*Grabby Hands* Release & Review - Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Listen to Your Heart
Author: Kasie West

Age Category/Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: May 29th, 2018
Publisher: Point
 

Talking to other people isn't Kate Bailey's favorite activity. She'd much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school's podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she'll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate's surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend ... until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

Kasie West's adorable story of secrets, love, and friendship is sure to win over hearts everywhere. 

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

4 “Lake, Podcasts and Swoons” Stars

I'm still not caught up on Kasie West's books (Love, Life and the List is next), but after not feeling By Your Side as much as I wanted and being disappointed in Lucky in Love, I'm glad to announce I really liked this!

Listen to Your Heart had all the fluffy, swoony feels that makes Kasie West one of my go-to authors when it comes to YA romance. The main character, Kate was super likable and she had a great, almost sarcastic sense of humor. The love interest, Diego was adorable. And the side characters were well-developed.

I loved, loved, loved Kate's relationship with her best friend, Alana. Judging from the main romantic theme--falling in love with the best friend's crush, I was terrified KW would write one of those "girls fight over boy" scenarios. It was a happy surprise to read about two smart and mature young girls talking about stuff and finding a way to deal with their feelings without resorting to drama and shaming.

Frankie was another favorite. I loved how once again KW didn't go the obvious way with him. It was amazing to see their rivalry turning into friendship, and there was even a moment or two there Frankie got me shipping him with Kate. Sorry, Diego.

There were some pretty great moments with the advice podcast and with Kate's family, especially how healthy and absolutely adorable her relationship with her brother was. I felt so bad for him because of the things he was going through, but it was heartwarming to see how dedicated Kate was to making sure he felt safe and loved. Same goes for her relationship with her younger cousin.

Cute, light and swoony, Listen to Your Heart had all the elements that make Kasie West's books sucessful. No wonder I'm always excited to see KW announce a new book, even though it seems like she writes a hundred new books per year.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

*Grabby Hands* Release & Review - The Kissing Quotient by Helen Hoang

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: The Kissing Quotient
Author: Helen Hoang
Publication Date: June 5th, 2018

Publisher: Berkley
Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon

4.5 “Worth the Wait” Stars

I've been waiting for this release for what feels like FOREVER, and I've been so obsessed with the idea of reading it that I told myself I wouldn't finish it in one day. I would prolong the experience because you only get to read a good book for the first time once. And because I'd been dying of jealousy of all the people who got to read this before release. I'll tell you, it was torture to watch my Goodread friends gush about this when it felt like June 5th would never get here.

Well, I could hardly believe when the day came. And I can hardly believe I was strong enough to stop reading that first night so I could save some chapters for the next day. But I did it! And to no one's surprise, I loved every second of it.

This book is amazing.

Again, this is another example of good representation kicking ass and taking no names. The voice was so authentic, you couldn't help but fall for Stella. She made me feel for her when she struggled and cheer with her when her journey came full circle. It was such an amazing and honest take on what life can be like for a woman on the autism spectrum, and that's because the author put some of her experience there, too. It was an emotional and satisfying read in every aspect.

Though Stella was the real star of the story, Michael didn't fall far behind. I'm always, always here for a good escort romance, and I'm happy to see this book join Mister Romance by Leisa Rayven on the list of must-read stories with this theme. And it's all thanks to Michael.

Michael, who's a hot  half-Vietnamese, half-Swedish sweatheart who happens to be excellent at sex and caring and romantic and patient and all the good things that make perfect man perfect. Sure he had flaws and bagagge, but who cares when he's all of the things I just described? I can't blame Stella for falling so hard for the guy she was paying to teach her to be confident in bed. I would've fallen for him, too.

The romance is a little less slow burn than I normally like, but it was still filled with so many sweet and heartwarming moments that I couldn't complain. It was also hot AF. The sexy scenes?

There was drama, there was diversity, there were family members that stole my heart (in fact, both mothers made me smile and laugh and hold to hold them every time they appeared), and there was a lot of swooning involved in reading this story.

In the end, all I can is that this book was well worth the wait.

Release & Review - Sweet Black Waves (Sweet Black Waves #1) by Kristina Pérez

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Sweet Black Waves
(Sweet Black Waves #1)
Author: Kristina Pérez
Age Category/Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Publication Date: June 5th, 2018
Publisher: Imprint
 

Not you without me, not me without you.

Two proud kingdoms stand on opposite shores, with only a bloody history between them. 

As best friend and lady-in-waiting to the princess, Branwen is guided by two principles: devotion to her homeland and hatred for the raiders who killed her parents. When she unknowingly saves the life of her enemy, he awakens her ancient healing magic and opens her heart. Branwen begins to dream of peace, but the princess she serves is not so easily convinced. Fighting for what's right, even as her powers grow beyond her control, will set Branwen against both her best friend and the only man she's ever loved. 

Inspired by the star-crossed tale of Tristan and Eseult, this is the story of the legend’s true heroine: Branwen. For fans of Graceling and The Mists of Avalon, this is the first book of a lush fantasy trilogy about warring countries, family secrets, and forbidden romance.

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

3.5. "Sea and Magic" Stars

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you, Imprint

I'm not very familiar with the tale Tristan & Iseult, so I won't comment on that. Still, if you're like me, I'm sure you'll still find plenty to enjoy while reading this story.

For me, Sweet Black Waves gave me its best during the first half, especially the first third of the story. There world was described in beautiful details, the main character (Branwen) struggled with what she thought right and wrong and still managed to do the right thing, the love interest won my heart as he stole hers, the relationship between Branwen and her cousin Essy had some truly adorable moments, and all was well in the world.

Speaking of the world...Despite going with some big fantasy tropes, the author still managed to create a world that felt interesting and rich. The hatred between the people of Iveriu and the people of Kernyv served as a great background not only to the love story, but also to what seems to be the theme for the rest of the trilogy. We didn't get to see much of Kernyv, but Iveriu seemed like a beautiful place. No wonder Branwen was willing to do anything to protect it.

Now, things started getting a little weird for me when the magic system kicked in. There was nothing particularly wrong with the magic, but it influenced the plot and the characters in a way that annoyed me. Branwen started making some dubious choices that were clearly going to come back and haunt her. Her obsession with saving her country and playing with what she judged was her cousin's hapiness went way too far. To make matters worse, her cousin, Essy went from spoiled to OMG, please, someone shake some sense into this girl ASAP. Even the romance lost some of its sparkle, and let me tell you, it was a pretty swoony romance.

Not even pirates coming into the scene had the intended effect on me, which is something I never thought I'd say because PIRATES!

Then the big twist in the end happened and all I could think was, "Well, Branwen, you brought that on yourself, didn't you?", which shouldn't have been my reaction because the thing was pretty heartbreaking.

I'm afraid the second half of the story wasn't as rich, romantic and interesting as the first, but I'm still interested in learning what will happen next in the trilogy.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.