Review: Contradictions by Tiffany King

Contradictions
(Wood falls Girls #3)
Author: Tiffany King
Release Date: January 6, 2015
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Berkley/Penguin
Review by: Jenn

When everything starts spinning out of control . . .

Three years into college, Tressa Oliver’s life is a nonstop party. She’s skating by in her classes, and there’s no shortage of drinking, dancing, and general hell-raising. The only aspect that hasn’t been much fun: She can’t shake the toxic jerks that always seem to gravitate toward her.

It will take someone totally wrong . . .

Trent Lawson is the classic anti-bad boy: smart, boring, and way too serious. To a wild girl like Tressa, there’s no way in hell they’re compatible—especially since Trent seems to see straight through her defenses.

To set her right.

When a college prank goes terribly wrong, Tressa starts to suspect that her partying ways are leading nowhere fast. Now she has to turn to the last person she ever thought she’d ask for help—and quickly discovers that there’s more to Trent than meets the eye . . .

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this title by the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

Contradictions follows Tressa, our main character, throughout a rough semester at college. She loves to party, drink, and dance. She loves to play pranks on other people but with all that partying she is partaking in and when a prank goes wrong, she realizes she needs to get her act together. So with some outside influence, Tressa tries and gets her priorities in order.

I flew through the pages of this book. I started it on a Sunday afternoon and I finished it that same evening. I just could not put it down. Tressa's story and meeting Trent, her love interest, had my attention and I had to know what happened next without stopping. Tressa is this wild child, up for anything, love to have a good time gal. She is the exact opposite of me so I was so curious and intrigued about her and her story. There were so many times that I didn't like what she would do or how she would react but I grew to like her. She made mistakes after mistakes but how she continued to pushed through and not letting anything stop her made me respect her.

Trent is nothing like Tressa but she can't help but be attracted to him. I thought he was the cutest with his dry humor and his persistent to pursue Tressa. He knows he is a nerd but the way he pursues her, made him look like an "alpha male" while talking your ear off about science-y things. So hot.

I'm sad that I finished the book but I really liked where it ended. It gave me the warm and fuzzy feeling but also satisfied at where the characters were left. Like I said before, I flew through this book and now I want to read the previous two book in this series just so I can get more of this setting. Thanks for that, Tiffany King!

Review: Magnolia by Kristi Cook

Magnolia
Author: Kristi Cook
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Nahomi

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

5 stars out of 5 stars

I absolutely loved loved loved Magnolia! Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. This is the type of book that I want to read over and over again, that's how much I love it. I love the premise of the story; it's Romeo and Juliet with a twist. Now, I have read other modern takes on classics which shall remain nameless and I wasn't really into them, but this one takes the cake the caramel cake that is.

In the beginning I was a little hesitant because of my past experience but as soon as I started reading I was sucked into Jemma's world at Magnolia Branch. I love the setting and felt like I wanted to jump into the book and live in Magnolia Branch (except for the snakes, I'm not a fan). I loved the relationship the relationship between the Caffertys and the Marsdens. It was so funny to see how Jemma and Ryder's mom would try to push them together.

The pacing of this story is a mixture of fast and slow which worked well for the story. I say this because after the hurricane I felt like the pacing slowed down a little. I loved that although this is a romance the sole focus of the story wasn't just the relationship between Jemma and Ryder. There are a lot of other things happening simultaneously in the story; and it worked really well. The combination of the plot, the setting, and the characters had me falling in love with this story over and over again.

Jemma is a strong female lead; I love the strength she portrayed throughout the story. She had to deal with a lot of things at the same time and I feel she handled it very well. I love that she is a girly girl but isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and do the hard work. I also like that she is the best shot in her county and just to get on the boys nerves she wears the girliest outfit she can find to her shooting competitions. Ryder is the all American boy, quarter back of the football team, perfect grades, good looking, and popular. These are all great but what made me swoon was how thoughtful and sweet Ryder is and well you just have to read the book and see for yourself but he is definitely a gem.

I could go on and on about how this book is wonderful and give you all the reasons why I love this story so much; but you just have to read it for yourself and find out how great it is! I recommend this book 110 percent! It is a must read!

Waiting on Wednesday (#91)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Expected Release Date: February 10, 2015

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor. As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world. And she'll be with the boy she loves--who's also her best friend.

But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes. Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought.

And now it's too late to walk away.

I recently stumbled upon this book and as soon as I read the synopsis I was hooked. I can't wait to read Seeker, the synopsis is so interesting!

What are you "Waiting on?"

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read...

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful girls at The Broke and The Bookish. Every week the girls come up with a subject and we have to answer them.

Morning Swooners, 

Jenn and I decided that we had so many books we didn't get to in 2014 that we had to do this TTT. Here are just a few of the books we were excited about but didn't get to read last year, in no particular order. 

Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't Get To:

Jenn's pick:

Nahomi's pick:

That's it for us, but what 2014 Releases did you mean to read but didn't get to?

Quotes (#90)

Morning Lovelies,

Another weekend has passed us by, bringing us another Monday. Joy. For me, this mean the start of another semester. This time, I'll be taking three classes instead of two. I'm a little nervous about it because working full time and going to school part time means I really need to prioritize my time. I'm especially trying my hardest to get focus on school since I wasn't the greatest of student. This time it means more. At least I have Nahomi who I can depend on to pick up the slack here on the blog. And in my life. Because let's be real, you always need your bestie in your corner.

And because I'm starting school, I need some extra good juju. I figure I should post some of my favorite quotes from some of my favorite books to get the creative juices going. Let's check them out.

“He pulls me around and kisses me. "You're Mac," he says. "And I'm Jericho. And nothing else matters. Never will. You exist in a place that is beyond all rules for me. Do you understand that?" I do. Jericho Barrons just told me he loves me.” ― Karen Marie Moning, Shadowfever

“Phones are distracting. The internet is distracting.The way he looked at you? He wasn't distracted. He was consumed.” ― Stephanie Perkins, Isla and the Happily Ever After

“I’ve never met anyone like her, as strong-willed as me and yet, just handing me everything, letting me take her apart one touch at a time.” ― Christina Lauren, Dirty Rowdy Thing

“So, as I was saying, guys and girls can be friends. Best friends. And what's better than falling in love with your best friend? Nothing.” ― Elizabeth Eulberg, Better off Friends

“I like the way I feel about myself when I'm with him." I say quietly. "Warner thinks I'm strong and smart and capable and he actually values my opinion. He makes me feel like his equal--like I can accomplish just as much as he can, and more. And if I do something incredible, he's not even surprised. He expects it. He doesn't treat me like I'm some fragile little girl who needs to be protected all the time.” ― Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

“Emergency dance party--go away.” ― Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl

“She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.” ― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

Aren't they all just awesome and kick ass? I love each these books to pieces. Hopefully they inspire me to have a great week. Which I hope you all have. See you guys next time!

2015 Reading Challenges

Morning Swooners,

So you knew this post was coming, right? It that time of the year where everyone is announcing what sort of reading challenges they're participating in. Nahomi and I are keeping it simple and are doing the same challenges as last year. We're being realistic and going with more reasonable numbers. Here we go.

The TBR Pile Reading Challenge hosted by Bookish.

For details about this challenge, go here.

In this challenge we are aiming for:

1-10 A Firm Handshake <--- Jenn
11-20 A Friendly Hug <--- Nahomi
21-30 First Kiss
31-40 Sweet Summer Fling
41-50 Could This Be Love?
50+ Married with Children

The 'Real' Book Challenge hosted by Swoony Boy Podcast and Fiction Fare.

For details about this challenge, go here.

1-10 – Real Book Newbie <--- Jenn
11-20 – Real Book Enthusiast <--- Nahomi
21-30 – Real Book Snob
31-40 – Real Book Aficionado
41-50 – Real Book Hoarder
50+ – Real Book Queen/King

We are also participating in the NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge, hosted by Falling For YA.

For details about this challenge, go here.

Bronze - 10 Books <--- Nahomi
Silver - 25 Books <--- Jenn
Gold - 50 Books
Platinum - 75 Books
Diamond - 100 Books

Those are all of challenges for this year. I feel like we are trying not to pressuring ourselves by going for the highest numbers of books read. I've really learned in the past few months that I need to prioritize my time with everything. I still have 5 classes to take in order to finish my second degree and I want to get As so I can (hopefully) apply to grad school. I'm also getting married in August so there's ton to be done with that. And with getting married, it will also mean a move for me. How big? I don't know. It could be a few miles away or moving up the eastern coast to NYC. Nahomi is a mommy to a cutie pie whom I adore and is also trying to figure out her next step in life. So while trying to continue blogging, because we don't want to stop, we've been trying to find ways to stay on top of things. And this is how we'll do it.

2015 reading list, I'm gonna own you.

Our 2014 Reading Challenges Results

Morning Lovelies,

So this post is super late but the holidays had me forgetting what day it was. So I wanted to post our 2014 Reading Challenges results before posting our 2015 challenges. Looking over our read books of 2014 was fun and disappointing at the same time. We really wanted to make a dent at our TBR Pile but it just didn't happen. But here are our results so you can see for yourself.

For the TBR Pile Reading Challenge hosted by Bookish, our results were:

For details about this challenge, go here.

For this challenge, we were aiming for:

1-10 - A Firm Handshake

11-20 - A Friendly Hug <-- Nahomi

21-30 - First Kiss <-- Jenn

31-40 - Sweet Summer Fling

41-50 - Could this be love?

50+ - Married With Children

Nahomi read 1 book toward her TBR pile and I (Jenn) read up to 8 books towards my TBR pile. Neither one us reached our goal, unfortunately.

In the "Real" Book Challenge hosted by Swoony Boys Podcast and Fiction Fare, our results are:

For detail about this challenge, go here.

For this challenge, we were aiming for:

1-10 - Real Book Newbie <-- Nahomi

11-20 - Real Book Enthusiast <-- Jenn

21-30 - Real Book Snob

31-40 - Real Book Aficionado

41-50 - Real Book Hoarder

50+ - Real Book Queen/King

Nahomi read 5 "Real" book which is right in the middle of being a Real Book Newbie! I read up to 27 "Real" book I'm a Real Book Snob! We both surpassed our original goal so wheee!!

In the NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge, hosted by Falling for YA, my results were:

For details about this challenge, go here.

For this challenge, I will be going for:

Aluminum - 5 books

Bronze - 10 books

Silver - 25 books

Gold - 50 books <-- Jenn

Platinum - 75 books

Diamond - 100 books

I just passed "Silver" with 29 books for the NetGalley and Edelweiss Challenge so I did not met my goal of reaching Gold.

Overall, we didn't do too bad considering everything that happened in our lives. Although I didn't get to my goal of 50 books in the NetGalley and Edelweiss challenge, it did helped motivate me to increase my percentage of books read and reviewed. In the TBR Pile, I really should get to the books on my shelves but I just don't know how to NOT pick up a newly release book over one that's been out for ages.

That's it for 2014! Looking forward to all the books we get to read in 2015.

Favorite Friday (#18) - Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Have a favorite book? Series? One that you've just read or are currently reading? Favorite Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Books and Swoons where we spotlight some of our Favorite Reads. Everyone is welcome to join. Just enter your information on the linky or leave us a comment!

This week pick is: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas.

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

Here's the thing, I'm not a fantasy girl. I love my contemporaries book with some romance, or dystopian or mysteries. Fantasy? It really hard to get me to read it. However, I first read Throne of Glass two years and I thought to myself, "Ok, this is good. I can see the hype." The second book, Crown of Midnight? Completely sold. THIS book? Heir of Fire? It completely owns me. I was one hot mess reading Heir of Fire and I was completely useless. I did not want to be bothered. I only wanted to talk about the book with other people. Of course, at the time I read the book, my best friends hadn't even read the 1st book. On top of that, I read it before it came out so THERE WAS NO ONE TO TALK TO. At least, no one I knew personally. I was completely CONSUMED with this book and I had no one to discuss it with. Talk about painful.

It one of my favorite books and every day that goes by where I don't anything about the fourth book, a little of soul dies. So in order for me to function in every day life, I need for all of my friends to read this so I can have people to flail/gush over with. GO READ THIS SERIES/BOOK. YOU NEED IT IN YOUR LIFE. TRUST ME.

About the author:

I’m Sarah J. Maas, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series (Heir of Fire, Book 3, will be out in September 2014). The Assassin’s Blade, a bind-up of all five TOG novellas is out now! Starting in Spring 2015 – my New Adult Fantasy series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, will be published by Bloomsbury as well! Hooray! I was born/raised in Manhattan, but traded freezing winters and sweltering summers for No Winter Ever Weather when I followed my then-boyfriend (now husband!) out to California in 2008. After six years in SoCal, I’ve finally returned to the East Coast, and am currently residing in the Philadelphia area. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College with a degree in Creative Writing, and a minor in Religious Studies. I’m represented by Tamar Rydzinski of the Laura Dail Literary Agency.

Author's links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Tumblr

I hope you can join us in sharing and talking about some of your favorite reads. Book talk always make me happy. 

What are one of your favorite reads?

Review: Ignite by Sara B. Larson

Ignite (Defy #2)
Author: Sara B. Larson
Release Date: December 30, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Personal copy
Review by: Nahomi

Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

5 stars out of 5 stars

I've been desperately waiting for this book since June when I read Defy. So when the clock hit 12, I was checking to see what site had it up so that I could download it and read it asap. Once I finally got my hands on Ignite, I just couldn't put it down! Holy Cannoli I was up all night reading this book until I ran out of pages to read. Ignite was action packed and full of mystery which I love!

The characters where the same lovable characters from Defy except we got to know them a lot better and in different circumstances in this story. I love the angst and the struggle Alexa experiences through out the book; it leads her to very important realization towards the end of the story. Damian is perfect as ever. In his moments of vulnerability he displays his emotions whether it's pain or love with such honesty that at times its heart breaking. I love that Damian is able to display this vulnerability without seeming weak. I found myself melting time and time again over something Damian did or said. He's just perfect even with his flaws.

The plot is fast paced and leaves you wanting more. The major issues of the novel are answered although there are so many unanswered questions that you want to continue reading to find out what happens next. I love the how the love story is written in this book. There is a hint of a love triangle but in reality there isn't a love triangle not a real one in any sense. I love that the romance is an element of the story and not the main focal point of the entire plot. Ignite is a great second book to the Defy series. I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on the next installment of this series. Sara B. Larson out did herself with this book and I am excited that there is a third book coming!

Waiting on Wednesday (#90)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Expected Release Date: January 13, 2015

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.
Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.
At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.
Until one day, he does…
As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

I'm really curious about this book. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Holly Black's writing and had the pleasure of meeting her last year. I can't wait to finally read this one.

What are you "Waiting on?"