Natural Love by S. Celi

My whole life, I wanted one thing: to be the perfect son.

Growing up, I did everything my father required. Straight A’s in school. Perfect manners. I forced myself to live up to his standards--standards that pushed the Chadwick family name to the highest rungs of society.

Over the years, we climbed so high that my father hoped we’d never fall.

If only he’d been right. With each successful year, the Chadwick family skeletons grew bolder and darker. Every lie threatened to undo us.

The secret Avery Jackson and I shared was the worst one of all.

She was the one person I shouldn’t love--the one person I couldn’t love. But I did. I loved Avery Jackson. I wanted her, even though a romance with her threatened everything.

It all felt so natural.

And that was exactly the problem.

Amazon Link-  http://amzn.to/1sSzIMr

 

My Thoughts:
4/5 Stars

 

I sat down to read this one and found myself so consumed that I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting. Forbidden romances are my favorite and this one did not disappoint. 

  

Avery & Spencer come from a well known, wealthy family. They are taught to always present themselves in a respectable manner and never let others see their flaws. Most importantly though, they are step siblings tangled in a forbidden romance. They know that their attraction towards one another is wrong, but their emotions take over and rules get broken.

 

The story is told from Spencer's perspective and while I'm not a huge fan of the male's POV, it worked wonders in this story. I found myself intrigued by his thoughts and feelings. He is so torn, yet so dead set on what his heart truly wants. He tries to keep Avery at arm's length for a while, but slowly gives in to temptation. Their romance is forbidden so obviously it is passionate, secretive, romantic, and suspenseful. I was just waiting for them to get caught and have to explain what really was going on.

 

While I enjoyed this book a lot I would have loved to see the story unfold quicker... The secrets to be revealed and the intense ending we got to go into more detail so we could really feel the emotion. I felt as though it was hard to connect because a huge plot point occurs then we are left with just one chapter to wrap it all up. I definitely think this had major potential to be an emotional, heart wrenching ending that left me thinking HOLY 5 stars, but sadly I was left thinking, What? That's all we get?

All in all, I definitely recommend this book to everyone who believes that love can surpass all.



Crow's Row by Julie Hockley Review

For college student Emily Sheppard, the thought of spending a summer alone in New York is much more preferable than spending it in France with her parents. Just completing her freshman year at Callister University, Emily faces a quiet summer in the city slums, supporting herself by working at the campus library.

During one of her jogs through the nearby cemetery while visiting her brother Bill’s grave, Emily witnesses a brutal killing—and then she blacks out. When Emily regains consciousness, she realizes she’s been kidnapped by a young crime boss and his gang. She is hurled into a secret underworld, wondering why she is still alive and for how long.

Held captive in rural Vermont, she tries to make sense of her situation and what it means. While uncovering secrets about her brother and his untimely death, Emily falls in love with her very rich and very dangerous captor, twenty-six-year-old Cameron. She understands it’s a forbidden love and one that won’t allow her to return to her previous life. But love may not be enough to save Emily when no one even knows she is missing.

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1GMfDxI

 

My Thoughts:

5/5 Stars

 

Yes, Yes, Yes! If you like a darker read with danger and sexual tension.... This one is for you!

Emily comes from a wealthy family, but insists on living with the lower class and blending in as much as possible. She lives in a dingy apartment and wears old clothes. Her Walkman is her best friend and her jogs are her escape.

 

When she jogs into the wrong part of town though, and comes face to face with Cameron, her world is turned upside down. He tells her firmly to stay away, but she pushes her luck and ends up witnessing a murder. She is taken to an unknown place and fears for her life... However when she gets there, secrets are unveiled and she comes to realize that maybe Cameron isn't all bad.

 

Crow's Row is one that pulled me in from page one. I had a hard time putting it down and found myself wanting to tell everyone about it. The romance is not a love at first sight kind of thing... It is more like a slow, seductive dance. As the book progresses, feelings do as well.

 

I literally loved every character in this book... I felt connected to them and found myself intrigued by their stories just as much as the leads. Cameron though.... He was my FAVORITE! He was dangerous, dark, mysterious, and protective. He was a book boyfriend that everyone should experience!

You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz

A startling novel about love and grief from the author of the acclaimed memoir I Don't Want to Be Crazy.

Annaleah and Brian shared something special - Annaleah is sure of it. When they were together, they didn't need anyone else. It didn't matter that their relationship was
secret. All that mattered was what they had with each other.

And then, out of nowhere, Brian dies. And while everyone else has their role in the grieving process, Annaleah finds herself living outside of it, unacknowledged and lonely.
How can you recover from a loss that no one will let you have?

 

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1sipyJC

 

My Thoughts:
4/5 Stars

 

While reading this book I felt as though I was grieving a lost loved one.

The realness was there and it was thick! The emotions I felt were intense and the storyline easily pulled me in.

 

Annaleah had a secret relationship with Brian... She had true feelings and thought he did as well. When she comes to find out he passed away un expectantly her world is turned upside down. There is a hole in her heart and an emptiness in her life. As she grieves though, you come to learn that maybe Brian and her didn't have the relationship Annaleah thought they did.

 

Throughout this book you get glimpses of the present and the past. You get to see why she is the person she is and also why she was so wrapped up in Brian. Yes, you will have a love/hate relationship with him. Some parts I loved him and felt for him, others... not so much.

 

Overall I thought this was a great YA read with a HEA!!



Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick Review

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairy tale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Iraq. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and everyone cries for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1wNEMHI

 

My Thoughts:
4/5 Stars

 

I love a good mind f and this one provided just that! The Author left us on the edge of our seats trying to piece together what happened in the past and what would happen in the future.

 

The main character is damaged and emotionally broken. She alters the truth and hides secrets about the past. When she meets Mr. Anderson he shows her the attention she seeks. He protects her and provides a safe place for her. She opens up to him and they slowly form a more intimate relationship. Yes it is taboo... Yes it is illegal, but somehow and someway it worked for me.

 

This story is about a tormented soul trying to forget and live a life she can tolerate. My heart hurt for Jenna. She had deep set issues and her family was a train wreck. Her self confidence was gone and she was addicted to cutting.

Mr. Anderson was sneaky and kind. He was a book boyfriend for sure.

The things that I didn't like about this book were... At times the mind f was bit confusing and I felt some of my questions were left unanswered. Overall though I enjoyed it and would recommend it to all readers....

*The sexual scenes are not descriptive. They often cut out and give no details.*