Losing It by Cora Carmack

Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem of her virginity is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible and have a one-night stand. This plan fails when she freaks out and leaves the gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one would believe. The plan fails even harder when she finds out that the man she left is now her new theatre professor. 

Okay so I'm gonna start off by saying that I know I'm going to be in the minority here with my rating... but whatever. Losing It to me was just so/so. I read the whole book in about two hours because it is a really short and quick read, which was nice. I think my main problem with the book though was that I read it after I read Unteachable... so now every time I read a book with a girl who falls in love with her teacher I will forever be comparing it to that book. Unteachable set the bar so high that it'll be near impossible to pass. If I would have picked up this book first I probably would have given it a higher rating. 

The characters however are lovely. Bliss is realistic and believable. She going through the same hurtles anyone her age would go through. Garrick, the professor, was about the same. He sound sound super yummy and could say Sup to me in a bar anytime... BUT their insta-love was a little to much for me to get behind. I felt like there was enough time for them to be dropping L-bombs, but there was nothing behind it to support why they were actually saying it. It didn't feel like the two had any build up, or really even got to know each other before they started saying it. 

I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two of them like I was hoping. The story however does flow smoothly through out and has a great pace. The really isn't much world building (which isn't uncommon for these types of books). I like the sub characters. I like how Cora didn't do a typical class and more of a play and how that all tied the story together. 

My main problem with this book was it's predictability. Everything that happened I saw coming. I never didn't know what was going to happen. Every thing from how they met to how it ended, I knew the play out few pages before hand. The other thing that irked me was the cover of the book... This might seem silly to some but I think most book lovers can agree... I HATE when book covers have people on the front that DON'T match the description of the people in the story... I just don't get it. Like I said, maybe that's just me. 

I'm probably judging this book a little more harsh than I should, because there is no doubt that Cora Carmack  is a talented writer. I will pick up her books in the future and will more than likely like them more than this. Losing It was just in the wrong reading place at the wrong reading time for me. 

5/10 Stars 
-Angela 

(Losing it BookDepository)

Flawed by Kate Avelynn

Sarah O’Brien is alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago. James will protect her from their violent father and their absent mother if she promises to never leave him. This has worked for them forever... Until her brother seeks more than a sister. Sam Donavon has been James’ best friend their whole lives. Now he is Sarah's boyfriend. Keeping their relationship a secret might be the thing that finally  breaks James. 

I picked up Flawed because I'd never heard it brought up without Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma being brought up after. Forbidden is one of my all time favorite books, so I knew I had to pick it up. I get why they are being constantly compared, but truth be told they have very little in common. If I would have read Flawed first I would have liked it more. That being said I still really enjoyed it. 


The back story between Sarah and James is dark and Kate leaves no detail unsaid. And I loved how dark it got. Her mom is practically comatose, and her father is an former boxer turned abusive alcoholic. The only person she can count on is James.The relationship between them starts off so sweet. A bond that many would love to have with a sibling. But then their relationship turns too something wrong and sour. Sarah's character is weak and throughout the story is trying to find legs to stand on. She's trying to figure out who she is. James character goes from a strong leading male to a weak breaking human. Seeing the two switch places made for an interesting read. Then there's Sam. WHOOSH swoon worthy Sam. The moment he is introduced was the moment I fell for him. Each character to me had so many thing to like about them and thing about them I disliked. But all were so well written. Sam was without a doubt my favorite thing about this book. I couldn't get enough of him. 

"I have no idea what he sees in me. Strength, he says. Beauty. A big heart. I see none of these things. I see fear, flaws and a heart so full of blackness I can't give up on my own selfish wants to set him or my brother free."

The pace of this book is steady through out, and doesn't pick up much speed until the last handful of chapters. The ending more than made up for anything the plot lacked. It was the main reason I loved this book so much. Everything went down in the most perfectly heart pounding and heart punching ending ever. If this stories first half would have been as strong as the last half I would have given this book a higher rating. I even feel having it in dual POVs might have given it a little more edge. Either way it will be a book I recommend to many in the future. If you're looking for something a little on the darker emotional side Flawed is a good fit. 

Flawed is heavily weighed on one thing and one thing only... When stuck between a rock and a hard place, what choice would you make? 

8.5/10 Stars 
-Angela 

(Flawed Book Depository)

 

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

Keir Sarafian knows many things about himself. He's okay with being just above average. He is a talented football player, a loyal friend, a devoted son and brother.  He is just overall a good guy. Yet the love of his life thinks otherwise. Gigi says Keir has done something awful. She accuses him of raping her. Keir doesn't understand. He loves Gigi and would never do anything to hurt her.

Inexcusable is a the store of Keir recounting the events leading up to that one fateful night, in order to uncover the truth. Did he or did he not rape Gigi?! This book had me confused on so many levels. I didn't know how to feel. One moment I as so convinced that he didn't do it, then the next I was determined to uncover that he did do it. This isn't a fasted paced loved story, it's more of a who'd-done it. If that makes sense. This review wont be long and it wont be detailed because I feel like this book is one you need to go into with no preconceived notions.

The main character is (obviously) Keir, all other characters are just sub. Keir is such a puzzle. I have no idea if I loved him or hated him... Even after I finished it. This book took me down a path I had never been down. The way Lynch presents this novel too us by showing us both the light and darkness too each side of a story, is what will have you feeling something you haven't before. Inexcusable is a novel I think I can't decide how to feel about. I don't know if I loved it or hated it. The riddler way it's written had me falling hard for it, but at the same time I felt that there was something else I needed to give this a higher rating. 

How Chris Lynch could write such a short novel, say so little words, and yet leave you so bone chilled is beyond me... This book will have you wondering if you sometimes see yourself as something other than what you really are.

 A book that will have you guessing till the VERY end. I have no idea how I feel about this book, so pretty sure Lynch did what he set out to achieve. Inexcusable  left me wondering what just happened to me and what the hell did I just read.  

If the middle of this book was as strong as the end this would have been a ten star book...

8.5/10 Stars 
-Angela

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Golden Son continues shortly after where Red Rising left off, Darrow, a rebel battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Embedded fully in with the Golds ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down society from within. 

"...So it's pride."
"It's always pride."
"Pride is just a shout into the wind."
He shakes his head, voice deepening. "I will die. You will die. We will all die and the universe will carry on without care. All that we have is that shout into the wind-how we live. How we go. And how we stand before we fall." He leans forward. "So you see, pride is the only thing..."

Red Rising took me by surprise... Way way by surprise. Golden Son did the same and then some. I have no idea where Pierce Brown came from and I really don't care. Golden Son puts Red Rising too shame! Everything I wanted too get out of book one and didn't till the end you'll get out of the entire book two. Golden Son is none stop action! 

There were a lot of politics in this book and I would usually be turned off by this but not in this case. Darrow navigates his way through all of the plotting and plans of others in ways that nobody expects. In a way that I've never read before. Darrow is a character unlike anyone else. He isn't the only character in this book that you'll be falling for. Servo is a character you can't ignore. Easily one of my all time favorites. Lorn is another strong and ballsy character, and constantly telling it how it is. Friends become enemies, enemies become friends. Characters I don't even want to mention will have you freaking out.

The plot of this story is just action, unlike the first which was a lot of info dumping and world building, Golden Son is just nonstop the whole time. Until the last page you'll be on the edge of your seat. I started this book at 6pm and ended it at 8pm... It was that captivating.   Instead of the story being held in one solid location reads will get to see and experience more of universe. More second books suffer from "second book syndrome", but this wont be a problem when you pick this up. There's so much suffering, pain, and sorrow pushed into this book.

This novel had me freaking out and wanted to flip tables until the ending... because that ending... that ending is world shattering. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME MY BRAIN ACTUALLY CRIED OUT IN PAIN BECAUSE A BOOK SHOOK ME SO HARD.

 Intense, brutal, heart-breaking, The Red Rising series isn't one you're going to want to miss. I could go on for days about plot, characters, and my love for what this series turned out too be but this is something you need to enjoy yourself. I find it so hard to find books I can recommend for guys but I will no longer have to struggle with a book to mention.

Comparing this book to Ender's Game and The Hunger Games makes complete sense, but at the same time Golden Son is in a class all of it's own. 

Take everything you love in books, throw in a bitchin ending, gore for days, and a touch of Star Wars and you'll get Golden Son. 

10/10 Stars 

-Angela 

Ignite by Lily Paradis

After her father’s untimely demise in a mining accident and her mother’s abandonment, Lauren Lindsay is no stranger to loss. Becomes self sufficient Lauren has learned to worry about one person only and that is herself. That all works her step mother passed away asking Lauren to take care of them in her will.

Lauren's first instinct is to run, until she meets Dean Powell.

I finally decided to download this book when I saw they had it free for a day on kindle... Yeah I normally don't like to E read and I really don't like to free download books, BUT I'm waiting on a book shipment from both Barnes and Nobles and Bookdepo, so I figured why not.

I really liked the concept of Ignite. Girls family passes away leaving behind three step siblings for her to take care of. Ignite was creative and, yes it's been done before but not in the way Lily has presented it (at least not that I have read before). The story is sweet and overall it flows well. Something else that I really liked in this book was the way the romance was constantly building all leading up to this one moment. It was again something new and enjoyable.

The characters in this book were too me hit or miss. Lauren was fine, but I had a hard time connecting too her. I think if the series continues she will become a stronger and more like-able character. Either way one moment I loved the girl the next I wouldn't. The sub-characters aka the children in this book are sweet and well written along with realistic. They acted the ages they were...
Then there's Dean Powell..... HE IS WHAT MADE THIS STORY!!! He is a strongly written leading male. I really really enjoyed him. He was the perfect amount of both mystery and romance. Filled with great one liners I was never once let down by his character. His bad-boy past was something new for us to read. I would normally HATE when characters do super fast dramatic character development, but Dean's character wore it well. Didn't hurt that 99% of the time he had me melting off my chair. 

I do wish that the story did take a little more time to focus on  Lauren's relationship with the kids and little less on time with Dean (at the same time I want more Dean, so hard to even explain!). With that being said I'll lead into the few issues I had with this book.

I know Lauren is learning how to do this parenting thing but sometimes I got so mad at her choices and wanted to reach inside the book and throat punch her... BUT by the end I think she was getting way better at the whole "new mom thing". Then there was a slight issue with something said in the book. I can't go too heavy into the real reason this bothered me because I don't want to spoil anyone... But at one point Dean says he doesn't drink because of past issues, and then in one scene in the book one of Lauren's girl friends says Dean shows up to this event every year drunk... It was something so small but for some reason it really stuck with me (I think once you read it you'll pick up what I'm putting down). Then there's the editing issue. There are a few minor ones in this book, nothing to insane, nothing that was so bad that it should keep you from reading it. I know the issue has been brought to Lily's attention and has been addressed in a strong and honest way which I really respect... Link here --> http://lilyparadis.com/?p=893

But back to the posi things... This story heavily relies on the romance and it's a good thing. It's really what carried the story. It's just a sweet little nugget and was something I found myself staying up late to read. If you want a nice wear a big sweater, drinking tea, and curling up for a quick read book this is a book I would recommend to you. If you like romance but find NA to heavy, Ignite would be perfect. Yeah, there are a few pitter patters in the plot, BUT I think as a possible series-cute-romance it hits the nail right on the head. I like that Lily brought so many new items to the table with this book. I look forward to picking up future books by her, and if this series does continue I will be getting the next one.... Gotta know what happens with my boo Dean. 

(edit- After marinating on this review for a few days I actually bumped up my rating from what I orginally had it as. Even with the few negatives I said I really did like this book. And the more I thought it over the more I get excited to see what else Lily gives us.)

8/10 Stars 
-Angela

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Libby Day was just seven years old when her evidence put her fifteen-year-old brother in jail.
Since then, she had been off. Barely making ends meet or even getting out of bed. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced that Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask questions she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard that night Ben's? Was Ben even capable of murder? As she uncovers the truth she's been avoiding her whole life she begins to realize that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. But that being said...

Who did massacre the Day family?

Holy Balls! This book had my emotions all over the place. Dark Places is just that... Dark. And much like Gone Girl this book had so much mystery in it. Gillian Flynn has this creepy amazing way of writing creepy and amazing stories. Dark Places had me hooked from page one. The way she had the main character Libby talk was in itself something worth reading. Gillian basically tortures readers for 350 pages just a FYI! 

 

Dark Places is one of those books that is so hard to write a review on without giving anything away... I think the best way to describe this book is by comparing it to Clue the board game... You know all the players involved, you know all the settings, and you know all the weapons. You are given little clues here and there and you have your little card to check off what you think... The Who, What, When, Where, and even the Why. Gillian give you pieces of a whole, much like the game. Sometimes she reveals that it was the candlestick, and sometimes your shown its professor plum. But you still have no idea what the real answer is until you're so close to the end of the game that you finally are begging to open that little envelope and see what the final answer is.... That's exactly how Dark Places was. I spent 99% of the time coming up with all these crazy theories... 

All I can say is that every single one of my theories were both right and wrong at the same time. Gillian plays out the novel in such an amazing way. Bouncing from the present to the past, and never letting on more than she needed too. I hate when books do this too, not in the case of Dark Places. I was craving the flashbacks I needed them. I wanted to know more about their mother, and father, and Ben. God did I want to know what was up with him! And like I said above, Libby was AMAZING! Such a well written and confusingly like-able character. You really don't want to like her but at the same time you're kind of cheering her on. But Libby isn't just a victim, she has plenty of dark secrets and mystery to her as the next person in her family.

“There are few phrases that annoy me more than I won't bite. The only line that pisses me off faster is when some drunk, ham-faced dude in a bar sees me trying to get past him and barks: Smile, it can't be that bad! Yeah, actually, it can, jackwad.” 

The only thing that kept this book from being a perfect ten star book for me was some of the ending. It got a little jumbled to the end, but that being said was still completely mind blowing. When the big reveal happens you'll more than likely have your jaw dragging on the floor like I did. Dark Places was amazing.

I can't wait to see this movie in theaters! If you haven't had a chance to read this book please do so before the movie comes out! I know Leah and I will be there opening day clinging to the edge of our seats!

9.5/10 Stars 

-Angela

Black Iris Cover Reveal!!!!!

We here at Southern Read are so excited and honored to be apart of the cover reveal for Leah Raeder's new novel Black Iris. If you don't know who Leah Raeder is she is the author of Unteachable. Which is the novel we choose as our biggest surprise read of 2014. We both read and reviewed that novel for our blog and have reviews posted (Links at the bottom of the page). We absolutely adore her! So again we are so thankful too be a part of this.  

Seriously people look at that cover!!! IT'S STUNNING and it's only making the wait for it harder!

Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago. You can learn more about her and see more of her work by visiting her at LeahRaeder.com. 

Wondering what Black Iris is about?? Well we've posted the description below... So after reading it be sure to go and add it to your TBR on goodreads.

"It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn't worth sticking around for.

If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.
She's not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.
But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it's time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.
Which was the plan all along.
Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.
She's going to show them all."

Black Iris will be available in both Ecopy (5.99) and Print at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Booksamillion, and Indiebound (15.00). It's also available on all those sites for per-order.

WE CAN NOT WAIT TO GET OUR HANDS ON THIS BOOK!!! 

BUT WAIT! That's not it... We were also provided with an excerpt from chapter one to give yall!

  BLACK IRIS by Leah Raeder  

April is the cruelest month, T.S. Eliot said, and that’s because it kills. It’s the month with the highest suicide rate. You’d think December, or even January—the holidays and all that forced cheer and agonized smiling pushing fragile people to the edge—but actually it’s spring, when the world wakes from frostbound sleep and something cruel and final stirs inside those of us who are broken. Like Eliot said: mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain. In the deepest throes of depression, when sunlight is anguish and the sky throbs like one big raw migraine and you just want to sleep until you or everything else dies, you’re less likely to commit suicide than someone coming out of a depressive episode. Drug companies know this. That’s why antidepressants have to be marked with the warning MAY CAUSE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.
Because what brings you back to life also gives you the means to destroy yourself.

 LEAH RAEDER YOU'RE GIVING US GOOSEBUMPS!!! 

You can also follow Leah on her many social media pages listed below:

http://www.leahraeder.com/

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

and check out both of our reviews for Unteachable here: 

Angela's Review

Leah's Review 

 Thanks again Leah Raeder and the people at Simon and Schuster the people at ATRIA BOOKS ( a division of Simon and Schuster, Inc.)

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

"Old enough to screw, old enough to crew"

I actually started Red Rising last year and it ended up going in my "DNF/On Holf" list on goodreads. At the time it just wasn't want I wanted to read... BUT seeing as in it's the start of a new year I said I was going to go back to that list and finish every book on it (there's around 11). I am so thankful I did this.

Originally I got about 90-ish pages in and it was just so slow... So this time knowing some of what was going on I powered through the first part of the book and when I hit the second half I wanted to smack myself in the face for even putting it down. If I would have known that the second half of the book would have hit like a train I wouldn't have stopped in the first place. I also, like everyone else I know whose read this, am having a hard time placing this book... Is it Sci-fi? Is it YA or NA? Is it Fiction?... I don't know and I don't care I just loved it. 

I will repeat though the first half of this book is slow. Once I hit the other section I completely understood why. Pierce does an amazing job in world building and setting up the story to have this amazing POW effect towards the end. On to the actual review though.

Darrow is a Helldriver on Mars. He is drilling mines with the hopes that one day people will live on the surface. This world is ruled under strict laws/rules. Darrow is all about keeping a low-pro and just doing what needs to be done. His wife, Eo, however doesn't feel the same way. Disgusted by how the Golds rule she wants to take action to free everyone from the way things are. The relationship between Eo and Darrow is so much more than sweet. I feel a lot of times male writers either hit or miss the mark when it comes to capturing relationships, and Pierce hit the bulls-eye. After several events take place Darrow ends up on the surface of Mars disguised as a Gold. After which he enrolls into an Academy with the goal of rising up in the Gold ranks. 

“I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.”

 

The Academy however is not what you would think. THIS IS WHERE THE STORY REALLY HAPPENS! THIS IS WHERE I SHOULD HAVE PUSHED MYSELF TO GET... Once he is enrolled all shiz hits the fan. Darrow goes from this mundane kind of boring character and truly transforms into someone that is even hard to describe. Just this off the charts growth. I thought this story was going to take kind of a feeling like The Testing had too it, but I was so so wrong. I was excepting the school to start off norm and then become something insane. What I didn't expect was Darrow's first test to be killing a boy with his bare hands. I didn't expect his character to be thrown into such warfare. I didn't expect all hell to break loose or this story to go from zero to sixty so fast. I know I'm saying "I didn't expect" a lot during this review, and again I don't care, because this book wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be.

The thing Red Rising has going for it besides the complete turn around in plot, was the surprising amount of action. I ended up feeling like I read two books at once. The first half was this world building, low key gem and the second half was this action packed book that could and will play out amazing on the big screen. There are so many surprises and action packed into the last half of this book that I swear I said "WHAT THE F DID I JUST READ" probably 50 times.

Character development was another thing that Pierce mastered, with such grace. If I would have read Red Rising last year it probably would have gone as my "biggest surprise read of 2014", sadly it didn't happen for me then... But thankfully it got my 2015 reading year off on the right foot. Also can't thank him enough for how he ended the book. (it wasn't on a cliffhanger and for once I'm really glad about it.)

Red Rising if you can't tell, took me by surprise and I can't wait to read Golden Son. This is a book you need to experience.

8.5/10 Stars 
-Angela