Review: The Trouble with Goodbye (Fairhope #1) by Sarra Cannon

The Trouble with Goodbye (Fairhope #1) by Sarra Cannon

Published May 21st 2013 by Dead River Books

From: Bought

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Synopsis:

One night can change everything…

Two years ago, Leigh Anne Davis shocked everyone in tiny Fairhope, Georgia when she broke up with her wealthy boyfriend to attend an Ivy League university a thousand miles away. At school, she finds a happiness and independence she’s never known.

Until one terrifying night takes it all away from her.

With no place else to go, Leigh Anne heads home to reclaim her old life. A life she worked so hard to escape. On the outside, she seems like the same girl everyone has always known. But deep inside, she’s hiding a terrible secret.

That’s when she meets Knox Warner, a troubled newcomer to Fairhope. His eyes have the same haunted look she sees every day in the mirror, and when she’s near him, the rest of the world fades away. But being with Knox would mean disappointing everyone all over again. If she wants to save what’s left of her old life, she has no choice but to say goodbye to him forever.

Only, the trouble with goodbye is that sometimes it’s about courage and sometimes it’s about fear. And sometimes you’re too broken to know the difference until it’s too late.

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Review:

It's hard to dismiss a book that deals with such a hard hitting subject. I especially liked The Trouble with Goodbye which is a story about honesty, truth and courage against adversity.

Leigh Anne is a likable character. At little naive at times but still working out what it means to have her independence on her own terms. She makes mistakes. We all do. Sometimes she makes choices based on her 'before' life which only reminds her of why she left her small town in the first place. Sometimes she sucks it up and makes new steps to begin living by her own rules and not those of her well-to-do parents. These decisions she could certainly be commended for. 

I especially liked Knox but as a character he didn't really have any flaws that would mar his credibility as a hero of the story. His past life, as painful as it was, seemed to be exactly that. He was well on his way to living in the 'now', and with a little help from Leigh Anne, developed as his own person.

I've given this review 4 out of 5. The only things I felt lacking were a sense of drama or emotional tension that is common in New Adult books now. At times I was reading dialogue and descriptions of the tragedies that happened but I didn't altogether feel the pain behind them. Having said that, the subject detail is given openly and without bias, and for that Cannon can be commended for tackling this delicate subject.

Now I'm looking forward to Penny and Mason's story. And I pretty much think there'll be fireworks!

-CBx

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You can reach Sarra Cannon here:

Web

Goodreads

Review: Crossing by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Crossing by Stacey Wallace Benefiel 

Publishers: All Night Reads

Published Date: May 8 2013

From: NetGalley

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Due to heavy subject matter, Crossing is recommended for readers 17+. He stole her lipstick…and her heart. Twenty-year-old Dani Walker can’t believe her luck when she’s paired up with the gorgeous Liam Garrett as her Acting I scene partner – or when he ends up in her bed. Being a Plain Jane with a mouth on her hasn’t exactly served Dani well in the guy department. In fact, she’s had nothing but one night stands. Still, she lets go of her insecurities and falls for Liam, despite feeling like he’s holding something back. When Dani finally discovers Liam’s secret, she must learn the true meaning of accepting the ones we love for who they are, or risk losing the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

Review:

Firstly, isn't the cover beautiful? So pretty. I have to say, I adored Crossing by Stacey Wallace Benefiel. I haven't read any of her other work but as a New Adult story this sums up the genre perfectly. Discovering who you are, not what everyone expects you to be. Dani meets, gets on well with and soon becomes good friends with Liam Garrett. He gets her, matches her and accepts her. Dani has very low self-esteem and constantly talks down about herself to others. A trait that takes time to accept if at all, so Dani initially has problems understanding why Liam likes her. She isn't tall or exotically pretty or stick thin, she's just normal and Liam is gorgeous. Eventually, after a night of tequila they become an item and I really loved their relationship to begin with. But then Liam starts hiding away, pretending to be busy. Is he having an affair? He seems so 'into' Dani when they are together. 

When Liam comes out with his secret it wasn't hard to guess what it was. Some of the doubts Dani harbours are an instinct reaction and she sticks with it even after living with weeks of second guessing herself not believing she was good enough for him. But as before they find a work around and settle back, again, into their relationship being truer and more open and honest with each other. Liam's story is fascinating. I have a friend who had trouble in his early years too. His parents refused to accept who he was and even kicked him out of their house. But much like being gay, the hardest part is admitting it to yourself. Others will accept you as you are and if they don't then they weren't real friends in the first place. 

In Crossing, the aftermath of the hospital scene was gut-wrenching. But I totally saw through Liam not being in contact. Of course his mother would be screening every form of contact Dani could possible make to get hold of him. But Dani was right to wait for Liam this time. I've tried not to give too many spoilers away for this one. We live in a day and age where judging people for what they look like is dead and gone. People are people, what's inside is all that counts. And, oh go on then, a small spoiler. Who else can admit that Eddie Izzard in heels, eye-liner and lipstick looks absolutely gorgeous. I think he does!! Well done, Stacey, I loved it! 

You can reach Stacey Wallace Benefiel here: 

Web

Goodreads

Review: Touching Melody (Forever First #1) by RaShelle Workman

Touching Melody (Forever First #1) by RaShelle Workman 

Publishers: Polished Pen Press

Published Date: May 14th 2013

From: NetGalley

My rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis:

Maddie Martin's first weekend at college is nothing like she's used to. It's wild, like the wilderness on which the University of Bellam Springs sits. Roped into going to a fraternity party, she literally runs into Kyle Hadley. The boy she's loved since she was nine. The boy she promised all of her firsts to. But that was before his father killed her parents. 

Determined to stay away from him, she throws herself into her music. Practicing piano eases her heavy heart, calms the sadness, and pushes away images of Kyle's face. 

Until it doesn't. 

Her music professor asks her to play a duet for their annual Winter Gala. Doing so means she'll be assured another full ride scholarship. It's an opportunity she can't pass up. But Kyle is the other half of the duet. And that means hours and hours of practicing. 

Weeks of seclusion - just the two of them. And it's more than just music. It's passion like Maddie never believed was possible. 

The inevitable happens. She falls in love with him all over again. 

But, will loving him be enough to erase all the hate in her heart for his father? Can she look at him, and not see the evil in his family tree? 

And maybe it's all a set up. Maybe Kyle is only pretending to care so he can finish what his father started, and kill her too

Review:

Lots of YA authors are now crossing over to New Adult to write stories with more daring subjects. As readers and lovers of YA I guess the trend of authors is being followed by us reviewers because we too are growing up and want to read about the next step in adulthood. Touching Melody by RaShelle Workman is a great story about a girl called Maddie who found her parents dead one night. She also saw a glimpse of the killers and all the blood surrounding her parents bodies. She is whisked away days after to live with her Aunt and Uncle and to prevent any backlash after that fateful night, is home schooled. While this may have been in Maddie's best interests she has grown up naive, completely ignorant of the modern world. As a child her best friend was Kyle. They both had tough parents to deal with but stayed best friends throughout, promising each other things that children do, things they know nothing about. Seven years, Maddie is starting College. At a party she bumps into Kyle. But he appears to not remember her. She then pretends to not to know him. Eventually after a drunken spell they reveal their identities. 

The romance begins but there are still those who want to keep these two apart no matter what the cost. Touching Melody is a really good coming of age story. I wouldn't say the story was that original but Workman writes like a genius and I really felt like I knew Maddie and understood her. Her roommate is Gina who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Kyle comes off as being an idiot to start with. Rumours of him enjoying a menage a troit and being into kinky sex start spreading. I also liked the switch between POV's, I thought this worked well to understand Kyle and his motives. 

Maddie and Kyle's story does come across as being completely natural and believable and what I loved most was the innocence of both of them. Yes, Kyle's dad beat him and Maddie's parents seemed suspicious but neither of them had any idea of what kind of life their parents were living and how their fate got all twisted together. Little things that made it more enjoyable. Maddies tattooes, her shoe fetish and her friendship with Gina. 

The ending did come across as a little rushed, almost a 'tell' rather than a 'show' and read quickly so the emphasis on hoping Maddie survived was like watching a movie in double time. Maddie and Kyle go through lots of heaving petting but this NA book leaves out the big event, and the Aftermath surmises Maddies final acceptance of what happened and allows her to begin a new life. All in all, a good book.

-CBx

You can reach RaShelle Workman here: 

Web

Goodreads

Review: Connected (Connections #1) by Kim Karr

Connected (Connections #1) by Kim Karr

Publishers: Signet Romance

Published Date: May 7 2013

From: NetGalley

My rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis:

What if a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ could happen twice? 

Suffering from a past full of tragedy, Dahlia London's soul has been left completely shattered. Happily ever after is a far cry from reality in her world. But, when she is reconnected with her past, the bonds that form are irrefutable.

When River Wilde, lead singer of The Wilde Ones, comes back into Dahlia’s life, the intensity that fires their relationship combined with underlying feelings that have never died lead her to believe she has met her soulmate. 

Struggling with confusion as old connections fade and new ones begin, Dahlia's grief begins to lift--but guilt remains. River wants to be the one to mend all that is torn within her. 

But with a past that is never really gone, can their future survive?

Review:

Hmm. Its hard to write a review when others have praised a book to such extent and you didn't quite like it as much. Dahlia London experienced an epic tragedy. Her boyfriend Ben is shot right in front of her and slowly she builds her life back. But it takes time. Over a year goes by and she's only just about to embark on a new beginning. Five years previous she had an encounter with a really hot guy in a bar. The experience left an impression on her so when her friend asks her to do an interview and a photoshoot at first she's not interested. Then she finds out its River Wilde, the same guy she met in the bar. Still unsure about whether its the right thing to do she agrees to do the job. He wouldn't remember her anyway, it happened five years ago. From the moment they meet again River and Dahlia are both aware of each other, desire unfurls but they both keep it in check. Until River asks her for dinner. 

My first impressions were that I liked this book. The story of Dahlia and Ben, their romance, the aftermath of college, it all came across as meaningful and wonderful living in their world. Some of Ben's comments annoyed me such as his repetative swearing when giving a compliment. Big turn off for me. But it was clear they were devoted to one another. However the minute Dahlia 'fell' into the conference room I got annoyed. Why do authors always insist on the MC making a complete idiot of herself at the first meeting. Fifty Shades had Ana falling on her knees, Eva fell on her ass in Bared to You. Dahlia crushed her wrist again the glass door and everything about that moment felt too contrived especially when River said the lamest line afterwards, "No apology necessary, that's the kind of collision I wouldn't mind having every day." Ugh, gag much? Then a little later she drops her bag again and her contents fall all over the floor. She's on her knees picking her stuff up and he's on a chair looking down at her. Again! Too contrived. The author is clearly trying to set the tone that this will be a steamy romance but of dominant/submissive status but actually the book isn't anything like that. So these scenes to me had no meaning or purpose for the feel of the book which is a romance not an BDSM story. 

After this scene everything goes badly and is poorly executed. If someone held my hand half an hour after meeting them I would yank it away. Very awkward and uncomfortable. Dahlia is doing a job, she's supposed to be professional and is apparently vulnerable, but in the next couple of chapters she all but throws herself at him and he obliges. Yes, he's giving her steamy eyes and licking his lips a lot so he's getting a vibe that she wants something. Once they do reach THAT moment the romance does come over as sensual and romantic. then the story really starts being good. Dahlia all but ditches her life and heads back to LA with River, lives with him for a while, meets his family. The undercurrent tones suggest that his sister is hiding something that we'll find out in the next book. The brother clearly has designs on Dahlia. And Ben's secret at the end revealed more of what could be a great intrigue.

So, I enjoyed it mostly. Once the initial 'Connection' (see what I did there!) was out the way, the different characters held form and Dahlia started acting like a human being not a horny teenager claiming self doubt when she projected nothing like it. 

-CBx

You can reach Kim Karr here: 

Web

Goodreads

ARC Review: True by Erin McCarthy

True by Erin McCarthy

Publishers: Intermix 

Published Date: May 7th 2013 

From: Net Galley 

My rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis: 

When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory. Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t… Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

Review: 

I liked True.I loved learning about Rory, she is an extremely likeable character. Her logical and simplistic way of thinking was refreshing and continued throughout the book no matter what circumstance she faced at that moment.Tyler is also a nice guy. I loved the TRUE family tattoo, his family except for the mother were all great people.The things that I didn't like in the story were a) the beginning - Rory is not desperate for attention. She knows she can spend her time studying, its what she likes to do. So why on earth was she sat at a friends boyfriends apartment while her two best friends spent time in their bedrooms with their boyfriends. Ummm. Third wheel. Would you really do that? Or if invited wouldn't you just say no, I have better things to do while you have sex with your boyfriend for an hour and leave me in the lounge sipping beer and watching TV with no-personality Grant? I don't know anyone, no matter whether they're shy or reserved or whatever, who would do this. And as for the almost rape? It just came over as a clutching at straws way to get Tyler and Rory together, and it was nasty. b) Very predictable especially when Tyler got arrested and put in prison for 30 days. And also predictable was her fathers reaction. I would have enjoyed it more if her dad had actually come out of his hideaway house and supported Rory. Not all parents are so stereotypical these days. It is a nice story in the end. It did end abruptly, but there was an HEA of sorts.Not the best NA book I've read lately but not the worst either.-CB x

You can reach Erin McCarthy here: 

Web

Goodreads