Review: Taming the Rebel by Dawn Klehr

Taming the Rebel

Author: Dawn Klehr
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Crush)
Pages: Kindle Edition, 198 pages
Genre: YA
Release Date: August 14th 2017

Summary:

Rebel Hart should be at home taking care of her father after his breakup with his boyfriend, not tromping through the woods at summer camp. He’s had his heart broken beyond repair, and the way she sees it, there’s only one person to blame—the boyfriend’s son. So when that infuriatingly gorgeous quarterback turns up at the same camp, she plans to make him pay.
Justice Brody isn't happy about trading training camp for actual summer camp. But if he wants to stay on the football team, he has to show that he can be drama-free. He welcomes the anonymity that comes with summer camp…until he realizes the one girl who knows him better than anyone is there, too. Rebel is off-limits, impossibly beautiful…and trouble with a capital T. Still, he can’t stay away. And even as Rebel exacts her revenge, in several very embarrassing and painful ways, neither can she.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains pranks, adult language, and kisses that will make you wish for a summer romance of your own.

Review:

This took me forever to read, simply because I found barely time to read. I was traveling on my own in Europe and Taming the Rebel was my traveling companion.
In those moments when I found time to read, I savored my time with this cute & fluffy.
And let me tell you, it's a great travel companion and a fab summer read. It was my companion in the city of love- aka Paris, I felt it was super appropriate to read about their budding romances their little adventures..I wouldn't have wanted to read anything else but something super cute.
Taming the Rebel is just that. Cute. Lighthearted. Swoony.

It's well written with a good dose of humor and alot of insight. To be honest, at first I felt a bit like Klehr is doing the let be open-minded kind of thing, when I found out about Rebel's family. I didn't mind but I didn't care for it either. But as the story went on, I actually liked how she handled the situation and how she showed Justice's struggles with it. She managed to show the difficulties he faced without being judgmental or opinionated. It was just stated. And in fact this is what endeared me to the book even more at the end. Because while, this theme is often picked up these days, I think it is seldom dealt with so elegantly and without putting the authors opinion into it. Really well done.

I adored Justice from the get go. His POV is awesome, I could connect with him instantly. Rebel, not so much. I found her extremely opinionated, though she is a stickler for being open minded, which is exactly what annoyed me. I found her hypocritical in many ways and though she claims to be open, she did only see her point of view, in my opinion.
But as the story went on, she grew on me, alot. I ended up loving them both and was invested in their story.

The story line is probably the usual usual- well except for the family situation- enemies to lovers being one themes, there are a few more popular YA themes in here. But the romance was cute and there were some super cute moments, so I didn't care that it wasn't the most inventive story out there. I might have even sighed a few times....

Tested and proved to be a great travel companion and perfect summer romance. A must read for lovers of the genre.

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Review: Trusting You and Other Lies by Nicole Williams

Trusting You and Other Lies

Author: Nicole Williams
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages: Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: YA
Release Date: June 20th 201

Summary:

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Nicole Williams delivers a seductive summer romance worth swooning over. Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins.

Phoenix can't imagine anything worse than being shipped off to family summer camp. Her parents have been fighting for the past two years—do they seriously think being crammed in a cabin with Phoenix and her little brother, Harry, will make things better?

On top of that, Phoenix is stuck training with Callum—the head counselor who is seriously cute but a complete know-it-all. His hot-cold attitude means he's impossible to figure out—and even harder to rely on. But despite her better judgment, Phoenix is attracted to Callum. And he's promising Phoenix a summer she'll never forget. Can she trust him? Or is this just another lie?

Review:
While Trusting You and Other Lies started off feeling kinda predictable, and well it is kinda predictable, it ended up being more than just your summer camp romance romp.

It is cute and all, but it is more of a coming of age story than a romance, despite the fact that the romance is the leading storyline. See in the end it is about trust and second chances, and also love. All of these things do go hand in hand after all.

The good news however is, this is a summer camp romance. While there are some big issues being tackled by Phoenix, there is also plenty of swoony stuff going on.

The character building is rather well done.
I absolutely adore Callum, his seriousness and his sweetness! Phoenix does a lot of growing up during her summer in camp, she also does a lot of teenage mistakes and her black&white views were a bit infuriating. However, I also understood her, I think most readers will be able to relate. I also made me think that once I saw many things as black&white myself and the word compromise was at times non-existent in my vocabulary. But more so I remember not seeing someone else POV as a teenager, simply because I couldn't see it in that moment. I think learning that is one of the most important things growing up.
The support cast is interesting and while some parts are your usual usual, I like the family dynamics. I love how it's totally imperfect but so real and with lots of heart, no matter how Phoenix feel about it.

I think, I should mention, that I am writing this, straight after reading the novel. Trusting You, left me philosophical and swoony. I think this means Williams did a fantastic job.
Some beautiful, insightful moments but also lots of cute & fluffy makes this the perfect summer read in my opinion!


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Review: Daring the Bad Boy by Monica Murphy

Daring the Bad Boy

Author: Monica Murphy
Publisher: Entangled Crush
Series: Endless Summer
Pages: Paperback, 230 pages
Genre: YA
Release Date: August 22nd 2016

Summary:

Annie McFarland is sick of being a shy nobody. A session at summer camp seems like the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself-gain some confidence, kiss a boy, be whoever she wants to be. A few days in, she's already set her sights on uber-hottie Kyle. Too bad her fear of water keeps her away from the lake, where Kyle is always hanging out.

Jacob Fazio is at Camp Pine Ridge after one too many screw-ups. Junior counseling seems like punishment enough, but the rigid no-fraternizing-with-campers rules harsh his chill. When a night of Truth or Dare gets him roped into teaching Annie how to swim, she begs him to also teach her how to snag Kyle.

Late-night swim sessions turn into late-night kissing sessions...but there's more on the line than just their hearts. If they get caught, Jake's headed straight to juvie, but Annie's more than ready to dare him to reveal the truth.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains references to drinking, sexual situations, adult language, and an intense bad boy hero who will melt your heart.

Review:

The perfect summer read

This in fact made me think about summer camp. You see I actually never went to summer camp. I don't think it exists in Switzerland. Well, maybe it does NOW, but I don't live there now (nor am I in school for that matter but anyway). There wasn't summer camp when I was growing up, let's just leave it at that. The whole summer camp reminds me of several films I liked as a teen. I kept wondering if I would have liked it in the first half of the book. To be honest I am not sure.
It does sound fun, but .. I don't know. Maybe I am too old for that now.
But what I am not too old for is reading about it. I think Murphy did an amazing job at setting the ambiance. At least how I imagine summer camp could be. And that's where my little off the track musings come in: What do people who went to summer camp think?
After finishing it though, I frankly don't care that much. Because if I know one thing, Murphy go the summer love crazy thing just right. The odd teenage dance around each other, the boys and the girls.
I love her descriptions of the summer time activities, and it did remind me of many summer holiday. Being reminded of countless hours around bonfires and daring jumps, hikes in the woods ..the feeling of endless summers. Elegantly done.

When it comes to character building, I gotta say the same thing. Murphy made me change my mind on several of the sidecast. My opinions being totally swayed by the narrator's opinion. This being told from both Jake's and Annie's POV with well chosen times for the switches. Both of them have a distinct voice, both have their own battles and insecurities. Jake being older also has a slightly more mature voice. In fact, I adore his POV.
The parents, who actually feature really little, are interesting. Because I feel like I know them, where they are coming from- a good example of Murphy's skill at character building and storytelling.

The plot is super cute. The romance is slow and super sweet. I was loving the build up and dying for a kiss to happen. It's a great story.
My only little dislike would be the hug blow up- well not the blow up it self, but rather how quickly it all blew over. And then it was the end. I didn't want it to end! I also wanted them to have to fight more, it's this big huge drama and then it's sorted and the book is done. Did I say I didn't want it to end? Well, I didn't, so I am beyond grateful for the epilogue.
And now I am hoping there will be more book set at the camp?
Also I am planning on reading the companion novel Keeping Her Secret, because I want more summer camp fun but also I wanna see what happens to Kelsey.

A must read for lovers of cute&fluffies. Guaranteed summer romance fix.


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