For Emery (For You #4) by J. Nathan

* * * 1/2

A STANDALONE New Adult Sports Romance in the For You series. Each book follows a new couple.

Emery
I’ve loved Jordan Grady since I was eight.
Since he became my protector.
Since he became my safe haven each night.
But I was younger.
Off limits...
Until high school when he finally kissed me.
And for a few fleeting moments, everything was right in the world.
Then I was forced to do the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do...
Disappear from his life without a trace.

Grady
I’m Alabama’s star right tackle—and a real prick.
I live my life by a few solid truths.
Life isn’t fair.
Don’t let anyone get too close.
And those who claim to care about you can up and leave.
But you know what they say about things that disappear...
But Emery Pruitt had never been mine.
Even if she had returned after four years.
Older.
Confident.
And more beautiful than the night she vanished.
But it didn’t erase the fact that she’d left me.
So, why find me now? 

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


Whenever I've read one of J. Nathan's books I've always enjoyed it. I see her as including just enough angst without being too overwhelming which is just the right combination for me.

For Emery is a story about the ultimate kind of friendship that's forged from the earliest and most influential years in a young child's life. Grady first meets Emery when her family moves in next door. Unfortunately, Emery's family life is a mess and she finds solace in hanging out in Grady's bedroom. He makes her feel safe and protected, and maybe it's hero worship that makes her declare that they'll be boyfriend and girlfriend, and even marry one day. Grady doesn't take her too seriously as far as that's concerned since she's a few years younger than him, but it doesn't change how deeply he cares about her and wishes he could fix everything for her. She disappears from his life abruptly and doesn't hear from her again until she shows up at as a freshman at college where he's a star on the football team. Seeing her again is a complete shock and brings up many years worth of pent up bitterness. Still, he's not letting her out of his sight. Now they just have to learn how to become friends all over again.

Be warned that this story involves domestic violence and Grady has some anger issues as well. Grady's behaviour feels a bit off to me only because the Grady in the younger years is extremely kind and protective, whereas the college-age Grady can be a jerk. It is inferred that Emery's disappearance is the cause of the shift in his attitude but I felt still felt as if I was missing something there.

This was an engaging but tough read because of the subject matter, and it's hard not to be overcome by some of the details. They're not terribly graphic, it's more the fear that Emery has lived with for so long and how she must be careful to protect herself. The upside is that two people who thought they'd lost the most meaningful connection to another person they've ever had, find each other again. And it's no an exaggeration to say that their friendship is a lifesaver. J. Nathan tells a good story and I recommend this one if you're up for it.

~ Bel

Frat Girl by Kiley Roache

* * * *

For Cassandra Davis, the F-word is fraternity—specifically Delta Tau Chi, a house on probation and on the verge of being banned from campus. Accused of offensive, sexist behavior, they have one year to clean up their act. For the DTC brothers, the F-word is feminist—the type of person who writes articles in the school paper about why they should lose their home.

With one shot at a scholarship to attend the university of her dreams, Cassie pitches a research project: to pledge Delta Tau Chi and provide proof of their misogynistic behavior. They’re frat boys. She knows exactly what to expect once she gets there. Exposing them should be a piece of cake.

But the boys of Delta Tau Chi have their own agenda, and fellow pledge Jordan Louis is certainly more than the tank top wearing “bro” Cassie expected to find. With her heart and her future tangled in the web of her own making, Cassie is forced to realize that the F-word might not be as simple as she thought after all.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


Now, it's been a few years since I was in college and the college I went to didn't have fraternities or sororities so I've never got the allure of them. However, the title to Kiley Roache's debut had me doing a double-take. That her heroine, a self-professed feminist was willing to go undercover and pledge for a fraternity had me simultaneously going, "You crazy, girl!" and "Please be careful!" Yeah, I just had to read this one.

Cassie comes up with this research idea because she needs to win a scholarship to attend the school of her dreams. Her interest in gender studies and her defiance of gender stereotypes makes joining a frat the perfect opportunity to study several issues. What she doesn't bank on though is how much her experience within the frat would challenge her initial thoughts about Greek life and affect her findings.

The research process doesn't go as smoothly as she hopes since she has to work in secrecy. Therefore, no one can know what she's up to and some of her actions tend to rub some new friends the wrong way. While she's hoping to get inside the frat house culture, some folks think she's either hurting women's causes or doing this as some kind of attention-getting stunt. Dealing with the skepticism and negative fallout make this an isolating experience though she manages to keep her chin up. And the surprise is that despite some rough patches, she does end up befriending a few of the guys in the frat and through their interactions she gains a different perspective on the issues she's trying to bring to light. The funniest, laugh-out-loud moment comes when Cassie conducts a sex-ed lesson to the frat brothers. Holy cow, I could not stop laughing! It makes you realize how much misinformation is out there so kudos to Cassie for taking that on. 

I thought Frat Girl was entertaining  with Cassie being a delightful character whose strength is shown through her confidence and her conviction to see something through to the end. It does attempt to tackle some of the currently relevant issues - perceptions about men's sexuality vs women's sexuality, misconceptions about feminism, bullying and hazing - just to name a few, but holds back from delving too deep, otherwise the tone of the book would be completely different. If anything it serves up several talking points for continued thought and discussion which I sincerely hope it does. I also can't wait to read more from Kiley Roache in the future!

~ Bel

I'm so happy to share an interview that Kiley graciously did with us. Keep an eye out for more good things to come from this talented young writer!

Photo source: kileyroache.com

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Congratulations on FRAT GIRL! You’re a rock star to write and publish a book while still at university. How long had the idea been simmering in your mind?

Thank you so much! I wrote the first draft of the book after my freshman year of college. Although I did not personally join a frat, the emotional truth of the book was inspired by the things I felt and experienced throughout my freshman year. The idea first sparked when one of my friends bet me $50 to go with them to fraternity rush. For weeks after that conversation, I wondered what this experience would be like—for the first woman to join such an organization. I thought it might crystalize a lot of the experiences that my friends and I had our freshman year.

After writing countless articles for the likes of Huffpost, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mash, just to name a few, what was the transition to writing a book like? How did it change your writing approach?

Well, I had been writing “books”—50 page Microsoft Word documents on my pink laptop—since the seventh grade, even before I worked as a reporter. So writing fiction has been in my life for a while. However, there were definitely unique challenges to writing a full novel for the first time.  It is easy to be excited about an idea at the beginning, but to make sure that premise and that character are well developed enough that they can take you through an entire story with a satisfying end, is definitely a different kind of challenge. However, I found that when it did come together, it was quite magical. I wrote the first manuscript I ever completed while I was in high school, and I often ended up writing well into the night, until 2 or 3 am, after doing homework until midnight. It was hard work for sure, but it was also one of the most rewarding experiences.

In the book, Cassie joins the frat in order to study the culture of sexism and misogyny up close. She steps into it with definite views but periodically finds those views challenged, demonstrating that it’s not as clear cut as initially thought. Is that how you felt as you developed the story?

I think that throughout the process, I wanted the characters to meet people who challenged each other’s views. For young men like Duncan, Bambi, Jordan and Peter this means understanding the perspectives of women, and how they might experience fraternity houses, campus, and the world differently. For Cassie, her fundamental belief in feminism, in equality among the sexes, remains steadfast. She does however, encounter women who define what feminism looks like in a different way than she does, which challenges the details, but not the core, of her views. I definitely think this mirrored my experience during college, as I lived in dorms with people of various perspectives and backgrounds, and saw my own beliefs challenged and further developed through the conversations I had.

Is there a character in FRAT GIRL that you can relate to, and one that you’d like to know better?

In many ways I can relate to Cassie, particularly because my freshman year of college I had a group of friends, the majority of which were men. So a lot of the situations Cassie is in are things I have experienced as well. One of my best guy friends really did run across campus when a boy I was seeing was mean to me. I also relate a lot to Ben or “Bambi” as he is called for much of the book, since I was very focused and serious in high school, and had not really been to a party until college.

One character I’d like to get to know better is Peter. I don’t want to spoil, but there is a lot we learn about Peter at the end, and I’d be curious to explore further how his friendship with Cassie would develop.

How are you going to celebrate your book’s release?

The day of my release I primarily celebrated on the internet, and received so many kind messages from friends and the YA community. A week after the book came out, I had an event right near Stanford’s campus at Kepler’s Books, and a bunch of my friends attended, which was really great.

Okay, now we’re going to have some fun. The Bibliojunkies motto is “books, boys, pie” so with that in mind: 

Which do you prefer: E-reader or a physical book? And is there a book that you had to have on both platforms?

I am definitely am a physical books person, although I have had an e-reader before. I read Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones for the first time on Kindle, and then just had to buy it to complete the set when I read all the other books in the series in paperback. 

One Direction is mentioned in your book a couple of times… so who’s your favourite?

Oh wow that is a great question. I have to say Harry.

And if he showed up at your door, what dessert would he bring for you?

An even better question! I would say chocolate lava cake J.

Waking in Time by Angie Stanton

* * *

Still mourning the loss of her beloved grandmother and shaken by her mysterious, dying request to “find the baby,” Abbi has just arrived at UW Madison for her freshman year. But on her second day, she wakes up to a different world: 1983. That is just the first stop on Abbi’s journey backward through time. Will is a charming college freshman from 1927 who travels forward through time. When Abbi and Will meet in the middle, love adds another complication to their lives. Communicating across time through a buried time capsule, they try to decode the mystery of their travel, find the lost baby, and plead with their champion, a kindly physics professor, to help them find each other again ... even though the professor gets younger each time Abbi meets him. This page-turning story full of romance, twists, and delightful details about campus life then and now will stay with readers long after the book’s satisfying end.


*Source: e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Abbi arrives at her new home for the next four years - UW Madison, a school that her beloved late grandmother went to. She feels strongly connected to her in this place and is glad that she chose to do this. As she's settling in, she receives a mysterious box that belonged to her grandmother and within it, finds a note from her that makes no sense at all. One night she goes to bed and the next morning she wakes up in a different time. Completely disoriented, she attempts to understand what is happening, even going to classes to behave as normally as possible without arousing suspicion. However, it gets more complicated as she keeps travelling further back in time. At some point, she comes to the realization that there's a mystery to solve and that she is somehow connected to it. Finding this connection becomes the goal and with some help, she hopes to solve this mystery and return to her own time.

Stories about time travelling can be tricky. Some can get too science-y and lose your attention while some can be too flippant. At first, the time travel moments reminded me of another novel from over a decade ago except this isn't as convoluted and hard to grasp. I mean that in a good way! The straightforward premise in Waking in Time meant that I could participate in the mystery and the friendships and romance that were developing without feeling like the story was over my head. Because ultimately, you want to enjoy the story, right? I also delighted in Stanton's description of the college campus. I've only ever been to Madison once a long time ago and I got to visit the campus then. It was summertime and the city was so vibrant and the campus simply breathtaking. So when Stanton added a bit of history to it, I was excited. 

I'd like to add that from reading Stanton's books in the past (Royally Lost being one of them), I've noticed that her stories remain relatively chaste and with Will, chivalry is safely intact. Last thing I'd like to add is that at the end of the book, Stanton mentions the story that inspired Waking in Time. It's kind of bittersweet and I like that Staton's spin on it has a happy ending. So there you have it. If you're up for a bit of time travel, romance and a mystery to boot, check out Waking in Time.

~ Bel

Pushing Perfect by Michelle Falkoff

* * * 1/2

A girl’s quest for perfection results in dangerous consequences in this layered, suspenseful YA novel by the author of Playlist for the Dead.

How far would you go to be perfect?

Kara has the perfect life. She gets perfect grades. She never messes up. Until now. Because perfection is an illusion, and Kara has been struggling to maintain it for as long as she can remember. With so much pressure to succeed, it’s hard not to do whatever it takes. 

But when Kara takes a new underground drug to help her ace the SATs, she doesn’t expect to get a text from a blocked sender, telling her to follow a set of mysterious instructions—or risk her dark secret getting out. Soon she finds herself part of a group of teens with secrets of their own, who are all under the thumb of the same anonymous texter. And if they don’t find a way to stop the blackmailer, their perfect futures will go up in flames.

This dark, emotionally resonant contemporary YA novel is perfect for fans of We Were Liars and The Secret History.

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review



Expectations are hard to live up to. Whether they come from our parents, our teachers, friends or worse yet, ourselves, the pressure can feel insurmountable. The expectation to live up to some ideal that has been built up over the years can break any person leading them to make some ill-fated decisions. In Pushing Perfect, "Perfect Kara" who has always been an overachiever, succumbs to the pressure to remain on top.

As the blurb explains, Kara takes a drug that's supposed to help her stay focused during her SATs. Attaining a perfect score is the only option she can see that ensures her future. It's at this point as the stress builds that she starts to question her motives, sifting through which ambitions truly belong to her and which of those belong to her parents. Things take an alarming turn when she is contacted by a stranger who knows her dirty little secret, and who threatens to expose her if she doesn't follow through with their instructions. This is definitely something she ever expected and now she's caught up in some intricate blackmailing scheme that is bigger than just her. Getting out if this is going to be tricky but Kara who is tired of being manipulated has had enough. Time to turn the tables and bring down the bad guy.

Falkoff has included several layers to Kara's narrative going years back to when she first developed insecurities about her looks. She also explores how the penchant for secrecy can influence behaviour, even drastically changing the nature of friendships. If anything, perfection becomes an ugly, almost suffocating entity for Kara and her friends. 

I liked Pushing Perfect a lot. I sympathized with Kara and understood where her insecurities stemmed from. It's sadly apparent how isolated she had become until she starts befriending new people. It was also interesting to see how everyone else gets caught up in projecting that perfect image; even more interesting to see how they respond once their ruses are revealed. 

Once again, Falkoff brings to the pages a glimpse of the teenage life from different angles. The premise at first seems simple but the more you let the storyline sink in, the more you understand the disturbing reality that exists. It has made me wonder about my own dynamics with my kids, especially my freshman, as they work studiously to excel at school. Falkoff amazed me with her debut, Playlist for the Dead and with Pushing Perfect, I feel more of a personal connection as she has given me plenty of food for thought.  

~ Bel

In Ruins (Something More #1) by Danielle Pearl

* * *

She wanted to start again. To be someone---anyone---different . . .

Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.

It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .

Source: e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


My main takeaway from In Ruins is that this is one angsty read. You can feel the immense weight of all the emotional baggage throughout the entirety of the book. I wasn't quite prepared for that, however, I was curious enough about what went down between Carleigh (Carl to her friends) and Tucker to stick with it.

Some of you may know that In Ruins the NA continuation of the series that was introduced originally as YA. I didn't realize that at first, therefore, I was nervous about whether or not it would be a hindrance to my understanding of their history. No need to worry there. Pearl does explain what went on between Carl and Tucker and the big secret that divided them - that is aside from the ongoing lack of communication that took place. Once the backstory is told, all the animosity between them makes perfect sense and why they despise each other. Actually to be clear, it's mostly Tucker. He is just so bitter and unforgiving while Carl is sad and remorseful; she's like a wounded puppy, having resigned herself to the fact that he will hate her forever. That's not to say that she doesn't carry any blame. Still, there's love there on some deep, hidden level which manifests itself into intense hate-sex. Seriously, they go at it like nobody's business but that's not necessarily my thing. Anyway, these two have to figure out how to coexist since they're at the same college and how convenient, in the same class. 

The story had me up until the end thanks to a plot twist I didn't see coming. However, it was probable considering the big secret in Carl's past. I can't put my finger on it but something about it didn't work for me. Regardless, if you have a hankering for an interesting if intensely angsty read filled with lots of melodrama, then this is your book!

~ Bel

Pre-Order THE GOAL (Off-Campus #4) by Elle Kennedy

Hey everyone! It sounds like Elle will be sharing some pretty spectacular news in the coming weeks. In the meantime ... feast your eyes on this holy-hotness-Batman-gorgeous cover for The Goal (Off-Campus #4) that comes out soon! Not a bad way to spend a few minutes on a Friday, huh?

Also, you can find the pre-order links below. You know you want to ;)

   

     

   

 

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

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Wild (The Ivy Chronicles #3) by Sophie Jordan

* * * *

Available November 18, 2014

A good girl goes fabulously bad in the final book in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s sexy New Adult romance series, in which three Ivy League suite-mates seek higher knowledge of just how far they can go.

Months after her boyfriend dumped her, Georgia can still hear the insults he hurled at her. Boring. Predictable. Tame. Tired of feeling bad, she’s ready to change her image, and go a little wild. What better way to prove her ex wrong than a hot night of sexual adventure at the secret campus kink club?

In the shadowy den of the kink club, she unexpectedly runs into Logan Mulvaney, her friend’s little brother. A player extraordinaire too hot for his own good, he may be younger, but the guy is light years ahead when it comes to sexual experience. Now he’s telling her to go home—“good girls” don’t belong here!

Georgia is tired of having others define her. She’s going to teach Logan a lesson he won’t forget—one white hot, mind-wrecking kiss . . . that leads to another . . . and another . . . and. . . . Realizing she’s way in over her head, Georgia runs.

Only Logan won’t let her go. Everywhere she goes he’s there, making her want every inch of him. Making her forget who she is. Who he is. And just how wrong they are for each other.

Oh boy! That Sophie Jordan is a sneaky one. She saved the best, or rather the kinkiest for last. Foreplay hinted at the infamous kink club, Tease gave us a glimpse and now Wild invites us inside.

At the end of Tease, we found out that Georgia and her longtime boyfriend broke up.  Georgia’s seemingly happy and solid relationship was one that her roommates Pepper and Emerson wanted to emulate. Her break-up came as a surprise to her, devastating her.One night she gets fed up of feeling so pathetic and decides to accept an invitation to head over to the kink club to see what it’s all about.  This is more like a dare to herself. She’s tired of being the predictable good girl and she’s looking to shake things up. When she gets there, she realizes she’s in over her head.  She runs in to Logan (believe me, this scene is kind of hot!) who can instantly tell that she is way out of her comfort zone there and promptly escorts her from the premises. Even in Georgia’s very confused state, there’s no denying that there’s some chemistry between them. And as much as she’d like to forget about the fact that she’s lusting after her roommate’s boyfriend’s younger brother, who also happens to be younger than her, Logan won’t let her off that easily. He actively pursues her and every moment they are together, whether it’s a run in or at an actual social gathering, their moments are charged.

Each book in the series has gotten more daring in terms of sexual tension which is rather thrilling. But there’s more to it with Wild. Georgia’s break up and the relentless demands from her mother begin to grate on her. Away from her ex, she’s finally starting to see herself more clearly. She has spent so much of her life living up to everyone else’s expectations that she hasn’t given her own needs a second thought. Wild becomes about Georgia's self-discovery from under the rubble of a failed one-sided relationship and the shift in her relationship with her overbearing mother. It just so happens that there's a new love interest as well. Logan pushes her buttons, bringing excitement to her very calm, scandal-free life. The excitement is a lure but she’s still afraid to take that crucial leap in admitting what she really wants for herself.

As with the other books, it’s nice that all the previous players make appearances. What’s also nice is that Sophie Jordan has consistently allowed her heroines to grow and explore life beyond what they’re used to.  It’s great to see female characters overcome their own fears and not be ashamed to ask for what they want, do what they want and in the end, understand that they deserve happiness.  

So fellow readers, read Wild. If you haven’t tried the series yet, what are you waiting for? Romance, emotional growth and let’s not leave out fantastic sexual tension with really hot guys -- The Ivy Chronicles is one of the best New Adult series out there!

~ Bel

Nantucket Red (Nantucket #2) by Leila Howland

* * * 3/4

Cricket Thompson's lifetime of overachieving has paid off: she's headed to Brown University in the fall, with a spot on the lacrosse team and a scholarship that covers almost everything. Who knew living in the dorm cost money? An Ivy League education seems to mean living at home for the next four years.

When Cricket is offered the chance to earn enough cash to afford a real college experience, she heads back to Nantucket for the summer. But the faraway island challenges Cricket in ways she hadn't anticipated. It's hard to focus on earning money for next year, when she finds her world opening up in entirely new ways-to art, to travel, and, most unexpectedly, to a future completely different from the one she has been working toward her whole life. A friendship blossoms with Ben, the gorgeous surfer and bartender who encourages Cricket to be free, even as she smarts at the pain of seeing Zack, her first love, falling for her worst enemy.

But one night, when Cricket finally lets herself break all her own rules, she realizes she may have ruined her carefully constructed future with one impulsive decision. Cricket must dig deep to fight for her future, discovering that success isn't just about reaching goals, but also about listening to what she's been trying to ignore-her own heart.

I’ll just lay this out there – I simply adore Leila Howland’s Nantucket series. It’s cute, sweet and has enough of those awkward moments that anyone can relate to. It helps too that this is set on one of the most scenic spots around. Nantucket Red was like revisiting a favourite vacation spot.

At the end of Nantucket Blue, Cricket and Jake were just beginning to go public with their relationship while her friendship with Jules was still in tatters. Now she’s back at school trying to come to a truce with Jules so that they can lead their lacrosse team during their senior year. Jules is slowly coming around and while their friendship isn’t quite what it was, it’s better than how the summer went. In the meantime, Cricket and Jake have decided that rather than doing the long distance thing, they’ll go on a break instead. Hello? Have they not seen how that one Friends episode turned out?  You can see where this is going right?

The book continues to give us quick glimpses of Cricket through the school year until graduation when an unexpected opportunity comes her way to be able to live out one of her dreams. This causes her to switch her summer plans to find a job on Nantucket. Jules is happy to have her there whereas things have become extremely uncomfortable with Jake. Add to that, Cricket’s growing attraction to the surfer/musician-by-day-bartender-by-night at her job only confuses her about what she really wants.

Before I go further, I’d like to clarify that Nantucket Red isn’t just about Cricket and Jake. It’s about Cricket and what she still needs to figure out about her future. When she discovers a wish list that Nina (Jules’ mother) had written ages ago, Cricket feels it’s divine intervention telling her that she should explore the world and break out from her strict timeline. Even though she’s on Nantucket, she finds a way to fulfill that wish list, giving it her own twist. It has given her inspiration to look at her once solid plans through new lenses and she even starts to deviate slightly from her path which causes a potentially disastrous consequence. But it does force her to ultimately decide what’s in her best interest and that of her future.

Cricket’s growing up and it was a pleasure to see how she came to her decisions and how she managed to pluck the courage to do so. Graduating from high school is exciting and scary. Overwhelming expectations, especially your own that come from dreams and ideas mapped out for years can be unsettling. Cricket is a genuine sweetheart and she finds her strength with some very supportive friends and family in her corner.

Nantucket Red is just the perfect read for you if you just want something that’s delightful and easygoing. Like I said earlier, it’s adorable and sometimes that’s just what you need.

~ Bel

Easy by Tammara Webber

* * * * *

Rescued by a stranger.

Haunted by a secret.

Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

I cannot express enough how hard I have fallen for this book, so much so that I couldn't bear to tear myself away from it at any time.  And while I have the eBook, I need to own a hard copy because there are some pages I just want to read over and over again.

Easy starts off with Jacqueline a bit lost after being dumped by her boyfriend she’s known since high school.  Realizing how much her social circle depended on him and that she gave up a part of herself to be with him when she followed him to college, she's just a bit bitter, confused and depressed. Who wouldn't be? Two weeks after the break up, as she's leaving a frat party, she is assaulted by a mutual friend. Thankfully, someone comes along and saves her before things go too far. Turns out her rescuer is Lucas who so happens to be in one of the classes she's been avoiding for the past two weeks since her breakup.

Encouraged by her friends to think of Lucas as the perfect rebound material, Jacqueline decides to pursue him. As she finds herself opening up to him, she gets curious about his past and the secrets he's keeping.

Here are the many things I loved about Easy:  I felt that the fallout from Jacqueline’s assault was natural. The fear and guilt she carried with her, her roommate's reaction when she finally told her and how Jacqueline was choosing to deal with it were all valid. Nothing felt out of step that I couldn’t believe in how things were moving along. Webber also set a lovely pace for Jacqueline’s and Lucas’ relationship to develop. They have this quiet, intense chemistry between them. Honestly, some of the passages are so steamy, I was blushing! It's impossible to not fall for Lucas. Even though there was a heavy undercurrent, somehow as these two people were falling in love, earning each other's trust and learning to deal with the traumatic events in their lives, they still managed to have hope.

Perhaps what’s most endearing about Easy is that as the hero, Lucas isn’t content with just being Jacqueline’s savior and protector. He’s determined that she learn to empower herself and face her fear head on. There’s something so sweet about how Lucas treats Jacqueline and how she responds to him. Just look at the cover that so perfectly embodies how he sees her. He never treats her as incompetent or incapable. It's a change of pace from the guy/hero treating the girl as simply inept at fully grasping the complexity of a given situation thereby giving her as little information as possible and getting annoyed with her because she doesn't get the big picture.

Kudos to Tammara Webber for creating this gorgeous piece of work that just effortlessly grabbed me and gave me warm fuzzies. When I finished it, my reaction was much like how I felt about last year's Saving June by Hannah Harrington.  Easy left a glowing smile on my face because out of something so nightmarish, something incredibly beautiful came along.

~ Bel