Tag: issues

Posted in J. Sterling, New Adult

The Perfect Game – J. Sterling

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

15783307Synopsis

He’s a game she never intended to play.
And she’s the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind… like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They’re both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful…

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

My Review

“You’re both so screwed up alone that together you’re like the perfect mess.”

I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve had The Perfect Game on my kindle for a few weeks now, and every time I have gone to read it, I have been scared and chosen another book. The reason? When I download books, I read reviews, as do many other people, but I read one review that said something really bad happens and if you follow me on twitter or have read some of my reviews, you know I become too emotionally attached to books, the storylines and the characters, and I knew, if I read this book, I’d probably have my heart ripped out and throw my kindle away from me. And that is exactly what I did reading this book. But it was worth every second because I fell head over heels in love with this book from the beginning.

College junior Cassie Andrews and her best friend and roommate Melissa end up going to a frat party and that is when Cassie and Jack meet. Jack is your typical manwhore who gets any women he wants until he meets Cassie who is turned off by his charms and won’t give him the time of day. Jack’s cocky and always gets what he wants but when Cassie bites back, something switches in him and he pursues her until she relentlessly gives in to a date with him. Only one date though, and then he’ll leave her alone. But things aren’t always that easy when it comes to Jack when she gets to know him, the real him over dinner and that’s when everything changes for the both of them.

You find out that Jack isn’t all that cocky and deep down he’s been burnt badly by his parents leaving him and his brother when they were younger and that he has major trust issues, hence why he only sleeps with a girl once and lets them pursue him. He’s way out of his comfort zone with Cassie, but he knows there is something different about him than all the other girls. She doesn’t care that he’s an athlete, she only cares about him as a person and that’s when he knows he wants something more with her. She asks him to prove it, and that’s exactly what he does. Proves he can be a one women man, especially for Cassie.

Their relationship started off great, apart from the group of girls constantly making snide comments about Cassie. Things are perfect for them but they both have major trust issues especially Cassie. Her issues stem from her Dad who never follows through with his promises and so because of this, Cassie finds it hard to trust any man. Jack’s issues are from his parents leaving and the fact he’s never been in a relationship so he keeps telling Cassie he will screw up eventually. But together, they both refuse to let anyone get in-between them; they are determined to make this relationship work.

To see Jack change for Cassie was beautiful. She’s the one girl who sees Jack for who he really is and not the cocky, manwhore that everyone else sees. He’s real with her and it seemed that he needed Cassie as much as she needed him. As their relationship blossoms and they have been through a lot to get through to the other side, Jack has been drafted for his Baseball and is travelling and Cassie is doing well in college and has earned herself a photography internship. Things are going great but as any great book, nothing good ever lasts too long and things change dramatically over night between them when they are apart.

I screamed, shouted and threw my kindle away from me while I took in what I had just read. Then when I got my breathing back to normal and read the next page few pages, I did it all over again. To say I was affected was an understatement. I just couldn’t believe what I had read. It made me hate Jack for what he had done to Cassie after telling her he would never hurt her. I couldn’t condone what he had done, but then I felt remorse towards him. He felt so sorry and guilt was eating him up that he knew the right thing was to own up to Cassie about it, even though he knew he would lose her and that’s what he never wanted to do – she was his life. Then the way he handled it, going to the extreme of what he did, even when everyone was telling him not to, it got me frustrated and angry at him again. I know he wanted to make things right, but to do that? There was really no need, but in a way I could see his reasoning’s but it was definitely the wrong way to go as it backfired on him.

I am really glad that you get to see Jack’s POV in certain chapters. If we didn’t, I would have definitely hated him throughout the book, wondering if it was a bet or something to try and be with Cassie but alas, don’t worry, it’s not and he truly does want Cassie forever, which I thought was amazingly sweet.

This book goes through a journey. A journey of love, changes, breaking down barriers, heartbreak and friendship. There is a happy ending for both Jack and Cassie and after everything that they went through; the way he apologized would clinch at my heartstrings too. The ending was positively perfect in my opinion and although after everything that happens between the pair and many would probably not forgive him; it seemed the right choice for Cassie to do so. I, for one, am so excited to read book two The Game Changer, when it is out in 2013. Please hurry up and release it J.Sterling!!

Posted in New Adult

On Dublin Street – Samantha Young

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————–

My Review

“Gentlemen are gentlemen in bed. They make sure you’re having a good time.”
“I’ll make sure you’re having a good time, and that you’re okay with everything we’re doing. I just won’t be well-mannered about it.”

I had seen everyone raving about this book for a couple of weeks, but due to the up-rise of books like 50 Shades, I was sceptical of reading this, thinking it was the same. But jeeze was I ever wrong in that!! I downloaded this book yesterday afternoon and I had finished it by the evening. I did have a 5 hour break where I had to go to work; otherwise I would have finished it even sooner.  It drew me in from the first page and I just knew that I would fall in love with this book. I wasn’t mistaken at all. It’s nothing like 50 Shades, if you’re looking for something different to that whole BDSM stories that are now around.

Jocelyn Butler has gone through so much in her 22 years. She lost her parents and baby sister when she was 14 and then a year later she lost her best friend. To say she’s emotionally scarred by this is an understatement. She has serious trust issues and doesn’t let anyone close enough in fear that she will lose them too sooner or later. So after coming to university in Edinburgh and studying for four years, she is now looking for a flat as her best friend’s Rhian and James have moved to London. Whilst on the way to view a flat and meet its owner, she shares a taxi with a mysterious man (Who is absolutely oozing sex appeal) and they banter the whole way to her destination.

She then meets Ellie, the flat’s owner and after talking, Ellie decides she wants Jocelyn to move in. What Joss doesn’t know is that The Suit (The guy from the taxi) is Ellie’s brother and living there means she will see more of him. Because of this, she’s in a rut. Ellie is an outgoing, happy and funny girl and then there is Braden – The Suit – who is absolutely gorgeous and he can’t keep his eyes off her every time they are together. The attraction to one another is off the scale and although she tries to fight it at every corner, it’s impossible seeing as Braden wants her and he always gets what he wants.

Jocelyn, or Joss as she demands to be called, is a very complicated young woman. As I’ve mentioned, she’s been through a lot in her short years becoming a wild party animal to forget everything but four years ago she stopped everything and moved to Scotland to go to university. She’s a closed book – not letting anyone in fear of becoming hurt if they leave and not telling anyone about her past because she wants to keep it buried. But when she moves in with Ellie, her walls are slowly starting to crumble down. Her and Ellie become friends fast and Braden keeps pursuing and flirting with her. She doesn’t know what to do and it’s confusing her over how much she’s starting to care for these people when she doesn’t want to feel anything. She does start going to a psychiatrist and she begins to heal…slowly.

Braden stole my heart from the first moment he appeared. He oozes sex appeal and from the first moment he and Joss meet, there is an obvious connection between them. Braden isn’t the type of guy to stay with a girl longer than a few weeks after being burnt by a previous relationship, but there is something about Joss that he can’t get enough of. He seems to understand every little thing and feeling coming from Joss, which in turn frightens her. He’s possessive, bossy but cares for Joss immensely. They both know there is something between them, but because Joss doesn’t do relationships, he decides to take what he can get and proposes a ‘friends with benefits’ deal for three months to her and yes, you guessed it, she accepts. With much persuasive I must add. But this is just the beginning for the both of them and Joss’s feelings are starting to slowly change and its scaring her to let Braden in and he’s getting so close to her so when she keeps trying to break up with him because of her issues and freak-outs, he doesn’t let them issues affect their time together. They are just completely perfect for one another.

I really loved how much Brandan cared for Joss. When her walls did crumble, and they went through a rough patch, he gave her space, but he always wanted her back. He was with her throughout everything and when she told him her past, my heart fluttered. It was great to see him care so much and want to help her through her past and her pain. Going with her back to America to get closure was one of the best things he could have done. And it made me love him even more.

The only and only thing I did despise about Braden was what he said to her on one of the pages. I absolutely screamed at my Kindle and then the next page he said he was lying, just to get a reaction from her. I wanted to kill him for being so utterly horrid but then I suppose he was trying to see if she really did care about him like he did with her. He redeemed himself after that and he stole my heart again and all was forgiven.

Ellie, Braden’s sister is such a gem. She’s outgoing, fun, chatty and such a happy character. It was hard not to fall in love with her right away. She is the perfect flatmate and friend you could have. She does have a big storyline in this book and I was devastated when I found out what was going on, but she’s a tough girl and I knew she would get through it.

I love, love, love this book! It had everything. It’s a book about love, trust and passion. It takes you on a journey; Dealing with your inner demons, building friendships, letting people in and falling in love no matter how hard you try not to. It has something for everyone so what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy now and fall in love with all the characters, especially Braden and Ellie!

Here’s to looking forward to book two!!

Posted in New Adult

Ten Tiny Breaths (Ten Tiny Breaths #1) – K.A. Tucker

Posted on by Z. Elizabeth

15990969Synopsis

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.

But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

My Review

Twenty year old Kelsey has been through some hardships in her life. After being the sole survivor of an horrendous car crash which tore her apart from the people she loved and having her uncle almost molest her younger sister Livie, Kelsey decides enough is enough and acting as Livie’s guardian, they run away to Miami to start over again. But since everything changed in her life, Kelsey is bitter, angry, and full of pain. She’s a different person from the old Kelsey and because of this; she doesn’t let anyone in and makes them keep their distance. But that is until she meets her new neighbour. He’s good looking, charming, knows how to push Kelsey’s buttons and pushes her to be more open, not just with him but with her other neighbour, Storm.

Trent is just what you’d love in a guy. He’s charming, playful, protective and attractive in every way. I felt drawn to him from the moment he appeared in the page. But he does have his own issues and secrets that he’s kept from Kelsey and of course, when they are out in the open, everything drastically changes for the both of them.

From the synopsis, if seems like one of those stories where you know what is going to happen, but alas, that is not so. I was so surprised by it all that it kept me on my toes and kept me turning page after page to find out more.

I loved how Kelsey on every page seemed to come out of her shell bit by bit. She started off closed off even though her neighbours were trying to get to know her, but her anger and hard exterior didn’t want anything to do with them. But breaking down the barriers and you read about an amazing friendship between her and her neighbour 23 year old Storm and her five year old daughter Mia. I absolutely loved Storm and Mia – they also brought the story to life and you see into their past and their life too, as they all spend a lot of time with each other, especially as Mia and Livie spend a lot of time together.

The one thing that stuck out to me was in fact how emotionally damaged (?) and exhausted with everything Kelsey was. She had been through so much and Trent just wanted to make her happy and smile every time they were together. He was the one she turned to the most, until everything fell apart near the end.

The last 20% of the book is such a shocker. I actually kinda guessed a part of the story a couple of chapters before everything happens due to something someone said in the book, but I didn’t want it to be true at all! Ten Tiny Breaths made me react the same way The Edge of Never did right at the end. The last 20% had me crying my eyes out and gasping and feeling every single emotion Kelsey and Trent were. I love it when you feel a connection to the characters, and that’s exactly how I felt reading about their ‘relationship’ at the end.

Ten Tiny Breaths is a definite read and be kind to yourself, buy this book as a Christmas present because it is such a great read about love, friendship, forgiveness , letting others into your life and second chances.

I literally cannot wait for the second book, which will be about Livie and her life. I really do hope that Kelsey and Trent get a cameo as I’d love to see what they are up to since this book.