No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown

No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 368
Series: n/a
Review Source: Edelweiss

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Amber Vaughn is a good girl. She sings solos at church, babysits her nephew after school, and spends every Friday night hanging out at her best friend Devon’s house. It’s only when Amber goes exploring in the woods near her home, singing camp songs with the hikers she meets on the Appalachian Trail, that she feels free—and when the bigger world feels just a little bit more in reach.

When Amber learns about an audition at the North Carolina School of the Arts, she decides that her dream—to sing on bigger stages—could also be her ticket to a new life. Devon’s older (and unavailable) brother, Will, helps Amber prepare for her one chance to try out for the hypercompetitive arts school. But the more time Will and Amber spend together, the more complicated their relationship becomes . . . and Amber starts to wonder if she’s such a good girl, after all.

Then, in an afternoon, the bottom drops out of her family’s world—and Amber is faced with an impossible choice between her promise as an artist and the people she loves. Amber always thought she knew what a good girl would do. But between “right” and “wrong,” there’s a whole world of possibilities.

My Thoughts:
I completely loved the idea of this book -- it sounded like a total “me” book -- but unfortunately I failed to really connect with the characters or the story. The voice of the main character is very “rural teen”, a completely different world than I’m used to. I guess that sounds silly, because reading about a warrior or some character in a fantasy world is something outside my reality too, but there was something different about this. I love that books are getting published from different types of characters, ones outside the norm, but in this case it just wasn’t for me.

I definitely didn’t dislike No Place to Fall, but I didn’t find it very memorable either. The main character, Amber, was a very confusing character, I think because she was at a stage where she wanted to test boundaries. She does things that are more than slightly insane, and I had a hard time relating to that. Probably a lot of other people might connect with this type of character, but, again, I just didn’t. On the romance end of things, the supposed love interest was kind of an idiot. I was really hoping there would be someone better for Amber.

What I liked most about this book was Amber’s love of music and how that was presented. I love when there is an aspect of a character which is so clear to them. Amber may have been a mess overall, but when it came to music she absolutely knew who she was.

So, overall, this was a hit and a miss for me. It’s not bad, but it didn’t enthrall me, either. Be sure to check out other reviews, because I’m sure many others connected to it in a way that I didn’t.

The Cover:
Love!! So cute.

Rating:
[3/5]

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

French Kissed by Chanel Cleeton + Giveaway

French Kissed by Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: December 1, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 256
Series: International School #3
Review Source: eARC from author for review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

On the surface, Fleur Marceaux has it all. If only the facade matched reality. With one year left at the International School in London, Fleur’s struggling to graduate, her love life is a mess, and she can’t stop thinking about Max, her ex-boyfriend’s best friend. But all that pales compared to the blackmailer determined to destroy her.

There’s a social hierarchy at the International School and Max Tucker is outside the velvet ropes. After watching Fleur break his friend’s heart, Max knows to stay away from trouble, despite the crush he’s had on her since freshman year. But when they’re partnered on a project, Max learns there’s more to Fleur than meets the eye, and she just might be worth the wild ride.

The more time they spend together, the further Max falls. And when a kiss awakens a passion Fleur never imagined, she’s unable to resist Max, who she had thought was all wrong for her but might be the only thing that’s right. But will he stand by her when her secrets are revealed?

Don’t miss the final book in the International School series. This New Adult romance is recommended for readers 17 and up.

My Thoughts:
French Kissed is such a fun and sweet book! If you’re looking for a read with little drama and sweet feels I definitely recommend this one. Our main character, Fleur, is going through some things, dealing with events from her past, but while all of this feels real and true, it’s not the type of book that’s going to drag you down.

Fleur was a secondary character in the first two books in the International School series, so I absolutely adored hearing from Fleur directly and getting to know her fully. She’s a character who has evolved SO MUCH from the start of the series. I really recommend you read Maggie/Samir’s books first, however you can definitely read this is a standalone as well. French Kissed is actually one of very few books I would say works quite well as a standalone. Chanel Cleeton has managed to give a lot of background in a very succinct way. You get a feel for the characters -- who they’ve been and what they’ve done -- without it being total overlap for those who have read the whole series.

French Kissed is a book where not a ton happens, but I don’t mean that in a negative way. It’s a book about Fleur and Max and their romance, but there’s not a lot of drama in them getting together. It’s a gradual process between them and it’s a beautiful one to watch. French Kissed is also about the first semester of their senior year and about working toward the future, though I wouldn’t say this is a huge part of the book. The majority of the book does focus on the romance, about Fleur and Max growing together and becoming a strong team.

Sometimes you want a sweet, simple book and this one is BEAUTIFUL in that way. French Kissed is one of the best “taking it slow” romances I’ve read in a long time. Granted, Fleur and Max’s version of slow would be fast for some people, but the way they gradually and yet suddenly fell for each other really works. Basically? If you want a sweet, fun, and lovely book -- a break from all the completely painful, gut wrenching NA out there -- check this one out!

The Cover:
Super cute!

Rating:
[4/5]

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

About Chanel:
Originally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise and a fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in Asia.

Law school made Chanel realize she’d rather spend her days writing sexy stories than in a courtroom, and she hasn’t looked back since. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she’s happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, her three pups, and her fighter pilot husband.

She is the author of I SEE LONDON and LONDON FALLING, published by Harlequin HQN, FRENCH KISSED, and FLIRTING WITH SCANDAL, the first book in a new three-book series to be released by Penguin/Berkley in 2015.

Where to find Chanel:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Covers Revealed: Viv Daniels' ISLAND series

Covers created by Vania Stoyanova of VLC Productions

Island Escape (Island Series #0.5)  Releases on January 20th

Add it on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1vtPKj2

ADAM    Luxury yacht, tropical seas, babes in bikinis…dream job, right? Wrong. The passengers are rich jerks who treat the crew like garbage, when they aren’t pretending we’re their whores. The best day was when that cokehead heiress Kalina tried to fire me just for doing my job. I swore I’d never go back home to my parents and their crazy fundamentalist ranch in the desert, but nothing could be worse than this.
And then the pirates attack.

KALINA    Luxury yacht, tropical seas, billionaire boyfriend…dream trip, right? Wrong. After catching my man getting “extra services” from the maid, I know I’m the laughing stock of passengers and crew. Every time I lay eyes on that quiet, handsome deckhand Adam, I can feel him judging me. I want to die, and when the pirates show up, I think I’m going to.
But Adam… he saves me. Now we’re alone together on a lifeboat in the open ocean. Adam thinks we don’t have a chance, but thanks to him, we’ve made it this far.
And then, in the distance, I spot an island…

Island Born (Island Series #1) Releases on February 23rd

Add it on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/12bujsd

Once you come to the island,You’ll never be the same.

    Joshua Truman grew up on a private island in the South Pacific with only his philosophy books and the beauty of his surroundings for company. His billionaire parents raised him to be the perfect man, brilliant of mind and pure of spirit.

    You know what? Purity be damned.

    When tempting grad student Carrie Young arrives on his island with a group of researchers, Joshua makes his move. He wants her, and he’ll utilize every advantage of his gorgeous surroundings and exquisitely thorough education to seduce her.

    Carrie is shocked by the things this supposed innocent is making her feel. But she must resist him, for Carrie is the keeper of dangerous secrets, and her boss has plans more devious than anyone knows…

The first of the 4-book ISLAND series.

Island Affair (Island Series #2) Releases on March 23rd

Add it on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1ylftLy

Island Lost (Island Series #3) Releases on April 20th

Add it on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1CoWXan 

Island's End (Island Series #4) Releases on May 18th

Add it on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1xRIprN

About Viv Daniels

Website  |  Facebook  | Twitter    

Viv Daniels writes love stories for the young and young at heart. Like many of her characters, she met her husband in college, and knows all the ins and outs of navigating that kind of relationship -- from how to date when you're both flat broke to how to fit two people in narrow dorm room bed.

Her favorite new adult authors include Tammara Weber and Sarina Bowen.

Viv can usually be found on her Facebook page or Twitter feed, chatting with readers about her favorite New Adult fiction, or sharing pictures of cute boys.

Ooooh... thoughts on the covers?? Guy only covers aren't usually my favourite, but I feel like these will represent the stories well. I can't wait to read them!