Arc Review: Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3)

Author: Wendy Higgins

Release Date: April 29, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 464

Source: Received for review 

Add To Goodreads

Synopsis:

It’s time.

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

My Thoughts:

Sweet Reckoning is definitely the best book of the trilogy. I am feeling so much emotions happening at once but the dominant emotion I feel is happiness. Sweet Reckoning was epic. It was AMAZING. It is everything I hoped for and more. I loved, Loved, LOVED this book.

Sweet Reckoning picks up where Sweet Peril leaves off. The battle on earth is about to begin with Anna in the lead. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was so scared for her and everyone else. I just wanted everyone to be ok.

Many times this book left me feeling anxious, shocked, dismayed, and other times I just burst out laughing.  And can I say how much I love Kaidan? I definitely fell deeper for him by the end of this book. Words cannot express how much I love him.

What I loved most about this book is the overall feeling of hope it brought me. Everything seemed so bleak, no one knew if they were going to survive what was to come. Even with all of that, they had to believe and hope that they would get through it.

The secondary characters just added to the book. We get to see everyone one last time: Ginger, Marna, Kope, Blake, Zania, Patti, Jay, Veronica and of course Anna and Kaidan. I think Anna has the greatest character development in the series. In Sweet Evil, she was innocent and which each book she had to come out of her comfort zone.  She was a little unsure of herself. In Sweet Reckoning, she is a strong woman who knows what needs to be done and she is ready to fight; for herself, her family, and most importantly her one true love, Kaidan.

I am so sad now that it is over. I will certainly miss the Nephs and the world Wendy Higgins created. Sweet Reckoning is one of the best series ending books I have ever read.  My heart is so full of happiness.

My Rating:

5+++++stars out of 5

Raquel

xoxo

Review: Giving You Forever by Ashley Wilcox

Title: Giving You Forever #4
Author: Ashley Wilcox
Release Date: June 19, 2013
Source: Received for review from Atomr tours

Synopsis:
From the moment Nolan Pratt walked into Alexa Arnold’s life everything was forever changed. After a year of dating, the ring was on her finger, the house was purchased, and life was heading down Pleasantville Lane. Everything was perfect.

Or so they thought.

With help from his parent’s inheritance, Nolan takes on a new business adventure, utilizing all his free time. What was once their life- carefree with minimal responsibilities, is no more. When Alexa starts to feel the pressure from school, wedding planning, and lack of help from Nolan, exhaustion kicks in and feelings get hurt, testing the strength of their relationship. But, if there is one thing that Nolan will never compromise, it’s Alexa’s happiness. There’s nothing Nolan Pratt won’t do to make sure Alexa is well taken care of, loved, and happy.

When Nolan’s past resurfaces- a past that Alexa didn’t know existed- will it all be too much? Will Nolan’s devotion to Alexa’s happiness cost him their relationship and lose him the only thing that has ever mattered in his life? Or will Nolan discover that his past doesn’t determine his future and he is worth the happiness he doesn’t think he deserves?

My Thoughts:

Giving You Forever is a sensual tale that shows you how love can transform a person. We meet Nolan and Alexa, they have been dating a year and Nolan decides to pop the question and ask Alexa to marry him. This couple goes through their ups and downs in this book but it is clear by the way they act that they are meant for each other.

Alexa is sweet, caring, witty and loving, everything Nolan could have wanted in a woman. Nolan is the ideal man; he is attentive, caring, protective, a little possessive and ambitious. He just wants to make Alexa happy; he will do anything that will make that happen. Alexa is a student in her last year of university. She also has to plan a whole wedding by herself because Nolan cannot always be there to help as he is opening his own business, a gym. She is stressed out to the max, especially when Nolan forgets about an appointment they had for the wedding. To make Alexa happy and so that she has help, the couple hire a wedding planner. This is where trouble starts and we learn something major about Nolan’s past.

For me, this book didn’t become entertaining until the last half. The first part is smut, smut and more smut; not that I am complaining, it was steamy but I would of like to have an entertaining storyline with the smut to make it interesting. I found that this book was also really sappy. They said ‘I love you’ really often and it was irritating because you already know they love each other, it was a bit repetitive.

Due to the fact that I didn’t read the first 3 books in the series, I felt a little lost because I didn’t know the history of some of the characters. I felt like I didn’t know much about Alexa, I didn’t know how she got together with Nolan. I felt that we learn more about Nolan than Alexa in this book.

Before reading this book, my advice would be to read the first 3 books so you have some context of who the characters are. I enjoyed this novel. It was addicting, I wanted to know how Nolan and Alexa’s story would end. It was a great ending.

My Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Raquel

xoxo

Review, Dream Cast and Giveaway: Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution. 

The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands. 

Full of romance, high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Shutdown is a heart-pounding conclusion to an exciting sci-fi adventure trilogy for young adults. 

The thrilling conclusion to an action-packed sci-fi trilogy.

Release Date: July 2nd 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Purchase: Amazon

About the Author

Heather Anastasiu grew up in Texas and recently moved to Minneapolis with her family. When she's not busy getting lost exploring the new city, she spends most days writing at a café or daydreaming about getting a new tattoo.

www.heatheranastasiu.com | twitter.com/h_anastasiu

SO FAR 

  

My Thoughts:

I found Shutdown to be the best in the Glitch series. It was fast paced, engaging and addictive. I couldn’t wait to finish this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen.

We start off with the Rex fighters still reeling from the major twist that happened in Override. Zoe is trying to bring down Chancellor Bright and the Link system but things are not always what they seem; I won’t say much because I don’t want to give anything away from the story. But you definitely need to read it. I loved the world Heather Anastasiu created. It is unique yet dangerous, especially if you are a glitcher or Rez fighter. I found myself completely immerged with this world as it just got better and better with each book.

I think my favourite thing is the character development between Zoe and Adrien, throughout the series but mainly in this book. Zoe changed a lot from when we first see her in Glitch. She didn’t understand emotions and everything in the outside world was new to her. In each book, she got stronger and stronger emotionally and through her Telek power.  I loved her determination, fierceness, loyalty and protectiveness in this novel. On the other hand, with Adrien, it was the opposite; he knew about all about emotions and feelings but had to learn all over again what they were after what was done to him. I really liked how Zoe never gave up on him even she may have wanted to.

Shutdown is a gripping novel, full of twists and turns.  I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to read this book.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Dream Cast:

While reading this series, they were certain people I kept on picturing in my head that would play Zoe, Adrien and Max. So without further ado...

Zoe

I think Lucy Hale would be a perfect Zoe. Every trait I like in Zoe I have seen it in Lucy Hale's work one time or another.

Adrien

Adrien would be played by a younger Jesse Williams. I remember reading in Glitch, Zoe describing Adrien`s skin colour as caramel with blue green eyes. I think he would be perfect as Adrien.

Max

Alexander Ludwig would play a perfect Max. This is the same actor who was Cato in The Hunger Games movie and I see a lot of similarities in these 2 characters.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Review, Playlist and Giveaway: Fading by E.K. Blair

Book Description:

Can a guilty conscience keep wounds from healing?

Fine arts major, Candace Parker, grew up with a mother who thinks image is everything, and her daughter’s perfection will never be good enough. About to graduate college and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina, Candace decides it’s time to let go and have a little fun. But fun is short-lived when a brutal attack leaves her completely shattered.

The memories that consume and torment Candace are starting to destroy her when she meets Ryan Campbell, a successful bar owner. He feels instantly connected and tries to show her that hope is worth fighting for. But is Ryan harboring his own demons? As walls slowly begin to chip away, the secrets that are held within start to become painful burdens.

At what point do secrets become lies?

(17+) This book contains mature subject matter that is not suitable for those under the age of 17.

Author social media links:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I don’t even know what to say about this book other than, it is AMAZING. Fading is an intense, emotional, heartbreaking and beautiful piece of art that left me wanting more even after reading it. This book had me in blubbering tears multiple times.

We start off with Candace, a dance major, who grew up in a household where she was thought that image is everything. Her parents don’t agree with her choices but she decides to pursue her dreams and become a ballerina anyway. Candace needs things to be a certain way and organized, she needs to have order and control. About to graduate, Candace decides to relax a little and have some fun. After going out a few times with a guy (her parents choice for her), Candace is brutally attacked.

I have never read a book like this before. It is utter perfection. After reading the prologue, I knew the attack was coming but it didn’t take away anything from when it actually happened. I was still left feeling devastated. When Candace is in the hospital and the nurse tells Jase what happened, I was a blubbering mess because I felt all of that pain.

The author, E.K. Blair did an excellent job portraying different emotions throughout her writing. She has this way of making you feel every torment or emotion Candace went through. Ms. Blair did a great job writing about such a taboo subject without compromising the ugliness of the situation. Sometimes I would think, if I were in the same situation, would I shutdown emotionally? Would I blame myself? Would I be scared of doing everything and anything? I found my answer to be yes on all three questions. This is one way I know the author did an amazing job.

I really like the character growth, little by little, in Candace throughout the book. It shows how strong she is. I absolutely loved the other characters: Ryan, Jase and Mark. They were an AMAZING support system. Ryan is by far my favourite character in the book. He pushed himself to the top of my favourite book boys list. He is patient, kind, understanding, supportive, loving, protective and possessive; everything I love in a book boy. The thing that stood out for me about him was the small things he would do to help Candace overcome her fears and grow stronger. He made her come out of her comfort zone like going out in big crowds and surfing.

Fading is a beautiful story that shows you even through complete darkness, love is extremely powerful. I am so happy I was given the opportunity to read this book for review. Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby because you will definitely need it.

My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Playlist for Fading:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan

Title: Unbreak Me
Author: Lexi Ryan
Release Date: May 27, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Received for review from Atomr tours



Synopsis:
“If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…”

I’m only twenty-one and already damaged goods. A slut. A failure. A disappointment to my picture-perfect family as long as I can remember. I called off my wedding to William Bailey, the only man who thought I was worth fixing. A year later, he’s marrying my sister. Unless I ask him not to…

“If you shatter, I’ll find you…”

But now there’s Asher Logan, a broken man who sees the fractures in my façade and doesn’t want to fix me at all. Asher wants me to stop hiding, to stop pretending. Asher wants to break down my walls. But that means letting him see my ugly secrets and forgiving him for his.

With my past weighing down on me, do I want the man who holds me together or the man who gives me permission to break?

My Thoughts:

Maggie Thompson is broken. At the age of 15, she has been broken and uses sex to get what she wants or what she thinks guys want). Maggie is known to be the town slut because of her past indiscretions. She is known as “Lucy” because of her reputation of sleeping with anyone and everyone. Maggie goes away for a year and comes back to find her ex-love, Will, is marrying her sister. On the same day of the wedding, she meets the elusive Asher Logan and sparks begin to fly.

This was a great book to read. It kind of reminds me of a soap opera, one in particular I watch The Bold and the Beautiful. Maggie dated Will, Maggie left, Will started dating her sister, they are getting married, and Will still loves Maggie and also loves her sister. And you know what? I enjoyed every moment of the drama.

This book was told in 3 people’s point of views and it was great because you got to learn about each character: Maggie, Will and Asher. This was a different kind of love triangle. Usually I am rooting for 1 guy but I actually found myself confused on who I wanted Maggie to end up with. I really could not choose. I liked both Will and Asher.

One thing I love about this book was how Asher saw through her BS. From the time they met, Asher allowed her to be broken, to be herself and he still wanted her. He saw something more in Maggie and it helped to break down some of her concrete-thick walls. At the end of the book, I was in tears when a revelation hit about Asher. I loved how the author made me feel exactly how Maggie was feeling at that time. Another thing I loved was the road Maggie took to forgive herself and her mistakes. It takes a very strong person to be truthful after so many lies and I really commend her on that.

One of my favourite parts would have to be when Maggie finally admitted the truth to her mother about her past. Her mother accepted and supported Maggie and her decisions. That moment was very powerful and in my opinion as it helped a lot in the process of Maggie healing. It solidified that she should stop hating herself and should feel worthy to be loved by another.

Unbreak Me is a novel about forgiving and overcoming your past. It is a heartbreaking story about a young life full of mistakes and the road to redemption. I am happy I was able to read this unique story; it will stay with me for a long time.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars