To All the Boys I've Loved Before & P.S. I Still Love You | Jenny Han Duology Review

Photo credit: @nadeethequeen on weheartit.com

About To All the Boys I've Loved Before: 

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Genre: YA contemporary/romance

Pages: 288 | 337

Publication Years: 2014-2015

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Ratings by the book:

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

4.5 stars

P.S. I Still Love You

3.75 stars

Overall Rating:

4 stars

My review:

To all the readers who love contemporary, 

For what it was, for everything it was, To All the Boys I've Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You are lovely, perfect stories. The family dynamic, the cultural standpoint, the teenage woes, the 2015 relevance, the first-love butterflies, and the different, yet, equally great romantic interests... they were all wonderfully relatable and charming story elements. Jenny Han's words read with such ease that it's always a fun experience to read her work.  

The best part of this duology is its moral of living life to the fullest. To opening yourself up to a whole world of possible experiences and opportunities if only you took them; risking the lows and the heartbreaks for moments filled with excitement and love. And even when things don't turn out for the best, at least you feel their effects in full. At least you're not living a half-life. If this hadn't been the message and Lara Jean hadn't learned this throughout the course of the series, I would label this duology as "just another YA contemporary". And I would demand more romance, damn it. I love experiencing and feeling those exciting and joyous moments alongside the main characters of a story. I need to develop strong, emotional connections to characters in order to LOVE a story, you know?

Maybe I'm still demanding more romance, but I suppose I'll concede because of every other lovely aspect this story has going for it. 

Sincerely, 

Holly 

P.S. But seriously, Jenny. Please show us more romance next time! 😘

Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson | Book Review

About the book: 

When it comes to love there’s no such thing as conventional. 

Everyone thinks Colton Neely is special. 

Lilly Evans just thinks he’s fascinating. 

Once friends when they were younger, their bond is cut short due to her accident prone nature and they go their separate ways. Years later, they meet again and Lilly learns that there is something special about the boy she once knew, but she has no idea what it all means. And she’s not sure if she’s ready to find out. 

When he walks through the corridor of her school the first day of her senior year, she knows that it’s time to get to know the real Colton Neely. The more she learns, the deeper she falls. 

Their friendship grows into love, even as Colton does not express it in words. But one decision threatens to break down the world that Lilly has tried so hard to integrate into and she must figure out if the relationship can survive if they are apart.

Genre: YA Contemporary/Romance
Pages: 121
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: June 29, 2014

My Rating: 

5 stars

Sale Alert: Puddle Jumping is 66% off it's original price until December 31, 2015 at 11:59PM! You need this beautiful story on your kindle (read my review for reassure) so seriously grab it now while it's on sale! Link to purchase on: Amazon Kindle

Spoiler-free Review:

"It begins with a boy. It begins with a boy and ends with a boy, but what story doesn't?"

After a slow reading year, fate has me ending 2015 with a bang. This incredible, heart-warming and -twisting bang of a story. Take one look at Puddle Jumping's official synopsis and you might have a guess as to what this book is about. A chapter into the story you might have a pretty good guess what makes Colton special. But you don't really know Lilly, Colton, and their stories until it all unravels...or blossoms or whatever you want to call it.

This story is so much more than just a love story, and yet, it's normalcy at its core. It's not a "disability" or a pity story and by no means is it romanticizing something that never should be. It's a story of the struggles and triumphs that come with the complexities of life and love. It's a story about how scary new waters are and no matter how ready you think you are, you cannot control the outcome. It's a story about people and understanding and not focusing on the differences.

"When you love someone, their differences fall away. 

I don't look at him and see anything but him."

Puddle Jumping hit me right where I needed it and then some. I needed the honesty, the raw pain and love it delivered. I needed the doses of selflessness, understanding, and reality that changed my heart on the topic of disability, and without being too forward, I would say others need these things too. By no means would I say I was prejudice or ignorant on this topic, nor am I implying that anyone else is, but the realness of this story put my prior understanding into even greater focus. Before, there was pity in my heart. Now, there is none. I look at this story and there's no "Oh, good for them" or "Bless her heart" about it. I look at Lilly and Colton and love this story for exactly what it is. As the Amber L. Johnson summed up, "It's a true story about a girl falling for a boy. Nothing more. Nothing less."

Although Puddle Jumping is her most well-read book, Amber L. Johnson isn't as well-known or highly-raved as so many of our favorite authors. So if you're hesitant about reading this book you haven't heard of from an author you're not familiar with, please let me reassure you: you need this book in your life. If you can't end 2015 with this incredible story, please start 2016 with it. It's a quick read (121 pages), which is not enough as much as it's just right. By any means, you won't regret it.

Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

About the book:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies. 

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: March 10, 2015
Pages: 320
Genre: NA contemporary romance

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review: Something I've recently realized is that Colleen Hoover does this thing where she makes me inexplicably love her books even if I don't love every part of it. Maybe this sounds vague because other authors are like this for you, but what I mean is that multiple aspects of her books can make me really disgruntled, her books end with such a punch to the heart that I end up not even caring about the things that previously bothered me.

Let's take Confess for example. The beginning threw me off when I noticed Colleen frequently repeating herself or overemphasizing a character's traits (Auburn's youthful innocence) when the story wouldn't have been compromised without them. (Might I add these repetitions and overemphasizing disappeared as the story continued, but they puzzled me when they were there because that weren't typical for Colleen.) Down the road as Auburn and Owen's relationship grew, I thought it was kind of instalovey, which I do not prefer in romance novels. Additionally, Owen's constant ability to know the reasons behind Auburn's behaviors, although she never voiced them, was questionable (IMO). These aspects of Confess made me doubt how much I would love the book as a whole.

Don't let me fool you; despite the issues I mentioned above, I was enjoying this book splendidly! I found so many aspects of it more than redeeming. The confessions made the story extremely unique and it was executed brilliantly when combined with Danny O'Connor's artwork! I admired how self-aware Auburn and Owen were of their feelings and behaviors, things that would typically be considered "unrealistic" or bad decisions. Through their self-awareness, you were able to see just how they rationalized the things they did, and I absolutely love that in characters. I also loved how quirky and fun Owen was. You don't see that as often as you would expect to in a lead character, especially a love interest, so he was a refreshing character. This book even promotes body-positivity and motherhood, which is fantastic.

After the plot started climbing, I was flipping through the pages faster than you can say Oh My God (see what I did there, fellow Confess readers?) and as the plot was closing in on the end I was thinking, This is a wonderful story! I'll probably give it four stars of happiness! But then, just as Colleen's books always do, the last chapter happened and it tugged on my hard heartstrings so hard it nearly burst from my chest. With that, I was like FIVE STARS! Five incredible, forever-even-when-I-can't loving stars! And then I cried because that's what I do when I love something so much.

I guess in my heart (ya know, the one Colleen mutilates multiple times a year) I always knew this was the main reason for my constant five-star ratings of her novels, but it only just hit me that this is why she is my favorite author. (Excuse me for being slow to the game, guys.) Apart from the obvious aspects like her being a great storyteller with a knack for creativity, her endings never fail to make my heart ache, sing, break, and cry all at once. Colleen's contemporary novels are so memorable, loved, and well-received by me and thousands of other CoHorts because she makes you feel everything. 

Have you read Confess? Did some aspects irk you too? Did you love it to death anyway? I would love to hear what you thought!

Until next time,

Holly

Review: Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

About the book:

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat... and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.

Pages: 284
Published by: Independent
Genre: Adult Suspense/Mystery/Romance

My rating: 5 stars

My review: My first introduction to Tarryn Fisher was the novella Never Never she co-wrote with Colleen Hoover. As you might guess, I didn't get a good grasp of Fisher's writing style until now.

And I have fallen in dark, psychotic love with her words.

They are dark, maniacal, true, and emotive. Mud Vein is a shorter book (less than 300 pages) but I felt like it would never end because every word lingers, making me reread and absorb each unspoken and spoken thought, each action the characters makes. Her words fill my heart and drain my soul. They make me fall in love with her flawed characters and go crazy trying to figure out what the hell is going on. I've been more reactive to these words than I have been to any other author's. I've groaned, sighed, squealed, laughed, and bawled my eyes out while reading books. I've even had to pace the room and take breaks because the emotions were too overwhelming; but the words in this novel made me do all that and more. I gasped, threw my kindle down, ran around my room, and attempted to not hyperventilate more than a dozen times. Tarryn's word speak to me as a person, a reader, a writer, and as I read, I am in awe of what she is able to breathe life, and death, into.

"That's why writers write--to say things loudly with ink. 
To give feet to thoughts; to make quiet, still feelings loudly heard."

Senna is broken and so so human. She isn’t completely okay in the head, and yet, she’s the truest characters you'll ever know. Fisher ingrains us so deeply into Senna’s mind that as a reader we are given nothing outside of what she is thinking, feeling, or sensing at a specific moment. Fisher doesn’t clarify Senna’s fleeting thoughts or seemingly random questions, and I am absolutely enthralled by this narrowed character perspective. We see the grittiest, rawest side of someone who is damaged, and I love Senna for it. I love her personality and her view on the world despite everything else I've gathered about her.

There is hardly any romance in here, and yet, the entire book revolves around love. Each sentence is strung together with beautiful meaning, making Senna and Isaac’s relationship so much more. So few words pass between Senna and Isaac (in the scenes of past and present) but I still feel so many conflicting emotions. The nonverbal communication in this book is a powerful element on its own and it makes me love these characters inevitably.

In Mud Vein, time passes oddly. You can’t always keep track of it, but it is deliberate and conveys Senna’s sense of the world. The way we become a part of Senna’s mind guides the plot and mystery, which sucked me in from the get-go. I can’t tell you how many times I looked down at my reading progress and thought "I'm only this far in and all THIS has happened already?!" The plot is insane and there was no alleviation to my freak-outs. I tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together before everything was revealed and drove myself equally as crazy as Senna in the process.

Mud Vein is all consuming. Every aspect of it drew me in. Even the names that were chosen for the characters were intriguing. I honestly don’t know how Tarryn Fisher did it. Her mind operates in scary ways. This is not a happy book, but it does have moments that will make you smile. The ending is a mixture of insanity, heartbreak, and satisfaction that is just too unbearable to handle. I now know that Fisher doesn't write HEAs and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'm hurting inside, but it might be a good hurt. I cannot tell. All I know is I want more. You might as well call me a masochist because this won’t be my last Tarryn Fisher experience.

P.S. I'm not a fan of playlists to match books, but when a couple songs have a strong connection to a book and are introduced to the characters, I latch to them like they're my lifeline. "Landscape" by Florence + the Machine and "Kill Your Heroes" by AWOLNATION are too perfect for this story and I'm currently listening to them, dying a little inside because the emotions are still swirling to hard and fast for me to understand them. Go read this book and listen to these songs when they're mentioned. Simply. Incredible.

Giveaway Hop: Romance is in the Air! (CLOSED)

It's a lovely time of the year to have a giveaway, don't you think? I didn't celebrate the 1st anniversary of Holly's Reading Hollow in January due to obligations in my schedule, but I had to join this blog hop to send my thanks to you all! Romance is in the Air is a giveaway strictly for romance books, but but my books range from contemporary to paranormal to dystopia romance (see below).

Info on the giveaways:

I will be giving away one paperback and one ebook to two separate winners. The paperback giveaway is US only whereas the ebook giveaway is International. The ebooks are from a selection of personal favorites that I read in 2013 because what better way to spread the love for my favorite books than to give them to you? The ebook will be delivered in either kindle or nook format. There is a rafflecopter for each giveaway and you can enter BOTH. Please read the rules about my giveaways in the rafflecopters below. Good luck!

Paperback Giveaway List:

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Oakler

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Ebook Giveaway List:

Half-blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Vain by Fisher Amelie

Greed by Fisher Amelie

Callum & Harper by Fisher Amelie

Significance by Shelly Crane

Wide Awake by Shelly Crane

Wide Spaces by Shelly Crane

Wide Open by Shelly Crane
Shark Bait by Jenn Cooksey

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine's fun fact about me:
When I was in 5th grade, the new boy at school had a crush on me. For Valentine's Day he gave me a heart-shaped box of chocolates and asked if I'd be his girlfriend. Despite his pleading, I told him no. And I didn't have the heart to tell him I hated Valentine's chocolates.

Tell me a fun fact about one of your Valentine's experiences in the comments below!

If the Linky for the other blogs participating in this hop doesn't show, I apologize! I have been having trouble with getting it to show. Click HERE to take you to the linky instead. 

Review: Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

About the book: 

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex. 

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back. 

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries. 

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

Pages: 343

Published by: Spencer Hill Press (April 4, 2013)

Genre: YA paranormal mythology + romance

PLEASE READ: This review will contain spoilers for the Vampire Academy and Covenant series so BEWARE if you haven't completed the Vampire Academy series or haven't all ready read Apollyon. The Vampire Academy spoilers stop after the numbered bullets if you'd like to read my actual review of Apollyon. Please note that there is a slight spoiler, but I give fair warning before it and you can skip right over it to the next paragraph to continue.

Here's the deal:

 I read Apollyon in June and I wrote a review soon after. I never posted it because my feelings started to change as I thought more about this book; they started to change even more after I heard a rumor that Jennifer L. Armentrout, whom I've grown to admire as a writer, based the Covenant series after the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I've been skeptical to believe this rumor because I know authors come up with similar ideas all the time. No story is completely original, especially since books tend to follow similar plots and character plots, etc, but no story is the same either. Except, when I started analyzing these two side by side, I was finding way too many comparisons to be--what I think--strictly coincidental.

If you've read the review I wrote for Half-blood, the first book in the Covenant series, then you know I did note similarities between the heroines of this paranormal series. Here are some more:

1. The first book of each series begins with a strong heroine who has been away from their school. They're brought back by a guy who is extremely good looking, older than they are, off limits, and are typically pretty serious, tough guys. Once at the school, rumors fly around them about why they were gone. The heroines are behind in their schooling/training and may not graduate until the good-looking male interest of the story offers to train them individually so the heroine can graduate on time. They have some close encounter/sexual tension moments while they train and the love relationships bud from there. The love relationship is a struggle between what's right and wrong and if you should listen to your heart or head throughout the entire series.
2. The heroines and love interests just know each other in a way no one else could ever understand.
3. The Elements (fire, water, air, earth, and spirit) are used in both series.
4. They both have three different races with a 4th special twist: Moroi/Pures, dhampir/halfs, Strigoi/Daimons, and the spirit-users/Apollyons. (And even though the Covenant series revolves around Greek mythology, the Daimons resemble vampire-like creatures? Are those in Greek mythology?)
5. They have a best friend whose funny and just a great guy. Later on, he is killed by Strigoi/Daimon but he doesn't completely disappear from later books.
6. They have petty enemies that land them in trouble/breaking rules throughout the book and as the series goes on. The enemies' parental figure(s) dies and the heroine and the enemy slowly start to not hate each other--even like each other. 
7. The heroines are natural fighters who are sarcastic and kind of stifle their emotions. become more fierce and badass (although I don't think Alex reaches Rose's level, which I mention in my Half-blood review) with each book.
8. A love triangle sprouts with a guy who handsome, cocky, and makes the heroine form a hate-love relationship with him.
9. A lust charm/drink is used on the heroine and puts her in a compromising position.
10. The heroine turns to a special text to learn more about the special exception to their race.
11. The way Dimitri pulls away from Rose and blames himself after he has been "unawakened" and recalls how he took away Rose's freewill vs. the way Aiden pulls away from Alex and blames himself after taking away Alex's freewill with the elixir.
12. Someone is trying to sabotage the heroine, but I guess there's always someone trying to kill the m.c. in an action series. I'll let that one slide.

Those are the similarities I can rattle off right now without taking time to stop and think of more. So yes, many MANY similarities between the two. I'd be lying if I said these discoveries weren't a turn off for me when it comes to Covenant and Jennifer L. Armentrout.

My Review:

However, I DID still enjoy this book. If you've read my other reviews for Covenant, then you know that I love the mythology, the action, and the characters because they are wonderful and intriguing and funny. The romance and the antagonism were perfect so they kept me wanting more. Those elements have stayed the same throughout the series and that's where I've always come to love the author's writing.

Particularly for Apollyon, Alex's insensibility in the beginning made me really dislike her; despite that, I must say that Alex has made a considerable amount of growth and it's especially visible in this book. Seeing that sense of wisdom and strength in her, seeing the maturity was so lovely! 

(This paragraph contains slight spoilers) Speaking of maturity: Alex and Aiden. Anyone wanna shriek with me? Eeeeeeeep!!! Jennifer's wonderful craft of sexual tension between Alex and Aiden throughout the entire series results in perfection in this novel. I couldn't smile larger at their growth. *Sigh + love-sick grin* 

(Spoiler-free!) Apollyon took me a while to get through (set it down multiple times and picked up another book instead) because it was slower paced and kind of boring at times. I mean, they're at the edge of war and I should have been on the edge of my seat the entire time, but apart from Alex's little stunt around page 100 and the very end, there really wasn't much action. After 4 books previously chalked full of action, this was a bit of a let down. However, everything the characters were trying to accomplish in order to prevent further chaos from happening made me nerve-wracked in a way that almost hid my disappointment at the lack of action. Everything about the ending had my muscles tense and I was NOT expecting the book to end where it did! Cliffhanger? Yeah, I'd say so!

So... final thoughts for the series? Comparisons aside, Covenant is truly amazing. The characters, the mythology, the action, the sexual tension: all wonderfully done. It gives me the feels and the suspense. 
Rating for Apollyon? I'm going to go with 3 stars. I did really like the book, but the slowness damped the plot and I'm also still very conflicted with the VA vs Covenant issue. :(
Will I read the sequel? Yes, because the ending of Apollyon (the last two chapters) was really good and it was a cliffhanger so I must know what happens next!
Would I recommend these books? If you are looking for a great paranormal/mythological-themed book with a love triangle and plot twists, this is what you are looking for! But if you are a Vampire Academy fan like myself, or you have strong feelings about copycat books, then I'd be very hesitant. If anything, I'd recommend you read VA first, then try Half-blood and see how you feel afterwards.

Sexual content: medium-high (sexual references and a few love scenes, but they're very mild on the description.)

~

Have you heard of Jennifer's Lux series? It's about aliens. But they're hot aliens. Check out my reviews for the first two in the series HERE. 

Review: Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout + FREE Download!

Official Synopsis

Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex. Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for. Even if it means making war against the gods.

Pages: 80

Published by: Spencer Hill Press (November 27, 2012)

Genre: YA paranormal romance + mythology

My rating for Elixir (Covenant, #3.5):

**You will not be lost if you read/begin Apollyon before Elixir, but the events/dialogue in Apollyon will impact you more if you read Elixir first. Make sure you read this after the first 3 books though.

Probably the best novella I've read. 

Elixir was from Aiden's POV and I know I said Deity was the "Team Aiden" book, but really, THIS is the book that represents Team Aiden through and through!

It's called Elixir because Aiden had to make the choice of putting Alex on the elixir to temporarily break the connection between her and Seth and gain some time. I loved seeing Aiden's struggles and love for Alex first hand. His struggles and inner demons were heart breaking, but mainly, I just loved being in Aiden's head. I actually picked up Elixir when I was around page 100 in Apollyon and there were times that I gasped when I realized what something in Apollyon had been referencing to.

Updated link: Click HERE for a free (legal) download of Elixir.

Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…
Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…
The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…
I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Pages: 366
Published by: Entangled Teens (August 14, 2012)
Genre: YA science fiction/romance

My rating for Onyx (Lux, #2):

At the end of Obsidian, I was really proud that Kat was sticking to her guns, telling Daemon that she wanted a real relationship from Daemon and she wasn't going to accept anything else. Daemon spends this book first trying to get Kat to give in and admit her attraction to him, to goad her into kissing him. That was a lot of the book and there was a lot of tension between the two of them that made the book exciting. Daemon changes during the book, but by the time that Kat realizes how much he does care for her and how much he should trust him, its too late. That was frustrating to read about because Kat was making some seriously stupid decisions that landed them in baaad situations. It was really heart breaking to see Daemon accuse Kat of not trusting him, of seeing how hurt he was because of her decisions. BUT the romance in this book was lovely to read! I know this review is quite mixed, but I did like the romance just as much as I did in Obsidian, even if it was frustrating at times.

The story was pretty systematic. Nothing really shocked me. The typical conflicts that move a story were there and I guessed them all. I still enjoyed the book, it just wasn't anything amazingly creative.

I loved and hated this book because of the decisions that characters made, but I'll definitely be reading the third book to see where Kat and Daemon go next. I'm kind of afraid Daemon is going to be a big ol' softy in this next book, but I guess we'll see.

Recommended to readers who like: Jennifer L. Armentrout, science fiction, aliens, romance, young adult books, typical story plot lines.

Sexual content: medium (sexual tension and an "almost" situation)

~

Apart from the Lux series, Jennifer L. Armentrout has another series called the Covenant series, a couple stand-alone novels, and she recently began writing new adult novels under the name J. Lynn. Find out more about Armentrout and her books on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads! 

Here are my reviews for the books of hers I've read so far:

Obsidian (Lux, #1)

Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)

Daimon (Covenant, #0.5)

Pure (Covenant, #2)

Add Onyx on Goodreads.

Buy on Amazon and B&N.

Callum & Harper by Fisher Amelie | Updated Book Review

Official Synopsis 

Life sucks for orphans Callum Tate and Harper Bailey. Kicked out of their foster homes because they suffer the 'eighteen disease' with nothing but a hundred dollar check from the government and a pat on the back, they're forced to rely on a system that failed them miserably. So they sit. They sit inside Social Services, waiting for their social workers to call their names and offer them the miracle they know will never come but they sit anyway because they have nowhere else to go, no other options on their very literal and figurative empty plates. But as they sit, they notice the other. Although captivated, they each come to the conclusion that life is complicated enough without throwing in a boiling tension that can't ever be acted upon because they're both too busy thinking about where their next meal will come from but when their names are called and both are placed on a year long waiting list for permanent housing, suddenly relying on each other seems like a very viable plan B. And, oh, how lovely Plan B's can be. Well, except for the psycho from Harper's past that haunts her and, oh, yeah, there's the little issue that neither of them knows they're in love with the other. Needless to say, Callum & Harper's life just got a bit more complicated. “One day, you and I are gonna’ wake up and be alright. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but one day. One day. I promise you.” - Callum Tate

Pages: 256

Published by: Fisher Amelie

Genre: mature YA/NA romance

My rating for Callum & Harper (The Sleepless, #1):

Originally Reviewed on June 15, 2013. Updated on July 13, 2015.

This is a story about what lengths someone will go to for love and the romance of this novel was one that tore me in half with how much I simultaneously hated and loved it. Eventually, my love for these characters and their relationship came out on top of my frustrations I had, but I'll first discuss my distaste. Callum and Harper grew to love each other super at-times-eye-rollingly quickly. Instalove at its finest. Here were two eighteen year olds, just released from the State's custody with next to nothing in life, and their attraction, trust, safety, and belonging to each other was just as bizarre as it was immediate. I was able to overlook this by keeping an open mind (because if there is such a thing as love at first sight, this duo is the epitome of it), but as the story continued and they fell harder for each other, they both made the same unbelievably ridiculous decision, which snowballed into one big lie where neither was 100% happy for years. This was unfathomably frustrating because if someone in real life had been in this situation, all they could have (probably would have) done is tell the truth and all would be swell.

Another downfall had to do with Callum and Harper's values and faith. Although I admired how these topics which are often neglected in YA literature, these discussions seemed out of character. Callum and Harper had really crappy lives before they met. No one cared enough about them to even introduce or influence any sort of faith in their lives so I find it hard to believe that they would be so optimistic and faithful about the cards they had been dealt.

"I loved her so much I could barely see straight. I wanted her so much I could barely breathe straight. I needed her so much I could barely think straight."

In spite of it all, I'm thrilled I was able to work through my frustrations because Callum & Harper has become my guilty pleasure instalove. They are sweet as honey, perfect as peach, delightful as a dandelion, bright as the sun, and all those lovely metaphors wrapped into one. The unconditional love they had and showed each other was incredible. It was a such a joy to read about the small aspects of their relationship such as their daily encounters, time spent with great friends, and their efforts to build a life together. Their love filled this book and my heart. Sometimes their ridiculous snowballing decisions I previously mentioned wasn't such a bad thing either because it urged me to keep reading and wishing for a HEA. I couldn't get enough of them and their story amounted to a feel-good tale. In fact, according to my original review, the ending was so "frighteningly wonderful" I "literally sunk OUT OF MY CHAIR and onto the FLOOR". So yes, I think I was quite able to overlook its faults and love it for everything else.

"One day, you and I are gonna wake up and be alright. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day. One day. I promise you."

Recommended for readers who like: Fisher Amelie, instalove, love at first sight, sweet relationships, not entirely realistic tales.

Sexual content: Medium - mature thoughts/feelings; the end is less conservative. I would recommend to 16+. 

Find everything Fisher Amelie and her novels HERE!

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is.

Genre: YA science fiction/romance

My rating for Obsidian (Lux, #1):

This was another book a friend suggested that I read and whenever a friend suggests a book, I typically go in blindly, not knowing a thing about the novel other than it is GOOD. 

Needless to say, I was surprised to find that I was reading a book about aliens. I didn't realize that right off the bat, but when it became clear that their was definitely something up with Kat's next door neighbors, and then when it was revealed, I was like "Woah!"

Now don't let that scare you! I know a lot of people seem to be skeptical when it comes to an alien book. I understand the hesitation because when someone says, "I just read this really good book; it was about aliens!", you kind of do a double take. But fear not! This book about aliens is original and the concept of these aliens made a HUGE contribution to my liking to Obsidian.

Without giving away spoilers, the type of aliens Jennifer L. Armentrout created for the Lux series (hint, hint) are, by far, one of the most unique concepts I've ever read! As you may or may not know, we do not have the technology or means on earth to travel to any of the planets outside our solar system because they are just that far away and it would take many many many life times to reach them. So any alien who travels through space to Earth (theoretically) would presumably have to follow the same laws of science. 

The aliens Armentrout created are ones that make one think that the logic behind them does seem kind of true! I'll admit that it wasn't a flawless idea, but what was explained in the book made sense! I cannot get over how cool of a concept it was--I loved it! Anything that didn't quite piece together--well, you can just write that off as a side effect of fiction! :)

Besides the characters, which I'll get to in a couple seconds, the other thing I liked about Obsidian is the writing. When I read Armentrout's work, I feel like her writing is effortless. It's comfortable to read and I enjoy everything from the pacing to when their is description vs. when there is dialogue...it flows really easily and this basic, but rare feature makes me fly through the pages.

Now to the actual story and characters:

Katy is a lovable girl who moved for a fresh start three years after he father died from cancer. She loves reading and blogging (which I found highly appropriate to be included in this series :)) and she just wants everything to work out. She moves to a small town where everyone knows each other, and she ends up right next door to Daemon and his sister Dee.

Although Katy befriended Dee first, douchebag Daemon became the main focus of this story quickly and he all but consumed the entire novel. He's hot and he's a complete asshole.

"Beautiful body. Beautiful face. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys."

Katy and Daemon are so attracted to each other the whole time, but Daemon is such an ass that he's constantly trying to hide his feelings, hurt Katy (or Kat, as Daemon calls her), or just downright embarrass her. This had to be the most frustrating dynamic between characters I've ever read! Their bicker and bitching lasted the entire book and although I found it funny, I just wanted to scream, "WOULD YOU QUIT IT!!?!"

"Why are you such an ass?" The words came out before I could think twice.

"Everyone has to excel at something, right?"

"Well, you're doing a great job."

I love Kat and Daemon so much! I just want them to be this awesome passionate couple because they're both such passionate, awesome people that it hurts me to see them treat each other the way they do. I suppose this is what sequels are for...

When Daemon did bring down his guard and show compassion to Kat, OMG I think my heart burst every single time! Just like Kat, I like the Daemon who watches over her, protects her, and cares for her. The one who shows that he cares more about her than to just kiss her or have sex with her. That's the guy I cannot wait to see more of in Onyx and the following sequels. (I hope I DO get to see more of that Daemon!) I love Kat and Daemon so so much!!

Two aspects of Obsidian that I didn't enjoy:

• The Native American legend: although I understood how it pertained to the story and to the aliens, I get bored when long legends are told in books. In this book, I didn't like how it was used. It didn't flow flawlessly with the rest of the story, for me at least.
• The end fight scene: The ending was just kind of jumbled and I wish there had been more to it. Although, it was pretty cool what happened in the fight scene...

Some of my love-factors about Obsidian: 

• Kat wasn't a skinny mini girl. I know that looks are not everything, but as girls and especially when we read romance books, so many times do we think, "Well, they're skinny and beautiful so of course the guy was attractive to her instantaneously!" (Or, at least, that's what I sometimes think anyway.) Kat definitely has some hips on her and is no way close to a model's size. I really like how Armentrout made that one of her features.
• The bonus scenes from Daemon's POV that were added to the end of the book--LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Daemon!!! <3
• (SPOILER ALERT): Instead of Kat giving 100% into her attraction for Daemon, she stuck by her guns and told him that she wanted a real, committed relationship. And that is he couldn't give her that, then they weren't going to have one at all. I could bow to Armentrout for writing this part! Armentrout made the perfect point by having Kat state that they really didn't know each other that well and she made Kat ask herself is there was any real substance that would hold her and Daemon together. One that completely excluded sexual attraction. Honestly, I LOVED this. SPOILER QUOTE: “No. Sorry. You have spent months being the biggest jerk to me. You don't get to decide to like me one day and think I will forget that. I want someone to care for me like my dad cared for my mom. And you aren't him.” 

There are so many appealing assets to this book it's crazy! If you decide to give it a try, which I HIGHLY recommend you do, then I hope you let me know how you liked it, and if you've already read Obsidian, then please comment below to tell me your thoughts! 

Apart from the Lux series, Jennifer L. Armentrout has another series called the Covenant series, a couple stand-alone novels, and she recently began writing new adult novels under the name J. Lynn. Check out my review for her first book in the Covenant series called "Half-Blood" and then let me know in the comments if that sounds like something you'd read. Find out more about Armentrout and her books on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads! 

EDIT: I'd like to note that since reading Obsidian, I have read some reviews stating that Obsidian is comparable to Twilight because of character content. Never ONCE did Twilight come to my mind while reading this book. I freaking liked this book on its own account. Now, after reading those reviews and having read Obsidian, I can say that the only now notable comparison is the number of characters and some of their involvements in the book. But let me remind you that just because one author had one idea, that doesn't mean another didn't have a similar one. That is all.