Black Ice

*This ARC was sent to me by Goodreads and Simon and Schuster for an honest review.*

Goodreads Summary 
Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

My Thoughts
I really really liked this! I went in without knowing anything about it. Yes I must have read the summary when I entered the Goodreads contest, but that was months ago and I had forgotten. I was hooked from the very beginning. Reading about Lauren had me sick to my stomach because what happened to her in that cabin might as well have been ripped from my nightmares. I needed to know who did that to her and that kept me reading to figure it out. After meeting Britt I immediately knew she was going to suffer a similar fate and was even more enthralled. I did guess most of the major points (I watch too much Criminal Minds to be fooled), but I thoroughly enjoyed this regardless. 

I loved Britt. She went from being a spoiled, ex-loving chick to a fight-until-her-last-breath woman. She did everything she could to survive. I respected her for that. Korbie on the other hand was just a bitch. She had her place in the story, an important place, but I still couldn't stand her. I don't think very many people will be able to. Jude <3 That's all I'll say. He made some seriously messed up choices, but <3 .

I think that if you like suspenseful books than you'll love this. It was ale to hold my attention from page one.  If you don't usually like suspense, still give this a try because I think most readers will like it.

Get your copy October 7th!!

Charm and Strange

Goodreads Summary
When you’ve been kept caged in the dark, it’s impossible to see the forest for the trees. It’s impossible to see anything, really. Not without bars . . .

Andrew Winston Winters is at war with himself.

He’s part Win, the lonely teenager exiled to a remote Vermont boarding school in the wake of a family tragedy. The guy who shuts all his classmates out, no matter the cost.

He’s part Drew, the angry young boy with violent impulses that control him. The boy who spent a fateful, long-ago summer with his brother and teenage cousins, only to endure a secret so monstrous it led three children to do the unthinkable.

Over the course of one night, while stuck at a party deep in the New England woods, Andrew battles both the pain of his past and the isolation of his present.

Before the sun rises, he’ll either surrender his sanity to the wild darkness inside his mind or make peace with the most elemental of truths—that choosing to live can mean so much more than not dying.

My Thoughts
This book was not what I was expecting, it was better.  

The book flips between a boy who is eleven on vacation with his older brother and a boy who is sixteen and struggling with himself. The two time frames slowly reveal different aspects of this young man's personality and upbringing. You slowly realize who he is and what he has been through. He's not an easy character to like or connect with, but I really loved the psychological aspect of the novel. I was actually surprised by some of the details and others I saw coming. The issues this young man went through were dealt with in a gentile manner...so much so that at times I wish we got to read more. I did really enjoy this though. 

If you want a read that is different and sad than pick this book up. 


1/2

Fire and Flood (Fire and Flood #1)

Goodreads Summary 

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Victoria Scott's breathtaking novel grabs readers by the throat and doesn't let go.

My Thoughts
I have heard this book described as being a mix between The Hunger Games and Pokémon and to be honest that didn't sound terribly interesting to me. I read this because the reviews so far were really good and I thought I'd give it a go.

To be completely honest I found the book to be a little flawed. Tella, our main character, really annoyed me. When she first found the device that told her about the Brimstone Bleed she stupidly thought it was a joke. She actually thought her dying brother had the energy to find a small device, have some random woman create a recording, and then sneak it in her room. I mean come on!  Her stupidity slowly goes away throughout the novel, but I never really connected with her. I enjoyed many of the other characters, but again had issues with Guy. He seemed really one dimensional to me and not just because he spent the majority of the book being mysterious. He just seemed to have no personality. Everyone was too stereotypical for my liking. 

I probably will read the next book simply because the race isn't done and I would kinda like to know who wins. At least I only have to wait until February.

Scratch

* This book was sent to me by Kensington Books and Rhonda Helms via NetGalley. I will be giving an honest review. *

 Goodreads Summary
The most painful scars are the ones you never see. In her DJ booth at a Cleveland dance club, Casey feels a sense of connection that's the closest she ever gets to normal. On her college campus, she's reserved, practical-all too aware of the disaster that can result when you trust the wrong person. But inexplicably, Daniel refuses to pay attention to the walls she's put up. Like Casey, he's a senior. In every other way, he's her opposite. Sexy, open, effortlessly charming, Daniel is willing to take chances and show his feelings. For some reason Casey can't fathom, he's intent on drawing her out of her bubble and back into a world that's messy and unpredictable. He doesn't know about the deep scars that pucker her stomach - or the deeper secret behind them. Since the violent night when everything changed, Casey has never let anyone get close enough to hurt her again. Now, she might be tempted to try.

My Thoughts
This story was beautiful. It was raw, sweet and heartbreaking. It's the kind of story that sticks with you long after you get to the last page.

Casey's childhood was gut-wrenching and it left her with physical and emotional scars. She didn't realize they were holding her back until she met Daniel. Daniel who isn't perfect or a paranormal creature. They didn't instantly fall in love and their love didn't miraculously heal her. He's just a guy who finds a girl captivating and wants to get to know her. He manages to break down her walls, but he constantly wants to know about her past and she can't open up. As you can imagine, this leads to some emotional pages where I bawled my eyes out. Only the good authors can have me reaching for the Kleenex box. This quick read had me in tears, but it also had me laughing out loud. The characters were sweet and people I would love to be friends with. I think that if you enjoy New Adult Contemporary books than you'll really like this. Get your copy September 30th!

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1)

Goodreads Summary
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

  The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed? It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.


Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....


My Thoughts
Wow. I'm speechless.  This book was not what I expected.  

This book follows four characters. Princess Cleo who is a stubborn, but a strong pain in the ass. Jonas who is a wounded brother ready for revenge. Lucia who was rather one dimensional. She was the meek princess who apparently has powers. Lastly, Magnus was a heartbroken prince who doesn't trust his father. 

I really enjoyed the world. I forget sometimes how much I love the worlds that fantasy writers create. This one was full of beautiful imagery and magic.  I think I loved the world more than I loved the story though. I found the characters to be too cliché and unrealistic. They didn't change throughout the course of the novel and if they did it wasn't for the better. 

I am hoping that Rebel Springs which is book #2 in the series is better because I kind of want to know what happens next. 

1/2

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)

Goodreads Summary 
A princess must find her place in a reborn world. She flees on her wedding day. She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection. She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father. She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

My Thoughts
First let's all take a moment to stare at the cover because it is just gorgeous. I think it's really fitting for the book too. 

I loved the world in this book so much. There's just something about a non-modern world that I find so fascinating.  News is spread through word of mouth or through letters, people ride horses (or sometimes donkeys), and men are chivalrous. Imagine that. 

I really enjoyed all the characters too. Lia is a princess, but when she leaves her castle behind she doesn't act like a spoiled child. She bravely faces a world that is completely different than the one she is used to. In my opinion she was a little too trusting, but you can't completely fault a girl for wanting to see the best in people. Berdie, the inn owner, was a sweet older woman with a kind heart. I loved that she took Princess Lia in knowing that it could be dangerous for her. Gwyneth was a waitress friend at the inn and a mysterious one at that. I hope we learn more about her in book #2 because her backstory would probably be really interesting. Lia's brother Walther was a nice surprise. It was surprising he found her and their bond was really cute. I wish we got to see more of her other brothers because they seemed to be the people who influenced her the most.

Meanwhile there were these two guys who had their own journeys to track down the princess. There's the prince who is upset that Lia ran away and an assassin sent to kill her. Kaden and Rafe are mysterious throughout the whole book. Mary E. Pearson does a good job of convincing you who is who and then switching it up. I had an idea from the beginning (highlight this section to reveal a BIG spoiler that I had to discuss. Safe only if you've read the book!) , but changed my mind because I thought it would be too obvious for her to fall for the prince.  Silly me. Rafe was super adorable though. Tough ending for him!

I cannot believe we have to wait until 2015 to find out what happens next! 

Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3)

Goodreads Summary
From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.


What Did I Think?
I wish I had time to read Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door before picking up Isla (just as a refresher), but alas I lent them out. However the more I read, the more I remembered about the previous two books. The more I remembered, the more I loved the connections with Isla and the Happily Ever After. I cannot wait to read them back to back...to back.

This book did not disappoint. It was a beautifully written love story. I must admit that I didn't really remember too much about Josh from Anna and the French Kiss. It has been years since I read it, he didn't play a big role (right?) in the book, and I don't feel too bad about not remembering him. If I did then maybe I'd be hung up on him and Rashmi and wouldn't love him with Isla. I really loved him with Isla. From the moment they "met" at the café in New York I was hooked. They were adorable together.

More than any other character I have read about in awhile, Isla reminds me of myself. We both crush from afar. We both are insecure about ourselves. We both have no idea what we want to do with the rest of our lives. The only difference is that she is eight years younger than I am and so much stronger. I could see myself reacting the exact same way to the events that took place in the book. I didn't question her at all and that made me question myself. I love when a book does that!

I know that this isn't considered a series, but I really do feel that these books should be read in order.  Characters from the past come back and you won't feel connected to them if you haven't read the previous two. So if you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door yet than you should really do that now.



I must note that there were a few transitions that didn't seem entirely natural, but that didn't affect my love for the book.