ARC Review: Lead Me Not by A. Meredith Walters

Pub. Date: August 5^th, 2014

Publisher: Gallery Books

288 pages

Paperback/ebook/audio

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

Aubrey Duncan understands loss. She knows what rock bottom looks like, and she is determined to crawl back up to the top after the sudden death of her younger sister. She blames herself for her part in the tragedy, convinced that she could have done something, anything, to help her.

In her effort to gain redemption, Aubrey starts fresh at Longwood University and facilitates an addiction support group, hoping she can support someone else in the way she failed her sister. But what she doesn’t count on is an all-consuming fascination with group member Maxx Demelo, a gorgeous, blond, blue-eyed enigma who hides dark secrets behind a carefully constructed mask. He only reveals what he wants others to see. But Aubrey glimpses another Maxx hidden below the surface—a Maxx who is drowning in his own personal hell.

As Aubrey and Maxx develop an attraction too intense to ignore, he pulls her into the dark underbelly of the city club scene, where she is torn by her desire to save him and an inexplicable urge to join him in his downward spiral. Worst of all, she is beginning to love everything she should run away from—a man who threatens to ignite in her a fire that could burn her alive…

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Whenever I read a book with characters I feel are intentionally imperfect and not entirely likeable, I want to give the author kudos for bravery. So, A. Meredith Walters, kudos. I don’t think I’m alone when I say that as a reader I want to root for characters. I want to connect with them. I want to like them. I don’t like not liking the characters I invest my time learning about. But, this was one of those rare books where I disliked the characters and disagreed with just about every choice the they made, but I was kept enthralled by the story, desperate to know how it was all going to end.

What I really liked about the novel was it shows everyone is fallible.  Aubrey knows how quickly addiction can take over, and take, a person’s life. She saw it first hand when her sister overdosed. Yet initially Aubrey is pretty judgmental towards people with addictions, especially her roommate Renee’s addiction to her abusive boyfriend.

A Quickie: Don't Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley

Pub. Date: April 22nd, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen

Paperback
304 pages

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

All her life, Imogene has been known as the girl on THAT blog.

Imogene's mother has been writing an incredibly embarrassing, and incredibly popular, blog about her since before she was born. Hundreds of thousands of perfect strangers knew when Imogene had her first period. Imogene's crush saw her "before and after" orthodontia photos. But Imogene is fifteen now, and her mother is still blogging about her, in gruesome detail, against her will.

When a mandatory school project compels Imogene to start her own blog, Imogene is reluctant to expose even more of her life online...until she realizes that the project is the opportunity she's been waiting for to tell the truth about her life under the virtual microscope and to define herself for the first time.

Don't Call Me Baby is a sharply observed and irrepressibly charming story about mothers and daughters, best friends and first crushes, and the surface-level identities we show the world online and the truth you can see only in real life.

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Don't Call Me Baby was a good, light, quick read. It didn't blow me away, but it definitely kept my interest. I felt the characters were wise beyond there years, which gave an unrealistic/ disingenuous feel at time, but the emotions and the character motivations

ARC Review: The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

Pub. Date: February 25, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Paperback
382 pages

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton. 

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

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I tried so hard to read this book. I picked it up more than once, but I just could not finish this novel. I found the lead characters to be entirely indistinguishable voice-wise from each other. They weren’t unique at all, and within the first half of the novel, there was virtually no character development. To make matters worse, for the most part the lead characters were vapid and annoying. I kept hoping that the story would pick up and intrigue me in a way that the characters weren’t, but that didn’t happen. The premise of girls gone wild in Vegas took over the mystery element, and when the mystery element was in play, the reveals were flat, predictable, and not enough to keep me interested.

ARC Review: I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain by Courtney Robertson

Pub. Date: June 24^th, 2014

Publisher: IT Books

Hardcover

272 pages

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

Courtney Robertson joined season 16 of The Bachelor looking for love. A working model and newly single, Courtney fit the casting call: She was young, beautiful, and a natural in front of the cameras. Although she may have been there for all the right reasons, as the season unfolded and sparks began to fly something else was clear: She was not there to make friends.

Courtney quickly became one of the biggest villains in Bachelor franchise history. She unapologetically pursued her man, steamrolled her competition, and broke the rules—including partaking in an illicit skinny-dip that sealed her proposal. Now, after a very public breakup with her Bachelor, Ben Flajnik, Courtney opens up and tells her own story—from her first loves to her first moments in the limo. She dishes on life before, during, and after the Bachelor, including Ben’s romantic proposal to her on a Swiss mountaintop and the tabloid frenzy that continued after the cameras stopped rolling.

For the first time ever, a former Bachelor contestant takes us along on her journey to find love and reveals that “happily ever after” isn't always what it seems. Complete with stories, tips, tricks, and advice from your favorite Bachelor alumni, and filled with all the juicy details Courtney fans and foes alike want to know, I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends is a must-read for every member of Bachelor nation.

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Review in Five:

     1.   The selling point as a Bachelor tell all is kind of misleading. Only about half of the book is actually about Courtney’s time on The Bachelor.  Also kind of funny is that it is explicitly stated that The Bachelor people operate with a ‘what happens in Vegas’ modus operandi when it come to not revealing details about each other to outsiders (non-Bachelor cast members). But, frequently people are outed for hookups etc. (which let’s be honest – us Bachelor fans are reading to find out more of that what you didn’t know stuff). 

ARC Review: All Lined Up (Rusk University #1) by Cora Carmack

Pub. Date: May 13^th, 2014

Publisher: William Morrow & Company

Paperback

320 pages

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

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The thing at the top of my ‘what I have love the most about Cora Carmack books list’ is her insanely witty, entertaining dialogue. I’m always a little worried when an author I adore starts a new series. There’s a little bit of fear that the new won’t live up to the old. But within the first pages of All Lined Up, I knew there was nothing to worry about.  All Lined Up lives up to high wit and character bar that Cora’s Losing It series set. The first page introduces us readers to Dallas and her best friend Stella, and I couldn’t help but compare them to Bliss and Kelsey from Losing It. Like Kelsey, Stella’s character shows that while you may not currently be the star of the show (or I guess more accurately, the star of your own book!), if Cora created you, you’re bound to make a lasting impression. I hate finishing one of Cora’s books because I know I’ll have a wait for the next, but All Lined Up only reinforced how worth the wait Cora’s books are. 

All Lined Up has one of the most adorably hilarious ‘meet-cutes’ ever. I found it so refreshing that from the first meeting, Carson (who quite literally has the girl of his dream fall into his lap) and Dallas are honest and vocal about seeing something in the other person that they like. There is so little of romance’s typical will they won’t they drama, and when it is there, there’s an actual reason behind it.

ARC Review: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Pub. Date: March 11, 2014

Publisher: Soho Teen

280 pages

Hardcover

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.

Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.

But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives. Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.

Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.

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Liv, Forever has a timeless feel. Full of art and poetry references, it is a Classicists dream, presented in a completely approachable way. It felt decadent to read. Each Wickham ghost added to the timeless feel with songs, political perspectives, and fashion styles representing their lives and their culture, in the same way Liv’s art represents her. Readers will be able to pick up the novel twenty years from now and not be ostracized by the pop culture references, because the references are from so many decades. From the ghosts, to the current Wickham Hall students, each and every character is unique, memorable, and adds to the story in their own way. I found this novel so unique, and so interesting. As easy as it is to describe a book as ‘unable to put down’, this book was truly that for me. I was compelled to get to the end so that I would know how everything worked out.

ARC Review: Uninvited (Uninvited #1) by Sophie Jordan

Pub. Date: January 28th, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

384 pages

Hardcover

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

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I was blown away by Sophie Jordan’s most recent novel Foreplay (see my review). For that reason, coming into Uninvited, my expectations were really high. Overall, I truly did like this novel. The characters and the story were interesting and outside the box. But, I had one major issue. I feel Uninvited should have been two separate novels. The novel is split into two parts, which gave me a really disjointed feeling as a reader. Both parts had unique identities, with separate story focuses, separate tones, and almost entirely separate casts of characters. I was enthralled by part one - excited by the story, the pacing, and the intensity of what was going on in the characters lives – and confused by the abrupt shifts when I hit part two.

I was drawn into the story and Davy’s character immediately. We have a pretty everyday girl – albeit one from a well off family – doing everyday things. The all too common in dystopia’s ‘I’m the different/ chosen/ unique/ only one who could possibly complete this task - one’, in no way exists here. Yes Davy has skills, but they’re more everyday skills, like musical ability, that any one of us could legitimately hold.

ARC Review: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Pub. Date: February 25th, 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

336 pages

Hardcover

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author - Courtney C. Stevens.

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I’ve done my best to remain spoiler free – for that reason, there’s a bit of vagueness, which I usually try to avoid.

I expected Faking Normal to be a heavy, serious read, and I honestly wasn’t sure I was in the mental space to handle it. While the subject matter is very serious, at it’s core Faking Normal is an uplifting and inspiring story about what being a friend, and being supportive, really means. In a novel where grief and trauma dominates, I found Alexi and Bodee’s slow growth of trust in each other, and the subsequent slow reveal of the traumas they’ve faced, to be a really powerful thing. I had such a strong emotional reaction to this novel. The story will stay with me for a longtime.

Faking Normal has one of the most interesting and heartbreaking opening chapters I’ve ever read. While we have no idea the depth of trauma Alexi has face, we are instantly introduced to a big part of the devastation Bodee is facing.

ARC Review: Believe by Erin McCarthy

Pub. Date: January 21st, 2014

Publisher: InterMix

232 pages

ebook (Trade Paperback publishing June 3rd, 2014 by Berkley Trade)

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Robin used to be a party girl… until she got black out drunk and woke up in bed with her best friend's boyfriend. Now she's faced with being THAT girl, and couldn't be more disgusted with herself. She can't even tell her friends the reason for her sudden sobriety and she avoids everyone until she meets Phoenix—quiet, tattooed, and different in every way that's good and oh, so bad…



Phoenix is two days out of jail when he meets Robin at his cousin's house, and he knows that he has no business talking to her, but he's drawn to her quiet demeanor, sweet smile, and artistic talent. She doesn't care that he's done time, or that he only has five bucks to his name, and she supports his goal to be a tattoo artist.



But Phoenix knows Robin has a secret, and that it's a naïve dream to believe that his record won't catch up with them at some point. Though neither is prepared for the explosive result when the past collides with the present…

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I absolutely loved True and Sweet, books 1 and 2 in the True Believers series. Naturally I was extraordinarily excited about Believe. One of the things I loved most about True and Sweet, was how naturally the relationships between Rory and Tyler, and Jessica and Riley, developed. The relationships weren’t rushed, or hurried, and they always felt genuine and realistic. I also really loved the wit and the humor of the dialogue – especially the banter between Jessica and Riley in Sweet ( check out my review of Sweet). Believe really switched things up stylistically, and the change threw me as a reader.  

I was initially kind of annoyed by how quickly Robin and Phoenix’s relationship progressed. By the time the couples in the other two novels got together, it felt like a reward for the reader, because we got to see the relationships grow, and we had the chance to root for them to be together. Robin and Phoenix’s relationship felt too insta-lovey for me because there was no waiting, or questioning if or when they would end up together. The relationship itself was still believable – you could clearly see that there were a lot of similarities between the two characters, bringing them together - but I was nowhere near as emotionally invested. I missed the build up and the will they/ won’t they tension that the other two novels had in spades.

Where True and Sweet had a lot of humor to balance out the serious parts, Believe is almost humorless. We met Robin in book one, and coming into this novel, we know a lot of the reasoning behind some of the choices she makes. Because we know so much, it’s easy to understand why the more lighthearted humor just wouldn’t have worked this time around. From the tone, to the events, Believe is a much more serious novel. The seriousness was necessarily, but the wit and humor of McCarthy’s writing is what really drew me into books one and two. Even though I understood why these elements were absent, I still seriously missed them.

If I’d read Believe as a standalone, or prior to the previous two novels, I’m sure I would have liked it more – and don’t get me wrong, I really did like it. But, given how much I loved the style of the previous two novels, I spent a great deal of time contrasting the differences. Believe simply didn’t work for me as well as for me as the previous two novels, but I know there are readers who will adore the more serious side of Robin’s story.  

Rating 3/5

*** I received a copy of the novel from the publisher to read and honestly review. I was in no way compensated.