Easy by Tammara Webber

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.

Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.

Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)

Let me start with a warning: SEE THIS (^^^^^^^^^^)?? She's not kidding. Is there sex in this? Yes. Is it slightly graphic? Yes! Is there a bit of strong language here and there? YES! Did I like this book anyway? Yes I did.

Once I got past the opening scene, I actually flew through this book. I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. As for the opening scene (spoiler alert!), you meet the main character Jacqueline (who is a sophomore in college) as she's leaving a Halloween frat party early. As she opens the door to get into her truck, someone comes up behind her, slams her facedown into the seat of her truck and tries to rape her. Luckily she is saved by someone, but it was still probably the hardest-to-read opening scene of a book I've ever come across.

Other than the rather shocking beginning, I actually really liked this book. I liked Jacqueline and her love interests. I had a really hard time deciding who I liked more- Landon or Lucas, but I came to a solid conclusion by the end of the book. I also liked that Jacqueline took self defense classes to learn how to protect herself. And come on, the lawnmower??? I laughed and cringed at the same time. I've thought a lot about learning self defense. I've never needed it, thank goodness, but you never know. There may be a time when I DO need it (knock on wood) and this motivated me even more to learn--even if it's just a little. I like the idea of a girl (woman) that can take care of herself. Overall, most of this book was pretty predictable, but there were at least one or two things that weren't, which was nice. 

On a side note: I didn't know this until recently, but apparently there isn't really a genre for Mature Young Adult books. I think they are sometimes a bit too much to be classified as YOUNG Adult, but would get lost and forgotten in the Adult Fiction genre. From what I've been told by the author of this book, Tammara Webber, some people are trying to push a "New Adult" genre for those college-set, in-between books. While I think the name is ridiculous, I most definitely think there should be some kind of classification YA and Adult. I think that since there is such a huge gray area between the two genres, some books that are inappropriate for teenagers are getting lumped into the YA section when they are way too mature for them. This book, for instance. I liked it, but I'm in my my mid-twenties! Would I recommend this to a friend my age? Yes, probably. Would I recommend it to a teenager? Heck freaking no! 

So I'm curious what your thoughts are about a "New Adult" genre? Do you think there should be one? Or do you think mature YA books should put in one category or the other? Curious to know your thoughts.

Happy Reading! 

Good For You by Tammara Webber

THIS IS THE FINAL BOOK IN A SERIES. 

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ Between the Lines AND Where You Are, THEN DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW YET.

 

Reid Alexander's life is an open book. His Hollywood celebrity means that everything he does plays out in the public eye. Every relationship, every error in judgment is analyzed by strangers. His latest mistake totaled his car, destroyed a house and landed him in the hospital. Now his PR team is working overtime to salvage his image. One thing is clear—this is one predicament he won’t escape without paying for it.

Dori Cantrell is a genuine humanitarian—the outward opposite of everything Reid is about. When his DUI plea bargain lands him under her community service supervision, she proves unimpressed with his status and indifferent to his proximity, and he soon wants nothing more than to knock her off of her pedestal and prove she's human.

Counting the days until his month of service is over, Dori struggles to ignore his wicked magnetic pull while shocking him with her ability to see past his celebrity and challenging him to see his own wasted potential. But Dori has secrets of her own, safely locked away until one night turns her entire world upside down. Suddenly their only hope for connection and redemption hinges on one choice: whether or not to have faith in each other.

Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)

I've said it before-- I hate Reid Alexander. It's old news, right?

It's also old news that I loved Emma and Graham. However, I really felt like their story was wrapped up nicely in Where You Are, so I was a little wary of "a third book" that was all about Reid. No Emma/Graham buffer? No thank you. Although to be honest, I started to thaw towards Reid by the end of the second book, and I was curious to find out how the series concluded.

Tammara Webber has told me multiple times to give Reid a chance--"He can change!" she says. So I started this book being cautiously optimistic. I figure, if the author is telling me to suck it up and give him a chance, it's for a good reason. :)

I ended up loving this book. Surprisingly, it was probably my favorite in the series-- even with Emma and Graham M.I.A. Dori actually turned out to be one of my favorite characters, and this is the only book she's in! I loved how genuinely service-oriented she was. And it was kind of funny to me that Reid was doing community service- even if it was court-ordered. It is the complete opposite of anything he would ever do, and I, like Dori, was surprised that he actually put effort into it. 

I know I wasn't very nice when I reviewed Between the Lines last year, but I take it all back-- if only so you can read Where You Are and Good for You (this book). I'm still not cracked up about the first book in this series, but these last two books more than make up for my issues with the first. I really hope you get a chance to read these, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. :)

Happy Reading!

 

Where You Are (Between the Lines, #2) by Tammara Webber

Graham Douglas doesn’t do romantic relationships, but he was knocked for a loop when he met Emma Pierce on the set of his last film. As they grew closer, he did everything in his power to keep from falling for a girl being pursued by superstar Reid Alexander. Now home in New York, his life is once again under control, until Emma appears and shows him how not over her he is.

Emma Pierce is forsaking an up-and-coming Hollywood career to embark on a life she’s only dreamed of—the life of a regular girl. After spending months burying her feelings for the two night-and-day guys who vied for her heart while filming her last movie, a twist of fate puts her in a coffee shop in the middle of Manhattan with the one she still misses.

Brooke Cameron was a fresh-faced Texas girl when she arrived in LA. Now she’s a beach sitcom star turned conceited heiress on the big screen. Having just survived three months on location with her ex—Hollywood’s reigning golden boy—she’s older and wiser and has set her sights on her close friend Graham. The only thing standing in her way is the girl he can’t forget.

Reid Alexander can sum up his life in one word: boring. Between film projects, there’s little going on outside of interviews, photo shoots, and the premiere of the film he finished last fall. The next-to-last thing he expects is to get a second chance with Emma, the girl who rejected him. The last thing he expects is for his still-bitter-ex to be the one to offer it to him on a platter.
Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)

First of all, I'm sorry this is late this week. You'd think that having a four-day weekend would be conducive with getting lots of reading done, but alas, it is not. Not when you have two wild little children and house guests all weekend. Anyway, my reviews this week will be on Wednesday (obviously) and Friday (we hope).

So, some of you may be surprised to see that I read the second book in this series seeing as I gave the first book, Between the Lines, a bit of a scathing review earlier this year. However, since reviewing Between the Lines, the author, Tammara Webber, contacted me. We started a bit of a correspondence, and I quite like her. I told her that I would read the next in the series when it came out, so here we are.

To be honest, I actually really liked this book. (What's with the tone of surprise!?!?) I'm not sure if it's because I could recognize Tammara's "voice" in her writing, or if it was because my favorite part of the first book (Graham and Emma) were the largest part of this book. If I had to wager a guess, I'd say it was a combination. I probably wouldn't have ever read this book otherwise, and I'm very glad I did. While I still thought it was highly inappropriate for teenagers (Note the author's recommendation of appropriate audiences), I loved every second of the romance in it. I'm a sucker for a good love story.

By the time I finished the first book, Between the Lines, I hated Reid and felt sympathy for Brooke. This time around, it was the complete opposite, which I wasn't expecting. I never thought I'd be saying this, but I actually started to like Reid a little. Emphasis on "little". I think the final book in this series is about him, which I now look forward to reading next month when it's released. 

So, my NEW opinion: Read these, but only if you think you can handle them. They aren't for the faint of heart. There are mature elements in them, including strong language and sex. Consider yourself warned. :)

In case you've forgotten, I'm still working to get to 56 followers! If we make it to 56 followers, I'm going to give away a book of the winner's choice. If you don't recall this giveway, refresh your memory HERE. Please tell all your friends!! I'd much rather give a book to one of you than buy one for myself. Seriously. I love giving books away! And if you haven't entered, do it! Thanks.

Happy Reading!

Between the Lines by Tammara Webber

When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always—film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so. His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions. The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he’s confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.

Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies. Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her. The problem? Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels—opposite the very hot Reid Alexander—isn’t going to advance that aspiration.

Graham Douglas doesn’t fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he’ll do it. Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star. Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid’s costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance.

*EDIT: Between the Lines Author Recommendation:
Mature Young Adults

I'm still trying to sort out my feelings about this book. I liked the storyline, but there were a lot of elements of the book that I didn't care for. This book had quite a bit of sex (nothing really graphic, but a lot of references), underage drinking, and language. Just an FYI. It's not so much that these things in a book bother me much in general, but the fact that this book is geared, by definition, to young adults, I'm a tad bugged. Is this really the influence we want books to have on our children? I have teenage sisters and I'd never want them to pick up this kind of book. That said, here's my official review:

I've never really thought much about what it would be like to be a celebrity--other than to think that I would hate to be one. Having your every move followed by millions of people? That would seriously suck. Between the Lines is about actors. Celebrities. Joy, right? The book description intrigued me enough to read it though. Emma finally gets her "big break" into movies and immediately snags the attention of her sexy costar Reid Alexander--household name and fantasy of every female in America (or close to it). Enter Graham. I love that name, by the way. Graham and Emma hit it off as friends right away. Soon it begins to develop into more, only to be overshadowed by the giant ego of Reid. I loved Graham from the beginning and was rooting for him the whole book.

Oh, Reid Alexander.... What can I say about you....that's nice? I really wasn't a fan. When he "claimed his territory" with Emma, it made my skin crawl. I used to know guys like Reid. The "king of the mountain" kind of guys. Guys that want you because you're the hot commodity of the moment, but once they "get" you, they move on. I saw friends of mine with guys just like that in high school. Not. Cool. (Jerks.) 

Then there's the movie. It was an "adaption" of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It was set in modern-day high school. Seriously?? I bet Jane Austen would roll over in her grave if she knew that her beloved Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy were even referenced in this book. I kind of wanted to roll over in MY (future) grave, you know, so to speak. You just don't mess with P&P. Ever. Reid was definitely no Darcy. It's even a bit painful to even think of him as such.

So, just so we're clear-- liked the Emma/Graham story, but the rest was kind of crap. Don't think I'd recommend this one. Sorry!

Happy Reading!