Review: Preservation by Rachael Wade

Preservation by Rachael Wade

Book One of the Preservation series

Publisher: Rabbit Hole Press

Publication Date: May 25, 2012

Rating: 3 stars

Source: Bought on Amazon

(I actually read this book back in June 2012. But, I figured since I just read Love and Relativity, why not write two separate reviews for the books). 

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Fear is sabotage’s sweetest weapon.

Kate has no time for meaningless romantic charades, and definitely no time for hot college professors who are full of themselves and smitten with her. Constantly battling eviction notices, tuition she can’t afford, and a sick, dependent mother, the last thing she needs is to be distracted with someone else’s complicated baggage.

When she stumbles into Ryan Campbell’s creative writing class, he is only “Mr. Campbell” to her, until Ryan finds himself captivated by her writing and she is forced to face their mutual attraction. His cocky know-it-all syndrome is enough to send her running in the other direction, and his posse of female admirers and playboy reputation are enough to squander any odds in her favor.

But underneath Ryan’s abrasive facade is something to behold, and she can’t stay away for long. Ryan and Kate must decide who they’re willing to become and fight against their former selves if they want to make things work. That’s if academia, vicious vixens, old skeletons, and their own mastery at self-destruction don’t pummel their efforts first.

What I Liked:

The romance in this book was definitely both my favorite and most bothersome part of this book. Kate and Ryan are an amazing couple - when they get along. I really like Ryan, and I totally feel for him throughout the book. HIM, not KATE. He didn't seem like the irritating character of the story, and even though the story was told from Kate's point of view, I was on his side, not Kate's.

Nevertheless, I really liked the progression of the relationship between Kate and Ryan. They are so on-and-off, but it helps build the relationship. Right up until the end, they avoid each other at times, and get together at other times. It would always be KATE, jealous of Ryan's past, or trying to exert MORE independence/control over Ryan. I'll get to that in the next section.

Basically, the romance was great. The chemistry was DEFINITELY steamy. Ryan is the good guy. There is a small, insignificant love triangle, but it's mainly Kate and Ryan, with someone who loves Kate, but we as readers know that isn't going anywhere romantically. 

What I Did Not Like:

UGH I DISLIKE KATE SO MUCH. Like, seriously. She is the entire reason why this book got knocked down two stars. Or, Ryan is the reason why this book got as many stars as it did. Whichever way you want to look at it, just know that I do NOT like Kate.

I can understand a woman wanting to be independent of her man, and do things on her own. I get that. But Kate... no. She wasn't trying to retain her independence. She was trying to control Ryan and then some. She was jealous of the women of his past, even though she knew all about them. She didn't ever trust Ryan, because of his past, and didn't believe him, or even listen to him at times. SHE IS SO STUPID. UGH. STOP TRYING TO CONTROL THE POOR MAN.

If she liked him so much, she would have made more of an effort to hold onto him, instead of constantly pushing him away. She would have accepted the help when she needed it (and boy did she need it). Sometimes, you need to say "bye-bye!" to your pride and "independence", and let someone help you out. Especially someone who loves you. Oh, Kate.

I totally read this book more than once. But I skipped over many, many parts, and went straight to the beginning, or to the parts where things were going great. Because honestly, the rest of it was Kate moaning and whining and trying to make decisions that she thought were right, but in reality, we could all see that she was just being stupid. Are people that shallow? That's sad.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes, to romance lovers, because the romance and chemistry really saves this book. Otherwise, you should probably pass. 

Rating:

3 stars. I will continue reading this series, and probably Ms. Wade's other books, but if the "independence" and trust issues turn up again, I might not be so open.

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Swoon Thursday (#7): Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi!

"He smiled and leaned down, kissing her softly, tenderly. She knew she should step away. This was a risk, but she didn't care about anything except him just then. She woved her arms around his neck and parted his lips with hers, stealing a taste of him. Tenderness could wait for another time."

- Page 98

Author Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

According to Goodreads, I've been "currently reading" this book since January 20th... UGH. That's a month ago, since I started! And I've read so many books in between then and now! I am determined to finish this book, but the problem is, I've reached page 180, and things are, well, not happy.

And I've been swamped with schoolwork. Between colleges, scholarships, projects, essays, and finishing class curriculums to start studying for my lovely eight AP exams, I have had barely any time for anything!

So, this isn't exactly a new swoon on my part, but currently, I'm not reading anything (unless you count this one, which I started ONCE, a month ago, and never picked up again).

So anyway! What made you swoon this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (#8): Pretty Dark Nothing by Heather L. Reid

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm featuring:

Pretty Dark Nothing by Heather Reid

Publisher: Month9Books

Publication Date: April 23, 2013

Summary (from Goodreads):

It’s been twenty three days since Quinn has slept for more than minutes at a time. Demons have invaded her dreams, stalking her, and whispering of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life. Energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. The demons are determined to keep them apart, and Aaron from discovering the secret locked away in his memory. Together, they could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.

Author Blog | Goodreads | Barnes and Noble

I have been DYING to read this book, ever since I saw the cover, oh so long ago! And then I read the synopsis, and died some more wanting this book. You seriously cannot miss this one - it sounds fantastic! And Heather is a really nice person :)

What book are you anxiously awaiting?

Blog Tour: Interview with Jasinda Wilder, author of Wounded (and Giveaway)

 

Hello everyone, and welcome to my stop of the Wounded blog tour! Today, I have two posts: my review for Wounded (HERE), and this interview. Stick around for the giveaway at the bottom of the interview! Thank you for stopping by!

 

 

 

The Interview:

 

Alyssa: Hi Jasinda! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!

Jasinda: The pleasure is mine, believe me! Thanks so much for having me.

Alyssa: Okay, first question. What was your inspiration for writing Wounded?

Jasinda: Wounded started as a short story, which eventually became the prologue. The rest of the novel fell into place after that short story. I heard someone on TV recite the Hail Mary and it sparked something in me, so I started writing. “The Prayer” was the result. A few months later I reread the short story and realized I just had to tell the girl’s story.

Alyssa: Do you know anyone who has braved the wars overseas to fight for the United States?

Jasinda: My brother is in the Marine Corps, and my grandfather was a WW2 veteran, and I’ve had a few friends who have served overseas in one capacity or another. I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone in the armed forces, and especially those who have braved combat.

Alyssa: What kind of research did you have to do for this novel? For example, to come up with names, the settings, etc.

Jasinda: Research for this was actually fairly minimal. There are websites that I use to help me come up with names, especially for characters like Rania and the other Iraqis in the novel. The setting flowed naturally out of the original short story, that of a journalist in Iraq during Desert Storm. I examined pictures and old news stories for images to draw the physical descriptions of the city where Rania lived. I chose a couple beta readers who had served in Iraq to make sure my descriptions hit the mark in terms of accuracy.

Alyssa: From an innocent girl, Rania becomes a prostitute. What was it like to write about such a heartbreaking and controversial issue?

Jasinda: Well, you used the word I would have chosen: heartbreaking. It’s a sad reality of life, and Rania’s awful choice is one that no person should ever have to make. I can only hope I did justice to those who have suffered as she did.

Alyssa: What do you think should be done about the prostitution issue today?

Jasinda: I’m not sure I can do justice to that question in the space available here. It’s a topic that can—and has—taken up entire books, doctoral and graduate theses. Prostitution is humanity’s oldest profession. There are records of prostitution in ancient Sumerian texts. As I said in the previous question, prostitution is a sad fact of life. My goal in Wounded was to try illuminate the fact that not every woman who participates in that profession wants to be there. That is the case here in America as well. Sometimes, life leads us to places where we are faced with desperate measures simply to survive. You—we as people, as a society—need to be able to see past profession, mistakes, appearance, economic status, and race; we need to the person behind those things into the soul of the individual.

Alyssa: It is hard for most of us to think about, but Rania did what she had to do. Do you think, under those circumstances, that you could or would have done what Rania did?

Jasinda: We all have made choices we may not have wanted to make. I’d like to think I would do what I had to in order to survive. I’ve been through some pretty trying times in my own life, some of which have found a place in my stories. Life is meant to be lived, to be enjoyed; sometimes, however, we have to struggle through hell to get to a place where life is more than mere survival.

Alyssa: I loved the ending to Wounded. Do you think everyone – no matter how society looks at them – should get their own happy ending?

Jasinda: Absolutely! I thoroughly believe in Happily Ever After. Everyone should find their own version of happiness, contentment, and peace. My stories are my way of giving HEA to people. I hope people read my stories and find escape from their struggles, and more than that, find inspiration to reach for their dreams, to chase after their own HEA.

Alyssa: Do you think you’d ever want to visit Iraq?

Jasinda: Iraq is the cradle of civilization, so in one sense, yes, I do. I would love to see cities that have stood since before mankind was recording history.

Alyssa: Will this story stand alone, or will we see more from these or other characters?

Jasinda: I have plans for Derek to get his own story. I’m not quite ready to unveil much more than that at this point, so you’ll just have to stay tuned to my website for announcements—or better yet, sign up for my newsletter!

Alyssa: Well, that’s it! Thank you so much again, Jasinda! I hope this interview has been informative to all of your readers.

Jasinda: Thank you so much for having me, and I hope as well that my readers enjoyed getting to know me a bit more. Happy reading!

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The Giveaway (tour-wide)

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Blog Tour Review: Wounded by Jasinda Wilder (and Giveaway)

Wounded by Jasinda Wilder

Publication Date: December 16, 2012

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Ecopy provided by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

War has taken everything from me. My family. My home. My innocence. In a country blasted by war and wracked by economic hardship, a young orphan girl like me has very few options when it comes to survival. Thus, I do what I must to live, to eat, and I try very hard to not consider the cost to my soul. My heart is empty, and my existence brutal.

The one impossibility in my life is love.

And then I meet HIM.

War is hell. It takes a chunk out of a man's very soul to do the kinds of things war demands of you. You live with fear, you live with guilt, and you live with nightmares. If you haven't been through it, there's no understanding it. War leaves no room for love, no room for tenderness or softness. You gotta be hard, closed off, and ready to fight every moment of every day. Lose focus for a split second, and you're dead.
Now the only thing that can save me is HER.

What I Liked:

This book... this book was so powerful and emotional. You might see me use two words in particular throughout this book: bittersweet and heartbreaking. I almost cried so many times throughout this book, because of the story and its content.

This book deals with prostitution. Rania is forced to become a prostitute in order to survive. She was abandoned by her brother, when their parents died, at a very young age. I cannot imagine what I would have done in her situation, and I really cannot imagine having the strength to do what she did. I know in society, we tend to look down on prostitutes. I am in no way condoning prostitution, but this book really brought out the other side of prostitution: the side of the prostitute. My heart really went out to Rania, because everything that she felt, all the disgust, self-loathing, and anger, it was so real. We all cannot imagine being in her place, but what she did took courage.

The romance in this book is simple, but complex. It seems straightforward: soldier is taken in by prostitute, and they fall in love. But it is so much more than that. It goes deeper than that, on a level that goes past lust and love. I really liked Rania and Hunter's relationship. They really did have a love relationship, and more.

I really cannot say more about this book - it is so intense and powerful. I do not know if I have the heart to read it again, but I enjoyed it when I did.

What I Did Not Like:

There is not anything in particular that I did not like. But when I finished the book, I felt sad and morose, yet happy for the couple. This book did a number on my emotions. This book felt like a 4-star book for some reason, but it is really, really well done.

Would I Recommend It:

I am going to say yes, but not if you do not like books that go deep. This book, while very steamy and filled with adult-approved romance, contained some heavy themes, such as prostitution. That being said, this book is not for everyone. But, give it a try!

Rating:

4 stars. This book is  so heartbreaking, and bittersweet, but at the same time, it is touching and memorable. The truth of this book is stunning and amazing.

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Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

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Blog Tour: Interview with Reece from Heart Waves by Danielle Sibarium (and Giveaway)!

 

Hello everyone! Today is my stop for the Breaking Waves blog tour! I actually have THREE posts, a review for Heart Waves (HERE), a review for Breaking Waves (HERE), and this interview with the fabulous Reece!

 

Follow the rest of the blog tour HERE.

 

Stick around for the giveaway at the bottom of the post!

 

The Interview:

 

 

(Danielle's choice of actor for Reece!)

 

Alyssa: Hi, Reece! Welcome to my blog! Thanks for doing this interview with me – I am thrilled to have you here.

Reece: Not as thrilled as I am to be here! It’s nice to know I’m not forgotten about. Lately Tyler’s getting all the attention.

Alyssa: Let’s talk about YOU. Describe yourself in one word. Why that word?

Reece: Complete-package. Why? Because I am, I’ve got looks and brains. On my good days, I even have a sense of humor.

Alyssa: In Heart Waves, Jenna teased you about using semantics from the 1950s. Have you always been so gentlemanly? :)

Reece: It’s how I was raised. There’s something nostalgic and romantic about holding doors open and helping girls with their jackets. Plus, I’ve worked hard studying girls to see what it is they really want in a guy. I have to tell you, from what I’ve seen, they still want to be treated with romance and respect.

Alyssa: What is something that you love to do, other than impress Jenna all the time?

Reece: I love hacking. I know I shouldn’t, but when I can break into a system, it fills me with a sense of pride. It’s just who I am, what I’m good at.

Alyssa: Do you ever think about moving far, far away, from your parents and your past?

Reece: Not until recently. I didn’t do anything so bad. Everyone acts like it was the end of the world. Maybe if my father didn’t help out it would’ve been. After going back home, feeling like my mother used a battering ram on me daily, I really wanted to just leave and never come back. If Jenna would’ve come with me, I might have.

Alyssa: Before Jenna, did you ever give serious thought in getting back with Rebecca?

Reece: I did. But it was more about proving something. As much as I wanted her back, I wanted to hurt her, to break her. What she did was so messed up. I just can’t believe how blindsided I was by it.

Alyssa: What made you talk to Jenna, the night you two first met?

Reece: That’s easy, she’s gorgeous. I’d been watching her. When I asked Mike about her, and he called her the Ice Queen, I was intrigued. I couldn’t imagine someone as soft and beautiful as Jenna acting as cold and hard as Mike said. And then when she said I was her Romeo, and I was going to break her heart, how could I not talk to her?

Alyssa: You always tell her that she makes things better, and that she is one of the best things in your life. Explain this to us – what is it like, having someone so radically change your life?

Reece: It’s amazing. We walk through the days like zombies most of the time, just going along for the ride. But when you meet someone that adds life and color to your world, it changes how you move through the days. Sometimes I wish I could see myself through her eyes.

Alyssa: You hid things to protect Jenna. Do you regret telling her, after how much it seems to be costing you two, at the end of Heart Waves and beginning of Breaking Waves?

Reece: I didn’t hide the hacking incident to protect Jenna. I did that to protect myself. Everyone would stare and whisper when they saw me, like I was oblivious to it all. I didn’t want her to see me as a screw-up the way they did. But that’s all I did. Knowing Tyler’s father the way I do, by the time Tyler came to warn me, I knew I was in serious trouble. I just didn’t know why.

Alyssa: Do regret helping Tyler, with his grades? Do you wish you hadn’t done it?

Reece: Knowing what I know now? I should’ve let Tyler take the hit and then some. But he was my best friend. We were like brothers and he’d been drawn a really shitty hand. I didn’t want to see him self-destruct. I just never imagined he’d turn on me.

Alyssa: Do you ever wish things were the same as it used to be with Tyler? As is, you two could be friends again, the same way as before?

Reece: Of course. I wish he didn’t screw me over. But then I wouldn’t have met Jenna. I think with time, I could’ve forgiven him. But now, I just don’t see how.

Alyssa: Can you tell us a little of what you think is to come, from you, Tyler, Jenna, and everyone else?

Reece: I’m biding time right now. Part of me thinks if she’s happy I should just stay away. But I can’t. I love her. But soon Jenna’s going to have to make a choice.

Alyssa: Anything else you’d like to tell us? :)

Reece: If you think it’s been a great ride so far, you should be counting down the minutes to the final book. Danielle has something AMAZING planned. I’m a little leery, but she seems to know what she’s doing, so I guess I’ll just have to trust her.

Alyssa: Well, thanks so much for stopping by, Reece! Don’t be a stranger! ;)

Reece: Thank you for having me. And I’d be happy to come back any time. Any time!

 

More about Danielle Sibarium:

 

 

Danielle Sibarium grew up as an only child of divorced parents in Brooklyn, New York. Her imagination was developed at an early age. Surrounded by stuffed animals and imaginary friends, she transported herself into a fantasy world full of magic and wonder. Books were the gateway between her play world and reality. On any given summer afternoon she became Snow White sweeping and cooking for the dwarfs, or Cinderella waiting for the prince.

 

Danielle always loved dialogue and in elementary school began writing plays and short stories. This is when she began to understand she could not only bring her fantastical world to life for herself, but she could enchant others as well. And so she wrote. She wrote and wrote and wrote.

 

Sadly the first piece she ever sent out for publication of any sort was a letter to the editor of The Home News Tribune. It was a piece thanking the first responders for their bravery and selflessness on Sept 11th. It was chosen as letter of the week.

 

Author Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

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Blog Tour Review: Breaking Waves by Danielle Sibarium (and Giveaway)

Breaking Waves by Danielle Sibarium

Book Two of the Heart Waves series

Publisher: KFR Communications

Publication Date: January 10, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Copy provided by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

From the moment they met, Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, but she never dreamed it would happen like this. Jenna is left shattered and broken. When life becomes too painful to deal with and she feels completely alone, there’s only one person to help her pick up the pieces and move on. The one person she doesn’t want to turn to. The one person she promised to stay away from. Tyler.

Can Jenna put aside everything she knows about him and let Tyler help heal her broken heart?

What I Liked:

I liked this book even more than I liked the first book! This rarely happens for me, because usually, the first book is extremely well written, and the second may be excellent, but not as wonderful as the first book. Well, this book was, in my opinion, better than the first book.

Something really, really bad happens in the beginning, and throws Jenna completely off balance. Without Reece, she feels empty. I think Ms. Sibarium did an excellent job of portraying Jenna'sfeelings of anger, loneliness, and despair. Jenna hides, or she lashes out, and both are understandable reactions. I really feel for Jenna throughout the entire book.

I KNEW Tyler was better than Jenna and Reece gave him credit for! I always liked Tyler, and I really like him in this book. He seems more real than Reece. Everything with Reece seemed so la-dee-dah, and while that might seem like a good thing, to me, it was a little strange. Tyler is so much more rugged, imperfect, and, well, HOT. Yum. Zumba and Tyler. That's all you need to know.

So, if you cannot tell, there is a love triangle. BUT. I actually like this love triangle. It's a good one - the guy leaves (from what readers know, not by choice). The girl is grieving, and needs a friend. The new guy does not take advantage of her grieving situation, but they grow close. I think this romance is sweeter and more fleshed out than Reece and Jenna's romance.

This book is definitely a great follow-up to Heart Waves. With the absence of a certain character, we get to see more of an independent Jenna, more of Tyler, and some actual decisions by Jenna. I am definitely invested enough in this series to want more!

What I Did Not Like:

This book is so short! I NEED MORE! But seriously. Not a lot happened. This book was only 200 pages long, and I noticed. I need more of a plot than Jenna suffering.

Also, like my coplaint with Heart Waves, I want to see more about Jenna's ability. It's mentioned like, once, at a fair. Also? I think readers need to know more about the actual plot - with the computers and files and whatever. I'm feeling A LOT in the dark, and readers really should not be feeling this confused about the major plotline this late in the series. The major plotline is really pushed behind the romance, which is NOT okay. I hope the next book has the computers/secret files plotline in the forefront, with the romance issue shadowing it.

Would I Recommend It:

If you have read the first one, definitely! If you have not read the series yet, I would still recommend the series, but this series is not for everyone. As no series ever is.

Rating:

4 stars. This was one awesome sequel!

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