Brad About Books: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Read from September 27 to 28, 2013

CRASH INTO YOU
Expected Publication Date: November 26, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: ARC
Page Count: 474 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Series: Pushing the Limits, #3

Read my reviews for previous novels in this series:

Pushing the Limits • Dare You To

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Crash Into You is an electric read that will have your heart soaring and your mind completely entangled  with Rachel and Isaiah's relationship. Katie McGarry has managed to top herself once again with this completely absorbing novel - such a fantastic read! One of my favorites for the year!

In my Dare You To review, I talked about taking chances and risks for love and just for the thrill of it - oh man, Crash Into You is even more explosive and dangerous than before! There's so much peril and danger running rampant throughout these streets, where car races and gambling are ablaze. McGarry had my heart racing and pulse pounding many times throughout Crash Into You, and I was turning pages as fast I could, always on the edge of my seat. This series is definitely one of my favorite contemporary series out there, simply because of how each book brings new, exciting characters and a one of a kind plot. Crash Into You was incredible by every means!

Isaiah and Rachel were stunning as a duo. It seems that with McGarry book, the relationships become even better. Rachel is the good girl with a wild side to her, and I loved seeing that balance of good and rowdy in her. She may be naïve at times, but I couldn't deny that she was an awesome protagonist. Isaiah is equally as awesome. He protected Rachel throughout the entire novel - though they did have some rough patches here and there, they were a force to be reckoned with when together. McGarry is fantastic at weaving together such marvelous characters!

That ending! All. The. Feels. It's dynamic and explosive and I couldn't get this book off of my mind. Every book in this series has managed to top its predecessor, and Crash Into You definitely set the bar very high. I can't wait to see where it goes in book four, Take Me On! Everything about this book will rock your world - absolutely amazing. One of my favorites of 2013!

Overall, Crash Into You is a wonderful addition to this ever epic series. With love, action, and just the right amount of what-in-the-world-will-happen-next, Crash Into You is a must-read!

M Y     R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Read from July 23 to 24, 2013

DARE YOU TO
Published: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 456 pages
Source: Purchased
Series: Pushing the Limits, #2

Read my review for Pushing the Limits

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again...

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

Dare You To is a stunning, captivating read full of deeply passionate romance and heart-soaring moments. Not only were my expectations met, they were blown out of the water. I fell so hard for this book!

I enjoyed Pushing the Limits, but oh man, Dare You To rocked my socks. I'll start off with the romance first: I absolutely loved Beth's story. Beth is a troubled girl, but she's also a risk-taker, and I loved reading about a fearless heroine who has her share of flaws. She wasn't afraid to back down and stand up for what she believes in - Beth was fantastic. And Ryan was great, as well. Ryan is the golden child of the town, but he's not all glitz and glamour. With Beth, his true side comes out, and I loved how they just connected so well when they came together. Their love felt real and authentic, and I appreciated how McGarry created this pair to fit and click together so well. Needing something romantic with that kick of spunk? Dare You To is a fantastic choice. 

So much scandal and betrayal in this one! A lot of dares and risks are taken in Dare You To, and I adored how fast-paced and pulse-pounding this sequel was. I can't believe, but I loved it even more than the first book! The writing style, the characters, the flawless progression of romance, everything was kicked up a notch - you know how some sequels are disappointing compared to the first book? That's not the case with this series whatsoever. Absolutely amazing!

Katie McGarry's writing style? Outstanding. Each character has their own unique voice, and I loved the compare and contrast between Ryan and Beth. Each line flowed off the page like a melody - Dare You To is easily one of my favorite contemporaries of all-time. Katie McGarry has proved herself again of being an incredible YA romance writer; Dare You To shines bright with love, heartbreak, and the outbreak of taking chances.

Overall, Dare You To is an extraordinary tale of starcrossed misfits that captured me right from the beginning and never let me go. A new favorite of mine!

M Y     R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Read on April 25, 2013

PUSHING THE LIMITS
Published: July 31, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 392 pages
Source: Purchased
Series: Pushing the Limits, #1

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Pushing the Limits is a powerful and electric read with love soaring off the pages. Katie McGarry's debut is one not to miss!

Contemporary novels are not my favorite genre (I usually find them very boring), but Pushing the Limits was so not like that! I was emerged into the story so quickly, mainly because I was intrigued by Echo's story. She's lost almost everything, and I really connected to her. And I did Noah as well! He's fighting for his brothers, and I really loved the family element that was thrown into the book. And Echo and Noah's relationship was fantastic! I felt the chemistry between them was authentic and real, and McGarry did a stunning job with their relationship.

My favorite part of Pushing the Limits was Echo, though. I thought that she was just a fantastic protagonist with a broken past and a love that could change it all for her. I always looked forward to her chapters and seeing what she would get herself into next - I know that the rest of the series isn't about Noah and Echo, but I do really hope that they pop up in Dare You To and Crash Into You!

And I adored that ending! I was on the edge of my seat for those last 100 pages, because honestly, I had no idea what would happen. I was so invested into the story; I couldn't put this book down for a single minute. If I wasn't reading it, it was on my mind. Definitely a standout for contemporary reads!

Overall, Pushing the Limits is a radiant and awesome read with an authentic relationship (that's not forced! Hooray!) and a gorgeous writing style. One of the best realistic fiction books I've ever read!

M Y   R A T I N G