Review: The Truth About Faking by Leigh Talbert Moore

The Truth About Faking by Leigh Talbert Moore
Release Date: September 1, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Gifted by Author
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:Jason just wants a date with Harley.
Harley just wants a date with Trent.
Trent's still getting over Stephanie.

When Harley and Jason decide to fake date, they uncover a school of deceptions. Trent's got a secret, but so does Jason. And the more time Harley spends secretly kissing her fake boyfriend, the further she gets from her dreams with Trent.

Worst of all, Harley's mom is getting cozy with her hot massage therapy student, and even Harley's Reverend Dad can't fake not being bothered by it. But when the masks finally come off, can everyone handle the truth?

         This book is the epitome of Young Adult with some teenage love, angst, and some drama thrown in for good measure. It was a really nice and fluffy read. Harley is a girly-girl who is really innocent and naive but sometimes her naivete really exasperated me. From the synopsis, we know that Harley and Jason, the new guy in town, start fake dating and after awhile the way Harley treated Jason really bothered me. She would let him him kiss her and then turn around and tell him it didn't mean anything. She wouldn't care that she was sending him mixed messages.

There were also so many times when I wanted Harley to stand up for herself. To stand her ground against Shelly (the best friend), Trent, and her mom. She should have told Shelly how she felt about her dating Trent and Jason right from the beginning. She should have made Trent listen to her and she should have spoken to her mother early on about how she was feeling.

I found Jason to be a cute, fun, flirty, and typical teenage boy. I thought he was a good influence for Harley. He made her realize what she actually wanted and needed. He goes after what he wants and he did it in a really good, convincing way. I was totally rooting for Jason the whole time. I actually like him more than I did with Harley.

What I love about this story is that Harley's parents are involve, active parents. They may be caught up in their own lives' and drama but they're not absentee parents that is normally typical of Young Adults book.

For it being Ms. Moore's debut novel, I found this to be an entertaining read and I'm really looking forward to reading more of her work.

Review: Few Are Angels by Inger Iversen

Few Are Angels by Inger Iversen     
Published: March 23, 2012
Publisher: Self-published
Source: Gifted by author

*This ebook was given to me by the author for reviewing purposes. It did not influence this review in any way*

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads): "After a fatal hit and run accident, Ella Monroe fears that she's lost more than her beloved parents. Horrifying visions of a past life and a disturbing voice in her head have psychiatric professionals convinced that she's lost her sanity as well. But when Kale - a dark and handsome stranger with a mysterious past - reveals the true meaning of her visions and the tremendous power she wields through them, Ella must come to terms with the devastating truths of her own past, while eluding an ancient Dark Prince who seeks to control not only her future, but all of mankind's, by means of her abilities that Ella is only beginning to understand.

Enter the shrouded world of an age old battle between an ancient race known as the Immortals and their bitter enemy Laurent, the so-called Dark Prince, who commands an army of half-breed vampires known as Chory. Both sides have been desperately searching for the prophesied emergence of the Arc, a clairvoyant with unparalleled power to recall the past and a soothsayer with clear vision into the future. 

The Council of Immortals has sworn to protect the Arc, who they have identified as young Ella Monroe, a college freshman from Virginia living quietly and unaware of her powers or her past. But a renegade Chory has other plans for the plans for the protection of a girl he has loved through the ages. Can Kale convince Ella of who she is, what she is destined to become, and what he once meant to her? Is he truly the best protector to shield the world from the devastating misuse of her powers that Laurent is bent on controlling? Or will the forbidden love they share and Kale cursed condition as a retched and hated Chory be used against them both?

This paranormal romance told from the heroine's perspective builds in intensity and intrigue to a finale you won't see coming. Heart pounding, action mixed with heartwarming friendships and heartbreaking romance will leave you breathless and begging for more."

I was asked by the author, Inger Iversen, to review this book and after providing me the book and reading the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued.

Ella has been dealing with the tragic death of her parents as well as hallucinations that caused her to be hospitalized. The author did a great job in portraying Ella's grief and confusion in dealing with her parents' death and in one of her monologues, Ella expresses how she feels so alone. Ella has no close living relatives and she now lives with her parents' best friends. I felt so much sympathy for Ella and her loneliness. You can feel her sadness and loneliness seep through the pages and that's a job well done from Ms. Iversen.

My only complaint of the novel were with Ella and how she reacted to what she was told. Sometimes her reactions gave me a whiplash. She would demand the truth and when told, she would get mad. There was a scene in which Ella ask Kale to use his seduction on her and in return all she did was get at him for doing something she asked him.

I will say that Ella and Kale have a very interesting history; I was very surprised at how intricate it was. Although there where times were I was confused with how Helene and Kale ended up where they did. The storyline of Helene, Kale and the Dark Prince was so spread out throughout the novel, that it just confused me.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series; I need to know what happens. However, with the way things ended, I have my suspicions of what will happen next.

About the Blogger

Jenn is a 23 years old, avid reader and who decided to try her luck on blogging. She enjoys reading Young Adults novels with swoony boys and with a twist. When she is not reading, she can be found watching The Big Bang Theory or watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls and Friends. Books and Swoons is her baby.
Follow Jenn on Twitter and Goodreads

Books and Swoons

Stacking the Shelves (#11)

Stacking the Shelves, which is hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This mean you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks!

Hello lovelies,

Time got away from me last week so I wasn't able to post my StS last week. So this week is including last week as well as this week. 

I found this ebook on sale for $2.99 on Barnes and Noble and since it been on my TBR list forever, I decided to buy it right away. Eclave (Razorland #1) by Ann Aguirre

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I won Murder for Choir by Joelle Charbonneau through a giveaway Jana, That Artsy Reader Girl, held a few weeks ago.

I received this from NetGalley as a pre-approved title. Lucretia and the Kroons by Victor LaValle.

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I received this as an author request. The Hour of Predators by Lane Stark.

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That's it for now. Have a great weekend! 

What did you add to your shelves?

About the Blogger

Jenn is a 23 years old, avid reader and who decided to try her luck on blogging. She enjoys reading Young Adults novels with swoony boys and with a twist. When she is not reading, she can be found watching The Big Bang Theory or watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls and Friends. Books and Swoons is her baby.
Follow Jenn on Twitter and Goodreads

Books and Swoons

Stacking the Shelves (#10)

Stacking the Shelves, which is hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to you shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This mean you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends, or the library, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks!

Happy Saturday lovelies,

It been a busy week 'round these parts. I got a lot to share with you, so take a seat.

Ten Girls to Watch by Charity Shumway

   

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Frozen by Mary Casanova

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Covet by Melissa Darnell

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In His Sights by Tina Beckett

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Speechless by Hannah Harrington

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Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

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Shadeland by D.L. Miles

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All of these are for reviews and I got them all from NetGalley except for the last one. I got that one as a request from the author. So excited for all the reading I have for the next few weeks. 

What did you add to your shelves?

About the Blogger

Jenn is a 23 years old, avid reader and who decided to try her luck on blogging. She enjoys reading Young Adults novels with swoony boys and with a twist. When she is not reading, she can be found watching The Big Bang Theory or watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls and Friends. Books and Swoons is her baby.
Follow Jenn on Twitter and Goodreads

Books and Swoons

Currently Reading (#7)

Morning lovelies,

Happy Wednesday. So, I wanted to share what I'm Currently Reading with you guys. At the moment I'm reading two books. I'm reading Ten Girls to Watch by Charity Shumway and Few Are Angels by Inger Iversen. I received Ten Girls to Watch from NetGalley and it's to be published next week, July 31st. I hope to have my review up by then, but no promise. Few Are Angels, I received from the author and I hope to have an author interview up by the end of next week to share with you. So, busy days ahead so make sure to stop by and see what is happening. 

Have a great day! What are you currently reading?

About the Blogger

Jenn is a 23 years old, avid reader and who decided to try her luck on blogging. She enjoys reading Young Adults novels with swoony boys and with a twist. When she is not reading, she can be found watching The Big Bang Theory or watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls and Friends. Books and Swoons is her baby.
Follow Jenn on Twitter and Goodreads

Books and Swoons

Currently Reading - Blood of the Revenant by N.R. Allen

Hello lovelies,

It finally Friday! Whee! I hope it been a good week and that you're finally relaxing with a good book. For this week, I'm Currently Reading Blood of the Revenant by NR Allen. This was provided to me by the author and I look forward to sharing with you guys how it goes.

What are you currently reading?