Pushing The Limits - Katie McGarry

Pushing The Limit on Amazon UK

 

Product Description

They say be a good girl, get good grades, be popular. They know nothing about me. I can’t remember the night that changed my life. The night I went from popular to loner freak. And my family are determined to keep it that way. They said therapy was supposed to help. They didn’t expect Noah. Noah is the dangerous boy my parents warned me about. But the only one who’ll listen. The only one who’ll help me find the truth. I know every kiss, every promise, every touch is forbidden. But what if finding your destiny means breaking all the rules? A brave and powerful novel about loss, change and growing up, but most of all love.


“The love story of the year” - Teen Now


“A romance with a difference” - Bliss

My Thoughts

Can i just say to start i normally get books amazon recommends to me or that seem to have a really low price or has amazing reviews. At the moment i seem to have loads of romance books, and this seems to be a teen book, when looking though the list of books on my kindle i choose this book thinking it wasn't another romance (just by the title). Just thought i would throw this out there as I'm sort of getting fed up of these books and finding them boring.


Anyway...We are reading this from the point of view of Echo and Noah, this was done well i have no problem knowing who was who (many books don't do this well).

Echo and Noah are both troubled Echo has something going on in her past that was so traumatic she can't remember it, she has scars on her arms, her brother was killed and her whole life has changed from being miss popular. Noah's parents died in a house fire and he is in a foster home, hes a stoner and while he is clever he doesn't apply himself at school. So they both meet when they see the school councilor and Echo is offered a job tutoring (bet you'll never guess who she ends up tutoring)


So now we all know where this is going, did this book offer anything different?

Yes and No for some reason i liked Noahs character but Echo fell flat (maybe i just can't get over her name) but i wanted to know Echo's back story i wanted to know about the scars and what she couldn't remember but apart from this i wasn't interested in the story.


It was a weird read for me as i felt the story was looping and not moving forward, going over the same issues and not adding much, i was getting frustrated. The book didn't grab me i could of put it down and never picked it up again, wouldn't of bothered me.


There was a moment in the book i really liked when Noah meets Echo's dad it was a really sweet moment and it was the point i started to like her dad.

When i finished the book i thought it was sweet, but I'd forgotten about it within 2 minutes, i love it when i can't forget about a book and it sticks in my mind but this one just didn't....at all.


It wasn't unreadable, i mean it was fine it didn't take up too much of my time, it was written well, but meh!


for me its a 1.5/5


My next book wont be a romance i will make sure i read what the book is about before i dive in.

Can't Live Without - Joanne Phillips

Book On Amazon

Product Description

How does it feel to lose everything you own?

Stella Hill is proud of the home she's created for herself and her daughter. She's worked hard to buy the very best of everything ... But when she wakes one morning to find her kitchen on fire, Stella knows her life will never be the same again.

At least she has Paul to lean on: Paul Smart, owner of Smart Homes, confirmed bachelor and unknowing recipient of a schoolgirl crush Stella never quite got over ... When the charismatic John Dean turns up after sixteen years, Stella is determined not to fall for him again. Because now her heart belongs elsewhere. Or does it?

With a boss she's half in love with, a teenage daughter about to go seriously off the rails, a spendaholic mother, and a house to rebuild, Stella's problems are only just beginning.

Can Stella put her life - and her home - back together again? And will she ever realise just what it is she really can't live without?

Laugh-out-loud funny, warm and compelling, this is for readers who love their chick lit with a bit of an edge. Ideal for fans of Fiona Gibson and Carole Matthews.

My Thoughts

I have to say i did like the characters a lot especially Stella and Paul, they have a lot of banter going among them and i did find myself laughing.

Stella's daughter Lipsy felt very real, I remember feeling the same way. I would of liked to have seen her point of view more, and I like the way her character develops she feels very real.

There are a lot of other character I did not care too much for, as I did feel she was packing too much story in this book. Now i do like is was not the normal basic boy and girl like each other. But this one goes a bit OTT, now heres all the basic drama and little side stories:


Stella - House being burnt down (this is the main story)

Stella - Relationship with her daughter Lipsy 19 (has an older boyfriend whos 30)

Stella - Relationship with her mum (spends money she doesn't have)

Stella - Relationship with her dad (In prison, she hates him for what hes done)

Stella - Relationship with Paul (her boss, as well as friend as well as lover interest)

Stella - Relationship with her daughters dad (he left, dead beat dad, just turns up, still likes him?)

Stella - Relationship with her brother (left when their dad got sent down)

Stella - Hates her mum lodger who's taking advantage

Lipsy - Relationship with her mum Stella

Lipsy - Relationship with her dad

Lipsy - Relationship with her boyfriend

Paul - Something that happens between him and his ex (don't want spoilers)


As you can see there are many different problems to deal with and side stories to keep up with. The weird thing is towards the end of the book they get resolved just as easy. Its like there was a tick box just going down a list of the problems and writing solutions. Towards the end also kept re-playing events and I was starting to get bored.

I also found it hard to follow at times it would change the point of view, from diary entry to the here and now.

It's an OK book but with far too much going on, the character saved it for me. Lipsy is a typical teen and i really liked her, Stella and Paul were very funny, even Mr. Waitrose I loved him.

I would read more of Joanne Phillip books just for the fact she writes the characters so well.

I would give this book 2.5/5

And i will leave you with my favorite lines in the book

"I feel Paul stiffen by my side - and I don't mean that in a good way"

 

The Pink Rose - Alicia Roberts

Free on Amzon

Just putting the link up noticed all the bad reviews on Amazon which feels a bit unfair to me, I've read some book that are badly written, put together so you have no idea what's going on and unreadable.
This is like many books I've read, its predictable and fast paced and I can understand why some people don't like them. But would you review an omelet and give it 1 star when you hate eggs anyway.

The Pink Rose follows the story of Max and Amy.
Max is the majority owner of Zetta Corp., rich famous and handsome, you know all that good stuff.
Amy is shy, finds Max attractive but doesn't want to be noticed at work, as she has family links that could put her job at risk, she is a hard worker and would like to own her own accounting firm.
They meet when Max breaks up with Chloe (who liked gifts and fame) Max needs a date for a charity gala and find Amy working late one night and asks her to go with him.

Max at the beginning of the book says he wants a real relationship not for the money and fame, but then goes on about just having fun and not believing in love. He also get jealous instantly when other guys are looking at Amy, this annoys me. The book also repeats things that have just been said, like if they did something he would think about it later and just recall everything that happened rather than just saying I was thinking about earlier.

To me this book reminded me of 50 shades of grey but the short version, I'm not a 50 Shade hater I did like the first book but I did also find parts annoying, like ripping foil, inner goddess, biting lip, oh my (makes my blood boil just thinking about those word) the second book was OK but by the third I was thinking god dam wrap it up already, I get it there both messed up. Anyway I thought about 50 Shades while reading The Pink Rose.

Its a fast paced book and gets to the point quickly I did enjoy this book, and got through in one sitting, the character weren't that well developed but I felt I knew enough about them for this kind of story, if this was going to be a series then yeah you would need to know more but for this book its perfect.

3.5/5

Suicide Note - Teresa Mummert

Amazon 77p Suicide Note

This book follows the story of Jenn and Shane,
Jenn is very career orientated and wants to move up, but she has a boss who doesn't seem to like her (or anyone for that matter) She was engaged to Thomas but found panties under the pillow of her bed and he just didn't come home one night.
Her sister is getting married which doesn't make her feel better especially when we find out who the guy is.
Shane is a sergeant in the army fighting the war, when he calls home finds his fiancée can't cope with him being in the army and is now with a dentist, so his home coming plans change and he goes to stay with his cousins family.
This is where the two main characters cross paths as Shanes cousin is Jenns boss.

I like the way the story is written it changes from The POV of Shane and Jenn, without being too confusing. (altho at some points its would say something in shanes POV about Jenn, that he wouldn't know as he wouldn't be there to see it. Like they would be talking on the phone and it would say Jenn picked up a glass of water ..... He wouldn't know this)

I liked the chemistry between Jenn and Shane and also the cousins family (really can't remember his name) some very funny moments. I wont lie there were moments where I cried, I can't imagine having my husband be away for that long not knowing if he would make it home.

Its a boy meets girl book but I think it had enough depth to make it a good read, I did have some problems with the story:

The way her sister, mum and dad act like Jenn is being unreasonable. That whole thing was unrealistic, I really hated Jenns family for making her go through that. But then by the end your expected to like them as all is forgiven. These people are evil there is no way you could make me like them, and I don't think Jenn would of gone to the wedding even if it was her sister. And expect the reader just to flip into liking the family. I get Jenn is alone and going through a bad time but this part of the book wasn't done so great. (as I was writing notes I just have a big WTF! When this happened)

I did like the ending it was sweet (maybe too sweet for some) but I'm all emotional at the moment anyway and I loved it :)!

I would give this book a 3.5/5 it didnt take too long to read and I did like most of the story

Thursdays in the Park - Hilary Boyd and Candy Store

Thursdays in the Park - Hilary Boyd

Amazon Kindle Link - Currently 20p

Product Description

What do you do if you've been married to a man for half your life and out of nowhere he leaves your bed – permanently? When this happens to Jeanie, she's furious and hurt, and determined to confront George, her husband of thirty years. Is he in love with someone else? What did she do wrong? He won't tell her.

The brightest day of her week is Thursday, the day Jeanie takes her granddaughter to the park. There, one day, she meets Ray and his grandson. Ray is kind, easy to talk to, and gorgeous – everything George isn't. She starts to live for Thursdays. But does she have the courage, in the teeth of opposition from all sides, to turn her life upside down for another shot at love?

My Thoughts:

At the beginning I thought this book was going to be interesting, 10 years of no sex, he just ups and leaves the bed one night with no explanation. Then the book seems to drag on, I wanted to know why but the story takes forever to move on, just seems to waffle on with itself.
Just really didn't get a feel for it, It just didn't seem the way real people would act in that situation. The book did pick up towards the end and I liked the ending, just didn't seem worth the effort of reading.
Its not a horrible book, didn't take long to read, the writing is fine. For 20p I can't really complain too much.

1.5/5

I also read Candy Store which is free on kindle at the moment

Candy Store Amazon Kindle - Free

Product Description

On the verge of losing her candy store, Callie Moore decides to blot out her troubles with a tall, dark, handsome stranger. Derek McNear isn't about to turn down a cute, curvy woman at his best friend's wedding reception. But the next day, when Callie discovers that Derek is the consultant she has hired to save her store, they find it difficult to concentrate on business...

CANDY STORE, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre, is a 25,000 word / 150 page sexy contemporary romance novella.

My Thoughts:

This is an easy read, you know what's going to happen. There is a lot of sex in this book, all they seem to do is have sex which means there isn't much of a story.
Normally you have two people meet fall totally in love they forget to breath around each other, some sort of misunderstanding happens, they fall out, have it out (or find out from others) realize the mistake and all is well. The misunderstanding here last 2 seconds might as well not of been there at all, its OK...its A short story so its not like it took up much of my time. I've read worse, it fine for what it is just don't expect too much of a story behind the sex (which I thought was written well).

2/5

SHOWTIME (Marvelle Circus, #1) Book Review

Link to amazon kindle book

This book follows the story of Laila, who is unhappy with her life and is given an opportunity to change things.
This book has very dark moments along with amazing descriptions about the circus and the acts, also some humor which just makes this book a good all rounder.
The backstories and characters are amazing you really feel like you know these people and I can imagine them so well, how they look/act.
I didn't realize just how much I was invested in everyone until the last few chapters where I was crying like a baby.
Chloe Kayne did an amazing job at putting you right there with everyone, I really felt like I was watching the circus and walking alongside the characters and I could understand why they reacted the way they did. I guess the best way to put it is everyone just felt so real they acted the way you would expect them to.
I loved this book, the only problems I had was the start I got the gist of what was going on but found it a bit confusing, and the first few chapters seemed to go a bit slow (alto I understand this as you need all the back stories, and details as this is the 1st book) but wow this book really took me along for the ride.
I'm really sad towards the end when it said next one is due 2014.....I can't wait

4.5/5