Landslide by Jenn Cooksey

This book. THIS book. THIS BOOK. I'm still at a loss for words, except to say that if you haven't read anything by Jenn Cooksey, your life is incomplete. I know that many will say that those are some fighting' words, but until you read her previous works (the Grab Your Pole series) and Landslide, you can't argue with me.

Ok - I found some words.

Landslide is nothing like the GYP series, except maybe in that the writing manages to pull you in from the very first word, and doesn't let go of its strangle-hold on you until the very end. At which point you beg the book-gods that your eReader is malfunctioning, and that 100% isn't really 100%.

The only thing I knew about this book was the first line of the blurb - For Erica and Cole, the bond of friendship was forged in childhood.

The story of these two managed to make me feel the whole gamut of emotions, which I was not prepared for. I liked Cole. Then I hated Cole. Then I REALLY hated Cole. I felt sorry for Erica.Then I hated Erica. Then I felt sorry again for Erica. And then I just wanted Erica and Cole to be the Erica and Cole that the author gave us glimpses of. I won't even go into how Jenn yet again managed to write the most perfect dialogue, laced with just the right amount of humour. I won't go into how she pulled the rug out from underneath me YET AGAIN, with absolutely no warning. The things that I was thinking and what was really going on were worlds apart, and yet I couldn't even imagine the direction it would all go (and trust me, I had some pretty wild ideas!).

People always ask what authors I wish more people read, and Landslide does nothing but forever cement why I always include Jenn Cooksey in my answer.

Happenstance 3 by Jamie McGuire

The Happenstance series is one of the most heartfelt, endearing, I-feel-it -in-my-bones, stories I've read. I keep having to remind myself that the same author that gave me a place to belong with Beautiful Disaster is the same amazing creature that has me loving Weston, Erin, and everything about Happenstance 3. I'm so impressed with her versatility because I've only read a few authors that could pull of writing seamlessly in two genres.The journey that Erin went through is validation that good will prevail. You might have to wait a while, but it will get better. There will always be a--holes out there who'll fight tooth and nail to bring you down, and will only succeed if you let them. I'm just thankful that stories like Happenstance and characters like Erin exist for those of us who will occasionally need reminders that we are worthy of happiness, success, and all the good that has come our way. There will be readers who will gush about the love between Weston and Erin. There will admirers of Jamie McGuire who will say that this is the reason that she is a favourite of so many of us all around the world. There will be fans who will go down fighting till the bitter end, defending their point of view that stories like this are the reason they read.

And I don't disagree with any of them.

DAY 11 - The Best of 2014 Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY - 15 books we look forward to reading in '15

We're hosting a 4-way Blog Hop and INTERNATIONAL Giveaway along with a few of our pals from No BS Book Reviews, Black Heart Reviews, and Reading is My Breathing. Be sure to visit all these amazing blogs during the blog hop and DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!

Here are the 15 books that I'm really looking forward to reading in 2015. Some might be out already, but due to life, I just haven't gotten to them yet. If it's a series, I'm counting it as one book. So in no particular order...

1. Emi Lost & Found series by Lori Otto
2. Bright Side by Kim Holden
3. Beautiful Redemption by Jamie McGuire
4. Thoughtful by S.C. Stephens
5. My Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
6. The List by Kate L. Mary
7. Mayhem by Jamie Shaw
8. Hero by Samantha Young
9. Confess by Colleen Hoover
10. Black Iris by Leah Raeder
11. Anna and the French Kiss series by Stephanie Perkins
12. Trust by Ella Frank
13. Landslide by Jenn Cooksey
14. The Ballad by Ashley Pullo
15. Where Sea Meets Sky by Karina Halle

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY (click here!)

DAY 10 - The Best of 2014 Blog Hop - Our Favourite Reads Overall

We're hosting a 4-way Blog Hop and INTERNATIONAL Giveaway along with a few of our pals from No BS Book Reviews, Black Heart Reviews, and Reading is My Breathing. Be sure to visit all these amazing blogs during the blog hop and DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!

This was the year of...

The Album by Ashley Pullo













Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover













Love, in English by Karina Halle












Bear Otter, and the Kid series by T.J. Klune














Temptation series by Ella Frank













Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma













Me Before You by Jojo Moyes













Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher













Coming Home by Priscilla Glenn













Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire

This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY (click here!)

DAY 9: The Best of 2014 Blog Hop - Our Favourite Book Covers

We're hosting a 4-way Blog Hop and INTERNATIONAL Giveaway along with a few of our pals from No BS Book Reviews, Black Heart Reviews, and Reading is My Breathing. Check out the schedule, be sure to visit all these amazing blogs during the blog hop, and DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!

Something about the following covers has me staring at them constantly, wishing I had the talent to make something look so pretty.

 

The Album by Ashley Pullo

Every time I see this cover, I'm brought back to happy childhood memories. The colours make me think of summer time and Popsicles, and when the biggest worry was how high you can go on the swing.

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

After I finished this story, I had to hide the paperback. The texture on the cover was too much for me to handle because of the way it tied into the story. But something that's painful can still be a favourite.

The Pact by Karina Halle

This cover reminds me of a Lana Del Ray song. There's always a desperate longing about them. Having finished The Pact with a few days of 2014 left to go, I can say that this is the perfect cover for this story

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma.

I know it didn't come out in 2014, but I read it for the first time this year, so I'm making it count. If or when you read this story, you'll know why the barbed-wire heart is the only thing that should ever be on the cover.

Love, in English by Karina Halle

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY (click here!)

DAY 8: The Best of 2014 Blog Hop - Our Favourite Indie Books/Authors

We're hosting a 4-way Blog Hop and INTERNATIONAL Giveaway along with a few of our pals from No BS Book Reviews, Black Heart Reviews, and Reading is My Breathing. Check out the schedule, be sure to visit all these amazing blogs during the blog hop, and DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!

Ella Frank and her Temptation series blew it out of the water for me this past year. It's M/M and it's so freaking hot that it has serious potential to cause a baby-boom. Logan and Tate have what most people can only dream about. Sure it's a book, but wouldn't it be nice if such carnal want actually exists?

What? The Bear, Otter, and the Kid series made my list yet again? Damn straight skippy. Now excuse me while I take a quick break and start re-reading this series so I can etch into memory every freaking morsel of what made this series one of the best I've ever read. T.J. Klune has become a automatic one-click for me.

This list needs Ashley Pullo. It needs her because she wrote The Album and The Ballad. It needs her because I know one day, she won't be 'indie' anymore and I want to be able to say I-knew-her-when...And when that day comes, the world will know that she has some serious chops in the writing department. Also, have you seen her rap to Salt-n-Pepa? Just look for the video and you'll get why my obsession runs so deep.

Coming Home by Priscilla Glenn was everything I wanted, exactly when I wanted it. She has somehow tapped into my psyche and knows exactly what to write and when to release it, which coincides with exactly when I need to read something from her.

I knew I was going to buy Love, in English before I even knew what it was about. All because of the cover. And then I actually read the book, and I was so taken aback that it was by the same author who wrote The Artists Trilogy. I think someone who is that versatile and has that much writing talent needs to be on a lot of 2014 'FAVOURITES' lists.

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY (click here!)

DAY 7: The Best of 2014 Blog Hop - Our Favourite Book Moments

We're hosting a 4-way Blog Hop and INTERNATIONAL Giveaway along with a few of our pals - Stephanie and Brenna from No BS Book Reviews, Ali & Debbie from Black Heart Reviews, and Lucia from Reading is My Breathing. Check out the schedule, be sure to visit all these amazing blogs during the blog hop, and DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!

• The dinner scene in Bear, Otter, and the Kid (by T.J. Klune) where Bear has too much to drink and ends up spilling his guts to Otter's family, and all the other people at the table. This was one of the funniest and genuine things I've ever read, and even though Bear is in love with Otter, I might have developed a non-reciprocated crush on Bear this very moment.

• The last few lines of Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire were a 'whoa'. I mean I suspected, but until that moment, it hadn't been confirmed. And then when I'm reading it, I decide I have to re-read it with this new information.

• When the lines in Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover became poetry again.

• Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. But Liis - What's your favourite moment of the book? The entire thing is my favourite moment.

• The scene in The Album by Ashly Pullo where Natalie writes her love letter to Zach and everything that follows. I'm still pissed at Ashley for it.

• When Tate and Logan talk on the phone that night, and nothing about it is just friends catching up. This scene in Try by Ella Frank WAS HOT!

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY (click here!)