"Red Hill" by Jamie McGuire

Series: Red Hill #1
Genre: Zombies/ Romance
Format: Audible
Publication: October 2013 by Simon & Schuster
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: When the world ends, can love survive?

For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone makes fighting for tomorrow an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.

When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?

My Thoughts: I wanted so much to love this book. When it first came out (five years ago) I was so excited to read it, but because my TBR shelf is never ending it kept getting pushed back and pushed back. Finally I ran across it on my Audible wish list and decided I wanted a GOOD Zombie book. Well, I'm sorry to say that this was not that for me. My first problem with Red Hill was the THREE POV we're given. It felt like a little much. I honestly feel like this book would have been 50% better with just one POV and 90% better if that POV was Miranda's and not Scarlet's. Which brings me to my second problem: Scarlet. I don't know the last time I hated a main character more. She was one of the most selfish, and at the same time boring, characters I have ever read about. And speaking of boring... this story dragged on and on. There were so many times when I almost stopped listening, but I was already four hours in and I kept thinking it would get better. I was wrong. The reset of my issues are big time spoilers so if you plan to read this book you need to stop reading my review now (just know that I rated it 1 Star and do not recommend it to anyone).

!!!!!SPOILERS!!!!!

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Okay, now normally I do not write reviews with spoilers in them, but I'm so pissed off at this book I needed to. Warning, this is more of a rant than a review. Seriously, this is your last warning. SPOILERS. The only TWO characters in the whole novel that kept me reading she killed off at the end. And they didn't even get an epic death. One second I'm listening to Miranda get turned away by Joey and the next second BAM he's dead. Oh, and we don't even get to see it. We just hear about it from douchebag Scarlet on one of her  stupid selfish "clear" missions. THEN Miranda dies trying to save Scarlet's kids or trying to help Bryce. It's a little unclear, but it is so stupid and not the ending Miranda deserved at all. By the time this book was over I was ready to throw it at a wall and set it on fire.


Bottom Line: I love Jamie McGuire, but this book missed the mark for me.

My Rating: 1/ 5 Stars

"The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" by Mariana Zapata

Genre: Contemporary/ Romance
Format: Paperback (Library Edition)
Publication: February 2016
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants? 

My Thoughts: First of all, huge thanks to my lovely friend Anna over at Annaberry Reads for recommending this one to me!

When I picked this up from the library my first thoughts were "Holy cow this book is huge for a contemporary romance!", I figured it would take me a while to read it (especially since I've become a slow reader thanks to my little), but I was wrong. I read it in four days. It was so good and well paced, I didn't even think about it being 673 pages long.

The thing you need to know about The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is that it is very character driven. There's not a lot of action going on, but we get to know the characters so well we feel like they're  our friends by the end of the book which is what I love. In that sense, it reminded me a little of Thoughtless but without all the angst.

I'm also going to gush for just a second on how freaking awesome Vanessa is. Rarely do we see a heroine like her in novels- one that we can actually relate to and who's not perfect. Not to mention, Vanessa takes NO crap from anyone which I loved. She is definitely a character I would want to hang with and watch Dragonball Z with 😂

I really believe the only reason I'm not rating this one five stars is because Aiden just wasn't my type and I didn't feel quit as connected to him as I should have. To me, Aiden took the strong SILENT type to a whole other level, and honestly he doesn't get a lot of dialogue in the book. At least, it didn't feel that way for me. Some of his exchanges with Vanessa and personal moments felt a little awkward and that threw me out of the novel, but it was never enough for me to think "Oh, I"m not enjoying this." I knew I wanted to continue reading to find out what happened between these guys and how Vanessa's life turned out.

Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves a contemporary novel!

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

"Starlight Nights" by Stacey Kade

Series: 738 Days #2
Genre: New Adult
Publication: January 9, 2018
Format: Kindle
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: At twenty-three, Calista Beckett is trying to overcome her early fame and fortune. The former savior of the world on Starlight is now a freshman at college--miles away from L.A. and her former existence. She sees it as her start to a new life, a normal life, one where she won't make the same mistakes she made before--a brush with heroin addiction and losing her freedom to her controlling mother, thanks to a court order.

Eric Stone played her older brother, Byron, on Starlight. But she's been in love with him pretty much since they kissed--her first kiss--while auditioning. When Eric shows up on campus out of the blue asking her to return to California for a role, Calista's struck immediately by two things: first, in spite of everything that's happened, she still feels something dangerous for him, and second, she's absolutely determined not to let him ruin her life again.

Only Eric's not giving up so easily.

My Thoughts: Let me just say, I love Stacey Kade! She's such an awesome author and if you're not reading her books or following her on social media you are missing out big time.

So basically, I have been waiting very impatiently on this novel for over a year! Stalking facebook posts, twitter, netgalley, etc. I fell head over heels for the first book, 738 Days (review found here), and from there I was seriously jonesing for more. So you can imagine how THRILLED I was when I opened my e-mail and found out I had received one of the ARC's! I may or may not have squealed and jumped up and down in delight.

I'm just going to be honest with you guys, I went into this book with really high hopes, and I was NOT disappointed! I was always curious about what went on with Calista and Eric and how they were turning out. What I really loved about this book is how flawed these characters are (especially Eric), and yet you can't help falling for them and rooting for them. You get angry at them and then you find yourself rooting for them.  Just like in the first novel, you get quickly sucked into this story and you are left turning the pages late into the night to find out what is going to happen between these people who really need each other. For me, friends to lovers is kind of hit or miss genre. It doesn't always feel real, but Stacey nailed it. The chemistry between Calista & Eric was electric and I loved their story!

Bottom Line: If Stacey Kade writes it, I'm reading it and recommending it!

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

"After" by Anna Todd

Series: After #1
Genre: Romance/ New Adult
Publication: October 2014
Format: Kindle
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: There was the time before Tessa met Hardin, and then there’s everything AFTER... Life will never be the same. #Hessa

Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way.

But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she's used to.

But he's also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before.

He'll call her beautiful, then insist he isn't the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper.

Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin's prejudice about nice girls like her?

Unless...could this be love?

My Thoughts: I don't know anyway to write this review other than just by being brutally honest, so just try and stay with me as I sort through the complete mind warp that is After. I'll start off by saying I LOVE angsty romance. If you think the amount of angst is just right, I'm the person sitting at the table that's like "No, keep it coming. Just a little more angst please." Example: I absolutely am in love with Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens. It's one of my favorite books ever. Anyway, the point is this book should have been like the holy grail for me. Unfortunately it wasn't.

I started out this book and I knew almost immediately that I was going to have some real issues with it. The main character, Tessa, is over the top, ridiculously naive and "innocent" (seriously, I hated that word in this book). The love interest, Hardin, is a complete asshole. Sorry for the language but there's no other word for it. He is. There are really no redeeming qualities other than he's the guy you tell your best friend to get the hell away from him because he's toxic. The plot is dragged out over a period of almost 600 pages of nothing but them fighting and making up and fighting and making up, over and over again. Oh, and the supporting characters? Basically their just names that move the plot along. No real substance to them at all.

And yet... I read the whole book. There were many, many times that I asked myself "Why are you doing this to yourself? Put this crap down and go read something else." I didn't. I kept reading it and then when I was on that last stupid page I was furious because I knew I was going to turn myself right around and buy the second book.

I know. I'm just as confused as you are. The only thing I can figure out is that After is like that greasy pizza you have on Monday nights when you're too tired to cook dinner. It's quick, mindless, yet satisfying in all it's greasy cheesy glory.

Bottom Line: Despite the fact that I originally wanted to give this book 1 star, I can't. I read it. I finished it and I immediately went and bought the second novel in the series. It doesn't make sense to me either, but ultimately I can't say I hated the book. ....I guess I feel about it the same way the main characters feel about each other. They love to hate each other.

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

"The Idea of You" by Robinne Lee

Genre: Romance/ Fiction
Publication: June 2017
Format: Kindle
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Solène Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old owner of an art gallery in Los Angeles, is reluctant to take her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favorite boy band. But since her divorce, she’s more eager than ever to be close to Isabelle. The last thing Solène expects is to make a connection with one of the members of the world-famous August Moon. But Hayes Campbell is clever, winning, confident, and posh, and the attraction is immediate. That he is all of twenty years old further complicates things.

What begins as a series of clandestine trysts quickly evolves into a passionate and genuine relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solène and Hayes navigate each other’s worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways in Paris and Miami. For Solène, it is a reclaiming of self, as well as a rediscovery of happiness and love. When Solène and Hayes’ romance becomes a viral sensation, and both she and her daughter become the target of rabid fans and an insatiable media, Solène must face how her romantic life has impacted the lives of those she cares about most.

My Thoughts: I should probably wait to write this review until I have had time to formulate my thoughts, but I can't. I just finished the last page and I am desperate to talk about it. The Idea of You was captivating and so beautifully written. There are so many times when I will pick up a book and from the first page I just know it's going to be just "okay"... nothing that will stay with me over the years. This was not one of those books. These characters broke my heart and they will stay with me. The older I get the harder it becomes for me to find characters that I can relate to in my life, and I'm only 29. I know it's out there, but I just don't find a lot of literature for this phase that I'm in. I'm not going to say that I can completely relate to Solene, because I'm a decade younger than she is, but the aspect of getting washed out by just being someone's mother... I think that's something that every woman feels at some point. The fact that she is cautious and guarded with her heart... I just felt like I understood her. I also completely loved the fact that she had her whole life going on in addition to falling in love with this 20 year old guy. She didn't just start living her life once he entered it. Solene has a life worth living. She loves what she does and she is passionate about it. You have no idea how refreshing that was for me. So many times I will read a romance book and it's poor girl has no life or no money until she meets a man. That wasn't so for Solene.

As for Hayes, well I'm completely and utterly in love with him. I'm not going to lie, I have a huge secretive guilty pleasure crush on Harry Styles and every time I pictured Hayes I was basically picture him. Maybe the author was channeling him? Or maybe not. Regardless, Hayes stands on his own as a character. He isn't perfect. He has flaws and he's charismatic and basically everything you would expect someone in his line of work to be. The point is, he felt real. They all did.

I bought this an e-book, but I can tell you now I'm already going to be purchasing the paperback version to add to my bookshelf. It instantly became one of my favorites and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story, especially a good real love story.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

What I'm Loving this Week!

1. Weeds starring Mary Louise Parker. I know, I'm totally behind on this train, but this show is so hilarious and addictive. And the best part? Netflix has all the seasons. Highly recommend.

2. Wal-Mart's Scentsy knock-off cubes and room sprays. Seriously, they smell fantastic (or at least the lemon scent does) and they're half the price.

3. This Article and photo of the #followmeto guy. So romantic!

4. Snuggling up in bed with little River and watching her watch cartoons... and okay, watching them myself. River is hitting that stage where she is super alert and watching everything... especially the TV. I'm actually having to cut off the TV when I feed her so she'll eat because she gets so distracted by it (see below)!

5. Video Baby Monitors! I have just started putting River in her crib during the day to take her naps and I need to give a huge shout out to whoever thought of the idea for video baby monitors because it helps to ease this crazy Momma's anxiety by a billion!

6. Wednesday Pool Days. Okay, so my mom has a pretty sweet blow up pool in her VERY secluded back yard, and I have totally been taking advantage of it. For about two hours on Wednesdays I let little River chill with her grandmother while I go sun and read a book, nap, or just zen out. It works out perfectly because I'm actually able to FULLY relax knowing that River is just right in the house- which is amazing for me because I feel like I haven't had that feeling since River came into the world (Momma's you know what I'm talking about).

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things... This Week!

1. Adore starring Robin Wright and Naomi Watts. Browsing through My (very long) List on Netflix, I found this little gem. It's bizarre, passionate, and pretty intense. I love the chemistry between all the characters, not to mention the absolute beauty of the actors. I hope I age as prettily as The Princess Bride.

2. Just One Day by Gayle Forman. I really *loved* this story. Gayle Forman has a wonderful knack for putting you in the shoes of her characters, making it impossible to leave them alone. Of course, in true Forman fashion we do get a sort of "non-ending" in this book (similar to that of If I Stay). So if you like absolute, door-slamming closure, you may want to skip this one. But you'd be missing out.

3. My new do. I'm not going to lie, this is a love/hate relationship depending on my mood. One minute I'm almost in tears over my long hair, the next I'm rejoicing over how easy and fun it is. It doesn't hurt that the hubs loves it and compliments me on it all the time. And the fact that I just whacked off all my hair does make me feel a little bit more brave. Of course, having River made me feel like a boss, so apparently I just think I'm a badass now ;) ...still don't do upside down coasters though.

4. The Pandora station called "The Mozart Effect (Children's) Radio".  It plays tons of (mostly classic rock) cover songs, but with a classical twist. Boo and I listen to it often while she plays on her play mat.

5. This picture. We both just look like a two adorable (on her part) goons.

6. This Article on Buffy.Seriously, number eighteen. Oz & Willow. But I pretty much teared up all the way through it.

7. That new Netflix show called Between. Could Netflix be any cooler?

8. The moment the hubs humored me and danced with me last Saturday to "In My Life" by the Beatles because it's one of my all time favorite songs. It was a little awkward considering he's a 6'2 giant while I'm just 5'2, but super sweet because I had wanted it to be the song we danced to at OUR wedding, but was unable to because (a) I forgot the music and (b) our reception "hall" was way too small to dance in.

9. And finally, the fact that River has quite possibly got the hang of sleeping through the entire night! I mean, she still tries to wake up at 5:00 am, but me and her pacifier shut that down pretty quick... at least until 6:30.

"Crash Into You" by Katie McGarry

Series: Pushing the Limits #3
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Kindle
Publication: November 26, 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars
Links: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Book Depo

From Goodreads: The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life—that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.


My Thoughts: Katie McGarry just keeps getting better and better with each story she writes. I thought I was in love with the last book, Dare You To, but after reading Crash Into You I can honestly say this one has to be my favorite!

Isaiah and Rachel just have this amazing, mind-blowing chemistry that keeps you turning the pages and ignoring the fact that you have to be up for work/ school in three hours. You get sucked in completely, and nothing else matters but finishing their story. Where as her previous two books have been an emotional roller-coaster, Crash Into You is an action packed, high-stakes romance that you absolutely cannot put down!

Of course, we get to see some of the old characters which I love. Noah and Echo are back in the scene, and we also get to see some of Logan from the previous book and a little of Beth and Ryan as well. The world Mrs.McGarry has set up is realistic and fantastic and I will now read anything the woman ever writes. She's definitely made a life long fan out of me!

Bottom line? I would highly recommend this book, along with all of the others in the series, to anyone who loves a good YA novel.


My Rating:

"Dare You To" by Katie McGarry

Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Kindle
Publication: May 28, 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars
Links: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Book Depo


From Goodreads: Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

My Thoughts: Okay, so I have been in a major book funk for the past two months. I couldn't seem to finish anything I read and it was driving me crazy. Nothing was capturing my attention... until last night when I ran across Dare You To. I'll be honest, I was skeptical. Not because I don't absolutely love Katie McGarry, but just because my book funk was that bad. So there I was, 8:30 pm with my husband already fast asleep on my right, and this huge rolling cloud of defeat already starting to hang over my head when... BAM I became sucked into Ryan and Beth's story. Before I knew it, it was 3:00 am and I was feeling elated that I had just read (and FINISHED) one amazing story. It was like having my back popped after sitting stiff for days.

I fell in love with these characters and their story. I could so easily relate to Beth and her issues with her mom being her responsibility. Mrs. McGarry just wove that relationship so perfectly. And the chemistry between Ryan and Beth? It was magical and real and just so, so wonderfully done. What I really loved about this story though was simply Beth herself. She has quickly been labeled one of my favorite heroines and I'm not likely to forget her anytime soon. She was just so real and not like your average I'm-so-damaged-I-can't-trust-anyone MCs. Because while reading her story, you can actually feel that she has been damaged almost beyond repair. You're heart breaks for her and your fingers get all tingly because you know this girl has gone through some serious stuff. Books like this  just show that the YA Contemporary Romance Genre are worth so much more than what some people give it credit for.

Bottom line? I would absolutely completely recommend this book!


My Rating:

"Wild Child" by Shelley Munro

Genre: Adult Romance (18+)
Format: Kindle (67 pages)
Publication: 2010 by All Romance E-Books
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Zoë Underwood loved Matt Cantrell from the moment her mother married his father. She definitely thinks of him as more than a big brother and even though he moved away from home the moment their parents got married, her feelings for him have grown stronger, bigger. More. No one presses her buttons like the tall, dark and gorgeous Matt. If only he can get over the eight-year age difference.

Now, Zoë is determined to snare her man. She wants one thing—Matt’s love. It’s time for her to make a move, stir things up a little and take a chance on love.

My Thoughts: This is a really great read if you're looking for something quick and sexy. What you see, is what you get: two hot step-siblings who have supposedly been in love with each other from the get go. Matt Cantrell moved all the way across the ocean to get away from his relentless step-sister's advances, but he's out of luck because Zoe is the kind of girl who goes after what she wants- no matter what.

 It's fun, fast paced, and hot! However, if you're looking for something with a little substances, or background you may wanna skip it. I think this story actually has the potential to be 5 star quality if the author went and dived in more. Gave us some background, more feelings, length. It would definitely be on my TBR list!

My Rating: