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!

_____________________________

Get your copy: 

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!

_____________________________

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.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

Get your copy: 

 

Giveaway: iPad Mini (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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!

_____________________________

Get your copies: 

Fallen Too Far:
 

Never Too Far
 

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!!

_____________________________

Get your copy: 

 

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

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

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**

*************

 

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.

QUICK REVIEW: Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Title: Remember Me?
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Pages: 389
Publisher: The Dial Press
Date Published: February 28, 2008
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Blurb:

Lexi wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it's 2004 and she's a twenty-five-year old with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life. But, to her disbelief, she learns it's actually 2007 - she's twenty-eight, her teeth are straight, she's the boss of her department - and she's married! To a good-looking millionaire! How on earth did she land the dream life??! She can't believe her luck - especially when she sees her stunning new home. She's sure she'll have a fantastic marriage once she gets to know her husband again. He's drawn up a 'manual of our marriage,' which should help. But as she learns more about her new self, chinks start to appear in the perfect life. All her old colleagues hate her. A rival is after her job. Then a dishevelled, sexy guy turns up...and lands a new bombshell. What happened to her? Will she ever remember? And what will happen if she does?

My Thoughts:

What do you do when you wake up one day and realize that you have everything you've ever wanted, but you can't remember how it happened? That's what happens to Lexie Smart. One day she's working at a dead end job, dating a loser and pretty much hates where her life is going.  She goes out drinking with her girlfriends, and she's trying to hail a taxi in the pouring rain when she slips and falls down a flight of stairs. When she wakes up in the hospital everything about her life has changed. It's three years later and she's told she's been in a car accident.  She's the boss at her company, wears designer clothing and is married to a gorgeous millionaire, and she can't remember anything about those three years in between.

I went into Remember Me? thinking that I was going to get The Vow (girl loses memory but husband manages to make her fall in love all over again), but what I got was 13 going on 30 (girl wakes up in the future and has everything she's ever dreamed of but realizes she doesn't like the person she's become along the way). This isn't a bad thing, I was just expecting a more emotional novel. Remember Me? turned out to be a quick and fun read with more comedy than emotion. Lexie is a very likable character, and I loved some of her snarky remarks. This was my first Sophie Kinsella book, but I will definitely be back for more.

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

_______________________________

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.)

_______________________________

Fave Quote:

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

_______________________________

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.

______________________________

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.” 
______________________________

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 * * * * *

________________________________

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!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

____________________________

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!"

____________________________

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.

_______________________________________________

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. 

_______________________________________________

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!!* 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC REVIEW: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author:  Katie McGarry
Pages:  384
Series:  Bared to You (Companion Novel)
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Date Published:  July 31, 2012
Format:  eBook
Source:  Received from publisher via NetGalley
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

______________________________

Fave Quote:

"The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see -- the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes.  No, the worst kind happened when your sould wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it.  A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived.  For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life."

 ______________________________

Pushing the Limits is definitely going at the top of my favorite reads of the year!  This book was gritty and dark and absolutely amazing.  It's told in alternating points of view, which I tend to enjoy.  I like that I got to know who Echo and Noah really are.  

Both Echo and Noah have been through terrible ordeals in their pasts.  First Echo's brother is killed overseas, and then something happens that leaves her covered in scars and other than the fact that her mom had something to do with it, she can't remember what caused them.  Her father is overbearing and a control freak and she hates her stepmother.  Noah's parents died in a house fire and since then he's been passed from one foster family to another.  He's a dark bad boy that's always getting high and using girls.  All Noah cares about is turning eighteen so that he can get his younger brothers out of the foster system.  When their counselor/therapist, Mrs. Collins, asks Echo to tutor Noah they become an unlikely pair in a mutual attempt to steal information from their case files.  Echo wants to know what happened to her the night she got her scars, and Noah wants to know where his brothers are.

This is an emotionally raw story.  There is so much pain shared between these two, and even with the supporting characters.  Both Echo and Noah are strong characters even though they've been through so much turmoil in their lives.  Even when they break down it's a part of the healing they need to go through to move on with their lives.  The romance in Pushing the Limits is very genuine.  This is no love-at-first-sight-fall-madly-and-deeply kind of romance.  The attraction between Noah and Echo is sweet, but it's better because it's more than physical.  It's also about the way they support and care for each other when they reach the bottom.  It's tough, it's emotional and it's real.  I absolutely adored Mrs. Collins.  She is a great supporting character that gives the story a level of comedy while also moving the main characters forward in healing.  It's immediately obvious that she really cares about Echo and Noah in a way neither of them have ever had with other therapists.  I love that each and every character has major growth throughout the story.  None of them are without flaws and emotional scars, but they are all working to push themselves to be someone better.  Pushing the Limits was a beautifully written, dark and emotional read, and I loved every minute of it.

4 Stars * * * *

REVIEW: What A Boy Needs by Nyrae Dawn

Title:  What A Boy Needs
Author:  Nyrae Dawn
Series:  What A Boy Wants (#2)
Pages:  164
Publisher:  Self-Published
Date Published:  June 2012
Format: eBook
Source:  Bought
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

Jaden Sinclair knows he'll never amount to anything...so why would he deserve a girl like Priscilla Mendoza?

Since last summer, things have been screwed up between Jaden and Pris. He knows it's his fault, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to go a few rounds with her new boyfriend. He also knows he’s the loser his dad calls him, but it doesn’t stop him from wanting her.

After getting a huge bomb dropped on him, Jaden lashes out and lands himself in jail. Everything in his chaotic life is turned upside down and to make it worse, his mom kicks him out in order to side with his dad. Yeah, he’s totally a prize for a girl like Pris.

Sebastian, Aspen, and Pris are all going places in their lives...and he knows he can't keep tagging along for the ride.

The group has one last chance for The Epic Adventure they've been looking for: a road trip to New York, where Jaden's friends will be going to college. Unfortunately, the more time Jaden hangs around Pris, the harder it is to keep the carefully constructed walls between them so she doesn't find out what a train wreck he really is.

When the trip ends, Jaden has to decide if he's ready to say goodbye to his friends, and the girl he loves. He knows what he needs, but will he be man enough to go for it?

_________________________

After reading What A Boy Wants and loving it so much I knew I had to read What A Boy Needs right away.  I wasn't really prepared for the difference between the two books.  Sebastian is a comical character and he loves his friends unconditionally.  What A Boy Wants is light and funny.  What A Boy Needs is written from Sebastian's friend, Jaden's, point-of-view.   Jaden, while laid back on the outside, is a tortured soul on the inside.  Sebastian hints that Jaden has problems at home in What A Boy Wants, but it's not until you see it from his point-of-view that you realize just how bad Jaden's home life is.  His father hates him and has never let him forget it.  He tells him that he's worthless and will never be anything.  As if that's not bad enough he find out that he's not his real father.  But the part that really bothers him is that his mom has let him make Jaden's life miserable anyway.  It's apparent right away that Jaden has some real baggage he needs to deal with.

_________________________

"He steps into the room.  He's never put his hands on me.  Sometimes I think it would be easier to deal with than his words that still rot inside me long after physical wounds would heal."

"That's right!  You think you're going to New York with your friends soon, right?  How are you going to do that?  Mooch off them?  I know you don't have any money and you sure as hell aren't getting anymore of mine.  Eighteen years is enough of that.  Pretty soon they'll get tired of picking up your slack, kid.  It won't take them long to realize what I've always known.  You're not worth it.  You're not worth anything."

_________________________

What A Boy Needs picks up a year after What A Boy Wants.  The friends are graduating from high school, and the plan is to take a road trip to NYC where the girls will be going to college.  This has always been the plan.  For years they have talked about it.  But now that it's time Jaden is hesitant.  Everything his father has said to him starts to well up inside.  And then there's Priscilla.  Where Jaden has nothing, Pris has everything.  Her father is the DA, they are loaded.  Her parents give her anything she wants, but not the love and attention she needs.  Jaden knows he will never be good enough for her.  Priscilla wonders if she will ever be enough to break down Jaden's walls.

_________________________

"Priscilla's face buries into my shirt as she lets go; big, sobbing cries that vibrate through me.  Wetness seeps through my shirt, but I don't care.  All I want to do right now is make it better.  Take care of her.  That's what you do, right?  When someone is important to you, you take care of them.  You try to take their pain away, pull it into yourself if you can, because it's easier to fight her demons for her than to risk someone scarring her."

"My body is a cracked mirror, lines spider-webbing out from the central breaking point.  My chest, my head and the rest of me does the same.  How can she think she's not enough for me?"

_________________________

While there is still a lot of the familiar banter between the friends the dynamics of What A Boy Needs is different.  Everyone knows that Jaden has a lot going on that he is trying to deal with, but they don't know how to help him, so the mood is darker.  We still get to see the amazing bond between these four friends.  When Jaden feels like running they always stand in his way making sure he knows they love him.  I enjoyed watching the phases that Jaden goes through on his way to healing and learning to live his own life. 

 _________________________

"Views are so freaking skewed -- the way people see each other and the way they see themselves.  Anything can change them or alter them.  What you see on the outside usually isn't what you get on the inside and that's what matters.  Actions.  What you put into the universe or whatever.  Right now I feel like more of a man than I ever have."

_________________________

I really liked What A Boy Wants, but I loved What A Boy Needs!  I love the friendship and the banter.  I love how dedicated Sebastian, Aspen, Jaden and Pris are to one another.  Real friends like that are hard to find.  Nyrae Dawn is an amazing author and I plan to keep her on my radar.  These two books are most definitely at the top of my favorites list.

5 Stars * * * * *  

REVIEW: What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn

Title: What a Boy Wants
Author:  Nyrae Dawn
Series:  What a Boy Wants (#1)
Pages:  140
Publisher:  Self-Published
Date Published:  April 6, 2012
Format:  eBook
Source:  Bought
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.

And then he falls in love…
With the last girl he would expect…

Totally not in his game plan.

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.

But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it.

_________________________

What a Boy Wants was such a fun book to read!  You can't help but love Sebastian and his friends Jaden, Aspen and Pris.  They've been best friends since Kindergarten, and they do everything together.  The bond between these four friends is unbreakable.  What a Boy Wants is told from Sebastian's point-of-view, and he is such a comical character that I found myself laughing out loud over and over.  After watching his mom get her heart broken by guy after guy he decides that there is no such thing as real love.  It's better for everyone if they just keep it fun.  He and Jaden live for the hook-up, but they're sure to tell the girls up front that they're not looking for a relationship.  The last thing Sebastian wants to do is hurt someone the way his mom has been hurt.  When he starts to fall for his best friend, Aspen, he realizes he may be The Hook-Up Doctor, but he is most definitely not The Love Doctor.  He can't seem to do anything right.

There is so much to love about this book!  First of all, I adore the relationship between Sebastian and his mom.  He would do anything for her, and he's not ashamed to admit it.  His dad walked out on them when he was just a kid and she's done her best to make sure Sebastian always knows how much she loves him.  Even though he makes a lot of mistakes, and he doesn't know how to have a real relationship, it's his relationship with his mom that keeps him from  hurting all the girls he's hooked up with.

_________________________

“Still I pulled her into a hug, because I knew she let me off the hook on purpose and yeah, I'm a guy and I love my mom. So shoot me. I'm man enough to hug her without feeling like a mama's boy.” 

"'Ma, quit hogging all the Chunky Monkey.  I grabbed the pint of ice cream off Mom's lap as she sat next to  me on the couch.  I wasn't proud of myself.  Actually, I was pretty embarrassed that I was practically crying in my ice cream with my mom."

_________________________

The four friends constant banter and bickering is hilarious, and Sebastian is constantly kicking himself for his stupid mistakes.  He's such a guy!  Fist bumping and chest beating included.  Even though they always manage to keep the conversation light you can tell that they would do anything for each other. 

_________________________

"We fist bumped again, because it was much manlier than getting sappy twice in one day."

"No matter how whipped I was, I'd obviously still be a guy.  That gave me some relief.  'You're drooling.'  Jaden nudged the elbow I was leaning on making it fall off the table. 'Shut up.' Lame reply, but it was all I had."

"Jaden threw a glance over his shoulder.  'Aspen...I can see why you wouldn't mind.  Her and Pris, they're kind of better than the other girls out there, ya know?'"

_________________________

The chemistry between Sebastian and Aspen is great.  Aspen is a very likable character.  She's sweet and smart and I love her sarcasm.  Because Sebastian and Aspen are friends there is already an amazing connection between them.  I love how Sebastian's thinking changes as he realizes his feeling for Aspen have changed, but he's still a total guy.

_________________________

"Once I decided to go for it with Aspen, I wanted this weekend to be special.  You know, like long walks on the beach, and all that other special stuff that used to make me want to gouge my own eyes out."

_________________________

What a Boy Wants was a great read.  It's funny and sweet, and even a little bit adorable.  It's a perfect chick lit read!

4 Stars * * * *

REVIEW: On The Island by Tracy Garvis Graves

Title: On the Island
Author:  Tracey Garvis Graves
Pages:  306
Publisher:  Self Published (Now republished by Penguin)
Date Published:  September 3, 2011
Format:  ebook
Source:  Bought
Buy It:   Amazon OR B&N

*This is the self published book cover, which is the edition I bought.  To see the new cover visit Amazon or B&N.

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.

T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

_________________________

Fave Quote:

 “I don't fit in your world."
"Neither do I," he said, his expression tender yet resolute. "So let's make our own. We've done it before.” 

_________________________

This book was absolutely wonderful.  I'm not sure I can properly review it and completely express just how much I loved On the Island.  When I first read the synopsis I was skeptical.  A romance between a thirty-something teacher and her sixteen year old student is sketchy!  After reading some of the reviews I decided to give it try, and I am so glad I did.  This story managed to draw me in from the very first page, and the adventures and catastrophes (think monsoons and sharks)  kept me completely enthralled.

Anna is thirty years old when she takes a summer job as a tutor for a family spending their summer in Maldives.  She has been in a stagnant relationship for eight years with a man that shows no signs of planning to commit.  She thinks the opportunity to spend the summer vacation on a tropical island is just what she needs to re-evaluate her life.  T.J. is sixteen years old and has been fighting cancer for the past three years.  He's in remission and all he wants is to spend the summer with his friends.  Going on vacation with his family and working with a tutor all summer is not what he had in mind.  When his parents leave for Maldives they agree to let him stay behind with a friend for a week and plan for him to travel to meet them with Anna.  When the pilot of the sea plane has a heart attack and they crash land in the ocean T.J. manages to get them both to a nearby island.  At first they assume a rescue plane will be coming for them, but the plane never comes.  Anna and T.J. quickly realize they are going to have to figure out how to survive if they ever want to see their families again.

On the Island is written in alternating points of view so you really get to see into the personality of both Anna and T.J.  Sometimes they even tell the same story from differing points of view, which I found to be a fun way to see how they both view the same situation.  Anna is an amazingly strong character, but she's not afraid to let her emotions take over.  In such a stressful situation it's not hard for her to become weary and depressed. Because of the fact that she's so much older than T.J. she takes charge of the situation, and in the early months on the island she is the reason they survive.  She has a sense of responsibility and she knows she can't give up if T.J. is going to live.  I loved T.J.'s character.  In a lot of ways he is the typical sixteen year old boy, but he's had to grow up fast while he fought the cancer.  He's strong, responsible and willing to work hard, which he proves time and time again on the island.  While Anna handles the day to day aspects of survival, T.J. is the one that manages to feed and shelter them.  It's because of his perseverance that they survive for as long as they do.  At some point you see the dynamics of their relationship begin to change and you realize that Anna is no longer the one making the decisions.  Because of the obstacles thrown at him T.J. has grown into a man and he plays the part well.  What amazes me is how well T.J.'s transformation is written.  His character growth is so profound that by the middle of the book I'd forgotten that he was so much younger than Anna.  When their feelings begin to change for each other you can sense Anna's apprehension, but T.J. is tired of holding back.  He doesn't approach her like a horny teenager, he's a man now and he proves it.  As their future plays out they both have a lot of rational concerns about their relationship and seeing how they approach these issues makes for an extremely compelling read.     

On the Island is a beautifully written romance with enough action and adventure thrown in to keep you reading until all hours of the night.  I know it did for me!  I'm not at all surprised that On the Island has been picked up by Penguin, and I can't wait to see what new things are in store for this amazing writer.         

5 Stars * * * * *