{Review} Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines

{Review} Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines

Goodreads Description:

Rush promised her forever... but promises can be broken.
Torn between his love for his family and his love for Blaire, Rush has to find a way to save one without losing the other. In the end one has to be more important. Letting go isn’t easy.
Blaire believed in her fairytale... but no one can live in a fantasy.
Her love for Rush and desire to have a family keep her believing that they can find a way for this to work. Until she has to make the right decision for her and the baby. Even if it breaks her heart.
Can they find the forever that they both want or has it all just gone... too far?

What did I think? I will say, first off, that this is honestly one of the hardest reviews I have ever had to write. One, because the author was a favorite of mine and two, because I really really didn't care for it. At all. It breaks my heart. Truly it does, but I have to be honest here. First of all, I've read the other two books in this series. That's right....there are two books before this one. Fallen Too Far  & Never Too Far are the other two in the series. Those should have been it for this series in my opinion. Forever Too Far shouldn't have been written.  Why? You ask....well...it's because....It is the same story. 99% of this book is EXACTLY like the other two. There was no plot, no story line and no character development. I knew this was going to be bust when I started to read it but I wanted to give the author the benefit of the doubt because she was a favorite of mine. I read this with my bestie April. We are in the same boat in regards to the author and her books so were pretty wary walking into it. Here are some examples about what I'm talking about: 1.  No Plot Okay, so if you've read either of the first two books, you know that Rush and B;air are 'in love' and all that jazz. This is just a continuation of their relationship. The only thing that's really different is that Blair is farther along in her pregnancy. Nothing else happens. Oh wait....there's sex. Of course. There is always sex in these novels nowadays. Oh ya! Blair re-unites with her dad. Again.
2. No Story Line See what I mentioned above? It applies here too. This book was just a waste of my time and energy. I will be more honest and say that I probably skimmed over 75% of this book because it was all the same things. There was no climax, no comic relief.....blah.
3. No Character Development Seriously...this part was the most irritating to me. In the first two books, Rush is a dick with a capital "D" and takes Blair for granted. Blair is too "naive or nice" to really stand up for herself. Rush leaves her when she needs him most and it's for his evil bitch of a sister Nan. Yea...nothing has changed in any of the characters. Rush does the same damn thing and leaves Blair in a crucial moment to go "rescue" his sister. Blair runs away instead of facing her problems and forgives Rush because she "loves" him so very much and she's having his baby.
4. The Sex Please don't get me wrong. I like sex scenes as much as the next blogger/girl. But I like it when it isn't so.... raunchy really. I like the sex to have meaning in it and the story to back it up. This doesn't happen here.  One thing that I will touch on that made me EXTREMELY irritated is that Blair is nearing the end of her pregnancy....she's "huge" and has an episode where she starts to bleed.  Now I know you can bleed during pregnancy and it's nothing really bad. But the way it was described in the book, she went to the hospital because she was having pains as well. That's a pretty good idea of danger zone. And yet.....they still have sex after her hospital trip. If Rush really cared, it wouldn't be so much of an issue to say, "you know what? maybe we should just wait." But both of them are such horn dogs, they can't stand to not have sex at least once a day. 5. "Love" Are Rush and Blair really in love or just in lust? Rush constantly puts his sister above Blair and doesn't give Blair the back up she should have. Example:

Blaire was pregnant and her emotions were harder for her to control. However, I needed to talk to her about just being quiet around Nan.

Are you effing me?! This is the type of guy ladies want now? An insensitive a**hole? Excuse me while I throw up a little in my mouth. I know this review was a bit ranty. I have to be true to my feelings and be honest.  I used to love books by Abbi Glines. They were great when she first started. The story had depth and no sex in it. I still adore those books but I found out that she is re-writing them to make them more "steamy" and I can't even....it hurts.  I won't be buying any more of her books from now on because I want my stories to be just that. STORIES. Not just sex books. If I wanted to read about sex I'd get erotica and call it a day. But I'm not that into the erotica.  I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Here is another review that's along the same lines as mine:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/681796992

I know A LOT of people LOVED this book and the series. Here are some of the reviews they wrote about it:

Review

Review

I just.....I can't get over the fact that this is so popular and it's a series where the main guy is a total douche. Yes, he's good looking....but why not be a nice guy and not a man-whore? I mean, really.... This is what we want our little girls to think is ok? I'm so over this author and what these books stand for.

 

{Review} Unravel Me & Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi

{Review} Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Goodreads Description:

tickticktickticktickit's almosttime for war.
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.
In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

My Review: After reading Warner's POV in Destroy Me, I was a little wary on how this one was going to turn out. Warner brought on a new perspective that I didn't see coming. So I was pretty excited to see what Unravel Me had to offer.
I honestly had mixed feelings about this book. I liked it, but I didn't love it. Don't get me wrong, it was action packed and didn't really lag too much but the thing that made me not love it was that Juliette was sort of......whiny? 
During most of the book, she goes inside herself and questions a lot of what she's doing. It gets a little annoying but I do get where she is coming from. I mean, she was incarcerated for most of her life and doesn't quite know how to act or react to things. 
I did, however, enjoy when she would go all crazy powerful. It was pretty badass. Once she let go of her inner turmoil, she shined. I liked that aspect completely.
Kenji is the total saving grace in this entire novel. I loved him so hardcore in this book and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. Yes, he is the comedy relief but he is also, in a weird way, Juliette's strength and pushes her in the right direction. He is too adorable.
Warner, as always, is a contradiction. You know what he feels and yet Juliette doesn't quite get it. I don't know if she plays stupid but she needs to wise up to the fact that Warner is sooooooo into her. Whenever I read something about him I melt a little more.
Adam......confuses me in this book. He was the nice guy in Shatter Me, but in this book, he is showing other signs of someone else. I feel like he doesn't quite get where Juliette is coming from in their "relationship". He doesn't understand that she can't hurt him and I get her point too. But Adam just seems so crazy in this book. I still love him because he tries so hard to be the knight in shining armor but his shine is wearing off a little bit. It's a really cool twist to the story that I wasn't expecting. 
Mafi's writing style, as always, needs to be made clear. She writes unlike any other author. The poetic flow of her words brings everything to a new light and makes me feel completely different than what I expect. It's truly amazing.

{Review} Fracture Me by Taherah Mafi

Goodreads Description:

In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Timesbestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam's perspective.
As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam's focus couldn't be further from the upcoming battle. He's reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend's life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James's safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It's time for war.
On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam's newly discovered half brother, won't be that easy. The Reestablishment can't tolerate a rebellion, and they'll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.
Fracture Me sets the stage for Ignite Me, the explosive finale in Tahereh Mafi's epic dystopian series. It's a novella not to be missed by fans who crave action-packed stories with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu

My Review:
Just as I liked seeing Warner's POV in Destroy Me, I liked reading from Adam's POV. It's a great perspective to see the thoughts and feelings of another character.
Also, just like in Destroy Me, I was surprised at what I saw in this novella. I was all prepared to sympathize with Adam on how heartbroken he was over Juliette and his love for her.
I was quite surprised to find that Adam wasn't all he's cracked up to be. His love for his brother was never in question. But his thoughts on Juliette and her feelings were another story. His disregard to Juliette's feelings was quite a blow.
After everything that happened to Omega Point at the end of Unravel Me, I was quite shocked that Juliette (his true love) wasn't his immediate thought. Yes, I get that his little brother is his first and foremost but Juliette didn't even come into the picture until Kenji brought her up. Kenji was the one who wanted to go and find her.
I have to say that Adam was the epitomy of hero in the first book but now....I'm not so sure what to really see him as. Ignite Me is sure to be a high octane book to tie up all loose ends that are so intertwined in the first 4. I'm excited. So very excited.
I only gave this 3 stars just because I had high hopes of Adam and although I still love him, I'm disappointed in his character. A little heartbroken really.

{Review} The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

{Review} The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Goodreads Description:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My Review: Where do I start with this book? I will go with a few words that I think describe it pretty well: touching, heartfelt, heartbreaking, perspective changing. I will say that I enjoyed this book. I truly did. I read this with my bestie April. We've both been wanting to read this for a while but never got around to it. Now that it's becoming a movie in the next month or so we thought we would speed it up on our TBR list. Once we saw the trailer for the movie, it had to be the next one in the long line of our "buddy read" list. I'm not going to say I didn't know what to expect. Because, frankly, I knew what was going to happen more or less. But even though I had an idea of what to expect, I still was surprised. Granted, the main reason why I only gave this 4 out of 5 stars is that it seemed a bit too....intellectual for me. Now, I'm not saying I'm ignorant by any means when reading books but there were areas when I had to re-read the excerpt to understand it. I consider myself pretty well rounded in the whole reading category since I read quite a bit. This book made me truly think. I try to read as objectively as I possibly can. This book made that very difficult for a few reasons: 1. I'm a mother. After voxing with April, I realized that I felt the same way as she did. I can put myself in her mother's shoes and read as a mom. Reading that way nearly tore my heart out. How do you deal with something like that? How? You're one and only child is sick and so close to death. How do you do  that? I have no idea what I would do if I were ever in that position. It gave me a new perspective on caregivers. Seriously. Mad props out to those who care for their sick loved ones. All around. 2. I'm a wife. I'm in love. Everyone should have the chance to love someone and have that person return it. Sick or not. To see that these two teenagers love so deeply touched my heart. You don't think about that kind of thing when you see someone with an oxygen tank rolling with them. They are teenagers in the book but their love for each other is so beyond their years because of where they've been. What they've been through.  3. I am a best friend. I have people that I consider my best friend and they (hopefully) consider me theirs. There is a point in TFIOS that I thoroughly agree with. When someone passes away, suddenly all these people coming out of the woodwork saying how sorry they were and what a great person they were. Did they really know them? Truly? If I found out one of my best friends was sick, I'd be there everyday. Just to be there. I thought that was awesome that Green touched on that. This book completely changed my outlook on a few things. I am really glad that I read it and even though it wasn't my favorite, I will read it again. Maybe not soon because my heart is still a little raw, but I will. Not sure if I'll see the movie since movies tend to ruin the book. Or vice versa. The books are always better.  Hazel was fantastic. I loved her sense of humor and her views on life. She was very honest and very blunt. I'm sure she didn't want to hurt people's feelings with what she said but I enjoyed her honesty and her directness. Augustus was...just....*sigh*. I thought he was so very perfect. He really made the book for me. His overwhelming love for Hazel was so touching.  Actually their love for each other was completely perfect. I don't know how to describe it.  I can't really say too much because I don't do spoilers.  John Green's words just jump of the page and are written extremely well. There wasn't any fluff. Everything was just great. I felt this book was very real and very beautiful. 

"It seemed like forever ago, like we'd had this brief but still infinite forever. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.

I strongly encourage you to pick this book up and read it. It really is a good book with a great story.

{Review} Insurgent by Veronica Roth

{Review} Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Goodreads Description:

Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.
The thrillingly dark sequel to No. 1 New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT.
I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.
Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.
Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

My Review: I recently finished Divergent at the end of 2013 and I ws anxiously waiting to read this one. Me and my bestie April over at Sim Sational Books promised to do a bunch of buddy reads this year and finishing this series is in that list. I couldn't wait to start Insurgent. The previous books left it wide open. Let me first tell you that I am totally pushing for buddy reads. They are probably the best thing ever. Reading with someone who has the same taste and same passion of books as you makes reading so much more fun. Voxer adds it all together with live narration of sorts. It's incredible. I highly suggest you do it. On to my review.....one word for Insurgent...WOW. This book is completely non stop with all the action and politics. I love that you don't know what is going to happen and it keeps you guessing. All the way until the cliffhanger ending.
I adore Tris and think she's a complete badass chick. She's been through so much and she still stands so strong. One of my favorite characters ever.
Four is dreamy but to me a little wishy washy sometimes. He's still dreamy though don't get me wrong. I understand where he is coming from in most of his little arguments with Tris.
I will say that was the downer of the book. Tris and Four argue quite a bit and I get that couples argue but I didn't like that it was the main focus for a while. There was just so much other stuff going on that should've been priority.
Other than the arguing, this was fantastic and cannot wait to read Allegiant. I will say that I highly dislike Four's mom....She's pretty shifty. Oh! And I want to slap Caleb in the face....more like punch.
Buddy read #2-Allegiant April and I are coming for you!!