Review: Never Say Goodbye by Bethan Cooper

Title: Never Say Goodbye

Author: Bethan Cooper

Release Date: 25th April 2014

Publisher: Bethan Cooper

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Who said life was easy again?

When eighteen year old Ella Stone fell into his arms one July morning she encountered a man who was not only beautiful, but the most caring and loving she had ever met. She is lost in the distance to most and cares about nothing in her life. The only needs she craves is her best friend Jade and her trusty sky blue Ford Mustang. 

After losing someone who meant more to her than herself, her whole life changed for the worse.

Fighting something on your own, can change your life. 

Especially when that something, causes you pain everyday. 

When Luke James lean, beautiful and rich finds a small girl riddled with torment in his arms he can't help but want to put out that dark light inside of her. 

His past haunts them both, causing unnecessary heartbreak. 

But when he leaves his high school girlfriend Jenna, for her, trouble chases them both and the escape tries to break them apart.

On this emotional tormented roller-coaster, we find two people who should of never been introduced, but they are and the inevitable happens, for them both.

Detailed Review:  <<I received a copy of this book to beta in return for my honest feedback.>>

Never Say Goodbye was an explosive book, albeit a quiet one. It's like when you light a fuse and it starts burning, until it reaches the end and the explosion happens. That's how I felt when I read the last few chapters.

There was a strong theme of insta-love with this book, but I would classify it as a genuine and realistic one, because of the fact that Luke and Ella had met before, just that Luke had never looked at Ella the same way he had when she fell, literally into his arms.

I thought Beth managed to balance this out by showing how volatile and strength their relationship is. One word is all it takes to break it; when it's fixed again, it's stronger than before.

At the start of the book, Ella Stone was just a girl battling with depression who had her Mustang and best friend to distract her from her demons. She was broken and hard to fix.

When she has lost hope, the appearance of Luke James precedes a romance so strong and unyielding that it had Celine Dion's 'The Power of Love' running in my head.

NSG is about how love can make you stronger and change you. Over the course of the book, Ella's transformation is evident; she becomes braver and stronger. She is able to stand up and fight for herself. Ella was definitely my favourite character in the book because she showed in the end, that she was still strong when Luke wasn't with her and was a source of pain. She even stood up to him.

Luke, the hottest boy in school (bad boy alert!) was immediately drawn to Ella in a way he had never before when they collided into each other. He showed that he was also as broken as Ella, though he didn't suffer the depression as Ella had. He had lost the person he loved the most but none of the hurt ever showed on the surface until he let Ella in. I'd love to know more about his background though. Sometimes I think the spotlight should shine more often on Luke and his current struggles.

The story was told mainly from Ella's POV but there was a chapter for both Ella and Luke's POV, which I absolutely wished there was more of.

P.S. The ending will certainly want to make you cry or just traumatise you into a brief silence. Just get ready a box of tissues.

Brief Review: The chemistry between Luke and Ella made a very potent combination with both of their tragic pasts. It's not easy to get out of this book after being immersed in it. This is an emotional piece of work that will leave your heart broken not just by the beauty of Luke and Ella's love, but everything else that comes with it. I can't wait for the sequel! I NEED MORE LUKE AND ELLA!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

Your Reviewer:

Review: The One by Kiera Cass

Title: The One
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Find on: Goodreads  and Amazon

Quick Review: The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

Detailed Review: I didn't want to have high hopes for this book, but because it was the final book in a series I really loved, I couldn't help it. I am happy to say that I was not disappointing, well I was mostly not disappointed. The only reason why I was disappointed was because the book was way too darn short!! I just felt like everything was so rushed. And then at the ending I was disappointed, because I wanted to see more of them together. 

For most of the first half of the book, I was annoyed with America. I can't think of anything specific she did that annoyed me, it was just something about her that plucked at my nerves. 

I liked the parts with America and Maxon, though they were kind of all over the place like Katy Perry's Hot and Cold song. One minute it was like "I love you sooo much!" the next it was like "I don't know if I can be with you.." 

The scenes between America and Aspen were also kind of unsatisfactory, and they seemed mostly unnecessary. I felt like they could have just said that they weren't into each other, without all the delays. 

I loved the moments between the girls, they were so sweet and heartwarming. I liked how they became friends, and I was sad to see some of them die. 

Talking about dying, I was ecstatic to see the King die, but I was sad to see the Queen die. The Queen, despite her ignorance was one of the more likable characters, I really enjoyed the scenes with her. 

When all is said and done I was very happy with this happy ending. 


Brief Review: I can't say that this book was perfect, but I feel like it was a pretty good ending, I just wish that things wouldn't have been so rushed. Writing the last book is always difficult and I just want to give the author props, she did a good job!

Final Rating: 4/5 'Great with a few flaws'

Your Reviewer: 

Let's Welcome A New Member!!!

Hey everyone! This is Elicia here, your usual host now that Chloe, ahem, slackened (though she still did the designs) and is busy with her studies right now. I'm busy with exams too as well. So we decided to hire a new co-blogger to help us fill in as we studied hard and here she is! There will be future posts from her like book reviews. Please let us give her a warm welcome! *claps and whistles and screams and flying streamers everywhere* 

P.S. I've talked to her and she is the nicest person ever! 

And here is a small introduction written by her:

Hi everyone, my name is Szidi and I will be joining this wonderful reviewing team. I'm from Canada, and I go to the University of Toronto. I have loved reading since middle school, and I want to share that passion with other wonderful people that love to read. I look forward to sharing my opinions with all the readers.

Cover Reveal: Fever by Melissa Pearl

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Release date: June 15th

 

Cover Reveal!

Fever ( A Songbird Novel )

Designer: Mae I Design

Ella Simmons does not want to move across the country. But she is, because her boyfriend has persuaded her to join him at UChicago to finish out her college education. Never able to tell him no, she hops on a plane and makes the trek from LA expecting to adjust to life like she's often forced to, but things are not that simple when she hears a luscious voice singing over her shower wall. His deep, sexy tenor makes her weak in the knees, spreading fire through her limbs and making her question everything about her life and relationship.

Can one voice really have that much of an impact?

Cole Reynolds is on his way out. In his final year at UChicao, the only this he wants to do is finish school and get on with this life. But the sweet voice that interrupts his morning shower turns his world upside down. Compelled to find his shower songbird, he begins a search across campus. The only thing to distract him from this goal is his roommate's gorgeous girlfriend who's just arrived from LA - Ella Simmons.

Relationships are put to the ultimate test as future dreams are questioned and friendships are thrown on the line for love.

Excerpt

My voice grew stronger as I sang through the first verse of Cheek to Cheek. Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald sang my favorite version of the song. I was so in love with those two. Probably because my mother was a jazz/swing freak. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong…they were always filling our house with music. But Ella, she was my mom’s favorite and she’d quickly became mine. The woman had a voice like an angel…the supreme songbird. That’s what Mom used to say.

I ended the verse strong on the high note and was about to dip low for the last line when a deep, masculine voice joined me from the other side of the wall. 

My breath hitched, my heart rate tripling. Man, that was a sexy voice. My insides flooded with heat and it wasn’t because of the shower. I bit my lip, wondering how to respond. My mind was flashing with images of a naked man beneath his own shower head. What did he look like? If the person matched the voice, he must be built like a greek god. My insides coiled tight as I touched the tiles in front of me.

I’d never had such a physical reaction to someone’s voice before. I mean, yeah David was sexy in his own way, but whoever was on the other side of this wall was making my knees weak.

The man chuckled, a low gruff sound from his throat…at least I think that’s what it was. It was kind of hard to hear through the wall, but then he started singing again and it was crystal clear. 

He finished the next line.

He paused.

Waiting.

For me.

Pressing my lips together, I blinked a couple of times and then grinned. 

About the Author

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Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 - True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.

"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."