Blkosiner's Book Blog

I loved this follow up to Defiance and I can't wait for the next book in the series. I loved being back with Rachel and Logan and loved them both as much as I remembered from Defiance. Deception is full of action, emotions, small steamy scenes, healing, friendship, betrayal, secrets and fighting against all odds. This is in no way a filler book, and I loved every second. Revenge is a big theme in this one, and we see how it drives so many of the survivors. They all have lost people and their homes, and while continued survival and freedom are their biggest motivators, you can also see how revenge helps them to move on. But we all see how it can debilitate and add to the burdens already heavy on their shoulders when they don't funnel it properly. The same with grief. Especially through Rachel in this one. Her nightmares are chasing her into the daytime, and all of the things that she has done and regretted are piling on her shoulders and she is only stuffing it down and not dealing with it. We get to see her breaking and it was so hard to watch. Her source of comfort and her way out of the grief and guilt comes from someone that I didn't quite expect it from, but I loved it and painted such a beautiful picture of friendship and of support. It was awesome to watch Logan grow into a leader and really take on the responsibility for the survivors. He is so thoughtful and thinks through everything. He takes seriously that the survivors chose him as their leader and I don't think they could have chosen a more smart and capable and driven person. I also loved the moments with him and Rachel. To see how in love they were, and how they supported each other. They both have so many responsibilities and try to protect the other. It is awesome and leaning on each other is how they get through it all. Quinn and Willow are by far my favorite secondary characters. They bring so much depth to the story. Their rich back story, their sibling love and protectiveness, how devoted they are to Rachel and Logan, and the knowledge and power they bring with their friendship and alliance. I lived for each moment where they stole the scene with their fierceness or loyalty, as well as learning about their past even when it is so dark. And wow at the twists in the plot. Oh my goodness, I didn't see some of them coming, and some of the things that took place showed such sacrifice, brought such pain, and others just made my eyes bug out because I never considered it a possibility. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series and find out what happens next. Bottom Line: Amazing story from first page to last.

I was quickly drawn into Camryn's world, and didn't want to look away from what she was going to do next. What sets this apart from other New Adult books is that Camryn's heartache is from a boyfriend that died in a car accident. Although I wish we'd have gone into more detail with this at the beginning to clearly get her frame of mind and reference to why she is not looking for a relationship. Her friendship and the twist that took with Natalie I did not like, but I understood, I think why it happened. I was trying to figure out how I wanted this to be fixed, but decided to just read the story and figure out how J.A. would handle it. I also didn't like how Cam compared herself to Natalie, like at times she thought she was better than her, or that thinking about sex didn't matter only thinking of lofty things did. But minorish details. Because I didn't want to put it down, I got a taste of the love interest and the way that he hinted he wanted more and the way that he treated Cam Their adventures are so captivating and I loved learning and guessing what has Andrew so withheld but totally didn't see it coming until right at the end. I loved their interactions and banter. And oh were there some steamy scenes in this one. They are like they were made for each other, their perfect match and balance. I also liked that they both learned to let go and discover who they really are with the other's help. Speaking of the end, it fooled me, broke my heart and repaired it all at the same time. It was perfect in that bittersweet way, and I can't wait for more in this world. Bottom Line: Steamy and heartbreaking but adventurous road trip and finding yourself novel.

Really gave me some good perspectives on parenting. I was expecting perfection from myself and my little girl and it wasn't fair to either of us. It also spoke to me more about my battle to stop comparing myself to others. I am basing those comparisons, my messy insides, to the snap shot of someone's life, their outsides.

The dual narrative worked out well, although it took me quite a bit to get used to the third person point of view. I wish that I could've been 1st person, so I felt even more connected and in their heads. I still got a good impression of who Wren and Charlie were and what they were thinking and feelings as well as their motivations, and eventually it became flowing and flawless so that I didn't notice it wasn't in 1st. At its roots, The Infinite Moment of Us is a story about acceptance, and it has an awesome romance, and friendships featured as well. I like Wren and Tessa together, they are different enough but share enough of the similarities that their friendship feels authentic. The story is multi-layered because Wren is finally figuring out what she wants to do with her life and who she is outside of her parent's expectations and high pressure for her to follow the plan they think is best for her. It is a dysfunctional relationship, and I went through the story hoping they would open their eyes to the strong and brave young woman that Wren turned out to be. Charlie is so well written and being in his head was a joy. Although he has a really rough past, he is now in a supportive and loving foster home with a foster brother that feels closer than blood could be. I love his protectiveness and gentle but teasing nature with his brother Dev, and it was a high spot of the story for me. Speaking of high spots, the chemistry between Charlie and Wren is awesome, and it was great watching their souls collide and getting closer to each other while discovering with the other's help just who they are inside and how they should be valued and viewed. There is sex in the story, but it isn't there just to be there, it has a deeper purpose, bringing them intimately together and it shows they are realistic teenagers in love, and driven by raging hormones. I think though that it addresses something that I don't come across more often, having heart to heart conversations about hurt feelings and when silence hurts. The ending is perfect, wrapping things up and leaving things just open enough that I can picture their future--they are on the edge of something huge and I think that knowing the exact path they took would have taken away from things for me. Bottom Line: Well written and addictive love story.

I liked the culture and the message of this one. Sahar is a teen trying to be who she is under heavy government oppression. Sahar loves Nasrin and this is not allowed, so they are best friends and keep their love under wraps until a husband is chosen for Nasrin, and Sahar realizes that she doesn't want to be separated from her. She is close with her cousin Ali, who is gay and throws wild parties, and at one she meets Parveen who had sex reassignment surgery because this is allowed. This gets Sahar thinking that this could be her ticket to being with the girl she loves, Nasrin once and for all. Sahar is smart, protective, hard working, and caring. She takes care of her dad, and she thinks and sees the best in others. She lost her mom, and her dad goes into deep depression and I totally felt and respected how Sahar loved and wanted to care for him. It came off really sincere as well how much she loved her mom and would say she could sense her presence or what she would have thought about something. This helped to add some additional emotional depth to the story! While I liked Nasrin because I saw her through Sahar's eyes, I still didn't completely feel their love. I think that is because it was an established relationship and maybe the spark was assumed. While I appreciate greatly that it wasn't a case of insta-love especially since it is in a culture where this isn't allowed, and Sahar is considering such life altering measure in order to make it work. I like that they had the easy camaraderie, and even though there obviously was some chemistry, I just wish I could have experiences some flashbacks, or something in order to really experience that spark and make me more emotional invested. I feel like Sahar was too hard on Nasrin to love her as much as she did. Oh, and I know this is probably just an ARC (advanced reader copy) issue, but there was some distracting formatting issues such as double ff's being omitted, and the first sentence of every chapter had pieces missing. It is really neat to be immersed in a culture that is not mine, and yet not making myself feel dumb because I don't get the cultural differences. They are presented by showing me the norm, and even though I know it wouldn't be part of normal thought to explain what the Iranian words are, Ms. Farizan (the author) makes it natural. The ending... I liked it but I didn't. It was very realistic, but I wanted it to somehow be more fantasy and more of an HEA than I got. But it took guts to write it like that, and I think that it gives hope for the future.

Jennifer never fails to leave me breathless and wanting more, and Frigid is no exception. She is a wonderful story teller, and crafts heroines that are easy to relate to and although they have their flaws, they are strong people and these boys that are protective, sexy, charming and swoon worthy. Frigid is in dual narration but we spend the majority of the time in Sydney's head. The glimpses into Kyler's head though bring a lot to the table, and helps get both sides of the story. I love how far back Sydney and Kyler's friendship goes, and the mostly easy going banter and nature between them, but you can quickly tell that there is a lot of sexual tension brewing under the surface but they are both afraid to speak up because they don't want to ruin their friendship and lost the other person. Due to this non-communication there are some remarks on both sides that are completely taken the wrong way and hurt ensues, but even with this, it adds a realistic and emotional side to the story. I love all the awkward positions they find themselves in and Sydney's dry sense of humor, and watch out for mailboxes when she's drunk. Some of her one liners had me cracking up and trying to die of laughter without waking up my husband. Some of the scenes are intense and had me blushing, so def for mature new adults or those who can handle it. It had me breathless and wanting to curse when the scene was inevitably interrupted. The mystery and danger that were an element in this one I was totally not expecting but I think it was handled and written really well. Bottom Line: Breath taking! Hot romance and great characters.

One Tiny Lie focuses on Livie, Kasey's sister from Ten Tiny Breaths. Except she is grown up and in college, living her dream. Or at least what she thinks is her dream. One Tiny Lie ends up being a journey for Livie to follow her heart and learn who she is and what she wants. I loved her testing the boundaries and Strayner and Kasey teaming up to help her do things she's never done before, making friends along the way and learning about making her own choices and breaking out of the so called perfect mold that she has put herself in. There is so much chemistry in this one. Ashton is hot, mysterious, and at first a man whore with wit, but luckily we see a new side of him emerging through his interactions with Kasey. I loved discovering more about him, and what he keeps hidden, and the soft side to the tough bad boy exterior. One thing I didn't like is how Livie strung Connor along when her heart was telling her she wanted and needed Ashton. Though I understand her reasoning, because Connor is smart, good looking, a good guy--the one she could see her parents picking for her and a guy that the old perfect Livie would even pick for herself. I also didn't like Ashton's ways, but the reasons for some of them come out and I completely begin to understand that too. Her character development really drove this story, and I tore through it, page after page late into the night, not only because of Livie, but also to get glimpses of Trent and Kasey, and Storm from the first book. I also liked the secondary characters that Livie meets at college. Reagan, her roomie is a fire ball, and I liked how they talked and shared things, and really did life together. The ending wrapped things up pretty well, and I can't think of a better ending for Livie.Bottom Line: Great character development and a crush worthy bad boy with a soft spot.

I loved Kacey, she is tough, guarded and she knows how to kick ass, literally. What's more she is hardcore protective over her sister Liviee, and that relationship was so tender, but had some funny banter, but always support and understanding for each other. The lengths that Kacey goes through to protect and provide for Liviee really showed me a lot. Kacey didn't want to let anyone in, but their neighbor Storm and her five year old daughter Mia still managed to worm their way into her heart, and the way their friendship played out was well written. I adore when an author manages to write female friendship that is authentic and isn't an afterthought. It was a central plot and I really appreciated that. They had a back and forth banter as well as some deep moments of sharing and understanding between adults, that I appreciated. And how dare I, I haven't even mentioned Trent yet. He is a mystery wrapped in an enigma, but I love the tender glimpses we get from him, when he interacts with Mia, or when he steps in as protector or comforter to Mia, Storm, Liviee or especially Kacey. There was some seriously hot romantic tension, but there is also a deeper level, and a respect that he has for her, and a genuine concern for the things she went through and wanting her to heal and get help. But then he would just out and disappear for a while, and I really wanted to know what his secrets are and what he's hiding/running from. That added some major suspense to the story because Kacey we find out sooner and in pieces what her demons are and the effects on her daily life, but Trent we really only know because of the secrecy, and of course because the synopsis told us. And then oh my god, at about 80% K.A. threw me for a loop. I mean, I totally was not expecting that. I had to turn off my kindle and come write this sentence to process. Wow. Yeah. Did not see that coming, and have no idea how this is going to go, and what I want to happen, or what should happen. Dang. I loved the ending, it was so perfect, and I can't wait for more from this world. Bottom Line: Emotional but steamy romance with a strong and feisty main character.

Sep is a character that is easy to relate to and it was a journey being in her head. She is realistic and although dealing with some hard issues and emotional, still brought humor and sarcasm to the table. I can't imagine waking up and my lips being white, wondering what was wrong with me, and if it would spread, trying to hide it and deal with the worry would be so hard, but I get a glimpse of what that would be like through Sep. I like the realistic friendship she has with her family and her best friend. It doesn't feel forced, but there is tension between her and her parents and her brother, but there are also those bonding moments that you know they are really there for her and I loved reading those moments. She tries to hide that there is anything wrong with her from everyone except her family at first, and that causes problems with her and her best friend. There is also the added bonus of the boy she used to be best friends with in elementary school now coming back into the picture. It adds a lot of romantic tension as well as suspense because she isn't being upfront with him about the white spots. But still, I loved their stolen kisses and other touching as well as the awkwardness when she is straight up about things like asking if he is flirting with her and he gets all embarrassed and tongue tied. Bottom Line: Well written issues book with a funny at times main character that embraces the emotional experience life dealt her.

I was so glad when I got approved for this book because the last one left off at this oh my god, I can't believe what just happened, please tell me that was a dream, what the f*ck, I NEED TO KNOW what happens moment. The beginning doesn't really lay out all of those answers at once, but we do get some of them, and then the drama and suspense quickly starts up in this one, having me itching to know answers, but also savoring the character development in that moment, and getting glimpses into the souls of Callie and Kayden. Their fears, insecurities, their emotions, and trying to sort out what they feel, and how and if redemption and healing is possible. We also get to see more of the friendship with Callie and Seth, which I love. Their banter, easy trust and conversations, as well as the hard questions he poses, and how he tries to push Callie toward that healing and redemption that she so needs and wants in her life. Luke is also back in the picture, and I like him more and more every scene he is in. His easy acceptance of Callie, how he cares about her as a friend, and I want to know about his intensity, his accepting nature towards Seth, and what turned him into this cool person he is. It is so hard to watch Kayden hiding. He thinks that Callie deserves better than him after her seeing him like that and knowing the truth about some of his darkest personal secrets. Callie is so brave though in standing up to him and not letting him get away. It is really intense moments, and I love those glimpses when his self control slips and we get to see the passion and how much they love each other, but then it is all the harder when thought returns to him and he once again is misguidingly trying to protect her from himself. There were some really hot moments, deep conversations, and two very brave and determined people. To leave their past behind them, and to somehow find hope, healing and redemption. I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, and that the recovery wasn't quite as realistic as I think it would be in real life, but it was still extremely emotional and touching. It made me want to cry, and jump for joy. And oh the epilogue, it opened the door for more to go on in this world and still to give the ending that I wanted for Callie and Kayden. I can't wait to learn about Violet and see more about Luke in the 3rd book as well as more details about what Callie's brother told her at the end. Bottom Line: Heart wrenching but swoon worthy followup with Callie and Kayden.

Gated starts out right away by showing the main character Lyla is different. In the world of Silo, the community in this book, they are having target practice with cardboard cutouts and Lyla doesn't want to go for kill shots head or chest, but she can't even do that, she sees them as real people. She is also questioning the Brethren or who they believe are their creators and the world is about to end, and only a select few, The Chosen, in Silo will survive. Their leader, Pioneer is charismatic and you can see why people would believe and follow him. He seems so caring and concerned, and the words he uses will get right to your heart. Her friends Will, Brian and Marie all really buy into it, and Lyla tries to because she really cares for them, and it is obvious they care about her, they just don't understand her hesitations. I just never expected all of the twists and turns, and especially how heart heart changes and the bravery that she ultimately grows. I read this for the character development I saw in Lyla, the fiestiness beneath the surface, and the friendship between Lyla and Marie. While there is action, it is a mostly character driven story, struggling with past losses, current shortcomings, and wrestling with what being told to them is a lie, because they are contradictory. The world building was done really well. Mandrogage Meadows felt like a real place to me, with its society and way of life differing from my own, but I could picture it. I could sympathize with what the residences thought to be true and how they fought for their way of life. With that said, I wish that somehow we got a glimpse into Pioneer's past. I want to know what made him how he is and more of how he actually convinced them he was the real deal. The ending took my breath away and I was on the edge of my seat watching it all play out. It was so well done and put such a blast of hope into the story and Lyla's life. Bottom Line: Chilling book with a well developed and questioning main character.

This story is the master of suspense. It gives us lots of information about Natsya like she doesn't talk, and there is something wrong with her hand... and from the synopsis lets us know that she used to be a piano prodigy, and now she is trying to lay under the radar. But she attracts the attention of hot and charismatic Luke, and the mysterious and lofty Josh Bennett. She is sullen, depressed, and doesn't want to inflict herself on her parents, so she is living with her aunt who is a nurse and works nights. But we don't know exactly why she is like that. I wanted to know how she was murdered but is alive, who did it, what happened to her hand, and why she doesn't speak. But these answers are deliciously spread out. It is a suspense to find out little clues spread over time. She is such a fragile and strong character all at once. She had something beyond her control happen to her, and it has effected every aspect of her life, and it took the thing that she loved most. And while she is damaged, and puts up a front, she is still trying to heal. She is finding a way to make her new life work, and little by little she lets people in, and shows them the beautiful and wonderful person she can be--broken pieces and all. Although most of the book is in Natsya's point of view, we also get Josh's at crucial times and it gives invaluable insight, and also is a way to keep us in the dark a bit more with things. Josh has such a broken past, with so many around him dying. He feels alone but also doesn't want anyone to get too close because he thinks that God hates him and kills all that he loves. Because his past seems to show that. But he has such a good heart. You can see how much he cares for his best friend Drew, and it made me smile when I read their interactions. There is a lot of banter in this book, there is also quite a bit of language, but never to the point where it bothered me or seemed like it was there just to be there. It showed something about the characters, and it fit in with their personalities. The Sea of Tranquility is a dark and gritty book. It is for mature teens and adults only because these are some seriously damaged kids, and it comes out in their actions sometimes. It is a story of healing, forgiveness, getting and giving second chances. While it does feature some dysfunctional adults, there are also some that I loved. Drew's parents completely took me by surprise but I loved them. And Natsya's parents confused me at times, but I can see it come full circle in something I can understand from both points of view. The romance is a slow flame, building from wisps of smoke, and it was also so well done. As Josh slowly falls for Natsya, we get to see the more soft side of Natsya as well. I just loved watching them fall in love and try to protect the other from themselves. It isn't at a break neck pace but it is amazing still, you have to slow down and appreciate the character growth and the intricacies of the characters. Their pasts shaped them so much--how they think, how they live, how they interact with others. It is great to watch how they all give to each other and even when they are hurting each other, everyone is learning and helping them to be better people. The ending was amazing, and tied it all together and gave me not the ending I was expecting but something far better than I could imagine. Bottom Line: The Sea of Tranquility is beautifully written, deliciously suspenseful, and has a swoonworthy romance, one of my favorite contemporaries this year!

I enjoyed this one and devoured in less than 24 hours... I connected with Callie and Kayden, and their emotional turmoil was really well written and the emotions drew me into the story. It is told in dual narrative and it is clear cut who is talking and what is going on. The voices are done well, and both have a story to tell. Callie's friendship with Seth was another thing that I really liked about this story. He had a great personality and it felt like a bff or very good brother and sister relationship because he is protective, but he encourages her and understands her. So, here is where many will probably start to turn away, because he is gay. Yes, I know. Formulaic right? The two damaged people falling in love and helping each other heal, and oh by the way there is the gay best friend. I have read a lot from my commenters (yes I love you all) that they are tired of this type of story because it is predictable. But it was exactly what I needed, and wanted in a story right now, and that is what it comes down to. Great characters, good writing, and emotional response. There are a lot of secrets and a few twists that I didn't see coming. But it was good about giving details a little at a time to form the whole picture even though you get the general idea of what happened to Callie and Kayden right away. But there are intricacies that come out through the story, and they both grow page by page and that is great to watch. But that ending, it is the mother of all cliff hangers, and made me mad. I can't wait for the next one!Bottom Line: Emotional book where I connected with the main characters.

OCD Love Story takes an in depth look at obsessive compulsive disorder, it doesn't just skim the disease, it shows what I would imagine it is like to have verified OCD. And it is not all fun and games. From the eyes of Bea, we get a girl whose disease is worsening before her eyes, and at first she doesn't really think that anything is wrong, but when she starts going to support group and meets Beck who is in the middle of his first full blown panic attack, which she is familiar with, she begins to see things through a new view. Including herself. We get a healthy dose of humor in this one, and Bea is very self deprecating, making light of things, but that is how she deals, and it also provides a bit of relief for the reader. We see many ways how OCD can work itself out and manifest, and dealing with anxiety myself, I feel for these kids. I see little bits of myself in them and I am so glad that I haven't crossed into that territory (yet and hopefully never). Bea grows as a character in this one, through her friendships, through her trying to be supportive family, her therapist Dr. Pat, and the support group. But it also shows that the battle with OCD isn't something you can take a vacation from. It is part of who you are and while meds and therapy can help, there is no real cure. So, it doesn't give a false view of the mental disorder in that sense, but it does show a sense of hope for the future, and for management. Though of course, Bea has to get to all time lows in order to accept that help, but you expect nothing less from a contemporary novel. Bottom Line: Gritty contemporary that faces mental illness head on with a side of humor.

Perfection is a chilling picture of what life could be if selective genetics goes completely wrong. They are trying to make a perfect soldier, and as far as looks and strength and mind reading goes, they have it in Ellyssa. But they consider her emotions her weakness. She learns through her escape that those emotions can really be strength. This is an alternate history I guess you would consider, because it is basically a dystopia where Hitler's ideals are realized and they are working to eradicate those who aren't of perfect race, and taking it even further with superior intelligence and strength. She tries to run away from the place she was made/born because a strange for this world looking boy with dark hair being questioned broke through her mental shield and screamed a place at her. And she deletes and changes things in the database and goes on the run. It's so much fun to watch her learn to trust others, feel loss, sorrow, joy, laughter, and most of all, fall in love. While I understood the choice for a third person pov, I connected most with Ellyssa and wanted to be from her point of view the most. I didn't connect with the other characters, but they gave valuable insight into what is going on while Ellyssa is running and when she finds unlikely allies. There is plenty of action behind the character development to keep the story going. The ending is pretty good, but the epilogue makes me know there needs to be another book in this series. There are also ingeniously crafted villains that will make you want to wring out their brains.Bottom Line: Action packed and chilling alternate history with a main character I grew to love.

I really enjoyed this book! Lisa, as usual writes powerful novels full of suspense with great characters. Jules was so relatable and likable. She freaked out over the visions, and it moved her deeply that she was supposed to do something about it. She was a strong character, and I really admired her devotion to her family. They own a restaurant and her and her brother and sister work hard as a part of the family business to help their mom, who is super hardworking and optimistic and their dad who battles with depression and is a hoarder who occasionally is very charismatic and comes to work, but other times holes up in the apartment. But Jules still faces life with this slightly twisted but awesome point of view and a wit that kept me snickering. The romance was great; a perfect picture of forbidden love because Sawyer is a part of the other Italian restaurant and a family that Jules' has feuded with for ages. It is unrequited at this point because after years of semi-secret friendship in elementary school, their dads clashed and they have avoided each other to keep the familial peace. But Sawyer is a good guy, he volunteers for the humane society for goodness sakes, and I saw the attraction and why Jules couldn't stop watching, and loving him from afar. I really liked how the mental health issue was woven in, and that Jules had the family history and she had to question if what she saw was foreboding of the future or if she inherited depression and psychosis. I also appreciated how her family worried about her, and confronted her because if you take out the paranormal, it would all point to something to be worried about. The suspense, the intensity, the romance, and the perfect ending are all boasts of this book, and I can't wait for the next one. Bottom Line: Suspenseful with a sharp and witty writing style.