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
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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: ★★★

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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.

Review: All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

Title: All Lined Up
Author: Cora Carmack
Published: May 13th 2014
Read: June 23 to 26, 2014
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Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

Started this on a random morning while taking the bus to work. Figured it wouldn't hurt to try a New Adult novel since Cora is amazing! Her writing suits me so well and I missed some steam and smexy from the YA reads I had going on lately. Truly glad I started it since already during the first 20%, I couldn't wipe this silly grin off my face. One could say that I fell hard for Carson and Dallas, their adorable chemistry and intense attraction. And you know what? They're absolutely right!

Summer Lovin' 2013 Read-A-Thon: You're The One That I Want

It's day 2 and so far I've started Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter which is surprisingly awesome. Totally my kinda humour and I've laughed quite a bit even though I'm not that far. Also, there have been quite a few surprises already regarding the plot so that's awesome. Since I have it in paperback, I read it at home and I have the first two book in a combined edition and I don't want to bring it to work so I brought my Kindle instead and during lunch break I started Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown which is also pretty interesting. I have heard so many good things about Jennifer's work and I'm excited to finally give one of her books a try. I'm only 15% in though, so we'll see how it goes.

So for today's participation post we have a topic of our 5 must-reads for summer. Oh boy, I have so many books I'd love to name, but here're the first five that come to mind. Summer is mostly for contemporaries. In my opinion. Different kind of beach reads etc. Without further ado, here are my four contemporaries for summer:

Want to read

Facade by Nyrae Dawn -- want to read

Faking It by Cora Carmack -- want to read

Have read, recommend

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick -- read and loved it (my review here)

Slammed by Colleen Hoover -- just click on my review from yesterday ;-) (my review here)

Fantasy

And what's summer without a little fantasy? This is a recommendation for every fantasy fan out there. Oh, and people who enjoy originality

Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe -- read and loved every perfect moment from this book, one of my favorite reads of 2013 (my review here)

So what are your must reads this summer? I hope you're all having a great week! 

Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

Title: Losing It 
Author: Cora Carmack 
Published: October 15th 2012 
Add It: Goodreads 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

Honestly, my TBR pile is getting out of control and I feel like there are so many books I want to read and sometimes I feel guilty because quite often new releases out-shadow  some of the “old books” I want to read. However, every now and then there are books that I discover and feel the need to devour them immediately. This was exactly the case with Losing It. Its cover isn’t outstanding, it’s quite mediocre, but the description sucked me in as soon as I read it. I knew I needed to have this book in my hands ASAP. This will be a very joyful review, because I honestly haven’t got anything bad to say.

"How's your cat?"

"What cat? Oh! MY CAT. The cat... that is mine. Oh, she's..." I had said it was a she, right? "She's fine. All meowing and purring and other cat things."

God, why did the door have to be so far away?

I kept walking away, calling back my last few words over my shoulders.

"I've got to get to class. I'll see you Wednesday I guess, okay, bye!"

Characters. Bliss. I loved her personality and the moments that embarrassed her the most cracked me up like no other. Her dancing and doing things like getting a pet etc were so freaking adorable and lovable that if I were into girls, I’d push Garrick aside and take her on a date myself. So yeah, I think it’s established that I liked her character a lot.

Garrick is literally an Englishman in New York (and yes, I do love me some Sting! This song is just fabulous and should definitely be featured as one of the soundtrack songs considering what Garrick old Bliss about his school years back in the day) who likes to take risks even though he seems like a very calculated person at first sight. He goes after what he wants and doesn’t stop until he achieves his goals. Bliss’s friends were a bunch of fun, young, energetic people and I liked the group’s dynamic. If Garrick wasn’t Bliss’s teacher and they wouldn’t have to hide their feelings, he’d suit in nicely with them.

Plot. Downright enjoyed it! The description hints on a teacher-student relationship, but their age is almost the same and he was only a substitute for the real teacher, so it wasn’t that taboo if you’re worried about that. The plot wasn’t dragged out, moved on quickly and was easy to follow. One moment I was laughing so hard that tears were almost coming out of my eyes and the next my legs were jelly-o due to Garrick  aying the most incredible things to Bliss. Yeah, there were sad moments, but they weren’t devastating. The fun, beautiful and hilarious moments definitely dominated in this book.

My worry eased when he opened the door and said, "Oh thank God. I've been thinking about coming round to your place for over an hour, but I was afraid I'd knock on the door and you'd have people over or something."
I laughed.

"Maybe we should actually exchange numbers then."
He said, "Are you going to put me in your phone under some secret code name so that no one knows who I am when I text you dirty things?"
My eyes widened. "Are you planning to text me dirty things?"

His eyes danced with amusement and that blinding grin was back on his face. "I'm not ruling it out."
Oh. Oh. My Nerves shot back up again.

If you’re looking for a fun, light and romantic read, give this book a chance. It will probably make you laugh and swoon within one paragraph. It was a joy to read this book and I don’t regret a single second spent on reading it.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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