Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

I bought this book a while ago but just read it. Let me tell you right now…stupid move. Like, really stupid. This book was amazing and just made me feel so many things.

I really liked and connected with Parker. She reminded me of me in many ways. She’s very focused on her school and such. When she found Julianna’s journal, something sparked a change in her, and it was so interesting to watch. She realized that life was only a one-time thing and she needed to take advantage of her one wild and precious life.

Oh goodness Trevor was adorable. It was easy for me to see how much he liked her, even in the beginning. He clearly cares about Parker and wants to help her. He’s definitely one of the good guys, and he’s tied with Jase Garrett from My Life Next Door as my number one favorite good guys!

Kat, Parker’s best friend, was hilarious. I loved her truck driver mouth. On the other hand, I disliked Parker’s mom. She needs to let go and not be such a pushy mother. She cared more about Parker’s GPA than her actual feelings.

I adored the plot. The journal entries were really cool and I loved reading Parker’s reactions to them and how she drew inspiration into her own life. I also thought the writing was beautiful. The Robert Frost references felt perfect to me, I was happy that the romance was not the fore-front of the book. It was perfect to me in how it progressed. Very sweet.

The greatest thing that this book made me feel was hope. The ending was so hopeful. And perfect.

I’m not going to do my favorite swoon-worthy quote because you guys should enjoy it for yourselves so here’s my favorite all-around quote:

“But it seems to me that the experiences that stay with you, the things you’ll always remember, aren’t the ones you can force, or go looking for. I’ve always thought of those things as the ones that somehow find you.”

Rating: 5/5 Tar Heels!

Review: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others’ minds. Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant, and in this world, the voyants commit treason simply by breathing.

But when Paige is captured and arrested, she encounters a power more sinister even than Scion. The voyant prison is a separate city—Oxford, erased from the map two centuries ago and now controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. These creatures, the Rephaim, value the voyants highly—as soldiers in their army.

Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master. Her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine—a young woman learning to harness her powers in a world where everything has been taken from her. It also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut. 

When I got this for Christmas, I had two feelings: total excitement and a bit of wariness. From the reviews I read, I was scared I would just not get this book. Thankfully, this was not the case!

Paige was my favorite type of heroine. She is very headstrong and beyond loyal. She would risk her own life for her friends. She was hesitant to trust, but with good reason. She’s super stubborn and rebellious, not that I blame her, because it is her defense mechanism. She’s so dang kick-ass!

I’ll admit I was extremely hesitant about Warden. He’s immediately portrayed as the enemy but I always knew there was something more to him. He’s multilayed, and he’s at his best when he is vulnerable and completely honest. He did make some mistakes, but I forgave him pretty quickly. I completely adored him, especially at the end of the book.

There were a lot of secondary characters but my favorite was Nick. He always helped Paige out when she needed it and he was super sweet. I had mixed feelings about Jaxon, Paige’s ‘boss’. I don’t know if he wants to help Paige or take advantage of her powers. And I hate Nashira with a burning passion. I hope she gets what is coming for her.

The plot was very unique. I thought, from the review I read, that I would be super confused because there is a lot of world building. I can see how it would be confusing but I kept up pretty well. The writing was exquisitely beautiful. ‘Nuff said. I knew the romance was coming, but it was still unexpected for me. There was no insta-love, like, or even tolerability; it was insta-hate. But it developed so slowly and wonderfully that I loved every second of it. You will too!

There isn’t a title or even a release date for this book! I am so excited for book 2, whenever it should come out.

Favorite Swoon-worthy Quote: His breath was hot. The kiss was slow. Don’t stop, don’t stop. I couldn’t think of anything but those words: don’t stop. His hands ran up my sides, my back, and clasped me. He lifted me onto a crate. I placed my hand against his neck. I felt the thick beat of him. His rhythm. My rhythm.

Rating: 5/5 Tar Heels!

Blog Tour: Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy - Review + Giveaway!

Breakout New Adult sensation Monica Murphy returns with a hot new contemporary romance—a heartfelt story of second chances, forgiveness, and redemption.



Commitment. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life. 



I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.

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This book was received from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review.

After absolutely falling in love with Drew and Fable, I was interested to read about Colin and Jen. While OWG and SCB were some of my favorite NA books out there, I really enjoyed Three Broken Promises, but it wasn’t my favorite in the series.

I insanely felt bad for Jen. Her home life wasn’t the best, especially after her brother died in Iraq. She had nowhere to go and the situations she found herself in were less than adequate. But she was strong and eventually had a better life.

Colin was Jen’s rock and was always there when she needed him. But he had a mess of baggage on his own so he could only be there as a friend, even when they both wanted more. He carried around an immense amount of guilt, even though I didn’t think he should feel that guilty. But I can see why he did. He’s definitely a sweetheart.

It was so nice to see Drew and Fable again! Having a successful relationship of their own, they were very free to lend advice to Jen and Colin. I missed them and cannot wait for their novella!

I am a big fan of Monica’s writing. As always, she makes me feel ALL of the feels. But with this book, I wasn’t as wowed with the romance as I was with Drew and Fable. I don’t know, something about the two of them kept me from completely loving the book. Nevertheless, Monica brings some serious sexy times!

Even though this wasn’t my favorite, I am stoked for Owen’s book, Four Years Later. I’m loving the synopsis!

Favorite Swoon-worthy Quote: His lips are warm and soft, the kiss simple. My emotions are anything but, colliding within me and dying to get out. Chaotic and out of control, as I realize this is the very first time our lips have actually touched. We've kissed each other's cheeks and foreheads, but never lips.

Rating: 4/5 Tar Heels!

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About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

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