Mundie Moms

Monday, June 27, 2016

Not My Cup of Tea Book Reviews: The Last Time We Were Us by Leah Konen


By: Leah Konen
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Released on: 5/10/16
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it Goodreads
Rating: 1 stars - I Didn't Like It
I received an arc from the publisher to review, in exchange for my honest review

A passionate summer love story about a girl, her childhood best friend recently released from juvie, and the small-town lies that have kept them apart. A teen romance debut with a dark edge.
Liz Grant is about to have the summer of her life. She and her friend MacKenzie are getting invited to all the best parties, and with any luck, Innis Taylor, the most gorgeous guy in Bonneville, will be her boyfriend before the Fourth of July.

Jason Sullivan wasn’t supposed to come back from juvie. A million years ago, he was her best friend, but that was before he ditched her for a different crowd. Before he attacked Innis’s older brother, leaving Skip’s face burned and their town in shock.

Liz always found it hard to believe what they said about Jason, but all of Bonneville thinks he’s dangerous. If word gets out she’s seeing him, she could lose everything. But what if there’s more to that horrible night than she knows? And how many more people will get hurt when the truth finally comes out?

Leah Konen’s southern romance swelters with passion as it explores the devastating crush of lies, the delicate balance of power and perception, and one girl’s journey to find herself while uncovering the secrets of so many others.
 


Sometimes you read books you connect with, and sometimes you read books that end up not being your cup of tea. This book was not my cup of tea. No matter how hard I tried to like, I couldn't get into it. I didn't connect with the story or any of the characters. Since I didn't connect with the characters, I found myself not really for some of them. Unfortunately that includes the main character Liz. 

For much of the story Liz was a character I had a hard time with. She makes a lot of really stupid choices without any thought of consequences, which really bothered me. I wasn't expecting her to not, not make some stupid choices, as everyone does, however it was her lack of not caring who it effected, including herself, that I didn't like. Thankfully she does have consequences for her choices by the end of the book. I did like her more towards the end of the book, because she started to take ownership of herself, where for much of the book she didn't, but by the end it was too late. I wish I had seen more of that ownership earlier on. 

Romance wise, there are relationships in this book that I had issues with. I won't elaborate much, because of the spoilers, but I will say that some things didn't seem healthy, and some things were just irritating with the love interests. There was a lot missing from the romantic relationships. I feel like I need to include, that when it comes to contemps, I am picky with the way romantic relationships are written. 

Story wise, I don't know what it was, but this book and I didn't hit it off at all. There are times when I find that if I don't like the overall story, I like the characters or if I don't like the story, I like the characters, but in case I had a hard time liking any of it. I feel really bad for saying that. The over all story felt rushed, and at times incomplete, as was the case with the ending. Although the ending could change since I read an ARC. Over all I felt like there was a lot of potential for this story, but it fell flat for me. There was a dynamic to the story that was missing, and unfortunately not even the dark, edgy romance or the suspenseful twist could save this story. 

*This book does contain some sex scenes & some violence

Just because this wasn't my cup of tea, doesn't mean it won't be yours. Please check out the variety of reviews online for this book to see what others had to say about this.

Recent YA Cover Reveals / Other Book News #CoverLove

Last week was a huge week for cover reveals, title reveals and more! Here are some of the newest cover reveals featured last week on social media. Prepare to fall in LOVE!


Wendy Higgins's cover for THE GREAT PURSUIT was revealed last week! Check out what Wendy said about it here. Here's a little bit about the book:

Lochlanach has traded the great beast for something far more terrible, a Lashed enemy veiled in beauty, deception, and a vengeance passed down through generations: Rozaria Rocato. And she’s offering the hunter Paxton Seabolt power and acceptance he could never receive in his homeland. Pax must decide how far he’s willing to go under her tutelage, knowing she is the opponent of Princess Aerity Lochson. 

In a land where traditionalists dread change, the Lochlan throne must contend with mysterious foes and traitors, while attempting to keep revolt at bay. As dire circumstances strike the royal family, matters of the castle are left in Aerity’s hands. It's time to put aside her fears and grasp the reign, taking actions that have the potential to save or destroy her people. 

One hunt has ended, but the pursuit for love and justice continue. In this sequel to The Great Hunt from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, political intrigue and romance intensify in another thrilling fantasy. Princess Aerity embraces a quest for identity and passion before making the ultimate sacrifice for her kingdom.


Cinda Williams Chima's cover for SHADOWCASTER was revealed last week. I am in LOVE with this cover! Find out what she said about it here. Shadowcaster is the second of four novels in the Shattered Realms series. You can read more about it here. About the book:

A Warrior Princess
Alyssa ana’Raisa is the reluctant princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne of the Fells, a queendom embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Hardened by too many losses, Lyss is more comfortable with a sword in her hand than in maneuvering at court. After a brush with death, she goes on the offensive, meaning to end the war that has raged her whole life. If her gamble doesn’t pay off, she could lose her queendom—and her life.
A Young Soldier Who Hates to Lose
Across enemy lines in Arden, rising star Captain Halston Matelon has been fighting for Arden since he was a lýtling. Lately, though, he finds himself sent on ever more dangerous assignments by a king who seems bent on destroying him. Between the deadly magic of the wolf warriors to the north and the ruthless politics at home, Hal is caught in an impossible game of life and death. 
A Musician With the Power to Ensnare
Breon d’Tarvos has spent his life as a street performer trying to stay on the right side of the law. This latest gig has him worried — he’s afraid that he might be enticing a young woman into a trap. But he needs the money, and he knows he’ll do it in the end.
The Shadow of Defeat
Set in the world of the acclaimed Seven Realms series, this is a thrilling story of the unfathomable costs of war, the allure of dark magic, and conflicted characters drawn together despite everything they are putting at risk.


Check out this stunning cover for Roshani Chokshi's sequel, A Crown of Wishes. I love this cover! EW revealed the cover, complete with a sneak peak in the first chapter. Stop by and read it here. About the book:

Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet king, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together, they’ll have to set aside their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes – a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. Reaching the tournament is just the beginning. Once they arrive, danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans and mischievous story birds, a feast of fears and twisted fairy revels. Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.



We revealed the cover for Rosalyn Eves's debut, Blood Rose Rebellion, on Mundie Moms. Stop by to find out more about the book, and enter to win, here. About the book:

Born into high British society, Anna Arden has been groomed for a position she will never fill. Though a member of the Luminates—the ruling class who use magic to exercise power—Anna cannot perform the simplest spells. But sometimes, by accident, she breaks them. After drawing unwanted attention from the magical elite, Anna is sent from England to her family’s once powerful but now oppressed native Hungary.

Her life might as well be over. 

But Anna soon realizes that nothing is as it seems. The people around her hold dangerous secrets—from her aloof cousin Noémi to the fierce and handsome Romani Gábor to the magic-wielding Luminates. The society she’s known all her life is crumbling into discontent. And her lack of magic may mean more than she imagines. 

In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romani, Anna must choose: deny her unique powers and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her gift, spark a rebellion, and change the world forever.

Blood Rose Rebellion is the first in a new fantasy trilogy bursting with magic, romance, and danger.



Another great cover reveal featured last week was for Heidi Heilig's sequel, The Ship Beyond Time. Check out the reveal here, and find out more about the book below:

Nix has spent her whole life journeying to places both real and imagined aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. And now it’s finally time for her to take the helm. Her father has given up his obsession to save her mother—and possibly erase Nix’s existence—and Nix’s future lies bright before her. Until she learns that she is destined to lose the one she loves. But her relationship with Kash—best friend, thief, charmer extraordinaire—is only just beginning. How can she bear to lose him? How can she bear to become as adrift and alone as her father?

Desperate to change her fate, Nix takes her crew to a mythical utopia to meet another Navigator who promises to teach her how to manipulate time. But everything in this utopia is constantly changing, and nothing is what it seems—not even her relationship with Kash. Nix must grapple with whether anyone can escape her destiny, her history, her choices. Heidi Heilig weaves fantasy, history, and romance together to tackle questions of free will, fate, and what it means to love another person. But at the center of this adventure are the extraordinary, multifaceted, and multicultural characters that leap off the page, and an intricate, recognizable world that has no bounds. The sequel—and conclusion—to the indie darling The Girl from Everywhere will be devoured by fans of Rachel Hartman and Maggie Stiefvater. 


In other exciting book news, long awaited book titles were also revealed last week. Check out the news below:



Epic Reads revealed the title for the third book in Victoria Aveyard's 
The Red Queen series! 


Thank you to EW, fans can read an excerpt from the highly anticipated release of GEMINA! 


I know it's not a cover reveal or title reveal, but like many readers, I'm excited to read this sequel! Check it out here

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