Contemporary Romance Challenge Archives

March Wrap Up (2016)

Apr 6, 2016

March has been a slow month for me. Most of the month I have been out of action, I had my 5 wisdom teeth removed and I was so out of it for at least a week. All I did was sleep and binge watch Full House. My mid-semester break is about to end and I end back to uni this week, and a couple of assessments are due quite soon.

The start of the month was quite slow with blog posts, however, I am trying to get back into the swing of things. I am still trying for at least 3 a week.

This month, I also started to write for Pop Cultural Tragic. I will be writing book reviews and bookish content for them. Check them out too, because it’s awesome.

March was also the month for Penguin Teen Australia’s #YASquad2016. It was such an amazing event and I got to meet with authors that I have been talking to for a while on twitter including; Kylie Fornasier, Shivaun Plozza, Megan Jacobson and Will Kostakis. It was also Felicity’s last Penguin event and it was upsetting to see her leave, but I cannot wait to see the things that she has install.

I read a good amount of books in March, simply because I was home so much. This doesn’t include any re-reads because I always forget to write those down.

–Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare | 5 Stars: Cassandra Clare brings the magic of the shadow world into a new light, in a gripping first novel of a new series, Lady Midnight is dark, fun and full of ups and down, it is going to rip your heart apart | Review

–Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry | 4 Stars: I loved Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry. It has a steamy romance, dark issues, sweet love and protagonists that pulls you right in. Walk the Edge by Katie MaGarry is a brilliant second novel in the Thunder Road series that is for lovers of YA Contemporary and anyone else who loves romance in dark times | Review

–All the Rage by Countney Summers | 3.5 Stars: This book torn me apart, it was such a beautiful book about a horrible thing.

–These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner | 4 Stars: I don’t know why I waited so long to read this, but it was filled with banter and fun. I was a little confused towards the end, but the book was so well written considering that it was co-authored.

–Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers| 4 Stars: Again this book broke my heart, girls can be really mean.

–The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick | 3.5: I really enjoyed this, but not as much as My Life Next Door. The characters were quite interesting and did have me turning pages, however not knowing who’s pov I was it and sometimes it changing quite quickly was quite annoying. The romance was adroable and man did the book pull me apart.

–Cracked Up To Be by Country Summers | 4 Stars: Courtney Summers knows how to tear you apart.

–The Natural History of Us by Rachel Harris | 4 Stars: The Natural History of Us tells us a story of how two people that have been torn apart can be brought back together. With writing that is captivating, a story line that is intriguing and characters that you want to be friends with, The Natural History of Us is a book for every contemporary fan or not | Review

– Follow Me Back by Nicci Cloke | 3 Stars: I enjoyed reading Follow Me Back it kept me entertained and focus while I was reading it. Though the main protagonist was annoying and acted like everything was about him, Follow Me Back does delve deep into the dangers of the internet and that sometimes it can be a dangerous place that can do harm | Review

–The Things I Didn’t Say by Kylie Fornasier |4 Stars: The Things I Didn’t Say, is a gorgeous novel that breaks you down. It pulls at your heart and slowly rips it. With beautiful writing and a slowburning romance that starts off quick, but takes it’s time | Review coming soon.

–Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven | 3 Stars: The flashbacks were done really well and flawlessly. I was able to tell, the past from the present. However as much as I liked the romance, it seemed off to me in a way.

–Pieces of You and Me by Erin Fletcher | 3.5 Stars: I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. The romance moved too fast and everything moved too quickly | Review coming soon.

–The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler | 4 Stars: An emotional, heartbreaking and beautiful read | Review coming soon.

As part of the Contemporary Romance Challenge, there is a wrap up post that needs to be done. I am just doing mine here, because everything comes together. You can check out the March link up here and see what others have posted. You can also sign up to the challenge here. This is the first year that I am participating in something like this so I am pretty excited.

These are contemporary romance books that I have read in the month of March. You can check out my goodreads shelf, I will adding all the contemporary romance books that I read. Not all of them will have full written reviews on my blog, but all will be rated with a small review on goodreads.

–Ten books To Read If You’re in the Mood for an Adventure
–Februrary Wrap Up
–Book Review: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
–Book Review: How Not To Disappear by Clare Furniss
–TV Series Review: Shadowhunters Ep7 *Spoiler Free*
–Ten Books On My Spring TBR
–Book Review: The Next Together by Lauren James
–Book Review: The Winner’s Kiss by Maire Rutkoski
–Books I Love But I Haven’t Talked About Enough
–Discussion: Same World Authors
–Book Review: Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry – Blog Tour
–7 Of My Most Recent 5 Star Reads
–Book Review: The Natural History of Us by Rachel Harris
–Book Review: Follow Me Back by Nicci Cloke

I love posting photos of my books on Instagram. I may not be a fantastic photographer but it’s fun to take these photos. Here are some that I posted in March. You can follow me at angelreads.

Also I want to share my love for some lovely book lovers on Instagram. So this month feature is; nellieand_co

Cait @Paper Fury asks how realistic should books be
Amanda @Nellie and Co discusses ways to improve your Instagram presence.
Aentee @The Social Potato shared a guide to meeting book bloggers in real-life
Jessica @bookish serendipity co gives some advice to new book bloggers

That is it for March! What did you read in March? What did you do? What were some of your favourite posts?

January Wrap Up (2016)

Jan 31, 2016

It’s been a wild ride into 2016, but it has also been a fun one. I am back to blogging how I want to be and I am loving it. I hope that you are too. I am trying to get at least 3 posts a week up, sometimes it’s more depending when books need to be reviewed by or if a discussion comes to mind. Are you liking the 3 posts a week? I read quite a bit in January and also posted a whole lot more. So let’s get on it.

–The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson | 4.5 Stars: The Unexpected Everything is for every author, book lover and reader alike. It’s a beautiful story of friendship, heartbreak and family. Morgan Matson brings together a beautiful contemporary novel that makes you smile, laugh and cry. | Review coming soon.
–Beyond the Stars by Stacy Wise | 3.5 Stars: I liked the fluffiness and cuteness of Beyond the Stars, I also enjoyed both Jessica and Jack, however the plot and the romance fell flat for me. It had me wishing for more. | Review
–Salt to Sea by Ruta Sepetys | 5 Stars: Beautiful, captivating, extraordinary. Salt to the Sea is a gorgeous novel that brings to light a catastrophe that seems to be forgotten. | Review

– The Next Together by Lauren James | 4 Stars: A heartbreaking story of love that is so strong that it last forever, just through different people all with the same name. It was gorgeous. | Review coming soon.
– My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier | 4 Stars: I am very confused with how I feel about this book. It messed with my brain and still is. I thought it was fantastic but gosh did it frustrate me a lot. I just feel so angry with it. In saying that Justine Larbalestier is brilliant. | Review coming soon.
– You’re Still the One by Rachel Harris | 4 Stars: Typical Rachel Harris that I know and love. | Review coming soon

– Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros | 4 Stars: Hallowed Ground was a beautiful read that intertwined, family both by blood and friendship. Loss that can bring people closer together or tear some apart. About doing what is right for you and the ones that you love and forgiveness and what it truly means to forgive not only others but yourself. | Review

As part of the Contemporary Romance Challenge, there is a wrap up post that needs to be done. I am just doing mine here, because everything comes together. You can check out the January link up here and see what others have posted. You can also sign up to the challenge here. This is the first year that I am participating in something like this so I am pretty excited.

These are contemporary romance books that I have read in the month of January. I have been on a contemporary binge so there is a few. You can check out my goodreads shelf here. I will adding all the contemporary romance books that I read here. Not all of them will have full written reviews on my blog, but all will be rated with a small review on goodreads.

January has been a good month for posts, I haven’t had uni so I have been able to write quite a lot of reviews and such. Here are my posts from January.

End of Year Survey 2015
Book Review: Who’s Afraid? by Maria Lewis
10 Most Anticipated Romances for the First Half of 2016
Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn’t
Movie Review: The 5th Wave *spoiler free*
Excerpt Reveal: Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros
TV Series Review: Shadowhunters Ep1 *Spoiler free*
Top Ten Books I’ve Recently Added To My TBR
Book Review: Demon Road by Derek Landy
TV Series Review: Shadowhunters Ep2 *Spoiler free*
Book Review: Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros
Discussion: Don’t Rate A Book Before You Read It Please
Book Review: In Place of Never by Julie Ann Lindsey

I love posting photos of my books on Instagram. I may not be a fantastic photographer but it’s fun to take these photos. Here are some that I posted in January. You can follow me at angelreads.

Also I want to share my love for some lovely book lovers on Instagram. So this month feature is; thebookkat

– Cait @ Paper Fury explains how to nicely attack people with friendship on the internet.
– Cait @Paper Fury discusses is it possible to read “too much
– Chiara @ Delicate Eternity talks unsolicited review copies
– Maryam @ Great imaginations tells us to be a proud bookworm

And that is it! I hope you enjoyed. What books did you read this month? What posts are you loving? Are you ready for Feb?

You can find me on twitter at @angel_reads and on facebook and also on Instagram at angelreads. Subscribe to my email through the sidebar or follow me on bloglovin’ to keep up to date

Book Review: Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros

Jan 27, 2016

Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros

Pages: 410
Publish date: 25 January 2016
Publisher: Entangled: Embrace
ISBN: 1633755428
Purchase: Book Depository– Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

There are some debts you can’t repay.

Josh Walker is loyal, reckless, and every girl’s dream. But he only has eyes for December Howard, the girl he’s craved since his high school hockey days. Together they have survived grief, the military, distance, and time as they’ve fought for stolen weekends between his post at Ft. Rucker and her college at Vanderbilt. Now that Josh is a medevac pilot and Ember is headed toward graduation, they’re moving on—and in—together.

Ember never wanted the Army life, but loving Josh means accepting whatever the army dictates—even when that means saying goodbye as Josh heads to Afghanistan, a country that nearly killed him once before and that took her father. But filling their last days together with love, passion, and plans for their future doesn’t temper Ember’s fear, and if there’s one thing she’s learned from her father’s death, it’s that there are some obstacles even love can’t conquer.

Flight school is over.
This is war.

Hallowed Ground:

I wasn’t prepared for Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros, not at all. If you are going to start reading it, them please do yourself a favour and have a box of tissues nearby. This will contain spoilers from all the previous books.

Hallowed Ground is book 4 in The Fight and Glory series and a sequel to book 1 – Full Measures. It’s set 2 years after the events of the first book and follows protagonists, December (Ember) and Josh as they set into life of living together, except now he is expected to go back to where he was nearly killed before and the place that took her father’s life – Afghanistan.

I love and hate this book. I loved it because the series finished with something really beautiful and we got to see the characters that we have come to previously love. However this book torn me to shreds.

I loved seeing Ember and Josh again, it had been quite a while since we had seen them, sure they came up in parts of the other books, but we didn’t see them, and it was nice to see.

I loved Ember as a character, her character arc is quite amazing from the first book. She has grown so much from the first time we have seen her. Throughout Hallowed Ground all I wanted to do is hug her. Ember broke me. She had been through so much before and in this book, she is ripped apart.

“I don’t care how you come home. I don’t care what parts of you are broken, or bleeding, or… anything, just as long as you come home. As long as your heart is beating, I will want you, do you understand me? I don’t care what happens there as long as you come home.”

Josh, my love for Josh is unexplainable, but gosh did I want to slap him around a bit. I understand most of the things he did and that I am not even fussed about, however the things that happened with Ember towards the end of the book. It’s like Josh she loves you, why are you doing this to her and yourself.

They have survived through so much and I wasn’t sure they were going to survive this novel, especially with Josh being back in Afghanistan.

It was really great to see the military aspect of Hallowed Ground. We saw it a little in the last novel, however it wasn’t that prominent, with this novel being half in Josh point of view it made sense. I love military planes, there is something about there. Here is Victoria, where I live we have a thing called the Airshow every 2 years, where military planes and others come and put of a show. I love the feeling of hornets flying by. So I truly enjoyed seeing the military aspect.

One thing that annoyed me with Hallowed Ground was the consent separation between Ember and Josh, not the physical separation, but the emotional and it killed me. I just wanted everything to be okay, and it wasn’t, not in the slightest.

Hallowed Ground is emotionally draining. I cried for most of this book, bad things kept happening, all I wanted was for it to be over. Not because it was horrifying, because it hurt my heart.

“I cannot imagine a future where you’re not mine, because I’m yours in every sense of the word.”

Nevertheless, Hallowed Ground is probably my favourite of all 4 books. It had so much and more. There is a chance that I won’t read the middle two books again, for something in this book will make it impossible.

Although, many sad and emotionally heartbreaking things happened in Hallowed Ground there was so many beautiful moments that were heart lifting. The epilogue was just beautiful and I smiled the whole time reading it.

Overall, Hallowed Ground was a beautiful read that intertwined, family both by blood and friendship. Loss that can bring people closer together or tear some apart. About doing what is right for you and the ones that you love and forgiveness and what it truly means to forgive not only others but yourself.