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.

Synopsis

When “crazy” runs in your family and your namesake is known for walking into a river with a pocket full of rocks, a girl kind of wants to avoid tempting fate at all costs. For Virginia Nichols, the only way to dodge that bullet is to be perfect at everything: school, student council, life. Too bad it’s all a lie, and underneath the perfection...Virginia is lost. 

Ryder Blackstock knows a thing or two about being born into fate. The talents passed down from his father aren't exactly normal; instead of learning how to throw a fastball, he was taught to hot-wire a car like a pro and pick any pocket in sight. He’s got criminal blood, just like his old man. And as soon as he turns eighteen, he’ll be living life on the run with his dad.

When Ryder and Virginia meet on the beach, it seems they couldn't be more different. Soon they discover they’re both trapped in their lives—Virginia denying her fate, Ryder embracing his. Like the rocks in Virginia Woolf’s pockets, the weight of their destinies will pull them under. But being together brings out pieces of themselves they didn't know existed—pieces that make them want to take fate into their own hands and rewrite their destinies...if it’s not too late.

Review

I loved her Games series and was intrigued by the blurb of this one but in the end I liked it but expected more.  It was not as good as I hoped it would be. It's YA/NA realistic fiction/romance a and I liked the idea of exploring what it's like for a child of a parent with a personality disorder but I felt the story lacked depth and was rather casual.

I found Virginia/Lulu an interesting character - her struggles with her mother's illness and her fears for her own mental health all felt real and easy to understand. This lead to an unhealthy need for control which also seemed realistic. I felt deeply for her struggles between what's right and should be done and her desire to be free, to find who she is, to explore the world - just like any other teenager at the cusp of adulthood.

Her romance with Ryder was sweet and tender but it didn't strike me as outstanding in any way. It was an opposites-attract kind of story and bore the marks of first (teenage) love. 

My main issue with the story was Ryder. He was a typical bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, convinced that he is destined to be a thief just like his father. I found his certainty in his criminal fate confusing and unrealistic. He was dreaming of becoming a criminal because he thought that was the only thing he was good at. It felt forced and unconvincing. He had a caring older brother, a tight group of friends whom he could rely on, so I really didn't see him as doom or desperate. 

It was his relationship with Virginia that helped him believe more in himself and ultimately act right and recognize the chance he had of being something more than a small-time criminal. Graduating high school and preparing for college and being adult can be scary and confusing, still I felt Ryder was acting rather childishly most of the story. 

On the plus side, I did like a lot his friends and the way Ms Dawn explores the complex relations between them - love and hurt and betrayal and loyalty. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. 

This is the first book in a new YA/NA series by Nyrae Down and even though I didn't like it as much as I hoped, I'm curious about the rest of the books and very much willing to give them a try. 

Purchase links: Amazon

Here are the titles that made reading such a pleasure during the second half of the year. They are mostly by new-to-me authors who are now an auto-buy for me. It's romance in all its diversity - contemporary, steampunk, paranormal, new adult, comedy, m/m, bikers!

The Year We Fell Down (The Ivy Years #1) by Sarina Bowen. I've been sceptic of New Adult lately and this college story involving a girl with disability and a hot hockey player was a wonderful surprise. So much, that I completed the whole series and other two novel and the novella very much. 

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I can safely say that Alexis Hall was my biggest and best discovery of the year. I love his style of writing and the stories he tells are so just so powerful and intensely emotional. The true power and beauty of love. This book is bit difficult to read because it's written in heavy slang but once you get the hang of it, it's just mesemerizing! 

An accompanying book, Liberty and Other stories, releases on 5 Jan 2015.

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Glitterland was published before Prosperity but I| read it after it and I already loved Mr. Hall's style was, this comtemproary m/m romance was a real treat. The characters are so vivid and real and their romance feels authentic and natural. Furthermore, it explores issues of depression and artistic creation and I have a serious soft spot for this. Next book in the series, Waiting for the Flood, comes out in February

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 This was my first romance by an Indian romance and it was an absolutely lovely read. It was cute and fluffy and serious and dramatic like a real Bollywood movie. It takes right  into the heart of Indian culture with its complextity and ambiguity in the modern wolrd.

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I've been hesitant of New Adult lately, but this m/m college romance was a nice surprise. Togther with Sarina Bowen's The Ivy Years, these are the best NA romance I read recently. Woderfully compelx characters involved in a true-to-life story of love and life and the choices we make anf growing up to be the best you can be. 

Next book in the series, Nothing Like Paris, comes out in March 2015.

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.

Synopsis

An up-and-coming MMA fighter wants more than just one night from a woman fleeing her past in Lori’s irresistible new novel.

Heavyweight fighter Denver Lewis plays real nice, but he doesn’t share. That’s why he’s been avoiding top-notch flirt Cherry Peyton. But a man can only resist those lush curves for so long. Their encounter surpasses all his fantasies, bringing out protective urges that Cherry’s about to need more than she knows…

Denver’s combination of pure muscle and unexpected tenderness has been driving Cherry wild. Yet no sooner does she get what she’s been craving than old troubles show up on her doorstep. And this time, Cherry can’t hide behind a carefree façade. Because the man by her side is one who’ll fight like hell to keep her safe…if only she’ll trust him enough to let him…

*** *** ***

Why am I waiting for this? - I've read both the prequel novella and the first novel in this series and though I expected more of Cannon's story (my review) and I rather like the rest of the fighters and I'm curious to read their stories as well.

I've started sharing my #BestReads2014 one by one on Twitter and Facebook and will continue to do so all through December. This was a fantastic year for me in terms of reading and I found some little jems, discovered some amazing author and their stories which brought so much emotion, both joy and tears in my life.

I've divided my best reads of the year in twoposts since they are too many for a single one. The books are listed in chronological order of reading them. I read a lot of romance, some m/m, some New Adult, a little bit of fantasy and it's all reflected here. I hope you will find something you like and give it a try in the New Year.

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The Chocolate Temptation (Amour et Chocolat #6) by Laura Florand. I find this series just delicious and Patrick and Sarah's story was no exception. Emotioanlly intense and beautifully written.