Shut Out

Shut Out By: Kody Keplinger
Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...
Do you ever get annoyed when you read multiple books by the same author, and discover the main characters are always the same? I do. But, thankfully, that was not the case with Shut Out. I recently finished The DUFF, and liked it so much I started Shut Out right away. The two novels are set in the same town, but you don't need to read one to enjoy the other. There was no mention of Bianca and Wesley (which I would have liked), and Lissa, Cash, and Randy were nothing like them. There are similarities between Lissa and Bianca, like a little OCD and living with their dads, but besides that I think they had different voices. Cash and Wesley were not mirrored, with the only difference being their name. Randy wasn't the stereotypical bad boyfriend making you incapable of understanding why Lissa was with him. I'm not saying I liked the guy, but I could understand why they were together. Like The DUFF, Shut Out had the whole "overcoming labels" theme. The book was mainly about sex, or lack thereof, and explored many of the girls take on it. I thought this was especially interesting. A lot of this book felt like a conversation I would have with my best friend.  So, give it a read! And let me know how you like it :-]

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend By: Kody Keplinger
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.  But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
I read this book last night, in one sitting. I have this horrible habit of reading before I go to bed. The reason it's horrible is because I can never actually put a book down when I say I will. It's always, one more chapter! Or ten more minutes! In the case of The Duff, I started it around 2 A.M., and didn't fall asleep until after I finished it around 5. Since I wake up for school around 8, this wasn't a very good plan. But I don't regret it, because this book was awesome. I don't think I've ever read a book containing enemies-with-benefits. Friends-with-benefits, sure. But enemies? No. And it was really good. I was a little afraid I would be kind of disgusted with the relationship, but I wasn't. The sex wasn't the main focus of the book, it wasn't even very detailed. It was just something that happened, and what was important was Bianca's thought process before and after. And their banter? I loved it. Even when they were making fun of each other, which was often, you could tell they got each other. They were totally on the same page humor-wise. "Spanish, huh?" he said, glancing down at the scattered papers as he grabbed them. "Can you say anything interesting?" "El tono de tu voz hace que queria estrangularme." I stood up and waited for him to hand over my papers. "That sounds sexy," he said, getting to his feet and handing me the stack of Spanish work he'd swept together. "What's it mean?" "The sound of your voice makes me want to strangle myself." "Kinky. Bianca and Wesley are both imperfect people, and their flaws made them really likable. I mean, even though they were both kind of jerks, I was still rooting for them. Wesley said some of the stupidest things (like repeatedly calling Bianca 'Duffy'), but he was sincere. He never said anything he didn't mean. And even if what he said sounded harsh, it was honest. He didn't bother with white lies like most people. "He wasn't perfect, or even remotely close, for that matter, but, hey, neither was I. We were both pretty fucked up. Somehow, though, that made everything more exciting. Yeah, it was sick and twisted, but that's reality, right? Escape is impossible, so why not embrace it?" I found Bianca easy to relate to, even though I haven't ever had a enemy (or friend)-with-benefits. I understood how when she's going through a lot of stuff she kept it inside, trying to find a way to deal with it. Some people might have been frustrated that she didn't open up to her friends, but I found her dealing with it on her own very realistic. I mean, how many kids go to school announcing all their problems? Not many that I know. I definitely recommend this book. It's a quick read, and I wish there was a sequel so I could read more of Wesley and Bianca's sarcastic interactions. I want to read more books with interactions like theirs, because that's how people really communicate. Or at least how I do. "Wesley Rush doesn’t chase girls, but I’m chasing you."

ARC Review of As Twilight Falls

As Twilight Falls By: Amanda Ashley
Photographing ghost towns across the American West, Kadie Andrews takes a wrong turn and ends up in Morgan Creek—a spot that isn’t on the map. It’s a quaint little place, but there’s something off about its complacent residents. And when twilight falls, it takes on a truly sinister air… Unable to run or to find any way out, Kadie finds herself a prisoner, hunted for her blood. Still more disturbing, her spirit and beauty have captured the attention of the town’s leader—the mysterious Rylan Saintcrow. When he looks into her eyes, she can see his hunger. When he takes her in his arms, she can feel his power. When he presses his lips against hers, she can taste his need. Saintcrow may be the most powerful creature she’s ever imagined, but Kadie knows in her heart that he is also a man. A man who needs a woman. To want him, desire him, crave him. To be his willing prisoner—for all eternity…
First of all, big thank you to ARCycling for providing the ARC of this book! Before I say anything, I want to tell you I kind of went into this book expecting to dislike it. I love supernatural stories, but I've never gotten into vampire books. I don't know exactly what it is (though I'm pretty sure it's the whole drinking-your-blood thing...gross), but I don't think there's ever been a book about vampires that I've really liked. I read this book knowing it would mean going out of my comfort zone. The majority of this book is told from the POV of Kadie, a 24 year old photographer. She spends the night in Morgan Creek after getting lost, and discovers the next day she's incapable of leaving the town due to an invisible wall blocking the only way out. Personally, I think she handled this very well. I mean, an invisible wall? Being locked in a town? I think I'd freak out. Especially after finding out the few inhabitants of the town are used as blood bags for a coven of vampires. The rest of the book is about Kadie's relationship with the townspeople, but mostly with Rylan Saintcrow, a master vampire and the one in charge of the town. Sadly, I don't think I really liked any of the characters besides Micah, and he wasn't even introduced until the last few chapters. Rylan was a bit boring for a 900 year old vampire. I was hoping for a bit of a bad boy, but he never actually followed through on any of his threats because of his love for Kadie. Before you actually met him, the ladies of the town make him out to be a monster. I was kind of hoping for a strong Alpha male like Barrons from the Fever series. He was actually just really whipped. Kadie frustrated me because of how quickly she forgot she was a human, with a family. A family that included a terminally ill sister. Being locked in Morgan Creek meant she was kept away from her when she was dying. How do you think about anything besides that? How do you fall for the person keeping you away from her?  The reason the vampires kept people locked in the town is because of the vampire hunters. They don't want word getting out about where they are, and this way they didn't have to put themselves in danger when they needed to feed. On multiple occasions Rylan injured/killed hunters, made them forget who they were, and Kadie helped him every time. Is this romantic, because Kadie couldn't stand seeing him hurt? Maybe. But all I could think about was, these people are risking their lives to save humans. I mean, some of these vampires KILL for fun. What the heck, Kadie? This screamed "Stockholm syndrome", to me. Two Stars

Unbroken

Unbroken By: Melody Grace
"Mom always told me there are two kinds of love in this world: the steady breeze, and the hurricane. Emerson Ray was my hurricane...." Juliet McKenzie was an innocent eighteen-year old when she spent the summer in Cedar Cove—and fell head over heels in love with Emerson. Complicated, intense Emerson, the local bad boy. His blue eyes hid dark secrets, and just one touch could set Juliet ablaze. Their love was demanding and all-consuming, but when summer ended, tragedy tore them apart. Juliet swore she’d never go back, and she’s kept that promise… Until now. Four years later, Juliet’s done her best to rebuild the wreckage of her shattered life. She’s got a great boyfriend, and a steady job planned after she graduates. Returning to Cedar Cove to pack up her family’s beach house to prepare it for sale, Juliet is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her future. But one look from Emerson, and all her old desire comes flooding back. He let her go once, but this time, he’s not giving up without a fight. And Emerson fights dirty. A heartbreaking history. An unstoppable passion. Torn between her past and future, Juliet struggles to separate love from desire. But will they find a way to overcome their tragic secrets—together? And after so much damage has been done, can a love remain unbroken?
I heard really great things about this book, and started reading it immediately after seeing it on Goodreads. In fact, I put another book on hold because I was so excited about it. I'm kind of disappointed. I think this book could have been pretty great, if only there was more about Emerson and Juliet actually falling in love. I hate when I read a book and it's all, "Years ago they were in love but a misunderstanding drove them apar, but believe me: They were epic. Toooootally in love. Take my word for it." I don't want to take the authors word for it. I want to read about the couple first meeting (which was in the book, via flashback). I want to experience them falling in love (not in the book). I want to root for the couple, then feel heartbroken when they break up. And I want to stay up hours after I should have gone to bed, reading and waiting for them to finally realize they should be together. I just didn't care about Juliet and Emerson, though. Yeah, Emerson was painted as a total hottie. But if Juliet ended up with him or her boyfriend, I probably would have cared the exact same amount. Which, sadly, wasn't much. I hear Melody Grace is releasing another book, Untouched, which will be the prequel to Unbroken. That will be Juliet and Emerson falling in love. But why make it two books? Why not one great one, instead of two decent ones? Maybe when Untouched comes out, I'll read Unbroken again right after it. Until then, two stars.

The Iron King

The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1) By: Julie Kagawa
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined. Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart
I remember seeing this book in stores when it first came out. I thought it sounded awesome, but for some reason never bought it or got it from the library. I kind of forgot about it until I came across the series at the library a few weeks ago. I liked the book. I'm into the fae/fey theme, especially after reading the Fever series. That doesn't mean the two series are anything alike, because they aren't. This series is aimed at teens, which no longer includes me. Fever would most definitely be rated R, no doubt about it. I respect how Kagawa created this whole new world. Writing fiction is hard, especially when you've creating a new world to go with it. Yes, Puck and a few characters are based off A Midsummer Night's Dream. Still, Kagawa must have done an insane amount of research and organizing. Yet I found myself getting annoyed, sometimes. I don't know how every mythical creature is supposed to look. I felt more description was needed in multiple parts of the book. Of course, a big part of this series is the whole Team Puck vs. Team Ash. I don't even know. I was Team Puck from the beginning. What did people see in Ash that I missed? Is it because some girls are into the bad boy? Because in the majority of this book, I just didn't find him likable. I mean, let's take a look: Meghan: You tried to kill me! Ash: ...you just happened to be there. But yes, if I'd had the shot, I would have taken it. And let's not forget: Meghan: What will happen then? Ash: I'll kill you. And this is within the first ten minutes of meeting him. Call me crazy, but I don't find death threats attractive. I also thought the whole Meghan and SOMEONE falling in love was just incredibly fast. It felt more like Kagawa said they had fallen in love, and that was it. But I didn't see it. I thought the relationship was incredibly shallow. Now, because this book is the first in a series, I feel I have to mention the others as well. But don't worry, I'm not going to spoil anything. I'm just going to say, I'm glad them. Book two was meh, but I really think book three made the series worth it. (Even if book four was forced and I kind of hated it). Three and a half stars.

Smooth Talking Stranger

Smooth Talking Stranger  (Travis Family #3) By: Lisa Kleypas
Jack Travis leads the uncomplicated life of a millionaire Texas playboy.  He makes no commitments, he loves many women, he lives for pleasure.  But no one has ever truly touched his heart or soul.  Until one day, a woman appears on his doorstep with fury on her face and a baby in her arms.  It seems Jack is the father and this woman is the baby’s aunt. The real mother has abandoned the child to her more responsible sister.  And now, Jack is being called upon to take responsibility for the first time in his life.  With delicious romantic tension, characters so real they walk onto the page and into your heart, Lisa Kleypas delivers the kind of novel that makes you laugh, love; cry and cheer.
If Jack Travis was real, I'm pretty sure I could get married to him tomorrow with no hesitation. Jack had a large presence in Blue Eyed Devil and I think I started my fiction crush on him early  in that book. Especially when he defended Haven and fired her horrible boss. I think what makes Jack so crush worthy is how he is obviously a man without the obnoxious "Me Tarzan, you Jane" thing going on. I really enjoy reading romance novels, but I get sooooo sick of reading about the same tall, dark haired, built, manly man in total control of everything in his life, never showing emotion. I mean, I know that can be appealing, but let's have some diversity.  Jack is funny, calm, and so helpful and patient with Ella, the heroine. The two together came off as such a realistic couple, and I loved them. They had this totally wonderful progression in their relationship. They didn't meet and jump each others bones ASAP. They got to know each other and started dating. Crazy, right? Usually the couple meets and gets married, or the girl gets pregnant and the guy doesn't know 'til a few years later. Or they'll get married because of the baby, and they think it's the right thing to do (Which I do not, at all, agree with). But Jack and Ella started dating and it was awesome reading about them as a couple. No "all their problems were solved and they are together so the end", leaving you wondering if they actually had anything in common besides lust. I really can't imagine disliking this book. I read a review where someone said they found it unattractive how Jack pursued Ella, who didn't want a traditional relationship. As if it took away from his masculinity. I think that's crap. Why is it okay when women in novels make fools of themselves trying to get the guy, but when a man does it it's unattractive? I find that so appealing. Jack was totally open about his feelings for Ella, willing to do what it took to get what/who he wanted. Guys don't need to be stoic and manipulative. If a guy isn't willing to fight for his girl, he doesn't deserve her. Masculinity doesn't just have to do with physical strength. What do you think? (You might think 5 stars is a lot for a romance novel, but I'm ranking it was meant to be, not the impact it'll have on the world. This book might not be Harry Potter, Atlas Shrugged, or The Odyssey. It's meant to be a romance novel. And as a romance novel it kicked butt.)

Blue-Eyed Devil

If you are interested in reading my Blue-Eyed Devil review, I suggest you first read Sugar Daddy. Otherwise this is a huge spoiler. And I just don't want to do that to you.

Sugar Daddy

Sugar Daddy (Travis Family #1) By: Lisa Kleypas
SHE'S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas---if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty Jones is a complication he doesn't need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.  HE'S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN'T HAVE When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty finds herself under the spell of a billionaire tycoon---a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family's past.  WILL THEY FIND THEIR HEARTS' DESIRES OR WILL HEARTBREAK TEAR THEM APART? Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never forget
This book was a refreshingly different love story. It's hard to summarize, as it follows Liberty's life over the course of about nine years and I really don't want to give ANYTHING away. As I read I fell in love with Liberty and Hardy, and when he left I was crushed. They felt so real I was totally attached to the idea of them. And I couldn't even blame Hardy for leaving. I really thought he was doing the right thing for his future. I knew from the summary there was going to be another guy, but I really thought it was going to be one of those situations where it's so obvious Hardy was the right guy for Liberty. I mean, how often do love triangles actually leave you completely torn? In Twilight I really liked Jacob, but I knew Edward was going to end up with Bella. In One Tree Hill I thought Brooke was awesome, but I was Peyton/Lucas all the way. It wasn't like that in this book. I wanted both of the men. I really shared in Liberty's indecision. By the way, I'm not mention the name of man #2 (the "Sugar Daddy") because I really feel like it would take away from the middle of the book. I assume that's why it was left out of the book summary, as well. I will say that I think the "Sugar Daddy" got way too little feature time, but even with that the "Sugar Daddy" still made me fall for him. I don't think I could have made the decision myself. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, and the two that follow it (Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth-Talking Stranger).Four stars!

Procrastinating

“Procrastinating is number three on my Stupid List. You still end up exactly where you didn't want to be, doing exactly what you didn't want to do, with the only difference being that you lost all that time in between, during which you could have been doing something fun. Even worse, you probably stayed in a stressed-out, crappy mood the whole time you were avoiding it. If you know something is inevitable, do it and get it over with. Move on. Life is short.”

― Dani in Iced, by Karen Marie Moning

Defy Not the Heart

Defy Not the Heart (Shefford's Knights #1) By: Johanna Lindsey
"Reina seethes with rage over her fate: taken captive by the knight Ranulf -- a golden giant of a man -- who has pledged to deliver her to the nuptial bed of the despised Lord Rothwell. She will never accept such bondage -- and Reina offers herself to her kidnapper instead, offering to make Ranulf a great lord...if he agrees to wed her.But the brave knight desires much more than a marriage of convenience from this proud, headstrong lady who treats him with scorn yet makes his blood run hotter than liquid fire. She must come to him of her own free will -- or Ranulf will take her. For the passion that consumes them both cannot long be denied -- even though gravest peril surely awaits them on the heart's trail to a destines and turbulent love" --Description from Goodreads
Another Johanna Lindsey novel! This one much, much better than the last I read, Let Love Find You. This book was really refreshing for many reasons, starting with the fact that it's set in 1192. It was so nice to read a historical romance novel without any talk of a season or the ton. Once in a while it might be nice, but most of the time it's just like, We get it. The young lady about to come out into society needs an awesome set of new clothes, a sponsor, chaperons  and to avoid scandal at all costs. Gets pretty boring. This book has none of that. Yes, Reina needs a husband. Not because she doesn't want end up an old maid, but to stop people from trying to take Clydon. So when Ranulf (a super hot Knight) kidnaps her to take her to someone just like that, Reina chooses him to marry instead. Ranulf has money and the man power to offer Clydon the protection it needs. Something else that was refreshing about this book was the love scenes. I hate when a couple hates each other, or is just totally indifferent, and then they have sex and it's like "You're the love of my life! I knew it all along!" In this book Reina and Ranulf don't do that. At all. They have sex to consummate the marriage, yeah, but it doesn't change the way they feel about each other instantly. It's awkward and realistic. Probably exactly what you would expect from two random people having sex for the first time. It only starts to get good when they start to actually care about each other. I think that's awesome. While all of this is great, my absolute favorite part of this book is the way Ranulf's character matures so well. The way he changes in response to the way Reina makes him feel is adorable. I felt like a total weirdo reading this book between classes, because I was just sitting their with this huge grin on my face when he would do something so caring. The only problem (and really, It's minor) is the way Reina's supposed to be punished by Ranulf when she disobeys him. But the book was set 821 years ago, so I guess that's what you get. So I TOTALLY recommend this book. Try it out and let me know what you think! Or maybe leave a comment with a book recommendation :) My Rating:

Let Love Find You

Let Love Find You (#4 In the Reid Family Series) By: Johanna Lindsey
"London society has its very own Cupid. Renowned horse breeder and occasional matchmaker Devin Baldwin pairs eligible young ladies with suitable gentlemen based on his theory of animal magnetism. Unafraid of ruffling the ton’s feathers, this darkly handsome Cupid doles out tips for bettering one’s chances of meeting a mate that are as pointed as the love legend’s sharpest arrows! Lovely Amanda Locke, the daughter of a duke, is everything a nobleman could desire, yet she enters her third Season still searching for a match. Gossipmongers’ tongues are wagging, and her mystified family is considering drastic measures to find her a husband. But the insufferable advice of this Cupid fellow is the last thing Amanda wants. When an earl passionate about horses becomes the target of her husband hunt, Amanda knows it’s time to overcome her fear of riding. With her sister-in-law Ophelia hastening the romance along by arranging riding lessons, Amanda is soon taking instruction from infuriating Devin Baldwin. Astonishingly, in her daily encounters with Devin—who treats her as an ordinary young woman, not a prize to be won at the marriage mart—Amanda experiences passion for the first time. Now, her search for a match takes her in an unexpected direction as she finds herself falling in love with Cupid himself."  -- Description from Goodreads
Okay, I love romance novels and I love Johanna Lindsey. Once I got out of school for winter break I got about twenty of her books from the library, and just read them like the world really was going to end before 2013. Thankfully, it didn’t, and I got through almost all of her books. I love the Malory family series, so I was really excited to start the Reid series. Another wonderful family I can’t get enough of? Not so much. This is the fourth in the Reid Family series (the second I’ve read), and, while I didn’t hate it, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Complaint #1: So. Much. Dialogue. Seriously. Have you ever had a conversation with someone where they just have this endless monologue to explain every detail of their past? Or even the past few days since you've last seen them? Yeah, no one has. It makes this book so annoying and unbelievable. Instead of taking the time to realistically develop a relationship between Amanda and Devin, Lindsey decides to fill the book with boring chatter about stuff that doesn't matter at all. I just read pages upon pages of dialogue that bored me almost to the point of not finishing the book. Complaint #2: I wasn't left wanting more. You know when you get a crush on someone, and you go out of your way to make sure you get to see them at least a little whenever you can? This usually translates into books, too. I start to fall for the hero, and keep reading getting so excited anytime the couple gets together. However, I really didn't like Amanda, and therefore didn't care if she ended up with Devin. He was so nice and smart, and she was came off as a total brat. Plus they went from being disgusted with each other to being in love in no time at all. Not falling in lust. In love. I couldn't buy it. Overall, I give this book three stars. For effort. I certainly will keep reading Johanna Lindsey, but hopefully won't get the impression once more that she's just trying to reach a word count in her book. My Rating: