Review: Crash Into You

Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3)

by Katie McGarry

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes the explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane. 

The girl with straight A's, designer clothes, and the perfect life - that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. 

One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker - a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks - no matter how angelic she might look. But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Source: Publisher (Thanks MiraINK!) and Netgalley (Thanks HarlequinTEEN!)

US COVER . *SWOOOOON*

My Thoughts:

I love Katie McGarry I really do but I have to say that Dare You To wasn't as good as Pushing The Limits. Crash Into You is better than the second but not as good as the first in my opinion. Unfortunately now that we've read the first two books in the series it seems as if the books have conformed to that specific formula. Dare You To kept your attention because you expected something different. Crash Into You does not stray from the main formula due to which it causes some fatigue in the reader in the beginning but the author introduces concepts that really fascinated me in this book. I was fascinated by the drag racing and cars aspect of this novel. It added something new and exciting to the novel. 

Isaiah is a fascinating character. I loved reading the chapters which were from his point of view. I always liked him a lot. He seemed like the most decent of the Noah-Beth-Isaiah trio and he is. I like seeing books in which nice guys prevail. I mean he's tattooed and messed up but he's not an @$$ . He pays his debts (Game of Thrones reference :P)

Rachel is a character I have mixed feelings about. Sometimes she came off as whiny. I mean she's a rich kid. Sometimes her problems just seemed insignificant compared to Noah. But sometimes I could really relate to the kid. It's not easy standing up for yourself . There's this scene near the end that I really loved because she shone through in it.

I loved the family dynamic in this. I loved the scenes in which the scenes in which Rachel's family was being adorably normal. The seven brothers dynamic was very interesting.

The plot is interesting and the story manages to hold your attention. I'm not sure about the characters on which the sequel is going to be based on but it is Katie McGarry and her books are addictive so I will read it. I hope she writes something different though , I want to read something different from her now that completely breaks this series established 'rules'.

Overall, this book is interesting and much better than it's predecessor in my opinion. 


My Rating:

3.5/5

Almost a four, though. 

What are your thoughts? 

Introduction to Anime/Manga[A.K.A I'm back for now]

So I know I haven't posted a blog post with my "voice" aka thoughts for a long time. Truth is I've started a new chapter in my life and I'm finding it hard to write. Also posting is not only about writing it's about formatting as well, which takes ages and is something which I am not able to do properly from my phone. In short, I'm sorry and I'll try to keep posting and become more organized now. 

Now usually when my exams start I go on a romance binge. Basically I'm one of those people who can't concentrate if a plot is too interesting , in a typical romance you know how it ends so you don't have an urge to stop studying and read till the end. This time instead of going on a romance binge I went on an anime and manga binge and it made me realize I've never broached this subject on my blog before. 

It's not like I'm new to anime or manga but I've just never talked about it before.So I thought I would get over my radio silence and maybe introduce my readers to something new. 

First question , WHAT is Manga?

This is the answer that trusty Google provides : 
manga

ˈmaŋgə/

noun

1. a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children.

Second question, What is anime? 

anime

ˈ

anɪmeɪ,ˈanɪmə/

noun

1. a style of Japanese film and television animation, typically aimed at adults as well as children.

What I think anime is: Manga that is animated. I know there are animes that are not based on manga but that's how I usually think of anime . 

Now that the concept has been introduced. There are basically two types of manga/anime (this is just what I understand I'm not an expert in this field) 

1. Shoju (Lit. "Young woman". Anime and manga intended for the adolescent to teenage female demographic. Source: wikipedia)
2. Shonen ( Lit. "Young man". Anime and manga intended for the adolescent to teenage male demographic . Source: wikipedia)

Basically shoju is romance and shonen is action and fighting. The meaning is a little stereotypical and there can be romance in shonen as well but I'm trying to make it simplistic here. 

This is what a manga page looks like 

SOURCE

This is like a cover page but it's usually black and white and the text is written pretty much like it is in the image above. 

What an anime looks like:

I've attached a .gif of the anime based on the manga above. 

Source

So I hope everyone has got the basics now. I was planning to straightaway write a post on my animes/manga I'm obsessed with but a lot of my friends aren't really aware of the basic concepts, so I thought I might as well do this post. 

There are various sites where you can read manga and watch anime. As you might already know I don't live in USA or Japan so it's not like I have easy access to buying anime or manga to read or watch. There are various sites you can watch or read anime from but keep in mind these sites aren't legal . I for one will buy my favorites in a heartbeat if I get my hands on them somehow but if you want to TRY before you buy , you can. It's easier to try out anime because it's possible some come on your television and you haven't noticed it yet. 

So I finish off with a meme from one of my favourite anime/manga. Keep a lookout for my post with a list/rant about manga/anime I've read! 

THOUGHTS?

B2W2014: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout +SWAG giveaway

Today I'm featuring

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

One kiss could be the last. 

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. 

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. 

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. 

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Publication Date: Already available in US and Bookdepository.

(February 25th 2014)

SHORT INTERVIEW

I'm sure you're sick of this question but what made you think of writing a book with a main character that's HALF demon and HALF gargoyle?

 I wanted to write about something a little different, and there aren’t a lot of gargoyle books out there.  I thought that a girl who is half gargoyle and half demon might be interesting.

What's your favorite line or scene from the book?  

Hmmm…I’m not going to choose my favorite line or scene, but I will tell you that I love Bambi, who you will meet in the book.

Where do you get the inspiration for the HAWT guys in this book?

  I like to write about guys who have traits and characteristics that I find attractive, so I tend to draw from my own personal taste.  Daemon, from my Lux series, is actually loosely based on Roth from this series.  I wrote White Hot Kiss before Obsidian, and I wrote Daemon as a toned down version of Roth.

Are you ever going to write a complete book from a guy's POV? 

 I’m not sure if I would write an entire book from a guy’s POV, but it’s always a possibility.  I prefer to write from the female POV or dual POV.

How did you come up with the name of the series and the books in this series? 

 I don’t want to give too many details, but the title of the first book, White Hot Kiss, is a play on Layla’s ability to kill anything with a soul with her kiss.

GIVEAWAY

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CONTEST IS INTERNATIONAL.

Just comment on this post with 

Which was your favorite Jennifer Armentrout book 

OR

 Why you want to read this book ?

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B2W2014: Split Second by Kasie West [GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY]

Today I'm featuring

Split Second (Pivot Point #2)

by Kasie West

Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

EXPECTED PUBLICATION: Already Available (February 11th)

GUEST POST WITH AUTHOR

Split Second excerpt:

“Tell me I’m crazy.” He looked into my eyes, and the intensity of his stare, the set of his mouth, the angle of his brow—it all seemed so familiar. Like I had been here before with him staring at me like that. It caught me off guard, softened my resolve, and I hesitated. I had to look away. I knew what my father said about lying and how one of the first indicators was when someone couldn’t look you in the eyes.

                                              …

He put his hand on my shoulder…His normal friendly exterior was stripped away, replaced by a vulnerability that made me want to tell him everything. “You’re crazy,” I whispered.

I’m so excited to have Split Second, the conclusion to Pivot Point, come into the world in February. It’s sad to me that the story is ending. It was a big part of my journey into the publishing world and I feel like I’m saying goodbye to the beginning, in a way. I’m sure I’ll be blubbering like a child when it comes out. Well, I’m not really a blubberer, but my eyes will sting and my nose will hurt and…yeah…too much info. That’s another post altogether. This is a post about inspiration and what inspired me to write these books.

As I’ve mentioned in past interviews, my inspiration for Pivot Point was a movie called Sliding Doors. I adore this movie with its idea that one little decision can change the course of a life. Plus it was just a really really cool movie. (I know that’s not a very detailed, informative review, and probably explains why I don’t make a very good book reviewer). Pivot Point explores this idea of one choice changing the course of a life in a supernatural kind of way through alternate realities.

So then what was my inspiration for Split Second? This is a hard question to answer. And hopefully I don’t sound vain when I say that the inspiration for Split Second was Pivot Point. Yep, I sounded vain. It was impossible not to even with my disclaimer. But by the time I sat down to write the sequel, I was invested in the characters. They were real people to me. I wanted to know where their stories went and I let them take me there. It seemed to be the natural conclusion to Addie and Trevor’s story.

Split Second also has another POV character—Laila. With Addie leaving the Compound to visit her father, I knew I wanted to mirror Pivot Point a bit by having the perspective of someone inside the Compound. I didn’t want to use the same plot device of Pivot Point by having another Search (plus, poor Addie had been through enough and didn’t need another heart wrenching decision at the end of the sequel). So that’s where Laila came in. It was fun to see the world through her eyes, plus it gave me the opportunity to introduce another love interest. Can there ever be too many cute boys to swoon over? I don’t think so.

I’m so happy to finally get to share this story with you all. I hope you enjoy it.  

GIVEAWAY

The author has been kind enough to offer a SIGNED paperback of the  first book in the series Pivot Point .

INTERNATIONAL.

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

I really liked this book , you can check out my review here .

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B2W2014: Stolen Songbird (EXCERPT+ GIVEAWAY!)

Today I'm featuring 

Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1)

by Danielle L. Jensen

For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever 

Expected publication: April 1st 2014

EXCERPT

“I don’t believe this was part of the arrangement, Monsieur Luc.”

Rising to my knees, I gazed up at the man standing in front of us, his figure outlined by moonlight. “Help me,” I pleaded, tugging on the silken fabric of his cloak. “Please help me! He’s kidnapped me from my family and intends to sell me to the trolls.”

“Is that so?” His voice had the lyrical cadence of the court, although I was surprised to find a nobleman stooping to treasure hunting. I was in no position to judge, though. I’d take assistance where I could find it. I crawled on hands and knees, putting the man between Luc and me. Anyone had to be better than Luc.

My eyes fixed on the glowing lamp dancing behind his head. No, not a lamp – an orb that seemed to be floating through the air of its own accord. It swung round, hanging near my face, dazzling me with brightness but exuding only a little warmth.

“How badly are you injured, Mademoiselle de Troyes?”

I reached up to touch the light, then, thinking better of it, withdrew my hand. Only then did I realize he’d called me by name. I met his eyes. Or eye, rather. He stood peculiarly and kept his face turned to one side, revealing only his profile. He was perhaps my brother’s age, and particularly handsome. The light of the orb reflected in his silvery grey eye as though the glow came from within. I’d never met anyone in my life with eyes like his.

“I’m afraid you have the advantage, monsieur, for while you know my name, I don’t know yours.” My heart beat faster. Something was dreadfully amiss. Apprehension made my hackles rise like a dog’s as I eyed the man up and down. Who was he and what was he doing beneath the rubble of Forsaken Mountain?

“I should beg your pardon, mademoiselle, for failing to introduce myself. I am Marc de Biron, Comte de Courville.” His attention moved to Luc. “You were to bring her unharmed.”

“You’re lucky she’s still alive – we nearly got ate by that sluag,” Luc retorted.

“You’re lucky you didn’t bring half a dozen of them down upon you the way you two carried on. I wouldn’t be surprised if they could account your argument word for word in Trollus, you were so infernally loud!”

“No,” I whispered. “No, no, no.” Every instinct said to run, but which way? I had no light, and the sluag blocked the way we’d come from. But forward was where he’d come from and he was… Rising to my feet, I cowered against the wall. “You’re a… He’s a…”

“Aye, Cécile,” Luc said, finally taking notice of my yammering. “He’s a troll all right.”

“But you said they were monst…” The troll abruptly turned and faced me straight on, and the word died on my lips, replaced by a scream. Luc had been telling the truth.

GIVEAWAY

The publisher has been kind enough to offer a paperback of this book for giveaway.

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B2W2014: Lady Thief by A.C.Gaughen (Interview +GIVEAWAY)

Today I'm featuring

Lady Thief (Scarlet #2)

by A.C. Gaughen 

Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

Publication: Already available (February 11th 2014)

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR 

How did you come up with the idea to write Scarlet?

SCARLET was a little strange.  I had this voice kind of nagging in my head, and I started going back through old work.  I found this story I had written in grad school in this voice, and it all collided--I knew who she was, I knew who the hero she had been wishing after was, I knew it all.  And I just started writing, and it came out very very fast. 

How is Lady Thief( the sequel) different from Scarlet?

It's a little darker.  It's time for some serious consequences to catch up to Scar, the band, and the shire.  Everyone is really dealing with the fact that they can't run away from their pasts.  Scarlet is also put in the position of deciding who she really is;  the things that define her, like her knives, dressing as a boy, holding on to her secrets, even her love of Rob, have all been stripped away and she has to figure out what it means to be Scarlet.  What, in all of that, is inalienable.   

Your favourite version of Robin Hood?

BBC!  People draw a lot of parallels, and while I see some of it, I also see some pretty gigantic divergences.  But yeah, Jonas Armstrong, Richard Armitage...some serious man candy in that.  Never was a big fan of their portrayal of the sheriff, though.  

Any clues/hints/information you can share with us about book 3?

Hmm...well I'm secretly a huge history geek, and I have had some pretty serious intentions for this series and what major historical event it contributes to in the future.  I can't wait to share that!  (Well, I guess I can wait a LITTLE.... ;-) )  It's still very much in the process of editing and changing, but I think while I was writing it I definitely enjoyed seeing two characters (and a third, actually) have some happiness for once.  BEFORE I MESS IT ALL UP AGAIN!

I love how you have such a strong feminine character in this series, any specific characters fictional or real that inspired you to come up with such a strong female character?

It will become much more clear in LADY THIEF, but Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of my ultimate favorite historical figures, bar none.  Writing her was like fangirling history.  And whenever people tell me Scarlet is anachronistic, I just point to her.  Eleanor was hardcore.  And I think as far as fiction goes, Tamora Pierce's work was an INCREDIBLE influence on me when I was young, and I think Ann Rinaldi was the coolest way to learn about girls in history.  Ever! 

Lady Thief in one line?

Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must act the part of a noblewoman to protect Rob and the shire--but there are things that cannot be undone, and secrets that Scarlet never knew she lost.  

Books you would recommend to

A) YA readers

B) Adult readers

So I am going to skirt this question because I think YA readers and Adult readers are one and the same.  Hmm recent favorites...I'm a total Rainbow Rowell convert, FANGIRL and ELEANOR AND PARK are books I want to slip in between the pages of.  I just finished BRIGHT BEFORE SUNRISE (Schmidt) and MANOR OF SECRETS (Longshore) and totally obsessed over both.  This is less a recommendation, but I just did a lot of graduate work on the New Adult emerging genre and I'm really dying to see some stellar entries in this field--I think it has so much potential that hasn't fully been tapped yet. 

If Scarlet was trapped on a deserted island , what would she do?

Hm.  Is Rob there?  If so, enjoy it.  If not, rope a couple of sea turtles together and sail right out of there.  

Rapid Fire(what it the first thing that comes to your mind when I say....

Twilight Midnight

Black  Cat

Harry Potter  Flying on Broomsticks

Hot  Toddy  (okay, maybe I should explain that it's REALLY cold here...)

Hood  Shadows

Wings  Broken

Coffee  Ew.  (I'm a tea drinker)

T.V.  Scandal

Scarlet   Should meet Olivia Pope. 

I for one loved Scarlet and cannot wait to dive into this book. 

GIVEAWAY

The author has been kind enough to offer an ARC(Advanced Readers Copy of Lady Thief ,a tote bag and minor swag. 

How awesome is she? 

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