Twenty-six-year-old Elsie Sherman has had a crush on her brother’s best friend, Henry Logan, since she was twelve years old. Unfortunately, Henry—now an Air Force officer—has only ever treated her like a younger sister, stepping into her brother’s shoes after he was killed in action.
That is, until the night when one dance ignites a sensual fire between the two, leaving Elsie aroused and confused. Is she allowed to lust after her surrogate big brother, who also happens to be her roommate? As the passion between them crosses the line into a territory that teases with the forbidden, Elsie decides to give herself to the man she has always desired. But Elsie is not prepared for where the relationship will take her.
Henry has been harboring two secrets. One can bring them closer together. The other will tear them apart. Now, with each startling new revelation, Elsie realizes that only she can decide if the past can ever be forgiven—and if a future with Henry is worth fighting for.

My review

Author: June Gray
Pages: 384
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Source:  Library
Contains 6 novellas

My obligatory man in uniform romance fix was almost overdue and I'm quite happy that I picked this one up. I refuse to view this novella collection as a novel. But I do see many instances in which the author could have made these novellas into a real book, story wise.

The whole thing felt very choppy and light so much so that it was almost superficial. Elise and Henry had a cute past that lead up to their relationship, but their relationship in the present didn't have much depth beside the physical type.

There was also the tidbit where I didn’t realize this was an erotic romance when I picked it up. Do I mind? Not really, but I did feel like the story could have been much stronger if there wasn’t a sex intermission in between every important conversation. That's just my opinion and obviously the book gave sufficient hints that it wouldn't be like that. Even so, I found this to be quite enjoyable. 

I did decide to stop reading after novella number 3, Retreat because the story had done what I needed it to, get me out of my slump and I no longer enjoyed the direction it was taking. All in all, an enjoyable romance, really light, sexy and feel good but also heartbreaking as is usually the case with military romances. Recommended for an adult audience.

-MARI

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home

GOODREADS

My Review

Author: Katie McGarry
Date of Publication: May 26, 2015
Pages: 496
Source: Library

Saying that I really wanted to like this book is an understatement. Or maybe, it isn't because I couldn't make myself finish it.

Katie McGarry and I have a 2:1, love:dislike ratio. Not bad. And everything in Nowhere But Here's premise, cover and early reviews pointed to an updated 3:1 ratio. Obviously, something went sour.

From the very beginning this books was weak. Emily is obnoxious, inconsistent and annoying for lack of a better word. She is introduced as this perfect good girl who is so high and mighty that she doesn't give her biological dad the light of day when he comes to visit every year. Such a chore. When suddenly thrust into his crowd she doesn't waste time to a) slut shame b) grandma shame "grandma's don't swear" and c) look down on Oz and then mentally undress him. There were also several moments when she would talk about her courage at looking these wild people in the eyes and the next second she'll be barfing her guts up on someones shoes. No, she didn't impress me.

Next is Oz, swoony not Oz...  His chapters weren't as disagreeable. The little that I read about the motorcycle club was interesting. But there was nothing about Oz that really captured my attention enough to make me want to stay. His frequent sexual comments about Emily's appearance weren't very enjoyable to read about either.

I could go on and write about my thoughts on the writing, plot, and such but I only got to about 30% of the book. McGarry is a great writer but this book's issue, in my opinion, was the story. Not much interesting had happened in the first 30% and for a book this size 30% is a lot of pages for me to make a decision. Definitely not for me.

-MARI

Author: Ann Aguirre
Date of Publication: Aug26/14
Pages: 352
Source: Library

Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she's determined to make them come true—for her parents' sake as well as her own. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, she barely has time to think, let alone date. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B…. 

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can't risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, a social life is out of the question. The last thing he wants is for four noisy students to move into the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia's and Ty's paths cross, and soon they can't stay away from each other. 

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can't know what you truly need until you stand to lose it.

GOODREADS

Review:
It seems that every DNF review starts with the premise/disclaimer "So I finally got to pick this one up after having read many positive reviews and enjoyed the sound of the synopsis.” And once again that is exactly the case with this one, unfortunately it’s followed by the default, “However, I couldn’t get into the story”.

I Want It That Way is Ann Aguirre, author of YA Enclave Series’, foray into new adult. The story is about Nadia who moves into apartment 2B with her roommates: BFF Lauren, playboy Max and gay friend Angus. They all make an adorable cast, playing, dating and bonding. However, Nadia’s attentions is drawn by the hot downstairs neighbour Ty, a grumpy and tired young father. Mutual interest rises and the rest is history. 

I liked how Nadia came from modest means and was not the common NA heroine with serious psychological damage. She was driven and dedicated to her Special Education degree and this was shown through her daily activities, school, daycare, practicum, home, repeat. It was nice to see a character have a life for once and complain about not having time to eat but sometimes I felt like there was a junk paragraph in the middle of the page telling me that Nadia went to work today where everything was same old, same old; a little unnecessary.

Ty was alright. I did’t really understand him. He was hard to relate to not because he was a father, I think that was my favourite bit about him. His interactions with his 4 year old son, Sam, were wonderful. His job and architecture major were also nice additions, but anything beyond that and voyaging into the world of social skills were questionable. I didn’t find him romantic and for a romance that’s a major of a killer. I’ll say it this way, there were no sparks flying, it was all tell and no show and I can’t take that.

I guess whenever the story surrounds a common or cliche story line there are risks. That could’ve been the main problem here but my issue was more general. There was a wide disconnect between the reader, the character and the plot. Despite being in Nadia's head, I didn’t connect with her, I didn’t understand how or why she started to like Ty (besides the fact that he is a ginger). And the push and pull was all kind of nonsensical for me. I was lost and felt nothing. I skimmed through the sex scene and felt nothing.

It honestly, is too bad because people have enjoyed it, but the direction the story was taking by 56% of the way through was not something that pulls me enough to keep me on the hook. I was intrigued by the possible development of Lauren and Max’s relationship in the future books, so maybe I’ll try that one, but this book is not for me. 

-MARI

Author: Karen Lord 
Date of Publication: January 6 2015
Pages: 336
Source: NetGalley- thank you!

For years, Rafi Delarua saw his family suffer under his father's unethical use of psionic power. Now the government has Rafi under close watch, but, hating their crude attempts to analyse his brain, he escapes to the planet Punartam, where his abilities are the norm, not the exception. Punartam is also the centre for his favourite sport, wallrunning - and thanks to his best friend, he has found a way to train with the elite. But Rafi soon realises he's playing quite a different game, for the galaxy is changing; unrest is spreading and the Zhinuvian cartels are plotting, making the stars a far more dangerous place to aim. There may yet be one solution - involving interstellar travel, galactic power and the love of a beautiful game. 

Review:

The Galaxy Game is a book set in the same universe as Karen Lord's The Best of All Possible Worlds. It's not necessarily a sequel, but a companion, and I didn't know about this fact when I started reading The Galaxy Game.

This was my introduction to Lord's writing, and I was lost. Completely, utterly confused. The world building was not accessible to someone that had no experience with the world. There was so much going on and I was confused from the first Kobo page all the way up to Kobo page 80 out of 250 before I realized the odds of suddenly understanding what was happening were dim.

From the bits I can parse out, the world is fascinating and creative. It's very comprehensive with many different names and characters. The execution of explaining all this was extremely poor. It makes sense if this book was meant for people that read The Best of All Possible Worlds, but through the synopsis I never received any indication that this book couldn't be read on its own, which is why the horrible explanations matter.

To understand The Galaxy Game, I would have to go back and reread every part about the different cultures. The names were hard to spell and sound, and I had a difficult time remembering who was who. The story of the planets was incomprehensible. Every time they talked about certain cartels and certain people from certain tribes, I was confused. I do believe it is possible to understand the world of The Galaxy Game, although not without a great deal of effort that I was unwilling to give it.

I'm very surprised to say that through 80 pages, very little occurred. The characters, except Delarua, Rafi, and Serendipity, never distinguished themselves to me. Part of that is the writing style, again. It's written to be dramatic and intriguing, so it is not straightforward. A character will do something and I won't know why until its done. The relevance of the first scene is lost on me, as are concepts like "the cap", whatever the Lyceum is for, and more.

I hate that I DNFed this story because I love the synopsis. I got the the part where Rafi was about to leave for Punartam. It seems like the story was supposed to pick up from there, but I can't justify continuing to read a story I am so lost in. Maybe if there was some sort of background guide, I would be able to understand this world more, because I have never been more lost in a story. The writing style is not one I like, and it's for that I've ultimately decided that there's no point trying to continue.

Clarity is usually something I take for granted when I read, but it's only when delving into a grand sci-fi that it becomes clear how important it is. The Galaxy Game's explanations for what was happening were not clear to me, and frankly, I didn't feel like rereading the text like I do with my college readings, so it was a DNF.

-P.E.

Author: Mary E. Pearson
Date of Publication: July 8, 2014
Pages: 492
Source: Library
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

GOODREADS

Review:
I’ve had quite a love and hate relationship with this one. At first impression I didn’t think it was my type of book, but after reading some positive reviews I started to reconsider. See the premise is everything I could ever want in a book, but once you’ve read enough book that you can compare ways a story can go wrongly, one become a little cautious. That’s what happened here.

I only got around 30% through this book when I could not see myself being able to finish it. I read Mary E. Pearson’s The Scribbler of Dreams in the 7th grade and it was one of my first YA reads. She is a great writer but I couldn’t see that translate well to a fantasy read such as this one. Everything felt unrealistic and weak. The initial chapters were to quick to jump from scene to scene without giving much information or explanation. I was quite annoyed at Princess Lia's decision to just up and leave “all of a sudden” after planning but not really planning for weeks and then dragging her loyal servant on the perfect, obstacle free escape.

My second problem was the prince and the assassin. Too quick to trust, too quick to talk. Both were so flat. I realize I should give it more time for development but in that first 100 or so pages, so much had happened but none of it was development. I didn’t like how the assassin wasn’t really an assassin in the way he acted. His “I’m scary and broody” persona bothered me as it had no real proof to it. He tells us that he scary but he can't deliver at all. Instead he just stares dumbfounded at a fool of a princess. I don't see what makes him hesitate. As for the prince, he just pined and then said he was thankful she ran away from the wedding and then pined some more.

Ughh.. I’m frustrated by this book. Many aspects scratched me the wrong way and when it comes down to it, I know this isn’t for me. I’ve over analyzed it and quite certainly killed any joy it could present me. I’ll pass on this one. I hope everyone else has better luck. Take it with a grain of salt and just enjoy the story, don’t think over it all too much.

-Mari