ARC Book Review: Call Me, Maybe by Ellie Cahill

Call Me, Maybe by Ellie Cahill

N/A
First Published: 2016
E-Arc
New Adult, Romance
Rating:

Clementine Daly knows she’s the black sheep. Her wealthy, powerful family has watched her very closely since she almostgot caught in an embarrassing scandal a few years ago. So when Clementine’s sent on a mission to live up to the Daly name, politely declining isn’t even an option. Of course, the last thing Clementine does before departure is grab a stranger’s phone by mistake—leaving the hunky journalist with her phone. Soon his sexy voice is on the line, but he doesn’t know her real name, or her famous pedigree—which is just the way Clementine likes it.
Despite all the hassles, Justin Mueller is intrigued to realize that the beautiful brown-eyed girl he met at the airport is suddenly at his fingertips. They agree to exchange phones when they’re both back in town, but after a week of flirty texts and wonderfully intimate conversations, Justin doesn’t want to let her go that easy. The only problem? It turns out that Clemetine has been lying to him about, well, everything. Except for the one thing two people can’t fake, the only thing that matters: The heat between them is for real.

I received an arc from Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion! 

Call Me, Maybe is a story of two people falling in love, in a manner that makes you think maybe there is such a thing as fate and maybe one day it will conspire against you to bring your soulmate to your doorstep (or make your brother accidentally steal his phone, whateves).

It took maybe two chapters for me to fall completely in love with the characters and the setting, and by the half point of the story I was feeling slightly in love myself. Which, really, is the best indication of how good of a love story this was.

Clementine Daly is the youngest daughter of the cream of the crop on the outside. Inside, she's a lover of all things bookish, a distinguished book blogger and a somewhat lost soul. She has no idea "what she wants to do with her life". She finds it difficult to trust others. She doesn't know how to bridge what she loves with what her family expects of her. 

So starting to talk with the man who has her phone after an unfortunate phone-switch is out of her comfort zone. And yet, because of Justin's personality, wit and humor, she slips into it with scary easiness. Something that easy has to have a catch somewhere, right?

Reading of these two talking and starting to date was delightful, because we watched as they fell in love. You see it; all the small moments, the small conversations, the moments they go "ah, this person gets me". It was beautiful. Even through their sexual intimacy, every new scene like that brought something new about the both of them.

And can I just say... this book was hot without ever going explicit? Kudos to that! 

The only thing I kind of wish was that there had been more time until the "L" word. We do watch them fall in love, but at the end of the day (as they mention themselves), it's been two weeks. Two, measly weeks. Give them a little more time. Give me more of those wonderful falling-in-love moments. 

As a side note: I was disappointed at how Clem's other troubles were brushed under the table. She is scared to death to tell her grandparents about everything, but at the end of the day we never really get to see a satisfying conclusion to it. It felt like this was added just in order to give some weight to Clem's anxiety and not for any other reason. 

But, aside for these, it was a great romantic read. I greatly recommend this to anyone who needs to lighten their mood and make their heart a little warmer. 

Book Review: Doing it For Love by Cassie Mae (Favorites Extravaganza: Day #7)

2015 Favorites Extravaganza: Day #7

Doing It For Love by Cassie Mae
All About Love #1
First Published: 2015
e-arc from Loveswept via Netgalley
New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Rating:

Elizabeth Fanning’s life looks pretty perfect, judging by the diamond ring on her finger. Her fiancé, Landon, is sweet, handsome, and hilarious. The trouble is, before they’ve even tied the knot, their sex life has gone from mind-blowing to “meh”—and Liz isn’t ready to be part of an old married couple. After a cathartic call to her best friend, Liz comes up with a brilliant idea. She and Landon may never be able to re-create the magic of their first time, but how amazing would their wedding night be if everything below the neck was off-limits until then?
Liz thinks it’ll bring them closer together. Landon’s convinced she’ll cave first. So they raise the stakes: Whoever lasts longer gets to pick their honeymoon destination. With her heart set on the Bahamas and Landon fighting for snowbound Utah, Liz simply has to win. But pretty soon, her body is screaming for attention, and Landon’s never seemed so far away. Has Liz’s experiment backfired? Losing their little competition would be frustrating—but the one thing she can’t afford to lose is him.

This review is going to be slightly different than my usual thing, because this book just inspires this type of feedback.

I honestly want more stories just like this in literature; 

Stories that make you smile so widely and so often your cheeks hurt, but in the best way possible. The kind of way you don't care because dammit, I really needed this. The kind of smiles that linger for entire scenes. That make your entire face scrunch up.

Stories that show established couples just... being happy, living their lives, dealing with silly couple-stuff - not epic misunderstandings/angst/pain. Things you can relate to. Things that make your heart occasionally ache because of how normal and real they are without being overly dramatic or nerve-wrecking.

Stories with couples who are fun, and funny, and teasing and you can't imagine them anymore apart than their friends can, because they are just that perfect for one another and you never once doubt their relationship. Their love. Their rightness.

Stories that make you so damned jealous, because my god, you want to be carrots and peas with someone too!

Stories with nerdy, sweet, messy, real guys that you can crush on and know you can also get in RL, if you look hard enough, because they're not made-up. They are not perfect. And in someway, that makes them perfect on it's own.

Stories that make you feel like part of the gang, a friend to the characters. And as a friend, you see their good and bad parts and you adore them anyway.

Stories that just... make you plain happy.  

So go get on it, authors. Cassie Mae can teach you a few things. And as for you, reader... if any of the above interest you - this a book you cannot miss out on.

Book Review: Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder (Favorites Extravaganza: Day #3)

WARNING: GUSHING

2015 Favorites Extravaganza: Day #3

Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder
Soulfinder #1 / Study #4 / Chronicles of Ixia #7
First Published: 2015
e-arc
Young Adult, Fantasy
Rating:

Once, only her own life hung in the balance…
When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. She survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia.
Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek.
Suddenly, though, dissent is rising. And Valek’s job—and his life—are in danger.
As Yelena tries to uncover her enemies, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. And now she must find a way to keep not only herself but all that she holds dear alive.

Oh, wow. Where do I even start?! 

I was a latecomer to the Maria V. Synder bandwagon. She was one of those author constantly on my tbr but I never seemed to get there. And when I finally did last year, ALL the books were already out. Or so I thought. The groundbreaking announcement over the new series and the return to the Ixia/Sitia world came soon after I finished Fire Study and brought my inner fangirl much delight. 

I needed more Valek and Yelena.

My inner fangirl reared her #sorrynotsorry head when I got approved for an e-arc via Netgalley. She was shouting THANK YOU SO MUCH MIRA INK for all the world to hear. The neighbors were complaining? who cares!? more Valek and Yelena to go around!

Okay. The actual book. Right.

At first, I was a bit confused. The only first person pov is Yelena's, while Valek and Janco's are told in third person. It took me a couple of chapters to adjust to it, but once I did I was able to swiftly devour the book *insert evil laughter here*

I didn't even pause when references to events that happened in the short stories I haven't read popped up. While I had no idea who these characters were, Snyder did a great job filling in the gaps so I had no trouble grasping the gist of things. But if short stories are your thing, you might want to give them a shot before jumping into this one.

Now, I know you probably didn't hear a word I said after Valek's pov. But yes; the swoony master assassin (never thought I'd say that) and Yelena's heartmate lets us peek into his head in this installment. Which was just... incredible. We got to experience how much Yelena truly means to him and OH THE FEELS. We knew he loved her, of course, but my view of him was slightly affected by her belief that she would always be second to the Commander in his eyes. She is so wrong *melts into a pile of goo*

And did I mention we get to explore his past? Because we do. And if you say you're not intrigued by the events that turned him into the King-Killer then you're lying. In Shadow Study we get all the juicy details; young Valek. Valek in training. Valek and the Commander meeting. And of course, the event that gave him his nickname.

Wait--What? Already gone to get the book? I didn't even get to the part about the emphasis on Valek's relationship with the Commander, a theme bound to continue to the second book at the very least. And let's just say I'm very curious at how it will proceed!

And of course... JANCO. If you don't love Janco, then... then... inconceivable! And if you do love him... he stars in this book, alongside a new character called Onora. Janco and Ari are always going to be the Power Couple of this universe, don't worry, but I kind of ship Little Miss Assassin and the Rhyme Master, ain't gonna lie.

And of course, there was Leif, Ari, Opal & Devlen, Reema, Kiki... there was no shortage of awesome characters, awesome interactions, awesome situations, and a great story-line that keeps you guessing and intrigued, with every chapter ending in a way that makes you need the next one.

And that ending... Let's put it like this: I KNEW IT and I am freakin' happy and excited!