Book Review: Cracked But Never Broken: Damien Payne's Story (K.L. Holloway)

Cracked But Never Broken: Damien Payne's Story

  By: K.L. Holloway

     Genres: Suspense, Romance

Ex-Marine, Damien Payne thought life would be simpler at home on the Laughing P, his family ranch. He had a promise to keep; he was going to marry Lexi, the girl next door. Too bad life isn’t a fairy tale. Treachery from friends and a former lover vie with his inner demons; leave him feeling broken. Will he learn that it’s okay to lean on family and save his love life?

**WE WERE PROVIDED WITH A FREE COPY OF CRACKED BUT NEVER BROKEN: DAMIEN PAYNE'S STORY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW** 

I can't say that I typically read a lot of suspenseful romance novels, so although I started Cracked But Never Broken: Damien Payne's Story with an open mind, I didn't have any expectations.  Boy was I ever pleasantly surprised.  

Damien Payne is a force to be reckoned with.....a typical drool worthy marine, which in his case is both a blessing and a curse.  He returned to a home that had drastically changed during his time away, and to a family who didn't understand why he was so oblivious.  He quickly learned that returning home and picking up where he left off with Lexi, the girl next door, wasn't going to work out like he had planned.  The story of Damien, Lexi, and the Laughing P is anything but a typical love story. Throw a couple crazy stalkers, some trouble making rustlers, a woman who's unwilling to take no for an answer, a girl tired of being let down, and a matriarch and things are bound to get interesting. 

The story was one that easily pulled me in and made me feel like I was right there with the rest of the farm hands.  However, there were several instances, which I found myself having to reread parts in order to follow along.  If I'm being completely honest, which is something that I pride myself in doing, I felt as though less would have been so much more.  Having to focus so much on the story lines twists and turns took away from really letting me get attached to the characters.

So, with that being said Cracked But Never Broken: Damien Payne's Story is definitely one that gets my vote....I just suggest making it the only thing you focus on when you sit down to enjoy it.   
 

 

Facebook 

Instagram 

Twitter 

Get your copy on Amazon 

Add to your "must reads" on Goodreads 

 

 

Book Review: Eleanor and Park (Rainbow Rowell)

Eleanor and Park
By: Rainbow Rowell
 Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Romance

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him
until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.




Hey guys!! Today I will be reviewing Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. Oh my goodness the things I have to say about this book peoples. It. Is. AMAZING. The lead character Eleanor is so different from a lot of other girls that we read about. And its really cool because she knows she's different and she knows she's weird and in a way she is self conscious about it but on the other hand she completely owns it and doesn't care what people think. She is strong and powerful yet anxious and afraid. Now to Park. This dude, guys, THIS DUDE. He is quiet but once you get to know him you can't help but love him. He's also not afraid to stand up for what he believes in and knows how to deal with tough situations, but also has no clue what he is doing. I love how the book is always switching from one protagonist to the other. In most YA romance books each chapter has its own protagonist, but in this book it switches in the chapter. I think that this is wonderful because it really gives you insight on what they both are thinking about the situation at hand and how they feel about one another without you having to wait several chapters to find out about it. I have always wanted an author to do this and it just made me so happy and I can't get over how much I love it. Not to mention Rainbow Rowell is a master at creating relatable characters with so many flaws, which is the best because she's not trying to make her characters perfect she's trying to show that they are human and that other people deal with the same things that you do. Anyway back to the story itself. The way that Eleanor and Park slowly begin to talk and share comic books and music is adorable. And how it is described when they hold hands or kiss is just....ughhh. Its so innocent but also it conveys their feelings for each other and how powerful on touch can make them and how it melts their hearts(it melted my heart just by reading it). It felt like they matured as the book progressed. And that might just be me but when you get deeper into it its like they all of the sudden grew up and its kinda really awesome. Okay so that was my review for today. I STRONGLY recommend this book I love love love looooooovveee it. Please read it. For you're own sake. There are so many other points that I would like to make but then this review would be 10,000 words long so.... be sure to follow for reviews every week and comment below if you have a book that you'd like us to review. I love you all, and hope you have a great day!
xoxo ~ Naomi

Book Review: Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell)

 Fangirl

By: Rainbow Rowell

 Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Love, Realistic Fiction,Chic Lit

                             

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park.

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

  Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Okay, guys, Naomi has already reviewed this book, so why don't we just skip all the pleasantries and get straight to the point?  THIS BOOK WAS REALLY GOOD! I read it in a few hours and it was just a really cute romance novel. I think that if you've read the Simon Snow books that this book would touch you in a completely different way (not a naughty "show-me-where-on-this-doll" way, but a good emotional way). I'm actually going to see about getting the Simon Snow series. You guys will obviously know if I do because I'll review them here.
 While Cath was painfully introverted, and her sister kinda rejected her, I liked it for some reason....
Anyway, as you may know (Hey, you may not, but das okay), I am scary good at predicting what is going to happen in romance books...usually in the first chapter, sometimes even the first pages. I hate to say it, but my predictions about this book were off, by a LOT.
There really isn't a lot to say; it was a really cutsie, quick romance novel.
To top the amazingness off, not only does Rainbow (omg, don't you just love that name) give you segments of the Simon Snow novels, but she gives you pieces of  Carry On, Simon, which is the fanfiction that Cather is writing, as well as pieces of her and Wren's earlier fanfictions. I think she's actually going to PUBLISH Carry On, Simon, *dies*.
I'm nearly positive that she also wrote a book that's been on my list for agesss, so I've basically stumbled onto a gold-mine.

I'll leave you with this, lovelies, if anyone is even on our blog regularly,
Speaking of, I'd like to apologize for the irregularity of our posts, so if anyone is a regular reader of our blog, I sincerely thank you. I promise we're going to get a schedule up and running eventually!

Until next time (which will be very, very soon because I'm already on the second book of a new series). Now I get to go spend over an hour making a Sensible Book Sunday for youu. Wish me luck!

Blog you later, lovlies!

Book Review: Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell)

 Fangirl
By: Rainbow Rowell

 Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Love, Realistic Fiction,Chic Lit

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park.
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?


"Touching and utterly real." —  Publisher's Weekly

 Hey guys!!! Sorry I've been kinda M.I.A for the past few weeks, I've been really busy(who knew I had a life). Okay, so about this book... It maybe....sort of... might be my new favorite book. There are so many things going on, like, OH MY GOSH! Its about a boy and another boy, and the sister and the mom and the dad, oh gosh, the DAD! So many things are happening, it is so entertaining. As soon as I started reading it I was like "Yes yes yes yes yes yes yesssssss", because, for starters, the lead character, Cath, is super easy to relate to. I don't particularly identify with her, but I know many people like her, and I can tend to be introverted at times(lets be real though, I love da peoples). Now I'm not sure if other people thought this, but I love her roommate. Reagan's really intimidating and off putting at first, but once you get to know her you see that she is just a big softy with actual feelings(sorry to disappoint guys, but she sadly isn't a robot). And we can't forget about Levi! He's such a cutie pie, with his warm smile and glittery personality, I adore his character, you get to see so many different sides to him and its amazing! Now, onto Wren (Cath's twin sister), She seems like a normal preppy party girl, but she is sad, and angry...that is a character I like to see. The development of her character is gradual and slow but I love seeing how much she matured, while still keeping her childish ways. And, last, but most definitely not least, their father. He's been through a lot, he has mental issues, and is extremely sad, but he remains happy, and keeps trying his hardest. In the middle of the book he seems to quit, but then he goes through some more stuff and realizes that he doesn't want to be bad anymore, so he stops. He is by far one of my favorite characters in this book. This novel is funny, sad, happy, cute, romantic, and, not to mention, has drama; its the best. I highly recommend this book to everyone in the universe. 
Thanks for reading today my people, I hope you enjoyed!
I love you all, and I'll talk to ya next time
~xoxo, Naomi

Book Review: What A Boy Wants (Nyrae Dawn)

What A Boy Wants 
By: Nyrae Dawn 
Genre: Romance, Fiction

Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together. 

And then he falls in love… 

With the last girl he would expect…

Totally not in his game plan. 

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig. 

But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it.

                         

Okay guys, let's be honest here, this book was really, really predictable....Well, maybe that's just me, but I found it to be that way. You know who Sebastian is going to end up with, well before he even knows it himself. You know that they're going to get together in the end
   The only thing that was different about this book is that it's only in the POV (point of view) of Sebastian, and there aren't to many romance novels (that I've read) that are in the POV of the leading male character.They were pretty witty characters, too, which, as you may know, are my favorite characters ever. 
    I hate that the blurb is nearly longer than the review I'm giving you guys, but it was a pretty simple, quick read.
    So, if you 're in the mood for a really cute love story, go pick up this book, because it doesn't disappoint.

 Slight warning, there's mild language and some sexual references, but nothing too bad. ^-^

Book Review: Room (Emma Donoghue)

Room

By: Emma Donoghue

   Genre: Crime, Mystery

"To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.


Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work."

   Room is a book that pulled me in right from the start. It's an amazing perspective to experience, not only because it's written in the mind of a five year old boy, but because it inspires you and makes your heart ache in the same sentence. 
    I will admit, toward the last bit, a little more than half way through, I had to force myself to keep reading... I just felt that there wasn't a great deal of interesting topics during that time, but the beginning and the end were amazing (I'm not going to say whether or not they were happy endings...that's for you to find out).
   One of the things I really liked about this book was that you can see the character development of Jack, the young protagonist, and you also can see the development of Ma, his mother. Jack was very smart, and I often forgot he was only portrayed as a five year old boy, but I adored him all the same.
    The ending was my absolute favorite part of this book, I think that Donoghue wrapped up this book splendidly, if fit the overall theme and attitude of the characters remarkably well, and I couldn't find anything about it to be unhappy with....it was the first ending I have been happy with in a while.

   Overall? Overall, I think that, no matter how you see the world presently, you will look up from the last page of this book, fighting tears, and see the world in a completely different light; the affect this book has will linger, and leave you thinking about the world in a whole new way.

                                                                                                                




  *Blurb and Novel cover from Goodreads, check us out there!*