Book Review: Wait For You by J. Lynn

Wait For You by J. Lynn

Series: Wait For You #1

Genre: NA Contemporary

Publication Date: September 3, 2013

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Format: eARC

Pages: 384

Source: Received for review from publisher via Edelweiss

Some things are worth waiting for...

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago--an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe--please God--make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she's building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing...

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that's just so... so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet...

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she's has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for...(Summary grom Goodreads)

 I'm not going to lie, I read Wait For You months ago, and I've long since forgotten tons of details about the book. I do, however, remember reading this book in one sitting and becoming completely invested in the story line. This was my first Armentrout experience and it has definitely prompted me to have more Armentrout experiences.

Wait For You has the factors you can find in just about every New Adult book these days: A tragic event happens in the MC's past and she has to deal with it before she can accept new love into her life. Suffice it to say, the plot is not really this book's strongest point. So what is the strong point? The writing. Even now, I can distinctly remember the tension that was in every sentence. Armentrout has a serious knack for manipulating emotions.

It seems minor, but I have one main complaint about this book. I hate how Cam makes it abundantly clear that he is interested in her, but she insists that a guy like that couldn't possibly like a girl like her. Ugh. I get insecurities, I do. I'm a teenage girl. And I guess I understand why she would be insecure after everything she has been through. Still, it’s a pet peeve of mine in novels, probably because I see it so often.

I know that, for the most part, I did enjoy the characters and I was certainly rooting for their happily-ever-afters. They did not, however, make a lasting impression on me. I don’t remember much about them, though I do know that Cam and Avery (whose name I had to look up while writing this review) both experienced significant growth.

One of the things that I like most about this book is the way that the sexytimez are handled. I mean, they’re sexy all right. Like I said: Armentrout infuses so much tension into her writing, and that includes tension of the sexual variety. But the more mature scenes are done in a way that is classy, not trashy or obscene or disgusting. And that’s saying something because there are certain, uh, things in this book that are considered taboo and could have turned into an uncomfortable reading experience. Instead, Armentrout crafted something full of discovery, new feelings, and handling hormones.

In summary, I’m confident enough in the feelings that have lingered with me for this long to recommend Wait For You. It has a lot of depth and emotion. If you’re a NA lover, this is not one you want to miss out on. If you’re looking to make your first foray into the NA world, this might be a good one to start with.

Book Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Series: Standalone

Genre: Ya Contemporary
Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: eARC
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publisher for review, via Edelweiss

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking. (Summary from goodreads.com)

Well it looks like my first Sarah Ockler experience was a success! I was definitely captivated by the motorcycle hotness, absurd oath, and the touching father-daughter relationship. This is a book that will stick with me for a while.

Protagonist:
Jude is a character I had no issues connecting to. Sometimes I related to her so much that I kind of wanted to cry. She's the youngest child which means not only is she left to deal with everything on her own but she also has to live in the path that her sisters have already walked. She gets their hand-me-down clothes and their hand-me-down heartbreaks. I felt so bad the way her friends treated her and I respected the fact that her family came before their opinions no matter what. I absolutely loved what she was trying to do for her dad with the motorcycle. As a total daddy's girl, I really enjoyed Jude's relationship with her father. It was sweet and realistic. Jude has great values and I really liked and respected her.

That Vargas Boy:
Okay, guys, Emilio is HOT. Sarah Ockler put together the perfect YA boy: rides a motorcycle (and fixes them), has a bad reputation, a tragic story, and loves his mom. Jude has taken an oath to her sisters that she will stay away from all Vargas boys, but that becomes pretty difficult for her when she realizes that Emilio is not like his brothers. He is unfailingly sweet. He helps Jude out the best he can, even if he doesn't necessarily know what's going on. He doesn't judge her or her family, even though sometime they deserve it. Most importantly, he's always there for Jude. Simply said, I love him. I love the relationship between the two of them.

Plot:
So, Jude's dad has Alzheimer's, and his memory gets worse everyday. For some reason, when he thinks about his motorcycle, though, his memory becomes crystal clear. In an attempt to help restore her father's memory, Jude makes it her mission to get his old motorcycle fixed up. Enter hot boy, insensitive friends, infuriating but well-meaning family members, and old western movies. It's an emotional story line with perfect pacing, leaving me completely engaged throughout the entire book.

To summarize:
This book rocked my hypothetical socks. It's a great addition to the contemporary YA world, one that will stand out in my mind for a while. I connected to it very strongly, and even if you don't find the same connection, I guarantee you will find something in this book that worms its way into your heart. This is a book I'd most definitely re-read.