Mini Reviews: Perfect Couple, Finding It, Trial by Fire, Sinner

Hey, guys! It's been so long since my last review. I'm all done with exams, yay! Now I have a week long break before spring semester starts. Going to re-energize and hopefully get some commenting done. I hope you've all been wonderful! *hugs* I was going to write full reviews for all of these, but I decided to write a post with multiple mini reviews instead. Let me know what you thought of these books :)


Title: Perfect Couple (Superlatives #2)
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: January 15th 2015
Read: Nov 29th, 2014
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

Can your heart be put to a popular vote?

As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents' bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.

Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they've found themselves drawn together--first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.

The trouble is, though they're very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?

It's more like 3.5, I think. Loved the main ship a whole bunch and they are ridiculously cute together. Plus swoony kissing, you guys!!! I didn't connect with the MC, to be honest, and the book was often over dramatic, but regardless, still enjoyable. Echols doesn't shy away from sex talk and sexier themes which is good seeing as it's YA and teenagers aren't oblivious to these things after all. It also has different races when it comes to characters and LGBT themes which is very appreciated. [Highlight to see a slight (?) spoiler] I'm so glad that it didn't have any L-bombs because the book takes place within a week or so and expressing love would have been just too much. DID I SAY SWOONY KISSING ALREADY???

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5.0
Stars: ★★★

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Thank you to Simon Pulse and Edelweiss for providing an arc. My thoughts are my own 

and in no way did the review copy affect my opinion on the book.

Title: Finding It (Losing It #3)
Author: Cora Carmack
Published: October 10th, 2013
Read: Dec 4th to 15th, 2014
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong...

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

Ok, so Cora Carmack is a NA author whose books I adore! She makes me laugh, gives me butterflies and her books are simply the kind you just fly through. However, this is the first occasion where I've found myself.. very lukewarm towards a book of hers. I loved the traveling aspect and the "finding-oneself" storyline, because I can relate to that, but as a whole, this book was a big disappointment for me. It was so predictable, the whole plot was [highlight to view a major plot spoiler] Chasing Liberty or First Daughter  in a book form and most of it had me rolling my eyes, because even though I can relate to Kelsey wanting to find herself as a person, she annoyed me so much that I wanted to dnf. There were times where I found myself enjoying the book and those were mostly the traveling parts. A few butterflies-in-my-stomach moments aside, this book just didn't impress me. I know this is an exception to the rule when it comes to Cora's books, and my love for them, but it's still an unfortunate exception. I hope that if you haven't read it yet, you'll enjoy it a whole lot more!

Overall rating: 2.0 out of 5.0
Stars: ★★

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodread

Title: Trial by Fire (Worldwalker #1)
Author: Josephine Angelini
Published: August 28th, 2014
Read: Dec 19th to 23rd, 2014
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

The world is pretty awesome, but we still don't really know why Lillian picked Lily for her world and not another version of herself from a different world. I liked some of the characters (Caleb, Lily's sister), but some just annoyed me (Lillian, for instance). I'm not really sure why all of these killings, bans etc are necessary and how they help to achive her peace or whatever. Plus her reason for doing this made me really question her as a decent character and a semi-villain. Also, while there was a decent plot and I liked Lily's quest to finding the power within her, I found that she got the hang of her powers really easily. Too easily even. I would have liked to have seen her struggle with it.

What else? Ummmm. Oh! It's pretty insta-loveish, but in a way it's understandable considering the parallel universe thing. Good thing the romance plotline was more on the background. I saw some major twists coming and it felt as if Angelini was trying to explain everything in detail and I was in physics class all over again. Which is fine seeing as the novel's idea is pretty much based on thermodynamics laws, but I felt as though some of the things were over explained.

As a whole, I felt compelled to listen to the book (though the narration wasn't my favorite since all the voices sounded the same), but at the same time, it wasn't as special as I thought it would be. It was a decent first book in a series. Maybe I'll even pick up the 2nd book since the ending was a cliff hanger and a pretty interesting one. We'll see!

Overall rating: 3.3 out of 5.0
Stars: ★★★

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Title: Sinner (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #4)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Published: July 1st 2014
Read: Dec 30th, 2014 to Jan 3rd, 2015
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

A standalone companion book to the internationally bestselling Shiver Trilogy.

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

Really loved it! I didn't remember how much I loved Isabel and Cole until I picked this up. I cried a single tear (though it would have been more if I hadn't been fighting it; it was like Battle of the Five Armies all over again where those tears just wouldn't back down and one single tear still managed to escape regardless of rapid blinking), had goosebumps all over my body and loved the writing as always with Maggie's novels. What I had problems with were the ending parts, because I felt like they were a little rushed? I wanted more and I wanted for Cole and Isabel to talk it out not just.. this? Idk. Dan Bittner is so amazing as a narrator and Emma Galvin was pretty decent. May raise the rating one day, but for now it's 4 stars simply because of the ending. Regardless, a great start to 2015 reading wise!

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
Stars: ★★★★

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads