Tour Review & Giveaway: When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill

When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 368
Series: n/a
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis:

In the tradition of New Adult superstar Jessica Sorensen, Ellie Cahill’s debut novel is a charming friends-with-benefits story . . . with a twist!

What if after every bad breakup, there was someone to help “cleanse your palate”—someone who wouldn’t judge you, who was great in bed, someone you were sure not to fall in love with? “Sorbet sex” could solve everything—as long as it never got too sweet.

Joss and Matt have been friends since freshman year of college, meeting one night after Joss is dumped by her boyfriend. After a few drinks, Matt humors her with a proposition: that he’ll become her go-to guy whenever she needs to heal a broken heart. In return, she’ll do the same for him. The #1 Rule: They’ll never fall in love with each other. People scoff at the arrangement. But six years later, Joss and Matt are still the best of friends . . . with benefits.

Through a string of boyfriends and girlfriends—some almost perfect, some downright wrong—Joss and Matt are always there for each other when the going gets tough. No strings. No attachments. Piece of cake. No problem. After all, since they wrote the rules, surely they can play by them. Or can they?

My Thoughts:
THIS BOOK. I read a lot of books, so it really means something when it’s been months since I’ve read a book and I still remember not only a lot of details about it, but also how much it made me feel. And this book? It totally made me feel. It was a completely frustrating reading experience at times, because of how long it took the characters to see how good they were together. I mean, they couldn’t admit how they felt to themselves let alone to the other person, so it definitely took a while. But it was gorgeous, swoonworthy frustration. There are just so many good moments in When Joss Met Matt (including non-romantic ones, such as Joss with her cat).

It takes talent to tell a story of flashbacks mixed with the present and I think the author did an awesome job of it. Towards the beginning I kept wanting to know more of the present, but very quickly the book hit a groove and the way things were presented fit so well in the present context. It was amazing to see Joss and Matt’s friendship evolve and experience how they always belonged to one another even when they didn't know it. I completely fell in love with these characters and I loved how they developed throughout the book. It was especially awesome to see Joss grow up, especially when she had the realization about Matt.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was that there was a decent chunk of story at the end when we were caught up with the present and got to be along on the emotional journey with Joss. It’s not often that I fall in love with a book that is basically only about sex/romance, but I think I liked the characters and wanted them to be together so much that it worked for me. It was enough about them as individuals growing to a place where they were ready for the relationship that it stopped it from being one dimensional.

Overall I found this book to be a lot of fun. It was certainly frustrating at times, but it was also lovely and funny and sweet. A great New Adult romance.

The Cover:
Not amazing, but okay. I like the title placement.

Rating:
[5/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Praise for When Joss Met Matt:

“Hands down, one of my favorite New Adult reads . . . Ellie Cahill is definitely one to watch!” — New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack

“This is one of those books that make you forget everything around you. Prepare to be consumed by this story.” — Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of Wild

“Fun, sexy, and full of amazing chemistry, When Joss Met Matt is an entertaining escape that will leave you smiling with every turn of the page.” — Cassie Mae, author of The Real Thing

About Ellie:
Ellie Cahill is a freelance writer and also writes books for young adults under the name Liz Czukas. She lives outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband, son, and the world’s loudest cat.

Where to find Ellie:
Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Instagram

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to follow along with the blog tour on Ellie's site.

Loving You is Easy by Wendy S. Marcus

Loving You is Easy by Wendy S. Marcus
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
Pages: 276
Series: n/a
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

She’s a survivor of the front lines of politics. He’s a wounded soldier returning home from the battlefield. Can they place their trust in the power of love?

Nobody plays the role of perfect politician’s daughter better than quiet, respectable math teacher Brooke Ellstein. But she won’t be caught swimming with the sharks again, not after the son of a wealthy donor sinks his teeth into her and gets away with it. Still, political connections have their perks, such as heading up the governor’s “Support Our Troops” pen-pal initiative—and getting first dibs on the smoking-hot sergeant whose picture shakes her right down to her goody-two-shoes.

When corresponding with sweet, classy Brooke, Shane Develen instinctively hides his commando tattoos and blue-collar roots—and he can tell that she’s hiding something, too. But Shane knows he’s gained her trust when Brooke gives him a blisteringly sexy photo. Then he’s injured in an ambush and a fellow soldier posts the snapshot online. Overnight, Brooke’s reputation turns to ashes. Even though he’s totally wrong for her, Shane shows up on Brooke’s doorstep, determined to set things right—and discovers that right or wrong has nothing on the chemistry they share.

My Thoughts:
Loving You is Easy is one of those books that contains a lot of tropes. The ones I found include: the girl with a mysterious damaged past, the girl with family issues (bonus points: her father is in politics), the injured young vet fresh back from war, and the sex scandal. Now, if I see a book that is too much like every other book out there I get a bit cautious. There's a reason why tropes are tropes, though, and that’s because when they’re done well? They’re irresistible. In this case I loved the characters in Loving You is Easy and I adored the way the story played out. It was deeply emotional -- as in, I had actual tears streaming down my face several times. I could really feel for the characters and their circumstances.

Our main character Brooke is tough. She’s very determined and self-aware. Brooke falls in love with Shane and is willing to wait for him to be ready for the relationship. When Shane comes back from war injured she’s not scared of the situation and is willing to love and support him no matter what. As I mentioned, Brooke has had a hard time with her family, but she’s very strong and brave, distancing herself from a poisonous situation.

Shane first appears to be the typical good time guy, a guy’s guy, but since this is a romance novel, he’s definitely using bravado to cover up the major feels he’s feeling. He doesn’t think he’s good enough for Brooke, and it’s even worse when he comes back injured and his ego is bruised along with his body. On top of that he has PTSD and thinks of himself only as weak. Shane is actually dealing pretty well, considering he has no idea where his life is going now that his chosen career is over, and on top of that he’s dealing with the death of his best friend. He’s pretty strong, considering all of that, but Shane only sees the negative: the weakness of his leg and his vision, the nightmares he has, etc.

I really liked that Shane and Brooke had a background of writing letters and emails to each other for years. This gave them a real chemistry straight away that made sense. They knew each other’s deepest secrets, so it was logical that they worked so well together in person. I got a little angry at Shane constantly thinking he wasn’t good enough, but I liked that even when he was trying to push Brooke away he didn’t go into unforgivable territory. So often “heroes” do and say horrible things in the name of “saving” the woman they love, so I’m glad it didn’t go to that level.

Besides the romance, there’s also a whole side plot about sexy pics being leaked online, which actually turned out to be less of the story than I expected. It’s this huge mess of false accusations of Brooke, who is a middle school teacher, sexually abusing her students. I wasn’t sure how I liked the message overall, about the dangers of false reporting and why it’s so dangerous to use just witness testimony, and also how you automatically assume the guilt of the adult in these situations. It worked in the case of the book, but it seemed a dangerous topic to explore, considering how many actual abusers get off scott-free in situations like this. I was afraid this story line would go to the side when the romantic conflict came to the forefront, but I thought the way it was wrapped up was satisfactory, if a bit convenient.

I loved this story for the most part, and found both the main and secondary characters to be interesting. Brooke’s BFF is kind of insane, but I love their relationship. I’m sure we’re getting a book with her and Shane’s army buddy, considering they were pen pals as well, and had some crazy incident between them. I also thought Shane’s family was a hoot, with his mother being lovely and his one sister being absolutely crazzzy. Overall, recommended.

The Cover:
Not bad.

Rating:
[4/5]

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

Harder by Robin York (Tour Review + Giveaway)

Harder by Robin York
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Bantam
Pages: 352
Series: Caroline & West #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

In Robin York’s provocative new novel, two young ex-lovers find themselves together again in the shadow of tragedy—and an intense, undeniable attraction.

Caroline still dreams about West. His warm skin, his taut muscles, his hand sliding down her stomach. Then she wakes up and she’s back to reality: West is gone. And before he left, he broke her heart.

Then, out of the blue, West calls in crisis. A tragedy has hit his family—a family that’s already a fractured mess. Caroline knows what she has to do. Without discussion, without stopping to think, she’s on a plane, flying to his side to support him in any way he needs.

They’re together again, but things are totally different. West looks edgy, angry at the world. Caroline doesn’t fit in. She should be back in Iowa, finalizing her civil suit against the ex-boyfriend who posted their explicit pictures on a revenge porn website. But here she is. Deeply into West, wrapped up in him, in love with him. Still.

They fought the odds once. Losing each other was hard. But finding their way back to each other couldn’t be harder.

My Thoughts:
I liked Robin York’s New Adult debut, Deeper, and I very much enjoyed this second installment as well. That being said, the beginning of this book (perhaps the first third or more?) is brutal to read. It’s really dark and twisty and hard to take. Seriously, Robin York: rip my heart out, why don't you?! To put it bluntly, the book starts with some serious shit going on. It was difficult to read about how much West hates himself and how determined he was to push Caroline away. What he’s been through is A LOT (like, capital letters necessary for emphasis A LOT), but there’s this thing he does to Caroline, and… it may be the worst thing I’ve read in a book for a “hero” to do to the “heroine”. Seriously, it’s really a make it or break it situation, and I can see a lot of readers throwing down the book because of it. I got through it, but I honestly didn't really accept it or forgive it, either.

So, Caroline. If I was Caroline, I definitely wouldn’t have forgiven West or understood him, but I guess that’s the beauty of West and Caroline. On the one hand I, as a reader, was so offended on her behalf. I wanted her to react differently, to rage and kick up a fuss. But I’m also really interested and glad that she didn’t react that way, because that’s not Caroline. Caroline is a constant surprise to me. It’s not that she’s a robot with no feelings, but but she understands West and his motivations. She's willing to look past things, she's willing to forgive him, but she's also not going to take anything from him. Caroline challenges West to be a bigger and better man, and even though she's hurt by his actions, she doesn't let him get away with pushing her away. I admire Caroline, because she’s very complex, and she interests me because her process for everything is so different from mine.

Somehow, despite all the darkness in this book, I really feel like Caroline and West are MEANT TO BE. I liked the journey of them trying to be together, navigating the darkness and finding their way back to one another. Deeper is really about Caroline finding her way, while Harder is about West finding his. In both stories they find their own way, but have each other to lean on, and I really like that. Another great aspect is West with his little sister. I love how Robin York didn’t write everything as perfect, that because they were together as a family everything was suddenly great. I liked that there were issues and that West was impatient and overbearing at times. It was so fitting that West wanted to control everything about his sister’s life, to make it good in the only way he knew how. He feels like his sister is the one thing that redeems him. Besides Caroline, she's the one good part of his life.

I also appreciated that Harder continued on with the revenge porn plot of the first book, with Caroline finding some justice, in a different way than she first intended. I liked that Caroline’s personality shone through in this way as well, that she uses her ambition and her smarts, that she figures out to stand on her own, separate from what her father wants. Deeper and Harder are not easy reads at all, but they are important ones. They take angst and forbidden romance and the college setting of New Adult and bring everything to a higher intellectual level, with real, important issues being discussed within the pages. They’re books about rising above tough situations, about putting painful pasts behind, about finding the things and people that make life worth living. If you’re looking for a New Adult book with grit and heart, I definitely recommend you read Harder and the first book, Deeper.

The Cover:
Kind of meh? I like that the two match, but they're really not my favourites.

Rating:
[4/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to follow along with the BLOG TOUR for more reviews, excerpts, interviews, etc.

About Robin:
Robin York grew up at a college, went to college, signed on for some more college, and then married a university professor. She still isn’t sure why it didn’t occur to her to write New Adult sooner. Writing as Ruthie Knox, she is a USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary romance, including RITA-finalists About Last Night and Room at the Inn. She moonlights as a mother, makes killer salted caramels, and sorts out thorny plot problems while running, hiking, or riding her bike.

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

Third Degree by Julie Cross

Third Degree by Julie Cross
Release Date: March 25, 2014
Publisher: Flirt (Random House)
Pages: 240
Series: n/a
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Fans of Monica Murphy and Tammara Webber will savor this New Adult novel—a story about coming of age in the heat of the moment—from Julie Cross, the internationally bestselling author of the Tempest trilogy.

I used to be “Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy.” As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity. But now I’m not sure what I am. I just failed the most important exam of my life—the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program—and it turns out my parents can’t stand each other. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I’m shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.

But so far, my roommate hates me and I’m not into the party scene. The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA. Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast. Pretty soon we’re hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship. And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can’t teach me: love. Because I’m going to be alone forever if I don’t learn fast.

My Thoughts:
Third Degree tells the very interesting story of a child prodigy. Isabel was definitely a difficult protagonist to read about. I loved the back story Isabel had, and I liked reading about her journey, but both of those things meant reading about a main character who was hard to identify and empathize with.

Some of my favourite scenes of this book were of Isabel at college, interacting with Marshall and her roommate. There are some seriously insane things that happen, mostly because Isabel’s socialization skills are near zero. I wish there had been a longer period over which Isabel was changing and learning, however I can see why things happened the way they did. What all occurred ended up feeling true to character, and I appreciated that.

Overall, I really appreciated what a different type of New Adult story this was, and even though Isabel was difficult, I really loved experiencing her journey.

The Cover:
Meh.

Rating:
[3/5]

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

Deeper by Robin York

Deeper by Robin York
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Publisher: Bantam
Pages: 400
Series: Caroline & West #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

In this New Adult debut by Robin York, a college student is attacked online and must restore her name—and stay clear of a guy who’s wrong for her, but feels so right.

When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground.

West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.

They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself—and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her.

When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.

My Thoughts:
Deeper is a New Adult novel with a big focus on revenge porn, how Caroline has to deal after her ex-boyfriend posts explicit pictures of her online after she breaks up with him. A large part of the book is Caroline having to live with the consequences of this: how guys look at her and treat her, how her family views her, and what impact it will have on her future. We also see examples of how some men view women not even as people, but just objects to exploit and do terrible things to.

Caroline is a character who grows so much throughout the book. She chooses to become strong after what happened. She’s deeply, psychologically troubled by what has happened, but with West to support her she learns how to find inner strength. Caroline learns to stand up for herself, owning the fact that she did nothing wrong, that she has nothing to apologize for or feel ashamed of.

West is absolutely a complex character. He's not a leading man I would usually find appealing, but he totally breaks the mold. He’s an incredibly hard worker, he's smart, and he cares so much about his little sister. But then there’s the fact that he deals drugs for the money, and his past is messy. West is not someone to pin your hope and dreams on, and yet you can see that his feelings for Caroline are true and deep. Caroline and West are actually quite awesome together. Their relationship takes a slow progression from lust to friendship and then something more.

So many New Adult books feature that misunderstood bad boy character and a female lead who is dealing with a crisis. The two characters somehow find each other and make everything okay just by that fact alone. I'm so glad that my suspicions were right and that Deeper is nothing like that. Robin York writes adult romance as Ruthie Knox, and if there's one thing I adore about Ruthie's books is that she writes in-depth characters who have flaws, who don’t fit stereotypes, but who you fall for and cheer for. That’s definitely the case here as well, in her first book as Robin.

Deeper definitely has a killer ending. It’s one which leaves you feeling for both characters, wanting a Happily Ever After for them, and yet understanding why things have turned out the way they have. However this is just Part 1 of Caroline and West’s story, so there’s definitely a kernel of hope there.

If you’re looking for a quality New Adult book with high emotions and many themes that you might expect to find in NA, then look no further. Deeper features all the popular things about NA, but with some real heart to the story and characters that make the situations feel real and meaningful instead of cliche. I highly recommend you check this one out.

The Cover:
Like alright.

Rating:
[Strong 4/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Live by Mary Ann Rivers

Live by Mary Ann Rivers
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
Pages: 352
Series: Burnside #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Mary Ann Rivers kicks off a new contemporary romance series—sure to please readers of Ruthie Knox, Kristan Higgins, and Jill Shalvis—where love can be found unexpectedly.

If there’s an upside to unemployment, Destiny Burnside may have found it. Job searching at her local library in Lakefield, Ohio, gives her plenty of time to ogle the hottest man she has ever laid eyes on: the sexy wood-carver who’s restoring the building. But as the rejection letters pile up, Destiny finds an unexpected shoulder to cry on. With his rich Welsh accent, Hefin Thomas stirs Destiny so completely that, even though he’s leaving soon, she lets herself believe the memory of his scorching kisses will be enough.

Hefin can’t help but notice the slender, confident woman with ginger hair who returns each day, so hopeful and determined. So when the tears start to fall, his silence—penance for a failed marriage—finally cracks. Once he’s touched her, what Hefin wants is to take her back to Wales and hold her forever. But Destiny’s roots run too deep. What they both need is each other—to learn how to live and love again.

My Thoughts:
Live is a very emotional story, one with evocative language that pulls you in a la Laura Florand. It’s a book about the connection between two people: the little things that make them right, that make them fit together. It explores how finding a partner can be worth sacrificing other aspects of your life. It’s also about the things that can build you up when you're in a time of mourning, and just how much it can mean to have someone truly see you and love you.

I fell deeply in love with Mary Ann’s first published work, The Story Guy. I thought it was gorgeous and practically the most beautiful romance ever. So, in retrospect, I think I had a bit too high of expectations going into Live. The thing is, I definitely liked this one, but I thought it was too meandering and too introspective. The main character, Destiny, was all about being selfless, and yet the book is full of ruminations on love, community, and family. What worked in novella format (flowery language, something a bit offbeat) became a tad too much in this full length book. I would have preferred more dialogue and more action.

If you’re looking for a slower paced romance, one that’s more about concepts and ideals of romance than a busy plot, then perhaps you’ll enjoy Live even more than I did.

The Cover:
Okay, but kind of boring.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

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