Making Faces by Amy Harmon

When I first sat down to read Making Faces I had no idea how beautiful of a story it was going to be. It had me feeling so many emotions and I honestly could not put it down until the end. Then I was sad because it was over and I didn't know what I could possibly read that would top such an amazing story. This book has quickly become one of my all time faves. It deserve a standing ovation. Never in all my life has a book touch me so deeply. I just wanted to wrap my arms around the characters and cry and laugh with them. This story is about first love, triumph, heartache and learning to overcome obstacles in life that may not be so easy to overcome and learning to see beauty from the inside out.
Ambrose Young was a popular jock. He was tall and muscular with long hair. H e was everything Fern Taylor dreamed she could have but never could. Fern was an unremarkable girl in the eyes of everyone with curly red hair and freckles and braces nobody has ever looked twice at her. She dreams that Ambrose would notice her, but it never happened then one day Ambrose and four of his closest buddies enlist and leave town. Little do any of them know that life was never gonna be the same. Ambrose is the only one to return and he isn't beautiful anymore. Fern decides to take a chance an together they learn that there is beauty inside of all and there is also a little beast.
This story had me feeling all sorts of emotions. Fern was such a great heroine through it all her love for Ambrose never wavers. Ambrose frustrated me at times but I still fell for him hard in this story, but I would have to say my favorite character was Bailey, Ferns cousin and best friend. He stole the show for me. He was such a realistic guy who never had an easy life but he made his life look so easy. Overall this story is one of the greats. That I think everyone should read at some point. Just wonderful writing and a great message that sometimes you have to look a little deeper and you can see the beauty inside everyone.

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

First let me start off by saying wow what an amazing ending to a great series, Julie Kagawa has done it again. This book was just amazing and I am sad to see this series go. I loved being in the world Julie has created. To be honest I have seen this series sitting on the shelves at stores and never bothered to buy it because I wasn’t sure if it was going to be any good. I would have been right in some aspects because it wasn’t just good this series was fantabulous.
Now back to the book as any of us who have read the first three books in this series knows Meghan and Ash’s love is the stuff that Fairy tales are made of, but there can be no happily ever after until Ash goes on this incredible journey. He made a promise to Meghan and he is a man of his word, and hopefully he can find a way to be with her. Of course there isn’t just Ash going but Puck is also and along the way we meet up with Grimalkin because our story wouldn’t be complete without him. We also meet up with a few others who join Ash and Puck along the way. There was an amazing twist in this story that part way through the book had me wondering how it was really going to turn out and there were moments that brought tears to my eyes. I will say it was nice to learn more about Ash and find out why he was so cold and what goes on behind his cold persona. It was also nice to have Puck around he is the perfect comedy sidekick you never know what is going to come out of his mouth next. This book was a nonstop adrenaline ride with lots of adventure and new dangers lurking around every corner.
I couldn’t put this book down. The Iron Knight gets 5 stars and Kudos to the author for giving us this great series and sharing her creative world building with us.  

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Simone Elkeles sure knows how to tell an amazing story that grabs you from the first page. Once I began reading Wild Cards I knew she had me once again sucked into another one of her great stories. Honestly I don't think she can write anything bad. Everything that I have read of hers I have loved and Wild Cards was no different.
Bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has been kicked out of boarding school. Leaving him no choice but to live with his ditzy young stepmother while his dad is deployed. Things go from bad to worse when she tells him that she is moving them back to her hometown and childhood home in Illinois. Derek can't wait to be on his own and away from all the family drama. Ashtyn Parker wants nothing more then to get a football scholarship and leave her life behind. She pours everything she has into trying win a state championship with her team. Then her boyfriend and the star quarterback delivers the ultimate betrayal to her and the team by joining their rival football team. Determined not to let them get her down she devises a plan that may help her and her team get what she wants, but it requires the help of Derek. It requires her to put it all on the line including her heart
Derek Derek Derek you from the start jumped in and stole my heart. I loved everything about Derek from the way he tried to be the bad boy yet he did the right things more times then not. Ashtyn was a wonderful fit to counter against Derek's bad boy ways. Overall this was a wonderful love story and I appreciate that there was no insta-love it was a gradual build up which made it much more believable. The way Simone Elkeles delivers her stories makes it hard to pick apart everything is just delivered in a nice refreshing way. I can't wait to read the next story in this series. I am already anxiously awaiting it.

Gated by Amy Christine Parker

I had never heard of Gated by Amy Christine Parker, but a friend was saying it was getting all kinds of reviews so I figured I would give it a shot. I went into this book blind not really knowing what it was about and hoping that it lived up to its intriguing cover. I couldn't believe how engrossed I found myself with this story. I had to find out what happened next and how it was all going to play out.
Lyla Hamilton believes that she is one of the chosen. A group of people chosen to live in the Community under there leader Pioneer. Lyla has lived under the protection of Pioneer with her family since after the 9/11 attacks when Pioneer asked her family to join him in the Community and escape the evil in the world. Over the years under Pioneers strict ruling Lyla has learned 3 important facts that are never to be questioned, Pioneer is her leader, Will is her intented and the end of the world is near. Pioneer has visions of the end of the world so they build and underground shelter known as the silo. Pioneer teaches people in the community that they will need to protect the chosen even if they have to kill the unchosen. Lyla has never questioned the believes of her community until an encounter with an unchosen boy has her questioning everything she always thought was truth.
I honestly never understood how people could be so easily taken into a cult until I read Gated and seen how Pioneer prayed on people when there lives were in turmoil. This story takes you right in the heart of cults and there believes and how easily people can be brainwashed. Overall Lyla was a strong main character who wanted to be better for the Community but she never seemed to measure up to Pioneers standards. I found this story to be a little slow in the beginning, but once it really got going I couldn't stop reading until the heart stopping conclusion. I am glad I went into reading this without really knowing what it was about because I probably wouldn't normally read something like this and I am so glad I did.

The Resurrection Of Aubrey Miller by L.b. Simmons

Every once and a while a book comes a long and just completely blows me away. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller was most definitely one of those books. This book had me laughing, crying, smiling only to have me cry and laugh all over again. At one point I was a complete blubbering mess and my husband came in and was like what's wrong and he looked down and saw I was reading and all he could do was shake his head like and look at me like I was some crazy woman who lost her mind. I did for a little bit this book had my emotions all over the place.
Death- for some people it is simply a part of life something that we all will have to deal with at one time or another. For Aubrey Miller death is the the definition of very existence. After the death of her beloved family Aubrey transforms herself in to Raven a goth like persona with black hair and lots of facial piercings hoping to keep people away so she can protect them from herself. She believes that everyone that gets close to her is going to die. Entering her freshman year at college her goals are simple get a degree and make no friends. However she never expected to form two unlikely friendships that will change her life forever. Quinn Matthews her pink loving beauty pageant roommate and Kaeleb McMadden a childhood friend from her past who never truly forgot her. Aubrey slowly begins to show herself with the help from these two unlikely friends. However death decides to make a painful reemergence and Aubrey loses herself again. Against all odds can the bonds of friendship and unconditional love be enogh to help her once and for all. Can it bring about the Resurrection of Aubrey Miller.
The emotions this book brought out in me was just insane. I almost felt like I was suffering from a bipolar episode with all the highs and lows. This author knows how to work peoples emotions. Raven was such a broken girl when the story started and it was a nice journey to watch her grow and become Aubrey again. I like how the author made her healing take four years. A lot of stories out there would have had it be quick, but realistic healing from what Aubrey has been through takes time and the author portrayed it so realistically. I am definitely glad I decided to give this book a try. Well worth the money and I can't wait to see what this author writes next.

The Final Piece by Maggi Myers

WOW!! What a beautiful story. The Final Piece grabbed me from the first few pages and it never let go til the final page. This story was heartbreaking through lots of it, but it was well worth the tears to get to the end. With so many books out there in the new adult genre it's hard to write something that stands out above the rest. The Final Piece stood out for me. I am still reeling from how wonderfully and emotionally well it was written.
Beth Bradshaw has a tragic past, but she is trying to hide from it. From a young age a family friend stole her innocence while another family friend saved her. Through the darkest time in her life she finds a boy named Ryan who shows her through one magical summer that she can act her age and maybe just maybe be whole again. Circumstances tear them apart until years later tragedy strikes and Beth must confront the things she has kept hidden from her new life. Maybe Beth can learn to trust and finally be able to give Ryan the pice of herself she has kept hidden for so long.
This story was just awesome. I am glad the author didn't go into to much detail about what happened in Beth's past but she gave us just enough to be able to connect with Beth and see the hardship she is going to have to face. Ryan was perfectly match for Beth he complimented her well. My favorite quote from the book. Together forever, never apart. Maybe in distance but never in heart.
That quote sums this whole story up. Beth and Ryan were pulled apart for years but they always carried each other with them in there hearts. A beautiful story can't wait to see what the author rights next.

Real By Katie Evans

I have to admit I must have been living under a rock for a while because I had never heard of Real by Katy Evans then I saw someone post something on Facebook about it so I looked into it and the book description sounded intriguing enough. I figured I would give it a try and boy am I glad I did I absolutely adore this story.
Real is the story of Brooke a woman whose dreams were shattered in one moment, but decide that it isn't going to get her down so she becomes a sports rehab specialist. One night out her friend takes her to an underground fight there she meets the star of these fights Remington Tate. Brooke finds herself drawn to him like she has never been drawn before. Then comes the proposition travel with him and be his rehab specialist. Of course Brooke can't turned down an offer to be closer to him. She knows she wants him, but she hasn't figured out what he wants from her.
From the first pages this story grabbed me. I had to know what happened between Brooke and Remy. Lately there has been a lot of stories about broken people finding each other and I found myself enjoying them, but Real was just so real. The emotions and circumstances displayed in this story were so raw that I had to know what happened. I found myself very invested in the outcome of these two characters I was rooting for them from the first time they laid on eyes on each other. I am so glad this is a series I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next book.