Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

If you can look pass the cliche cover and cheesy title, you will find that this novel is just as you expected. Cheesy, cliche and standard YA/NA romance story line and all but with a twist!

I already knew what the ending and major conflicts would look like before they even began but there is something with the delivery that made this novel stand out and made me decide to become a regular reader of this author's work.

Maybe it was Elec's honesty, because I go crazy for the brutally honest ones; or maybe it's Greta's straight forward and persistent personality, as she never held back her wants or feelings. They are both to the point and that makes for an interesting and occasionally shocking story.

This novel isn't a dual POV but it's split into two (2) parts. There is teenage Greta and Elec, then there is adult Greta and Elec, with all the issues and unsaid words from when they were teens. Both parts were interesting and very new adult in their delivery but at some point, part two became a recount of part one (1) but in Elec's POV. Though it was good to have his POV, it shortened the time we spent in the present and eventually became lacking in fresh content as I recollected, word for word, things I read a hour ago. It was just too soon for a revision.

Therefore, by time I got to the HEA, I felt cheated and unsure. Enough time wasn't spent on them as a couple, because they spent 90% of the novel single or with other people.

Still, I was kept entertained, intrigued and guessing throughout, because while I anticipated most of the happenings, there were a few that threw me and it helped that at no point in time I saw them as 17 year old teens. Especially not Elec.

I figured there was a separate story line behind Randy and Elec's constant disagreements but to finally get his history was a unique and shocking one that could have made a wonderful base for a story. It is controversial, unusual and the definition of drama. Unfortunately, it was a recollection and therefore I felt like we were cheated the quality of that particular content.

For what it lacked in present content, it made up with the writing style, background, characters and initial structure. It held alot of fairy tale towards the end but I didn't mind and only wish I could have been apart of the full process to such a heart felt ending.

I don't know if there will be a follow up but I am in love with both Greta and Elec's character and will look out for any potential content in the future.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23285593-stepbrother-dearest

Tethered By L.D. Davis

God I love them!!! I swear there is no other woman/man in the world like Emmet Grayne and Donya Stewart. I was wrestling with writing this review immediately after reading this novel or sitting on it for a day or two. I was completely wrung out, it's like running a marathon; I decided why not get it out of the way!

Instead of a trilogy or two part series, L.D. Davis gave us one really long book from Kindergarten to adulthood. We got to witness every single important event in Emmett, Emmy and Donya's life. I certainly didn't pay much attention to Emmett before and Donya was always in the background. While I know this isn't strange, it makes you stop and say wow! It also made me appreciate the adage of not knowing what's going on behind a smile. There was a masquerade ball worth of masks in this novel.

We didn't go back to Emmy's toddler years, but it still explained and highlighted many ironies and issues from the 'Accidentally on Purpose' series. It also made room for an update on Emmy and Luke, as well as, to catapult us into past events from a totally different angle and POV.

Thankfully, this novel is done in stages, as it separates itself in three fitting parts. There is the younger years, teenage into young adult and the adult years. You are never short of  drama and life altering decisions made under duress or anger, but boy was it real, intense and gripping! This is real life, for the most part and I am glad that it chose to highlight a few struggles that every day couples face in relationships, without money and fame.

I loved all the characters, even the ones who screwed up royally. I will admit, that I wasn't the #1 fan of this novel in the beginning, as I resented where we had to begin. By the end though, I appreciated the process and wanted to push my kindle back a few percentages. It wasn't all unicorns and rainbows in the end, but 3/4 of it was fixed and I sort of raised my brow at that. It seems every one gets a happy ending except one and I feel he deserves it too or shake up the others to make it even ground. After all, this novel is laced with mistakes on all character parts, especially the major ones.

Emmet and Donya are quite the couple. I love them individually and I adore them together. Even when I joined the members of their world, thinking this would never work, they surprised me. At one point in time, I had to call my sister who read this novel days before me to ask her if this book really have a happy ending. It was bleak times folks!

Donya is strong, independent, fierce, naive and one of my favorite female characters in a novel. It leaves me wondering where she was all that time in 'Accidentally on Purpose' but maybe that helped me appreciate her character now. I loved her, hated her, cried with her, laugh with her. I surely believed everything she said and felt. The emotions in this book are ridiculously powerful and if you are the sappy type, it's bound to leave you on your knees too.

Even though I love and understand Emmett, I don't think I connected with him like I did Donya. I was even ready to give him up for Jerry until my sister, once again, said wait until the end. Thanks sis :)
He was a constant, loyal, in need of some anger management classes and not afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve when he mattered. I also thought the man was sexiest when bent over a book!

If you love a roller coaster ride, then this is the story for you. You are never in one place or emotion too long and the shifts are powerful and impacting. You develop your own tether to the characters and their story because they ensure to take you on a journey.

Getting to know Sam and Fred better was lovely and I realize that I actually like Sam. She is the adorable, annoying mother that we love to hate and I never hated her once. She spoke her mind and bantered with Emmy like a devoted and caring mother would. She added humour, truth and clarity to a lot of issues and I admired and respected her opinion.

You can only get bored with this novel if you are not interested in the story line, or like me initially, hoped for some grown up sneaking! Even then, you eventually acclimate to what is offered and appreciate it for the base it provides.

The sex in this novel, was kept to the necessary and everything was given in just the right dosage. We were never overwhelmed with an issue. Honestly, this is a beautifully developed and edited novel. It carries just the same amount of drama as its sister series, but carries it's own identity, maturity, flare and most importantly, characters.

I appreciate this novel by the last page and I am satisfied with the story line, elements, development and ending. If anything I could ask for, is an ending to fit the realistic views this novel stuck to throughout. Every one seemed to have baby fever by the end o.O

L.D. Davis has a way of giving every one redemption and she surely likes all sides of a story, so while I am a little emotionally wrung out from this one, if she ever gets up to writing break away novels in this series, or starting fresh with another character, I am game!

I try, I really do, but it is hard to find things wrong with her wonderful work and execution. She brings you to the cliff and takes you back with time to spare. It was a beautiful tale of love, lost, life and the paths we travel every day to reach our destined end. Some of us will never reach it, but it surely would be nice if we did :)

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21839026-tethered

Savage Delight By Sara Wolf

You have got to be kidding me! All the time. All the time Sara Wolf, all the time! Sighz ... yup! It's another profanity cursing cliffhanger ending. It was almost predictable this time, but it still left us in the middle of a big life altering situation. As to where we are going and the so called happy ending, I can't see it! o.O

On the bright side, we learnt a lot more about Isis, Nameless, Sophia and Jack. Everyone else is utterly confusing and I don't see the need to even try, so I don't bother. This story is churning in a blender with a million situations, outcomes and characters. It's one big mess and I can't see it all straightening in one book.

Isis continues to be her crazy self and that's putting lightly. However, we finally get to see what lays beyond the sarcasm, wit and random acts of craziness. She is old enough to sleep over with a guy and be the crutch her mother needs, but her personality is that of a twelve year old. I will never understand that.

This story will annoy you. Especially if you don't read it in one sitting. The characters are immature and the conversations are petty, confusing and random. There is though, many moments of laughter, clarity and deep seeded issues that occasionally appear more mature, than the intended age group.

The revelations are very anti climatic and the major shockers continue to be the literal ending. I truly don't understand half of what I just read, so I left this novel more confused when I began. I do know though, that I liked it enough, to want to read the next. I love the characters of Jack and Isis but Knife guy will forever have my heart :)

We got Jack's POV this go. Sporadic as it was, it had it's moments of clarity also, when it wasn't repeating the exact thing that we read before. It is hard to explain, but the most annoying traits of these characters is what draws you to them in the first place.

Jack is a thick block of ice but I love when he describes his feelings for or towards Isis. Isis is annoying, plain and simple, but her witty comments and comebacks help to keep this twisted, confusing novel afloat. Each character play their roles well, but I still can't put together the pieces of the puzzles that is this story.

We finally spend some time with Sophia, but don't expect much on that front either. The chick is coo coo crazy and I don't see what every one else does in her. A part from her being the block between Jack and Isis, the girl is pure evil and quite the manipulator. Her act at the end of this book, I believe was strategically done, to make the rift even bigger between Isis and Jack.

This is a dark, twisted tale of high school kids who behave like 30 year olds with major Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys complexes. Nothing is what it seems and revelations are revealed in the blink of an eye without any build or release at the end. It's a cluster of everything that's crazy and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20759913-savage-delight