Tag: romance

YA

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Hundred Oaks #1

Score_CVR.inddONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she’s ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he’s also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan’s feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart’s on the line? 

 

1.5 Drink Me Potions

I’m not even sure it’s really worth this high of a rating, but Catching Jordan felt like a book I had to make myself finish, which is never really a good sign.

Jordan Woods, known just by her last name to her fellow teammates, was a nice enough protagonist. She was different. A tomboy who didn’t care much about her appearance or dresses – granted, she was taller than most other guys at 6 feet – but who just wanted to play ball as her career after high school. Her life was exactly where she wanted it to be, with scouts potentially looking at her performance as quarterback (yes, a female quarterback, which is pretty darn cool).

She had a good relationship with her team of guys, particularly close to three of them. JJ was your stereotypical jock with the bulking size and plenty of girls he “used” to relax from the stress of the games. Carter was the quieter and I suppose, the “least jock-like”, with no girlfriend and going home to practice his technique all the time. Then there was Henry. Oh, dear Sam Henry. I liked him. He was Woods’ best friend and he was hilarious half the time. Their platonic friendship was nice.

Of course, then things had to get complicated. One look at the handsome Ty Green and Jordan Woods was gone. Started trying to wear tighter T-shirts to school and brushing out her hair (which she never did). And once she actually decided it was worth getting together with Ty (and sleeping with him in the first go), she finds out Henry’s feelings for her wasn’t altogether platonic after all.

Literally a day after she was with Ty, she starts moping for Henry Continue reading “Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally” →

YA

Review: Ruined by Amy Tintera

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Ruined #1

ruined -amy tinteraEmelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.

But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.

In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.

Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.

4 Drink Me Potions

Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

**Ruined comes out May 3, 2016**

I am a huge fan of Amy Tintera and her latest novel, starting an epic new trilogy, is no exception. Ruined is the fantasy book I’ve been waiting for this year. It is action-packed, brimming with betrayal and love and fear, as we follow one young woman’s quest in taking down a nation who nearly wiped out her whole race.

Em was a kick-ass heroine. She is one of the last of the Ruined’s royal family still alive. In this land where Ruined were graced with immense power and magic, they are now sought out and hunted as the other kingdoms feared what they are capable of. Out for revenge, she plots this absolutely crazy plan to take down her enemies, almost single handedly.

And the craziest thing of all? She doesn’t even have any Ruined magic in her.

Yes, this book sounds a little like Red Queen but Continue reading “Review: Ruined by Amy Tintera” →

YA

Review: Down with the Shine by Kate Karyus Quinn

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

down with the shine -kate karyus quinnThere’s a reason they say “be careful what you wish for.” Just ask the girl who wished to be thinner and ended up smaller than Thumbelina, or the boy who asked for “balls of steel” and got them-literally. And never wish for your party to go on forever. Not unless you want your guests to be struck down by debilitating pain if they try to leave.

These are things Lennie only learns when it’s too late-after she brings some of her uncles’ moonshine to a party and toasts to dozens of wishes, including a big wish of her own: to bring back her best friend, Dylan, who was abducted and murdered six months ago.

Lennie didn’t mean to cause so much chaos. She always thought her uncles’ moonshine toast was just a tradition. And when they talked about carrying on their “important family legacy,” she thought they meant good old-fashioned bootlegging.

As it turns out, they meant granting wishes. And Lennie has just granted more in one night than her uncles would grant in a year.

Now she has to find a way to undo the damage. But once granted, a wish can’t be unmade…

 

3.5 Drink Me Potions

Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

**Down with the Shine comes out April 26, 2016**

This story had its dark moments but it never quite felt that way due to the whimsical manner in which it was written.

Or it could just be because wish-granting made it seem less serious since (hopefully!) you could wish the terrible things undone.

Down with the Shine was immediately not what I had originally expected. Lennie was named after her infamous father, a known robber and killer on the FBI’s Top Ten Watch list or something. This made her very unpopular among her peers, and hence, the understandably low self-esteem and “play it safe” look on life.

Oh, and also? Her best friend was murdered and chopped into individual pieces. Continue reading “Review: Down with the Shine by Kate Karyus Quinn” →