Ryans Bed by Tijan

4.5 Stars!! 

"My face. My body. My heart -
it all went with her, because she was me.
My twin sister killed herself on June twenty-ninth.
We would've been eighteen the next day.” 

Mackenzie, her twin sister Willow, brother Robbie and parents, have just moved - due to her fathers new job. She doesn't know anyone or anything about the new place they now live. Mackenzie thinks she is just the normal sibling- just average, since her two siblings and parents are all extraordinary. And in Macs mind- shes less than. One day not too long after the move, Mackenzie's life is turned upside down when her twin sister Willow, commits suicide. 

Mac is the one who finds her- and she is completely void of emotion. She cant eat or think- everything seems to be falling apart around her. Then she finds herself in Ryan's Bed, a boy she barely knows. Her parents sent her and her brother to a friends, (Ryan's House) so that they could sort out all the details of the death. She ends up in his bed thinking it was his sisters- because its the only place she feels safe for whatever reason. 

I woke that morning in Ryan’s arms, I felt a little less crazy. I felt a little bit better. And I felt a little more whole.

I absolutely loved this story and the characters. Mac broke my heart the entire book because of the pain and dissociation she has with everything since losing her sister. I love Tijan - and this is one of her best yet. I love the way she writes such gripping characters. The kind you can feel along with. When the MCS are in pain you feel it too- You feel everything. 

Ryan was suchhhh a sweetheart!! I absolutely loved how amazing he was for her and how he was just everything she needed in the moment - no matter how crazy she was, he was right there helping and consoling her! Their chemistry was fabulous! 

This book was not easy to read, its about grief and what goes on in the person left behind after a suicide. There are some dark moments but also happy moments. Its filled to the brim with emotions. I overall- really enjoyed this one and Tijan continues to be one of my top Faves!

Scars by, Jaimie Roberts

4 Stars!! 
“Because when the heart dies, what else is left? One way or the other, it can’t change anything. It won’t change the fact that what’s done is done, and you can never repair a dead heart.”

Lily at almost 18, has a great life- money, friends, and is doing well in school. She's felt for a while, that someone is watching and following her. But this stalker is nice and leaves things like lilies on her doorstep. 

One night at a party- she gets dared to go in on a game of seven minutes in heaven. When in the dark closet, she is kissed by a stranger she isn't allowed to see. Emotions are heightened and Lily realizes this may be her stalker. After the party he starts to show up places Lily is at - the catch, she can never see his face. 

J- or aka Jarred, has a secret and one thing on his mind... REVENGE. He singles out Lily as the perfect pawn in his little game. What he doesn't realize is that there is more than meets the eye with her. Will he be able to focus on his end game? Or will he be caught up in Lily's web? 

Secrets come out- the past is confronted and lives will be changed. Scars have more than just one meaning. 

I have to admit, a good friend recommended this to me- and when I read the first couple chapters- I didn't think I would finish it. It felt weird that this girl had no issues with a dude with no face-stalking her. She doesn't tell anyone for a while and just kinda goes along with it. After about the 30 % mark, I was hooked. Things started to turn and I was impressed with how this author took something that I was feeling NOT OKAY with and presented it in a way I never would have expected! 

This book wasn't perfect- but it was addicting and I had to know what the heck was happening. The author does a great job of keeping all the hidden aspects hidden until just the right time! 

Overall, I ended up enjoying this way more than I thought I would in the beginning - and I am glad I kept going. I would recommend this if you're looking for a romantic type thriller that keeps you guessing until the end!

Fame, Fate and the First Kiss by Kasie West

4 Stars!!  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I just adore Kasie West- and her ability to tell a sweet, and heartwarming story! And this one did not disappoint! In FFFK, we follow Lacey, a 17 year old, pursuing an acting career. She gets her first big break staring in a lead roll for a zombie movie. She is staying with her dad while she works and is having to sort of homeschool while she works on set. She isn't very enthusiastic about having to work on school stuff in her spare time- because the movie is keeping her pretty busy. In an effort to help keep his daughter on track, Lacey's dad hires a tutor named Donovan. Lacey isn't sure what she thinks about having a tutor/babysitter. She just wants to work on her movie then worry about her senior year. But when someone starts trying to sabotage her roll on set- she starts to take everything, including her school work a little more seriously. I really enjoyed this book!! There was a little bit of everything in here- romance, comedy, mystery, thriller, action etc. It was an all in one, of sorts. I really love how all her characters just flow and you become fully invested in them. Lacey had some major character growth from start to finish. And I really liked Donovan and all of the side characters. I was shocked when someone was trying to sabotage her, and I thought I knew who it was- HA! I was wrong, which was nice because I usually end up figuring out things like that! Overall, Kasie West is one of my favorite YA contemporary writers. Her writing is so good and always clean cut without all the garbage. I love that the most about her!! Kudos! Another winner for West - Totally recommend !

Rebels Blade by, Frost Kay

4 STARS!!
"Everyone has scars, love. Some wear theirs on the inside, and some bear them on the outside. But you know what? Those that allow the world to see their scars and move forward are the bravest and best of us. That is true courage."

We follow two POVS in this Story:

Sage- Alias aka Ruby- her father owns a forge, and she has grown up learning how to make weapons. Her father gets too ill to run the forge, so Sage takes over. Woman aren't really allowed to do men's work so she has to hide out in the back so no one knows its her making the weapons- She somehow gets involved in a rebellion and then taken by the enemy - the crown prince.

Tehl- The Crown Prince, is trying to do everything he can to save his people - but since his father the king has taken a step back- Tehl has had a lot to handle and weight on his shoulders. His brother, brings home a prisoner a girl with a rebels blade. He is willing to do, (almost) whatever it takes to get answers to the rebellions plans out of her.

I really enjoyed this first book of the series. At first it was a little slow going, but after about 20 percent it picked up and I became invested in the characters and the story line. Tehl and Sage don't realize it yet- but they both want the same thing, if they could get over their distain for one another for longer than 5 minutes- they might would get to the bottom of that and work together.

The cliffhanger was excellent and I can not wait to pick up the second book!! The banter and humor in this book was like a breath of fresh air! I loved all the side characters and what they brought to the book as a whole! Overall, I was really impressed and So far- I would recommend this series!

Defy Me by, Tahereh Mafi

3 Stars!!
“Happiness does not happen. Happiness must be uncovered, separated from the skin of pain. It must be claimed. Kept close. Protected.”

So....where do I begin? I liked it for sure... but pretty sure this is the Shatter Me series from another dimension cuz.... WOW.



Yeah so everyone is just so watered down now. Warner is like a totally different person. Not to mention Juliet...



Whoops... I mean Ella?!?!?



Honestly I feel like what happened in this book probably could have been shortened and made into a novella. I miss the feel of the old peeps and...



Kenji was in this one because he is just what is needed when having to deal with Juliet's errr Ella's emotions- constantly all over the place.

So yeah- Im here for the long haul but I wasn't very excited with this installment. It fell flat for me. Really hoping the last book goes out with a BANG!!

Shadow Me Novella 4.5 by Tahereh Mafi

4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟!! Who wouldn’t love a novella from Kenjis POV?!? He’s like literally the best part of the series. We don’t get much from this novella TBH. Just a few good laughs and smiles from the Ken-dawg. Which was fun. We see a tiny bit behind the scenes before all hell breaks loose with Juliet. Looking forward to book 5!!!

Limerence book 2 by, Claire C Riley

4 Stars!!
When you see life through the eyes of a vampire, you see the true colors of the world.



Well.... this was SOOOO not what I was expecting. Just like book 1 - thought I had an idea how this would go and well HAHAHA Jokes on ME!



Mia has almost let her humanity go



and she has started to embrace the vampire side of herself. The whole book she struggles to fight off her inner vampire, who calls herself Maya. A little alter ego action.



Then there is Evan - her trainer.... SWOON- they both want one another but its off limits.



There is a ton of chemistry between the two. He also is supposed to help Mia keep Maya at bay. That really doesn't work out too well.

The ending of this book had me BUG EYED.



I was like WHAT HUH??? WTAF just happened?? I don't know if this series will have another book or not. But either way- the ending was like so unexpected that I could almost be satisfied with its conclusion....maybe...