Book Review » The Kiss of Deception

4 ✪

Sinopsis

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive-and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets-secrets that may unravel her world-even as she feels herself falling in love.

Review

After two hours looking on Goodreads for something to read, this one came up The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Peason. I didn't read any reviews I had heard about it, mostly good things, so I thought 'This is the chosen one'.

This is the story of Princess Arabella Celestine Idris Jazelia, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan or just Lia, at the age of seventeen she was to marry the Prince of Dalbreck without knowing him or seen him. After all preparations for the wedding Lia flees with her maid for Terravin, leaving the crown, her family and her future husband behind.

Since there was no marriage, the relationship between Morrighan and Dalbreck gets hanging by a thread, and she is accused of treason. Her own father sends bounty-hunters, an assassin from Venda wants to kill her and a prince that wants to know her are tracking her every move, life couldn't get easier for a girl who wants to start over. When she gets to Terravin, Lia starts working as a maid, helping serving tables, cleaning the rooms and even in the kitchen, everything it's so different of what she's used to. Eventually the Prince and the Assassin arrive and it's when things start to get interesting for Lia.

Once I started this one I was like 'C'mon girl seriously? You fled your country because you didn't want to marry a prince, ok you didn't know him but...', in the beginning Lia was this rich girl that wanted freedom from her duty and traditions, she didn't want to be another soldier on her father's army. After a few chapters I started to understand that for once Lia wanted to make her on choices, her own mistakes and learn from them. She just wanted to live her life like any other normal girl, but she was a little bit naive, what was really happening outside her castle walls she didn't have any knowledge of the truth.

What I really liked about this book was that I didn't know who was the Prince and who was the Assassin, the majority of the chapters are Lia's POV and others are The Assassin and The Prince. In the first half of the book I thought the prince was one of the boys [Kaden] and was so sorry for him, the boy was left behind by his soon to be wife without explanation, he was so sweet and then boom.

Lia was naive before; then she was happy and loved; now she's destroyed, everything she loved was left behind and another truth was discovered.

We see the characters grow up, showing who they really are and their intensions. At the end Lia isn't the seventeen year old girl who fled her wedding, she is a woman who have suffered and wants revenge.

Fantastic writting, an amazing new world, captivating characters, and I'm ready for the next one, excited for the new adventures of Lia, Rafe and Kaden.

“Deliberate deception is not a mistake. It’s calculating and cold,” I told him. “Especially when aimed at the one you profess to love.” He paused mid-swipe as if I had swatted him on the back of the head. “And if one can’t be trusted in love,” I added, “one can’t be trusted in anything.”

Next...

Book Review » Finding Dandelion

5 ✪

Sinopsis

When soccer all-star Jax Avery collides with Dani Hart on his twenty-first birthday, their connection is instantaneous and explosive. For the first time in years, Jax isn’t interested in his usual hit-it and quit-it approach.

But Dani knows better. Allowing herself a night to be carefree and feel the intensity of their attraction won’t change anything when it comes to dealing with a player. So when Jax doesn’t recognize Dani the next time he sees her, it shouldn’t be a total shock. The fact that he’s her new roommate's brother? That’s a shock.

Dani doesn’t regret that night with Jax, just the need to lie about it. Since her roommate has made it clear what she thinks about her brother’s “type” of girl, the last thing Dani wants is to admit what happened. 

Jax knows he’s walking a fine line on the soccer team. One more misstep and he’s off the roster, his plans to go pro be damned. Except he can’t seem to care. About anything… except for the one girl who keeps invading his dreams.

Despite Jax’s fuzzy memory of his hot hookup with his sister’s friend, he can’t stay away from her, even if it means breaking his own rules. But there are bigger forces at work–realities that can end Dani’s college career and lies that can tear them apart. 

Jax realizes what he’s losing if Dani walks away, but will he sacrifice his future to be with her? And will she let him if he does?

Review

If you read Dearest Clementine you should remember she had a few roommates and a twin brother, this is their story.

Danielle Hart has been through so much, her father left her and her mother when she was only 10, her mother is in remission and she is away from home. Dani is a easy-going kind of person, she's creative, but kind of afraid to follow her dreams since her major is business instead of art.

When you've been through what her mother has, you look at life in a different way cause everything can end tomorrow and you never have lived life like you should. That's what her mother wants her to do, live a happy life, take risks, life is short.

“You were the best fucking parent. I love you, and I hope to make you proud.”

Dani has a list of things to do, like have a one night stand or get a tattoo and one night when she's at a bar she sees him and decides to take off one more thing of the list, why not?

They don't know each other, they have met briefly before at a pizzaria but didn't talk and when they meet again can't take their eyes from one another and things happen. After that he leaves her at the bar and both thing that would never see the other again.

One day at Ryan's house they meet again but he doesn't remember her, that's what sucks the most to Dani and the bimbo in his lap. How awkward is that the guy you can't stop thinking about is the brother of your roommate?

Jax Avery known as a man-whore, the boy likes women and women likes Jax. His looks are to die for, since his sister is Clem we know how their parents are, just not good folks at all. Jax doesn't want a girlfriend, he just wants to play soccer, but since he meets Dani at Ryan's he can't get her out of his head.

“What girls? I only have one, and she’s the best sexter I know.” It was comical how fast I moved yesterday afternoon when I got that text from Dani, who was parked out in the living room as I cleared out boxes in the garage.

One of the things I love about Lex's books is how all characters work good together even if they aren't the main 'atraction', we still get flashes of Clem and Gavin just as we get of Jenna and her Out-Skank sexting game. I loved Finding Dandelion some things got very close to my heart, sometimes life isn't fair and you just want to leave everything behind to be where you're needed.

Warnings!!!

1st » If you're thinking about reading this book, you don't need to think just go grab it find a cute and comfy corner and put your eyes on the prize...

2nd » It needs to be comfy because once you start you just can't put it down and then your arse won't be in a good shape.

3rd » Before you start make sure you have a big box of kleenex, I assure you that you'll need it for two reasons: you'll cry for laughing so much or you'll cry cause you just need to, either way you cry.

4th » Part of the story happens at the same time as Dearest Clementine but you can read them in the order you like (if you want my advise read them in order).

This is me after reading Finding Dandelion

Dearest Clementine (book 1) » http://goo.gl/Z3eKDK  STILL FREE  (MY REVIEW)

Finding Dandelion (book 2) » http://goo.gl/4l2IFO

Kissing Madeline (book 3) » http://goo.gl/jua1eo  

Book Review » Dearest Clementine

4.5 ✪

Synopsis

Twenty-year-old Clementine Avery doesn't mind being called bitchy and closed off. It's safe, and after being burned by her high school sweetheart and stalked by a professor her freshman year of college, safe sounds pretty damn good.
Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out...in the name of research, of course.
As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake…and maybe even her life.

Review

This is the second time I've read this book, the first I didn't know Lex or even talk to her but this time I could totally picture her writing every single line.

Clementine likes to keep to herself, she doesn't date, her parents suck at parenting skills, her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend cheated on her... I think it's safe to give the girl a little slack and let her be a bitch sometimes, everyone for at least one time have had trust issues, am I right?

She is an English-major, writes YA but got signed on a Romance Writing Class by mistake, shit just never ends.

I told her I had a sudden emergency and left out the fact that I nearly died when she said clitoris.

For this class she has to write a romance but has some inspirational problems, and that's where Gavin Murphy enters the stage. First he's just helping with possible scenarios and make-out sessions just for research, but things start to get serious. She doesn't want a boyfriend, though how can she resist a book boyfriend like Gavin?? She needs her next fix asap.

Gavin is a hot RA, has a megawatt grin and probably likable abs (Clem's words). They are like opposites, she is a bitch and he's the most lovable person in the world, funny, approachable. *swoon*

I don't know why, but I giggle. "No, I have one gear. It's bitch mode."
"I've never heard that before."
"That I'm a bitch?"
"No, your giggle. I like it."

On her freshman year of college Clementine had a stalking problem with a professor, now he is back to torment her. When she needs the most, Gavin is there for her, we can see how they build they relationship and how she starts to open up. 

It's so funny when they first meet, the interaction with the other characters in the book is amazing (Out-Skank Game was the best, between Clem and Jenna). It has a good plot it isn't just about a girl meets boy, it's much more intense than that, aside from their relationship other things are happening at the same time.

Just a little something to get you in the mood...

The laundry room is dark when we walk in, so he flips on the lights. A row of washers and dryers line both sides of the small room. He opens up a washer and dumps in his basket of clothes.
“Gavin, why are you washing clean laundry?” I can’t help the laugh that escapes.
He drops in a few quarters and starts the machine before he turns to me, grinning.
“I’m helping you get in the zone. Come here.” He wraps his hands around my waist, and I let out a surprised squeak when he lifts me up onto a washer. I can’t believe he just picked me up. Okay, that’s a stupid thought. He did carry me home two weeks ago.
His grip is firm on either side of me as he ducks down to look into my eyes. Even though I lean back, I can feel his minty breath on my face.
“Clementine, I want to warn you.” His voice is husky and deep. “I’m going to kiss you, and you’re going to like it. A lot. But I want to be clear that I’m not going to sleep with you, because I want you to respect me in the morning.” His mouth lifts up in a wry smile. “This is simply one friend helping out another. Okay?”

I just want to thank Lex for being such an approachable author, for always interacting with her readers and being an amazing person.

If you would like to buy any Dearest book here are the links:

(they can be read as a standalone but in my opinion you should start with Clementine's story)

Dearest Clementine (book 1) » http://goo.gl/Z3eKDK  FREE (today at least)

Finding Dandelion (book 2) » http://goo.gl/4l2IFO

Kissing Madeline (book 3) » http://goo.gl/jua1eo RELEASE TODAY 

Book Review » Girl Online

4.5 ✪

Synopsis

Penny has a secret.

Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family - and the panic attacks she's suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love - and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny's cover - and her closest friendship - forever.

Review

This one was my Christmas gift from me, I really wanted to read Girl Online. For so long that I watch Zoe on her channel, and when I got the news that she was releasing a book it got strait to my wishlist, after reading the synopsis. Some people didn't like it because she had help from a ghost writer, and so what? If you read it and like the story, what it has to do with who wrote it?

So basically this is a story about a girl, Penny, that writes an anonymous blog, by a pen name Girl Online (see what I did there? Penny - Pen? yeah never mind). She writes about her problems, things that happened to her, awkward moments and all that stuff that everyone of us, for sure, has been through.

"I'm going to say what I want to say, and it would be really cool if you (whoever you might be) join me.
This can be our very own corner of the Internet, where we can talk about what it truly feels like to be a teenage girl - without having to pretend to be something we're not."

Penny is a girl with some insecurities, she likes to be behind the camera and out of the spotlight, that's why an anonymous blog works just fine for her, it's a place where she can be herself without worrying about being judged. No one knows about her secret with the exception of her best friend Elliot.

It's a good thing her mom has to do a work thing in New York and she gets to go with her and her best friend. A girl from Brighton on a trip to New York with her best friend, let the adventure begin. In New York, Penny meets Noah and thinks he is part of a band that will sing at the wedding reception her mom is organizing. But fast she learns that's not the case and gets to spend a day with him. Noah is mysterious, lovely, hot from head to toe, with cute dimples, makes her laugh and helps her with her panic attacks. With so little time he shows her a little of New York and makes her forget about the problems she left behind. With him she can be herself and feels good about it.

" 'Let's go get some food from Sadie Lee. But first - ' he stares right at me - 'can you please say ''tomato''?'
'What?'
' ''Tomato''. Please, can you say it for me?'
I grin and shake my head; he is definitely crazy, but good crazy. 'OK then: tomato.'
'Ha!' He claps his hands together with glee. 'Tom-ah-to,' he mimics. 'I love the way you Brits say that. Come on.' And, with that, he strides off in the direction of the kitchen."

But not everything are roses, after spending a happy time with him she needs to get back home. They fell in love but they are far away from each other, Elliot is jealous of Penny, and then everything comes crashing down.

It's a lovely reading, I laugh at some parts, it's a little cliché but it's a great book. What I liked the most about this story is that I could relate with some things, it talks about friends that are not really your friends anymore, awkward situations (everyone has been through them, right?). Bullying, especially online bullying that in nowadays is a big thing with all tech and people just judge you but they never meet you. It shows that you need to be carefull of what you put online, it can get back to you some day.

"Every time you post something online you have a choice.
You can either make it something that adds to the happiness levels in the world - or you can make it something that takes away from them"

One character that I really liked was Elliot, his homosexuality, his relationship with his parents, and c'mon everytime I read about Elliot I thought about Tyler Oakley (a friend of Zoe), it's something that for some people is still a taboo, it was a great thing in this book.

You can't be afraid of who you are, sometimes when you think you are alone and are the only one that has a problem (like the one you have), you can see that that's not the case at all.

This is the first book of the author, there'll be a second book sometime this year, it doesn't have a title yet, but I can't wait to read it.

2015 Reading Challenge

So yeah, I think I'm gonna do this one. Saw it on 9gag and everyone is talking about it, it's a way for me to read books that maybe I wouldn't read like a thriller. For this to take a little more time, for everybook that a read I can only cross one thing on the list. There are some that I need to change, because I'm Portuguese and I read in english (mostly) so this one A book that was originally written in a different language, for example needs to change.

✔ A book with more than 500 pages » After by Anna Todd (review)

☐ A classic romance
☐ A book that became a movie
☐ A book published this year
☐ A book with a number in the title
☐ A book written by someone under 30
☐ A book with nonhuman characters
☐ A funny book
☐ A book by a female author
☐ A mystery or thriller
☐ A book with a one-word title
☐ A book of short stories
☐ A book set in a different country
☐ A nonfiction book
✔ A popular author's first book » Dearest Clementine by Lex Martin (review)
☐ A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet
☐ A book friend recommended
☐ A Pulitzer Prize-winning book
☐ A book based on a true story
☐ A book at the bottom of your to-read list
☐ A book your mom loves

☐ A book that scares you
☐ A book more than 100 years old
☐ A book based entirely on its cover
☐ A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
☐ A memoir
☐ A book you can finish in one day
☐ A book with antonyms in the title
☐ A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
☐ A book that came out the year you were born
☐ A book with bad reviews
☐ A trilogy
☐ A book from your childhood
☐ A book with love triangle
☐ A book set in the future
☐ A book set in high school
☐ A book with a color in the title
✔ A book that made you cry » Finding Dandelion by Lex Martin (review)
☐ A book with magic
☐ A graphic novel
☐ A book by an author you've never read before
☐ A book that takes place in your hometown
☐ A book that was originally written in a different language
✔ A book set during Christmas » Girl Online by Zoe Sugg (review)
☐ A book written by an author with your same initials
☐ A play
☐ A banned book
☐ A book based on or turned into a TV show
☐ A book you started but never finished

Book Review » After

5 Stars

What to expect when you are not expecting

Synopsis

Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way. 

But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to. 

But he’s also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessashould hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before. 

He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn't the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper. 

Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her?

Unless…could this be love?

Now newly revised and expanded, Anna Todd’s After fanfiction racked up 1 billion reads online and captivated readers across the globe. Experience the Internet’s most talked-about book for yourself!

There was the time before Tessa met Hardin, and then there’s everything AFTER ... Life will never be the same. #Hessa

Review

I'm still a little in a WTF moment after I finish this book. It wasn't what I thought it would be at all for various reasons. First I was a little like 'this is a fanfic about 1D', not that I don't like them but I thought they were all together in college and still as a band. Second I thought this was just another story about bad boy meets good girl and wacka wacka all rainbows and stuff, happy forever kind of thing. BUT I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG!! Right now I'm so happy to be wrong. And a third reason I can't tell because you need to read it...

So this is a bad boy situation where he meets a good girl, they drive each other crazy, she has a boyfriend at home that is a year younger and that's way she's at college by herself, he has many 'girlfriends' (if you know what I mean). She can't resist him, there's something that pushes her toward him, when they touch electricity flys between them.

When they meet for the first time is when Tessa arrives at her dorm with her mom and her boyfriend, Hardin is friend of her roommate and doesn't even say hi to her.

Hardin is a completely jackass, he's mean, he's cruel towards her, he hurts the people who love him the most and who he loves, but he can be sweet as well and that's what drives Tessa crazy. One moment he's all sweet and loving, but five minutes later is outside the door. British boy with tattoos and a lip ring that brings girls to his feet. Well since he is based on Harry Styles you get the visual.

They are opposites, Tessa worked hard to be where she is right now, she's a planner everything needs to be on schedule, but when she is with Hardin she can lost track of things and time. Hardin can't that a no for an answer but tha's what she do (when she is able to resist him). 

There is so much drama in this book, you'll want to slap someone after reading this, when you thing everything is finally fine someone screws everything up again.

I never thought this would end the way it did, he has problems that make him act in a certain way and you can't reasist and fall for him like she did, Tessa is a fixer and she tries to fix Hardin the best way she can. Can she fix him? This book will for certain drive you crazy, because you can't put it down, the story will push you into it, I finished reading After and right away start the next one. 

In the beggining of the book I was always looking for each member of 1D, but after a few chapters I forgot all about them and thought of this book like any other, you don't even think 'this is actually a fanfic', for me was a great way to start a new year.

“Fine. I will stay away from her. But don’t bring her to any more parties at my house,” he snaps, and I hear him stomping off. As he goes down the hall, his voice recedes, too, as he yells, “I mean it, I don’t want to see her again! And if I do, I will ruin her!”