Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding, #1) by K.A. Linde - Review

Avoiding Commitment has been on the scene for a little while now and it’s creating a lot of buzz. I’d seen this book not only all over Amazon, but Goodreads as well. People are raving about how much they loved it.

Lexi has finally moved on from her tumultuous relationship with Jack. He’s the boy who always promises her truth, but seems to be hiding behind his candor. When it finally seems like she’s out of his grasp, she gets a phone call. Jack asks her to come down to Georgia to speak with his fiancé about their past relationship. She needs reassuring that her and Jack’s marriage won’t end in tragedy and betrayal. Lexi finally agrees and flies down to Atlanta into a world of lavish parties, country club brunches and heartbreak.

I’ve seen a lot of really crazy, obsessed reviews for Avoiding Commitment. That should have been red flag number one. When I scroll through Goodreads and find more pictures and GIFs than words in reviews, those books tend to lead to disappointment. Avoiding Commitmentdid just that.

The plot was completely all over the place. The story was peppered with annoyingly frequent flashbacks, thinly drawn together parallels and was entirely too long. I felt like the majority of the book was one giant rambling portrayl of Lexi making horribly bad decisions.

The writing was subpar. I know I’m no J.K. Rowling, but I write unedited book reviews... not novels that are sold. Even self-published should be corrected for errors. I’ve read many self-published novels that are polished and well written and so this aspect of Avoiding Committment was particulary disappointing.

Now for the characters. I’m all for the young, naive girl making a poor decision and finding her way out of her adolescent misbehaviors. I’m even great with giving that boy who did you wrong a second chance... but Lexi and Jack are dysfunctional to the nth degree. I cringed at not only their mistreatment of each other, but of those around them. They constantly cheat in their relationships and see very little wrong with their actions. Lexi is more concerned that Jack treats her like trash after they’ve slept together than the fact that she slept with an engaged man.

And Jack is just a jerk. That’s really all there is to say about him. He’s a guy who begs and preaches honesty but uses it as a crutch to live life as he sees fit, hiding behind the honesty when he hurts people. He wasn’t very well developed as a character which only further lead to the fact that I couldn’t see his point of view, or Lexi’s interest in him.

I rarely write super negative reviews, but this book really made me mad. Why did I continue to read it and not give it up? That’s a great question and I really don’t have the answer.  Maybe I had some misguided hope that it would turn out great? Overall, I wasn’t a fan of this one, but clearly this one has some followers.

1 out of 10

Happy Reading :)

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Fallen Too Far (Too Far, #1) by Abbi Glines

 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again... I love Abbi Glines. In terms of reading New Adult fiction, Glines is at the top of the heap writing books that are much more well written and cohesive than most of the genre as a whole. I’ve read what she’s put out in her Sea Breeze series and the stories in the Vincent Boys books as well and I’m impressed. Fallen Too Far seemed to get even more recognition than those other two series so I thought I’d give it a try.

Blaire has lost everything. Her high school boyfriend left when life got tough, her father left her family after tragedy struck and most recently, her mother succumbed to cancer. Having nowhere left to go, she drives across state lines to live with her father and his new family. Leaving what’s left of her shamble of a life behind to go live with her deadbeat of a father is the last thing she wants to do, but it’s her last hope. In arriving to the giant mansion with her beat up truck and a single suitcase, she expected to at least find her father home. Instead, her devastatingly attractive step brother is throwing a huge party as their parents are on vacation in Europe. In a story filled with anguish, love, passion and secrets, Blaire finds love and uncovers a truth about her life that she never imagined possible.

 

Whew, it’s a long synopsis but it’s needed. I really, really enjoyed this book. At first, I was nervous about the step brother/step sister vibe happening... taking me back to the days of reading City of Bonesand dying inside. But that aspect of their relationship is never really touched upon. They’re left to their own devices for the majority of the book as their parents are constantly out of town. In fact, you don’t even meet them until the very end of the book.

The characters are your typical romance novel characters. Meet Ryder, dark, dangerous and outlandishly rich. Then there's Blaire. She’s the sassy, down on her luck, younger woman that the aforementioned dangerously rich guy can’t seem to get out of his head. Their relationship, while predictable, was interesting to read because of the plot and mystery behind their story.

From page one, you get a sense that there is more going on in the story than what lies on the surface. Ryder has a hostile reaction to meeting Blaire who has never even laid eyes on the boy and his bitchy younger sister has a loathing for Blaire that can only be described as utter hatred. While Ryder quite obviously warms up to Blaire, as a reader, you can’t help but wonder why everyone else seems to either hate, pity or walk on eggshells around her. At the end, secrets surface that turn Blaire’s world upside down. It was a great twist and an interesting ending to the first book in the series.

If you like bad boys falling for angels, cliff hangers, mystery and family secrets, Fallen Too Far is for you. It’s a quick read with some pretty steamy scenes and those who enjoy a good romance will definitely want to pick this one up!

8 out of 10

Happy Reading :)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway where the prize is any summer romance of your choice! Enter here!

 

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Giveaway: Warm Weather Reads!

I don't know about where you live but where I am, spring has officially sprung (and I have the allergies to prove it). Whever the weather gets warm, I'm always searching for those quick and easy romance reads that get me in the mood for summer! I decided to hold a giveaway for books that get you in gear for sunshine!

When I think warm weather reads, I think romance (the steamier the better). There will be 3 giveaway winners who get to chose the eBook of their choice! There are some crazy awesome New Adult Romances out there that really spell summer.

Below are some examples that I've read. Click on the cover to jump to their Goodreads page.

 

• This contest open Internationally the only rule is that you have a way to read eBooks!
• The book must be $8 or under
• Giveaway will run 4/26/13 to 5/10/13!
• I will announce the winners on my blog and via email. The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the giveaway or a new winner will be chosen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16062210-music-of-the-heart

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Poison by Bridget Zinn - Review

As I said in my earlier post, one of the reasons that I took a break from blogging was that I started feelign like reading was a chore. I also started falling out of love with the YA genre. GASP?! It’s true! I couldn’t find books that really held my interest for longer than a chapter and I’d end up opting for a smarmy NA romance to tide me over. After about 10 of said romance novels during my hiatus, I was itching to get back to the world of vampires, witches and wizards... and some epiclly well written books. As many of you know, NA romances are lacking in the writing/editing department and it began wearing on my nerves!

And then Poison by Bridget Zinn came along and this little book got me excited to get blogging again and more importantly, renewing my love for Young Adult fiction.

Poison tells the story of Master Potioner Kyra as she’s on the run from the Kingdom’s top authorities for attempting to assassinate Princess Arianna... who happens to be her best friend. Kyra will stop at nothing to complete her task even though it means losing everyone she’s ever loved. On her arduous journey she is met by a host of unusual characters including an evil witch, a cute traveler named Fred and perhaps the most unusual of all, Rosie, a small pink piglet. Filled with magic, treachery and fun, Poison takes you on the adventure with Kyra and her friends as she fights to save her Kingdom.

I needed a book like this. I grew up reading epic fantasy novels, my favorites coming from Tamora Pierce. Her exquisite brand of medieval storytelling is so detailed and exciting that it’s hard to put them down. I’ve been craving something similar, but more updated. Bridget Zinn did just that.

We begin the story not knowing much about Kyra and her world other than after an attempted assassination of the Princess, this potioner is on the run from the law. We learn of her mastery in the craft of potions... and not potions for healing or beauty, but deadly weapons. She’s an expert in her field and it was fun reading about her different weapons dipped in poisons and dart throwing abilities.

One of my favorite parts about stories like this is that there isn’t five chapters building up the world. You’re thrown right in along with the characters and you learn as you go. It’s a more simple way of reading and really brought me back to my Pierce reading days.

As you progress through Poison, you learn more about Kyra’s past and her reasons for attempting to kill the princess. I had to remind myself to slow down and absorb the story because I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. The pacing is great, the characters are lovable and strong and who doesn’t love a cute little pig named Rosie.

Poison has such a unique and engaging story, you’ll never want to put it down. It’s sad to think that Bridget Zinn is no longer with us and we’ll never get another story from her creatively wonderful mind, but I’m happy to have gotten to read her story!

10 out of 10


Happy Reading :)

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Waiting on Wednesday (16): These Broken Stars (Starbound, #1) by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

Happy Wednesday... thank god we're almost to Friday. It's been one of those weeks! As most of you know, this weekly meme is hosted by Breaking the Spine to showcase those books that havent' been released and you can't wait to get your hands on them!

This week I'm featuring a book I've had my eye on for a while... and I have to keep my eyes on it until December! What a wait.

These Broken Stars (Starbound, #1) by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

 

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.

This books sounds like Romeo and Juliet meets Star Wars.. meaning it's my kind of story! It's so hard to find books centering around space travel that are actually well written and interesting. I've got high hopes for this one and I'm hoping I'm not setting myself up for disappointment. What do you guys think??

What are you waiting on?

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Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2) by Jaime McGuire - ARC Review

I was pretty excited when I got approved for this ARC to review. I really enjoyed reading Beautiful Disaster when it came out and as a Travis Maddox lover, I couldn’t wait to get inside of his sexy, tattooed brain.


Walking Disaster follows the same exact plot line as Beautiful Disaster, but this time, it’s told from Travis’s point of view. We see most of the same scenes that were in the first book, but also some additional ones where we see Travis getting into trouble on his own and get to dig a little deeper into his mind.

It’s hard to explain how I felt reading this book but I think this is the best way to tell you: I love re-reading books. It’s one of my favorite things to do. On those days where I’m sick or upset or flying in an airplane (I’m a nervous flyer) Harry Potter, Twilight and the Mortal Instruments comfort me. I relive those stories that I've read a million times but still love because they’re books that have a special place in my heart. These books are also very well written and so they have a high quality re-read value.

 BeautifulDisaster was a romance book that I did really enjoy, but not one I’d re-read very often. That being said, reading the same story from Travis’s point of view was a little anticlimactic. I liked the same parts that liked in BeautifulDisaster, and got bored at the same points. Don't’ get me wrong, I enjoyed my time reading, but it didn’t blow my socks off. Now if you gave me a Harry Potter book told from Hermione’s point of view or if Stephanie Meyer ever releases Midnight Sun, telling Twilight from Edward’s point of view, I’d enjoy it a lot more than I did Walking Disaster. Those high quality books and characters that have such big personalities, I’d love to get inside their heads.

A really cool feature of the story is that we get an glimpse into the married life of Travis and Pigeon. Readers get to travel to the future and see where our lovely characters end up, and that made the story really come to a close nicely.

 I'm not really sure what I was expecting from Walking Disaster, but I had at least hoped that there would be more pizzazz to the story that what I was given. If you were a fan of Beautiful Disaster, definitely give this a try. You may be unlike me and fall in love with the series all over again , but I was just slightly unexpectedly bored.

6 out of 10

Happy Reading :)

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Updates: Busy Blogger is Back!

Annnnnnnnnnd that was a crazy month and a half. With weddings to attend, a job that seemed to start controlling my life and a non-existant social scene (unless you count my equally stressed boyfriend and cat) blogging had to take a back seat.
I'm happy to say that I missed it terribly! During my time off, I continuted to read my little heart out and I truely missed blogging. One of my fears at the start of my hiatus was that I wasn't going to miss blogging and that all of the time and energy I put into Abibliophobic was going to be a huge waste. But I did end up missing blogging terribly and the time off only made me more excited to jump back in.

I will be making a few changes to the type of content featured on the blog. One of the minor reasons I took a break was that I wasn't finding YA books that could hold my attention. Reading them became a sort of chore and so most of my hiatus consisted of reading romance novels. I've decided that I'm going to lean more heavily towards Contemporary Romance and  New Adult Fiction on Abibliophobic from now on. Of course, I'll still be reading Young Adult  books and coninuing on in those series that I've fallen in love with, but I found myself leaning more towards to romance books and fighting it because of my blog.

Adjusting formats is going to take a little time to get used to and there will be some slight changes in the coming weeks. Bear with me as I make the transition and I can't wait to catch up and see what all of you have been reading!

Look for my first review, tomorrow!

Happy Reading :)

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