Duel Review of Rock Chick Reckoning with Bookworm Brandee! We freaking love this series!

5 STARS!! The 6th Rock Chick book gives us the story of brooding hero Mace and bona fide rocker chick Stella, PLUS dual POV's. Man, I love this series. Stella is all about her band, always has been, always will be if you ask anyone. She has the best dog and a heart that just won't mend all the way after what happened with said brooding hero. These two have history, pain, they're terrible at the whole relationship thing, but they can't shake each other. Then bring in a big bad guy bent on taking down the Hot Brigade and everything they love, and you get drama, yelling, angry kisses, cuffs, hot everything, oh and some violence. Man, I love this series! So here's my chat with Brandee, because we have this thing, she lost our Superbowl bet and bought me the first Rock Chick book and we read it together and chatted via email about it. Oh, by the way, my computer is still down. I've pushed my son off his to post this review. What else is a book girl to do?

(Robyn) Thank goodness for Rock Chick! Have I told you besides the life saving aspect of the buddy reads, I feel lucky to get to do this with you.

(Brandee) I'm having trouble swallowing for the lump in my throat. Mace...Robyn he may just know Luke and Hank out. This man - I can't even say right now what it is about him. But he has me melting all over the place. And I'm loving the changing of POVs...are you? I like getting Mace's POV a lot. And I adore Stella. ADORE.HER! Yes, thank goodness for Rock Chick. I'm lucky too, girlie! Meeting you was serendipitous! Rock Chick is the bonus!! ;) And I'm sooo glad we have more KA to move on to.

Okay, I'll email more thoughts on Mace & Stella in the morning. I have the need...the need to read! ;) <-- like my spin on a movie quote?!? I'm a dork...I know! ;)

I laughed at the movie quote, plus you picked the best movie to quote!! I can quote Top Gun until you want to hit me with something. I am LOVING the dual POVs! The first change up I stopped three paragraphs in and started over. "What, can't be. Really? I love you Kristen Ashley!" Mace is a total sweet spot hottie. First off, he messed up with Stella. That makes him not quite the underdog, but something...he has to prove himself to Stella. And I love her too! I love how much she cared/cares about Mace. And I just know you are all about Juno! What an opener, right? So good. 

Okay, I have to put the oldest to bed so I can stay up too late reading. No movie quote for me because I'm lame. 

On to Mace...and Stella. Wow! I so enjoy that KA gave us story arcs over the entirety of the series. (well, thus far) Not only do we get the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch madness, and whatever issues each Rock Chick is carrying around at the moment said madness begins, but we also have the arc of bad Sid. Bad, crazy Sid.

The action in this one has been different - no bar brawls (yet) - and that's one thing that gives it a different feel. I love KA for giving us all the different POVs so we're getting a chance to catch up with the other couples in a more intimate (not that kind of intimate ;) way. The feel in this one is also different because Mace did fuck up with Stella - he admitted it - and he does have to win her back. But she has to work at it too. AND that Mace's life/past is affecting Stella is different too. A life/past she doesn't know too much about. I was with Eric in that I couldn't believe Mace & Stella had been so into each other and not known so many things about the other.

I LOVE Floyd!! Stella has a father-figure in him and that's good because she needs a parent to tell her to get her shit together. I'm also so impressed with the fact that KA can introduce new characters in each book, expanding an already fantastic cast, seamlessly. Getting The Gypsies, Eric, Mace's dad, even the dude that owns the Palladium added in makes the overall story so robust.

Oh and Stella's description of Evergreen and The Little Bear was so spot on. The fight scene in front of The Little Bear was so 'real' - I could see it all happening in my mind with her accurate description of the wood sidewalk and railing and twisty mountain road. :) We are sooo hanging out there next year when you're here! ;)

I don't know how far you are - I've been up since 5 reading! *ha* But...after Brody's interesting diatribe on all the 'links' he found on Mace's dad, I admired the calm that came over Mace. We don't know what's going on in his head (yet) but he's just so cool, calm and collected about it. What do you think about the info reveal about Mace's dad??

Stella was pissing me off - I don't understand - yet - why she is the way she is with the exception of what Mace did to her. And wow, I was fist-pumping over her speech to Mace when that all came out. But anyway, she was pissing me off. Like Shirleen said, is it really so hard to just give in to a Hot Bunch guy?? And then after Stella met with Mace's dad? What did you think about that? That jackass! And what Stella did to Mace after that? Shee-it!!

Oh, I just had a thought...dare I say, an epiphany? Stella and Mace's problems all stem from a lack of communication, no? As we've seen so far, Stella communicates through her music. So maybe she was always communicating - maybe not all the stuff (read: family history) that needed to be said - but her feelings anyway. And maybe Mace just wasn't listening??

Sorry this is mostly me rambling over my thoughts...what are you thinking???

Oh, oh, oh...and yes, I adore Juno. :) It's great that she's so accepting of Mace in her home...just like he belongs there. ;)

You know I can't wait to hit The Little Bear with you! And I'm with Shirleen too, what's so bad about a Hot Bunch guy being into you? Grrh. But I know we both love each Rock Chick enough to care about whatever is keeping her from accepting fate. You are so right about how amazing Kristen Ashley is at creating characters. Look at Smithie, grumpy strip club owner and I get giddy every time he appears because he's so much fun! 

This one has a totally different vibe. There's a lot more relationship tension with Mace messing up. Stella messing up. Outside factors/assholes (Mace's dad) messing them up. Mace is also such a different Hot Bunch guy. He's an Alpha for sure, but he doesn't have the smooth control of the other alphas. He loses his temper and makes mistakes with Stella. She does the same thing back. This is the least composed couple of all time! And I love it. 

Stella's "meet" with Mace's dad was so messed up. I hate him. He's a bad guy and I don't see me ever warming up to him, but KA has a way of softening the edges of her bad guys so she can play mind games with us. Look at Darius and Hector. Mmm, Hector and whatever rich woman who threw him to the side. I want to see Hector's slashed insides before all the mending.

I haven't laughed as much or cried as much, but I'm still just as addicted to the read. I want Mace and Stella to work it out and I don't want anyone hurt. I don't want KA to rip out my heart with someone dying either! 

What do you think about the songs this time around now that we have a Rock Chick who actually plays music?

Oh, oh!!

What did you think of the scene at Fortnum's between the Rock Chicks? If you're not there yet, you'll know it when you get there...

And how much did you love the scene between Roxie and Hank??? *swoon* Again, if you're not there yet, you'll know it when you get there...

I freaking loved the scene at Fortnum's because all that bickering was so much fun. They are not the troop from Strawberry Shortcake (John makes me read the books over and over). They call each other out. I just loved Ally throwing a fit! That was so good! I loved Tod throwing a fit too. And Daisy in the beginning with the donuts. She was so put out and she's hard to ruffle unless you make her car explode.

Swoon is the word for anything Hank-related. That was just right for the two of them. 

I loved watching Ally have her fit, too. Yep, it's gonna be so much fun seeing her fall. And seeing her friends tell her 'I told you so.' And Daisy getting flustered over getting to serve breakfast was hilarious. Yep, you don't take away a Southern woman's right to serve a big Southern breakfast! *haha*

Yeah, Hank still makes me swoon, too. *sigh*

****SPOILER****

I was so pissed at Mace when he whistled for Juno to say goodbye to the dog at the end of that insanely frustrating break up. I was so confused if they were even broken up, and then he said the thing about coming back to get his bags and I wanted to call him a ... rhymes with wussy. AND then he rubs the dog down for his final farewell! Oh man. I know Stella was devastated, and I might have been crying because break ups make me angry and teary, but watching it all from the cheap seats was so frustrating. I totally get Ally flipping out!

I was pissed too. That was a slap in the face plus a gut kick. And you're right, he absolutely was wussin' out. And it was frustrating. I was mad at Mace but I was mad at Stella too. Ugh. I don't know which one I was maddest at. They both screwed up. I was definitely crying at this moment. 

I finished the book! Let me know if you have/when you have. I stopped midway through the epilogue because what the heck! I like a glimpse into the future at the end of a series, not when there are 2 more books. I've decided to return to it after the last book, which I guess will be Ally's book. 

Smithie is awesome! I love the scene where he comes in and scares a certain someone into dropping their agenda. That was righteous, as Ally would say. And Duke works his way further and further into my heart with each book. Geez, what he did for Stella... She thinks she has 'shitty bad luck' but she's managed to gather quite a few men (Duke and Floyd in particular) that are much, much better fathers to her than her biological one. And Tex...he STILL steals the scene whenever he's present. Talk about grumpy. I LOVE him!!

This one does has a different vibe with all the messing up both Mace and Stella do. I like how you said they're the least 'composed' couple so far. That's so true. That scene where Mace is feeling badly for not controlling it - I smiled at Stella throwing his words back at him..."you said you needed to learn to handle me with care. Well, I need to learn the same thing." That was some awesome. These two both have some pretty big demons and maybe Mace didn't officially declare a war on Stella's like she did his, but they're both doing a fine job battling each other's demons. 

Nope, I'm never gonna like Preston Mason either. No way. No how. Not gonna happen. ;) 

Hector...yeah, I'm warming to him alright. *ha* He's funny. I could tell he was feeling it for Stella but he's not like the other Hot Bunch guys. He may have been saying something with his eyes and body language but he never moved in on Stella. I'm quite looking forward to meeting the woman who would toss him. Crazy woman, I say!

I haven't laughed or cried as much with this one either. Although I have kept a lump in my throat. :) KA is simply amazing. I've said it before but I'm always impressed how she can give a different vibe, a different feel with each book. Oh, and she did a tremendous job of keeping all the characters true in this one. With the switch in POV, I was impressed with how she kept their voice the same. <--not the right word, but you understand, right?

And the music....oh the freaking music!! I love having a Rock Chick who is actually a musician. And how she uses her music to communicate her feelings is fabulous! I mean, we also listen to music to suit our moods, right? Stella does too - and she plays it that was as well. I've gone around singing LOTS of Journey. ;) And I think I can hear her voice too. Man, I hope there's a really good band playing at The Little Bear when you're here next year. :) Are you liking the music? I love every single one of the bands/songs that Stella has played. And it's adorable that she believes she and Mace are meant to be together because they listen to the same music. ;)

Did you melt over the keys? That was a swoon-worthy moment when Mace came home. *sigh* 

I'm thrilled both Mace & Stella are putting everything out there. It says a lot about the depth of feelings they have for one another. Stella talks about seeing Mace's walls in his eyes...but he's not the only one who has  protective walls. 

Omigosh! Did you love the scene where Stella has had it with being walked all over? The things she said to George (he's a douche, and I hate that word) and to Preston. I was fist pumping and cheering her on! That was fan-freakin-tastic! By the way, Stella's parents could win 'Worst Parents Ever' but Mace's dad​ would give them a run for their money.

I'm right there with you about Duke. Every book he roots himself deeper and deeper into my heart. Normally I don't enjoy stories where the main couple can't get it together and we have to watch all the drama of them breaking up, making up, and breaking up again, but I fell in love with Mace and Stella so when they pissed me off (equally), I just kept rooting for them to get over themselves. For me this installment is the relationship story. The others had a good mix of mystery, action, and humor, but this one was all about two people who would live the rest of their lives as closed off entities without each other. I loved it when Floyd told her how it was and it took her some time to see the truth for herself and then the mission she went on! You're right, I think Mace had his own mission because he started asking her questions and then he told her he would be there when she called her A-hole mother. What a piece of work! And Preston. When they had that first chat, I was furious. I hate to be called stupid. It seriously pisses me off. I took it personally when he called her that. 

Was there a standout side character for you in this installment? I loved Ally's fit and Hector's presence, but Duke won the show and Tex was just so awesome being Tex. 

Did you read the epilogue? I'm curious what you thought of it. I stopped because it was messing with my vision of the series. Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry series did epilogues that took the reader years into the future even though the next story would happen right after the previous story. I liked that, but KA's made me feel like the series was over, which depressed me. I didn't want a sum up about all the couples. No! I want another mafia mix up and car bomb and kidnapping...uh, you know what I mean. 

Two more, Brandee. And the football season is going to start here pretty soon. We'll have to make another wager or two.

I loved Rock Chick Reckoning. I had to give it 5 stars because I couldn't stop reading it. Seriously, I would put it down for the night after counting how many hours of sleep I could still get only to pick it right back up with a shrug that was so full of it. I knew I'd be a very hostile zombie the next day and I still kept on reading. At the same time, I had a couple issues with this one. I didn't get the whole Sid angle. He was a shadowy figure the entire novel. Couldn't he personally come out of hiding and kidnap someone? That would have made his actions more personal. I've become a bit of a danger addict when it comes to the Rock Chicks. Do you find yourself looking forward to everything going wrong and the Hot Bunch being handed their asses? My other issue was of course the epilogue. Even though I'm a major epilogue girl, can an author give us too much of a good thing? Even with these two itty bitty things, I just freaking adored the story because Mace and Stella were equally terrible at relationships. Oh my goodness, I know you were frustrated with both of them. Did you go back and forth scolding them, or were you able to lay the blame on them equally. Me? I was a tennis match of blame and scoldings. 

What do you want to see most in the last 2 stories? I still want to see a striptease tutorial for the Rock Chicks and I love your earlier request for a Hot Bunch showdown. I wouldn't mind a Hot Bunch guy getting kidnapped and the girls having to charge to his rescue. That would rock the planet. 

That's all I got for now...Hank is still the one. Mace is the shit though. I love that he's an emotional bees' nest. Roxie is still my girl, but Stella's ability to go on a tirade at a moment's notice is a girl after my own heart.

Rock Chick is definitely worth being a hostile zombie! ;)

I agree with you about Sid but I also think that his actions are realistic considering the type person he is. (Like I know so much about was a criminal's behavior would be ;) I'm totally a danger addict thanks to Rock Chick. So I thought the ending kicked ass! Oh, and I still didn't change my mind about Preston. Nope. He did a good deed but it didn't redeem him in my eyes.

I finished the epilogue because...well, I just couldn't help myself. I thought it was interesting placement, myself. It was a little spoilery in my opinion. I discussed this with Sky and she told me there may be a reason for the epilogue that will be revealed in the next two books. Smartie pants! Anyway, I liked it but...

I alternated my scoldings as well. But you know, despite them being equally bad at the relationship thing, I still believe Stella was always talking to Mace through her music. And they'd both made it their mission to heal the other. 

That concert at the wedding...ROCKED! I was crying over Stella singing Still the One to Lee and Indy. It was the perfect song even if it is mushy. And I also noticed - before it was pointed out - that the set list was a happy one. :)

Hmm, what I want to see most in the last 2...let me sleep on that one. I do agree that something happening to one of the Hot Bunch and the girls saving him would be awesome. Tex, of course, had to save himself! We're still doing the tutorial and the showdown, right??? ;)

I was thinking about Eric. We didn't talk about him. I felt kinda bad for him. I know Stella was his job but he really did fall for her. I'd like to see him get a HEA. (I'm a sap, I know)

Oh, you know what'd be cool to see? Shirleen get herself a HOT one! That would make me smile.

You know, I've been giving some serious thought to the Hot Bunch. And I'm thinking Hank, Luke, and Mace all take #1 for me. And all for different reasons. Hank - he really does just make me swoon. So I'm going to withhold stating who my Hot Bunch guy is until we've finished the series. Because I thought Luke knocked Hank out, but I don't know. And then Mace...I think he was so realistic in how he handled Stella and his life in general considering what he'd been through. I adored that he remembered how his mom could heal...... Anyway, I am reserving my final say on the guys until the end. 

But Ava's still my Rock Chick, for sure. There are things about them all that I admire or relate to but she's most like me.

***Spoiler***

What did you think of Jane, the invisible? I thought that was an interesting thing to toss in. And I gotta be honest, I never thought of her. She is invisible. :/

I'm actually a little in love with Eric. Yep. What a guy! He's an honorary Hot Bunch for sure. I cracked up about you talking to Sky about it and her little talk with you. I think KA just got a little epilogue happy and got carried away. I still love her. 

Of course we're still doing our fanfic at the end of the series. How else can we pay homage to the series and feed the hungry book girl beast inside us? I love your idea for Shirleen. Did you ever watch Waiting to Exhale? Total chick flick. I'm thinking Gregory Hines for Shirleen. I think Hector and Ren are going to knock us on our butts. I mean, Hector was undercover. That's intense. And Ren is a bad guy! 

Man, I wish we knew these people! I want to be in line waiting for my fancy coffee as Tex yells at the dumb guy in front of me.

***SPOILER***

I knew it was her because none of the guys gossip in this series. They're too busy chasing Rock Chicks. And May is too smart to be tricked into sharing every single detail. The gay boys would not put up with someone betraying their confidence. They would call an emergency meeting at Indy's to plot revenge. Plus, Jane is a closet romance writer. I loved the spirit behind all the info sharing. And it was so cool that she had favorite couples for the day. I did think for a minute it was the bitch secretary that moved over to Ren's business.

Okay folks, that's all for Rock Chick Reckoning. Any adult contemporary romance (with suspense, heat, and humor) fans out there? What's your favorite? 

Computer Hiatus!

My computer is down for the count. Sadness. So this is a forced timeout from the blogsphere. I will be able to check my email daily. If any of you all want/need to reach out, I'm still here. And on the off chance you're a reviewer and want to read and review one of my books, definitely email me and I'll be happy to gift a copy on over to you. I have a duel review post of Rock Chick Redemption with the lovely Bookworm Brandee coming next week, so I plan to steal my son's computer for that....That's all I got. I was going to post a picture that somehow expressed a weird mix of insane frustration at all things Microsoft and surprising giddiness at returning to actual writing with pen and paper. But the insane frustration won out and so you all got nothing. Sorry. Have a great week!

Baseball, romance, and some much needed therapy!! COYER ARC Review of Perfectly Ernest by E.J. Wesley!

(author provided ARC for honest review)

5 STARS for Perfectly Ernest by E.J. Wesley. Have you ever made such a big mistake you can never take it back, you can never make up for what you did? Ernie's entire life is about to change. He's on the verge of pitching a perfect game that will take his college team to the championships. Maybe some players experience nerves, but not Ernie. He wishes for nerves, instead he drowns in nothingness, in resolve and surrender.

One moment, one choice and he's off the team, he's adrift in a world he never prepared for, the non-baseball playing collegiate world where his mind is calling the shots and doing a piss poor job of it. With the help of an oddball counseling group and a burgeoning romance, it's impossible to do anything but cheer for Ernie to find his way because the guy is plain cool.

I loved Finding Ernest. It's a sports book done right because E.J. gives us baseball inside and out. We feel the stitches on the ball. We feel the calm before the storm as Ernie pitches. I like that no one fully has their shit together (except maybe the groundskeeper). We know something is going on with Ernie. His thoughts are taking him down paths that make the reader want to intervene in the worst way. How I wanted to jump into that game and shake him free. Anyone who has ever messed up in a big way will feel for him. My favorite thing has to be that he's a good guy. Really, I wish I knew him in school, the post-mistake version of him. He loves poetry even though sometimes poetry is not the best thing to read to lift your spirits. He's kind and thoughtful. He'd never think of himself in that light, but it's true. Or maybe my favorite thing about the story is romance that is almost precious for him that it takes him by surprise. I can't forget the misfit self-diagnosing counseling group. The issues and conditions the members have are not half-assed. E.J. gives us a taste of the flip side of normal and he does a wonderful job.

If you're a fan of sports stories, of New Adult, romance, finding your way type stories, coming back from the dark journeys, any of those things, or you just want a story about a cool guy who messes up and has no idea what to do next, I highly recommend Perfectly Ernest.

So here's a cool thing, Amazon has finally given Indie authors a share of the pre-order pie. You can pre-order Perfectly Ernest and the neat thing is that it's only 99 cents through Sept 1st!!! E.J.'s website has a wonderful page all about this awesome book.


(I told E.J. how much I loved the book and asked if he had any good stuff to share on my post, so here are a few treats!)

Perfectly Ernest Excerpt – E.J. Wesley

Neyle tottered over to a far corner of the room and snatched a jar of jellybeans from a shelf. He moved to our circle and chose a spot between Abbey and Baker. After handing the jar to Abbey, he unfolded his seat. He grunted as he straddled the makeshift chair and let his hands rest on the curved top of the cane. He waited as Luther powered down his machine, smiled as Sing checked her watch for the thirtieth time, arched his eyebrows as Baker picked his nose, and furrowed his brow at the way Abbey grimaced over the candy jar like someone had asked to her hold dirty underwear.

He never made eye contact with me.

“I’ll take those back, Abbey dear. Alright, y’all know the drill.”

I considered raising my hand to inform him I had no clue what the drill was—and that I was alive and not a ghost in the room. But he continued before I got the chance.

“Progress report, I’ll start. The good: My physical therapist says I’m making real strides. The bad: I still can’t write with a pen, and my darn right foot doesn’t always do what my left-brain tells it. Laura says she can sympathize with my left-brain, because I don’t always do what she tells me, either.”

He chuckled and grabbed a handful of jellybeans before passing the jar to Baker. Neyle had a slight droop to his mouth that was hard to see under the bushy mustache. Stroke maybe?

Baker tossed back several beans. “Good: Totally made it to all my classes but two last week.” There was a chorus of surprised murmurs. “Bad: I only remember going to Algebra, man.”

Groans rained down. Baker shrugged and snatched another handful of candy. He shoved the jar into my hands. I immediately attempted to hand them over to Luther, but he simply regarded me with wide-eyed incredulity—like I’d used the Holy Water at a Catholic mass to wash my armpits or something.

I watched Neyle. My gut tightened. Did he expect me to participate in confessional on my first night?

He smiled.

“I really don’t know why I’m here—”

Neyle held his hand up. “Maybe start with your name.”

“Right,” I mumbled. “My name is Ernie. I’m a sophomore. I play … I played baseball here at South State.”

I tried to pass the candy off once more. Luther shook his head, so I grabbed a few out of the jar and tried again. He still wouldn’t take the damn thing.

Neyle coughed. “Nice to meet you, Ernie. How about your week? Anything good or bad to report?”

“For real?” I hoped to find some kind of support but only got a toothy grin from Abbey and a frustrated eye roll from Sing for my effort.

“Okay, guess I’ll go bad first since there’s been a lot to choose from lately. I managed to royally piss off my new English teacher. Good…” I scratched at my chin, which was beginning to stubble over for the night. Surely I’d had something worthwhile happen. “They had corn chip chili pies in the cafeteria on Monday?”

“Those are awesome, bro.” Baker leaned forward. “You put that nacho cheese on them?”

Abbey made a dramatic gagging sound. In spite of my annoyed mood, I couldn’t hold back a smile.

I popped a jellybean into my mouth, then handed the jar to Luther and was almost giddy when he took it. I thought I caught the hint of a wink from Neyle.

He relaxed on his seat. “Lex, what was up with you?”

“Bad: Dad is still an asshole. Good: I didn’t actually have to talk to him this week. Next.”

Luther placed the jar near Sing and fished out a handful of candy.

“Whoa, hold up.” Neyle leaned forward. “You didn’t have your mid-week check in with the Sergeant?”

Luther shook his head, making his glasses wobble. “Nah, he and Mom went to Vegas to meet up with some of his Army buddies.”

“That’s progress at least. You must feel like a free man,” Neyle said and laughed.

“Not really. He had Mom inform me that re-charging my meal card would have to wait until he got back, so he could go over my purchases from last month. Apparently, I went a little heavy on the snack bar. Guess he’s decided to starve me out for insubordination.”

“No way,” Baker said.

Sing flinched.

Abbey quit fiddling with her nails.

Would his dad really let him go hungry to teach him a lesson?

Not for the first time in my life, I reminded myself that not having a dad around could actually be a bonus. Especially if he was a shitty dad.

“Do you have enough money to eat until then?” Neyle asked.

“Yeah, I’m cool. I’ve got rations stashed in my dorm for such an emergency. Plus, Mom’ll send me some cash if she can sneak out to a mailbox.”

Neyle’s gaze stayed locked on Luther. “Sing?”

She had arranged six jellybeans into two symmetrical rows in front of her on a piece of seamlessly folded tissue paper. Each candy was a different color—white, green, yellow, black, red, and blue. Judging by how she composed the room earlier before sitting down, she seemed like a girl who had a reason for the order in which she did everything. I couldn’t fathom the meaning of this, though.

“Good: I stopped by the housing office and asked for a roommate request form.”

Neyle grinned. “That’s great, Sing. We’ve talked about you getting a roomy for a couple of semesters now. You know, Laura and I probably wouldn’t be married if it weren’t for Hyena Brown, my old college roommate. He’d eat anything, and we often had to because we were so poor. If I could survive a year with Hyena, I knew Laura’s cooking wouldn’t kill me, either. Don’t tell her I said that. ”

Sing smiled.

“Bet you didn’t even take an application, did you?” Luther asked.

Sing turned on him, teeth bared like a prim-but-very-wild, animal.

“Of course I didn’t. The student secretary bimbo behind the desk was eating cheesy chips and put her gross hands all over it. I asked for an application, not a passport to her personal island of disease and filth.”

Luther laughed.

Neyle crossed his arms over his chest. “You didn’t say that to her, did you?”

Sing fiddled with her candy, not making eye contact with anyone. “That’s actually my bad thing for the week. They threatened to call campus security if I didn’t leave. So I told them I’d gladly go with security—or anyone—with table manners beyond that of the common house rat.”

Neyle sighed. “Well, I can print one up for you I suppose. That leaves you, Abbey.”

She sifted through the candy jar and selected a single, pink bean. She took a tiny nibble and set the other half of the piece on the floor in front of her with a satisfied, and gorgeous, smile.

“Give me a break.” Luther moaned.

She narrowed her eyes. “It’s called portion control.”

“It’s called neurosis, aka why we’re freaking here,” Luther replied.

If a look could gouge eyes out, Luther would’ve been left with an extra set of nostrils in his head. Abbey’s fury didn’t last long, however.

“Good: Becca wanted me to go on this new diet with her, where you eat nothing but green juices for a month.” She stuck her chest out and smoothed her hair. “I said no.”

“Doesn’t take a genius to know you can’t survive off liquids,” Luther said. “I’m not sure that’s a win.”

“Not true, bro,” Baker said, his voice taking on the quality of a wise surfer guru. “I once bet my brother’s friend he couldn’t survive a month living on those diet meal replacement shakes. Gained like twenty-five pounds.”

“Your bad thing?” Neyle asked. An edge of impatience in his voice told me he was trying desperately to usher us beyond the introductory round at this point.

“So, I was at the mall last weekend, and I tried on this ultra-cute top. It had this amazing scalloped lace on the sleeves and a deep neckline. Which I totally adore, because I think my collarbones are my best feature and—”

Neyle cleared his throat, again.

Abbey’s eyes widened.  “Anyway, they only had an extra-small in the mint color I liked. I tried it on and it made my arms look all bulgy. I mean totally like cookie dough covered in plastic wrap. But I bought it anyway.”

“You got the shirt even though you didn’t look good in it?” Sing asked. “Sounds like a good thing coming from University Barbie.”

Had to admit, I was slightly impressed this girl got something that she felt was less than flattering on her.

Abbey stared at the ceiling and crossed her lean arms.  “I figured I could squeeze into it if I made good food choices during the week. So I decided to skip food on Tuesday and Thursday. The top is really cute, though…”

The silence got uncomfortable, quick, and I felt bad for her.

“You skipped a meal on a couple of days. Seems okay to me,” I said.

I scanned the group, not understanding why no one was backing me up. She didn’t need to beat herself up over what I was sure every girl did on occasion. When Neyle retrieved a packet of travel tissues from his shirt pocket as a tear worked its way down Abbey’s cheek, I knew.

I’d misunderstood. She literally didn’t eat anything two full days because she thought a shirt looked funny on her. The true burden of what we were doing settled over me in that moment. These weren’t quirky people. These were sick people. They needed medicine—be it a figurative ointment for the soul or a very real pill for the body—or their disease was going to kill them. And I was one of them.

Mini-review mania! Take Me On, Night Broken, Destined for an Early Grave, and Bayou Moon! Super awesome reads!!

5 STARS!! Holy cow! If you're a fan of YA contemporary romance and you haven't started the Pushing the Limits series, come on. It's so good. Book 4 does not disappoint. In this dual POV (first person, present tense) story, we meet Haley, a former fighter trapped in a succession of not catching a break, and West, a total jerk (from book 3) who rightly beats himself up. After book 3, West was the last person I wanted to get his own book, and a few pages into his POV, I wanted to give him a hug and smack on the back of the head. In a chance encounter, West saves Haley (sort of) and then Haley has to save him back (not sort of). One night and their lives will never be the same. We get to catch up with Rachel and Abby from book 3. Rachel and West's parents are possibly even more upsetting and disappointing in this installment. They need a talking to. I think Mrs. Collins should go over there and have a smiley conversation about how much they suck. Oh, we get a few pages with Mrs. Collins too, the best school counselor/social worker ever. It's a wonderful story filled with angst, mistakes, love, family, and fighting. I already want to read it again.



5 STARS!! The 8th book in the Mercy Thompson series pushes all of my buttons with Adam's ex-wife suddenly showing up needing the protection of the pack. Grrh. Mercy plays the role of the bigger person, while Christy plays the role of Mistress of Getting What She Wants. Like always, there's a mystery to solve, interpersonal relationships to navigate, and pain to endure. Briggs always puts poor Mercy through the ringer! Last installment brought us Adam's POV and I missed his thoughts so much! I hope we get more in the future. If you're a fan of urban fantasy, werewolf stories, alpha males, strong-willed female leads, jump into Mercy's world. It's too good!






Book 4 in the Night Huntress Series starts off with the worst trip to Paris ever. Bones and Cat just want some time away from hunting the monsters of the world, but these two can't catch a break. Cat starts having dreams about a vampire who you just know has to be a bad guy. If Bones hates him, then he's either a bad guy or someone who wants to keep Cat for himself, or both. There wasn't as much humor in this one, in fact there are a couple gut wrenching moments. The action is nonstop so is the fleeing. I felt like there was never a chance to catch my breath and just hang out with some of my favorite characters. Also, I missed Cat working with her uncle and his team. There's some mystery hinted to in this installment in regards to her uncle, which remains a loose thread. As always, there were steamy scenes, laugh out loud moments, and villains worthy of a bloody death. I totally enjoyed it! 4.5 STARS!!




Book 2 in The Edge series by Ilona Andrews is gritty, fantastical, and action packed. Cerise was raised to value family above all else. If she didn't have any power, she'd be a scrapper in a fight, but the girl is a force of magic and swordsmanship. Even the outlaws cast away to the swamplands of The Edge know to fear her. I love that! When her parents go missing, it's up to her to find them, defend land claimed by their enemies, and protect her family. Enter William, a changeling trained to kill since he was a small child. If there's anyone Cerise could use on her side to fight nearly unstoppable forces, it's William. But it's never easy because he has his own agenda. And worse, the two are kindred spirits, they have hate at first sight, but you know how that goes. It goes so good. I loved Bayou Moon. The world building is flawless. The romance is such a slow build, I could not wait for every stolen glance. The battles were gory, just as they should be when swords, magic, and evil are involved. 5 STARS for sure.

When life's kicking your butt, how about a theme song? [8] Movie Soundtracks...Again!

We're in the heart of summer with thoughts of the upcoming school year trying to sneak in and kill the fun, so an awesome blockbuster is exactly what's needed. I've always been a movie girl. My sister and I used to go all the time when we were kids. We had zero taste level so we watched and loved everything. From Red Sonja to every single break-dance movie that came out, summer time was all about waiting for new movies to make it to Guam and getting a ride from our mom to spend the day at the movie theater. 

I thought I'd hit up one of my favorite movies and songs! What a hot movie too! What a Feeling by Irene Cara from Flashdance! If you haven't watched it, but love NA contemporary romance novels, go rent this. Imagine it as a book. Pure awesomeness. Just so you know, I totally want to pick a dozen songs. 

My mom chose King of Wishful Thinking by Go West from Pretty Woman. I freaking love this movie. I don't care what the feminists say. 

My sister chose Coconut by Harry Nilsson from Practical Magic. You know how it goes "Put the lime in the coconut..." It's an "everyone is wasted" kind of song.