Beneath Beautiful by Allison Rushby

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beneath Beautiful is a stunning new adult novel.  Rushby gives us a story full  of introspection, dry humor and awesome characters.  As a somewhat successful author who can't find inspiration for her next book, Cassie is a main character to whom many of us can relate.  Who doesn't have a family member (or two) who thinks every decision should be made for us?  Who doesn't worry that, no matter how much they love us, our best friends might worry for our sanity after making rash decisions?  Who hasn't been torn between doing what we think is right and what might really need to be done? 

Beneath Beautiful is a lovely story of the journey it takes to become an adult.  Excellent writing, wonderfully drawn characters, and a nicely paced plot will leave you wanting more- even after the thoroughly satisfying conclusion. 


Beneath Beautiful by Allison Rushby: 5 out of 5 stars.  Available now from booksellers and libraries. 

Just One Night by Lauren Layne

Another great love story from  Lauren Layne, Just One Night details the romance between Riley McKenna and Sam Compton.  Not only are these pages full of sizzling scenes, there are also some laugh-out-loud one-liners and moments.  The characters are excellently drawn, the writing is strong, and I had a hard time putting the book aside to do...well, anything else. 

I also enjoyed the unique take on a sex expert who doesn't fondly remember the one and only time she experienced the act.  I haven't read any of the other books in the Sex, Love, and Stiletto series, but if they're anything like Just One Night, I'll have to make sure they're on my list. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Dream Girl by S. J. Lomas

This is a richly imagined fantasy novel for teens.  The dual narration gives the reader answers to questions that arise when reading a first-person point of view, and also gives insight to each protagonist. 

The characters leave a bit to be desired, I think.  They're a bit too flat, though they are written well.  The dialog is stilted and formal at times, too.  Given those issues, though, I did like this story. 
Christine and Gabriel give the reader two sides of a story that makes a couple of turns that the reader can't see coming.  I will definitely be watching out for a sequel. 

Preservation (Preservation #1) by Rachael Wade

As a reader who enjoys the romance genre, Preservation didn't let me down.  This is a great story of two people who never seem to get it right who finally get as close to perfect as you can. 

Kate is a great narrator, letting the reader in on her thoughts, her reasoning, and the way she buries her emotions until she can hide from them.  She never fails to acknowledge the tenuous situations in which she finds herself, such as her male friends having crushes on her, and finds a way to pull herself through while maintaining her sense of self-preservation.

Ryan is the perfect opposite of Kate.  Rather than shut out his every feeling until he convinces himself he no longer has them, he takes them over, manipulating them until he is in control of them. 
Both have made mistakes, both have given everything before and been badly burned, both of them know how to avoid the same situations.  Neither of them can ignore their feelings any longer- they have to let their emotions control them or risk losing them altogether.

Kate's narration is bookended by stories from Ryan's point of view.  This gives the reader awesome insight to what the other protagonist is really thinking, and provides a different perspective on some of the same scenes from the book. 

I can't speak for everyone, of course, but I think this has the makings of a great romance series.