Angela's February Wrap-Up

Everybody Sees the Ants- AS King

Painted Faces- LH Cosway
Left Drowning- Jessica Park

The Face on the Milk Carton- Caroline Cooney

Wicked Sexy Liar- Christina Lauren

Tiny numbers for a tiny month.
I just didn't have it in me this month. I was pretty busy with friends, family, going to events, and seeing lots of movies. So when it came to reading I just kind of put it on the back burner. I hate reading so little in a month, but again just wasn't feeling it. I plan on really pushing myself in March and hopefully doubling these numbers.

Going to talk about my worst picks first since I have more of those this month than I do favorites.

Worst Picks: Left Drowning, The Face on the Milk Carton, and Everybody Sees the Ants. I ended up DNFing Everybody Sees the Ants. People have talked my face off about how amazing AS King is, and I sadly just couldn't get into this book. I wish I could say it might be one that I'll visit again in the future but I don't think I will. The Face on the Milk Carton was too me, just boring. Had to push myself so hard to finish it and the ending wasn't enough to make me feel like it was worth it. Left Drowning, I just can't. Every cliché NA book trope was thrown into this book. This book was listed at one of the best NA tear jerkers, and when I finished it I was just angry. Plus it had one of my biggest bookish pet peeves in it.

Top Picks: It's so sad when you only have on favorite to talk about in a month. It's glorious when it is a Christina Lauren book. Yes, Wicked Sexy Liar is my one and only to pick in February. It was amazing!!! So funny, so...Uhhhh, just so everything! It is the last book in the Wild Season Series and it was the perfect way to end this perfect series. It truly had everything I wanted and more. These two writers have no fear in giving the readers what they want. Also with taking previously mentioned characters you thought you'd hated and making you love them.

Well that's it for February. Sorry this months wrap up is so short.
 When this post Leah and I will be at Apollycon in Savanah! So well be covering our trip next month as well... See you in March.

-Angela

Platinum by K.A. Linde (ARC)

Cheating is my hard limit. The only thing I truly fear. My heart was shattered once before, and I swore it would never happen again. This time I chose the safe guy who wouldn’t destroy me. Turns out…they don’t exist. So when the sexiest Brit I’ve ever met dances right into my life, I offer him a one night stand. No strings attached. My perfect rebound, with zero chance of betrayal. It’s everything I hoped for. But he demands more than I’m willing to give. I refuse to be fooled again, because I know a man I can count on is rarer than… Platinum. Follow the conclusion to Trihn’s story in this sexy, heart stopping fourth book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s All That

Glitters series.

 

Platinum follows Trihn who we are all familiar with from reading Emerald and from Bri's books.. Trihn is the levelheaded one that holds the group together. She is all about fashion and style and is going to school in LV so she can one day be a fashion designer on a big runway somewhere. One night when the girls are out at the club (and Trihn is looking fly in one of her original outfits), a guy catches her eye. He is with a few other guys that are in a large circle on the dance floor showing off their moves. Being a former trained dancer herself, Trihn is instantly attracted to him. He oozes confidence and she can't turn away. The problem is that Trihn's boyfriend hates when she goes out for exactly this reason-- clubs are just bad news and she's out there putting herself out there for other guys (have I mentioned yet how much I don't like him?). She ends up dancing with this stranger and finds out that his name is Damon Stone (check), he's a DJ (check), and he's British (SLAM DUNK).

Despite their instant connection, she decides her douche bag boyfriend (my words, not hers) is right and she needs to remove herself from the situation. Lo and behold her hypocrite boyfriend is out doing exactly what he was worried that she was doing. Long story short, they end up breaking up and all of her insecurities come to the surface. This is her second bad breakup in two books (the first one is reaaaaally bad and really did a number on her) and she is just at rock bottom emotionally. With a little convincing from her friends, she decides to go back to the club where she met Damon and see if she can find him again so that she can get some rebound action. Lucky for her, Damon wants to find her as much as she wants to find him. After a really steamy hookup, Trihn is ready to dip out and  move on with her life. What she doesn't realize is that Damon has no intention of letting this be a one night stand. He wants more from her. He likes her and wants to show her that all guys aren't like her ex-boyfriends. Trihn has to decide if she is willing to let her heart go through the ringer again for a guy.

Initial thoughts: THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I love all of the All That Glitters series, but this is 1000000% my favorite. Trihn is sassy and classy and doesn't want to play games. She's been hurt before and she has no interest in going through it again... ENTER DAMON STONE. Ladies, Damon Stone is why the NA genre was created. I could tell you how he is literally perfect and every little thing he says or does is amazing, but it would all be an understatement. K.A. Linde took my perfect man right out of my head and put him on paper.

This book had me swooning so hard left and right and also feeling like I needed to read it in an ice cold shower. The steam is REAL in this book. Whoosh. It was the perfect blend of being steamy without going overboard and leveling it all out with the right amount of swoon without being cheesy.

I loved all the side characters just as much. Maya, the bartender friend, is one of my favorites, and so is Trihn's childhood friend Renee. I would love to see books written about them. Brynna we know of course from the first few books of the series. Stacia is getting her very own book next! I can't wait for that one, because lord have mercy she is a wild one. I really hope this isn't the last we see of Trihn and Damon (can we have another book for them?! PLEASE?!).

This is easily one of my favorite books of the year so far. I love K.A Linde and her writing style, and I am SO stoked that I get to meet her this coming weekend at Apollycon! Thank you thank you thank you to K.A. Linde and her amazing PR team for giving me the opportunity to get my paws on an ARC. Platinum is ON SALE NOW, so check out the links below to grab your own copy and see how freaking amazing this book is.

5/5 stars

xoxo

-Leah

Smashwords: bit.ly/1nvePKK

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding series and the All That Glitters series as well as seven additional novels. She grew up as a military brat traveling the United States and even landing for a brief stint in Australia. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia and is the current head coach of the Duke University dance team. An avid traveler, reader, and bargain hunter, K.A. currently live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

Connect with the Author:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OiNK4c

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorkalinde

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKALinde

Website: www.kalinde.com

Manwhore by Katy Evans

Rachel has been on the look out for The Story. The one that will help her job bounce back, and the one that will give her a name. What's a better story then Malcom Saint. Mysterious, womanizing, party going CEO?

"We don't fit," I say. "I just want to find a spot, warm not cold, with a nice view, everything I could want, and I want to stop moving and stay there- in that spot. and you will never stand still."..."I think we fit just right,"

The first thing I have to say about this book is... WHY HAS NO ONE COMPARED IT TO NEVER BEEN KISSED?!?!  I'm seriously upset about this. It's like the smutty version of it, and it plays a huge part in why I loved it.

Rachel, our reporter, was just assigned her first big story... Malcom Saint. Rachel is shy, motivated, and definitely not ready for what's headed her way. Saint is powerful, womanizing, and not looking for commitment. When it came to these two I was expecting something very different. With Rachel I was expecting her to be a strong-sassy-powerhouse but when she turned out to be more the opposite, I wont lie I was a little sad. Thankfully, as the story went on I found myself slowly liking her more and more. The last very chapters however she completely won me over. Malcom however was a very pleasant surprise for me. I was worried that with him we were going to get a mix of a Gabe Hamilton from Rush with Mr. Grey from 50 Shades... I prayed for it to lean more towards Rush. Turns out he wasn't either. He was so freaking sweet! The one thing I usually (almost always) hate in NA books involving "womanizing" men are that there is a lot of times the guy does a bunch of slutty acts  leading up to being with the girl. I almost always want them to leave out all the other ladies and  just focus on the two that are really involved. Thank the book godz that what Evans' did. These two were such an adorable pairing. They had me laughing and lusting.

Manwhore's plot is like I said above, a lot like Never Been Kissed. Reporter girl goes undercover, adorable meet-cute happens, boy falls for girl, girl falls for boy, shenanigans happen, and of course lies are uncovered. Just throw in some smutty fun times and wham you have Manwhore. The pacing of this book is what has me lowering my rating some. The first part of this book is all about adorable build up and fun run ins. It completely hooked me in. The middle (through hot) does slow down some. The romance scenes are well written and enjoyable, but there were moments that kind of threw me off. Actually only one. A scene involving a bet on cars. The scene just didn't do it for me. Remember reading it and actually saying "uhh yeah... NO". I just really felt that something was missing from the middle... Can't exactly put my finger on what though. Adorable dates- check. Sweet scenes with guy friends- check. Steamy moments that make you blush- check. Seriously have no clue what it is. The end of this book though... OMG!!! CLIFFHANGER!!!! Few NA books pull off cliffhangers well, but this one knocks it out of the park. *Minor spoiler* *that really isn't a spoiler* Clearly at some point in time we know that Saint is going to figure out that Rachel's big story is him... And will of course be heartbroken, but I had no idea that Evans' would leave the book off where she did. I really felt the same way reading this as I did watching the movie. You know at the end of NBK how she's standing on the pitchers mound, the clocks running out, the crowds cheering, and we are all on the edge of our seats waiting for Mr. Coulson to come and kiss the crap out of Josie Grossie!!! Well it has the same feel! You can barely breath waiting to see what will happen! How will she end this?!?! Then Evans' drops a cliffhanging bomb on us, and our hearts our shattered. Trust me it didn't end how you're probably thinking or how I imagined it would either. I need book two like yesterday!

The beginning of this book awesome, the middle okay, and the ending wont lie had me misty eyed. Manwhore has a beautiful cover, a stupid title, and is 100% one of those good time reads. Really looking forward to adding other books from Evans to my TBR list.

8.5-maybe 9/10 Stars
-Angela

Painted Faces by LH Cosway

"Dublin native Freda Wilson considers herself to be an acquired taste. She has a habit of making offensive jokes and speaking her mind too often. She doesn't have the best track record with first impressions, which is why she gets a surprise when her new neighbour Nicholas takes a shine to her." -Goodreads Synopsis

"We all paint on a face to show the world," Nicholas replies philosophically. "For some of us, that's quite literal.”

I'm in a bit of a pickle when it comes to Painted Faces... I don't think I have ever finished a book and didn't have any feelings at all towards it. I've never had a book fall right in the middle for me. I picked up Painted Faces because of how much I loved her book Six of Hearts. Everyone kept telling me that if I loved that book then I would love this more. Went into this without knowing a single thing about it.

I want to talk about Nicholas (or Viv) first because the prologue is from his point of view. Not even going to beat around the bush with this... The prologue is amazing! It's probably the best one I've read since The Law of Moses. It was dark, deep, and had an incredible hook. Nick's character is first officially introduced when he moves across the hall from Freda (or Fred). The two start spending time together right off the bat. while spending time together we find out that Nick is a professional Drag Queen... Yes, you read that right; a Drag Queen. And Hells to the yeah on a real original idea. I was so excited when I read this because this taboo concept is on I have never come across before. Nick isn't Bi or trans, he is just a guy who enjoys doing Drag. However this is where his character started fading out for me. Looks and job wise Nick was top notch... personality wise we just didn't click. I like my leading men upfront and bold, but even I have a line in the sand of where upfront goes from hot to not. Nick quickly fell on the not side. I'm talking five pages in was asking... no not asking, just flat out saying he wanted to sleep with Fred, and I wasn't feeling it.

He keeps this brashness thought the whole book. I found myself only liking him because he was a Drag Queen. his character could have been many things, but ended up putting all of his eggs in one basket. Freda kind of had similar problems for me. Just couldn't connect with her. She had a very positive attitude but her she was constantly body shaming and comparing herself to other women. After awhile this got to be a bit old for me. Her humor is another thing I felt was a bit forced. Both characters are suppose to be in their late 20's and neither of them spoke or acted as if they were. I would have guessed their ages around 18/19. They both had very similar voices and I was hoping that both would be able to stand on their own.

Fred and Nick's relationship didn't feel very authentic to me. in my opinion they didn't really feel right for one another. Also when Nick sleeps with another woman it was kind of a done deal. I was officially turned off. The two are suppose to have very hot and heavy relationship, but I didn't feel like they had much depth. There is also a particular sexual scene towards the end that kind of made my skin crawl a little. It just wasn't the smut for me.

Plot and pacing wise I found this book a little on the slow side. Not much goes on. For a concept that was this original I was hoping this story would pull out all the stops. Sadly, I saw everything that happened coming. Just; nothing really happened. Two people meet. One pretends they aren't interested. The other is overly invested. They end up together. It's your usual NA book. All this left me feeling a bit underwhelm.

Painted Faces is a story that relied heavily on the fact that the characters should of had massive development. A novel that could have gone dark in the best way, but fell flat. I feel like Painted Faces weighted itself too much on the idea that it was a good idea. Now, with all this being said and done I do want to say this: This book is in no way a one star read. Some people are going to read this book and love it (clearly, just look at the review for it). Painted Faces just wasn't the book for me. LH Cosway is an amazing writer with some of the most creative concepts I've ever read. She is an author that I will continue to pick up and support, because you don't have to like every book an author puts out. This book will impact someone a lot. 

5/10 Stars
-Angela

Platinum Release Day Blitz!!

Title: Platinum

Series: All That Glitters #3

Author: K.A. Linde

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 Release Date: February 16, 2016

Blurb

Cheating is my hard limit.

The only thing I truly fear.

My heart was shattered once before, and I swore it would never happen again. This time I chose the safe guy who wouldn’t destroy me. Turns out…they don’t exist.

So when the sexiest Brit I’ve ever met dances right into my life, I offer him a one night stand. No strings attached. My perfect rebound, with zero chance of betrayal. It’s everything I hoped for. But he demands more than I’m willing to give.

I refuse to be fooled again, because I know a man I can count on is rarer than… Platinum.

Follow the conclusion to Trihn’s story in this sexy, heart stopping fourth book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s All That Glitters series.

Add to Goodreads

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Author Bio

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding series and the All That Glitters series as well as seven additional novels. She grew up as a military brat traveling the United States and even landing for a brief stint in Australia. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia and is the current head coach of the Duke University dance team.

An avid traveler, reader, and bargain hunter, K.A. currently live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

Author Links

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WEBSITE

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Left Drowning by Jessica Park

"Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own." -Goodreads synopsis

From the synopsis we hear that Blythe is struggling with her parents death and is trying to get back on track. When the book starts with her falling into her dorm room drunk I thought this novel was going to start out a little on the dark side. We have our lead being a hot mess, then something sweet would happen, and then after several shenanigans she would snap out of it... This is not the case for Left Drowning.

Blythe is a mess for all of, I don't know, two chapters. When she sobers up that quickly I oddly found myself being rather disappointed. I didn't get all the deep struggles I was hoping for. This made it a little difficult for me to connect with her on a personal level. Blythe is constantly describing herself as boring and generic and I think she might be right. Nothing about her was sparkling. She just wasn't the leading female I was wanting. Now on to Chris, clearly our love interest. At first I really liked him. I thought he was charming and seemed sweet enough. The fact that he is so involved family wise was a big plus for me. However, the further the story went the more I found myself slowly falling out of lust with him. By the middle of this book I was completely over him. Things with Chris and Blythe just started being goodish when Chris goes off and does one of my biggest bookish pet peeves ever! I'M TALKING ONE OF THE BIGGEST NOPES! This one thing is what completely broke any connection I might have had with the characters and their story. Almost anything else could have happened and I wouldn't have complained. I might have even kept the book at a higher rating. Seriously getting re-mad just thinking about it. For spoiler reasons I can't say what it is, but yall it's bad. I almost set the book down after it occurred. If it wasn't for the well written smutty scenes I probably would. Complete deal breaker. Another character problem was I ended up finding myself more interested in the side characters then I was with Chris and Blythe. I love when I fall for a side character, but I don't like when I'm secretly wishing the book was about them instead.

In my opinion there are two major plot problems. First Left Drowning feels like something I've read oh so many times before. It's just nothing new. The entire story was just event after event of things I completely saw coming. Right when the flashbacks start happening I knew how this book would end. There's no way you'll miss it. Park does mix it up a tiny bit with some small shock, but it was still something I suspected might happen. The second biggest problem was how convenient things were. Blythe stays in a fancy hotel, is walking down the hall, and then bam Chris is there. So you're telling me not only did you both book the same hotel, but you're on the same freaking floor. Ha, nope. Then Chris's fathers profession isn't mentioned till towards the end of the book, but all of a sudden he has this never before mentioned or hinted at part time job. Again, no. These are only two examples of events thrown together to try and make things more dramatic. It ends up just making everything messy. The story went from somewhat strong to a completely cluster F.

I heard Left Drowning listed as one of the biggest NA tear jerkers out there... I have no clue how or why it is on that list. I didn't fall in love with Left Drowning's characters. I didn't fall in love with it's plot. And most importantly I didn't fall in love with it's love story. Something was just missing and I was expecting more.

2/10 Stars
Angela

Fictional Book Boyfriends pt 14

We love guys. We love books. We love to combine the two. What else do we need to say.

To see our past dream cast picks just click here!!

Never Stop Falling by Ashley Drew

Friends never expected to fall for each other... only to be separated.

Nick Palladino as Nicholas

We wouldn't need our entire childhood-all of high school- and
then adulthood to decide to be with this love muffin.

Passenger by Alex Bracken
Girl discovers she has the ability to time travel.

Harrison Knight as Nicholas Carter
We'd gladly pull a back to the future with this hunk.

The Score by Elle Kennedy

Hockey star and acting major start an unlikely relationship.

Matthew Noszka as Dean
Do you have a jersey? Because I need your name and number.
*wink*

Painted Faces by LH Cosway

Quirky girl falls for Drag Queen.

Bryce Draper as Nicholas
We'd still sup him even in women's clothing.

Shadowhunters Vs. Shadowhunters

The time has finally come. We are a few episodes into the new Shadowhunters TV show, and we have been asked countless times "so, which one do you like more? The TV show or the movie?". We figured we'd go ahead and break it all down for you in a classic SBSR battle. Well be starting with the main players in the show, working our way down to the smaller characters, and then lastly answering the big question.

Clary Fray

Kat McNamara vs. Lily Collins

Angela: My answer is a given on this one... Lily Collins.
Everything about Kat bothered me before the show and now
after it's just increased.
Leah:  Obviously Lily. Lily is queen and no one can ever fill her shoes.

Jace Wayland

Dom Sherwood vs. Jamie Campbell Bower

      

Angela: Think this will be another given but, Sexy Campbell Bower
is my pick. Dom's Jace persona feels forced and so does the romance.
Leah: Another vote for JCB. Dom just doesn't fit Jace's personality at all, but
most importantly he and Kat have ZERO chemistry.

Simon Lewis

Alberto Rosende vs. Robert Sheehan

       

 

Angela: This is my toughest choice on the entire list. I love everything about
both Rob and Alberto... but Alberto really just has something special
to him.
Leah: I'm going to go with Robert Sheehan on this one even
though I really love both of them.

Isabelle Lightwood

Emeraude Toubia vs. Jemma West

     

Angela: I like Jemma West attitude in the movie more, but
physically I think Emeraude captures Izzy better. Going out on a
limb here and going to say Emeraude. If they stop using her as a distraction and
start using her as the BA she is I think she could be outstanding.
Leah: Definitely Emeraude. I didn't like Jemma West as a pick for Isabelle at all.

Alec Lightwood

Matthew Daddario vs. Kevin Zegers

Angela: Kevin Zegers you fine, but Matt Daddario takes the cake.
Tall, dark, and oh so handsome. I will say I believed the friendship
between Kevin and Jamie more...but there's still time.
Leah: Why is this a question? Matthew Daddario, let me have your babies.

Jocelyn Fray

Maxim Roy vs. Lena Headey

Angela: There is no contest here. Lena Headey. She is all thing
badass. Maxim Roy is just awful.
Leah: 100000% agree with Angela on this one. Lena all the way.
Maxim Roy just isn't my kind of actress.

Magnus Bane

Harry Shum Jr. vs. Godfrey Gao

Angela: I was hoping Harry would wow us when it came to the part of
Magnus... but yup going with Godfrey.

Leah: This is my hardest pick because I'd really like to get weird with both of them.
After much deliberation, I'm going to go with Godfrey just because
I like his acting more. They both are stellar though.

Valentine Morgenstern

Alan Van Sprang vs. Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Angela: I thought as soon as I saw the show I would like Alan better...
Nope, going with Jonathan. Pretty bad when a guy with mullet braids
beats you out.
Leah: JRM all the way. He plays such a good evil character!
I loved him as Henry VIII and I LOVE him as Valentine. 

Luke Garroway

Isaiah Mustafa vs. Aidan Turner

Angela: Calling a draw on this one. I like both equal, but at the same time
don't really think about either.
Leah: I think I'll go with Isaiah. He is so handsome and I really like his take on Luke.

Dorothea (Dot)
Vanessa Matsui vs. CCH Pounder

Angela: Vanessa is truly stunning, really she is, but that's it.
I wanted grit with my Dorothea and CCH Pounder is just an amazing actress.
Love her, so she's my choice.
Leah: Definitely CCH Pounder. I hate what they did with
Dorothea's character for the show.

Hodge Starkweather

Jon Cor vs. Jared Harris

       

Angela: Sup sexy, young, and fun new Hodge... Oh wait!?. They decided

in the show to give you a creepy "get in my van" mustache... Ummm yeah

gonna have to go with Jared Harris. And that voice!

Leah: Jared. I don't like the new take on Hodge. Leave well enough alone!

The Silent Brothers

     

Angela: The movie Silent Brothers freak me the F out. The TV show
Silent Brothers look like something from The House of Wax movie. So movie
Silent Brothers it is.
Leah: Movie Silent Bros. They are so scary, and the ones on the
TV show don't make me feel even a little bit of terror.

Now the real big questions...
TV show or Movie?

       

Angela: The Movie! People are so hard on the movie, and
I think now with the show being out they are going to look back on the movie
and see how good it actually is. The acting, the scenery, and the actual story
are just so past what they TV has given us so far.
Leah: Let's be real. The movie hands down. All hail Lily and JCB forever!