Top Five Books of the Summer

This summer was definitely a summer full of changes for me. I graduated from college, moved out of my parents' home and into an apartment with my twin sister, was hired to teach 10th grade English, and started my job. Talk about growing up! That being said, though, I learned a very harsh reality about adulthood: Reading time is precious. Seriously, I have never read less books a month than I have these last few months. I spend my days teaching and my nights and weekends lesson planning and grading. I'm lucky if I have an hour before bed to read. While I couldn't be more grateful to have a job in a field I love, I'm going to miss all of that reading time I had in college. 

With my last summer before officially becoming an adult, I tried to get as much reading time as I could. And I read some amazing books, books that have easily become my all-time favorite reads. So without further ado, here are my top five books that I've had the privilege of reading this summer. 

1. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

THIS BOOK. Oh gosh, this book. I don't cry often when I read books, but this one left me blubbering mess. I absolutely loved the quirky British storyline and characters. Lou was amazing and her family added a charm that I loved. Lou and Will's relationship is so complex and it just broke my heart the entire time I read it. You MUST read this book, especially before the movie comes out with Emilia Clark and Sam Claflin! By far one of the best books I ever read. 

2. Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross

This was my first book by Julie Cross, but I can tell you that it's definitely not going to be my last. I love love love sports romances, especially baseball ones. And this book is by far one of the best sports romances I've read. I loved how it was about a baseball pitcher falling for the new coach's daughter. Annie was such a great character and I loved how she was athletic as well (she ran track). There were some laugh out loud moments that were just the thing you needed after some more emotional moments. I was seriously obsessed with this book and think every romance lover needs to read it! 

3. One Tiny Lie by KA Tucker

I absolutely loved Ten Tiny Breaths when I read it on vacation in 2014, so I knew that I had to read the second book on vacation this year. I devoured Livie's story as she went away to college and tried to figure out what she really wanted out of her life. Of course, she instantly falls for the one guy she really doesn't need in her life. I absolutely loved the chemistry between Livie and Ashton and how intense their relationship was. Livie tried to stay away and things happened between them that had me freaking out. So many feelings! I definitely can't wait to finish the rest of the books in this series. 

4. Bad Romeo by Bad Romeo

This is a book I had been seeing everywhere and knew that I had to read. New Adult is one of my favorite genres, if you couldn't tell, and this one was about actors who fell for each other. How could I resist? I loved the performing arts aspect of this book and how Cassie and Ethan have to learn to trust each other both on and off stage. Their chemistry is through the roof, but what I loved most was how the chapters alternated between the past and the present. We got to see them meet, but then we saw them in the present when Cassie is very upset with Ethan for something he did to her to break her heart. But you still want them to be together, no matter what the mistakes were that they had made. Ugh! This book! I read it in one day and cannot wait to read the second book!

5. The Bourbon Kings by JR Ward

This book was definitely the most surprising of the books I read this summer, but I ended up absolutely loving it! I haven't read anything by JR Ward, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This book had so many scandals, secrecy, and drama that it was impossible to stop reading. What was going to happen next to these characters? The story ended up reading like a soap opera because of all of the drama! I loved how the story was mainly about Lizzie, an employ of the rich estate, and Lane, one of the sons of the estate owners. That alone promises drama! But we also got to see what Lane's siblings were experiencing and their drama that they were going through. There was just so much dimension and intrigue in this book, making it a must read to me!

Those are my favorite reads of the summer! Have you read any of them? What were your favorite reads of the summer? I'd love to hear! 

Book Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

Confess

By Colleen Hoover

Release Date: March 10, 2015

Source: Own Copy

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

HOW DID IT TAKE ME SIX MONTHS TO READ THIS BOOK. I am obsessed with Colleen Hoover. She is one of my favorite authors of all-time, which is definitely saying something seeing as I have read A LOT of books. So the fact that it took me so long to read this book is mind-blowing. But let me tell you, it was AMAZING. 

Auburn Reed has moved to Dallas with a life plan that she intends to live out. What she doesn't plan for, though, is walking into Owen Gentry's art gallery and finding herself attracted to the mysterious artist. Auburn let's herself follow her heart, but Owen has some pretty big secrets that could make their relationship utterly impossible. Can Owen reveal his secrets without risking losing the only real thing he's ever had? 

Holy moly. Seriously, from the freaking prologue of this book, I was on the verge of tears. THE PROLOGUE. I knew that this book was going to steal my heart and Colleen definitely delivered. The relationships are just so perfect and you really feel the connection between Auburn and Owen. But Colleen has this way of making you absolutely love the main couple, only to make it pretty much impossible for them to be together. I was rooting for Owen and Auburn this whole book, but there were circumstances that made their relationship pretty much impossible and it broke my heart. They NEEDED to be together but couldn't but I didn't care because they just had to be together. Does that make sense? 

Not only was the relationship amazing, but there were so many secrets that drove you completely mad in this book, but in a good way. There are secrets that are hinted at and are slowly revealed as the plot moves forward. Colleen does this is a lot of her books and, while it drives me crazy, it makes me so addicted to the story and I can't put the book down. I had all of these theories and, of course, was only kind of right by the end of this book. Colleen knows how to reveal just enough to keep the reader in the story and begging for more. And I was definitely begging for more with Auburn and Owen's story! It was passionate, emotional, and even humorous at times. I had some laugh out loud moments and on the verge of tears moments. So many emotions in one book and I loved every second of it. 

I could go on and on about how amazing Colleen Hoover's writing is. Seriously, I have loved every book that woman has written and Confess has just been added to my favorites. Auburn was lovable and I enjoyed her character and Owen was just perfection. Seriously, can a guy be any more perfect?? What made this book, though, were definitely the confessions. They were so raw and perfect for what Auburn and Owen have gone through in their lives. I have never read anything like this book and if you plan on reading this, which you all should, get ready for some serious emotions and a new, adorable book boyfriend.

Waiting on Wednesday (210)

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

Wild Crush (Wild Cards #2)

By Simone Elkeles

Release Date: September 22, 2015

When the only girl you want is the one you can't have... 

Bad boy Vic Salazar breaks all the rules except one: Don't make a move on your best friend's girl. It’s a Guy Code that Vic lives by. It doesn't matter that he's had a crush on her for years. Monika Fox is off limits. 

Monika has a secret of her own and when a tragedy throws her and Vic together, the only boy she trusts is the one she shouldn’t confide in. Vic. 

As Vic struggles to keep his distance, and Monika struggles with her secrets, will their wild connection violate every rule both vowed never to break—about relationships, about friendship, about love?

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It has been far too long since Simone Elkeles has come out with a book and I have been DYING. While I don't remember too well what Wild Cards was about (it came out two years ago), I can't wait to  see what else she has for us. Oh, and did I mention that her new book is about a bad boy? Yum. And he's in love with his best friend's girlfriend. Drama! Haha, I'm so excited! I'm definitely interested in Monika and the secrets that she's hiding. Thank goodness I don't have to wait too long for this one! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Gave Me All the FEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLSSSSS

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 that Gave Me All the Feels

This week was a freebie week and, after finishing Confess by Colleen Hoover, I have been an emotional wreck. Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but literally the first chapter of that book had me on the verge of tears and I was feeling for the characters the entire time. So I decided to dedicate this week's top ten tuesday post to books that had my emotions all over the place. 

1. Confess by Colleen Hoover

2. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

3. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

5. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

6. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

7. Ten Tiny Breaths by KA Tucker

8. The Edge of Never by JA Redmerski

9. One Tiny Lie by KA Tucker

10. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Release Day Blitz + Giveaway: Drowning to Breathe by AL Jackson

The danger in pretending is it becoming real...

Sebastian Stone, Sunder front man and guitarist with a rap sheet about ten miles long, escaped to Savannah, Georgia, to get away from the trouble he’d caused.

Not find more of it.

    The moment he saw Shea Bentley, he saw beneath all her sweet and innocence to something that went deeper.

Darker.

Their relationship was built on secrets; their love built on lies.

Sebastian never imagined how deep her secrets went.

When the past and present collide, Sebastian and Shea find themselves fighting for a future neither believed they deserved. Their passion is consuming and their need unending.

Now, holding the truth in his hands, Sebastian is faced with sacrificing everything he’s come to love to protect Shea and his family.

Two pasts intertwined.

Two lives bound.

Will their demons drown them or will Shea and Sebastian finally learn to breathe?

Drowning to Breathe

A Bleeding Stars Novel, Book 2

AMAZON

He wanted nothing at all…

Until he found she had everything to give…

Sunder lead singer and guitarist Sebastian Stone has everything—fans, fame, and fortune. He also has a heart full of bitterness and a reputation for a short-fused temper. But an outward reputation rarely reveals the true man inside. Facing assault charges after trying to protect his younger brother, Sebastian is sent to Savannah, Georgia to lie low until the dust settles in L.A.

Shea Bentley is beautiful, kind, and hiding from the very lifestyle Sebastian has always embraced.

When the mysterious, tattooed stranger begins hanging out at the bar where she works, Shea is quick to recognize he is nothing but trouble, but she's helpless to the way her body lights up every time his intense gray eyes tangle with hers.

They both soon find themselves drowning in a sea of desire and passion that won’t let them up for air.

Sebastian knows firsthand secrets never die, and he’s not the only one who’s hiding them.

Loving someone always comes with a price. But will it be Shea’s past that costs them everything?

iBooks    AMAZON   Barnes & Noble

Giveaway

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About the Author

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student.  She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

Connect with A.L. 

Jackson online:www.aljacksonauthor.com

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe! 

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Stacking the Shelves (161)

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

From Publisher

So many goodies came for me this week and I couldn't be more excited! I mean, just look at those yummy covers! 

From Half Price Books

The absolute best part of Labor Day weekend was definitely the sales. And you bet I was hitting up the Half Price Books 20% off Labor Day sale! Everything in the store was 20% off, so I picked up these three for super cheap (around $6 all together)!

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

Waiting on Wednesday (209)

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

When We Collide

By Emery Lord

Release Date: April 5, 2016

Meet Vivi and Jonah: A girl and a boy whose love has the power save or destroy them.

Vivi and Jonah couldn't be more different. Vivi craves anything joyful or beautiful that life can offer. Jonah has been burdened by responsibility for his family ever since his father died. As summer begins, Jonah resigns himself to another season of getting by. Then Vivi arrives, and suddenly life seems brighter and better. Jonah is the perfect project for Vivi, and things finally feel right for Jonah. Their love is the answer to everything. But soon Vivi's zest for life falters, as her adventurousness becomes true danger-seeking. Jonah tries to keep her safe, but there's something important Vivi hasn't told him.

Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart and Jandy Nelson, When We Collided is a powerful story of two teens whose love is put to the test by forces beyond their control. 

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EMERY LORD HAS A NEW BOOK. Holy moly words cannot even begin to describe how excited I am for this. I am OBSESSED with Open Road Summer and I really enjoyed The Start of Me And You. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us in When We Collide. I absolutely love how this one sounds like the main couple gets together pretty early on in the story, but are tested throughout the rest of the book. Can you tell I'm excited? Well, I'm excited :) April can't come soon enough!