December 2016 Monthly Wrap Up PART 2

Another amazing month, with lots of great reads!  Check out my December Wrap Up....PART 2

December 2016 Reading Stats: I read 15 books this month

Goodreads Rating System:

5 Star-It was Amazing

4 Star-Really Liked It

3 Star-Liked It

2 Star-It was Ok

1 Star-Did not like It

My Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Hardcover
Photo Source: Goodreads

My Thoughts:
** spoiler alert ** "She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph."

I am not a huge fan of this series like everyone else, but I do love some of the characters. Since I was on book 4, I am invested enough to want to know what happens to them more than anything. Again, there was so much about this that I think could have wrapped up quickly. I found myself having a hard time getting through this (like the others) until the last 100 to 150 pages.

My favorite part and what brought me to tears was was Dorian was fighting to free himself from the demon. I literally cried like a baby. Then he and Aelin took hands and it was beautiful! These are the moments that make me want to rate this higher and really make me want to finish the series.
I also love the spin with Manon in this book! It was not a surprise and I hope she continued to break free from her grandmother.

I will continue since I am so far in already and since I need to know what happens. However; I still think most of what has happened could have happened in two or so books.

My Rating: 1 Stars
Format: Kindle
Photo Source: Goodreads

My Thoughts:
I was sent this ARC in regards to an honest review, and honest I am going to be. I know most others have rated this 4/5 stars, but I just cannot. I was really excited to read this, as it was mentioned if you were a fan of Elle Kennedy (Erin Watt) you would love it. Well, this is way to similar to Paper Princess and I just could not enjoy it. I could not even finish it as the more similarities I noted, the more I was just getting mad.

This starts off with a teenage girl, Faye, who has lost both of her parents. She finds out she has an Uncle who she will be forced to go live with. And, of course, it is a rich Uncle (In Paper Princess it was not an uncle, but a family friend). This man also has 7 sons. You will find right off the bat, this reads exactly like PP.

As soon as Faye gets to the home, she is met by Kyler who lets her know he does not want her there. He tells her stay away from him and his brothers (exactly like in PP). Faye is instantly attracted to Kyler. However; at least in PP the main characters were not actually related. This is a romance about cousins and it is just weird.

Even the brothers portray similarities to those in PP. You have a few in HS and some off in college. You have triplets instead of the twins. Kelvin starts off like Ethan in which he is just a smug and funny character who makes sexual comments about everything.

No, I did not finish this since I just could not get past all of this. Same plot (of course with a few different aspects) and same character roles as PP. Maybe if I never read that I would enjoy this. Maybe if I kept reading I would find these books to be totally different, but the first 20% was just too much for me to continue. I am disappointed as I have heard great things about Siobhan Davis and her work. Maybe I will try something else.

My Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Paperback
Photo Source: Goodreads

My Thoughts:
Why does it have to be over? I read in the back that Elle Kennedy is working on a spin off and I need to know more! Like right now! When??????

This was not my favorite of the books, but I still loved it. This book is actually happening parallel to The Score. So, some of the events you get to relive that happened in the 3rd book. This starts off when Tuck and Sabrina meet and how their relationship evolved.

I am a huge fan of this series! It has turned me into a huge Elle Kennedy fan and I need more!

My Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Hardback
Photo Source: Goodreads

My Thoughts:
"I'm pretty sure I see you because I love you...as in I see you, Libby, as in all of you, as in everything last amazing thing."

First off, this book is beautiful. Not only is the cover beautiful, the actual book underneath the book sleeve is beautiful. This gets 5 stars from me in regards to the designs. They did a great job!

The very first page starts off with a letter from Jack. I was hooked right from this letter and I wanted to read more.

I loved the ending! I am a larger girl, and I am glad to see when books and movies show that even "fat" people can have happy endings. I never really dealt with much teasing growing up. Of course, there was some, but overall I was a pretty popular teenager who never had any issues with love interests. I am glad this was based on some true events. However; I did feel this was pretty juvenile. The first half of the book made me think I was reading about middle school aged children and not kids in high school (especially junior or seniors). I also did not feel connected to the characters right away. I found myself skipping some of the chapters to just get on with it.

Overall, I think was a decent read and makes me want to read something else from Jennifer Niven.

My Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Paperback
Photo Source: Goodreads

My Thoughts:
I felt a reading slump coming on, so I knew I had to reach for a book by one of my favorite authors! So, I decided it was a good time to pick up a JLA book. I was not disappointed.

I started this last night and I found myself finishing it last night. When I looked at the clock it was 2 in the morning. So beware, if you start this, you will not want to put it down.

This is about Syd and Kyler, two college friends who have been best friends since they were little. They are both trying to figure out their feelings for each other (everyone else can see it, but they still have not). However; this is not just another "I love my best friend and they do not know" plot. There are some twists and turns along the way that will hook you in even more.

If you like romance and a little bit of thrill, then you need to read this. I loved it!

My Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Paperback
Photo Source: Goodreads

My Thoughts:
"I started this in October on my Kindle, and I only read a few chapters and I put it away. I ended up buying the illustrated copy and finished it today. I highly recommend reading the illustrated copy, as it just brings so much of the book to life.

I really connected with this book, as I had a sick father growing up. I had to face some of the same demons in which I had to watch my father slowly dying in front of me. That is is the main reason I loved this book. It does a good job showing a son fighting the battle of emotions that comes along with losing a parent. Who would think one sentence could make you a crying fool, but it did. The words, "but I do not want you to go" did me in. I remember not wanting my father to go, but praying for his pain and my families pain to end. It is a very real moment when faced with these issues.

Now, why only three stars then? I just felt most of the book lacked the emotions I was looking for. I think most of the school scenes could have went without. I also feel the stories were only ok, up until the 4th, of course. I again, felt like I was skipping through this to get to the moments with the actual characters.

Overall, I am glad I read this, but I only loved certain parts (do not shoot me).

My Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Paperback
Photo Source: Goodreads

My Thoughts:
I am a little conflicted on how I feel about this book and how I want to rate it. I actually really loved the plot and back story. The writing is great and you can get lost in Elle Kennedys writing alone.

Like I mentioned, I loved the actual story line. Honestly, if you took out the sex scenes, I would probably give this 5 stars. I think the pacing was great and I really got lost in everything going on and wanting to know what was going to happen. I loved the parts with Hudson and Con when they were not having sex or involving others in their sexual relationship. I like the parts when you are learning about each of the characters including their pasts. I liked when Con showed his softer side. I did not like the dominating side.

I do not like the relationship in the first half of the book. I loved the second half much more. It seemed almost abusive to a girl who is lost and trying to find herself. Hudson was so overwhelmed with everything new to this world, she caved to sexual desires of hooking up with anyone at anytime. I don't know...the first half felt like Hudson was like a sex slave to whoever Con wants.

I did not like those parts or when Rylan was involved with Hudson and Con. I actually really liked Rylan and his relationship with Hudson. I liked the development of the friendship with Hudson and all the men and wish the sexual relationship parts excluded Rylan.

Overall, I still really enjoyed this and plan to continue with the series. I am still conflicted on my rating since my main issue was the sex scenes only. Everything else I really loved.

My Rating: 2 Stars
Format: Paperback
Photo Source: Goodreads

My Thoughts:
The Perfect Play...How about the perfect man? Even with all the faults, I really did love Mick.
The cover is perfect and drew me in. I actually bought the first three books in the series since they were on sale because of the covers. I was hoping they would be similar to The Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy.

This was my first Jaci Burton read, and I thought it was only ok. The writing was not my favorite, the book did not seem edited as there was a ton of grammatical errors. They started to get a little bit distracting.
I also found the story to be pretty boring. I know there was issues with alcohol and past child abuse thrown in, but this was only really a quick conversation and it was over. It really did not bring much to the story at all.

Some things were too repetitive and Tara apologizing non-stop was overdone. I found myself skipping over everything and only reading the actual dialogue between the characters. I just did not love it.

I will read the next book, but it is not something I am dying to grab for right away. Kinda disappointed.

Check out part 2...Coming Soon!

Let me know what you are reading down below as I am always looking for new recommendations.

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