Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite 2016 Releases So Far This Year

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

 Top Ten Thirteen Favorite 2016 Releases So Far This Year

There were so many books that could have been on this list, so limiting it to ten was really hard. These are some of my favorites so far.

1. Too Late by Colleen Hoover
2. What Remains of Me by Alison Gaylin
3. That Thing Between Eli & Gwen by J.J. McAvoy
4. Big Rock by Lauren Blakely
5. My Perfect Mistake by Kelly Siskind
6. Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen
7. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
8. Elastic Hearts by Claire Contreras
9. When We Collided by Emery Lord
10. Dreamology by Lucy Keating
11. Paper Princess by Erin Watt
12. Redemptive by Jay McLean
13. In Your Dreams by Ginger Scott

Review: Smut (Karina Halle)

Smut
Author: Karina Halle
Publication Date: May 16, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Humor

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

What happens when the kink between the pages leads to heat between the sheets?

All Blake Crawford wants is to pass his creative writing course, get his university degree, and take over his dad’s ailing family business. What Amanda Newland wants is to graduate at the top of her class, as well as finally finish her novel and prove to her family that writing is a respectful career.

What Blake and Amanda don’t want is to be paired up with each other for their final project, but that’s exactly what they both get when they’re forced to collaborate on a writing piece. Since Amanda thinks Blake is a pushy asshole (with a panty-melting smirk and British accent) and Blake thinks Amanda has a stick up her ass (though it’s a brilliant ass), they fight tooth and nail until they discover they write well together. They also may find each other really attractive, but that’s neither here nor there.

When their writing project turns out to be a success, the two of them decide to start up a secret partnership using a pen name, infiltrating the self-publishing market in the lucrative genre of erotica. Naturally, with so much heat and passion between the pages, it’s not long before their dirty words become a dirty reality. Sure, they still fight a lot, but at least there’s make-up sex now.

But even as they start to fall hard for each other, will their burgeoning relationship survive if their scandalous secret is exposed? Or are happily-ever-afters just a work of fiction?


Holy crap! This book was hilarious! I had no idea how many laughs I was in store for. I was sucked into the story immediately. The hilarity started in the prologue and just kept coming! The writing was witty, smart and super sexy. Smut might just be one of my favorite takes on the enemies to lovers trope of all time.

I loved the characters in this book. Amanda was just the right combination of nerdy and pretentious. I didn’t always like her because of this, but her character made for a really fun story when matched with Blake. She greatly underestimated him.

Blake was the typical cocky ladies’ man. He was a no strings sort of guy, and he made no apologies for it. He couldn’t stand Amanda and being forced to work with her was torture…until it wasn’t.

Blake and Amanda’s hatred for each other was so much fun to read. It created all sorts of tricky situations. But what was even more exciting was when they realized how well they worked together. Man, it was hot! I never knew reading a book about a guy and a girl writing erotica would be so much fun!

Smut was my first book by Karina Halle, but it definitely won’t be my last. I would highly recommend it to mature romance readers who like humorous love stories.

Mid-Year Freak Out Tag

I was tagged by the lovely Paige @ Page by Paige for the Mid-Year Freak Out Tag. Thanks, Paige!


Best Book You’ve Read Yet in 2016.

I have a hard time choosing the best book I’ve read so far this year. I’ve read so many of them! Lily and the Octopus did really stand out to me, though. Honestly, the book blurb for this book says it all. It’s a magical journey of a man and his dog. When I was reading it, I kept hearing Sheldon Cooper’s voice as Ted. I loved this book.


Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2016.

This is kind of an interesting choice to me. The first book in this series, Under the Influence was not my favorite book. I was surprised at how much I loved Out of Focus. That’s why I picked it.


New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To.

I can’t believe I haven’t read The Raven King yet. I really want to, but I’ve just been so behind on my TBR!


Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year.

Yes, that’s a blank book you’re staring at. It’s only because A Gift of Time by Beth Flynn does not have a cover yet. I can’t wait for this book!!!


Biggest Disappointment.

I was expecting so much more from Say Something. It wasn’t as good as I had hoped. It was over the top insta-lust and creepy in a weird way.


Biggest Surprise.

So Much More really surprised me. Not in a twist and turns sort of way, but in how it made me feel. I don’t think I’ve ever had a character make me feel so much rage and anger. Bravo to Kim Holden for making me feel something I never have before.


Favorite New Author.

Kelly Siskind is my newest favorite author of the year. I love her writing and the characters she developed in My Perfect Mistake. I can’t wait to read more from her.


Newest Fictional Crush.

Sarina Bowen is always giving me great men to crush on. Griffin from Bittersweet is the newest man to make my fictional crush list. He’s a sexy farmer.


Newest Favorite Character.

Ella from Paper Princess is such a badass. She’s tough, sweet and smart. I love her!


Book That Made You Cry.

So I’ve been on a reading adventure with a group on Goodreads. We’re slowly making it through Huffington Post’s Oh, You Little Heartbreaker! The Ultimate List of Ugly Cry Novels. The first one we read was When It Rains. It’s the only one that’s made me bawl so far.


Book That Made You Happy.

Coast, the second book is the Kick Push series, made me so happy this year. I loved the resolution it gave me and how it made me feel. Jay McLean is amazing!


Favorite Book to Film Adaptation.

I just watched this movie. I thought they did a good job with it. I wish I could tell Me Before You, but I haven’t gotten to see it yet!


Favorite Post You Have Done This Year.

My favorite posts of the year so far were my fun Valentine’s Week ones:

Who Do You Love? Are You For Sure?
Little Ditty About…
I Don’t See Nothing Wrong…
I Should Have Known Right From the Star You’d Go and Break My Heart
Don’t You Want to Be More Than Friends…


Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year.

I have to admit I didn’t actually buy The Way I Used To Be. I got it from the library, but I love the way this cover represents the book. It’s beautiful on its own, but with the message in the story it’s even more amazing.


What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year.

ALL OF THEM!!!

Review: Paper Princess (Erin Watt)

Paper Princess
Series: The Royals, #1

Authors: Erin Watt (Elle Kennedy, Jen Frederick)
Publication Date: April 4, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.


Hey MTV, CW or ABC Family — I think I found the book you need to base your next TV series on.

Seriously. Paper Princess was that good. The writing was fantastic, and I was immediately hooked. It had complex characters, a great plot and such witty dialog. It was Young Adult pushing New Adult. I freaking loved it.

In Paper Princess, seventeen-year-old Ella is struggling to make it after her mom’s death. She’s a high school student by day and a stripper at night. It’s a tough schedule to maintain, but Ella has big plans for college and life.

All of her carefully crafted plans go out the door when Callum Royal shows up to claim guardianship of her. Ella’s swept off to the Royal estate to live amongst the five Royal boys. What should be a dream come true is a nightmare. The Royal boys don’t want Ella around. They’re determined to make Ella’s life at home and school a living hell. But Ella’s been through worse and she’s not about to give up without a fight.

The characters were so cool and perfect for this story. Ella was smart, resourceful and stood up for herself. I loved what a strong female teenage character she was! The book was so much fun to read because of her point of view and personality.

At first, I felt exactly the way Ella did about the Royal boys. They may have been hot, successful and popular, but man were they jerks! They knew how to make Ella’s life a living hell. Reed was especially good at this, which was why I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to stand Ella falling for him. I mean, I know he was hot and making her lady bits tingle but looks can only take you so far before your mouth ruins things.

But I loved Ella and Reed’s connection. There was just something so raw and gritty about their chemistry. I’m not sure if it was the enemies to lovers aspect or the down dirty thoughts and actions of the two of them together. It so hot…and in an almost too mature to be YA way. They sizzled.

Back to the rest of the Royal men… Even though they were jerks, they started to redeem themselves a little. I was just starting to like Easton when the book ended. And I wish I had gotten to know the twins a little more because they seemed so deviously interesting. There has to be more to their story! Same with the eldest Royal boy. I need to know what his motivations are. I need to know more about ALL of these boys NOW!

My only complaint (not really a complaint) about this book was that it ended with a cliffhanger before I was ready to be done reading it. I didn’t want it to end. 🙁 At least the next book comes out in July…

All that’s left to say is that you need to read this book. Like now. I absolutely loved it and know other readers will, too. It’s a crazy ride that will definitely entertain you and leave your begging for more.

Review: Shame (Rachel Van Dyken)

Shame
Series:
Ruin, #3
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date: October 4, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Everything done in darkness will eventually be brought into the light. I ran, but all it did was keep me one step ahead of my past. I tried to start over; new name, new identity. But you can’t change your soul. A fresh start at college was just what I needed. For a while, it worked. I was the party girl, the one who seemed confident, but it was a lie. When guys kissed me – I felt only pain. When they touched me – nothing but fear. Deep inside, every girl wants to be the beauty in the story, to find someone who will see you as their world. But the truth? I was the beast. And as much as I wanted redemption, I wasn’t fool enough to think I’d ever get it.

Until he walked into my life. I wasn’t prepared to fall for someone. My scars were too deep, the wounds too raw. But he offered me peace, he offered me security. I should have known it was just another lie – I should have known that falling in love with my professor was a bad idea. But I was powerless to stop myself from falling. And he was powerless to catch me. Because the darkness finally caught up to me, and as fate would have it, a cruel twist almost bled me dry. But I’m stronger than I knew. I’m stronger than you think. You think you know my story, but you don’t – after all everyone has Shame in their lives – and I’m no longer afraid to show you mine.


Wow. Shame was freaking crazy. After reading Toxic, the second book in the Ruin series, I knew there was more to party girl Lisa than met the eye. She had a hidden past that I was looking forward to exploring. What I wasn’t expecting was the crazy ride Shame took me on. I feel like I can’t even really tell you much about the book because I would be giving too much away. It’s definitely a book you have to read for yourself.

In Shame, Lisa is trying to outrun her past. It’s a past filled with pain and hurt — both her own and that which she caused others. Lisa’s created a new, better version of herself and she’s doing everything she can to make a brighter future at the UW.

Sophomore year of college isn’t starting out very well for Lisa, though. Her past has come back to haunt her through anonymous letters in her mailbox. Lisa’s starting to get scared. Her new psychology professor isn’t helping either. He may be hot as hell, but he seems to have a grudge against Lisa. One minute, Lisa thinks there might be something between them. The next, he’s insulting her. The stress of it all is almost too much to handle.

Student/teacher relationships are one of my least favorite relationship tropes, but it didn’t really bother me in this book. While I was a little worried about Lisa and Tristan getting caught and in trouble, I could also see where the story was going. That helped make their relationship more enjoyable to read.

I loved Lisa’s character. She was just as complex as the storyline. Her past was so interesting. I loved reading about it through Taylor’s journal entries.

Tristan won’t be making my book boyfriend list. I had a love/hate relationship with him, but that’s okay. His character and role made him perfect for Lisa.

The real gem in this story for me was Taylor, or more accurately, his journals. He was such an interesting and dark character! He created some twists and turns I didn’t see coming. His part in the story made this more a thriller than a romance.

Shame was a really cool book. It wasn’t what I expected at all, and I loved that. I think other readers will, too.

I would highly suggest reading the first two books in the Ruin series prior to reading Shame, as the stories build upon each other. I would recommend the entire series to New Adult readers. I’ve truly enjoyed reading them.

Bittersweet Release Day Q&A with Author Sarina Bowen

One of my favorite New Adult authors in Sarina Bowen. Today, the first book in her True North series releases. In honor of the Bittersweet release, I’m treating you all to a Q&A with Sarina Bowen. 🙂

Deanna
Will you continue the True North series past the first three books in the series?

Sarina
I hope so! I have more ideas in the pipeline. There’s Zara, for one. And Griff’s cousins!

Deanna
Who is your favorite True North hero: Griffin, Jude or Zach?

Sarina
Wow, brutal question! They are very different men, and I can’t choose. I’m going to be spending lots of time with Zach over the next few months, though, so he’s my current crush.
Deanna
Will any characters from your other series get a cameo in the True North series?
Sarina
The magic 8-ball says: signs point to no.
Deanna
What inspired you to write about Vermont farmers?
Sarina
I’m surrounded by them, in the first place. Also? THEY’RE SO COOL! Farming in Vermont isn’t old school. It’s full of energetic new ideas and young people who want to reinvent food. They’re amazing, and I love hanging out in their world.
Deanna
What is your favorite book and/or series that you have written so far?
Sarina
Again, there is no way for me to choose! Sometimes I revisit an old book just for fun. It’s like visiting an old friend.
Deanna 
Which of your characters are you most like?
Sarina
Ah. Well. Lianne in The Fifteenth Minute probably matches me best for personality. I’ve never been a famous actress and I’m not a hacker, but we have a lot of temperament in common.
And that concludes my release day Q & A with author Sarina Bowen. If you’re a New Adult or Contemporary Romance fan, be sure to pick up Bittersweet. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of the Year

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

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of the Year
1. A Gift of Time by Beth Flynn

There’s no cover yet for the third book in the Nine Minutes series, but it’s the book I’m most looking forward to for 2016. It’s killing me that there isn’t a release date yet.

2. The Goal by Elle Kennedy

Once again, there’s not a cover for the fourth book in the Off-Campus series. I cannot wait for Tucker’s story!!! September is too far away.

3. P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Kasie West is one of my favorite YA contemporary authors. Her books make me so happy. I can’t wait for the July 26th release of P.S. I Like You.

4. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

I’m dying to get my hands on CoHo’s new release that’s coming in August. All of the reviews make it sounds epic.

5. Sugar Rush by Sawyer Bennett

Sugar Daddy ended on a cliffhanger, and I really need to know what happens next! Looks like I’m going to have to wait until August for this one.

6. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

I know I’m not the only one impatiently waiting for the second book in the Six of Crows series!

7. Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

I need this spin-off of The Ivy Years series like NOW!!!

8. Discovering You by Brenda Novak

I’m looking forward to returning to Whiskey Creek in Discovering You.

9. Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

Alice Clayton is always good for a laugh. I know Cream of the Crop is going to give me many. I can’t wait to read it!

10. Flight Patterns by Karen White

It’s already out, but I haven’t gotten to read Flight Patterns yet. Karen White is one of my favorite writers and I can’t wait to finally read this one!

Bonus: Broken Prince by Erin Watt

I had to come back and Broken Prince to this list after finishing it. I just read the first book, Paper Princess, in this series past weekend and loved it. I HAVE to know what comes next and I hate waiting another month for it!

Are any of these books on your list?

Review: Toxic (Rachel Van Dyken)

Toxic
Series: Ruin, #2

Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Everyone has a secret…

Gabe Hyde is on borrowed time. He’s been hiding his identity for over four years-hidden from the world that used to adore him–obsess over him–driven to the edge of insanity by one poor choice.
But that one choice, altered the course of his life forever.
Pretending isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when pretending means hiding your real self from the people that care about you the most. But if anyone ever discovered the truth it wouldn’t just be his life at risk–but hers.

Saylor doesn’t hate men.
Just Gabe.
Only Gabe.
He’s a reckless, happy-go-lucky, silver spoon fed pain in her ass. Everything about him makes her more and more confused. Unfortunately they both donate time at the same Group Home. If she wasn’t afraid of flunking, she’d be long gone. She hates that she’s attracted to him almost as much as he hates that he’s attracted to her–and she can tell, especially since their first encounter ended up making her knees so weak she couldn’t form coherent sentences for weeks afterwards. But the closer she gets to him, the more confused she becomes. He isn’t who he says he is, and he’s hiding something big.

What happen when two worlds collide? Two worlds that never should have met in the first place? Some secrets are too big to be hidden forever–the only question? Will his destroy everyone he loves? Or finally bring about the redemption he’s been craving for the past four years?

Everyone has a secret…What’s yours?


I knew I loved Gabe after meeting him in Ruin, but I had no idea how much more I would fall in love with him in Toxic. 

In Ruin, Gabe was a badass with a soft side. And while he’s still those things in Toxic, he’s also brittle and broken. I had no idea his backstory was going to be so heartbreaking or touching. His demons and past controlled him. It was so sad to see him fighting himself and his past.

There was a bright light in Gabe’s life, though; and that was meeting Saylor. She was sweet and innocent to his dark and brooding. His plan was to help her put feeling in the music she played. In turn, she helped him conquer his feelings through music.

The music therapy aspect of this book was so cool. I loved seeing both Gabe and Saylor work out their feelings through their talent. I really wish I could have heard them both play piano in real life. I imagine it would be so beautiful!

I also loved the push and pull of Gabe and Saylor’s relationship. It was almost an enemies to lovers book, which is one of my favorite relationship tropes. Their interactions were so much fun to read.

Another thing I really loved about Toxic was the connections that continued on from Ruin. I can’t really explain it without giving things away, but you should definitely read Ruin if you’re interested in reading Toxic. There are some very cool tie ins I wasn’t expecting.

Oh, and I can’t leave out how much fun it was to see the rest of the gang, too. I loved catching up with Wes, Kiersten and Lisa. They continued to be amazing supporting characters.

As you can tell, I loved everything about this book! Toxic was a beautifully written story about love, heartbreak, forgiveness and redemption. I would highly recommend Toxic and the rest of the Ruin series to New Adult readers.

Review: Perception of Life (Shandi Boyes)

Perception of Life
Series: Perception, #1
Author: Shandi Boyes
Publication Date: March 3, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

Noah Taylor is on the cusp of stardom with his band ‘Rise Up’. Noah’s soul has been shattered beyond repair after a series of devastating family events. The last thing that Noah wants is a committed relationship. But Noah soon learns that life doesn’t always work out the way you plan. Sometimes life can take you on a small detour.

You will never want another book boyfriend after you meet Noah Taylor.

This novel is sexy, gritty and a little bit raw.

Please note this novel contains adult content, such as swear words and sexual references.


What. The. Hell.

Seriously. That’s what I yelled when I got to the end of this book. Well, it might have been a little more explicit than that… But I couldn’t help myself! This book ended in a cliffhanger that I never expected. I can’t decide if it’s one I liked or hated. It totally depends on the next book. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself here.

Perception of Life caught my attention from the very beginning. I loved the way Emily and Noah met. It was cute and unique. The build up to their relationship was fun. I liked seeing their relationship progress over time, but I felt like I missed out on seeing some of their relationship development with all of the time jumps in the story.

As for the writing, it started out a little rough for me. There were so many character clothing descriptions. A few too many. They distracted me from the characters’ actual personalities and the story at first. Luckily, they didn’t last throughout the entire novel.

That being said, my favorite part of the story was when Emily was in college. That’s when I felt her connection with Noah the most. It was also when the story was the most interesting to me. I truly began loving the characters and becoming invested in them at this point.

Which leads me back to the ending. I’m not going to say what the cliffhanger was. Obviously, it was major. This story went out in a way I never saw coming. I still haven’t decided if I liked it, but I have to admit that it definitely made me want to read the next book!

If you’re a fan of shocking cliffhangers and angsty New Adult romances, you’re sure to enjoy Perception of Life.

Review: Carnage: The Story of Us (Leslie Jones)

Carnage: The Story of Us
Series: Carnage, #1
Author: Leslie Jones
Publication Date: February 14, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

I love him, from the instant I set eyes on him when I was just 11 years old I have loved him and nothing will ever change that, he owns me, he owns my heart and he owns my body and no matter how many lies are told, no matter how many people conspire to keep us apart, despite the fame and the distance, we will find a way.

“Georgia Rae, when we made love, you used to cry” … He waits for me to sing my bit. I try to swallow down a sob, but I just end up singing through it…
“I said I love you like the stars above; I’ll love you till I die.”

Carnage is an edgy coming of age love story that breaks all the rules and transcends the decades. Georgia and Sean’s story will stay with you long after you read the final word.
An emotional, smoking hot, gut wrenching read.

NOTE: This is part #1 of a 2-part story but can be read as a standalone.


I’ve been buddy reading books off the Huffington Post’s Oh, You Little Heartbreaker! The Ultimate List of Ugly Cry Novels this year with a group on Goodreads. Each month we pick a different book. This month, we picked Carnage: The Story of Us.

Ugh. I don’t even know where to start with Carnage. Guess I’ll just warn everyone that this review will most likely sound more negative than positive. The writing wasn’t bad, it was just disturbing to me. It’s going to be hard to explain without giving away major spoilers, but I’ll do my best.

I absolutely could not stand the beginning of the book. I was constantly cringing. I’m not a prude, but it was much too sexually charged for an 11-year-old character in the 1980’s. I don’t care how mature Georgia’s body was. An 11-year-old shouldn’t be thinking about sex. When I was 11 (in the late 80’s!), I was not thinking sexual thoughts like Georgia. And the way Sean spoke to her was just as bad. I can remember some of the stuff 13-year-old boys said back then it was nowhere near as sexually forward. I forced myself to keep reading because there were so many great reviews for this book. I had high hopes things would get better.

Luckily, they did. As Georgia and Sean got older, things got a little more appropriate. The addition of Tiger was my favorite part of the story. It made me forget about the rough beginning. But sadly, that didn’t last long. 🙁 By the time I got to the ending, something that should have shattered me didn’t. I should have been crying, but I wasn’t.

I guess the real problem I have with the book is Sean and Georgia’s relationship. The whole thing disturbed and/or disgusted me. Even when he was being super sweet, I just couldn’t love Sean. And I didn’t like Georgia when she was with him. Just…ugh.

I do have to admit that the ending, while it didn’t break me like it should have, it did leave me curious enough to want to read the next book Carnage: The Story of Me. The fact that I was still willing to read the next installment led me to give the book 3 stars instead of the 2 stars I was planning on.

So… Would I recommend Carnage? I don’t know. There are a ton of 5-star reviews out there. Maybe this one just wasn’t for me. I would advise that you should skip reading it if you can’t handle vulgar language, a plethora of drug use, cheating, or violence.