The Elite by Kiera Cass (The Selection #2)

The Blurb: Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.




  3.5/5 Hearts

I enjoyed this book a little less than the first book, so I decided on 3.5 stars/

The story from the Selection continues in this book and it picks up where that book left off. I still enjoyed this book for the same reasons I liked the selection, 

However, as the story continues I sometimes found myself frustrated with America and at times I felt like throwing a book at Maxon - who does some very unlikeable things in this book. So the story got a little annoying now and then. But I still really enjoyed it and the story with America and Maxon and the thing with the rebels continued and I'm very curious how their story will end in the next book. Sadly, it's release date feels like a century from now. I really hope I'll still like this story by then, but I think I may have already begun to outgrown it (while I'm reposting this review as a blog at february 21st 2014).

Read in may 2013

Where She Went by Gayle Forman (If I Stay #2)

 

4/5 Hearts

“You were so busy trying to be my savior that you left me all alone.” 
 

The story picks up three years after the frist book. Adam is now a huge rock star while Mia is starting to be a huge cellist, fresh out of Julliard. Sadly - due to all the circumstances - they're not together anymore. This story is told from Adam's point of view. The chapters alternate between the past and the present. Adam is not doing well, but then all of a sudden his music career takes him to New York. Who else happens to be there but Mia - who is giving  a big cello concert. Adam decides to visit Mia and they meet again. Almost the whole book is about the night they meet and what happens.

“I get it now. I have to make good on my promise. To let her go. To really let her go. To let us both go.” 

I liked this book better than the first one. You feel for Adam and his story is not a happy one. Still this book has a more upbeat feel than If I stay and I enjoyed it a but more. The ending of this second book was however a little predictable as well. But still a great read.

Read in July 2013 

Shine Not Burn by Elle Casey

5/5 Hearts

I can't say enough good things about this book. It was exactly what I wanted and needed to read right at the time.

Andie goes to Las Vegas for her friends bachelorette party. While wandering off to the casino, she sees the most gorgeous cowboy she's ever seen. What follows is a wonderful night of romance and - very steamy - passion. I really liked both Andie at this point and Mack (the cowboy) was absolutely wonderful. Her girlfriends also made great characters.

“It was the best night of my life and not just because you kept calling me King Dong.” 

The morning after however, Andie doesn't remember a single thing and goes on with her life. We come back 2 years later to a boring, bitchy and deflated Andie. She's planning to get married and rinds out that she's already married to Mack and has to go find him to sign the divorce papers. This sounds very much like the movie: sweet home alabama. But I liked that movie (you should give it a try if you've never seen it!) so it didn't bother me and it was different enough for me to really enjoy this book.

“The question is not whether I'm sure, but whether you are. Because I know exactly what I want, and I'm not the kind of guy who's afraid to go after it once I see it.”

I started to like Andie a little less during the book, because you kind of want to slap her silly for some of the things she does and things, but it never turned to hate or something and I liked Mack and his sweet family even more - so that didn't bother me in the slightest.

I won't give away how the rest of the story goes, but it's wonderful, steamy and very funny. I found myself laughing - honest to god laughing - at many moments in this book. Which I don't find myself doing all that often, but this book was really hilarious at times.

I'd recommend this book to everyone who loves NA books and I'll be checking out other books by this author!

Read in december, 2013