Waiting on Wednesday #42

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is a perfect way to highlight books that we are waiting patiently to be released... it is also a sure-fire way to watch your TBR pile grow!

Love, power, and magic collide with war in the second book of the Falling Kingdoms series

Auranos has fallen and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now united as one country called Mytica. But still, magic beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world...

When the evil King Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of events that will forever change the face of this land, forcing Cleo the dethroned princess, Magnus the reluctant heir, Lucia the haunted sorceress, and Jonas the desperate rebel to take steps they never could have imagined.

Expected Publication: December 03 2013
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads

Why am I so eagerly awaiting this release you ask?

Okay, this one may seem a bit weird for me.  I read Falling Kingdoms last year and I have to say it wasn't as good as I was hoping it was going to be.  However, I promised myself that I would read Rebel Spring, so I am excited to give this series another shot.  Because it wasn't terrible, it just wasn't as good as I had built up in my head.

Plus, who could say no to that cover?  It is simply stunning.  Falling Kingdoms had a gorgeous cover, and I am glad to see they have carried on with the cover greatness.


What is your Waiting on Wednesday?

Feel free to leave your links below so that I can check them out and if you are a new follower be sure to let me know!

Review: Near & Far

There’s optimistic. And there’s Jesse Walker.

If he wasn’t so charming, his sunny disposition and incessant grin would get old. Fast.

Falling in love with the broken girl who had at first seemed immune to anything resembling love was the best thing to happen to Jesse since the Walkers adopted him when he was five.

As Jesse’s life continues at the ranch and Rowen begins making her mark in the Seattle art community, they wonder where the middle ground is. Or if there even is one.

As push comes to shove, they’re forced to make choices neither are eager to make, and Jesse and Rowen have to face what their lives might look like without the other.

Can two people with such tragic pasts and different presents expect a promising future together? Whatever the answer, they’ll need a lot more than love to make it.

Title: Near & Far (Lost & Found ~ Book 1)
Author: Nicole Williams| Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: July 29 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 350 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Fits with the series, and I like that Rowen's hair is down this time.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Jesse and Rowen

My Rating: 5 Stars

Let the flood of emotions begin.  When I read Lost & Found earlier this year, I immediately fell in love with Jesse and Rowen.  In fact, I ended my review with the hope that there would be a sequel.  Then, only a few days later I found out that Nicole Williams had in fact announced she would carry on their story.  I was overjoyed.

However, I knew what this meant.  It meant that Jesse and Rowen were going to have to face some tough times.  I tried to mentally prepare myself for these challenges.  I even gave myself a five minute pep talk before I started Near & Far.  Having faith they would get their happily ever after, I just knew there would be some heartbreak and tears to work through first.  Little did I know that all of my preparation would not even come close to getting me ready for the emotions I experienced while reading this.  How I survived I will never know.  But one thing is for sure, the heartache and pain was so worth it.

“Loving someone as much as I did Jesse meant the darkness of the world seemed so black I never wanted to walk out the front door.  Around every corner was some terror threatening to take away what I held most dear.”

Rowen.  She continued to grow into the type of woman that is worthy of Jesse.  I never had doubts about this, but I knew at the end of Lost & Found that there was more growing up to do, and a lot that they both still needed to face.  I am happy that I never felt like she wavered with her love, as I was scared that this was what was going to happen in the sequel.  With Rowen away at college, I was nervous her head would be turned by another art student.  But, she stayed true.

“For you, I’m a weak, weak man.  I’m so weak for you that you could break me with one word.  You could end me with one look. You could ruin me with one touch.”

Jesse.  Ride 'em cowboy.  I have and always will love Jesse Walker.  The man is quite simply one of the most down to earth, romantic, sweet and caring characters I have ever had the pleasure to read.  I honestly believe that my Kindle copy is more highlighted than not.  He has some of the very best lines, and there is never a doubt of his feelings for Rowen.  Opposites may very well attract, but it has always been something more to their bond.  Jesse's love for Rowen is almost too much.  It completely blinds him from what is going on around him.  He doesn't see anybody other than her, even if that means he is completely oblivious to quite obvious flirting by others.  However, once he realizes what is going on... he is right there to put a stop to it.  Ever the gentlemen.

I would say we learn the most about Jesse in this story.  In fact we learn way more about his childhood growing up than we probably wanted to know.  It is dark, disturbing, and quite honestly broke my heart.  If you didn't have love in your heart for this man before (even though I can't see how you couldn't already), then you will do after reading about his past.  It broke me, and made it easy for me to understand the darkness that Jesse is continuing to fight.

“She’s managed to bust free from the weight of her past to get on with her life.  She’d grown, evolved, and was setting the world on fire.  I, on the other hand, was digressing, shrinking, and setting myself on fire.”

The ending was beautiful.  The only thing that got me through their problems was knowing that there was no way that Jesse and Rowen could not end up together.  Their love was something that was never in doubt.  It was just them trying to work through all of the external issues that were being thrown at them, and their own issues from the time before they had each other to lean on.

And now, we have Finders Keepers to look forward to.  Yes, that's right.. Garth Black is getting his own book.  I am so excited about this.  Getting into Garth's head is going to be an enlightening, yet probably pretty frightening experience.  I am hoping that we get to see a little more of Jesse and Rowen.  I know this is probably greedy of me, but I would like to see what they are up to, so even a little peek would be great.  Garth is one of those characters that you start out disliking, and grow to love.  That is very much the case, as by the end of Near & Far, I was loving him so much.  He really stepped up to the plate when it came to being a friend to both Jesse and Rowen, and now it's his time to find his own happily every after.

“It’s time you start thinking about what you think you can’t live without and what you actually can’t live without.”

MORE QUOTES FROM NEAR & FAR

Review: Gone Girl

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick Dunne isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but hearing from Amy through flashbacks in her diary reveal the perky perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister Margo at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was left in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: June 5 2012
Publisher: Crown
Length: 432 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Simple, but effective.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Nick and Amy

My Rating: 5 Stars

Wow.  Wow.  Wow.

Holy mother of God... or should that be holy mother of all things evil?  It has been a few days since I finished Gone Girl and I am still in a state of... what exactly I have no idea.  Anger?  Shock?  Acceptance?

I have no idea how I am going to write this review.

“My mother had always told her kids: if you're about to do something, and you want to know if it's a bad idea, imagine seeing it printed in the paper for all the world to see.”

There is so little detail that I can go into in regards to the actual plot, as I refuse to give any of it away.  I'm sure this will not be the first review you will have read about Gone Girl, and probably not the last.  But, I want to stress how important it is that you stay with this book.

What do I mean by that?  Well, the first half has been quoted as being a little on the boring side.  I have to admit that I never felt that way... while I reading it.  But when the story completely exploded at just over the 50% mark it is a non-stop roller coaster ride till the very end.  So in retrospect, I can now look back at the first 50% and agree that yes, in comparison it was much slower.  However, the first half is a requirement.  You must get to know these characters.  You would never have been able to get to where you are emotionally at the start of Part Two if there was never a Part One.

“Love makes you want to be a better man.  But maybe love, real love, also gives you permission to just be the man you are.”

And what about the ending?  You will feel manipulated once you finished.  You will sit and stare at the final paragraph, you will want to throw the book, and or your reading device at the closest wall.  You will sit and stew over all of what you have read, wondering how things got to that final paragraph.  Then you will find yourself smiling.  Why?  Hell, you won't even know why... because I sure didn't.  I wanted to be angry, I wanted to scream, but in the end all I could do was smile.  To be fair it was probably one of those crazed, psycho killer smiles, but to be honest I would expect no other kind of smile after reading Gone Girl.

“There’s something disturbing about recalling a warm memory and feeling utterly cold.”

So yeah, this is a strange review to have written but I just refuse to spoil anything.  My only suggestion to you is READ THIS BOOK.  There is a film being made, which at the time of this review says will be out in 2015.  I have to say, I think this will translate perfectly on the big screen.  They are filming the movie in a small river town in Missouri, not too far from where I was born and grew up in Southern Illinois.  Be it this review, other reviews, the film due out a bit later... whatever it is that helps you to decide to read this book, just please choose to read this book.  You will not be disappointed.

“Friends see most of each other’s flaws.  Spouses see every awful last bit.”

MORE QUOTES FROM GONE GIRL

Review: All of You

Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.

Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.

Title: All of You
Author: Christina Lee | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: September 17 2013
Publisher: Intermix (Penguin Group (USA)
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads

Source: ARC Provided by Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cover Love: Adorable, matches the story nicely.
Point of View: 1st person, following Avery

My Rating: 4 Stars

I became slightly obsessed with the idea of reading All of You as soon as I saw the words irresistible, tattooed and virgin.  What's that you say?  A hero who is not a womanizing manwhore?  Where do I sign up?

It was fun going into All of You, knowing that there would be a role reversal of sorts.  I am so used to the shy, inexperienced women, who fall for the bad boy who has been around the park on more than one occasion.  Now we have Avery, who would very much be classified as the school slut.  This isn't slut shaming, she wears here title proud.  She hooks up on regular occasions, and only has one guy who she uses as a multiple booty call.  Other than that, love 'em and leave 'em.

“Guys were easy to figure out-at least in the hormonal sense.  You needed only appear helpless or horny, and their pants instantly dropped to their ankles.”

Avery.  I don't know if we are supposed to like Avery in the beginning.  It sure as heck took me a little while to warm to her.  Her entire attitude was standoffish, and just on the wrong side of arrogant.  But it started to become clear that this was part of her façade.  You could see the walls that she had built up to keep any and all real emotion out.  By the end, I came to love her and was rooting for her as she started kicking those walls down.

“I want something real," he whispered.  "And I'm willing to wait for it.”

Bennett.  There was no having to warm up to him, he is perfection.  From the very first time he is spotted by Avery, you are in love with him.  I was curious to find out the reasons that he had for abstaining from sex, and when it's explained I was happy with his answers.  They made sense to me.  Now of course, even Bennett says this to Avery, he may be a virgin - but he is no saint.

“I don’t know what this is or what the hell we’re doing,“ he said.  “But if I don’t kiss you right now, I might explode.”

What does Bennett mean by being no saint?  It means he may have never done the deed but he has done plenty of other things... and this means that Avery and Bennett do plenty of those other things also.  Honestly, the sexual tension dripping off of these two is intense.  Every slight kiss, every touch, every moment they are alone together feels electric.  And I have to say... I loved it.  I loved the constant foreplay.  It was hot.  Too many times the main characters are so eager to jump into sex.  Avery and Bennett manage to become intimate, but at the same time saving themselves for that special moment together.  It made their relationship that more intense and real.

“I was jumping off a cliff, sinking, drowning, and couldn't care less about being saved as long as he kept kissing me.”

Now, my only major gripe.  Avery's friends.  It's not that I didn't like them per se, it's just that I didn't like how they spoke to each other.  They were forever calling each other names.  Maybe these were meant as terms of endearments between friends, and a way to get us to see how close they were.  But it annoyed me to no end.  They were constantly calling each other things such as bitch, dickhead, dickwad, asshead, dillweed... and so on.  I physically cringed every time it happened, unfortunately it happened a lot.  I just didn't understand it, as it didn't seem like normal behavior to me.

And in no way is that gripe enough for me not to suggest that you read All of You.  I really found it hard to put it down once I started.  I was up until 4:00am, then started again as soon as I woke up the next day.  I was also very happy with the ending, an epilogue would have been nice... but that is just me wanting more.  I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Bennett.  My feelings in five words or less: Sweet, sexy, love, HOT.

“I'm not sure I can ever get enough of you," he murmured as he captured the skin at the hallow of my throat.  "I know the feeling," I whispered.”

Review: Wethering The Storm

Music journalist Tru Bennett has done the impossible: capture the heart of rock-star bad boy Jake Wethers. Now they’re busy planning a wedding and navigating their new life together in the US. Of course Tru misses London and her best friend, Simone, but living happily ever after with Jake in LA is going to be great…right?

Wrong. Even the bright California sun can’t whitewash the dark side of celebrity coupledom. Greedy music execs, merciless paparazzi, and Jake’s wild past are lurking around every corner. Making matters worse, Jake announces he doesn’t want kids, which just may be a deal breaker.

Tru loves Jake more than anything. But when a devastating crisis threatens to destroy everything they’ve fought for, the couple must face the hard truth: What if, this time, love is not enough?

Title: Wethering the Storm (The Storm ~ Book 2)
Author: Samantha Towle | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: August 20 2013
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Length: 402 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: I don't hate it, however the top part of the Tru seems to be missing... her hands are there but where is the rest of her body? Also, Jake has longer hair.
Point of View: Alternating 1st person between both Tru and Jake, however there is more in Tru's perspective.

My Rating: 5 Stars

I am going to be straight up and honest with you.  I was a complete mixed bag of emotions when it came time to start reading Wethering the Storm.  I was excited because I was about to get some more Jake Wethers, and I was scared to death because I just didn't know what to expect.  Tru and Jake had to fight through so much in The Mighty Storm, and I wanted their fighting days behind them.  I didn't know if my heart could take more turmoil.  But, I pulled up my big girl panties and started it at Midnight, as soon as it appeared on my Kindle... I didn't stop reading until 5:00am.

“There is no one else for me.  I begin and end with you.”

Tru.  I loved Tru in The Mighty Storm.  I thought she handled the situations which arose in a calm and mature manner.  Can I just ask?  What happened to THAT Tru? Because I now more than once found myself wanting to slap her up side her head, and I found myself rolling my eyes at some of her actions and internal thoughts.  Jealousy.  It's an evil thing.  And unfortunately for a hot minute it turns Tru into one of those crazy women that I despise in books.  Thankfully it only lasts a short time, and then she wises up.

“You don't complete me, Tru.  You make me who I am.  You make me better.  I'd be nothing without you.  Nothing.  I've been there once before, and I'm never going back.  I'm never losing you again.”

Jake "the snake" Wethers.  *sigh*  He has got to be one of my all time favorite rock stars.  You all know that I am in love with the male perspective, so getting even a few chapters in Jake's POV was like winning the lottery.  I was overjoyed to be in his head, and let me just tell you that it's an amazing place to be.  Jake continues to struggle with his past, and yes his past includes his drug use.  I hate spoilers, and I do not think this is one but I just have to add that drugs are a constant struggle... but they are not used.  I think it is important to know that because it was one of my major concerns.  Jake has finally realized there are other ways to deal with troubling circumstances, rather than running to the nearest dealer.  Like I said, it's a constant struggle, but it would have been unrealistic for Jake to be able to immediately stop using and it not be on his mind.  This made the story real.

“I want you to have the best of everything I can give you.  And I’m not talking money here, Tru. I’m talking memories.  Our life together.”

This is not your run of the mill rock star book, this is about a girl and boy who fell in love when they were little.  Before the stardom and making it big.  Deep down, that is what it is all about.  A boy and girl who always knew they would be together forever, they just lost their way for a few years in-between.

The ending was absolutely perfect.  I honestly can not think of a better way that I would have wanted it to all end up for these two, we even get an epilogue.  I had tears in my eyes at the end, it was truly just perfection.  I am now looking forward to the third book in this series, which at the time of this review has yet to be named or given a publication date.  But that book will follow Tom.  We saw some changes in him in this book, and it will be nice to get inside his head a little bit.  I bet it's a strange and scary place... I can't wait.

“There isn’t anything I won’t do for you, Tru.   Nothing I won’t do to make you happy.   What I feel for you... it’s limitless.  There is nothing before or after you. There is only you.”

MORE QUOTES FROM WETHERING THE STORM