Title: Hold Me (Cyclone #2)
Author: Courtney Milan
Genre/Themes: New Adult, academics
Release Date: 25 Oct 2016

Author's links:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
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My rating: 4 Stars

Jay na Thalang is a demanding, driven genius. He doesn’t know how to stop or even slow down. The instant he lays eyes on Maria Lopez, he knows that she is a sexy distraction he can’t afford. He’s done his best to keep her at arm’s length, and he’s succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.

Maria has always been cautious. Now that her once-tiny, apocalypse-centered blog is hitting the mainstream, she’s even more careful about preserving her online anonymity. She hasn’t sent so much as a picture to the commenter she’s interacted with for eighteen months—not even after emails, hour-long chats, and a friendship that is slowly turning into more. Maybe one day, they’ll meet and see what happens.

But unbeknownst to them both, Jay is Maria’s commenter. They’ve already met. They already hate each other. And two determined enemies are about to discover that they’ve been secretly falling in love.

Review

I have been waiting for this for what feels forever, ever since I read the first installment in the series last year. We meet Maria in book 1 and I was excite to for her to get her romance. And what a treat her (and Jay's) story was!

It is really difficult for me to review without giving out a major spoiler though but I will try. This is an entertaining read, often funny but heart-breaking at the same time. This is an interesting take on the enemies(friends)-to-lovers trope and I found it fascinating the way the author explored how people presented and interacted online and how different they can be offline. 

I loved how full-fledged and real the characters felt. They both have personal and professional (academics) struggles going on. They are complex people, smart and focused on their work/studies, yet they are both vulnerable, shy even, in their own ways. I loved the contrast between their texting and their interactions in real life. It's so easy to make the wrong assumption, to hurt someone, even if you don't mean too and there is no taking it back. Just working through it, accepting it as part of your common history.

The personal traumas Jay and Maria had as their baggage is no minor thing but it was never exploited by the author for superficial drama and angst. It was real and painful and was dealt with in the proper way - with the help of professionals. In a sense Maria was more stable, her own person, though she nearly broke because of all the hurt she suffered. Yet it was Jay who had more work to do to deal with his past/present. His growth was painful and slow and I really appreciate the author presenting it as an everyday struggle. You don't become a different, better person overnight.There were setbacks and mistakes and by the end he was by no means perfect, but he was aware of his mistakes and weaknesses and was actively trying to do better by himself, his family, his friends and most importantly, by Maria.

The second half of the story, after the big reveal, was very emotional. overcoming hurt and gaining someone's trust is one of the most difficult things in life. Forgiveness is not easy to ask/give. 

There were lots of science bits and humor in the story which I loved despite being terrible at science myself. I found the presentation of the academic world very realistic based on my my experience - I could easily relate to all the pressure, the expectations, the struggles to stay on top, to insecurity what you will do next. 

We see more of the Cyclone family which I really liked. The next book will revisit Blake and Tina and I am not sure how necessary that is but I am curious how the author will develop their story further.

If you a looking for well written, smart contemporary NA romance with diverse characters living real lives (with a bit of science/computer geniuses, billionaire entrepreneurs on the side), I strongly recommend this series!

Synopsis

Freshman Lianne Challice is known to millions of fans as Princess Vindi. But sometimes a silver screen sorceress just wants to hang up her wand, tell her manager to shove it, and become a normal college student. Too bad that’s harder than it looks.

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. There's something haunting his dark eyes and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.

The Ivy Years is one of my favourite NA romance series and what I like the most about it is that Ms Bowen doesn't shy away from heavier/controversial topics in her stories. Mostly she manages to incorporate them skillfully in the romance but this time things did not quite work out for me.

The story explores a difficult and  very sensitive topic - the impact of false accusations of rape on the hero (DJ) and the way the college dealt with it or rather failed to deal with it in a fair and non-judgemental way. 

Actually, I found this aspect of the story to be well presented, with sympathy for both parties involved (though we see the girl only briefly towards the end). I liked how Ms Bowen explored the effects of such accusations to DJ and his family. His fears for the future, his self-doubt and hesitancy to get involved with other women, to allow himself to have feelings and dreams and aspiration made me feel deeply sympathetic to him and the situation he found himself in. 

In a way a understood DJ as a character, I understood where he stood and what he wanted to do. His development through the story felt natural to me and I was really happy about things working out for him. 

On the other hand, I found it more difficult to connect with Lianne. She is a film-star, but she is actually shy and insecure, nerdy and inexperienced. This discrepancy in her character felt forced and artificial most of the time. In general, I like nerdy, smart heroines who are often underestimated and under-appreciated because they are good-looking too but I couldn't quite connect with Lianne.

It's their romance that I didn't enjoy very much in the story. It felt weak and not particularly memorising. There was an attraction and some chemistry but they were not really suited for one another. The timing was particularly bad for him.

That said, I applaud the bravery of Ms Bowen in exploring topics that are usually avoided in NA romance - disability, serious social, family and financial difficulties, STDs, slut-shaming, rape accusations). Her very open and honest treatment of these issues makes her stories real and engaging. Her writing is powerful and polished and it draws you quickly into the fates of the characters she creates.

Overall, this is a nice story and despite my issues with it, I think fans of Ms Bowen and the series will enjoy it. 

Purchase links: Amazon / B&N / Kobo / iBooks

My reviews of the previous books in the series:

The Year We Fell Down - 4.5 Stars

The Year We Hid Away - 4 Stars

The Understatement of the Year - 4 Stars

The Shameless Hour - 4 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday is a book meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it features books that we are eagerly awaiting to be released.

Title: The Fifteenth Minute (The Ivy Years #5)
Author: Sarina BowenGenre/Themes: New Adult, College, Romance
Release Date: 13 Oct 2015
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Pre-order links: Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. There's something haunting his dark eyes and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.

Why am I waiting for this? - One reason only, I loved all the previous books in the series and I can honestly say that The Ivy Years is one of my favourite NA romance series right now.

Here are my reviews of the rest of the series. 

Title: Shooting for the Stars (Gravity #3)
Author: Sarina Bowen
Genre: Contemporary romance, sports
Release Date: 16 March 2015

Author's links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

My rating: 3.5 Stars
Add on Goodreads

Review

This one worked even better for me. Little sister and big brother's best friend coupled with friends-to-lovers trope is one I generally enjoy and most sports romances are a hit with me. This is nicely done, low on angst, easy flowing and overall all sweet love story. 

Both Bear and Stella were sports people and I really loved this aspect of the story. Their romance happens at a bad time for both of them - Hank's incident chnages both their perspective on life and it brings them closer together as well as tearing them apart. 

Stella was a great heroine and I'm happy that Ms Bowen created a strong-willed woman determined to make it in the sports world. She had so much going against her, (her brother's success and subsequent incident, her own serious illness as a child, the resistance/lack of support from her family), yet she never gave up and worked hard to follow her dream of free ride snowboarding. 

She was just as stubborn in her affection for Bear. He was also an itneresting character. Coming from the wrogn side of the tracks, always in the orbit of the Lazarus' family but never quite one of them. His life was in a complete trumoil, losing his safe ground and wandering where to go next, yet he stood by Hank and his family. His selflessness and loyalty totally won me over. And it was easy to relate to his sense of loss of direction in life, feeling of inferiority, not deserving someone as strong and determined as Stella. 

There was some going back and forth in their romance, some angst but also really intense feelings and sense of characters belonging together. I really liked the way Hank accepted things, no over-the-top drama, just a normal reaction of being happy because Bear and Stella are happy together. 

The ending was a bit too sweet for me, wrapping things nicely for everyone, more of a fantasy and wishful thinking than reality, but romance is meant to leave you happy and hopeful for the characters and this one did just that.



More of my reviews of Sarina Bowen's books:
Falling from the Sky (Gravity #2) - 3.5 Stars
The Year We Fell Down (Ivy Years #1) - 4.5 stars
The Year We Hid Away ( Ivy Years #2) - 4 stars
The Understatement of the Year (Ivy Years #3) - 4 stars

Title: The Shameless Hour (Ivy Yeasr #4)

Author: Sarina Bowen

Genre: New Adult, Romance, College

Date of publication: 1 May 2015

The girl who’s had everyone meets the boy who has no one.

For Bella, the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second-guess herself.

Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright nasty fraternity stunt, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces.

Bella doesn’t want Rafe's help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can’t be extinguished.

I heard the band start to play the classic one-two Merengue rhythm that I’d heard my whole life. On the dance floor, the energy picked up as the geezers began to move to the faster beat.

“Let’s go,” I said, standing up. I offered Bella my hand.

But Bella shook her head. Even worse, she scooted her chair toward the wall.

“Don’t leave me hanging,” I said, my hand still waiting in the air. “Come on now. Nobody puts Bella in a corner.”

On the other side of the table, Bella’s sister snorted into her white wine.

Bella rolled her eyes. Hard. “You did not just quote Dirty Dancing.”

I leaned down near Bella’s ear. “I did. Now get your ass out of that chair, like the girl in the movie, or I’ll have to put you in a fireman’s hold.”

Her mouth tight, Bella stood up. Not one to waste an opportunity, I clasped her hand, tugging her onto the dance floor. When we were right in the center, I put one hand onto Bella’s waist and took her opposite hand in mine. She was as stiff as a piece of wood. “Shake it off, chica. This is supposed to be fun.”

“Your job tonight was to make my life less embarrassing. Not more.”

“I am doing that. We’re going to be the best looking dancers on this floor, and everyone in this mausoleum is going to wonder how I got so lucky as to be here with you. Now listen to this rhythm, okay? Just step to the beat. And let your hips absorb the motion.” I began to move to the music. The merengue is a Dominican dance, and every kid in my neighborhood can merengue before his fifth birthday. It’s just not that complicated.

With nervous eyes, Bella began to move.

“Use these hips,” I prompted, touching the silky fabric of her dress. As I watched, she loosened up a tiny fraction. “Yes! But even more. You look great. I wouldn’t steer you wrong. And think of pressing the balls of your feet into the floor.”

Biting her lip, Bella moved with me.

“That’s it! See? Nothing to it.” Just like that, we had a proper merengue going on.

“Can I sit down yet?” Bella asked.

“Not even close,” I laughed. “See, I knew you could move.”

Bella pouted. “We’ve seen each other’s moves, Rafe.”

She lifted her eyes, and the heat in them went straight to my dick.

Jesucristo. That was the trouble with getting so close to Bella. I was always going to be susceptible to her. Anything she did to remind me of that night was always going to knock me right over.

“Ha.” She said. “I finally found a way to shut you up.” Bella put a little more effort into her merengue then, looking smug.

Author: Elle Kennedy
Genre: New Adult, Romance, College
Release Date: 24 Feb 2015

Author's links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
My rating: 4 Stars

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Synopsis

Tina Chen just wants a degree and a job, so her parents never have to worry about making rent again. She has no time for Blake Reynolds, the sexy billionaire who stands to inherit Cyclone Technology. But when he makes an off-hand comment about what it means to be poor, she loses her cool and tells him he couldn’t last a month living her life.

To her shock, Blake offers her a trade: She’ll get his income, his house, his car. In exchange, he’ll work her hours and send money home to her family. No expectations; no future obligations.

But before long, they’re trading not just lives, but secrets, kisses, and heated nights together. No expectations might break Tina’s heart...but Blake’s secrets could ruin her life.

Purchase links: amazon | apple | nook | kobo | google | all romance | smashwords

Everyone’s got secrets. Some are just harder to hide.

With his father’s ponzi scheme assets frozen, Tom Worthington believes finishing college is impossible unless he can pay his own way. After months sleeping in his car and gypsy-cabbing for cash, he’s ready to do just that.

But his new, older-student housing comes with an unapologetically gay roommate. Tom doesn’t ask why Reese Anders has been separated from the rest of the student population. He’s just happy to be sleeping in a bed.

Reese isn’t about to share his brutal story with his gruff new roommate. You’ve seen one homophobic jock, you’ve seen ’em all. He plans to drag every twink on campus into his bed until Tom moves out. But soon it becomes clear Tom isn’t budging.

Tom isn’t going to let some late-night sex noise scare him off, especially when it’s turning him on. But he doesn’t want any drama either. He’ll keep his hands, if not his eyes, to himself. Boundaries have a way of blurring when you start sharing truths, though. And if Tom and Reese cross too many lines, they may need to find out just how far they can bend…before they break.

I've been on an m/m romance streak in my reading lately and as hesitant as I am about New Adult college stories this days, I was intrigued by the blurb of this book and decided to give it a try.

It's my first book by Amy Jo Cousins and I quite like her writing style. It's enganging and emotional without being melodramatic. It's an angsty story with some drama but I found it fitting the college experience and the age of the characters (they are all in their early twenties).

Both Tom and Reese have a lot of baggage, more than the average college student but their portrayal felt realistic and convincing. I felt connected to them, understood their issues and wanted badly things to work out well for both of them.

It's a story of discovering who you are and being comfortable in your own skin, about overcoming pain and trauma. The emotional scars come in different forms for Tom and Reese but they have made both of them distrustful of others, hiding away off campus.

Outwardly Tom and Reese and complete opposites -  Reese is openly gay, flamboyant, dealing with the aftermath of an assault he suffered, while Tom is just trying to figure out who he is while hiding away from everyone and working hard to make it on his own after father pulled a Ponzi scheme and he lost everything he had. 

Their relationship was quite interesting - it was full of tension and issues and fight, yet the feeling between them were real an the attraction was undeniable. It was all about building trust, opening to each other. Yet their love was not enough for them to overcome their issues. They needed outside help and I was glad that they did look for it and got it in the end.

I liked the supporting characters a lot and I feel that Steph and Cash totally deserve a story of their own. Reese's dad was also great. 

Having said all this, I had some minor issues with this story. I hated when Tom kept referring to Reese as "kid" at the beginning.

Another issue I had is related to a particular event in their sexual relationship. At some point things got rocky between Tom and Reese and there was a lot of mistrust and anger between them. I felt that this act was supposed about love and trust , yet its timing when their relationship was its lowest really and they were the most distant from one another didn't fit the characters and the story. 

Overall, it's an emotional, intense story which made me care deeply for the characters and root for their HEA. I'd recommend this book to all fans of New Adult romance who love refreshing stories with some angst, some drama, some laughs and a lot of love and passion

The book in the series, Nothing like Paris, will be about Jack who was quite a villain here and it releases in March 2015.

Pre-order links: Amazon / B & N / Kobo / iBooks

Title: Breakable (Contours of the Heart #2)
Author: Tammara Webber
Date of publication: 6 May 2014
Genre:  Romance, New Adult, College

Author's links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
Purchase links: Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo / Book Depository

My rating: 4 Stars

He was lost and alone. Then he found her.

And the future seemed more fragile than ever.

As a child, Landon Lucas Maxfield believed his life was perfect and looked forward to a future filled with promise — until tragedy tore his family apart and made him doubt everything he ever believed.

All he wanted was to leave the past behind. When he met Jacqueline Wallace, his desire to be everything she needed came so easy…

As easy as it could be for a man who learned that the soul is breakable and that everything you hoped for could be ripped away in a heartbeat.

Easy was one of the first New Adult books I read and I really enjoyed it. I thought the book completed the story of Lucas and Jacqueline and I didn't expect a sequel or another boo about them. So, when I learned that there will be a companion novel to Easy told from Lucas' POV I was both excited and a little weary. The stories  told from the other character's POV are very popular right now, but most of them are not successful since they  often feel like you are reading the same book.

I'm very, very happy to tell you that this was not the case with Breakable and it is a worthy companion novel to Easy which complemented the original story in the perfect way.

The narrative is divided in two parts - Lucas'POV (present day) and Landon's POV (his teenage years after the tragedy in his life and before meeting Jaqueline). I loved the Landon parts best of all. They gave insight in young Landon and how the death of his mother and later the attitude of his father made him the man he was when he met Jacqueline.

His suffering, his troubles at school and his first love (or so he thought at the time) were very convincngly presented. I felt deeply for young Landon who had to deal with his guilt and pain on his own. His friend Boyce was a  great supporting character and I enjoyed their relationship a lot. Still, I felt this plotline was left incomplete. I'm curious how things worked out for Boyce and I'd be happy for him to get a book of his own.

The part of Lucas were interesting and they dd show all the conflicting emotions he felt for Jacqueline since the first moment he saw. Yet they told things were already new and hence, they were less interesting. Lucas' fixation on Jacqueline seemed a bit stalkerish, especially at the beginning and his duplicity did bother me as much as they did in book 1. At the same time, Lucas was very gentle and considerate with her, he never pushed her into anything she wasn't ready for.

Unlike the relationship with Boyce, Lucas' friendship with Joseph seemed to lack depth and it didn't add anything to the story or to his character. 

Another minor quibble I had was the lack of dialogue/communication between Lucas and Jacqueline. We've already read it in Easy and it was probably omitted to avoid repetition but this made the narrative seemed disjointed at times and it  didn't flow as smooth as in book 1.

Overall, it's a great New Adult story, very emotional and intense with sensual, yet gentle love scenes. The book explores some heavy issues of violence against women, family issues, dealing with grief and guilt, and ends with a very optimistic happy-end. It's a must read for all fans of Easy and New Adult romances in general.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• Be careful not the include spoilers!

• Share the title & author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

I have modified them slightly for my Teasers. It will not be two sentences from a random page but two, usually more, sentences from the pages I have read so far that have struck me as most interesting, original or that I just happen to like a lot.

My teaser this week comes from Charade by Nyrae Dawn. It is a heart-breaking NA love story which I haven't finished yet but I like it very much so far. It is the first book in the Games series and I plan to continue right away with book 2, Façade which I got as an ARC from NetGalley.

"Locking the door behind me, I fall against it. I don't feel like Cinderella. More like  Dorothy of Oz. I have no idea what's going on here."

Nineteen-year-old Cheyenne tries to portray the perfect life to mask the memories of her past. Walking in on her boyfriend with another woman her freshman year in college threatens that picture of perfection.

Twenty-one-year-old Colt never wanted college and never expected to amount to anything, but when his mom's dying wish is for him to get his degree, he has no choice but to pretend it's what he wants too.

Cheyenne needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex and Colt needs cash to take care of his mom, so they strike a deal that helps them both. But what if Cheyenne’s past isn’t what she thought? Soon they’re trading one charade for another—losing themselves in each other to forget about their pain. The more they play their game, the more it becomes the only thing they have that feels real.

Both Cheyenne and Colt know life is never easy, but neither of them expect the tragedy that threatens to end their charade and rip them apart forever.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by the author in exchange of an honest review.

Goodreads Blurb

What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her 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 stupor 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.

My Review

I read a lot of New Adult novels, and in most cases I find them rather disappointing, so I am happy to say that I really liked this one. It is probably one of the best reads for me this year so far. I have a soft spot for novels about fate and soul-mates and this one treated the topic in a refreshing new way. It was about people who don't believe in God and fate, yet their lives prove exactly the opposite. 

Left Drowning is the first book by Jessica Park which I read and I find her writing style quite appealing. In this book Ms Park explores some heavy subjects (child abuse, death of the parents, alcohol abuse, faith/lack of it) and it is done mostly in a profound way, though some of the issues probably deserve more place in the book than they actually got. 

In many ways Left Drowning is a typical New Adult novel about two college students with dark secrets/troubled pasts coming together, finding love and their happily ever after. What makes it stand apart are a set of well developed characters (both main and supporting ones) who enter into complex relationships and undergo personal growth and development. 

The book starts with a powerful opening chapter introducing the heroine, Blythe, at the lowest point in her life. She is not the type of heroine that I get immediately drawn to, but with the development of the book I grew to like her more and more. She has a strong, distinct voice and most of the book is told from her POV. Her personal growth and the process of learning to live with the consequences of the tragedy of her past were convincingly presented. Through her interactions with the other characters, Blythe matured and was even strong enough to help them when they needed it. 

One by one we meet the Shepherd siblings whom I loved - Chis (the hero), Sabin (a wonderful supporting characters with strong presence and unique personality), the twins - Estelle (I am on the fence in my assessment of her) and Eric (the quiet gay boy whom everybody loves). 

I liked Chris but I wish were given more insight into his inner world. The only chapter told from his POV, although pivotal in essence, was not enough. I was also rather disappointed in how the whole matter with his engagement and marriage was handled. The problem was essentially solved for him, instead of him making a decision and acting on it

I really liked how the motif of running was interwoven in the novel and how it was used in the final chapter as an absolutely beautiful end of the story.

What bothered me in this book was the excessive swearing and graphic sex scenes. At first, I was taken aback and I thought they did not fit the characters at all. Then I realized they are a reflection of the trauma the characters have suffered. Still, the sex was over the top for me, the numerous detailed sex scenes did not really contribute to the story. 

Overall I liked the writing style of Ms Park and the set of complex characters she created. I was deeply moved by this novel and I definitely plan on checking her other works soon (Flat-Out Love and Flat-Out Matt).

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

• 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!
• Share the title & author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

I have modified them slightly for my Teasers. It will not be two sentences from a random page but two, usually more, sentences from the pages I have read so far that have struck me as most interesting, original or that I just happen to like a lot.

My teaser this week comes from a book I read a few days ago and I loved it. It is a New Adult novel Left Drowning by Jessica Park. It will be released on 16 July and I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. If you liked the my teaser, make sure you check my blog some time next week for my review of the book. Btw, I really love the cover of the UK edition, so it is the one I am using in my post.


Left Drowning by Jessica Park 

Here is the preview package for Cora Carmack's next book, the novella Keeping Her, which completes the story of Garrick and Bliss.

If you have questions you want to ask Cora Carmack, check these two events: 

Ms Carmack together with Jay Crownover (author of Rule and Jet (Marked Men series) will be participating in a Goodreads chat on June 26. 

There will also be a FAKING IT book club on Cora’s facebook page on June 27 from 3-4 p.m. EDT

Preview Package: Cora Carmack's KEEPING HER by AvonBooks

Goodreads Blurb

For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson — or any man — ever going to break her heart again.

Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way — literally — through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet.

My Review 

ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.

I was intrigued by the blurb of this book - an ex-Marine and MMA fighter, a shy college girl and their friendship-to-love story which started the old-fashioned way - writing letters to each other while he was stationed in Afghanistan. It sounded like a book that I would enjoy. And I did enjoy some of it but there were too many things I really did not like.

I liked the Hero, Noah. He was was well developed as a character and seemed really believable to me. I could relate to him and his struggle to succeed in everything, including in getting Grace. I enjoyed his confidence and determination, even his awkwardness/inexperience in pursuing a romantic relationship. through his letters to Grace and in his interactions with the others we gain a thorough glimpse into his mind and soul.

I also liked his mates, Bo especially, and I felt they worked well as supporting characters in the book. Here, I have to say that I am excited that Bo is getting his own book which I will be glad to read.

I did not like the heroine, Grace, though. She acted childish and outright stupid for most part of the book, both in her relationship with Noah and also with regard to her studies and overall attitude towards life. I am aware of how young she is (only 19), yet I found her lack of confidence in any aspect of her life really annoying.

I also had some concerns regarding the age difference between Grace and Noah (if my calculations are correct, she must have started her correspondence with Noah when she was just 13!!!). It seems to me she was far too young to be a pen pal with 17 years old guy who is a Marine in Afghanistan.

I think the inclusion of the letters Noah and Grace wrote to each other was a great idea but I wish we were given more of them. They would have given a much needed background to the love story. I would love to see how their feelings for one another actually developed through their correspondence. It is a pity that we were not given their final letters to one another, as well. After all, these letters are at the bottom of the situation provoking the whole story in the book.

I also had some issues with the author's writing style. It seemed simplistic and flat at times. There are also some plot lines, like Noah's business venture and his fighting career, which were just left opened and underdeveloped.

Despite the happy end, I did not particularly like the ending. I did not really understand the final scene with the costumes.

Overall, I feel the story had great potential but I feel it was not sufficiently developed.