Book Review: Her Perfect Game (Hot & Nerdy, #2) by Shannyn Schroeder

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Format: earc

Publishers: eKensington

Published: 27th October 2014

Pages: 112

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Charlie, Jonah
Date Read: 17th September - 22nd September 2014

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
Spring break is supposed to be a week of fun in the sun for three childhood friends about to graduate from college. But one of them is ready to get her game on somewhere else…
Charlie Castle is an expert archer and a fierce warrior—in her favorite video game, anyway. But college life was a program she couldn't quite master. To land a cybertech job without a degree, she's entering a "hackfest" over spring break—where she also hopes to meet the sweet gamer who's been flirting with her online. Instead, she runs into the hot guy who walked away years ago, and can't fight the desire that comes rushing back. 
Jonah Best has never gotten over Charlie, whose kisses were always as deliciously creative as her coding. But now that they're face to face again, he doesn't know how to admit that her online admirer is really him—or how to convince her that he's offering her a job for her incredible skills, not her sex appeal. Can Jonah cut through their communication glitches and persuade Charlie that the next level up for them should be forever?

I really enjoyed the first book in this series so when I saw this one on netgalley I thought I would request it, the only thing was this one was no where near as good as the first one...

I do like these covers for this series. The main thing I like about these covers is the use of colour as I feel like they look so much more effective than they would've done without the colour.

When I first started this book I was a little disappointed that we had gone back to the beginning of the story but with it being with Charlie this time I was able to forgive it. There was a little confusion in the first chapter as Charlie started playing a game and it had so much detail that I forgot that it wasn't actually real life so I did get a bit mixed up there. I did start liking this story once Jonah came onto the scene and I loved that we got to her his side of the story as well as it's always interesting to get the guys perspective. The romance side of the book was completely unbelievable I just didn't feel invested in it. I think that with these books only being short reads it makes everything feel rush with no real closure which is a shame because maybe if the book was longer everything would flow better. I just didn't like the ending as it felt rush as one minute Charlie was saying she couldn't trust Jonah then the next minute she was in love and then it ended it felt rather abrupt to me and very much one sided. With me now knowing that the next book will go back to the beginning I feel like we will not get the ending each of these stories deserve.

While writing this review I still don't know what I feel about the characters especially Charlie. She started off an interesting character that was a strong independent women but the more I got to know about her the more she annoyed me. For the most part I actually liked Jonah as he seemed the most decent character and I could tell he loved Charlie I just couldn't see it from Charlie's side. What I don't understand about Jonah was why he left her three years ago without a word even if you think its helping you wouldn't leave without saying something especially if you love that person.

Overall I felt let down with the second book but I'm still holding out for the last instalment.

Book Review: Her Best Shot (Hot & Nerdy, #1) by Shannyn Schroeder

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Format: earc

Publishers: eKensington

Published: 29th September 2014

Pages: 130

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Layla, Phin
Date Read: 7th September - 10th September 2014

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
With college graduation looming, three childhood friends vow to make spring break their last blast of pure fun. But at least one of them didn’t count on such incredible heat… 
Layla Sharpe is definitely more math ninja than bikini babe, and her future has been calculated with razor precision. Convinced to let loose over spring break, Layla is finally ready to party—until her car breaks down halfway to her destination, leaving her stranded in Georgia with a mouthwateringly hot pool shark. She knows more than enough about angles to learn the game, but this week she wants him to appreciate her curves… 
Phin Marks has never met a girl like Layla. She’s more Star Wars geek than seductress, and when he offers her a place to stay while her car is in the shop, he’s counting on the attraction between them to set the nights ablaze, no strings attached. But every moment he spends with Layla makes it harder to let her go. Can he persuade her to gamble in the most dangerous way possible…on forever?

Found this little gem on netgalley which sounded like the kind of book that I have been loving a lot recently and I wasn't wrong this was a really good short book...

I'm not a huge fan but the main reason way would be the male model as I just don't see him as Phin as for most of the book he had long hair. I do like the colour as I think it makes this particular cover stand out over the usual new adult covers.

This book had me from the very first moment as Schroeder was able to paint a vivid picture for me to feel like I was watching a film. With it being a short book I thought it was going to leave vital information out but for the most part I was wrong but there was a couple of occasions that I felt where missing. The chemistry between the two main characters was hot it just seemed to sizzle of the pages which I always love in my new adult, contemporary romance books. There was quite a few moments that had me laughing out loud which I wasn't expecting but there was also some touching moments as well. The ending I liked but I just wanted more and I'm not sure I will get this in the next couple of books but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I loved both of the two main characters and I think that was because it was mainly them with hardly any other focus a=on any other characters apart from glimpses of what's to come with the next two female characters Charlie and Felicity. Layla came across as this fiery woman with bundles of confidence but the more we found out about her the more we found that wasn't the case as she had a vulnerable side that didn't always get shown but when it did it made me feel for her. I loved Phin he was a great male character as he had the bad boy attitude but again the more we found out about him the more we see that it's just a front who has a more sweeter side than he lets on.

Overall this is a short but sweet book and I for one can't wait to continue on with this series and any other books that Shannyn may have out.

Book Review: Spark (Elemental, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

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Format: Paperback

Publishers: Kensington

Published: 28th August 2012

Pages: 345

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Main Characters: Gabriel, Layne
Date Read: 1st July - 4th July 2014

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can't. Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it. And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Because Layne has a few secrets of her own...

The raw emotion clawed at his chest, at his throat, at his eyes, spilling over until he was crying in earnest.
Then Nick had an arm around his back and Gabriel was crying into his brother's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Nicky, I'm sorry."

I have the first three books in this series for a while now but as soon as I read and loved the first one Storm I knew I wouldn't be waiting very long to read this one and I'm glad I never waited as I loved this book just as much maybe even more than the first one...

As I said in my review for Storm I really don't like the covers for this series as I really don't think that the models are fitting for the characters especially the main one in this cover who is supposed to be Gabriel and in my head he looks nothing like this guy and I imagine him taller. I do like the use of different colours in this series of covers especially with the way they have used the colours what you would associate with that particular element.

I must admit I was a little nervous about starting this book as sometimes the sequals can be bad but I needn't have worried as I loved this book as it was just as beautifully written as the first one. Like Storm, Spark also had more to the story than just the romance as the romance took a back seat but it was there and I loved the hint of it as it just showed me that there is more to a story than love and that I can enjoy it that way. The romance that was there wasn't an instant thing it was like a slow build up which I felt it made real and it was so sweet as well as HOT! I loved that there was some serious issues addressed especially the bullying which was written in a delicate manner but it seemed so real making want to cry for them. The ending was great with some questions unanswered but that felt like it was setting up the rest of the series.

I loved pretty much all of the characters at different times as there where times when some of the good characters wasn't so nice. Gabriel I loved in what we saw of him in the first book but with us getting to know more about him in this book it made me love him even more which I didn't think was possible. There was a lot of this book that Gabriel broke my heart as it seemed like no one believed in him including his family and it's no wonder that he finds it hard to believe that someone is being genuinely kind to him. I really liked Layne's character as she had a lot of personal problems but she still held her head high she seemed so strong yet sensitive at the same time. I was surprised that I wasn't a huge fan of Nick in this book but I think that had more to do with me being on Gabriel's side but he did have his good Nick moments too. Throughout this book I was really liking Hunter but then I wouldn't be sure about him which does make me more nervous about his book which is coming next.

Overall I had so much love for this book and of course Gabriel!

Gabriel turned his head to look at her. His entire life was going to shit, but seeing her here was like finding a little glimmer of light amid the darkness.

Book Review: Storm (Elemental, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

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Format: Paperback

Publishers: Kensington

Published: 24th April 2012

Pages: 353

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Main Characters: Becca, Chris

Date Read: 12th May - 21st May 2014

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.
Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.
And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.
Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.
The storm is coming . . .

“Lightning struck five feet away. Becca screamed. Then lightning hit the other end of the bridge, almost directly hitting the Guide. Chris froze. Another bolt, five feet off. The man darted back, away from the bridge, fighting to keep his footing in the wind. Another bolt. And another. Lightning rained from the sky, targeting their enemy. The Guide ran. "Yeah," growled a voice from behind them. "Watch that fucker run now. ” 

I have wanted this book for quite a while but when I did get I still didn't read it straight away and I don't know why because I loved this book...

 I'm not a huge fan of this cover and I think that mainly comes down with the model used, I really don't think they represent any of the brothers even the one at the front looks too old to be Chris, there should be two that look identical as well seeing as they're identical twin brothers. I do love the colour as it represents the element that is portrayed in the book.

As soon as I started Storm I fell in love with it, I was so drawn into the world in which Brigid Kemmerer created I wanted to read just one more chapter and even read the end so I know how everything turns out. There was a few twists and turns that I never expected and even though I did read the last page there was still surprises along the way.There was so much action going on throughout Storm that I was never bored and it was interesting the way the use of elements was used as it made it different to other books using the elements. What I liked was that the romance wasn't the main focus of the story which surprised me as usually I love loads of romance in the books I read but because the rest of the story was so entertaining I didn't feel like I missed out on the romance. The ending was good as there was a bit of a cliff hanger but not much of one which for me is the best way to end a book in a series.

I loved nearly all of the characters and the only ones I didn't like were the ones that we weren't supposed to like. Becca was a great female role who started off being the one to help the guy out of a fight but even though she seemed like this strong person there was also a weak side to her but that was just because of the things she goes through so it was very understandable. I loved Chris he was so sweet and caring with a hint of danger which made him a great male lead character. I'm not sure what I think of Hunter as at the beginning I liked him then towards the end not so much so I'm hoping that when I read Hunter's book that I will like him more than I do at the moment. I loved all of Chis's brothers especially Gabriel he was so funny but also had a very dark side to him, I can't wait to read his book so I can hopefully see a softer side to him.

Overall this was a great start to the series and I am so glad I have the next two books waiting for me because I have a feeling this series could just get better and better!

“So let me get this straight.”... “He threw the note at Tommy and then told him to fuck off? Or do I have it backwards?” “I’m detecting some sarcasm.” “And then got himself sent the principal’s office because he was ready to defend your honor?” “Quinn.” “Her friend waved a hand. “No, I think you might be on to something. This is clearly an elaborate plot to screw with you. He asks you out, he defends you from that meathead—what next?” Quinn’s eyes flashed wide in mock surprise. “Crap, Bex, do you think he will do something truly horrible like buy you flowers?”