Review: Faster We Burn (Fall and Rise #2) by Chelsea M. Cameron

Faster We Burn (Fall and Rise #2) by Chelsea M. Cameron

Published by: DRC Publishing

Published on: April 20th 2013

My Rating: 4 out of 5

~~

Read my Deeper We Fall (Fall and Rise#1) review here

~~

Synopsis

Katie Hallman is done with douchebags. Done with guys who treat her like crap and leave her broken. But then Stryker Grant is there anyway. With his numerous piercings and bleached hair, he’s the polar opposite of all of her past relationships, which makes him the perfect candidate.

At first, Katie just sees him as a physical escape from her previous rocky relationship, and Stryker doesn’t seem to mind just being a distraction from Katie’s problems. But soon he’s getting under her skin, peeling back layers she’d rather keep covered. She tries to make it clear that she doesn’t want a relationship, but keeps breaking her own rules.

Then a tragedy sends Katie into the only arms who are there to catch her, and she’ll realize that she needs him more than she ever thought possible. But is she ready to let herself trust another guy with her already-battered heart? Or will she push him away to protect herself from getting hurt again?

~~

Review:

If you've read Deeper We Fall then you'll be familiar with the quirky friends who have now come together as a supportive group. Initially when I read the first book I was underwhelmed. And Katie and Stryker's story wasn't one I was that interested in. Mainly because I didn't like Katie, a girl who loves the colour pink. she wears it, she accessorises with it, she sleeps in it. Urgh, how awful, and a little childish.

Stryker was the a stand out character that I wanted to learn more about. But this sequel surprised me. Katie's story isn't one that's new. But Cameron writes her so well that she actually made me inspired by the end. This is a girl who really doesn't have one clue of who she is. She stereotypes, hangs with a group of 'yes' friends, and has the worst taste in men. And when she's hurt or angry she likes sex. With Stryker. Hmm.

The story kicks off at a key point during the first book but we hear Katie's version of events when Zack Parker, ex boyfriend and closet psycho beats the crap out of her. Towards the first third part of the book we're on to new ground. Katie and Stryker have this 'friends with benefits' thing going although they claim that they aren't really friends at all. There's a whole tank of denial here on both sides. Gradually they wear each other down and call off everything and try to get on with life without each other..

Then Katie's dad dies. She takes the call from her sister at the exact time that Stryker pops round for a visit. She heartbroken, lost, her mum is so sad, and Katie only has her sister and Stryker for support.

A significant event such as Katie's puts fresh eyes of clarity onto a situation you previously would have avoided. What dawns from her fathers untimely passing is Katie's will to find out who she really is, and what makes her tick. With a new group of friends who pull out all of the stops for her, Katie gains so much courage in defeating her small, little, weighing-your-shoulders-down demons.

This is a tale of growth. Of change. Of being in uncomfortable situations and coming out on top. Stryker may be tatted and pierced and looks like he came out of prison (or so Katie's mum thinks) but he has a soft heart of mush. He's human, he makes drastic mistakes in the name of love. But ultimately both Katie and Stryker find an even balance between losing and finding themselves and each other. I found this one more touching, thought provoking and nerve-twitchingly romantic.

Definitely worth picking this up and following the series.:)

-CBx

You can reach Chelsea M. Cameron here:

Web

Goodreads

Top 10 New Adult books for June publication

June will soon be upon us! Here's the Top 10 New Adult books to look out for! Click on the pics to go to Goodreads synopsis's.

Which book are you most looking forward to?

Let us know!

-CBx

Review: Deeper We Fall (Fall and Rise #1) by Chelsea M. Cameron

Deeper We Fall (Fall and Rise #1) by Chelsea M. Cameron 

Published by: DRC Publishing

Published on: January 24th 2013

My Rating: 3 out of 5

~~

Synopsis

Two years after her best friend was involved in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, Lottie Anders is ready to start her freshman year of college. Ready to move on. Ready to start forgetting the night that ripped her life apart.

Her plans come to a screeching halt when not one, but both brothers responsible for the accident end up back in her life again.

Zack is cruel, selfish and constantly rubbing what happened to her friend in Lottie's face.

Zan is different. He listens to her awkward ramblings. He loves To Kill a Mockingbird as much as she does, and his dark eyes are irresistible. His words are few and far between, but when he does speak, she can't help but listen.

The trouble is, Zan was the driver in the accident, and now Lottie's discovered he lied to her about what happened that night. Now she must decide if trusting him again will lead to real forgiveness, or deeper heartache

~~

Review:

This is one of those books that gets you thinking. Firstly, the story is so so. By that I mean, yes, its touching and I do feel sorry for Lexie's condition and I pretty much hate Zack Parker from the outset. As the characters start to come together in the book as friends I began to pick more than a few clichés though, and that was disappointing.

Charlotte and Will are twins, and Zack and Zan are brothers. Will's best friend is gay. Charlotte's new best friend, Audrey, is a Harry Potter fan and her other friend from work, Trish, is a little off the wall, Stryker has things pierced and Katie is in adoration of a certain colour. These aren't sidekicks that I haven't read in many other New Adult books and as the book begins to develop I couldn't help wishing for a little more originality.

So, the brothers Zack and Zan were in the same car as Lexie when it crashed. They were all victims of drink driving but it was Zan that was driving. Charlotte blames the brothers for putting her friend through hell and reducing Lexie's quality of life to that of a child. I don't blame her. Her emotions on meeting them at college are of hatred and I can empathize with that. But when Zan, the younger brother, keeps popping into her life, Charlotte eventually gets beyond the verbal insults and has a semi-discussion with him.

All things come to a head when Zack turns on his current girlfriend who is also Charlotte''s roommate. Initially I didn't like Katie but she did begin to grow on me. Charlotte, I think, also felt the same way. Katie has a cliché being obsessed by the colour pink with shallow uninteresting friends of her own.

Zan and Charlotte begin a relationship which the book is mainly focused on. While I was reading the build up I just couldn't seem to get to the guts and glory layer of their feelings. Yes, there was lots of kissing, sighing, biting, nipping. I don't know whether it's because the writing isn't as explicit as a lot of NA, but I just didn't feel it from Charlotte's point of view. Zan, I did get. And then, all of a sudden, we have the ILY's. I thought this was too soon. I do agree that they make a solid couple, but the whole love story part of it wasn't deep enough for me.

I will be interested in reading the follow on books in the series to see what happens to them all but this wasn't a stand out book. The writing is quality though, the pace did drift at times but I'm not knocking the author on her ability in any way, she can certainly write. Hmm, now I'm back to thinking again :)

-CBx

You can reach Chelsea M. Cameron here:

Web

Goodreads