Half Truths by Claire Contreras Book Review!

"Oh, Mae." He sighed into the phone. "How could you be a footnote when you're the whole damn textbook?" - Claire Contreras, Half Truths

Image from Google/Amazon

Claire Contreras has done it again with her most recent novel, Half Truths. I have been a fan of her for years, have read several of her books, and this book was no exception. I picked up this book blindly after seeing who the author was and reading about it on a newly released list. I am so glad I did! 

 This story follows a college senior who transferred in to a new college to her, old college to several members of her lineage, a college with a suspicious past (and present) and secret societies that may be up to no good. There is so much suspense in this story, but not too much angst. While I have loved angst in the past and still do to an extent, I think I'm in a phase of reading where I prefer a little less because life can be stressful enough. Don't hear me say I don't love some good angst, I was just ready for a little break from some of the YA books that can be all angst all the time.

SPOILER ALERT! 

If you prefer to be completely surprised in a book,

don't read any further- I don't want to be 

responsible for ruining the story for you! 

 The character development of the two main characters, Logan and Mae (Amelia but she goes by Mae) was incredible.

 Logan has got to be one of my new favorite book beaus, hands down! He's just so... passionate, loving, charismatic, devoted, loyal, etc. etc. etc. All the makings of a great man! 

"If you were mine, I'd make it so that you never have any doubts." "You can't promise that." "I won't promise that. I'll just show you." 

There were parts of Mae’s story where I wanted to shake her and tell her to open her eyes, but overall and by the end she showed how strong of a character she is, especially when she had to overcome a pretty scary and intense situation. One of the most heartbreaking quotes I've attached below. I removed the name of the character and changed a couple of words just in case you haven't read the book and want to be surprised.

"******* hadn't killed me, but had managed to break me, and sometimes being broken felt like a heavier burden than the idea of not being here at all."

I can't imagine going through what she did, but it's so incredible to see her go through the struggle and come out strong on the other end! 

Continuing on...

I loved the romance of this story.

 I loved the feeling of getting into a book again and not wanting to stop reading.

 I love the other characters in this story and while they may not have had huge roles, I think the author was really successful in creating these support characters because that’s exactly what they turn out to be. 

There were definitely points in the story where I was on pins and needles waiting to see what was going to happen next and one or two times where I felt like there was a neon sign flashing danger, danger about a certain person or situation, but overall this book absolutely kept me entranced and reading to the end. The only down side is waiting until July for book 2 in this series, though I am SO glad this book didn’t end on a cliffhanger!! Can’t wait to read what’s next!

If I peaked your curiosity and I hope I did, check Half Truths out! 

Amazon
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Until then, happy reading, my friends! 

The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan - Review

I am now an addict of Kristen Callihan's books! I one clicked this bad boy after another author kept going on and on about it. So I dove in and I loved every.single.second.I'm not usually into football type stories but this one just grabbed me and sucked me in for the entire ride.

Anna Jones is a college student who has issues with relationships, love and kissing on the lips! She likes her men as hook ups and nothing more. No attachments, no relationship drama and no worries of getting your heartbroken. Her whole world is turned upside down when she meets star Quarterback, Drew Baylor, who just so happens to be sitting right next to her in Lit class. I have to give it to Drew, the boy was persistent! Even after Anna told him she did not "date" he was totally okay with having her as a "booty call", which is what they refer to each other as.

I loved every word, every sentence, every paragraph of this book! Right when I thought I had everything figured out with Anna and Drew, a big old fat wrench is thrown into the mix just to stir shit up! The two of them are hot as hell together and God have mercy can Kristen Callihan write a sex scene! Call the fire department cause I'm on fire!!!!!!!!!

I laughed so many times in this book I honestly felt like when I was reading Anna's POV, I was in my head! Her thoughts and reactions to situations were exactly how I'd react. I think my favorite was:

         "Never mind the fact that we have virtually no examples of a utopian society thriving in a real
          world situation," I say. One of the girls who has been mooning over Baylor since the beginning
          of the semester raises her hand, as if she needs permission to speak, "What about Atlantis?"

          Oh, Jesus Christ in a peach tree.

I laughed so hard at that one simple sentence I had tears in my eyes! This is only one of many of Anna's quirky thoughts. I loved everything about Anna. Some reviews said she was naive and let her "daddy issues" get in the way but honestly, I felt like Anna reacted to things as most girls who have issues with relationships would.

 I loved her will to fight as well as her weakness to struggle with her emotions. By the end she fought for what she wanted and that was Drew, even when he tried his damndest to push her away after his injury, she stayed. The scene where they have their epic fight, after his injury, and they start throwing each others clothes outside, was so intense yet it kind of brought everything together. It's hard to explain so just red the damn book!

Fix You: Books 1-3 by Christine Bell - Review

I read all three of these books in one day. This isn't a long drawn out series, it's short, sweet and has its hot moments. I wish there was a little more with the ex-boyfriend, but I like confrontation in my books so to each their own!

Olivia is your average college student who wants to conquer the world yet has so many issues with her family and with her oh so lovely boyfriend that she struggles to get through each day with a smile on her face. Then she meets Bash, who helps her out when her shitty boyfriend somewhat assaults her in a bathroom of the club he works at. I wanted so much more in that particular scene but whatever moving on. This is where Bash and Olivia kind of find themselves tangled in a very complicated web. Olivia's boyfriend gets Bash fired from his job at the club and of course Olivia feels bad so she seeks Bash out and asks for self defense classes.

Again, the three books in this series are short and an easy read, I just wanted a little more from the story. Don't get me wrong the book was great and the scenes with Olivia and Bash were freakin hot as hell, I'm just a glutton for intensity, fights and angst in the books i read LOL I know I know, again to each their own!

More Than This by Jay McLean Review~

"I'm thinking that maybe I'm really far from more than a lot liking you, Mikayla Jones." - Jay McLean, More Than This

This book was intense. It was overwhelming, heartbreaking, humorous, and healing. This is the story of Mikayla and her rescuer, Jake Andrews.

The book starts off with Mikayla going to prom with her boyfriend, James, and her best friend of several years, Megan. This is about the point where you start hating James and Megan.

After discovering what crappy taste Mikayla has in friends and boyfriends, Mikayla is introduced to Jake. Jake takes her in, makes her forget her hurt, and makes her laugh on what she thinks might be the worst night, ever.

Then, the night transforms into the worst night you could ever possibly imagine.

This is the point where you say, Thank you God for Jake Andrews. Jake is there to hold Mikayla, comfort her, provide for her, be her solace in a time where solace is very difficult to find. They barely know each other, but yet they find themselves in the other person. 

We're introduced to Jake and his wonderful group of friends. We've got Dylan (the big, strong, quiet guy totally in love with Heidi), Logan (the supposed playboy jerk), and Cameron (the good guy who's totally devoted to his Lucy). This group of people make a family. They are there for each other and they band together and include Mikayla in that family when they barely know her and she needs love more than anything else. 

I fell in love with all the characters in this book. One of my favorite quotes in it was from Cam, when he was talking about his Lucy and her love of her e-reader/reading...

"'To whoever wrote Fifty Shades of Grey,' Cam eyes the sky like he's thanking the Lord. We all laugh and drink." 

The rest of the book basically tells the story of Jake and Kayla and their life. They go off to college together. There are good times and bad, but through it all Jake's love for Kayla is everlasting. He's there for her, he knows her, and he'll do whatever he can to ease her pain and restore her heart. 

This was a great read to me. It was a little over the top with the dramatics and angst stuff, but it was still really good. Definitely worth the read, and I am REALLY looking forward to reading Logan's story next!