Review: Five Feet Apart

 

Title: Five Feet Apart

Author: Rachel Lippincott 

Release Date: November 2018

In this moving story two teens fall in love with just one minor complication—they can’t get within five feet of each other without risking their lives.

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

If you're looking for a YA story about falling in love, sickness, and grief then this is the book for you. 

Stella is all about order. She follows her regimen right down to the second, needing control in all things all the time. She will do anything to prolong her life for as long as she can. 

Will is reckless. He knows he will die soon, so what's the point in prolonging the inevitable. The only control he wants, is the freedom to walk out the hospital without being put on yet another trial drug that doesn't work. 

But when their lives collide, it's like date brought them together. Drawn to one another, but bound by the rules that keep them apart- six feet apart. If Will so much as breathes on her she could lose her spot on the long transfer list, and either one of them could die. 

So the only way to stay alive, is to stay apart. Six feet is safety. But it's also a punishment too, when they want nothing more than to be together. 

This book is for fans of the Fault in Our Stars by John Green and Styx and Stones by Carmen Jenner. It was emotional through and through. Young love, that must remain apart for their own safety. 

The characters were strong, and brave, and maybe a little reckless at times. The feelings were raw, and heartbreaking, but hopeful too. If you are looking for a book to punch you in the feels, then I definitely recommend this one. Even though I knew what was going to happen (I seen the movie a few weeks ago before I was able to check this book out from the library) I still cried for these characters  

4.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐. 

1🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

Review: The Deal Dilemma

 

Title: The Deal Dilemma

Author: Meagan Brandy

Release Date: September 23

Ever wonder what would happen if you bribed your brother’s ex-best friend to pop your cherry?

Yeah, me either, but I did it anyway. Now the moody man is madder than ever, but I came prepared to strike a deal. 

One he can’t refuse…

Crew Taylor is the picture of perfection, if gruff, grumpy, and prone to throw a punch is your type. Clearly, it’s mine or I wouldn’t be begging him to bite the bullet and claim my virginity as his own. 

Sure, he’s a bit of a caveman, broody and bossy and oh so naughty, but that’s sort of the point. 

He’s experienced, his heated hazel eyes promising sinful skills in seduction, and I want him to teach me all he knows. 

Lesson by lesson. 

Night after night. 

The problem? 

He says he won’t allow me in his bed … but I wonder what it would take to get him to play in mine a bit?

Goodreads: https://geni.us/TDDGRFB

Oh my goodness! I've been dying to get my hands on another Meagan Brandy book & this one did not disappoint!

Crew is grumpy, gruff, broody, bossy and naughty- and Davis' brother's ex best friend. And even though it's been three years since she last laid eyes on him, she goes to him with an offer she hopes he can't refuse, to pop her cherry. She is hoping his experience can help her lose her V-card, and she wants him to teach her everything he knows. The problem? He doesn't want her in his bed. But can she convince him to play in hers for a bit? 

Seriously, this book had it all. The older brothers ex best friend, and angst. The drama and anticipation. The virgin heroine, and grumpy but possessive hero. The spice and of course the emotion. This book de-freaking-livers! It brings the heat, and brings the gut punch but makes you want to come back for more. I loved every second reading about Crew & Davis. They were a little bit sweet & sassy, a little bit bossy & bratty & were perfect together. This book, this couple was every-freaking- thing and an amazing read, and I definitely recommend you grab it the moment it goes live on the 23rd because you aren't gonna wanna miss Crew & Davis! 

5⭐ out of 5⭐. 

3🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

Review: Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep (reread)

 

Series: Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep 

Authors: Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Title: King's of Quarantine 

Release Date: April 2020

Cruel. Heartless. Quarantined.

The ruthless boys of Everlake Prep never saw lockdown coming.

But the virus isn’t their number one enemy.

I am.

And as if being confined to a boarding school for the elite wasn’t bad enough, now I’m stuck in isolation with the boys who hate me most too.

Saint, Kyan and Blake. The Night Keepers. Or so they call themselves. They’ve embodied the Native American legend which lives in this valley, taking on the role of the monsters who lurk in the forest. And though they act like beasts, they may also bethe most tempting creatures I’ve ever seen.

With the virus escalating and my dad’s name splashed through the news, my entire world is falling apart. What he did has cast a dark shadow over me. And the Night Keepers want to make me pay for his crimes.

Then things went from bad to worse when I touched the sacred rock. A rock which supposedly holds a curse to bind me as the Night Keepers’ slave. And as crazy as it sounds, I decided to play along. Because there are things about me they don’t know. Things my dad has hidden from me for years. All I can be sure of is that I have to find a way to escape this school. But until then, those savage boys are making my life a living hell.

As the virus sweeps through the country and the world twists into something ugly and unknown, the kings of this school become true monarchs. Even the teachers bow to them now. And I’m kinda glad about that ‘stay six feet away from one another’ rule, because without it, I know they’d rip me apart.

At least there’s a silver lining. I’m cosying up to Coach Monroe. My hot as hell, brooding P.E. teacher who has a vendetta of his own against the Night Keepers. And with his help, I may succeed at doing more than escaping the clutches of these heartless fiends. I might even destroy them along the way.

My father taught me how to be strong.

How to prepare for the end of the world.

So this isn’t going to be the end of my world, mark my words.

But if I’m able to use my mind and body to bring these assholes to their knees, it might just be the end of theirs.

This is a high school bully RH series with off the charts angst, dark themes and is not for the faint of heart. Prepare to enrol at Everlake Prep. Bring your hand sanitiser, face masks and toilet paper to barter with, but don’t expect to hold onto them for long. Because it’s time to go into quarantine with the Night Keepers. And everything you own now belongs to them.

So, this isn't my first reread of this series, but I decided to dive back in before starting the Harlequin Crew and Dead Man Walking series both by these authors. 

And I am so glad I did. 

I missed these characters & this story. I loved the brutal bullying and the dark undertones & love these characters- and if you know me, I usually find the darkest or most twisted or broken guy of a book or series and latch on my heart beating for them saying "that's the one!" So I love the "why choose" genre when I can have my pick of multiple main men of the bunch. (Can anyone guess who my favorite from this series is? 😏😂😂)

So King's of Quarantine you meet all of the characters in the first few weeks that Tatum shows up at the school. She is strong- she not only had put up with a lot before getting to the school but so much more once arriving at the school- including intense bullying even from her harem. 

Saint is the leader of the Night Keepers and the school. He runs everything within his iron fist. 

Kyan is the attack dog. He will attack first and ask questions later. He doesn't care to follow anyone else's rules. 

Blake is the golden boy. The star of the football team- and any other competition. 

Nash is the P.E. teacher who hates everyone who graces his class- but mostly the Night Keepers. 

But along with the new girl that the 3 nigh keepers get to play with, the school ends up in lockdown from the virus that is spreading throughout the country. 

I loved getting lost in this book all over again, and reading the start of Tatum & the Night Keepers story & I cannot wait to continue the series before diving into the spin off series for the first time. 

4.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐. 

2🌶️ out of 5🌶️.

Title: Kings of Lockdown

Release Date: June 2020

The sex tape

The fish stew

The Unspeakables

The storm

The font

The bathtub

The ice

The gun

The clothes 

The humiliation

The shower

The letters 

THE VOW

I had my chance to run from these brutal boys and I didn’t take it. The bonds between us are too strong now. Bonds of blood, oaths, betrayal and vengeance. And I intend to make good on all of them. I’ve made my list. And I won’t stop until each and every one of their crimes has been paid for. 

Divide and conquer. We’re going to tear them apart from the inside out. I won’t quit until I’ve had my pound of flesh and then some. These broken boys paint themselves up as kings and stand themselves on a pedestal above everybody else. But that only means they’ve got further to fall. And they’re going to fall hard. 

I know their strength now, but I’ve learned their weaknesses too. And I might just be becoming their greatest one. My father taught me how to survive, and it’s time to use everything I know about predators to lure them into my own trap.

Lies, betrayal, seduction. I’ll use every weapon at my disposal to bring them to their knees and once I’m done with them, they won’t own me. 

I’ll own them.

This is book 2 in a dark romance series with love-hate themes, scenes of intense bullying, sexual scenes and may have triggers for some readers. It is a reverse harem which means the main character will end up with multiple partners.

This is book 2 in the Brutal Boys series & book 1 must be read first in order to understand it. 

Tatum has been putting up with the Nigh Keepers for weeks, but now she is finally fighting back against them, and getting back against everything they did to her. But is she willing to give parts of herself over to her revenge, borrowing deeper into the lions den,possibly losing herself in the process? 

I still honestly love these books & these characters. Tatum is strong, and won't stand to let these Brutal Boys defeat her. Nash is standing by her side, as a silent knight, willing to secretly help her when he can. Kyan has secrets and darkness reaching farther than the others. Blake, the golden boy so full of light but also acrippling darkness within made from grief and rage that is warring for dominance. And Saint is the cruelest of them all, the leader of their group. But, we also begin to see more from each of them all too, and they all get tangled in deeper with each other. 

And even though I've already read these books a couple times before, I cannot wait to dive into the next one & continue the story. 

4⭐ out of 5⭐. 

4🌶️ out of 5🌶️

Title: Kings of Anarchy

Release Date: September 2020

Continue the series with book 3 of the Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep!

My father always taught me to take care of myself.

He made me strong, cunning and calculating.

But my Brutal Boys made me unbreakable.

Have you ever heard the saying that it takes one to know one? Because from the very first moment I met the men I've claimed as my tribe, I knew that I was looking into the faces of monsters. And that really should have been all it took for me to know that I was one too.

Hiding beneath my skin isn’t an innocent girl, waiting for someone to ride in on a white horse and rescue me from my demons. So I think it’s time I showed the world my claws.

I’m sick of people thinking they own me. My Night Keepers and now the members of this twisted club all need to learn a lesson in that.

I’m not a doll made to dance to their tune, I’m not a puppet intended to play a part and I’m certainly no plaything to be used and destroyed. I’m a warrior with a goal of my own. And everyone who wants to stand in my way had better get used to the idea of falling to ruin at my feet.

When everything you thought you could rely on is ripped away from you, you have no choice but to find out what you’re truly made of. And deep down in the depths of my soul, I know that I was made to survive.

I have suffered through torment, fought against my oppressors and tamed the creatures who tried to bury me in the dark.

It’s time that everyone stopped underestimating me.

I’m done being a queen without a crown.

I’m ready for my coronation.

This is a high school bully romance series. Start with book 1 Kings of Quarantine.

(These books much be read in order to understand everything going on). 

This book picks up where the last left off. Tatum has suffered through torment, fought against her oppressors, and tamed the monsters who claimed her. She is strong, cunning, and calculating and now she is unbreakable. She has been through hell, and reigning as the queen, but it's not over yet. There is still a threat looming over her head, and following her in the shadows, waiting for their time to pounce. Will she survive this persistent threat or will it be the thing to take her out?

I love how strong Tatum is. She doesn't take crap from anyone. She has overcome so much- not just at the hands of the Night Keepers but everything else too. 

The Night Keepers grew into the guys Tatum knows now. They can still be cruel, vicious monsters- but Tatum owns them just as much as they own her. I love their dynamic & as always, Saint is still my favorite. 

4.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐ & I cannot wait to read the conclusion of this series. 

4🌶️ out of 4🌶️

Title: Queen of Quarantine 

Release Date: February 2021

Once upon a time I met four monsters and thought the world would come to an end at their hands.

But I was a fool.

Because I didn’t understand the bigger picture.

That the enemies I thought I knew would become the reason for my entire existence. My strength. My pain. My life. My love.

The big bad wolf has teeth and claws as sharp as iron, and the danger before my eyes is blinding. So blinding that I didn’t see the true danger lurking in the dark.

But now my eyes are wide open and I see it all.

Alone and afraid and running out of time, I’m not afraid of monsters anymore.

I’m counting on them to come for me.

Because if they don’t, this foolish girl might be lost forever in the dark.

When of Quarantine is the finale of the Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep series & must be read last. 

This book picks up where the last one left off.

Tatum thought she knew what monsters were- when her enemies abused her for months on end. But, those monsters turned out for the reason of her existence, and now her only hope of getting out of the dark. But if anyone can save her, it is her monsters. 

But saving Tatum isn't the only thing that her and her monsters have to worry about. They plan on eradicating the bad in their lives but will they survive the tasks at hand or will it be too much for Tatum and her Night Keepers?

Sooo much happens in this book, testing Rain and her Night Keepers, death knocking at their doors. From the danger to the growth, to all of their relationships- not just with Tatum but with each other, growing into a family- this book is filled to the brim with emotions. It will make you laugh one minute, make you cry the next and keep you on the edge of your seat. I absolutely loved it, and as always Saint is my favorite out of the bunch, but each are so different from one another, and bring something different to the group. I loved everything about it but also sad it's over. I want more. More from these characters, their story & everything it encompasses. 5 ⭐ out of 5⭐. I cannot wait to read the two spin off series that follow this next! 

4🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

Trigger Warnings: NatashaReadsBooks: Trigger Warnings (natashareadsbooksbookblog.blogspot.com)