Numb by Xavier Neal

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RATING: 4.5 STARS

Logan and Maxx! Hello, and thank you for finally getting to that place you need to be at! It makes my heart so happy!  

This part of the series is filled with a little more drama and heartbreak than it's counterparts "Blind" and "Deaf." In this book we meet Dean. Dean pulls at Logan's heart strings just a little (I mean A LOT.), and I can't wait to see how he works into the next segment. We're seeing a whole other side to Logan. A side that makes my insides all gooey and we see Maxx's weaker moments. We learn more of their history, and we can see why they have such great chemistry and the dynamics in their family unit that keep them going, and keep them together. 

Once again, that inner monologue, and the dialogue with the audience captivates me. It speaks to me. I don't have enough praise for it.

Seriously- I do not want to wait until December for "Hush." But I will, since I have to. ;)

Keri

(ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.) 

*** Reviews for "Blind" and "Deaf"

Deaf by Xavier Neal

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RATING: 4 STARS

We're picking up in the second part of the Senses series with Maxx and Logan. Still trying to figure out what they want to do. Or rather, how to go about getting together. It feels like they finally figure it out. And at least one of them does. 

It seems like Logan is making some pretty vital changes in his lifestyle. Working to make Maxx see who he wants to be, what he's willing to do for her. But Maxx is having a hard time dealing with it and feels like Logan is just doing/saying what he has to, to get what he wants. Their roles have reversed in the second part of their story. And there's a strong "It is, what it is" attitude present, as well.

We see more of the inner monologue writing style, which I absolutely love (I mean it. It really woks for how my brain functions.). And the cliffhanger is what gets me. Every. Time. I really don't like them, especially when we're left with so much feeling unfinished.

I'm about to dive into Numb, which will hopefully resolve a lot of the angsty, unfinished feelings that I have at the moment. I'll be back with the next review soon enough, I'm sure of it!  

Keri

(ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.) 

*** Reviews for "Blind" and "Numb" available

Blind by Xavier Neal

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Rating: 4 STARS

That endearing book that you just know is going to give you an HEA. Except it doesn't. It's a cliffhanger, which is basically the only thing that knocks it down for me. 

This is the story of Logan and Maxx. Best friends since they were kids, both coming from troubled homes. Logan is an MMA fighter, while Maxx is the nerdy girl/best friend. There is a lot of chemistry between these two, and as it plays out in the book you learn that they've both known it was there for a long time, just nobody wanted to act on it. For fear of being rejected, for fear of changing their friendship, or just flat out fear. On the sidelines we have their two housemates/long-time best friends Luke and Erin (brother and sister) also cheering them on, trying to help them past the fears, and get together. It makes for some background information on the main characters, and a little side story, hoping Luke and Erin will meet their contenders and get what they deserve in life as well- love. 

The writing style in this book worked so well for my brain. I love the characters addressing the audience in their minds as the story goes. It's an added touch to make me feel like I'm seeing this play out, not just reading it. 

Keri

(ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.)

*** Reviews of "Deaf" and "Numb"

Soul Journey by Miranda Shanklin.

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Rating: 3 Stars

This is the story of Annisa Lawson, who generally lives a picture perfect life. She's the captain of the cheerleading squad, her long time boyfriend and best friend Landon's the quarterback, she's pretty and popular and yet she still can't fight the feeling that she's not like every one else around her. There's something different about her. Then her new neighbors move in next door, and her life gets turned upside down. It takes one look into the eyes of the cutie next door for her to begin to question everything about her life. Then on her 16th birthday, she learns that she was right all along. She's not normal she's a witch along with long time boyfriend and best friend Landon and her new neighbors Chase and Penelope. Confused by the attraction she feels for Chase, Annisa learns she has to make a decision for it was this same situation with Chase and Landon that got them into this mess in the first place. Torn between what she thought was love, and what she feels could be love Annisa makes her choice, which opens up a whole new world of problems. The four teens come together to form a very powerful bond which comes in handy as they face off against jealous girls, their worlds best assassin and the ones who govern them all in the Counsel. We join Annisa and the gang on their adventure to save the world.

There was a lot about this story that I really liked. The story line had pretty much everything I look for in stories like this. I loved the maturity in our younger characters, you don't always see that in a YA novel. I loved the bad girl that we got with Rayne. The relationship between our four main characters was great. There were a few things that bothered me though. The biggie for me honestly was the sex scenes. I thought they were a little intense for a YA novel, I had a hard time reading about freshly 16 year olds and their sex lives. I'm not naive, I know it happens, unfortunately it was just something that took away from the book for me. Parts also seemed to drag for me, and it took me a little bit longer to get through some of them. Honestly, I think if I had of read this story as an N/A novel I likely would have rated this story a 4.

Caitlin

(ARC provided in exchange for an honest review)

Reviews for book 2, book 3, and book 4 are available as well.

From Summer and Fall by Alora Kate

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Rating: 4.5 STARS

We follow the story of Fall and Summer whom of which are brother and sister. We watch their lives unfold in a manner they didn't expect in this fast paced new adult read. It is a sweet story following rites of passage, and kids behaving like college kids while trying to enter into the world of responsible, adult relationships and decision making. 

This was a great novella. I read it in just a few hours. The language and events worked well with the characters. it's well told and leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to read the second part.

Keri

(ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.)


***You can find the review for the second book in this series "Between Tristan and Hannah" here.