Mailbox Monday {1} / In My Mailbox {129}

Books via Amazon

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
A Fool's Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery

Books via NetGalley

The Dominant by Tara Sue Me
The Hero by Robyn Carr
Home to Whiskey Creek by Brenda Novak
Hotshot by Julie Garwood
Love Overdue by Pamela Morsi
The Silver Chain by Primula Bond
The Submissive by Tara Sue Me
Turn and Burn by Lorelei James
Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Books via Paperback Swap

Dark Predator by Christine Feehan
Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Books via Publisher

Finding Colin Firth by Mia March

Review: This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Publish Date: April 2, 2013
Kindle {p. 416}
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Ellie O'Neill, Graham Larkin

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

I was immediately drawn into this story. Graham was a hit for me throughout. I felt bad for him, even though he was a big-time movie star, he seemed to lead a very solitary life.

At first I was a bit confused as to why they continued to emailing each other. Only because I found myself wondering what teenagers still use email as a form of communication when things like text and IM exist. Sure, adults emailing is believable but teenagers, not likely. But once I set that aside, I truly enjoyed their email exchange.

At times I would get annoyed with Ellie and her behavior, but then at others I felt bad for her as well. The secret that her mother was making her keep was entirely wrong on her mother's part. That is such a heavy burden to lay on a child at an early age.

I did feel that the ending was a letdown. It provided no closure and was rather abrupt. I would have liked to see some of the loose ends tied up, not only with Ellie and Graham's relationship, but the relationship of Ellie and her dad. But other than that, it was a great, light read.

Waiting on Wednesday {99}: Wild Cards @SimoneElkeles

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. It is showcases upcoming releases of books that I'm looking forward to. It is somewhat similar to one of my previous posts, Anxiously Awaiting. {Button courtesy of Bewitched Bookworms}

Wild Cards
Simone Elkeles
October 1, 2013

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Review: Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller

Publish Date: May 28, 2013
Mass Market Paperback {p. 313}
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Parable, Montana #4
Source: Publisher
Casey Elder, Walker Parrish

With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences!

Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?

I went into this book wondering who Casey's children's father was and why she was hiding it. My immediate thought was some abusive criminal, because why else would she deny them their father. When it was revealed who the father was, I was like why hide it. It was like a bad episode of Murray. With that, my fondness and little respect for Casey declined. No matter how she tried to spin it, I couldn't agree with her or her decision to keep it hidden.

Walker was a nice guy, although a bit more reserved than I'm used to from Miller. I would have never expected a man like Walker to go along with Casey's foolish plan. Although I liked Walker, he doesn't rank up there with Miller's other cowboys. He and Boone have fallen short on the swoon-worthy scale.

In My Mailbox {128}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Amazon



Baby It's Cold Outside by Addison Fox

Come Fly With Me by Addison Fox

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Once Tempted by Laura Moore

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

 

Books via Barnes & Noble

Born to Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann

 

Books via Publisher

All Out of Love by Lori Wilde

Anything But Sweet by Candis Terry

The Newcomer by Robyn Carr

 

 

Review: Resisting Her by Kendall Ryan

Publish Date: April 15, 2013
Kindle {p. 292}
Genre: New Adult
Source: Personal Library
Savannah, Cole Fletcher

Agent Cole Fletcher lives for his job at the FBI, and he’s more than ready for his next assignment—raiding a cult compound and putting their leader behind bars. But he isn’t prepared for Savannah and her knock you on your ass good looks. At nineteen, she’s too old for foster care and too damaged to live on her own. With nowhere else to go, and against his better judgment Cole takes her in.

But helping her out won’t be easy. He comforts her through screaming nightmares and escaping the lingering fears of her past, but that’s the easy part. Her preference to sleep cuddled up next to his warm body, and her desire to please him in every way makes her harder and harder to resist.

Cole seems to have an instant attraction to Savannah when he first rescues her from a cult. He feels she's to young for him so he does everything he can to stay away from her on a level other than friendship. They chemistry between them wouldn't allow for just friendship.

Savannah, growing up in a cult, was somewhat sheltered and naïve about some things, so a lot of her first experiences were with Cole. He tried to do right by her in a sense of not wanting to get involved with her because of their FBI rescuer relationship. But eventually he gave up the fight of resisting her and fell in love with her.

These two had some very hot love scenes, but beyond that, the author really developed these two as people beyond the bedroom. Cole had baggage to deal with and Savannah had a past that came looking for her. Even the secondary characters were well developed and left me wanting to get to know more about them; Cole's sister and his best friend, to name a few.

In My Mailbox {127}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Amazon

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Books via Paperback Swap

An Agreement Among Gentlemen by Chris Owen
Dare Me by Leigh Ellwood
The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Books via Publisher

I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag by Jennifer Gilbert
Marilyn's Red Diary by E. Z. Friedel
Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning