Review: Be With Me(Wait For You # 2) by J.Lynn

Be With Me by J.Lynn

Publication Date:February 4th, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 387
Series: Wait For You
Source: Purchased E-book
Rating: 4/5
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Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn't spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

So I recently read my first J.Lynn book and good God the women writes literal book crack. I'm currently on my sixth book of hers in as many days. And I don't think there's any stopping me now. I will read ALL THE BOOKS.
Anyhow, I'm choosing to review Be With Me first because this one hit me more on a personal level.
I could relate 100% to Teresa and her injury. I too tore my ACL(among other things) when I was around her age. And it ruined my soccer playing career. I centered my life around that sport and then it just ended. I had to watch my team continue to play without me. It was awful. I was a moody bitch, to put it bluntly. It wasn't anyone's fault(even the girl who did it to me) but I was jealous and depressed. Years on I still haven't been able to go back to playing, but I have been coaching since then. And well, of course, I miss actually playing, coaching is the next best thing.
So that's my story and the way Teresa is feeling throughout Be With Me hit me. Those were my feelings to a tee. She has no idea what's going to happen with her life. She's had to fall back on plan B and obviously that is not where she wants to me. Knee injuries are very hard to come back from. You'll never be where you were before the injury. It takes a lot of physio and money to get that help you really need. And let's face it, only professional athletes get that. So the risk of re-injury is very high. I've had a few re-injuries. But thank God not anywhere close to what happened originally. And Teresa knows all this. She's lost her old friends because now they have nothing in common. They're off where she should be. Dancing for life. She feels weak and her body is changing. Add on top of that all the other shit that happens to her well at school and hell I think she's doing pretty well.

Jase in an ass. He was indecisive and selfish. Yes, he had a lot of baggage but the way he dragged Teresa along was again, purely selfish of him. Yes, it was clear he had strong feelings for her. But hell you gotta figure out your own shit before you bring someone into your life like that. Especially when he knew how much Teresa cared for him and wanted him.
I know that's a lot of cons for Jase but I didn't hate him. I just thought he wasn't making very smart decisions. And he did have good points too. How he was perceived was definitely masking his true feelings. And you had to feel for him too. I just enjoyed Avery and Cam's relationship in the first book, Wait For You a lot more. So I was comparing Jase to Cam just a little bit.

Armentrout's writing is definitely addictive. You just can't put these books down. There's been a lot of late nights these past few days. I almost want to recommend only starting one of her books when you have some interrupted hours to sit down and immerse yourself in these romances. And let me tell you, they're hot. Not holding back.
I am impatiently waiting for the information regarding the next book in the series. Who's story are we getting? Britt's and Ollie's?! Jacob and an unknown?! TELL ME!

Happy reading!

Brittany

Top 5 Wednesday: Books Into Movies

Hey guys! I'm excited to join the Top 5 Wednesday Family.
Make sure to head over to the Goodreads group to check out all the rest of the awesome bloggers and bootubers that take part. You can also use the #T5WFamily on Twitter.

This weeks topic is:

Top 5 Books I want to See be Made into a Movie

5. Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

As many people have said, this one reads like a movie. And it's so true. Full of action and great characters. I think this one would appeal to all types of people if it hit the theatres.

4. Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer

This one is also full of action. Fantastic dialogue. Hot boys. Very hot boys. Just imagine staring at a screen for two hours if the casting was done right. Mmmhmmmm...

3. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

I love this one! It would make a super cute rom-com. Poor girl falls for rich guy. But it's the characters that drive this one. So witty. If the script followed the book dialogue, this would easily become a favourite movie to go with the book.

2. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Again, I love the characters and story. But what I would love to see is the travel through remote Central American locations. It would make this an absolutely visually stunning movie.

1. Across the Universe Trilogy by Beth Revis

Being an absolute fangirl for anything space related(note:I'm a HUGE Trekkie), of course I wanna see this be made. Space, mystery, romance, space, action. This trilogy has it all. And by the time Shades of Earth comes around, you get to see a new planet. Yea!

I'm excited to take part in this weekly meme. Let me know down below if you are too. Or books you need to see made into movies too!

Happy reading!

Brittany

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Just Had to Buy But Still Haven't Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme held by The Broke and the Bookish.

This weeks topic is:

Top Ten Tuesday Rewind: so I went with:
Books I Just Had To Buy But Still Haven't Read

I'm pretty sure this describes every book on my TBR. And there A LOT of books on my TBR shelves. I NEED ALL THE BOOKS!
Anyhow, here are some of the books I don't know why I haven't got around to yet.

Gravity(The Taking #1) by Melissa West
Earth Girl(Earth Girl #1) by Janet Edwards
Dark Triumph(His Fair Assassin #2) by Robin LaFevers
My Life Next Door(My Life Next Door #1) by Huntley Fitzpatrick
The Cuckoo's Calling(Cormoran Strike #1) by Robert Galbraith
The Bone Season(The Bone Season #1) by Samantha Shannon
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea(Between #1) by April Genevieve Tucholke
Antigoddess(Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake
Never Fade(The Darkest Minds #2) by Alexndra Bracken
How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Link up your TTT below. Or let me know what books you've bought but have yet to read. Yet...

Happy reading!

Brittany

Review: White Space(Dark Passages #1) by Ilsa J. Bick

White  Space by Ilsa J. Bick

Publication Date: February 11th, 2014
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 560
Series: Dark Passage
Source: Netgalley/Publisher
Rating: 2/5
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Seventeen-year-old Emma Lindsay has problems: a head full of metal, no parents, a crazy artist for a guardian whom a stroke has turned into a vegetable, and all those times when she blinks away, dropping into other lives so ghostly and surreal it's as if the story of her life bleeds into theirs. But one thing Emma has never doubted is that she's real.

Then she writes "White Space," a story about these kids stranded in a spooky house during a blizzard.

Unfortunately, "White Space" turns out to be a dead ringer for part of an unfinished novel by a long-dead writer. The manuscript, which she's never seen, is a loopy Matrix meets Inkheart story in which characters fall out of different books and jump off the page. Thing is, when Emma blinks, she might be doing the same and, before long, she's dropped into the very story she thought she'd written. Trapped in a weird, snow-choked valley, Emma meets other kids with dark secrets and strange abilities: Eric, Casey, Bode, Rima, and a very special little girl, Lizzie. What they discover is that they--and Emma--may be nothing more than characters written into being from an alternative universe for a very specific purpose.

Now what they must uncover is why they've been brought to this place--a world between the lines where parallel realities are created and destroyed and nightmares are written--before someone pens their end.

I don't know how to review this book. So this is going to be short.

White Space is beyond confusing. For most of this book I thought Bick's only reason for writing it was to mess with her readers. It's told from multiple POV's. So well reading some of them I thought I had a grasp on what might be going down, but than it would quickly change to someone else's and I'd go back to "WTF?".
Reading the summary of White Space it sounds like quite a cool concept. It's blurring the line between reality for the characters. At most points they don't know what or who is real. The problem is the execution is just to confusing to come across as cool. Words for different realities are never really explained until half-way through the book. And it took way to much thinking and re-reading of certain passages to try and get what was going on. I also felt the pacing was a bit off. It was either very fast or very slow.

I think this one is going to be for a certain reader and unfortunately I am not that reader. But for the ones that like something that is super creepy thriller that is also going to keep you wondering what the hell is actually going on than I suggest you give White Space a go. It's honestly a very unique concept when you figure out what that concept is.

Happy reading!

Brittany

Showcase Sunday #24

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme held by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It allows fellow bloggers to show off any books or bookish things they've compiled over the week.

GOLD!!!! #WeAreWinter
So like most of Canada, was up super early this morning to watch the game. #CanadaProud
And now, like every time the Olympics are over, I don't know what to do with my life. Been super immersed in them. #Whatislife
Also went to an author event yesterday for Morgan Rhodes/Michelle Rowen, Lesley Livingston and Eve Silver. Only about 10 of us there. So that was pretty cool.

Purchased

Tidal(Watersong #3) by Amanda Hocking
Furries of Calderon(Codex Alera #1) by Kim Butcher
Terrier(Beka Copper #1) by Tamora Pierce

Wait For You(Wait For You #1) by J.Lynn
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

E-Books Purchased

Be With Me(Wait For You #2) by J.Lynn

I already owned Wait For You on my Kindle. I also just read it and loved it. Than I was walking around my book store and saw it there and it says "signed first edition." So obviously not passing that up!
Let me know if you've read any of these. Also what you got this book. Or hook me up to your weekly haul.

Happy reading!

Brittany

TAG: Bookish Academy Awards

I've been seeing this TAG over on  booktube the past few days and thought it looked pretty fun.
The TAG was created by Kayla over at BOOKadooodles. You should definitely check her out.
Pretty much she's was just getting in the spirit of the Oscars(which are coming up soon) with the below 15 categories.
All my winners are books or from books I read in 2013.

And the winners are:

Best Actor(Best Male Protagonist): Froi

Best Actress(Best Female Protagonist): Celaena Sardothien 

Best Cinematography(Best Plot Twist): These Broken Stars

Best Costume Design(Best Book Cover: Fangirl

Best Supporting Actor(Best Male Sidekick): Strumhond

Best Supporting Actress(Best Female Sidekick): Suz

Best Original Screenplay(Most Unique World or Plot): Crewel- for its world

Best Adapted Screenplay(Best Book-to-Movie Adaptation): Catching Fire

Best Animated Feature(Book that Would Work Well in Animated Form): Kingdom Keepers

Best Director(Writer You Discovered): Brigid Kemmerer & Jessica Sorensen

Best Visual Effects(Best Action in a Book): The House of Hades

Best Musical Score(Music in Book-to-Movie Adaptation): The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Best Short Film(Best Novella or Short Book): No Place Like Oz

Best Picture(Best Stand-Alone): Me Before You

Best Documentary(Best Historical or Non-Fiction): Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography

Congrats to the winners. Awards are in the mail. :)

I'm going to tag a few people too.
Samantha @ The Secret Life of A Bookworm
Jen @ EbonyInkReviews
Ula @ Blog of Erised

Happy reading!

Brittany

Miniviews #3: Of Poseidon, This is What Happy Looks Like & These Broken Stars

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Publication Date: May 1st, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 324
Series: The Syrena Legacy
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3/5

I know a lot of readers who have this problem, but I've yet to come across a mermaid book that I love. It's really pissing me off. It wasn't the story that threw me off here, because I did enjoy the general premise of Banks mermaids. It was that it feel into a lot of the YA traps. Insta-love, Bella Swan type female, alpha male, star-crossed lovers, white washing, sexism, etc... I did find myself LOL'ing though. And having met Banks in person, I can confirm that she is extremely hilarious. So it was nice to see that come through in the writing. It did end on a bit of a cliff-hanger, and honestly I didn't see that twist coming(which is very obvious once revealed). So I am looking forward to continuing on.

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Publication Date: April 2nd, 2013
Publisher: Headline
Pages: 416
Source: Purchased E-book
Rating: 4/5

Awwww...Seems to be the best way to describe a Smith book. I definitely need those light hearted reads every once in awhile. I'm happy to have found another author I can turn to into those times. This is What Happy Looks Like starts with a miss-sent email. Which than turns into an online relationship this two teens end up sharing. They feel they can tell each other anything, because they'll probably never meet in real life. Of course both of them are keeping secrets. One a very big one, he's a huge movie star. When our young lovers do meet, finally, a lot of crap gets in there way. I really liked how Smith dealt with the uncertainty in both Graham's and Ellie's lives. Graham hates that he's in the spot light, he just wants a normal life. He loves being an actor, but not what he has to sacrifice to stay one. He's relationship with his parents, his privacy,etc... I liked that he wasn't soaking up the spot light, he was a little emotional about his life. Also with Ellie, when she found out who Graham actually was, she had a little O.M.G. heart flutter, because he's a movie star. But that quickly changed into uncertainty about being involved in his life and what that would entitle. She's trying to keep her life low-key for a reason. Their relationship progressed and changed, without the insta-love.

These Broken Star by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Publication Date: December 10th, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 374
Series: Starbound
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5/5

This was one of my most eagerly anticipated releases of 2013. And what a relief it was that I loved it. Space Opera's are my thing. These Broken Stars offered more than just the romance. At it's heart, this book is a survival story. Lilac and Tarver are from totally different classes, but when I think about it, not totally different people. They're both trying to live up to something, be good enough and who they're supposed to be to their families. Their relationship is rocky to start with. Trust is an issue. Be hell they've just crashed onto to an unfamiliar planet. A planet I would not want to find myself on. Shit is crazy. What is real? Who the hell knows! Totally engrossing, romantic sci-fi thriller. So many twists and turns. Especially in the last quarter of the book. Did not see that coming! I am so excited to continue on with this companion series. What else can Amie and Meagan throw at us?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Showcase Sunday #23

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme held by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It allows fellow bloggers to show off any books or bookish things they've compiled over the week.

Everyone as immersed in the Olympics as I am? Canada is a winter sport country. So we always kick ass at the winter Olympics. I couldn't be more proud of our athletes. What am I going to do when they are over? I guess impatiently wait for the World Cup to start...
On to books. I was so good until last night. See what boredom does to me, makes me go to the book store. Here come my excuses; one was a pre-order, two were finished copies of books I've already read, one is for a book signing I'm going to next weekend and the other one I just wanted. Totally logical reasoning. Yup...

Purchased

Perfect Lies(Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White
The Queen's Choice(Heirs of Chrior #1) by Cayla Kluver
Once Every Never(Never #1) by Lesley Livingston

Defy(Defy #1) by Sara B Larson
White Space(Dark Passages #1) by Ilsa J. Bick

E-books Purchased

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Hopefully I won't have any physical books to show next week. This week I did a physical tally of all my TBR books and well let's just say I was more than surprised by the total. I did add a tab up top if it's something that interests you.
As always, hook up your weekly haul below. Or let me know what you got this week.

Happy reading!

Brittany

Review: Saving Quinton(Nova #2) by Jessica Sorensen

Saving Quinton by Jessica Sorensen

Publication Date: ebook: February 4th, 2014 and paperback: February 5th, 2015
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 384
Series: Nova
Source: Netgalley/publisher
Rating: 4/5
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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...


My love affair of Jessica Sorensen's books started with Breaking Nova a few months ago. So I was pretty excited to get to continue on Nova and Quinton's stories. And let me tell you, if you thought the first book was quite dark well this one is a hell of a lot darker.

Nova has mostly cleaned up her act. She's in college and volunteering with a suicide help line. But she can't get Quinton out of her head. It's been almost a year since she last saw him and she's worried. She has no idea where he is or even if he's alive.
Nova has serious remorse over not being able to save Landon. Obviously it is not even close to her fault, but it's understandable that she feels this way. But this leads into her needing to find Quinton and doing what she couldn't do for Landon; save him.
She eventually gets a hold of him and finds out he's living in Vegas. So off she goes , with her roommate, to get Quinton into rehab. The problem with this is after doing some research she thinks that it will be a possible task. Little does she know how far into the darkness Quinton has slipped.

Quinton wants to die. The blame and responsibility he feels for the death of his girlfriend and cousin is never ending. Because he thinks he deserves it, and when he's high he feels a bit of numbness, he's taken a turn into the more hard hitting drugs. It's no longer just weed. He's in a constant state of high living in the very seedy part of Vegas.
It's really hard to be in Quinton's head. He's a smart guy. But his thoughts are depressing and drug fueled. It's all about his next high. And like I said, it's because he thinks he deserves this life. His cousin on the other hand, he doesn't. It's obvious what a caring person Quinton is. His constant worry over the stupid shit Tristan is doing is his most redeeming trait.
Quinton also can't get the thought of Nova out his head. Whenever he can get into doing his art, she's the one he draws. And magically one day she shows up back into his life. Although he doesn't want her there.

The world Sorensen immerses us in is terrifying. You can see that through Nova's eyes when she's around Quinton. She honestly could have been hurt or worse(she did have a gun held to her) at anytime. But it's those times you're in Quinton's POV that is the hardest to read. Nova paints us a picture, but it's only the topping of how a lot addicts are living. And I use the term living very loosely. Quinton is on the brink of total destruction. He's scared for his life, but it all comes back to him thinking he deserves it. So why try for better?

I know there's at least one more book to come in this series and I'm extremely interested how Quinton will take sobriety. This book wasn't even close to the romance it had in the first one. But both Nova and Quinton believe they have deep feelings for each other. I can believe Quinton's more than Nova's. It's obvious that Nova's main goal was to save Quinton. So now that she's somewhat accomplished that, will her feelings change? I can't wait to continue their stories!

Happy reading!

Brittany

My Book Boyfriends

In honour of Valentine's Day, I thought I would share my top book boyfriends. I seem to have a very wide taste in my fictional men. But God, they are all so hot!
Now since I'm putting this list on my blog it obviously means that all these boys are mine. This post solidifies my claim on them. They are mine! Forever!
Ahem....
Anyhow, I'm a very fickle person and(new) hot fictional men are always catching my attention. So these are the ones that have my heart right now.

10. Strumhond from Siege and Storm: Sense of humour is always one those top traits I want. And well add sarcastic, prince and pirate in there and that's why he makes my list.
9. Tucker from the Unearthly Trilogy: Hot rugged cowboy with a massive heart. *swoons*
8. Owen from Just Listen: Looks can be deceiving. Hard exterior. But underneath it all he's a very caring, philosophical music addict.
7. Ash from the Iron Fey Series: The ice prince. Except my heart melts for him(ha ha). He might be a little emo. But really he's just has a very unloving family. So all he needed was a little love.
6. Jem from The Infernal Devices: I know, it's not Will. And trust me I love Will. But Jem is just more what my heart wants. He puts up with Will. But he's also sweet, musical, loyal, heroic and beautiful.

5. Isaiah from Crash Into You: I'll admit that Isaiah didn't really catch my eyes throughout the first two books. But holy crap! What a surprise he was. This foster kid, bad boy who is a total sweetheart. He just wants to make his own way. Which means he cares. Asdfghjkl!
4. Gabriel from the Elemental Series: Alright, he might be a little bit of a jackass. Or has a strong personality, easy to anger. But really he just blames himself for his parents death. He has a lot of self doubt. And that can make him emotional. So of course I just can't help but want to comfort him. And c'mon! He can control fire. He's literally a hot firefighter!
3. Jamie from the Outlander Series: Now you want a man? Jamie is a man! In all his Scottish ruggedness. One of my first book boyfriends, and there's a reason he's still sticking around.
2. Chaol from the Throne of Glass Series: Captain of the guard. There's always something about those guys. Tasked with protecting and leading their city. Always have the highest respect given to them. Chaol is that dark handsome kind with the big heart.
1. Ron from Harry Potter: I love me a ginger. The ultimate loyal sidekick. His personality is right in line with mine. A little lazy and sarcastic. With a strong family values. I don't think Ron could ever lose his spot at the top of my heart.

Happy Valentine's Day!



Brittany