Book Review - Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



"Touching Echo felt like home…"


"Noah makes me feel safe."


Another YA book sucks me in and I absolutely love it.


"We’d read about sirens in English this fall; Greek mythology bullshit about women so beautiful, their voices so enchanting, that men did anything for them. Turned out that mythology crap was real because every time I saw her, I lost my mind."


Noah Hutchins is the bad boy; the stoner who loves to question authority and show that he can handle himself. But Noah is a foster kid who has been through numerous homes and whose life has changed since the death of his parents and the separation from his brothers.


"My insides had melted when Noah produced his wicked grin and gazed at me like I was naked. Luke used to give me butterflies. Noah spawned mutant pterodactyls."


Echo Emerson was the popular girl; she had the boyfriend, was on the dance team and had all the right friends until something happened to her to change it all and turn her world upside down. The sad part of this; she can’t remember what that something is yet has the physical proof and pain of it daily.

I LOVED this story. I find myself stumbling across some really good YA books that leave me speechless. As a hopeless romantic Pushing the Limits fed that part of me completely. What surprised me most was the depth and character development in this story. It did not read like a YA novel to me, it was more than I could have hoped for.

Echo and Noah are wonderful characters. They both have pasts that have led them to where they are and have to be dealt with. Only knowing one another from opposite sides of the cafeteria and rumors, they are thrown together by their shared school counselor. They need understanding and find it in each other where they least expect it.
Echo becomes Noah’s tutor with encouragement and a paycheck. These two opposites begin to attract and the magnetism is strong and undeniable. The suggestion to “just do normal” was a great way to get them to be together on a level they could handle but like all good romances; a level that gets blurred.


"Echo, I can’t tell you what’s going to happen because I don’t know. But I swear…on my brothers that you’ll never be a joke to me and you’ll be much more than a girl in the backseat of my car."


This is an emotional read for sure. It sucks you in from the start wanting to know the secrets and just wanting everyone to be okay. You will have strong feelings towards Echo’s dad and step mom, some of her friends and Noah’s but it is those feelings that add so much to this story.

Pushing the Limits is a stellar debut from Katie McGarry. This is a story that takes risks, that deal with painful subjects and does not disappoint the reader. Full of passion, loss, love, angst, betrayal, hope and the belief that one person out there can change you for the better, this is a must read.

*I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and Harlequin Teen.



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Book Review - Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I started this minutes after finishing Slammed and not even reading the synopsis, I just wanted more of their story. I needed someone to pinch me when I realized it was from Will's POV! Oh yeah!

Point of Retreat is the perfect follow up to Slammed. It evokes the same emotions, the same heart wrenching decisions, the same smiles and the same Butterflyingly awesome Slam poetry!

I usually mark my favorite quotes/sections of books to add in my review to make a point but there is no need with this book. Colleen Hoover writes this story with such beauty and elegance I didn't have time to stop and mark anything. Plus, I feel I couldn't do the book justice by including them here. You just have to read the books.

Once again Colleen Hoover handles difficult topics with finesse and doesn't gloss over them or beat you over the head with them. They are there for a reason, an important reason and the delivery is flawless. You just get it.

I said it before in my Slammed review; when a book in a genre outside my comfort zone draws me in this quick and this complete I will get on a soap box, do a jig and even be the sacrifice if I have to.

Thank you Ms. Hoover for writing a story that knocked my butterflying socks off.



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Book Review - Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I had to take a few days to write a review of this wonderful book. I still can’t put my thoughts together as eloquently as I believe this book deserves but I will just go on my gut feelings that I wrote as I was reading it.

I have to say I am not a big YA fan, pretty much stay away if I can but I have given the genre more attempts than I thought possible. So when I read YA and I am so lost that I read through work, dinner that I made for the boys but I did not eat myself and then stayed up to read half of the sequel. It's a fan-freaking-tastic book!

It is still hard for me to put it into words and that is something. The writing is flawless. Colleen Hoover really draws you and makes you feel every emotion but not so detailed to where you kind of get bugged by it. It is just enough. It is perfect.

The slam poetry...it gave me chills! I have seen it live before so I could read along how it would have been performed but even if you don't, the words are so intense.

The author deals with so much sadness but handles it unbelievably well. You would think with so much it would weigh you down but there is always something more for you to grasp for. You know that even though there are rough times it will be okay, it just has to be.

I can say that I hope my sons grow up to be half a man Will Cooper is. Yeah, I want my kids to grow up to have the morals, ethics and sense of responsibility as a fictional character. Lake showed me just how strong someone can be even when they don’t think they have it in them. Finding your way is never easy but being true to yourself is the best reward.

For me, the key point to something being truly amazing is it makes you go beyond the book. To learn something more and Slammed did that for me. Since I finished it I have gone and researched more Slam competitions and found some truly talented young folks out there with the ability to give me even more chills.

Oh and last thing, The author mentions Eddie Izzard, if I didn't like it before that...I was sold then!




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Book Review - Effortless by S.C. Stephens

Effortless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am giving this 5 stars just like I did Thoughtless. I only give 5 stars to books that I go back and read my favorite scenes over and over again and cannot get the characters out of my head.


Effortless picked up right where Thoughtless left off. Kiera and Kellan together. Kiera becoming more mature in herself and her relationship until something once again makes this couple have to struggle.

I wasn't sure how it would pan out with Kellan going on tour but I was so proud of Kiera from putting on her big girl panties and not repeating her mistake with Denny. Even though she knew it would be awful to be apart she would not be selfish and stand in the way of the man she loves and his dreams.

The way Kellan made their separation easier for her with the notes was so romantic and special. He showed how much he really knew her. I was excited with Kiera when she found each note. The last one made me breathless, it was perfect.

The roller coaster of emotion was ever present in Effortless as it was in Thoughtless but the difference is Kiera and Kellan have learned from mistakes, are still learning and not running from them. They decide to stay and fight for what they want.

Bringing Denny back in to the pictures, literally, and having Kellan face his past was a wonderful edition to the story. Making it well rounded.

Never short for wonderful scenes, the author delivers once again. I just learned there is a third book and now I can't wait.

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Book Reveiw - The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher

The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The sky is red-means trouble"

The Opportunist was an intense read, did I say intense actually this book is a Mind Fuck in the best way possible.

When I read a book I don't just want to get lost in the text, I want to be challenged mentally. I want to get inside these characters and find out what are they thinking and did they really just do that? Ms. Fisher delivers on all levels. ***The blank pages over the four years had my jaw on the floor. What a witty touch to add to a book instead of just saying "four years later". The emptiness of the pages echoed the emotions thoroughly.**8 From the beginning you may think you have it figured out and who the opportunist actually is but you will get flipped over, slapped across the face and punched in the gut when you figure it out. I finished this over an hour ago and I feel as if I am still inside, struggling with Olivia to let go of her fears. Fighting with Caleb to not do what is right and just do what he wants. Feeling hate and compassion for Leah at the same time, who does that?

The Opportunist is not a light read, it is as I said before intense and will consume you.

I am giving this 5 stars. 5 stars for me are for the books that stay with me, the ones I go back and re-read sections for one reason or another.



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Book Review: Thoughtles by S.C. Stephens

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I waited and waited to read this book. I had read so many different reviews about it and there seemed to be this "I Hate Kiera" club that really turned me off. Upon the constant bullying and nagging of dear friend I finally conceded and started to read.

From the beginning I had a few gripes; why didn't this college girl in the 21st Century have a cell phone and needed to call her parents collect? Really? But after that my gripes ended.

I may be among the small population that actually liked Kiera, I never felt any bad feelings towards her. I felt more empathy for the character. She was young, sheltered and confused. I don't normally connect with the females in books but this time I did and it shocked me. I could see things from the narrative, the very descriptive narrative that really got you inside her head.

The relationship with Denny was sweet, safe and what was known. But I feel like Denny was also at fault for what happened. He seemed to always choose work over Kiera. Kellan was comfort when she needed it; excitement and just plain new. He was also something that consumed her, it's hard to think clear under consumption. The first night with Kellan was understandable to me. I do not commend cheating but when you are dealing with emotions and matters of the heart all rationale goes right out the window. I too, like Kiera fell in love with both men in this book and was torn. Kellan was pretty upfront with what he wanted but he was just as guilty as Kiera in this relationship, no matter how hot he was, and he was HOT!, he was still wrong as well.

Thoughtless was a roller coaster of emotions; sweet, happy, sexy, smoldering, exhilarating, heart breaking, sad, intense and overwhelming. My favorite scenes were the espresso cart, the club scene, the rain, the confrontation in the back room, the space needle and Kiera in her lounge pants staring up at a damaged Kellan singing her song.

I am still reeling from all the emotions from this book. The author does a great job of pulling you in and letting you get lost. I am grateful I finally picked it up and read it, this story will stay with me a good long time.

Oh and D-bags ROCK!!!!

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