Rise (Salvaged #2) by Stefne Miller (& bookmark giveaway!)

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Source: Author

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 380

Rating: A+

Attie Reed has finally found some happiness after the accident that took her mother’s and best friend’s lives and nearly destroyed hers. But that doesn’t mean life is going to get easier. She may not have nighttime monsters to fight, but her world is about to spin wildly out of orbit.

In the captivating, highly anticipated sequel to Stefne Miller’s Salvaged, Attie is faced with the challenge of fitting in at a new school while figuring out her next steps. Riley continues to fight with her and for her as she encounters difficult battles. He has been her protection, but he can’t protect her forever.

When Attie’s father finally comes back into her life, she is faced with her most difficult decision yet: to stay in Oklahoma and keep the life she has made or return to New York to repair her relationship with her father and allow herself to heal. What happens will define who she is and who she will become. Can she fight this battle alone and Rise? Or will she continue to fall out of orbit and be lost forever?

As you guys might remember, I reviewed Salvaged close to a year ago! I gave it an A+... very well deserved. I loved everything about that book and I'm so pleased to say I feel the same way about it's sequel, Rise.

I really missed all of the characters from Salvaged, so as you can imagine, I was thrilled to be able to reunite with them. Attie, was real and relatable as always. And Riley, oh Riley, he was just as incredible and lovable as I remembered. Stefne made it really easy to dislike certain characters and then end up sympathizing with them towards themiddle/end.

I loved every piece of this book, even the heartbreaking ones. While I was reading the heartbreaking, gut wrenching parts... I became a little angry with Stefne for tearing my heart in half and making me do the ugly cry. Yes, you read it right, the ugly cry.

(Borrowed from http://fransunny.tumblr.com/)

I kind of looked like that mixed a little with this.

Along with the ugly cry, I even yelled at the book. Actually less of the book, more of Attie herself. "No, no, no! What's wrong with you?!" I remember things along those lines that coming out of my mouth.

This isn't the kind of book you read, enjoy, and then forget about a month later. I have a feeling I'm always going to remember these characters and feel the need to visit them once a year even if I already know what happens in the story.

While I was satisfied with the end of Rise, I did feel it was a little rushed. Call me selfish, but I guess I wanted to see more of the characters towards the end. Maybe I needed a little more closure just because this is (I think) the end of the Salvaged books. Other than that, I really have no complaints about this book.

Bravo, Stefne Miller. I can't wait to read Collision (new novel) and hopefully fall in love with totally new characters that will help me (try) to move on from Attie and Riley.

Oh yeah! The giveaway! I have seven signed bookmarks to give away to you guys. I originally had 10 but I was selfish and really wanted to keep one for myself! Then two of my friends who read Salvaged stole one each for themselves and refuse to give them back.

The way I'm going to do this is first come, first serve. Leave a comment with a way to get in contact with you. You can leave your email, or if you don't feel comfortable enough leaving that, leave another way for me to contact you such as Goodreads or Twitter.

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Bought (B&N)

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 268

Rating: A

Megan is used to moving from place to place — it's typical for an army brat. But she drew the line at South Korea. She insists on staying in the States to finish her last two years of high school. So her parents made arrangements for Megan to live with their friends, the McGowans...and the McGowans' 7 sons.

Turns out, living with 7 boys might as well be a foreign country! The boys are messy. They are cliquey (who knew?). And worst of all, two of the oldest boys are H-O-T. (A problem considering they are supposed to be Megan's "brothers.") Megan is definitely in enemy territory. She needs to win over the boys' hearts without totally crushing her own.

And when Megan starts falling for one of them, sibling rivalry takes on a whole new meaning....

What is a girl to do?

This book has been sitting on my shelf for more than 4 YEARS. How crazy is that? I really wish I would've read this book sooner because it's absolutely freaking adorable. The whole idea of a teenage girl having to move into a house full of a bunch of (cute) boys (some whom happen to be close to her age) really got me pumped. Who wouldn't be excited about that?! It's a total dream for most teenage girls.

Most of the time reading this book, it had me laughing out loud and gushing over how cute these McGowan boys were! I loved getting to know each of them and how there was more to them than just a cute face.

Was Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys a little fluffy? Yes. Predictable? Kind of. Was it hard to enjoy this book because of those qualities? PFT, NO!

What I liked most about this book is that it was such a breath of fresh air compared to all of the other books I've been reading lately. Why?

1. Stand alone novel. This was a nice change of pace because there wasn't a huge cliffhanger where I felt forced to go buy the next book immediately.
2. Light. I've also been reading quite a few books that make me cry like a wimp and make me seriously depressed. Don't get me wrong, I love a good cry now and then but sometimes all I was is some entertainment. I don't want every book I read to be life changing and magnificent.
3. Contemporary. I really need to start reading more contemp books because there's so many different types of vampires, zombies, witches (etc.) that it's starting to confuse me!

I could probably put down about 10 more reasons why this book was such a breath of fresh air for me but 3 seems like a decent amount :) and if those reasons and my review doesn't get you to pick this book up, I don't know what will.