Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Review: Off the Ice - Julie Cross

Off the Ice 
Julie Cross
Series: Juniper Falls, #1
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Sports Romance
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Reading Challenges: #ContRom2017

Claire decided to take a semester off from college and return home to help with the family business during her father's illness. Her world was put in a state of flux, as she struggled with the bills, her father's health issues, and her prolonged absence from university. Right when she thought she was hitting rock bottom, her best friend's little brother, Tate, came back into her life, and unexpectedly gave her a lifeline and more.
"When and how did you become..." I wave a hand dramatically in front of him. "This?"
"What?" He glances down and tugs not he front of his hunter-green thermal beneath his unzipped jacket. "Someone who wears earth tones?"
"No! Th-that," I sputter, blowing hair off my face, "tall and ...not skinny..And the voice.."

I am always up for a good sports romance, and I liked this small town setting, as small towns bring a certain element to the story on their own. As expected, Juniper Falls gave me what I expected from the setting: the gossip, the backlash, the familiarity, the neighborliness, the history, and family ties to the town. I especially liked the hockey family dynasty aspects and how far back the characters went with each other.
These guys don't have the right to suddenly take notice of Claire when I've seen her, admired her for years.
Both Claire and Tate were dealing with a lot of personal issues. Claire had the responsibility of her family's entire existence and her uncertain future weighing her down, while Tate was grappling with his new position as starting goalie and the damaging secrets he was trying to keep hidden. These two sort of broken people were able to lift each other up. They supported each other, they gave of themselves to each other, and I was pretty sold on this romance. This was a healthy romance. These two were honest with each other, they had open conversations, they knew when to push and when to back off, and they never asked the other one to sacrifice something they loved for the sake of the other. And the history! I love when there is history between characters, and these went a loooooong ways back.
What is this thing that Claire and I are doing? It's painful and messy but also exhilarating, like seeing colors for the first time.
But do you know what I loved even more than Tate and Clair together? Tate, Jamie, and Leo together. The relationship between them was pretty brotastic, and I really enjoyed seeing male characters sharing their feelings. There are definitely more stories to tell in this town, and I care enough about these auxiliary characters to want them.
This bridge between Tate and me somehow emerged in the midst of everything falling apart.
Overall: a heartwarming sports romance, which has left me wanting more Juniper Falls stories.

**I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book











Do you like hockey or have a favorite sport?
Let us know in the comments!

Monday, February 27, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.


What I Read Last Week

I only read one of the books I planned to read. This is why I plan loosely. I did finish six books last week though, with Letters to the Lost being my favorite.




What I Am Currently Reading

I am reading Daughter of the Pirate King and listening to Dear Mr. Knightley. I am loving Pirate King, which I won through a GoodReads giveaway and actually received the book. So, I was pretty happy about that.




What I Plan to Read

Let's try this again. I am really going to try to read the following books, pending any ARC approvals.










What are you reading?
Let us know in the comments!

Series Review: The Grisha Trilogy - Leigh Bardugo

The Grisha Trilogy
Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

This review covers the entire Grisha Trilogy. It contains a minor spoiler for Shadow and Bone (in the characters section), but is spoiler free for the rest of the series.

I got all three of The Grisha Trilogy books as Kindle Daily Deals at some point or another (not all together but randomly on different days), but I never got around to reading them. This year, I decided to finally read them. After having finally read Shadow and Bone, I am upset with myself for waiting so long to read it - I absolutely loved it!

Shadow and Bone takes place in a world were some people are Grisha: people born with the ability to manipulate the elements, the human body, or other materials. The Grisha are led by a fierce leader, the Darkling, who is immensely powerful and can control darkness. Alina is just an average girl until she finds out that she is, in fact, Grisha - she can control light.

I absolutely loved the world that Leigh Bardugo built in Shadow and Bone. She carefully crafted a world with an interesting power dynamic between Grisha and ungifted people. While the king controls the first army, the Darkling controls the more powerful second army of Grisha. On some level, Grisha are resented for their powers - not as much in Ravka, the setting of this book, as in other places, but there is still resentment.

Once I started Shadow and Bone, I couldn't stop. I wanted to know more and more about the world and the characters, especially as the bigger plot of the series started to unfold. I was shocked by some of the revelations near the end, and anxious to get to Siege and Storm.

Unfortunately for me, Siege and Storm was a bit of a let down as the second book in the series. I felt like it moved a little slowly, partially because a lot of the time was spent on a plot line that I just wasn't that interested in (more on this and the characters later). The beginning and end of the book were strong, but the middle lagged. Luckily, Ruin and Rising was such a phenomenal conclusion that it made up for the sophomore slump.

Ruin and Rising was such a satisfying conclusion! Filled with action, twists, and more, I sped through this finale. AND THE EPILOGUE! That epilogue was so perfect and fitting as a conclusion to the series.

Now that I've gone through my overall opinions of the books, I'll dig into some of the nitty gritty: the characters.

Alina was a great, strong protagonist for this series. She was somewhat self sacrificing to a fault - she understood what she wanted to accomplish, and she was willing to do anything to get the job done (including causing her own near death). Her persistence was incredible.

Mal is Alina's main love interest throughout the series, and while some people really love him, I'm sadly not one of them. Mal annoyed me to no end in Siege and Storm. He was like Four in Allegiant - whiny and irritating - but he did get past it in Ruin and Rising, and I ultimately really enjoyed where his story arc went and how it impacted the greater plot.

The Darkling was really a great villain. I'm not one of those people who fell in love with the Darkling and shipped him with Alina, but I enjoyed how truly despicable he was. It was kind of amazing to see how far he would go for anything. In a lot of ways, he was very similar to Alina - the dark side of her light, but still filled with endless determination.

The supporting characters were equally great. I LOVED Nikolai!!!!! Favorite character in this series hands down. I really wish there had been more of him in this series, but I'm holding out hope that he'll make an appearance in the Six of Crows series. Genya was an interesting character because she was so driven by revenge and it shaped her decisions so much. I wasn't sure how I felt about her for a while, but I ended up liking her and her dynamic with David. Also just wanted to give a shoutout to Zoya, who is the absolute sassiest and has one of my favorite lines in the entire series about missing pretty things.

All in all, I can't believe I waited so long to read the Grisha Trilogy, but I'm glad I finally did because now I can join in on the Grishaverse love, especially with the Six of Crows series. This series is packed with action in such a wonderfully built world. I can't wait to read more in this world!

On a side note, I think an anime series about the adventures of Harshaw and Oncat during Ruin and Rising would be hilarious and the best thing ever. I'd settle for fan-made comics. Someone please make this happen please.









What series did you wait a long time to read?
Let us know in the comments!

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Review:
Goodbye Days - Jeff Zentner

Goodbye Days 
Jeff Zentner
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Reading Challenges: Alphabet Soup Challenge

They were the "Sauce Crew". A band of talented young men, who shared a bond as thick as brothers. Three of them were lost in a car crash suspected to be due to texting and driving. The other member of the crew being the one who had sent the text.
I watch them lower the third member of Sauce Crew into the ground. I am Sauce Crew now. 
Have you ever lost someone, and wished you had had just one more day? One more day to say "goodbye"? One more day to tell them and show them you loved them? I was really able to relate to this want, this desire to say goodbye.  I lost a very close college friend in a plane crash; we were 31. My last communication with him was a Valentine's Day card he sent me. I never thought I would never see him again. I felt so robbed of the opportunity to make sure he knew I cared, and that I valued him and his friendship. Yes, I could totally relate to this book and the need for a goodbye day.
I guess we'd try to give life to his story for one more day. Pay tribute. Say goodbye.
This book was sad. It really could not have been anything but sad under the circumstances of its premise. I cried so many tears. I cried tears as someone who missed the opportunities to say goodbye. I cried tears as a mother, who couldn't imagine burying her child. I am crying right now as I write this review, because it actually hit me pretty hard.
Penance. Stories. Goodbye days. 
I love Zentner's story telling. The Serpent King was one of my top 2016 reads, and this was one of my top 2017 anticipated reads. He has this ability to craft a story with so much feeling, and  filled with characters that worm their way into your heart and soul. It was so painful being in Carver's head following the accident, and the funerals, and the fallout. I just wanted to reach into the page and hug him so many times. Thank goodness Zentner gave Carver some support in the form of his sister, Georgia (who was pretty awesome), Jesmyn, his very loving parents, Dr. Mendez, and the most awesome character in the book (in my opinion), Nana Betsy.
We build him a monument of words we've written on the walls of our hearts. We make the air vibrate with his life. 
Each goodbye day had a very unique tone, but each was quite painful in its own way. Blake's had some very big reveals for both Nana Betsy and Carver. Eli's was tense and awkward, but it also had one of the most beautiful soliloquies from Eli's dad. I think I was bawling at the end of all that. But, the goodbye day for Mars was the most painful. It was tough getting through them.
I never imagined that my history would include the full history of my son, start to finish. But it does now. 

Overall: Another amazing book by the wonderful Jeff Zentner, made my heart swell and my face wet with tears.

**I would like to thank NetGalley and Crown Books for Young Readers for the advanced copy of this book








Have you ever wanted to have a goodbye day?
Let us know in the comments!

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday: The Traitor's Kiss - Erin Beaty

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty.

The Traitor's Kiss
Erin Beaty
Series: Traitor's Trilogy, #1
Release Date: May 9,  2017
Publisher: MacMillan's Children's Publishing Group
Waited on by: Sam

An obstinate girl who will not be married.
A soldier desperate to prove himself.
A kingdom on the brink of war.

With a sharp tongue and an unruly temper, Sage Fowler is not what they’d call a lady―which is perfectly fine with her. Deemed unfit for marriage, Sage is apprenticed to a matchmaker and tasked with wrangling other young ladies to be married off for political alliances. She spies on the girls―and on the soldiers escorting them.

As the girls' military escort senses a political uprising, Sage is recruited by a handsome soldier to infiltrate the enemy ranks. The more she discovers as a spy, the less certain she becomes about whom to trust―and Sage becomes caught in a dangerous balancing act that will determine the fate of her kingdom.




I have been reading A LOT of contemporaries lately, so I was actively seeking something in the SFF realm, and well - PRETTY COVER! drew me to this one. So, I read on. This book has a sharp-tongued, strong heroine, who is a matchmaker-spy. Color me intrigued!

I dug further to find out more about Beaty. Not only does this book have a heroine who sound awesome, but it is written by an author, who also sounds awesome. I found this article about Erin Beaty, and was really impressed by her resume: degree in rocket science from the US Naval Academy, weapons office for the US Navy. Whaaaa? Makes me think that her background will take the combat and spy sequences to the next level.


This new series sounds very promising, and I am excited to see what sort of world Beaty has created for us.



What are you waiting on?
Let us know in the comments!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Review:
The Other F-Word - Natasha Friend

The Other F-Word 
Natasha Friend
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Reading Challenges: #NGEW2017

I feel like I repeat this a lot, but my initial interest in this book was due to the cover and the snappy title. What can I say, I like shiny, pretty things. Then I read the blurb, and thought the concept could yield an interesting read. Lucky for me, the story was not only interesting, but quite amusing as well.
I was conceived in a petri dish.
My father is out there.
I have a half brother.
I was sort of emotionally drained from my last read, and that probably made me more receptive to this book, because it made me laugh, and laugh, and laugh. This is a character driven story told from the POVs of Milo, the boy allergic to the world, and Hollis, the girl who is mad at the world. Milo enlists Hollis on his quest to find their sperm-donor dad, and she reluctantly agrees.
“But this is my quest, okay? I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s true. And I want you to come with me.”
“On your quest.”
“On my quest.”
“You want me to leave the Shire and go face the freaking dragon with you?”
I greatly enjoyed the interactions between Milo and Hollis. Both were extremely bright and total book worms. Their banter was fun and witty. But I would say Hollis was the more compelling MC. At the onset of the story, Hollis came off as a very angry girl, but as the story played on, we learned that there are multiple reasons for this anger. A major source of her anger is due to losing her other mother to cancer when she was seven years old. She is harboring some serious guilt from her last day with Pam, and it was quite heartbreaking when it is revealed. There are other peripheral issues such as her long undiscussed anger with her ex-friend and the "numbing" activities that she is partaking in. It was Hollis' story that gave the book more emotional depth, and I really loved being there with her while she embarked on this healing journey.

I thought many of the secondary characters were fabulous. The four sperm-siblings were a force to be reckoned with when they started group chats/emails. Each sibling was given a distinct personality, but also had a little piece of each other in them.
JJ Rabinowitz, honorary sperm sibling. 
Then there was JJ. At first, I didn't quite understand JJ's role, but as I read on, I grew to love the big goof ball.  He added yet another perspective on this self-identity issue, as he did not know either of his biological parents. But, he was also a wonderful, supportive friend. He was there for Milo and encouraged him, but also served as the voice of reason when necessary (believe it or not). I thought his friendship with Hollis was adorable, and was glad that he was able to help her work through some of her issues.

I appreciated the way Friend incorporated the issues same sex families faced prior to the marriage equality act. It really broke my heart when both Hollis and Leigh related their stories. And, she contrast that with what Milo's moms had, as they were able to legally marry.
“A good and generous guy gave us some seeds so we could grow you!” The story sounded a lot like Jack and the Beanstalk: mysterious man, magic seeds. A fairy tale. 
Overall: a sweet and funny adventure of sperm-donor siblings trying to find their "dad" where they actually end up finding themselves and each other.

**I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book








Do you have any siblings?
Let us know in the comments!

Monday, February 20, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. This post is for sharing what I read last week, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read.


What I Read Last Week





What I Am Currently Reading





What I Plan to Read










What are you reading?
Let us know in the comments!

Sunday, February 19, 2017

#SignedBookSunday: The Iron Warrior


The Iron Warrior 
Julie Kagawa
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Goodreads

I guess you already know, that I like to read books, but I also like to bookstagram. I must warn you, though, me bookstagramming is like me singing or dancing. I enjoy it, but I am not very good at it. With that said, I decided I would participate in #SignedBookSunday.


I selected The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa. I got this book signed when I met Kagawa at YallFest back in 2015. When I was reading the inscription, I remembered the conversation Kagawa and I had regarding why I had not yet read this book. I had to admit to her, that I loved the series, and I was afraid of the ending not being satisfying and of leaving the world behind.

When this book came out, I had already read 6 books and 2 novellas set in this world. I was entrenched in the Nevernever. I was invested in the lives of these characters, and then Kagawa tweets about how she killed 2 characters. I couldn't read it. I just imagined the worst and I could not bring myself to read the book. I was so stressed out and worried about her ruthlessly ending the book, that I avoided it.

Julie Kagawa was so sweet, and assured me that it was an ending I could live with, and it was. It wasn't all neat in a bow and whatnot, but it was satisfying and I could live with it. I do miss those characters and that world, but I am grateful for the experience, and well, I could just re-read the books.









Is there a world you were reluctant to leave? 
Do you put off series finales?
Let us know in the comments!

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Review:
Optimists Die First - Susin Nielsen

Optimists Die First 
Susan Nielsen
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Reading Challenges:  #ContRom2017, Alphabet Soup Challenge

I knew nothing about this book when Kiersten brought it to me, but the cover was ok and I liked the title, so I said I would read it. I am really glad I made that decision, because this book was wonderful!

A photo posted by Sam Kozbial (@kozbisa) on

Petula's family had experienced a HUGE tragedy, and this turned Tula into a pessimists with a million phobias. Her irrational fear of just about everything had been her coping mechanism until Jacob came into her life. He was this bright ray of sunshine, who appeared severely optimistic and tended to bring out the best in those around him.
I learned some lessons that day:
  1. Life is not fair.
  2. Tragedy can strike when you least expect it.
  3. Always expect the worst. That way, you might stand a chance of protecting yourself and the ones you love.
The blurb on the back of the book pretty much summed this book up for me
One pessimist. One optimist. One love story. Award-winning author Susin Nielsen's irresistible novel is both heartrending and laugh-out-loud funny. 
One minute, I would be laughing because Petula was hilarious, but then I would be crying because it was so tragic, it was all so tragic. The pain was so raw and real. Nielsen did such a fantastic job depicting this broken, grieving family. Petula would often compare the before family to the now family, and it just broke my heart into pieces.
We moved into Arcadia. Just the three of us and our invisible zeppelin of grief.
The heart of this story was Petula and her band of teen misfits. As part of her penance for some heinous acts, Petula had to attend an art therapy group. This group was filled with some interesting and colorful characters. It was not surprising that Nielsen did a great job portraying the flawed teens knowing her background as a writer for Degrassi Junior High. This group was so delightful and authentic, and I enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them.

"Jacob resuscitated you," said Koula.
The love story was quite sweet. It unfolded slowly, and I smiled a lot. As the connection between Tula and Jacob grew,  Petula began to heal, and she began to resemble her former self.

Other things to love:
  1. Catadaptions!
  2. Crafting (I wish I had such skills)
  3. Petula and her mother are readers, and there is a lot of fun bookish stuff in this book
  4. The principal (he really did put the "pal" in principal)
  5. Where the Wild Things Are (*tears*)
Maybe catadaptions looks like this

Overall: A beautiful story of love and healing, of overcoming great losses and being able to be open to new beginnings. 

**I would like to thank Wendy Lamb Books for the advanced copy of this book








Do you have any phobias?
Let us know in the comments!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday: Eliza and Her Monsters

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia.

Eliza and Her Monsters
Francesca Zappia
Release Date: May 30,  2017
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Waited on by: Sam

In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, anonymous creator of the wildly popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community, and has no desire to try.

Then Wallace Warland, Monstrous Sea's biggest fanfiction writer, transfers to her school. Wallace thinks Eliza is just another fan, and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart.

With illustrations from Eliza’s webcomic, as well as screenshots from Eliza’s online forums and snippets of Wallace's fanfiction, this uniquely formatted book will appeal to fans of Noelle Stevenson’s Nimona and Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl.




First and foremost, I want to bask in the glory that is the cover of this book.


I was definitely attracted to this book because of the amazing cover. I saw it and I had to know more about it. Then, I saw who wrote the book. Zappia's last book, Made You Up , is such an incredible book, I only had high hopes for this one. Finally, I read the synopsis, and I was all in. 

A shy outsider, who finds her voice online, suddenly finds her two worlds colliding. This can be an epic masterpiece if done well, and I trust Zappia to bring this premise to its fullest potential. And, well, monsters and mixed formats are some of my favorite things. 


What are you waiting on?
Let us know in the comments!

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Here at We Live and Breathe Books, two of us choose five books each week. This weeks topic is...

Favorite Romances!
Happy Valentine's Day from WLABB, and in honor of this holiday, I am happy to share some of my favorite romance books. I am a unapologetic romance reader. I looked on my Goodreads "read" shelf, and I have over 500 books classified as romance. It was so hard selecting books for this list, but I tried to pick a mix of well loved and less appreciated book. I hope you like my picks. 

Favorite YA Romances


Champion
Marie Lu
Series: Legend, #3
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile 

By the time I read this, the third and last book in the series, I was wholly onboard this ship. June and Day had this amazing and epic love, but there were so many things keeping them apart. The ending was tough, but beautiful and so meaningful to me. I thought it was an interesting way for Lu to show how real and true their love was. *sniffle, sniffle* Getting a little misty just thinking about the ending.

We Are Still Tornadoes
Michael Kun and Susan Mullen
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads 

This is the third time I am mentioning this book, and I will aver my love for Tornadoes and shout it from the mountain tops. I actually stumbled upon this book. I had gone to a bloggers event and this was one of the ARCs left on the table. It was blurbed by Susan Elizabeth Philips and set in the 80s, so I was in. Best. Decision. This is a friends to lovers story told via letters between Scott and Catherine, and I swear, my heart exploded over and over again. Sweet, funny, charming, heartwarming, smile-inducing -- I don't have enough adjectives to express my love.

Love and Other Unknown Variables
Shannon L. Alexander
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Goodreads

I cried happy and sad tears reading this one. This is not the HEA romance that I typically go for, and it was sort of sad, but there was so much beauty in the sadness. I laughed, I cried, I raged against the universe, but I finished this book with a full and happy heart.

Tell Me Three Things
Julie Buxbaum
Publisher: Random House
Goodreads

I was so lucky to get a copy of this at YallFest 2015, because this ended up being one of my favorites. This book falls into the "warm and fuzzy" category for me. It was like a warm blanket on a cold day, and I loved every second of it. Wonderful story + great characters = a happy heart. (I went on to read Buxbaum's adult books, and they were fantastic as well)

This is What Happy Looks Like
Jennifer E. Smith
Series: This is What Happy Looks Like, #1
Publisher: Headline
Goodreads

This starts with a fun premise, an online friendship forged between a small town girl and a movie star via an accidental email. From there, the fun just keeps coming. I have a soft spot for JES, as she knows how to write the type of romances that are adorable and cute and keep a smile on my face from beginning to end. I never wanted this one to end.

Honorable Mentions
There are so many authors that have gifted me with special books that have touched my heart. 
Sarah Dessen
Kasie West
Morgan Matson
Abbi Glines
Katie McGarry

Favorite NA/Adult Romances



Bittersweet
Sarina Bowen
Series:True North, #1
Publisher: Rennie Road Books
Goodreads

I really loved the Gravity and Ivy Years, so I went into this series a solid Bowen fan, but still a little skeptical of this book. A hero who's a farmer? That's, uh, different. But you know what? It was fabulous! This is a second chance romance set in beautiful Vermont with great MCs surrounded by a wonderful and loving family, and FOOD! Lots of food. I was so happy out on the Shipley's farm, and the love just continued in book 2. I hope Bowen will add more books to this series, because I don't want to leave VT.

Flat-Out Love
Jessica Park
Series: Flat-Out Love
Publisher: Self published
Goodreads

This was a romance, but it was also a story of a broken family. A family that was so entrenched in their denial, and were functioning at a bare minimum level. This added that layer of drama and emotion that just pulled me in. But all these feels were ok, because Park balanced it out with fun light-hearted moments. The companion books in this series were also wonderful, with Flat-Out Matt filling in some of the gaps in this book.

Neanderthal Seeks Human
Penny Reid
Series: Knitting in the City, #1
Publisher: Caped Publishing
Goodreads

Reid is one of my go-tos for rom-coms, and this is Penny Reid doing what Penny Reid does well. She creates sweet, endearing romances that are filled with whip-smart characters that are hilarious. For the love of Thor! How could you not fall in love with both Quinn and Janie? Janie is so odd and quirky, but so smart and honest. Her awkwardness is what makes her so special and unique, and she won the heart of Quinn - Sir McHotPants, who makes her proclaim such phrases as "It was as if a unicorn had appeared beneath a double rainbow and started tap dancing." *Huge smile*

Rome
Jay Crownover
Series: Marked, #3
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Goodreads

I am a HUGE Crownover fan. The Marked series was my gateway into her world, and I will read every book she writes. This series focuses on a group of tattooed men, who are connected through friendship, family, and the shop. I loved all the Marked books, but this one was, and still is, my favorite. The romance is between Cora, the pink-haired pixie who manages the shop, and Rome, who is slightly adrift after being forced out of the service due to an injury. I re-read my comments on GoodReads, and it was apparent that I loved the high drama in this book, and the MCs. I especially loved Rome, and found that Crownover gave him some of the most beautiful dialogue, internal and external, of all the Marked Men. I sighed, I swooned, I fanned myself.

Landline
Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Goodreads

Rainbow Rowell does such a good job of crafting amazing and interesting characters, and she did so, once again with Landline. This is a beautiful story of two REAL people in love, who have to juggle real life along with maintaining the romance. It's a story of woman falling back in love with her husband, and that concept just hit me right in the feels. This book usurped Attachments as my favorite RR book, and that is saying a lot.


Honorable Mentions
Again, I feel as though I could not show my love for some of my favorite romance writers: 
Jay McLean - Where the Road Takes Me
Cora Carmack - Rusk University series
Gayle Forman - Just One Year
Jill Shalvis - all her books



What are some of your favorite romances?
Let us know in the comments!
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