No Matter What by K.M. Frost

 

Mason’s life is far from perfect, but it turns out it can get worse. When his mom ends up in prison, he’s shipped off to the middle of nowhere. Apparently he’s got grandparents—parents of the father he knows nothing about. Mason’s not interested in bonding with these newfound grandparents. He just wants to survive until his eighteenth birthday so he can escape this backwater town and finally be free.

Emily is struggling to keep what’s left of her family from falling apart after a horrible accident stole her mom. She has enough on her plate with mothering her younger siblings and protecting a secret that could destroy everything, when she runs into Mason—literally. Her life doesn’t need more complications, and this distractingly attractive, clearly damaged boy promises nothing but trouble. Still, she can’t help but be drawn to him.

Mason and Emily are opposites in nearly every way, but neither can deny the attraction between them. Mason knows he isn’t good enough for her, and Emily knows she should stay away, but that doesn’t stop the pull they feel toward each other. Their tentative relationship is threatened when Mason is put in the crosshairs of the local gang and the town sheriff. Mason and Emily will have to decide what they really want—and if they’re willing to fight for it.

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I'm not sure how long it's been since I read a YA romance but it feels like it's been awhile.  This is a new author to me so this all around felt like a nice change of pace.

Sometimes YA romance can feel small and young but this author did a great job of giving me characters with strong voices and great personalities that I could root for.  They were struggling with big things and typical teenage frustrations as well.  It felt full and real and substantial.  

Mason has had the worst luck and has lived a difficult and unfair life so far.  I  felt for him and what he was going through.  He really is the kind of character that you cannot help but root for from beginning to end.  I loved his grandparents.  Adored them.  And Emily?  Emily was everything Mason needed most- a friend, a confidant, and a light.  Her sense of duty and loyalty was strong and I loved that most about her.  That and her fantastic music choices.  😀

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  It kept me interested and invested the whole way though.  This might be my first book by this author but it won't be my last.

Content:  violence, peril.  Kissing.  Mention of drugs and alcohol use.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

One of the Girls (Friendzone Book 1) by Robin Daniels

Senior Nick Moody is the second string quarterback on Roosevelt High School’s championship football team. He’s crushed on Mia for years, but she doesn’t know he exists. It’s time to come off the bench and into the game. Nick refuses to graduate without getting the girl or the glory.

Mia Ashlock is the remarkably kind cheer captain. She’s a yes girl, and her penchant for people pleasing always leads to bad relationships. After being humiliated in a very public dumping, her teammates decide to break her bad habit with a ban on boyfriends.

When Nick sees a poster, advertising cheer tryouts, he has a crazy idea: quit football and become a cheerleader. It’s perfect! He can get close to Mia and steal the spotlight, using his true and hidden talent—gymnastics. Nick and Mia have instant chemistry, but it does him little good. If Mia’s zero dating rule weren’t bad enough, the team treats him less like boyfriend material and more like one of the girls. Breaching the friendzone will be much harder than he thought.

Content: This book contains kissing along with limited/mild swearing and minimal inuendo/crude humor. No explicit language or references to sex.

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This is one of the more well rounded YA books I have read lately.  Yes, much of the book occurs at school or at school functions, but we get the characters in home and family life as well.  It provided a more realistic base for their motivations and desires.

These characters were so easy to like and so easy to root for.  I really fell in love with Nick- how could I not?  He is forging his own path through some pretty tough terrain.  He's pushing against social norms, standing up to his grandfather and putting everything into getting the girl of his dreams.  He is determined, resilient and patient.  Oh, and he is kind.  I am such a fan of kind boys.  💙

There is a slow burn romance here but I loved every minute of it.  I could picture all the moments of this book in my head like a movie. (and some were really funny!)  The story was engaging and I was really invested in everything from beginning to end.  This was such a cute book!  I can't wait for the next one.

Please note content information in the book blurb above given by the author.

This book is on KU if you have that!

Perfectly You by Robin Daniels + $25 Giveaway

 

Ivy Nixon is the student body Vice President at Franklin High School. Each year, the school holds a date auction to raise funds for the senior class graduation party, and this year, Ivy’s in charge. Planning the event is a huge task and Ivy is determined to prove she can get the job done right. Unfortunately, she’s still one participant short and her deadline is looming. Andy Walker, her cute but socially reclusive art class table mate, is her last resort. He may not be popular, but he’s funny, talented, and full of surprises. With a makeover and some major social marketing, Ivy is sure he could fetch a decent price at the auction. Andy reluctantly agrees to help, but the more time Ivy spends with him, the more her feelings shift from professional to romantic in nature. To top it off, she’s done her marketing so well, that other girls are starting to notice Andy too. Come auction time, will Ivy be able to let him go to the highest bidder? Or will she find a way to keep him for herself…

 Content Description: This is a stand-alone YA contemporary romance with companion novels set at the same high school. It contains minor language, innuendo, and crude humor, some steamy kissing, a party scene where underage drinking is taking place, and a brief but tasteful conversation about sex. The author has attempted to write characters who make good choices in questionable situations, in effort to keep the content appropriate for teens. This book contains no sex, written or implied, and no explicit language. Recommended for ages 14 and up.

   * Amazon * Goodreads *

This is the second book by Robin Daniels that I have read.  I liked this one better than the first one mostly because the swearing was toned down in this one.  Still there, but not as much.  There is a content disclosure above if you care about that.

In this YA book, the characters are seniors in high school.  I felt like the author did a good job of making these characters come alive.  They were fun with distinct personalities and I really liked them- even when they made mistakes.  It all felt very high school-ish with the drama to go with it!  The younger YA crowd will eat this one up.

It was easy to fall into this book.  The dialogue is fun and the book moves along at a great speed.  I read through this story quickly and ended with a smile.

Enjoy the following excerpt!

EXCERPT "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you." I lunged forward in an exaggerated show of gratitude and threw my arms around his waist, embracing him tightly. He flinched and tensed up for a moment. I'd caught him off guard. Eventually he relaxed and put one arm around me, awkwardly patting my back in some semblance of a hug. For a moment, I forgot what I was doing and leaned into him. Wow, he smelled unbelievably good. Like soap and dryer sheets and something a little sharper that I couldn't identify. I needed to ask him what cologne he wore, because it was incredible. I could smell him all day. Not to mention that his chest was a lot firmer than one would guess, since he hides it under baggy button-down shirts all the time. Andy cleared his throat and I pulled away. He looked embarrassed again. He really needed to get over that, and I was going to help him, starting right now. "Sorry." I grinned. "You smell amazing. Your cologne is yummy enough to eat. I could sit here and sniff you for the rest of the class." He choked on his spit and quickly put his fist over his mouth to stifle his laughter. "Please don't." He was trying to sound horrified, but his face gave him away. He appreciated the compliment. "Ok." I threw my hands up in surrender. "But fair warning...if I'm having a bad day, I may lean over and smell your neck to induce a calming effect. When that happens, don't punch me." Andy shook his head, bewildered by the turn our conversation had taken. "I'll try not to punch you, if you decide to randomly press your face against my neck." "When you say it like that, I sound like a psycho stalker." "Psycho and stalker are your words, not mine. But, if the shoe fits..." He trailed off, and I smacked him on the arm. "Ouch!" Andy rubbed the place I'd just hit. "I'm only kidding. I don't think you're a psycho stalker. I've never seen any indication that you're a stalker. You're more likely a plain old psycho." He was grinning nice and big now, and I couldn't help but grin back.

Author Robin Daniels Robin Daniels is a wife, mother of five and avid consumer of books. She loves reading SO much that she was actually grounded from it as a twelve year old. No Joking! Her mom caught her reading when she was supposed to be cleaning, which was a common occurrence. At that point mom took the books and instructed her to go watch TV or play outside like a normal kid. Robin is a sucker for home design shows and magazines, watches way too much Netflix and has a very codependent relationship with with a certain diet soda who’s brand shall not be named. (Though anyone with a similar problem could probably guess which one.)

Website * Facebook

 

 

  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or $25 in Paypal Cash Ends 9/25/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dating the It Guy by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Emme is a sophomore in high school who starts dating, Brendon Agretti, the popular senior who happens to be a senator's son and well-known for his good looks. Emme feels out of her comfort zone in Brendon's world and it doesn't help that his picture perfect ex, Lauren seems determined to get back into his life along with every other girl who wants to be the future Mrs. Agretti. Emme is already conflicted due to the fact her last boyfriend cheated on her and her whole world is off kilter with her family issues. Life suddenly seems easier keeping Brendon away and relying on her crystals and horoscopes to guide her. Emme soon starts to realize she needs to focus less on the stars and more on her senses. Can Emme get over her insecurities and make her relationship work? Life sure is complicated when you're dating the it guy.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

High school drama?  Yup.  This book IS high school drama.  It really took me back to the day.  Emme is young and it shows in her peer relationships.  In her family, however, she shows some remarkable maturity.  The concern and care she demonstrates for her struggling grandfather and her sick grandmother are what completely endeared me to Emme.  I am ashamed to say that I wasn't nearly so intuitive or kind when I was her age and dealt with a grandfather living in my home.  It's something I regret and often wish I could go back and redo that time with him.  Emme is everything I wish I had been.

This book is heavy on dialogue.  I was a bit surprised at how much there really was in comparison to the other books I was reading at the time.  It will probably work well with the target age group though.  Young adult, on the young side of that.

Content:  some kissing, mention of "cheating" in a relationship, death

- I received a copy of this book through ebooks for review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

The Trouble With Faking by Rachel Morgan: A Review for Release Day!

The Trouble with Faking by Rachel Morgan

Release Day Blitz

December 2, 2014

After a stupid miscommunication, everyone in Andi’s new res thinks she’s secretly dating Damien, boyfriend of resident queen bee Charlotte. Since the rumour’s already out there and refuses to be squashed, Andi and Damien decide to keep up the facade in the hopes of snagging the attention of the people they really want to be with. Brilliant plan, right? Especially since Damien is the guy Andi’s always wanted. But now there’s Mike, the guy Andi’s pretending to be interested in for the sake of the fake relationship plan, and Noah, Damien’s annoying best friend—who is so not Andi’s type—and suddenly the plan isn’t looking so brilliant anymore.

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I'm super excited that I got to read this book and review it in addition to being a part of the book blitz today for release day.  I've been reading and reviewing this series since the beginning (2.5 books ago).

This is the third full length novel in The Trouble series.  There is also a novella.  I preferred to read them in order because there is a flow to the books and this book depends on some of the back story from the previous book, The Trouble With Flirting, to really understand Andi and some of her hangups.

I really like Andi.  She is motivated and quirky.  Plus, what book lover and blogger wouldn't love a main character who loves book and vlogs about them?!  :)  Andi is fun but one of the best things about her is her rebound attitude.  She hears what others say to her and even if she doesn't agree, she thinks about it and works it through in her head.  She isn't afraid to stand up to the bully and she has a forgiving heart.

These books always keep me interested and I usually read through them quickly.  There is some mild swearing, which I didn't love, but other than that, it was a pretty clean book.  There are some kissing scenes.  It's young love at it's best with a South African setting.  Easy, diverting reading.

~*~ABOUT RACHEL MORGAN~*~

Rachel Morgan is a South African author who spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy-land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn’t for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults and those young at heart.

She is the author of the bestselling Creepy Hollow series, and the lighthearted contemporary romance Trouble series.

Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram + Awesome Book Giveaway!

It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new step family, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.
…
Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.

I feel like I have so much to say!  I'm going to have to think of clever ways to condense what I want to say so I don't type a novel here.  I will admit that I read this book the minute I got it.  MONTHS before my review was scheduled.  And then I didn't write my review right away so I just HAD to go back and read it again.  haha.  Poor me.

I think Kelly Oram is an exceptional writer.  She has a knack for writing.  Her books always suck me in from the very beginning and keep me there.  I have no desire to stray to another book when I have one of hers in my hand.  (That is like the ultimate praise from a book reviewer because I am usually reading 3-4 books at one time.)

One of the things I think Kelly does so masterfully is write characters.  Her characters are always living, breathing, and full of life.  I can hear them and see them in my head.  The dialogue flows so well and fits the characters perfectly.  Kelly really nails these characters.

Poor Ella.  Seriously, how much can one girl endure?  Her life is so sad- a nightmare, really, but her determination to take baby steps toward getting better brings out the cheerleader in me.  She lost her mother in an accident that leaves her so broken and weak.  Her physical issues lead to mental and emotional issues.  After a ridiculous amount of time in the hospital having surgeries, Ella is sent home with her estranged father to a family she doesn't even know.  Her step sisters are abusive and mean.  She suffers ill treatment from strangers, peers and even her family.  She is bullied.  It's crazy.  And for all those crazy issues going on (and that's only with Ella!), I am amazed to say that this book never felt overwhelming to me as a reader.  That takes talent.

The relationships in this book evolve.  Understanding and compromise come through effort.  That is why things don't feel overwhelming.  Because hope is thrown in there and as a reader, I could see improvement.  It was so well done.

Cinder is a much better person when he is focused on Ella and not himself.  I love how the relationship between Cinder and Ella started (obsession over a book series), how it developed (by email, phone and then meeting at Comic Con) and even how it ended.  The road gets a little bumpy at times but I got the ending I needed for Ella and it made me happy.

My only negative about this book was the swearing (lots of it) and the sexual innuendo.  If I could take out the swearing and sexual stuff, I would be so happy because then I could recommend this book to EVERYONE.  As it is, I have to add caution.  I think a sentence from the book might sum up the way I feel about a lot of this book.  "Cheesy porno talk".  Not always cheesy but a lot of porno talk, and I really don't love that.  The book would be just as good without it.  (Well, better to me.)

* Goodreads * Amazon *

Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen—a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and her cat named Mr. Darcy.

Author Links:

Facebook  Goodreads

Twitter and My Website

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Magnolia by Kristi Cook + $25 Giveaway!

Magnolia
by Kristi Cook
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: August 5th 2014


Synopsis:

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents' wishes. They're only seventeen, for goodness' sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can't stand Ryder's nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn't exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma's and Ryder's true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

I honestly think my favorite part of this book was the deep south setting in Mississippi, the ingrained customs, the violent storm and the swampy river.  Those were the things that made this book feel alive and textured to me.  I've never been to Mississippi but I'd like to.  Well, I'd like to go when there weren't hurricanes threatening!

Jemma and Ryder have grown up together.  They know each other well but misunderstanding still takes over in a delicate time for them and neither one knows how to move past that.  Since then it's been a mostly hate relationship fed mostly by Jemma who doesn't know how to communicate at all.  Instead of confronting the situation and asking Ryder directly about it, she takes on the hate role and plays it to perfection.  For years.

I'm not sure I'm an outright fan of Jemma but I do love her mad shooting abilities.  

I am a firm fan of Ryder though.  

The classic struggle of expectation verses desire is present for both Jemma and Ryder in this book.  Not just for their relationship but for college decisions as well.  Their parents have expectations for them.  Jemma and Ryder both have different desires for themselves though and fight against the carefully laid plans their parents set out.

This was an enjoyable book, a classic type of YA romance with the typical conflict and desire.  It was easy reading that didn't require much from me or my brain.  :)

The ending was good.  I'm a fan of resolution and happily ever after's.

There was swearing, including the F word, which I did not like at all.  I am a firm believer that strong language should not be included in YA books.  I know I may be in a minority on with this view but there it is.  The swearing was too much for me and I didn't like it.

Follow the FFBC Magnolia Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

As a child, Kristi Cook took her nose out of a book only long enough to take a ballet class (or five) each week. Not much has changed since then, except she's added motherhood to the mix and enjoys penning her own novels as much as reading everybody else's. A transplanted southern gal, Kristi lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

That's the official version-here are some other fun facts:

~ As an undergrad, I majored in History and minored in English at the University of Southern Mississippi. While at Southern Miss, I was a member of Phi Mu sorority, and I was a Dixie Darling. And yep, Brett Favre was our quarterback at the time!

~ I studied American History in grad school at Columbia University. I *love* history, especially the Civil War era (U.S.) and Regency- and Edwardian-era British history.

~ My all-time favorite book *and* movie is GONE WITH THE WIND. My favorite literary characters are Rhett Butler, Atticus Finch, and Mr. Darcy. I kind of want to add Peeta Mellark to that list!

~Weirdly enough (or maybe not so weirdly?) I'm also a big fan of STAR TREK (the original series). I never can remember if I'm supposed to call myself a "Trekkie" or a "Trekker," though!

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