Tag Archives: Young Adult

Filthy Foreign Exchange # 1

By S.E. Hall & Angela Graham

Synopsis

Echo Kelly is loyal to her studies, family, and aerial artistry. She has no time for or interest in anything else, and is heartbroken when her oldest brother, Sebastian, gets accepted to a study-abroad program— exchanging places with cocky, not-at-all-shy foreign exchange student Kingston Hawthorne.

Kingston Hawthorne had the life every twenty-year-old guy dreams of— endless cash, easy women, and fast cars— until his father ripped it all away, shipping him off to the States and placing him temptingly close to the underage virgin who fascinates him in the most challenging of ways.

With Kingston’s bedroom just a connecting bathroom away from Echo’s, the chemistry between them is even more enticing than the notes he leaves for her on the shower door.

How long can you pretend you’re just friends?

Review

Sometimes it’s nice to sit down with a book that you can just relax with and enjoy, and FILTHY FOREIGN EXCHANGE # 1 was that book. The story and its characters aren’t complex, and I didn’t have to worry about remembering every little detail for possible future reference. It was just a light and easy read.

Echo is a seventeen year old virgin who’s upset that her older brother, Sebastian, has left for England to study abroad for the twelve months. She’s even more upset that they’re getting an exchange student of their own and that he’ll be living with them. She wants to hate Kingston on principle, but after they “meet”, there’s something about him that calls to her. She tries to deny it, but that’s hard to do when he focuses all his charm directly at her. Echo is a loner and comes across as much older than her age most of the time. She’s intelligent and has a very quick wit that she uses against Kingston often. I don’t think we’re told Kingston’s age, but he is in college. He’s cheeky and very playful, and the biggest flirt you’ll ever meet. It’s his flirting that causes tension between them, but that’s just one of the many problems that keeps them apart.

FILTHY FOREIGN EXCHANGE # 1 is told in Echo’s POV only and is the first book in a duet about Kingston and Echo. I would classify this story as being YA. Despite the title, there is absolutely nothing filthy about what goes on in this book. What does that mean? That means there was no sex. Zero. Zilch. Nada. As an Australian, I had no problem deciphering Kingston’s slang, but I can imagine that not everyone would be able to follow it so easily. As I said before, this book was light and easy, which was not a good thing when it came to the cliffhanger, which I thought was a little weak. Will we find out why Kingston was set up and get a reasonable explanation as to why he was sent back to England so soon? I guess I’ll have to read book 2 to find out.

Filthy Foreign Exchange # 1

My Rating:

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Filthy Foreign Exchange Series

Kyland

By Mia Sheridan

Synopsis

Dirt poor. Hillbilly. Backwoods hick. Mountain folk.

Tenleigh Falyn struggles each day to survive in a small, poverty-stricken, coal mining town where she lives with her sister and mentally ill mother. Her dream of winning the college scholarship given to one student by the local coal company and escaping the harshness of her life, keeps her going.

Kyland Barrett lives in the hills, too, and has worked tirelessly—through near starvation, through deep loneliness, against all odds—to win the Tyton Coal Scholarship and leave the town that is full of so much pain.

They’re both determined not to form any attachments, but one moment changes everything. What happens when only one person gets to win? When only one person gets to leave? And what happens to the one left behind?

Kyland is a story of desperation and hope, loss and sacrifice, pain and forgiveness, but ultimately, a story of deep and unending love.

Review

When it came to you, I noticed everything. I fell halfway in love with you before we ever spoke a word.

What an amazing and heartfelt story about love and sacrifice. Kyland and Tenleigh have grown up dirt poor, both knowing too well the feelings of deep hunger, ill-fitting clothes, and the desperation to leave their town behind for a better life. They are very mature for their age, and that’s not surprising given all they’ve endured. When they should be competing against each other for the scholarship, they instead support each other in a way that is truly admirable. Both of them have so little to give, but willingly give up what little they do have to help others in need. These are two kids who will sacrifice their own dreams for those they love. Both characters are very likeable, as individuals and as a couple, but Kyland definitely steals the show.

You know a book is really good when you have to put it down just to take a moment to think about what you’ve just read. This happened to me several times while reading KYLAND. I enjoyed the buildup to the conflict, especially when I thought the story was going to go down one path, only for it to take me down a path I didn’t see anywhere on the map. While the story is very deep and meaningful throughout, it did have a few moments of ease where Kyland and Tenleigh could simply enjoy themselves, and my favourite scenes were the ones where they debated books.

“Are they fighting or having a book club?”
“I’m unclear. Looks like foreplay to me.”

KYLAND takes place over a ten year period, with 65% of the story taking place when Kyland and Tenleigh were just seventeen years old. Then it flashes forward four years later, with the epilogue taking place six more years after that. For the most part, I would consider this a YA novel, but it could also be considered a NA novel. I’m not usually a fan of YA because I generally find them to be filled to the brim with tedious teenaged drama. But I really enjoyed KYLAND because, despite being only seventeen for most of the story, the problems Kyland and Tenleigh faced and dealt with everyday were serious and life changing. Their problems are not ones that anyone⎯⎯child, teen or adult⎯⎯should ever have to face, but sadly do. KYLAND is told in dual POVs and can be read as a stand-alone.

Kyland

My Rating:

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The Night He Saved me

By Sarah Stevens

Synopsis

Katarina

One night. One party. One girl forever changed.
I was supposed to stay on the path I had chosen. Go to college and make something of myself. But doing it all alone wasn’t easy, and it seemed everyone was against me.

Except James. He was there to catch me when my world crumbled—cradling my emotions and wrapping me in his secure embrace. James was there when the entire world disappeared.

James

One glance. One undeniable connection. One life forever changed.
Keeping myself hidden from a legacy I wanted no part of, I lived a content life. Until her. She swept in, making me forget all the bad that haunted me. Now, the past I tried to run from has caught up, and I have more to lose than ever. She’s the target, and I’m the shield.
She thinks I saved her, but she’s the one who rescued me.
Two worlds. Two hearts. And a lifetime of trials.

Review

This was an interesting read for me, parts I loved and parts I did not enjoy and considering it was the author’s first book you need to give it a go, it touches on some pretty emotional subjects. We get both POV from the two central characters and also some chapters go over the same points in time to explain the other characters perspective, I must say some of these worked for me and others not so much.

The biggest thing I kept telling myself was the two young friends were both 17 and hence some actions were probably typical of their maturity levels. The biggest thing I struggled with was being forced into a sexual encounter whilst on the influence of drugs and then the same character continues to go to parties and do drugs when something so horrific happened to her, perhaps that is what youth do? I am not so sure.

The first part of this story I felt was very fragmented and I struggled to get a grip on the two girls and then James is thrown into the story in a very adhoc way for me that did not get explained till later on in the book. I would have liked less party scenes and perhaps more interaction with the parents and how those relationships were such as Kat and her step-dad as they certainly played their parts particularly towards the end of this story. I could have seen this book starting at a different point in time and then going back to the party scenes to explain Kat’s predicament and how her mother and step-dad handled it along with Trent being incorporated more so than just being the weird stalker until his story all comes out.

Now James as a character I loved him, he had maturity and his story to me made this whole novel and kept me going. I was struggling until just past the 50% mark and then this book kind of just really bangs it out at a fantastic emotional and action packed level. The mob history, James fighting for his right to choose his life and his love for Katarina and wanting to make a family were lovely romantic parts. James was definitely such a mature person, whilst I understood his reasons to wait until she was 18 but I would have loved their friendship to have started prior to her 18th birthday as this connection would have made more sense for their intense love and commitment to her predicament.

The Night He Saved me

My Rating:

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Fallen Fourth Down (Fallen Crest #4)

By Tijan

Synopsis

My mother tried to destroy me. She doesn’t exist to me anymore and my father, the one who raised me and the biological one, are both works in progress. The only two people that I can trust are Mason and Logan, and they’re the two people who I could lose. It won’t happen. I won’t let it. No matter the truth, no matter who loves me, I won’t let anything or anyone come between us.
They’re my world. They’re my life.
They’re my family

Review

Fallen Fourth Down made me fall further in love with Logan, I felt for him, we saw his emotional side especially with his misunderstanding of Sam’s withdrawal from hanging out and also how he missed Mason.

It was interesting to see how the power dynamic changed at Fallen Crest Public with Mason gone and how Sam finds her feet with the athletic department and I also really enjoyed her running and how it helped her cope.

Favourite parts in book 4 –

finding out the connection and history between Tate and Marissa and the OMG moment at the end of book 3.
Sam finally having a mother figure with her dad’s new partner who provided great humorous moments especially in her banter with Logan and also her son too.
Nate, Mason and Logan banding together in the end against a new threat – cannot wait for Fallen Crest University.

This is one of my all time favourite series – onto Book 5.

Fallen Fourth Down (Fallen Crest #4)

My Rating:

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Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest #3)

By Tijan

Synopsis

Sam’s first day at Fallen Crest Public doesn’t go well. Some girls want to be her. Some girls want to destroy her. And some just don’t like her. All in all, despite being protected by Mason and Logan, it’s still only the strong survive. Sam will not only have to survive, she needs to learn how to conquer too, but there’s another battle growing. Things are about to come to a disastrous end between the towns, Roussou and Fallen Crest. Sam’s other main dilemma? Keeping Mason and Logan from getting arrested or hospitalized.

This is the third book in the Fallen Crest Series.
Fallen Crest High
Fallen Crest Family
Fallen Crest Public

Review

My how the mighty have fallen in book 3, this is my most favourite book of the series so far, Sam moves to the Public school and all hell breaks loose! This was my third time reading Fallen Crest Public and I still get goose bumps and hate/love characters and struggle with the bullying component of this book.

The first time after the physical bully scene I put the book down for two days, it simply affected me on a level, my how I hurt for Sam, Mason & Logan. I felt such injustice and that Kate had to pay for the games she was playing with her friends at the Public School.

Is it wrong that I felt affection for Brett Broudou, he again is one character I enjoyed in this section of the series and he of course played an important role in securing Sam’s safety when pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place. Mason, Logan and their gang played their cards close to their chests and when push came to shove they in my opinion were such an incredible team of friends – I was fist pumping all the way towards the end of the book.

This had great drama, mystery, game playing and had me again guessing.

Another favourite part of this story was Sam and her dad David, their beginning journey to reconciliation and perhaps a new life going forward together as Father and Daughter and I loved the new dynamic in David’s life being his new love and how she stepped up and was the carer for Sam in her recovery.

Onto Fallen Fourth Down and cannot wait to continue with Sam and Logan in their final year at Fallen Crest Public, want to follow Sam with her running and also find out more about Tate and her opinion on Logan’s love.

Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest #3)

My Rating:

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Fallen Crest Family (Fallen Crest #2)

By Tijan

Synopsis

Samantha and Mason are together. Everyone knows it. Not everyone is dealing with it. While Mason’s ready to give them the middle finger, there’s one not going away. Her mother. Threats are issued. Ultimatums are given. Even blackmail is used, but only Samantha can put a stop to Analise. However, when a trauma from her past is triggered, she may not have the courage or strength to do what’s needed. If she doesn’t, Mason’s future could be destroyed.

Review

Book 2 of the Fallen Crest Series definitely gives you drama, heated moments and more chemistry from Mason and Sam. What I loved the most was like the title tells you, it gives you a greater understanding of all the family dynamics, both for Mason & Logan but then for Sam & Annalise. The flashbacks given do answer so many questions from book 1but it gives you so many more questions for book 3!

This book covers the summer break, Sam is leaving Fallen Crest Private and transferring to Fallen Crest Public – yes I am really scared as there are some really mean girls and the power shifts are changing.

Whilst yes I love Mason and Sam, I do have an incredible soft spot for Logan and I think all his jokes mask perhaps some real hurt and betrayal however his connection to Sam as a stepsister is really endearing.

Love this series, love the characters, love the drama and look forward to picking up Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest Series #3).

Fallen Crest Family (Fallen Crest #2)

My Rating:

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Ransom (Ransom #1)

By Rachel Schurig

Synopsis

Daisy Harris has no reason to suspect that her day will be any different than usual. She’ll go to class, alone. She won’t speak or make eye contact. She’ll spend her entire day doing her best to go completely unnoticed. That’s what life is like for Daisy now—an endless cycle of loneliness and fear. A life lived hiding behind the walls she so faithfully maintains.

Then she sees it. A magazine, left behind in class. A simple picture—just his face. And it changes everything.

It’s been a year since she’s seen Daltrey Ransome. A year since he and his brothers left town to pursue their dreams of rock and roll superstardom. A year since he left Daisy behind—left her to watch as everything she knew crumbled around her. She’s been running from Daltrey ever since, desperate to keep her secret.

But she can’t run anymore. And now that Daltrey has found her—the girl he’s loved his entire life, the girl he’d give up everything for—he’s determined never to let her go again.
**The first book in a brand new series from USA Today bestselling author Rachel Schurig. This New Adult Contemporary Romance novel is a complete story with no cliffhanger.**

Review

This story will stay with me for a long time, we were given moments of darkness however when the light shone for Daisy and her friends – it was simply outstanding and so rewarding.

What I loved about this story is we follow Daisy, in my view this is her journey not Daltrey’s and in the end she makes some tough and inspiring decisions along the way to fight her way towards living life and allowing herself to love again. We follow her and Daltrey’s physical connection but I was glad this story was more about their emotions and it did fit well with the overall theme of her journey.

The traumatic event that happens to her is unfortunately what young people today have to deal with and I think it was handled in a respectful and appropriate manner.

The way Daisy’s relationship with her dad and new friends is a beautiful thing to see, those two girls entered her life and helped her climb to the top, gave us laughs and tears. I loved their OCD lists, rules about who gets the take out, driving and road trip games – just brilliant – they gave some relief to the sensitive subjects being covered in Daisy’s story.

I did not realise Daisy’s mum had a secret that was being kept by her dad but I had a sneaky feeling about Daltrey’s dad and how much he knew.

Daisy’s living of life was being held to Ransom and through family and friends she was brought to the open to live life to the fullest – just an amazing story.

RANSOM

My Rating:

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Keep Me Still

By Casey Quinn

Synopsis

**THIS IS THE STANDALONE EDITION OF KEEP ME STILL AND INCLUDES THE PREQUEL AND SEQUEL NOVELLAS Let You Leave and Hold Us Close.

Layla Flaherty had the perfect life, or close to it. Until a stranger gunned her parents down right in front of her, leaving her with seizure inducing PTSD. After years of trying to pass as normal and failing miserably, she resigns herself to being invisible. But new to town Landen O’Brien sees her, and he likes what he sees. Much to Layla’s surprise, he doesn’t freak out when she has a seizure in front of him. He does the exact opposite, calming her until the tremors subside. But Landen has secrets of his own. Secrets that both bind them together and tear them apart.

Scarred by loss, Layla leaves her hometown of Hope Springs, Georgia, hoping to put her painful past behind her and start over in college in California. When she runs into Landen at freshmen orientation, she has a choice to make. Reinforce those steel walls she’s built up around herself or give the only boy who can keep her still a second chance.

Landen’s more than ready to tear down those walls but this time when they come crashing down, they might bury her.

Review

Blown away by this story, to have two characters completely evolve as teenagers to young adults and each face their demons and push so many boundaries within their own relationship and those of their friends and family was truly inspiring to read. You are not kept still in their journey, this romance blends and explodes with passion and such intense adoration as the characters grow older.

Yes I loved their romance and heated young lust moments but the other challenges they both faced had me truly riveted to the pages. Sometimes I was scared, sometimes I had tears in my eyes and there were times when I smiled and laughed because I was so happy for them. You do go on an incredible journey with these two characters being they are so young, yet they are both really old souls underneath with what they have been dealt in life.

Whilst the Synopsis may lead you to believe that Layla has so many challenges to conquer, I found myself totally surprised with the turn of events with Landen and how it really will have you wondering how their love story will end. There are lots of shocks, secrets and characters that change and will make you love or hate them.

A beautiful romance story that I will treasure and remember – Layla and Landen – love conquers.

Keep Me Still

My Rating:

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Wanted

by Kelly Elliott

Synopsis

Verbally abused by her mother for years, 18 year old Ellie Johnson always believed she would never be loved or wanted by anyone. She focused all of her attention on her grades and getting into the University of Texas to start a new life away from her mother.

The last thing Ellie expected was to fall in love with Gunner Mathews, a starting linebacker for the University of Texas football team and not to mention, her brothers best friend.

Gunner only had two passions in life, football and his grandfather’s ranch, until he falls for his best friends little sister. He will stop at nothing to show Ellie how much he wants her, even if it means he has to move faster than she would like.
Gunner knows they are meant to be together forever, but Ellie keeps denying her feelings out of fear of being hurt again.

Every time he gets close to winning her love, something pushes her away again. Will Ellie ever be able to let go of the past and let him into her heart and will Gunner be patient enough to wait for her?

What will it take for them to realize they are all each other have ever WANTED?

My review

Well I loved this story, it was sweet and sassy but then also dirty and delightful. If you wanted a romp in the hay with a happy ever after, insta-love, wrapped together with drama then you will love “Wanted”.

However I too am a little torn as while reading Wanted I actually really loved and connected with the supporting characters of Ari and Jeff more than Gunner and Ellie. To me Gunner was a little over sensitive, I think I like my men a bit more alpha, he sometimes to me was a little too soft and sensitive for a cowboy. I would have perhaps connected more with Ellie if we saw more anxiety from the way her mother treated her, we had two glimpses of how Gunner settled her down and I loved that when she had her panic attacks. Perhaps a little less drama and misunderstanding and confessing their undying love for each other and perhaps a little bit more meat in the story particularly with their two mothers may have made me love them more.

Now can I just say that Ari rocks, her character, sass and stubbornness had me laughing, crying and riveted to the pages when she appeared and Jeff was a wonderful brother.

I have added Saved which is the next book int he series to my TBR list however I will be not reading it straight away as I have a feeling we will be going down a similar route with Ari & Jeff as we did with Ellie and Gunner in that there is going to be lots of drama, double meanings, misunderstandings, hurt and then a wonderful HEA.

Oh, before I forget we also get to fast forward with Gunner and Ellie and see how they are travelling, Ellie desired to be Wanted well Gunner simply Worshipped her – beautiful to see.

Wanted

My rating:

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Into The Rain (Daughter Of Fire # 3)

By Michelle Irwin

Synopsis

Evie Meyers and Clay Jacobs have found paradise in the remote wilderness. Hidden away at the ends of the Earth, they are certain no one can find them. The illusion is shattered when Evie’s former lover Aiden crashes into their sanctuary. ‬

The tension caused by the fae’s arrival escalates when they discover the reason for his presence. An ever-present foe has kidnapped someone precious to his court, and he needs Clay’s help for the rescue. The mission will take them straight into the Rain. The path is a dangerous one, filled with dark secrets and old lies. ‬

With echoes of the past surrounding them and a shadowed threat lurking nearby, both Evie and Clay must put their trust in the hands of an enemy. How will they find a way to reconcile their prejudices and make it out alive?

Review

INTO THE RAIN takes up from where RISE FROM ASH left off, with Clay and Evie still on the run from The Rain and living in a secluded cabin in Europe. It starts out all kisses, cuddles and kick-arse training, but when people from Evie’s past ask for help, the book quickly heats up with action. If Evie and Clay choose to accept this dangerous mission, it will take them directly into The Rain.

So what happened in this book? Well, I can’t tell you that now, can I? What I can tell you is that your opinion of one character will permanently change for the better. I can tell you that secrets will be revealed and the truth will be hard for some people to accept. I can tell you that if you think you know who’s working with the enemy, you’re probably wrong. I know I was.

INTO THE RAIN is another book in the Daughter Of Fire series that I could not put down. Honestly, I find most books predictable. I still enjoy them, no doubt about that, but it’s not often that a book keeps me on my toes, keeps me guessing as to what’s going to happen next or has my brain shouting “WTF?”. What I love about this series is that I can’t predict anything, and I love it.

INTO THE RAIN is told in Evie’s POV and cannot be read as a stand-alone; you really do need to read THROUGH THE FIRE and RISE FROM ASH first. And the ending??? Oh. My. God. It’s official, Michelle Irwin is the Cliffhanger Queen. I’m fairly certain the final book in this series comes out in October this year, and I cannot wait to see how Clay and Evie’s story will end. I have all my fingers and toes crossed that they will get their HEA.