Re-Read from 04.13.15 - 04.14.15. Upgraded review to five stars.
This is my FAVORITE Cora Carmack. I'm sticking with my embarrassment of the title and cover, but holy gee this is a steamy, sexy AND sweet story. I love that this is a "New Adult" not tied up with drugs, rape, and violence. I love that Max ditches her shitty boyfriend to be with Cade that the drama in the story isn't dependent on lies. Both characters tell the truth, which is why there is tension. And oh the glorious tension. PLUS, the characters really like each other and get to know each other. The build up is realistic (which makes it hotter) and the chemistry feels real. AND they laugh together. So important. Bravo.

My favorite lines:
[She] had been exactly what I thought I'd wanted. A friendship evolved into something more. Loving and kind. Sweet and safe. Max scared me shitless. And it was much better.
He fixed his eyes on me, and desire outweighed my fears. The way he looked at me made my skin sing with electricity. It wasn't just that he made me feel attractive. Any guy on the street with wandering eyes...could do that. He made me feel...special, which sounded so damn cheesy that I could choke...He made me feel like the melody instead of the accompaniment.
I'll take my chances against your fickle heart if it means it's mine.


Despite the terrible title and cover, this was a super sweet and fun story. Max is a tattooed badass rock singer who is trying to forget her older sister's death, and Cade is the nice boy who coaches inner city youth in acting and has a broken heart over the girl who got away. When Max's super judgmental parents come to town, she enlists Cade as her pretend boyfriend. Sparks fly, but will Max's hang-ups kill any chance at a real relationship?

**Review based on an ARC received for free from www.netgalley.com

Kate is a senior in HS and dealing with a recent diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes and a crummy breakup with her boyfriend. Aidan is a 19 year old veteran who lost an arm, and a good friend, to a roadside bomb. Brought together by Kate's best friend as a "make your ex jealous" date, an immediate connection is sparked. However, will secrets keep them from truly finding friendship and a real relationship?

Really cute story with two main characters that kept me interested and invested. The alternating POV worked; both Kate and Aidan had a distinct voices and it was nice to see their individual perspectives on the same events. The sex scene was tastefully done, so this could definitely work for older teens and New Adults.

When Levi's family leaves California and moves to Wisconsin before he starts the 7th grade, he immediately hits it off fellow classmate Macallen, bonding over their obsession with an obscure Irish comedy show. They soon are best friends, but can a boy and a girl really be just best friends, especially when everyone always assumes they are together?

Very sweet, but very by the book romance. I had fun alternating between Levi and Macallen's POVs and giggling over the Wisconsin references, but there was really nothing in this book that made me doubt the ending (the flash-forward sections where Levi and Macallen banter about their path to love pretty much give it away from the start) but it was fun ride. This book also did nothing to challenge the assertion that boys and girls can actually be just friends. Actually, it really just proved that blanket statement right. Oh well, still cute.

Anna's father, a famous author of sappy tragic romances (who I picture as Nicholas Sparks) decides she needs to be more cultured and spend her senior year of High School at a Paris boarding school. Anna is less than thrilled to uproot her whole life, leaving behind her crush, her little brother, her mom, and her awesome job at the local Cineplex. Despite knowing no French (and thankfully being enrolled in an American/English language boarding school) Anna soon makes friends, and finds out maybe a cute boy named Etienne will make the whole thing worth it. But, oops, he has a girlfriend...

I really had fun reading this, and enjoyed seeing how each character worked out his/her issues. I loved seeing Anna grow up and grow to love her new life, and her banter with Etienne was hilarious, steamy, and super cute. Her adorkable geeky-ness was really endearing and I loved that she was a movie buff and aspiring film critic.

What prevented me from giving this an additional star was the whole "I have a girlfriend but sure I'll sleep in your bed, hold your hand, spend all sorts of time with you but not break up with her" baloney. Yes, boys do this, but usually (always) boys who do this don't ever dump the girl for you, and if they do they will probably pull the same crap on you in the future. Buyer beware! I was like seriously Etienne, get it together dump the girl already! I am glad though that Anna explored her options and didn't spend the entire book pining away a la Bella Swan. Good girl. Smooch ALL the boys :)

**Reviewed from a free copy received from the publisher.

Actual rating 3.5 stars

Super cute story of Alek, a 14 year old Armenian-American who's being forced into summer school by his over-bearing (and oh so loveable) parents in hopes of earning a place in his high school's honor program. Of course, most of the summer school attendees aren't of the over-achiever variety, and surfer hair Ethan is no exception. Immediately drawn to him, Alex surprisingly realizes that he wants more than friendship, and Ethan does too. Cue romantic NYC date-montage, some steamy make-outs, and of course, a parental walk-in moment. Can Alek's tradition parents accept Alek for who he really is?

Pretty fantastic handling of a boy meets boy romance. Refreshingly, Alek never had an identity crisis after discovering he likes boys. He simply rolled with it, and found a great romance. I also was pleased by the depiction of Alek's relationship with his parents. They felt like true part of the story, and acted like real parents. Their surprising (and also refreshing) handling of the entire situation was simply amazing. The exploration of Alek's Armenian heritage and the Armenian Genocide during WWI will also be enlightening to many who are unaware. Also, great descriptions of Armenian food - left me hungry.

A great book to recommend to young teen readers; I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to adult readers of YA as it did at times feel like an after-school special and was a bit twee for my jaded self.

**I received a free copy from www.netgalley.com for a fair review.

Um, what just happened to me? Did I seriously just read a book called "Wallbanger" and ENJOY it?! Stupid title and kind of trashy cover aside, this story was hilarious, adorable, and totally fun. Not to mention it surprised me at ever turn, throwing most of the trope-y romance novel bullshit out of the window and never taking itself too seriously. Caroline is a strong lady with her own career, in charge of her sexuality, and not afraid to tell a guy what she wants, be it in life or in the bedroom. And Simon, even Caroline misjudges him. He may have many lady lovers, but he knows all of their names, knows what they want, and is actually friends with them. Caroline also has a past, which is great. No wilting unrealistic virgin here.

The best part, these two spend the majority of the book flirting, getting to know each other, and NOT having a sex. And that my friends, is super hot.

"Sure, we could've raced right back to the bedroom that night and let the sex ring out across the city for days, but Simon and I, without saying a word, seemed to be on the same page for once, and were content to let this unfold. He was wooing me, and I was letting him woo. I wanted the woo. I deserved the woo.

Oh, and don't forget Clive the kitty. He's pretty adorbs too.

Seriously seriously surprised by this one. My major gripe was the terrible editing and lack of capital letters in my egalley copy, but I can only assume the real version was tightened up. Also, addressing and talking to your orgasm as a proper noun ("o") as well as other body parts like "Brain" and "LC" (I'll let you figure out what that one means) got a bit annoying, but ah well. Not even close to as terrible as the "inner goddess" from a different series.

Quote from an uncorrected eGalley and may change.

Fluffy, fun Nora Roberts. Thanks for the Star Wars references in this one, but some of the heist-y details were a bit of a stretch.