Archive for March 2015

Mini-Review: Mayhem

Friday, March 27, 2015 0 Comments A + a -

Okay. Here's what I really loved about this book: It has a huge possibility of happening.
There weren't emotional scars from Rowan's or Adam's past that was holding them back. The whole book happens in the present and sometimes that's all there is in our lives. We don't all have back stories; sometimes life is fine and dandy and it's during college where everything/ exciting things happen. (Though I will admit, dating a rock star is a stretch, but in some universe it's a possibility).

Mini-Review: Torrent

Wednesday, March 18, 2015 2 Comments A + a -


"Whoa. Holy mother of pearl. Super fudging nuggets. WAIT WHAT?! Holy shucks.WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE ME?!" along with a lot of explicit language pretty much cover all of my reactions while reading Torrent.

Leaving Amarillo

Friday, March 13, 2015 2 Comments A + a -

Author: Caisey Quinn

 Publish Date: March 17th 2014

 Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

 Synopsis: Dixie Lark hasn’t had it easy. She lost her parents in an accident when she was young and grew up in a ramshackle house on a dirt road in Amarillo with her ailing grandparents and overprotective older brother. Thanks to her grandfather, Dixie learned to play a mean fiddle, inspired by the sounds of the greats—Johnny and June, Waylon, and Hank. Her grandfather’s fiddle changed Dixie’s life forever, giving her an outlet for the turmoil of her broken heart and inspiring a daring dream.

Ten years later, Dixie and her brother, Dallas, are creating the music they love and chasing fame with their hot band, Leaving Amarillo. But Dixie isn’t enjoying the ride. All she can think about is Gavin, the band’s tattooed, tortured drummer who she’s loved since they were kids. She knows he feels the connection between them, but he refuses see her as more than his best friend’s little sister.

Convinced that one night with Gavin will get him out of her system, Dixie devises a plan. She doesn’t know that her brother has forbidden Gavin from making a move on her-a promise he swore he’d always keep . . . a promise that once broken will unexpectedly change the future for Dixie, Gavin and the band.
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Trust the Focus

Thursday, March 12, 2015 1 Comments A + a -

Author: Megan Erickson

 Publish Date: March 17th 2014

 Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

 Synopsis: With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.
 
As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.
 
But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.
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Review: Woah. I am speechless. I really don't know what to say, review-wise. I know I greatly enjoyed this book & I do have a lot of thoughts running around in my head about TTF but I can't seem to calm down those thoughts and type them out.

 I guess that I can start with: I really did feel for Justin. I have nothing in common with him and yet I knew exactly how he felt. I understood his struggles, his thoughts, his anger, his hurt, and his being (if that somehow makes sense to y'all).

 It's hard to keep to yourself, to have this big secret (whether it be like Justin's secret or something different) and no one to share it with; it's even harder to find that right person to trust completely and tell everything to. For some it takes years to find that person or group, if you asked me, Justin got lucky, he was able to find his confidant at a very young age. That's not saying that there were no struggles. There will forever be struggles, and Trust the Focus depicts, so perfectly, how hard it is to actually put yourself on the line and tell someone what you are or who you are. Yeah, that someone may be your family, your best friend for years or maybe months, or even "The One", but it doesn't lessen the stress, the anxiosness, the anxiety of actually revealing your soul to someone. Trust the Focus showed the struggles and the relief when finally confiding in someone that you love and care deeply about.

 Again I state that I don't know what else to say about this book. It was good. So good. Amazing. Awesomesauce. Seriously say any positive adjective and this book is that. I am blown away by the writing, the story, the characters, absolutely everything. I wasn't expecting this much of an impact when I was about to start, but I knew, not even half way through the first chapter, that this book was going to be a journey.

 If you don't think this book is for you, I strongly suggest that you give it a chance, because I thought the exact same thing and yet here I am.
Can I give all my love to Megan?
-Vangie
John 14:1
P.S. I don't know why but I think Afraid by the Neighbourhood is the perfect song for this whole book.

Vangie and Maf React To: The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan

Tuesday, March 10, 2015 1 Comments A + a -

What is this you may be asking? Well, honestly we don't know. ("We" being Maf from Maf's Crazy Book Life and Vangie from Painful Reads). All we know is that we love books and talking about them, and wanted to share our love for books with y'all in a fun way. So think of this as a twitter version of a review. So yea, LOTS OF GIFS

How often are we going to do this and what books will we do? We have no idea to both of those questions, but if you have suggestions comment below! 

And now, the fun begins...

Mini-Review: All About Us

Monday, March 09, 2015 0 Comments A + a -

Author: Ashley Erin

 Publish Date: March 10th 2014

 Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

 Synopsis: Emma is broken inside. After tragedy strikes she returns to her childhood home in hopes to heal her heart. Reconnecting with old family friends, Emma is unprepared for the way her long lost friend, Dane, makes her feel. Emma fights the attraction, but Dane is a man impossible to resist. What she doesn’t expect is for Dane to pursue her with a determination that makes her resolve waver. His ability to calm the storm that rages inside her and the way he makes her pulse race is a dangerous combination. She is risking everything. Can Emma set aside her fears and give Dane a chance? Her walls will break, her heart will be tested and she will never be the same.

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 Review: All About Us was an enjoyable read. I wouldn't say it was the best book, but it's a good book to pass the time. The writing takes a while to get used to, but once the hang of it comes it's interesting.

One thing that was frustrating me to no end about Dane and Emma's relationship was that they didn't talk. Yeah they talked about the past and their problems in that past, but they didn't talk about themselves as a relationship. They know they were perfect for each other yet they let the simplest problems get to them.

Over all Emma and Dane's relationship was interesting to explore. Emma's main goal is to cope and Dane's main goal is to help her. As they grow closer together they realize how much they need each other.

All About Us was an enjoyable read. Like horses? Grab this. Like romance? Grab this. Romance and horses are a good mix.

With more books to be read
-Vangie 

HEYO GUYS!

Sunday, March 08, 2015 0 Comments A + a -

If y'all didn't know, spring break of last year was when I started this lovely little book blog. Because of it, I've met wonderful people, created great (more like "the best") friendships, talked to numerous people about books, as well as been introduced to so many great authors and their books. It has been the greatest year, and I'm so excited for this next year with Painful Reads and all of y'all.

I've decide that for my 1 year blogiversary I will be doing FLASH GIVEAWAYS on my FB Page ALL WEEK. Yes. I said all week! So make sure y'all pay attention to that page!

Besides the flash giveaways, this week will probably be the biggest week of reviews for y'all. I have dubbed this week "Spring Cleaning: ARC Book Edition."
Since it's only a week, my goal it to read at least 3-4 ARCs that I have either on my physical shelf or kindle & I'll either be posting a mini-review or full reviewing, depending on how awesome the book is. (Some of these ARCs are already released and some are not).

I think I covered everything guys. So pay attention to both here AND the FB page!

Thanks for following me for the past year!
-Vangie
Jeremiah 29:11

The Deal

Thursday, March 05, 2015 0 Comments A + a -

Author: Elle Kennedy

 Publish Date: February 24th 2014

 Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

 Synopsis:
She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy... 

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date. 

...and it’s going to be oh so good. 

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.
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Review: My friend Ashley told me about this book about a week before its release pretty much saying that I had to read it. Guys, I never turn down her recommendations. So on Wednesday morning (more like 1 AM), when I had just finished writing a review for another book & not feeling sleepy, I bought this beauty.

Of course I read the synopsis before actually buying the book to see if I'd be interested. Guys I was already flailing FROM THE SYNOPSIS. Two things: 1) Fake Relationship tropes are my ABSOLUTE favorite (I don't know exactly why but they are) & 2) I have fallen in love with sports romance that involve hockey (honestly I'm good for all/any sports romance but hockey has a special place in my heart). GUYS I HAD TO BUY IT. THERE WAS NO CHOICE.

Let me just come out and say that this book rocked my socks off. I LOST SLEEP OVER IT. I stayed up til five in the morning, on a school night mind you, because 1) I wanted to know how this would all play out and 2) I couldn't get enough of the heroine, Hannah.

Hannah is probably my favorite character of the year so far. As soon as I read the first line, I said "Preach!" Everything Hannah thought I agreed with because THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS TO THE T. Hannah has a bright head on her shoulders, she's blunt, she takes no shit and she's feisty as hell. Honestly, how can you not love her within the first chapter? But my absolute favorite characteristic about Hannah is that she doesn't let what happen in the past affect her three years later. She's learned to cope with what when on and for the most part move on.

 Now Garrett is his own amazing intricate character. He's the character that you think has no problems and is care free, but once we take a closer look it's obvious how nothing is as it seems. As Hannah starts getting more involved with his life we see how flawed he is and how flawed she is. But that's not to mean that "flawed" is a bad this, everyone is flawed.

 One aspect of Hannah and Garrett's relationship is that it is so unconventional. People believe Garrett to be more about the hook up than the actual relationship, he just needed to find that one person that he can trust with his life to open up. Hannah herself had list of what she wanted in a guy (who didn't at one point in their lives?). Upon becoming actual friends with Garrett than having something a little more, she realized that no one is ever going to match her list and that as she gets closer to Garrett a new list forms of what she wants; she never would have thought of anything to add to that new list if it wasn't for meeting someone else. We think we know what we want in our lives but in the end, we really don't.

 The Deal was seriously amazing. I thought I knew what to expect when I bought this book, but I didn't. It isn't your typical fake relationship or even a typical relationship (I would know, I've read many). Quite honestly, The Deal was a breath of fresh air.
And after two weeks from finishing this book, I'm still gushing about these loveable characters (all the daily). They never cease to make me smile.
I really need the next book in this series in my hands!
-Vangie
Proverbs 21:2
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