Kats Review: Rival

Rival by Penelope Douglas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved Madoc's story!!!

After reading Bully a few years ago I enjoyed the story but had some trouble reconciling why Jared was such a pain to Tate with the reasons given in the story. I did not have that issue with Rival.

Madoc Caruthers and Fallon Pierce started their relationship and dealt with adult issues at sixteen (far to young). When they were pulled apart based and kept apart based on lies (by Fallon's mother and to some extent Madoc's father) their animosity for each other coming out of misunderstanding and the love that they couldn't deny despite it all added a delicious angst to the story that made you want speed read ahead to find the resolution.

One of the best parts of the book was how both Fallon and Madoc had to reconcile their insecurities and issues to truly find that trust in each other first when Madoc found out Fallon was pregnant and had an abortion and second when Fallon overhead her mother making reference to what could have easily been perceived to be a sexual indiscretion with Madoc. I loved how Penelope walked you through their thought process from surprise to anger to doubt then ultimately trust.

Another good element of the book was how she developed Jax's character giving us a glimpse of his inner complexity. Looking forward to seeing the world through his eyes.

All in all I enjoyed this read and found it an excellent addition to the Fall Away series.

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Kats Review: Fugly

Fugly by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely loved this book!!!

The blurb totally drew me in and the story kept me reading like a total book junkie till the very end. This was a different kind of story unlike those where every character is unequivocally gorgeous. It is truly a thought provoking read that makes you ask the question…

What is your definition of beauty?

Lily Snow is not a beauty not physically anyway, she is plagued by insecurities as it relates to how she looks and has managed to convince herself that this does not affect how she lives her life and more importantly how she deserves to be treated by others.

Maxwell Cole is absolutely beautiful on the outside with a very troubling phobia that has haunted him most of his life. He’s aware that this is the “ugly” side of him and wants to be rid of it.

Lily and Max in essence are each other’s salvation. Max learns to look beyond the physical to the person within and Lily learns to truly believe in her beauty and in essence her self-worth.

One of the best parts of book for me was Mimi’s “note from the author” at the end that sums up perfectly what this story was about and in essence is why this is such a successfully written book. Without trying to plagiarize her words here is an excerpt from her note;

The book was never about a young woman looking for acceptance but about the derailing inner voice within determined to sabotage out best intentions and potential…

…we all know beauty fades. And true love does not. And that includes inner love…

…This story will inspire you to never give up and trust those who love you. There is a reason they love you: because you deserve it…

…just take a moment and try to see yourself through their eyes…

This is a complete and total must read!!!

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Kats Review: Not You It's Me

Not You It's Me by Julie Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Promising start that morphed into the ridiculous.

First of all I really enjoyed the start of the book, like really, like really really. The banter between the two main characters Gemma Summers and Chase Croft had me in stitches. There were literally moments when I laughed out loud while reading this book.

The story starts off with Gemma winning a pair of tickets to a basketball game in hope of igniting (not re-igniting) as stale relationship with her neighbor/boyfriend. I didn’t really buy into why she was with him based on how Julie described him. I mean besides have so so looks and being pudgy the man basically showed her no affection, the sex was bleh and he was a A-double hockey sticks (shaped like an S) to her most of the time. Gemma being gorgeous (if not a little self-deprecating) was more than enough confident not to allow crap from a guy like that.

Chase was your typical misunderstood millionaire that doesn’t do love and has a complicated past. I could forgive that since he and Gemma had so much chemistry. I especially enjoyed their interaction in his car after the basketball game (you’ll know what I mean when you read the book). I also enjoyed the dialogue written for her friends particularly Chrissy (pregnant and hormonal) who was hilarious.

Now on to where it got ridiculous for me…

1. After probably her fifth or sixth misunderstanding with Chase she runs away to her mother but first runs into her neighbor/ex-boyfriend who is so pissed at her he attempts to strangle her in building and after managing to get away surprise surprise does not report him, or tell her mother, or tell Chase (who btw goes after her to bring her home).

2. Chase’s cousin is a complete psychopath who tried to take away everything from him growing up (and is pissed that Chase will be CEO of the family company a position for which he wanted) tries to have Gemma killed after her ex-neighbor/ex-boyfriend along with Chase’s ex-girlfriend that used to sleep with Chase’s cousin kidnaps her and Chrissy (who is in labor) for ransom from Chase. What follows is Gemma getting shot by the idiot ex-boyfriend, getting away in car chase (an actual chase not the hero of the story Chase) only to crash the car and be taken by Chase’s cousin’s gooney to be driven off a bridge (have I lost you in the ridiculous yet???)

3. They fall in love inexplicably in 1 week, no… 5 days

4. Gemma’s father who she was never close to (from which she has her commitment issues) turns out be a millionaire, a secret she was hiding but her ex-boyfriend finds out and spills the beans to Chase’s brother who in turn uses the information to bring her half-sister to a party for the public announcement that Chase will be CEO to… well I’m not exactly sure to what… Anyhow Gemma’s half-sister instantly likes her and declares them friends.

5. Chase’s uncle turns out to be his father and the night his (non biological) father finds out both him and his mother die in a crash (supposedly at his non biological father’s hands although it is not specifically said in the book) over the very same bridge Chase’s cousin… well brother tries to have Gemma killed.

I still gave it though three stars mainly because Julie has a talent for making her characters funny and having that translated well in her book (which btw is not an easy thing to do).

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