Indie Reviews: 4 Star Books (Part 3)

This week I've been giving you some mini-reviews from Indie/New Adult books that have been released over the past year or so. I'd read a ton of them so it's easier to review a few at once. Monday had the books that got a 5 star review from me and yesterday featured the 4 star books. Today is another batch of 4 star books. Hopefully you will find a few you'd like to add to your list. 

Fallen Crest High by Tijan
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As far as new adult authors go, Tijan is not one that pops up often. I happened to find this book while browsing one day and was so glad that I did. This is really one of those books where the characters stay with you. You may not love every aspect of the story, but you can't help but keep reading till it's finished. Mason and Logan (the bothers) were great in their own ways and Sam has the misfortune of living with them after her mom decided to marry their dad. This book is pretty complicated with all the plots, sub-plots, and characters but I definitely want to see what happens in the new book.

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

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This one is easy to spoil because there is a lot going on. Tons of tragedy! When Sky meets Dean she has no idea of their past. Sky has been through more than many people could imagine. It was sad to see how broken she was but I was glad that Dean could be there for her. At times the drama seemed a bit too much but it was still a well written story with a lot of great moments between the characters. Dean was my favorite. You can't help but love him and hope that these characters can somehow find happiness through all the heartbreak. Not sure when/if I'll read the next one but so many people loved this one.

Play With Me by Piper Shelly

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You know how sometimes you just want a light, sweet book to read? This one is perfect for those times! This was one of the cutest romances ever. Liza is a cutie! Poor girl has been in love with her best friend Tony forever and he comes back from soccer camp in love with another *sigh*. So, she has a plan to become sporty herself in hopes he will notice her. What she doesn't plan for is the soccer captain, Ryan, to start paying attention to her. They have so many of those cute moments that have you saying "awww." The ONLY complaint I had about this story was that it was just too short! I wanted more! Of course, there is now a version in Ryan's POV but still... I wish this one would have been a bit longer. But, I totally recommend it. 

If You Stay by Courtney Cole

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Some books say they have bad boys but this one is really bad. Pax is a jerk, 100%! He has money to burn but is rude, disrespectful, and has a whole slew of drug issues. Not the easiest character to like but I liked that there was no doubting his personality. Everyone knew immediately what type of guy he was. Mila is a sweetheart who can't help but try to help Pax. Even though she is told to forget about ever changing him, she can't help but have hope that he will get better. It took a while for their sparks to really heat up but I liked seeing Pax change. Much is the story is from his POV and it was easy to see how Mila got under his skin. Courtney Cole is a great author and I look forward to reading more from her. 

Someone to Love by Addison Moore

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This is a light story and a nice college-age romance but there was something lacking. Maybe it was depth for the character? Not sure. But, in this book, Kendall wants to be a player and she goes to the king of all players, Cruise, for help. She says she's determined to learn how to play guys. The overall story was fun to read but I'm not sure I fully bought the whole "wanting to be a player" thing. I think that with more work this book could have hit it out of the park but for something light and fluffy, it's a pretty good read. I've seen other people with some mixed feelings about this title. 

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A Tucker

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This is a very intense story. Kacey has had a really hard life and all she wants to do is find safety and take care of her little sister. They move into a rundown apartment and she starts working to try to take care of the bills. Then Trent moves next door. Kacey tries to brush off her feelings for him but they are drawn to each other. I really enjoyed this book and all the side characters/plots too. It's depressing at times but I couldn't stop reading. The overall idea is a bit predictable but I still found myself rooting for the characters and wanting to find out what will happen next. I will probably check out the next book in the series because it focuses on Kacey's sister. 

After Tuesday by Renee Ericson

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This book is about Ruby, a young girl dealing with an alcoholic father. I liked this book for a lot of reasons. One big reason is that her dad, although sick, wasn't a complete jerk. He seemed like he wanted to be a good dad and that's something rarely seen in YA books. Then Ruby gets to know Brent, a guy from school, and she's forced to balance her real life with that of a normal teenager. She tries to hide her issues at home but that isn't easy. Soon both collide and she has to rely on someone else. Sometimes I just wished she would have been honest with Brent early on instead of hiding things. But I did like the way the author portrayed the relationship and the issues Ruby had with her dad. He wasn't just thrown to the side like some novels do. 

Breathe Into Me by Amanda Stone

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This was another complex story and in the end I was scratching my head a bit. Kelsey had some really craptastic luck. She had a horrible tragedy 6 years before she heads to college and all she wants is to escape it. She has her best friend Jessi, who I loved, and soon she meets bad-boy Kane. But Kane isn't really bad. He was actually much nicer than I expected. Sometimes I wanted to shake Kelsey for being so darn trusting of guys-who-shall-remain-nameless, especially after what she had been through. Plus, I wasn't happy with the fact she judged Kane so quickly when something happened with him. I don't want to spoil anything but I do think this is definitely worth the read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas

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It's pretty hard to find a good story that doesn't involve a girl who is a perfect size 4. Cat used to be a model but now she can't fit into anything in her closet. She had an accident and, after sitting for nearly a year, she's going back to school as a size 12. One thing I really liked about this story is that all of Cat's friends didn't shun her because of her size. It's not like it's the worst thing in the world so it sucks when books act like the character can't have friends if she's beyond a size 10. Cat did have friends and, really, she is the biggest issue blocking her own happiness. When Nate steps in Cat finally starts to see herself as more than a size. He helps her break down her walls and be happy again. Sometimes I just wanted her to get over things but I tried to understand where she was coming from. This book was really enjoyable and had a very unique plot (and twist). 

Unbroken by Melody Grace

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This book has one of my all-time favorite lines ever... 

"Mom always told me there are two kinds of love in this world: the steady breeze, and the hurricane. Emerson Ray was my hurricane...."

Love it!  This book is great for a summer read. Juliet is forced to go back to her summer beach home for a while and she runs into her old flame Emerson. I enjoyed this story but nothing really stood out to me as memorable. There is some cheating, which I hate, but it didn't ruin the book for me. The characters definitely have chemistry and there are several hot moments to enjoy. 

ALL OF THESE BOOKS WERE RATED 

Indie Reviews: 4 Star Books (Part 2)

Today is the second day of "Indie Reviews", a feature where I give short mini-reviews of all the Indie/New Adult titles I've read lately. I'll have 3 days of books that received a 4 star rating from me. 

Because of Low by Abbi Glines
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This is book 2 in the series but I haven't read the first one. I really enjoyed this story. Low was a wonderful character and I really felt bad for her. I loved her best friend Cage (hot!) and Cage's roommate Marcus. It was nice that these books all contain the same group of characters. I didn't feel lost even though I hadn't read the first story. I hope to read more from this series soon.
There were times when I was frustrated by some lack of communication going on, but overall it was a really enjoyable read.

This series was picked up for publication, I believe, so it has a new cover now.

Charade by Nyrae Dawn

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This was an interesting story because the main character, Cheyenne, pays the guy, Colt, to be her boyfriend for a while. Cheyenne wants to get back at her ex and Colt just wants to be able to take care of the bills since his mother is sick. I enjoyed Colt the most in this story. No, he wasn't perfect, but he tried to do everything for his mother. He just didn't plan on falling for Cheyenne. Nothing really surprised me with this book but nevertheless, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing where the journey took them.

Clash by Nicole Williams

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This is another title that has a new cover because it was picked up for publication. This is book 2 but I skipped book 1. I tried a sample of the first title but it just didn't grab me. I ended up trying this one out and loving it. Jude and Lucy were a great, typically, teen couple. A few parts were frustrating because of miscommunication between the two but I still enjoyed following their romance. They are dealing with a long-distance relationship now and there is a bit of adjustment going on. I do hope to read the third book in the series soon. 

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

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Loved, loved, loved the first part of this book. Cassie and Jack were amazing and had such a cute story. Both characters were likable and I enjoyed the sports angle the story had. This book really had a good college vibe. Then, near the end, Jack makes a hugely, stupid decision and it was just ...odd. I didn't believe he would do something like that without much thought. Some parts after that were kind of predictable but it just really took a wrong turn for me. Prepare to be angry at these characters if you read this. Overall, I'm glad I read it and truly enjoyed the first half of the book beyond belief! Book 2, The Game Changer, comes out soon and I do plan to read it. 

Down to You by M. Leighton 

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This is another title that has been picked up. Notice a trend here? Olivia was a nice character. She is far from perfect but I enjoyed her. Then we meet Cash and Nash. Cash is the bad boy, Nash is the good guy. She knows which one she should want to be with but that isn't the case. I will say that this book throws you quite a curveball. I didn't expect that twist. On the other hand, there were still a few things that just didn't make sense to me. Like, how do you end up in bed with a guy and you're not sure which twin it is? Hmm. Up to Me is the next book in this series. I'm honestly not sure if I will read it. I don't have a strong pull to do so (unlike some other series I read) so who knows. Either way, this one is a fun story with a crazy twist and I know a ton of people who really loved it. 

V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram

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This is such a funny story. Val "V" is a virgin who has disaster strike as the entire school (and beyond) starts giving her a hard time for her choice to wait till marriage. Instead of hiding away, she starts a campaign to support her cause and she's pretty surprised by how many people end up helping her with it. Then, we throw in a rocker bad boy, Kyle, who is hellbent to destroy her plan and it all creates a wonderfully, fantastic read. The interactions between V and Kyle were amazing. I loved how spunky V was and how she never backed down from Kyle. It was a little rushed at the end, I wanted more! But regardless, I'd definitely recommend this one. Great story with terrific characters. 

Bad Rep by A. Meredith Walters 

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Another great New Adult read. It may be based on the traditional set up we've seen 100 times -- girl meets bad boy, falls for him, issues arise, blah blah.. but it was well written and enjoyable. This story does involve some *gasp* cheating...which is kind of a turn off for me but it didn't ruin Jordan's character. He was a bit more "nice" than I expected from the cover and summary though. I didn't really get the bad boy vibe as much as we see in other stories. Maysie was what I'd view as the traditional college co-ed, trying to survive school, make money, and have some fun. This may not be one that sticks out to me as a favorite but I'm still glad I took the time to read it. 

Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine 

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 Who doesn't love rockers?? This is one of my all-time favorite rocker books. Lane broke up with Noel 4 years ago and, through her job, they end up reuniting. Eventually, she has to go on the road with him and she learns that even though Noel has changed, he still wants only her. I loved this couple. The whole "rock star" vibe is very much in this story as well. I am a sucker for books where we get to go on tour with the characters. HOT. There were times where I was frustrated with the characters but all-in-all, I'd definitely continue with this series and see what happens to Noel's bandmates. 

Foolish Games by Leah Spiegel

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 This was a cute story about some friends following around a bad (yes, more band guys) but it takes a huge twist. Joie is pulled into a plot to help the bands reputation and it ends up risking her life. Hawkins, the love interest, was wonderful. Joie and Hawkins have a lot of chemistry together but they also were never afraid to speak their minds. This book also involves a stalker and I loved the whole mystery of it. I thought it was very well-written even though there were times where I just wanted them to tell the freakin' cops! I do plan to read the next books in this series and I love that they are based on the same characters. I really want to see where they end up. 

 ALL OF THESE BOOKS RECEIVED A RATING OF 

Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway - RESTORE ME by J.L. Mac

EXCERPT 

I step into his personal space and lift my hands to his shoulder blades. I press my palms to his muscular back. His head falls forward and his chest fully inflates as he draws in a deep breath. It’s the reassuring sign that I need from him. My tongue darts from my mouth and makes a pass over my lips. I lean forward and drop one chaste kiss in the middle of his back. 

“Baby, please,” I croon. “Talk to me!”

He whirls around to face me, taking me by surprise. “What do you want from me?!” 

“I-I just want you to talk to me. I want to make sure we’re on the same page as far as we are concerned,” I sputter out, looking to him for the words I need to hear. 

“Josephine, we aren’t on the same page. Actually, I don’t even think we’re in the same book.” The way he says it is exhaustive, like I’m irritating him or something. It cuts me like a white-hot knife.  “I’m not myself; I’m out of control and I don’t know how to come back.” He runs those big hands through his disheveled hair and the expression on his handsome face is one of hopelessness. I know the look well. 

I step closer to him and reach for his hand. “Before you walked into my life, I felt the floor crumbling beneath my feet. Then you showed up and I had something to hold onto. Let me do the same for you. At least let me try. Please.”

Restore Me by J.L. Mac
Published: April 29th, 2013
Reading Level: New Adult/Adult
eBook edition: 137 pages
Series: Wrecked, #2

Navigating the world alone is all Josephine Geroux has ever known. Life altering tragedy struck early on for her. She endured an admirable struggle through her youth and learned the hard way how to adapt and survive. She managed to arrive at adulthood in one piece in spite of it all.

After such chaos, maintaining a life free of complications is a priority for her.
Everything changed when a man with amber eyes came through her door and claimed her heart. She fell hard in more ways than one. The pull between Jo and Damon seemed like fate bringing things full circle.

With another devastating loss looming, Jo fights to hold on to the very thing that brought her to her knees. She finds herself torn between a promising future and clinging to a devastating past.
But that’s not the most worrisome problem on her hands.

She must convince more than just herself to let the past stay in the past, where it belongs, but on her journey to find closure and resolution, she does the exact opposite. An old wound caused by a heinous act becomes exposed for what it is. The truth is catastrophic and Jo is helpless, watching as the ruins of her fragile world endure more turmoil.

Can something conceived from tragedy and malice end well? Can something so completely poisoned conquer adversity? Jo is left to make a decision; accept the circumstances she finds herself in or fight with unwavering ferocity to restore what has been damaged.
*Restore Me is the second book in the Wrecked series*

Bio:
USA Today Best Selling Author,J.L. Mac is twenty-six years old and currently resides in El Paso, Texas, where she enjoys living near her family. She was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, until

she married her husband in July of 2005. She has two young children and is married to a soldier in the United States Army. J.L. and her family have lived all over the United States and have enjoyed each new experience in each new place. J.L. admittedly has had a long and sordid love affair with the written word and has loved every minute of it. She drinks too many glasses of wine on occasion,and says way too many swear words to be considered “lady-like.” J.L. spends her free time reading, writing, and playing with her children.

Website  http://jlmacbooks.blogspot.com/
twitter username https://twitter.com/JaimiLMcCormick
Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/jlmacbooks

Goodreads Page  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6654493.J_L_Mac
Goodreads book link  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17405850-restore-me

Giveaway

AUTHOR is giving away:

10 ebooks of Restore Me

3 signed paperbacks of Restore Me

3 ereader/tablet sleeves

3 $5 Amazon Gift Cards

1 Kindle Paperwhite

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy Links:
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