One Broke Girl by Rhonda Helms

One Broke Girl by Rhonda Helms
Release Date: April 3, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 117
Series: Edgewood Falls #1
Review Source: ARC for review through Xpresso Book Tours

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Anna Parker’s life disintegrates with one phone call. Her dad’s selling their ritzy New York City condo because her Wall Street banker mom emptied their bank account and ran off with another man. Which means Anna has to drop out of her elite college and move with Dad back to their small Ohio hometown. Anna’s determined to reclaim her life ASAP, so she’ll use the next few months to save money, help Dad get back on his feet, and find and confront her mom.

But Anna doesn’t anticipate things going so wrong. The only job she can get is working as a lunch lady in an elementary school. Their money-pit duplex is falling apart around their feet. And her dad is depressed without her mom, who's proving hard to find.

One bright spot in the chaos is Gavin Metcalf, a kindergarten teacher she dated when they were young teens. With his easy wit and sexy smiles, he makes her forget her stresses—and the fact that her boyfriend Steven back in New York doesn’t know the truth yet about her dire circumstances. When past and present collide, Anna has to decide where her future lies...

My Thoughts:
Overall One Broke Girl is a sweet story. I definitely rooted for Anna and Gavin to be together. I also liked the overall message of the book, that sometimes the life you end up with isn’t what you planned, but it might be the perfect one for you. I also liked how Anna learned about the satisfaction of hard work, something she previously had no experience with. I also enjoyed the scenes of Anna with her new friends. Anything with supportive female friendship automatically makes a book better, in my opinion.

The main reason why I did love this book is because of its length. I fully believe that you can tell a well-rounded story in the length of a novella, but in One Broke Girl things felt rushed. The character development, the new romance, and resolving the situation with Anna’s mom all happened so quickly. All of these things could have been more meaningful if there was a gradual change in the situations.

Overall? Not a favourite, but a decent read. If you're looking for a short New Adult book that you can read in one sitting, this one would likely satisfy.

The Cover:
Love!

Rating:
[3/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble

Christmas Catch by Chelsea M. Cameron

Christmas Catch by Chelsea M. Cameron
Release Date: October 25, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 72
Series: n/a
Review Source: eARC from Ink Slinger PR

Synopsis:

Two years ago, when Ivy Emerson bailed from the tiny fishing village she’d grown up in to go to Columbia, Sawyer McCallister was the only thing she was sad to leave behind, and she still didn’t look back. But when her mother guilts her into coming home for Christmas, she crashes headfirst into Sawyer, who’s also returned after being away.

Now that they’ve both been dragged back to Saltwater, Maine, they might just realize it’s where they belong. Together.

My Thoughts:
This was a sweet novella! I fell very quickly for Ivy and her family, and for the relationship between Ivy and Sawyer.

I’d actually love to read this story in full-length novel form, because then I’d get to spend even more time with the characters and get even more details and back story. However, what we’re given here is pretty great. I loved the history between Ivy and Sawyer, and how it couldn’t help but be repeated. I also enjoyed the open happy ending. There’s the promise of something good, and a reassurance that the characters will have their happily ever after, even if you don’t know the specific details of how.

A very fun Christmas novella, well worth checking out.

The Cover:
Would have liked it more Christmas-y, but it's not too bad.

Rating:
[4/5]

Purchase Links:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Where to find Chelsea:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

For more information on all 12 New Adult Christmas novellas, visit

http://www.newadult12.com

Off the Market by Magan Vernon (Promo)

OFF THE MARKET by Magan Vernon

Etta Davis didn't have showing a house penciled into her Christmas plans, but with the other realtors already off enjoying their holiday, she'd been stuck with the task. It wasn't all bad though, the house up for grabs used to belong to the family of her high school sweetheart, Andrew Lawson. Though now dilapidated, thanks to its current owners, it still held the power to bring back forgotten memories and turn the routine showing into something else entirely.

Particularly when Andrew shows up, wanting to buy the house. Now Etta must decide whether a second chance is worth taking the house, and her heart, off the market.

Excerpt from Off the Market:

I looked over the garage at the now rusted backboard. It seemed like only yesterday that Andrew stood on the ladder, wearing his new Bulls jersey, forcing me to stand in the driveway to make sure he got it centered over the garage. The backboard was still crooked, just like it always was since I didn't have a keen eye for getting it level. But Andrew didn't move it. He said he loved it just the way it was because it was my version of straight and he loved me.

Love. That was a word I hadn't heard in a long time. I had a brief string of bad dates in college and my mom always tried to set me up on dates with her friends’ or co-workers’ sons, but none of them worked out. None of them had that spark. That thing that made my stomach do somersaults.

I stepped out of the car, shaking the thoughts of my past life out of my head while my heels dug into the freshly fallen snow. I cursed myself for not putting on some sort of winter footwear. It was a holiday after all, so the client couldn't have complained about my footwear when he was the one inconveniencing me.

I walked up the small path way, now lined with broken solar powered lights, to the big white door. Quickly, I swiped my broker card in the realtor lock box. The green light blinked and I pushed open the door.

There hadn't been more than a handful of showings in the year the house had been listed, but I never once showed it. I was always afraid to come back. Afraid it would have the same feeling as it had now. Like I was coming home.

I'd spent more time in the now faded foyer, underneath the broken chandelier, than I did in my parents’ house. There were prom pictures taken on the grand staircase and nights I spent cuddled with Andrew on the living room couch across from the now dilapidated fireplace.

Mrs. Lawson used to keep the house so nice. She always had candles burning and every single light fixture would shine. The owners after the Lawsons obviously didn't have as much pride in their home. It didn't take long for the bank to foreclose on it and for my real estate company to get tapped to re-sell it. I almost wished I could buy it myself, fix it up and restore it back to its former glory. But I had neither the money nor the time for such things. My life had become my work and without a family of my own there was really no need for the grand four-bedroom house.

A soft knock came at the front door.

"That must be the client. He'd better put in an offer," I muttered, smoothing out my skirt and walking to the front door.

"Hello, I'm —"

I stopped, my mouth still wide open, because standing in the doorway was one of the former residents of the house, Andrew Lawson.

Buy Off the Market:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Where to find Magan:
Website | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter | Goodreads

There's still time to enter the 12 NAs blitz giveaway, so check that out HERE.

For more information on all 12 New Adult Christmas novellas, visit

http://www.newadult12.com

All Over You by Beverley Kendall

Note: This book was previously published under the title "Those Nights in Montreal"

All Over You by Beverley Kendall
Release Date: May 6, 2013
Publisher: Season Publishing LLC
Pages: 138
Series: Unforgettable You #1.5
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
An ex is an ex for a reason

To Rebecca Winters, it’s not just a saying or the title to a catchy tune, it’s a rule she staunchly lives by. Especially since the break up with her ex. What’s the point in trying to fix the “unfixable”? Besides, only a girl hell-bent on more heartbreak would go back to the guy who bailed on her when she needed him most. But saying no to Scott is becoming more difficult than surviving the breakup itself. And unfortunately for her, the kind of pressure he's exerting is making her rule all too easy to break.

Scott Carver has given up trying to get over his ex. He’s still in love with her and their year apart has done nothing to change that. Yeah, he knows he screwed up. Just how royally, he wasn't aware of until now. So when Becca agrees to give him a second chance, he grabs on to it with both hands. But it’s clear the only way things will ever truly be right between them is if he comes clean…about everything. He can only pray the truth doesn’t send her running—for good this time.

My Thoughts:
This was a longer novella where I liked the writing style and the story itself. The idea of getting back with an ex after a complicated breakup and time apart was interesting, especially after being introduced to the characters in the first book of this series (Only For You aka When in Paris).

While there were a lot of great things about this novella, what I didn't care for was all of Rebecca's manipulations. She's a sweet girl and she had been hurting from things in her past, but continually testing Scott and saying one thing but meaning another got a bit old. What I did love is that even when the characters were making decisions that drove me crazy, I still found myself enjoying the story and wanting to read on to the happy ending.

Overall this one is well worth reading, especially because of the currently free price tag. I liked the first book a lot, this novella was enjoyable, and I’m very much looking forward to reading book two in the series, which is April and Troy's story.

The Cover:
Better than the first book, though not particularly meaningful (a skiing cover would be great!).

Rating:
[3/5]

Find All Over You by Beverley Kendall on Goodreads & Amazon (currently free!).

Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer

Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Kensington Teen
Pages: 65
Series: Elemental #2.5
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Too many secrets. Not enough time.

Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.

But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.

His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.

He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

My Thoughts:
My first thoughts after reading this book? "Nick, you really need a hug."

It’s not often that I fall in love with a novella. I know the point of them is that they’re shorter than a novel, but I usually find them too short. I tend to want more of the story, or more of that character. It helps knowing that we're getting a full book featuring Nick, but in this case I wasn't left wanting at all. To me, 'Breathless' is a perfect piece of fiction that captures a specific moment in time and a specific feeling.

It’s hard to review a piece of this length without spoiling the plot, but it’s safe to say that you never would have guessed at this side of Nick without being in his head. ‘Breathless’ features Nick’s struggles with his powers and with family expectations in a multitude of ways. ‘Breathless’ is about having to admit to yourself first who you are, before you can embrace it and share it with others.

‘Breathless’ also gives us a deeper look at Quinn, a character who I never really cared for previously. While she's still not my favourite, you can't help but feel sad for her family situation and understand a bit where she's coming from.

Basically? Brigid Kemmerer writes absolutely amazing characters who have incredibly emotional journeys. This novella is no exception to her immense talent. I loved the story and the potential it gives us for Spirit (Hunter’s book), and especially for Siege (Nick’s book).

If you haven’t yet read the Elementals series, be sure to pick up Storm soon. You won’t be disappointed.

The Cover:
I have to say that these covers aren't my favourites, which is unfortunate, because the books are AMAZING.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer on Goodreads & Amazon.