This Bookish Endeavor

ARC received 9/19/13

DNF @ 67%

5+++ sweet and beautifully romantic stars!Wow. Rainbow Rowell has hit one out of the park with Fangirl. There were so many things that i loved about this book I don't even know where to start!"What the fuck is 'the fandom'?!"For those of us who not only love to read...and in fact would much rather spend our time in made up worlds then inside our own reality...but have ever found ourselves consumed with a particular book series, movie, musician etc, Fangirl is like a gift. It so realistically and completely captures what it feels like to love something so much that you pretty much schedule the rest of your life around it. And it does it with so much nerdtastic love that I almost couldn't stand it. :)Much like our heroine Cath, I too have dabbled in the "art" of writing fanfiction. It is a much maligned, but creatively freeing endeavor that I loved and was downright obsessed with for quite a long time. Reading this book brought me back to those days (which admittedly were not that long ago), and i found myself reading most of this book with a huge grin on my face. I gave my poor Nook a workout reading this book. It feels like I highlighted every other paragraph. But when there are little treasures like the following quote, how could I help myself?"Cath? It's your dad. It's still late, but I couldn't wait to tell you this.You know how you guys want a bathroom upstairs? Your room is right over the bathroom. We could put in a trapdoor. And a ladder. It could be like a secret shortcut to the bathroom. Isn't this a great idea? Call me. It's your dad."*I LOVE Cath & Wren's dad. To pieces. In many ways he reminded me of a crazy combination of both my parents. And that just made me love the story even more.*There were several times when I found myself wondering if Rowell was some kind of Mind Ninja. Like she had found a way to crawl around inside my brain and put so many aspects of my personality into the character of Cath. We share many of the same insecurities and obsessive tendencies. And I have no doubt if I had a Levi of my very own....I would have been "all mouth" as well.Speaking of Levi.*swoooooooooooon*Talk about the most perfectly imperfect guy. Levi wasn't a bad boy. He wasn't sex on two legs. He was simply the sweetest, kindest, most adorable boy I have come across in...well, forever. Cath & Levi's relationship was so incredibly sweet to watch unfold. It wasn't insta-love. It started out as this really funny, awkward friendship that just blossomed into a sweet, romantic kind of love that makes me feel all girly and swoony just thinking about it. "I'd give you the moon right now," she said.Levi's eyes flashed happily, and he hitched up an eyebrow."I want to touch you. Hold you. I want to sit right next to you, even when there are other options."Rowell is just a beast of an author. She managed to find the perfect balance of romance, humor, and drama without the stifling amount of angst that seems to be in EVERY other NA/YA book around. I loved the fact that she incorporated the Simon Snow stories, and that they became so important to the plot. If I have any kind of criticism it would be that Rowell loves to leave us with an open ending (something that drove me crazy about Eleanor & Park.) I'm someone who likes to have closure, and as with E&P, the book just sort of...stopped. And while I appreciate that she likes for the reader's imagination to fill in the blanks about the characters and their future...i would have liked to have a little more of a completed ending. But...other than that? This book was just about perfect."Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow..."**Read more of my reviews at my blog**http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com

ARC received 9/14/13

ARC received 9/14/13

Give this to me NOW!!!

3 WTF-happened-to-my-Nathan stars*WARNING: disappointed fangirl rant ahead**K.I. Lynn, what did you do?!? I am seriously at a loss right now after finishing this book this afternoon. As my glowing reviews for the first book in this series, Breach (and it's companion novella Dissolution) have shown, I am an unapologetic Nathan fangirl. Yes he might have come across as manic and overly possessive, but I was on board the Nasty Nathan train. FULLY on board! And going into this book i had the feeling that his...intensity...might be dialed back considering the events at the end of Breach. However....the Nathan that is present in Infraction bares little resemblance to the uber-alpha male that I fell for in the first book. Some may argue that seeing a softer side of Nathan was a good thing. And while I agree that he needed to do some major groveling to win back Lila (and by the way, I have issues with her in this book as well, which I will get to in a minute), but...but...what happened?! There is a running joke in this book about Nathan getting a lobotomy, and frankly...that sounds about right.Nathan went from being the take-no-prisoners, slightly crazed Alpha male with the filthy mouth, to being...sensitive? Romantic? He calls Lila "Honeybear" for fuck's sake! HONEYBEAR?!? Seriously??! (okay, maybe once or twice Honeybear was kinda cute...but, I'm on a roll here, people!)Speaking of Lila. She needed a swift kick to the girly bits in this book. I understand her issues. I do. And yes, Nathan made some mistakes, but... to refuse to go back to him until he declared that he loved HER more than he ever loved HIS DEAD WIFE?!?!? That is wrong on just about every fucking level there is. Period.Okay...okay....the book had it's moments. There were a couple of glimpses of the old Nathan and his dirty mouth, but by the time those scenes happened, I already felt like I was reading another series. The shift in how the characters acted in this book was HUGE. And I couldn't force myself to get past it.*dramatic sigh*There will be a book 3. So, I haven't lost hope of a rebound for the series. I just hope that Lynn finds a better way of mixing the hard and the soft together next time.

5++ Oh-Nathan-Let-Me-Comfort-You stars - even though it was FAR too short, even for a novellaNot too much to say about this one that hasn't been mentioned in other reviews. It was really nice to get inside Nathan's head for a little while. Even though it can be a very dark, and crazy place.My love for Nathan in the first book is no secret. Yes, he was caveman-esque at times. (Okay, most of the time), and yes the reasoning behind his trying to push Lila away felt slightly forced. But, I was able to ignore the faults in the storyline because I truly do love his character so much and want to see him happy and humping like bunnies with Lila. :PAgain, this novella was EXTREMELY short (24 pages), so we really didn't get the kind of glimpse into Nathan's mind that i would have liked to have had. But since the series is going past 2 books...there's hope that fans of the series may get another chance.Side Note #1: I found out after reading this that the series was inspired by Twilight and/or started out as fanfic. I have no problem with fanfiction in general, but I have to admit...i really don't want the image of Rob Pattinson trying to take over the perfect vision I have of Nathan in my imagination. I kind of wish I hadn't found out, or at least not until I had finished the series. Just one of my little quirks.Side Note #2: Truth - the conversations between Nathan and his "beast"? Kinda creepy. Maybe a little more than kinda. LOL**Read more of my reviews at my blog**http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/

Holy shizzballs. This looks intense. Especially after watching the trailer.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVyB5eKghqo

This was a very weird, intense ride. Originally a DNF for me, I'm glad I went back to it because I did end up enjoying this crazy story.

5+++ mind-bendingly intense stars.**WARNING: graphic language and fangirl hysteria ahead**His body was sin. His cock was sin. And I was a sinner.Holy hotness, batman!With Breach, K.I. Lynn has created one of the most intensely erotic books I have ever come across. Ever. Not to mention the fact that she introduces us to one Nathan Thorne. Unquestionably, my newly crowned KING of the dirty talkers!!!"It's what i want. To stretch you open and have your pussy suck me back in.""That is the best sight in the fucking world," he whispered, licking his lips as he stared down at my body. "You look so fucking good covered in me.""Your fucking pussy belongs to me. And I'm going to make sure everyone knows it's taken."I have always had a weakness for the tortured soul. And, Nathan is definitely fighting off some pretty intense demons. To be quite honest, there were times when he slipped away from just being damaged, into being possibly unstable..."I slept with my dress shirt on last night because it smelled like you. And that pissed me off!"And finally once even slipping into full on creeper-land. The whole "marking his territory" scene in the bar?!Um...I wasn't sure if I should feel turned on, or scared. Okay...I was both. Mostly turned on. Don't judge me, people!!! Until you have felt the power of Nathan's dirty mouth, you don't understand!!! LOLI wanted to be part of it. To be part of his soul. He was my god, and I worshipped him.Much like with the Crossfire series, both the H/h Nathan and Lila have a LOT of issues to work through. And while I can admit Nathan's reasons for pushing Lila away are a bit paranoid and OTT, it does make a crazy kind of sense in a way. Or maybe that's just Nathan's dirty talk distracting me into buying into almost anything. ;)This book ended on a cliffhanger. Of. Course. And it was a DOOZY. Be prepared to read the companion novella Dissolution (which gives us 2 chapters from Nathan's POV)and book 2 Infracture immediately after finishing this. This book was crazy hot and a definite wild ride that I loved to pieces."Oh God!" "Not God, baby. Nathan. That's the name you'll be screaming when you come."**Read more of my reviews at my blog**http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com

ARC received 9-9-13 via Sourcebooks

6++++++ stars. I just devoured this book in one sitting. I had been saving it for months because to be honest, I didn't want to contemplate the idea of Caleb and Livie's story coming to an end. But...what an ending it was."You don't need my forgiveness. Anything that's mine to give is already yours."Let me apologize right off the bat because, this isn't going to be so much a review...as a fangirl gush-fest.When I stumbled across The Dark Duet series last year, I dived into it head first, not really knowing what i was in for. I wasn't at all prepared for how dark and twisted that ride would be. And like most people, I found myself struggling with how to feel about Caleb. He does so many truly terrible things in the first two books. But, once CJ Roberts began to give us a glimpse into that tortured man's soul, i was hopeless to resist him. Much like Livie."I have never felt comfortable sharing my feelings - especially my doubts, fears, hopes and desires. They are what make me vulnerable. And more than anything, I hate to be vulnerable."While I was thrilled when I found out that Roberts was going to be writing a novella exclusively from Caleb's POV, I was also a little scared as well. I wasn't sure how I would end up feeling about him once I got a closer look inside his twisted mind. Let's just say, I could totally understand how conflicted Livie always felt about her feelings for Caleb. On the one hand, he's the monster who kidnapped and terrorized her. But on the other, he's the man who would stop at nothing to protect her. Even at the cost of his own life or freedom. But, Roberts wiped away my fears within the first few pages of this gorgeous, sexy, emotional book. Seeing things through Caleb's eyes...getting to truly understand how much he regretted how they came to know each other...how much he wished he could have been a better man for her....well, it goes without saying that my love for him has now reached an all new level of adoration. I didn't want to hurt her. I loved her. I don't know how to do it like a normal person. I didn't know how to tell her how scared I was. I pressed my head to the back of her neck and tried."Tell me I don't deserve you. Tell me all the things I already know."There were times while reading this book that I was just completely floored by Robert's talent. She has managed to create this complex, dark & twisty world that is both alien, and feels disturbingly familiar. And she has given us two of the most emotionally and intellectually complex characters I have ever come across. "I made you love me! Livie, I was confused. I was...broken. I'm still broken. I don't know who I am or what I want. All I know is that without you, there's nothing. I'm nothing. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is for someone like me?""You're the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I just wish I could...be that for you."Reading has always been my passion and an escape from the stress of my daily life. And once in a great while I manage to stumble upon a book or a series of books that not only make an impact on my life, but truly touch my heart in a way that few ever have before. These 3 books have more than made an impact on my life. And I know that I will always hold a very special place in my heart for Livie and Caleb's very unconventional, but no less beautiful love story.The Dark Duet series is a journey through some of the most painful and gut-wrenching of experiences. But, it is also a story about love and battling your demons and being okay with not being perfect. With not having a perfect life.Caleb and Livie's relationship isn't about hearts and flowers. It's about devotion and commitment against every odd imaginable.Survival is the most important thing. It affords us the chance to live and to find all of the things that make life worthwhile. I found redemption. I found forgiveness. I found love.I had finally found a way to obey and never look back.I could never write an ending better than the one Livvie gave you, but I’ll leave you with this: Once upon a time I saved Livie. She’s been saving me ever since.**Read more of my reviews at my blog** http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com

4 What-The-Fuck-Just-Happened stars.I don't think I have ever had more trouble figuring out how to rate a book in my life. My emotions are so conflicted right now, and my head's still spinning from the entire reading experience."The problem with you, McGrath...is that you have no respect for murk. For the blackly unexplained. The un-nail-downable. You're mining for something quite powerful that does not want to be found. And it will not."As not to ruin the story for anyone, i won't really get into the overall plot of the book. Just lay out some of my thoughts and emotions.Night Film had quite possibly the most brilliantly creepy opening scene I have ever come across. It takes a LOT to get under my skin, but this scene did just that. A man jogging alone in the middle of the night. A young girl, face obscured by long dark hair and wearing a bright red coat. The feeling of being hunted by something not exactly human. By the end of the prologue i was feeling both entirely unsettled as well as super excited to dive head first into this monster of a book (it comes in at a little over 600 pages).The girl was like one of those picture books with pages that unfold and unfold, all the way out, which caused children's eye to grow wide. I suspected she'd never stop unfolding.There was so much about the first half of this book that worked for me. I loved the fact that the author incorporated both photos and 'web pages' throughout the book. It definitely went a long way in making me feel as if i were reading a true crime novel, instead of fiction. I loved how the mystery of Cordova was laid out for the reader. I really felt like I was in the middle of the investigation right along with our main character, and I absolutely loved that. And the storytelling itself felt so fresh and unique to me, that for a long time...even though early on in the book...i truly thought this would end up being one of my favorite books of 2013. "Surely you've noticed that the space around Cordova distorts. The closer you get to him, the speed of light slackens, information gets scrambled, rational minds grow illogical, hysterical. It's warped space-time, like the mass of a giant sun bending the area surrounding it. You reach out to seize something so close to find it was never actually there."Unfortunately, and surprisingly (at least for me) around the 65-70% mark, the story began to fall apart. The lines blurring the good guys from the bad were constantly shifting. One minute the author made a particular character out to be a monster, and 20 pages later, the same character was made out to be the victim. It wouldn't have bothered me so much if it only happened a couple of times. But it was a recurring theme that really became annoying after a while. Also, I felt like the main character, for supposedly being a hard-nosed investigative journalist, was far too naive about certain things. And far too dismissive of events that were obviously going to be important later on in the story.One thing that i really enjoyed was how certain minor, yet pivotal characters had opportunities to shine. There were several scenes where key players in the Cordova mystery were allowed to tell the reader a story. To lay out certain events that went a long way towards unfolding the underlying storyline. Pessl has a knack for using words to paint a picture for the reader. Making us feel like we are in the middle of the story...no matter how disturbing the scene may be.I have to admit, I was incredibly disappointed in how the author chose to resolve many of the mysteries in the story. Yes, the plot was outlandish and over the top....but I loved that about the book. I truly wish she would have stayed true to the promise of the story, instead of going for a seemingly much safer, less disturbing angle. After the roller coaster ride of the first half of the book, I feel like the last third was a total let down.As for my thoughts on the actual ending of the book? Seriously? That's what we get after 600 pages of build up? This had to be the most ridiculous, and infuriating ending I have read in years. This wasn't an ending at all. There wasn't even anything close to a resolution, and just when we get to the moment we have been waiting for for the entire book....bam. The author slams the door in our faces. I realize that the ending of the book was supposed to mirror the endings of many of Cordova's films. But, as a reader I still feel immensely cheated.So, that is why I found rating this book to be so difficult. There were so many things that I loved about it. But there were also so many things that I thought were beyond frustrating. In the end though, I have to give it 4 stars, on the strength of the first 300+ pages alone. Add in the creep factor, the uniqueness of the concept...and Night Film was an entertaining if eventually disappointing walk on the wild side."Did I not warn you McGrath, that to capture Cordova was to try and trap shadows in a jar? You wanted the truth? Here it is. It's boxes inside of boxes. What made you so certain you could ever figure him out? That his questions even had answers?"

ARC received 9-5-13

The...cover. Holy moses. LMAOThis is obviously one of Hart's early stories, and it definitely shows. It's far too short to have any real impact, and is written in a rather over the top, and flowery way (her 'magic bean'? Honestly? Is that supposed to do anything other than make me giggle?!).Not the best introduction to this author's work, but I'm willing to give one of her full length novels a shot.