Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley

Title: Pretty Girl-13

Author: Liz Coley

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: March 19, 2013

Source: ARC from blogger meet up

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Reminiscent of the Elizabeth Smart case, Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing and powerful psychological mystery about a girl who must piece together the story of her kidnapping and captivity.

Angie Chapman was thirteen years old when she ventured into the woods along on a Girl Scouts camping trip. Now she's returned home…only to find that it's three years later and she's sixteen--or at least that's what everyone tells her.

What happened to the past three years of her life?

Angie doesn't know.

But there are people who do--people who could tell Angie every detail of her forgotten time, if only they weren't locked inside her mind. With a tremendous amount of courage, Angie embarks on a journey to discover the fragments of her personality, otherwise known as her "alters." As she unearths more and more about her past, she discovers a terrifying secret and must decide: When you remember things you wish you could forget, do you destroy the parts of yourself that are responsible?

Liz Coley's alarming and fascinating psychological mystery is a disturbing--and ultimately empowering page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope and love.

I love a good psychological thriller as much as the next person and that's exactly what I got with Liz Coley's Petty Girl-13. The story was completely different than what I thought it was going to be, but that it was different is probably what made it so I enjoyed it as much as I did. 

The last thing Angie remembers is leaving her tent to go to the bathroom when she was 13 on a girl scout camping trip. Now, 16 years olds, she finally finds her way home after having been missing for three years. Except she doesn't remember how she got there or what happened during the last three years of her life. Despite being 16, Angie still thinks she is 13 years old, same as she was when she went missing. While trying to piece together what happened during those years, Angie discovers more than she bargained for. Will she be able to handle it all? Or is she simply better not knowing what happened?

As much as I love happy and fun stories with happy endings when I read, my TV viewing habits tend to line up more with what I got in Liz Coley's Pretty Girl-13. When it comes to TV I am a sucker for anything involving a mystery, all the best if there's a psychological aspect to it all. So Pretty Girl-13 was perfect for me in that sense. I will admit, however, that I was a little hesitant to read it. As much as I love this stuff on a screen, when it's in a book my overactive brain tends to take things entirely too far so I started worrying what this book would do to my own mental wellness. But I shouldn't have worried, because Pretty Girl-13 was more about the aftermath of the kidnapping and return than it was about the time in captivity. And based on the flashbacks I saw, I don't think I would have been able to handle the whole book that way. The story that Liz Coley wrote ended up fascinating me completely. I absolutely loved the psychological aspect of the story, the way that the story was basically built around Angie's trauma and how it affected her mentally just fascinated me…though I'm not too sure what that actually says about me.

The story was basically around Angie. Sure there were other people around, but at this point, half of those people are actually different versions of Angie, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Angie was an interesting character. I can't even begin to imagine what she's gone through and what she had to do to cope with it all. And I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to come back after having been missing for three years, not remembering a single thing of that time. So that made her interesting. But what interested me even more than Angie, was the different identities she had created for dealing with her trauma. As much as what some of these identities revealed was traumatizing, I sort of wish I could have seen more of them, what they experienced (again, not sure what that says about me). What did surprise me about the story was that despite all this trauma, there was still some romance. But it was a romance that worked in the context of the story. It was about Angie finding someone who really cared about her and wouldn't push to do anything she didn't want to do. And I appreciated that considering everything Angie went through.

Liz Coley's Pretty Girl-13 was more than I could have asked for. It's a dark story, but it's also a story that is fascinating and will mess with your mind. It might even traumatize you at times. If you think you can handle it, then I would strongly recommend giving Pretty Girl-13 a chance.

Juvie by Steve Watkins

Title: Juvie

Author: Steve Watkins

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Release Date: October 8, 2013

Source: ARC from publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Heart-wrenching and real, Juvie tells the story of two sisters grappling with accountability, sacrifice--and who will be there to help you after you take the fall.

Sade Windas has always been the responsible one--she's the start player on her AAU basketball team, she gets good grades, she dates a cute soccer player, and she tries to help out at home. Not like her older sister, Carla, who leaves her three-year-old daughter, Lulu, with Aunt Sadie while she parties and gets high. But when both sisters are caught up in a drug deal--wrong place, wrong time--it falls to Sadie to confess to a crime she didn't commit to keep Carla out of jail and Lulu out of foster care. Sadie is supposed to get off with a slap on the wrist, but somehow, impossibly, gets sentenced to six months in juvie. As life as Sadie knew it disappears beyond the stark bars of her cell, her anger--at her ex-boyfriend, at Carla, at herself--fills the empty space left behind. Can Sadie forgive Carla for getting her mixed up in this mess? Can Carla straighten herself out to make a better life for Lulu, and for all of them? Can Sadie survive her time in juvie with her spirit intact?

When I first heard about Juvie by Steve Watkins it just sounded like an intriguing story that was grittier than what I would normally choose to read. As much as I love my broken characters, there's usually romance and a happy ending involved. With Juvie, it was different but the good kind of different. 

Sadie has always been the good sister. Unlike her older sister Carla, Sadie didn't start using drugs and get pregnant at seventeen. Instead, Sadie tries to hold her family together, spending as much time as she can with her niece Lulu and helping out wherever possible. But when babysitting Carla at a party gets the two sisters caught up in a drug deal, Sadie isn't sure how she can fix this problem. Taking the fall for Carla lands Sadie in juvie for six months. Will Sadie survive juvie? And more importantly will this scare Carla into getting her act together, if only for Lulu's sake?

Typically, I love my contemporary stories filled with romance, something there was pretty much none of in Steve Watkins' Juvie. But that's okay. I knew going in that Juvie would be different from what I normally read but I wanted it to be different. This story was a little darker and grittier--as you would expect from a story that takes place in juvie. What I liked about the story is that there were sort of two timelines. Every other chapter was about Sadie's first few months in juvie, while the rest of the chapters showed Sadie's life from starting from the party where everything went wrong until the day before she goes to juvie. Having the story told that way allowed me to get a better sense of why Sadie made the decision she did when she chose to take the fall for her sister. Because, ultimately, that's what the story was about: the bond between two sisters. 

The story was very much about the bond between Sadie and Carla. Though that bond appeared to be very strained, it's still there. Sadie is the kind of person who would do whatever she can to help her family, and I respected her for that. Granted the person she was doing this for didn't really seem to appreciate it at first. If I'm being completely honest, Carla didn't really have many redeeming qualities when I first met her. But I was happy to see her pick up the pieces of her life, even if it took one major kick in the butt to do so. More than that though, it was nice to see Sadie accept who her sister was as the story went on. Sure, she was giving her grief and pushing her to get her act together, but she eventually accepted her. Though, really, Lulu is the one who totally stole the show. 

Juvie by Steve Watkins was different. The kind of different I really enjoy and makes me want to recommend a book to others. If you are looking for a book that deals with a grittier subject matter and shows how strong family bonds can be, then Juvie is the book for you.

The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

Title: The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden (The Coincidence #1)

Author: Jessica Sorensen

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: August 6, 2013

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

For Kayden, suffering in silence was the only way to survive. If he was lucky, he could keep his head down, do as he was told, and make it through the day. But one night it seemed like his luck--and his life--might finally end…until an angel named Callie appeared just in time to rescue him.

Callie has never believed in luck. Not since her twelfth birthday when everything was taken from her. After the worst was over, she locked up her feelings and vowed never to tell anyone what happened. Now, six years later, she continues to struggle with the painful secret that threatens to consume her.

When fate lands Kayden and Callie at the same college, Kayden is determined to get to know the beautiful girl who changed his destiny. Quiet and reserved, Callie still fears letting anyone else into her world. But Kayden is certain that Callie has come back into his life for a reason. And the more he tries to be a part of her life, the more he realizes that, this time, it's Callie who needs to be saved...

If you've been reading my posts for the past month or so then you'll know I've been devouring any and all New Adult books I've been able to get my hands on. It was no different with Jessica Sorensen's The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden. I was hooked right from page one and just tore through the book.

Callie Lawrence has wanted to be invisible since everything was taken from her on her twelfth birthday. And she's succeeded to do it all the way through high school. But as she's about to leave doe college, Callie witnesses something, and for once she can't just be invisible. Stepping in to save Kayden's life, Callie couldn't have predicted that she would be saving herself in the process. Letting Kayden into her life goes against everything Callie believes in, but it might be just what she needs. Because no one can understand her desire to be invisible better than Kayden. 

Maybe it's because New Adult is typically contemporary romance and that's my favourite genre, but it just can't seem to get enough of these stories. Jessica Sorensen's The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden just fuelled that hunger more. I got hooked right from the start. I wanted to know more about what had happened to both Kayden and Callie. I wanted to see if they would be able to come out on the other side. This wasn't a happy story and some parts of it were downright painful to read but that's where some of the story's power ultimately comes from. In this story, Jessica Sorensen tackles some tough subjects in a way that feels disturbingly realistic.  The abuse Kayden suffers and how it affects me completely broke my heart. There were times while I was reading where I just wanted to hurt his father for what he was doing and knock some sense into his mother. The way Callie dealt with her own trauma felt just as realistic and, like with Kayden's pain, Callie's pain just made my heart break at times. 

But it wasn't just a dark story about abuse. The romance between Callie and Kayden was, to sound completely cheesy, beautiful. These were two people who understood each other on a level other people wouldn't be able to understand them. I loved seeing them work together to overcome their past, even if at times they struggled. But their struggle is what added that realistic quality to the story. I was rooting for them the whole way. Even though they sometimes didn't see it, I could see that they were good for each other and they made each other better I more than one way. 

It wasn't just Callie and Kayden's story that felt real, it was the characters themselves. I figured what happened to Callie pretty much ten pages into the books that only made me appreciate her character more. Because I knew what had happened to her, I was able to better understand why she was acting the way she was acting. With Kayden, the reader is told in the first chapter that his father is physically abusive, but as I read, I realized that there was a whole lot more going on with him. And that just broke my heart. But what I appreciated the most about Kayden is that the chapters that were written from his perspective really and truly felt like I was I the mind of an 18 year old guy. That just made Kayden feel that much more real to me. My only wish as far as characters are concerned is that I could see more of Seth and Luke. They both have their own story to tell and while I've been able to get bits and pieces from here and there, it has only served to make me want more. 

I love nothing more than a good contemporary romance with characters that are completely broken. I've said it before and I'll say it again, broken characters make for some of the best and most touching stories. This is exactly what Jessica Sorensen's The Coincidence of Callie & Kaden was. If you choose to read this story, be prepared to be hooked and want the sequel immediately after you finish. At least, that's what happened to me.

Faking It by Cora Carmack

Title: Faking It (Losing It #2)

Author: Cora Carmack

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they're expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he's kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they're forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel. 

After having read Cora Carmack's Losing It, I was pretty much desperate to read more and so I rushed to my local bookstore in order to get myself a copy of the sequel, Faking It. And Faking It might just be what completely sold me on New Adult. 

Cade thought that by moving to Philadelphia he would be able to leave all his problems and heartache behind and start fresh as an actor. Except when the only person you know in the city also happens to be the one who broke your heart, it can be a little difficult to do. When Max steps into his life asking him to pretend to be her boyfriend, Cade figures it's as good an opportunity to act as any. Max hopes that Cade will be able to fool her parents. If he doesn't and they find out who her real boyfriend is, things might get ugly. But what starts out as a one time thing, quickly becomes a complicated lie. And the more Cade and Max pretend to be in a relationship, the more real it becomes. 

I thought I loved Losing It but that was nothing compared to how I feel about Faking It. It just felt like there was so much more to this story. The fact that I already knew Cade from the previous book may have helped hook me faster but it was more than just that. The story had more depth to it. I knew about the character's background and the way that was woven into the story helped me connect with the story that much more. I wanted to know what had happened to the characters to make the the way they were, Max especially. That curiosity about Max's past definitely factored into how quickly I found myself reading the book. That, and the romance. In Faking It, Cora Carmack definitely amped up the romance in this book. Much like the rest of the story, the romance between Cade and Max felt more real, it felt deeper. Sure everything happened really quickly, but because of what each of them was bringing to the table, it added something more to the story. So I guess what made me love this story as much as I did has to do with Cade and Max themselves. 

Going in to Faking It, I already knew Cade from the previous book and I had already grown a little attached to him. And that attachment only grew with this second book. As much as I'm having trouble putting Cade into words, I know for sure that I pretty much fell for him while reading Faking It. Just the way he was with Max, even when he knew next to nothing about her melted my heart. And after what happened to him in Losing It, I wanted something good to happen to him, I wanted him to. Be able to find happiness. And then Max walked into her life and helped with just that. Max was broken. She carried so much pain with her and she deserved someone like Cade to come along and help her and care for her. Ultimately, I just wanted Max to find someone who loved her for who she really was and not who her parents wanted her to be. And that's who Cade was. 

Cora Carmack's Faking It is exactly what I want my contemporary romances to be it. It was a great story with characters that were real and stayed with me after I finished reading. I can say that from now on I won't hesitate to pick up anything Cora Carmack writes. 

Losing It by Cora Carmack

Title: Losing It (Losing It #1)

Author: Cora Carmack

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: February 15, 2013

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible--a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gores guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with a half-a-brain would ever believe. 

And if that wasn't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor.

She'd left him name in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

Cora Carmack's Losing It was the first New Adult novel I read. When I picked it up, it wasn't because I had this burning need to read NA but rather that everyone seemed to be raving about this book and I wanted to find out what the big deal was. And boy did I find out. I read Losing It in one sitting and proceeded to realize that I could really be into this whole New Adult deal.

With only one semester of college left, Bliss is starting to wonder if she's ever going to lose her virginity. It's not that she's a prude. She just has certain standards. But as the end of her college days near, she decides to do something about it. With the help of her best friend, Bliss sets out to find someone with whom she can have a one-night stand. And everything is going well. Until they're back at her house and she starts to panic. The next thing she knows she is giving the gorgeous guy in her bed a crap excuse and rushes out the door. Ready to put this unfortunate encounter out of her mind, Bliss heads to class the next day only to come face to face with her new theatre professor. Who happens to be none other than the gorgeous guy she abandoned about 8 hours earlier. 

I've already shared my thoughts quite extensively on New Adult and what I like about it, so I'll spare you from that in this review. I will, however, say this: it's really awesome to be able to read about characters who are going through some of the same experiences I am currently going through. I think that's what appealed so much to me with Cora Carmack's Losing It. The fact that the story closely resembled some of my recent experiences made it so I could relate not just to the characters, but also to the story. Just shortly before reading the book, I went through my last semester of university and found myself in many of the same situations as the characters in the story. I don't mean to say that I abandoned a gorgeous boy in my bed one night, but rather that I could relate to the life changes associated with the end of university or college. I know what it feels like to start that last semester not really knowing what comes next and the fears and anxieties that can be associated with that. That aspect of the story definitely felt realistic and helped hook me. That, and, you know, the whole romance side of things wasn't half bad.

Right from the start, I found myself relating to Bliss in a scary number of ways. And that definitely hooked me. There were so many moments in the story where I was thinking to myself "been there, done that" and that's what kept me reading. It made the story feel realistic, to the point where it felt like I was reading something that, in some ways, could totally have been happening to me. And much like Bliss was at times, I'm pretty sure I would be completely tongue-tied if I ever came face to face with someone like Garrick. A British accent and gorgeous looks? I'd be a total goner. But Garrick was also a lot more than those two characteristics. He was also incredibly smart and incredibly sweet when the occasion presented itself. And the chemistry between him and Bliss was obvious and so much fun to read about. More or less the whole time I was reading I had a smile on my face. There are some other characters in this story I really connected with *cough*Cade*cough*, but I'll leave that to future reviews.

Cora Carmack's Losing It was as good as everyone said it was. It was a great contemporary romance story that will appeal to an older audience. And if you're unsure about this whole New Adult thing, books like Losing It might just help sell you on the whole thing.