The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

Authors: J. Sterling
Series: The Perfect Game
Book: 1

Genre: New Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: October 11th 2012
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤ 

Synopsis

He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

Review

I chose to read this book when I heard it was somehow similar to Beautiful Disaster since they both had bad tempered main characters and everything. I generally don't mind bad [fictional] boys. They are hot and since I enjoyed  Beautiful Disaster so much, I was so excited to start this book. Boy, never have I ever been so disappointed! Everything about this book was just wrong.

Let's start with Cassie, the main female character. She kept mentioning how her life had been screwed by her father not keeping his promises. Please! Parents lie sometimes, nothing is out of ordinary. Deal with it. I didn't understand how just her father never kept his end of the deal messed her up so badly. Dramatic much?

Now about Jack Carter. Tsk, tsk, tsk. What should I say? I didn't find his bad temper hot at all. I admit I like reading about possessive/bad tempered boys, but Jack was more irritable than he was hot. I really hated the way he treated women (other than his "Kitten"). Even those women were so annoying. he should not have said those things to them:
"Oh, so you're not a stripper, you're a whore?" ~  Jack said this to Cassie when he met her the first time. Very charming, right?
"... I'll find someone to teach you a little respect." ~ Jack said to Andrea when she tried to ask him to go to a part with her. So what now? Threatening a woman?
"I'm sure you were always a slut..." ~ Jack said to Chrystle after their night together. It takes two to do what they had done.

I did not feel the romance. Jack started pursuing Cassie like crazy after only met her once and it was like 5 minutes. It was a bit too fast. It was too desperate and I felt like the author just wanted to get it over with. The night they slept together for the first time was not how I had imaging it would be. First Cassie said she was not ready. And of course, Jack said it was ok, he would wait, blah, blah. Then he said he loved her and guess what? Cassie was ready. It took around 5 minutes and 3 words for Cassie to be ready. That was convenient.

How the author kept mention the same things over and over again was just so exhausting. I lost count how many time Cassie rolled her eyes. It drove me over the edge. And the F-bomb. Is it so necessary that almost every YA and NA book now have the f-words? I am not a writer (obviously), but I don't think a good book depends on how many F-bombs it has.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I reached in and pulled it out. Text from Melissa. My f*cking savior...

I am glad that some people enjoy their time reading this book. Maybe it is just not a book for me, so I am not going to say I had a good time reading this book.

Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Authors: Kristin Halbrook
Pages: 306
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Published Date:  January 29th 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis

Will
Maybe I'm too late. Maybe Zoe's dad stole all her fifteen years and taught her to be scared. I'll undo it. Help her learn to be strong again, and brave. Not that I'm any kind of example, but we can learn together.
When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can't run fast enough.
Zoe
Maybe it'll take Will years to come to terms with being abandoned.
Maybe it'll take forever. I'll stay with him no matter how long it takes to prove that people don't always leave, don't always give up on you.

Favorite Quote
I want you to want someone like me by your side. And I'll do whatever it takes to earn that. ~ Will

Review
It has been months since I read a book that moved me like Nobody But Us. It was just amazingly, brilliantly, beautifully, breathtakingly written. I fell so deeply and desperately in love with both Zoe and Will. For a fifteen-year-old girl, Zoe was so strong and mature. As for Will, even at times he was a hotheaded teenager who loved to solve every problem with his fists, was one of the sweetest fictional guy ever. I felt how seriously in love they both were and understood their decisions. I do not care what other people think about this book. Personally, it is by far one of the best books I have read this year.

I first picked up the book because of its absolutely beautiful cover. Then I was amazed how well written this book actually was.It might not be the first book about teenagers trying to escape cruel reality they were in. There are a lot more written on this topic, yet this book was so much better in so many ways. For one thing, how author intensified the situation both Will and Zoe were in made me unable to put the book down. It started out so simple and carefree. I was happy for them both when they talked about their plan once they arrived Vegas. Then everything just went wrong. They committed crimes and seemed unable to untangle themselves from this mess. My heart ached for them and I could guess how the book might end, but I still hoped for the best.

Speaking for ending, this book ended with a BAM! I loved it despise how hard it had made me cry. I did not think there could be any other way to end the book. It was just perfect. It tore me apart, but it was realistic. It revealed the dark part of the world where people would do anything to survive. Everyone makes mistake (cliché alert), the most important point is to take responsibility for the mistakes you have made.

In short, I was mess after reading this book. Just like real world, it was not always roses and rainbows. If you don't think you can handle all the emotions, you should not read this book. It is best for those who enjoy being on the emotional roller roaster ride!

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Authors: Gena Showalter

Series: White Rabbit Chronicles

Book: 1

Format: 404

Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal

Published Date: September 25 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

Review

For some reasons, even I have read hundreds of books already, this book is the third book I have read about zombies. Well, maybe it is not that hard to imagine since I cannot stand zombies - movies or books. They are just too gross!

However, I really liked this book and would recommend it to everyone who just likes me - cannot stand zombies. Maybe it was because this book did not overly descriptive when it came to zombies. The first zombies book I read was so gross that I could not eat anything that day. I guess this one is mild enough for everyone to enjoy. But if you are a huge fan of brain-eating scenes, you might be a bit disappointed.

The cover was what drew my attention in the first place. Oh. Em. Gee!!!! What a cover! It was so beautiful that I had to read the book. To be frank, I was a bit nervous since I have read another version of Alice in Zombieland written Nickolas Cook and I didn't like it even one bit. It was so gruesome and the illustrations were so scary. I didn't finish that book, though. I could not go pass chapter 4.

Back to Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter. What I really liked about it was the characters. Ali was fierce and not at all clumsy. I really like it when the female characters can stand up for themselves and kick some a**. Cole, male leading character, was also fascinating (and scorching hot!). The grandparents were so funny and I loved them dearly, which made me a bit sad at how the book ended. And how could I forget Kat? She was hilarious! I would love to hang out with her.

Another excellent quality of the book is the wording. It is getting pretty difficult to find a decent young adult books that do not contain swear words. I was really happy reading this one and found that the author did not use even a single cuss word. When I was reading it and realized that Cole being a bad, bad boy he was, I thought, here we go again. Cole would drop F-bombs like crazy. But no, not even one and I really appreciated that.

Hopeless

Authors: Colleen Hoover
Pages: 436
Genre: New Adult
Published Date: December 19th 2012
Publisher: Colleen Hoover
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis

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.

Review

This is the third book I have read written by this amazing writer, Colleen Hoover. After Slammed being one of my most favorite books read last year, I was so thrilled to read this one. What concerned me was that I was not that in love with her book Point of Retread. The only way to find out how awesome Hopeless is was to read it. And yes, it was amazing.

What I loved about the book is how well thought out it really was. The plots and characters were flawlessly written. I was in love with Holder, just liked I was with Cooper when I read Slammed (NOT Point of Retreat). The chemistry between Sky and Holder was through the roof!

I was wowed by the way the author revealed the secrets, the lies, the painful and sweet memories. Nothing keeps me on the edge of my seat more than a book that full of secrets and surprises. How the author connected and explained everything by the end of the book was breathtaking.

What I did not like about the book was the fact that it was a bit predictable at times. I could guess how the story might boil down to just by reading a few lines. Still, it was not a waste of time at all to read this book.

Reading a book on such topics always breaks my heart. I could never believe how a person could do that to another of his kind. And doing that to a child is beyond my imagination.

The Probability of Miracles

Author: Wendy Wunder
Pages: 360
Genre: Contemporary
Published Date: December 8th 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis

Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page.

Review

This book is more than just another book about cancer. Yes, it is a sad book that may make you feel a bit frustrated, but the humor and witty lines make this book more lively and a fun one to read. It may not be a happily-ever-after book, but it is realistic and inspiring.

The characters are well written, especially Campbell. Being a cancer victim, Campbell is still a energetic teenager with a great sense of humor. She is a breath of fresh air. Asher, on the other hand, is a strong, confident young man. Her mother and sister are also likable.

Reading this book evoked mixed emotional. It was such an emotional roller coaster for me. One minute I was laughing so hard and the next, I was so sad that I almost cried. This book helps you see life for how precious it really is, and it opens your heart to appreciate everyone around you.

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now?

Authors: Sloane Tanen
Pages: 368
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Published Date: May 1st 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis

Being marooned on an island somewhere off the coast of Madagascar with five celebrities sounds romantic and glamorous, right?
 
Wrong.

You couldn't find people with fewer survival skills if you tried. Seriously. Cisco may have centerfold abs, but he can't even spell SOS. At least super-sexy Jonah seems to have a clue (too bad about the purity ring). If I'm stuck here much longer, these self-involved head cases might drive me crazy-assuming they don't insult each other to death first. It's like a group therapy edition of Survivor.
At this point, I'm pretty convinced that all celebrities should be caged in Hollywood and confined to the pages of US magazine. And, btw, if you're there, God, it's me, Francesca, and I really want to go home.

Help!

Review
One word... Hilarious! It made me laugh so hard quite a few times. It is one of silliest books I have read so far. Well, it was silly, but not in a bad way. It might be neither very realistic nor original, but it sure was the kind of book I would read after reading an emotional one. It was that entertaining.

Francesca was so adorable with her wild red hair and sassy attitude. I liked how she adapted herself to the surrounding environment, but not the fact that she "killed" her father. Being with pretentious celebrities during this kind of situation was tough!

The way the author told the story was so captivating which made me unable to stop reading. Besides, the wording was very witty and amusing. I am going to check out more of Sloane Tanen's books.

Because of Low

Authors: Abbi Glines
Series: Sea Breeze
Book: 2
Format: Kindle
Genre: New Adult
Published Date: October 6th 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis

Playboy Cage owns the apartment, and he hosts a revolving door of people, in and out, at all times. Most of them are long-legged hot girls who are never there more than a night or two. When Cage’s new roommate, Marcus, enters the picture, he’s just looking to nurse a broken heart. But there’s one particular semi-frequent regular who catches his eye.

Willow—“Low”—is the one Cage wants to marry. But the two of them are night and day, and Marcus can’t see how Low puts up with all of Cage’s womanizing. What she really needs is a real man....like good-looking and sensible Marcus. But that’s going to get real complicated and real messy—real fast.

Review

I am glad I have decided to continue this series even I did not like the first book much. It turned out the sequel was so much better and I enjoyed very single minute I spent reading it. This book reminded me a lot of The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window and From Ashes. They do have a lot in common.

I admit that the book was a bit predictable. Full of cliches if you ask me. A boy met a beautiful girl and a girl saw a handsome boy. BAM!!! Love at first sight. I am not a big fan of insta-love, but it doesn't mean I can enjoy reading one every one and then. Besides that, when Willow met Jefferson for the first time, I could see how the story went.
 
One thing that made me love this book was the characters. They were all so likeable. I loved that each of them had different personalities which made the book even more fascinating. Willow, aka Low, was such a nice, forgiving girl. She didn't hold grudge even she should have and I liked her for that.

Reading this book was a fun and exciting experience. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. One of the best things about reading a series later than everyone else is I don't have to wait for months for another book.

The Edge of Never

Author: J.A. Redmerski
Pages: 427 
Genre: New Adult
Published Date: November 15th, 2012
Rating:  ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis
Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?

Review
As much as I want to say that I loved this book, I simply can't. Don't get me wrong, it is a good book. However, it is not that good. Or maybe it was because I started The Edge of Never with high expectation since a lot of people told me it was so good that it would leave me heartbroken after reading.

When I read the first 10 chapters or so, I was so into the book. It was full of surprises. Heck, I love surprises. I was literally on the edge on my seat and "ooh" & "ahh" quite a few times that I am not ashamed to admit. It was, in my opinion at that time, one seriously great book.

Then things started to get a bit messy and weird when Camryn and Andrew began to talk about sex. It was just so unpredictable. I had already known that there would be sexual content in the book, but it still took me by surprise. At that time, I didn't know I was fond of surprise anymore. Not when it was that kind of surprise. The book became a bit kinky.

Anyway, I loved the characters. Camryn and Andrew were great together. The plots and the wording were also nice (except for that "surprise" part), so it was nice and fun to read.

It was supposed to be a tearjerker, but my eyes were as dry as Sahara desert. It made me wonder if it was me or the book was not that emotional as it is said to be. I was happy that the book ended with a happy ending.

Well, to sum up, the book was good enough to read. Entertaining? Yes. Sweet? Yes. Emotional? Maybe. But it didn't rock my world as I hoped it would.