Audiobook Review: Walking Disaster by: Jamie McGuire

Goodreads Summary: 

Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. 

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.




My Review: 

ReadingNook Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I listened to both of these books on audiobook, and the first book Perfect Disaster was one of my favorite books of last year, unfortantly as much as I loved the first one this one fell a bit flat to me. I liked Travis's character in the first book, and I agree with most of the other people that reviewed this book that I liked Travis even more after hearing his side of the story, but I guess I wanted Jamie to push the envelope a little farther, and changed the storyline a bit to make it more refreshing and new.

It felt like I was listening to the same story all over again, but with minor details changed and with a man's voice versus Abby's in Beautiful Disaster. Jamie McGuire does have a way of writing that is completly entrancing and addictive. I know people either love or hate this series, and i'm definitly one that loves it. I didn't dislike Walking Disaster, I just wish it added more to the story then it did in the end. I wanted much more from the story.

I can see how people could not like the story, Travis can be a bit stalkerish and creepy, but if you can try to look past that, Travis is pretty hunky, and what girl wouldn't want to be loved with an all-consuming love like Travis has for Abby?

If you haven't read any New Adult books as of yet, then you need to start here with Perfect Disaster. This series is fun, addictive, and fabulous. I can't wait to read more from Jamie McGuire and see what else she has in store for us.

Audiobook Review: Red Rain by: R.L. Stine

Goodreads Summary:

Travel writer Lea Sutter finds herself on a small island off the coast of South Carolina, the wrong place at the wrong time. A merciless, unanticipated hurricane cuts a path of destruction and Lea barely escapes with her life. In the storm’s aftermath, she discovers orphaned twin boys and impulsively decides to adopt them. The boys, Samuel and Daniel, seem amiable and immensely grateful; Lea’s family back on Long Island—husband Mark and their two children, Ira and Elena—aren’t quite so pleased. But even they can’t anticipate the twins’ true nature—or predict that, within a few weeks’ time, Mark will wind up implicated in two brutal murders, with the police narrowing in.






My Review: 

ReadingNook Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

This is going to be a really hard review to write, because it was such a bizarre story. I grew up reading R.L. Stine's Goosebump series, which I think most children who grew up in the early 90's would relate too. Obviously I was a HUGE fan, and they were a big part of what got me into reading to begin with, so when I saw that he was writing his first adult novel I knew I wanted to read it.

I don't know if the narrator made me lose focus of the story, or if parts of story dragged on a bit, but I had to go back quite a few times, because i'd realize that my mind had wandered and i'd have zero clue as to what was going on. The story follows a travel blogger named Lea who goes to this small island off of North Carolina, that most people are afraid to travel too due to the creepy history of the island. A strong hurricane hits the island while Lea is visitng and she meets two young twin boys who are left orphaned by the storm and she decides that she wants to adopt them.

Once the twins are home, weird situations start to ensue including murders that frame Lea's husband, Mark. The twists and turns in this book are bizarre and twisted, but in a good way. I just don't think I connected with the story. It was a bit too weird and macabre for me. I still enjoyed it though, and if your a fan of horror, then I definitely recommend checking this one out, but beware, it's very dark and gruesome. 

Book Review: Speechless by: Hannah Harrington

Goodreads Summary: 

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.



My Review: 

ReadingNook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Let me start off this review by saying that I love the simplicity of the cover, and I think it's fitting that the cover represents the tone of the story so well. I love Hannah Harrington's writing style, she has a way with words that draws me in everytime. After reading Saving June last year, I couldn't wait to get more of her writing, and I loved this book just as much. I think this story is so important for teenagers, to know how devastating spreading rumors and bullying can be.

I loved that she pushed the envelope with this story, in the respect that she made the situation super intense, but in a very realistic and tasteful way. I really grew to like Chelsea's character, and liked watching her grow and transform throughout the story. There are so many important topics that this book touches on; bullying, abuse, hate crimes, forgiveness, etc. I think certain books should have to be read during high school years, and If I was a teacher I would make sure this one made it on my reading list, yes it's gritty, but I can't stress how important I think this story is, esp. at an age when your vunerable, and think that what others think of you is most important.

Hannah Harrington is quickly making her way into my favorite authors. This being her second book, I cannot wait to read more from her. Both of her books grasped me in such a strong way, If you haven't read anything from her yet, you need to go out and get books literally right now!!