Book Labyrinth

July 23, 2014

Boomerang by Noelle August

Boomerang by Noelle August (pen name for Veronica Rossi and Lorin Oberweger)
Release Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 304
Series: Boomerang #1
Review Source: Edelweiss

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

The first book in a sensational New Adult trilogy from Noelle August.

Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?

My Thoughts:
This book is so. incredibly. cute, and it made me very happy. If you’re looking for a romance that is relatively light and will make you smile, I absolutely recommend Boomerang.

This book features characters that are fully fleshed out, including the secondary characters. From the main characters’ co-workers to their friends and roommates, to their families: all of them were great. There’s quite a large supporting cast, but I found everyone so easy to keep track of because of how interesting and unique they were.

As for our main characters, Mia and Ethan had awesome chemistry. The forbidden nature of their relationship (because of their office’s no dating policy) helped keep their attraction at a drawn out sizzle, but either way it was clear that these two were fabulous together. I loved Mia's ambition and passion for film and creativity, and I adored Ethan's kindness and his love for coaching kid’s soccer. The joy he got out of motivating and helping people was adorable, and really spoke to his character.

Boomerang is an awesome New Adult read. It’s definitely romance focused, but it’s also so much about that important “what’s next?” question, about the characters figuring out their next step. I loved the swoony romantic tension and the fact that, while it features a couple of angsty moments, it mainly has a happy and sweet feel to it. New Adult fans, definitely pick this one up!

The Cover:
I don't feel like it represents the book very well at all, but purely based on looks I love the cover.

Rating:

July 18, 2014

London Falling by Chanel Cleeton (+ Giveaway)

London Falling by Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Pages: 282
Series: International School #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

We weren't a relationship, we were a ticking time bomb...

Maggie Carpenter walked away from the hottest encounter of her life when she left the seductive glitz of England for summer break in her South Carolina hometown. Now that she’s returned to the International School in London—and sexy, privileged Samir Khouri is once again close enough to touch—she can’t help but remember the attraction, the drama … the heartbreak.

She can’t help but want him even more.

Samir can’t afford to fall for someone so far removed from his world, not when his time in London is running out. It's his senior year—his last chance at freedom before he returns home to Lebanon. There, he’ll be expected to follow in his father’s footsteps—not follow his heart to Maggie. But when a scorching secret hookup becomes a temptation neither can resist, they’ll both have to fight to survive the consequences … and find a future together.

Don’t miss this explosive sequel to I See London, and the riveting conclusion to Maggie and Samir’s story. This is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.

My Thoughts:
Samir + Maggie = OTP. Seriously. I've been dying for this book since I read the first one, and in spite of that fact London Falling completely lived up to my expectations. After the first book you kind of expect a swoony but completely angsty and painful read, and that’s exactly what you get here. In a masochistic way I liked that it wasn't easy for these two. Even when it was painful (and oh gosh it was PAINFUL), it was real. I mean, there are completely serious and realistic reasons why Samir and Maggie shouldn’t be able to make it work long term, so it made sense that things wouldn’t be easy.

Beyond the romance, which is obviously the focus of the book, I liked the character journeys that Samir and Maggie go through. It took longer than I'd like for them to stop being so dense, but again, I appreciated it at the same time, because it felt true to character. To put it simply, I loved this book. London Falling is a steamy, sweet, and emotional New Adult romance that I recommend to all fans of the category.

The Cover:
Generally like.

Rating:

GIVEAWAY:

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July 16, 2014

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally + Giveaway

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: July 15, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 306
Series: Hundred Oaks #5
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

My Thoughts:
Miranda’s books always fill me with so much emotion. I’m kind of over the saying “all the feels”, but that really is what Miranda’s books do to me. Her books have such a conversational tone to them, and I always find it so easy to connect with the main character. Annie is no exception to this, and I was quickly swept away in her story. I found it believable and relatable, and I quickly devoured this book.

There are many books which have characters who start to run, or already do so, as a “way to clear their head”, almost so much that it’s become a trope. Thankfully Annie’s story is completely different, and the way running is presented makes it central to the story instead of a throwaway fact. Annie is training to run a marathon in her boyfriend’s honour, as he was training to complete one before he died. I loved how Annie doesn’t start off as a runner, or sporty in any way. It’s simply her passion and determination to do this for Kyle that gets her through the rigorous training. I loved how it presented running as something that’s difficult, but that can be done by anyone willing to put in the effort.

As in all of Miranda’s books, the romance in Breath, Annie, Breathe is a great one. Jeremiah and Annie start off in a whirlwind because of their chemistry (really, there's a scene that kind of comes out of nowhere), but I was glad to see things slow down. Their relationship becomes a friendship and a slow burn of something more while Annie figures things out. There were many beautiful scenes of Annie going through the grieving process over Kyle, and I found it very realistic that she wondered whether she would be willing to open up in that way again. She didn't want to risk getting hurt and losing the person she loves again, especially since Jeremiah is a thrill seeker and adrenaline addict. Jere was such a lovely character, being patient with Annie and believing that waiting is worth it. I like that he was flawed and irritatingly clueless in some circumstances, yet he's a good guy, a sweet guy. He's still growing up, and seeing Annie become a big part of this was very sweet. I liked the two of them together, and I especially loved seeing Jere's family see them together. One of Miranda's past main characters, Matt, is Jeremiah's older brother, and his going from warning Annie about Jere to liking the two of them together is a sweet process.

I always inhale Miranda’s books. They’re smart and interesting and swoony. Miranda brings something to contemporary YA that I don't see in a lot of other books. Her books are about so many things, but they always involve some issue of class and what it's like to work hard for what you have. This is just one aspect of the book, but it's hugely important, and it's something that I find missing in most books. I love that Miranda's books are so down to earth and truthful about about romance, about what it’s like in high school and looking toward the future. I highly recommend Breathe, Annie, Breathe and all of Miranda's books to fans of contemporary YA.

The Cover:
I like it, although I wish it fit with the other covers in the companion series.

Rating:

About Miranda:
Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

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

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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