DNF Review: By Your Side by Kasie West

By Your Side
Author: Kasie West
Release Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Review by: Jenn

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

1.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

**This is a DID NOT FINISH review. It includes my thought on the book up to 66% of it.**

I am SUPER sad that I couldn't continue with this book. So sad. I loved Kasie's On the Fence, so I was expecting another book I would love. Especially when our hero and heroine are stuck in the library! However, the library is only the location but it seems that our main character, Autumn, is not a book nerd like I hoped.

The book started off strongly but after a while, I couldn't click with Autumn and the story. Once they made it out of the library, and she got back to her life and the consequences of being stuck in a library with no phone appears, I just couldn't with the story for much longer. I read a little more about after she was out and how she was starting to seek Dax out, but I just didn't care about any of it.

I really wanted to love it considering it's Kasie West and I loved her book On the Fence and Nahomi loved The Distance Between Us. But once I realized that I wasn't going to love it and I was beginning to dislike Autumn, I decided to quit. I could have finished it considering I was past the halfway point, but nope. I've gotten better about not finishing books I don't care/love/hate. I know other people have loved the book, so I'm just taking it that this book wasn't for me but it'll work for others.

DNF Mini Review: All Fired Up by Vivian Arend & Elle Kennedy

All Fired Up (DreamMakers #1)
Author: Vivian Arend & Elle Kennedy
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Publisher: Vivian Arend & Elle Kennedy
Format: ebook
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Jenn

He’s ready to lead the way

Parker Wilson never thought he’d go from battle-hardened soldier to romance expert, but after his stint in the Rangers, that’s exactly what happened. As the owner of DreamMakers Inc., he helps other men win in the love department, using every resource available to plan the perfect date. When a routine recon turns into an unexpected night of passion, Parker’s mission becomes more personal—and he won’t give up until Lynn Davidson is all his.

She’s more than willing to follow

Lynn is a goner from the moment she lays eyes on the delectable Parker. She’s just ditched her boring almost-boyfriend and is tired of sticking to the straight and narrow. It’s time to walk on the wild side, and what better way than in the arms of the most irresistible man she’s ever met? But when their red-hot affair is threatened, it’ll take a team effort to make their dreams come true.

1 star out of 5 stars

**This is a DID NOT FINISH review. It includes my thought on the book up to 25% of it.**

Initially, I was really excited about reading this book. The first chapter hooked me and I proceeded onwards. However, I quickly realized that what I had liked about the first chapter and what had initially called me from the synopsis, the reality was taking a completely different turn. After the first chapter, I realized that the book was taking a turn I didn't really like. And to be honest, it even seemed weird that our heroine was going down that road. I didn't even know what to think of the hero. Or heroes, in this case, again, I'm not exactly sure. Very quickly, I decided that I didn't want to continue with the book, and gave up on it. I have more books to read anyways. Maybe it's a better book for someone else.

Second Chance Read: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood #1)
Author: Ann Brashares
Release Date: December 10, 2002
Publisher: Books on Tape Childrens
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library/Overdrive
Review by: Jenn

Some friends just fit together.

Once there was a pair of pants. Just an ordinary pair of jeans. But these pants, the Traveling Pants, went on to do great things. This is the story of the four friends—Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen—who made it possible.

4 stars out of 5 stars

I first read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of high school. Which is basically the same timeline as the girls in the book. I refuse to say how long that was but it’s been ages. So when I saw the book as an audiobook on my library, I snatched it up.

First off, I loved the narrator. Angela Goethals made the girls come alive for me. She did a wonderful job and made the girls’ voice and friendship all the more real and authentic. Secondly, this it had been a while since I read this series, it was like I was reading/hearing the story for the first time so I appreciated Angela all the more for a job well done.

I will admit that some of the girls’ actions, specifically Carmen and Bridget, kind of bothered or annoyed me. When they would act naively or wrong, since they’re so young and inexperienced, I wanted to step in and inform them not to do what they were about to do or act the way they were going to. However, this is me speaking with experienced and as an adult. I know that while I would have never done what Carmen or Bridget had done/acted at that age, I too was a teenager and things always felt dire and like the end of the world was coming. So while the story of Carmen and Bridget weren’t my favorite, I loved how they, in the end, learned and grew up a little. And like before, Lena was my favorite girl and Tibby’s story bought me to tears.

Time for The Second Summer of Sisterhood.

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Review: Hard Hitter by Sarina Bowen

Hard Hitter (Brooklyn Bruisers #2)
Author: Sarina Bowen
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Publisher: Berkley
Format: eARC / Mass Market Paperback
Source: NetGalley / Berkley
Review by: Jenn

He’s a fighter in the rink, but he’s about to learn that playing nice can help you score...

As team captain and enforcer, Patrick O'Doul puts the bruise in the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of hard hits, O'Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He conceals his pain from his coach and trainers, but when his chronic hip injury becomes too obvious to ignore, they send him for sessions with the team’s massage therapist.

After breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Ari Bettini is in need of peace of mind. For now, she’s decided to focus on her work: rehabilitating the Bruisers’ MVP. O'Doul is easy on the eyes, but his reaction to her touch is ice cold. Ari is determined to help O'Doul heal, but as the tension between them turns red hot, they both learn that a little TLC does the body good...

4 stars out 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I loved being back in the hockey world of the Brooklyn Bruisers. Sarina Bowen created a group of characters that I want to learn more about and hang out with at the same time. In this book, we got the prickly, and kind of anti-social captain of the Brooklyn Bruisers, Patrick O'Doul, whom we met back in Rookie Move and the team's massage therapist and yoga instructor, Ari Bettini.

I loved seeing these two come together and slowly learned about the other. I loved seeing how they got under each other skin as they realized how good they were together, even though Ari was trying to lie to herself about it. Ari and Patrick are two completely different people but they compliment each other so well and I'm glad that Ari was able to see that Patrick is the right guy for her.

I'm super excited about the next book in the series, Pipe Dreams, Lauren has scared me several times now so I'm curious to learn her story. I am sad though because I really wanted Becca' and Nate's story.

Blog Tour Review: On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton

On Broken Wings (Wild Aces #3)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Mass Market Paperback / eARC
Source: Berkley / NetGalley
Review by: Jenn

The author of Into the Blue and Fly with Me returns with the newest, hot and high-flying Wild Aces romance...

A year after losing her husband, Joker, the squadron commander of the Wild Aces, Dani Peterson gets an offer from his best friend, Alex “Easy” Rogers, to help fix up her house. Dani accepts, and their friendship grows—along with an undeniable attraction.

Racked by guilt for loving his best friend’s widow, Easy’s caught between what he wants and can’t have. Until one night everything changes, and the woman who’s always held his heart ends up in his arms. Yet as Easy leaves for his next deployment, he and Dani are torn between their feelings and their loyalty to Joker’s memory.

But when Dani discovers something that sends them both into a spin, the conflicted lovers must overcome the past to navigate a future together…

4 stars out of 5 stars
*I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I was SO excited when I got my hands on this book. I've been itching to get Easy's story ever since we learn of his love to Dani, one of his best friend's wife in Fly With Me. Knowing how broken these two would be since the death of Joker, especially Dani, I braced myself for tears and feels while I was to read this book. So when I read Dani's first chapter, I was a mess. Chanel Cleeton had me crying like a baby while my heart broke into tiny little pieces.

I was curious to see how Cleeton was going to handle Easy and Dani's story because of their connection but I just loved how it was dealt with. The grief and guilt and the acceptance that it's okay to move on, Cleeton handled that absolute care and in perfect characterization for these two. It definitely resonated true and real for me. Also, when these two are together, the familiarity that they share and how easy and relax they are around each other, I just loved it. It was so well written that it just oozes off the pages.

My biggest complaint against this book is something that I don't want to give away but considering it bothered so much to the point that I can't rate it any higher, is the subplot that happened after Easy is deployed. I honestly saw it happening a mile away and it bothered me so much because I felt like they could have come together without this plot point. In a way, it felt like a cop out for Dani in not being able to admit to her feelings without that added influence. I felt like that relationship they were brewing didn't need that to happen.

Aside from that, I enjoyed this book for all the emotions it managed to bring out in me. This love story had me sobbing and hoping for relief from the pain and I love books that are able to bring such emotions out in me. Chanel Cleeton wrote such a wonderful series that I'm sad to say goodbye to and managed to introduce me to a different military lifestyle I didn't have much knowledge on. I can't wait to see what else she writes but in the mean time, I might just go an reread some of my favorite parts of the Wild Aces trilogy.

About the author:

After years spent studying international politics in London and a stint in law school, Chanel Cleeton found her passion crafting smart and sexy contemporary romances and thrillers. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she's happiest curled up with a book, her three dogs lounging beside her. Chanel is a lover of big sunglasses, irresistible handbags, food covered in sprinkles, and pint-sized pups with larger-than-life personalities.

She is published by Harlequin and Penguin and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, Assassins, and Wild Aces series. Chanel also writes historical fiction as Chanel Dolz Cleeton. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Author Links: Website  / Facebook / Facebook Reader Group Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram / Newsletter / Tumblr / Pinterest

Check out the rest of the tour:

January 2nd-

Vanilla & Spice Books

I’m a Sweet and Sassy Book Whore

Logan Sports Book Section

Book Freak

Must Read Books or Die

A Bluestocking’s Place

January 3rd-

Eye in Bookland

Sweet and Spicy Reads

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Sammi’s Bookish Reality

The Lily Reader

Lush Book Reviews

Reviews from the Heart

January 4th-

Chelle’s Life in Books

The Bookishmedialite

An Asian Chick & Her Cat Walk Into a Book Blog

JoJo the Bookaholic

Red’s Romance Reviews

BFD Book Blog

Les Chroniques Aléatoires

January 5th-

Straight Shootin’ Book Reviews

Carlene Inspired

Read-Love-Blog

Typical Distractions

Ramblings of a Daydreamer

Sheila’s Book Corner

January 6th-

Four Chicks Flipping Pages

Tied Up in Romance

Dog-Eared Daydreams

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Boyfriends

Literati Literature Lovers

January 7th-

Bookworm221

Maine Book Momma

Reading Between the Wines Book Club

January 8th-

Ashley Book Blog

The Reading Belles

April’s Blog of Awesome

Smokin Hot Reads

Chatterbooks Book Blog

January 9th-

A Fortress in Books

Bookish Wanderlove

Books & Swoons

The Readdicts

Under the Cover and Between the Sheets

January 10th-

Relentless Romance

Once Upon a Book Blog

Oh My Growing TBR

Bibliojunkies

Renee Entress’s Blog

January 11th-

Read Your Writes

Smokin’ Hot Book Blog

Quesarasera Book Blog

The Reading Cafe

January 12th-

Ramblings from this Chick 

Quirky Debutante

Naomi’s Reading Palace

Bookgasms

January 13th-

Kimmy Loves to Read

Verna Loves Books

Unofficial Book Club

The Crafty Engineer’s Bookshelf

January 14th-

Margie’s Must Reads

The Book Voyagers

Joandisalovebooks

January 15th-

Wrapped Up In Reading

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions

Literary Misfit

Steamy Reads

Shooting Stars Magazine

Hot Books Hotter Book Boyfriends

Red Hot + Blue Reads

Review: Throwing My Life Away by Liz Czukas

Throwing My Life Away
Author: Liz Czukas
Release Date: December 20, 2016
Publisher: Liz Czukas
Format: eARC
Source: Liz Czukas
Review by: Jenn

7 photographs, 2 weeks, an entire life to get back. No problem, right?

After her stepfather accidentally throws away her high school mementos, sentimental Mariska is pretty sure the world is over. That is, until she comes up with a plan. She’s going to recreate her past, with a little help from her friends. It’s not easy to rally everyone into helping, especially Caine, who couldn’t be less sentimental about anything if he were a park bench. But from a guerilla kite festival to convincing her ex-boyfriend to recreate her lost prom picture, Mariska is willing to do what it takes.

With a little nudging from Caine, Mariska starts to realize she can’t actually get her past back. And maybe that’s okay. Because while she’s so focused on the past, she’s missing out on the present, where her friends are busy having the summer of their lives. And where funny, quiet Caine might just be the future she never knew she wanted.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this book from the author. However, this review is in no way influenced by that.*

Reading Throwing My Life Away was like going back *cough ten years ago cough* to high school.  It was filled with nostalgia for the old days and with hopeful feelings for the future. And Mariska is for sure feeling all the emotions as she prepares to depart her childhood for college. Here are some of my favorite part of the book.

• I loved all the recreated pictures moments. While they didn't come out exactly like the original that Mariska took, they are unique and will give Mariska two memories instead of one. The old one and the new one. I especially love the ninja recreation. It was definitely a turning point between Mariska and her love interest, Caine.
• I also loved Mariska's best friend Sun and Caine. Sun is hilarious and unique. I loved how she was up to anything for Mariska and gave it the project a special touch. Caine is the perfect compliment for Mariska. The book has some awesome banter between Mariska and Sun and Mariska and Caine but I especially loved Mariska and Caine's back and forth quips. There is this whole yearbook drop off between the two that I found absolutely adorable.

Throwing My Life Away was filled with nostalgia and hope and it was so cute. I loved that I got another YA book from Liz Czukas and I can't wait to see what else she's working on.

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Release Day Blitz: On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton

On Broken Wings (Wild Aces #3)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Publisher: Berkley

The author of Into the Blue and Fly with Me returns with the newest, hot and high-flying Wild Aces romance...

A year after losing her husband, Joker, the squadron commander of the Wild Aces, Dani Peterson gets an offer from his best friend, Alex “Easy” Rogers, to help fix up her house. Dani accepts, and their friendship grows—along with an undeniable attraction.

Racked by guilt for loving his best friend’s widow, Easy’s caught between what he wants and can’t have. Until one night everything changes, and the woman who’s always held his heart ends up in his arms. Yet as Easy leaves for his next deployment, he and Dani are torn between their feelings and their loyalty to Joker’s memory.

But when Dani discovers something that sends them both into a spin, the conflicted lovers must overcome the past to navigate a future together…

Check out the rest of the book in series, Fly with Me and Into the Blue.

Fly with Me (Wild Aces #1)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Berkley

From the author of the Capital Confessions Novels comes the first in the steamy Wild Aces Romance series.

U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Noah Miller—call sign Burn—loves nothing more than flying hard and fast. When he meets a gorgeous and sassy woman while partying in Las Vegas, he immediately locks on to her.

Jordan Callahan owns a thriving clothing boutique, but her love life is far less successful. Her luck changes when six feet, two inches of sexy swagger asks her to dance and turns her world upside down.

One scorching weekend becomes an undeniable chemistry that they can’t leave in Vegas. But the long distance relationship and their different lives threaten to ground their romance. And when the dangers of Noah’s job become all too real, Jordan learns being with a fighter pilot means risking it all for a shot at love…

Into the Blue (Wild Aces #2)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Berkley

Eric Jansen—call sign Thor—loves nothing more than pushing his F-16 to the limit. Returning home to South Carolina after a tragic loss, he hopes to fix the mistake he made long ago, when he chose the Air Force over his fiancée.

Becca Madison isn’t quick to welcome Thor back. She can’t forget how he shattered her heart. But Thor won’t give up once he’s set his sights on what he wants—and he wants Becca.

Thor shows Becca that he’s no longer the impulsive boy he used to be, and Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But will Thor be able to walk away from his dream of flying the F-16 for their love or does his heart belong to the sky?

About the author: 

After years spent studying international politics in London and a stint in law school, Chanel Cleeton found her passion crafting smart and sexy contemporary romances and thrillers. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she's happiest curled up with a book, her three dogs lounging beside her. Chanel is a lover of big sunglasses, irresistible handbags, food covered in sprinkles, and pint-sized pups with larger-than-life personalities.

She is published by Harlequin and Penguin and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, Assassins, and Wild Aces series. Chanel also writes historical fiction as Chanel Dolz Cleeton. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Author Links: Website  / Facebook / Facebook Reader Group Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram / Newsletter / Tumblr / Pinterest