review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Disaster ~ Jamie McGuire

5 of 5 stars

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match. (summary thanks to GoodReads.com)

My Thoughts:

I haven’t read an entire book in a day in a long time. I don’t know what it is about this book, but it grabbed me and didn’t let go until I was done. I just could not put it down. I really liked the plot, characters and relationships. Abby and Travis were just perfect together. I think that they brought out the worst and best in each other, but they were real and honest with each other – which I think is so important for a relationship to last. Their chemistry is hot and their love for each other is deeply felt in the story.

Travis was my favorite character. He was badass, hot and smart. He knew there was something about Abby and wasn’t going to lose the chance to find out that something was. I’m glad he, in a roundabout way, went after what he wanted. There were times when I thought Abby was completely immature and wanted to smack her. The side characters are great as well – I loved America and Shepley. Travis’s family of pretty cool and Abby’s father is horrific.

I think the story was well paced, easy to read and well written. I enjoyed the age of the characters and well as the setting. Abby’s side of the story was great and I look forward to reading Travis’s.

review: Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones

Death and the Girl Next Door ~ Darynda Jones

4 of 5 stars

Things get turned upside down for sophomore Lorelei MacAlister when the Angel of Death starts high school in her small town. What she doesn’t know is that she has been slated to die. It’s simply her time. And Death has been sent to do the deed. But when he touches her, when he peers into her eyes and reaches into her heart, he realizes she is more than what he was led to believe, and he disobeys his orders. He brings her back from the brink of death when he was supposed to push her into it. Because of this, he gets trapped on this plane. And that’s when all hell breaks loose. Literally. (summary thanks to GoodReads.com)

My Thoughts: 

Great story! I enjoyed the general idea of the unique story and liked the interaction between the characters as well. I think Lorelei reminded me a lot of Charley Davidson, but then she had her own individual quirks too. I totally thought is was going to be a love triangle, and was kind of hoping so, but still the story did not disappoint. I did think that at times, the language and pop-culture references may have been a little out-dated and more suited for someone my age. Is it bad that I wanted the teenagers to find love and hook-up? It might be, but I did anyways. The chemistry between Lorelei and Jared is tense and explosive. I loved it. Well written with sad, funny and action-packed parts.  The story is fast paced, easy to read and enthralling. I can't wait for the next edition to the series :)

review: Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian

Edge of Dawn ~ Lara Adrian 

4 of 5 stars

In this pulse-pounding and thrillingly sensual novel, New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian returns to the mesmerizing world of the Midnight Breed, following new characters into a dark future where an uneasy peace can unravel into war—and a great betrayal can mask an all-consuming love.

Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost.

Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return.

Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts. (summary thanks to GoodReads.com)

Review:

**SPOILER ALERT**

So the beginning of the book kinds of throws me off, just because it jumps right to the future – 20 years after the violent attack on humanity called the First Dawn. It took a bit to get used to, the world being upended and always on the cusp of war between races. I liked the character of Mira and who she grew up to be, but I didn't love her. I also wanted to pummel Kellan for most of the book. I can not stand, absolutely abhor, stories/situations when the man makes some kind of decision without talking it out with anyone and totally let it rule his life. Ugh. Seriously. He made his vision come true. Had he not acted, none of it would have happened. He realized that, but way too late in the game.

I love this series and thought it was a good addition, but it's not my favorite book in the line. I think if the author maybe would have started off the book with glimpses of their past together, maybe the chemistry/passion/love would have shone through a little stronger. It was there, it just didn't grip me or make me feel it. Don't' get me wrong, their sensual scenes were hot – as Lara Adrian can so excellently write them – but it felt more like hookin' up sessions than makin' love sessions, if you know what I mean.

The progression of the story is fast paced and interesting. I enjoyed the bits of past characters and the bits about new ones. I think some interesting lead-offs are in our near future. Great story, great series!!