Short reviews: Hidden Wings + Broken Wings by Cameo Renae

Title: Hidden Wings (#1)
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: January 16, 2013
Pages: 204
Series: Hidden Wings
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise. As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.

Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is.

A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.

**REVIEW**

For those who are looking for a quick, young, and uncomplicated storyline. However, I found the writing to be incredibly unrefined and without structure or finesse. Everything felt very scattered. The protagonist was a little unbelievable and the characters lacked emotional depth, making them hard to connect with. This is a quick-paced read to pass the time.

(2.5/5)

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Title: Broken Wings (#1)
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: June 1, 2013
Pages: 296
Series: Hidden Wings
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Emma’s world is falling apart, and Kade, the only one who seems to hold her together, is missing. With death lingering right outside their door, decisions must be made before it’s too late.

The Midway has refused to send help, so they are left to seek out the only other who can stop Lucian.

A perilous quest sends Emma and a few Guardians into the Underworld, where the unimaginable abide, to beseech the Prince of Darkness himself. Lucifer.
Now, they must endure the deadly levels of Hell, which not one …mortal or immortal… has ever survived. Prepare for love, loss, and the unexpected.

**REVIEW**

Despite only feeling so-so about the first installment, I went ahead and picked up 'Broken Wings.'

I was intrigued by Kade and the promising plot, and ended up exceptionally underwhelmed by the unbelievable and convenient quest into Hell. It left me completely unfazed and I found myself skimming the book, either bored or just wanting to finish it.

The deal with Lucifer's son was a fun twist, though, as a character he was incredibly unrealistic. The ending was abrupt and I almost would've purchased the third book just to finish the half-hanging scene, if I hadn't known better. This will be it for me.

(2/5)

Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Stealing Parker (#2)
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Published: October 1, 2012
Pages: 265
Series: Hundred Oaks
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

**REVIEW**

I'd like to start off by pointing out that I read 'Stealing Parker' sporadically through a long period of time, sometimes going weeks between picking it up again.

I enjoyed 'Catching Jordan'  (Kenneally's debut) thoroughly and found myself so impressed by Kenneally's ability of incorporating such fresh characters into what we already know so well as the genre of "contemporary romance" where there's all too often familiar oh-I've-read-this-before characters involved.

I can't say 'Stealing Parker' lacked of interesting character ideas but from the get-go I had a hard time fitting the pieces.

Parker Shelton certainly was no bore in text; good Christian girl, star of the softball team, her school's valedictorian, victim of upsetting family scandals, and a wild flirt, are words to outwardly describe her. 

Between learning about Parker's faith and doubts as a Christian and her former devotion to church, her quitting softball due to her mother's unforgiving scandal of coming out as a lesbian (and leaving for another woman), and not only being an "infamous hook-up" but also getting involved with the new coach of the football team.. I couldn't help but look at this girl as a Rubik's Cube.

Parker had many strong sides and many personal stories to bring to the table, but at the end of the day it felt inconsistent and resembled trying to follow two completely different maps that'd been torn up and taped into to one.

The many sub-storylines in 'Stealing Parker' distracted me from whatever I was probably meant to pay more attention to and I ended up feeling like I was jumping around, not really knowing where to go or where to look.

Let's talk about Brian Hoffman already, the twenty-something-year-old football coach and forbidden love interest of Parker.

I just don't know. I was incredibly curious as to how Kenneally would work with the subject of a teacher-student relationship (which makes us cringe more than not). 

To our luck, Brian is young and assumed to be good-looking, but I couldn't comprehend how it even came about that Parker and Brian would take it to taboo grounds from the day that they first met, there wasn't much time between those two stops. Judging from the innocent flirting there wasn't anything that told me "oh, this is getting somewhere" before it suddenly did.

From the start I didn't particularly find an attraction to Brian, there was something about him that made me crinkle my nose or raise an eyebrow. May it be uncertainty or hesitation. Why was he doing this? What were his intentions? Was he using her?  There was a lot about the established relationship that neither made sense nor were clear to me. When things started to get raunchy I found myself wanting to take shelter.

For me, Brian did overshadow the story considering the other characters that could've been more relevant, such as Will and Drew who were still a big part of 'Stealing Parker' but not nearly as much as to attach me.

I rooted for Will, all the way. He was a real sweet guy. I was disappointed so little actually happened between him and Parker or had the chance to happen before it was cut short.

I wonder if I'd wanted to invest more emotions in the story if 'Stealing Parker' had only focused on one potential relationship and built to convince you of it - Parker and Brian or Parker and Will, instead it ended up feeling scattered and tangled.

'Stealing Parker' is a coming-of-age story dealing with many issues regarding family and friendship as well as faith and acceptance, and I'm sure it will hit home for a lot of people, just not for me this time.

(2.9/5)

Review: Loving Summer by Kailin Gow

Title: Loving Summer (#1)

Author: Kailin Gow

Published: May 27, 2012

Pages: 250

Series: yes

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: Summer has always looked forward to spending her summers at her Aunt's beach house with the Donovans. To her, summers at Aunt Sookie's beach house was magical, especially getting to spend time with the Donovans - her best friend Rachel and Rachel's brothers Nathaniel, and Drew. Here at Aunt Sookie's beach house, they can be anyone and anything they dreamed. For Summer, she had always wished to become as pretty as Rachel and for her brothers to think of her as more than Rachel's friend. For Nat and Drew, summers at Aunt Sookie's beach house meant fun and escape, a place where they go to with their mom and sister for the summer, away from city life. They never thought this summer would be different. They never thought things would change as much as they did...and it all began with them falling for and loving Summer. 

**REVIEW**

The synopsis of 'Loving Summer' made me think of 'The Boys Next Door' by Jennifer Echols and the 'Summer' series by Jenny Han - my love for YA fiction started there and as I'm writing this I'm noticing a pattern.. love triangles that involves brothers (I'm ignoring the voice in my head saying that's weird.) 

I do like me a good love triangle, as long as it's well-done and believable. 'Loving Summer' featured a love square and I have yet to read a novel where I can actually make the connection as to how three guys can fall for this one girl.

It wasn't realistic having these gorgeous boys claim to love Summer, at the same time, without it being clear or coming across what it was that was so spectacular about her.

The relationship Summer struck up was really out of the blue as were the love confessions suddenly hailing from left and right, people pouring their hearts out.

Wherever Summer turned there was a boy. And this girl could not make up her mind. One boy she'd loved all her life, one she's dating, and one she has momentarily thoughts of going further with - it just made little sense.

There were many melodramatic situations and ones so cheesy I just found myself smiling.

I can't really place 'Loving Summer' -  it was a super quick read for me; having only read for a little while I was shocked when realizing I was already halfway through. Everything flew by really fast and I didn't have enough time to grow feelings for anything or connecting with the emotions presented in the book.

'Loving Summer' also contained serious family issues but each of them were passed by rather than explored in a way to really attach the reader in the matter, it ended up feeling scattered and messy to me.

It amazes me every time how much impact an ending has. Without having gotten resolution to any problem 'Loving Summer' just ended, leaving in the midst of a giant tangle, literally as if several pages were missing. Or several chapters. And then comes an epilogue. In this case it felt like an easy way out. Now all I can feel is that this novel was unfinished.

The ending, unfortunately, took away a lot for me and I won't be picking up the following installment. I wished I'd liked 'Loving Summer', it had potential - it was really okay at its core (absolutely not a bad book) but ended up not working for me.

(2.8/5)

Review: The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Title: The Summer of Skinny Dipping

Author: Amanda Howells

Published: June 1, 2012

Pages: 306

Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: After she's snubbed by her snooty cousins in the Hamptons, 16-year-old Mia Gordon meets next-door-neighbor Simon. And from the very first time he encourages Mia to go skinny dipping, she's caught in a current impossible to resist.

Amazon Summary: Grounded, logical Mia is trying to cope with a summer that hasn't been what she expected. Her vacation in New York's tony Hamptons with her extended family was supposed to be about spending time with her firecracker cousin Corinne and her sympathetic aunt as relief from her mother's criticism and her parents' fights about money and status.

But quickly the bubble bursts: her aunt is tense and preoccupied while jaded Corinne is more interested in drinking and her cool friends. Adrift, Mia can't help wanting to be part of Corinne's circle, even though she doesn't like these girls. Struggling to remain true to herself, she strikes up a friendship with Simon, the boy next door. Through late-night walks on the beach, the teens become more than friends. A skinny dip after a storm brutally ends Mia's summer—but not the growth she's achieved.

**REVIEW**

Confession right away: I'd taken the synopsis all too literal before purchasing this book. Basically my interpretation of the summaries had been completely off. I'd expected this to be about Mia, whom, one night as she's swimming in the ocean, either drowns or comes close to it and that the story would take you to moments in her life. You know, that kind of book.

In case anyone (er, doubtful) makes the same mistake.. well, it's not that kind of book. This was a light summer read, however, it'll address heavier problems throughout - a handful of dysfunctional family, friends, and relationship issues. Also, most importantly, how the outside can fool what's on the inside, what's really going on.

Although having misunderstood the storyline I kept expecting something that wasn't going to happen. I kept looking for the night she would go in the water and "get caught in a current" and have her out-of-body/flashback experience type of thing. So I literally spent half the book wondering when when when it was going to happen and why Howells kept dragging it out.

My bad.

So let's talk about the actual story. I had a very hard time getting into the book, it just didn't grasp me. It was slow-going with minimum action.

The storyline will go back-and-forth between Mia's discomfort with family and friends. I did appreciate how Howells portrayed the different relationship issues taking place, it felt real, but that was about it. I was mostly annoyed by Corinne and Gen and their behavior.

Enter Simon. Really just suddenly there, all words and oddness. Maybe I've gotten too used with mysterious or subtler types because Simon was all talk and I was experiencing it to be too in-your-face-esque.

Sometime after Simon's entrance a row of nights will follow of which Mia sneaks out of her bedroom window in the middle of the night to meet Simon and hang around on the beach; him trying to convince her to skinny dip with him.

It was surprisingly natural and relaxed. Even though it's a given something will spark between them, I had no such sense of the matter. There wasn't any obvious hint of attraction and when they do take their friendship to the next level, I was still locked in on them just being friends.

As the novel was starting to come to its end, I had no prediction of how it was going to wrap up. Nothing remarkable had happened until then.

I must say it was the last few chapters of 'The Summer of Skinny Dipping' that really had me not be, well, bored with the book. The pace was starting to slightly pick up, things started coming together, people started coming around.

I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. It was exactly what the story needed, something bigger than summer, a disapproving mom, and a friend who'd gone down the wrong path. Something with an impact, with meaning. I hadn't been attached enough to feel sad, but I was glad the story got more purpose and feel.

(2.5/5)

Review: Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Title: Saving June

Author: Hannah Harrington

Published: November 22, 2011

Pages: 327

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: Everyone’s sorry. But no one can explain why.

Harper Scott’s older sister, June, took her own life a week before high school graduation, leaving Harper devastated. So when her divorcing parents decide to split up June’s ashes, Harper steals the urn and takes off cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going—California.

Enter Jake Tolan, a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession…and an unknown connection to June. When he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what Harper needs. Except…Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn her life upside down—again.

**REVIEW**

‘Saving June’ spoke to me. I was intrigued by the combination of loss, adventure, and love. The beginning was promising - the pace was just right to quickly set the story and the writing was steady. However, even though a lot happened during the trip to California the encounters failed to interest me with events coming and going in equal speed.

After finishing ‘Saving June’ I was sure about one thing, I’d wished for more depth. Much more depth. In the beginning Harrington hinted that there might be some mystery-solving elements surrounding June’s death and why she committed suicide - but there wasn’t, thus I didn't get the answers I'd sort of hoped for.

I liked how authentic Harper’s reaction to losing June was. It was a refreshing, less commonly shown angle on grief - to shut oneself off, suppress all emotions. Harper didn’t cry for June. They hadn’t been close. June had always been the pride of the family, Harper was in comparison a failure. But she cared so much to steal June’s ashes, run away from home, and take her where she knew June wished to go.

I wasn’t sure how realistic Jake joining the trip to California would be since he was a complete stranger to Harper and Laney, but Harrington made it work. At first I enjoyed Harper’s snappiness towards Jake but eventually it was just plain rude, just as Jake’s secrecy started to really get to me; how he was so closed-mouthed about revealing anything about himself or his bond to June. It was annoying, and when you do find out what he’d been keeping from Harper, I wasn’t impressed.

As soon as Harper, Laney, and Jake takes off on the trip, that whole part (which is about ninety-five percent of the book, I’d say) just turns into jelly, which is left to be interpreted ones own way. I found very little significance to the occurences that occupied the road trip, it seemed their unexpected encounters and detours were mostly there to "past the time." June was mostly forgotten.

I was disappointed not getting the anticipated closure or satisfaction when Harper finally gets to release June’s ashes. I’d expected a certain feeling, maybe to be moved. It didn’t do anything for me. And only hours after finishing ‘Saving June’ I’d already forgotten that I had and was about to pick it up again to finish it. It wasn’t memorable enough for me.

(2.5/5)

Review: Going Under by Georgia Cates

Title: Going Under

Author: Georgia Cates

Published: Mars 10, 2012

Pages: 347

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

**REVIEW**

‘Going Under’ was one of those books with a misleading title as well as cover - I like both, but they didn’t reflect the story. They suggested something much deeper and struggling than what the high school love story was.

What you gather from the book description of Jesse trying to steal Claire from Forbes only to put him in his place didn’t carry out for long in the book and the “feud” between Jesse and Forbes was barely anything to acknowledge.

‘Going Under’ isn’t a new story - it’s already been told so many times and I was disappointed not having been taken off guard by any supposed twists - and the plot is predictable from start to finish, everything you think or expect is going to happen will happen.I hit a rough patch fairly early on and from there it was obvious I wasn’t going to be taken on a spectacular journey. The pace resembled a three-steps-forward-and-one-step-back dance.

The hero and heroine were your typical bad boy “with a good heart” and good girl “with a wild side” pair. I would’ve wished for more emotional build-up with them. Just more heartfelt emotion other than physical attraction. It was all rushed since their pre-relationship was based on confusing games that quickly switched to real feelings without much explanation.I’d say Claire’s feisty best friend, Peyton, and Jesse’s teammate, Dane, would’ve been a more fun and interesting couple. I’d root for them.

[Spoilers ahead!] I was bothered by how unnecessarily harsh Jesse was when he broke it off with Claire and very much bothered by how Claire turned into Desperation herself, clingy, and pushy. And how everything was just about being physical. [Spoilers ended!]

The only time I got a real reaction was at the end where you practically walked into a wall. It had me speechless due to being so abrupt and.. strange, almost as if Cates created such an odd ending just for the dramatic effect. Then follows the epilogue that wrapped up the story with a perfect red bow.

There were a bunch of mistypings (two examples, “me” instead of “you” and “done” instead of “down”), I couldn’t help but notice since the story failed to interest me enough to overlook them. Basically this was a pass-the-time/one-eye-on-the-TV type of book for me. It was just flat.

(2.5/5)