Mysteries, Mazes and Missy Johnson

I had a bit of a reading slump this week, unfortunately. The load of work that's been tossed at us in these first two weeks back at school is ludicrous - borderline illegal, I swear! And it really has been eating into my reading time. I did manage to get some books read though. And some good ones too!

I was hoping to get more ARCs read this week for ARC August but I have only read two and a novella. I'll do a proper update on Sunday though. How are you guys keeping up with your TBR? I haven't been following mine at all. Oops!

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Blonde Eyes, Blue Hair

by Karin Slaughter

A missing girl in the news reminds Julia Carroll of herself: nineteen, beautiful, blonde hair, blue eyes. 

Julia begins to dig deeper and plans an article for her college paper. She gradually becomes more obsessed with the case, never imagining how close she herself is to danger. 

Goodreads | Amazon

Still available from Edelweiss (review copies) if you are interested. Click here.

Review copy provided by Witness Impulse for an honest review.

I haven't actually read a Karin Slaughter book before, and decided that I could no longer call myself a fan of mysteries and thrillers if I did not pick up one her books this year. And, once I saw this book, I thought what better way to introduce onself to a new author than with a short little story, something like Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes? 

This story was everything I hoped for.  Yes, it was short. Yes, I could have done with a lot more story, but that's just me being greedy. The story reached a natural conclusion - well, kind of. The is a cliffhanger, but I didn't feel cheated by it like I normally do with stories like this.  

In a few short pages, I felt that we really got to know our protagonist, Julia. I loved the way her narration had this honest and realistic tone, especially about Julia's family and relationship. Oh, and the fact that Julia's prettiness actually hindered her - not in a "I'm so pretty so all the guys swoon over me. Gosh, isn't life so hard" sort of way like we see way too often in YA fiction. It didn't sugar coat anything, telling it just like it is, which I just adored. 

The writing was really quite gripping and easily pulled you in. You knew something big was going to happen so the way the story built up that level of suspense until we were practically begging for the big event to happen already was perfect. 

I can easily say that I am now more than eager to pick up Slaughter's newest release, Pretty Girls. 

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Suspicion

by Alexandra Monir

There's something hidden in the Maze. 

Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor. 

Haunted by her parent's death, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin's untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess.

All is not what it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion's aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the centre of the mystery is Imogen herself - and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into?  

Goodreads | Amazon

Plot: The storyline of Suspicion certainly had me engaged. Parts I and II had quite the addictive quality to them, though the Part III was a little too rushed for my liking. I was constantly guessing and reevaluating my theories though. No matter how many times I was 100% certain I knew what was happening, the book would take a new direction that I honesty didn't see coming.

The ending really took me by surprise, and I love that! Predictable endings are a pet peeve of mine - no one likes knowing what is going to happen, do they? But, like I said, the ending was a little rushed and I wasn't too happy with how the paranormal and romantic elements were resolved. 

The writing: was the major downfall of this novel. I honestly believe that if the writing style was more of leerie yet poetic style of someone like Maggie Stiefvater - that captured the Gothic elements of the novel - then it would have helped to create an even more engrossing atmosphere, and maybe improved the ending too. 

Characters: I know most people found Imogen, our protagonist, to be somewhat annoying but I just found her to be a decent character. There is nothing excessively positive I can say about her, but there were also no traits of her that I had problems with. 

Romance: Nothing really to comment on. There wasn't a lot of romance, and I wasn't really a fan of it anyway. It wasn't instalove so that's a plus, but I still found it a tad too dramatic for my liking.

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Out of Reach

by Missy Johnson

My best friend was dying and I was in love with his girl. 

Andy and I have been best friends since we were eight years old. Watching him slowly fade away, ever closer to his final breath, made me so incredibly angry. I knew there was nothing I could do to change it - I had given in to despair, but Andy had not. He had one final hand to play. He wasn't simply sit back and wait for Death to claim him - not Andy. He was going to live life until he couldn't hold his eyes open any longer.  

Andy didn't want to die in some sterile hospital and asked me to take him and Emily to the beach. It would be our last road trip together. 

Emily. Emily has a problem for me. I harbored a secret that would have torn our friendship apart. I was in love with Andy's girl, and had been since she'd walked into our sixth grade class, so many years ago. So what kind of person am I? My best friend is dying, and it's awful - but my heart still aches for his girl. I hate myself for thinking beyond Andy's death and there could ever be a future for Emily and I, but can't help it. 

I'm in love with her. 

Goodreads | Amazon

I had no idea what this book was about going into it, and I have to say how pleasantly surprised I am that it was such an emotional read. I honestly did not expect that, mainly because of the cover... because let's be real, it looks for like a 'typical NA' book than anything else. But the story definitely caught my attention from the start and the story bloomed from there.  I was never bored, and easily managed to flick through it in a single sitting. 

Character: were what made the story for me. I loved Seth especially. He reminded me so much of a friend from primary school, and that made him so much more realistic - so ultimately more lovable too. Unfortunately, I wasn't a the biggest fan of Andy. I obviously sympathized with him - you would have to have the blackest of souls not to - but there were times I felt that he was there simply to further the plot romance. 

Plot: was also okay, but nothing particularly remarkable. Some chapters felt a little disjointed, especially in the second half where the timing was a little off, skipping every now and again. But the last 10% was better. 

Writing: was what bought this down - mostly - for me. The first 60% or so seemed to be almost completely made up of dialogue, which grew very, very tiring very quickly. I wanted some descriptions of things! And there seemed to be entire chapters consisting of little more than Seth drooling over Emily or Emily reminding us of Andy's misfortunes. The constant repetitions grew quite tiresome.  

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Have you read any of these books or other ones by these authors? What were your thoughts on them if you have? 

Let me know you thoughts in the comments below!

ARC Review: Madly

The Potion Diaries / Madly (Potion #1)

by Amy Alward

When the Princess of Nova accidentally poisons herself with a love potion meant for her crush, she falls crown-over-heels in love with her own reflection. Oops! A nationwide hunt is called to find the cure, with competitors travelling the world for the rarest ingredients, deep in the magical forests and frozen tundras, facing death at every turn. 

Enter Samantha Kemi - an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Sam's family were once the most replaced alchemists in the kingdom, but they've fallen on hard times, and winning the hunt would save their reputation. But can Sam really completely with the dazzling powers of the Zoro Aster megapharma company? Just how close is Sam willing to get to Zain Aster, her dashing former classmate and family's enemy, in the meantime? 

And just to add to the pressure, this quest is all over social media. And the world news. 

No big deal, then. 

Goodreads | Amazon

Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster for an honest review. 

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I've read my fair share of what I want to call "dark fantasy". You know the books set in realms where everything is kind of like the medieval ages? People travel by horse, everyone is a farmer and super poor, the royalty is corrupt, assassins run rampant - if they aren't our protagonists - and their is a need for some sort of rebellion. It's a fantastic genre but also kind of depressing at times. No one seems happy within those realms despite them usually have a kind of awesome magical system. The Potion Diaries, however, was fantastically light-hearted, almost whimsical, and managed to be without sacrificing the fast-paced nature of the adventure story it was telling. 

The characters were perfect. I loved Sam, our protagonist, who had all the qualities I love in an MC. She was determined, smart but not cocky, she cared about people and she was just plain old sweet. I also loved that she was a homebody and loved books and researching and hot chocolate. She was just a really decent and realistic character.

What caught my attention the most though was the plot. I enjoyed every last second of it. I definitely managed to create the right vibe, and blended a perfect mix of fun and adventure. I was always kept on my toes, but it certainly wasn't action-packed. It was much more engaging than it was thrilling. There was so much to discover about this world and I simply adored the mixing side to it.  

The only problems I had were rather minuscule. The ending was a little too abrupt for my liking and it was over before it really began. I am certainly glad that there is a sequel! I also didn't support the romance wholeheartedly. It was cute, sweet and rather adorable, but I didn't quite ship it. It needed a little more time, but I think that by the end of the next book it should have had the time it needed to strengthen. 

Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised by this book and I am eager to pick up both the sequels and whatever else Amy Alward writes. 

Mini Review Catch-Up

So I've been awhile for a bit - as I've said in the last few posts - but while I have been reading, I haven't been able to post my reviews here. I thought a nice way of making up for that would be to write a couple of mini reviews... so here they are!

The Here and Now

by Ann Brashares

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love. 

This is the story of Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Expect Prenna didn't come come from a different country. She came from a different time - a future where mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they're from, never interfere with history, and never, eve be intimate with anyone outside their Community. 

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. 

Goodreads | Amazon  

Characters: I liked both Prenna and Ethan, but I found them to be a little too bland and stupid for my liking. There wasn't anything really wrong with them necessary, but they fell flat. 

Romance: I didn't think the romance was too bad. While it might have seemed a little rushed in this book, Prenna and Ethan were friends for two years prior to the start of this book and I think the bulk of their relationship was built up during that time. The problem for me was that I didn't see any spark between them, so I didn't particularly care whether they could be together or not. 

Plot: Entertaining, but I was left with more questions than I would have liked, and there were times were I was either left a little bored. The ending wasn't satisfactory. 

Review copy provided by Hachette for an honest review. See here for full review. 

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Say Her Name

by James Dawson

Bobbie Rowe is not the kind of person to believe in ghosts. A Halloween dare at her ridiculously spooky boarding school is no big deal, especially when her best friend Naya and cute local boy Caine agree to join in too. They are ordered to summon the legendary ghost of "Bloody Mary": say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear... But surprise, surprise, nothing happens. Or does it? 

Next morning, Bobbie finds a message on her bathroom mirror, 'five days' but what does it mean? And who left it? Things get increasingly weird and more terrifying for Bobbie and Naya, until it becomes all too clear that Bloody Mary was indeed called from the afterlife that night. Bobbie, Naya and Caine are now in a race against time before their five days are up and Mary come for them, as she's come for countless others before...

Goodreads | Amazon <- only $2.99 for the paperback!

Characters: My favourite part of this book, easily! I absolutely adored Bobbie. She was funny, sweet and completely realistic. I loved that she had a close friendship with her bestie, Naya, who was quite funny. I also liked that Caine really was a unique romantic interest. He didn't fit into any of the YA male hero stereotypes and that is a big bonus. 

Romance: I didn't dislike it, but I am glad it was only a minute part of the story.

Plot: A fantastic retelling of the Bloody Mary legend. It took a lot of the basic facts and turn them into a new mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Review copy provided by Key Stone Press & Dillons for an honest review. See here for full review. 

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I have a couple of more reviews that I need to write too so keep an eye out for them. They will be coming sometime soon! 

Have you read either of these books before? Or something else by these authors? 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

Review: Cooper Bartholomew is Dead

Review of Cooper Bartholomew is Dead

by Rebecca James

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

I wish I could be more generous with the rating because bloody hell this book was good, but there were just a couple of tiny things that didn't work for me.

Before we get into the small negativities, let me just say a big thank you to Rebecca James - finally an author has listened to our pleas and we got a wonderful, slow-building relationship built on mutual affection between two decent characters. Can I get me some hallelujahs? Libby and Cooper were both thoroughly fleshed out characters. They were sweet, genuine, caring and honest. All of the usual relationship drama was thrown out the window and we got a realistically sweet but still swoon-worthy relationship. I really don't know what more to ask for.

Quickly, I also need to add that the rest of the characters were kind of perfect too. There was a great variety of characters but not in a Glee cast kind of way. It was realistic. There was variety in social class, genders, sexualities, interests, family backgrounds... you get the point: plenty of diversity - can I get another one of those hallelujahs?

Also the writing? It was breath-taking in that simplistic-yet-takes-you-by-surprise kind of way. The mix of "then" and "now" sections, as well as the multiple perspectives - Cooper, Libby, Sebastian and Clare - in both first and third person was genius. Other authors that have attempted a story with that many shifts of perspectives have failed - or at least the books I've read have. It usually gets too confusing and too disjointed but Rebecca James managed it to perfection. It created palpable tension and really just made the book what it was.

But there was a couple of things that didn't work for me - as can be expected. For one the predictability was rather displeasing. Predictability is a big no-no for me and I saw the "twist" coming from quite early in the book. The other thing is that the ending left a little to de desired. (view spoiler)[All that build-up and it wasn't even murder? Give me a break! (hide spoiler)]

But overall, this was fantastic book. I loved that it threw out all the clichés out the window and built a decent plot centred around decent characters. I've missed books like that. I'd recommend this in a heartbeat and will certainly be on the look out for more of Rebecca James's books.

Note: a copy was provided courtesy of Allen & Unwin Australia in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.

 

Details:

Series: none presently

Publication: October 1st, 2014

Source: Allen & Unwin Australia

 

 4 stars

Review: This Shattered World

Review of This Shattered World

by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

 

 

My Thoughts:

I have been in a reading slump for a couple of weeks now, stuck in a loop of bad book after bad book after bad book with seemingly no escape. In Search of Sam was exactly the type of book I needed to read to get out that vicious cycle. It was light. It was fun. It was a bit of a "nothing" read but it had great bunch of characters and a great storyline. What I loved most about it was that it didn't really have a plot. That does sound a bit ludcrious but it meant that the story was more focBeneath was a fast paced short story about a girl in Witness Protection. The story itself was very well written but it was so short! The plot was jam-packed with action but rushed and anticlimactic. I liked the protagonist well enough but she was rather gullible and a bit of sheep. There was some romance attempted - which seems pretty ridiculous when you think about it. How can you develop a relationship in thirty pages? I thought they were cute together but I just didn't believe it would have worked out for Anna so easily. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it was but it could have vastly benefited from some development. Note: a copy was provided courtesy of H.B. Moore through Ebooks for Review in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.Beneath was a fast paced short story about a girl in Witness Protection. The story itself was very well written but it was so short! The plot was jam-packed with action but rushed and anticlimactic. I liked the protagonist well enough but she was rather gullible and a bit of sheep. There was some romance attempted - which seems pretty ridiculous when you think about it. How can you develop a relationship in thirty pages? I thought they were cute together but I just didn't believe it would have worked out for Anna so easily. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it was but it could have vastly benefited from some development. Note: a copy was provided courtesy of H.B. Moore through Ebooks for Review in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this proc   For me there are two types of ways you can "like" a book: 1. There are the books that you love because they are written so well you just have to applaud them. Blaze of Glory. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. They have a great bunch of character, there is great world-building, excellent setting, the right mix od drama and emotion and an entertaining and grabbing storyline. Everything works perfectly. 2. Then there are books like Shiver, Unreap My Heart, The Host - books that aren'For me there are two types of ways you can "like" a book: 1. There are the books that you love because they are written so well you just have to applaud them. Blaze of Glory. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. They have a great bunch of character, there is great world-building, excellent setting, the right mix od drama and emotion and an entertaining and grabbing storyline. Everything works perfectly. 2. Then there are books like Shiver, Unreap My Heart, The Host - books that aren't perfectly written, books that your know are probably pretty flawed to the more critical readers, but the characters, they manage to steal your heart, the romance had you melting you to a puddle, the action literally has you on the edge of you seat, anxiously flipping the pages to see what is going to happen next, the witty remarks leave you laughing, out loud... you get utterly and completely involved in them. You fall in love. And to me, those are the sort of books that will always be the winners of the two. Those are the sort of books that you want to find, the reason we all keep trudging through the crappy book slumps, the reason we fall asleep at 2 am with a book clutched to our chests, the reason, even after hours of crying, we crawl back to our bookshelves begging for more. There are lot of things that I could say about This Shattered World but I am only going to say this: I fell in love. The characters stole my heart. Check The romance had me melting and swooning. Check. The action had me on the edge of my seat. Check. I got utterly and completely involved. Check. Note: a copy was provided through Allen & Unwin in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.

Details:

Series: Starbound #2

Publication: December 23rd, 2014

Source: Allen & Unwin Australia

 

 4 stars

Review: We Were Liars

Review of We Were Liars

by E. Lockhart

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

I have been in a reading slump for a couple of weeks now, stuck in a loop of bad book after bad book after bad book with seemingly no escape. In Search of Sam was exactly the type of book I needed to read to get out that vicious cycle. It was light. It was fun. It was a bit of a "nothing" read but it had great bunch of characters and a great storyline. What I loved most about it was that it didn't really have a plot. That does sound a bit ludcrious but it meant that the story was more focBeneath was a fast paced short story about a girl in Witness Protection. The story itself was very well written but it was so short! The plot was jam-packed with action but rushed and anticlimactic. I liked the protagonist well enough but she was rather gullible and a bit of sheep. There was some romance attempted - which seems pretty ridiculous when you think about it. How can you develop a relationship in thirty pages? I thought they were cute together but I just didn't believe it would have worked out for Anna so easily. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it was but it could have vastly benefited from some development. Note: a copy was provided courtesy of H.B. Moore through Ebooks for Review in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.Beneath was a fast paced short story about a girl in Witness Protection. The story itself was very well written but it was so short! The plot was jam-packed with action but rushed and anticlimactic. I liked the protagonist well enough but she was rather gullible and a bit of sheep. There was some romance attempted - which seems pretty ridiculous when you think about it. How can you develop a relationship in thirty pages? I thought they were cute together but I just didn't believe it would have worked out for Anna so easily. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it was but it could have vastly benefited from some development. Note: a copy was provided courtesy of H.B. Moore through Ebooks for Review in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process. I equally liked and disliked this. I equally feel in love with the characters and wanted to slap them senseless. I equally wanted to weep over the ending and slam the book into the wall of frustration. I have read everyone's reviews, I seen so many vlogs and read countless blog posts and I just don't know what to say. I agree with practically all of the negative and positive reviews - and don't really have much more to add. - I liked the writing style. Personally, I found it abosutley gorgeous. It was pretty, poetic, readable and flowed perfectly. - I didn't like Candence but I enjoyed the other characters. They weren't as shallow as I would have expected them to be but they could have been fleshed out a tiny bit more. - The non-chronological timeline was slightly confusing. - Gat drama just that: needless drama. - The ending. The only other thing I want to say is that I wasn't a fan of the ending - I've seen it done too many times before and it always leaves a sour taste in my mouth. There are always too much confusion afterwards, too many contradictions, unanswered questions... its too messy. At the same time, I'll admit it was kind of beautiful. I did cry because holy shit, the writing is beautiful and it bought back so many painful memories of lost friendships and it really made me feel the feels . There isn't much more to say. A semi-tick of approval. It had me emotionally involved but the ending a big no-no. A copy was provided courtesy of Allen & Unwin Australia, in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.

Details:

Series: standalone

Publication: May 13th, 2014

Source: Allen & Unwin Australia

 

 3 stars
 

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Shadowlands (Shadowlands #1) by Kate Brian

Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Review: Storm Fall

Review of Storm Fall

by Tracy Banghart:

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

I have been in a reading slump for a couple of weeks now, stuck in a loop of bad book after bad book after bad book with seemingly no escape. In Search of Sam was exactly the type of book I needed to read to get out that vicious cycle. It was light. It was fun. It was a bit of a "nothing" read but it had great bunch of characters and a great storyline. What I loved most about it was that it didn't really have a plot. That does sound a bit ludcrious but it meant that the story was more focBeneath was a fast paced short story about a girl in Witness Protection. The story itself was very well written but it was so short! The plot was jam-packed with action but rushed and anticlimactic. I liked the protagonist well enough but she was rather gullible and a bit of sheep. There was some romance attempted - which seems pretty ridiculous when you think about it. How can you develop a relationship in thirty pages? I thought they were cute together but I just didn't believe it would have worked out for Anna so easily. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it was but it could have vastly benefited from some development. Note: a copy was provided courtesy of H.B. Moore through Ebooks for Review in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.Beneath was a fast paced short story about a girl in Witness Protection. The story itself was very well written but it was so short! The plot was jam-packed with action but rushed and anticlimactic. I liked the protagonist well enough but she was rather gullible and a bit of sheep. There was some romance attempted - which seems pretty ridiculous when you think about it. How can you develop a relationship in thirty pages? I thought they were cute together but I just didn't believe it would have worked out for Anna so easily. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it was but it could have vastly benefited from some development. Note: a copy was provided courtesy of H.B. Moore through Ebooks for Review in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process. There is so much I could say about Storm Fall but I want to start with a round of applause for Tracy Banghart who, not only overcame the dreaded Middle Book Syndrome, but managed to improve her writing drastically from her debut. This sequel was fantastic and defied all expectations I had of it. While Rebel Wing was good, it was lacking and left me with feeling a little half-hearted when approaching this sequel. But how silly I feel now! I cannot believe the growth in Aris. She has developed into a fully fleshed-out protagonist who has become so much more confident, more self-aware, happier, stronger... just become an incredible character in general. The writing bought her struggles to life and we learnt not to sympathise with her predicament, as expected, but to be proud of how far she has come and how strong she has become to go even further. Hats off to Tracy Banghart for that accomplishment! The plot was just plain old good. It had be engaged and entertained. I sat down and didn't get up again until I had finished it... at 1 am in the morning. The action sequences were suspenseful, urgent and captivating; the romance was well-paced and swoon-worthy. Milek! There was nothing major to fault. Unfortunately, I do have to say that a few things that annoyed me. For one, I do not support the Ward Nekos and Galena side plot. Its unnecessary and honestly, I couldn't care less about it. I don't want them to get together. I don't think it would be good from them personally or for the good of their dominions. Secondly, the invisible plane debacle. How the heck does that thing work As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed Storm Fall. It was entertaining and I loved the characters. The third book in the trilogy is now one of my most highly anticipated sequels of the year. If you were iffy about Rebel Wing, don't hesitate to pick this sequel up. Its worth it. Note: a copy was provided courtesy of Tracy Banghart and Alloy Entertainment, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.

Details:

Series: second book in the Rebel Wing series

Publication: December 16th, 2014

Source: Netgalley
 

 

 4.5/5 stars
 

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Review: Love, Lucas

Review of Love, Lucas

by Chantele Sedgwick:

 

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

- Oakley was a fantastic protagonist. I loved that she was gutsy but shy, withdrawn and a little awkward. She was unsure about a lot of things and when she got nervous she babbled. A very relatable and loveable character. - The romance actually played an important part in the plot and wasn't just there to attract more readers. Carson was an huge part of Oakley's recovery process and their relationship developed both consistently and realistically - which is always a bonus! - Carson. He is just fan - Oakley was a fantastic protagonist. I loved that she was gutsy but shy, withdrawn and a little awkward. She was unsure about a lot of things and when she got nervous she babbled. A very relatable and loveable character. - The romance actually played an important part in the plot and wasn't just there to attract more readers. Carson was an huge part of Oakley's recovery process and their relationship developed both consistently and realistically - which is always a bonus! - Carson. He is just fantastic and such a sweetie. Those dates he planned were simply perfect and he genuinely cared for Oakley. None of that douchebag, alpha-male, tortured-bad-boy, completely-controlling thing going on here. *fist pump* - Oakley's depression from her brother's death wasn't romanticised. Its one of my biggest pet peeves to see mental or physical illnesses - such as depression, PTSD or cancer - used as an accessory to make a character "saveable" and thus "more attractive". - I didn't understand Oakley's anger towards her mother. She didn't seem like a bad parent too me, just a withdrawn one, and how can you really blame her for that after watching her son waste away from cancer? - The plot didn't have a lot of action so the beginning was a little slow-going. There were, however, plenty of twists and emotional drama to keep you entertained. - Dillon was a douchebag. I don't understand why Carson was friends with him. - I wasn't a fan of how casually the rescue of the injured animals for Jo's jobs were handled. Obviously I am not an expert in marine veterinary but do they really allow random people to come out and help when the life of an animal is at risk? In the end, I caught myself becoming emotionally attached to the characters in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oakley and Carson were fantastic characters and their romance was incredibly sweet. I certainly recommend this if you are a fan of cutesy beach romances with a lot of emotional drama to get involved with. Note: a copy was provided courtesy of Chantele Sedgwick through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.

4 stars 
  

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