My Favorite Books Read 2013

These aren't in a specific order, just in which order they come to mind.  I suppose whichever ones I remember first were better than the others, but now I'm getting all psychology nerd on you;)

1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

I just finished this book tonight, so I won't have a review up for a little while.  I also have to do a book report on it and finish in one day because of my surgery interfering with deadlines. I'm giving you my little summary, but for the rest of the books on this list I am just linking my review where summaries can be found.

This is a nonfiction work about a woman named Henrietta, whose cells are still alive even though she is dead.  These cells have lead to amazing medical advancements like the polio vaccine and cancer treatment like Taxol, but her doctors took cell samples from her without her ever knowing.  These cells are extremely valuable for research even still today, and producing these cells called HeLa became a billion dollar industry.  But does her family get any of the money? They can't even afford health insurance.

2. Vain by Fisher Amelie

3. The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski

4. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

5. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

7. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

8. The Host by Stephenie Meyer

9. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston LeRoux

10. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

11. Down London Road by Samantha Young

12. Wait for You by J. Lynn

13. Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Hope you have a great 2014!

Review: The Edge of Always by J.A. Redmerski

The Edge of Always by J.A. Redmerski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
He was taking the long road. She was taking the road to nowhere. It just so happened that they led to the same place…

When everything falls apart, love remains . . .

THE EDGE OF ALWAYS

Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged—and a wedding isn’t the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can’t wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew – a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to—until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn’t understand how this could happen to them. He’s trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won’t do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride…

Characters: Why aren't you real, Andrew Parrish? Again, he is always looking after Camryn, always loving her despite some poor decisions she makes.  His attitude is constantly positive, even when times are bleak.  He may be hurting, but he doesn't show it.  I hate to be mean, but Camryn annoyed me during the first half.  She hides too many problems from the person she should trust the most, and frankly I thought she was stupid for trusting a complete stranger in The Edge of Never.  She loosens up halfway into the book, so that's good.  I still love the secondary character and brother to Andrew, Asher.  He and Andrew are so cute with their banter.  I wish J. A. Redmerski would write his story.

Plot: I started reading and began to think that this was one of these stories that should have ended as a stand alone.  The beginning of this book was absolutely depressing, and I was wishing that J. A. Rednerski had left us with Camryn and Andrew happy.  Then, reading on, it seemed like a repeat in plot, like there was a lack of ideas.  However, I must say that the ending made me happy even if the beginning and middle were ehh.

Would I recommend it to a friend? If you haven't read the first, you better (See that review here!!!!!!!)! Assuming you did, I think that you have to read the follow up just to get more Andrew!!!

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R.L. Griffin's Favorites Giveaway: Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski

Featured Book: Killing Sarai

Featured Author: JA Redmerski

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18400085-killing-sarai?ac=1

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Sarai-Company-Killers-ebook/dp/B00DH5FT4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383615855&sr=8-1&keywords=killing+sarai

Summary: Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years.

Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another.

While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead.

As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed.

This is their story…

RL's Book Series: By A Thread

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17560280-by-a-thread?ac=1

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/By-Thread-R-L-Griffin-ebook/dp/B00BT08Y8U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1382307542&sr=1-1&keywords=by+a+thread+rl+griffin

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/R.L.GriffinByAThread

Summary:

Stella's future was set, and it was a bright one. She was engaged to a man she adored, and was headed to law school in the fall. Tragically, her perfectly planned future ends just as it was beginning.

With no ties to family or friends, Stella finds herself alone in a new city, spiraling out of control. Her typical day comes to a close with her passed out on the floor; sometimes clothed.

Luckily, her new roommate, essentially a stranger, is dead set on getting Stella past her grief and back to functioning within society. Putting one foot in front of the other, she climbs up from the bottom of a bottle. Even with all her progress, Stella walks through life unfeeling, numb. Defiant, she sends out warning signals for the world to keep away. But, is that what she really wants?

With the steadfast help of a few tight knit friends, she gradually begins to feel again. She starts to savor the flavor of food again; lets herself notice how the handsome bartender glances at her. Still, after allowing herself a fling, she wonders if she will ever be able to let go of her shattered past, fully enjoy the present, or get over what she thought would be her perfect future and with the man who destroyed her heart.

Giveaway:

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Review: Wait for You by J. Lynn (Jennifer Armentrout)

Wait for You by J. Lynn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.
Some things are worth experiencing…
Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.
Some things should never be kept quiet…
But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?
And some things are worth fighting for…

Why do I keep on reading new adult fiction and expecting something new?  So, I'm at the point of insanity according to Einstein I guess.

Characters: I have to say, I keep on reading these books because I have stumbled upon some amazing characters.  I like witty characters that can keep the funny diatribes coming.

While Cameron seems very caring, he lacks in the wit department.  Yes, he did have a few chuckle worthy lines, but he just didn't do it for me.

Also, I'm a weirdo, I will fully admit that, and I started this book from the end, then back to the middle until I reached the end, and then started from the front until I reached the middle.  I didn't find out the physical descriptions of the characters until I was more than halfway done because of this.  This may sound vain, but I wasn't into it as much when I found this out.  Whatever, I can picture the characters however I want in my head, so don't judge!

Avery is kinda a dull character.  She's not funny, and I think some of her actions were really stupid.  But she is kind, which makes me like her.

Plot:  Well at least it didn't start off with a friend dragging the main character to a club to get her to hook up with someone.  But yes, the characters live near each other, the girl has some dramatic past, the boy has some dramatic past that his playfully cocky attitude hides, the girl gets drunk and the guy is there,... But I still will admit to liking it just a bit.  It's a guilty pleasure.

Would I recommend this to a friend?
Ehh, not the best new adult out there but it's ok.  I'd recommend On Dublin Street by Samantha Young or The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski.  While their plots are similar, those characters at least have got some fire and sarcasm.


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