Tag Archives: new adult

Review: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

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Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker
Series: Ten Tiny Breaths #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: December 11th 2012
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback • Audible

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.

But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.

Wow, this book was an emotional roller coaster. I had no idea what to expect, but what I got, I highly enjoyed. Ten Tiny Breaths is a book about loss, grief, depression, but most of all, forgiveness and love. It’s about how even in the darkest times of your life, you can still find yourself worthy of love, and you can find things worth living for.

“Just breathe. Ten tiny breaths … Seize them. Feel them. Love them.”

Kacey, despite being a very aggressive and anti-social person, was still a likable character. I admired her strength and her love for her sister. She went through such pain after the accident that killed her parents, best friend, and boyfriend that my heart broke her. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the heartache, pain, suffering, and scars that came along with losing almost every single person Kacey loved. It was horrifying and heartbreaking to feel alongside Kacey her despair and desolation. Her flashback to the accident was one of the most heart-wrenching scenes of the book. But of course there had to be even more heart-wrenching scenes later in the book! It’s not enough that Kacey’s whole world is ripped in half, it had to be ripped apart again. And can I just say, K.A. Tucker does an incredible job of conveying all of Kacey’s emotional turmoil.

After the life-altering accident, Kacey hardens her heart. She cares for no one but her little sister Livie, and she makes it so that everything good she does, she does for Livie. But then a friendly neighbor, her adorable daughter, and a special boy come along to make her rethink about her life, and make her believe that it’s okay to care for herself again. To love herself again.

“I want to make you smile. For real. Always. We’re going to go for dinners, and see movies, and walk on the beach. We’ll go hang-gliding, or bungee jumping, or whatever you want to do. Whatever makes you smile and laugh more. Let me make you smile.”

Trent is one of the sweetest book boys I’ve ever read. He cares so much for Kacey, and he sees the pain beneath the tough exterior she puts on. He wants to make her feel happy again, to feel cherished and loved. I fell a little bit in love with this boy, with his charm, sweetness, and sexiness. Because oh my goodness, Trent can be very sexy when he wants to be (which is pretty much all time time with Kacey ;)). Kacey slowly falls in love with him, and it gives her hope for a brighter future, one that includes Trent in it. And so she goes through the stages of grief, with Trent helping her heal along the way.

Throughout the book, I got the feeling that something HUGE was going to happen. Because life seemed to turn out too well for Kacey, and well, I was basically waiting for the other shoe to drop. And holy shit, does it drop. I won’t put any spoilers, but K.A. Tucker gives us little hints and clues that relate to the insane plot twist, and I had figured out some of it, but damn. It was so shocking and unbelievable and crazy that I had no idea how to feel about it. This is mostly why I can’t give the full 5 hearts rating, because the twist just completely threw me off.

Nonetheless, Ten Tiny Breaths is such an emotional, heartfelt book. You are swooning one moment over Trent, and the next, you’re shocked and dreading what devastating thing will happen next for Kacey. It’s not an easy book to read, but for those who like books that make their emotions go all over the place, Ten Tiny Breaths is the perfect read.

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Ten Tiny Breaths series

In Her Wake by K.A. Tucker Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker
One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker Four Seconds To Lose by K.A. Tucker Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker

#0.5 ~ In Her Wake: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1 ~ Ten Tiny Breaths: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ One Tiny Lie: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Four Seconds to Lose: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Five Ways to Fall: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

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Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: November 13th 2012
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

THIS BOOK LEGITIMATELY TOOK MY BREATH AWAY. (The cover is trippy trippy though right?)

Going into this book I already had a pretty positive mindset, I suppose you could say. I just knew that it would be one of my favorite books because of all the wonderful things that Lac said. But when I read the summary, my thoughts kind of wavered and I was kind of skeptical because the summary just didn’t sound really appealing. Just the way it was written, didn’t make me feel like it was going to be my type of book, but I was wrong and this book is amazing.

I’d definitely recommend this book to um… anyone. I feel like it touched all these different characteristics and topics that books usually–okay fine nvm–cover. The entire time I was trying to figure out the person who tried to kill, or sorry, killed Nastya. But it was also amazing, like it always is, to listen to her story and see how her life was before, and how much she changed.

I also cried multiple times in this book. Most of those times were when she was with her family </3 BUT also with Josh and Drew. I love them. I wish I was best friends with Drew and Josh. Like honestly, they can be my protective older brothers. But this book was just lakfjd;alkjdflkajsf so perfect I actually want to re-read it right now.

**IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THIS BOOK YET DO NOT READ THE PARAGRAPH BELOW IT WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE. But if you did read it, then read the paragraph because I’m probably going to blow your mind away, but probably not.**

OHMYGOSH. Also, at the end when Josh asked Emilia what she saw when she died and it said how SHE TOLD HIM HER LAST SECRET AND SHE SAID “YOUR GARAGE” OMFG SHE WASN’T FREAKING LYING. BECAUSE REMEMBER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING AND FOUND JOSH’S HOUSE AND WAS LIKE, FOR SOME REASON I KNOW THIS HOUSE. OMFG GUYS. SUDDEN REALIZATION AS I WAS PROCRASTINATING. OMG. AND THIS ALSO CONNECTS TO WHAT JOSH’S GRANDFATHER SAID ABOUT HOW WHEN HE DIED HE SAW THE SWING AND HE ENDED UP THERE OR SOMETHING AND MARRYING HIS WIFE. FORESHADOWING AND FLASHBACK MUCH KATJA MILLAY!!?!?

5-hearts

shirley

P.S. This review was supposed to go up 2 months ago…heh. Life and school kind of took over. + procrastination, but that’s always a factor. For example, I’m procrastinating on my homework right now.

Early Review: Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

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Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: September 24th 2013
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books) in exchange for an honest review

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She’s never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love–even with someone who seems an improbable choice–is more than just a possibility.

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

I’ve never read a book by Trish Doller before, but I was thoroughly impressed. I requested a copy from Netgalley because of the premise and gorgeous cover. And I’m so glad I did because I enjoyed this book so much! It was slow and raw and heartwarming and sweet, and shows so much how you absolutely can find love no matter who you are, what you are, what you’ve done or where you’re from.

Callie was a great narrator. She was real, even though she had been on the run with her mom for twelve years. She’s hesitant about going back into a normal life, but I mean, who wouldn’t if you’ve never had any semblance of a normal life for over a decade? I wanted to feel sorry for her, but she’s a tough girl. She can handle her own, as she’s been doing the past twelve years, even if some things in her past do continue to haunt her. And the fact that she’s so resistant to her father and his family makes it hard for her to see how much they love her. Her new (well, technically it’s ‘old’) family is loving and welcoming, but Callie can’t accept their love. She feels like she’s betraying her mother, whom she still loves. But eventually, her family worms their way into her heart, and Callie knows that she’ll do anything for them, and that they’ll do anything for her. They teach and give her the unconditional love she never really had, and it was so touching and uplifting to read.

Greek culture is a pretty big part of the book, which was refreshing. The town Callie’s father lives in is a Greek tourist-y place, and Callie finds work selling Greek-like souvenirs with her cousin Kat. I never really read books that feature Greek culture, so it was a good kind of different to read about the food, the people, the language. I loved the Greek touch to the book! Made me want to go to Greece, see some Greek boys… *sigh*

Alex Kosta is the older boy Callie meets who she instantly is intrigued with. He’s beautiful but has something inside him that makes her want to know all his secrets, and tell him all her secrets. Their relationship was slow and awkward and bittersweet. I didn’t really connect with Alex, but I still felt he was perfect for Callie. He brought out the best in her, made her feel, and made her fall in love. And Callie is different for him as well. They connect in a way that they never have with anyone else before, and they show each other that love is possible for them both.

Favorite quote:

There are so many maybes in life, but sometimes you just have to put your faith in possibility.

I enjoyed reading this book so much. The dark and gritty balanced perfectly well with the sweet and heartwarming. I definitely recommend it for those who like their books a bit slow but moving. Now I’m really looking forward to reading Trish Doller’s first book, Something Like Normal.

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Also by Trish Doller

 

Something Like Normal: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
The Devil You Know: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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Review: Everything for Us by M. Leighton

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Everything For Us by M. Leighton

Everything for Us by M. Leighton
Series: The Bad Boys #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 3rd 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

When it comes to passion this hot, it’s all or nothing. 

Olivia Townsend’s wealthy cousin Marissa had everything a girl could ask for—a great job, a privileged life, and all the friends she wanted. Or, at least, all the friends money could buy. But one case of mistaken identity has turned her privileged world upside down.

An abduction gone wrong lands her right in the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met. To Marissa, he’s an enigma, but one to whom she’s irresistibly, inexplicably drawn.

With him comes a new world of freedom and passion, of dark shadows and dangerous secrets, a world where nothing is what it seems—except for the blind passion that Marissa can’t escape—or maybe even survive.

Even though I don’t spoil anything for Everything For Us, there WILL be spoilers for the previous two books, so be forewarned!

I’d been eagerly awaiting this new release because I’m a huge fan of the series. I mean, come on, it’s called The Bad Boys series, so how could I not love it? The romance in the previous two books is so thrilling and exciting, and Everything For Us is no different, even though it focuses on a different couple. So it’s goodbye to Cash (!!) and Olivia, and hello to Nash and Marissa.

As much as I adored Cash and his bad boy-ness, I had even higher expectations for Nash. He seemed to be even more bad, dark, intense, and might I even say, sexy. And in Everything For Us, he absolutely lived up to my expectations. *Sigh* Nash. I loved him. He’s just so totally Alpha-male and in complete control of everything that you can’t help but fall for him. And you also can’t help but feel for him once you find out how he came to be such harsh, dark person. He went through such hell during his exile for seven years, and he was only a teenager when everything went bad for him! He was dealt with horrible circumstances, and tried his best to do what he had to do to survive, even if it turned him into a not-so-good man. It was sad though, seeing how beneath all his revenge for his dead mother, he was just a lonely man. He doesn’t trust anybody, not even his twin, and he has no one he can really count on. And it’s so gratifying and satisfying to see him finally falling for a woman he can trust his heart to.

Of course, it’s not that easy for Nash, the stubborn man he is. He really, really resists letting his heart get anywhere near Marissa. Which was a bit frustrating. A lot of the time, I was just thinking, Just admit your feelings already, Nash! Grrr. But despite all this, he’s still one delish man. He’s protective of those he loves, and knows how to be deadly enough to protect them. And he’s so determined! When he wants something, there’s absolutely no stopping him from going after it. *Swoon*

Marissa turned out to be someone that I really, really liked. She was a horrible bitch in the other books in the series, but an abduction is sure to change anybody, including Marissa. Throughout the book, I started liking her more and more, every time she’d stand up for herself against her father. I felt for her when she realized that because of who she’d been in the past, just like Nash, she really has no one to be herself with. So of course these two scarred, lonely people would gravitate towards one another to try to find a little bit of happiness.

Everything For Us didn’t disappoint. There was sweet and tender, there was sexy and thrilling, and there was action and suspense. Everything connected so smoothly, and the characters stand out so well. The romance was a bit slow,though, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I highly recommend this series, and I’m really hoping for a book for Gavin! *fingers crossed*

4-hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Bad Boys series

Down to You by M. Leighton Up to Me by M. Leighton Everything For Us by M. Leighton

#1 ~ Down to You: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Up to Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Everything for Us: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Review: Shooting Scars by Karina Halle

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Shooting Scars by Karina Halle

Shooting Scars by Karina Halle
Series: The Artists Trilogy #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 20th 2013
Purchase: Ebook

Sometimes the right choice can be the deadliest.

When Ellie Watt made the ultimate sacrifice for Camden McQueen, she never thought it would be easy. But walking away with her ex-lover, Javier Bernal, in order to ensure Camden’s safety has brought a whole new set of dangers. With Javier’s plans for Ellie growing more secretive by the moment, Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game before her past swallows her whole.

Meanwhile, Camden’s new life is short-lived. Fueled by revenge and pursued by authorities, he teams up with an unlikely partner in order to save Ellie. But as Camden toes the line between love and retribution, he realizes that in order to get back the woman he loves, he may have to lose himself in the process. He might just turn into the very man he’s hunting.

Told in dual POV from Camden and Ellie.

I’m a bit sad right now. Because… I didn’t really enjoy Shooting Scars as much as I wish I did.

I fell in love with Ellie and Camden in Sins & Needles, and after finishing that book, I was still going crazy for their story, pretty much still high off their story. Because that book is intense. Seriously, I had no idea of the wild ride that was Sins & Needles, but let me tell you, it was incredible. Edge-of-your-seat intense. Sexy. Dark. Angsty. All of which I LOVE. And did I mention I was Team Camden? Because I was SO Team Camden, even though Javier was one sexy mofo. He’s just too bad and unredeemable for me, unfortunately.

team camden

So by the time I’d finished Sins & Needles, I wanted Shooting Scars IMMEDIATELY. I wanted more Camden, more Ellie, hell, even more Javier. I had to satisfy myself with On Every Street though, which was brilliant! I applaud Karina Halle for writing the best novella I’ve ever read. And so after all this waiting, after all the teasers, when I finally got Shooting Scars in my hands (well, on my iPad in my hands), you can be sure I totally squealed. I read it as soon as I could, (which was pretty much the day after the book was released), but… I ended up disappointed. I didn’t not like it; it just wasn’t as good as the first book. Shooting Scars didn’t live up to my expectations, and I had such high expectations for it. I loved all the characters in Sins & Needles, and to see them fall flat in Shooting Scars was disheartening.

Everything felt too rushed for me. It seemed as if the book was just too fast and easy to read, even though I did take two days to read it. I wanted to get caught up in the craziness and angst, fall in love with the characters all over again, but the plot just zoomed by, and I couldn’t immerse myself into the story, even when I wanted to. Shooting Scars just didn’t have the same oomph, the same intensity, as Sins & Needles, and try as I might to love it, I didn’t.

I was so excited to be reading both Ellie and Camden’s POVs, and I was especially giddy for Camden’s, of course. But when I actually got to reading his POVs, he’d changed. Camden is entirely fueled by revenge, and I just could get a clear sense of his love for Ellie anymore, which was unfortunate. And Ellie didn’t seem as badass as she was in Sins & Needles. Yes, she’s stuck with Javier, but I felt that she could have done more to protect herself and others. Javier is his usually arrogant, mysterious, sexy self, and he’s so very intriguing. You wonder if he’s still in love with Ellie after all these years, and then you have to backtrack and wonder if he even knows what love is, if he’s capable of it. And that, he, was the best part of the book. Because if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s Javier being unpredictable.

Shooting Scars does have intense moments, as everyone is now in Mexico. Travis appears in the flesh, and of course things get hectic when you have evil drug lords. You won’t be disappointed with the scenes of action and suspense!

Even though Shooting Scars was a let down for me, I’m definitely looking forward to the third and final book in The Artists Trilogy. I honestly LOVED Sins & Needles, and even On Every Street, and I’m hoping I’ll love Bold Tricks just as much.

3 hearts

3-hearts

lacey

Look at the pretty cover for Bold Tricks!

Bold Tricks by Karina Halle

Reading Order: The Artists Trilogy

On Every Street by Karina Halle Sins & Needles by Karina Halle Shooting Scars by Karina Halle Bold Tricks by Karina Halle

#0.5 ~ On Every Street: Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ Sins & Needles: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Shooting Scars: Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Bold Tricks: Ebook • Goodreads