Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass ♡♡♡♡.5

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass is the first YA book I've read in quite some time. I have been wandering the world of New Adult for almost two years now, but when Throne of Glass kept a coming up on my twitter news feed, I figured it was time to take a break from NA and return to my roots.

This book is about three years old now, but for people who live YA this is a fantastical story that is Game of Thrones meets Hunger Games.

Throne of Glass tells the story of Celaena. A trained assassin who has been imprisoned for the last year. But she's getting a chance at freedom, as long as she wins a competition to become an assassin for the king.

This story is filled with magic, secrets, and conflicted feelings. This book has the classic love triangle, but similar to Hunger Games, it's not the most important aspect of the story.

My two complaints about the book are minor in the grand scheme of things. Like Game of Thrones, Throne of Glass takes place in a world with magic but in a medieval sort of time, and there were a few instances where the dialog felt too modern. There was also a book in the story called The Walking Dead, and that was enough to bring the story down for me. It pulled me out of the story and had me wondering if the author were a fan of the comic/TV show, and my biggest pet peeve is being pulled out of the story for something that is easily remedied.

This story takes place in a wonderful world, and I can't wait to read the next one. I also read this book is being made into a TV show, so I plan to finish the series before that starts.

Throne of Glass on Goodreads

One Life by A.J. Pine ♡♡♡♡.5

One Life by A.J. Pine is the second book in the Only You series. You don't need to have read the first book, One Night, but this book references some of the characters, and it was a great story. One Life was an even better story.

One Life tells the story of Zoe and Spock (whose name is Zach, but we meet as Spock). Zoe is going through a hard time after the death of her brother, and Spock/Zach is there to help her pick up the pieces.

I really enjoyed this story because it addresses addiction in an honest and real way. It was a powerful story of love, loss, and overcoming some of the hard things people go through. The story felt real and honest, and it was easy to relate to the characters.

If you're not reading A.J. Pine, then you definitely should start. She tells great stories that are about more than just falling in love and making it work. Her stories are about falling in love even when you don't want to while life continues around what is happening to the characters, and that makes the stories feel more real.

One Life on Goodreads

ONE LIFE blurb: 

In the latest from the author of One Night, tragedy causes a young woman to struggle to keep her head above water, and the only one who can help her is the guy who’s been in the friend zone for the past year . . .

 
Every time life throws Zoe Adler a curve ball, she changes her appearance. Freshmen year—after almost following in her mother’s alcoholic footsteps—she said good-bye to her blonde, girl-next-door image and opted for jet black hair and piercings galore. After her brother Wyatt’s death, she escapes to the city to teach a summer art program for kids. Her black hair goes blue, and she finds solace in the arms of a longtime friend, in his heart, and in his bed—but her guilt makes her unable to accept the love he wants to give.
 

Spock might be the guy to save Zoe. But when she learns the truth about his past, the edge she’s teetered on since losing Wyatt drops out from under her. The girl who kept it together for everyone finally falls apart. Now Zoe must choose between drowning in guilt about Wyatt or asking for help. But even if she gets the help she needs, Spock may not be waiting for her when she’s ready to let love in.  

ONE LIFE on Goodreads

ONE LIFE buy links: 

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When she lost it all, Jess decided to cope by living a lie. 
But you can't keep on pretending forever...

   

      

Twenty-one-year-old Jess used to have everything--a loyal best friend, a boyfriend she loved, and a future that was right on track. But in a single night, her whole world changed.

   

   

Now, Jess lives for the impersonal connection of drunken hook-ups and to-go coffee cups in the morning. All she needs is one night to pretend everything is fine...until she meets Adam.

   

   

Thanks to a sports injury, gorgeous, charming basketball star Adam Carson is stuck in physical therapy at the hospital where Jess interns--giving her the perfect opportunity to see his sweet, considerate nature and making her realize that maybe she does want something more.

   

   

But while Adam might be the best thing that's happened to Jess in a long time, letting him past  her carefully constructed walls means letting him know what happened...and why he'd never want her for more than one night.

ONE NIGHT on Goodreads

ONE NIGHT buy links:

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Author Bio:

AJ Pine writes stories to break readers' hearts, but don't worry--she'll mend them with a happily ever after. As an English teacher and librarian, AJ has always surrounded herself with books. All her favorites have one big commonality--romance. Naturally, the books she writes have the same. When she's not writing, she's of course reading. Then there's online shopping (everything from groceries to shoes). And a tiny bit of TV where she nourishes her undying love of vampires and superheroes. You'll also find her hanging with her family in the Chicago 'burbs. 

The Finn Factor by Rachel Bailey ♡♡♡

The Finn Factor by Rachel Bailey is another book I discovered through BookBub, and the first book I've read by this author. It was a fast, easy read, but there was no spark for me.

The Finn Factor tells the story of Scarlett, who lives with her best friend Finn. Scarlett is going through a bit of a dry spell. She believes it must be due to her lack of kissing skills, but when someone points out that all her problems started when she met Finn, she believes he must have something to do with it.

I enjoyed certain aspects of this book; Rachel Bailey created great side characters who were full of life and jumped off the page. And the plot was different from the last few new adult books I read.

But the main characters, Finn and Scarlett, we're a bit cookie cutter as far as NA books go. Their decisions were sometimes made so quickly that the story lacked tension. Also, it was a while before I realized the story took place in Australia. I wish that would have been conveyed sooner, because I was left wondering why some words where unusual for a bit.

On a last note, I know J.K. Rowling does not own the word "Always," but when it is used, just the one word as a sentence, to say that a character will always love someone, all I can think about is Harry Potter. I would be hesitant to use it in that way if I were writing a story for that reason.

Overall, the story was pretty good, but the characters were lacking. But I would probably read more from this author is something caught my eye.

The Finn Factor on Goodreads

Beat by Amity Cross ♡♡♡

Beat by Amity Cross has been sitting in my eReader for quite some time. I got a deal from BookBub and thought it looked promising.

Beat tells the story of Ren and Ash. Ren's mom has just died, and her mom's dying wish is that Ren find her father. Ren finds him running an MMA training studio with a new family. And his best fighter, Ash, has just returned on the scene. They have some undeniable connection. Ren's not sure their relationship can survive the monster that lives inside Ash.

Beat was a bit of a surprise read for me. I liked the premise and how strong of a lead character Ren was. And the story was great (the story takes place in Australia, so some of the spellings and word usages were tough to get over, but I really have enjoyed books that take place in Australia. More and more of them are popping up lately.). But the content was much more "mature" than I expected it to be, and some of it came practically out of nowhere. I enjoy a bit of adult fun in my romance, but this was more than I wanted. I particularly did not enjoy Ash's possessive nature.

Warning, the book ends in a cliffhanger.

I might still read the second book, I haven't decided yet. Have you read any Amity Cross books? What did you think. Let me know in the comments.

Beat on Goodreads