Sunday, July 28, 2013

Review: Unbroken by Melody Grace

Unbroken
Beachwood Bay #1
Author: Melody Grace
Publication Date: March 11, 2013
~Synopsis~
Juliet McKenzie was an innocent eighteen-year old when she spent the summer in Beachwood Bay—and fell head over heels in love with Emerson. Complicated, intense Emerson, the local bad boy. His blue eyes hid dark secrets, and just one touch could set Juliet ablaze. Their love was demanding and all-consuming, but when summer ended, tragedy tore them apart. Juliet swore she’d never go back, and she’s kept that promise… Until now.

Four years later, Juliet’s done her best to rebuild the wreckage of her shattered life. She’s got a great boyfriend, and a steady job planned after she graduates. Returning to Beachwood to pack up her family’s beach house to prepare it for sale, Juliet is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her future. But one look from Emerson, and all her old desire comes flooding back. He let her go once, but this time, he’s not giving up without a fight. And Emerson fights dirty.

A heartbreaking history. An unstoppable passion. Torn between her past and future, Juliet struggles to separate love from desire. But will they find a way to overcome their tragic secrets—together? And after so much damage has been done, can a love remain unbroken? 

*This book contains adult situations and explicit content.*


~Prelude~
I have been eyeing Unbroken for a while but just hadn’t picked it up. After I had the cover reveal for Unafraid, book 2 in the series, on my blog, I decided I was going to read it before Unafraid was released. This is yet another book where I am asking myself why I waited so long. I should have read this months ago.

~Review~
I have been eyeing Unbroken for a while but just hadn’t picked it up. After I had the cover reveal for Unafraid, book 2 in the series, on my blog, I decided I was going to read it before Unafraid was released. This is yet another book where I am asking myself why I waited so long. I should have read this months ago.

“My mom always said there are two kinds of love in this world; the steady breeze, and the hurricane.”

After getting to know who Juliet really was, it was obvious that she had changed so much and become someone she really wasn’t. She had become reserved and drawn into herself. She was so open and free before. I was surprised by how nervous and timid she became when she saw Emerson again. It was obvious that his presence unsettled her but I couldn’t blame her because no matter how much she pretended that she was happy with her life, she was clearly deluding herself. All it took was one look from Emerson to completely unravel the lies she has been telling herself.

“You don’t have anything to prove,” I whisper, “You’re my hurricane, Emerson Ray. I’ll always be yours.”

I love Emerson. He is sweet and loving and he is head over heels for Juliet from the moment he meets her. He is obviously torn up about how things ended between them but I wanted to punch him in the throat for some of the cruel things he said to Juliet in an attempt to push her away. He thought he knew what was best for her but he went about “protecting” her all the wrong way. He was hot and cold and made decisions for her that he had no business making, back then and again now. However, I could get over his craziness because it was clear how much he really loved Juliet and that he would do anything for her. He proved that he could be somebody and make a better life for himself despite the home life he had.

“Emerson kisses me like it’s the end of the world, like we’ve only moments left to live, and there’s nothing he wants more than to possess me, completely.”

Juliet’s best friend, Lacey, was wild and fun and she was always there for Juliet. However, she couldn’t understand her crazy connection with Emerson or how she could give up the good guy, Daniel, for a guy like Emerson. However, she supported her in the end which was important. I actually liked Daniel. I didn’t want to because he was the guy between Juliet and Emerson but he was kind and caring and understanding. He accepted her love for Emerson and the fact that she had never stopped loving him and he was always the only one. He was still there for her when she needed a friend for support. Brittany has grown up since Juliet last saw her and she is a little bit of a fireball now. She is a great sister and she doesn’t want to see Emerson get hurt so she is a little aggressive with Juliet. In the end, she reveals the secret that has kept Juliet & Emerson apart and helps put them back together. I can’t wait to get to know Brittany better in Unafraid where she gets her chance at a happily ever after

“You’re mine,” he says again fiercly. “Not his, not anyone else’s. You can try and pretend you don’t feel it, but you do. You’ll always be mine.”

This book seriously broke me. It put me back together at the end but not before shattering me into pieces. Just when I thought the worst was over, it came back and slapped me in the face. I definitely wanted to see Emerson and Juliet find each other again and I loved the passion that re-ignited between them. The revelations of all the events that happened that summer that broke apart Juliet and Emerson was heart-breaking. While I was sad to see how much Juliet had changed, I loved that she re-discovered herself back in Beachwood Bay and Emerson was able to remind her of the girl she really is. I was also happy to see the life that he had made for himself and I can’t help but wonder if he stayed with the hopes that Juliet would make her way back to him someday.

“There was no slow fall for us; no gentle hesitant dates, and shy flirting. Right from the start, loving him was like hurling myself off a tall cliff and hoping like hell he would be there to break my fall.”

When this book ended, I had a satisfied smile on my face. I finished it in bed and I won’t lie, I woke up with an undeniable book hangover the next morning. This book really got to me and the first thing I did when I got up was start a new book to try and get over this one. I loved everything about Unbroken from the characters to the setting to the plot. Melody really knows how to write a tumultuous book that she can still wrap up with a satisfying conclusion. I CANNOT wait for Unafraid.

~IPOD Picks~
“The House that Built Me” by Miranda Lambert
“Easy” by Rascal Flatts
“Then” by Brad Paisley

Novella Review: Untouched by Melody Grace

Untouched
Beachwood Bay #0.5
Auhor: Melody Grace
Publication Date: May 14, 2013

~Synopsis~
Emerson Ray is trouble. Juliet knows it the minute she lays eyes on Beachwood Bay's resident bad boy. Forced to spend her summer before college in the sleepy beach town, she never expected to crash into the most devastating guy she’s ever met—or for Emerson’s blue eyes to strip through her dark secrets, and make her feel a desire she’s never known. Their connection is undeniable, but Juliet is torn. She knows, once she gives him everything, there’ll be no turning back.

Juliet McKenzie is dangerous. Emerson can tell from the way she blows through all his defenses, laying bare the demons he’s carried alone all his life. He’s left a trail of broken hearts and empty beds in his wake, but Juliet is different. Her innocence is intoxicating—and the passion she keeps hidden, just below the surface. He wants to be the only one to set it free, but with every kiss, he’s closer to losing control and doing the one thing he swore he never would: fall in love.

One summer. Two damaged hearts. Their story is only just beginning…


~Review~
I have wanted to read Unbroken for a while and when I saw Untouched was a prequel novella; I decided to give it a quick read before starting Unbroken. I am glad I did because it gave a little insight into how the whirlwind romance between Emerson and Juliet started all those years ago. 

Untouched did a lot of character building to give some insight into who Emerson and Juliet really were and what made them fall in love with each other. They each have turmoil in their family lives and demons in their past and those are highlighted here to give us an idea of why they need each other so much and why they will always need each other.

“I know what that’s like. I know how dark is seems, fighting to stay above water, when the world is conspiring to pull you under.”

Emerson seems to always be pushing Juliet away and Juliet isn’t one to give in so easy. She knows how he makes her feel and once touch or look from Emerson brings her un-done. He has never found a girl that makes him feel like she does and as much as he thinks he is no good for her, three little words is all it takes for him forget everything and drag her back into his arms.

I felt like they fell “in love” a little too fast. I understand the way they make each other feel and the attraction that neither can deny but it seemed so fast to say “I Love You” to each other. In the end, we know that summer doesn’t end in happily ever after but will they get their HEA in Unbroken?

~IPOD Picks~
“Use Somebody” by Boyce Avenue
“Wanted” by Hunter Hayes

The Sunday Post: Issue #6~ Another week of Madness




The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 






July 22, 2013-- Book Blitz: Bittersweet Junction by Ivy Sinclair
15 Day Blogging Challenge: Day 15
Review: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

July 23, 2013-- Photo Teaser: Playing With Her Heart by Lauren Blakely
Blog Tour: Losing Francesca by J.A. Huss

July 24, 2013-- Cover Reveal: The Mephisto Mark
Book Blitz: Painted Boots by Mechelle Morrison
Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

July 25, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Two Roads
Cover Reveal The Only One
Review: Say When by Tara West

July 26, 2013-- Feature & Follow Friday Blog Hop
Photo Teaser: Unafraid by Melody Grace
Review: Home to Whiskey Creek by Brenda Novak

July 27, 2013-- Saturday @ Starbucks: Book Immersion & Berry Coffee Cake
Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

July 28, 2013-- The Sunday Post: Issue #6
Novella Review: Untouched by Melody Grace
Review: Unbroken by Melody Grace


A few of my awesome blogging buddies and I have started doing a weekly read-along over the weekend via Twitter. I thought the Sunday post would be a great way to spotlight the other girls reviews.

This week we took a break because many of us were out of town and/or had a lot of review books to read. We will be picking up with Exiled by M.R. Merrick this week. Stay tuned next week for the review links.
Jessica @ Lovin Los Libros
Wendy @ Book Scents
Tonya @ lilybloombooks



Books I received for Review/Blog Tours

Books for Blog Tours/Release Day Launch
Thank you to the authors and promoters for the opportunity to join these tours and read these books!



Books for Review
Thanks to the authors and their promoters for the opportunity to read and review these books!






Books I Bought This Week


Freebies from Amazon



On Friday, 8/2, Jasinda Wilder and a few other indie authors will be here in Seattle for a signing and I can't wait to go. I will post a recap next Sunday!

July 29, 2013-- Book Blitz: Sweet Thing by Renee Carlino
Review: Wounded by Jasinda Wilder

July 30, 2013-- Release Day Launch: Escaping Me by Elizabeth Lee
Cover Reveal: Exception
Top Ten Tuesday

July 31, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Tone Deaf
Blog Tour: Waiting for the Storm by Marie Landry

August 1, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Torch
Book Blitz: Never Too Far
Review: Exiled by M.R. Merrick #GwB

August 2, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Not Your Fault
Blog Tour: Manic by J.A. Huss

August 3, 2013-- Saturday @ Starbucks
Review: Tidal by Emily Snow

August 4, 2013-- Signing in Seattle Recap
The Sunday Post: Issue #7

There is a good chance this will change next week because I am crazy like that but as of now this is what I plan.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Something Like Normal
Author: Trish Doller
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: June 19, 2012

~Synopsis~
When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.


 ~Prelude~
Trish has a new book coming out in September and I heard about it on twitter so I decided to check it out and I discovered Something Like Normal. I read the synopsis and knew I needed to read this book. I bought it and read it the same day.

~Review~
This book was more than I expected and definitely in a good way.  I knew it would be emotional because Travis is back after being Afghanistan for a year and he has grown up a lot since he left. He has made friends and lost friends and he feels so disconnected from his family and his life now that he is back. He is home but he doesn’t feel like he’s home. His mom is a mess, his brother is a douche dating his ex-girlfriend and his dad is a total power hungry dick. He re-connects with Harper, a girl he grew up with and she breaks down his defenses and helps him cope with the guilt and emotions he is feeling.

Travis was a character that I liked but he took time to get in my good graces. I mean, as an MC, I really liked him and I felt for him and everything he had been through and was going through. I can’t imagine what it must be like for a soldier to come home after such a long time in a war zone and try to live a normal life. He was flooded with grief and guilt and plagued by nightmares. He kind of acted like a douche in the beginning and I wish he would have showed Paige the door from the very beginning, especially when he started hanging around Harper. I liked the progression he made as a character though, because he did get much better. I could clearly see that he had grown and I loved how protective he was of his mother and how he stood up to his dad.

“Anyway, given the last two things I did tonight were get punched by his daughter and have sex with my brother’s girlfriend, I’m pretty sure I still qualify as a douchebag.”

I loved Harper and knew she was my kind of girl when she punched Travis right in the face. I loved it and knew Harper was going to be a favorite character of mine. She is so misunderstood and has a false reputation, courtesy of Travis when they were kids. The fact that she even gave him a chance was amazing to me. She is so obviously attracted to him but I love how cool she plays it and I loved the way she supported Travis and was there for him. She comforted him emotionally which was something he really needed. Even when Travis screwed up, like most men do, she put aside her anger to comfort and console him when he needed her the most.

“Harper’s smile is like standing in a patch of sunshine and feels like a reward.”

The pain and emotions that Travis were feeling as he coped with returning from war when so many of his friends didn’t was so incredibly depicted that I felt a hollowness in my chest and a lump in my throat a few times. When Travis left for Afghanistan, his mom was so emotionally destroyed that she is still picking up the pieces and I could feel her fear and sadness as if it was my own. The writing was that good. As he struggled to cope with his emotions and face the changes in himself and his perspective on life, I really felt for him. The connection he made with Harper was so real and he didn’t know how to feel about it. It definitely made him realize that he and Paige never had anything real  and he could fall for hard for Harper.

“I don’t know if my life will ever be completely normal again, but something like normal is a good start.”

Overall, I could not put Something Like Normal down and I was undeniably immersed in this story. The writing and the plot was so real and raw and really poured all of the emotions from the characters into my soul. It was definitely a story of coping with loss and finding normal again, if it even exits. Harper became Travis’ normal.

~IPOD Picks~
“Awake my soul” by Mumford & sons
“Little House” by Amanda Seyfried
“Keep Holding On” by Avril Lavigne

Saturday @ Starbucks: Book Immersion & Very Berry Coffee Cake

Saturday @ Starbucks is a weekly feature hosted by Starbucks & Books Obsession.


This week's topic is: 
Book Immersion & a Very Berry Coffee Cake

Starbucks of the Week: Very Berry Coffee Cake
Starbucks is the coffee capital and everyone knows about their drinks. They get me through the week. However, I have also discovered some amazing food at Starbucks too. The Very Berry Coffee cake is one of my favorite breakfeast items. It is sweet and tangy and reduced fat to top it off. It is the perfect compliment to a hot latte.

Book Topic of the Week: Book Immersion
I did a lot of reading this week. Somehow I just cranked out the books and it got me thinking about book immersion and how wrapped up I can get in a book and the after effect it has on me. I know I am not the only one who has this problem. I'm sure you have all felt the hangover from an emotionally intense book. I have always been a reader and loved reading since I was a child but since I became a blogger, I feel like I have immersed myself so much farther into the book world. As a woman now, I also read a lot of new adult and intense contemporary books which are easy to get emotionally involved in. I find myself feeling all kinds of emotions for these fictional characters and their lives as if they were happening to me. 


Since I read a lot of new adult novels, there are a lot of sexy, tattooed bad boys and I find myself being attracted to that more and more. I mean, I have always liked tattoos, I have a couple of my own, but I never really noticed them or gave them a second glance on guys. Now, when I see a guy with tattoos, I definitely find myself paying a lot more notice. Seriously, what have guys like Remington from REAL or Lucas from EASY done to me. I'm not gonna lie, I also look at men on motorcycles a little differently too. 


Seriously though, I know books aren't real life and the men in them aren't real but it sure is fun to pretend and I love getting so immersed that I can feel the emotions and fall for these men.

What about you? Do you find yourself caught up in the books you read and falling for the men in them?

Friday, July 26, 2013

ARC Review: Home to Whiskey Creek by Brenda Novak

Home to Whiskey Creek
Whiskey Creek #4
Author: Brenda Novak
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: July 30, 2013

~Synopsis~
Sometimes home is the refuge you need-and sometimes it isn't Adelaide Davies, who's been living in Sacramento, returns to Whiskey Creek, the place she once called home. She's there to take care of her aging grandmother and to help with Gran's restaurant, Just Like Mom's. But Adelaide isn't happy to be back. There are too many people here she'd rather avoid, people who were involved in that terrible June night fifteen years ago. 

Ever since the graduation party that changed her life, she's wanted to go to the police and make sure the boys responsible-men now-are punished. But she can't, not without revealing an even darker secret. So it's better to pretend.... 

Noah Rackham, popular, attractive, successful, is shocked when Adelaide won't have anything to do with him. He has no idea that his very presence reminds her of something she'd rather forget. He only knows that he's finally met a woman he could love.



~Prelude~
When I read the synopsis for this one on NetGalley, I was very intrigued and decided to request it. I didn’t realize it was the 4th book in a series. However, they are all companion novels so I realized it was ok that I haven’t read any of the other books. However, now that I have read Home to Whiskey Creek, I am definitely interested in reading the first 3 books.

~Review~
Home to Whiskey Creek was a deep and thoughtful contemporary romance. Addie is traumatized as a sophomore in high school and moves away as soon as she graduates high school. She doesn’t return to Whiskey Creek for 12 years and she is only back to take care of her ailing grandmother and then wants to get the hell out of there. She has worked so hard to recover from the past and the last thing she needs is to see the people who almost destroyed her life or relive that nightmare. Noah is a successful mountain bike racer and owns his own bike shop in Whiskey Creek, his home town. When he comes across Addie, he feels something that no other woman has made him feel but she has barriers that even he struggles to break. Addie may be the woman to settle Noah down and he may be the man she can finally give her whole heart too. However, revelations about that night 15 years ago could tear them apart forever.

I loved Addie and found her to be a very strong character. She was traumatized by an awful event at 16 but she didn’t let it take over her life and consume her. She got help and she found a way to heal and put herself back together. While she can never forget what happened, she has learned to forgive and move forward. I admire her for being strong enough to go back and face her fears head on. It would be hard to see them with families and living normal lives knowing what they did. I loved her resolve with Noah too because she has always been in love with him and now that he is showing interest in her, she needs to keep him at bay and she does a pretty good job of it.

“The boys of Whiskey Creek hadn’t broken her yet. She’d survived. Again.”

Noah was definitely a character I could get caught up in. He was handsome, charming, sweet and successful. He is thought of as a player by his friends but he has just never found the right woman to fall in love, that is, until Addie falls back into his life. In high school, he was a few years older than her and really popular so he didn’t pay much attention to her. However, he notices her now and he feels something with her that he thinks could be real. He desperately wants to get to know her but she has a tough exterior and he isn’t sure he can break down her barriers. His life was forever changed that same night 15 years ago but in a very different way and he has no idea about the connection Addie has to it. When he found out the truth about what happened and it came out to everyone in town, I fell in love with him for sticking by Addie’s side and supporting her.

“And, oddly enough, he wasn’t thinking about how he could slip out of the relationship without hurting her when it was over. He was letting himself go, too, in a way he’d never let go before, and that made this very different.”

One of the things I loved about this book was that Addie’s trauma wasn’t some big secret to be revealed at the end. It was known right up front and I liked that because the plot was all about Addie dealing with her emotions about being back and her feelings for Noah. There was still a little mystery because someone was watching Addie and taunting her and the author did a really good job of keeping the intrigue and mystery alive with that. I also loved having the dual POV with Addie and Noah. I love being able to get into the mind of both characters and know what they are thinking and feeling in each situation.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Home to Whiskey Creek and it has me very intrigued to check out the other 3 books to get some insight into some of the characters that make a small appearance in this book. The book had great character and plot development and I was super satisfied with the ending and felt that the author wrapped up Addie and Noah’s story very well.

~IPOD Picks~
“Starts with Goodbye” by Carrie Underwood
“All Your Life” by The Band Perry

*An e-ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher and NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.*

Photo Teasers: Unafraid by Melody Grace



Also, check out these other books by Melody Grace and pick up your copy today!