Saturday 30 August 2014

Review: The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks


Edition: Paperback
Pages: 292
Publish Date: September 14 2010
Publisher: Grand Central 
Genre: Romance
Series: No
Goodreads Rating: 3.84 (55,128 ratings)

After beginning this book in April I had to stop. I did the foolish thing that we all sometimes do. I was in a depressing slump, in need of a happy ending...stupid idea to pick up a Nicholas Sparks novel, it's practically inevitable that you will cry and you will be heartbroken in some way. So, yes. I read the last page. After doing so and knowing the ending I went and picked up some cheesy summer romance book in need of a happy ending.

WARNING: IF YOU WANT A HAPPY ENDING WHERE ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS DOESN'T DIE, DON'T READ THIS BOOK!

I've read 3 Nicholas Sparks books and only 1 has a happy ending - The Last Song. The other one was A Walk to Remember, and yes Jamie dies, but atleast it was expected and she died happy, getting her number 1 wish. But this whole story? Family rivalry? That's it. The family didn't like Dawson because he wasn't a total criminal like them, and when he comes home for a funeral - a funeral of all things - reuniting with his childhood love, his only love. And then he get's killed...Over breaking some idiots nose! This would be a story that Dawson should have triumphed over his psychotic family, gotten his love out of her marriage to a drunk.
Don't get me wrong the ending had it's beauty because Dawson dying and being a donor ended up saving Amanda's son, but seriously, I was not happy. 

“I gave you the best of me, he'd told her once, and with every beat of her son's heart, she knew he'd exactly done that.” 
― Nicholas SparksThe Best of Me

And they're making this into a movie..



Thursday 28 August 2014

Review: Left Drowning by Jessica Park

Edition: Paperback
Pages: 399
Publish Date: January 1 2013
Publisher: Skyscrape
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Series: No
Goodreads Rating: 4.26  (1,792 ratings)


“He leans into me and kisses me again. Harder this time. He tastes like eternity, and healing, and completion.
No one else could ever kiss me like this, of that I am positive.
I could breathe in him forever.
I could fall in love forever.” 

― Jessica ParkLeft Drowning

I knew from the beginning of this book that I'd love it. Even before that when I added it to my TBR list, and I have been wanting to read it for so long. Finally!
It was exactly as good as I expected. It's so similar to that of Jamie McGuire's and Colleen Hoover's books, and both of them have comments on this book.
Even though I found this book predictable as to how the characters were related, it still didn't give away enough, and there was so much more to keep you hooked on this book. Colleen Hoover had it right - "Ferociously Sexy". 
If you're a fan of those authors and amazing new adult contemporaries then you will love this.

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson


Edition: ebook
Pages: 320
Publish Date: March 9 2010
Publisher: Walker Books
Genre: YA Romance
Series: No
Goodreads Rating: 4.09
Finally read this amazing book! I've seen many conflicting reviews on it, seems to be a love or hate kind of book, and I'm in love.
What I loved most about this book is that it's quote on the cover "I'm supposed to be grieving, not falling in love" isn't just true for the story but for everyone reading this. I found myself smiling or laughing through about 95% of this book, and the fact that I have an amazing older sister just like Lennie did I still found so much happiness in Lennies way of mourning for her sister. 

In summary, the sky is everywhere follows Lennie Walker, raised by her Gram, living in the shadow of her sister. Until her sister dies suddenly and Lennie's world changes in some very strange ways. 
With little experience with boys somehow she ends up juggling two. Toby, her sister's boyfriend, she knows it's all wrong but with their only connection being her sister they form a bond that will shortly blow up in her face. Because the new paris transplant, Joe, has it bad for the second chair clarinetist (Lennie). Bonding over music and his mesmerizing smile that seems so foreign in her house of mourning, she ends up falling in love, as does he.
But like I said, it soon blows up in her face when Joe walks in on her and Toby kissing.
Without a chance to explain things fall apart. Throughout their separation Lennie works on pulling her life back together, learning more about her Mother who abandoned her, talking her feelings out with Gram, tearing up her old copy of Wuthering Heights and all it's crazy stupid idea on love. She wants to make her own love story. 
She does everything in her power to get Joe back, and it's not easy. But he is SO hopelessly in love with her. He understands it after finding her random notes to the universe that she leaves anywhere and everywhere, and the final push is finding the one just meant for him. A beautiful poem with her heart laid bare just for him. 

“My sister will die over and over again for the rest of my life. Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes a part of you, step for step, breath for breath. I will never stop grieving Bailey because I will never stop loving her. That's just how it is. Grief and love are conjoined, you don't get one without the other. All I can do is love her, and love the world, emulate her by living with daring and spirit and joy.” 
― Jandy NelsonThe Sky is Everywhere

This book gives you all the feeeeels!! If you love John Green's writing and overall quirky and fun writing despite a depressing tale, you'll love this book. 
A must read.

“The sky is everywhere, it begins at your feet.” 



Tuesday 26 August 2014

BEST DYSTOPIAN SERIES EVERRRR


IF YOU CALL YOURSELF A DYSTOPIAN FAN AND HAVE NOT READ THIS SERIES YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG! SERIOUSLY. I'M NOT A DYSTOPIAN FAN AND i ADORED THIS TRILOGY! SO GO READ IT!

Monday 25 August 2014

Review: The Secret of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen


Edition: Pocket Book 
Pages: 261
Publish Date: September 30, 2012
Publisher: Vision
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Series: Yes
Goodreads Rating: 4.07

Sorensen has done it again. Though I'm still more in love with The Coincidence series, this has started out beautifully as the opening novel for The Secret series. 

In this novel you're introduced to Ella, with a fiery badass past that she's running from, and Micha, the childhood friend she left behind. 
The year before, Ella's mother committed suicide after years of battling bipolar disorder. This took a major tole on Ella as she was supposed to be watching her Mom that night but instead she went to a party with Micha. Her Father turned to the bottle, her brother left to start a new life, and Ella was trapped with the overwhelming guilt and pain left by her mother. Until the night she left.
After taking one of her mother's old pills to see what it was to be like her - believing she can fly - Micha picks her up for a party which she soon leaves in favor of the bridge. Standing on the edge her mother had stood on weeks before killing herself, Ella now feels it too, that she can fly. Micha manages to track her down and talk her off the ledge, he also shares his own secret with her - That he loves her. He barely manages to say it when he finds her kissing him. This is where Ella remembers leaving him there and packing her things to attend UNLV. Without a word to anyone but her alcoholic father who barely remembers that her brother left months ago, she makes her way to Las Vegas to start her new life, her well controlled and less reckless life. 

“I love you, Ella May and nothing will ever change that. You can push me away -run away – and I will still love you.” 
― Jessica SorensenThe Secret of Ella and Micha

8 Months later the book begins. Ella and her roommate Lila are leaving their dorm for summer vacation. Ella is filled with worry and it's only made worse when she gets home and finds Micha, ready for the fight to get the girl he loves back. 

This book broke my heart in the same way The Destiny of Violet and Luke did, so much love but their pasts are keeping them apart. Ella fears anything she can't control and the main thing she's having a hard time controlling are her feelings and actions when she's with Micha. Micha is hurting still from losing her 8 months ago, fearing she may even be dead after her stunt on the bridge. He is also struggling with his past as his father who abandoned him comes back into his life, as well as trying to figure out his future after being given an opportunity to tour with one of their towns local bands who has hit it big. 

The one thing I loved about this book is it didn't end on a cliffhanger! Though I know their are 3 other books about Ella and Micha as well as Lila and Ethan, I just fear for what the next book will bring now that we know they're dealing with a long distance relationship. 
Overall I'm going to give this book 4.5 stars (4 on goodreads) only because I'm comparing it to her other books which I still think were better. 

Review: Shattered (Slated #3) by Teri Terry

“You, my dear, are getting curiouser and curiouser. Like Alice down the rabbit hole, nothing is as it appears.” 
― Teri TerryShattered


Edition: Ebook
Pages: 320
Publish Date: May 1, 2014
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Genre: YA Dystopian
Series: Yes
Goodreads Rating: 4.25 (only 1,525 ratings!)

Holy Shit! I cannot find the right words to tell you how amazing this entire trilogy is. I loved every bit of it, the writing, every facet of each character, the entire dystopian world, the whole this was a work of art and Teri Terry is an incredible author. 15/15 stars 5 for each book. 

It's really hard to even summarize this book, never mind the whole trilogy. So here's the goodreads summary of Shattered:
"Kyla is in danger from both the government Lorders who erased her memory and the terrorists who tried to use her. So now she’s on the run. Sporting a new identity and desperate to fill in the blank spaces of her life pre-Slating, Kyla heads to a remote mountain town to try to reunite with the birth mother she was kidnapped from as a child. There she is hoping all the pieces of her life will come together and she can finally take charge of her own future. But even in the idyllic wilderness and the heart of her original family, Kyla realizes there is no escape from the oppressive Lorders. Someone close to her may be one of them, and even more frighteningly, her birth mother has been keeping secrets of her own."

Everything is resolved, no stone left unturned. We even find out her real name, who her real family is, and of course who she falls in love with in the end, and it's not who you expect.
I am so sad this story is over, this journey with Kyla, Rain, Lucy, Riley, and finally Hope, has been one of my favourites of this year and my favourite out of all the dystopian's I've read. 

Please read these books, you won't be disappointed.

Friday 22 August 2014

Review: Fractured (Slated #2) by Teri Terry


Edition: Ebook
Pages: 432 
Publish Date: April 4, 2013
Publisher: Orchard Books
Genre: YA Dystopian
Series: Yes
Goodreads Rating: 4.14

"It is like two high-speed trains, hurtling towards each other, getting closer and closer to disaster."
― Teri TerryFractured

So glad to finally get on to the second book, feels like forever since I read Slatted. But holy shit, I have no idea how to summarize this book and how amazing it is. I read reviews saying that it was predictable...but that's crazy! I found some things obvious but I'm still reeling from this book. The emotions that books like this bring out is overwhelming, it really makes you think and I'm still lost on who is bad and who is good. I cannot wait to finish this trilogy, it is by far one of my favourites. All the characters are captivating and so detailed. Teri Terry is an incredible writer with an extraordinary imagination. I'd recommend this to any dystopian fan. 

Fractured does have it's heart fracturing moments...I'm kind of nervous that Shattered is going to shatter my heart. 
If Ben dies I swear to god...



Tuesday 19 August 2014

Review: This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Edition: Paperback
Pages: 404
Publish Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Headline
Genre: YA Contemporary
Goodreads Rating: 3.70

Wow. Everyone's got it right, You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle combo. 
Such an adorable summer contemporary, Jennifer Smith is perfection when it comes to sweet cheesy summer romances. 
Basically this book follows Ellie O'Neil, a small town girl living with her Mom in middle-of-nowhere, Maine, and Graham Larkin, living in the spotlight in middle-of-everything, LA. They start up an internet friendship accidentally, with no real facts about who the other is, not even names. But they share everything that's underneath, the stuff they don't tell anyone else.
Graham strategically collects fact upon fact that Ellie gives him until he knows where she lives exactly in Maine. By chance he gets the director of his next movie to make the setting in Ellie's home town. 
Upon arriving in Henley, Maine Graham finds Sprinkles-where Ellie said she works- and accidentally asks out Ellie's best friend who borrowed Ellie's shirt that had her name on it. 
After realizing his mistake he tracks Ellie down with the help of her best friend, Ellie is overwhelmed at who the mystery pen-pal really is and is afraid of repeating her mother's past. 
Ellie's past has been hidden by her Mothers hard work, changing their last name and shortening her first name. Ellie's secret is that her Father is a senator, a married with 2 kids senator that her Mom had an affair with, creating Ellie. After news broke many years ago Ellie and her Mom fled to this middle-of-nowhere town to keep away from the press. 
Despite her better judgement Ellie can't stay away, and neither can Graham. But it is inevitable with Graham's lifestyle, they get figured out after Graham punches out a paparazzi when he tried to take a picture of Ellie and him. With only 4 weeks in this town Graham lost her in one week, but in the final week Ellie comes back to him. 
Helping her to find her Father in hopes that he will give her the last of what she needs for her summer program at Harvard. The trip falls flat when her father fails to recognize her and she doesn't tell him. Upon their return to Henley the news has officially broke, Ellie is no longer the "mystery girl" but Graham Larkin's new girlfriend. And surprisingly she's okay with the title. With only a few days left, Graham and Ellie spend that together, working on their "Happy Lists" they discussed all those emails ago. 

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an adorable fluffy summer romance. Smith's books are always those extraordinary 'meant to be' unbelievable yet beautiful YA romances that you just can't get enough of.

“No matter how long it’s been or how far you’ve drifted, no matter how unknowable you might be, there were at least two people in the world whose job it was to see you, to find you, to recognize you and reel you back in. No matter what.” 
― Jennifer E. SmithThis is What Happy Looks Like


Monday 18 August 2014

Review: A Beautiful Wedding by Jamie McGuire



Edition: Audiobook
Pages: N/A
Publish Date: December 10, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio
Genre: New Adult Romance
Goodreads Rating: 4.14

Fucking right man! I literally teared up when I found this at the book store and then I find it on Youtube as an audio! (cause lets be honest I'm not paying 20 bucks for a 100 page book...I'm cheap)
Finally getting to experience the wedding!! Since it always ends with the proposal in both Beautiful and Walking Disaster, then the epilogue is like many years later. I'm so happy to have gotten to read this!

Basically in this book you find out that Abby proposed to have a supporting alibi for both of them after the fire. Afraid that Travis would go to jail, she decides to get away to Vegas...and get married.
She may not have a tell, but Travis knows her too well, he knew something was up.
The whole fire has really made some damage, nightmares, guilt, fear, it's so heartbreaking.
And all the reminiscing of their past as they freak out over getting married! I mean it was only 6 months ago that they met!

“The only thing I'm afraid of is a life without you, Pigeon."
"Then you have nothing to be afraid of," I said. "We're forever.” 
― Jamie McGuireA Beautiful Wedding

So many emotions in this book! Especially how Travis's mom had written a letter for "The Future Mrs Travis Maddox". And how Abby so simply stated that she loves his Mom, never having met her, and that Travis believes she would have loved her. I cried, it was beautiful. "When a Maddox boy falls in love, it is forever." I'd quote more than half of this book because every word is beautiful. This is one of those books that grabs you and drags you through the whole 146 pages, and never lets go - much like all the other books in this Beautiful series.
Simply stunning. A must read.

“One down, forever to go.” 
― Jamie McGuireA Beautiful Wedding

Sunday 17 August 2014

Review: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire



Edition: Paperback
Pages: 433
Publish Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Atria Genre: New Adult RomanceGoodreads Rating: 4.26

So glad I finally read this! It's been a while since I read Beautiful Disaster and I've been wanting to reread it so this was a better way to do it. Though I'll be honest I'm not a fan of retelling from another POV. But it was beautiful to actually hear Travis' thoughts because it gave you real insite into how much he truly loves Abby. It was amazing but I did enjoy Beautiful Disaster more, maybe just because I'm a girl so reading a book from a girl's POV is more reltatable...I don't really know. But if you've read the first book you really should read this one too, even if it's just for the awesome ending and heartbreaking beginning!! I was very happy :)
“One of these days you're going to fall in love, son. Don't settle for just anyone. Choose the girl that doesn't come easy; the one you have to fight for, and then never stop fighting. Never” 
― Jamie McGuireWalking Disaster



Saturday 16 August 2014

Review: The Final Piece by Maggi Myers

Edition: Paperback
Pages: 235
Publish Date: August 13, 2013
Publisher: Lake Union
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Goodreads Rating: 4.13


“We are all broken in one way or another. It's how we put those pieces back together that matters." 
― Maggi MyersThe Final Piece


All I can say is WOW. I found this book at the beginning of the year as a recommendation for reading Colleen Hoover! That should say enough about this book. 
I loved every minute of it and I hate the fact that it only has 4000 ratings, seriously people you need to read this book! So no, I will not spoil a single thing about this stunning book. Just go read this book.

Thursday 14 August 2014

Review: The Probability of Violet and Luke by Jessica Sorensen

Another fabulous addition of The Coincidence series! So glad I finally read this with the next two coming out at the end of September. I'll be honest, I prefer the character paring of Callie and Kayden, but I am so looking forward to the conclusion of Violet and Luke! Especially with everything you learn from this book about all the mysteries in the first. I'm so excited!


Edition: eBook
Pages: 200
Publish Date: May 14, 2014
Publisher: Grand Central
Genre: Romance
Goodreads Rating: 4.18

“I care about Violet more than I care about myself. Maybe even… Love her? Fuck, am I in love? No, there’s no way. I don’t even know what love is.” 
― Jessica SorensenThe Probability of Violet & Luke

2 Months after the conclusion to The Destiny of Violet and Luke, Both characters have not spoken despite Luke's efforts. Violet has been living with Preston for these two months doing her usual job of dealing for him, as well as allowing his advances while she dismissed him before. This is her punishment and payment for living with him. Both of their lives are spinning out of control, Violet is at Preston's mercy, while Luke is drowning in booze and gambling.

Leave it to destiny to bring them back together at an illegal poker game, Luke cheating as usual, and Violet coming to arrange supply for the men running the house. After being caught cheating Violet helps get him out, only to end up back at the apartment they used to share. Violet lost the deal for Preston and she knows what will come if she goes back to him, and Luke now owes the guys from the house $9000.
After arrangements are made, Violet and Luke make the trip to Vegas, living with Luke's estranged uncle and cousin. Playing at underground houses hoping to make the $9000 by the end of the week.

Despite all their current problems, their past is still there, and those emotions come crashing back they finally discuss it. Especially with Luke knowing the truth about his Mother and her role in his sister Amy's rape. Even more imporatant, as the investigation keeps going thanks to Luke giving them the info about his mom, Violet has recieved harassing texts, thinking it's just reporters as it has happened before. She soon finds out it's much more than that...the man texting her knows too much, and is taunting her with facts he shouldn't know and telling her he should have killed her while he had the chance.
The cop in charge of the case informs her of who is doing it...Preston. Who isn't really named Preston, he changed it several years ago and was a dealer...for her mother. After Violet was born her mother cleaned up her act and married Violet's Father, until her past caught up with her.

The conclusion to this installment has Violet and Luke staying with Luke's estranged Father, his dept paid, and for the moment safe from whatever awaits them back in Laramie. Their feelings out in the open, Luke promises that no matter what happens he won't leave her, nearly confessing his love.

I seriously doubt I can last the next month!



Wednesday 13 August 2014

Review: Girl, Stolen by April Henry


Such a good read! Something to know about me is I watch a lot of crime shows but I don't read a lot of crime novels. But this story really captured my interest because of the character Cheyenne.

3 years before: Cheyenne and her mom were walking on the shoulder of the road, just talking. When two cars came speeding down both lanes racing, when the one in the wrong lane swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming car it hit Cheyenne's mom as well as her. While he mom died on impact Cheyenne was thrown into a sign where the impact injured her brain causing her to lose her sight.

Now after 3 years she is very independent and moving forward despite her blindness. Around Christmas while everyone else at the strip mall is shopping for last minute gifts Cheyenne and her stepmom are picking up a prescription to treat Cheyennes pneumonia. Cheyenne stayed in the car with the keys for the car to stay warm when someone - who isn't her step mother - gets into the car and drives away.

Griffin, brought up into a life that doesn't hold many options. After dropping out of highschool to pursue Roy's (his dad) career in running their farm house chop house, though he rarely boosts the cars himself, the keys in the brand new Escalade was just too tempting. Until he realized their was someone else in the car.

Both under the initial shock, Cheyenne pleads for her life asking for him to let her go. He thinks he can't because she's seen his face...but she hasn't. Unsure of what to do he takes the car and Cheyenne back to his place, meeting up with his dad and 2 of his workers. After tying Cheyenne in his room he and his dad discuss what to do when they hear about the kidnapping report on the news. They also find out from the news report who Cheyenne Wilder really is. Daughter of Nick Wilder, president of Nike.

After confirming who she is Roy comes up with a plan to demand ransom in trade for the girl. Demanding 5 million but settling on 1 million they set up a meeting. Throughout all this Griffin and Cheyenne have bonded, swearing he will keep her safe and despite what they both know may happen he promises that he won't let them kill her.

On the night of the drop off Cheyenne makes a break for it. Knowing what she knows from days of being locked in that house she finds her way out, only after knocking (and thinking she killed) Griffin unconscious. After a few hours of travelling through snow filled woods Cheyenne is freezing and still feeling the effects of her pneumonia Griffin finds her. Confessing that he had planned to help her get away, his alarm was set to go off a few minutes after she hit him and left. As they make the journey together he uses his eyes to guide her, forgetting about himself he ends up stumbling and breaking his ankle.

With freezing temperatures but some sunlight Griffin tells her which direction to go in and that he will wait here. She promises to return. Only when she gets to the road she runs into a cop, or so he claims to be. Changing his voice to confuse her, but her other senses are working, smelling the familiar disgusting smell of Roy she feels around for a weapon and finds a gun. After firing a shot at him-unsure where she hit- she tries to make her escape, forcing him out of the vehicle and calling the cops while trying to drive blind. He continues to chase her slow moving car while thrusting a rock hard on the glass. Sirens blare from multiple directions and as Roy nearly gets her a real cop stops him. Finally free.

Back where she left Griffin he now lies with 2 guns and a dead man. the two workers from his house after getting their share of the cash get in a fight after finding Griffin, debating weather or not to kill him, it ends with one of the two shooting the other.

Two weeks later, it's new years eve. Cheyenne's home phone rings, upon answering she hear Griffin's familiar voice. Questions of new beginnings and resolutions, the book ends as Griffin asks if he can talk to her again sometime, which is left to our own imagination.
I like to think she said yes.

"Sometimes people did this, closed their eyes for a few seconds and imagined it gave them insights into what it was like to be her. Only, at the end, they could still open their eyes and see.” 
― April HenryGirl, Stolen


Tuesday 12 August 2014

Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman


“I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I took joy in the things that made me happy.” 
― Neil GaimanThe Ocean at the End of the Lane

I'm going to be honest, I totally got this because of the cover and Neil Gaiman's reputation as an amazing writer. Though I strongly agree that his writing is beautiful, fantasy isn't really my cup of tea. Nevertheless I did thoroughly enjoy this short story, it was creative and complex and I will most certainly be recommending this book to Gaiman's fans and other fantasy lovers. But for myself I'm probably not going to continue with many of his works, as much as I try to expand out of my realistic fiction world I just can't get into certain genres.
Well earned 4 stars for amazing writing, beautiful cover art, and for capturing the interest of a non fantasy book person.

Sunday 10 August 2014

Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell


So...I think it was too much hype, cause I wasn't really that fond of this book. It was a cute story, creative characters and family dynamics but to be honest it really didn't capture my interest. I actually ended up switching to the audiobook version because it got to the point where I just didn't have enough interest to put the effort into reading it.
Though I will say I enjoyed the writing style which makes me hopeful for Rainbow Rowell's other books.

I'd give a summary but...really...I think we've all heard enough about this book that if you don't know then you've probably been under a rock the entire time.

“Nothing before you counts," he said. "And I can't even imagine an after." 
― Rainbow RowellEleanor & Park

Friday 8 August 2014

Review: On The Fence by Kasie West


Ahh I am so in love with Kasie West! Such a sweet adorable story.
In summary this follows Charlie during her summer before year 11, in a family of all boys she never really had boyfriends or even thought guys liked her like that because she was always "one of the guys".
After getting her 3rd speeding ticket, her father (who happens to be a cop) makes her get a job to pay it off. The job she gets isn't what she expected, working in a cute clothing store she has to wear the clothes from, which are so opposite from her usual t-shirt and jeans. Through this job she meets some new friends and becomes a different person, someone she believes they'd like better then the less girly more tomboy version of herself.
Then there's her neighbor, and long time friend who has basically been her forth brother for the past twelve years. Braden and Charlie develop a new sort of bond as they meet up for late night chats after Braden's father goes on one of his drinking binges and Charlie awakes from another nightmare of her mothers death.
They tell eachother things they never would during the time away from their fence, and slowly but surely it starts to affect their daily lives.
In her other life at the boutique she wears makeup, fancy clothes and hangs out with girls that do the same. On one of these outings she meets Evan and he asks her out. In effort to keep up her girly persona she lets him explain sports to her, sits on the sidelines at a game that she'd typically be a part of, until Braden shatters the illusion. Spilling her secret about being a huge sports fan. In an effort to prove to her that guys like her the way she is he yells in the middle of the field for all these guys she's been playing with for years to raise their hands if they'd ever ask her out if her brothers hadn't have threatened them to stay away...when all of them do she's sort of thrown off by it. Always seeing her brothers hit on girls like the one she's trying to be, and always thinking of herself as one of the guys she never thought they'd go for her if she were not to change.
With all this boy and life drama happening, the nightmares are continuing...but somehow they are getting more clear in a way that confuses her. She sees herself in the car with her mother during the crash. The crash that was cause by...nothing?
After returning from a week long soccer camp everything has changed..
1. Braden is with her friend Amanda who she stupidly introduced him to
2. Her dad found out about her modeling for her store
3. She's still unsure what really happened the night of the accident...she's unsure of her mom entirely.

After her dad forces her to leave work she gets him to tell her what really happened. Truth is, her mother was not well, she was suicidal, and that night she was successful and nearly took Charlie with her.
With that to wrap her mind around Charlie stays inside, her brothers leave her alone to process it, but Braden shows up. Unaware that she now knows the truth. They play a little one on one which turns a bit rough, landing Braden on top of Charlie, perfect position to kiss her, which is what he does.
1. Braden is not with Amanda, he's in love with Charlie
2. Charlie gets her job back (though she is grounded)
3. She finally accepts that though she's mad her mom left willingly, she still has this amazing family.

SOOOOO CUTE! I love these cutesy romantic teenage love stories and Kasie West does them so well!