Around the Book Blogosphere #22 – Weird Things Book Addicts Do, Burned, and Fifty Shades

Need something to read this winter? Shh Mom’s Reading shared some readers and bloggers’ snowed-in book recommendations!

Take Me With You by K.A. Linde — 4 stars
Reviewed by Terri from The Review Loft

“I love the connection that Ari and Grant share. They’re both living their dreams. They didn’t have to give everything up to be together. That being said, and this is a K.A. Linde book after all, lots of feels are included in this read. I laughed, had tears and I was nervous all at the same time. I had to walk away from my kindle a time or two.”
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens
Reviewed by Asheley from Into the Hall of Books

“I loved reading it and am so grateful that Alexi had someone like Bodee in her life. By the end of it, even though I wish there was just a little more to the story, I feel like the author really had delivered a story that shouted out IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT to a character that struggled with doubt and guilt and an inability to think things through in a healthy way.”
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Spend the Night Episode One by Elizabeth Lee
Reviewed by Globug and Hootie Need a Book

“Consider me hooked. The first episode of The Hotel Collection starts with a bang. Like a literal bang, up against the wall, with a mysterious stranger. The prologue gives you a taste of the sexy I can only hope continues in the following episodes.”

Amazon | Goodreads

A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd — 2 stars
Reviewed by Nick from Nick’s Book Blog

“he more I read, the more annoyed I got and unfortunately, even the plot couldn’t make me happy. Then, there’s the romance. The extremely cringe-worthy romance. I was disappointed when the second book fully put into the effect the very disturbing love triangle, but by the end, it seemed like the series would calm down with it.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Agnes & the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer — 5 stars
Reviewed by Nereyda from Mostly YA Book Obsessed

“There are so many things I love about this story. The humor, the killer aspect, the murder mystery, the setting, the characters. But my favorite thing might be how close all these characters were and how they were always looking out for Agnes.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Burned by Karen Marie Moning — 5 stars
Reviewed by Loupe from Hot Listens

“The Fever world continues to be an amazing blend of darkness, mystery, testosterone and an incredible sensuality that coats the suspense and danger of its stories.”
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
Reviewed by Christina Reads YA

“The romance was adorable — so, maybe not much of it was occurring on the same timeline of the book because of Alexis’s grief, but the memories, the potential. Adorable. Quite simply, there is a lot to like about this book. It tugs on your heartstrings in its depiction of grief without using a high concept like that in If I Stay. “
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Hero by Samantha Young — 2.5-3 stars
Reviewed by Celeste from The Book Hook Up

“The chemistry was totally hot…until it started happening…then it just felt forced to me. Staged, I don’t know, but something about it didn’t work. I liked the build up, that was so well done, but the actually sexy times were so cheesy.”
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Last Hit Reloaded by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick — 2.5 stars
Reviewed by Under the Covers Book Blog

“This book suffered from an insecure heroine, who is TSTL, and way too much sex! There I said it. There is something as too much sex when it’s apparently overtaking the story. And this story could’ve had potential, I just think the heroine hasn’t shown a whole lot of growth from where she came from in book 1.”
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher — 4 stars and 5 stars
Reviewed by Arlene and Brandie from Waves of Fiction

“I love all of the little clues playing out and the discoveries along the way. This is the best kind of suspense! The fact that I’m totally clueless makes my reading experience even better. I’m not one who enjoys figuring out the conclusion before the big reveal – that ruins a book for me.”
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien — VIP
Reviewed by Kelly from Belle of the Literati

“I feel as if she built up a wall out of sheer necessity because of the cruelty of human beings. My heart breaks for her. When Leon finds her and begins to understand her my heart just leapt. I know I may be a little too emotionally involved because of my personal understanding of the character but it doesn’t matter. She fights to find her mother even when everyone around her tells her its impossible. She doesn’t care, she does it anyways. I think this is awesome.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid — 4 stars
Reviewed by Hildy from The Book Bosses

“The characters, even the ones I disliked, stirred up a lot of feelings and the love story of the main characters was romantic and freaking ADORABLE. This story could have easily fallen into super-cheese-mode but Reid manages not to do that. There are a few New Adult authors who should take note. “
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Three Brothers by Nicole Williams
Reviewed by Asheley from Into the Hall of Books

“he plot twists at the end admittedly left me with a couple of heartbroken feelings, but I loved that Three Brothers ultimately had a happy ending with hope for the family and the future of the ranch. This is what I expect from the cowboy romances from Author Nicole Williams, and she delivered. “

Withering Hope by Layla Hagen — 4 stars
Reviewed by Brittany from Biblio Belles

“Absolutely loved Aimee and Tristan. They were both well developed characters, both strong and complex. The way they handled the obstacles they faced after the crash was admirable, and I was sad to say goodbye to them at the end. Some of the romantic dialogue between the two came off a bit sappy at times, but other times it worked really well. “
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Made by J.M. Darhower — 5 stars
Reviewed by Joanne from Have Book Will Read

“I could write on and on about how much I loved this story, but I won’t be able to do it justice, and you should just read it for yourself. I tried to read slower than normal, to savour it as long as I could because I didn’t want it to end. When it did end though, the last few lines slayed me. I just sat there, in tears, reading those words over and over again and wishing it wasn’t over.”
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | GR

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios — 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Jenn from Bookiemoji

“Tragedy seeps on every page in I’ll Meet You There. Your emotions will be taken through the wringer. Characters make really, really bad decisions and you will want to smack them over the head numerous times. But there is also so much beauty within these pages. “
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard — 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Jess from My Reading Dress

“You’ve probably all heard the comparisons before and honestly, they speak the truth. Red Queen took the best elements from all our favourites (and our not so much) tales and smushed them into one phenomenal book with an equally addictive storyline. “
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord — 5 stars
Reviewed by Good Books and Good Wine

“Now that I live alone, I have the ability to read books until an ungodly hour and so, with this book, I read it in starts and bursts and then, I wound up reading the last half in a single sitting, reading late into the night when I have work the next day. Open Road Summer is exactly my favorite kind of contemporary book — it’s a bit light with bursts of seriousness in it.”
Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch — 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Faye from Xpresso Reads

“This is the kind of romance that I live for – one that isn’t so “in-your-face” and relies on gestures and subtely to tickle your heart. Even though it’s a love triangle, I didn’t mind, because it wasn’t a romance that demands your full attention; it wasn’t a romance in which we have to side with Guy A or Guy B – it was a romance in which we are simply TEAM MEIRA! “
Amazon: US • UK • CAN |

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga — 5 stars
Reviewed by Kim from The Midnight Garden

“There is a specific moment in this book where the tendrils of hope creeped out of the ether and crawled into my heart. It was as if the story was a burst of light come to scour away the dark parts. I see this book itself as a much needed spark. A hand reaching through the darkness.”

Amazon | Goodreads

I Was Here by Gayle Forman — 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Daisy Chain Book Reviews

“The story of I Was Here, though really doesn’t break any barriers; its tropes are little tired, especially the road trip and ensuing Cody/Ben insta-romance that has been done so often before, and better than here. This, coupled with characters and relationships that I felt were lacklustre and even a little bland at times.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Three Brothers by Nicole Williams — 5 stars
Reviewed by Abby from Blushing Babes are Up All Night

“When you can close your eyes and picture the story scene for scene even after the words The End have been written.

I urge you to fall in love with a cowboy, I certainly did.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Landslide by Jenn Cooksey — 4 stars
Reviewed by Ali from Black Heart Reviews

“Cooksey writes a story that is equal parts happy and sad. There are moments of heart warming togetherness mixed in with complete soul wrenching heartache. It’s the combination of those two things that makes this such a solid New Adult debut for Cooksey.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Fairest by Marissa Meyer — 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Giselle from Xpresso Reads

“All in all, whether you’re a fan of novellas or not, fan of the series should definitely read this one. I mean, is there anything better than an in-depth look at the villain of a story?”

Amazon | Goodreads

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma — 5 stars
Reviewed by

“Where this story takes you is unlike anything I have EVER read. The knot in my stomach and the sorrow that I felt and still feel for Lochan & Maya will never leave me.”

Amazon | Goodreads

The Five Stages of Falling in Love by Rachel Higginson — 5 stars
Reviewed by Brenna from No BS Book Reviews

“I would caution people going into this thinking it’s mainly a love story, because while there is one there, it’s really more Liz’s story and her journey through a horrible time in her life. It deals with a lot of heavy emotions and is depressing and completely heartbreaking at times. But then there are these moments of happiness with her kids and friendship and sexual tension with Ben that bring so much light and life into the story.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Cut Me Free by J. R. Johansson — 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Kayla from My Book Muse

“…Cut Me Free had a good amount of twists and turns to turn what was a dark story into a thriller. I did have a few moments where I ended up skimming things, especially towards the end, but overall I really did enjoy where this story went”

Amazon | Goodreads

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Reviewed by That’s What She Read

“There’s a twisted reason why Rachel is so confused, why she is obsessed with these two families and the houses she sees as she goes by on the train.

Read it to find out and enjoy the ride.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor — 4 stars
Reviewed by Allura from Teacups and Bookends

“I really enjoyed the beginning of this story, it was full of lush descriptions and Karou’s life fascinated me. Once she meets Akiva, however, she becomes so enraptured by him and I felt like she lost a little bit of her shine.”

Amazon | Goodreads

When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill — 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Sara from Forever 17 Books

“e. But man, I wanted that sexual tension between the two of them to grow and grow. I wanted to feel the attraction. But since it took so long, for me, I mostly just felt the friendship with every hookup. I wasn’t feeling as much swooning as I longed for.”

Amazon | Goodreads

Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren — 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Kayla from My Book Muse

“This novella made me pregnant. Er..it made me want to get pregnant? I’m not sure. I’m a little fuzzy right now with all this Max Stella lust running through my veins. “

Amazon | Goodreads

Rebound (Boomerang #2) by Noelle August — 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Nereyda at Mostly YA Book Obsessed

“Rebound is one of those books that I just couldn’t put down. The kind that can’t help but put a smile on your face while reading it. If you’re looking for a NA series that’s low on drama and angst, the Boomerang books are the perfect choice!”

Amazon | Goodreads