Waiting on Wednesday: Fear of Falling - S.L. Jennings

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine to spotlight releases that we're looking forward to! Here is my choice this week...

Fear of Falling - S.L. Jennings

Title: Fear of Falling

Author: S.L. Jennings

Is it a sequel? No.

Release Date: July 18th, 2013

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Don't worry," he smiled, pulling me into the hard warmth of his chest. "I've got you. I'll always catch you when you fall."

And just like that, blaine had staked his claim on the untouched part of me that no living soul had ever moved. He had captured every fear, every reservation, and crushed them in the palm of his inked hand.

I can't remember the last time I felt completely safe. Security seemed more like a luxury to me, reserved for those who were fortunate enough to have picture perfect childhoods. For those who didn't bear the ugly scars that keep me bound in constant, debilitating fear. I've run from that fear my entire life. But when I met him, for once, I couldn't run anymore.

He scared the hell out of me in a way that excited every fiber of my being. It wasn't the tattoos or the piercings. It wasn't the warmth that seemed to radiate from his frame and blanket me whenever he was near. It was just . . . him. The scary beautiful man that threatened to alter 23 years of routine and rituals, and make me face my crippling fear.

My name is Kami and I am constantly afraid. And the thing that scares me the most is the very thing I want.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

My Comments:

I found this book recently and I instantly added it to my to-read list. It sounds so great. The typical girl with the troubled past, but hot damn, BLAINE HAD FREAKING TATTOOS. I'm just a sucker for guys with tattoos. I really want to know more about her fear and why she's so afraid of life. Can't wait for this release!

What are YOUR choices this week? Let me know in the comments below!

[Review] Out of Breath - Rebecca Donovan

Released: July 2nd, 2013

Emma leaves Weslyn and everyone in it behind to attend Stanford University, just as she always intended. A shell of her former self, she is not the same girl. She is broken, and the only way that she'll be whole again is through forgiveness. Emma must find a way to forgive herself and recognize her own worth before she can receive the love she deserves.

"Every breath I breathe is because of you. Even when you weren't there to save me, you were my reason to breathe. And for that I will always love you. Always."

Honestly, I'm hurting myself writing this review. God, this book was just such a huge disappointment after the first two books. I mean, Reason to Breathe and Barely Breathing were phenomenal masterpieces. They were heartbreaking and enlightening at the same time. But this one just felt like it got dragged on and on. It was as if the writer was just trying to prolong the book. As my English teacher always said, "Quality not quantity." I couldn't agree more, sir. The only aspects that saved the book were the guy characters. They were so freaking great.

I'm going straight to the point here. Emma was such a pain the freaking ass. I get it that she had her issues, troubled past, abusive family. The whole package. But, still, she's always so damn depressed all the time and this ends up creating another side to Emma. The side that's reckless, impulsive, and bitchy. This was her the whole time:

"The sense of being lost seized me again. There was nowhere I belonged. My family didn't want me. Evan couldn't forgive me. Sara didn't need me. The girls didn't really know me. Jonathan was gone. And Cole had walked away, finally seeing me for who I was."

I MEAN REALLY, EMMA??? Your family didn't want you? Please. One of them tried to contact you. Evan is definitely willing to forgive you. He loves you for goodness' sake. Sara is trying so damn hard to help you. The girls didn't know you because you wouldn't let them in. So I'm telling this to Emma throughout the whole book:

Everything is just up in her head. She's trapped in this thought that everyone hates her so she keeps shoving everyone out of her life. When, in reality, everyone's trying to help her. She's struggling to control her guilt and emotions while burying them deep under so she wouldn't have to actually feel.

And then there's the girls. I really do not understand what some of their problems are. Was it Meg? Or was it Peyton? I forgot but one of them hated Evan. I really didn't get it. Didn't it at least occur to them that Emma was the one who left him? Or why didn't Emma just tell them that it was her fault? They ended up loathing Evan and it just freaking pissed me off when he was being so considerate.

I am so thankful for Serena since she was the only one who was actually on neutral ground. She just kept shipping both Emma and Evan together. You go, girl!

Now, let's go on to Evan. God, he was just the sweetest. I could list down a million things I love about him but let's just stick to two. He is the most thoughtful and caring character I've ever come across honestly. Even after dealing with all of Emma's bullshit, he still accepts her for who she is.

"Let me love you enough for the two of us, until you can accept that you're worth it. Because you are, Emma. I don't know how to convince you. But I'll spend the rest of my life trying."

HOW DO YOU NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS MAN?!?! The second thing I loved most about him was that  he was so damn tenacious. When Emma kept pushing him away, he kept moving forward. Even though Emma kept giving him reasons to make him hate her, he still went on. No matter how much it hurt, he continued to forgive her for all of her mistakes.

Cole and Nate were awesome. I mean, Cole's this really cool guy who accepts Emma for a while. He understands that she just needs time but then walks away before she could hurt him. He's a smart, realistic guy. Nate was the only one who really gave a shit about Evan's feelings. He knew that Emma was capable of breaking Evan and that's why he was protective towards him.

Basically, the book was a  real let down when I expected so much. But I guess it's a closure for the trilogy since the second book was a cliffhanger.

Minor Faults:

• It's not even 'minor' the fact that Emma was such a pain
• Girl characters were so unlovable honestly
• Story was way too slowed down - too dragged.

MY RATING:

3 AND A HALF APPLES!!!!!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

About The Author:

Rebecca Donovan is a true optimist. She's tenacious as she doesn't give up easily; it's "not part of her biological make up". She's passionate and she always gives a hundred and ten percent in what she does. So far, she's written three books for the Breathing series with the latest one out on July 2013.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

[Review] The Forever of Ella and Micha - Jessica Sorensen

Released: May 28th, 2013

Ella and Micha have survived tragedy and heartbreak. When they're together, anything seems possible. But now they are thousands of miles apart, and managing their long distance relationship will put their love to the test.

Ella is back at school, trying hard not to worry so much about her future. But with her father in and out of rehab, she's having a hard time making it through the days. All she wants is Micha by her side, but she refuses to let her problems get in the way of his dreams. 

Micha spends his days touring the country with his band, but deep down he knows something is missing. Being away from Ella is harder than he thought it would be. He wants her closer to him - needs her with him. But he won't ask her to leave college, just to be with him.

The few moments they do spend together are intense and passionate, but it only makes it more difficult when they have to part. They know they want to be together, but is wanting something enough to get them to their forever?

"The kind of love that owns you. The kind where you know the other person inside and out. Where you can go through hell and back and still make it out okay."

This book surprised me. It definitely did. At first, I wasn't even planning to read this sequel since I read the first book so long ago and I've forgotten most of it. I remember the book was done and they were together, happily ever after bla bla bla. So I was initially really lazy to read this book. But I'm glad that I did.

I expected it to mostly be about commitment issues, how Micha's miles and miles away. But I'm so damn happy that it wasn't. It's more about Ella finding out more about herself, confronting her past and facing all her demons. I love how they're both so considerate towards each other. How they're not selfish.

This book was written in both Ella and Micha's point of views. It kept alternating between chapters. I really, really like that. It gives us an insight on how the two of them think and how they're handling things on each their sides. Some books, I thought that, "Man, why didn't the author write this scene in his point of view?" But, in this one, I somehow think that every scene was written in the right point of view.

Ella's war is with herself in this book. She's seeing a therapist to get some closure on her past and also to just let all of her emotions out. It's all in her head though, all her insecurities. Ella thinks that she's going to bring Micha down like how her mother brought her father down. She grew up with that mindset that she ends up applying it to her own life. Micha realizes that Ella will never be completely who she was in the past again because she's been through plenty of hardships in her life.

[Micha] "Although she's fixable - I can see that now - she is still so broken and vulnerable."

But Ella is so damn selfless. Almost every decision she makes, she thinks of Micha. When she let him go, it was because she loved him and she refused to hurt him. But because of this, she ends up pushing him away. She always gives him an escape, which he of course ignores.

[Ella] "That if at any time it gets to be too much for you, you'll leave me - walk away and get out."

This is so freaking noble of her because she actually loves him so much that she's willing to let him go for the sake of his happiness.

Micha is definitely one of my most favorite guy character EVER. He's just so damn sweet even though he can be jealous at times, emotional at times, but hot damn guys. HE'S A MUSICIAN. He has a way with words and with wooing women *winks* An example of his jealousy but romantic side at the same time:

"You're fucking special and if I want to act possessive over you when some stupid art guy hits on you right in front of me, I'm going to. Either that or I'm going to have Ethan chase him down right now so I can punch him in the face."

He doesn't sugarcoat things. He's not perfect either. When he's dealing with his father, he gets drunk a lot and says a shitload of things he doesn't mean. As you can see, he's not the typical boy next door who's so damn perfect in every way. He's got his imperfections that make him beautiful. He knows that his relationship with Ella isn't perfect but he's willing to fight through it.

[Micha] "You need to give me some credit. You left me, ripped out my heart, and then came back acting like a robot, and you know what? We made it through. You and I, good or bad, belong together. We make each other whole."

AMEN TO THAT BROTHER.

The supporting characters were fantastic too. I mean, there's Lila who cares so much for Ella but she doesn't baby her at all. There's Ethan. Oh God, Ethan. I bloody love his character because it just adds some humor to the story but he can also be thoughtful.

This book isn't only about the romance. It's not only the love story between Ella and Micha. It's telling us how our past, our family shape us into who we are today. It creates a certain mindset to the way we think. It's about facing our demons and confronting all the things that are so confusing and complicating. God, this book just wowed me.

Minor Faults:

• Ending was a little rushed.

MY RATING:

4 AND A HALF APPLES!!!!!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

About The Author:

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

[Review] Beautiful Disaster - Jamie McGuire

Released: May 26th, 2011

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn't drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants - and needs - to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis's apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

"It wasn't just me, and it wasn't just him, it was what we were together that was the exception."

This book, ladies and gents, was what got me into reading New Adult romances and basically all romance books! Ladies, prepare to drop your panties for the one, the only, TRAVIS MADDOX! I will go on a long rant about him later below. God, I absolutely loved every single character in the book. They were all just so perfect. Plus, Jamie McGuire's writing style is very easy to understand and to read. That's why I completely love it. After reading Fifty Shades, I was recommended by the dependable goodreads to try out Beautiful Disaster. And I thank God every day that I did.

Abby Abernathy is a snarky girl who's hiding her "alter ego". Let's just say she has another side to her that she hopes will stay buried underneath. But, in the book, she's the good girl who almost everyone wants in EU. Including the unattainable Travis Maddox. But really, Abby is just so feisty. Kudos to you, girl!

"Don't flatter yourself. It's hard not to notice when fifty drunks are chanting your name."

She's just one of my favorite heroines ever because she doesn't take shit from anyone. But, at times, she can piss me off when she tries to be all noble and more of a goody two-shoes. Because that's really not who she was. And the fact that she tries so hard to let go of her identity back home, she's hurting Travis along the way. Even Shep agrees:

"You're going to break his heart, Abby. You're going to break his heart! The one girl he trusts enough to fall for, and you're going to nail him to the wall!"

Now let's move on the smoking hot, Travis "Mad Dog" Maddox! God, he made me fall for so many other fictional characters so thank you very much, Travis! He is the most romantic guy ever. If you read his lines in the book, you can't help but just fall in love with him over and over again. Travis doesn't think he's worthy of anyone's love and that's why he does the things he does. It's just so heart-breaking to see this great guy thinking he's so worthless.

"I feel like any second you're going to figure out what a piece of shit I am and leave me."

There are so many sides to Travis Maddox. There's the scary jealous side.

"If you even look at her you piece of shit I'll break your fuckin' jaw!"

And then there's the oh-so-sweet, desperate side.

"I am begging you. I'm begging you, Abby. Don't do this."

FINALLY, THERE'S THE OH-GOD-TO-DIE-FOR SO FREAKING ROMANTIC AND SWEET SIDE.

"I know we're fucked up, alright? I'm impulsive, and hot tempered, and you get under my skin like no one else. You act like you hate me one minute, and then need me the next. I never get anything right, and I don't deserve you...but I fucking love you, Abby. i love you more than I loved anyone or anything ever. When you're around, I don't need booze, or money, or the fighting, or the one-night stands."

This is just one of my most FAVORITE BOOKS EVER. It definitely makes it to the top ten list if I even had a top ten list. But really, even the supporting characters like America, Shepley, Finch are perfection. You have to go read this book.

MY RATING:

6 GO GO GO GET IT APPLES!!!!!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

❤ READ MY REVIEW OF HER BOOKS ❤

Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2) ❊ 6 APPLES!!!

About The Author:

Jamie McGuire was born in Tulsa, OK, where she was raised by her mother. She had attended college where she graduated with a degree in Radiography. She now lives in Enid, OK, with her three children and husband Jeff, who is a real, live cowboy. Books published by Jamie include the Providence trilogy, and The New York Times best seller, Beautiful Disaster.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Fanmade Friday!: The Fault in Our Stars Fanart

And this week's Fanmade Friday! is...

The Fault in Our Stars Fan Art

Ughhh, I saw this awhile ago and thought that it was the most beautiful fan art ever. The Fault in Our Stars is definitely one of the top books I've ever read and this fan art just fits it perfectly.

Art Information:

Fandom: The Fault in Our Stars

Made by: Lala Vicencio

Link to post

My Comments:

This is just so freaking gorgeous. It matches the book's theme and basically everything about it. You can also buy this poster on dftba.com with the link above. 

Tune in next time for another Fanmade Friday!

[Review] Rule - Jay Crownover

Released: December 30th, 2012

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight-A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn't want - and the only person she's never tried to please. She isn't afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won't listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess - and his dead twin brother's girl. She lives by other people's rules; he makes his own. He doesn't have time for a good girl like Shaw - even if she's the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

"Opposites don't just attract they freaking catch fire and burn the entire city down."

God, this book was . . . I don't know how to describe it. I read it a while ago so I kind of forgot how the characters were but I remember that it was kind of a disappointment. I mean, the plot was terrific, the idea for the story was really amazing. But then, I guess, I was expecting too much for it to blow me away that, well, it didn't. This book gave me a mixed feelings kind of thing.

First, there's Shaw Landon. She's pretty tough I remember, and kind of annoying at times. But she was always there for Rule. She would always be there to support him even when he's being a shit-head. I liked how accepting she was towards him but she also understood that probably everyone was attracted to him.

"I think it's genetically impossible not to be kind of in love with him when you come equipped with a vagina. It's just something about all that angsty, moody swagger he has that makes you want to cuddle him up and make him feel better."

Next comes Rule Archer who is just a walking one-night stand. He's hot, tattooed, rebellious. The whole bad boy package. But, underneath, all that rock-hard exterior is the fragile man underneath. The man who gets scrutinized a lot. The man who's afraid of getting his heart broken. He is terrified that he won't be able to do the right thing.

"I feel like I'm letting you down, letting everyone down and for once it's bothering the hell out of me. I just don't know how to work around what's going on up here."

But he doesn't know how to handle a relationship since he's never been in one and this makes it tough for him to steer his connection with Shaw.

"We're going to do this and I promise I'll take care of you as best as I can. You're going to have to be patient with me because I'm flying blind but this is the kind of thing I should be doing for you, plus I don't want you anywhere near that guy." 

Minor Faults:

• Book was too fast-paced
• There was connection but something was off about it
• Shaw was a teensy bit too accepting of his attitude.

MY RATING:

3 APPLES!!!!!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

About The Author:

Jay Crownover is a natural redhead and a big fan of tattoos. She's been in the bar industry since she was in college and it had always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other. She loves to write, read and interested in a good story with interesting characters  that make the reader feel something. She has written three books so far for the Marked Men series.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Waiting on Wednesday: Left Drowning - Jessica Park

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine to spotlight releases that we're looking forward to! Here is my choice this week...

Left Drowning - Jessica Park

Title: Left Drowning

Author: Jessica Park

Is it a sequel? No.

Release Date: July 16th, 2013

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep ehr head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn't expect - an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupur she's been in since the night a fire took half her family. she begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family's traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

My Comments:

Oh God, this book sounds absolutely fantastic! I read Flat-Out Love awhile ago and it was so freaking great. The book was so emotional and heart-warming. The characters were captivating and intriguing. The whole plot was just alwejralwejr. I'm speechless. So, now, comes this book. I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED!!!!!!!

What are YOUR choices this week? Let me know in the comments below!