Review: Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

*****5 Stars*****

 

 

Allegiant is the final book in the Divergent series and wow what a conclusion.

I'm very sure my partner and children are glad that I've finished reading the series as it consumed me from start to finish, it feels like I've been on an emotional rollercoaster with all the highs and lows.

Tris and Four's relationship is yet again tested so many times throughout the final installment as both characters are seriously on edge due to their current circumstances.

What was different with Allegiant is that it was told in dual pov so we get into Four's head which i totally loved as we get to find out how deep he feels for Tris and all about the decisions he makes, i really felt like i knew him more.

The strength and determination that seeps from every fibre of Tris is totally amazing she is one strong lady.

At this moment Allegiant is still very raw in my mind so it has been a hard review to write actually this whole series has been the hardest books I've ever reviewed but series has utterly and completely consumed me and only one regret is i didn't start it sooner.
So please if you haven't read the series please pick it up you won't regret it.

 

Reviewed by Gemma Curran

 

 

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningliess. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

 

 

Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1RwjdR4
Amazon USA - http://amzn.to/1RvE0L5

 

 

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Review: Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

*****5 Stars*****

 

 

Insurgent carries on days after were Divergent left off and Jeanine (Erudite leader) has discovered a five sided box which can only be opened by a divergent so she wants all the divergents captured.

In Insurgent we see a different side to Tris and Four.
Tris has always been one kickass heroine she has experienced so much pain but she still gets up fighting and never really looses sight of what is important.

Four (Tobias) as we find out is his name after we find out after he is confronted by fractionless is still the same beautiful,secretive and thrilling boy he was in Divergent but he goes through some painful emotional experiences in Insurgent but Tris is there for him every step of the way even if a few times their relationship is tested, this relationship is beautiful, sweet and totally believable and will make you smile and melt but don't get me wrong we have a good share of angst this just makes it more believable.

With Insurgent it felt more personal like i could connect with the characters on a deeper level.

 

Reviewed by Gemma Curran 

 

 

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

 

 

Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1RdXQqH
Amazon USA - http://amzn.to/1RdXS1O

 

 

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Review: Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

*****5 Stars*****

 

 

WOW!!!!

Divergent had me hooked from the very first page, I'm admitting I'm a total newbie when it comes to Dystopian books so I'm happy that this is the series to pop my dystopian cherry, can i also add i had never watched the films until i had read all three books.

Beatrice (Tris) Prior lives in a society governed by factions this society had been divided into five factions, these factions are :
Abnegation - Selfless
Amity - Peaceful
Candor - Honest
Dauntless - Brave
Erudite - Intellectual

Once Beatrice reaches sixteen years old she must choose a faction to be in for the rest of her life before this happens she undergoes a psychological test, this test is to see which faction she would be better suited, although they are allowed to choose their own faction at the Choosing Ceremony.
Beatrice was born into Abnegation but will she choose to stay there or venture into another faction?

Divergent is extremely well written, well thought out storyline and the characters pull you in and make you feel like you are also on this amazing journey with them.

 

Reviewed by Gemma Curran

 

 

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

 

 

Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1Rwjune
Amazon USA - http://amzn.to/1Rg2Xo4

 

 

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Review: Hard Candy (Bend or Break #7) by Amy Jo Cousins

*****5 Stars*****

 

 

I think this is my new favourite book in this series and I really didn’t expect to be saying that. This novella very much accompanies the previous novella which are both available together in one book.
I wasn’t expecting to like uptight Vinnie or Vincent as I now know him as much as I did in this book, his stiff conservative personality and image were blown right out of the water by the fabulous and flamboyant Bryan. I lo...ved the opening to this book, seeing Vinnie in a way I never expected after he has reacted to Austin finding love elsewhere by going out on a drunken bender and waking up in a strange room to the lip gloss wearing Bryan.
Vinnie reacts in the way we’d expect initially but he can’t get Bryan out of his mind and so decides to see where things go. I loved that though Bryan on the surface could be overly camp his character was really quite guarded and you realise why most of it is a defence he still stood proud. I wasn’t sure how these total opposites were going to mesh together but it worked perfectly in the end though they definitely had issues to work through along the way.
I was happy to see Vinnie and Austin work at salvaging their friendship along with the rowing team coming together to stand up for Vinnie and Bryan. And again happy that this book though it does deal with some tough issues does so in a way that always makes it about the characters.
I have loved this series and will be sad to see it end as I believe this to be the last in the series.

 

Reviewed by Vikki Ryan

 

 

How to get over someone? Get under someone else—as soon as possible.

Vincent Lim always assumed his best friend (and occasional hookup) Austin would be waiting for him—that eventually they’d end up together. But now that Austin’s in love with another man, Vinnie is at a loss.

After the world’s most awkward one-night stand with a dance major, Vinnie knows the drill. Minimize the embarrassment by pretending they’ve never met. Yet Bryan’s vibrant spirit and calm center lure Vinnie like a shelter from an emotional storm.

But Vinnie’s thrown off his game by the rest of Bryan’s total package. Vinnie’s a rowing jock with a single-minded focus on living up to his parents’ academic and social expectations. Bryan might as well be outfitted with glittery butterfly wings—with plenty of pride to match. Vinnie’s haphazard attention to a lover won’t cut it this time.

Physically, they can match each other stroke for booty pop. But for the lovers to meet on common ground, they’ll have to find a way to get moving in the same direction.

Warning: Contains one uptight rower, a dancer who can rock a skirt like nobody’s business, yoga lessons, and the benefits of being very bendy.

 

 

Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1U4kvt8
Amazon USA - http://amzn.to/1pwOWeo

 

 

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Review: Love Me Like a Rock (Bend or Break #6) by Amy Jo Cousins

****4 Stars****

 

 

This book is part of the Bend or Break series but you do not have to have read the previous books to fully enjoy this novella as each book stands well on its own.
I loved the glimpse of Austin and Vinnie we saw in the previous book in this series especially their snarky remarks between them so I was looking forward to seeing a book involving them both but this isn’t what I expected but I loved that it wasn’t as ...Sean is lovely.
Austin and Vinnie are long term best friends that hook up now and then but it’s always been on Vinnie’s terms and now Austin wants more from a relationship; so when the nude model in his drawing class catches more than his artistic eye Austin is ready to see where things lead. I loved the attraction between them and that they acted on it fast without all the angst and messing around.
I have read this series from the beginning and enjoyed each book but have to say the last two fell a little short of the mark for me as they at times seemed a little soap boxy in the way issues were handled so I loved that this novella purely concentrated on the issues surrounding the relationship between Austin and Sean and in turn Vinnie. I did feel a little sorry for Vinnie but I couldn’t fault Austin for going for the more that he needed just that he didn’t open up to Vinnie more first. My favourite part of this book was the geology class camping trip that Austin accompanies Sean on, I think this is where we got to know Sean more along with Austin.
I am now looking forward to seeing how Vinnie copes now that he has lost the sure thing with Austin and hope their friendship survives.

 

Reviewed by Vikki Ryan

 

 

In art and in love, it s the rough edges that make things interesting.

Having grown up with artistic implements always in hand, there's almost nothing Austin can't make real. Except for one thing—an official relationship with his best friend, rowing teammate and occasional hookup, Vinnie.

The combination of emotional and sexual frustration fuels a spark between Austin and the nude model in his drawing class. Austin isn't used to having trouble focusing; models are merely challenging subjects to be rendered on paper. But the geology TA's direct blue gaze is powerful enough to drag Austin's focus away from his physique.

After a quick and very dirty post-class encounter, all the reasons that Austin has been waiting for his best friend go fuzzy in his mind. Sean is nothing like Vinnie. Sean is persistent, pays attention, and makes it clear he wants to be together.

But if Austin can't get his head and his heart on the same page, he could lose his friend, or his lover. Or both.

Warning: Contains rock geeks, tent sex, a dictatorial cox whose idea of a good time is drawing naked dudes, plus one naked dude who wants to be more than a good time.

 

 

Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1ZnDRJl
Amazon USA - http://amzn.to/22tu9KE

 

 

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Review: Collared by Nicole Williams

*****5 Stars*****

 

 

I think I have a new saying in life to help make my future decisions in life seem easier. As Torrin would say - Try Again, Fail Again, Fail Better. I am trying to write this review but it's difficult since I have for once in my life been rendered speechless.
This is not a normal love story, this is not a happy story and it certainly isn't a funny story. The jist of the story is in the blurb so no need to expand on that so I will get straight to the point. A story about Jade being kidnapped and found 10 years later, not found by just anyone though but by Torrin, The boy who became a man as the girl she was became a woman. The one person who never stopped looking for her in the 10 years she was missing, the one person who never gave up and the one person who never stopped loving her despite what he had become.
How does kidnap impact someone who survives it, how does life work when freedom is granted and how does someone who has gone through all that deal with the aftermath. In this book you get to know what Jade went through, her thoughts, her feelings and how mentally broken she really is and what it was like stepping back into a world where almost everyone else around her had moved on whilst time had stood still for her. This book will take you through the all feels and will break you down bit by bit. Nicole Williams has outdone herself with this book and a lot of hearts will be smashed into a million tiny little pieces with the feelings this book will provoke. The only grumble I have is that I need more answers to the million thoughts and feelings running through me right now.

 

Reviewed by Claire Lamb

 

 

When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes,
A community is shaken.
Parents turn desperate.
Friends hold vigils.
And the boy who loves her searches.

When a year goes by,
The community is recovering.
Parents feel hopeless.
Friends feel helpless.
And the boy who loves her continues his search.

When ten years go by,
The community has forgotten.
Parents cling to the past.
Friends move toward the future.
And the boy who loves her . . .
Brings her home.

Jade Childs spent ten years in captivity, but now that she’s back, the real battle for survival begins. The media shadows her. Flashbacks haunt her. Her old life evades her. Her so-called new life rejects her. She spent too many years in the dark to recognize the light. She spent too long repressing her feelings to remember how to express them. She spent a decade abandoning hope and cannot dare letting it back into her life. Jade’s not just defined by what happened to her—she’s collared to it.

When the twenty-seven-year-old woman is found,
A community wants to know the story,
Parents want to forget the story,
Friends want to be a part of the story,
And the man who still loves her faces the greatest challenge yet: letting her go.

 

 

Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/22rUfdL
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1VjNusj

 

 

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Review: Pivotal Moments (In Time Series #1) by Trinity Hanrahan

*****5 Stars*****

 

 

Pivotal Moments is the author's debut novel and it was such a refreshing great read. It was very well written with realistic characters and real life situations. I was hooked from the very first word to the very last and I never wanted it to end! I wanted more Teagan and Aislinn!

The novel is told in Aislinn's point of view. She is naive and inexperienced when it comes to boys and doesn't have the best self esteem when it comes to her looks. Aislinn, or Ash, was real and very easy to relate to. Her friends, family, and new boyfriend, Teagan always tell her how beautiful she is both on the inside and on the outside. She has the insecurities, thoughts, and reactions that any 17 year old high school girl would have. I could totally relate to all the things she was experiencing because I remember how it was in high school.

I absolutely loved Teagan! He is so sweet and affectionate towards Aislinn and is always telling her how beautiful and amazing she is. But like any person, he isn't perfect and doesn't try to be. He has quite the playboy past but he is up front with Ash about his lurid past and how he has completely changed for the better. Teagan is a few years older than Ash, a roommate of Ash's older brother Connors from college. They both have vastly different experiences when it comes to relationships. When Teagan has to go back to college after being away on spring break for two weeks, they have to deal with being in a new relationship as well as cope with the distance. This is only one of the hardships that they have to deal with in their new coupledom.

I absolutely loved this book and how refreshing and real it is! I am in serious Teagan and Ash withdrawals! I wish the author would have written in alternating point of views so I could have learned more of Teagan's background and thoughts and feelings on things but I still enjoyed this book very much! I can't wait to see what Trinity has in store for us next!

 

Reviewed by Ashley Ziegler

 

 

A senior in high school, introvert Aislinn Munroe is satisfied living unnoticed...

Aislinn is doing the normal post-high school preparations to get into college. She’s getting ready for a life beyond senior year, and wonders where she’ll fit in to the world once she’s officially an adult. Though her curves are to kill for, she’s also smart and funny. However, she isn’t at all popular, which is just fine with her.

Aislinn’s introverted ways are about to be put to the test...

Content with hiding from the limelight, Aislinn doesn’t get bullied like so many other shy kids do—that is, as long as she keeps to herself. But is she really living the life she’s meant to? Or are there unforeseen adventures waiting to shake up her life in the near future?

When her brother comes home from college, he brings an unexpected houseguest…

Teagan Aldridge is a reformed party animal, ladies’ man, and bad boy. He’s the last person Aislinn thought would ever show her attention. But when Aislinn and Teagan become unlikely friends, he brings out a side of herself she never knew existed. She already knows she’s special, but sexy and adventurous? That’s a first.

Are their personalities too far apart, or will opposites attract, making them an unusual, but influential pair? When their vast differences collide, Aislinn is led to some unexpected…

Pivotal Moments

 

 

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/22vGPxb

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1R7aDN3

 

 

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