Review: Who Got Liz Gardner by Elizabeth Allen

Who Got Liz Gardner by Elizabeth Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book came into my life at just the right time. Call it serendipity if you will. Whatever it was, it was exactly what I needed.

I really didn't know what to expect when I first started reading it but boy did I ever feel connected to her. Not saying Liz and I are 100% the same but there are points, and many points when I would pause and go wow, too freaky, too close to home. Word for word thoughts that she has had I have experienced. There was a higher power, some other entity that led me to this particular book at this particular time.

The story of Who Got Liz Gardner is a coming of age story like no other, because it goes past the typical age frame of most and moves into a story of a young woman finding who she really is. The assorted lovers and potential lovers, relationships with her parents, soul searching, self discovery, defeat and finally victory.

I know this "review" is not really discussing the book which was well thought out and wonderfully written by the way, just to toss some normal reviewing into the mix. But for me I got so much more from just a story about a girl/woman. It has been sort of a healing process for me and I am so happy to have read this book, I feel a better person for doing so. Enlightened even. It really has helped me in what is a difficult time in my life.


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Just poking my head in to say hello

So life is a little funny isn't it. Sometimes you think that you got it all figured out but in all reality does anybody?

I haven't been doing a whole lot of reading this year, for personal reasons. So of course reviews and postings on this blog have been on pause.  But I haven't given up!

Just wanted to give a little update.

Time for Cherries by Camille Thomaz Labanca

Time for Cherries by Camille Thomaz Labanca
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**I was given a copy of this novella for an honest review**

Warning this review contains spoilers proceed with caution.


Melissa is a university student, working a part time job and living with her cousin. She's never had a boyfriend, guys were the furthest thing from her mind but on the other hand they were front and center in her mind as well. Every sound, every creek keeps her on alert. She has a story, a secret that no one can know.

She was raped and like most victims, she only blames herself. And is living in fear and disgust.

Would all men be the same?
Would she ever feel safe and comfortable in the arms of one?

Then she meets Lucas. Could he be just the guy to help her over come her fears? To make her realize that she isn't to blame, and to help her heal and live again.

Time for Cherries was a quick read about rape, facing your fears and over coming them, and finally being able to move on.

Story wise I would have to give it 3.5 stars. Not overly original as many New Adult books deal with this subject matter but nonetheless still held my interest.

I do have some beef, but understandable beef. Not to be harsh, at times I felt the writing fell flat. There is definitely room for some improvement. Another issue, this story has been translated into English and some things in the writing are a little off due to said translation. Which is fine, it didn't take away from the story but I do hope for the authors sake it gets a few more sweeps through an editor/translator.

Over all it was and okay read for what it was.



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Blog Tour: Savor (Vicious Feast #1) by Kate Evangelista

Copy provided by author for review!
Savor by Kate Evangelista
4 of 5 Stars

"Here, in my apartment, the white rabbit disguised as a Gothic Lolita girl offered me a chance of a lifetime"

Dakota Collins is a photography student, and after watching Vicious preform it's them she wants to cover for her final project. 

Luka Visraya, Vicious bass player, is mysterious and just oozes sexuality.  And he has a hold on Dakota like no other. 

Moving in with the band for a month was not what she expected it to be.


I want to say thank you to Kate Evangelista  for providing me with a copy for review.

Like other books I've read by her, this one did not disappoint  and like the others her use of description in telling the store aides in providing a great reading experience.


(Review is made short at this time due to bad weather that is coming this way, needed to get this up just incase I lost power. Will edit with a better/bigger one a later on)

The Inventor's Secret (Cragbridge hall #1) by Chad Morris

The Inventor's Secret by Chad  Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From blurb: Imagine a school in the year 2074 where students don’t read history, but watch it happen around them; where running in gym class isn’t around a track, but up a virtual mountain; and where learning about animals means becoming one through an avatar.

Abby and Derick, twins who are about to start their new school year at Cragbridge Hall. A school that is the most prestigious schools around, in the world even. A school that their grandfather founded. You see he's this major Major inventor, creating one of the best inventions to date, the Bridge, it lets you see history as it happens.

So for this school you got to be pretty darn special and advanced to get into it. And well for Derick that's nothing he never fails at anything he does. He has the grades. Abby on the other hand, she's pretty much just average. So adjusting to this new life is a little harder on her then others.

Now on top of this new life, they find out their grandfather and both parents are missing and it is up to them to figure out what happened and find them before it's too late.

The Inventor's Secret, is a wonderful mystery for middle graders. Entertaining and informative at the same time. A younger me would have really enjoyed this story. It's great way to teach children some history and the importance of why things happened and how it is up to us and future generations to not make the same mistakes as the past.


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Speak Easy (Speak Easy, #1) by Melanie Harlow

Speak Easy by Melanie Harlow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tiny wants more out of life, she works for her father bootlegging whiskey from Canada, and has to take care of her younger sisters. Something she's been doing ever since her mother passed away. She wants more, she wants to be a nurse and is saving up all her money for school. She's strong willed and isn't afraid to butt heads. She's the kind of leading lady that I enjoy.

Enzo is sexy as they come and just as dangerous. He's a gangster and the son of a powerful mob boss. The same gang that is messing with Tiny's father. She knows that she shouldn't feel the attraction to him but sometimes you want what you can't have or what you know you shouldn't have.

Joey has been a friend of the O'Mara family since childhood, he's grown up a lot since Tiny had seen him last and never did she think she would catch herself thinking about him in ways that she has. He wants the best life has to offer and he's not afraid to go after what he wants.

Speak Easy is set during prohibition era, it's labeled as "New Adult Historical fiction". It is a sexy read, thrilling and suspenseful with a "love" story tossed into the mix. I guess you could call it a potential love triangle. We have gangsters,kidnapping, murder, steamy love/hate relationships, backstabbing, cheating and lies.

This book was fantastic. The writing was suburb, the story line and characters were both equally amazing and interesting. Can't wait to read the next book, which the author,Melanie Harlow has so graciously provided for me.


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Arc:Three Broken Promises (Drew + Fable, #3) by Monica Murphy

Three Broken Promises by Monica  Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Arc copy given for review!

Book 3 of the Drew + Fable series, but unlike the previous 2 this book focus is on Fables best friend and co-worker Jen and their boss Colin. But have no fear Fable and Drew are still around.

Jen has been in love with Colin for as long as she can remember. He's been there for her looking out for her and protecting her. She's fallen on some pretty hard times in the past and it's been him who's picked her back up, rescued her. Moved her into his home, given her a job at his restaurant. But even still there are things that he doesn't know about, things that she doesn't want him or anyone to know about. So that's why she needs to go. She needs to walk away and not look back because her past is catching up and she's not ready to face it, she doesn't want to ever face it. But can she walk away from Colin and her feelings for him? Can she walk away without him ever knowing those feelings?

Colin needs Jen in his life, more then she even realizes. To her she's just an obligation, because he was best friends with her brother Danny, but Danny has been dead for a few years now. He doesn't just look out for her because of him and her family, he does it because she he's in love with her. She's the one thing he wants so badly but doesn't try to have because he's to afraid. He doesn't want to let her down more then he thinks he has already. He doesn't want to let her down like he feels he did Danny and her parents. And now she's leaving, can he just let her walk away and out of his life with out him ever confessing how he really feels?

I enjoyed these two, the chemistry between the them is obvious. The love story is frustrating but that's just because you want to shake them and tell them to speak up and tell the other the truth about so many things. Frustrating but great.

Another smash hit from Monica Murphy. I can not wait to read the next book. And well anything else by this wonderful lady!!

Expected publication: December 31st 2013


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Hunter by Jax, Jacquelyn Frank

Hunter by Jax
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

*ARC provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley for an honest review*

Hunter has came back to his coven after being away for 10 years. And stepping back into his role of the sentinel of Willow coven was a lot easier then he thought would be. He never thought he would be back, never thought he's be given the call to come back but there's a dark coven trying to get in a destroy his, a coven that is lead by someone Hunter is way to familiar with and after certain events things get more then personal.

Tatyana is the baby of the family, a family of 13 her closest sibling is her brother a witch who at the time she knows nothing of this. This world of witches and magic comes crashing to her the night her car breaks down and she has to walk in the freezing cold. Little did she know at the time that her whole life as she knew it was going to change.

This book was alright, I was kind of hoping for more, the chemistry was good between the characters but they kind of annoyed me at the same time. But having saying that if this book turns into a series, I would be interested in checking out the next book.


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