Angela's April Wrap-up

Fallen Too Far- Abbi Glines

Never Too Far- Abbi Glines

Sea of Stars- Amy Bartol

The Law of Moses- Amy Harmon

Making Faces- Amy Harmon 

Kaleidoscope Hearts- Clarie Contreras

Beautiful Stranger- Christina Lauren

Beautiful Player- Christina Lauren 

Beautiful Secret- Christina Lauren

Beautiful Beloved- Christina Lauren 

Chase Me- Tessa Bailey

Unteachable- Leah Reader (Re-Read)

Me Early and the Dying Girl- Jesse Andrews

Easy- Tammara Webber

Ready Player One- Cline Ernest

The Brilliant Light of Amber Sunrise- Matthew Crow

Aftermath- Tom Lewis 

 April kind of went by in a blur. I felt really sluggish when it came towards reading. Think my month started out so strong, with such great reads, that by the end of the month it made me kind of "whatever" towards anything I picked up. Regardless of that this month was really good reading wise. I nailed out a lot of books I wanted too, managed to squeeze in one re-read, all while re-watching seasons 1-3 of Teen Wolf... So I guess overall it turned out to be a pretty productive month. I managed to knock out 17 books, which clearly is a high number, but fell short of my goal of 20 each month.

As far as my April favorites went I have a few. Sea of Stars, The Law of Moses, Making Faces, Beautiful Player, Beautiful Secret, Beautiful Stranger, and Unteachable all make the list. I wont talk too much about Unteachable since I don't really like to include re reads in favorites (because clearly I liked them enough to go back so it's kind of a give.), but I will again say how much I loved this book! It's amazing! Anyways, all the other ones were new too me this month. Sea of Stars and Beautiful Secret were both new releases in April and both nailed it! Sea of Stars was an amazing second book in the Kricket Series and I can barely breathe waiting for the next book. What a cliffhanger! If you also couldn't tell I fell pretty heavy into some Christina Lauren novels this month. They have steadily became two of my favorite authors. They have this fun, witty way of writing that has won me over. As far as my top picks go I would have to say that Beautiful Stranger and Sea of Stars take that spot. Both were fun, action packed, good time reads and both have made it onto my favorites shelf. I would like to mention that even though The Law of Moses wasn't my overall top book(s) this month that it was still by far the most unique thing I've read not just this month, but in a very long time.

When it came to book let downs I only have 1.5. 1.5??? How can I have a half fail?? Well it's because I enjoyed the book and it was great, it just didn't give me what I was hoping for... And that is Me Earl and the Dying Girl. This book was hilarious, fun, and scattered brained. For all those reasons and a handful of others it had me enjoying it. But when I was done reading it I was just... I don't know. I just wanted more. People kept comparing it to TFIOS and it was nowhere near that book. Me Earl and the Dying Girl is becoming a movie and from the trailers we've seen so far, I think that it will be better film than book. So that is why I'm kind of throwing it into my fail pile. It was a good book, but it had the potential to be an amazing book, and just missed the mark. My number one fail without a doubt is Never Too Far. I HATED this book. This is the second book in the Rosemary Beach Series. If you saw my review for the first, then saw my review of the second you might have gotten whiplash. Book one Fallen Too Far was great so I figured that Abbi Glines would continue that momentum into book two, but it was like a completely different person wrote it. After reading the first few chapters I should have just put it down, but sadly didn't. I think this book is what ruined the rest of the month for me. I still can't grasp how a story went from such a high to such a low so fast. I'm on the fence about wither or not to finish the series so I guess we'll see.

With all that said and done I am SO excited to go into May! Mainly because at the very end of it Leah and I are headed to New York for BookCon!!!! CAN'T FREAKING WAIT!!!! We are on the edge of our seats waiting for the list of signing times to be posted. As far as panels go so far we only plan on attending one, and that is John Green's Papertowns Panel. Hopefully once everything is posted Leah and I will be able to post a little something up on the blog to let yall know who will be seeing and what are plans are for those few days! Can't wait to see everyone in the big apple!

Oh and if there isn't a review posted for one of the books then listed it will be up in May. Since I have so much going on with work, friends, books, and travel my reading might be a little light in May so I have them set to post during that time.

Well till next time.

XOXO
-Angela

Never Too Far by Abbi Glines

Just when Blaire allowed herself to fall for Rush, he revealed a life-altering secret so devastating that she couldn't forgive him. Unable to face him again, Blaire leaves Rosemary Beach and returns to the comforts of her small town in Alabama.

I read book one (Fallen Too Far) at the end of last month, and I loved it. I thought the characters were great and that it was just a fun read... So i figured with how amazing my reading has been going so far this month that I would go  ahead and pick up the second one to keep the momentum going. This was a big HUGE mistake. This book was a complete 180 from the last one.

Never Too Far picks up right where the first one left off... Except it kind of doesn't at the same time. We are hit right off the bat with some out of nowhere-at the same time saw it coming- news, this had me annoyed right away. Blaire is still back in Bama living with her Ex boyfriends Grandma (yeah it's as dumb as it sounds). The whole having her Exbf, Cain, being involved in this story too me was pointless. He really served no true purpose and was clearly there just to so we could have some cliche drama added. Glines has it so that it seems like he will be an important player in this novel, but trust me he isn't. He is in the first few scenes then poof gone. However I'm pretty sure Cain drank the same Kool-aid everyone else did in this book because he is just as dumb as the rest of them. Anyways, of course Blaire decided that she will go back to living in Rosemary Beach with her best friend Bethy.... Yah know just till she can get back on her feet... It totes has nothing to do with Rush... Cough Bullshit. (warning every sub character in this book will have a dumb name)

Once Blaire is back in beach town she gets to live in this sweet condo with said best friend. This bring on another convenient thing to add to the story. The condo just so happens to be on the grounds of the golf course she works at. Is that even a real thing??? I know it's pretty clear that I don't go to many golf clubs (aka zero) but last time I checked there weren't many apartments on them?!?! Any who they live in this sweet condo at their job, and job she so convenient got back after giving like no notice of her departure before. This leads me into our next issue, if Blaire was my employee I would NEVER hire her back, if I did it would be just so I could re-fire her right after. Why is that you ask? Easy... First off she is sleeping with a club member. Second the club member aka Rush is constantly there. Which means he is constantly starting drama with her which causes her to get all worked up, run off, and cry. Third she is constantly getting into spats with Rush's sister Nan while on the clock. Forth at one point she is at work and says her and Rush hook up in a closet and she knows her boss Woods hear them!! SERIOUSLY! and you still have her working there??! This is clearly an Ohsaa violation sir! I seriously could keep going on with this list, but I think you get the picture. Blaire also goes from this timid girl who at least kind of had a back bone, to this whiny, needy, jealous girl. Oh and please don't listen to her gypsy lies when she tells you she's an independent women who doesn't need no man, because it's a lie! She relies on everyone for everything. Rush is a whole problem in itself. He does a complete turnaround from the first novel as well. He was this fun, hot, wild caring guy in the first and in this one he is a mega jerk. He is also whiny, childish, and annoying. Plus his constant jealous and over protective thing is just too much. Just stop. I will go on the record and state "I DO NOT HAVE A RUSH CRUSH!" that ship sailed in the first couple of pages.

As far as the sub characters go we still have Bethy, as stated before as the token best friend. Bethy is still with Jace. Both Jace and Bethy were characters I didn't really care for in book one but did grow on me a little more in this one. However if I was Bethy I would be putting out a craigslist ad for a new roommate because I would be kicking Blaire out ASAP. Her and Rush loud love making might be cute the first time but I promise you that game show is gonna get real old after a few goes. It's also pretty sad that these two (Jace & Bethy) are the voices of reason in this book. They were both so gross in the first one I don't know when they stopped. The same goes for her boss Woods. Besides being an idiot boss as a friend he wasn't half bad. He was reasonable and gave good advice... Advice as you can probably guess Blaire doesn't take. Lastly I give you Nan (STUPID NAME!!!!). Nan is Rush's sister, and she is the worst sister in history. I kind of sorta (but not really) get why she is nasty towards Blaire, but I don't get why she is such a B to everyone else. I also can't stand her relationship with Rush. It's so creepy. I feel like her and Rush are closer too dating than brother and sister. It's freaky. The way they are towards one another is just nope. I kept expecting there was going to be this weird plot twist and it turns out these two were snogging the whole time. And the way they talk to each other, BARF! I also have no sympathy or feels for her at all, my give a damn broke and I just don't have any Fs left to give to her.

Lastly my real problem with this book was it's rinse, lather, repeat plot. We could have gotten the same book out of roughly 30 pages. Rush does something to screw things up, they make up. Rush is a jerk, they make up. Rush says hi to another girl they fight, they make up. Rush misses a big event, says he'll never do it again, they make up. Rush continues to miss big events, they make up. It's just that over and over again. Throw in a few "Blaire threatens to leave repeatedly" and wham you have Never Too Far. The plot of this book is as weak as the characters. This isn't a story about two star-crossed lovers that you'll be rooting for. After reading this book I was confused to who our leading lady really was... Is it Blaire or is it actually Rush? The split POVs didn't help trying to figure it out either. There is no difference in personality or thoughts between the two. This plot had nothing going for it, so Glines figure she could take little miscommunications and small infractions and blow them out of proportion to make up for the lack of story... and sadly it doesn't work.

Yall know that I love a good smutty read, and even those scenes couldn't make up for this plot. That being said even the sexy fun times were that sex or fun. I won't even go into full detail about how much I hated this ending. It was so abrupt and thrown together. Does it make me want to read the next books??? Yeah kind of but I still hated it. I'm just floored by how the writing and story in the first on could be so amazing and yet such a fail in the second... I'd really like my afternoon back.

Maybe in some dim lighting this could pass as a 4 star book but for now 
3/10 Stars 
-Angela  

Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in Florida. With being thrown into a new lifestyle the last thing she expected to start falling for the guy her dad left her to stay with. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. He is jaded and has secrets hat will have Blaire wondering what to do next. 

My April reading has started off with a BANG! (Confession I read this the last day of March but after how rough reading wise that month was I refuse to throw it in that month)

I think Fallen Too Far is my new favorite guilty pleasure. Wait, screw that, this is just one of my new favorite cheesy reads, I have no shame in saying it! Loved this book!

In Fallen Too Far we follow the story of Blaire who is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after her mothers passing. This means she has to call the one person she didn't want to, her father. Heading from Alabama to Florida with nothing but beat up truck, gun, and a suitcase, the last thing she thought would happen when arriving to her dad's house was finding out that it wasn't her dad's house. It's her new "step-brother's" house, Rush. 

Rush is the only son of a rock star and his life style shows it. He is a little distant and cold towards her at first, but he lets her stay at the house to figure things out for a bit. Blaire immediately gets a job and starts saving for her own place. Spending so much time together these two start having some rather steamy chemistry (and were not talking school work, wink wink). Even with Rush trying to push Blaire away at the start, and that we know he has some big booming secret, they keep pushing forward. Blaire's character is sweet and nice, but sometimes I wanted her to just grow a pair and stand up for herself. Some moments she would wow me with her behavior and then the next I would be confused from how she went from so strong to so weak. Rush however, whoosh, loved him! I know a lot of reviews are saying he was such a D at first then becomes sweet... I however didn't find him all that douchey. I thought for the most part he was pretty alright. I liked his attitude, his appeal, and the way he always seemed to enter the scene at the right moment. He was a character I didn't think I was going to end up liking when I read the first few chapters, but he changed my mind fast. The scenes between the two of them as well..... HOT. Like need one of those portable neck fans hot. 

The plot surrounds the growth of their relationship, and the "big secret"...  I thought I had figured out what this big reveal would be but I was thrown for a loop when it was finally shown. The story never felt rushed (no pun intended). I also loved the ending. Command Me and Fallen Too Far had very  similar ending, yet this one too me powered over the other. I can't wait to continue this series, and I'm so excited to see where it goes. The only thing I will say about this book is more cosmetic than anything, I hope they re-release this book with a different cover... It does no justice for this read.Just hate it. But personally I'm just really picky when it comes to book covers that have people on them. But seriously this book was just too much fun. 

9/10 Stars 
-Angela