One, Two, Three

This ARC was given to me via NetGalley for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary 
When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

Last year, seventeen-year-old Natalya Pushkaya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

 At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present. Keeping him an arabesque away proves to be a challenge for Natalya and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.

 When upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

 Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this story. It was beautifully written and the best kind of emotional.

The characters made this book what it was. Nata goes from being a strong ballerina to having her world turned upside-down. She is living with her Russian mother who is addicted to vodka. A Russian hooked on Vodka. Stereotypical? Yes, but I loved it. Nata also has to deal with the death of her father and her fear that she will never be able to dance again.

Tonio just wants to be a good guy. His brother has gotten into some trouble and Tonio doesn't want to end up the same way. Plus is having little luck winning over the new girl with his adorable advances.

Nata and Tonio's connection was electric. I really liked the connection between them and when their relationship was tested I wanted them to work it out. I also enjoyed Nata's relationship with Becca. They were good for each other. They were more like sisters than best friends and I admired that.

This book was released a few days ago, so go get your copy now.

The Siren (The Original Sinners #1)

Goodreads Summary 

Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book... if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining... and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him... or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

My (somewhat loaded) Thoughts 
I think I loved and hated this book in equal measure. I loved the characters...well three of them. Zach is by no means the perfect leading man. He's cranky and a hard-ass. He's demanding, controlling, arrogant. He tells it like it is. Hell his office calls him the London Fog. He is all these things, but you learn why he's this way pretty quickly. Nora is a piece of work. She is tough as nails and she seems so incredibly strong. Lastly there's Wesley. He is a sweet nineteen year old who has found himself on the border of Nora's crazy world. I couldn't help but love all three in different ways. I loved their storylines.

The main aspect of the book however, I could not get behind. The BDSM aspect of the book bothered me. Some will say that that is just because I am naive or because I don't understand it. You are allowed to have that opinion, but I don't believe that is why I feel this way. The character of Soren owned Nora for ten years. She was completely complicit....or was she? This man was fourteen years her senior and **I'm sorry if this spoils it for you** her priest! He was in a position of power and, in my opinion, he used that power to control her. Their relationship reminded me of a pedophile grooming his/her victim. Yes Nora said she was always willing, but she was fifteen when he first started laying the groundwork. He saw a vulnerable girl and he preyed on that. Once she was groomed there was no breaking her of this life. She even says that she left him because she wanted their relationship to be more than him controlling her, but he could never do that.  

Maybe I'm just too vanilla for this story. 


The Nora, Zach, Wesley aspects of the book get , but the book as a whole gets only .

Oh and I did find a few weirdly, worded sentences. Editing mistakes in a book about an author and a book editor.

Love Letters to the Dead

Goodreads Summary
It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.

My Thoughts
A lot of people were reading this when it first came out...I was intrigued. I mainly bought it because the concept seemed really interesting and the cover is gorgeous. A teenage girl gets an assignment to write a love letter to a dead person and she chooses to write to several dead celebrities. Cool, right? Well yes, in theory.

Overall I found the story to be really depressing. For one thing, the main character, Laurel, and her sister seem Bipolar to me (not that I have the PhD to diagnose them with such a disorder).  They had such extreme highs and extreme lows. Laurel was grieving so I can understand a little, but May I can't explain. I also had a hard time connecting to any of the characters. I felt for them, but couldn't seem to connect. I did respect the LGBT aspect of the book though. 

I just think that the idea of writing letters to these different individuals could have been so amazing and I was disappointed when I wasn't amazed. 

The One (The Section #3)

Goodreads Summary 

The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. The One is the perfect finale for fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began--and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's Divergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium.
The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.
Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

My Thoughts
I loved this series. I initially fell in love with the covers...I mean who wouldn't, but the story quickly became just as intriguing.

 The Selection was like The Bachelor meets period piece for high schoolers. It was an interesting concept to say the least. Our lead character is America. She's a young girl who is secretly in love with her neighbour. They are from different caste systems, so they aren't supposed to be together. Suddenly The Selection is announced. Prince Maxon is to be married and in order for him to find his wife all the young girls in town submit thier photos for a chance to compete to win his heart. America doesn't want anything to do with it, but her family and oddly her boyfriend do. They enter her and she is selected. The Elite and The One continue from there.

The One has America really vying for Maxon's heart. She realizes that she wants him (ok she knew that before, but it was complicated.) and she will do everything she can to win him.

You really get to know the other girls in this one. You feel for them and come to love them....even Celeste. The Northern rebels were big in this one too and I loved that.

Overall I adored The One and the series as a whole. Check it out!!
 

I'm so sorry!

I just wanted to apologize for my absence. I don't know if anyone will read this...or care, but I haven't written a review in weeks and for that I am sorry. I have been in a major reading slump and I'm not entirely sure why. There have been a few new releases that I have been really excited to read and I couldn't seen to read even those.

I am back though.

Much love to those who read my little blog.