Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green
Pages: 313
Publisher: Dutton Books
Rating: 5 Stars 

Synopsis: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. 

Review:

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations." 

The Fault in Our Stars was my first John Green book, and I can say with confidence, that it won't be my last. I had been wanting to get this book for some time, but I was a bit nervous to read it, given its subject matter. But I had been hearing so many wonderful things, so I gave it a shot. I read it in one sitting! 

While I knew the gist of the story going into it, I didn't know everything. I went into this book expecting to cry, but I didn't. I was completely emotionally attached to these characters, but for some reason or another, I just didn't cry. This book was also completely not what I was expecting it to be. 

This story is told from the POV of Hazel, a sixteen year old, who had been diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. While she was terminal, she was placed on a miracle drug that allowed her to keep living. Despite some of the consequences of her illness, Hazel continues to live her life as best she can, surrounded by her friends and family. I absolutely loved being inside of Hazel's head and getting the story from her point of view. 

Then of course there is Augustus Waters.From the moment he entered the Support Group, it became impossible to not fall in love with him. He was just so swoony and witty. Its so hard to put into words how to describe him, it just seems easiest to say, that there is just something about him that makes you instantly like him. It was so much fun to see his and Hazel's friendship grow and the way that their relationship begins. 

I loved the dialogue in this book. There were so many beautiful quotes, that I cannot even begin to count them. In addition to these, I loved the banter between Hazel and Augustus. They were made so perfect for each other. You just can't help but be touched by their story. 

As I mentioned, this book was not at all what I was expecting it to be. Given its subject, I really thought that it was going to be a sad book all the way through, and it wasn't at all! Really, this book is just about two teenagers, who meet and fall in love. There were so many parts when it was just impossible not to smile or laugh (which is not something that I thought I was going to be doing). Of course, none of this is to say that there weren't any sad parts. Towards the end of the book, my heart was breaking, and I truly thought that I was going to cry, but the tears just didn't come. When I finished reading this book, I couldn't seem to Hazel and Augustus out of my head. It really made me think, a lot. 

Overall, I finished this book feeling completely inspired. It was so heartwarming that despite all that these two young people have been through in their lives, they are still able to wake up every day, and be happy, and live their lives to their absolute best.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that is hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights an upcoming release. 

Here is this week's pick: 

The Edge of Always by J.A Redmerski 

Synopsis: Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged--and a wedding isn't the only special event in their future. Nervous, but excited, Camryn can't wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew--a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to--until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn't understand how this could happen to them. He's trying to move, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovered Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won't do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride..

The Edge of Never was definitely my favourite read of 2013. When I found out that Andrew and Camryn's story was going to be continued, I was so excited. The expected release is November 2013, and I cannot wait to see what happens next! 

If you've not read The Edge of Never, it is a definite must read! 

Review: The Edge of Never

Author: J.A Redmerski

Pages: 426

Publisher: Forever 

Rating: 5+ Stars 

Synopsis:  Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett thought she knew exactly where her life was going. But after a wild night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she shocks everyone, including herself, when she decides to leave the only life she's ever known and set out on her own. Grabbing her purse and cell phone, Camryn boards a Greyhound bus ready to find herself. Instead, she finds Andrew Parrish. 

Sexy and exciting, Andrew lives life like there is no tomorrow. He persuades Camryn to do things she never thought she would and shows her how to give in to her deepest, most forbidden desires. Soon he becomes the centre of her daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But there is more to Andrew than Camryn realizes. Will his secret push them inseparably together or destroy them forever? 

Review: Hands down, this has to definitely be my absolute favourite book of 2013. Having heard so many good things going into this book, I knew that I was going to like it, but I didn't think that I was going to love it as much as I did. Despite having just finished reading the book, I want to jump back in and re-read it. 

This book is one big journey of live and what exactly it means to be living in the moment and living life to the absolute fullest. This story follows Camryn Bennett, who decides that there is not much left for her in her hometown, and she is desperately in need of some change, so she decides to hit the road. While on a Greyhound bus, she meets Andrew, someone who she seems to have so much in common with, but they're totally different at the same time. They decide to travel together and the rest is history. 

I absolutely adored Cam. Life has dealt her some rough hands, but I completely admire how brave she was to just take off with just the basics, in order to better understand herself and to find out what else the world has to offer her apart from the comforts of her hometown. Just reading about Cam's journey really made me wish that I was brave enough to do something like that. 

Then of course there's Andrew. A bad-ass with tattoos, foul mouth, crooked smile and dimples. I really loved how blunt he was, and just almost everything that seemed to cross his mind. I also loved how Camryn and Andrew's relationship took its time to grow. It wasn't just an immediate thing that they both rushed into. It made it so much more believable in watching it grow, and seeing both of the characters learn about one another. 

Overall, I thought that the plot was fantastic. The beginning was a little bit slow, with not too much happening, but it still managed to keep my attention, because I always found myself wanting to know what was coming next. I absolutely love the roadtrip plot, and so when I found out that this is what this story was, I was hooked. As well, this book is told from alternating POVs, which I didn't know about when I started reading. Normally, I don't really care too much for that, but in this story it worked. While I was getting comfortable being in Camryn's head, I found myself looking forward to what Andrew was thinking.

Apart from this book being SO well written, I loved how it always kept me questioning everything. Every time a theory came into my head, I was never able to fully figure it out. Towards the ending of the book, I was completely blindsided, I didn't see it coming at all! My jaw dropped, and that's how I ended up finishing the book. 

The entirety of this book just focuses on how important life is, and to just live in the moment. The heart wants, what the heart wants, and that's definitely something that is seen throughout Camryn and Andrew's story. This story really taught me something, and it was that you shouldn't just dwell so much on what you think is expected of you, do what it comfortable and feels right for you. 

If you haven't checked this book out yet, I highly suggest that you get your hands on a copy. Its definitely worth the read! 

Review: Love Unrehearsed

Author: Tina Reber
Pages: 448
Publisher: Atria Books

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis: When A-list film actor Ryan Christensen ducked into her pub to escape his screaming fans, never in a million years did Taryn Mitchell think her life was about to change forever. But now, eight months later, after a whirlwind romance, Taryn wakes up in Ryan's Hollywood hotel room to find a diamond to die for on her left ring finger--and her face splashed across the cover of every gossip magazine.

Ryan's very public proposal catnip to the tabloids, his management team is worried, and Taryn must figure out how a small town girl like her fits into his glittering world. What does it take to make a relationship work amidst telephoto lenses, daily on-set temptations, and jealous fans who will stop at nothing to keep you from walking down the aisle with the man of your dreams?

With no script to follow and no chance for a dress rehearsal, Taryn and Ryan will be forced to take the plunge and risk everything to make their love last. 

Review: If its at all possible, I think that I enjoyed this book so much more than Love Unscripted. 

I started reading this book right after I finished reading Love Unscripted and I very easily fell back into Taryn and Ryan's world. 

Love Unrehearsed picks up right where Love Unscripted ends off. This book definitely furthers Ryan and Taryn's relationship, and the continue to learn just how intense the depth of their love for one another is, and they both continue to grow in their relationship while dealing with Ryan's super-stardom. 

The one thing that I absolutely adored about this series is just how realistic Tina Reber created her characters and the world that they live in. Love Unrehearsed definitely furthers the entire celebrity world and how both Taryn and Ryan exist within in. It is not surprising that a life in the limelight comes with advantages, but at the same time there are just as many disadvantages. 

It is easy to see how exhausting living this lifestyle can be, with all of the award shows, primers, and traveling the world filming. With all of the struggles that are standing in their way, Ryan and Taryn still maintain their relationship, which comes out stronger as a result. 

As I was reading through the book, I wasn't too sure just how Tina Reber was going to wrap up this book, but she could NOT have done it in a more perfect way. It left me with no unanswered questions and I was extremely happy with how the characters ended up. 

If you have not had the chance to check out this series, you most definitely should get on it! It will not leave you disappointed! 

Review: Hopeless

Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 406
Rating: 5 Stars 

Synopsis: Sky, a senior in high school, meets Dean Holder, a guy with a promiscuous reputation that rivals her own. From their very first encounter, he terrifies and captivates her. Something about him sparks memories of her deeply troubled past, a time she's tried so hard to bury. Though Sky is determined to stay far away from him, his unwavering pursuit and enigmatic smile break down her defenses and the intensity of the bond between them grows. But the mysterious Holder has been keep secrets of his own, and once they are revealed, Sky is changed forever and her ability to trust may be a casualty of the truth.

Only by courageously facing the stark revelations can Sky and Holder hope to heal their emotional scars and find a way to live and love without boundaries. Hopeless is a novel that will leave you breathless, entranced, and remembering your own first love.

Review: 

Hopeless was my first Colleen Hoover novel, and I can definitely say that it will not be my last! There is nothing that I like more than having an novel create emotions, and then make me feel them right along with the characters and that is exactly what Hopeless did. 

I want to start off my review by saying that in the first couple of pages, I wasn't exactly hooked on the story. It was enough to keep my attention and to keep me reading but that was about it. As soon as Holder is introduced, I was hooked! I absolutely love Colleen's writing style. Its witty and and its just plain enjoyable to read. As much as this was such a serious and gut-wrenching story, there were some scenes when you just couldn't help but laugh out loud. The dialogue was wonderful, and the same thing goes for the plot. 

In the beginning, I really wasn't sure how powerful this book was going to be. By the time that I reached the end of the book, I was literally <b>blown away</b>. I have read books before that have been intense and have left an impact on me, but Hopeless was <b>SO</b> much more than I was ever expecting it to be. I was left completely inspired by the end of it. 

Going into this book, I really had absolutely no idea what it was going to be about,apart from the synopsis that was given. I'm not going to go into any plot details, so that others who have not read this book can still enjoy the surprise of it,but I was completely floored. I find it so enjoyable when a book is able to completely shock me, and that's exactly what Hopeless has done. Usually, I can figured out what's going to happen with the plot, but that didn't happen at all with this book, and I think that Colleen Hoover has done such a wonderful job with building that suspense and keeping her readers guessing. 

I don't think that there was one character in this book that I didn't end up liking. It was pretty hard not to at least. The main character of this story is Sky, a young girl who is completely emotionally numb, and fully believes that she is in not capable of feeling anything. ..until Holder comes into the picture. He is the first guy to truly make Sky realize that she is capable of feelings, and he is the only guy who has been able to show this to her. Sky and Holder have a very real relationship, and its so enjoyable to see the chemistry that's there between them grow, and how their relationship eventually comes to be. 

Even now, I still cannot find a thing that I didn't like about this book. There really isn't anything that I could critique. This book has very easily become one of my favourite books that I have read this year. I'm definitely looking forward to reading Losing Hope. 

If you haven't checked out Hopeless, you need to do that,now! 

Review: Love Unscripted

Author: Tina Reber 

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 577

Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis: An A-List Movie Star...

Ryan Christensen just wanted to be an actor. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine a life where fans would chase him, paparazzi would stalk him, and Hollywood studios would want to own him. While filming in Seaport, Rhode Island, Ryan ducks into a neighbourhood bar for a quick escape from legions of screaming fans...and finds much more than he expected.

A Small-Town Girl. . .

Nursing a recent heartbreak, Taryn Mitchell believes men are best kept at a safe distance. But when Ryan Christensen unexpectedly bursts through the front door of her pub, she can’t help but be drawn in by his humor, charm, and undeniable good looks. At six foot two, with dirty blond hair, blue eyes, and an incredible body, Ryan has every girl in Seaport swooning. But Taryn isn’t every other girl.

A Relationship That Doesn’t Follow the Script. . .

Despite her better judgment, Taryn soon finds herself falling hard for Ryan. But is their bond strong enough to survive the tabloid headlines, the relentless paparazzi, and the jealous fans who seem determined to tear them apart?

Review: I actually quite liked this book a lot! Initially, I found some things with the first few chapters to be a little bit on the cheesy side, but as the story progressed and I got to know the characters so much better, I just instantly fell into this world. 

This story focuses on Taryn, and 27 year old bar owner from Rhode Island, and famous movie star Ryan Christensen and their growing relationship. Taryn has to be one of my favourite female leads!After having been through so much, she is still such a strong, and smart person. She seems to always think things through before she goes through with something, it is never done lightly, especially her relationship with Ryan. 

Ryan, on the other hand is this really super sweet and romantic guy. Despite all of his fame, deep down he is just plain guy, who wants to live as much of a normal life as he possibly can. 

I had decided to pick up this book based on the ratings that it had on GoodReads, and based off some reviews that I had read about the book. 

When I first started to read this book, I was a little bit unsure if I was going to like it or not. There were some points in the beginning where I thought that the writing might have been a little bit cheesy, but I decided to keep going, and not let that bother me, and I'm so glad that I did! I ended up really enjoying this book. 

This story follows the growing relationship between Taryn, a bar owner, and major A-list celebrity Ryan Christensen. Their story is told from Taryn's point of view. Initially, Taryn really wants nothing to do with Ryan, and could really careless if his movie was being filmed in town or not.It isn't until a chance meeting, when Ryan is running from fans, that her opinions about him begin to change. 

I really enjoyed Taryn's character throughout the book. She really could have cared less that Ryan was this famous movie star, he was just a person to her, and he was someone that she was willing to take the time to get to know, away from his celebrity status. She was quite a strong character as well. On the other hand, we get Ryan, who from the moment he is introduced in the book, it is impossible not to like him. He is a very sweet and down-to-earth guy, who is struggling with everything that fame has to bring. 

Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed, was that almost everything was believable and took place at a believable pace. Having being burned in the past, Taryn really took her time in getting to know Ryan, and being able to trust him before moving forward with him. The same goes for Ryan, he wanted to ensure he could trust Taryn, and he made sure that she knew what she was getting herself into, being in a relationship with him. Reber also did a really great job in creating all of the consequences that come with both being a celebrity and what could happen when you're dating a celebrity and having your life presented to the world. 

This was quite a long book! When it came in the mail, I was surprised to see the size of it. Despite it being long, it took me no time at all to read through it. Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book and Taryn and Ryan's story. If you haven't had a chance to pick up this book, I suggest you do, you won't be sorry!  

Review: Entwined In You

Author: Sylvia Day

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Pages: 368

Rating: 5 Stars 

Synopsis: From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn't resist. I also saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside--so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat. No one knowns how much he risked for me. How much I'd been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become. Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession...

I really cannot wait for this book! I completely devoured Bared to You and Reflected In You (I'll be posting reviews soon). In the meantime, I have been thinking about rereading the first two books in order to be prepared for the release of this one. It feels like it has been forever since we have heard from Gideon and Eva.I have been so completely drawn into this story, and I am so looking forward to finding out what is coming up next for Gideon and Eva.

Review: I wanted to start off this review by saying that I absolutely loved this book! I have seen so many negative reviews about this book, and I'm not entirely sure why. When I first picked up Bared To You, this was going to be a trilogy, and now there are an additional two books being added to the series. I'm happy about that. With everything that has taken place in this book, there is no way that Sylvia Day would have been able to finish of the series. It would have been far too rushed. Personally, I'm really looking forward to the next two books! 

I don't want to go into too much detail, and I do want to keep this spoiler free as this the third book in the series. If you've not read the first two books, I suggest that you pick them up! 

Entwined With You picks up right where Reflected In You has left off. This book really focuses on continuing the relationship between Gideon and Eva  and all of the hurdles they have overcome and the next ones that they both must face. Gideon and Eva have such an intense and passionate relationship. Given everything thing that these two characters have been through, I get all of their actions in this book, and I respect them for it. For as intense and passionate as their relationship is, they are able to talk to each other about their struggles, and I think that really helps to further their relationship.

Eva is definitely one of my favourite female leads, and I really don't say that too often. Given everything that she has gone through, she still manages to stay strong. Gideon and Eva are so perfect for one another, and as much as he has helped her, she has returned the favour and helped him in return. With that being said, I absolutely love Gideon.  He's such a powerful and dominant man, but at the same time, he's broken and vulnerable, and like Eva, he has so much to work for.Eva is always his first and foremost thought--he takes care of her first, and himself second. 

Much like Gideon and Eva's realtionship, this book is filled with heat! It is such an intense read. There were some really hot scenes, and I could feel my face flushing. Despite all of this, it never once overshadowed the story.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book,and Crossfire is one of my favourite series! If you haven't checked these books out, I highly recommend this series!