[REVIEW] Last Will and Testament by Dahlia Adler

Last Will and Testament by Dahlia Adler
Published: December 2014
Age: New Adult
Series: Radleigh University #1

Lizzie Brandt was valedictorian of her high school class, but at Radleigh University, all she's acing are partying and hooking up with the wrong guys. But all that changes when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, making her guardian to her two younger brothers. To keep them out of foster care, she'll have to fix up her image, her life, and her GPA—fast. Too bad the only person on campus she can go to for help is her humorless, pedantic Byzantine History TA, Connor Lawson, who isn't exactly Lizzie's biggest fan.

But Connor surprises her. Not only is he a great tutor, but he’s also a pretty great babysitter. And chauffeur. And listener. And he understands exactly what it’s like to be on your own before you're ready. Before long, Lizzie realizes having a responsible-adult type around has its perks... and that she'd like to do some rather irresponsible (but considerably adult) things with him as well. Good thing he's not the kind of guy who'd ever reciprocate.

Until he does.

Until they turn into far more than teacher and student.

Until the relationship that helped put their lives back together threatens everything they both have left.

The first thing I thought after finishing this book was "That was a fast ending." - and - "I want more."

The story follows Lizzie Brandt after she is told her parents passed away in an accident. Lizzie then finds herself falling in love with her - hot - TA Connor. I liked how the story was romance based but still seemed to convey all the struggles of being a guardian to two young kids while still trying to balance everything else in her life. Although the story seemed short, it was an appropriate length. All loose-ends were finished up by the end of the story. The plot twist wasn't done as well as I would have liked. It made sense but there was little build up or foreshadow and seemed to be overshadowed by Lizzie's balancing act and her budding romance with Connor. I feel this story could have definitely been stretched into two books. Two books would provide more opportunity to develop all the story lines and not make them feel so abrupt. Again, the romance part was excellent - I felt Connor's dilemma and Lizzie's heartbreak but the other parts, her brother's feelings and the drama with Sophie and Trevor could definitely be further developed and be explained more. That being said, I respect the author's decision to contain it to one story. And there are two more stories in the Radleigh University series so there will be more Lizzie and Connor scenes!

MEH

[REVIEW] Landry Park by Bethany Hagen

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen
Published: February 2014
Age Group: YA
Series: Landry Park #1

Downton Abbey meets The Selection in this dystopian tale of love and betrayal.

In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate. As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the estate she loves dearly - and desire. 

Landry Park is hailed as part Downtown Abbey and Gone With the Wind mixed with the dystopia flair of The Selection. We are introduced to the main character Madeline Landry who seems to be the heiress of heiresses. She stands to inherit the proud standing Landry House who are the professed heroes of the last great war. As all dystopia novels seem to follow, our heroine young Melanie Landry is unsatisfied with the constraints and oppressive nature of her privileged high society life and wishes to break free from the norm. This sense of rebellion, and thirst for freedom and free will leads her to the rebellion forces where she finds herself crossed between staying true to her noble lineage or abandoning all for what she believes is moral and true. Add to all this the complications of match making and boy troubles with a splash of debutante drama and war threats and you have yourself Landry Park - a novel that displays equal parts of traditional dystopia literature with scenes reminiscent of 18th century nobility woes. 

Landry Park does not disappoint with its political turmoil juxtaposed with the complicated trifles of love matching between the two protagonists, Madeline and David Dana.

Fans of the Selection should give this a try. The romance is quite heavy in this book but fans of dystopia literature may still enjoy it for the well established division between the wealthy gentry and the oppressed and poor rootless that the author has managed to create in this YA novel. 

[REVIEW] The One by Kiera Cass

The One by Kiera Cass
Published: May 2014
Age Group: YA
Series: The Selection [end]

FINALLY The One's released. This is probably my most anticipated book of the year and one of the many series that are coming to an end in 2014 as well. 

The One concludes the story of America and Maxon and the revealing of the winner of the Selection: "The One"

The story picked up with the same atmosphere as the second one ended with. The rebels are attacking the palace and people are running around trying to find safety. The remaining girls each have their own personality and how they deal in dangerous situations which is very consistent of their behaviour throughout the series. I like how the story didn't waste time reintroducing characters and went right into the story line. The only downfall is that I'm sure there will be many who will find themselves very confused if they haven't read the first two because there is no re-introductions or explanations. Past events and thoughts start showing up and if you forgot what happened before it makes it really hard to continue reading the book. I found myself in that situation at first. Granted it was around 2AM when I first started the book so perhaps my brain was already taking a long time processing information but I had to pause and take some time to think through the situation before continuing. Simple things like a mention of America's stint on the Report may leave readers confused. One of the many pivotal scenes in the Elite, America's presentation at the Report is the reasoning for many of the changed character's relationships and dynamic. Without understanding what she started with that results in not understanding how the society is changing and turning into this revolutionary place.  

The story was very focused on the romance. I liked the transition of America's main goal. At the start she's still very dedicated to her goal - eliminating the castes and freeing society from the current oppressive king. But subtly throughout the story the focus shifts. No longer is America so concerned about how the people must feel but more focused on her relationship with Maxon and if she's willing to take that final plunge into finally declaring her love to him. Of course her concern for the citizens is still there but not in the forefront anymore. 

I was always rooting for Maxon but he becomes less and less admirable. I didn't like him in book 2 and that detest continues into the third book. He use to be so innocent, so endearing. But then it's like the closer we get to the end of this the more he starts to grow up and take on that ruler role and his behaviour changes. Of course there are still glimpses of the old Maxon from the Selection but they are few compared to the times he's not. 

The One was like a crescendo. It started up slow and soon the story took off, which I suspect is Kiera Cass' writing style. No complaints here. I love fast paced stories. The ending was very predictable though. Satisfying but predictable.  It was a classic happily ever after. I do question some of the author's decisions and I won't explore these in depth just because I want to make this a non-spoiler review. 

I also question whether this series should be marketed as dystopia lit or as romance. The Selection was more leaning towards the romance side whereas The Elite was very dystopia  heavy. The One though makes it very clear which side this story stands on. It's a series that borrows the dystopia landscape and platform to tell a love story. The ending and the character development has hints of dystopia in it but at the end it's a ending geared towards the romance side. 

I have a lot of unanswered questions. Mainly because certain facts or scenes are used for one purpose and that's it. It makes the story very stagnant in my opinion when there isn't any further development or reveal. I think if the story was written in a way that everything contributed to a giant surprise at the end I would appreciate them more. It's like the end to a great mystery or magic trick. Why was this person a part of this group? Why was this person there at that time saving this person and where are they now? Why would that person be involved and to what extent are their behaviours influenced by their affiliations. I'm a rather curious person and question a lot of things but I find that unanswered questions stem from incomplete stories, to say it bluntly.  

Overall The One left me content. I think this is a very good series. The finale didn't live up to it's predecessors but then again they were really really good and hard to match let alone beat.

BUY

[REVIEW] Complete Me by J. Kenner

Complete Me by J. Kenner
Published: July 2013
Age Group: Adult - 18A
Series: The Stark Trilogy [end]
 

ARC courtesy of Random House, provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 

The story takes place where the last one ended. Damien is a suspect in a murder case and Nikki has joined him in Germany where the case is taking place. Damien and Nikki have a lot of trust issues and that's still the same in this book. Damien has a lot of secrets and I think this is the first book where Nikki really comes to a realization that there's a lot she doesn't know about the man she loves.

The story moves at a really brisk pace. The scenes, in my opinion, happened much too quickly. Some events there could have been a couple of chapters dedicated to the emotional response the characters had instead of resolving the issue in the same chapter or the next one.  There wasn't a lot to engage me in this book. I'll admit there were a lot of scenes I enjoyed, particularly involving Damien and Nikki and their lovely romance, and then there were scenes that seemed predictable, and somewhat boring even.

I didn't have extremely high expectations for this book although I did expect it to be good since Release Me and Claim Me were both interesting especially dealing with the character's psychological being and them trying to overcome their fears and their past. Complete Me was just missing all that. I didn't find myself emotionally attached to anyone - I didn't feel anything and as a die hard romantic and avid reader that's what probably hurt the most. This book didn't evoke anything inside me. In fact I finished reading it and didn't really remember any distinct passages that I absolutely loved.

I wasn't that surprised with the climax of this. There was one scene inside the coffee shop where Nikki is talking to a supposed friend and immediately after I read that I knew who that friend was and that I would expect her soon in the book as the villain.

The ending was okay in my opinion. I don't really think it was a complete ending for the series, as Complete Me is apparently the final book in the Stark Trilogy. I think this is a good ending for an installment and is usually how many books like this have ended their second volume.

This book entirely was subpar. Everything was boring and rushed. I'm still not really clear as to how the anonymous stalker turned out to be the same person. It just seemed like the notes from the stalker changed in meaning from the second book to the third. Maybe a detective would tell you that the stalker is getting more violent, or more agitated, or ready to make a move (which is what happened) but I also would believe it if someone told me that these were two different stalkers. In fact the latter seems to be more plausible to me.

I saw many people rating this book quite high and I don't understand why. Perhaps I'm missing something but I just didn't feel like this was an amazing book.

(3 because although I said how much I didn't feel much from this, Nikki and Damien's relationship is still one that I'm intrigued about and do find very interesting. Also because there were a couple of scenes that I quite enjoyed.)

BORROW

(Like many other books that are in the series I would say this is BORROW as a stand alone but if we're considering if one should purchase this based on the series then it would MEH)