Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

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Format: Hardback

Publishers: Headline Publishers

Published: 2nd January 2012

Pages: 236

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Hadley, Oliver

Date Read: 25th February - 28th February 2013

Rating Given:

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.
 

I had been after this book for awhile so imagine my delight when someone sent me a copy as a RAK, yet for some reason it took me awhile to read it but now I have I wish I had read it sooner.

I really like the cover in the way that it's all black and white apart from the heart as I feel you can can get a sense of what the book is about. Also I can imagine this cover as a part of a scene from the book which I love when that happens.

When I first started this book I wasn't quite sure I was going to like it as I wasn't too sure about Hadley but the more I read the more I could understand where she was coming from. I did find the relationship between Hadley and Oliver sweet to read about but I didn't feel as though it was a sizzling romance which I love to have in the contemporary romance books I read. I felt a lot of emotions when reading this book which did nearly have me in tears at one point but for the most part I felt it was sweet. This book wasn't just about love at first sight but also the relationship between a farther and daughter which I found a refreshing change. What I really enjoyed about this book was that it was set in 24 hours which I haven't read a book like that before but because of this I felt there was a few unanswered questions at the end of the book which was a shame.

As I said in the above character Hadley was one of the characters that I couldn't warm to at first but by the end she seemed like a sweet person who just had a few father issues. Oliver I felt was so sweet and caring although I didn't feel a huge love for him like I normally do with the male leads but I did really like him and I definitely felt for him towards the end.

Overall a very quick and enjoyable read but I didn't feel any spark there and I wish it wasn't a standalone book.

 

Book Review: The Vincent Boys (The Vincent Boys #1) by Abbi Glines

 

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Format: Paperback (arc)

Publishers: Hot Key Books

Published: 3rd January 2013

Pages: 257

Genre: YA/New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Ashton, Beau 

Date Read: 16th February - 20th February 2013

Rating Given:

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Beau Vincent is rude, bad, and dangerous to know. So, why can’t good girl Ashton Gray keep away from him? She already has the perfect boyfriend – her town’s local Prince Charming, Sawyer Vincent. But Sawyer is away for the summer, and in the meantime Ashton is bored, and the head between her and Beau is undeniable – as well as irresistible. Ashton is about to unleash her bad girl – but what will she do when Sawyer comes home? And how will Sawyer react when he returns to find his girlfriend in the arms of his best friend – and cousin?

The Vincent Boys is a sexy, exciting and enjoyable romp through one steamy Alabama summer.
 

I have heard so many great things about Abbi Glines and I have slowly been getting her books. I am eternally grateful to Hot Key Books for sending me this book to review as I now know I need to hurry up and get every book by Abbi Glines.

There are quite a few different book covers for this series and to tell you the truth I love them all and I can't pick a favourite but I do like the guys in this cover especially the one in the vest.

From the moment I started this book I fell in love with the story and the characters. When reading the blurb I wasn't sure that this would be a storyline I could agree with but Glines really made me feel for the characters in a way that I understood where everyone was coming from. Usually I love a bit of action but the more Contemporary Romance books I read the more I don't feel like I need any action. The love story is so cute but at the same time sizzling hot and also heartbreaking and I loved every minute of it. The only thing about this book is that it is meant to be aimed at the YA audience but some of the content is far from YA but I really didn't mind this as I felt it was more believable than any other YA book.

As I said I love the characters especially Beau I just fell for him the very first second we met him. He is one of those lovable bad boys (although I wouldn't say he is that bad) who is in love with his cousin's girlfriend. He doesn't think he is good enough for her which makes me love him all the more. Ashton seemed like the good girl but she was hiding her inner bad girl and when she came out I found she was much more likable. With Sawyer I thought he was sweet to start with but he does do a few things that wasn't so sweet and made me go off him but in the end I understood where he was coming from.

Overall my first Abbi Glines book is one of my favourite books that I have read so far this year and I know it won't be my last. I can't wait to find out what Sawyer's book has in store for me and I hope we get to see more of Beau as I just love him.

Book Review: Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Format: Paperback

Publishers: MTV Books

Published: 17th March 2009

Pages: 245

Main Characters: Meg, John

Date Started: 1st January 2013

Date Finished: 4th January 2013

Rating Given:

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

 

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

 

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

 

 

 

 I had had my eye on this book for a long time so when I finally got a copy I was really happy and thought I was going to read it straight away. Over a year later I have finally read it and I just wish I had read it sooner.

I don't really think much of the cover as it's just a simple one but I still think it's effective. Even though there is just the two people on the cover I feel like you get a sense of what the story is about which I think is good.

I haven't read many contemporary romance books but for the most I have loved them and this is no different and is definitely a new favourite of mine. Usually in the contemporary book it's the boy that's the bad guy but this time around it was the girl which I thought was a refreshing change although there was times when he did get angry but I understood where he was coming from. I also understood where Meg's anger came from which made her a more likable character. The chemistry between Meg and John was sizzling and I just couldn't wait to see where their relationship took them next as one minute they was hot the next minute they was cold. I loved that I never knew what was going to happen next as there was a few revelations that shocked me as I just never saw them coming.

Both Meg and John was great characters that I would have loved to see more of. Meg was the rebel of the story (but for a reason and a pretty good one at that) which shocked me but also made me laugh as her humour just stood out. John was the good guy cop but I did feel like he had a inner rebel just waiting to get out. He also had a bit of a temper but I didn't mind that so much but there was one point towards the end where I felt he needed to stop and think. There was also a few other characters but we didn't get to know much about them which was a shame as I would love to have read more about John's friends they seemed sweet.

Overall a great book and I now can't wait to read more from Jennifer especially if her other books are as good as this one.

2013 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge

 

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read at least 10 contemporary romance novels. As per Pearl’s original post:

  “by contemporary romance I mean straight contemporary, so without paranormal, fantasy or time-travel elements. Sexy, steamy contemporaries are eligible and so are category romances. (i.e. Harlequin Blaze, Harlequin Presents, Harlequin Super Romances, Silhouette Desires, etc.).”

  
  I’m going to elaborate on this a bit just for the sake of clarification: Books read for this challenge can be young adult, new adult, or adult. Romances with the following elements do not qualify for this reading challenge: paranormal, historical, time-travel, fantasy, science fiction, or mystery/suspense/thriller.
• Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

In the year 2012 I discovered a new love of Contemporary Romance so I decided to join this challenge so I can find and read new books in this genre and I for one can't wait to start. I'm going to try 10 books but I hope to read more just the 10 books will be more than I have read in 2012!

Good luck everyone!

1. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
2. Dare You To by Katie McGarry
3. The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
4. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
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