The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen.

The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.What now?
She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead.
Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He’s way out of Corey’s league.
Also, he’s taken.
Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in the “gimp ghetto” of McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands.
They’re just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she’s falling. Hard.
But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won’t, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness — one which does not revolve around the sport she can no longer play, or the brown-eyed boy who’s afraid to love her back.

Thoughts

It's taken me awhile to get my thoughts together on The Year We Fell Down so this will be a short and sweet review!

I absolutely loved the take on the usual cliché especially the approach to disability.
Corey was a seemingly well-adjusted girl who just needed to work on her emotional side! I admired her determination to live out the life she had planned as closely as possible, it made it impossible to view her as a one dimensional extension of her wheelchair. Her self-decrepitating humour added to this although at times it was a bit much.
Hartley had broken his leg leaving him out of sport and in crutches which allowed for an interesting bond to form between Corey and him as she got to play an 'expert role'. Hartley was such a charming character, I loved how well he listened to Corey and read her hidden meanings- there was very little miscommunication! His secret background really added dimension to his character as it made him vulnerable.

Side casts are my favourite and The Year We Fell Down did not disappoint. 
Dana was a fun and social housemate to Coery who didn't even bat an eyelid at sharing with a disabled person in a different setup then everyone. I loved reading her interactions with Daniel and look forward to reading more of that.
Corey's family were all still adjusting to her new life. Her father in particularly seemed riddled with guilt which lead to overprotectiveness. Her brother was a typical big brother as well as a good friend.
Bridger was a great best friend to Hartley and very welcoming to Corey. He initially seemed a typical jock but he had a few issue under the surface. I found him intriguing and looked forward to reading his book!
Hartley's Mum was brilliant. I loved how welcoming and selfless she was to Corey and Bridger. I admired her more as Hartley's background was explored.

Corey’s disability although prominently portrayed throughout the book, was not a central part of the plot. It added to Corey by creating an unfulfilled athletic dream and created a bond between Hartley and Corey but it was never made to be a big issue. I also loved how in Corey 's case the wheelchair was a very fluid conception, sometimes she used crutches or scooted around etc.  
 

Rating!

 This is the first in a fabulous college companion series which gets better and better!
The fifth book releases tomorrow!

Have you read this series? Which is your favourite?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Mini Reviews: Summer Edition!

Two great books that just screamed summer read to me!

Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts.Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger.
As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a light hearted fling is about to get very complicated…

Thoughts

I really enjoyed Dirty Little Secret so I was intrigued by this Superlative series. I loved this book actually started before they were named Biggest Flirts. Tia was loud, confident and quite flirty. I liked how she contacted with Will straight away even if she'd completely misread him. Tia's family backstory explored a lot of her more abrasive personality traits like her aversion to love and relationships and her intense dislike of responsibility. I would have loved to see more interaction with her Dad as he remained a mystery! I loved how everyone in her life was aware of her little tricks to avoid responsibility despite the fact she thought she was hiding it so well. Will was an exciting character from the start, I loved that Tia misread him so we learnt about him slowly. I felt for him moving for senior year especially as all the positions he wanted/needed for College applications were taken up. Will was however a little desperate to have a relationship as soon as he arrived in Florida and made some questionable choices! I absolutely loved the dynamic and chemistry between Tia and Will, it made the whole book for me. Their chemistry seemed effortless and they just feel quite naturally into an almost couple like state. Their responses to their titles was funny as they were so blatant all the time! I felt like Will's straitlaced and open personality went well with Tia's free and complex one. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

Here are Peyton and Jace, meeting on vacation. Click! It’s awesome, it’s easy, it’s romantic. This is the real deal.

Unless it isn’t. Because when you’re in love, you don’t just stop calling one day. And you don’t keep secrets. Or lie. And when your life starts falling apart, you’re supposed to have the other person to lean on.

Here are Peyton and Jace again, broken up but thrown together on a road trip. One of them is lying about the destination. One of them is pretending not to be leaving something behind. And neither of them is prepared for what’s coming on the road ahead…

Thoughts

Two Way Street was the first Lauren Barnholdt book I read so when I heard this was a vague companion book I knew I wanted to read it! I love a good road trip contemporary romance! Peyton surprised me, I usually dislike overly emotional leads but I loved Peyton. Sure she was whiny and dramatic but she was funny with it. Her family life had changed and when you're a teenager that is the worst thing that can happen to you especially what we learnt about her Mum. Peyton wasn't afraid to chase and commit to big abstract dreams even when they seemed to be falling apart, I admired that about her if it was a bit naïve. I loved the history between Jace and Peyton, it was realistic and sweet at the same time. I loved Jace especially the chapters from his point of view. He was witty and sharp. I liked how he begrudgingly took care of Peyton was necessary and pointed out her flawed plans. His best friend Evan was hilarious with his wild ideas, I would have loved to see more of him. It was great to get a look at how Courtney and Jordon were getting on and even BJ! I loved their side roles as advisers and examples. Right of Way was a great young adult contemporary summer book! I loved how the issues facing Jace and  Peyton were realistic and not too extreme. I always enjoy Lauren's books so looking forward to Through to You to come out in paperback next summer!

 

Do you feel these books are quintessentially summer books?

Let me know!

Much Love!

Colette

Xxx

Vain by Fisher Amelie.

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.
Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.
I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
First Impressions!
It wasn't quite what I was expecting but it was so engaging from the start!

What I loved:
Sophie- I actually adored Sophie, her character really grew and developed realistically throughout the book. Initially her actions did make her hard to like but she was clearly a product of her environment. Sophie was so self aware that you got a clear understanding of her rationale and her changing personality. I loved the way she got stuck in once she was in Uganda and how readily she adopted Karina and Charles. I loved her relationship with Ian, more on that below! Ultimately Sophie was 100% better than I expected, I found her a realistic flawed character who grew slowly into a more realised person with a great perspective on life.
Uganda- I loved the Uganda setting. It made the book so unique and brought up important messages and perceptions. I think the struggles and dangers of life in Uganda even for Sophie and Ian really made a difference to the usual personal or emotional issues of New Adult. I also loved that the book gave me a different perceptive and awareness of Uganda and the work of orphanages etc.
Ian- *sigh* I loved his selfless dedication to the orphanage and Karina and Charles especially as his background was revealed.
Relationship- I liked the slow tentative approach to the relationship between Ian and Sophie, it made it seem more realistic as they were initially so different to each other. I adored all the little things Ian had been doing for Sophie without her knowing like cleaning out the bugs from the shower- so sweet!
Side cast- I absolutely loved the children and staff at the orphanage, there were all so lovely. I especially enjoyed the individual personalities of the children. Karina and Charles were such selfless characters who had created such a beautiful and relatively safe home and environment for the children. I liked how non judgemental they were towards Sophie and really encouraged her to grow.  I loved Ian's brother and father, they were such good fun and very accepting and encouraging. From LA the only character I really liked was Spencer. I liked that he seemed to actually care about Sophie and treated her as a friend not an object. I look forward to reading his story. I also loved Penbrook, he was the father Sophie deserved, I liked how their relationship developed and Sophie recognised how good to her he was.

What I didn't love as much:
Parents- Sophie's parents were awful. Her mother was non existent I don't think she spoke one word to Sophie in the whole book. Her dad was just as bad using her as a commodity for his own gain. He did show interest in her life towards the end though so he was the 'better' parent... Ian's mother wasn't the most accepting either.
Blurb- I don't think the blurb did a great job selling the concept of the book very well. I've put the book off for ages bacuse of tha! no mention of the main setting! Even all the covers!
Rating!

Unexpectedly humbling, informative and entertaining. Great read!

 

Have you read this series?

Much Love!

Lettie
Xxx

Fragile Line by Brooklyn Skye

It can happen in a flash. One minute she’s kissing her boyfriend, the next she’s lost in the woods. Sixteen-year-old Ellie Cox is losing time. It started out small…forgetting a drive home or a conversation with a friend. But her blackouts are getting worse, more difficult to disguise as forgetfulness. When Ellie goes missing for three days, waking up in the apartment of a mysterious guy—a guy who is definitely not her boyfriend, her life starts to spiral out of control. 
Perched on the edge of insanity, with horrific memories of her childhood leaking in, Ellie struggles to put together the pieces of what she’s lost—starting with the name haunting her, Gwen. Heartbreakingly beautiful, this poignant story follows one girl’s harrowing journey to finding out who she really is.

I loved Brooklyn's first book Stripped that I was intrigued by Fragile Lines' mysterious blurb.
Thoughts
Ellie's early narrative was so jagged and quick you could really identify with her confusion. I found Ellie to be endearing if rather passive to begin with but she definitely grew in strength and conviction as the book continued. Gwen's narrative provided a much more sturdy and linear grasp of time and actions. Although manipulative and selfish Gwen did seem to be quite vulnerable. It was interesting to see how her personality adjusted and altered as the book went on. Both narratives were compelling to read. Shane and Griffin presented another dimension to the narrative as their questions often prompted Ellie or Gwen to focus on a certain moment. I can't go into too much detail surrounding the plot or characters as this book is full of twists and turns that I don't want to give away! The supporting characters were all brilliantly characterised and had important individual roles in Ellie and Gwen's stories.

Rating!

I really enjoyed Fragile Line I found it to be realistic as well as compelling and the characters were beautifully written!
 
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

How To Say Goodbye by Amber Lin.

Amy has a secret: no one has ever held her hand. She doesn’t even know how to hug. Everybody thinks she’s brilliant, but that’s because school was all she had. Then she meets Dane, a golden-haired surfer whose easy charm and hot touch teach her what she longs to know.
Dane lives for the salty breeze and a sweet wave, because that’s all he has. He’s lived on the streets since he was fourteen. A drifter. Homeless. But Amy changes everything. Smart and accomplished, she’s everything he’s not. He wants to be the sort of man who deserves her.
Except that means facing down his past—and that past might very well swallow them both.

 

First Impressions!
I loved the cover and title but wasn't sold on the blurb so I was surprised how quickly I was wrapped with How to Say Goodbye.

What I loved:
Amy- I really loved Amy! Despite being clever Amy was clueless in any social situation so it was interesting to see her adjust and try to let go and make friends. I found her relationship with her family complex, especially with her Uncle who seemed to care for her more than she realised. I enjoyed how Dane and her relationship slowly developed and how all their different issues were explored. I think Amy really grew into an independent multi layered character as she started off a bit one dimensional!
Dane- Dane was a much more mysterious and layered character than he initially appeared to be. I loved discovering all the different aspects of his background and lifestyle especially how kind he was to his friends and locals who helped him out. It's hard to adequately described what made Dane such a unique character without spoiling some of his mystery! I did love how he tried his utmost to treat Amy to typical experiences she'd missed out on and how sensible he was.
Different- How To Say Goodbye combined a few New Adult clichés with unique aspects which made for a refreshing and deeper book. I loved that both characters were flawed in their own way and that ultimately they changed or matured for themselves and not for each other. I liked that the book focussed on their lives outside of each other such as their careers, families etc. The dual point of view was necessary to keep the reader in the loop about certain mysteries surrounding the characters and to tease at others. I definitely felt like there was a few unanswered questions surrounding Lizzie and Kurt though....

Rating!
 

I really enjoyed the different and unique aspects to this book! Hope to read more from Amber Lin.
 
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out of the rest of the tour here.
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

April Mini Reviews!

Mini reviews for a couple of NetGalley reads leftover from Review Copy Cleanup!
 

Southbound Surrender

Five days. Fifty square feet. One last shot at love.
Cash Rowland first laid eyes on the tenacious and irresistible Piper Sullivan when they were both seventeen. He falls for her hard and just when he thinks she's doing the same, Piper is torn from his life without warning. She leaves no contact information but only a vague promise of fate. 
Five years later, their paths unexpectedly cross. When he shows up with his eighteen-wheeler unannounced, Cash persuades Piper to head out on the open road to give him one last shot at love. But what should be a routine delivery across six states suddenly becomes an unforgettable journey when they save a woman with a broken past and discover that second chances are only for the lucky ones.

 

Thoughts

I almost didn't finish this one as I disliked the flashback beginning but I perceived as I did like the male narrative- it made a welcome change in New Adult! Cash was a great narrator, his life outlook was so positive and honest it was easy to get swept up with his impulsive decisions! I loved his witty character and how he got Piper to open up so easily. Piper was a more conflicting character and it took me awhile to warm up to her as she was obviously concealing a lot from Cash which made her behaviour through his narrative seem rude and confused.
I loved the supporting cast of Hudson and Big Dave. They were both such big personalities and had great influence over Cash. Hudson was such a supportive friend especially as a lot of Cash's ideas were out side of the box! Big Dave had interesting perspectives on life and dealing with issues but he was a great father to Cash.

 The whole road trip aspect was interesting and filled with different characters and coincidences which made this book stand out.

I loved the characters and Cash's narrative just not a fan of the beginning!

 

Saving Quinton by Jessica Sorensen

Nova Reed can't forget him-Quinton Carter, the boy with the honey-brown eyes who made her realize she deserved more than an empty life. His pain was so similar to her own. But Nova has been coming to terms with her past and healing, while Quinton is out there somewhere, sinking deeper. She's determined to find him and help him . . . before it's too late.
Nova has haunted his dreams for nearly a year-but Quinton never thought a sweet, kind person like her would care enough about a person like him. To Quinton, a dark, dangerous life is exactly what he deserves. And Nova has no place in it. But Nova has followed him to Las Vegas, and now he must do whatever it takes to keep her away, to maintain his self-imposed punishment for the unforgivable things he's done. But there's one flaw in his plan: Nova isn't going anywhere . .

Thoughts

I'm a huge fan of Jessica's Secret series so I was thrilled to get approved for Saving Quinton!
Firstly I highly recommend reading this series in order- I very rarely read series out of order and I wish I had read Breaking Nova first as it (obviously) set the foundations for Quinton.
I was expecting a complicated New Adult romance with Jessica's trademark gritty issues but Saving Quinton is a journey to recovery. Nova and Quinton had an obvious connection and chemistry but the story was based more on Nova trying to reach Quinton and help him. I found the portrayal of drug abuse very harrowing and realistic.  The way Quinton and Tristan lived was awful and the way they, especially Tristan, didn't realise and continued to make such risky decisions was realistic but at times hard to understand, Jessica's characterisation was brilliant as usual, making me love the side characters and their stories almost as much as the main story. I liked the dual point of view as it gave an insight into Quinton's downward spiral and how it had all began. I found his backstory full of misplaced guilt and it really explained how he had fall so far and why no one had made the same efforts as Nova had. I found Nova very dedicated and quite naïve. I admired how she stuck with her plan to help Quinton despite all the obstacles and objections. As for the side characters, I liked Lea from the start. I loved that she accompanied Nova to Las Vegas and tried to help her, I was also so intrigued by her life and her issues. Tristan was hard to like but he grew on me, he was an ugly addict but realistic. I look forward to more of his story.  The pacing and issues made Saving Quinton very easy to read and hard to put down! As always I was left with lots of questions but I look forward to more from the Nova series!

 

Have you read Breaking Nova? Have I spoiled it by skipping ahead to Saving Quinton?
Let me know!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Behind the Blog: 4 Hearts to 4½ Hearts!

Last November when I changed up my rating system I decided to convert some ratings. I do sometimes rethink ratings so I thought I'd do a post about why.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Easy by Tammara Webber.
Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt.
Lost and Found by Nicole Williams.
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Why!
Reread
Since the original reading and reviewing I have picked up these five books over and over. Rereading scenes, refreshing my mind of quotes or simply reminding myself of how much I enjoyed them!
Start of a great series.
With Lengths and Lost and Found they both sparked great follow ups which I found myself loving but also realising how well written, characterised and enjoyable the first instalment was. With The Selection after The Elite I found cleverly hidden hints and great follow up on little details.
Unforgettable.
Most importantly these five books have continued to entertain me long after I have finished them!

Do you ever go back and change ratings?
Much Love
Lettie
Xxx

Panic by Lauren Oliver.

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.
Why?
I was intrigued to read something contemporary from Lauren Oliver.

What I loved:
Concept- I loved the concept of Panic. It was so well thought out and all the potential holes, such as why no one told, were clearly covered. I liked that you never really understood the games or the participants fully. All the motives were different and the challenges were surprisingly intuitive.
Setting- I found Carp to be the perfect setting for Panic. The implied demographics of the town explained the popularity and anticipation of Panic. It was clear why so many people felt they needed to win and were willing to lie and betray others. The layout and seclusion of the town was also perfect for the playing of the game with lots of different spots for the game to take place without anyone else knowing!
Viewpoints- I enjoyed Heather and Dodge's viewpoints. They had slightly different backgrounds and motivations but started out as underdogs. I liked that they gave such different interpretations of scenarios and it was interesting to see what they did and did not pick up on. I loved that it revealed the corruption, decisions of side characters as well. I also found that despite the two viewpoints both characters still surprised me throughout the book!
Characters- The whole cast of characters were brilliantly distinctive and well written. I enjoyed all of their individual backgrounds and interactions but I'm going to comment on my favourites! I liked Nat especially seeing her from the two viewpoints, it was clear to see that her initial portrayal as just a popular girl was a façade as she had hidden depths, motivations and issues. Bishop and Heather's interactions and relationship also had hidden depths, and as the game progressed it became more and more complicated. I loved their easy friendship in the beginning and how obvious their feelings towards each other were. Anne was completely outside of the Carp/Panic world and seemed like a level headed person willing to offer Heather a decent job as well as encouraging her to do more with herself. I really enjoyed the extra layer she brought to the book.
 
What I Didn't love:
Lack of resolution- I felt the book could of done with an epilogue to give a more in depth ending or at least one more chapter from Dodge's point of view. I'm still wondering why certain characters did what they did!  I also felt some issues were skirted over e.g. Nat's possible Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Rating

I really enjoyed the concept and structure of Panic and all the twists and turns!

Have you read Panic?
Leave me a link to your review below if you've reviewed it!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Mini Reviews: Reveiw Copy Cleanup Edition!

 

The Only Exception by Magan Vernon

 
Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbour is the uber conservative governor's son, Trey Chapman.
No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.
A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.

Thoughts!

I really enjoyed the political aspects of this book. Although as I'm British I did find it hard to follow at times and the issues surrounding contraception completely went over my head. I liked Monica and how direct she was with her thoughts and actions especially with her roommate at the very beginning! I also found her very brave and resilient despite the circumstances. I really liked Trey as a character, he was such gentleman and respectful of Monica with their political difference. I think sometime his politics clouded his actions. Trey's family were refreshingly uncliched despite their political beliefs they were welcoming and friendly towards Monica. I really enjoyed the epilogue and how it wrapped up loose ends and showed how Monica fitted into the Republican family!

Rating!

I enjoyed the politics and the chemistry between Monica and Trey!

 

 Hearbeat by Elizabeth Scott.

Life. Death. And...Love?
Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.
But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.
Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.
Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

Thoughts

This book had such a deep and controversial core issue, it definitely humanised an issue and situation that is often showcased in the media with little attention to the people involved! I admired Emma as she was at the centre of this difficult situation and I think I identified with her as an only child of a single mother. I think she struggled to remember how things had truly been before the accident and also to have faith in Dan. It was hard for her to move on as her mother though technically dead was still there so she'd had no closure through a funeral or anything. It also made her a spectacle  at school, people were confused with how to deal with her. Olivia however was such a supportive and open friend who tried her best to be there for Emma which at times couldn't have been easy! I loved her side story with Roger and her techy parents! Caleb had his own background which I enjoyed learning about and understanding. I liked how he and Emma related to each other and how their friendship/relationship grew throughout the book

I wasn't too keen on Dan, I felt like he and Emma didn't really take an time to figure out their relationship without Emma's mum and he didn't quite understand how to reassure or relate to Emma after the accident.

I loved the journey Emma went on during the book as she dealt with her grief, anger and confusion and struggled with her relationships but ultimately started to repair her relationships, express herself better and say goodbye.

 Rating

 

Believe by Erin McCarthy

 Robin used to be a party girl… until she got black out drunk and woke up in bed with her best friend's boyfriend. Now she's faced with being THAT girl, and couldn't be more disgusted with herself. She can't even tell her friends the reason for her sudden sobriety and she avoids everyone until she meets Phoenix—quiet, tattooed, and different in every way that's good and oh, so bad…
Phoenix is two days out of jail when he meets Robin at his cousin's house, and he knows that he has no business talking to her, but he's drawn to her quiet demeanour, sweet smile, and artistic talent. She doesn't care that he's done time, or that he only has five bucks to his name, and she supports his goal to be a tattoo artist.
But Phoenix knows Robin has a secret, and that it's a naïve dream to believe that his record won't catch up with them at some point. Though neither is prepared for the explosive result when the past collides with the present…

 Thoughts

I really enjoy this series but I wasn't too keen on Robin before I read Believe. In less than a chapter I was completely taken in by Robin and Phoenix! Robin was a lot less confident than she had seemed through Jessica and Rory's eyes especially after the incident. It was refreshing to read about 'THAT girl' from a different perspective and to see  how Robin reacted and felt in regards to it. I think at times she blamed alcohol to heavily for the incident. I loved Phoenix, he seemed like such a cliché bad boy but turned out to be a sweet boy who lived a clean life according to his convictions. I admired how hard he worked and I enjoyed his banter with his cousins. The way he pursued Robin and saw the real her was just what they both needed! Once again great chemistry and a fresh relationship. I also enjoyed seeing how the group's dynamic changed and grew in this instalment and seeing them from the more outsider view of Phoenix. I'm looking forward to next book already!

 Rating

I love this series and each book is just an fresh and passionate as the last!

 

Related reviews:

The Only One by Magan Vernon.

True by Erin McCarthy.

Sweet by Erin McCarthy.

 

Three great books- thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read them!

 

Have you read any of them?

Can you recommend any other Elizabeth Scott books?

Much Love!

Lettie

Xxx

 

 

Finding It by Cora Carmack.

Kelsey Summers is looking for love in all the wrong places.
Spending a few months travelling around Europe - with no parents, no responsibilities and a no limit credit card - Kelsey's having the time of her life.
But when she completely embarrasses herself in front of the hottest guy she's ever seen, she soon realises there's more to life than the next party.
What she doesn't realise is that although she's on a journey to find herself, she will end up finding The One...

Thoughts

I knew I'd enjoy Kelsey's story throughout the series she has been the 'wild' one out of group so I was a expecting an exciting book! I was worried to begin with because sometimes European settings fall flat or overtake the story but I really loved the setting in Finding It.
The journeying aspect was very realistic and fed into the plot perfectly. I loved the Budapest night of Baths, I have to experience that for myself! The romantic portrayal of Italy was brilliant and again went with the plot. I actually found that the destinations and journeys complimented the plot at all the right times.
I enjoyed Kelsey, she was bold and brassy. She had a surprisingly deep and complex background which was slowly revealed and explained so much about her character. I loved how she grew into herself and as a person. I really respected how she travelled solo although at times she was completely reckless and needed to keep in contact better. 
I found Jackson such a mysterious character. The way he kept poping up wherever Kelsey was initially seem quite odd but he was so enigmatic and charming that it wasn't as weird as it could of been! I loved how he slowly warmed up to Kelsey and saw through her brassy exterior, especially his reactions to how bold she could be. I did find his secretive behaviour annoying at times though!
The ending for me was the best part as Kelsey had really grew as a person and become responsible and independent. She was no longer needlessly reckless and had started working on her familial relationships. The only bad part of this book was the lack of Cade! I was expecting an update at least!

Rating!

I loved Kelsey's journey figuratively and literally.

 

Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

That One Summer, Series Review!

 

The Boys of Summer

It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.
Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.
How did she let her friends talk her into working?
After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.
All with the one boy she has never been able to forget.
It will be a summer she will always remember.

An Endless Summer

Sean looked out over the lake, squinting against the sunlight. He turned to me, his expression sobering as his eyes flicked over my face in a silent study.
“Come on Amy, I saved you once, I’ll save you again.”
I met his stare unflinchingly. “I don’t need saving.”
A wicked grin formed slowly. “Don’t you?”
After a rebellious summer night that almost claimed her life, Amy Henderson – the Onslow publican’s only daughter – is sent away to suffer a fate far worse than any other punishment:
Boarding School.
Three years on, a now nineteen-year-old Amy returns to Onslow for the summer. What once was a cauldron of activity with live bands, hot meals and cold beers, the Onslow Hotel now lies dark, deserted and depressing. All fond childhood memories of loitering on the hotel stairs and eavesdropping on customers’ colourful conversations are in the distant past.
How had her dad let it come to this?
With the new threat of putting the Onslow up for sale, Amy reluctantly turns to a local tradesman for help: Sean Murphy, the very same Onslow boy who saved her life all those years ago. With his help and that of some old friends, the task is clear: spend the summer building the hotel back up to its former glory or lose it for good.
In an endless summer, Amy soon realises that sometimes in order to save your future, you have to face your past, even if it’s in the form of a smug, gorgeous Onslow boy.

That One Summer

Loving Chris Henderson would be wrong. Diabolically disastrous. I mean, what is there about him to love? He’s moody, bossy, brooding, a control freak, and that’s on a good day … but there was one achingly obvious fact that haunted my every thought, every minute of every day …
He sure could kiss.
As the countdown to the new millennium begins, there is one thing everyone agrees on: no one wants to be in Onslow for New Year’s Eve.
So that can only mean one thing: road trip!
No longer the mousey, invisible, shy girl from years ago, Tammy Maskala is finally making up for all those lost summers. A new year with new friends, which astoundingly includes the bossy boy behind the bar, Chris Henderson.
She likes her new friends (at least most of them), so why does she secretly feel so out of place?
After chickening out on the trip, a last-minute change of heart sees Tammy racing to the Onslow Hotel, fearing she’s missed her chance for a ride. The last thing she expected to meet was a less-than-happy Onslow Boy leaning against his black panel van.
Now the countdown begins to reach the others at Point Shank before the party is over and the new year has begun. Alone in a car with only the infuriating Chris Henderson, Tammy can’t help but feel this is a disastrous start to what could have been a great adventure. But when the awkward road trip takes an unexpected turn, Tammy soon discovers that the way her traitorous heart feels about Chris is the biggest disaster of all.
Fogged up windows, moonlight swimming, bad karaoke and unearthed secrets; after this one summer nothing will ever be the same again.

Overall Thoughts!

Setting-  I'm always on the look out for different settings especially Australia so I was thrilled to find a whole series! As I'm British the slang made much more sense to me than American slang and I loved that it was a summery Christmas read! Onslow was quaint and I enjoyed the lake setting. The Onslow Hotel was a fantastic base for the series and the characters. I loved how it evolved throughout the series as a workplace, a home and a business. I did however enjoy the road trip aspect of That One Summer as it gave the chance to experience more of Australia!

Characters- I loved almost the whole cast of characters especially their progression throughout the series. Tess, Ellie and Adam, who feature prominently in The Boys of Summer, are such a tight knit fun group of friends. I liked their chemistry and friendship . I loved revisiting their friendship, Tess and Toby's relationship and Adam and Ellie's obvious chemistry through in later books through different perspectives and over time.  Ellie and Adam are particular favourites of mine. Ellie seems to be quite a misunderstood character, other characters are always mistaking her actions or making assumptions about her. I love her energy and friendly personality. Adam is also such a fun light hearted character. I was sad he didn't feature as much as I'd anticipate in the first book but his later appearances show how perspective and thoughtful he is. I'm intrigued as to what he did in the army and looking forward to Ellie and Adam realising what a great couple they could be!
The Onslow Boys themselves were an interesting group! I loved how light hearted and witty they all were, with the exception of Chris. Stan was such a sweet guy, I loved his evolution throughout the series. Chris was very serious but it was great seeing him through different perspectives and finally in That One Summer seeing a fun relaxed side. Sean was my favourite Onslow boy, he was so witty and caring I loved how he helped Amy out in Endless Summer without any expectations. Amy and Tammy were a good duo, they were complete opposites! I liked how after a few years apart their perspectives of each other were equally as complimentary! 

Timeline- I really loved the time between the books. The first two had quite a large gap which was perfect for things to change and evolve however the ending of the second book left you with immediate questions so the gap was much shorter. I also enjoyed that the series takes place in the 1990s, it makes the books stand out and there is much less technology!
Plot-  I really enjoyed and loved how each book wasn't solely focussed on the main relationship. The characters developed and grew, the book's explored their friendships, families and education as well as updating all the Onslow news. Each book felt completely different plot and main character wise, this made the series well rounded, interesting and compelling.

 

 

The Boys of Summer

I always find the first book in a series involves a lot of scene setting and the characters of The Boys of Summer were much younger. I did love the camaraderie between Tess, Ellie and Adam and how Tess grew in confidence and self esteem throughout the summer. I loved the scene with Tess and Adam curtailing any romantic developments.
I found The Boys of Summer full of sweet moments and fun scenes!

 

An Endless Summer

Amy had seemed so bratty in The Boys of Summer so I was looking forward to finding out more about her. I loved her determination to bring the Onslow back to it's former glory. Sean had grown even more witty especially around Amy and the slow development of their relationship was well written. I loved how all the 'old' gang came back to help out and I'm looking forward to reading more about what they got up to! I think out of all the protagonists so far Amy grew the most as a person and found her direction.

 

That One Summer

If I'm honest I wasn't too sold on the idea of Tammy and Chris but this book changed my mind! Tammy was a completely different person to the persona Amy had given her and I found her very layered. Chris was still bossy and hard to read but he was visibly warmer to Tammy. I think they went perfectly together.  I did find Tammy's inability to read social situations e.g Ellie and Toby and Chris's feelings equally endearing and frustrating. The setting of a road trip and camping added a different dimension to this instalment which made a nice change. That One Summer had different feel to the others, possibly because Tammy was much more timid and on the outside, I loved the relationship between her and Chris and the 1999 setting.

I can't believe I left this series for so long! I cannot wait to catch up with all the  characters and finally get Ellie and Adam's story!

Which is your favourite?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx