Review | "A Bride for Keeps" by Melissa Jagears

Bride For Keeps by Melissa Jagears
Historical Romance/Christian Fiction published October 3, 2013
Bethany House Publishing
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Although Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won't humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again--not after being jilted by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She's the prettiest woman he's ever seen, and it's just not possible she's there to marry a simple homesteader like him. 

Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. Having finally worked up the courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she's determined to find a place where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas. 

Everett is skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains, while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in love?

My Thoughts...

As you know, if you follow the blog here, I don't read much Religious Fiction.  I will, however, occasionally accept a book from Bethany House for review and I have yet to read one that I have not enjoyed.  This book falls firmly in that category.  Actually, I think this is probably my favorite of the books I have received from them.  

This book is set in Kansas in 1876.  Everett is a farmer who has had a bit of bad luck when it comes to finding a wife.  The girl he loved when he was young left him for someone else.  He goes off to war and comes back to start working his land and decides that maybe a mail order bride might be the thing for him. After three disastrous attempts he comes to the conclusion that maybe it's not meant for him after all.  This is when a meddling, albeit well meaning friend decides to find him a bride on her own.  She starts communicating with Julia and when Julia tells her about certain situations in her life, Rachel invites her to Kansas to be Everett's mail order bride.  Unfortunately for Everett, he doesn't know anything about this until her train arrives on a day when he just happens to be in town picking up supplies.

So, without giving too much away Everett believes Julia to be too "high-class" to ever be satisfied being the wife of a simple homesteader.  He doesn't think she has what it takes to live the lifestyle that he and his wife will have to live to make a go of the farm.  Julia, on the other hand, is running from her past in a sense and so she's pretty well determined that she's going to do whatever it takes.  They take a little time to try to get to know one another before she agrees to marry him, but in name only.  She will be his wife and she will help him with the homestead and the like, but she has no intention of ever becoming intimate with him for reasons known only to her.  He agrees, partly because he's at a point where he doesn't think he will ever find anyone else, but partly because he does like her and he thinks that given time she will come to feel the same for him.

They have a rough go of it, a lot of assumptions and misplaced anger.  Some of it is childish stuff, in fact most of it is, but thankfully for them they have Rachel and Dex to help them see things the way they really are.  They are even able to help some others along the way.  Everett has a very deep connection to God and believes that above all God will help him find the right path.  Because of this faith he is able to help Julia find her way to God.  He sets an example that she is not able to overlook.

This is a good clean romance and it does have a pretty strong religious undertone.  I don't normally like books that push this too much, but in the case of this book there is a nice balance and there were some parts that had me thinking awfully hard about how I felt.  I would not hesitate to pick up more books in this series, in fact I just saw on Goodreads that Dex and Rachel's story is told in a novella the proceeds this book and it's free on Amazon for Kindle so I picked that up this morning.

If you like a good historical romance, you like clean romance and you don't mind that is religious fiction then give this book a try!

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

New Adult Novella Review "A Beautiful Wedding" by Jamie McGuire

Title: A Beautiful Wedding

Author: Jamie McGuire

Released On: December 10, 2013

Publisher: Atria

Buy Link -  AMAZON 

Author's Website:   http://www.jamiemcguire.com/
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Jamie McGuire

SynopsisYou know that Abby Abernathy unexpectedly became Mrs. Maddox. But what do you really know?

Why did Abby pop the question?
What secrets were shared before the ceremony?
Where did they spend their wedding night?
Who else knew about it . . . and didn’t tell?

Everything about Abby and Travis’s elopement was top-secret . . . until now. Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster will get all of their questions answered in this whirlwind tale of the wedding day (and night!)—and as with all good stories, this one will definitely have been worth the wait.

MY REVIEW

I am going to keep this pretty short, which isn't hard since it's a novella.  First off, I read this in a little over an hour.  I got an email on Friday asking if I wanted to review it, of course I said yes, and I got it delivered via UPS today!  I immediately started reading it and was done in no time.  I have actually read more novellas this month (so far) then I have read all year long.

So, as you can probably tell from the synopsis and title this is the story of Travis and Abby's wedding.  The bulk of the novella takes place over the course of 24 hours.  I can't remember exactly how this all comes about in the books, but I know that they just show up married and no one knows the story behind it.  Well, this is the story behind all that.  

This starts right after the fire that kills a bunch of students that were at one of the underground fights.   In fact they are in the apartment just after they have showered the remnants of the fire away.  It's a spur of the moment decision for Travis, but it's a little more calculated on Abby's end.  Her intentions are good and she's thought it all out, but even she has reservations about it right up to the moment she walks down the aisle.

There are some beautifully touching moments in this story and I found myself fighting tears on more than one occasion.  The most touching is the letter that Travis' mother writes to the woman that he chooses to marry.  He has saved it all these years and the moment he chooses to give it to Abby is perfect and it's so beautiful to read.  I lost my mother when I was young and I wish that I'd had something like that from her to read on my wedding day.

I loved this novella and it was the perfect addition to this series.  I know that in my reviews of the other books I complained about not really liking Abby so much, but I did like her in this one...just not as much as Travis still!  If you have read and enjoyed the other books then I highly recommend picking this one up.  My only complaint is the price point, I think it's a little too pricey for a novella so I would probably pick it up from the library or wait to find it on sale.

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

YA Dystopian Review "State of Nature" by Ryan Winfield

Title: State of Nature

Author: Ryan Winfield

Released On: November 23, 2013

Publisher: Birch Paper Press

Buy Link -  AMAZON 

Author's Website:   https://www.facebook.com/ryanwinfield
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Ryan Winfield

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Ryan Winfield, a thrilling tale of friendship, betrayal, and adventure.

The final chapter...

After leaving the Isle of Man, Aubrey and Jimmy return to the Foundation to confront Hannah about her betrayal and to free the people of Holocene II only to find themselves facing new and more difficult challenges in a world where nothing is as it seems.

Don’t miss the epic conclusion you’ll have to read yourself to believe.

Destined to become a classic, The Park Service trilogy will inspire and delight readers of all ages.

MY REVIEW

Well...what can I say about this book?  Not much without spoilers!  I will see what I can do though...

So this book starts right where the last one left off.  Aubrey, Jimmy and the Professor are in the sub on their way back to Hannah and Holocene II.  Now, Jimmy and Aubrey are none too happy with Hannah and with good reason.  What they find when they get there gives them even more reason to be furious with her.   She is manipulating them all into doing what she wants.   She wants to put Eden back online and she needs Aubrey to go down into Holocene II to let them all know that they will begin retirement again soon.  

Aubrey ends up taking Jimmy with him and that's when things start to get really intense.  They find literally an underground movement that is run by someone they call The Chief.  Aubrey finds out more about himself throughout the course of this book.  He also finds out things about Hannah that have him even more determined to put an end to her.  She is trying to take over where her father left off and she's trying to blackmail Aubrey into helping her.

This book is full of twists and turns where Aubrey and Jimmy travel around the world again in an effort to once again attempt to save the people of Holocene II.  They are trying to make it safe for them to finally come and live on the surface like man was intended to before The Foundation decided that man was a danger to the planet.    There is a continuing theme of love and loss throughout this series, but this book was at times heart wrenching.  Aubrey and Jimmy go through so much in this book and they are closer than ever.  They even going so far as to put words to those feelings even though they are vague leaving the reader to decide just how they want to perceive the relationship.  No matter how you look at it the relationship between these two is rock solid and gets more so as the story progresses.

It's so hard to say much more without spoiling anything.  I was sad when the book came to an end.  I will say that while I was sad, I was happy for the time I got to spend in this world and with these two characters.  It was a joy to see how Aubrey went from the gangly boy in the first book to the man he became in this book even though he had to go through so much heartache to get there.  I think this sums it all up pretty well for me and it's a beautiful sentiment at the end of the book.

”Leaves will fall, cold will creep in
A circle of life that ends where it begins
It may take a thousand years and a thousand poems penned
But my hair will someday gray and my back will bend—
Then my shadow will join my body in the earth once again.

I know not the way, or even the when
Or who chooses that day we’re called away to ascend
But you bathed me in your bravery and forgave me my sins
You made a home in your heart for mine to live in—
And in return, my friend, this poem is my oath that a river of love will run through it until the very end.”

Ryan has a way of pulling you into a story and keeping you there with the vivid description and characters that you can't help but fall in love with.  I will miss this series but I can't wait to see what he has in store for us in the future.

If you would like to read my reviews of the 2 prior books in this series you can do so here:

The Park Service
The Isle of Man

I am also going to do a full series video review of this trilogy on my YouTube Channel so be sure to go subscribe so you will be notified when it posts!

Blog Tour Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard

Title: Gabriel's Redemption 

Author: Sylvain Reynard

Date of Release: December 3, 2013

Publisher: Penguin Berkely

Buy Links:

Amazon Kindle  |  Amazon Paperback  |  Barnes & Noble Nook

Barnes & Noble Paperback  |  iTunes iBook

Chapters Indigo Paperback  |  Chapters Indigo Kobo

Summary:

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Gabriel’s Rapture and Gabriel’s Inferno comes the epic conclusion to the captivating romantic trilogy.

Professor Gabriel Emerson has left his position at the University of Toronto to embark on a new life with his beloved Julianne. Together, he’s confident that they can face any challenge. And he’s eager to become a father.

But Julianne’s graduate program threatens Gabriel’s plans, as the pressures of being a student become all consuming. When she is given the honor of presenting an academic lecture at Oxford, Gabriel is forced to confront Julianne about the subject of her presentation—research that conflicts with his own. And in Oxford, several individuals from their past appear, including an old nemesis intent on humiliating Julia and exposing one of Gabriel’s darkest secrets.

In an effort to confront his remaining demons, Gabriel begins a quest to discover more about his biological parents, beginning a chain of events that has startling repercussions for himself, Julianne, and his hope of having a family.

My Review:

I am just going to do a really quick review of this book because it's going to be hard to do an in depth review without having any spoilers.  I loved this book.  I have loved this entire series so much.  In fact it's one of my favorite adult trilogies.  I like that it's just a trilogy and that Sylvain Reynard didn't try to draw it out longer.  I also LOVE that it's not just 3 books full of fluff.  These books are serious reads full of things that make you think.  Both of the main characters are intellectuals and the books are full of beautiful settings and thought provoking discussions and lectures.

This book follows the second one pretty closely.  Gabriel and Julia are in a good place in their marriage although they are still in the honeymoon phase.  Julia is immersed in her graduate program and Gabriel decides he wants them to have a baby.  Julia is convinced that starting a family at this point or any point in the near future will derail her program and put her behind.  When I read this I had to remember that Gabriel is 10 years older than Julia. They are so compatible, but the age difference is a drawback for both of them I think.  He is at the age where he needs to start thinking about having a family, but she's still young enough that she could wait years yet. 

They have their fair share of ups and downs throughout the course of this book.  Gabriel is visited by some old demons that cause him a fair amount of struggle.  He has some times where he withdraws from Julia and tries to deal with things alone.  This leads to his questioning himself and his worthiness.  Julia is pretty steadfast throughout the book, she's constantly trying to get Gabriel to confide in her.  She is the one always telling him that he is a good man no matter what has happened in his past.

We see some characters from the other books.  Julia's father has his own small story line in this book.  We also see a couple of the ex's that find happiness.  We also get to see Simon get his due which is a good thing.  Gabriel's family all make appearances as well.  All in all, this was a great ending for Gabriel and Julia as well as the beginning for a whole new series for Sylvain Reynard.  While I don't know which character for sure, I have an idea who is going to be the main character in the new series.  I can't wait for that....It's going to be paranormal and the sneak peek makes it sound amazing!

If  you would like to read my reviews for the other books in the series you can find them here:
Gabriel's Inferno
Gabriel's Rapture

This is an adult series and does have adult content.

Sylvain Reynard Bio: I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account.

Social Media Accounts

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Adult Blog Tour ''Remy" by Katy Evans

Title: Remy

Author: Katy Evans

Date of Release: November 26, 2013

Publisher: Gallery Books
Blog Tour Hosted by: The SUBClub Books

Buy Links

AMAZON  |  B&N 

Synopsis

Underground fighter Remington Tate is a mystery, even to himself. His mind is dark and light, complex and enlightening. At times his actions and moods are carefully measured, and at others, they spin out of control.

Through it all, there's been one constant: wanting, needing, loving, and protecting Brooke Dumas. This is his story; from the first moment he laid eyes on her and knew, without a doubt, she would be the realest thing he's ever had to fight for.

MY REVIEW

I believe that this is the final book in this series, but I am not 100% positive that this is the case.  I enjoyed this one quite a bit more than the 2nd one and I will tell you why.  This book is told completely from Remy's perspective and I love him!  This book starts out a couple months after Mine leaves off but only bits, tiny bits of the book are in the present.  This reminds me a lot of This Girl by Colleen Hoover in that it's the 3rd book, it's told from the mans perspective and it's his re-telling of the first 2 books interspersed with small scenes from the present.  For Will and Layken it was him telling her his story in moments of their honeymoon.  In this book its's Remy remembering all the main scenes of the prior 2 books while on his way to his church wedding to Brooke.

There really isn't a whole lot to review here since there isn't a whole lot of new stuff happening so I will just give you my thoughts overall.  I love Remy, I can't say it enough.  I loved that we get all the good stuff from book one from his perspective.  We do get the high points of book 2, but there seemed to be less of book 2 represented here in this one, which was fine by me because book 1 was definitely better.

I don't normally think that it's necessary to re-write a book from the other MC's POV, but I liked this one because there is so much about Remy that was still a mystery.  I would almost say that I could have read this one and skipped the other 2, but I can't really.  I think that the addition of this book made for a more well rounded character.  Remy is so blatantly male and you see that so much more in this book.  He's very primal and almost animal like so Brooke comparing him to a lion made so much more sense after reading this book.  Remy is HOT, there is no denying that...not that I ever tried!

I quite enjoyed this book and if you loved the first one then you will love this one just as much if not more.  I will say that his excessive and I do mean excessive use of the "f" word is a little off-putting to the point that I wanted to start counting them just to see how many times he said it!

This is a New Adult book, so there are some very descriptive love scenes as well as quite a bit of profanity. Definitely for the 18 and over crowd! 

About Katy Evans

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

Website: www.katyevans.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katy-Evans/521052267929550

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mystery/Thriller Review "No Escape" by Mary Burton

Title: No Escape

Author: Mary Burton

Released On: October 29, 2013

Publisher: Zebra

Buy Link -  AMAZON 

Author's Website:   http://www.maryburton.com/
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Mary Burton

Synopsis

He Was Taught How To Kill

Even behind bars, serial killer Harvey Day Smith exudes menace. Psychologist Jolene Granger has agreed to hear his dying confession, vowing not to let the monster inside her head. And Harvey has secrets to share—about bodies that were never found, and about the apprentice who is continuing his grisly work…

And Now He’ll Teach Them

He buries his victims alive the way his mentor Harvey did, relishing their final screams as the earth rains down. And as one last gift to the only father he knew, he’ll make the most perfect kill of all.

How To Die

Everything about this investigation is unnerving Jo, from Harvey’s fascination with her to the fact that she’s working alongside Texas Ranger Brody Winchester, her ex-husband. Harvey’s protégé is growing bolder and more vicious every day. And soon the trail of shallow graves will lead them to the last place Jo expected, and to the most terrifying truth of all…

MY REVIEW

Every once in awhile I like to sit down and read a really good murder mystery and this was an excellent read.  I was also sent the first book in this Texas Rangers series and I loved it as well.  This could absolutely be a stand alone book though.  The main female character is Jolene Granger she's a psychologist who works occasionally with the Rangers and she did make an appearance in the first book and the 2 main characters from that book show up in this book as well.  You don't need any of that back story for this story though.

When Jo was going to school she did one of her big papers on Harvey Day Smith, when he decides to make a confession before he dies he want to talk to her.  The problem is that the Ranger responsible for his capture and the man who contacts her, Brody Winchester, happens to be her ex-husband.  They haven't seen each other in 14 years and working side by side is causing all sorts of old feelings and hurts to come to the surface.  Not to mention the fact that someone is out there killing and disposing of the bodies in the same manner that Harvey Day Smith did.

This book is fast paced and full of twists and turns.  For just a minute I thought I had it all figured out and boy was I wrong!  I love a book that keeps me on my toes and this one definitely did that.  Harvey has Jo all turned around and confused.  He intimates that there is a connection between them that she needs dig deeper to find and this has her tied in knots.  She is starting to re-connect with Brody a man who disappointed her at a time in her life when she needed him to stand by her side.  Jo has a lot of things working against her, but she is a strong woman who doesn't seem to let anything get her down.

If you are looking for a relatively quick read and you love a good murder mystery then I highly recommend this book.  It's an adult read and it has some tastefully done love scenes, but not too much detail and while there is some profanity it's used very sparingly.

*Disclaimer:  I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Fantasy/Paranormal Blog Tour "Into the Fire" by Jodi McIsaac

Title: Into the Fire (Thin Veil #2)

Author: Jodi McIsaac

Released On: November 12, 2013

Publisher: 47North

Buy Link -  AMAZON 

Author's Website:   http://www.jodimcisaac/
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Jodi McIsaac

Synopsis

Cedar McLeod would like nothing more than to return to Tír na nÓg, help rebuild the mythical kingdom, and start a new life for herself and her daughter, Eden. But peace is isn’t what Cedar finds after being reunited with her little girl. 

Nuala—who kidnapped and terrorized Eden in her previous bid for power—has returned and is making a persuasive claim for the vacant throne. The devastation such a ruler would bring upon both the kingdom and the human world is unthinkable. With no one else to stake a convincing counter-claim, Cedar steps forward . . . but first she must prove her worth beyond a doubt. 

Her opportunity comes when she is charged with finding an ancient treasure, the Stone of Destiny, and returning it to its rightful home. It is a quest that will lead her to question her beliefs, and push her loyalties to their limits. If she succeeds, Cedar could grant her new world and her new family a chance to flourish again. If not . . . destruction may be the only path ahead.

Into the Fire, the second book in the Thin Veil series, is a captivating blend of Celtic myth, mystery, and adventure that delves deeper into the ancient world first explored in Through the Door.

MY REVIEW

Ok,  I devoured this book in 2 sittings!  I started it while waiting in the car while my husband had the kids in the toy store and I finished it in just a couple hours after I got off work.  I literally did not want to put it down.  I loved the first book in the series when I read it way back when it was self-published and I happened to run across it on a blogger website back when Jodi was looking for reviewers.  It was a breath of fresh air in a time where I was reading a lot of self published stuff that really wasn't that great.  If you want to read my review of Through the Door, you can find it here.  

Recently I have been reading a lot of books that are the 2nd in the series and quite frankly, I have been having an awful time finding one that lives up to the first book.  SO not the case with this book and I am so happy about that.  This book was everything that a really good sequel should be.  None of the magic of the first book was lost as the story progressed.  The characters were all just as good as I remember them to be even though I didn't have time to re-read the first book.  I didn't need to, the set up was just enough to jog my memory without being a re-hashing of everything that happened previously.

Cedar and her family return to Tír na nÓg to set right the destruction caused by the previous leader.  A surprise awaits them, one that causes them to take stock of just what they are willing to do to help their land.  Cedar is give a quest, if you will, and she must succeed in order to take her rightful place as their new queen.  This story is full of action and really with this one it's pretty non-stop right from the beginning.   The world of Tír na nÓg is captivating and full of wonder.  The descriptions are so vivid as are the action sequences.  And don't even get me started on Felix...I would love a whole story about just him!

Jodi has really outdone herself with this one and I loved that it didn't end on a cliffhanger.  I really loved this book, I loved the setting and the magic.  I loved seeing Cedar transform in this book and I can't wait to see more of who Eden will become.  We got a little glimpse of it in this book and I hope we see more in the next one.   Since Finn and Cedar are already a couple this book stuck more to the fantasy and less romance, but it's clear that it's there.

So, I loved the book and I can't wait for the next one.  If you like Fantasy or Paranormal books you should definitely read this series.  If you enjoyed the first book then you will not be disappointed in this one!

*Disclaimer:  I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.*

New Adult Romance Blog Tour "Beside Your Heart" by Mary Whitney

Title: Beside You Heart
Author: Mary Whitney

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Blog Tour Hosted by: Bare Naked Words

Buy Links

AMAZON US  |  AMAZON UK  |  B&N

Synopsis

"It's an emotional story that will take the reader back to those feelings that made the late teen years such a powerful time."

Late one night Nicki Johnson plays with emotional fire and Googles her high school love, only to find his name splashed across the British gossip columns. Back in his native England, Adam Kincaid is successful and dating a woman from an aristocratic family like his own. With a career in politics, Nicki’s no slouch, but she knows Adam is living a world away from her life.

Yet there was a time he was no farther than the next locker. Nicki will never forget their year together in high school—the year of her sister’s death, the year her mother checked out. Adam helped Nicki through suffocating grief, and she led him through a coming of age. Was it just high school, or was it something more?

MY REVIEW

I really enjoyed this book.  It's the first in a series, which I didn't realize until I got to the end of the book, but I immediately went and bought the 2nd book which was just released on November 5th.   I don't know when I will get it read, but I am thinking it won't be long!

This book starts out in present day, a conversation with a friend leads Nikki to Google an ex boyfriend.  He is literally on the other side of the globe, but for her he's the one that got away.  This all sends her on a journey through her memories to that time they spent together way back when they were only 17.  I would say that 98% of the book is spent in 1992, which happens to be the year I graduated from high school.  This is another big reason that I enjoyed the book!  It was very relate able for me, not necessarily in content, but just the time and the feelings of being in love the first time and all that.

Nikki and Adam face problems from the beginning, the least of which is the fact that he's not exactly single.  He's British and his family is in the country because of his fathers work.  His assignment is only for a year and then they will move back home.  So, the whole time there is this huge thing hanging over them and it causes problems throughout the entire relationship.  It's clear how they feel about each other though.

Adam helps her in ways that no one else seems to be able to.  Nikki has been through a lot in the past year and she has lost someone very close to her and she feels like she is somehow damaged, like she isn't whole.  Adam is the one who helps her feel whole again.  There were many times reading this story that I had to fight the urge to cry.  There are some very touching moments for sure as they find their way to each other.

It's clear from the beginning when she is Googling Adam that they aren't together in the present.  The whole story is told from Nikki's point of view until we get to the Epilogue and then we get a little snippet in Adam's point of view and then we are left with a cliffhanger ending....hence the rush to buy the next book!  So, be prepared to go buy the next one immediately.

I put this in the New Adult category because of the age of the main characters.  The next book will clearly be an Adult Romance, but they are teenagers for the bulk of this book.  There are sexual situations in this book and because they are somewhat detailed (not explicitly done for the most part) I think that puts it in the NA category.  There is a lot of build up and sexual tension in the book, but the scenes are tastefully done and I think stay true to the fact they they are being told from a teenagers point of view.  There is a fair amount of cursing in the book as well.

Overall, I loved the book and as soon as NaNoWriMo is over I will be reading the next one!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Even before she graduated from law school, Mary Whitney knew she wasn’t cut out to be a real lawyer. Drawn to politics, she’s spent her career as an organizer, lobbyist, and nonprofit executive. Nothing piques her interest more than a good political scandal or romance, and when she stumbled upon writing, she put the two together. A born Midwesterner, naturalized Texan, and transient resident of Washington, D.C., Mary now lives in Northern California with her two daughters and real lawyer husband.

Facebook

Twitter
Website   
Goodreads

EXCERPT 

“No British literature. Isn’t this supposed to be an English class?” Adam asked.

“Uh.” My ancestors would’ve been proud of the jolt of American patriotism that hit me. “There was a revolution two hundred years ago. We write our own books now.”

He leaned back in his seat with a smile. “I think I heard about that.”

“We still share the same language.”

“Sometimes I’m not too sure.”

“I bet not.” I could imagine what he thought of a Texas accent.

He picked up the list of books again. “What about Catcher in the Rye?”

“I read it a long time ago when I was, like, eleven.” I laughed a little as I remembered how I’d first come to read it.

“Is there something funny about that?”

“Yeah. My father had suggested I read it then. The book is the classic coming-of-age story. Clearly, he wasn’t really thinking about whether or not it was appropriate for an eleven-year-old.”

“Really? Why?”

“Well, for one thing, the main character is a guy who swears a lot.”

“I suppose I swear a lot.” He cracked a sly smile. “At least compared to you Yankees.”

“Yankees? You’re in the South.” I laughed.

“What else is inappropriate about the book? Now I’m interested. It can’t only be a few swear words.”

“No, it’s not just that. It’s…” I hesitated for a moment as I realized I was about to bring up the topic of sex with Adam Kincaid. What the hell, I thought. I should be matter-of-fact about it. He had a girlfriend and would never want anything with me. I could hide I thought he was hot, so I shrugged. “Holden, the main character…he’s a little sexually frustrated.”

His eyes twinkled, and it felt as if my words hung in the air. I wanted to squirm in my seat. ‘Sexually frustrated’—like me checking out Adam Kincaid.

His proper upbringing showed again as he sidestepped the issue, yet he smirked. “That sounds like an adventurous book to be on an American high school syllabus.”

“Like I said—it’s considered an American classic.” I laughed. “I guess some things are sacred.”

“But of course.” The gleam appeared in his eye again, and he turned toward me in his seat. “Teenage sexual frustration is sort of a rite of passage, if you will.”

There went the good-English-boy manners out the window. His tone, the look in his eye, his body language—was he flirting with or taunting me? I decided the former was impossible, and if the latter, I wasn’t going to back down. With two parents who were lawyers, debate was a family routine.

“A rite of passage? More like a biological fact, isn’t it?” I asked, casually clicking my pen. I raised a brow. “Especially for guys.”

“You’re right about that,” he said with a grin.