New Things to Come!

Hey guys so I'm back for the holidays! I haven't done much on the blog this year but it's because I have been so busy with my Honours year at university. It's been really hectic. I have been reading though but I just didn't have any time to think up reviews because honestly? When I didn't have to do anything for uni I took great enjoyment in being very very lazy, but I miss the blog so I'm making an effort.

So I spoke to Kristin about making a few changes on my end with the reviews and she agreed which made me very happy. I'm not just going to review books anymore, but everything. Books, music/music videos, movies, TV shows and anime. I am a serious anime freak and I would like to get new people watching it and share my freakouts with more anime freaks like me. Kristin unfortunately doesn't like anime because the woman doesn't like ANY type of animation, which I have to say shocked my system for about a week, but she has legitimate reasons at least so I got over it! Most people have  misconceptions when it comes to anime and I'm here to set everyone straight. I'm also kind of an anime snob so if you do find yourself liking this medium and you go in search and you come across an anime I haven't talked about or that I didn't like, don't be put off, I only like a certain type of anime and you might like something completely different. I don't judge! Same goes with music, I like a great deal of different types of music but I don't care much for House, Country, RnB and Rap. All the other types I love, but if you want me to listen to a song or see a music video don't hesitate to suggest it to me. I'll listen to every song once!

I wanted to start off with a top 50 must watch, must read and must listen. Since this is originally a book blog, I will start with that. It should be up by tomorrow,  maybe after. I've read a lot of books so it might take some thinking, hehe. If you guys have suggestions,  I'm open to putting them into the list!

{Book Review} Better When He's Bad by Jay Crownover

Author: Jay Crownover
Title: Better When He's Bad
Series: Welcome to the Point #1
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: June 17, 2014

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Blurb:

Welcome to the Point

There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who’s bad . . . meet Shane Baxter.

Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn’t just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he’s the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there’s a new player in the game, and she’s much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way.

Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She’s always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con The Point has ever produced.

Bax terrifies her, but it doesn’t take Dovie long to realize that some boys are just better when they’re bad.

***Mature readers only! Violence and sexual material.

There is something inherently sexy about a bad boy, be it the songs he rocks, the bike he straddles, or the horse he rides. Yet, what if the "bad" in the boy could not be tamed? What if it were more than his womanizing, egomaniac ways? What if he was criminally bad and had no remorse for his crimes, in fact, he never planned on going straight? Would he still be as insanely hot?

I can only testify to my opinion, and that would be... yes, because in the pages of a book, the worst of the worst can bring women to their knees. Also, loyalty is a trait to be admired in a world where selfishness seems to be put above selflessness. But that's not a rant for this blog... a reminder, maybe, but not a rant.

If you've read Rule, Jet, Rome, and/or Nash, also by Jay Crownover, you know these guys to be a bunch a misfits banded tighter than blood through tough lives and the love of ink. They're all out for a good time, including booze, women, and old fashioned boys games. They are fun. Fun to look at, fun to be around, and certainly they must be fun to sleep with... well, the women who tame them certainly think so, at least. Best I can say, they are fun to read about.

Better When He's Bad is not a fun book, nor is it about a man sowing his wild oats. It's gritty and raw, even cringe-worthy at times—but in the best of ways. I would say Jay Crownover stepped her writing up to phenomenal heights with Bax and his story. (I'm twitching to read Race's story next.) When I read the first paragraph, I had to wonder if the same woman who is still writing the Marked Men series could possibly be the same woman writing the Welcome to the Point series. And no, I don't mean that literally... of course she's the one writing both series, I just believe this shows the range she has as an author, as well as the growth of her writing along the way.

What I loved: Bax and the people who surrounded him are mysteries in of themselves. The twists and turns, and the completely unexpected. I loved the way I sat on the edge of my seat wondering how Bax was going to get himself and Dovie out of an unfathomable mess. I loved Bax for having at least one person he would protect besides himself. Jay's ability to draw out the suspense where Bax is concerned speaks to my earlier argument about her ability as a writer.

My thoughts about the notorious Bax, in particular, are: While criminals are not my ideal choice in a companion, Bax made it appear possible. Or should I say, Jay made it appear possible. The trouble Bax jumped into wasn't nickle and dime crap. He walks out of 5 years in prison to find himself involved in something bigger and much scarier than before, primarily because he's found a female worth taking care of.

My thoughts about Dovie: She is Race's sister, and Race is Bax's best friend, but the three of them couldn't be more different. Honestly, I'm not completely sure how I feel about Dovie. To be so good, she certainly stepped up and handled Bax like a natural. The one thing I couldn't piece together in my head, was when exactly they fell in love with each other. One second he's her protector, the next he's unwilling to let her go. I'm not certain I ever completely bought their relationship, but at some point I forgot about how they became what they were and just went with the story.

What I could have lived without: There is one scene I could have lived without ever reading, and no, I'm not going to discuss it, I'm not going to tell you which scene it is, I'm just going to leave it on the wayside and pretend like it never crossed my eyes. So why bring it up at all? Because it is particularly violent and put an image in my head I can't erase. I'm a grown woman, and if it bothered me, I want people to be warned that there is graphic material associated with the book. Was it enough for me to not reread the book? No, I'll probably just skip over it. Would this book have gotten 5 stars without it? No. The lack of me buying the entire romance played into that. Was the scene pivotal? I honestly have to say yes. Perhaps there could have been a better way, though I can't think of a more shocking and captivating one.

Bravo, Jay Crownover! I'm going to admit to being more of a Marked Men girl myself, and I'm looking forward  to Rowdy in October, I believe. But don't you worry, with just the small snippet of Race's story, I'm excited for Better When He's Bold.

{Waiting on Wednesday} Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Silver Shadows
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #5

Blurb:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Honestly, I've yet to read The Fiery Heart, and from what I've heard, I'll be waiting until this baby is in my hands, and possibly the last book also, but I'm still more than ready to see this release. What's your WoW of the week?

{Book Review} Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Oh, what to do, what to do. I have three book reviews and a movie review I need to get done. I'm not sure what I want to do first. I suppose I'll do a book review and maybe do the movie review this evening.

Title: Fire & Flood
Series: Fire & Flood #1
Author: Victoria Scott
Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press

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Blurb:

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

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?

Well, there's no other way than to just tell it like it is. Honestly, I was a little leery of this novel because I did not enjoy the Dante Walker series. I know, shoot me now, but I just couldn't connect to any of the characters. But HELLO Fire & Flood! I'm not sure what sub-genre this young adult book falls into, because it's really not dystopian, but that's the closest way to describe it, I think.

I'm not going to give any big spoilers, so describing exactly why this race takes place will be impossible, because there's much more to it than a race for a cure. One hundred and seventy-two contestants begin the race, which will take them through four ecosystems, and the person who wins the entire race wins a cure for someone in their family who is chronically ill. For Tella, it's her brother.

I admired Tella. She walks into her room and finds a tiny, electronic ear piece laying on her bed. When she pops it in her ear, instructions flood her brain and she thinks her brother is trying to pull a prank, so she confronts him and her parents, who go a tad bit insane when they see the device. Her dad tries to burn it, but Tella manages to save it, and finishes listening to the instructions, which she follows to save her brother.

Jenny, a friend of mine at Book Sojourner (this link goes to her Fire & Flood review, check it out), said she didn't really like Tella at first, and that maybe it was because she was so different from the character. I have known Jenny for a couple of years now, and I laughed as I was reading the book, because Tella reminded me so much of Jenny. Either would go above and beyond for their family, regardless of the consequences. Anyone who doesn't follow Jenny at Book Sojourner should go follow her now. She has so many great posts.

Anyway, Tella makes it to the starting line with everything she's allowed, and nothing she brought. Victoria inserted so many interesting and unique concepts into the story, it kept me guessing what would happen next. I loved the Pandoras. Foxes, lions, rams, and so many other critters that had the powers of superheroes. Some could burrow in the sand and shoot spurs out into various parts of intruders bodies, others could breathe fire though they weren't dragons, and another could imitate all others. The single thing the pandoras had in common, is they existed to protect their competitor. Tella realized this from the beginning and showed her companion compassion and friendship. She won other pandoras loyalties by showing them the same kindness.

As the competitors make their way across a rain forest, then a desert, the obstacles and challenges became greater and riskier. Friends and enemies are picked off with increasing speed and ease. However, after each ecosystem, the winner scores anything from money to secure their loved ones the best medical care, to a small dose of the "cure" to extend the life of their family member a few years longer. They are also given the option of going home or continuing on for the ultimate reward. Dropping out of the Brimstone Bleed becomes a forethought in many people's minds, but their loyalty to their family keeps them going.

One of Tella's cohorts, and possibly a potential boyfriend, knows more about the Brimstone Bleed than the others. Guy is willing to share bits of the truth with Tella, and perhaps there is so much more to the story than a race for a cure. I am excited to read Salt and Stone. Why so long, Victoria? Why?

I recommend Fire & Flood to those who enjoy dystopian type books. This is a YA book but does contain some violence. 

{Interview & Blog Sponsored Giveaway} GLAMOUR by Andrea Janes

Title: GLAMOUR
Author: Andrea Janes
Publication Date: March 18, 2014
Publisher: World Weaver Press

Blurb:

Townie. That’s what eighteen-year-old Christina Sundy is. All year round she lives in a one-stoplight town
on Cape Cod and when summer comes she spends her days scooping ice cream for rich tourists, who she
hates. So when one of them takes a job in the ice cream shop alongside her, she’s pissed. Why does a
blonde and perky Harvard-bound rich girl like Reese Manning want to scoop ice cream anyway?

Something else weird is happening to Christina: tiny blue sparks seem to be shooting off her fingers. It
isn’t long before she realizes the truth about herself — she’s actually a powerful hereditary witch. But her
newfound powers are too intense for her to handle and, in a moment of rage, she accidentally zaps Reese
into another dimension.

So that no one will notice that the rich girl has disappeared, Christina casts a disguising spell, or
“glamour,” and lives Reese’s life while she tries to find a retrieval spell. But as the retrieval spell proves
harder than anticipated, and as she goes about living Reese’s life without anyone on the outside noticing the switch, Christina realizes that there’s nothing to stop her from making the glamour permanent…

except, of course, her fellow witches, a 16th century demon, and, just maybe, her own conscience.

Glamour will be available in trade paperback & ebook via Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, 
Kobo.com, and other online retailers. (Links will take you directly to Glamour by Andrea Janes.)

Keep reading for the giveaway!

Interview with Andrea Janes

Better Read Than Dead: Please introduce yourself and tell us two or three quirky things about you.

Andrea: I’m a write by day, and lead ghost tours by night! I run my own company called Boroughs of the Dead. People sometimes just email me their own ghost stories and photos out of the blue, and sometimes they’re incredibly scary.

I once wrote a book of short horror stories set in and around New York City, which you can find here.

I live in a hundred-year-old co-op apartment building in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It was built by Finnish immigrants and is one of the first co-operative apartments built in the United States.
     B: A very interesting life you live. I would be too chicken to join one of your ghost tours myself, but I do think it's a super unique way to make a living.

B: GLAMOUR has a unique premise. Tell us a little about how you came up with the concept and why you chose the setting you did. (I’ve always loved anything based in the Cape Cod area.)

A: GLAMOUR is really a tale of friendship, and it was appropriately enough inspired in a large part inspired by some of the friendships I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life. I started working on this story in 2004, based on a casual suggestion from a friend (“You should write a script about a girl who works in an ice cream shop and she’s an ambidextrous scooper”) that I thought was amusing.

As for the Cape Cod setting, I don’t really have much a claim to New England, other than I love the landscape and beaches, and am fascinated by the history of whaling ships! I love all things nautical so naturally my idea of a really fun day is the Museum of America and the Sea at Mystic Seaport.
     B: I love how your story came about. It makes me smile. Tales of friendship are always such fun, and sometimes traumatizing. I completely I agree with your assessment of New England. Great choice of setting.

B: We’d love to have a little bit of insight into your main characters. Just a fact or two about each one that will help us understand them as we read.

A: You HAVE to take the “Which Witch Are You” quiz right now! This will give you so much insight into the characters, and tell you which one you most identify with!
     B: Hmmm... I got Christina, she sounds sort of scary. Hehe.

B: Describe (or feel free to insert a picture) of your writing area. Do you have a certain routine or require any specifics (caffeine) to write?

A: My writing area is clean and sparse because it doubles as my office. I don’t believe you need to have an exciting or “inspiring” setup in order to write. It’s great if you do, but a writer can write anywhere, in any setting. Nor do I have a routine. This isn’t some kind of sacred ritual. You get up, you grit your teeth, you write.
      B: I think I've had about a 50/50 answer on this one. Some people who may be a little more OCD need everything to be set in a certain way, and their coveted cup of coffee at their sides every day when they sit down to write, facing out their east window. Others are more like you. I love hearing people's unique perspective.

B: Now, the question every blogger has to ask any author they interview. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors or what was the best advice you ever received?

A: I generally don’t give advice. The process is different for everyone. I guess the best advice I’ve ever heard is “read a lot.” And write a lot. What else is there?
      B: I find most writers find it helps to both read and write a lot. The advice I get most often in these interviews is to never give up. I think that is equally important. I completely agree that you can't tell one person how to write, because we're all different people with varying backgrounds and preferred ways to do things. These differences make us human.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Andrea Janes writes horror, dark comedy, thrillers, and historical slapstick. She is the author of Boroughs of the Dead: New York City Ghost 

Stories. She is also a licensed NYC tour guide, and offers a variety of ghostly tours around the city. Her many obsessions include New York City history, 

old photographs, Mabel Normand, all things nautical, and beer. She maintains a personal blog over at Spinster Aunt, where she discusses these obsessions in more detail than is probably healthy.

World Weaver Press is a publisher of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction, dedicated to producing quality works. As a small press, World Weaver seeks to publish books that engage the mind and ensnare the story-loving soul. 

{Top Ten Tuesday} My Top Ten New Adult Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

I'm trying a new Tuesday Meme this week. I've seen the Top Ten Tuesday lists floating around on the bloggosphere and I always enjoy reading them, so why not join in on the fun. This week's Top Ten Topic is:

Top Ten All Time Favorite Books in the New Adult Genre

(These are in no particular order)

Wait for You by J. Lynn

Be With Me by J. Lynn

Easy by Tammara Webber

Slammed by Colleen Hoover (Actually anything by Colleen Hoover)

Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken

Lucky Number Four by Amanda Jason

 Charade by Nyrae Dawn

Facade by Nyrae Down

 Rule (Not Pictured) by Jay Crownover

Jet by Jay Crownover

Rome by Jay Crownover

 I've only now realized just how far behind I am in reviews. I only listed a couple by each author. J. Lynn, Colleen Hoover, Rachel Van Dyken, Nyrae Dawn, and Jay Crownover have won a fan for life!!!

I'm certain I missed a few since it's hard to choose just a few books, but these will do for today! Happy Top Ten Tuesday everyone! Let me know what your faves are, of any genre in my comments. If you happen to be a new follower, let me know so I can follow you back!

{Book Review} Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken

Title: Ruin
Series: Ruin #1
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date: August 11, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published

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Blurb:

I'm not your typical girl. I've been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness...until Wes Michals offered to be my light.

I didn't know that time wasn't my ally -- that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer--each moment as it came--but it would never be enough.

Sometimes when you think it's the end, it's only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn't--I wouldn't ever be the same.

And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.

All I can say is... Wow! If I knew how moving, how heartbreaking, and, eventually, how awe-inspiring Ruin would be, I would have picked it up on August 11, 2013, the day it released. And honestly, if not for the minor editing issues, the rating would have been FIVE stars. Rachel Van Dyken is quickly becoming one of my favorite New Adult writers. 

Some people are going to call the romance too "insta-lovey," but given the circumstances, I can completely understand why the author went where she did with the story. I started off the book laughing at Kiersten's clumsiness, especially where Wes was involved. If anyone ever doubts that a single girl could embarrass herself in such a horrific manner, I assure you—it is possible.

But trees weren't warm.

And they didn't have one, two , three, four, six. Good Lord, eight? Eight packs? Furthermore, had I actually been feeling said person's eight pack? A, dear God, I was counting. I had touched each muscle. And great, my hand was still firmly placed against the guy's stomach.

Oh, I laughed so hard.

Kiersten, a college freshman, finds herself lost in the chaos of attending college, well, the registration process specifically. People are rude and can't be bothered to answer her questions. The one guy who is willing has quite a reputation. Kiersten's not sure she wants his brand of drama, but she's also having a difficult time avoiding him. 

Wes, college senior filled with snark and billions of bucks, finds himself captivated by the clumsy, sometimes crazy freshman. He's the quarterback of the football team, the RA of Kiersten's dorm, and has an entourage to boot. He is the guy every girl wants, thing is he's all about changing his ways. No more one night stands, no more boozing it up, no more frivolity. His main goal is to finish out his last season on the football field and make it into the big bowl game, until... a beautiful, clumsy freshman runs smack into him. Haunted by his past, he feels the need to save her.

Both Kiersten and Wes are carrying secrets they aren't willing to share with anyone, not even each other. Unfortunately, Wes has more than one traumatic event coloring his past and when he finally comes clean, my feelings gnawed at my gut, literally bringing tears to my eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Van Dyken's build to the big reveal. It was slow and torturous, but perfect. Wes' emotions clung to me stronger than Kiersten's. Or, maybe Kiersten's reaction to Wes' situation stuck with me more. 

Either way, the story is phenomenal. Complex and complicated. Heartbreaking and inspiring. A perfect blend of life; the horrific and the sweet.

I thought about inserting a spoilery type quote here, but instead, I'll leave you with my favorite line.

"Maybe it's not in the perfection of life that things make sense, but in the chaos."

Yes, this book is considered a New Adult book, but it is written clean with only slight suggestions made at sexual content. My 13 year old is mature for her age, but I would have no problem with her reading this novel.  

{Teaser Tuesday} Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

                                                     

Title: Cruel Beauty
Series: Cruel Beauty Universe
Author: Rosamund Hodge

The blurb for this book is extra long, so I'm just going to refer you to the Goodreads page.

Teaser:

This time the cold that burned through my middle was fear, not anger.

Tomorrow I will marry a monster.

I thought of little else, all the rest of the night.

I'm going to be honest, I bought this book solely based on the cover, I did read the description too. It's outside of my usual reading, but I thought I'd give it a try. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I'm enjoying it so far. I'm about 50 pages in or so.

{Book Review} Rome by Jay Crownover

Title: Rome
Series: Marked Men #3
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: Willow Marrow
Publication Date: January 7, 2014

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Blurb:

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray. Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

Due to explicit sexual content, not recommended for readers under the age of 17.

Jay Crownover is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors with her sexy, action-packed, tattoo parlor filled with all sorts of broken playboys. Rome, brother to Rule and retired soldier in the Army, isn't in the tattoo business, but spent many years of his life protecting others: Rule & Remy, Shaw, and an entire country's freedoms. He's had a difficult time forgiving himself for not protecting Remy from a terrible car accident that claimed his life, even though Rome was away fighting a war.

When Rome returns home after his tour, he finds himself having trouble fitting in. Everyone has moved on with their lives. Rule has straightened his life out and has taken over the role of protecting Shaw, he's furious with his parents because of a secret they kept from him and Rule, and those nightmares that keep haunting his sleep leave him tired, cranky, and lost. Lucky for him, there's a girl who can handle all of him. The good, bad, and the ugly. Now he only needs to trust her.

Cora continues to be one of my favorite characters in this series. She's all girl with a side of kick ass, and this little pixie with her different colored eyes are just what Rome needs to put a smile back on his face. People should really stop doubting Cora's ability to take care of herself. The girl has some moves!

I'm going to admit to crying more than once during this novel. Jay ratcheted up the action three-fold, threw in several twists I never saw coming, and made me fall in love with this extended family more than I already had. I especially enjoyed learning more about Remy, although the amount of tears shed will never be divulged. I will admit to not being a big fan of an all too common trope being used entirely too often lately, but Jay found a unique way to make it work.

I highly recommend the Marked Men series to anyone looking for a few bad boys slowly finding their ways to the women they love. Rome's book is slightly more intense than Rule or Jet, but so very good.

Reading Order:

Rule (Amazon buy link)

Jet (Amazon buy link)

Rome (Amazon buy link)

{Book Review} Lucky Number Four by Amanda Jason

Title: Lucky Number Four
Author: Amanda Jason
Published by: C.A. Kunz LLC
Publication Date: January 5, 2014
Genre: New Adult

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Blurb:

Pandora Ann Phillips' life is just normal-crazy

Her mom's a psychic, her dad's mom is a snob, her mom's parental units are "too down to earth" and her best friends are newlyweds. Okay, so her best friends being newlyweds isn't really abnormal, but living with them in a cramped two-bedroom apartment definitely is. Sex, sex, sex is totally on their minds. Actually it's not only on their minds, but it's on the kitchen table, couch, on top of the washer...well, you get the picture.

Being a celibate (not by choice, mind you) full-time college student, and an almost full-time barista, Pandora can't afford to lose anymore sleep. So, she seeks out a new place to lay her head. Enter three "drool worthy" male models that are looking for a fourth roommate and they want her...and won't take no for an answer.

Hilarity ensues as Pandora's life turns completely upside down, and she begins to wonder if it will ever be the same again!

Man, I had to scroll up and hide those enigmas on the cover so I could concentrate on my review and ignore the three brutally handsome men's lips smirking at me. Talk about sidetracked. Wowza!

I think I bought into the hype a little too much on this one, not to say it wasn't cute and funny and an all together good read, I just expected so much more from a story of three men and one woman sharing an apartment. I waited for hijinks to ensue, the boys bringing girls home at all hours of the night, heck, even all three of them fighting for her attention, but none of that happened. Not once, and it made me sad.

What did not make me sad is the actual interaction I experiences through multiple characters in the book.

Pandora decides to take a gander at a loft apartment she found advertised in a grocery store, hoping to find somewhere she can study and sleep without the oohs and aahs of sex creeping into every second of her day. Her newly married roommates haven't moved past the honeymoon stage yet, and she's going insane. And seeing her best friend's penis when she wanted a drink late one night gave her the creeps. She needed a new place to live, but being a broke college student didn't leave her with many options, so she chanced the before mentioned apartment.

Once introduced to the three yummy men, they wanted her as their roommate, no one else, so they resorted to bribery and just a little bit of blackmail. By the time she finished talking with Drew, she realized he'd offered Kevin and Julie, her best friends, an apartment in another part of the building and they'd accepted, so she literally had nowhere to live, except with three exceptionally hot men. How her life must suck!

Throughout the book, we catch a glimpse of which of the guys might be interested in her, and honestly, if you look at all the clues, you'll figure it out far before she does.

I'm going to interject something here... I'm getting a little tired of every girl in every book I read thinking she's nothing special. Come on guys, let's write about some girls who have some self-esteem. It's perfectly okay to think you're pretty, actually, it's healthy, because when Dora decides to tell her roommates they only want to hang with her because they've taken her on as a charity case, I wanted to scream. And to have to hear another friend say "you really don't see yourself, do you?" sends me running in another direction.

These are three famous models. They wouldn't hang out with you if they didn't want to. Pandora wasn't their kid sister, or even kid sister's best friend.

SPOILER - HIGHLIGHT THE TEXT IF YOU WANT TO READ THE SPOILER

Once Pandora finds out who her admirer is, it's off for some fun in the sun, but not before some unprotected sex in the bed. This is becoming a trope I'm tired of reading about. Maybe it hits too close to home, I don't know. But getting pregnant out of wedlock was not as fun as these authors make it seem. The guy rarely says "Oh Happy Day" and does the Snoopy dance even when they've been dating for years, much less a couple of months, and the girl, well, I, personally, was a complete mess.

SPOILER OVER

Outside of what I revealed in the spoiler sections, there were definitely some twists and turns I never saw coming, and yes, my eyes teared up once or twice. There was a lot of "tell" and not enough "show" in Lucky Number Four. And while I know what happened to two of the three guys, I'm left wondering about one. He seems to have just disappeared somewhere near the end.

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Absolutely, after a warning that the hype around it has been built up, and if you're looking for a steamy, sexy read, this might not be it. If you're looking for something fun and entertaining... go for it!

Bout of Book Read-a-Than 9.0 Goals

Eeps! Goals, oh my! I'm so bad at these, but here goes!

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading everyday, this isn't really a challenge for me as I read each night before bed anyway.

My Goals

I plan on finishing Lucky Number Four by Amanda Jason. I'm really enjoying the story so far. Then who knows what I'll read. I know I will start Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and possibly Angelfall by Susan Ee, but I'm not really certain. I also plan on participating in as many of the challenges as possible.

Books to Read

Lucky Number Four 
Under the Never Sky
Angelfall

Updates

Who's Doing Bout of Books?

ME! I messed everything up the last time I tried to do Bout of Books, but I've been very careful and I am going to read my rear end off over the next couple of days.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Goals to come!!!

{Waiting on Wednesdays} Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Maybe Someday

Author: Colleen Hoover

Blurb:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

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

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

Colleen Hoover has become one of my favorite authors to date. Slammed being my favorite of her books, but she'll remain one of my automatic buy authors forever!!! 

Have you read any of her books? If so, which is your favorite? If not, what are you waiting for?

Happy 2014 from Better Read Than Dead

Well, the New Year is upon us, and I for one couldn't be more excited to put this year behind me and usher in a fresh and joyous new start.

Just before Christmas, my husband lost his job of 22 years and reality is finally starting to set in. I've never been particularly superstitious, but as he lost his job on Friday December 13th, 2013, I may find myself being a little more leery around things involving the number 13, so bring on 2014. Of course, life moves on and we persevere. Our family always has and will always continue to do so.

While 2013 ended in disaster, there are also so many things I'm thankful for. Tried & true friends like Robin, Kelly M, and my girls at Starbooks, especially the Mafia. Brand new friends like Francesca. Series finales such as Goddess by Josephine Angelini, Allegient by Veronica Roth (though I haven't read it yet), and so many others. CATCHING FIRE blew my mind and Jennifer Lawrence continues to entertain me in her movies and interviews. I've discovered some of the best music in years: Fun., Imagine Dragons—Demons being my current personal anthem, Thirty Seconds to Mars new album: LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS. And last, but certainly not least, my husband and two daughters. Without them, I couldn't, wouldn't be here.

And each and every single one of my followers for sticking with me!

There are so many things I'm looking forward to in the year to come. New books, new movies, new projects, and new friends! I mean DIVERGENT is coming to the big screen, the final Mortal Instruments book—The City of Heavenly Fire—releases, I personally will be querying for agents and publishers, and with all those things I hope to find new people who share my passions for books, movies, writing, and music. There'll be changes to the blog and amazing reviews to share.

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, in reality they're promises begging to be broken. All I wish is to be a better person, more goal oriented and patient, than in the past.

With that... I wish each of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR & may all your dreams come true!

{Waiting on Wednesday} Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Blurb:

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Oh, the first two books are so poetic and entrancing, it's all I could do to pull away from them. Waiting until February 4, 2014 is killing me! So many feels!