Review: Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher- Point
Released- Feb 25th 2014
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

My Thoughts: 
Daww, this book was just too sweet. Better off Friends, is my favorite kind of romantic since I simply adore friends-turned-romance above all. But this isn’t in the traditional swoon-worthy way I typically find in my reads, instead this really focus on the friendship and going through the motions of having a best friend of the opposite sex and trying to figure out how to handle all of the wonderful and conflicting emotions that comes with it. This book asks the question everyone at one point in their lives asks, can a guy and a girl really be just friends? Since I married my best friend, I’m not sure how to answer that one, but it’s still a rather profound question and absolutely charming and lovely to see how these two best friends experience the comfort and complications of their relationship.

Levi and Macallan meet in 7th grade, bonded over a television program nobody knows about and have been friends ever since. They’ve helped each other out in so many ways. Levi was the new kid in town but Macallan made him feel welcome and made him see what home really means. Mac lost her mother in a car accident and Levi was there to help her cope with the loss. They banter like an old married couple and have wicked witty wars, and inside jokes no one else understands. They work through the angst and drama of high school and dating and try to push aside any resentments or jealousy. They are simple a solid couple that made me laugh out loud and smile a stupid smile, but they also made me want to shake them straight a few times when they were being stupid or stubborn. They’ve made their share of mistakes, but through it all, they are undeniable and you really can’t help but root for these two best friends and hope they finally get it together long enough to realize how perfect they are for one another. 

I really adored Elizabeth Eulberg’s writing style. The natural ease and flow of the story was brilliant, making this an unputdownable and absorbing read from start to finish. The commentary conversations at the beginning of every new chapter were my favorite part. Combining the present as we learn about their past and giving us a hint for what’s to come was so amusing and touching to see what Levi and Macallan think about the moments that cemented their history together. Cute, cute, cute!

I really loved all of these characters. Macallan is a firecracker! Feisty and full of spunk. I love how she doesn’t take any crap and that she stands up for what she believes in. She doesn’t care about what people think and tries to do the right thing. But she also has a little bit of a wall that fortunately Levi always seems to be able to break through.

Levi is your dude’s dude. While he loves having Mac in his life, he still seems like he’s looking for more in his life. He wants to have a girlfriend, be on teams and be with the in crowd at school. While he’s made a lot of mistakes with his friendship with Mac, he’s always been there for her and I love how protective and sweet he can be.

Both of their families are such good people and I loved that Mac was able to have a mother to go to when she needed one. I also liked all of their friends and even though they have their share of drama and angst, it wasn't overly done or distracting.

Bottom line, this book is so sweet and so adorable. It’s the kind of read that makes you feel good, makes you smile and makes you laugh. It’s warm and touching and tugs at your heart. I recommend this to fans that are looking for a light, funny, clean and quick escape as you follow Levi and Macallan's friendship as they struggle with their fears and excitement of the possibility of needing and wanting more. A great read!! 

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                 4.5 Snowflakes

Review: Forevermore by Cindy Miles

Forevermore by Cindy Miles
Publisher- Point
Released- July 1st 2013
Purchase -Amazon / B & N / Chapters

On a misty cliffside, mystery and romance await. . . .Ivy Calhoun's life has been turned upside down. Her new stepdad has uprooted Ivy and her mom, bringing them to live in an actual castle in the misty Scottish countryside. There are stone-faced servants and shadowy corridors, and the ancient walls seem full of secrets. Ivy is at once frightened and intrigued.Especially when she meets Logan, a gorgeous, elusive ghost who has haunted the castle grounds for decades. Ivy is immediately drawn to him . . . but Logan is not the only spirit around. Something dark and deadly is afoot, and soon Ivy finds herself in mortal danger.Is Logan exactly what he seems? Could his mysterious past be tied to Ivy's present? And can Ivy stop herself from falling in love with him?

My Thoughts:
After Ivy's mother found love again with Niall MacAlister, a Scottish Laird, they married and Niall brought them back to his home country in Scotland where they actually get to live in an an old creepy castle on the Glenmorrag estate.

Complete with gargoyles, servants and screaming peacocks, Ivy knows she's not in Charleston anymore and while she's scared, she's also very much intrigued. Specially when she meets Logan Munro, the castle's resident ghost.They may have had a shaky start, but soon enough Ivy starts to care about him and wants to try to solve what happened to him centuries ago. But Logan isn't the only lingering spirit around and this one doesn't seem to have Ivy's best intentions at heart. Can Ivy and her new found friends solve the mysterious curse surrounding Glenmorrag castle and Logan Munro before it's to late? Or will Logan be lost forever along with Ivy's heart.

You know, I knew I always wanted to read Forevermore, but I never thought I'd love it the way I did, nor did I think it would be an instant favorite. Don't you just love when book do that?

This would be Cindy Miles first novel in the YA genre and the first book I've read by her, but it wont be my last. Miles writing is very smooth, clever and very strong. I loved how easily comfortable and absorbed I was while reading, losing myself within these pages from start to finish. What I loved about this book is that it's set in modern times but I felt like I was transported to a different time within the walls of Glenmorrag and around Scotland countryside. The atmosphere was thick and rich and filled with old magic you could taste. It was truly beautiful writing. I also thought it was rather cunning of Miles to bring in character from her adult books and adding them to the plot line. I've never read Highland Knight  before, but hearing Amelia and Ethan's story in this book makes me want to run out and read it as soon as possible. It was a brilliant fit to Logan's own situation and provided the necessary explanation to piece together and support the plots concept, making it more plausible and exciting. It's true that the story line wasn't anything I haven't read before, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying Miles take on the supernatural good times. In fact, I couldn't seem to get enough and find myself wanting more.

There are so many great characters in this book and I loved every single one of them!

Ivy is a wonderfully put together protagonist. I loved her voice. I love that despite being out of her own skin in Scotland she puts on a brave front and goes with the flow to make her mom happy. It's refreshing from the usual bratty characters that I tend to find in these kind of reads. I love that she plays music and that it's apart of her and her connection with her father. She's also a fearless little thing and while she gets scared she's not afraid to confront the craziness around her.

Logan Munro isn't like most guys I find in my reads. He's from a different time and age where good manners and chivalry still exists, (warnings and haunting's, pushed aside). I found him to be such a lost and endearing character. My heart really goes out to him. Died at the age of eighteen with no memories of his life before and roaming the world for hundreds of years can be awfully lonely. The connection between Ivy and Logan and the romance was light, clean and very, very sweet. Totally hug-worthy stuff my friends.

There are also a list of amazing secondary characters that I grew quite attached to. Julia, Niall, Emma, Jonas, Ian, Serrus and last but not least, Amelia and Ethan. They all brought the perfect amount of awesome into the story line.

Bottom line, Forevermore is a charming and enchanting story that entwines ghostly mysteries and a tender romance that was a complete joy to read. The writing is fantastic, the setting was mystical and magical and these characters truly stole my heart.  I simply can't wait to get a hold of Cindy Miles other books, it looks like she has a new fan. This book reads like a standalone but I hope that Miles continues to write more for the YA genre. This was just all kinds of fun! Loved!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website

                                                                     5 Snowflakes

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway- The Last Academy by Anne Applegate

Today WinterHaven Books has the wonderful opportunity to review, The Last Academy by Anne Applegate. Special thanks to Itching for Books  for hosting this blog tour as well as allowing us to participate. 

The Last Academy by Anne Applegate

Publisher-Point

Release-April 30th 2013

Purchase- Amazon / B & N / Chapters

Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam--and readers--stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel.

My Thoughts:
Camden Fisher was at a last-hurrah party at her best friend Lia's house before they set off to high school, but Camden and Lia had a falling out and five days later Camden was leaving Minneapolis to go to a boarding school in California called Lethe Academy. 

Despite a frightful and creepy encounter on the plane with a unusual man, Camden's new school looked beautiful, sunny and inviting. Everyone smiling, playing Frisbee surrounded by tennis courts and swimming pools. Camden thought that she may fit in here after all. 

But soon enough strange events started to unfold around her. One of her friends is missing, dark shadows are in her room and the creepy guy from the plane is even at her school and yet no one seems to do anything about it. Camden doesn't know what to think or even do. Just what kind of place is Lethe Academy?

Wow, okay, I'm not even sure where to begin. The Last Academy wasn't exactly what I had in mind and apart of me kinda can't help but be disappointed since it was one of my most anticipated, but then another part of me is so taken over with that ending I'm not even sure what to think. 

The story line, the writing and it's characters seem to all blend together during this reading experience. 

I'm not even sure how to describe this, my only comparison would be like being in the middle of one of those crazy horror/thriller type movies and I'm watching this girl at a new school and at first everyone she meets seems to be okay, friendly, normal, with the occasional mean girl or guy here and there. But then slowly the story line and it's characters seem to get strange, withdrawn, spooky and dealing with their own personal...issues. 

As we get in further into the story it starts to jump from strange to down right bizarre with random events starting to take shape around Camden with no really rhyme or reason to it.  

...Now at this point I'm not sure if this book is even for me. I'm confused, I'm frustrated and apart of me kinda wants to just walk away, but I'm oddly compelled to figure out what's going on, with absolutely zero clues as to what it could be. 

So anyways, I'm a little more then half way in and still in the middle of strange and crazy land and then we get to the point where the big reveal happens. Everything starts to click in place like a slap in the face and I'm left sitting there, stunned and utterly floored, asking if all that just really happened?!? I don't think I could have possible ever have guessed that particular twist. It was actually remarkably well done, even brilliant, if I go back and think about everything before that moment, actually changing how I feel about it overall. It made the process of trying to figure out what the hell was going on worth the frustration and exasperation. And while this may not be a favorite and may not even be for everyone, I have to give kudos to Anne Applegate  for writing such a gusty debut, sparking genuine madness, curiosity and in the end, heartfelt emotion. I'm really glad that I had the chance to experience this peculiar little story and would have to agree completely with that blurb. The Last Academy really will leave readers shocked and breathless once it's all said and done. I'm looking forward to seeing what Applegate has in store for us next!

3.5 Snowflakes

About the author 

Goodreads /Website  / Twitter                     

Anne Applegate was born in Chico, California. Most of her childhood was spent moving across America with her family, nomad style.When Anne was fourteen, her parents sent her to boarding school so she could spend four years in a single educational system. As it turned out, her family then promptly settled into a small mid-western town and lived there for the next sixteen years. Anne still hasn’t figured out if this means something.After graduation, she went on to Tufts University in Medford, MA, where she had a wicked good time. Eventually, she wound up back on the west coast, where she married a fantastic Californian guy. Together, they have three children.For the last twelve years, Anne has lived in San Luis Obispo County. This is by far the longest time she has stayed in any one place her whole life. She immensely enjoys living where 1) the sun always shines and 2) she isn’t the weirdest person in town.

We have a very special giveaway to share with you!!  Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to win a finished copy of The Last Academy!  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway