Elements Double Review

In the midst of revision and essays I've somehow managed to find the time to read two books which once came as easy as writing my name, now it proves somewhat difficult to find the energy to even contemplate reading. 

The Elements series are two books by Brittainy C. Cherry the first being The Air He Breathes and the second The Fire Between High & Lo, after reading the first recommended by Nini, I decided to give the second book a chance too. 

The Air He Breathes was an I guess not entertaining more like an interesting read which makes it sound bland yet I did enjoy the book, The Air He Breathes takes you on the journey of Tristan and Elizabeth who have both lost their spouses and find comfort in each other. Despite the obvious road this book was taking, there still were elements of surprises and twists within its pages. 

The problem that I had with this book is some of the lines were beyond cringiness, "kiss me with your darkness" made me want to chew glass and vomit, I cannot ever imagine anyone saying something so ridiculous. 

The book ended with a heart squeezing epilogue that wrapped the book up wonderfully. Overall, I did enjoy the book, despite the cringe-worthy aspects, I really liked the characters and their development, I initially gave four stars yet if quarter and half stars were possible it would be 3.5 or perhaps 3.75.

The Fire Between High & Lo started off really great I really enjoyed seeing Logan and Alyssa as teenagers and seeing their friendship develop into a relationship, even before 50% we had hit so many bumps and twists and I was quite shocked at how early all this happened, but then I remembered it's a second chance love story and split into two parts hence its fast paced. 

I then hit the half way mark and my interest started to lack, I am hundred percent up for any second chance love story as they're my favourite trope, yet this one was spared of the magic I usually feel whilst reading. Usually, when reading a second chance love story character A doesn't welcome back character B with open arms after leaving with no word for five years. For me personally, I just wanted more angst, something more than what there was in this book.

I rated The Fire Between High & Lo on Goodreads with 3 stars, however, if half stars were allowed I would have rated 3.5 stars purely because the second half of the book just dragged and lacked what elements that I need in a romance novel. Though I really did like the characters and the side characters in the book, I really admired our leads growth and strength throughout the book and I'm glad they got their happy ending. 

I think out of the two I do prefer The Air He Breathes it was more surprising and I feel I preferred the characters and their story, I do admire and enjoy Brittainy C. Cherry's writing and will hopefully read more of her in the future.

Love Me Never by Sara Wolf

Thanks to netgalley and Entangled Publishing for my e-arc of Love Me Never. 

 So, i honestly don't know where to start. I have really confused feelings about this book. When i read summary i expected a light read, an enemies to lovers kind of story but oh boy that was only the tiny part of what i got. Love Me Never tells the story of Isis Blake, a girl who was hurt a couple of years ago by the boy she thought she loved. Now she has lost weight and is determined not to ever fall in love. She moved to Ohio and is going to the same school as infamous Jack Hunter. 

 Since the very beginning i found something unsettling about the writing but didn't give it much thought. I wanted to see how the story would unfold but to be honest i think it would have been better if i didn't finish it because this book fucked with my head. I want to talk about some of the characters separately and i won't be holding some of the details of the story back, they also might be spoilery, though those topics might be trigger points for you like they were for me so yeah you might you want to know about them before you read the book. 

 Let's start with Isis. I'm not sure if i like her even a little bit or i'm indifferent. I didn't feel the slightest connection and was definitely the weirdest heroine i had ever read about. She tried to fill the darkest situations with humor and that was quite creepy. I didn't understand her at all, like when she wouldn't leave Jake alone and the excuse she used was that he had to apologize to Kayla when in fact that girl yelled at Isis for hitting Jake on her behalf. And then she paid Jake to go on a date with Kayla. That was fucked up so many levels that i still get pissed when i remember about it. I have so many issues with this character that i could go on and on but i'm too lazy for that. 

 Now Kayla. Oh man i wanted to slap some sense into this girl. I'm not sorry to say that she's the stupidest character i have ever come across. A guy called her stupid, a snob and pathetic and when Isis stood up to her what did she do? She got mad at her and still continued crushing on that jerk. That girl has no self-respect and i hate people like that. How can you continue liking a guy who humiliated you? No self-respecting woman would do that. No woman who has even an ounce of love for herself would ever go out with a guy like that. 

 I don't even want to talk about Jake. He wasn't just an asshole. He was a cruel person who liked to pity himself for the hard past he had (even though he wasn't the one to whom happened that horrible thing) and thought that this could excuse his cruel behavior. again no respect for people like that. 

 And the last one will be Avery. I wouldn't have been so mad if author didn't try to make us empathize with this monster. Why the monster? Because she set up FIVE and i repeat FIVE MEN to rape her best friend because she was jealous that Sophie and Jake became much closer with each other than with her. People like Avery don't deserve to be alive in my opinion. I hated her with all my heart and if i didn't love my kindle so much i would have thrown it across the room every time i read "how sorry and guilty" she felt about what she did. And let's not forget Wren who was just as much to blame. How could he not done anything to stop this when she told him to record it on camera? I don't care that author pointed it out how they were 13-14 years old at the time, kids at that age aren't so clueless not to know what is going on. So all that talk in the book about how shy and sweet Wren is? BULLSHIT. 

 I'm sorry but i have nothing good to say. Those few cute scenes that i did like a bit could never cover up so much horribleness.

The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst

First of all, i would like to say a very big thank you to Jennifer Probst, who managed to pull me out of a month long reading slump with this spectacular book. Seriously, i was losing hope of being cured from this terrible disease known as reading slump anytime soon. But The Marriage Bargain managed to do not only that, but also put me in a great mood. This story will stay with me for a very long time, that's for sure.

Originally i decided to read it, because it has one of my favorite tropes aka fake marriage. But it turned out to be so much more than that, it had everything i love in a book: a broody hero, a spitfire, kickass heroine who made me fall in love with her, so much banter and humor that i couldn't stop grinning throughout the whole book. The Marriage Bargain was a very light read that filled me with so much positivity and that's what i appreciate the most in books. It's definitely joining the list of my favorite books and i'm sure i'll be re-reading it many, many times.

“Did you feed the fish?”
Nick closed his eyes. “Alexa, I’m working.”
She made a rude snort. “So am I. But at least I worry about poor Otto. Did you feed him?”
“Otto?”
“You kept calling him Fish. That hurt his feelings.”
“Fish don’t have feelings. And yes, I fed him.”
“Fish certainly do have feelings. And while we’re discussing Otto, I wanted to tell you I’m worried about him. He’s placed in the study and no one ever goes in there. Why don’t we move him into the living room where he can see us more often?”

Let's start with Alexa. I loved her from the very first pages and when she came into Nick's office to discuss the agreement and put him in his place after he made some pathetic excuse about how it was different for women to be celibate than it was for men, i just adored her. She's so smart and witty, always has answer for everything and is always ready to stand up for herself. She's also one of the kindest and most caring people. Alexa is devoted to people she loves, always giving them all she has. And this marriage to Nick kind of proves it. I loved seeing interactions between her and her family members, also with Maggie.

Now let's see about our Mr. Ryan. Nick was honestly an asshole pretty often, but you all know how i can never help with characters who are broody, grumpy and tad but cocky so it's no surprise that i enjoyed his character as much as Alexa's. Most of his asshole-like behavior was caused by jealousy and confusion about his feelings for Alexa so i think we can forgive him for that ;) It's honestly not surprising that he was trying to be distant with Alexa, for a person who never knew what is affection and love i think Nick turned out to be pretty great. Except for that moment almost at the end when he acted like one giant unreasonable asshole, he was really amazing. I liked his characer a lot, because he was like a grumpy teddy bear that you just want to hug haha Also that once scene when his ex kissed him and he was so nervous to tell Alexa about it? That was so adorable! It was really admirable of him not to hesitate about telling the truth because not many men would have done the same. But he still deserved it when Alexa dumped ice-cream on his head lol

Ice blue eyes stared back at him with sheer stubbornness and steely determination. "If you get to have your orgies, I get mine. If  you want to be celibate, so will I. I don’t care about your crap  regarding men and women and their differences. If I have to go to bed alone for three hundred sixty-four nights, then so will you. And if you want action, you'll have to turn to your own wife.”
She tossed her head like a stallion just out of the gate. “And since  we know we’re not attracted to each other, you’ll just have to find some other ways to ease the pressure. Use a little creativity. Celibacy should open other outlets.” She smiled. “’Cause that's all you’re gonna get.”

I can say that these two became one of my favorite couples. They couldn't go a minute without fighting with each other and honestly all these fights were like a foreplay for them because one second they are fighting and then making out. It was so very entertaining to read, how they drove each other nuts, i lost count how many times these two idiots made me laugh out loud. They acted like a couple who have been married for years. And all that bickering about the fish and dogs? Oh man, i almost peed myself during those scenes. Alexa and Nick deserve A+ for their bantering skills and knowing exactly how to drive one another crazy. And there were just as many swoon worthy moments. Their chemistry was out of this world. 

“Your mother’s coming,” he said.
“I  know—she probably heard us arguing. Do something!”
“What?”
“Anything!”
“Fine!” He grabbed her around the waist, dragged her body flush  against his, and ducked his head. His lips crushed hers as his hands wrapped around her tightly so they were plastered against each other, hip to hip, thigh to thigh, breasts to chest.

I don't know what else to say besides that i immensely loved this story. I finished it last night and i'm still in a great mood after it, still overwhelmed with how amazing it was. I will definitely read all the other books in the series and hopefully love them, though i don't think i can love any of them as much as i love Alexa & Nick's story. I a-d-o-r-e everything about this book.

In Too Deep by Tracey Alvarez

I don't usually have much luck with free books, 97% of the time i can't even finish them because the writing style and plot are just not my cup of tea. So i started In too Deep with low expectations. Color me surprised, when from the very first pages i became so engrossed in the story that i just couldn't put it down.

In too Deep is the first book in Due South series and Ms Alvarez definitely managed to captivate me to continue reading all the other books. After having her heart broken and witnessing her fathers death almost at same time nine years ago, our heroine Piper Harland, became a cop who’s part of the elite New Zealand Police National Dive Squad. She's a tough woman, who believes this is what she is meant to do. I came to admire and love Piper a lot throughout the whole book. She's one of the strongest characters i have ever read about, very few people would be able to do what she does on daily basis and not break down. Especially considering the tragedy she had to go through almost a decade ago.

Piper never planned to come back to Stewart Island, a place where she grew up but which now also holds two of the most painful memories, her father's death which she still feels so much guilt for and Ryan “West” Westlake breaking her heart. But she has no other option, because her brother, Ben, is having financial problems and might lose the business he took over after their father's death. Coming back means facing West and her family. Throughout the book we see Ben, Piper and Shaye slowly working their issues out and finally letting old wounds to start healing. I'm sucker for sibling relationships so you can imagine how much it hurt to see them so fallen apart from each other. Also i loved their mother Glenna who was quite a force of nature. That women is definitely one of many highlights of the book.

I loved West too. It's easy to see how much it hurt him to let Piper go all those years ago, which was both because of his fear of abandonment and also not wanting to hold Piper back from achieving her dreams. He is an amazing character, a very loyal friend, a very sweet guy through and through and he also has sense of humor, what is not to love? It was also very funny how they thought they could resist each other once she came back. Since love-hate relationships and second chance love stories are some of my favorite, it made me enjoy this book even more. The banter between these two dorks was priceless. But there also were quite a few scenes that made my heart melt, i live for those little, sweet scenes that make you want smile and cry at the same time. This book definitely had them.

All in all it was a very enjoyable read for me. It was my kind of book and i'm glad that i finally did read it. It's also still free so y'all should definitely give it a chance!

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

This was exactly what i needed after such a painful experience that was Saving Francesca. The Avery Shaw Experiment definitely made the list of the cutest, fluffiest and funniest books i have read.

We have Avery Shaw, shy, awkward geek that suffers from social anxiety. And then there's Aiden Kennedy, who has been her best friend her whole life. They were basically inseparable their whole lives, doing everything together so no surprise there that they didn't really know who they truly were outside their friendship. After seventeen years of being attached at the hip Aiden suddenly announces that he wants some space from Avery, to have some independence to do things by himself. This obviously causes a big heartache to our heroine, who thought that she was in love with him and was just waiting for him to realize that he was in love with her too. This is where The Avery Shaw Experiment comes into.

When Aiden said he wanted some space, he meant every word. Because not only he left Avery to do everything for the state science fair but he also got a girlfriend and basically started acting like Avery didn't exist and their friendship meant nothing. This aspect was really close to me because i had a best friend who i shared everything with and when suddenly she got a boyfriend, she forgot my existence. That's why i understood throughout the whole book how Avery felt and never got frustrated with her, because if you haven't experienced anything like this, i can see how it would be annoying when everything came back to Aiden again and again. 

I really really liked the plot. I liked the idea of the science experiment because it made this book unique and not cliche like many other books about popular athletes falling for an awkward girl. Speaking about athletes, Grayson Kennedy was definitely highlight of the book for me. From the very beginning he was so very great to Avery, he was exactly the kind of person she needed in her life. I loved him for making so much effort to help her, to make her break out of her shell. He made a big difference in her life in just couple of months not only by helping her heal but also by helping her make new friends, become more confident and less anxious. I truly loved this guy for being so understanding, caring and never once hesitating in doing what was best Avery.

“I’ve got news for you, Aves. When a guy says he wants to take you out in the name of science, he’s totally full of it. He really just wants to take you out.”
“But you’ve taken me out like a million times for the experiment. You kissed me once in the name of science.”
“Exactly.”

I also loved Avery. She was great and no matter what she thinks, she was really strong to overcome all that heartache. Also it was quite obvious by the end of the book that neither her nor Aiden were really in love with each other. In my opinion they both just confused being in love with the big love they had for each other as friends, because when you have a best friend, who is that close to you it's rare that you would want to share them with anyone else.

This book also dealt briefly with depression and since i'm really sensitive with this subject i can't not point out that it made me very happy that author didn't just sweep it under the rag and act like Avery got healthy miraculously by herself. It's very important to show that when dealing with depression it's crucial to seek help. There's nothing shameful about it.

In the end, i would like to say that this was a really great read. I don't know if everyone would enjoy it this much but for me it was definitely it. The book was hilarious, which is important for me. I love books that have humor in them but no every author can pull it off, sometimes the jokes and situations that are supposed to be funny are just lame. But this definitely wasn't the case in this one, Kelly Oram did an amazing job in making me laugh out loud bunch of times through the whole book. She also created not only kick ass main characters but also awesome secondary ones. I loved Owen, Chloe and Pam and also Avery's nerd herd as Grayson calls them, especially Libby! I can't wait to read her book. All in all, if you are searching for a fluffy read that is equally as funny as it is cute, this is a perfect pick for you :)