Book Review: Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Untold

By Sarah Rees Brennan

Release Date: August 29, 2013

Source: Publisher

Summary: Free from bonds, but not each other

It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

Review: It's been over a year since I read Unspoken, the first book in The Lynburn Legacy series. That being said, I forgot A LOT of what had happened with these characters and the magical world they come from. Once I got into Untold, though, more and more details came back to me and I was able to continue on in the characters' journeys of discovering their magic and trying to defeat the evil sorcerer trying to take over their town. 

After discovering the voice in her head that's been talking to her for her entire life is actually real, Kami knows her life is far from ordinary. But with her bond with Jared broken and a magical battle breaking loose in Sorry-In-the-Vale, Kami has to form an army of her own that's strong enough to defeat the sorcerers aligned with Rob Lynburn. Now that she's not linked to Jared anymore, Kami doesn't have that magic that came from the link, but she's finally free to be with whoever she wants without being pressured by the link. But what if Kami doesn't want anyone else? 

Compared to the mystery and excitement of Unspoken, I think Untold was a bit toned down in regards to the magical war that's breaking out in town. A lot of the book was spent training for the big fight between Rob and Lillian's sides that when the big fight actually did happen it was kind of a let down. The whole fight over who gets to rule Sorry-in-the-Vale was tamed down, and I found myself caring about Kami's love life more than anything else. 

We all know I'm a sucker for romance, so Kami's relationship with both Jared and Ash was what really intrigued me in this one. Who was she going to be with? Ash is so sweet to her, but come on, how can you not want Jared? He may be stubborn and moody, but Jared is just so, well, Jared. And having shared a link with Jared for her entire life, Kami is missing that part of her, where she was always connected to Jared no matter where they were. 

While it was cool that Kami had to research the history of the sorcerers in Sorry-in-the-Vale, I feel like a lot more could have been done with that plot line. Only one little detail was discovered that really helped them out, and not much else was shared about the past. Not to mention Rosalind's whole part in everything was pretty confusing. I did not get whose side she was really on and if she was even mentally stable or not. I just don't know. 

That ending, though, sure did leave you wanting more. I can't believe what predicaments the characters are left off in and what secret Jared uncovered about the past that is really creepy. I really want to know how Kami and Jared, as well as all of the others on their side, are going to solve their problems this time. I guess we'll have to wait and see in the next book!

Stacking the Shelves (77)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what they got throughout the week!

From Publisher

Four books were waiting for me when I came home for Thanksgiving Break and all four of them look absolutely amazing! I'm so happy there's such a variety of genres here, because I love being able to read different types of books instead of sticking to just one genre and getting sick of it. So having four completely different books come for me was really exciting and I can't wait to read all of them!

That's it for me! What did you all add to your shelves this week? 

Follow My Book Blog Friday (112)

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

This Week's Question: What's your favorite Thanksgiving Day food? 

Answer: Mmmm Thanksgiving! A holiday that is centered soley around eating food with your family? I'm in!

My mom always makes the most delicious Thanksgiving meals. All of our family on her side comes over and we spend the day hanging out and, of course, eating to our hearts' content. I absolutely love the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and pumpkin pie! Honestly, there's so much food that it's impossible to pick out one favorite. I want to eat it all…so I do :) 

I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving with friends, family, and delicious food :) 

Book Review: Splendor (Sacred #2) by Elana K Arnold

Splendor 

By Elana K Arnold

Release Date: November 12, 2013

Source: Publisher

Summary: Splendor, the stunning sequel to Sacred, is a story about changing friendships, family, romance, passion, the study of Kabbalah, and self-discovery.

Sometimes the answers we seek aren’t ours to find. . . .

Scarlett loves her boyfriend, the dashing, mysterious Will Cohen. But now he’s gone east for college, and Scarlett is stuck home on Catalina Island. Senior year should be a breeze, but between dealing with her parents’ separation and her wild best friend, Lily, things are off to a rocky start. And then there’s Gunner. Dangerous, dark, ferociously attractive Gunner. Lily’s potential boyfriend, Gunner . . . 

Scarlett distracts herself by spending time with her horse and delving into ecstatic mysticism, a way to practice Kabbalah. Through this practice, she hopes to learn to control her emotions, and begin to make sense of her place in the world. But Scarlett’s world is increasingly unrecognizable.

Are Lily and Scarlett becoming too different to stay friends? Is Will still the love of Scarlett’s life, even though she has feelings for Gunner? Does being in love mean only being attracted to one person? The more Scarlett questions, the fewer answers there seem to be.

Review: I read Sacred, the book that comes before Splendor, way back in January and I thought it was just an okay read. So when Splendor showed up in my mailbox, I went back and forth on wether I wanted to read it. I finally decided to give it a try and I'm pleased to say the sequel was much, much better!

With her boyfriend Will off to college all the way across the country, Scarlett is stuck at home dealing with even more problems than before. After having to recover from losing her brother the year before, Scarlett has to now deal with her parents' separation and her best friend Lily's wild out lashes. Not to mention the mysterious, and British, Gunner shows up and Scarlett feels things for him she shouldn't be feeling with Will in the picture. Scarlett tries to find solace with her horse and studying ecstatic mysticism to learn more about her emotions and Will's supernatural situation, but life keeps on throwing more curveballs her way. Scarlett's life is changing and she has to figure out just exactly who it is she wants to be now. 

I'm so, so happy that the problems I had with the first book were not at all present in this one. First, I really loved Scarlett's character now that she has finally gotten control of herself after her brother's death. While you would think finally having Will as a boyfriend would make her completely dependent on him, she's really not. Instead, Elana K Arnold has created a very realistic relationship where, when Will goes off to college, they know that they love each other but aren't sure if they're really going to be together forever. That being said, both of them discover new things about themselves and have attractions for other people, and they have to deal with their own relationship as well as their feelings for others. I was relieved they didn't become obsessed with each other when Will went to school, and really had lives apart from their relationship with each other.

What kind of put me off of this one, though, was Scarlett's attraction to Gunner. I get that she's supposed to be confused about her emotions and relationship with Will now that he's not there, but I did not get her attraction to Gunner at all. It seems like he showed up and everyone fell in love with him. Including Scarlett. I feel like there should have been either more attraction on both of their parts, or a growing to like him as she go to know him. Instead, she seemed to hate him, yet become more attracted to him, as she spent more time with him. I think his character was just really weird and I wasn't a fan of his smoking and drug use. I get what the author was trying to do with his character, I just don't think the chemistry in Scarlett's attraction to him was really there. 

Other than Gunner, though, this book was fantastic. I loved the new characters Scarlett meets, and I loved how both Will's dad and Lily's family become more involved in Scarlett's life. The whole religious aspect with Will's dad was much more toned down, and I liked how that was inserted into the story with their friend Sabine. And Will. Oh Will. I loved him so much in this book, but I remember not really caring for him in the first one. While he isn't in a whole lot of this book, his presence is still there and I really liked the moments where he actually was a part of the story. 

So overall, Splendor was a really great sequel to Sacred. The characters were great and Scarlett grows even more than she did in the first book. There is a huge plot twist nearish the end of the book, and I was like, "What!?" Totally wasn't expecting that! So that definitely held my attention and kept me reading. My only problem was the whole Gunner aspect, but I really enjoyed the rest of Scarlett's story. If you read Sacred, I'd definitely recommend picking up the sequel. You get an even better novel and really grow to love all of the characters you might not have been all that connected to the first time around.

Waiting On Wednesday (119)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

And We Stay

By Jenny Hubbard

Release Date: January 28, 2014

Summary: When high school senior Paul Wagoner walks into his school library with a stolen gun, he threatens his girlfriend Emily Beam, then takes his own life. In the wake of the tragedy, an angry and guilt-ridden Emily is shipped off to boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she encounters a ghostly presence who shares her name. The spirit of Emily Dickinson and two quirky girls offer helping hands, but it is up to Emily to heal her own damaged self.

This inventive story, told in verse and in prose, paints the aftermath of tragedy as a landscape where there is good behind the bad, hope inside the despair, and springtime under the snow.

-------------------------------------

Wow, does this one sound serious or what? But knowing Jenny Hubbard's previous books, it's bound to be emotional and amazing. And it's told in verse and prose? I wonder how that's going to turn out! All I know is that I better be in the mood for a serious book before I read this one. And to be prepared to hopefully love it!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Bookish Things I Am Thankful For

1. My Family 

My wonderful family has been putting up with my obsession with reading pretty much since I was born. My parents have fed my addiction by buying me books I've been dying to read. Not only that, but I remember when I was younger being able to spend as long as I wanted to at the library because my mom was looking around at books to. I guess you could say I got my obsession with reading from her! Thanks mom :)

2. Half Price Books

This store is pretty much the reason why my bookshelves are overflowing with books. With the clearance books for only $1, how do they expect me to resist? 

3. The Library 

The library is like a candy store for book lovers, only everything is FREE. Yeah, you have to return the books, but you have so many possibilities at your fingertips! Especially at the library by my home! They spoiled me so much with always having the newest YA releases, so it was has been and still is my favorite place to spend an endless amount of time just browsing through the books and finding new treasures.

4. Netflix

I know it's not exactly bookish, but I do watch many movies that are based on books. And TV shows where I can watch the entire series without missing an episode. Being away at school, Netflix has become my best friend when I have an empty weekend and not much homework ahead of me. Those weekends are the absolute best. 

5. Goodreads

I think this one is pretty much self-explanatory. Goodreads just rocks. 

6. My Bookshelves

I have two large bookshelves and two smaller bookshelves that hold my favorite books in my room. Then, I have books piled up under my desk and beside my couch. But I absolutely love looking at all of my pretty books lined up in the shelves. I get so warm and fuzzy just thinking all of the special stories in them and how they all belong to me :)

7. Cover Illustrators/Designers

I am SUCH a cover snob, and if it weren't for the amazingly talented cover illustrators and designers, I probably wouldn't pick up half the books I read. They're so phenomenal at what they do and I love finding an absolutely gorgeous looking book, picking it up, and discovering an equally phenomenal story. 

8. Jane Austen

I finally finished the 6th and final finished novel by Jane Austen, and I am completely in love with her stories. I just know I'm going to spend the rest of my life reliving the most amazing romances ever written. 

9. My Nook

Thanks to my fabulous e-reader, I can download books I'm dying to read from Netgalley and Edelweiss with the press of a button. Before they're even released. Needless to say, my Nook has made my reading life much more exciting. 

10. Authors

To every author there ever is, thank you for all of the hard work you put into creating these wonderful stories that have changed my life. I don't know what I'd do without the stories from my absolute favorite authors. Thanks for being awesome and keep doing what you do :)

Book Review: Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry

Crash Into You

by Katie McGarry

Release Date: November 26, 2013

Source: Netgalley

Summary: From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Review: I've had an egalley of this book for about a month now, but I've forced myself to wait to read it closer to the release date. Katie McGarry's books are definitely on my list of favorite books ever, so putting off reading Crash Into You was very hard to do. It comes to now surprise that, when I finally did pick this one up, I read the entire thing in one sitting because it was that good. 

On the outside, Rachel Young is the typical, straight-laced and straight A student. On the inside, though, she has to deal with the pressures of filling up the shoes of her perfect sister that died before she was born, as well as hiding her intense panic attacks that come any time Rachel is in front of people. The only solace Rachel can find, away from her four older and overprotective brothers, is driving her car. When she finds herself at an illegal street race, the last thing she expects is to be running away from the police with a dangerous, yet irresistible boy named Isaiah. Isaiah knows that his world and Rachel's have no business connecting, but he can't get the stubborn, mesmerizing blonde out of his mind. Rachel finds she can be herself with Isaiah, but does he simply see her as another spoiled rich girl, or the passionate, car-loving individual she really is? 

Oh. My. Gosh. Seriously, I thought I loved the first two books in this series, but this one. Amazing. Addicting. Wow. I was so skeptical going in because I really didn't like Isaiah in Dare You To. He was so obsessed with Beth and I just wanted her to get with Ryan already. But there is so much more to Isaiah and I absolutely fell in love with him from the very first page of this book. Seriously, he may have tattoos and piercings, but he's really super sweet and would do anything for those he loves. 

I think one of the main reasons I loved both Isaiah and Rachel in this book is because the chapters alternate view points. You learn so much more from the characters if you get to see inside both of their minds. Especially Rachel. I absolutely loved her as the main character with Isaiah. She has some major issues she's dealing with, and all you want for her is to be happy in the end. I couldn't image simply being born to replace the perfect sister that had died of cancer. Rachel was pressured to speak in public to please her depressed mother, despite the fact that she has severe anxiety. But she's so selfless that she tries to hide her illness from her family. She definitely deserves a guy like Isaiah, and I loved how she came out of her shell and was much more herself around him than she is around anyone else, including her brothers. 

But you know what sealed the deal for me on this one? The racing. I am an absolute fanatic for car movies like Fast and Furious. So when the first racing scene happened in the book, I literally smiled at the pages and started reading even faster to see what would happen. I had no idea this was going to have to do with racing, and that made the whole book, especially the already irresistible Isaiah, that much more enticing. 

Seriously, I could go on and on about how much I loved this one. I read every single page of this 471 page book in one sitting because I absolutely could not put it down. The story was unique and the characters were lovable, every single one of them. And all of the main characters from the last two books pop up in this one, which is always a fun surprise. Oh my gosh, and guess who's story is next in the series? West! Rachel's older brother! Ahhhhh! It's going to be so good and I absolutely can't wait for May to roll around so I can read even more of Katie McGarry's amazing writing and storytelling. 

So basically what I've been trying to say this entire review is that you have to read this series. Katie McGarry has created one of my favorite contemporary YA books of all time, and that's saying something because I've read A LOT contemporary YA books. If you want a YA book with heart-pumping adrenaline and a super sweet romance, you have got to get yourself a copy of Crash Into You. Right now. 

Weekly Roundup [11/19-11/25]

Wow, has an entire week gone by already? I feel like November just started and we're already in the last week! But that just means that we're getting even closer to Christmas! Can you tell I'm excited? Haha, but I'm probably more excited right now for the delicious Thanksgiving food I'll be having on Thursday! Mmmm I can just smell the turkey and mashed potatoes right now. 

Looking back at my weekend, though, I'd say it was a pretty fantastic one. You know why? Because I spent pretty much all of my time reading some pretty great books. I finished Splendor by Elana K Arnold and Crash into You by Katie McGarry. I didn't think I can obsess any more over Katie McGarry, but her newest book was so good! I literally could not tear my eyes away from my nook and ended up starting and finishing it on Saturday night. And I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend my night than with a good book and a warm mug of hot chocolate :)

Book Reviews 

Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Sweet Nothings by Janis Thomas

Movie Reviews

About Time

Memes

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Would Recommend to My Lovely Twin Sister

Waiting On Wednesday (118)

Stacking the Shelves (76)

Christmas!

Book Lover's Gift Guide

Bookish Christmas List

Bookish Christmas List

It's the most wonderful time of the year! And you know why? Because we're making our Christmas lists for Santa, sending them off to the North Pole, and anxiously awaiting the Christmas morning where we wake up to find a whole bunch of presents under the tree! I may be 20 years old now, but Christmas is still the most wonderful time of the year. Putting up the decorations, baking Christmas cookies, and writing my Christmas list always make the season cheery and bright, and I could not imagine going a year without any of those activities. 

When writing my Christmas list, I always put a lot of thought into what I ask Santa to bring me. The hardest decision? What books I want to ask for! Despite the fact that my shelves are overflowing with books that I have yet to read (but continue to dream I will get to all of them someday), there are always more books I am just dying to own. What better time that Christmas to add to my shelves? Here are some books I wouldn't mind Santa putting under the tree for me this year…

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

How to Fall in Love by Cecilia Ahern

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Wait for You by Jennifer L Armentrout

What books are on your Christmas lists this year? Anything you're hoping to find wrapped up under the tree for you? 

I hope you all have a very Merry (and Bookish) Christmas this year! 

Movie Review: About Time

Summary: At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.

Review: Oh my gosh. This movie. Love, Actually and Notting Hill are probably my favorite two movies of all time, so it's really no surprise that this movie, from the same creator, is now added to that list of favorites. I absolutely loved it!

When he turns 21, Tim's dad shares with him a secret all of the men in their family have been living with- they can time travel. While Tim's dad has been using his gift to read all of the books he can, Tim knows that love is what really matters in his life. And when he meets Mary, an awkward yet beautiful girl, Tim can feel she's the one. But Tim soon finds his powers can't help everyone, and he has to make choices of who to save, and who to let succumb to the life they've made.

I mean seriously, how could a movie be this gosh darn perfect? I absolutely LOVED everything about it. The first part that I loved would have to be the setting. I lived in London for 6 weeks this past summer, so watching a movie that takes place in that mesmerizing city was so nostalgic. I wanted to hop on a plane back to England and never, ever leave. During parts of the film, Tim lived at home in Cornwall, which is so different from the city yet incredibly beautiful. It was great being able to see both sides of English life.

Now onto Tim. Wonderful, awkward, adorable Tim. The quirkiness of Tim's personality was just so lovable and even though he had the ability to time travel and fix his mistakes, he really isn't a perfect person. It was so sweet how all Tim wanted was somebody to love and the way his relationship with Mary turned out was so cute. Tim is definitely a character that everyone can relate to, and fall in love with as he grows up and finds love.

While Tim's main goal was to find love, Tim discovered so much more about life and family as he grew up in the movie. This is so much more than a romance, but about Tim's entire life. Tim goes through so many trials and life lessons, and you get to be right with him every step of the way.

I don't know how much more I can say other than I absolutely loved this movie. The moment it comes out on DVD, you can bet I'm buying myself a copy and watching it over and over and over again. If you love those quirky British movies (Bridget Jones's Diary, Love, Actually, or Notting Hill), then you're going to fall in love with this time-traveling romance. So go out and see it now! A quirky, adorable time traveler is just waiting to sweep you off your feet.

Stacking the Shelves (76)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what they got throughout the week!

From The Book Keeper

There's this teeny tiny used book shop called The Book Keeper about 20 minutes away from my apartment. After class on Friday, I decided to make a trip out there and check it out. While the regular selection wasn't all that great, they did have a cart with books for only 25 cents! And we all know how much I love bargain books :) I found these two on the cart, so I only had to spend 50 cents on my trip there! And one of them is by Eloisa James! I love her, so I'm really excited I found these two :)

That's it for me! What did you all add to your shelves this week? 

Book Lover's Gift Guide

West and East Egg Gatsby Necklace // Pride and Prejudice Canvas Pouch // The Great Gatsby Fleece //  Bespectacled Book Lover Tote // The Complete Works of William Shakespeare // Jane Austen Writing Journal // Banned Book Mug // Bibliotherapy: The Girl's Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives // The Fault In Our Stars iPhone Case 

I love books. A close second to my obsession with books would have to be my love for Christmas. And Christmas in my home often means giving and receiving bookish gifts. 

Since the Christmas shopping season is finally here (and seems to have been since even before Halloween), I decided to come up with some gift ideas for your bookish friends. These are things I know I would love to receive for Christmas, so any friend of yours that's an avid reader and book addict like myself is bound to love one of these gifts…

I remember the best bookish Christmas I ever had was two years ago when Santa (okay, my mom…) surprised me with a box of books that were on my wish list. I had posted on my blog the top ten books I was hoping Santa would bring me, and my mom decided to surprise me with a bunch of them for Christmas! It was such a surprise and I got some pretty amazing books (some of which included Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally and Graceling by Kristin Cashore). My mom is the best when it comes to aiding my book addiction :)

What do you normally give/receive for Christmas? Do people give you bookish gifts? What's the best bookish gift you've ever received? I'd love to hear, so make sure you let me know in the comments :)

Book Review: Sweet Nothings by Janis Thomas

Sweet Nothings

By Janis Thomas

Release Date: July 2, 2013

Source: Publisher

Summary: Life’s sweetest moments happen when you least expect them . . .

When Ruby McMillan’s husband announces one morning that he’s dumping her for another woman, she’s unable to decide which indignity stings the most: the dissolution of their eighteen-year marriage or the deflation of her white-chocolate soufflé with raspberry Grand Marnier sauce. Without a good-bye to their two teenaged children, Walter leaves Ruby to cope with her ruined dessert, an unpaid mortgage, and her failing bakery.

With only royal icing holding her together, Ruby still manages to pick herself up and move on, subsidizing her income with an extra job as a baking instructor, getting a "my-husband’s-gone” makeover, and even flirting with her gorgeous mortgage broker, Jacob Salt. For as long as she can remember, Ruby has done what’s practical, eschewing far-fetched dreams and true love in favor of stability. But suddenly single again at the age of forty-four, she’s beginning to discover that life is most delicious when you stop following a recipe and just live.

Review: Sweet nothings? More like sweet everythings! When I read the summary for Sweet Nothings and saw that it was about a baker whose husband leaves her, I was excited. Baking in a book? Yes please!

Ruby McMillian thought she was living the perfect, quaint life. She has a stable husband, two kids, and a bakery where she gets to do what she loves all day long. Sure, there's no real passion with her husband, but who needs that? Well, apparently he does. One morning, Ruby's husband tells her he's leaving her because he's found his "soul mate," Cheryl who works in the same office as him. Leaving Ruby with no money in their joint account, a mortgage that he hasn't paid, and two confused kids, her husband sets off on his "adventure of a lifetime" with his new soul mate. After a brief breakdown, Ruby manages to pick herself back up and try to solve her problems. But with everything she's left with, the bakery is in jeopardy. Soon Ruby finds herself taking on the job as a baking instructor, letting her daughter give her a complete makeover, and flirting with the gorgeous mortgage broker Jacob Salt. Ruby finds herself discovering a life she never thought could happen. 

Like I said, this book was just so sweet. I loved Ruby, especially considering she had to deal with a lot of crap thrown her way in a small amount of time. Sometimes, characters can appear whiney about their lives and do nothing but complain. Thankfully, Ruby let's herself have the acceptable breakdown, but then she picks herself up and truly tries to make things work. And I love how her husband leaving her makes her realize things about her life she hadn't really notice before until he was gone. Not to mention her sarcastic attitude makes this a very entertaining read. 

I also really liked how Jacob Salt was introduced into the picture. Ruby didn't immediately go out and find herself a new man. In fact, she did everything in her power to try to ignore the attraction she felt for Jacob when they met because she felt like it was too soon after being dumped by the man she was married to for 18 years. So while the romance was definitely there, it was tastefully interjected into the story. 

Not only were Ruby and Jacob perfect, but the other characters all had their special little place in the story. Ruby's kids were great and each added a little more to the story, whether it was her son's typical teenager comments or her daughter's fashion advice, they were integral in Ruby's story. Also, Ruby's coworkers were so quirky and were all absolutely perfect for the bakery. All of the characters were unique in their own way, which gave the story a whole lot more to like aside from the main character. 

In the end, I really enjoyed Sweet Nothings. I loved how Ruby assigned a dessert to match the personality of everyone she met, and how she would come up with "stressipes" whenever she was in a particularly stressful situation. Mmmm all I wanted to do is find myself a big chocolate chip cookies to munch on while I was reading this one. If you're in the mood for a good contemporary romance that'll make your sweet tooth beg for some baked goods, I'd say this is the perfect book for you!

Waiting On Wednesday (118)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

Before Jamaica Lane

By Samantha Young

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Summary: One simple lesson in seduction between two friends can turn into so much more… 

Despite her outgoing demeanor, Olivia is painfully insecure around the opposite sex—usually, she can’t get up the nerve to approach guys she’s interested in. But moving to Edinburgh has given her a new start, and, after she develops a crush on a sexy postgrad, she decides it’s time to push past her fears and go after what she wants.

Nate Sawyer is a gorgeous player who never commits, but to his close friends, he’s as loyal as they come. So when Olivia turns to him with her relationship woes, he offers to instruct her in the art of flirting and to help her become more sexually confident.

The friendly education in seduction soon grows into an intense and hot romance. But then Nate’s past and commitment issues rear their ugly heads, and Olivia is left broken-hearted. When Nate realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he will have to work harder than he ever has before to entice his best friend into falling back in love with him—or he may lose her forever…

-------------------------------------

It's another Samantha Young novel! Woo hoo! I fell in love with the first two books in this new adult series (On Dublin Street and Down London Road) and I can't wait to read this one. I totally called it being about Olivia and Nate, which makes this story even more exciting. It's been so long since I read the last book in this series and I'm just dying for another one. Hopefully it's as good as it looks (how gorgeous is that cover?) and sounds! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I would Recommend to My Lovely Twin Sister

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Books I'd Recommend to My Lovely Twin Sister

I love my sister to death, but we chose very different paths in life. I'm going for a life of English Education, while she's currently a nursing major. Science classes and clinicals mean absolutely no time for reading, so she has to pick and choose which books she does spend time reading wisely because that time is so precious. Not to mention she's SUPER picky when it comes to contemporary reads, so I always have to put in a lot of thought as to whether or not she would like the book. So here is a list of YA/NA books that I think she HAS to read in the little time she does have to read :)

1. Just One Year by Gayle Forman

2. Finding It by Cora Carmack

3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

4. Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

5. Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

6. This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E Smith

7. The Edge of Always by JA Redmerski

8. Golden by Jessi Kirby

9. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

10. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill