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Book Review: No Limits by Ellie Marney | #LoveOzYA

Aug 13, 2017

No Limits by Ellie Marney

Pages: 508
Publish date: 14 August 2017
Publisher: –
ISBN: 9780648088509
Purchase: Book World – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Boozer, brawler, ladies’ man – nineteen-year-old Harris Derwent is not a good guy.

His one attempt to play the hero – helping out his old flame, Rachel Watts – has landed him in hospital. Now injured, broke, and unemployed, he’s stuck back in the country, at his father’s mercy. Harris needs to pay off his dad’s debts, and fast. But working as a runner for a drug cartel is a dangerous path – especially if Harris agrees to narc…

Eighteen-year-old Amita Blunt is the perfect police sergeant’s daughter – practical, trustworthy, and oh-so responsible. Getting involved in Harris’s case was never part of the plan. But working at the hospital, she’s invisible – which makes her the ideal contact for a boy feeding information back to the police…

Harris and Amie’s connection is sizzling hot – but if the cartel finds out about them, things could get downright explosive. Backed into a corner, with everything at stake, it’s time for Harris and Amie to find out if love really has no limits…

No Limits:

I received an a-arc of No Limits by Ellie Marney from Ellie Marney in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

If you have known me over the last couple of years, then you should know my love for the ‘Every Series’ by Ellie Marney. I can talk about it all day and it’s one of the first #LoveOzYA that I recommend to someone. So when I had the chance to delve deeper into Ellie’s world, I knew I needed to read it.

Quick note, you don’t need to read the ‘Every Series’ before you read No Limits. It just helps with a few things along the way.

No Limits follows Harris Derwent, as he recovers from a not so nice incident. Now in the hospital, in pain and going to have to live with his father, his life isn’t looking that great. But Amita might just change that. She is the sergeant’s daughter, responsible, smart and trust worthy. The last thing she thought she would be doing is helping Harris Derwent. Then things start to heat up and not just between Harris and Amie, but so much more.

I have so many feelings about this book, that I don’t even know how much of this review is going to make any sense. I already had a soft spot for Harris when we meet him in the ‘Every Series,’ that before I even started I was intrigued. And then I started reading and fell in love. Throughout No Limits, it’s like you are holding on tight waiting for bad things to happen – and gosh do they.

Harris, can I please just give him one massive long hug – or maybe multiple. One of the main reasons why No Limits was such a hard book to read was because of Harris. Every page that he was on, I felt that his heart was along with it. I wanted to scream so many times that he isn’t worthless, that he deserves so much more. However, I did love this character arc. I felt that he grew so much that I just feel in love with him even more.

Harris is your bad boy with a lost soul – he is hard to connect with at times, but you know that he is damaged. And as the novel goes on, you just break. Can we also please take a moment to just talk about his tattoo? I am a tattoo girl through and through and my lord did this scene kill me. I just wanted to touch it. Like gosh.

I fell in love with Amie’s character right away. I was able to connect with her love for her family and the way that she wears her heart on her sleeve. While I did love how Amie cared so much for her family, I wanted her to think about herself more. Like Harris, Amie’s character development was just so good that I loved seeing her grow and find out more about herself and the world around her.

Romance time – Ellie Marney just knows how to write a couple that is swoony and makes you melt. I felt this was more mature than the ‘Every Series,’ but you are still able to read this a young adult. I loved how Amie and Harris slowly but carefully fell for each other. They connected in ways that were a whole new level for them.

I loved how much Amie cared for Harris and his well-being before even she realised it. I liked how Harris started to fall for Amie and found out more about himself in the process. It was great seeing this friendship start to turn into something more that pulled at my heartstrings.

Another great thing about No Limits was both the writing and plot. I loved the crime and mystery elements of the book that made everything that more interesting. It was like a car at the edge of a cliff where it could fall at any time. Things defiantly got intense towards the end and gosh it was good. I love how simple yet captivating Ellie’s writing is – I will read anything by her.

Family was a massive theme of No Limits and while I love having great family banter. I liked that we were able to see two sides of a coin in this novel. Harris and his father – these scenes pulled my heart out. I was broken. It was very heart wrenching and difficult most of the time. Like very hard. Family abuse in the country especially is common and goes past people so much.

Amie’s family, on the other hand, was loving and caring. I adored the relationship she had with her father and grandmother – it picked at my heart in a good way. However, I also think that other’s in her family expected way too much from her. I hated the pressure they put on Amie, especially as she is so young. It’s like I can’t stop my life, but hey Amie can.

I’ve talked about this before, but I love how Aussie Ellie makes her books and No Limits is no different. I loved how it was set in the county, how there were things that only Aussies will know. It just makes such a good #LoveOzYA. We are able to see our beautiful country in a young adult book with no frills involved.

Overall, please pick No Limits up. It takes you on an incredible journey that you never want to stop. The characters are layered and have amazing development. You fell for them with every fiber in your body. You are on the edge of your seat, you understand, you feel. The reader will go on this emotional ride that is really hard, but gosh does it hit you. The characters are likable, the writing is just so damn good. All I say is give this #LoveOzYA a try, trust me you won’t be disappointed.

No Limits by Ellie Marney is about second chances, falling in love and finding yourself. It’s about friendship and falling. You are taken on a ride that both tears you apart and then puts you slowly back together. It’s heartbreaking and breathtaking. No Limits made me cry, break and fall in love.

Have you read No Limits by Ellie Marney yet? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read her ‘Every Series’ yer? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: When It’s Real by Erin Watt

Aug 4, 2017

When It’s Real by Erin Watt

Pages: 216
Publish date: May 30, 2017
Publisher: Harlequin Australia
ISBN: 9781489239754
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Meet Oakley Ford-teen celebrity, renowned pop star, child of famous movie stars, hottie with millions of fangirls… and restless troublemaker. On the surface, he has it all, but with his home life disintegrating, his music will suddenly running dry, and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley’s team decides it’s time for an intervention. The result: an image overhaul, complete with a fake girlfriend meant to show the world he’s settled down.

Enter seventeen-year-old Vaughn Bennett-devoted sister, part-time waitress, the definition of “normal.” Under ordinary circumstances, she’d never have taken this gig, but with her family strapped for cash, she doesn’t have much of a choice. And for the money Oakley’s team is paying her, she figures she can put up with outlandish Hollywood parties and a team of publicists watching her every move. So what if she thinks Oakley’s a shallow, self-centered jerk? It’s not like they’re going to fall for each other in real life…right?

When It’s Real:

I received a copy of When It’s Real by Erin Watt for review from Harlequin Teen Australia. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I’ve been in a very contemporary mood lately and this was the perfect book to pick up. When It’s Real by Erin Watt’s was fun, kept me on the edge of my seat and left me with a smile on my face.

When It’s Real follows two very different protagonists. Oakley is the current music-sensation and son of famous movies stars. He is stubborn, a troublemaker, use to getting what he wants and a player. But, there is also the side that the public doesn’t see. Then we have Vaughn who is quiet, will do anything for her family and just about ‘normal.’ But what happens when Oakley needs a ‘normal’ fake girlfriend? At first, it’s all for the press, but you know how things go.

Vaughn was someone I could relate to quite a bit. She loved her family a lot, and with her parents not there, she felt responsible for them. I think that is what I liked so much about her. Vaughn was also an easy protagonist to get along with. At times she was quite naive for someone who is seventeen, but she grew throughout the book. In saying that, I do wish she had a little more character development. There were times, I felt she lacked something.

Oakley was harder to get along with. At times he was an asshole, and only cared about himself. He had the ‘I’m famous, so love me and do what I say’ attitude and that was hard to be okay with. But, as the novel unfolded he starts to break down his walls. We see why he has become this way, why he has these walls. I felt Oakley had a lot of character development, in When It’s Real. The reader is able

The romance had its up and downs. When Oakley wasn’t being annoying, I really enjoyed the what he and Vaughn connected. They were able to see each other in different ways, and that was nice to see. I did feel that it took a long time to get there, and maybe the book was just too long.

The whole ‘fake’ romance things, I actully do enjoy. I think it’s really fun and the tension between the two at the start really is fun to watch. And I liked seeing them going from fake to real.

Family was a massive aspect of When It’s Real. We see some good representation of family and some absolutely horrible rep. And while I would have loved for both sides to be amazing, it sadly wasn’t. I loved the relationship between Vaughn and her family, the reader is able to see that they love each other. While Oakley’s family is just trouble.

Overall, When It’s Real was a fun read. I was able to sit for a couple of hours and power through. It has its ups and downs. Some moments where I wanted to cringe. But, sometimes you just want a book that is going to put a smile on your face. That you can just fall in love with. When It’s Real explores the notion of family, being famous and people trying to decide who you are. It’s about standing up for yourself and letting others go.

Have you When It’s Real? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read any other books from duo Erin Watt? Let’s Chat!

Blog Tour | Trust by Kylie Scott #LoveOzYA

Jul 21, 2017

Trust by Kylie Scott

Pages: 383
Publish date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: –
ISBN: 1546768092
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Being young is all about the experiences: the first time you skip school, the first time you fall in love…the first time someone holds a gun to your head.

After being held hostage during a robbery at the local convenience store, seventeen-year-old Edie finds her attitude about life shattered. Unwilling to put up with the snobbery and bullying at her private school, she enrolls at the local public high school, crossing paths with John. The boy who risked his life to save hers.

While Edie’s beginning to run wild, however, John’s just starting to settle down. After years of partying and dealing drugs with his older brother, he’s going straight—getting to class on time, and thinking about the future.

An unlikely bond grows between the two as John keeps Edie out of trouble and helps her broaden her horizons. But when he helps her out with another first—losing her virginity—their friendship gets complicated.

Meanwhile, Edie and John are pulled back into the dangerous world they narrowly escaped. They were lucky to survive the first time, but this time they have more to lose—each other.

Trust:

I received an e-arc of Trust by Kylie Scott from Inkslinger PR as part of their blog tour in exchange for an honest review, this has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I hadn’t read any Kylie Scott books before I picked up Trust and now I cannot wait to read more. If you didn’t know before I started blogging, I never really read much contemporary, it was all fantasy. But, now I love reading it and while I do love it contemporary romances can feel quite the same. However, Trust was such a refreshing read that really stood out to me.

Trust follows protagonist Edie as she recovers after being held hostage during a terrifying robbery. With everything going on, she decides that she can’t deal with the snobbery of her private school and moves to a local public high school. It’s there she meets, John, the guy that saved her life. And let’s just say that things are about to get interesting.

What I loved most about Trust was how refreshing it was. It’s very rare to see a bigger girl in YA, especially as a love interest. That first drew me into Trust and I loved it so much. At times Edie was hard to get along with. You wanted to yell at her and give her a little shake. But, then at other times, you wanted to wrap your arms around her.

Edie has been a hell of a lot and I think nearly all the things she does or tries to do is so she could feel something. Something other being scared. I really liked the concept of PTSD or along those lines being presented in Trust. Edie had a gun to her head and that doesn’t just go away.

John was an interesting character in himself and it did take me a while to warm up to him. I really don’t know what it was, but it didn’t take me long to find out who he was. I did at times feel that it was too hard to connect with him and maybe it was because Edie and John both had walls up that needed to be cracked. John has a tough past, so I wasn’t expecting him to easy to get to know.

The romance in Trust was quite sweet at times. When you normally think ‘bad boys’ it’s the opposite, but John was really sweet with Edie. And as the novel went on you could see that they were starting to fall for each other. I also felt that Trust was very sex positive, especially for teens. Again something nice to see.

I didn’t like that there weren’t any amazing family relationships. It’s missed a lot in YA and I would have really enjoyed Trust more if there was. In saying that Edie relationship with her mum wasn’t horrible, just I wanted something more.

Overall, I really enjoyed Trust. Was it perfect? No. But it was still a refreshing YA contemporary that had a protagonist that isn’t typical for YA. She is flawed and is also on the larger side. And I was able to connect with her insecurities and some of the ways she looked at things. I enjoyed the romance and while I did want to see more, it was still very enjoyable. Trust explores the notion of finding yourself, falling in love and learning to breathe again.

Have you read Trust? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it. Have you read any other books by Kylie Scott. Let’s Chat!