Emerge by S. E. Hall Review

From GoodReads:

"Laney Walker is a quick witted, athletic, southern tomboy who lets few get too close, using her sarcastic zingers to deflect. She also has no idea how others view her, Evan having protected and coveted her since they were children. But college puts a gap between Laney and Evan that neither of them were prepared for- old relationships are tested, new ones are formed and nothing will ever be the same.

Especially when in walks one Dane Kendrick, not at all the familiar, southern charmer of home, but an animal all his own.

A story of growing up, friendship, loyalty, first love, primal love...and life.

Mature content."

My Thoughts:

I needed this book. After all the heavy ones I've been reading, Emerge was the breath of fresh air I was looking for!

This is a story about every day people, with typical lives. Highschool graduation upon them, and college just the summer away. Laney and Evan have been best friends since they were 10 years old. However, college threatens to tear them apart, there's a chance they will be heading in two different directions, and everything is about to change. 

"There really isn't a more comforting sight than my Evan."

Now off at college, Laney is trying to adjust. She has a new softball team to work with, a decent class load, and a bouncy roommate that thankfully reminds her of home. However, when Dane walks into Laney's life, her world is about to change more drastically than she imagined. He is the complete opposite of her Evan, and she has no idea why she is so drawn to Dane. 

"This guy seriously belongs on the cover of 'World's Sexiest Reasons to Drop Your Panties.'"

Now it is a battle of new vs. old. Comfort vs. the unknown. Guilt vs. true feelings.

Can you say goodbye to the only thing you've ever known, for something you barely know anything about? Is it possible for no one to get hurt in the process? Is it okay to move on? Or is it the best to stay with what you know?

The group of friends that forms in this book are amazing. All of them. They each play such an great role. Families are close, friends are closer, and they all fall into their lives together quite easily. Even Laney's father is the perfect book-dad. Laney and her dad have a very tight bond, he is her number one fan. He is always there for her in just the ways she needs him to be.

"My dad rocks, there's no ifs, ands or buts about it. I adore that man and no matter what else happens, ever, I got damn lucky there."

Emerge, was awesome, plain and simple as that! There's the perfect amount of drama, real life feelings, and humor, to keep you turning page after page, which I did.. until 3am. Yep!

Not to mention, HOLY mother of all book boyfriends! Talk about being torn! That's right, there are TWO amazingly swoon worthy guys in this book. I'm actually still undecided on who I was routing for, because really, they're both perfect for her in their own ways. Even the not-so-main-male characters are awesome! Sawyer and Zach are just as great! (psst.. can they get spin off books? PLEASE!) 

Emerge leaves off at somewhat of a cliff-hanger.. as in book two is DEFINITELY needed. There is WAY more to this story, and so many unanswered questions about certain characters. I need to know what happens next!! I am definitely looking forward to book 2!! We even get a sneak peek of it at the end of the book.. and it will literally pick up EXACTLY where Emerge leaves off.

PERFECT! 

Congrats to S. E. Hall on her debut novel! It was a great one!

Cannot wait to see more from her :)

Kindle Link for Emerge

Book 2 will be out in October 2013!!!!

Favorite book Quote:

"I love her more than any man has ever loved a woman, I'm sure of it. I've loved her since the first time her little tomboy ass smarted off to me, when she was all dirt and elbows. And now, she's a goddess."

Reviving Izabel by J. A. Redmerski has a blurb!!!!

Reviving Izabel is the sequel to Killing Sarai, and we all know I absolutely LOVED Killing Sarai!! 

You can see my review of Killing Sarai HERE

Well guess what..

WE OFFICIALLY HAVE THE BLURB FOR Reviving Izabel!! 

I could NOT be more excited for the release of this book!!

Check out below for the full blurb from GoodReads

"Determined to live a dark life in the company of the assassin who freed her from bondage, Sarai sets out on her own to settle a score with an evil sadist. Unskilled and untrained in the art of killing, the events that unfold leave her hanging precariously on the edge of death when nothing goes as planned. Victor Faust finds her in time enough to help her, but not in time to save those who Sarai has grown to care about.

After what she has done, Sarai’s fear of leading killers to Mrs. Gregory’s doorstep sends her on a path she knows she can never turn back from. She presents Victor with an ultimatum: help her become more like him and give her a fighting chance, or she’ll do it alone no matter the consequences.

Victor, as cold-blooded and seemingly emotionless as always, still has a soft spot for Sarai and knows that he probably always will. He will not let her die if he can help it, so he inevitably agrees to train her. But what Sarai doesn’t know is that her ultimatum has little bearing on his decision. Victor wants to train her. He wants her in his life. And while he struggles with his feelings for her, their complicated relationship heats up and the walls of his caged emotions begin to chip away.

Knowing that Sarai cannot become what she wants to be overnight, Victor teaches her what he can in what little time they have. As Arthur Hamburg’s right-hand man, Willem Stephens, closes in on his crusade to kill Sarai, Sarai is left with the crushing realization that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. But Sarai, taking on the new and improved role of Izabel Seyfried, still has a set of deadly skills of her own that will prove to be all she needs to secure her place beside Victor.

But there is one test that Izabel must face that has the potential to destroy everything she is working so hard to achieve. One final test that will not only make her question her decision to want this dangerous life, but will make her question everything she has come to trust about Victor Faust."

But wait.. the best part.. is the Authors note at the end of the blurb..

which sayyyys....

"This book will be released before the end of 2013!"

HAPPY DANCE! HAPPY DANCE!

Be sure to add this to your TBR Lists on GoodReads!! 

Reviving Izabel on Goodreads

Killing Sarai Kindle Version

Pulse by Gail McHugh Review

READ. THIS. BOOK.

(but make sure you read Collide first)

5 Beautiful Stars

From GoodReads:

"How do you keep existing when your heart is so splintered, so completely torn to shreds, your pulse is fading?

You’re…broken. How do you move forward when every breath is nothing more than a constant ache? Living becomes an insidious reminder that you threw away the single largest part of yourself. Your…soul. No amount of distraction can pull you from the torture of losing your…life.

Now that Emily Cooper has walked away from her first love, she finds herself running toward her only love. Unraveling fast, but clinging to hope, Emily risks all she has left on the man that has consumed her every thought and dream since the day they met. Will Gavin take her back? And if so, will their reunion be a collision of two hearts destined to complete one another and rekindle a love that knew no boundaries? Or will scars from their past rip open, tearing slowly at what each of them was meant to be? Can fate, the ultimate game changer, mend the shattered road it laid out from the start?

Only time will tell…

Tick-Tock…"

My Thoughts:

Words. I'm at a loss for Words.

This book will make you FEEL, and I mean truly feel. You will feel love, you will feel abuse, you will feel destroyed, you will feel.. everything. You will laugh along with them, and cry just as much. Your body will be covered in goosebumps and chills in anticipation of what is to come. That is the joy of Gail McHugh's writing, she has the ability to make you feel each and every amount of emotion that her characters are feeling, right along with them. 

Pulse touches on so many different areas of life. From love to heartbreak, from perfection to horror, and from abuse to healing. It is one giant emotional roller coaster ride from the first page. 

It starts off at the exact point that Collide ended, Emily leaving Dillon's place. Now the question is, will Gavin take her back? Emily has made it her mission to get back the one who has her heart, and run far far away from the one who took it for granted. However, it is up to Gavin if he can bring himself to take back the girl who destroyed his own.

"'I am fucking dead, goddamnit!" He stepped closer, curled his arm around her waist, and pulled her against his chest. Staring into her watery, green eyes, he resisted the urge to kiss her again. 'You killed me, Emily.'"

This is a story about overcoming pasts. A story of being an abuse survivor, and learning to give someone your heart, with the fear of it shattering yet again. Overcoming obstacles that have gotten in the way, while more are thrown at you. It is about finding your future, and embracing whatever it may hold.

Let me tell you, Pulse is twist after twist of new situations that arise, throughout the whole book. There are not a lot of people who would be able to get through what Gavin and Emily have both gone through in their lives, and Pulse shows real struggle, and raw emotions.

"Fate had a weird way of circling back over paths that were meant to cross."

There were points in this book that I cried, I mean honestly cried. Things that you never, ever saw coming are thrown at you and completely send your brain and your heart for a loop. Heartbreaking. Completely torn apart. After one particular chapter, I had tears streaming down my face, chills all over my body, and just sat there whispering "no.." and refusing to turn the page. 

"Breathe..."

Every single person should read this book. Not only is it a beautiful story, and a very well written read, but it is a message. A message to every woman out there who is scared to take a chance because of someone who did not treat their heart (and/or body) with care. 

The dedication that Gail McHugh writes says a lot about the message Pulse is sending:

"Dedicated to women out there who have yet to find their voice, strength and courage. Never let them strip you of what you were both with. Take it back."

Quote that gave me chills:

"I think I loved you before I knew you existed."