Rome - Review

Rome (Marked Men, # 3)

By: Jay Crownover

Expected Publication: January 7th 2014 by William Morrow Paperbacks

400 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.

Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .

I’ve really enjoyed the Marked Men series. Though neither myself nor my husband have any tattoos or body piercings, I do find myself attracted to guys with tattoos. And so that’s what initially drew me into this series. Rule was a bit descriptive for my tastes, but Jet was more toned down than that. I was worried going from Rule to Jet that the story lines would be too similar, but as you can see in my review of Jet that wasn’t the case. And Rome has a different storyline as well. Because the concept behind this series is that each guy in their group is getting his own book (I hope EACH guy is), I wasn’t really excited initially that Rome was next in line. I was hoping for Nash or Rowdy. Rome was present in Rule, but not an overly present character in either of the previous books so I wasn’t as invested in him at that point. Whereas Rule and Jet were both playboys before settling down, Rome has never really been a flippant kind of guy, even when it comes to relationships. And I’m so glad. I get so sick of seeing the playboy lead in new adult books.

Rome has his issues like each of the boys in this series. Of course, like Rule, Rome lost his brother Remy several years ago, and he still struggles with that. He’s recently finished his service in the military, but only because of his injuries and mental state and not by choice. So Rome has really been struggling with trying to get back into civilian life and find his place again—all very believable.

Cora has been hurt by her past which has caused her to clam up. She’s looking to settle down, but she wants perfect which we all know is unattainable. She lets her past hurts define her present and her future which I can totally relate to. However, I liked how Cora was straightforward and direct. She calls it like she sees it. And no one is immune to her advice and opinions. I can appreciate how direct she is.

Because Cora is so straightforward, there isn’t a huge dance between Rome and Cora about whether or not they’re interested in the other. I can also appreciate that. Sometimes people are too scared of rejection to put themselves out there—which I totally understand, but it gets old to read about every time. I also really appreciate the portrayal of the consequences of Rome and Cora’s actions. When you live your live one way, consequences of those actions are inevitable. Not all fiction avoids these consequences, but often times characters don’t suffer the consequences of their actions when the author doesn’t have to make them. However, timing must have been spot on for these two for things to end up like they did.

Jay Crownover does a great job of weaving the lessons each character needs to learn and experience into the overall story. She weaves each character helping the other grow as needed just beautifully. This is what I most enjoy about this series. While the main characters in each book don’t necessarily have the same backgrounds or the same struggles, they both answer a very specific need in the other.

Rome gets 4 stars from me. Fans of new adult and fans of this series will likely enjoy this newest installment. Have you read Rome? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 78 & Stacking the Shelves - 49

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This past week was pretty nice with work letting us off 2 1/2 hours early on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday. Husband and I rang in the New Year like old married people--asleep on the couch. I hope everyone else had a wonderful New Year's day. I got a lot of reading done this week. And topped off the end of the week by celebrating my brother-in-law's birthday last night. Oh and Husband and I got new cellphones this week too! YAY!

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: 2013 EOY Book Survey
Wednesday: December 2013 EOM Wrap Up
Thursday: Review of Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge (5 Stars)
Friday: Review of Frigid (Frigid, # 1) by J Lynn (3 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Rome (Marked Men, # 3) by Jay Crownover
Tuesday: 2013 EOY Wrap Up
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday (maybe)
Thursday: Review of Breaking Nova (Nova, # 1) by Jessica Sorensen
Friday: Review of Origin (Lux, # 4) by Jennifer L Armentrout

Don't forget to sign up for the 2014 Series Enders Reading Challenge! Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with a BIG giveaway at the end of the year! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Because of Low (Sea Breeze, # 2)

By: Abbi Glines

Published: February 7th 2012

294 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Borrowed from my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In my debut novel, Breathe, Sadie may have fallen in love with the teen rock star, Jax Stone, but readers fell head over heels for Marcus Hardy. This is his story…

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York.

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there.

Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice.

While It Lasts (Sea Breeze, # 3)

By: Abbi Glines

Published: July 31st 2012

304 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Borrowed from my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Cage brings his playboy prowess to the countryside as the Sea Breeze hookups continue, from self-published phenomenon Abbi Glines.

Low broke Cage’s heart by getting with Marcus in Because of Low. Cage went into a tailspin that ended in a DUI. In order to salvage his baseball scholarship—the one thing he truly valued besides Low—Cage must take a summer job. At a farm. Away from Sea Breeze. With lots of cows, but no hot girls. Maybe that’s what Cage needs to get back on track.

But wait—there’s that hostile daughter of the farm boss. She’s pretty and occasionally sweet, and there seems to be a lot of sadness and mystery behind her anger. Cage is dying to strip her down—physically and mentally—in the back of the barn. But is he prepared for what will happen afterward?

Just For Now (Sea Breeze, # 4)

By: Abbi Glines

Published: October 30th 2012 by Simon & Schuster

304 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Borrowed from my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The day Preston Drake figured out that wealthy women paid well for a set of tight abs and a pretty face his life turned around.

The run down rat-infested trailer he had shared with his alcoholic mother and three younger siblings was now only a place he visited to pay the bills and stock the pantry with food.

He no longer worried about his family starving or living without electricity. The money he made entertaining rich older women more than covered his family’s needs and his own. He had it all figured out. Except…

There was this girl.

She was as innocent as he was tainted.

Amanda Hardy wished her knees didn’t get weak when Preston walked into a room. She hated the fact her heart raced when he flashed his smile in her direction. He had a different girl in his bed every night. He was the kind of boy a smart girl ran from. So, why was she coming up with ways to get close to him? Even when it was obvious he wanted to keep her at a distance.

Maybe her heart knew something the world didn’t. Maybe Preston Drake was more than just a pretty face.

Reason to Breathe (Breathing, # 1)

By: Rebecca Donovan

Published: May 10th 2011

377 pages

Genre: YA/NA, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?" In the affluent town of Weslyn, Connecticut, where most people worry about what to be seen in and who to be seen with, Emma Thomas would rather not be seen at all. She’s more concerned with feigning perfection while pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises - not wanting anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is. Without expecting it, she finds love. It challenges her to recognize her own worth - but at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she’s desperate to hide. Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro

By: Bobbi Brown, Debra Bergsma, & Sally Wadyka

Published: December 1st 2008 by Grand Central Life & Style

232 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Self-Help, How-To

Source: Personal Library (Christmas gift from my SNL, Tonya & family)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--This is the book that Bobbi Brown's fans have been waiting for: her 25-plus years of makeup styling experience distilled into one complete, gorgeous book. Bobbi looks at everything from skincare basics to every aspect of facial makeup--from how to find the right color and type of foundation for any skin tone to how to apply every detail of eye makeup (Brows, Eye Liner, Eye Shadow, and Eye Lashes) no matter your eye color and shape. Of course there are never-before-seen tips on blush, bronzer, lip liners, lipstick, etc. And Bobbi looks beyond the face with informative chapters on "Hands and Feet" and "Body Skin Care." Each chapter has thorough step-by-step basic directions for makeup application and easy-to-follow photographs and line drawings, along with Bobbi's expert, yet assuring, advice. Plus, there's a groundbreaking section of the book that will be of special interest to women who've wanted to know how makeup stylists do what they do: the top beauty secrets only these artists know, essential equipment to keep on hand, how to break into the business, and how to work with photographers and celebrities.

Breathtaking photos of the finished faces-from everyday looks to exotic runway style-along with advice on putting it all together for every woman, make this a book like no other.

BOBBI BROWN'S MAKEUP MANUAL will be the only book any woman will need to look absolutely fabulous.

The Destiny of Violet & Luke (The Coincidence, # 3)

By: Jessica Sorensen

Expected Publication: January 7th 2014 by Forever

336 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Luke Price's life has always been about order, control, and acting tough on the outside. For Luke, meaningless relationships are a distraction-a way to tune out the twisted memories of his childhood. He desperately wishes he could forget his past, but it haunts him no matter what he does.

Violet Hayes has had a rough life. When she was young, she was left with no family and the memory of her parents' unsolved murders. She grew up in foster homes, living with irresponsible parents, drugs, and neglect, and trying to fight the painful memories of the night her parents were taken from her. But it's hard to forget when she never got closure-and she can't stop dreaming about what happened that tragic night. To make it through life, she keeps her distance from everyone and never allows herself to feel anything.

Then Violet meets Luke. The two clash instantly, yet they can't seem to stay away from each other. Although they fight it, they both start to open up and feel things they've never felt before. They discover just how similar they are. But they also discover something else: The past always catches up with you . .

Lila & Ethan: Always & Forever (The Secret, # 4.5)

By: Jessica Sorensen

Published: December 24th 2013 by Forever Yours (Hachette)

87 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ella and Micha series comes a story of love, risks, and rewards . . .

Lila Summers just wants to know one thing for certain: that Ethan Gregory will be with her always. Once her friend, he's become so much more, melting the pain of her past away with each kiss. Now Lila is on a road trip with Ethan, in the wilderness under the stars, and she can't imagine her life without him. But when she talks about the future, something in Ethan changes . . .

Ethan has no doubts about his feelings for Lila. His life with her gets better every day-and that's the scary part. How can he walk into a future where he has everything to lose? With Lila, his whole heart is on the line for the very first time. But if Ethan can't give her the promise she needs, his greatest fear might come true: he'll lose Lila for good.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Frigid - Review

Frigid (Frigid, # 1)

By: J Lynn

Published: July 15th 2013 by Spencer Hill Contemporary

240 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

I've never really understood how bloggers pick and choose books that they write reviews for versus writing reviews for everything they read. Or maybe even the mini-reviews, I've never really understood that either. I've always very much been a write-a-review-for-every-book-I-read kind of blogger. Well until Frigid. I mean I'm still doing that--writing a full length review--but this is the first time I've understood why some people don't. To be honest, I don't feel much like writing a full length review for Frigid despite how much I like Jennifer L Armentrout (she's writing under the pseudonym of J. Lynn for this book).

I read Frigid in one day. After imposing a self-inflicted reading ban from a Thursday evening until Sunday, I devoured Frigid in one sitting. The writing was pretty good, full of wit and sarcasm. The characters were mediocre and the plot about the same. Had I read this book a year ago, I probably would have loved it. But instead, there was nothing different about it from the dozens or so other New Adult reads that I've come across in the last 6 months to a year.

And that's what I really struggled with the most--the cliches. I talk about this all the time in my reviews. It's hard to come up with a new idea, I know. I'm not even sure I could do it. But we've got a best friend situation between two characters who have some majorly built up tension. One friend--the girl--is completely aware that feelings have long since moved from friend territory into something more. The other friend--the guy--comes off as completely oblivious and bangs every female he can. This situation is over written. This guy is overwritten. And surprise...the conflict and resolution is overwritten too. Even the way that things wrap up where our leading male proclaims that he has in fact always been in love with our female lead is just too much. It's too clean--too pretty.

Sydney is still somewhat psychologically damaged from a comment made to her over a year ago. And while I can completely understand that, because I've been known to hold on to a comment like that in my past, it wasn't always fun to read about her insecurities and freak outs. Kyler wasn't much better. I'm pretty sick of reading about this type of guy character. Considering how many New Adult and Adult novels star males that are pretty much the spitting image of Kyler, I think it's obvious that we, women like our men to be manly men, and this is just one way that it comes out in literature. Other than that, I'm not sure what the point is in having so many male characters like this. Or maybe it's our desire to tame the "bad boy." We want to be the one girl who's special enough to turn him from all his undesirable ways. So even though that doesn't really happen in real life so much, we still crave reading about it. Maybe? I don't know. Either way, I'm tired of this type of leading male.

Frigid was all around average. Though there was a mysterious aspect to the novel, there really wasn't anything surprising or mysterious about said mystery. The characters fit into cookie-cutter stereotypes. And the conflict was typical and somewhat stupid, as well as the resolution entirely too neat and pretty. Frigid gets 3 stars from me--that's the best I can do.

Have you read Frigid? What did you think? Let me know!

Side note, does anyone else think this cover is ridiculous? Snow and a bare chest? Really????

Captivating - Review

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul

By: John & Stasi Eldredge

Published: April 7th 2005 by Nelson Books (first published January 1st 2005)

243 pages

Genre: Christian, Non-Fiction, Spirituality, Religion, Inspirational, Women

Source: Personal Library ( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Every woman was once a little girl. And every little girl holds in her heart her most precious dreams. She longs to be swept up into a romance, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, to" be" the Beauty of the story. And yet―how many women do you know who ever find that life?

Most women think they have to settle for a life of efficiency and duty, striving to be the women they "ought" to be but often feeling they have failed. Sadly, too many messages for Christian women add to the pressure. "Do these ten things, and you will be a godly woman." The effect has not been good on the feminine soul.

The message of "Captivating" is this: Your heart matters more than anything else in all creation. The desires you had as a little girl and the longings you still feel are telling you of the life God created you to live. He offers to rescue your heart and release you to live as a fully alive and feminine woman. A woman who is truly captivating.

Oh my! I have no idea how I'm going to review this book. If you get absolutely nothing else out of this review, here's what I want you to take away: "READ THIS BOOK!"

I don't know if I have words to really describe how much I enjoyed this book and how many treasures I found within it's pages. This is one of those books that I think every human being should be forced to read. Every woman because she's a woman. And every man because he's not a woman. This book was healing to my soul.

I was worried about reading this book from the point of it being co-authored. I find that I struggle sometimes with books that are written by more than one author. And truthfully it did take me a little bit to get accustomed to how Captivating swaps back and forth between Stasi and John writing in the first person. But they usually tell you when the narration swaps, and I got accustomed to this in no time.

The description above hints at this, but the book goes into more detail. This isn't another book that just tells you what a Christian woman should be doing, thinking, feeling, etc. This is a book about the nature--often buried deep down--and heart of a woman and the desires of her heart. It's about how we as women uniquely bear the image of God and what being a woman can tell us about the heart of God. So many times in my reading, I found myself with chills, nodding my head, and even reading sections aloud to my husband. I even had one of those faith affirming moments where it's perfectly visible (metaphorically speaking) to witness God at work in my life--affirming His love for me as an individual.

I've never been a feminist, but I am fiercely independent. I've never resented the position of the men in my life or the differences between men and women, but I strive not to let my definition of self and worth come from anyone else--save God. I personally can't see how any woman can fight against this book or the message of these authors--but I'm sure those women are out there.

From the discussion surrounding the fall and the curse, to the question women are from their youths looking to have answered, to how our parents play into our vision of self, to the deep and romantic relationship that each of us have the opportunity of having with our Creator, Sustainer, Bridegroom, Father--Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge blew me away. The most important thing I took from this book was about deepening my relationship with my God.

I could probably talk for hours upon hours about what I've taken away from Captivating. I've recommended it to every female in my life. And I'll most definitely read this book again in the future. More than that, if I ever have an daughters, I'll force this book at them--before they're married. If I could force it upon you, I would. But if you can't tell, I highly recommend Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge.

Absolutely no qualms about giving this one a hearty 5 Stars! Have you read Captivating? What did you think? Let me know! Again if you haven't read this one, please do.

December 2013 EOM Wrap Up

I read 12 books this month.
This is How I Find Her by Sara Polsky
Alienated (Alienated, # 1) by Melissa Landers
If You Stay (Beautifully Broken, # 1) by Courtney Cole
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Forever (Temptation, # 3) by Karen Ann Hopkins
Sempre (Forever, # 1) by JM Darhower
Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, # 5) by Richelle Mead (re-read)
If You Leave (Beautifully Broken, # 2) by Courtney Cole
Derailed (Clayton Falls, # 1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Breathe (Sea Breeze, # 1) by Abbi Glines
Because of Low (Sea Breeze, # 2) by Abbi Glines
Song of the Fireflies by JA Redmerski

I reviewed 13 books this month.
Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion, # 1) by Aimee Carter
The Wager (The Bet, # 2) by Rachel Van Dyken
Fragments (Partials, # 2) by Dan Wells
Love & Respect in the Family by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
These Broken Stars (Starbound, # 1) by Aime Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, # 4) by Richelle Mead
This is How I Find Her by Sara Polsky
The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, # 4) by Richelle Mead
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, # 1) by Michelle Hodkin
Pandemonium (Delirium, # 2) by Lauren Oliver
Where She Went (If I Stay, # 2) by Gayle Forman
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

My other posts this month:
Sunday Post - 73 & Stacking the Shelves - 46
Sunday Post - 74 & Stacking the Shelves - 47
Sunday Post - 75
Sunday Post - 76
Sunday Post - 77 & Stacking the Shelves - 48
Top Ten 2014 New Releases I'm Stoked About
Top Ten Winter 2013 TBR Books
Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2013
Top Ten Books I Want Santa to Bring Me
Best of 2013 Giveaway
2013 EOY Book Survey

I'll do a 2013 EOY Wrap Up post later on this week and recap my goals then.

Don't forget to sign up for the 2014 Series Enders Reading Challenge! Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with a BIG giveaway at the end of the year! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

And a Happy New Year to you all!