The Reading Geek

Camp Kiss
By: J.K. Rock
Released: March 26, 2013
Source: BEA
Read for Free: Spencer Hill Contemporary
(*Disclaimer: I work for Spencer Hill Press, but I did not work on this book in any way)


”The Camp Kiss That Started It All… Lauren Carlson, a fourteen-year-old expert on the cosmos, superheroes, and science fiction trivia has a crush on her longtime camp friend, Seth. Last summer she’d dreamed about upgrading their relationship to BF/GF status and this year she has a plan… if only her well-meaning cabin mates wouldn’t interfere before she’s ready. She hasn’t even adjusted to her new braces yet, let alone imagined kissing Seth with them. When a dare pushes her out of her comfort zone, will she and Seth rocket out of the friendzone at last? There’s only one way to find out….” (Summary from goodreads.com)

Camp Kiss is the prequel to Camp Boyfriend and I loved this novella! It gave the reader a great opportunity to get to know these characters before Camp Boyfriend comes out next month. Lauren is fourteen years old and spending her summer at camp. She has been crushing on Seth for years now and wants their friendship to become something more. However, a dare from her cabin mates might pressure her into making her move before she’s ready.

Lauren is an excellent character and I already can’t wait to read more of her story soon. She is your typical fourteen year old who finds herself in some awkward and embarrassing situations. I became a fan the moment she wore a Star Wars t-shirt, talked about X-Men, and talked about her love for astronomy. She reminded me a lot of myself as a teenager.

The plot itself was a fun and cute. Overall, I loved Camp Kiss and if anything it has just made me even more excited for Camp Boyfriend! I definitely recommend reading this novella!

April Showers

By: Karli Perrin

Released: June 14, 2013

Source: From Author
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*Note this is a New Adult book

“What happens when your head and your heart pull you in completely opposite directions? April Adams is about to find out the hard way. When April enrols at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends…new crush. Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus - with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds herself wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn’t what it seems?Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately and she finds solace in their friendship. But what happens when she finds more than she bargained for? April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she’s in control of her own destiny before it’s too late? Join April as she embarks on a life changing journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end” (Summary from goodreads.com)

April Showers was a fast paced New Adult story. The moment I started this book, I couldn’t put it down until the end.

April is just starting at Manchester University and quickly finds herself in a situation where she is caught between two guys. There is the gorgeous and mysterious Isaac, but he turns out to be more than she expected. Then there is Lukas who provides her with a comfortable friendship. I liked April because she makes mistakes and isn’t perfect. She gets herself in a complicated situation really quick and makes decisions that aren’t necessarily always the right ones. She is still growing up and learning.

The characters of Isaac and Lukas were also really interesting and I enjoyed getting to know them more as the story progressed. I thought it was great how Lukas and Isaac both share completely different types of relationships with April. They are both so different from what my first expectations were and I liked that both guys took me by surprise.

I liked that I was able to immediately jump into the story. It was a good mix of both drama and romance. The story was paced fairly quickly, so I did wish that there was some more development. However, I did like that the story never dragged. I liked that not every aspect of this book was predictable either. I predicted a few things would happen, but the end still took me by surprise. I’m really looking forward to the sequel now though and I can’t wait to see where Perrin will be taking this story next.

Overall April Showers was an enjoyable story and I recommend it to any fans of New Adult books.

One
By: Leigh Ann Kopans
Released: June 11, 2013
Source: From Author
Purchase the Book: Amazon

”When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak. It makes you a One. Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover. If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances. Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other. Merrin’s mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub’s internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it’s more important to fly solo, or to save everything - and everyone - she loves” (Summary from goodreads.com)

From the moment that I read the synopsis for One, I was excited for this book. I love anything related to superheroes and sci-fi. As soon as I read chapter one of this book, I just loved the whole concept!

Merrin is a One because she only has one power. To be a Super she would need two powers and if she had no powers, she would be considered Normal. Instead Merrin is stuck in the middle as a One. She doesn’t exactly fit in with the Supers or the Normals. However, everything changes when she meets Elias. Merrin was a great character who I thought was developed well. I just immediately liked her. I liked that she didn’t give up on trying to get her second power.

Then there was Elias who I really liked getting to know. He is a One as well, but when he touches Merrin, their powers are combined. There is definitely chemistry there between Merrin and Elias too.

I loved the whole concept because it was different. It was my favorite aspect of this book and it’s always refreshing to read a different type of story. I loved learning about the Ones, the Supers, and the Normals. I liked that Kopans immediately began explaining it in the beginning. I loved reading about the different types of powers too. Even though Merrin can only hover, I still think that is a pretty awesome power.

The plot was really interesting. For the most part it was exciting and flowed really well. At some parts in the middle, though, it did drag a bit, so it did take me some time to read this book. However, I especially loved the last half of the book. It left me really hoping for a sequel now. Overall though I really enjoyed One and definitely recommend this book to fans of Sci-fi!

Faking It (Losing It #2)
By: Cora Carmack
Released: June 4, 2013
Source: BEA
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*Note this is a New Adult title

”Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade. Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel” (Summary from Goodreads.com)

I really enjoyed Losing It, but I absolutely loved Faking It! Once I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down.

Max’s parents make a surprise visit to town and she asks Cade to pretend to be her boyfriend. I think the characters were what I loved so much about Faking It. Max is hiding who she really is to please her parents. She covers up the tattoos, the piercings, her hair color, and the truth about her jobs to make her parents happy. However, Max isn’t happy always pretending and changing who she really is for them. Max was just a fantastic character that is strongly developed through the course of this book. I also found her to be a character I could really relate to from the beginning.

Then there is Cade, or as Max calls him, “Golden Boy.” Cade moved to Philadelphia and is trying to escape too. He still has feelings for a girl who is in love with another man. I just loved Cade because he was so sweet, but he wasn’t perfect. Cade may not be the typical guy that Max would go for, but the chemistry was definitely there between them.

The plot was a good mix of drama and romance. I loved that this story alternated between Max and Cade’s point of views. It just flowed really well from chapter to chapter. I also just loved how this story progressed and developed at a good pace.

Carmack’s writing is gorgeous. I found myself writing down so many quotes from this book while reading. I definitely plan on rereading Faking It again soon. I also can’t wait for the next book in this series. Overall, I loved Faking It and recommend it to any fans of New Adult books.

Obsession
By: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Released: May 31, 2013
Source: Won E-ARC
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*Note this is an Adult book

”He’s arrogant, domineering, and… To. Die. For. Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy. Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something… unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret. Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life…or is it Hunter?” (Summary from goodreads.com)

I loved Obsession! I stayed up so late to read this book, but the lack of sleep the next day was worth it.

Serena doesn’t believe her best friend when she tries to tell her that the senator’s son isn’t human. That all changes though when she sees her best friend murdered. Serena’s life quickly gets put in danger because of what she knows. Serena was a great character. She is thrown into an insane situation that she could have never imagined. She’s strong though and I admire how she wants to do the right thing. She stands up for what she believes is right. Serena also doesn’t like to be bossed around and told what to do.

Then there is Hunter, who is an Arum and sent to protect Serena. Now after reading the Obsidian series, if you ever told me I would love an Arum, I would never believe it. That was before I read all about Hunter though. He is arrogant and bossy, but I couldn’t help but love him. He was just a great and developed character.

I loved this plot and how the story developed! It started off instantly in the first chapter and held my attention until the very last page. There is a lot of action and a hot romance. The action scenes were so exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. Then there was the undeniable chemistry between Serena and Hunter.

I just loved getting to read this world Armentrout has created in an entirely different point of view. First it’s an adult novel, so it’s got much more mature content. However, it also completely takes what the Obsidian series explained about the Luxen and Arum to a whole new level. It was great to learn more about the Arum and how they view the Luxen. However, what’s also great though is that you don’t need to read the Obsidian series before picking this one up because everything is explained so well.

I loved that this story was told in Serena and Hunter’s point of views too. I just loved getting both of their views on the situations that were occurring. Armentrout really does it again with another fantastic book that I already can’t wait to read again.

Overall, Obsession was an exciting story that gave the reader a whole different perspective on the Arum and Luxen. I strongly recommend picking up Obsession to mature readers!

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)
By: Katie McGarry
Released: May 28, 2013
Source: Netgalley
Purchase the Book: Amazon

“If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does…. Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him. But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all….” (Summary from goodreads.com)

It’s no secret that Pushing the Limits was one of my favorite books of last year. Therefore, Dare You To has been one of my most anticipated books of this year and it was even better than my high expectations.

Beth will do anything for her mom and hides the truth about what her home life is really like. However, she soon finds herself being forced into a new town with her uncle. She doesn’t exactly fit in her new town and she isn’t giving up on trying to help her mom. Beth was an excellent and developed protagonist. She was one of my favorite characters in Pushing the Limits so I was excited to read a whole book with her perspective. She broke my heart as I learned about her past, but I also admire her for surviving so much. She would do anything for her mother and even though it isn’t in her own best personal interest, I understand why she would do it anyway. I loved her personality from the first moment she appeared on the pages. She is tough to put it lightly, but there is also a vulnerability to her.

Then there is Ryan, the baseball player with his own issues at home. He asks out Beth on a dare, but it eventually turns into much more than a dare. Ryan was a great and developed protagonist too. There is so much expected of him, but he isn’t perfect. He’s beginning to really question what he actually wants for his future. I was also so excited to see some more of Isaiah, Noah, and Echo again. There were some great new characters introduced in this book as well though.

The plot flowed so well from the beginning to end. I read this book in one day because I just couldn’t put it down. There was a great blend of romance and drama. I admit I cried a bit while reading this one too. I especially enjoyed how the whole story of Beth’s past was slowly revealed throughout the book.

The alternate point of views worked great. I loved getting both Beth and Ryan’s perspectives. I think without getting Ryan’s perspective I probably wouldn’t have loved his character as much as I did. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Overall, I strongly recommend Dare You To, it’s an emotional and beautiful story. I also strongly recommend Pushing the Limits if you have not read it yet. If you are going to read one contemporary series this year, this series is definitely it!

Imaginable (Intangible #2)
By: J. Meyers
Released: April 16, 2013
Source: E-book from Author
Purchase the Book: Amazon

”Twins Sera and Luke Raine’s unusual abilities are growing. Sera is healing vampires now, making them human again. And, at times, Luke can actually change the future he Sees. But Sera’s healing has dangerous consequences, and though Luke is altering the outcome of more visions, he can’t control them yet. Now Sera is in danger as the dark creatures of the Realm seek to use her. As Luke struggles to master his gift in order to save his sister, he discovers even more about his powers. And what he learns just may put him in greater danger than Sera has ever been” (Summary from goodreads.com)

Imaginable is a great sequel to Intangible. I think I even enjoyed this one more than I enjoyed Intangible. It was a quick read and I finished this book in one sitting.

Sera went from having the ability to heal with a touch and now she can turn vampires into humans again. Her twin Luke went from having the ability to see the future to now being able to change that future. However, Sera and Luke can’t completely control their new abilities yet and Sera’s healing has consequences for the vampires. I really love how these characters are continuing to develop. Not only are their abilities developing, but they are developing themselves too. I especially love the relationship between Sera and Luke. I’m a big fan of books with a good sibling relationship and it’s one of the reasons why I liked the first book so much.

I was really excited to see the return of some characters from the first book also. I was especially happy to see Fey again because I really wanted to read more about Fey after the first book. She has become a bit of a favorite character of mine.

Chapter one immediately hooked me in and I enjoyed getting back into this world with these characters. The plot develops really well and I love where Meyers took this story next. Another reason why I really like this series so much is because of the world that Meyers created.

Overall Imaginable was an exciting and well developed sequel. The writing itself especially flowed much more smoothly in this book. This series just keeps getting better and better. I definitely recommend it to any fans of paranormal books.

True
By: Erin McCarthy
Released: May 7, 2013
Source: Netgalley
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*Note this is a New Adult book

”When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory. Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…” (Summary from goodreads.com)

True was a captivating and quick read for me. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put this book down because I instantly became so invested in the characters.

Rory was an interesting protagonist. Her friends set her up with Tyler for a one night stand. However, Tyler and Rory have trouble resisting each other. I wasn’t always crazy about the choices that Rory makes. However, I liked that Rory fought for what she wanted at times. She surprised me a bit because she went after what she wanted. I didn’t like her roommates all that much and I still think it was really low of them to pay a guy to sleep with their friend.

Tyler doesn’t think he is good enough for Rory because of his past and his family though. I really liked Tyler and I admired how he cared for his family. I also thought the relationship between Rory and Tyler developed well. The passion and chemistry was definitely there and these two characters were believable.

The plot moved along at a great pace. I enjoyed how it developed and there were a couple of twists that I didn’t expect the story to take. Some aspects were definitely predictable, but there were still moments that surprised me. I also loved the references to A Streetcar Named Desire because that’s one of my favorite plays. Overall I just really enjoyed True. It was a story filled with sweet, funny, sad, and heartbreaking moments.

Touching the Surface
By: Kimberly Sabatini
Released: October 30, 2012
Source: Author
Purchase the Book: Amazon

”When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right. Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed. As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever” (Summary from goodreads.com)

I always love when I find a book that is completely different from the other Young Adult books that I have been reading lately and Touching the Surface was just that kind of book. It was a beautifully written and refreshing story.

Elliot is dead for the third time and she has no idea how it happened. All she knows is that she did something bad and she is forced to face the memories before moving on. Elliot was a strongly developed character. She’s just simply realistic. She’s made some huge mistakes and she has to face them now if she wants to move forward. It was really interesting to learn about her previous lives too. There were also several other fantastic characters in this book, but I especially liked Oliver and Trevor as well.

I was able to jump right into this story from the first page. The plot was developed strongly. I loved how Sabatini told the story and how Elliot delves into her memories throughout the book. There is a bit of a mystery at first regarding how she died again and it continues to develop on from there as she delves into more of the memories. The story just really flowed well and it wasn’t always predictable. I found myself actually wanting to take my time reading this book slowly rather than just reading it in one sitting. It could also be a heavy read at some moments too though.

I loved the setting of Obmil and Sabatini’s version of life after death was so interesting. It was all presented just really clearly to the reader. Sabatini truly makes an excellent debut and I will definitely be reading what she writes next. Overall, I just really enjoyed Touching the Surface and meeting these characters. This will be a story that will stick with me.. I strongly recommend Touching the Surface to anyone looking for a Young Adult novel that is different.

Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2)
By: Wendy Higgins
Released: April 30, 2013
Source: Purchased
Purchase the Book: Amazon

”Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind. When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?” (Summary from goodreads.com)

Sweet Evil is one of my favorite books, so I’ve been highly anticipating the release of Sweet Peril for the past year and it was definitely even better than I expected. I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. I just needed to know what would happen next to these characters that I have grown so attached to with the first book.

Anna has changed a lot since the previous book. If she wants to live, she has to do what the demons and Dukes want. However, she is also beginning to travel and gather the support of other Nephilim around the world after receiving a message. Anna has developed so much since the last book and she continues to do so in this book. She is just a great protagonist and she is believable. She is far from being perfect and she does what she must do in order to survive.

Then there is Kaiden. If I have one complaint about this book, it would be that there wasn’t enough Kaiden. I just absolutely adore him though so that may just be me wishing that I could have a whole book with just Kaiden. He really develops a lot more in this book too though and I started to see more of a different side to him. I was also happy to see the return of characters like Blake, Kopano, Marna, and Ginger.

The plot was great and I loved that it spanned over a year. I just love the direction that Wiggins took this story next because it’s interesting and not what I was expecting. I especially loved going to new places and traveling with Anna. It was great to go to new settings and meet new characters.

One of my favorite aspects of this series is the mythology of the demons and Nephilim. It’s interesting and explained really well, so I really enjoyed learning even more. Higgins created such a fascinating world with Sweet Evil and she really expands it more with this book. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series! While I wait though I will definitely be rereading this series again and again. I strongly recommend Sweet Peril, it’s a fantastic sequel that will not disappoint!

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True
By: Sarah Strohmeyer
Released: April 23, 2013
Source: Edelweiss
Purchase the Book: Amazon

”When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they’ve hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want? Once Zoe arrives, however, she’s assigned to serve “The Queen”-Fairyland’s boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money. Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe’s job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?” (Summary from goodreads.com)

I really enjoyed How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True. This book was a fun and hilarious read. I read this in one day because it was difficult to put it down.

Zoe and Jess are working in a theme park for the summer with the chance to win a grant. Zoe is assigned to be the assistant to the boss of the theme park though. Zoe gets assigned insane tasks by her boss though and her internship is nothing like she expected. Zoe was a fantastic and realistic protagonist. She puts up with the crazy tasks that “The Queen” gives her. I especially loved the relationship she had with her cousin Jess. She would do anything for her cousin. There were also plenty of other great and fun characters that I loved getting to know.

The plot was great and had a good twist that I wasn’t entirely expecting. There was a good mix of drama, humor, and a bit of romance. I became a fan of Strohmeyer after reading Smart Girls Get What They Want last year and this book just made me a bigger fan. I just love her writing style, it flows great.

I especially just loved the humor of this book. The setting in the theme park and the character of “the Queen” was great. I loved all the rules and how they censored “the mouse” out of everything for “the Queen.” It’s what I imagine working in a theme park would be like. I can’t wait to read what Strohmeyer writes next. Overall, I recommend How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True, it’s a fun and quick read.

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While It Lasts (Sea Breeze #3)
By: Abbi Glines
Released: July 31, 2012
Source: Audiobook from Publisher
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*Note this book is New Adult

”Maybe driving home after a few (or more) shots of tequila had been a bad idea, but hell, he did it all the time. The cops had to have been freaking bored to have pulled him over. He wasn’t even swerving! That’s Cage York’s story and he’s sticking to it. Unfortunately, his baseball coach isn’t buying it. Cage has a free ride to the local junior college for baseball — or he did, until he’d gotten a DUI. Now, Cage has to decide: does he drop out and give up his dream of getting noticed by a college in the SEC, and possibly making it into the Major Leagues — or does he give in to his coach’s demands and spend his summer baling hay? Eva Brooks planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbor, had been the center of those goals. He’d been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen, and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she’d received the phone call from Josh’s mother saying he’d been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva’s carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible. Cage isn’t real happy with his closet-sized bedroom in the back of a foul smelling barn, or his daily interactions with cows, but he knows that if he doesn’t make his coach happy then he can kiss his scholarship goodbye. Only a sick and twisted man would decide his punishment was to be working on a farm all summer. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows. Oh — and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he’s every seen. But she doesn’t count, because as hard as he’s tried to charm her out of her panties - he’s pretty sure she’d rather see him hung from the rafters than let him get a taste of her pretty little lips.” (Summary from goodreads.com)

I really enjoy this series a lot and I like every new book more and more. Each book follows a different character but these characters are all connected with each other in some way.

Eva has just recently lost her fiance. She has been best friends with Josh since they were little kids and she grew up to fall in love with him. They had their entire lives planned out around being with each other. Although the book begins with Josh’s death, it is still made clear just how much Josh and Eva loved each other. Eva was a great character. She has lost her first love and is trying to move on with a life without him. She is clinging on to a friendship with Josh’s twin brother, Jeremy, because of his connection with Josh. Eva is developed strongly throughout the course of the story.

Then there is Cage who is sent to work on a farm after getting a DUI. Cage is a bad boy who doesn’t want to ever commit to one girl. I admit I wasn’t a fan of Cash for half of the book. I did like that Low was included still in this book and the friendship between Cage and Low is still there. Cage definitely develops really well too though. Also the chemistry between Eva and Cage is clearly evident.

I liked that the chapters alternated between Eva and Cage because it really helped move the story along. The plot was really captivating and hooked me in immediately. It was predictable but that didn’t make me enjoy the story much less. Just the beginning brought me to tears though and I had barely even known these characters yet. My heart broke for Eva as she tries to move on. There are definitely some sad moments, but also some really sweet ones too. It’s a realistic story.

The audio for this book was good and I think the Southern accents just brought me into the setting even more. Overall I really enjoyed While It Lasts and so far this has become my favorite book in the series.

Game. Set. Match.
By: Jennifer Iacopelli
Released: May 1, 2013
Source: E-book from Author
Purchase the Book: Amazon B&N

”Nestled along the North Carolina coast, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the world’s most elite training facility. In this pressure-cooker environment, futures are forged in blood and sweat, and dreams are shattered in an instant. Penny Harrison, a rising female star, is determined to win the French Open and beat her archrival, Zina Lutrova. But when her coach imports British bad boy Alex Russell as her new training partner, will Penny be able to keep her laser-like focus? Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. The daughter of two Grand Slam champions, she’s hell-bent on extending her family’s legacy and writing her own happily-ever-after…until her chosen Prince Charming gives her the just-friends speech right before the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic. With a powerful serve and killer forehand, newcomer Indiana Gaffney is turning heads. She’s thrilled by all of the attention, especially from Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and hot older brother, except he keeps backing off every time things start heating up. With so much at stake, dreams—and hearts—are bound to break. Welcome to OBX: Where LOVE is a four-letter word, on and off the court” (Summary from goodreads.com)

I really enjoyed Game. Set. Match. and finished this in one sitting. I love tennis so I’ve been looking forward to this one ever since I first read the synopsis.

The story follows three tennis players, Penny, Jasmine, and Indy. Penny is one of the top rising tennis players and is focused on winning. Then Alex comes into the picture as her new training partner. It’s immediately clear how dedicated she is to the game and how hard she works to be at her best. Penny became my favorite because I really related to her. She is so focused on her goal that she sometimes forgets to have fun. Then there is Jasmine who I wasn’t a big fan of. She has a lot of pressure on her because her parents were once athletic stars. I do like how she develops though. All three girls really develop through the story, but I thought Jasmine was the character that developed and learned the most. Lastly there is Indy. Indy is the new girl who is receiving a lot of attention early. I liked Indy a lot because she honestly works hard too. She has been through a lot to get to where she is and she works hard. I also liked that she stands up for herself and doesn’t hold back. While at the training academy, Indy meets Jack. Jack is Penny’s older brother and agent and he quickly became another one of my favorite characters.

There are a lot of characters in this book and they are introduced early. It got a bit confusing at first to keep each of the girls straight so I made little notes for myself. After a couple of chapters though the characters became much more distinct and it was easier to differentiate between them. I loved how the story was alternated between these three girls and how their lives intertwined. I especially enjoyed the friendship that developed between Penny and Indy.

The plot was really captivating and developed at a great pace. There was good mix of drama and some romance too. It never really got too predictable either. The setting at the academy was great and as I said earlier, I’m a big tennis fan so I really enjoyed reading about the matches. This book also made me want to go out and play a tennis match when I finished reading.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Game. Set. Match. and can’t wait to read where Iacopelli takes these characters next. I definitely recommend checking this one out.