sequel!!

Recommended reads based off of Nearly Broken:
Easy and The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

Random Acts of Crazy

Goodreads Summary:
I never intended to pick up a naked hitchhiker wearing nothing but a guitar. A guitar. Really. I don't collect guys like that (don't ask what kind of guys I do collect), but when you spot a blonde, tanned, sculpted man with a gorgeous smile and his thumb poking up and practically begging you to stop – you stop.

And I definitely never thought I'd be staring into the bright blue eyes of Trevor Connor, the lead singer for Random Acts of Crazy, an indie rock star I followed like the slobbering fileshare fangirl I am. How he came to be nude and lost six hundred miles from home is quite the tale, but how we fell in love is even more unreal.

Because someone like Trevor Connor, headed to Harvard Law next year, isn't supposed to want someone like me, a rural Ohio chick majoring in Boredom at Convenience Store University who is all curves and frizzy blonde hair and manners so unpolished they have sharp edges that make you bleed.

But he did.

When his best friend, Joe Ross, the bass player for Random Acts of Crazy and a man who makes Calvin Klein models look like Shrek, drove eleven hours through the night to rescue him, though, it got real complicated. It's one thing to like two different guys and be torn.

What do you do, though, when maybe – just maybe – you don't have to choose?

As my Aunt Josie says sometimes, "It's always complicated."

Title: Random Acts of Crazy
Author: Julia Kent
Release Date: May 21st 2013
Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
This book is for  mature audience only. There is sexual content and inappropriate language for young readers. 18+

While this isn't the typical book I would pick up, when I had the opportunity to review it, I jumped at it, my own random act of crazy. Darla picks up a hitchhiker whose wearing nothing but  his guitar, a spiked dog collar and a straw cowboy hat. She somehow finds reasoning in picking him up, and she soon finds out that he is Trevor Conner, the guy she follows online with a fiery passion as he is in the lead singer in the band Random Acts of Crazy an online indie rock sensation. 

Joe comes to Trevor's rescue. Joe is of course the lead guitarist. And I cannot understand why Darla falls for him immediately but she does even after the time she just spent with Trevor. Now this is where the plot took a twist into Savages (the movie) territory. Darla may not have to choose between the lead and the bass guitarist. She may just be able to have both. 

I can see why Joe and Trevor are attracted to Darla. All three are stuck living a life they feel trapped in. Joe and Trevor see Darla as this carefree spirit with a curvy body that sings to their souls. Now I know everyone knows the saying 'Bros before hoes' but whoever said that apparently didn't think about sharing because that is exactly what they decide to do. 

I personally would have liked the book a lot better if it had just been a love triangle (I can't believe I just said that, I have never wanted a love triangle before) but for this story I think it would have worked better for my tastes than what actually happened. Major plot twist, that I wasn't expecting but after thinking about it their were clues leading up to that point. I just don't believe you would expect any story to take that kind of turn, so that is why I was caught off guard. 

Anyways, I find that this was an enjoyable read. It had a lot of lighthearted comedy, that will make you giggle. There was some very steamy romance. A major plot twist. And there will be a sequel so if you find yourself enjoying Random Acts of Crazy, the ride doesn't stop here!

Recommended reads based off of Random Acts of Crazy:
Such a Rush and Pushing the Limits

Riding On Air

Goodreads Summary:

For readers of Jenny Downham, John Greene and Maureen McCarthy, a poignant young adult romance about following your dreams and realising what really matters.

What can you do when your own hands are the enemy? Hold on tight, for as long as it takes.

Melissa has secrets. Sure it’s pretty obvious she has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, but no one knows how bad it is or how many pills she takes for the pain. She’s determined to make her horse Jinx into a champion and she dreams that her childhood friend William will one day see her, rather than her condition.

So when William asks her out and Jinx is shortlisted for selection in an elite training program, it seems Melissa’s dreams have come true. But when her secrets are exposed, all those dreams come crashing down around her. Can William ever forgive her? And can she learn about letting go in time to truly ride on air when it matters most?

Title: Riding On Air

Author: Maggie Gilbert

Publisher: Escape Publishing

Release Date: April 1st 2013

Rating: 2 Stars

Review:

This story fell way short for me. I have to say it was okay, nothing special about it, it was just a story. Boring and drawn out. This would have been a great idea for a short story, but it was unevenly paced and just so downright simple. No complexity. The only things I really did enjoy were how factual it was about horses, something I very much enjoy and the setting of being around horses. 

I picked this up with the expectations of getting to live in the horse world, and I got that but it fell so flat, too flat for me to even say I liked it. I can only describe it as ehh...okay...I guess. I would not recommend it, unless you were just dying to read it. There is no complexity to the story. Yes our main character Melissa has JRA which would be devastating for someone who just wanted to ride and couldn't hold the reigns. 

I felt this book could have been promising. I could have had more interesting and compelling plot twists. Instead it ended exactly the same boring way it started. I was hoping this would be the kind of story that would have more to it than meets the eye, so if you do decide to read this don't make the same mistake I did. She has JRA and she always will, it isn't going to miraculously get better or find a way for her to be able to use her hands. 

Another piece of the disappointment was the insta-love quality. So Melissa has been in love with William for forever. She has admired her older brothers best friend from afar. Now all of a sudden he is showing interest in her and telling her he has had feelings for her for forever even though bombshell looking babes throw themselves at him all the time. Apparently he couldn't go after her till she was 16 because he would have looked like a perv to her brothers because he is 18. This part seemed ludicrous to me since they have always been two years apart, but I don't want to nitpick. 

One other thing I enjoyed was her step-mother Jenny. She was a nice and positive step-mother something that isn't always portrayed as so. Which was unexpected. I just wish there could be more of those unexpected characters twists. Minus all the self-consciousness and just grow a pair, get out there and make shit happen. Instead of all these random, I am not good enough for him moments. I want a story I read to be more than that! And I don't think that is unfair or unrealistic of me. 

Reads that won't make you disappointed or upset:

My Life Next Door and Such a Rush

Evercrossed

Goodreads Summary: 
It’s been a year since Ivy’s boyfriend, Tristan, died. They’ve both moved on—Tristan to the other side of the afterlife, and Ivy to sweet, dependable Will. Now Ivy’s heading to Cape Cod, hoping to leave the horror of last summer behind. She wants nothing more than to lie on the beach, sip lemonade, and hang out with her friends. 

But then a car crash ends Ivy’s life. 

As she floats to the beyond, looking down on the life she’s left behind, Tristan breathes life back into her with a passionate kiss. She wakes up in the hospital, surrounded by Will and her family, but all she can think about is the love that she lost. 

But memories aren’t all that’s come back from the past. And this time, Ivy’s not sure love will be enough to save her.

Title: Evercrossed (Kissed by an Angel #4)
Author: Elizabeth Chandler
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: March 8th 2011
Rating: 5 Stars

In my head all I can really think is Oh Mother Trucker! I honestly enjoyed the book but it leaves you on the mother of all cliff hangers. Of course we are introduced to the characters we have known before, Ivy, Will, and Beth. They are on a summer vacation in Cape Cod working for Beth's Aunt. There is a brief glimpse of Tristan as a super angel, and of course our Lovely Lacey makes a few appearances. With all that said there are some new characters also. Like Kelsey, Beth's party hardy cousin, who has a personality similar to Suzanne (who is vacationing in Europe) which they point out in the book. Kelsey is very blunt and her character is very modern. She is supposedly a super athlete with a body like Serena Williams. Her best friend Dayhna is a good girl pushed to do bad things with Kelsey, I thought her character was going to be more important because she was discussed a lot in the first half of the book however her character slowly deteriorated. There is also a new man figure an amnesiac that washed up on shore mysteriously the same night that Ivy and Beth get into a fatal car accident where Ivy actually dies. Guy (the temporary name for the amnesiac because he cannot remember who he is) has very similar characteristics to Tristan which is what pulls Ivy to him and also pulls her away from Will. Oh sweet Will, how I wanted you to be the one. It became clear a short way into the book that they were a couple that just ran the bases, without any real sincerity behind it. Will of course was sincere with his feelings but Ivy just could not open her heart enough, which then caused Will to become kind of a dink and really made me shake my head in disappointment. 

This book is filled with many ups and downs, taking you on a spin that if your weak hearted you might not be able to handle (*consult your physician if necessary). I have to tell you right now I feel broken hearted. There is a common theme to this book that Gregory has somehow made his way back to get revenge, so I am slowly waiting for this to happen, while Beth and Will are being overprotective parents to Ivy. I do not know what it is, maybe it's Chandlers writing, but I always feel like Will is about to go off an start dating someone else. Every time Ivy sees Will he is going off or coming back from hanging out with mainly Beth and Dayhna. I do not know why but I just feel like he is, maybe it is Ivy and I am just shadowing her but man she handles things way better than I would have been able to.

So in summary I Loved the book, Chandler impresses me with her writing yet again and has me flipping the pages and before you know it the short 288 page book is over with. I am however so disappointed that I had to wait any time at all on that mother of a cliff hanger. A whole year came and went before the Everlasting came out and that is just wrong. So now that they are both out I feel confidant telling you to go read these two books now! The Kissed by an Angel series is AMAZING!

Recommended reads based off of Evercrossed:
Blue is for Nightmares and Book of Shadows

Keeper of the Lost Souls

Goodreads Summary:

Bryn McCaskey is young, naïve, and can talk to ghosts...

Like her mother and grandmother, Bryn comes from a breed of witches called The Keepers of the Lost Souls. Their main purpose is to guard those spirits who are permanently or temporarily grounded in the world of the living. Handling supernatural creatures is something which comes naturally to Bryn, however, dealing with people is a whole different story.

As her 18th birthday approaches it's time for her to take on her first assignment. Bryn is forced to confront her inability to communicate with others in an effort to save the one soul that can mean the difference between life and death for mankind.

Johnny Shaw is a lost soul with a personal vendetta against witches...

A vendetta he has carried on even after death. As much as he hate's them he must join forces with a keeper witch, in order to stop a century old threat. When fate brings them together, not only will they be forced to learn how to work as a team, but they will have to depend on each other to stop an evil witch carrying a six hundred year grudge!

Title: Keeper of the Lost Souls
Author: Kristy Centeno
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Release Date: July 8th
Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
This is an intriguing story about a girl who was just turned 18 and now has 23 ghost charges to look after, one with a a grudge against witches. Understanding this can be a rough situation, as Bryn is a witch and Johnny Shaw, number 23, hates them for what they have done to his family. The only way they can possibly unite is because they find they have a common enemy. The evil witch that plans to unleash a terrible evil on the world.

I enjoyed Centeno's take on witches. I haven't read a book dealing with witches in a while so it is always nice to read a new authors take on the mystical world. I found her writing witty and fun. We got to know the characters as the story went on and not in the boring info dump kind of way, they characters really grew throughout the novel.

Bryn is an awesome character. She was not a popular girl in high school, she was viewed as weird and a loser, but she holds nothing against any of those people. She truly is just a nice person. She has the support of her mother and grandmother, which always seems common in witch related stories the trait of being a witch transfers through the generations.

Johnny and Bryn have a wonderful connection, when Johnny isn't damming her to hell, a perfect example of opposites attract. There is romance in this story, but in no way is it forced or just thrown into the story. I really thought it worked and was a great fun to read.

The good...
Strong writing and witty banter
Great character development
Fun and interesting story

The downfall...
There was a bit of a drag period after she got her charges, before it picked up again into the action.

A really fun read. I look forward to more of Johnny and Bryn!

Recommended reads based off of Keeper of the Lost Souls:
Hex Hall Series and The Secret Circle

Anomaly

Goodreads Summary:
Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Thalli is different than others in The State. She feels things. She asks questions. And in the State, this is not tolerated. The Ten scientists who survived the nuclear war that destroyed the world above believe that emotion was at the core of what went wrong—and they have genetically removed it from the citizens they have since created. Thalli has kept her malformation secret from those who have monitored her for most of her life, but when she receives an ancient piece of music to record as her community’s assigned musician, she can no longer keep her emotions secreted away.

Seen as a threat to the harmony of her Pod, Thalli is taken to the Scientists for immediate annihilation. But before that can happen, Berk—her former Pod mate who is being groomed as a Scientist—steps in and persuades the Scientists to keep Thalli alive as a test subject.

The more time she spends in the Scientist’s Pod, the clearer it becomes that things are not as simple as she was programmed to believe. She hears stories of a Designer—stories that fill her mind with more questions: Who can she trust? What is this emotion called love? And what if she isn’t just an anomaly, but part of a greater design?

Title: Anomaly
Author: Krista Mcgee
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Release Date: July 9th
Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A great sci-fi dystopian combo. I had a great time reading this story. I know you are probably thinking about Delirium and how it sounds similar, and it is...but Anomaly is still a story of it's own. While I am not a religious person, and tend to lean more towards science, I still enjoyed this book with it's Christianity basis. 

The way the society was described was really fascinating. It is always my favorite part about Dystopian novels, is how the world is the way it is and why it is that way. Anomaly really did an excellent job creating this world underground, were people have lived without feeling since the earth is no longer habitable. 

When Thalli's anomaly is discovered, she can feel and no one else can, she becomes a test subject as to what went wrong and why she can feel. This is when she meets an old man who introduces her to Christianity and the plot thickens as we get the idea of a designer aka god. 

The good...
A very interesting society with a thrilling story line. 
Great plot and strong characters.
Great set up point for the next novel.

The downfalls...
The idea of religion is kind of sprung on you without any warning in the description which may not be appealing to some people.
The start of the novel takes place during the climax, which draws for a thrilling beginning but takes away a lot of the surprise of the ending.

Anomaly is a part of a series, this is just the beginning of what is sure to be a fun and exciting trilogy. I can't wait to read what is next!

Recommended reads based off of Anomaly:
Delirium and Under the Never Sky

The Year of the Great Seventh

Goodreads Summary:
Sophie has always felt out of step — an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.

To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.

Title: The Year of the Great Seventh

Author: Teresa Orts

Publisher: Drayton Press

Release Date: July 6th 2013

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Review:

So, in the beginning you are going to get the setting for a rather generic begining of a relationship. Also you will get a lot of tell vs. show. However, once the plot gets rolling, so does your heartbeat and you are sucked in to this ya-fantasy. Orts gives us a very interesting story outline...Egyptian Prophecy...oh yes, I think so. It really is an exciting ride, although when I first heard of the story I thought for sure it would be taking place in Egypt, and it actually does not, it takes place in Los Angeles and New York. I found myself many times so wrapped into the story, I could actually picture myself on the streets of New York.

 

So as Nate and Sophie are on the hunt for clues to save Nate's life, we are drawn in more and more as hints are dropped, and you have to make sense of. While this is a fantasy story it has a strong sense of realistic fiction as well a mystery all in one. All elements combine forcing you to keep the book in your hands until you are finished.  

 

So to the Positives...

A very intersting story line that draws you in and has you begging for more.

A cleverly laid out plot that allows the reader to try and piece the mystery together along with Sophie and Nate.

Descriptive quality

Quirky and inteligent characters

 

The dowfalls...

The beginning is slow and drags on, couped with teen angst for the first few chapters

A little too much telling whats going on rather than letting the reader experience it

 

I am very excited for the sequel. Since we already know our characters we wont have the beginning character building that caused the beginning to drag on a little long, so it should dive right in to some more heart-pumping action. I hope you write fast Orts!

 

 

Recommended reads based off of The Year of the Great Seventh:

Tiger's Curse and Banished from Grace

 

 

Addicted to You

Goodreads Summary:

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy on board can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Title: Addicted to You
Author: Krista and Becca Ritchie
Release Date: July 1st 2013
Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
My Take -
What a compelling story, that you WILL NOT be able to put down until your finished. I loved every moment of this book and could not get enough. Addicted to You has me addicted. Two people, best friends, both dealing with their own addictions, trying to live their lives while keeping their addictions a secret. Get ready to live through their addictions with them. This is an intense roller coaster ride full of awakening to find your true feelings and seeing your life for all it's faults.

This book will keep you on your toes, as Lily and Loren struggle to get control of their lives.

Characters -
Lily is addicted to sex which leads her to a lot of poor choices. She is in love with Loren but won't ever go there again because she feels like she isn't good enough for him. She looses her virginity at a very young age and now sex is her biggest stress reliever. She can't go through the day without having an orgasm to let the stress go away.
Lo is addicted to drinking like his father. He has never had contact with his mother and becomes an alcoholic at a very young age. Such a sad situation that is actually very common with youth today.

Overall -
Lo and Lily become enablers for each other. Once they get past their qualms about not being good enough for each other and come to show their true feelings of loving one another, they become even more of enablers for one another. Lo satisfies Lily's sexual needs and Lily takes care of Lo when he is way to fucked up to take care of himself. But this is a dangerous line to cross and cannot last forever... This is a definite must read for those that are interested in stories about addiction wrapped up in a new adult novel. I can't wait for the sequel!!!!

Recommended reads based off of Addicted to You:
The Secret of Ella and Micha and The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden



Untellable

Goodreads Summary:
Aspen Dwyer, recently emancipated from foster care, is searching for a place to hide from a past with secrets too dark to share. Honey Creek, Ohio, presents itself as the best place to start a new life and stay undercover. There she meets Colton Moraine, a man with strong family ties and an even stronger sense of loyalty. His boisterous, loving family welcomes Aspen with warmth she hasn’t felt in years. She’s surprised at how quickly and deeply she falls for Colton. When a dangerous criminal comes to Honey Creek, intent on his revenge against her, Aspen must choose between two options. Should she stay and risk her life and the rejection of the people she’s grown to love? Or should she run again, and leave behind any chance of a happy future?

Title: Untellable

Author: Suzanne Lilly

Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press

Release Date: February 24th 2013

Rating: 3 Stars 

 

Review:

First Take -

A unique and interesting story that draws you in for more. The cover gives a dark and intense vibe, which flows well throughout the novel. Aspen has been emancipated and is on the run from her father. She has had a terribly tragic past and is trying to escape from its shadow.

 

The Characters -

Aspen is a driven individual. She is hardened by the her past yet still an insecure girl that was robbed of a proper childhood. I would have liked her to grow more, which could only happen if the novel was longer.

Colden was the bright light in this novel. He had a great sense of humor and was exactly what Aspen needed. He was someone she could depend on and after living in foster care that is something she has never had the chance to know.

Elise, while you are an interesting character I was not a fan. I couldn't get over the fact that a true friend would never use their friend to get ahead. She fell into the selfish journalist stereotype for me.

Rick, her father, was a terribly scary man. No one should ever have to deal with a guy like that let alone should a guy like that ever have kids. He was an extremely terrifying villain.

 

The Plot -

I really liked the direction this novel took. It could have been longer and an overall more developed, but for the length it was, I enjoyed it. A valuable coin isn't always something to kill for but it worked will in this story. The romance as a subplot to me felt forced and could have used a lot of work. While Colden was a great character and so was Aspen when a romance is forced it just doesn't come across as well as it should.

 

Overall -

This story gets three stars, for the interesting plot that kept me in tune to the story and the characters that were just living their lives.

 

Recommended reads based off of Untellable:

Perfect Chemistry and Going Too Far

Banished from Grace

Goodreads Summary:
Nardia is a young woman who woke up in an abandoned building over four hundred years ago when the plague was sweeping England. It was at this time she discovered that she had a special gift. She could heal the sick with her bare hands. Fast forward to the present day she has not aged and has no recollection of who she is and why she can perform miracles.
Life should be easy for Nardia, she is young and beautiful and could get any man she wanted, she just didn’t expect for two wonderful men to show so much interest at the same time. Nardia is confused and worries that making the wrong choice between the men could have disastrous consequences . One of these men is deceitful and has his own agenda and has not told the truth from the moment they met.

Title: Banished from Grace
Author: Aria Williams
Rating: 3 Stars

Review:

The Characters -
AJ was a great character, he is definitely the reason this book received three stars. He is the kind of guy that is dream worthy. I wish there were more men like AJ in the world, real-life and fiction. He has a lot of depth and is overall a great person. He is my favorite character in this whole novel and he is the main reason I want to read the next one in the series.

Nardia was likable enough. I wasn't a fan of her snarky attitude towards other women, even when mentioning you are just being objective it is still mentioning it and looking down on others. This didn't happen very much, but just enough to catch my notice.

Doctor Raegen was...he is really hard to describe. He was shy and reserved in the beginning and grew in his confidence and comfortability as he and Nardia grew closer. Honestly, in the beginning I didn't really care for him, but towards the end he turned it up a bit. I still don't love him like AJ, but I think he would be an alright friend. I didn't care for his taste in friends, nor his attitude towards Nardia after hearing rumors. But I did like that he stood behind her even when doubt clogged his mind.

The Plot -
The story moved very slow and I didn't get the big climax I was hoping for, but it was paced evenly enough. I was confused on a few parts, regarding her daughter and what she decided in the end, so I am going to have to get that clarified in the next novel, but I assume these endings will be tied together later in the series. I would have liked more from this story, with all the build up we could have had a larger bang in the end. The idea behind this story is great, I love the healing quality and angels being brought to life. The forbidden nature of it all, it is magical and mysterious. The characters were real, they could be anyone around you, anyone you run into. Williams did a great job bringing real life characteristics into the novel. 

My Outlook -
This story is told to you. Never shown to you, it is all said through Nardia. There isn't one interaction we get to experience for ourselves through description. Just through narration. It was like Nardia was sitting in front of me telling me this story. So that was a big frustration, it is much more enjoyable to actually live the story with the character instead of just being told what is happening. The best way to describe this sensation is like if I was blind and watching a movie with only someone there to tell me what is happening. You get so much more connection and you feel more when you actually live it. I hope this improves for the next ones. 

Summary - 
The cons in this novel were that the climax, wasn't climactic enough, we could have gotten more from this story. The story was told to us, we didn't live it. 

The pros, AJ is the best. A great character to read and experience in a story. The premise and the outline of this story is very intriguing. I wanted more and I enjoyed what this book was about. Even for a paranormal type of book it was realistic and the characters were down to earth <- lol literally!


Recommended reads based off of Banished from Grace:
Kissed by an Angel and Hereafter

Motocross Me

Goodreads Summary:
When Hana Fisher moves to the small town of Mixon, Texas to live with her dad, she dreads having to work at the boring pile of dirt he fondly calls a motocross track. But when she gets there, she finds the rinky-dink dirt bike track from her childhood has grown into the most respected racing track in the state.

Now popular by association, Hana endures the pain and sweat of working in the summer heat in order to fit in with a sport she’s growing to love. She gets a real family, a best friend and not just one, but two of the fastest racers trying to win her heart.

When Hana abuses her status as the track owner’s daughter to help the gorgeous Ryan Russo cheat in the biggest race of the year, she risks more than just losing her job. Every good thing in her life is at stake now- her friends, her dad’s trust, and Ash Carter- the kind-hearted racer who may not be as alluring as Ryan, but is proof that nice guys don’t always finish last.

Title: Motocross Me
Author: Cheyanne Young
Release Date: June 26th 2013
Publisher: 336 Love
Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
The Setting - This has to be one of my favorite settings in a book ever! I love motocross (in the past I raced bmx which is bicycle motocross, so being at a track and in this atmosphere is second nature to me.) When I saw the title for this book, I knew immediately I would have to read it. I thank Cheyanne Young for bringing this setting into the beautiful pages of a book. For those that are afraid that they may not be able to follow this story because of the setting don't fear, the main character Hana doesn't know much about the sport either so you will learn with her. 

My Outlook - While I loved the atmosphere, I wasn't ecstatic about the plot. It was entertaining, and I enjoyed this novel, but I found myself face palming often about some of the poor choices Hana made as she is torn between two boys. I can understand her dilemma when presented with two gorgeous but very different men. I still would have liked if she could have seen past some of the superficial glamour and dug a little deeper.  Hana became much better and less face palm worthy towards the halfway point (I said less not completely done face palming here.) Basically, I considered Hana like my misguided love struck friend, who needs heavy guidance about what is truly important in life. 

Hana has a rough past with her mother. She has been sheltered her whole life, so the whole dating world is kind of foreign to her when her only example has been her mom who is on her fifth husband whose half her age. Hana can't take her mothers behavior any longer and moves in with her dad, and this is where her healthy dose of reality is served (in the form of delicious breakfast burritos.) I loved her stepmother Molly, her father, and her little brother Teig (even if I am not completely confident in how I pronounce his name. Teeg? Maybe?) 

Lastly, I love Ash. While he may be quiet, and needs quite a few kick-starts to get him into gear he is lovable and so are the images I have of him in my head. Yum... Anyways, while at some points Hana made me want to rip out my hair, I loved the setting Young brought us in. It is a completely new perspective in YA that I think is very much needed. I wish there would have been more description as the events played out, because I want more. More Ash, and motocross. I would like to know more about her family life after the Nationals race as well. So...if Cheyanne ever decides to write a sequel I will definitely be pouncing on that like a wolf on raw meat. Basically to conclude, Ash has my heart, and you will have to read and find out if he has Hana's as well!

Pick up this lovely novel for an exciting new setting in YA fiction. 

Recommended reads based on Motocross Me:
Playing Hurt and Catching Jordan

About the Author
Cheyanne is a native Texan with a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, sarcasm, Xbox and paid holidays. She lives near the beach with her daughter, one spoiled rotten puppy and a cat who is most likely plotting to take over the world.

www.cheyanneyoung.com | twitter.com/normalchey

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