Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books That Would Be on My Syllabus if I Taught New Adult Romance 101

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is:

 Top Ten Books That Would Be on Your Syllabus If You Taught X 101 (examples: YA fantasy 101, feminist literature 101, magic in YA 101, classic YA lit 101, world-building 101). 

Ten Books That Would Be on My Syllabus if I Taught New Adult Romance 101:

I chose New Adult Romance 101. I tried to pick different authors and different types of stories in the genre. All of these books gave me “the feels.”


Bright Side (Bright Side, #1)Ugly LoveArcher's VoiceFalling into You (Falling, #1)
There is No Light in Darkness (Darkness, #1)Broken (Redemption, #1)Sincerely, CarterThe Mistake (Off-Campus, #2)
1. Left Drowning by Jessica Park
2. Bright Side by Kim Holden
3. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
4. Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan
5. Falling Into You by Jasinda Wilder
6. There is No Light in Darkness by Claire Contreras
7. Broken by Lauren Layne
8. Sincerely, Carter by Whitney G.
9. The Mistake by Elle Kennedy
10. How We Deal with Gravity by Ginger Scott

What New Adult book would you add to my list? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Home is Where You Are (Tessa Marie)

Home is Where You AreHome is Where You Are
Series: A Home, #1
Author: Tessa Marie (Theresa Paolo)
Publication Date: October 8, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

Synopsis:

Anna’s always had a strict plan for her life. Get good grades, get into a good college, be successful. Falling in love with a homeless boy? Not exactly on her list.

Dean has a plan too. Survive. After a difficult childhood, he now lives on the streets doing everything he can to get by. When he meets Anna, he realizes he doesn’t have to do everything alone.

Slowly, Anna and Dean let each other in, blending their two worlds into one. But, when a series of events brings Dean’s world into perspective, he pushes Anna away, causing Anna to set out to bring Dean back to her. But her determination and faith in their future puts her on the tracks of danger. Can he be the one to bring her home?


Home is Where You Are is an incredibly touching teenage love story. It had me hooked from the beginning. I couldn’t help but feel for Dean. Each of his chapters (even the happier ones) were heartbreaking. At times, I found Anna’s perfection a little annoying but I loved how being with Dean transformed her. I loved how they gave each other hope and truly brought out the best in each other.

I would definitely suggest Home is Where You Are to my YA contemporary romance reading friends.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten of Your Auto-buy Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is:

 Top Ten of Your Auto-buy Authors
(no matter the genre or what it’s about…you’ll buy it from these authors!). 
The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1)ConfessThe Beach TreesAnimal Magnetism (Animal Magnetism, #1)The Best Man (Blue Heron, #1)
Left DrowningOn the FenceEleanor & ParkPerfect for You (Laurel Heights, #1)The Look of Love (The Sullivans, #1)
1. Maggie Stiefvater – YA Urban Fantasy
2. Colleen Hoover – New Adult & YA Romance
3. Karen White – Women’s / Historical Fiction
4. Jill Shalvis – Contemporary Romance
5. Kristan Higgins – Contemporary Romance
6. Jessica Park – New Adult Romance
7. Kasie West – YA Contemporary Romance
8. Rainbow Rowell – YA and Adult Fiction
9. Kate Perry – Contemporary Romance
10. Bella Andre – Contemporary & New Adult Romance

Which authors make your auto-buy list? Tell me in the comments!

Review: Mud Vein (Tarryn Fisher)

Mud VeinMud Vein
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Publication Date: March 8, 2014
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat… and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.


This is the first book I’ve read by Tarryn Fisher. Well, that’s not entirely true. I read Never Never which is a collaboration between Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. After reading it, I decided to read something by Tarryn Fisher because I liked what I read in Never Never and I’ve already read all of Colleen Hoover’s books.

Mud Vein is a book that sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading it. It’s dark, twisted and a lot disturbing. Mud Vein is not the book for you if you’re looking for something light and happy. It was mentally exhausting. I actually had to take little breaks while reading it and read a romance at the same time. I needed to let my brain relax. It was just so intense all of the time.

Mud Vein is definitely one of those books that the less you know about it when you begin reading, the better it is. While the story isn’t always fun to read (Like I said, it’s dark and twisted.), it’s beautifully written and well-crafted. It was very thought provoking. If you like dark and disturbing thrillers, this one is for you.

Review: Wild Reckless (Ginger Scott)

Wild Reckless
Series: Harper Boys, #1
Author: Ginger Scott
Publication Date: March 17, 2015
Publisher: Ginger Scott
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

** 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist **

Kensington Worth had a vision for her senior year. It involved her best friends, her posh private school in downtown Chicago and time alone with her piano until her audition was perfected, a guaranteed ticket into the best music programs in the world.

Instead, a nightmare took over.

It didn’t happen all at once, but her life unraveled quickly—a tiny thread that evil somehow kept pulling until everything precious was taken from her. She was suddenly living miles away from her old life, trapped in an existence she didn’t choose—one determined to destroy her from the inside, leaving only hate and anger behind. It didn’t help that her neighbor, the one whose eyes held danger, was enjoying every second of her fall.

Owen Harper was trouble, his heart wild and his past the kind that’s spoken about in whispers. And somehow, his path was always intertwined with Kensington’s, every interaction crushing her, ruining her hope for any future better than her now. Sometimes, though, what everyone warns is trouble, is exactly what the heart needs. Owen Harper was consumed with darkness, and it held onto his soul for years. When Kensington looked at him, she saw a boy who’d gotten good at taking others down when they threatened his carefully balanced life. But the more she looked, the more she saw other things too—good things…things to admire.

Things…to love. Things that made her want to be reckless.

And those things…they were the scariest of all.

** This book is a standalone with no cliffhanger. A second, full-length companion novel about a related character, Andrew Harper, is out now. Wicked Restless also available on Amazon. **


This book! Oh, man. I loved this book. It was soooo good. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. It dealt with so many issues and brought out so many feelings. I want to say more about it, but I’m at a loss for words. It’s that good. It makes me want to dump my TBR list and read the rest of Ginger Scott’s books immediately.

Wild Recklessis a contemporary romance that YA, NA and adult readers will enjoy. I think readers that love Colleen Hoover, Tammara Webber and Jessica Park will especially enjoy this Ginger Scott novel.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Authors I’ve Read the Most Books From

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is:

Top Ten Authors I’ve Read the Most Books From.

I looked up my top ten authors on Goodreads. There are some ties between authors, and they are in order below.

Vision in White (Bride Quartet, #1)Naked in Death (In Death, #1)Animal Magnetism (Animal Magnetism, #1)All You Need is Love (Green Mountain, #1)Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1)
Virgin River (Virgin River, #1)Breathless In Love (The Maverick Billionaires, #1)Chasing Perfect (Fool's Gold, #1)Perfect for You (Laurel Heights, #1)Truly Madly Yours (Truly, Idaho, #1)
1. Nora Roberts
89 books
2. J.D. Robb
42 books
3. Jill Shalvis
34 books
4. Marie Force
34 books
5. Charlaine Harris
32 books
6. Robyn Carr
32 books
7. Bella Andre
30 books
8. Susan Mallery
30 books
9. Kate Perry
24 books
10. Rachel Gibson
23 books

Do you know what I noticed about this list? All but Charlaine Harris are romance authors. All of these authors have series with multiple books. If I were continuing down the list, it would be a similar situation. I obviously like romantic series. 😉

What author have you read the most books by? Tell me in the comments!

Review: Romancing the Dark in the City of Light (Ann Jacobus)

Romancing the Dark in the City of LightRomancing the Dark in the City of Light
Author: Ann Jacobus
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

A troubled teen, living in Paris, is torn between two boys, one of whom encourages her to embrace life, while the other—dark, dangerous, and attractive—urges her to embrace her fatal flaws.

Haunting and beautifully written, with a sharp and distinctive voice that could belong only to this character, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is an unforgettable young adult novel.

Summer Barnes just moved to Paris to repeat her senior year of high school. After being kicked out of four boarding schools, she has to get on track or she risks losing her hefty inheritance. Summer is convinced that meeting the right guy will solve everything. She meets two. Moony, a classmate, is recovering against all odds from a serious car accident, and he encourages Summer to embrace life despite how hard it can be to make it through even one day. But when Summer meets Kurt, a hot, mysterious older man who she just can’t shake, he leads her through the creepy underbelly of the city-and way out of her depth.

When Summer’s behavior manages to alienate everyone, even Moony, she’s forced to decide if a life so difficult is worth living. With an ending that’ll surprise even the most seasoned reader, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is an unputdownable and utterly compelling novel.


Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is a book that kind of snuck up on me. From the description, I thought it was going to be about a troubled girl looking for a guy to fix her. I knew there was going to be depression and suicidal thoughts. What I didn’t expect was a story about a girl coping with not only her father’s death but her own alcohol addiction.

I loved the way Romancing the Dark in the City of Light portrayed Summer’s addiction. Her feelings of helplessness were easy to relate to. While I didn’t necessarily like Summer, I could feel her pain. I wanted her to make healthy decisions and succeed, to rise out of the darkness.

Summer’s two love interests, Moony and Kurt, added another whole dimension to the story. I loved Moony and his determination. It was amazing that he was willing to support Summer when it wasn’t always in his best interest. Kurt was….well, he was different. I hated him, but I liked they way his character had Summer on the edge.

My absolute favorite thing about the entire book is the last 1/4 of the novel. Up until then, I was planning on giving it 4 stars. The writing was beautiful, but it was just so dark and depressing! I wanted at least a glimmer of sunshine somewhere on those pages! But then the last 1/4 of the book happened and I felt like I finally got it. I won’t even hint at what happens, but it was enough to make me add that final star.

Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is truly a beautiful book about teenage substance abuse, suicide and family ties.

Review: How We Deal with Gravity (Ginger Scott)

How We Deal with GravityHow We Deal with Gravity
Author: Ginger Scott
Publication Date: June 11, 2014
Publisher: Ginger Scott
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

When her son Max was diagnosed with autism, Avery Abbot’s life changed forever. Her husband left, and her own dreams became a distant fantasy—always second to fighting never-ending battles to make sure Max was given opportunity, love and respect. Finding someone to fight along her side wasn’t even on her list, and she’d come to terms with the fact that she could never be her own priority again.

But a familiar face walking into her life in the form of 25-year-old Mason Street had Avery’s heart waging a war within. Mason was a failure. When he left his hometown five years ago, he was never coming back—it was only a matter of time before his records hit the billboard charts. Women, booze and rock-n-roll—that was it for him. But it seemed fate had a different plan in mind, and with a dropped record contract, little money and nowhere to go, Mason turned to the only family that ever made him feel home—the Abbots.

Avery loved Mason silently for years—until he broke her heart…completely. But time and life have a funny way of changing people, and sometimes second chances are there for a reason. Could this one save them both?


How We Deal with Gravity is the first book I’ve ever read by Ginger Scott. A friend on Goodreads suggested it for a buddy read and since I always like the books the people in the group suggest, I decided to join in. I’m so happy I did!

How We Deal with Gravity sucked me in from the Prologue. It had me close to tears. I do not have a child with autism, but I do have a nephew with it. I could totally picture my sister-in-law as Avery. The selflessness Ginger Scott gives Avery is the same selflessness I see in my sister-in-law.  It made me love Avery’s character even more.

And Mason. Oh, Mason. What a special guy. He may just be my new favorite book boyfriend. Mason starts out as kind of a jerk, but I loved the way he tackled learning that he wasn’t all that. The way treats not just Avery but the entire Abbot family warmed my heart.

The writing and storyline were spectacular. Mason and Avery’s chemistry was hot! There were even a couple of things I didn’t see coming in the story. I honestly don’t have even one complaint about it.

How We Deal with Gravity has cemented Ginger Scott’s place as one of my favorite go-to authors.  I can’t wait to read another one of her novels.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Fairytale Retellings I’ve Read/Want to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is:

Ten Fairytale Retellings I’ve Read/Want to Read

My list will also include fables and Shakespeare since I haven’t read a ton of fairytale-based novels. I guess I need to branch out more! Here is my list:

Impossible (Impossible, #1)ExtraordinaryIsn't She Lovely (Redemption, #0.5)Broken (Redemption, #1)Crushed (Redemption, #2)
Cinder & EllaFinding Cinderella (Hopeless, #2.5)Vendetta (Blood for Blood, #1)A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1)

read

1. Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Scarborough Fair


2. Extraordinary 
by Nancy Werlin

Wicked / The Wizard of OZ


3. Isn’t She Lovely 
by Lauren Layne

Pygmalion


4. Broken
 by Lauren Layne

Beauty and the Beast

5. Crushed by Lauren Layne

The Ugly Duckling


6. Cinder & Ella 
by Kelly Oram

Cinderella


7. Finding Cinderella
by Colleen Hoover

Cinderella


8. Vendetta 
by Catherine Doyle

Romeo and Juliet

want to read


9. A Court of Thorns and Roses 
by Sarah J. Maas

Beauty and the Beast


10. The Iron King 
by Julie Kagawa

 Midsummer Night’s Dream

What are some of your favorite fairytale retelling or ones you would like to read? Tell me in the comments!

Review: The Impossible Knife of Memory (Laurie Halse Anderson)

The Impossible Knife of MemoryThe Impossible Knife of Memory
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publication Date: January 2, 2014
Publisher: Viking Children’s
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness

Rating: ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

For the past five years, Hayley Kincain and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.


The Impossible Knife of Memory left me feeling kind of…blah. I had such high expectations for it. It just didn’t meet most of them. I can’t decide whether I liked it or not. There were some really great things about it, but there were also things I didn’t like or get.

The writing was amazing. It flowed well and kept me reading when I might have wanted to set the book down. I read it in two days.

I liked the PTSD topic and how Hayley’s dad was portrayed. Even though he wasn’t very likeable, he felt real and I couldn’t help but feel compassion for him and anyone else dealing with returning from war.

I couldn’t stand Hayley most of the time. Her denial of her dad’s condition was understandable, as was her warped sense of the past. Her habit of referring to her classmates as zombies drove me nuts. I just didn’t get it. The only time I really felt like I could connect with her character was toward the end of the book.

I also couldn’t stand Hayley’s dad’s flashbacks. I don’t know why we were treated to them, but they didn’t add anything to the story for me. At least the memories Hayley had were able to show how she was twisting her own truth.

So while I loved the writing and the issue the story was tackling, there were just too many things I didn’t like. I will be trying another of Laurie Hulse Anderson’s stories in the future since she’s obviously a talented author.