No One's Angel by Kelly Walker

Tess used to spend more hours than she’d care to admit playing her favorite computer game, using the nickname Angel. She could pretend her life was different, and she could pretend Arion was just a friend. But a girl needs more to keep her warm at night than pixels and she traded her virtual heaven for a real life hell. Now she’s on the run from a past she won’t talk about, and the only place she has to go is the doorstep of the friend she’s never actually met.

When Angel disappeared from their nightly games, it nearly destroyed Arion. He threw himself into work and women, but he can’t help knowing the one night stands will never compare to the angel who haunts his dreams. At first, when she shows up soaking wet and scared-shitless on his doorstep, he thinks his prayers have been answered.

But the more Arion tries to keep Angel close, the more her fear drives her away. If they are ever going to have a chance for a future, they’ll first have to deal with the past that hasn’t forgotten her any more than she’s forgotten it, and Arion will have to learn how to let her go.



My Review

“You’ll always be my Angel. If I have to, I’ll build you new wings.”

First off, I want to thank Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to review this ARC.

From the get go, when I saw the book blurb, I knew I had to read this. New Adult, which is what the author classified this as, is a really fun genre for me. Some of my recent favorites, book wise, are New Adult. That said, even with a genre that’s so young, a lot of tropes and clichés are still arsing so it’s always nice to see unique storylines. A book like this, where the characters meet online, playing a virtual game no less, is definitely unique for me. 
I’m sad to say though, this wasn’t a favorite for m. I’ll get to why now. 

Tess is a college dropout, who at the beginning of the book has used up all her funds into getting to Philadelphia, where her friend Arion lives. Tess, known as Angel, and Axel, known as Arion, are players in a virtual game called WarQuest, and not only do they meet and form a friendship, but they also start to have deeper feelings for one another. That is, until Angel stops playing. It’s now been a year since Arion’s heard from Angel, and that fact alone has slowly destroyed him. Little was he prepared then to see the girl he possible loved standing at his doorstep on a random Sunday night. It’s obvious Angel is running, but from what, not even Arion is completely sure at the start. That doesn’t mean he’s losing her again; no matter what happens, Arion’s keeping Angel. 

The premise of this story as you can is good. I loved Arion, especially how committed he was to helping Angel heal, and while I initially like Angel, she honestly got on my nerves more than a few times before the story was over. I think where this story suffered the most, was in the actual execution of the storyline. All the elements for a good book where there: strong characters, nice setting, something a bit unusual, etc. Still, the majority of the events transpired in a week and that, combined with the fact that we knew so little about Angel and Arion’s past relationship, made it hard for me to really appreciate them as a a couple. At the same time, the problem Angel is running from is pretty big, but I thought she didn’t always handle things correctly. She’s the one who ran to Arion for help, but everytime he tried to do something nice for her, Angel pushed him away, to the point where she turned into a real b***h. I know some reviews have said Arion was a bit too possessive and [maybe just as bad as Nick] but I got where Arion was coming from and I thought Angel didn’t try to understand that all, which only helped in me liking her even less. 

Still, the author had a good writing style and the story kept me hooked for the most part, if only to see what would happen next. I’m not completely sure I’d classify this as New Adult, since the events and characters felt a little bit out of that age range. Nonetheless, the story had a nice pace and I know many people might enjoy it. 

Now, here’s one of my favorite Arion quotes, right after he gets Angel a mixed bouquet of lilies, and red and yellow roses. 

“I know that right now, you aren't ready, and I’m okay with that. So I thought this would be a good way to show you friendship is enough for now, but that I won’t stop waiting and hoping for more. Someday our bouquet will be red.”

My Final Take

Real by Katy Evans

A fallen boxer.
A woman with a broken dream.
A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?


My Review

ALERT: Favorite book of the year!

"You go after something because you want it bad enough to expend every one of your efforts to get it and will even risk some losses as you chaser after it.”

I saw this back when it first came out, but wasn't sure if this was something I’d to read, especially after seeing very mixed reviews about it. That said, when Remy blazed through the NA Crush Tourney, coming in second place after having gone against some real heavy hitters, my interest was more than peaked. When I saw this go on sale, I had no more excuses not to read it. So what are my thoughts? People are right I didn't like this, not one bit…I loved it!

This book starts out simple enough. Brooke Dumas is a recent sports rehab graduate who one night accompanies her best friend, Melanie, to an underground fight. Apparently one fighter, Remington “Riptide” Tate, has half the female’s population (including Melanie’s) panties in a twist. Once Brooke gets a look at him, even she can’t disagree. 

“He has black hair, standing up sexily as if women have just had their fingers there. Cheekbones as strong as his jaw and forehead. Lips that are red-kissed and swollen, and as a souvenir from his walk to the ring, there’s a lipstick on his jaw. I look down his long, lean body and something hot and will settle in my core. “

Just one look between these two was enough to know there was chemistry there and apparently enough of it that when Brooke tries to exit the fight, Remy KOs his opponent to leave the ring and go after her. After that night, Brooke meets up with Remy again at another fight, and rather than sleep with her (as Brooke expects) he offers her a job, something Brooke needs. Confused and unsure of Remy’s intent, Brooke still accepts and from then on a roller coaster of emotions ensues. 

I know many people had a problem with Brooke (and her bodily functions, apparently), but that wasn't an issue for me. She was strong, determined and I liked that she didn’t bend to Remy, wanting always more from him. After having her Olympic dreams shattered, one might expect her to whine or complain, but that was never an issue. Her main focus was on moving forward while all the while making sure Remy was at his best, both physically and emotionally. Though she wasn't sure about Remy’s feelings for her (even when it was kind of obvious), I loved how she always sought the best for him. She demanded he give her his all and it was great to see how she persisted with that, even when her feelings wanted her to go another way. It showed she wasn't weak. That’s not to say she didn’t commit mistakes or that at the end  leaving Remy was pretty low and after what he confessed to her about everyone always leaving, I wished she would have talked it out with him. That said, I loved that Remy made her grovel a bit. Quite refreshing to have the heroine and not the hero mess up

While I like Brooke, Remy stole the show for me. He was hot, intense, demanding, incredibly sweet and just plain confusing at times. Still, I loved every minute of him. The way he kissed Brooke, how they exchanged songs to say what they were feeling (awesome!), his hesitation at hurting Brooke and ultimately, what he did for her in the end; everything Remy did won me over entirely. The secret Remy was keeping was pretty big, and I like how it played into the story. Though it seemed at tad bit over the top at times [ the whole sedating thing, seemed kind of off, and that’s coming from a pre-med (] I still think it added to what was a great story. 

All in all, if you’re looking for a passionate romance, the kind that builds you up with every second of it, only to have you bursting at the seams once it comes to fruition, Real is the book for you. Katy Evans' debut was incredible and the kind of book I couldn't put down till the end. I loved how nothing was overly predictable to me, and the story and characters were all refreshing. Definitely can’t wait to get my hands on Mine now!

“ You've claimed me, little firecracker. You kicked a pair of two hundred pound men’s asses. I will never get over that. You kicked my whores out. Pete told me. You staked your claim on me, even before you realized I’d staked mine already.” He fists my hair and pulls me close to his lips. “I’m yours now … Even if I screw this up, I’ll still be your screw-up.”


My Final Take

Into the Deep by Samantha Young

Live young. Live hard. Love deep.

Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another.

And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep…

My Review

“From the moment we’d met, he’d dragged me into the deep, swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He’d waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown”

First off, I want to thank Samantha Young, not for providing me this ARC (because that’s just the icing on the cake) but rather for being such an incredibly awesome writer! Honestly, if I thought this woman could write, her foray into the New Adult world blew my expectations out of the water! So now, without further ado, I’ll try and assemble my thoughts into some semblance of a review, because honestly, all I feel like doing is gushing. 

This book starts off with Charley Redford, a seemingly normal college girl whose recently moved to Edinburgh, Scotland with her best friend, Claudia, to spend the year studying abroad. As part of them trying to integrate themselves into their new environment, they attend a party a new friend, Beck, invites them to. Not even a few minutes into the party Charley sees him – Jacob Caplin – her ex-boyfriend and the one person Charley never prepared herself to see again, lest a whole continent away from where they first met. From the get-go, just from reading through all the emotions Charley experiences from catching Jake's gaze randomly at a party, I was left breathless. It’s clear to the reader (and to everyone else around her) that not only is Charley not over her ex, but whatever happened between them clearly shattered this girl. And so the story begins. 

For the most part, though the story is all told from Charley’s perspective in present time, about three quarters of the book also includes alternating chapters that detail Charley and Jake’s relationship four years prior in Indiana. To be honest, I’m not a fan of retrospective in books…ever. I feel they have the potential to drag down a story, making them slower to get through (and even tedious). With that said, I can’t imagine Samantha Young telling this story any other way. Some of my favorites scenes in this book were from the retrospects! Not only did those chapters add a nice reprieve from all the heavy feelings and confusion that muddled Jake and Charley’s current situation, they also gave the reader a valuable insight into what a great couple these two were …which honestly left me even more confused as to what had happened to them. Wanting to find out the why then, not only had me ripping through the pages, it also made it clear that nothing was completely black and white where these two were concerned. Without spoiling anything, I knew a love like Jake and Charley shared couldn't have shattered so easily, but that doesn't mean they didn't have serious issues to work through. At the end of it, I was glad to see these two could finally find peace. 

“I don’t know.” Jake’s expression grew serious. “Is it possible to move on from a girl like you?”
I laughed softly. “Nice line”
Jake smiled, running a hand through his messy dark hair. “I’m not sure that was a line.”

I really enjoyed Charley’s character. When the book starts out, she’s funny and smart, and always armed with wickedly funny comebacks that earn her the name of “smartass.” It’s not until I read the flashbacks that I got a sense of how much her heartbreak changed her. Present day Charley is a lot more cynical and insecure than her younger-self, and with good reason. The love of her life rejected her and appears to be moving on seamlessly. Still, I felt she acted pretty mature given her circumstance. I liked how she wasn't afraid to call Jake on his bull while at the same time trying to stay empathetic to his side of the situation. 

His chest rumbled underneath my cheek as he chuckled. “I’m here because you crack me up. You never bore me. You surprise me. That’s why. Not because you made me work for it."

Jake Caplin. What can I say. From the moment he came on scene, with a girlfriend no less (who I’m sad to say shared my namesake), I wanted to hate him. The gall he had, coming to a place he knew Charley would be at, and all the while appearing to be fine, was more than enough reason for me not like him. But seeing him through Charley’s eyes both in present and past, I couldn't help but also fall for Jake’s charm. Like I said earlier, nothing’s quite black and white with these two. Though Charley doesn't want to see it, it’s obvious to the reader that Jake’s not completely over everything and still has feelings for her. Watching them wade through their feelings was a combination of funny, and frustrating and swoon-worthy and just plain heartbreaking at times. Still, at no point did I have any doubts that Jake Caplin was a pretty awesome guy who in youth made some pretty big mistakes. All I can say, is that when you read this (which you need to) give Jake a chance. Samantha Young knows how to write these swoony-alpha males in a way that makes you helpless but to fall for them. 

Speaking of characters, I loved about all the side-characters in this book, with the exception of Melissa (which again, was weird). Charley and Jake’s group of friends were hilarious and written in such a way that I felt like I was a part of their dynamic every time they came on scene. Beck, Jake’s best friend, and Claudia, Charley’s best friend, were the best! Not only were they loyal and a good sounding board for their friends, but their sexual chemistry was pretty explosive. I can only hope they get together before either of them strangles the other. Now, though I would love to see Beck and Claudia get resolution (and maybe a story), the only one I’m going to plead for is Lowe. I ADORED LOWE! A friend of Jake, Lowe’s the lead vocalist of the Stolen (a band he and Beck form a part of). Though he flirts with Charley initially, nothing happens, except for him becoming such a good friend to her. I found myself swooning for real whenever he spoke and when I went to check my highlights, half of them were things Lowe had said :D So Samantha Young, please write Lowe a story, because honestly, this guy needs his own HEA!

Though it was a pretty long book, Samantha Young’s writing was seamless and I loved how lyrical it turned at times, especially when describing the breath-taking settings. Except towards the end, the story never dragged and even then, it was more my frustration with the whole Melissa situation.  At the end of the book, we’re told that Jake and Charley’s story will continue in a second installment (Out of the Shallows) that comes out next year. Now, though there will be a second book, that doesn't mean this ended with a cliffhanger or badly. Much to the contrary, Jake and Charley got a really nice and happy ending, making it obvious they're at a much better place. That said, after everything they've been through, issues do remain, not only for Jake and Charley, but for side characters, like Beck and Claudia. It'll be fun to see what Samantha Young will do with these characters next. Until then, this is a definite must buy! If you're a fan of New Adult, romance, alpha-males, great friends, and stories about redemption, then this is the read for you!


My Final Take

And here's my casting for Jake and Charley:

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

 "One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

My Review

If I could give any book 10 stars this one would definitely take that and more. I've been a fan of Y.A. contemporary for years, with my favorite author being of course Mrs. Dessen, but Huntley Fitzpatrick took me for a loop here, because her debut was fantastic!

Samantha Reed lives next door to the Garretts. The Garretts, a large family (8 kids and counting, roughly about one or two years apart) are fun, loving, loud, messy and just plain amazing. This of course is everything Samantha's perfectionist mother (who I admit has some deep set issues) abhors. Due to that, Samantha lives a great majority of her life just watching the Garretts from afar. 

One of my favorite things about contemporary reads in the Y.A genre is that the protagonist always seems to grow up, whether physically or metaphorically, throughout the course of the book. As the reader, I always feel as though I go on the journeys these characters face. By far, this was one of the best journeys. Samantha Reed was such a strong character. She starts out rather weak, easily bending to whatever her mother or sister ask of her, but as she meets the Garretts and shares in their love of life and the simple things, she finally finds something worth fighting for. To help her along the way is Jase Garrett, the third child in the family. Though it’s obvious from the starts that he likes Samantha, he never pushes her. Instead, he’s always there, understanding and listening. Both of them had so many opportunities where I thought they would act immature or run away from their problems, but their relationship was strong as a rock and I found that not only refreshing but endearing as well. 

The entire story spans out over one summer, so it’s the perfect summer read in that sense. During this summer, Samantha finds more time by herself as her sister is away for the summer and her mother has immersed herself in a new man and her re-election campaign for state senator. Therefore, Samantha can easily hang with the Garretts and Jase without anyone finding out. It would seem like Samantha was ashamed of being with the Garretts, but it was very much the contrary, and I totally got why she didn’t want to share the news with anybody. It’s like when something really good happens to you, but you’re afraid to share it for fear that any bad thing will deter from your happiness. 

The Garretts were a great family and the author surprised me in her depiction of them. For being such a big group of people, the author made sure each stood out and had something distinctive about them. Joel was the oldest, Alice the maneater, Jase the sweetheart/mechanic, Andy the young and unsure teenager, Duff the brain, Harry the troublemaker, George the most adorable thing on the face of this planet and Patsy with boob and poop (you’ll have to read to understand that last one). Out of them George was by far my favorite Garrett, after Jase of course, and I couldn't stop myself from laughing hysterically at all the things that came out of his mouth. All in all, the Garretts really give Samantha a feel for what a family really is, something she lacks since her mother is so absent due to her campaigning. Of course, there is eventually a major source of conflict in the book which puts all the characters through the ringer. The way that it was handled though was great, keeping me at the edge of my seat, tears about to burst and later making me smile so big.

Definitely as a debut, Huntley Fitzpatrick wows her readers. Her writing is solid and though an adult, her portrayal of the teenagers and their doings is so on point. Furthermore, I loved how realistic her story was. The romance was sweet but unrushed. Never was anything sugar coated or perfect, but rather her characters faced reality and the fact that there is power in truth, even if it isn't always ideal. All In all I more than recommend you pick up this book, because it was amazingly good! Can’t wait to see what more this author can give. 

My Final Take

And now, a quote from George

"Did you know that in space it's very, very cold? And there's no oxygen? And if an astronaut fell out of a shuttle without his suit he'd die right away?"

I'm a fast learner. "But that would never happen. Because astronauts are really, really careul."

George gives me a smile, the same dazzling sweet smile as his big brother, although at this point, with green teeth. "I might marry you," he allows. "Do you want a big family?"

Hello!

Hey lovelies!

I don't know where to start this, but I think the beginning is always best!

My name is Melissa N. Rodriguez and I'm currently a college senior. I wanted to start this blog, because honestly, I love to read! I review somewhat frequently on my account on Goodreads, but I thought it be nice to have some kind of forum where I could organize them all. Though I've wanted to start  blog for a while, I'm was a bit hesitant  because me being a pre-med major kind of means time's a little tight for me. But still, I want to see how this goes.

The blog's named bookish and girly, because though I love to read, I also love girly things too (makeup especially) so there might be posts on that too (but I'm not sure yet).

I've been reading since I was a kid and before that I remember my parents reading to me, so books have always been a big part of my life. For a long time, I was in love with the Young Adult genre  but recently, New Adult and Adult Contemporary books have been big on my radar. I imagine posts will vary between book reviews, suggestions, hauls, special posts, etc. Since it's my first time doing this, I'll see how things go. For a while, I'll be uploading a mix of old and new reviews, so I hope you all enjoy.

If any of you are on Goodreads, I love meeting other book lovers, so add me. Also, don't be afraid to comment on my reviews and tell me what you want to see then.

Till then, keep on reading!