Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

From Amazon.com

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance.

At twenty-two years old, Sydney has a great life: She's in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter's cheating on her--and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by Ridge, her mysterious neighbor. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there's something about Sydney that Ridge can't ignore, either. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one...

Includes an original soundtrack created by musician Griffin Peterson.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I always have high hopes & expectations when picking up a book by Colleen Hoover.  I finished Slammed in one sitting and from that moment on, I have bought every book she has released without even reading the description.  I just know that if she wrote it, I need to read it.  I keep thinking that there is no way she can sustain this...but she keeps surprising!  

When I first heard that Maybe Someday was being released, I was excited (Yea!  Another book!).  When Colleen announced that she was doing a signing just 3 hours from my house, I pre-ordered the paperback & cleared my calendar for a road trip.  As it neared midnight of release day & Amazon hadn't even shipped my order yet (Grrrr....), for half a second I considered waiting for it... then downloaded the kindle copy & started reading (yes...at midnight!).  At 3 a.m., I told myself that I HAD to go to bed & that the book would still be waiting for me in the morning.  Somewhere near 4...I actually turned off my kindle because my eyes stopped cooperating.  While the last couple of books I have read have been good, I haven't really been in the mood to read lately (I know...something must be wrong with me!).  That all changed with Maybe Someday.  I couldn't stop!

All of that said, Maybe Someday is a hard book to review.  I picked it up knowing only a few things. 1.  It was written by Colleen Hoover  2.  It was about a couple writing music  3.  There was an accompanying soundtrack performed by Griffin Peterson (which I downloaded & listened to before the book came out).  I'm glad I didn't know more because everything that unfolded in the book was a surprise. Even the songs, which I had heard before, took on a new life when placed in the context of the story. Because of that, I want to be able to preserve that feeling for anyone who might read my review prior to reading the book.

What I can tell you is that the book is beautifully written.  The story will make you laugh, think, feel & quite possibly cry.  The added element of actually getting to experience the music being created in the book is something that I have often wished for when reading a book with lyrics. My brain has trouble putting rhythm with words so it just sounds ridiculous when I try to sing them in my head.  To be able to read the lyrics along with Griffin's voice was a huge improvement!

Basically, if you are reading reviews of this book to determine if you should read it, then yes...you should!  If you just stumbled across my blog & are looking for recommendations...then read this one!!  If you have never read Colleen Hoover's work before...then read this one...and you'll be happy to know that there are 6 other books to read after!

Red Hill by Jamie McGuire

From Amazon.com

When the world ends, can love survive?

For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone means fighting for tomorrow is an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.

When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?

Red Hill grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until its stunning conclusion. This is #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire at her unforgettable best.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before I give my Red Hill review, I'll tell you a little about myself.  When it comes to books, I'm a girly girl. I seek out stories with princesses & fairies.  I also love sweet boys who love with their whole heart & cherish every moment with their special someone.  Because of this, I never fully connected with Beautiful Disaster & Walking Disaster and all of the love that flooded the internet for Travis Maddox.  I know to some this is blasphemy, but it's just who I am. Give me roses over tattoos any day!  That said, I can't deny being taken away by Jamie McGuire's writing.  I couldn't put down either of the previously mentioned books or any of the three books in her Providence series.  So, when it came to Red Hill, I was torn.  I wanted to read it because I had no doubt it would be a well written story, but I don't do horror...

However, when I saw that our local library had a copy, I decided to finally give in.  I am so glad I did.  I haven't been that sucked into a story in a long time.  I would catch myself crawling into bed & staring at the book debating if it was a good idea to read before bedtime & then deciding it was worth the potential nightmares because I couldn't wait until morning & risk another busy day stealing my opportunity to read.

The story is told through three main points of view.

1. Scarlett is a single mother who dropped her daughters off at school on the day the world ended.  They were to spend the weekend with their father.  Now her only hope is that they are still alive out there somewhere & that they remember the song that would lead them to Red Hill Ranch...the safest location that Scarlett can think of to escape to.
2. Nathan comes home to find that as the world was changing outside, his wife had run away, leaving behind him & his young daughter with only a note to explain her actions.  More relieved than saddened by her departure, Nathan takes to the road to find a safe place for him & Zoe.
3. Miranda, her sister & their boyfriends get more of an adventure than they had planned on as they drive away from college in her VW Bug for a weekend escape.

Each group has their own reasons for heading toward Red Hill Ranch, and Jamie weaves their stories together beautifully.  While there are hints of romance throughout the book, this isn't a love story.  Because of that, it is quite a bit different than her other books, but I think I enjoyed it more because of that difference.  I love to see authors step a bit outside their norm & watch when they succeed.  It makes me want to read more of their work to see how they grow & evolve with their experience.

Red Hill was so much more than a zombie book and so much more than a love story.  It makes you question who you are, what you would do for those who matter most in your life, & how far you are willing to go to survive.  My recommendation, grab this book (and maybe a nightlight!) and jump in for a wild ride!

Song of The Fireflies by Jessica Redmerski

About the author:

J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children, two cats and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead.

Travel is an important part of several of J.A. Redmerski's books.  

Here are her Top 5 Places to Visit.

1. Italy

2. New Zealand

3. Georgia (United States)

4. Washington

5. The Grand Canyon

   Song of the Fireflies
Brayelle Bates has always been a force of nature. Even as a child, Bray's wild and carefree spirit intimidated everyone around her. The only person who's ever truly understood her is her best friend, Elias Kline. Though every fiber of her being wants to stay with Elias forever, Bray can't bear the thought of him discovering her agonizing history. She's done everything she can to keep him at arm's length, including moving away. But their undying bond was too strong a pull to deny, and Bray couldn't survive without him. Now she's back home with Elias, and things have never felt more right-until one night changes everything.

Elias vowed never to be separated from Bray again. So when she decides to flee in a desperate attempt to escape her fate, Elias knows he must go with her. As the two try to make the most of their circumstance, taking up with a reckless group of new friends, Elias soon realizes there's a darkness driving Bray he can't ignore. Now in order to save her, he'll have to convince Bray to accept the consequences of their reality-even if it means losing her.

  Bonus Excerpt

Bray and I spent the whole night in the field chasing the fireflies and laying on the grass, staring up at the stars. She told me all about her sister, Rian, and how she was a snob and was always mean to Bray. I told her about my parents, because I didn’t have any brothers or sisters. She said I was lucky. We talked forever, it seemed. We may have been young, but we connected deeply on that night. I knew we would be great friends, even better friends than Mitchell and I had been, and I had known him since first grade, when he had tried to con me out of my peach cup at lunch.

And before the night was over, we made a pact with each other that would later prove to see us through some very troubled times.

“Promise we’ll always be best friends,” Bray said, lying next to me. “No matter what. Even if you grow up ugly and I grow up mean.”

I laughed. “You’re already mean!”

She elbowed me.

“And you’re already ugly,” she said with a blush in her cheeks.

I gave in, though really I needed no convincing. “OK, I promise.”

We gazed back up at the stars; her fingers were interlaced and her hands rested on her belly.

I had no idea what I was getting into with Brayelle Bates. I didn’t know about such things when I was nine. I didn’t know. But I would never regret a moment with her. Never.

Bray and I were found early the following morning, fast asleep in the grass. We were awoken by three cops; Mr. Parson, who owned the land; and my frantic mother, who thought I had been kidnapped from my room, stuffed in a suitcase, and thrown on the side of a highway somewhere.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Social Media Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon

B&N

iTunes

_______________________________________________________________________________
**Edited March 1, 2014 to add review**

***ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Making myself sit down and write this review has been hard. I have struggled with what to say since the moment I closed the book. I loved The Edge of Always & The Edge of Never, and was really excited when I received the ARC for Song of The Fireflies. Then I started reading it…and stopped to read another book…and then started again…and was tempted to stop several more times. Knowing that I had signed up to do the release day blog tour kept me going because I wanted to publish my review with the tour, and I wanted to show my support to the author. However, when I sat down to write the review, I kept thinking, “What do I say about a book I didn’t love from an author that I do?”

I had a really hard time connecting with Song of the Fireflies. I didn’t like either of the main characters or most of the choices they made. It starts as a sweet story of two kids meeting & instantly connecting & then jumps forward to two adults who have spiraled down the rabbit hole of sex, drugs & alcohol. I read a lot of NA & Romance novels with varying levels of heat, but the frequency, graphic nature & language used in the sex scenes here was off-putting to me. I also struggled with how quickly everything happened in the beginning. Inseparable children - jump forward - young adults in love but afraid to admit it (yet somehow managing to completely hide their feelings while experimenting sexually)…a tiny bit of honesty…running away - jump forward - running back...inseparable adults who would die if they weren’t together. All within the first few chapters.

This is about the point that I took a break and switched to another book. A couple of weeks later, it bothered me that I didn’t finish & decided to pick it up again. I wish I could say I was glad I did, but I am torn. I am glad I made it to the end but the experience of actually reading the book isn’t something I’d wish to go through again. What you get is a look into the mind of a mentally ill girl & the boy who is addicted to her. I appreciate the challenge that this subject must have been to tackle as an author, and imagine that the story is more true to life for some than I can even imagine. Unhealthy relationships & lifestyles are sadly more of a reality than the fairytales we read about in most books, and Song of the Fireflies brings attention to situations that most people would rather ignore. I’m glad I didn’t give up on it, but because of everything mentioned above, I could never recommend it lightly. It’s a hard read, a rollercoaster of emotions, with an ending that is tied up almost as quickly and neatly as it began. While I still love J.A. Redmerski & look forward to reading her other books, I will proceed with caution knowing that I’m not guaranteed a fun, light-hearted ride.

_______________________________________________________________________________

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher. The winners will be announced & prizes supplied directly from them at the end of the giveaway period.

The Edge of Always (Edge #2) by J. A. Redmerski

From Amazon.com

Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged-and a wedding isn't the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can't wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew, a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to-until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn't understand how this could happen to them. He's trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won't do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**SPOILER Warning** While I try my hardest not to include spoilers in my reviews, this is the second book in the series & it would be hard to discuss this book without referencing events from the first book. If you haven't yet read The Edge of Never, then you might not want to read further.  If you would like to read an excerpt from the book, please scroll down to my post from November 5th.

In The Edge of Never we met Camryn & Andrew as they both were facing personal crisis & doubt. They were running away from reality. They each boarded a Greyhound bus without knowing where they were going or what they were looking for. What they found was each other & a hope they didn’t know existed. So many stories end there. We get to see the courtship & the promise of happy ever after, but the story stops right as life together (and all of the challenges that go along with it) begins. The Edge of Always takes us into that life.

The Edge of Never is the type of story that I think most readers who enjoy this genre could pick up & be taken away right from the start. You feel Andrew’s charm from his first word, and you hurt & heal with both he & Camryn through each phase of their journey. For me, it connected on another level as well. This past summer, my husband & I quit our jobs to drive around the eastern half of the United States. We had been dreaming of this type of trip for years, but it never felt like a reality.  While on a 12 hour road trip to New Mexico for my grandmother's funeral, we started planning to actually take the leap of faith & follow our dreams. Right as we were preparing to tell everyone that we were leaving, I started reading Camryn & Andrew’s story. Where they were in a different place in life than we were, I loved following along with their journey as I was planning my own, and I even found myself taking notes…Do we want to plan out every stop of the way?  Where will we stay?  Do we have a spare tire in case of a flat???

It felt even more appropriate to end my year of travel with The Edge of Always. We pick up with their story just a few months after we last saw them. They are engaged & everything seems to be going perfectly.  However, when life takes an unexpected turn, they are forced to make choices that they had been avoiding. The main one being the big question we all face at some time (and sometimes several times)…What do we do with our life?  A longing to see the world mixed with a fear of settling down into a life they hate leads them back to the road in search of the answer.  

I read several reviews that stated that they felt this book was an unnecessary continuation. That may be true if the only thing you are looking for in a story is the mind-blowing excitement & heat of a new relationship with the promise of a lifetime of the same, but in my mind, reading a good book is like spending time with friends. I re-read when I want to hang out with old friends, but rarely do I get the chance to see what they have done with their lives. The Edge of Always gave me that chance. I got to spend more time with old friends but get to hear the tales of their life after the honeymoon ended. I thought it was a sweet story of life & hope, and I would recommend it to anyone who can appreciate life after the "happy ever after".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher.  The winners will be announced & prizes supplied directly from them at the end of the giveaway period.

Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

From Amazon.com

What if your whole world was a lie?

What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?

What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**SPOILER Warning** While I try my hardest not to include spoilers in my reviews, this is the third book in the series & it would be hard to discuss this book without referencing events from the first two books. If you haven't yet read Divergent or Insurgent, then you might not want to read further.

As much as I tried to avoid spoilers before starting to read Allegiant, I couldn't help but hear the uproar that hit the internet within 24 hours of the books release (though I did manage to avoid hearing what exactly set everyone off!).  With that in mind, I started reading almost immediately after finishing Insurgent.  I'm not sure if it was due to lowered expectations or the fact that there was finally a resolution, but I'm in what seems to be the minority of readers who was actually satisfied with the conclusion.

Over the past few years, I have read quite a few dystopian series.  Some I have loved & others hated.  This one falls somewhere in between.  I have come to expect a few things out of the final book.  The conflict that has been building will come to a head...which often means war.  War means casualties...which nobody wants or likes, but the best authors will make it somebody that matters because it creates a stronger emotional impact.  Finally, the war will end & a resolution of sorts will be achieved...but rarely does everyone live happily ever after...and I think I would feel somewhat cheated if they did.  This is where the author can't win. The honest reality is that life goes on but is forever altered.  Happiness can come but isn't easily achieved. So, the best we can hope for is hope itself.  

In Allegiant, Veronica Roth finally takes us outside the fence and for the first time, into Tobias's head.  It is finally fully explained who they are & what it means to be divergent.  The information received makes Tris & Tobias question everything they have ever known. What is family?  What does it mean to love?  What is bravery?  What is true sacrifice?  I am not one to highlight books, but the way these questions were answered made me want to. There were several passages that were beautifully written.  I would put some of the quotes in my review, but I believe part of their beauty is discovering them within the story.  

In the end, I didn't love the Divergent trilogy like I have some of the other dystopian series that I have read, but I don't regret reading it & would recommend it.  It was an interesting (if disturbing) concept & some of the situations & issues addressed made me think..and I count that a success!

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

From Amazon.com

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**SPOILER Warning** While I try my hardest not to include spoilers in my reviews, this is the second book in the series & it would be hard to discuss this book without referencing events from the first book. If you haven't yet read Divergent, then you might not want to read further.

Like Divergent, I listened to the audiobook for Insurgent about a year ago.  When starting the re-read, I found that I remembered very little of the story.  I'm not really sure what that says about the story since I typically remember at least the main plot points of a book I've read.  While reading it, I found that it wasn't as gripping as Divergent.  I kept finding excuses NOT to read...which is not like me.  I wasn't as invested in the characters as I wanted to be.  

Like the first book, we spend our time in this world inside of Tris' head...which is a very unhappy place.  She has lost her family, several friends & most of all, her faith in herself.  In Divergent, we got to see Tris embrace her new Dauntless life.  She became strong & brave.  While this kept her alive through the attack on her city, she has taken it to a point of recklessness in Insurgent.  Because of this, I found her harder to relate to and more difficult to want to spend time with...which resulted in me avoiding reading for days. However, I count it a good thing that I struggle with relating to a character who has lost all hope & reason to live.  

While this sounds like a mediocre review.  I think it might be to Ms. Roth's credit that her words & her world had such an effect on me.  Where I didn't relate to Tris, I was right there with Tobias.  I couldn't abandon her...no matter what bravely stupid thing she did.  Where I would disappear for a day or two, I would always come back.  I needed to know that she was okay.  I couldn't move on.  Even when I did finally finish...I didn't even consider taking a break & reading something else...no...straight on to Allegiant.

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

From Amazon.com

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I finished reading Divergent about a week ago, but I have been avoiding writing the review for several reasons. Mainly the fact that I have no idea what I really think about the story or how to talk about it without spoilers. I first encountered this book by audio a couple of years ago. I'm not sure why I picked it up initially other than the fact that I was going through audiobooks faster than I could find ones that I was interested in at the library & I was going through a bit of a YA-Dystopia phase. When I finished it, my initial reaction was that I wasn't sure that I liked it, but that it was going to be big.  Now, on the heels of the release of the final book & the movie just months away, I decided to re-read the first two books before trying to read the third one.

Divergent, like most dystopian novels, takes us a to a world we know that has been altered by time & an effort for a better society. The setting is a future Chicago where everyone has been split into five factions based on one's greatest virtue....honesty, selflessness, intelligence, peacefulness, & bravery. It asks you to imagine a world where you are only your greatest strength...which is determined by placing you into a computer operated simulation that monitors your reactions to several scenarios during that all-important YA Novel year surrounding your 16th birthday. Based on your aptitude test results, you are asked to choose your fate...remain with your family & all you know, or leave everything behind and transfer to a faction that is more fitting for your personality. If you are in the minority of people who might actually not fit into one of the categories of sheeple that the government has created, then you are considered Divergent...and not to be trusted.

My general reaction upon finishing the book was that it was gripping...and disturbing. I still struggle with whether or not I like it...but I definitely enjoyed reading it. Now, as I work my way through Insurgent, I am still caught up in the fate of these characters & the life-altering choices they are continually forced to make. Refreshingly, this is a story about life & survival...and not a story about which boy to choose while the world around you is going to hell. There is a hint of romance, but it's more in the direction of love being a part of life rather than the point of it.

All that said, my recommendation is to not believe the hype. It isn't the best book ever written, but it's a fun ride & and interesting (if disturbing) concept. If you like dystopia, give it a chance. I'm glad I did!

Release Day!! Edge of Always by J. A. Redmerski (Excerpt from Book!)

Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged-and a wedding isn't the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can't wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew, a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to-until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn't understand how this could happen to them. He's trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won't do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride...

Bonus Excerpt:

I turn to Andrew again, waiting for him to spit it out. A cold breeze rushes through my knitted sweater, and I hide my hands inside the sleeves.  

“You have five minutes to throw all of your stuff in your bag,” he says, and my heart is beating erratically before he finishes the sentence. He taps his wrist where there is no watch. “Not a second more.”

“Andrew—”

“This isn’t up for debate,” he says. “Go get your stuff.”I just look at him, face blank.  My theory was right, but I didn’t want it to be. I don’t want to go on the road…I mean, I do…but it’s not right. It’s just not right.

“You have four minutes now.”

“But we can’t just leave like this,” I argue. “It would be rude.” I point at Asher. “And Asher just got here. Don’t you want to visit with—”

“I can visit my big brother anytime,” Asher counters. “Right now, I think you better do what he says or you might end up on the road wearing the same panties for a week.”

A few more seconds pass and I still haven’t moved. I’m in a state of mild shock, I guess.

“Three minutes, babe,” Andrew says and is looking at me with a serious face. “I’m not kidding. Get up there, throw our shit in our bags, and get in the damn car.”

Oh hell, he’s back to his old self again…

When I start to argue again, Andrew’s eyes get all feral-looking, and he says, “Hurry up. Time’s running out!” and he points to the house.

Finally, letting down my guard and going with the moment as much as I can allow myself, I glare at him and say, “Fine.” I’m only agreeing to it because I know he’s trying make things better. But I feel guilty as hell.Disregarding his playful five-minute demand, I turn on my heels and walk very slowly back toward the house, purposely taking my time, partly my way of silently arguing the situation.  I push open the bedroom door, set my bag on the bed, and start stuffing everything inside of it. Then I go into the bathroom and grab our toothbrushes and various bathroom necessities. I yank our phone chargers from the wall and then my phone from the nightstand and chuck it all into my purse. I make my way around the room, hoping that I’m not missing anything. Looks like Andrew already packed his stuff at some point and I never noticed.  Then I just stand here, scanning every inch of the place around me but not really seeing any of it. I don’t want to do this, but maybe it’s the right thing.  I hear the horn honk three times, and it snaps me out of my thoughts. Grabbing my bag, I swing it over my shoulder and grab my purse from the bed.

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

Bookish

iTunes

Author Social Media links:
Blog: http://jessicaredmerski.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JRedmerski
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/J.A.Redmerski?fref=ts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5437976.J_A_Redmerski?from_search=true

Losing It by Cora Carmack

From Amazon.com

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible—a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half a brain would ever believe.
And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theater professor.
She'd left him naked in her bed about eight hours earlier. . . .

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can't always judge a book by it's cover.  For me, the cover & blurb kept me from reading this for a long time, but somehow it kept coming back up & I decided to give it a chance when Amazon ran it for $0.99. I'm really glad I did!  I was pleasantly surprised!

Bliss Edwards is awkward...but charmingly so.  She is about to enter her final semester of college & is still a virgin.  With a little prodding from her friend Kelsey, she decides to go to a bar with the goal of finding a guy & taking him home.  To be honest, this is the part of the plot that kept me from reading the book for so long. It felt like a story that has been told time and time again...though usually from a younger male perspective. However, this was such a minor part of the story that I hate that it kept me away for so long.  The guy Bliss finds is Garrick...who is handsome, charismatic & British.  Everything that occurred between the bar & the apartment had me laughing...partially in horror & partially in recognition (sadly...I relate to the embarrassing, awkwardness).  When she decides that she can't go through with it, she thinks that is it...until the first day of school when Garrick introduces himself to her theatre class as their new professor.  This is the beginning of a whole new level of awkwardness.

As a theatre major myself, I related to & enjoyed the setting.  While the story may have been fairly predictable, it was incredibly fun. Don't go into this story expecting Shakespeare (even though their is a character named Hamlet!), but if you are looking for a light, fun escape, then check this one out.

Out Of Breath (The Breathing Series #3) by Rebecca Donovan

From Amazon.com

"My insides still burned. I considered what I could do to push the torment back into the dark and return to my numb state. I couldn't do it on my own. I needed help. I was desperate."

Emma Thomas is hiding. From everything and everyone...including herself. But she can't hide forever. Her past will find her, and her secrets won't remain quiet—not if she wants to be forgiven. Emma learns that honesty can hurt worse than betrayal, and the truth may cost her the only love she's ever known.

The highly anticipated conclusion of The Breathing Series will have readers holding their breath until the last page.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**SPOILER Warning** While I try my hardest not to include spoilers in my reviews, this is the third book in the series & it would be hard to discuss this book without referencing events from the first book.  If you are new to The Breathing Series, then you might not want to read further.

I truly came into this book with low expectations.  I was so undecided going into it as to how I felt about this series...which made me sad after how highly it was recommended.  Somehow, I came out feeling...okay...about it.  Now, I know that isn't high praise, but I was so annoyed through most of Barely Breathing that okay is an improvement.  

Two years have passed since the end of Barely Breathing.  Emma is now a sophomore at Stanford and is existing...but not living.  Her time with her mother added to the emotional scars left by her aunt and has made her question the value of her life.  One aspect of this story that I have never related to is the party scene. Emma has always gone reluctantly.  Having seen the effects of alcohol on her mother, she has always avoided it, but something flipped in her when she caught a glimpse of Evan moving on with his life.  Now, she has added drowning her sorrows in alcohol to her repertoire of self-destructive habits.  Where I struggled with this at first since it seemed out of character, I soon accepted it since Emma's actions have rarely made sense to me.

There were several things that made this book better than the first two.  It felt as if the author finally found her groove with these characters.  They felt a little more fleshed out & the plot flowed a little better for me.  Also, the side characters really enhanced the story.  I loved Cole.  His sweet charm & patience won me over.  I knew that he was a place holder because you can't have a series like this end without reuniting Emma & Evan or risk completely pissing off the romantic readers of the world.  However, I did think Cole deserved better than Emma so I hope he gets his own story some day.  Meg, Serena & Peyton were also fun additions to the story.  Their personalities were distinct & each cared about Emma in their own way (though it did feel a little like they were just the parts of Sara's personality split into three different people). Add to that the fun of Evan's friends at the beach (who were less distinct from each other, but were an entertaining bunch) and you have a much better cast of side-characters than previously.

Now as to recommendations...I'll stand by the fact that each book had me hooked.  I needed to keep reading & know the whole story.  However, I was frustrated & annoyed through large sections.  So, I probably wouldn't bring it up to friends...or if I did, I would recommend it with caveats.  I am glad I read it...and I'll probably check out Jonathan's book when she releases it...but it's not one that I would tell anyone to drop everything for.