REVIEW: Coffee and Cockpits by Jade Hart

Title: Coffee and Cockpits
Author: Jade Hart
Pages: 432
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: April 11, 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Author for Honest Review

“If I had to die, I wanted it to be doing something I loved, with a man who wanted to fly me to the moon.”

By day, Nina Poppins is a professional flight attendant, who lives to travel, and isn’t afraid to chase her dreams. By night, she’s an award winning salsa dancer who wears sexy corsets and garter belts. She wants to keep her two lives separate, but Liam Mikin knows her secrets.

Liam Mikin is a co-pilot used to getting any air-hostess he wants with one blazing look of his blue eyes. And he wants Nina. But Nina is adamant she won’t end up as another notch on a pilot’s wingtip. However, fate intervenes when their airplane malfunctions on a routine flight to Samoa, stranding all the crew on the Pacific island. Liam has his opportunity to prove to Nina he’s not what she thinks, but he wasn’t counting on competition in the form of an engineer. Nikolai Rivers dances as well as Nina and is linked to Liam’s past. As Nikolai fights for Nina’s affections, Liam is forced to face what happened all those years ago.

Being island-wrecked in a five star hotel is anything but relaxing. Fraught with male egos, dancing, and secrets, both Nina and Liam aren’t ready for what fate has in store.

Wow! Just...wow! I am totally blown away by the awesomeness that is Coffee and Cockpits! This is the second book I've read by Jade Hart (My Ocean Kills Review), and once again I'm left speechless. This is not a quick, lighthearted read. It's long, with wonderfully complex and developed characters and a complicated yet sweet romance. Without a doubt, this author has an amazing ability to lead you into what you think is just a good story. From the very beginning I was drawn in and completely enjoying the book, and then WHAM!!...I'm left going, "What?! Did that just happen? ~~ Yes. Yes, it did." And...It. Was. Awesome!!

Nina Poppins has just become a flight attendant, but for her this is just a stepping stone on the way to becoming a commercial pilot. She doesn't have time for distractions, not even sexy pilots or steaming hot salsa dancers. But, after a near death experience Nina's views on life change. She vows to stop standing in her own way to happiness and to follow her heart. Being stranded on a tropical paradise is a great way to start this new outlook on life.

I was finding it harder and harder to remember why I was so hung up on boundaries. I was a bit of a tool when it came to enjoying myself. My promise came back to mind. Never again would I stop myself from living how I wanted. Starting now.

I am not a big fan of the love-triangle that seems to be so popular today, so I was extremely glad that Coffee and Cockpits has a love-triangle-that-really-isn't. The book is written in alternating POVs, so it's glaringly obvious who Nina will choose. While Nina is attracted to Liam--the sexy pilot that saved her life and the lives of all the people on the plane, and Nikolai--the smoking hot salsa dancer that she loves dancing with, she makes her choice early on. And she sticks with her decision, never wavering! Nina is an easy character to like. She knows what she wants out of life, and she's not afraid to go after it. While she's been focused on her career she has put her personal life on hold, but all of that changes real quick!

I knew it might be a mistake, and I shouldn't admit my feelings so early on, but I couldn't help myself. Opening my suddenly very heavy eyelids, I murmured, "I think I'm falling for you."

The romance is lovely, and that feels like a weird word to use, but it's right. While you're faced with the insta-love aspect, it's also put into perspective because Nina knows it's strange that she feels such a strong connection so quickly. She doesn't understand why, and it scares her to some degree, but she decides to let go and see what happens. It doesn't feel fake or forced. It's sexy, it's hot and it's incredibly romantic! Bottom Line: Coffee and Cockpits is a must read!

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines

Title: Twisted Perfection
Author: Abbi Glines
Series: Perfection (#1)~~[Accompanies Too Far Series]
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: April 22, 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Author for Honest Review

Life outside of her house was a new experience for Della Sloane. The dark secrets of her past weren’t something she ever intended to share with anyone. They would never understand. No one would ever get close enough to find out. There was always a chance she’d go crazy sooner than they expected…

Woods Kerrington had never been one to be attracted to fragile females. They seemed like too much work. He wasn’t in it for the work just the pleasure. A night full of naughty fun had been exactly what was on his mind when he’d laid eyes on the hot little number that didn’t know how to pump gas and needed some help.

What he didn’t know was she was as fragile as they came.
The carefree girl who spoke her mind and didn’t care what the world thought of her was more breakable than he could ever imagine…

Woods was one of my favorite characters in Abbi Glines' Too Far Series, so I was ecstatic to see him get his own book. You grow to love Woods in Too Far. He runs the Country Club for his dad, has loads of money, but he still manages to stay kind. When Blaire, or anyone else, needs his help he's all too willing to do what he can. What you don't see in Too Far is just how broken Woods is. His father expects him to do his duty for the good of the family. He's expected to marry a girl he can barely tolerate in order to secure the Country Club. If he refuses his father will refuse to promote him to his rightful place beside him as President of the Club. Woods, honorable man that he is, is willing to do what his father asks, sacrificing his happiness like his father asks. And then he meets Della.

“I am in awe of the things you've been put through and the fact you can still light up a room when you walk in. When I look at you I see life. I see joy. I see my future.”

Oh Della...that poor girl is tortured and twisted like no other. Growing up with a mentally unstable, agoraphobic mother will do that to you. Della spent her entire childhood locked in her own home with no one for company except her mother, and Braden, the girl next door, her best friend and rock. When Braden hands her the keys to her car and tells her to go live her life Della tries to break free from her past.
Twisted Perfection is full of the romance we've come to expect from Abbi Glines, but this is the darkest book of hers that I've read...and I've read most of them! This isn't a bad thing, just different. It really works for Twisted, and this is by far my favorite book of hers so far. We get a glimpse of past characters at the Club, but the main focus is definitely on Woods and Della. Once again we're left with a major cliff-hanger, and waiting for book 2 is going to be torture!

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About the Author

Abbi Glines was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She grew up in the small town of Sumiton, Alabama where she left the summer she turned eighteen. She didn’t get far… she chased her high school sweetheart down to the coast and she’s been there ever since.
Abbi now lives in the quaint southern town of Fairhope, Alabama with her three children and husband Keith (the high school sweetheart she chased after). Her life is never dull and Keith always makes sure there is another “experience” for them to explore.
Books published by Abbi include The Vincent Boys and the USA TODAY bestseller The Vincent Brothers, Breathe, Because of Low, the USA TODAY bestsellers While It Lasts and Just For Now, The Existence Trilogy that includes the USA Today Bestseller Ceaseless, and The New York Times bestseller and Wall Street Journal bestseller Fallen Too Far and Never Too Far.
When Abbi isn’t locked away in her office typing away she is hauling her kids to and from their many social activities. You could say her second job is the Glines Kids personal chauffeur. It’s a rather illustrious job.

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SERIES QUICK REVIEW: Fallen Too Far & Never Too Far by Abbi Glines

Title: Fallen Too Far
Author: Abbi Glines
Series: Too Far (#1)
Pages: 207
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: December 14, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far.

Title: Never Too Far
Author: Abbi Glines
Series: Too Far (#2)
Pages: 306
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: February 24, 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

Rush withheld a secret that had destroyed Blaire's world. She knows she can never forgive him, but she can't forget him either... Now, Blaire's back home in Alabama and is trying to move on with her life... until something happens to send her world spinning once again.What do you do when the one person you can never trust again is the one that you need to trust so desperately? You lie, hide, avoid, and pray that your sins never find you out.

My Thoughts:

Abbi Glines has quickly become one of my very favorite authors. Every book that I've read of hers has been absolutely amazing! I love her writing style, her steamy sex scenes, and her smoking hot bad boys. Fallen Too Far and Never Too Far definitely didn't disappoint.

Fallen Too Far begins with the death of Blaire's mother. Blaire has spent the last three years of her life taking care of her mother, putting her life on hold, and now she doesn't know how to live without her. With no money and nowhere to go, she calls her dad-- the dead beat dad that walked out on her and her mom years ago--for help. He offers to let her come live with him and his new wife, but when she gets there Daddy's conveniently taken off on a cruise...leaving her alone with her new step-brother, Rush.

Rush is the son of rock star, and he plays the part well. Bad boy, tattoos, parties, different girl every night...you know the type. But, Hot Damn is he sexy!

You've got me all kinds of worked up, girl. I'm trying hard to be a good boy. I can't lose control in the back of damn car.

The connection between Blaire and Rush is so amazingly hot! They both try to fight it. They know it's not a good idea, but it's uncontrollable. They both fall hard and fall fast. But what Blaire doesn't know is that Rush has secrets. Secrets that will destroy her world and tear her apart. When everything comes out Blaire will trust no one.

This is an amazing series, one of the best I've read. It's a great love story filled with steamy sex, betrayal, heartbreak, tons of sweet moments, and lots of twists and turns. Just when you think you know the truth about everything you find out someone else has been lying. Fallen Too Far ends with the mother of all cliff-hangers, so do yourself a favor and go ahead and buy both books right now. When you get to the end you'll be glad to have Never Too Far within immediate reach!

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REVIEW: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Title: Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2)
Author: Jamie McGuire
Others in Series: Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)
Pages: 433
Publisher: Atria Books
Date Published: April 2, 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Publisher for Honest Review

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

I was actually a bit worried when I saw that Jamie McGuire was planning to write Walking Disaster.  When I read Beautiful Disaster about a year ago, it completely blew me away.  I consider it my "gateway book" because after I finished it, I had so many emotions flying around that I just had to get them out.  I sat down and wrote my first real review (click here!).  I only posted it on Amazon at the time, but it wasn't long after that I started this blog, and I was sure to add it here too.  Although I've read MANY amazing books since then, Beautiful Disaster is still one of my all time favorites.  I like the way Beautiful Disaster ended, and I didn't really think there was a need to go further.  But, the opportunity for a glimpse into Travis's soul was just too much temptation.  I knew I had to read it, and I am so glad I did!  Travis was such a complex hero, and I had a serious love/hate relationship with him.  I loved his intensity, his passion for Abby, and his determination.  But, his anger and obsessiveness were pretty disturbing!  You'll probably want to read my review of Beautiful Disaster now, if you haven't already.  I think this review will make more sense if you do!  

For the record...I take back every negative thing I said about Travis in my Beautiful Disaster review.  Getting to hear his side of the story has totally changed my opinion of him.  Yes, he's still angry and obsessive.  Yes, he still beats the hell out of everyone that pisses him off.  But you get to see why he is the way he is.  You get to see what he's thinking  when he's totally screwing up.  And you get to see how he feels afterwards when he's totally pissed Abby off.  Watching him realize that he's in love with Abby is like an awakening.  It totally changes who he is.  What really broke my heart was his fear.  He's so afraid of losing her that you can actually feel his agony every time they fight.  And boy do they fight...a lot.  

I loved getting to see more of America and Shepley this time, too!  I already loved them both, but this time we get to see just how America feels about Travis.  The bonding between the two of them is something I never expected, and totally loved.  You would never have guessed in Beautiful Disaster that she actually cared about Travis like she does.  Her loyalties are with Abby, but  she cares about what Abby is doing to Travis, too.   And Shep...*swoon*...can he be any sweeter?!  The way he loves America just makes me smile.  We get to see more into his side of the story, and I loved seeing  the relationship that he has with Travis.  He really is the only thing keeping Travis from snapping so much of the time. 

Walking Disaster really is all about Travis and his demons.  This means we don't see nearly as much of Abby, and what we do see is mainly during the negative moments.  If you haven't read Beautiful Disaster, 1.)What are you waiting for?!  Go read now!  2.) Be sure to read Beautiful Disaster first, or Abby is going to come off as a real bitch.  Well...even more of a bitch.  She still makes me want to smack her in the back of the head.  Wake up girl!  We also get to see Travis lean on his family when he feels like everything is falling apart.  While we meet his father and brothers in Beautiful Disaster, we really get to know them in Walking Disaster.  I can't wait to see what's in store for the Mattox bothers in upcoming books!

All in all, I'm extremely happy that I decided to give Walking Disaster a chance.  It is the perfect companion to Beautiful Disaster.  Walking Disaster made me fall in love with Travis all over again, and this time, I'm all in.

Oh, and the epilogue...O.M.G.  Yes, there's an epilogue!  I won't say any more than that, but it alone was worth the read!!

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ARC REVIEW: Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett

Title: Rapunzel Untangled
Author: Cindy C. Bennett
Pages: 304
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Expected Publishing Date: February 12, 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Publisher via NetGalley

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Rapunzel is not your average teenager.

For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction. But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is.

Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.
 

I absolutely adore fairytale retellings, so I jumped at the chance to read and review Rapunzel Untangled.  Writing a retelling has to be a very difficult thing for any writer.  How do you take a story that's been told for years and give it your own unique twist?  It's all been done before!  Well, Cindy Bennett has done an amazing job of giving us a unique and imaginative story while keeping to the basics of the classic fairytale.  This is probably the darkest Rapunzel story I've heard.  Most all have the same basic plot:  Rapunzel is kidnapped as an infant by the witch Gothel and grows up in a tower, trapped there for years.  Sometimes Rapunzel lives as a prisoner, sometimes as a daughter of Gothel.  This story is no different, but that is where the similarities end.  Rapunzel Untangled is modern and fun, but gives us a twist filled with darkness and horror.

Rapunzel is nearly 18 years old, and she has lived in her rooms in the tower of Gothel Mansion all of her life.  She has a serious illness that makes it impossible for her to go outside without getting sick.  Her mother, Gothel, is the only other person she has ever had contact with.  She does all of her schoolwork online, and when she accidentally finds this wondrous site called Facebook she realizes she can use it to connect with other people her own age.  This is how she meets Fane.  At first they only correspond online, but Rapunzel eventually agrees to meet him.  He climbs her tower and the two become close friends.  When Fane convinces Rapunzel to sneak out of her rooms one night, they find stairways that lead nowhere and doors that open up to cement walls.  There's also a creepy room covered with black scorch marks and decorated with 6's.  Soon Rapunzel starts questioning everything she's been told.  Things don't add up.  The more Rapunzel learns the more questions she has, and the answers aren't at all what she wants to hear.

I enjoyed the uniqueness of Rapunzel Untangled.  It was unexpected and refreshing to read a story that's so classic, yet it's turned into something so much more modern and fun.  Rapunzel transforms throughout the book from the quiet girl that obeys every order to a strong woman willing to risk everything just to live a real life.  What we see of Fane is great.  He's funny, and he's completely loyal to Rapunzel.  I'd like to have seen more of his personality.  This would have been a great book to have alternating points of view.  His mind had to have been blown by the circumstances surrounding Rapunzel, but we don't really see that.  I also found the ending bit incomplete.  It would have been nice to see more about Rapunzel's real family.  Without a doubt, Rapunzel Untangled was a great read, and a great fairytale retelling.

 

 

REVIEW: Charade & COVER REVEAL: Facade by Nyrae Dawn

Title: Charade
Author: Nyrae Dawn
Series: Games #1
Pages: 245
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: October 22, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Bought

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Nineteen-year-old Cheyenne tries to portray the perfect life to mask the memories of her past. Walking in on her boyfriend with another woman her freshman year in college threatens that picture of perfection.

Twenty-one-year-old Colt never wanted college and never expected to amount to anything, but when his mom's dying wish is for him to get his degree, he has no choice but to pretend it's what he wants too.

Cheyenne needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex and Colt needs cash to take care of his mom, so they strike a deal that helps them both. But what if Cheyenne’s past isn’t what she thought? Soon they’re trading one charade for another—losing themselves in each other to forget about their pain. The more they play their game, the more it becomes the only thing they have that feels real.

Both Cheyenne and Colt know life is never easy, but neither of them expect the tragedy that threatens to end their charade and rip them apart forever.

I am a huge Nyrae Dawn fan!  I loved her What a Boy Wants series, so I was extremely excited to read Charade.  It definitely didn't disappoint!  I love how well Nyrae does male POV.  She nails it every time.

Charade begins with Cheyenne walking in and finding her boyfriend, Gregory, in bed with another woman.  She already has abandonment issues because of her mother, so she takes this even harder.  She decides that what she needs is a fake boyfriend to make Gregory jealous.  When she sees him get into an argument with Colt she decides he's the perfect guy for her charade.

Colt walks around like he doesn't have a care in the world.  He's sarcastic and angry, and he can be a real ass.  But he's also lonely.  In reality, everything is falling apart.  His mother is terminally ill, and when she's gone, he'll be alone.  The last thing he needs is to play games with a pampered princess, but when she offers him money he can't refuse.  He needs it to pay for his moms pain medicine.

I love how both Cheyenne and Colt find each other frustrating and aggravating.  They fight each other and how they feel until they can't hide it anymore.  The relationship between them starts slow and grows...not rushed, love at first sight.  I like this!  It makes it more real.  Charade is a sweet romance, but it's also a heartbreaking story.  Both Cheyenne and Colt have had their share of past hurts, and they lean on each other when things get even tougher.  Charade will make you laugh, it'll make you cry, and the romance will make you swoon.  It's an altogether great read, and I can't wait to get my hands on Facade. 

“This isn’t a fucking game anymore. No charades here. I don’t know exactly what to call it, but whatever it is, it’s ours. I’m going to latch onto it. And never let go.”

 

Facade is Book #2 in the Games series. Facade is about Colt's friend Adrian, and is sure to be just as amazing as Charade. Check out the amazing COVER REVEAL below!

**FACADE COVER REVEAL**

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Title: Facade
Author: Nyrae Dawn
Series: Games #2
Projected Release: March 2013
Goodreads

Website

No one knows who twenty-one year-old Adrian Westfall is behind his façade. After what he’s done, he deserves to live alone with his pain, even if he’d do anything to forget. Anything for a moment of quiet without his past haunting him.

Eighteen year-old Delaney Cross wants nothing more than to absolve her family from her father’s sins. To keep her suicidal mom off that ledge, and help her brother Maddox get the light back in his eyes. She thinks their road to freedom is through Adrian.

Adrian and Delaney are bound together by tragedy… Only Adrian doesn’t know it.

As their lives intertwine, they find a solace in each other they never knew existed. Laney knows she needs to tell him—to come out from behind her smoke screen, but to say the words could mean losing him.

Two people. Two disguises. True love.

Will it be enough to save them when all secrets are bared?

FACADE is a New Adult book and intended for mature readers.

REVIEW: Ocean Kills by Jade Hart

Title: Ocean Kills
Author: Jade Hart
Series: Ocean Breeze #1
Pages: 404
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: December 8, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Author for Honest Review

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Around the world, murderers and rapists pick off the innocent. Killing loved ones, separating families, and ruining lives.

As an eight-year-old girl, Ocean witnessed her family’s massacre and something altered inside her. Twisting her genetic code… unlocking an ability to teleport.

Ocean Breeze was never destined to be normal, especially having been named after air-freshener. She’s a shadow, a ghost—a dark saviour of the innocent. Armed with a switchblade in her bra, and a box-cutter in her pocket, she hunts the filth of the world.

Callan Bliss is a Sydney police officer whose skill-set is far above that of a normal cop. All his fellow officers see is a hard worker who loves to catch perpetrators and surf, but that’s because they don’t know about his past. When Callan arrests a suspicious-looking prostitute, he comes face-to-face with a self-confessed vigilante, and suddenly, his secrets aren’t so easy to keep silent.

Ocean hates the police with a passion, and has no intention of being held captive by a cop, even if he is sexy as hell. Teleporting from under his nose, Ocean hunts her next target—a man responsible for the largest sex ring in South Africa—and now he’s about to die. But she doesn’t count on Callan giving chase, nor the body-quaking lust that consumes them. However, Ocean's dark hobbies take precedence over what her heart wants—her thirst for murdering is killing her too, and not even Callan can save her.

When Ocean Breeze (yes, that is her real name!) was eight years old she witnessed the extremely brutal murder of her family.  Something about the torment and torture she endured altered something inside of her.  The ability to teleport was unlocked in her.  Since then she has worked to keep the type of people that killed her family off the streets.  She stalks and kills the men that murder and rape and then teleports out of the scene.  But killing comes with a price.  With every life she takes she becomes less herself.  She becomes cold and uncaring.  Ocean knows that killing these men will eventually kill her very soul, but she feels she owes it to the would-be victims of these monsters, and she's unwilling to stop.

What I Liked:

*  I love Ocean's character.  She truly believes in what she does.  She's ruthless and angry, but she does what she does to save people.  Although she doesn't always make the right choices, her heart is in the right place.

*  Callan Bliss...Aussie.  Blonde.  Surfer.  Cop.  Do I really need to go on? 

*  The chemistry between Ocean and Callan...holy smokes!  Hot!

*  Maurice Green is like a father to Ocean.  He found her on the street and took her in.  He has some secrets still left untold, but it's obvious how much he adores Ocean.  He supports her decision to hunt and kill monsters, but he doesn't necessarily agree with her.  I love how supportive he is even though it breaks his heart.

*  The story:  I love the story!  Victim turned vigilante killer goes after sex trafficing ring...action, adventure and revenge.  It's a great plot.

What I Disliked:

*  Ocean Kills is a long book! I usually like a good long story, but with this one I felt like a lot of it dragged a bit.  Several times I found myself saying, "What?!  Where did that come from?"  Big sections of the book had no significance to the full story and could have been cut.  It would have helped with the overall flow.

*  Way too many quirky cliched sayings!   

Overall: 

Ocean Kills was a very enjoyable read.  It kept me up until the early morning hours, and that is the evidence of a great story for me.  I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

ARC REVIEW: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

 

 

Title: Hopeless

Author: Colleen Hoover
Pages: 391
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: December 19, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Author for Honest Review

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Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

My Thoughts:

 

There is absolutely no way that I will be able to write a review that will do justice to how Hopeless truly made me feel.  I've read dozens of reviews that talked about how they read Hopeless in one sitting, never putting the book down.  It was totally the opposite for me.  The more I read, the more I had to pause.  Not because I didn't want to continue, but because my emotions were going crazy.  Even when I wasn't reading, Hopeless is all I thought about.  It consumed me and left me gasping for air.  It made heart skip a beat, only to send it pounding erratically later.  Emotionally, I simply couldn't keep up.  All of my emotions are still a jumbled up mess.  I wanted to laugh and I wanted to cry.  I needed to scream in fury and frustration, and I needed a hug.  A real hug, the kind where all of your pent up feelings burst free, and you wonder how you can even continue to stand upright. I loved every single word of Hopeless, and I hated every single word. There is nothing about Hopeless that I would change, yet I want to change everything. I know this makes no sense, and until you read Hopeless for yourself you really won't understand. I loved this book completely, but I have never had a fictional story break me so utterly. 

“It's amazing what the sound of a voice you've been longing to hear can do to your heart. He spoke five words just now, but in the time it took him to speak those five words, my heart was shredded and minced, then placed back inside my chest with the expectation that it should somehow know how to beat again.”

Sky is one of the most amazing characters I've ever met. She is so fragile, and she doesn't even realize it. From the outside looking in you see a sheltered, but normal teen.  She has a somewhat normal family life with her adopted mother, Karen, and her best friend, Six, lives next door.  While she puts up the front of a semblance of normalcy, she admits to having no feelings at all when it comes the boys she's had in her life.  But, all of that changes when she meets Holder.  He is the first guy that has ever given her that sense of butterflies, to make her heart skip a beat.  She finds herself swooning over a guy for the first time, yet there is also something about him that terrifies her.

 

“I can already tell he isn't the kind of guy a girl gets a simple crush on. He's the kind of guy you fall hard for, and the thought of that terrifies me.”

Dean Holder has his own demons. He has a bad boy reputation, but no one knows the real Holder. When he meets Sky he's drawn to her. Everything about Holder screams savior, yet he needs saving himself. Together, Sky and Holder open a floodgate of heart-breaking emotions, and they have no choice but to cling to each other and see it all through to the end. 

“You have to let it go. You can hold on to the hate and the love and even the bitterness, but you have to go of the blame. The blame is what's tearing you down, babe."

The dynamics of the relationship between Sky and Holder are mesmerizing. I love that even in the most messed up of situations Holder can manage to make Sky laugh. The connection between the two of them is so intense. I love the way Holder brings out such raw feelings in Sky. He manages to peel back the protective shell that Sky has around herself. He makes her feel.  

“We won’t go any further than this, I promise. But please don’t ask me to stop where we already are. I need to watch you and I need to hear you because the fact that I know you’re actually feeling this right now is so fucking amazing. You feel incredible and this feels incredible and please. Just… please.”

“And once again in my new world full of heartache and lies, this hopeless boy somehow finds a way to make me smile.”

Hopeless is dark. It's raw and heart-breaking, and it will leave you sobbing.  Just when you think you can't handle any more truth, things get uglier. When you think you have it all figured out...you don't.  But, it's also an amazingly beautiful story about friendship, love and truth and uncovering all of your scars so that you can learn to heal.  When you think it's all about to fall apart, the pieces begin to come together.  I fell completely in love with this book, even while it was breaking my heart into a million pieces.  Hopeless is a story that will forever be etched in my heart. 

 

 

 

   

REVIEW: The Forgotten by Claudia Carozza

Title: The Forgotten
Author:  Claudia Carozza
Series:  The Barronlands Trilogy (Book #2)
Reviews in Series:  The Twenty (Book #1)
Pages:  282
Publisher:  Self-Published
Date Published:  September 23, 2012
Source:  Received from Author for Honest Review

Synopsis:

Hazel's job at the Antioch didn't work out at all like she had planned. After a daring escape and one very risky delivery of the first baby born in years, she's still holding on to the hope of a better future. Out of the Antioch and on the run, who can Hazel turn to for help and can they really be trusted? In the second book of the Barronlands Trilogy, relationships are tested and even more secrets are revealed. Hazel tries to put the pieces together, hoping everything doesn't fall apart. Will she be able to hold it all together or will there be those who slip through the cracks?

Buy It at Amazon!

Buy it at B&N!

Add it to Goodreads!

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The Forgotten picks up right where The Twenty left off, and we're immediately thrown into the adventure.  Hazel and her friends have escaped the Antioch and are on the run.  Some have gone into hiding; some have chosen to fight.  With everything she's up against, Hazel is having a hard time keeping it together.  Her friends are all leaning on her, and she isn't sure she's up to the job of leading this group of misfits.
 
There is so much to love about this series!  First of all we have two super hot guys.  They are strong, sexy characters, and you can't help but love them both.  If you've read The Twenty you know just how hard it is to pick a favorite.  I know I can't!  One minute I think I like Luka best.  He's the tough and sexy bad boy.  It's apparent that he's totally into Hazel, and he's extreme.  But, then there's Shane.  We only got a glimpse of who Shane really is in The Twenty.  His real bad-ass personality comes blazing through in The Forgotten.  He wants Hazel, and while he's more laid back and quite, he's also pretty damn passionate about it.  He kinda makes me melt. 
 
Now, let's talk about Hazel.  In The Twenty she goes to the Antioch prepared to make a better life for herself and her family.  She has no idea what she's getting herself into.  When I reviewed The Twenty I had this to say about Hazel:   "I immediately liked and respected Hazel. She is selfless and will do whatever it takes to protect the people she cares about. She's self assured and amazingly strong willed, and when things get tough she squares her shoulders and marches ahead, even pushing everyone else behind her."  This is exactly how I would describe her in The Forgotten, but she's wiser, tougher and even more selfless.  She's gotten to be quite the bad-ass herself!  The trials she and her friends are going through weigh heavily on her, sometimes breaking her down, but she never fails to stand tall and kick ass. 
 
The Forgotten is much more action packed and full of adventure.  We meet some new people, some I like and some, not so much.  I'm not sure who I trust, yet.  We lose some of our group, some with no idea as to their whereabouts.  Some questions are answered, usually leaving you with another.  We find out that the Antioch has many more secrets that we first thought.  I'm still not sure what the Antioch is up to, but I'm enjoying finding out one piece of the mystery at a time.  I am completely and thoroughly captivated by this amazing series, and I can't wait until the third and final book comes out!

 

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Claudia is giving away two signed copies of "The Forgotten"!  If you'd like to win one be sure to enter the rafflecopter below.

 



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ARC REVIEW: Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett

Title:  Confessions of an Angry Girl
Author:  Louise Rozett
Series:  Confessions (#1)
Pages:  304
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Expected Publishing Date:  August 28, 2012
Format:  eBook
Source:  Received from Publisher via NetGalley
Add to Goodreads
Pre-Order:  Amazon or B&N

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Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some CONFESSIONS to make...

#1: I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you?

#2: I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who "might" be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine.

#3: High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry-get it?)

Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.

(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.) (Sorry. That was rude.)

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Fave Quote:

"Clearly Tracy has been studying Gossip Girl, absorbing lessons in how to treat your friends like crap."

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I thought the blurb for Confessions of an Angry Girl sounded really good, but I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it because our main character, Rose, is so young.  I worried needlessly though.  I still thought it was really good!  Rose has just started her freshman year of high school after "the worse summer of my life", and she's having a hard time fitting in.  As if high school isn't bad enough she's also dealing with the fact that her father died over the summer while he was working as a contractor in Iraq.  Then she meets Jamie Forta.  She's totally confused by the fact that he seems interested in her, but he's supposedly dating a cheerleader, Regina.  Oh, and Regina is crazy!  Like stay-away-from-my-man-or-I-will-cut-you crazy!

I really enjoyed this quick and easy read.  Rose is an easy character to love.  While you feel sympathy for her and the situation she has been put into, you also want to see her move on.  She's sad, she's angry, she misses her dad and watching her brother move on hurts.  She can't seem to relate to her friends anymore.  I'm not sure what to think of Jamie.  While I like him, he also tends to come off as weak.  It's obvious that he likes Rose, but he lets a lot of things get in his way...namely, Regina.  Speaking of which, she is one scary b****!  I love a good rivalry, and Regina is perfect!  She's beautiful, a cheerleader and she has her claws dug deeply in Jamie.  I would NOT want her angry with me.  Rose finds this out the hard way.  Confessions of an Angry Girl was an extremely enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to the next book, Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend.

REVIEW: Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Title: Point of Retreat
Author:  Colleen Hoover
Series:  Slammed (#2)
Pages:  320
Publisher:  Atria Books
Date Published:  August 10, 2012
Format:  eBook
Source:  Bought
Add it to Goodreads
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

In the second book in the Slammed series by New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, Layken and Will's relationship has endured through hardships, heartache, and a cruel twist of fate, further solidifying the fact that they belong together. But the two lovers could not have expected that the things that brought them together may ultimately be the things that tear them apart. Their connection is on the brink of being destroyed forever and it will take an extraordinary amount of willpower to keep their love afloat.

Layken is left questioning the very foundation on which her relationship with Will was built. Will is left questioning how he can prove his love for a girl who can't seem to stop "carving pumpkins." Upon finding the answers that may bring peace back into their relationship, the couple comes across an even greater challenge—one that could change not only their lives but the lives of everyone who depend on them.

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Fave Quote:

“I brush her hair out of her eyes and run my finger along the edge of her face. "I love you, Lake."
"Say it again," she says.
I kiss her forehead and repeat what I said. "I love you, Lake."
"One more time."
"I." I kiss her lips. "And love." I kiss them again. "And you."
"I love you, too.” 
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Click HERE to read my review of Slammed and an interview with Colleen Hoover!

Once again I'm tasked with writing a review for a book that left me speechless.  I feel like nothing I have to say could possibly do justice to this amazing book.  Just like Slammed, Point of Retreat snagged me from the first page, and it never let me go.  While Slammed is told from Lake's point of view, with Point of Retreat we get to see into Will's soul. Hearing the story from his point of view was great.  I butterflying loved it!!  For those of you who will read the next line and STOP READING like I ask, all I can say is go now and read Slammed!  You will not regret it!  Then, come back and read this review if you want.  But, if you're like me you'll know you MUST read Point of Retreat no matter what!

**If you have NOT read Slammed PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER! While there are no spoilers for Point of Retreat below there will be spoilers for Slammed!**

  
Point of Retreat starts off right where Slammed leaves us.  Will has custody of Caulder and Lake has custody of Kel.  Both Will and Lake are in college.  Of course, Eddie and Gavin are still their best friends, and they are great supporting characters once again!  Will and Lake have settled into a sort of routine, and things are working for them.  Things are good.  But, when Will starts class his last semester he's surprised to see his ex-girlfriend, Vaughn, in his class.  When she starts to question his relationship with Lake things spiral out of control.  Lake begins to wonder if maybe the only reason they're together is because they're both raising their brothers.  Maybe they're together for the wrong reasons. 

I'm not sure what else I can say about this book that I haven't already said!  I totally adore each and every character in this book.  Will is amazing.  I love how romantic he is.  I love the poetry he writes.  I love how dedicated he is to the people he cares for.  He's raising his little brother, which means he's had to work extra hard and give up his own youth.  Not very many guys would be able to pull off the accomplishments he has.  Lake is much more mature in Point of Retreat.  She didn't have much choice but to grow up.  Even though she was given the opportunity to have the college life most kids her age would want she chose to grow up fast and take on the parent role with her brother.  Eddie and Gavin have a lot going on with them in this book, and I love both of their characters.  The devotion to each other is so romantic, and I love how they stick by Will and Lake.  Kel and Caulder are just as hilarious in Point of Retreat...maybe more so!  They love to get under their teacher's skin.  They have a new friend, Kiersten, and she is my favorite character!  I love her quirky little mind!!  Point of Retreat doesn't have as much poetry in it, but the poetry is does have is amazing and extremely emotional.  The slams again play a big part in the lives of the characters.  Colleen Hoover has wormed her way into my heart, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her!  If this series is anything to judge by we'll be seeing a lot of amazing things! 

5 Stars * * * * *

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Be sure to enter the giveaway for an autographed copy of Slammed AND Point of Retreat!!  Since it took me a little longer than planned to get this review up I've extended the giveaway for another week.

*Open Internationally!*

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REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Title:  Slammed
Author:  Colleen Hoover
Series:  Slammed (#1)
Pages:  314
Publisher:  Atria Books
Format: eBook
Source:  Bought
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and her younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.

One young man brings change to all of this. After moving across the country, Layken meets her attractive twenty-one-year-old neighbor, who has an intriguing passion for slams. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after a heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together and the forces that tear them apart.

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Fave Quote:

"God, Layken.  How do you do it?" she says.  She blows her nose and grabs another tissue out of the box.  "How do I do what?"  I sniff as I continue to wipe the tears from my eyes.  "How do you not fall in love with him?"  The tears begin flowing just as quickly as they had ceased.  I grab yet another tissue.  "I don't not fall in love with him.  I don't not fall in love with him a lot!"

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This book and the sequel, Point of Retreat, are officially my favorite books of the year!  I made the mistake of starting Slammed late one evening.  Before I knew it, it was 4:00 a.m. and I was finished!  I was absolutely hooked from the very first page, and after a few hours of sleep I immediately started Point of Retreat.  I literally consumed both books in under 24 hours!

Slammed begins with Layken (Lake) and her mother and brother moving from Texas to Ypsilanti, Michigan.  It's been six months since her father died, and her mother decides that it's time for a change.  Layken is less than thrilled with the idea, but when she meets her neighbor, Will, she begins to think that maybe things are starting to look up.  After going on an amazing date Will is all she can think about.  But it's not long until they learn that being together will be impossible.  Unfortunately for them both staying away from each other is also impossible, and the heart wants what the heart wants. 

Colleen Hoover's writing is absolutely amazing!  There are so many twists and turns in Slammed, and I don't want to give away anything!  The emotions are just rolling through the pages.  One minute I would be laughing out loud, and on the very next page I would be crying.  Then, just when you think you have it all figured out...you don't.  A lot of times the instant attraction romances feel too forced and too rushed, but with Lake and Will everything feels real.  The connection between them is tangible, but the circumstances keeping them apart isn't something that they can just ignore.  The chemistry between them is magnetic. You can almost feel the pull towards each other.  It's like they're on opposite ends of a rubber band.  The harder they try to stay away from each other the stronger the pull is.  But, Slammed is about more than just a forbidden romance.  There are many family issues going on with both Will and Lake.  They have both been through so much heartbreak, and they can't help but lean on each other.  I also love the poetry in this book!  I've never been much of a fan of poetry, but the slams blew me away.  It has to be so amazing to get up on stage like that and let your emotions completely take over.  I loved that it played such a huge part in who Will and Lake are, and it goes a long way towards healing some of the scars.  I also have to say this woman can write some dialog!  Jokes, arguments, drama, steamy make out scenes...the dialog is all wonderful!  The supporting characters are also great.  Eddie is Lake's best friend, and her character is so quirky and fun.  She's the kind of person I could see myself being friends with.  Lake and Will both have younger brothers, Kel and Caulder, and they become instant best friends.  These two kids manage to keep the laughs going all the time, even when nothing else seems to be going right.  Slammed is an amazing story with great characters.  Even though I had a total book hangover after reading it I can't wait to do it again.

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Interview & Giveaway!!

Colleen Hoover

Website/Blog

Goodreads

Facebook

Do you have a favorite book, one that you go back to over and over?

Oh, goodness.  You know, I don't really read books more than once.  I'm the same way with movies.  Once I watch it, I don't want to see it again.  It just never gets better than the first time.  Especially if the surprise element is great. 

Did you always know that you wanted to write?

I've always loved writing.  I remember when I was four, my older sister came home with a story she wrote.  She read it to me (she was in second grade) and I was SO jealous that she could read and write.  I remember almost crying because I was so ready to go to school and learn how to write.  It's the earliest memory I have of actually developing a love for it. 

Who or what was your inspiration to write?

Like the previous question, I just always remember having that desire.

Do you have a favorite place to read?  To write?

We just recently moved into a new house and I have an office.  There's a huge, comfy chair that I usually curl up in with my diet pepsi and write.  I need complete silence when I write, so the music gets turned off. 

Bookmarks or dog ears?

Bookmarks

Dust jacket on or off?

Off.  I hate them.  That's the first thing to go when I purchase a book.

Paper books or ebooks?

Ebooks.  I love, love, love my kindle. 

What book would you like to see made into a movie?

Umm...does it count if I say SLAMMED? lol.  Because that would be awesome!

Favorite comfort food?

Chocolate.  Any kind as long as it doesn't have raspberry flavoring.  I hate raspberry.

What are your pet peeves?

In regards to writing, I hate sequels that re-introduce everything from the previous books.  I don't know why that bothers me so much, but it's why I didn't do it in Point of Retreat.  Not a whole lot gets on my nerves, though.  I'm really good at tuning things out, especially children.  ;)

What is the first book you remember reading as a child?

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  I love all of his books so much.  Where The Sidewalk Ends is one of my faves. 

What are you reading right now?

Right now, I'm reading final pass edits of SLAMMED and POINT OF RETREAT.  They are being submitted to Simon & Schuster and I'm stoked that I never, ever have to read them again.  I've read both of these books probably no less than 200 times each.  I can't wait until this switchover is finished so I can jump back into a few good books.  I've been getting a ton of recommendations on my blog, but I'm also scared to start reading again because I really need to write. 

How much time do you spend every day reading?  Writing?

Lately, zero.  I've been so busy with everything else that comes along with this, stuff I had no idea about.  When I wrote Slammed and Point of Retreat, I spent a good 12 hours a day writing.   I hope to get back into that mode, but it's so hard pulling myself away from the computer. 

Out of all the characters you have written so far, who was the hardest to write and who was easier? Do you have a favorite?

I think Will is my favorite, of course.  :)  I loved writing all of them, though.  I really enjoyed Kel, Caulder and Kiersten's characters and think they would make a great book someday in the future. 

If you could be a superhero what super power would you want to have?

Is time travel considered a super power?  lol.  I'd love to time travel. 

If you could take a week vacation with any book character, who would you chose and why?

Ahem.  Christian Grey, maybe?  Because he's a billionaire, so the vacation would be amazing.  And not to mention...fun. 

You recently announced some amazing news on your blog!  (Congrats by the way!!)  Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect from you in the near future?

Simon & Schuster bought the rights to both books, but we haven't really discussed future projects together yet.  I'm waiting until these two get pushed out first, then I'll see what they think of the two I'm working on now.  So as of right now, no dates or projects to announce.  I'm still working on Will's Story and hope to get that out someday.  I'm also working on a book titled Fall Together that I'm really excited about.  There are constantly so many ideas going around in my head that I sometimes have to force myself to stop thinking about it.  I like to focus on one book at a time. 

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Big Thanks to Colleen for doing this interview!!  She is also giving away a signed paperback copy of both Slammed AND Point of Retreat (which I will be posting my review for soon) so be sure to enter the giveaway below!!  I'm jealous...I need a signed copy too!

*Giveaway is open Internationally!!* 

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Title:  Tiger's Curse
Author:  Colleen Houck
Narrator:  Annika Boras, Sanjiv Jahveri
Series:  Tiger Saga (#1)
Length:  15 hours, 45 minutes
Publisher:  Sterling Publishing
Date Published:  January 11, 2011
Format:  Audio
Source:  Bought
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N or Audible

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Passion. Fate. Loyalty. 

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

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Fave Quote:

“I don't want you to see only a tiger when you look at me. I want you to see me. The man.”

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This was a re-read for me, and I think I enjoyed it even more this time around!  This series is one of my absolute favorites, and when I was given the opportunity to read the ARC of Tiger's Destiny (my review)  I knew I was going to have to go back and revisit the entire series.  I'm so glad I did.

Story:
In Tiger's Curse Kelsey Hayes has just graduated from high school and she's gotten a temp job working at a circus for the summer before she goes off to college. When she meets the white tiger, Dhiren, who she lovingly nicknames Ren, she's immediately dawn to him. She finds herself spending all of her free time outside the tiger's cage, talking and reading books and poetry to him. She becomes saddened when she thinks about how lonely he must be pent up in a cage for most of his life, and she wishes he could be free. Little does she know the series of events she sets into motion with that wish. The next day a rich man from India, Mr. Kadam, comes to the circus and buys the beautiful white tiger that she's come to think of as "her tiger". He tells her that Ren will be taken to a preserve and released. When Mr. Kadam asks her to accompany Ren to India it doesn't take much persuasion for her to agree.  Along the way Mr. Kadam tells Kelsey the story of two Indian princes, brothers Dhiren and Kishan, who were betrayed by an evil man named Lokesh, and cursed to live their lives as tigers. Kelsey enjoys the story, but it isn't until Ren escapes from his cage, drags her into the jungle and turns into a gorgeous Indian man, that she realizes the story is true. Ren tells her that he is the man from the story and that he only gets 24 minutes a day as a man. And, he needs her help to break the curse. Of course, Kelsey agrees to do whatever it takes to help him, even help him track down Kishan, the brother he hasn't seen in 300 years. 

I love absolutely everything about this book.  First of all I have to comment on the cover!  It is absolutely amazing!!  Everything from the white tiger to the blue hue is full of significance.  It's beautiful!  On to the story... Colleen Houck has an amazing ability to describe every single element of  a story in great detail, but it never feels drawn out or overdone.  It's apparent that she did a ton of research when she created the worlds in which our characters travel.  Her story telling is superb!  All of the characters have very distinct and colorful personalities and are so richly written.  I love the Indian culture, mythology and mystery surrounding the curse.  There are so many little details that I didn't pick up the first time I read Tiger's Curse, and re-reading it made me see so many things differently.  Our villain, Lokesh, is one of the most evil villains I've ever been introduced to.  Not only is he the reason for the curse, but it's immediately clear that he has other plans, too.  He is a bad, bad man, and his dialogue gives me chills!  Mr. Kadam is one of my favorite characters.  He is like a grandfather to Kelsey, and his honor and devotion to the tigers is amazing.  He puts everything he has into helping them break the curse.  Kelsey comes to depend on him in so many ways.  The romance in this book has the ability to make you crazy!  Sometimes it's in a good way...sometimes it's not.  I love the chemistry between Ren and Kelsey!  Ren is the ultimate sweetheart, and he is a romantic at heart.  Kelsey, bless her stupid heart, she can't imagine that someone as wonderful as Ren would actually love her.  There were several times when I wanted to shake her and yell, "Wake up stupid girl!"  Kelsey is an easy character to love, though.  Her self sacrifice alone makes her worthy of my appreciation.  And let's not forget Kishan!  My first reaction to Kishan was very negative.  His back story leaves a lot to be desired.  But when you really get to know him you realize he has tortured himself for over 300 years because of his guilt.  He is very outgoing and flirtatious by nature, and he's easy to fall for.  Yes, a set of swoon-worthy brothers!!  Can't ask for more than that!   This is an absolutely wonderful series, and if you haven't already tried them I highly suggest you do!

Narration:
Annika Boras is our major narrator for this audiobook, and she does a great job!  Not only does she do Kelsey with her American accent, she also does our Indian men and women and also even a side character that is Chinese!  Each and every character has their own unique voice and they are all done extremely well.  She also puts a lot of emotion into her reading.  This is a great audiobook!

5 * * * * *