Friday, August 28, 2015

Swoon-Worthy {Fictional} Guys From A-Z {I}

My Swoony Pick for the letter "I" is...

Ian O'Shea
From The Host
By Stephenie Meyer


{This is not who played Ian in the movie, but I picture him more like this. Also, I have no idea who this person is. Should I? Maybe. Probably not.}


Black hair, blue eyes, that's kind of...um,,, crazy attractive {at least that's something that I think is pretty sexy}

Sure, he was totally Anti-Wanda at first, but he quickly changed his mind, and realized that she wasn't as bad as everyone else thought. 

Once he made up his mind, he did everything he could to keep Wanda safe as houses. He even voted for his brother to be kicked out of their little hideaway when he tried to kill Wanda, But he isn't overly obnoxious with his protectiveness.

He is so, so, so, so super sweet, and patient. He doesn't push Wanda {too much}, he understands that she is confused about her feeling, and it doesn't help that Mel is in there too, causing even more confusion.

And speaking of Mel, and Ian's sweetness... He asked Mel if he could kiss Wanda, before actually doing it.

He tries so hard to always do what's right, and keep everyone safe.

It's really hard to not fall in love with Ian, he's just so... *SIGH* awesome.



Some of my favorite Ian quotes are:

"He knew what he was doing. He's my brother, yes, but he did what he did, and you are... you are... my friend."

He raised his hand as if to touch my chin, but I flinched and he dropped it. " That makes me so sick," he said, and his voice truly did sound as if he were nauseated. "And worse, knowing that if I hadn't stayed behind, I might have been the one to do it..."

"Jared is my past, another life. You are my present." He was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was rough with emotion. "And your future if you want that."

"You. Are. Not. Leaving. Me." His eyes blazed---burning brighter than I had ever seen them.

"It's not the face, but the expressions on it. It's not the voice, but what you say. It's not how you look in that body, but the things you do with it. You are beautiful."

"You deserve a life, too, Wanda. You deserve to stay."
"But I love her, Ian."
He closed his eyes, and his pale lips went dead white. "But I love you," he whispered. "Doesn't that matter?"



Do any of your favorite Swoon-Worthy boys have names that start with "I"? {First, last, or a nickname, it doesn't matter} If so, tell me in the comments below!!



Friday, August 21, 2015

Swoon-Worthy {Fictional} Guys From A-Z {H}

My Swoon-Worthy pick for the letter "H" is...

Hayate
From Pretear



Stop looking at me like that, okay?. I know he's a fictional anime character.

Why?

His EYES, they're oh so very blue *SIGH*

He's hilarious

He's oh so very blunt, and he tends to blurt out whatever he's thinking without running it through a filter. {Like calling Himeno a Tulip Headed Valley Girl} Now some people may find this trait annoying, but I find the honesty refreshing, and honestly? It's kind of entertaining. I'd always know where I stood with him.

He's hard headed and obstinate but completely adorable at the same time.

He can be so clueless about some things {like anything that has to do with Himeno and her feelings for him} but for some reason that makes him even more adorable.




Some of my favorite Hayate Quotes:


"Even when someone dies, they're not really gone. Life is like a big wheel--even if someone goes to the other side, the wheel never stops turning."

"I give up. I've completely lost. She's got a lot of guts. I have to admit, this little princess...really is the Pretear."

"I don't want another Pretear but you."


So what about you? Who are your favorite Swoon-Worthy boys?


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Review: Wild Hearts by Jessica Burkhart



My Rating: 4 Stars
Date Read: August 2015



Publication Date:  May 5, 2015
Paperback, 386 pages



Summary from Goodreads:

Enjoy Wild Hearts and the other standalone titles in Bloomsbury's contemporary If Only romance line centered around an impossible problem: you always want what you can't have!Brie Carter's father's land development business has taken her family all over the world,
but as soon as they arrive at their new home in Lost Spring, Wyoming, the town turns out to protest. They don't want a new hotel if the resident mustang population will be displaced or hurt as part of the deal. Then Brie meets Logan, a gorgeous local who has a special connection to the mustangs, and she is immediately drawn to him . . . and the horses. However, with Logan's father leading the protests and Brie's father refusing to budge, it's clear that their parents are heading towards an all-out war. Can Brie and Logan find a way to save the mustangs and be together? Or is their love doomed from the start?

This new title in the If Only line is the perfect summer read and proves that love flourishes in the wildest places!




My Review:



This book was another cute addition to the If Only Series. I've found that these books can be hit or miss, but I definitely liked this one. I liked the Southern Gentleman/Cowboy Logan. He was sweet and polite, and he respected Brie. He didn't treat Brie like crap just because he disagreed with what her father was doing.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Swoon-Worthy {Fictional} Guys From A-Z {G}

My Swoony Pick for the letter "G" is...


Garrett
From Breaking Dawn
By Stephenie Meyer


Do you remember Garrett? He's one of the nomads that came to stand with the Cullen's in Breaking Dawn. He's really just a supporting character, but he made an impression on me.


He's very brave {duh} he stood with the Cullen's against the Volturi, which takes a lot of courage.

He's quiet, and he likes to observe people, but when he does talk, he's pretty spot on with the things he says, and he's actually pretty funny too.

I liked how he held on to Kate when she tried to go after the Volturi when they killed Irina. Even though her special ability is to send a powerful {and painful} electric jolt through touch. But he didn't let her go until she calmed down, which I think is pretty amazing

Some of my favorite Garrett quotes are:

"This won't be the first time I've fought to keep myself from a king's rule. Here's to freedom from oppression."

"The redcoats are coming, the redcoats are coming."

"I have witnessed the bonds within this family--I say family and not coven. These strange golden-eyed ones deny their very natures. But in return they have found something worth even more, perhaps, than mere gratification of desire?"

"I came to witness. I stay to fight."

"If we live through this, I'll follow you anywhere, woman."

"You are an amazing woman."
 

Do any of your favorite Swoon-Worthy boys have names that start with "G"? {First, last, or a nickname, it doesn't matter} If so, tell me in the comments below!!

Monday, August 10, 2015

Review: The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak


My Rating: 5 Stars
Date Read: August 2015



Publication Date:  August 4, 2015
Paperback, 336 pages



Summary from Goodreads:

"When I met Oliver Perry, I had no clue he was the lead singer for The Heartbreakers. Unbeknownst to him, I was the only girl in the world who hated his music."

Stella will do anything for her sister—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD... for three hours. At least she met a cute boy at the Starbucks beforehand. A blue-eyed boy who looks an awful lot like...

Oliver Perry. Of course Starbucks guy is the lead singer for her least favorite band. Thanks, universe. But there may be more to Oliver than his world-famous charm, because even after she insults his music—to his face—he still gives her his number. Seriously, what is her life?

But how can Stella even think about being with Oliver—dating and laughing and pulling pranks with the band—when her sister could be dying of cancer?




My Review:



I liked Oliver. I did. But I can't say that he was my favorite character. I'd say that out of the 4 boys, Alec is my favorite, then Xander, and then it's a tie between JJ and Oliver. I actually found myself wishing she'd go for Alec or Xander instead of Oliver, but oh well, beggars can't be choosers.

I thought it was hilarious how Stella had no idea who Oliver was when she ran into him at Starbucks, but that's only because I could see myself doing the exact same thing. It was absolutely hilarious when Stella shouted at Oliver and the other guys. I thought that was a nice twist, instead of her falling all over herself just because they're famous. I also liked the fact that the guys all kind of took Stella under their wing and watched out for her.

This book kind of had an insta-love thing going on, and sometimes I find that really annoying, but with this book it didn't bother me as much.

I loved that Stella pushed Oliver out of his comfort zone and that she  {along with a little coaxing from his band mates} was the one to convince him that the band needed to play some of their old music.

I also really really liked the relationship that Stella has with her brother and sister. It's an unbreakable bond, and they'd all do anything for each other {something Stella proves when she stands in line FOREVER just to get an autograph for her sister} And I just so happen to share a birthday with the three of them, so that's pretty cool.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Swoon-Worthy {Fictional} Guys From A-Z {F}

My Swoon-Worthy pick for the letter "F" is...

Four {Tobias Eaton}
From Divergent by Veronica Roth


Why?

His EYES

He loves cake, I love cake....

He's this strong, tough, bad a** guy, but super sweet and caring at the same time

He's very protective

He's honest

He doesn't let his fears stop him, he ignores them




Some of my favorite Four Quotes:


"I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different."

"I'll be your family now."

"Got that gun?" Peter says to Tobias.
"No," says Tobias. "I figured I would shoot the bullets out of my nostrils, so I left it upstairs."

"I might be in love with you, I'm just waiting until I'm sure to tell you."

"Sleep," he says. "I'll fight the bad dreams off if they come for  you."
"With what?"
"My bare hands, obviously."

"Well, I would only go if there was cake."

"I want to be brave, and selfless, and kind, and smart, and honest."


 So what about you? Who are your Swoon-Worthy boys whose names start with "F"? {Last name, first name, or nickname, it doesn't matter.} Let me know!

Monday, August 3, 2015

Review: Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout



Every Last Breath

My Rating: 5 Stars
Date Read: July 2015



Publication Date:  July 28, 2015

Paperback, 400 pages



Summary from Goodreads:

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…


My Review:

This is the last book in Armentrout’s Dark Elements series, and honestly it was a bit of a bittersweet feeling when I started reading it {as it usually is, when an amazing series comes to an end} I successfully managed to NOT flip to the back of the book and read the end, which is actually an accomplishment for me. I did, however, read this book obsessively {who needs sleep anyway?} I also read it through my hour break at work instead of eating my lunch. {I was much too invested in the well-being of these characters to worry about something as trivial as food} It was great.

I was super happy that Layla chose the boy that she did, it really was the best option for her. Although it was still kind of heartbreaking because both of them loved her so much, and he was completely devastated that she didn’t choose him {do you like how vague I’m being here?}

Roth was still as sexylicious as ever, even though sometimes Layla wanted to strangle him { that feeling was mutual sometimes… Roth told Layla he wanted to throttle her on several occasions for making rash, life threatening decisions… but it was in the most loving way possible} I really just loved the dynamic between those two

Some of the twists that this book took were pretty interesting, I saw some of them coming, and others took me completely by surprise. There were things that I wish I could change {Spoilers Removed} but there wasn’t anything that I disliked so strongly that I ever considered not reading the rest of the book

I really liked the idea of the familiars being able to take human form, it was pretty neat that we are able to get a glimpse of their personalities.

Overall, I think it was a nice solid ending, but it also left things open to maybe having another book someday.

Also, at the end of the book there is a teaser for her new YA Contemporary novel, The Problem With Forever, and it was super fantastic {not that I’m surprised, I’m convinced that Jennifer can’t write a bad book.} The only bad thing about it is the fact that it doesn’t come out until sometime next summer *SAD FACE*