A Novel Glimpse

Review: Nine Minutes (Beth Flynn)

Nine Minutes
Series: Nine Minutes, #1
Author: Beth Flynn
Publication Date: July 19, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Dark Romance, Thriller

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

On May 15, 1975, fifteen-year-old Ginny Lemon is abducted from a convenience store in Fort Lauderdale by a member of one of the most notorious and brutal motorcycle gangs in South Florida.

From that moment on, her life is forever changed. She gets a new name, a new identity and a new life in the midst of the gang’s base on the edge of the Florida Everglades—a frightening, rough and violent world much like the swamps themselves, where everyone has an alias and loyalty is tantamount to survival.

And at the center of it all is the gang’s leader, Grizz: massive, ruggedly handsome, terrifying and somehow, when it comes to Ginny, tender. She becomes his obsession and the one true love of his life.

So begins a tale of emotional obsession and manipulation, of a young woman ripped from everything she knows and forced to lean on the one person who provides attention, affection and care: her captor. Precocious and intelligent, but still very much a teenager, Ginny struggles to adapt to her existence, initially fighting and then coming to terms with her captivity.

Will she be rescued? Will she escape? Will she get out alive—or get out at all? Part psychological thriller, part coming-of-age novel, filled with mystery, romance and unexpected turns, Nine Minutes takes readers into the world of one motorcycle gang and inside the heart of a young girl, whose abduction brought about its fall.

Oh. My. Goodness. My mind is blown. BLOWN! I am honestly struggling with what to even write about Nine Minutes.

Nine Minutes was amazing. I loved it…but I hated it! The entire premise was so messed up. Everything that happened in this book was so disturbing! But the writing was so good. The surprises I didn’t see coming were amazing. The cliffhanger was awesome. I must have reread the last few chapters two or three times just to wrap my head around it.

So while I hated everything that was happening to poor Ginny, I couldn’t help but love this book. It’s going on my list of best books I’ve read so far in 2015. I highly suggest to READ. IT. NOW. Seriously. I would warn, however; Nine Minutes is filled with violence, sexual situations, and anything else you could think of happening in a motorcycle gang story. Think of a Sons of Anarchy type story.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity/Diverse Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity/Diverse Characters (example: features minority/religious minority, socioeconomic diversity, disabled MC, neurotypical character, LGBTQ, etc.). Below (in no particular order) is my list of books celebrating diversity or diverse characters.

1. The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen

Corey Callahan is beginning her freshman year of college in a wheelchair. It’s not how she planned it. Corey was supposed to be on the varsity hockey team. Now, she’s learning how to navigate the Harkens campus in her wheelchair. Luckily, she has her hot and injured neighbor, Adam Hartley, to help her. Too bad he already has a girlfriend.

The Year We Fell Down (The Ivy Years, #1)

2. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Will Grayson is not the only Will Grayson–or so he discovers one night in Chicago. After meeting, their lives begin to overlap in ways they never thought possible. It all leads up to a hugely fabulous high school musical.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

3. Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

High school senior Celeste Watkins is different than her classmates. She’s smarter than them. She talks differently than them. She’s also horrible at letting people in and making friends. Then, she meets quirky college student Justin Milano. He’s exactly what Celeste needs to break out of her shell.

Flat-Out Celeste (Flat-Out Love, #2)

4. Home is Where You Are by Tessa Marie

Anna’s a privileged high school student. Dean’s a homeless kid. Neither of them expected to fall in love. Can Anna’s love help Dean survive his tough life?

Home is Where You Are

5. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Funky designer wannabe Lola Nolan has the perfect life. Hot rocker boyfriend? Check. Cool gay dads? Check. Awesome best friend? Check. Then the boy she crushed on years ago moves back in next door and throws everything all out of whack.

Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss, #2)

6. Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan

Bree Prescott is running from the horrors of her past. She’s hoping the lakeside town of Pelion will help her heal. What she finds in Pelion, is Archer Hale. She can’t help be drawn to Archer — and his silent demons. Can they help heal each other?

Archer's Voice

7. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

She’s a weird red head. He’s half-Korean. They couldn’t stand out more in their Midwestern town if they tried.

Eleanor & Park

8. OC Me by Kristin Albright

After Amy’s aunt is in a tragic accident, Amy becomes obsessed with irrational fears. She tries to hide them from her friends and family. This becomes even harder when she falls for James. When Amy finds out she has OCD, she must learn to admit the truth to herself and those closest to her.

OC Me

9. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

College student Sydney has an amazing life–then everything comes crashing down when she learns her boyfriend is cheating on her. Having no one else to turn to, she befriends her neighbor, Ridge. Ridge is cute and talented. Sidney loves listening to him play music on his balcony. Ridge’s just as captivated with Sidney as she is with him. There’s something about her that he can’t shake.

Maybe Someday (Maybe, #1)

10. Dinner with Buddha by Ronald Merullo

Otto Ringling goes on a road trip with his Mongolian monk brother-in-law, Rinpoche. Otto hopes to find a new meaning for his life, while Rinpoche searches for the next place to serve.

Dinner with Buddha

What are books you have read that celebrate diversity or diverse characters? Leave them in the comments below.

Review: Him (Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy)

Him
Series: Him, #1
Authors: Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
Publication Date: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance, LGBTQ+
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend… and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

As you can probably tell from my reviews of The Deal and The Mistake, I love Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series. Prior to beginning A Novel Glimpse, I read and loved the first two books in Sarina Bowen’s Ivy Years series. So, when I was presented with the chance to read an ARC of their first collaboration together, Him, I was super excited.

I knew going in this was a M/M romance. It’s the first one I’ve ever read. I was curious to see how it was going to go and if I would like it. I knew two men falling for each other wasn’t going to bother me…I just wasn’t so sure about that other “stuff.”

I loved Wes. There was just something about him. I can see why people (and Jamie) were drawn to him. I have to admit, though; I was worried about him the entire book. His feelings were so strong and I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out for him in the end.

I loved Jamie, too. His outlook and openness were amazing. His family was amazing. There were a few times he had me worrying about what his actions were going to do to Wes’, but I felt like his story was a really important one to tell.

Jamie and Wes together? Their friendly banter with each other was funny. It was pretty adorable to see two extremely masculine hockey players falling for each other. As for that other “stuff“, I didn’t find it to be a big deal. Most of it wasn’t anything I hadn’t read in M/F romances.

Overall, I really liked the story. It was a cute best friends turned lovers romance. I think it’s great that two amazing writers are writing stories that anyone could identify with.

Top Ten Hyped Books I’ve Never Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. I’ve seen several friendly bloggers take part and it looked like so much fun that I decided to join in! This week’s list is Top Ten Hyped Books I’ve Never Read. Below is my list.

1. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I’m not sure why, but I haven’t been able to talk myself into it. I’ve checked it out from the library a couple of different times. I even checked out the movie version from the library and never watched it.

2. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I want to read this book. Really, I do. Both my sister, mother and several friends have told me it’s great. It’s another one I’ve checked out a couple of times from the library but then ran out of time to read it before I had to return in. I will read it — some time.

3. The Nightengale by Kristin Hannah

This is another one I do want to read. I love Kristin Hannah’s books. I just haven’t been in the right mood for this one, I guess. Friends have told me it’s really good but emotional.

4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I know it’s going to be good. I’ve enjoyed all the other books I’ve read by Ms. Oliver. I just haven’t gotten to it yet.

5. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Okay, I feel super guilty about this one. My mom so lovingly gave me a paperback copy for my birthday a couple years ago. I haven’t read it yet. I want to, but the first time I opened the cover I noticed how small the print it. I don’t know why that made me put it down, but it did. I promise I’m going to read it.

6. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Several people have told me I wouId love this book. It just doesn’t pop in my mind when I’m thinking of what to read next.

7. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I know, I know. It’s a travesty. Everyone I know that’s read it loves it. At this point, I’m a little intimidated by the length of the series. I would want to read it all at once and it would take forever. I’m just not up to the commitment at this point. I will read it at some point.

8. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

My college roommate read it years ago and raved about it. I bought it on my Kindle a few years ago. It’s sitting there waiting.

9. Room by Emma Donoghue

I don’t know. Since I’ve had a child, there are some books I’m just not sure if I can read. This is one of those. I know it’s good, but I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to read it until my child is grown.

10. The Giver by Lois Lowery

I’m not sure why I haven’t read this one yet. It sounds good and I was planning on reading it before the movie came out. I guess I just never got to it.

Is there a hyped book that you haven’t read? Let me know in the comments!

Review: Sincerely, Carter (Whitney G.)

Sincerely, Carter
Series: Sincerely Yours, #1
Author: Whitney G.
Publication Date: April 29, 2015
Publisher: WGW Books
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Just friends.
We’re just friends.
No, really. She’s just my best friend…

Arizona Turner has been my best friend since fourth grade, even when we “hated” each other. We’ve been there for one another through first kisses, first “times,” and we’ve been each other’s constant when good relationships turned bad. (We even went to colleges that were minutes away from each other…)

Throughout the years, and despite what anyone says, we’ve never crossed the line.

Never thought about it.
Never wanted to.

Until one night changed everything.
At least, it should’ve …

Just friends.
We’re just friends.
I’m only saying this until I figure out if she’s still “just” my best friend…

I love, love, love this book. I love it. Sincerely, Carter was everything I like a book to be. It was funny. It was sweet. It was hot. It brought out the all the “feels”. I adored Arizona and Carter’s relationship. I loved watching their relationship change and all their uncertainty. This book was just so much fun to me. I didn’t want to put it down. I wish I wasn’t finished reading it because I want more! I am going to have to go through Whitney G.’s back list and read more of her books.

Review: Split Second (Kasie West)

Split Second
Series: Pivot Point, #2
Author: Kasie West
Publication Date: February 11, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

In Pivot Point, Addison Coleman was forced to choose between living with her mother in the Compound or her father in the normal world. After Searching for the best potential future, Addie chose to stay with her mom. She can’t believe she chose to stay because this future seriously sucks.

First, her boyfriend used her. Then, her best friend betrayed her. Now, she’s the object of the entire high school’s gossip. Things really couldn’t get any worse. Luckily, Addie’s going to get a break from it all when she visits her dad for the winter break. She’s hoping everyone will have forgotten her relationship with Duke by the time she returns.

After just a couple of days in Dallas, Addie meets this guy, Trevor. He’s cute, but she can’t help but wonder why she’s so attracted to him. It’s almost like she’s met him before. Addie wants Trevor to like her, too, but it seems like he has something against her.

Back home, Leila can’t help herself and opens the letter Addie gave her before she wiped her memory. Leila needs to learn how to restore memories. She’s not sure how to do that, so she enlists the help of a guy named Connor.

As Addie starts to get to know Trevor, the normal and Compound world start to collide. Leila and Addie are doing everything to they can to get Addie’s memories back, but someone may not want that to happen.

Split Second was an awesome follow up to Pivot Point. It was the same, yet different. Instead of alternating between two potential futures like Pivot Point does, it alternates between Addie and Leila’s POV. When I started reading, I was wondering if I was going to like that. I didn’t really care for Leila in the first book. She didn’t seem like a very good friend by the end. Leila totally redeemed herself in Split Second. What she was willing to do for her best friend was awesome. I also liked seeing more of her relationship with her family. And I loved her interactions with Connor. He was a really great addition to this story.

Reading Addie’s one POV was so much easier in Split Second than it was reading two of them in Pivot Point. I got the Addie I liked in this one. Which was weird considering she picked the potential future I didn’t enjoy reading the first time. It was fun to see how she dealt with meeting Trevor again. I do wish I got a little more Trevor in this book, though. He was such a great character in the first book.

As for the storyline, Split Second was just as interesting as Pivot Point. It started right where Pivot Point left off and kept going. It was faster paced than the first book, but I think that was because you weren’t alternating between potential futures. I honestly couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved it. I would highly recommend reading it if you liked all or parts of Pivot Point.

Review: Bright Side (Kim Holden)

Bright Side
Series: Bright Side, #1
Author: Kim Holden
Publication Date: July 4, 2014
Publisher: Do Epic, LLC.
Genre: New Adult, Fiction, Love Story

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Kate Sedgwick is the epitome of optimism. Nothing seems to get this girl down. Which is a surprise coming from a such tough childhood. Her disposition is so sunny that she’s even earned the nickname “Bright Side” from her best friend, Gus.

Kate is about to fulfill one of her dreams. She’s leaving sunny California to go to college in cold Minnesota. It’s hard leaving her best friend, Gus, and everything she’s known, but Kate has no doubt it’s going to be amazing.

What Kate doesn’t count on is meeting Keller Banks. She’s having a really hard time not falling for him. It’s hard when he’s cute, funny and smart. Kate’s never felt this way before. She’s starting to rethink her no falling in love stance.

The closer Kate and Keller get to each other, the more each worries that the secrets their hiding may ruin everything they have with each other.

EPIC. Kim Holden does epic.

Seriously. Bright Side is one of the best books I’ve read in my entire life. It was incredibly funny, smart and sweet. It was heartbreakingly beautiful. I don’t think I have ever laughed so much or cried so hard reading a book. I haven’t read a book this inspiring since I read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes a couple of years ago. I’ve already purchased its sequel, Gus.

I’m not going to say anything more about the story. I think Bright Side is a book best read without knowing too much. What I will say is this:

READ THIS BOOK NOW!

Oh, and grab a box of tissues while you’re at it. You’re probably going to need them.

Review: The Deal (Elle Kennedy)

The Deal
Series: Off-Campus, #1
Author: Elle Kennedy
Publication Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Hannah Wells is crushing on Briar University’s star football player in a major way. Making eye contact with him in their Ethics class is enough to turn her to mush. She just needs to get up the nerve to talk to him. If only Hannah’s past experiences with men weren’t keeping her from doing just that.

Hockey player Garrett Graham cannot afford to fail his Ethics class if he wants to keep playing for Briar. It looks like that’s exactly what’s going to happen, if he can’t talk Hannah Wells into tutoring him. Garrett was hoping his way with women could help him sway Hannah, but she’s the only girl at Briar who seems able to resist his charms.

When Garrett notices Hannah’s crush on a Briar football star, he knows he can use the knowledge to his advantage. Garrett convinces Hannah that he can help her win her crush. The plan is fool proof — until one kiss turns into more.

The Deal will be going on my list of favorite New Adult romances. It was so much fun to read! Garrett and Hannah’s bickering was too funny. I found myself laughing so many times. I liked that Hannah didn’t put up with his “king of hockey” attitude and didn’t fall all over him like all of the other girls he was used to. They were so cute together. I also liked that not only was this a romance, but each of them was dealing with a deeper issue. It was cool to see them help each other through those issues.

Another thing I really loved was Garrett’s hockey team roommates. Their interactions with each other couldn’t have been more perfect! It was exactly what I would have expected from a bunch of players living together. I can’t wait to get to read more of their stories in the future! I’m starting on the next book in the series, The Mistake, right after I finish writing this!

The Deal is definitely a book I would recommend. Just a warning to readers — It is a New Adult and not YA read. There is sexual content and alcohol references, so it is for mature readers only.

Review: Pivot Point (Kasie West)

Pivot Point
Series: Pivot Point, #1
Author: Kasie West
Publication Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Addison Coleman is a Searcher. A searcher is someone who, given a choice, can look into the future and see both outcomes. Her ability has been really helpful in making good decisions. She’s hoping it will do the same with her latest choice.

When Addie’s parents tell her they are getting a divorce, they want her to use her gift to decide which one of them to live with. Choosing wouldn’t be a big deal if both of her parents planned to stay in the Compound, a secret paranormal society created for those with special abilities. But her dad is planning on living five hours away in the “Norm” world, while her mom is staying put.

Addie’s Search suggests two very different potential futures. If Addie chooses her mom, she’ll stay at the compound and continue to develop her special ability. Duke, the popular high school quarter back, will take an interest in her. She will get to hang out with her best friend for the past ten years, Laila. Nothing will really change. It should be the perfect choice, considering she loves her life.

If she moves to the Norm world with her dad, she’ll be the new girl at a regular high school. She will have to hide her abilities and make new friends. Addie will meet Trevor, an injured football player and aspiring artist, and his friends. Trevor will become her new best friend and, for the first time, she’ll feel like someone really gets her.

It’s a tough choice made tougher when her dad starts consulting on a murder case that has an effect on both futures. Addie will have to decide between the lesser of two evils.

Pivot Point is a hard book for me to review. I have a love-hate relationship with it.

It starts out in present day with Addie being given the choice to make between her parents. Once she Searches the future, the book alternates back and forth each chapter between the potential futures. When I think about it, it’s actually a really cool idea — BUT (and that’s a big but) I liked one potential future way more than I liked the other. That made it very annoying each time I switched from the future I liked to the one I didn’t. I would just be getting sucked into the story, only to have to read one I didn’t really like. It was frustrating. I hated it.

That being said, after reading the entire book, I get why Kasie West set it up the way she did. It was actually perfect. I was able to see how the same events could affect both futures. It made the ending all that more powerful. Kasey West just might have used her special abilities to make me like one side of the story more than the other…

Now for what I absolutely loved: Kasie West’s writing. She had me laughing from the beginning with “hotlicious.” I loved Addie and her parents. I liked how they were a bigger part of the story than most YA fiction parents. I don’t think Kasie West could have picked better abilities for them. I know this was more of a fantasy/science fiction YA novel, but I found it to be a really great contemporary romance read as well.

When I finished reading and closed the cover, I felt torn. I loved so much of this book. I totally would have given it 5 stars, but I just kept thinking of my frustration at times. Even though I know the parts I hated help make the story stronger, I couldn’t get past the fact that I didn’t like them. That’s why I took away a star. I still highly recommend reading it. I think it has a little something everyone will like: romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, family relationships.

I’m looking forward to starting on the sequel Split Second soon. I can’t wait to see what is in store for Addie next.