Novel Review: Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, #1) by Katie McGarry

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5 (maybe more)

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Spoilers?: Vague.

Buy it here: Amazon (or the paperback). Book Depository. Barnes and Noble. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Something Specific:

That was Special:

•  The pet names. This is mentioned in the review, but I just rather liked it. Also, the romance. Especially the romance.
• The writing was really nice, too. There were some good similes and metaphors used, and several times a reference to Alice in Wonderland was used, usually in reference to Echo's dad, which I thought was interesting. 

Quotes:

• "Do you believe in God?" "I do." "Swear it to your God." This was something that I really liked. I've seen God used in very different ways in books, and movies and whatever, but I don't think I've seen it used liked this. As in, asking someone to swear to God because they believe in it, and not just assuming they do because you do. That just kind of meant a lot to me.

Review:

I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. I have practically no words to describe how much I loved this book. I finished this book quite a while ago, even, and have been having a ridiculously hard time getting this review written ever since.

I’m going to tell you a little story before I really start this review, okay? Okay. I’ve had my eye on this book since about the time it came out, when the blog tour was happening and so many people were talking about it. I almost got an ARC of it at one point, too, because my bookstore had one in. But that was before the hype, and so I didn’t. It was horrible. Ever since, I just haven’t got around to it. But then Amazon/Barnes and Noble had the hardback on sale, at the same price as a normal paperback, and so I thought, “Why not?” I was even thinking of not getting the hardback, but I’m so glad I did, because the hardback is so pretty. The binding is just awesome. (Would be better if the bottom hadn’t somehow gotten bent and ripped a little bit before I received it, but whatever.) Then I got it and kind of pushed off reading it, because at that point I knew I was going to love it and wasn’t going to want it to be over. But I couldn’t resist for very long, started it, and then it was over and I was so upset that it was over and what was I going to do now? I’m still not completely over it, but that’s okay.

Storytime’s over, okay? Now onto the actual review.

So, I already said that I love this book. Um, that’s really the most important part. I loved it and would definitely recommend it. Definitely.

So Echo used to be a very popular girl, and is still friends with some of the popular kids, but mostly everyone avoids her. Because she disappeared from school for a while a couple years ago and came back with scars on her arms. Now, she’s just trying to get by until college while her friends are pushing her to get back with her old boyfriend, her mother’s been put away and her brother’s dead and her father not only doesn’t talk to her but is also married to a women Echo doesn’t like and who is also pregnant.

Noah is also an outcast, aside from his two other loner friends. Only he kind of prefers it that way. He’s been going through foster homes for years since his parents died, is working and somewhat getting through school, while trying to find a way to get his little brothers back.

Echo and Noah start noticing each other more, not particularly in a good way, and then Echo has to tutor Noah and things kind of change for them.

I like Echo. I like Noah. I also like Echo with Noah. I really enjoyed both of them, whether together or not. They were different from each other, had different voices, which helps since it’s told in alternating points-of-view. I also really liked learning about their pasts. Echo’s is very broken, and she doesn’t remember how she got the scars, and finding it out with her was very well done, very exciting. Noah is a bit broken and is aiming for a misguided notion, but it’s understandable, and I liked being with him as he found himself.

I felt that perhaps Echo and her father should have had more of a talk, but overall I liked what happened with her. I knew, at least had thought of, what was going to happen with Noah and his brothers, and I was very happy with how it turned out. Very happy.

The romance in this book is very nice. I loved how Noah and Echo got along, their sexy times were very nice, and the progression of it all worked really well, I think. I liked how they didn’t have to have sex, either, and that Noah did it all a little differently and how well that worked. Their ending was very nice, as well. These two just make me smile, and I’m having a hard time expressing how much I enjoyed them together.

Also, Noah calls Echo a pet name, and I hadn’t realize how infrequent pet names are, or at least how little I’ve seen them, in books, and it made me think that that should change. I like pet names, though, and I thought it just really worked for him and was really sweet. Although Noah is very sweet with Echo, and it’s just very swoon worthy and I love it.

Now, Echo’s ex-boyfriend and friends. I didn’t really like her ex-boyfriend from the start, and I really liked how that ended and what happened with it regarding Noah. Really liked it. I also didn’t really like Echo’s friends. Lila is her main one, the one that’s been behind her the whole time, but I didn’t really believe her. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t like her and I didn’t believe her, and I didn’t really think that she had as good of intentions as she apparently did. I know that she does have her own novella, though, and I do plan on reading it at some point, and maybe that will change my mind.

And Noah’s friends. First of all, Isaiah. I like Isaiah. I don’t think we really got to know him too well, but I did like him, and I know he gets his own story (in the third book of the series), and I’m very much looking forward to reading it. Secondly: Beth. I didn’t like Beth very much. She’s crude and rude and mean in general, but I understand that she has her reasons. And I’m also looking forward to getting to know her better, to see what’s in her head and what those reasons really are, in the second book of the series (out in May! I’m so excited!).

When I started this book, I figured it would be similar to Simone Elkeles’ books. And, in some ways it is. It’s loosely similar in the dramatics, and it’s smutty in a similar way, kind of. But these characters don’t seem to need to have sex or wait till the book is almost over to actually get together. There doesn’t seem to be such a format as Elkeles’ books. Also, it’s much more serious, with a broken past that needs healing. Whereas I do love Elkeles’ books, and always get them when they’re released, I almost feel like this one is a step up. I really hope that the next books go in the same direction, are as refreshing and good as this one was.

So, I loved this book. I loved it so much. I’m very much looking forward to reading other books by McGarry, particularly the other books in this series, and she is definitely on my author-to-watch and pre-order list.

Manga Review: Stepping on Roses, Volume 9, by Rinko Ueda

Rating (Out of 5): 2

Publisher: VIZ Manga (Shojo Beat)

Volumes: 9

Spoilers?: YES!

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes & Noble. Powells. RightStuf!.

Goodreads Synopsis:

  

A rags-to-riches romance from the creator of Tail of the Moon!Poor Sumi Kitamura… Her irresponsible older brother Eisuke keeps bringing home orphans for her to take care of even though they can barely afford their own basic needs! Just when Sumi's financial problems become dire, wealthy Soichiro Ashida enters her life with a bizarre proposition: he'll provide her with the money she so desperately needs if she agrees to marry him. But can Sumi fool high society into thinking she's a proper lady? Moreover, is it worth giving up everything for this sham of a marriage?

Sumi tries to get Soichiro’s company back for him, but she doesn’t realize that he’s about to embark on a life-changing opportunity. Meanwhile, Nozomu is hellbent on marrying Sumi regardless of any consequences. Can anything stop Nozomu at this point? Or will Sumi and Soichiro find a way to be together?

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen plus audiences.

What Am I Going To Miss?:

What am I going to miss about this series, now that it's come to an end?

1. I will probably miss some of the drama, just because that was something I read this series for, even if it wasn't very good at points.
2. I don't know what else I'll miss about this series. I would say the characters, but I didn't like the main ones, and I didn't very attached or get to know the few that I did actually like enough to miss them.

Review:

I’m not… I’m just not even sure with this series anymore. I will say, though, that I’m glad it’s over.

(There will be complete spoilers in this review. Full spoilers. This is the last volume, it upset me, there will be ranting, there will be spoilers. Okay? Okay.)

So in the last volume, I was hoping that Sumi would buck up, actually do something, stand up to Nozomu. That… didn’t really happen. First of all, Nozomu attacked Sumi in this volume, and, good for her, she actually hits him and runs away. And then has sex with Soichiro. Also, good for her. Nozomu, throughout all of this, though, is literally going psychotic. After attacking Sumi, he chases after her and axes his way into a room, only to find it empty. Then he almost/actually threatens to shoot Soichiro. Also, good for Soichiro, in that he plans to climb his way back up in society on his own.

Then Nozomu brings Sumi to meet his father and declares that they’re getting married soon, be damned the fact that he’s still supposed to be married to Miu. Sumi doesn’t like it, but apparently has no say in the matter, seeing as how no one listens to her. And then, ohmygod you guys, Nozomu’s father visits them to tell them that Sumi is Nozomu’s long lost sister (remember how Eisuke, Sumi’s brother, found her abandoned in a rose bush when she was younger? Yea, apparently that was important, even though I don’t remember it being mentioned aside from in an extra story).

And this is where everything goes downhill, rapidly (not that it was going all that well before this, really). Whereas most people think that would end a relationship, it doesn’t hinder Nozomu’s plans any. He’s still planning to marry her. And she still goes down the aisle with him! He even makes it so she doesn’t have to say “I do”, because the priest/pastor/whatever has been told that her silence is agreement. She doesn’t do anything to stop it but some mild protests before the big day. Everyone is freaking out, but Nozomu apparently doesn’t give a damn.

Throughout all this, Soichiro has been offered, by his very nice new boss, to go to England with him. Soichiro is seriously thinking about it, and it made me wonder for a moment (doubtfully, because it was barely even a possibility that he was leaving Sumi), but he shows up at the wedding, barging in and whisking her away (right before Sumi and Nozomu got to kiss, so I guess that’s the part that actually makes it official? Whatever). And that’s… that, I guess. He just steals her away at the wedding and Nozomu’s done fighting. He’s just given up, after everything he’s done. (Part of this seemed a bit rushed, so I'm not sure if this is what she had planned, or she had to draw it to a close early, or what. But still.)

One bright part about the ending: it’s super cheesy and not surprising, but Sumi ends up with Soichiro, Soichiro gets a good job, and Sumi gets to open up a school for children.

The bad part honestly, really, pisses me off. I thought, was hoping even as I doubted it, that Nozomu would get put away or something. I mean, he’s psychotic, okay? He tried to kill Sumi, almost raped her, was forcing her into marriage despite it being incestual and him already being married, threatened/almost killed Soichiro, got Soichiro out of his job and poor, and several other things, I’m sure. All of that happened, okay? He needs to be put away.

And yet, for some reason, he gets a happy ending. He ends up back with Miu, who happily takes him back despite everything he's done to her, is having a kid with her, and despite deciding to keep his distance from Sumi, still believes that they have some special bond. He writes Sumi a letter, and her and Soichiro seem very happy with the outcome, too.

I just don’t get it, you guys. How does that work? Why is it okay for Nozomu, the goddamn psychopath, to get a happy ending? Why… just why?

I don’t understand.

So, there were lots of things that I didn’t like about this series, but that really just pushes the limit. I liked the drama of this series at points, I wasn’t a big fan of Sumi or Nozomu, but I liked Soichiro enough; Eisuke was alright, I liked the kids, and my favorite was probably Komai (the original butler). At this point, I’m just glad this series is over and I can be done with it.

Novel Review: Crave: The Seduction of Snow White by Cathy Yardley

Genre: Erotica/Adult Romance (with sex! sex is a main point in this book!)

Rating (Out of 5): ~2 (maybe 2.5)

Publisher: HarperCollins (Avon Red)

Spoilers?: Somewhat Minor.

Buy it here: Amazon. Book Depository. Barnes & Noble. Powells (or this one).

Goodreads Synopsis:

When a woman is ripe for the picking . . .

Beth Cordova's life is no fairy tale. Having barely escaped the evil grasp of her wicked stepmother, this "missing princess" seeks refuge in a strict commune where carnal pleasures are forbidden.

Sometimes just one bite of the apple . . .

Her world is lonely and void of intimacy, until the charming Stephen Trent arrives at the commune. Suddenly Beth yearns for a man's touch, the feel of his lips on hers . . . and Stephen is eager to show this pure-as-snow princess that she can still be the sensual woman she was once upon a time.

Is all it takes to unleash her desires...

But all is not what it seems, and the stunning beauty finds herself again in danger, her stepmother hot on her trail. The commune's founders will not tolerate the pair, yet fleeing its walls could prove fatal. Trapped in a world where passion is outlawed, can Beth live happily ever after?

Review:

I was expecting to like this book a lot more, particularly because of how much I enjoyed Enslave. And I feel like part of the reason I didn’t enjoy it is my fault.

Beth is living in a commune where men and women are separate and there can be no mingling between the two, and Stephen is a reporter coming in to see if there’s some big secret behind what they’re doing.

I’m going to cover the commune first: the commune is freakin’ crazy. For one, I just don’t like that sort of life style, how women take care of the home and men work (although, if that’s how someone wants to live, then go ahead), and particularly how they are not allowed to interact with each other at all. The women, in this instance, aren’t even allowed outside the fence, and men only when they go out to work. It’s ridiculous.

Then there’s the fact that they’re also kind of killing people. Not, like, all the time, but when someone steps out of line and is caught (which almost never happens), they get punished. And while part of it is publicly, the actual killing part is kept away from the public, so they don’t have to face it or see it happening. It’s horrible, really. The people heading the commune are mostly at fault, but the citizens of the commune just get excited about the punishing and goad them on, which isn’t really any better.

Oh, there’s also the fact that Beth is running from her wicked step-mother, seeing as how Beth is Snow White. Her step-mother, while we didn’t get to see much of her, I didn’t particularly like. And the ending for that plot worked out very nicely.

The ending in general, actually, for the romance, the commune, and the evil step-mother bit, all worked out rather well. That’s probably my favorite part. The only part I actually liked, really.

Now, the romance part: my biggest problem is how obviously lust at first sight it was. And how that lust turned, very quickly, into I-want-to-run-away-with-you-and-protect-you-Love. Part of the reason it bothered me, I think, is how I read a couple other books with a similar element really close to this one, but mostly I just don’t think I liked how it was done in this one.

There was also the fact that I didn’t particularly love Beth or Stephen, and the sex wasn’t very good. For instance, there were two instances in the book, near the end, where I thought the two should, instead of having sex, talk and comfort each other. You know, get to know each other. Instead, they had sex. One of the instances, even, they were supposed to be keeping quiet and hiding, and I just didn’t think the sex was needed then. And, really, when someone (like me) says that the sex wasn't needed or good, something is wrong here.

So, overall, I didn’t particularly like this book. The killing part of the commune was exciting, and the ending was good. That’s about it. I do still plan on reading Yardley’s other books, her Sleeping Beauty retelling in particular, and I hope that it’s better.

Manga Review: Itazura Na Kiss, Volume 1, by Kaoru Tada

Rating (Out of 5): 2

Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing/DMP

Volumes: 14 omnibus/23 separate

Spoilers?: Very Minor.

Buy it here: Amazon. Book Depository. Barnes & Noble.

Goodreads Synopsis:

High school senior Kotoko Aihara has had a crush on Naoki Irie since his freshman year. Unfortunately, a few things are discouraging her from him: he's a member of "Class A," the top ranking class in school, whereas she's in "Class F"; he gets the top score on every exam; and he's so smart, popular, and handsome that he's been class president every year. When Kotoki finally musters up the courage to present him with a love letter, though, Naoki outright refuses it, telling her point blank - with a look of disgust and boredom - that he doesn't like "stupid girls." Poor Kotoko's worst nightmare

Something Specific:

Quote:

• "I guess geniuses have their own problems, too." The fact that Kotoko says this earnestly just really bothers me. In the review I explain more about how I don't like her, but her saying this just really annoyed me. Because, I just, don't understand how she could think that just because someone is smart (since she isn't) that they would have no problems. Plus, there's the fact that the boy is a complete asshole, and i see that as a very big problem, bit everyone else seems to just ignore it. I just don't understand.

Review:

I was really hoping to like this book. I bought several books in this series, for a really good price, online a while ago. And now, I’m a little unhappy about that decision. I’m still planning to read all of the volumes that I got, however, and hope that it gets better.

This book is about a girl, Kotoko, who is in love with a boy, Naoki. She confesses to him and gets rejected on the first page, decides to give up but is depressed, and then finds out that she’s going to be moving in with him, because her house burned down and her father’s friend will let them stay at their house, where Naoki lives. From there, Naoki’s mother and both his and Kotoko’s fathers’ are trying to push Naoki and Kotoko into a relationship. Naoki also has a little brother, who’s a brat. Kotoko’s friends are supportive of her, and she also has a friend, Kin-Chan, who is in love with her.

I don’t like Kotoko. She’s weak, -willed and otherwise. After getting rejected and moving in with Naoki, she tries acting like she doesn’t like him anymore, but at the smallest inkling to him liking her, she blushes and falls for it. Every. Time. She’s just not very smart, or helpful, or anything that would make me like her. I really hope she bucks up or something in the later books.

I also don’t like Naoki. He’s just a straight-up jerk, really; an asshole, even. He yells at her, at points he will give in and help her with something (like cooking or homework) but is usually unwilling. He’s generally just a jerk and I don’t see what the appeal is. At all.

Her friends are alright. Their parents are pushy and I’m not particularly fond of them, nor too bothered by them. Naoki’s little brother is a brat, as I said.

My biggest problem with this series is the art. The art is kind of horrible, honestly. The faces aren’t pretty, the bodies are oddly shaped at times. It’s just straight-up not pretty and I don’t like it. It’s honestly what made this book so hard to read. I mean, I can’t stand the characters, either, but it wouldn’t be so bad if they were at least pretty to look at. And another thing, is that sometimes the art is just fine, in a panel or two; sometimes, the art is actually not bad when the background characters are drawn! Not too often, but once in a while. And it just makes me wonder: why can’t it look like that throughout the whole thing? Ugh.

So, as I said, I already have the next book, so I will be reading it soon. Probably. Not too long, at least, because I do want to get through this series; I just hope it gets better.

Teaser Tuesday[40]: Withering Tights (Misadventures of Tallulah Casey, #1) by Louise Rennison

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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School! Yay, right? Sure. Whatever. (Hope you have a good day, though!)

I didn’t do nearly enough reading over Spring Break. What about you? (Although, really, there is never enough reading getting done.)

Here’s this week’s book!:

Withering Tights (Misadventures of Tallulah Casey,#1) by Louise Rennison

Genre: YA Contemporary, Comedy

Publisher: HarperCollins/Teen

Publish Date: June 2011

Goodreads Synopsis:

Wow. This is it. This is me growing up. On my own, going to Performing Arts College. This is good-bye, Tallulah, you long, gangly thing, and hellooooo, Lullah, star of stage.

Tallulah Casey is ready to find her inner artist. And some new mates. And maybe a boy or two or three.

The ticket to achieving these lofty goals? Enrolling in a summer performing arts program, of course. She's bound for the wilds of Yorkshire Dales--eerily similar to the windswept moors of Wuthering Heights. Tallulah expects new friends, less parental interference, and lots of drama. Acting? Tights? Moors? Check, check, check.

What she doesn't expect is feeling like a tiny bat's barging around in her mouth when she has her first snog.

Bestselling author Louise Rennison returns with her trademark wit, a hilarious new cast, and a brand-new cheeky heroine who is poised to discover plenty of opportunities for (mis)adventure!

Excerpts:

“I thought, I can hardly believe that a whole week has gone by.

A whole week since I first came to Dother Hall and nearly a whole day since I’ve seen Alex.” (Hardback, pg. 84)

“Hey and hang on a minute, I think, maybe, when I looked closely I can see little tiny bumps under my T-shirt. Woo-hoo! At this rate I might even be able to buy a bra by the time I am forty. Just in time for my pension.

Still, it’s a start.

Two starts actually.” (Hardback, pg. 85)

Hope you’re having a good day/week, and reading something good either way!