Flashtide – FFBC Tour

 

Flashtide (Flashfall #2)

Jenny Moyer

Published 14/11/17 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

YOUNG ADULT DYSTOPIA

 

Synopsis:

Orion has survived the tunnels of Outpost Five, filled with mutant creatures and dangers around every bend. She has traversed the cordons, exposed to the radiation of the flash curtain and hunted by forces that want her stopped, dead or alive. Now, with Dram by her side, she has made it to the safety of the mountain provinces, where free Conjurors live and practice their craft of manipulating matter.

But Orion’s story is far from over.

With the effects of the flashfall spreading and the might of the protected city of Alara looming, Orion must travel into the hands of her enemies once again. Heart-pounding action and adventure await in this sequel to Flashfall.

Goodreads – Amazon – BookDepository – Barnes and Noble – iTunes – Kobo

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

About the Author

Jenny is the author of the YA sci-fi/fantasy FLASHFALL, and its sequel, FLASHTIDE. (Holt/Macmillan 11-14-17) She lives with her filmmaker husband and their three boys in Iowa. Watch the epic, live action book trailer for the novel that Booklist calls “A cinematic page-turner.”

www.jennymoyer.com

 

 

Giveaway (INT)

Win a Flashtide pack: signed copies of Flashtide and Flashfall, $50 Amazon gift card and swag (INTERNATIONAL).

Starts Nov 13th and ends Nov 26th 2017.

Enter HERE

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My Spoiler Free Review of Flashfall

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Spoiler Free Review of Flashtide

Flashtide picks up right where Flashfall left off, and it jumps straight into the action. Just as fast-paced as book one, I read Flashtide in one sitting and loved every page. The plot was action-packed, fast-paced and full of fantastic twists and reveals, most of which were unpredictable and sent me spinning.

We see great character development of both Orion and Dram, and we also see their relationship blossom throughout. In Flashtide we see Orion and Dram explore more of the world, and meet plenty more of those unique creatures from Flashfall. Orion really grows into herself and comes to find out more about her skills and abilities, and she has once again cemented herself as one of my all-time favourite characters.

Keeping it short and sweet to avoid spoilers, but I cannot recommend this series highly enough- it’s the perfect mix of action, adventure and friendship, set in a unique setting. I would definitely recommend it for fans of Red Rising, as it has a similar vibe. FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS, and cannot wait for the next book (assuming there is another one.. I HOPE SO!!).

July Mini Reviews

Disclaimer: Whilst these books were provided by publishers as NetGalley E-ARCs, all opinions remain solely my own.

Fantasy

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Now I Rise ★★★★

Conqueror’s Saga #2

Kiersten White

I really enjoyed this sequel. Without giving anything away, I found it to be more political, with a pinch of deception and stabby-ness (is that a word? If not, it should be).
Lada really comes into her own, becoming even more independent and kick ass. She definitely becomes wiser and more mature as she explores the world.
Radu is the bigger focus of this book, or he felt like it, anyways. He becomes smarter with his emotions and decisions, and I cannot wait to see him develop more in book 3.
A fast paced, action filled sequel which I loved.

Unraveling ★★★★

Unblemished #2

Sara Ella

Unraveling started slowly but the pace quickly improved and kept me moving through the story. The plot is full of adventure, twists and turns, and I really loved where the story went,
It still has that fairytale feel but I definitely felt that this sequel was more action packed than book 1. We see El develop and grow into her new role, but we also see her doubts and struggles.
I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives of this book as it really opened my eyes to the events surrounding other characters.
The world is expanded in this book and I can’t wait to see where they go in book 3.

Daughter of the Burning City ★★★★

Amanda Foody

Whilst this novel started slow, the evocative language and intriguing characters soon sucked me into a whirlwind of flipping pages.
Throughout the entirety of the book I was drooling over liquorice cherries and kettle corn, and picturing every aspect of the burning city in detail.
Every plot twist had me absolutely shocked and I definitely didn’t see the end coming.
This is like Caraval, but infinitely more unique and captivating. 4.5/5 stars.

Sovereign ★★★

Nemesis #2

April Daniels

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first in the series, Dreadnought. However it was still a satisfying sequel and I’m excited to continue with this series.
The pacing was a little slow and inconsistent, and made the reading experience a little bit more tedious. In saying that, I loved seeing Danny’s character development and that alone made me want to keep reading.
The way that the plot is set out is layered and there were definitely a few twists that I didn’t see coming.
All in all this sequel was good but I hope that book 3 improves upon the story even more.

Dystopian

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True North ★★

True Born #2

L.E Sterling

After reading and loving the first book in this series, the sequel was a bit of a let down.
It had a strong beginning which recapped book 1 and helped you get settled back into the world. After that however, I felt that everything went downhill. The pacing was incredibly slow, and there was no real character development that I could tell. The plot of the novel hinged on one small event, which we didn’t see until the very end, and the other ‘events’ in the plot made it feel as if virtually nothing happened. Even the romance, which I hoped would develop more, didn’t.
Overall I wasn’t impressed by this sequel, and it just wasn’t for me. 2/5 stars.

Contemporary

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180 Seconds ★★★★★

Jessica Park

This book shattered my heart and made it whole again.
I was delighted by the romance in this novel, entranced by Allison’s story and her personal development, and ripped to shreds by the ending.
I went into this novel blind, for some reason expecting it to be a cute fluffy romance. And I’m not denying that it had cute and fluffy moments, but 180 Seconds was so much more than that. The characters were fleshed out, real and relatable, and Allison’s introversion was deftly explored, explained, and eventually overcome.
The main couple in this book is so perfect and amazing, and I’d love to see more of them.
It’s the perfect exploration of family, friendship, trust and opening up.

Moonrise ★★★★

Sarah Crossan

Heart-breaking, insightful and brilliantly executed.
I went into this novel completely blind, knowing only that it was written by Sarah Crossan. Sarah Crossan is an author that I trust wholly, who never neglects to make my heart ache and my tears flow. In Moonrise, her writing is unfailingly beautiful, and her story told through a cast of unusually lovable characters.
Every aspect of this novel appealed to me, As a highly opinionated individual with eyes open to the world around me, I really appreciated Sarah’s exploration of the American justice system and its failings. I enjoyed seeing a family dynamic where all the family were present in the narrative, if not directly on the page. Joe’s family has fallen apart around him, and still he persists in trying his hardest and not giving up. I loved Joe, and I would love to see more of him in the future (as unlikely as that is).
I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves Sarah Crossan and fast, intoxicating reads.

The Names They Gave Us ★★★★

Emery Lord

The Names They Gave Us is a genuine, heartfelt novel about faith, family, friendship and grief. Beautifully written with an amazing cast of characters, I enjoyed every single page of this novel.
The writing and story was easy to slide into, and our main character is super easy to love and follow.
I gave this one 4.25 stars, with my only problem being the open ending.

Lucky in Love: Blog Tour & Giveaway

 

Lucky in Love

Author: Kasie West

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication date: 25th July 2017

GOODREADS – AMAZON – BOOK DEPOSITORY – KOBO – iBOOKS

A cute, fun and fast contemporary.

 

 

Synopsis:

In this new contemporary from YA star Kasie West, a girl who wins the lottery learns that money can cause more problems than it solves, especially when love comes into the picture.

Maddie doesn’t believe in luck. She’s all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment —

She wins!

In a flash, Maddie’s life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she’s talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun… until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn’t sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn’t seem aware of Maddie’s big news. And, for some reason, she doesn’t want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

With tons of humor and heart, Kasie West delivers a million-dollar tale of winning, losing, and falling in love.

My Spoiler Free Review:

This book is one of the cutest contemporaries I’ve read all year. It was so fast-paced and the budding romance was so cute I just HAD to keep turning the pages.

Maddie and Seth were amazing characters and I really enjoyed their chemistry, not to mention their friendship in general. I’m usually really critical of contemporaries, but this definitely had the right balance of friendship, family and romance, and I loved it so much..

If you’re into contemporary romance I’d highly recommend picking this one up. We follow Maddie as she wins the lottery, splurges on crazy things, and deals with family drama, the media, not to mention university applications and high school stress.

Aside from winning the lottery (I wish), Maddie is so much like me. Studious but sometimes loses focus, stresses, and has a multitude of things to worry about in her life. She was a super relatable character and I’d definitely love to see more of her.

All in all, cute, fast-paced and fun, with some more serious topics twisted throughout. Loved it. 4 out of 5 stars.

 

About the Author:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, PS I LIKE YOU, and BY YOUR SIDE. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

 

Links:

• Website- http://www.kasiewest.com
• Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5027236.Kasie_West
• Twitter- https://twitter.com/kasiewest
• Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/Kasie-West-Author-148695348552803/

 

Follow the Tour:

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The Giveaway:

• 1 ARC of Lucky in Love
• US only
• Follow the tour for more chances to win
• Runs through July 31
• Please read Rules & Regs in Rafflecopter

Rafflecopter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86252/?

 

 

 

Obsidian and Stars – Review + Giveaway

Obsidian and Stars (Ivory and Bone #2)

Julie Eshbaugh

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: June 13, 2017

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

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In the sequel to Ivory and Bone—the prehistoric fantasy novel that New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman described as a “richly crafted world of life-and-death stakes”—the story shifts to Mya’s viewpoint as vengeful adversaries force her to flee the life she once knew.

After surviving the chaotic battle that erupted after Lo and the Bosha clan attacked, now Mya is looking ahead to her future with Kol. All the things that once felt so uncertain are finally falling into place. But the same night as Kol and Mya’s betrothal announcement, Mya’s brother Chev reveals his plan to marry his youngest sister Lees to his friend Morsk. The only way to avoid this terrible turn of events, Morsk informs Mya when he corners her later, is for Mya to take Lees’ place and marry him herself.

Refusing to marry anyone other than her beloved, and in an effort to protect her sister, Mya runs away to a secret island with Lees. And though it seems like the safest place to hide until things back home blow over, Mya soon realizes she’s been followed. Lurking deep in the recesses of this dangerous place are rivals from Mya’s past whose thirst for revenge exceeds all reason.

With the lives of her loved ones on the line, Mya must make a move before the enemies of her past become the undoing of her future.

About the author:

Julie Eshbaugh is the author of Ivory and Bone (HarperCollins, 2016). She used to have trouble staying in one spot, having lived in places as varied as Utah, France, and New York City. Julie eventually returned home to the Philadelphia area, where she now lives with her husband, son, cat and dog. Her favorite moments are when the unexpected happens and she cheers loudest when the pitcher gets a hit.

Website– Goodreads– Twitter– Instagram– Pinterest–

Follow the Tour

The Giveaway

Win a finished copy of Obsidian and Stars (US ONLY). Giveaway ends June 17th.

Click here to enter the giveaway

My Spoiler Free Thoughts:

Last year I was highly anticipating the first book in this duology, Ivory and Bone. I was so disappointed when I read it and it didn’t completely blow me away.

I decided to pick up Obsidian and Stars anyways and I’m SO, SO, SO GLAD that I did.

I adored it so much! If you had doubts about the first book, I’d highly recommend you read it and pick this one up. I related so much more to Mya, who tells the story in first person, and my attention was held the entire way through the book. There is so much more action, emotion and all-round greatness packed into this sequel.

Despite originally being marketed as a trilogy, this book definitely wrapped things up perfectly to complete the duology.

What I Liked:

• Mya is a great perspective to read from. I loved her internal conflicts and thought processes, and I could really relate to her
• The plot. There was way more action in this book than the first, and it definitely kept the story flowing.
• I read this in just two sittings. It was so fast-paced and the pacing was super consistent throughout.
• A really thorough conclusion to the duology. I loved the ending.
• It explores responsibility/duty, friendship, love and family in a great way.
• The world-building was really good, and I could picture the landscapes and villages easily.

 

What I Disliked:

• I really struggled to picture the characters in my head. It’s probably due to the fact I read the first book over a year ago, but I found it difficult to see what each character looked like.
• That’s it. That’s all that I disliked.

 

All in all, this was a fantastic conclusion to the Ivory and Bone duology, with just the right mix of action, adventure and super cute romance. I gave this book 4 stars.

Blacksouls: Delicious pirate-y goodness

 

Blacksouls (Blackhearts #2)

Nicole Castroman

Published by Simon Pulse

Released on April 11th 2017

Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance, Pirates and Adventure.

 

Nicole Castroman brings the dangerous pirate ports of the Caribbean to life in this vibrant sequel to Blackhearts—the reimagined origin story of history’s most infamous pirate, Blackbeard.

Edward “Teach” Drummond is setting sail to the Caribbean as first mate on the most celebrated merchant ship in the British fleet—until he rebels against his captain. Mutiny is a capital offense and Teach knows it could cost him his life, but he believes it worth the risk in order to save his crew from the attacking Spanish ships. 

 Sailing on the same blue waters, Anne barely avoids the Spanish attack, making it safely to Nassau. But lawless criminals, corrupt politics, and dangerous intentions fill the crowded streets of this Caribbean port. Soon, Anne discovers that the man entrusted to keep the peace is quite possibly the most treacherous of them all—and he just happens to hold Teach’s fate in his terrifying hands. 

 Life and death hang in the balance when Teach and Anne are given a dangerous mission. It’s a mission that will test their love, loyalty and devotion, forcing them down a path neither one could have ever imagined. 

 

My Spoiler Free Review

Blacksouls is the second book in a delightful series by Nicole Castroman. The first book in this series, Blackhearts, starts our exploration into the pirate Blackbeard and his life. With more action, ocean and pirates than the first book, Blacksouls is definitely a fun read and a great continuation to the series.

 I adored the action that just kept me on my toes) though I will admit the first 50 or so pages were a little slower. The plot definitely gets more complex and leaves a huge opening for the series to continue  (do I really have to wait a whole year for book 3? Really?  *sighs*).

Teach and Anne continue their romance….and though I wasn’t too impressed by Teach’s temper and jealousy at times. But as a whole their relationship seems pretty healthy and cute and I can’t wait to see what happens between them. 

Plus Anne is such a strong character…honestly. From the first page of Blackhearts to now, she’s grown so much and become such a strong willed and now physically strong character. 

Plus there’s Reva. Female. Pirate. Kickass. Yes please… I need more.  

I gave this installment 3.5 stars and cant wait to read book 3. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

    Nicole was lucky enough to come with her very own best friend…she has a twin sister who can read her mind and finish her sentences for her.

At the age of 13, she went to Europe for the first time and it changed her life. She loves learning about different people, languages and cultures and speaks fluent German. She knows enough Spanish to get herself into trouble and can still read the Cyrillic alphabet from when she studied Russian.

She received her B.A. from Brigham Young University and has lived in Germany, Austria and two different places called Georgia. One is located on the Black Sea. The other is the state of Georgia where she now lives with her handsome husband and two beautiful children who continue to amaze her.

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

1 Finished Copy of Blacksouls (Blackhearts #2) by Nicole Castroman

• US Only
• Follow the tour for more chances to win
• Runs through May 3rd
• Please read Rules & Regulations in Rafflecopter

ENTER HERE

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Edge of Everything : Wonderful, unique, heartbreaking

It’s been a shattering year for seventeen-year-old Zoe, who’s still reeling from her father’s shockingly sudden death in a caving accident and her neighbors’ mysterious disappearance from their own home. Then on a terrifying sub-zero, blizzardy night in Montana, she and her brother are brutally attacked in a cabin in the woods–only to be rescued by a mysterious bounty hunter they call X.

X is no ordinary bounty hunter. He is from a hell called the Lowlands, sent to claim the soul of Zoe’s evil attacker and others like him. Forbidden to reveal himself to anyone other than his victims, X casts aside the Lowlands’ rules for Zoe. As X and Zoe learn more about their different worlds, they begin to question the past, their fate, and their future. But escaping the Lowlands and the ties that bind X might mean the ultimate sacrifice for both of them.(Goodreads)

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Published in January 2017 by Bloomsbury, Edge of Everything is a sci-fi/fantasy thriller with a delicious romance and interesting family dynamics. A really fast, clever read.

This novel was an easy 4 stars for me. The Edge of Everything starts with action and adventure. We follow the story from both Zoe and X’s perspectives, and because of their unique voices I was quickly invested in the story.

It was such a fast-paced, easy read with a different take on hell and bounty hunters, and it looked at family relationships and friendships. I loved it so much, but I felt that the romance overtook the plot in the end, and the other elements fell away as the story progressed. But anyways I would highly recommend this book. Fantastic read.

~ Find Edge of Everything on AMAZON and BOOK DEPOSITORY ~

Caraval: The ultimate deception

I was sent an ARC of Caraval by Hachette Australia, but this did not impact my opinion in any way.

Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval, it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or a performance. It’s the closest you’ll ever find to magic in this world . . .

Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever. (Goodreads)

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Published in January 2017 by Hachette Australia, Caraval is Stephanie Garber’s debut novel. Full of magic, deception, romance and incredible writing, Caraval is sure to delight and confound every reader.

To start with Caraval was a bit slow. We meet Tella and Scarlett, and the handsome Julian, and debate going to Caraval for a few chapters. Quickly though, the pace picks up, and we are immersed in beautiful, descriptive writing that drowns us in the sounds, smells and sights of Caraval.

Every chapter explores new aspects of Caraval, and you’re never quite sure what is real, and what isn’t. The entire book is a maze of deception and trickery, magic and romance, and I loved every second of it. I really enjoyed following Scarlett’s perspective, and seeing her love for her sister, and watching a potential romance bloom.

Caraval is a beautifully written trick of a novel with a cliff-hanger style ending that has me wanting more. Loved it so much. 5 stars.

 

~Find Caraval on AMAZON and BOOK DEPOSITORY ~

Dreadnought: Fun, important, diverse.

Danny Tozer has a problem: she just inherited the powers of the world’s greatest superhero. Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died right in front of her, she was trying to keep people from finding out she’s transgender. But then her second-hand superpowers transformed her body into what she’s always thought it should be. Now there’s no hiding that she’s a girl.

It should be the happiest time of her life, but between her father’s dangerous obsession with curing her girlhood, her best friend suddenly acting like he’s entitled to date her, and the classmate who is secretly a masked vigilante, Danny’s first weeks living in a body that fits her are more difficult and complicated than she could have imagined.

She doesn’t have much time to adjust. Dreadnought’s murderer, a cyborg named Utopia, still haunts the streets of New Port City. If Danny can’t sort through the confusion of coming out, master her powers, and stop Utopia in time, humanity faces extinction. (Goodreads)

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April Daniels’ debut novel, Dreadnought, was published in January 2017 by Diversion Publishing. Think superheroes, trans-representation and all-round awesomeness. This has immediately flown onto my all-time favourites list, and I will be reading this again and again.

I obviously gave this one 5 stars. From chapter one I was intrigued, and this book had one of THE BEST opening chapters that I’ve ever read. Straightaway Danny has a unique voice, I felt connected to her, and there was so much action. You’re thrown straight into this superhero world, but not once did I feel lost or confused.

The background info about Danny, Dreadnought, and the world in general, really helped me to feel immersed in this world, and I loved it so much. Whilst this novel is incredibly fun, its also an own voices trans novel, which is fantastic. Through this book difficult topics are explored, such as family problems and the difficulty with transitioning, and it was done in a great way (NB: some trans people have felt affected by slurs that are used in this book, so please be aware of this).  It gave me an interesting perspective on how differently trans people are treated, especially after transitioning, including how their friends and family respond.

Danny is a fantastic, kick-ass, relatable character, with fears and insecurities, and despite having superhero powers she felt incredibly real. I loved reading from Danny’s perspective and seeing her grow. The ending of this novel was just as strong as the beginning, and it was amazing from cover to cover. A new favourite.

~ Find Dreadnought on AMAZON and BOOK DEPOSITORY ~

 

Frostblood – Elly Blake

The frost king will burn.

Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their bloodthirsty king, she agrees to come out of hiding, desperate to have her revenge.

Despite her unpredictable abilities, Ruby trains with the rebels and the infuriating—yet irresistible—Arcus, who seems to think of her as nothing more than a weapon. But before they can take action, Ruby is captured and forced to compete in the king’s tournaments that pit Fireblood prisoners against Frostblood champions. Now she has only one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who has taken everything from her—and from the icy young man she has come to love. (Goodreads)

Published in January 2017 by Hodder & Stoughton, Frostblood is a fantasy story following Ruby, a strong-willed, independent girl with a unique power to wield frost and snow. In a world where Firebloods rule, her power can only get her into trouble.

I gave this novel 2.5 stars. I adored the writing style and pacing from page one, but the plot took about a third of the novel to pick up. The beginning, whilst slow, did give great background info about Ruby and the world she lives in.

The plot twists throughout really didn’t surprise me, and the entire story felt familiar (think Red Queen). Ruby felt bland as a character to me, and I really struggled to connect with her.

Overall, whilst I didn’t love this novel, it was still a solid fantasy story involving powers, royalty and fighting, so if that’s your ‘thing’ then this might be a worthwhile read for you.

~Find Frostblood on Amazon and Book Depository~

Possibly the most sarcastic title I’ve ever heard… but it’s not, I swear

Published in December by Harmony Ink Press, Thanks A Lot, John LeClair is a YA contemporary with a focus on hockey, family, and coming out. Johanna Parkhurst explores themes of sexuality, sport, family and finding yourself in this super cute, yet super important novel.

Goodreads ~ BookDepository ~ Amazon

A quick read, I gave this one 3 stars. It took me a bit to become invested in the story and its characters, but thanks to the interspersed letters, I soon loved Emmitt and Dusty as the main characters. These letters definitely helped me to understand Emmitt and his family, and whilst they did tend to interrupt the flow of the novel, I really enjoyed reading them.

This book follows Emmitt as he tries to discover what he wants in life. A skilled ice hockey player, he is concerned that coming out as gay might affect his future career. As the story progresses we see a change in Emmitt’s attitude, and I felt that his character development was really good.

Keeping it short and sweet, but this book is definitely a great read for anyone with an interest in sport, diverse reads, or super cute boys in love.

NB: I was sent a copy for review by the publisher, but this in no way impacted my opinion. All thoughts are my own.