Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Published November 26th, 2013

HarlequinTeen

474 pages (Hardcover)

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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. (From Goodreads)

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Geez, why do you do this to me Katie McGarry?

I like the cars.  Cars are sexy.  I know shit all about cars, but I like to drive fast and have spent a lot of time at the race track.  That's my way of saying that I liked how the book revolved around cars.  The addition of illegal activity and crime made the book.  I was reading the books and felt the adrenaline.  And then wanted to go see how fast I could make my '05 Pontiac Sunfire go down a back road (note that I didn't actually do this, but seriously considered it).  To go along with the cars, the writing was just hot, like always.  Be ready to fan yourself a wee bit.

When I heard this book would be about Isaiah, I was really excited.  I've wanted his story since Pushing The Limits, and I'm glad he didn't end up with Beth.  He is a far more complex character than past books suggested.  His interaction with Beth was well done.  His relationship with Rachel was a little bit too insta-love for my tastes, but the progression through the book was well done.  Rachel was a nice addition to the series.  Her internal struggle was great to follow.  My one issue was her family, which seemed unrealistically crazy.  The fact that no one noticed her health issues also threw me off.  I did really like her character, but not as much as I like Abby.  She needs her own book ASAP!

I loved Crash Into You.  It is a great addition to anyone's shelf, and I can't wait for the next book.  

"Waiting On" Crash Into You

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

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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.  (From Goodreads)

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This series is one of those that I just want to force upon everyone, and, from what I've heard, Crash Into You will be no exception.  I'm excited for Isaiah's story and what will happen to his friendship with Beth after Dare You To.  Also, you know it's going to be HAWT.  If you have read it already, please share how HAWT it is.  Crash Into You hits bookstores on November 26th, 2013.

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Published May 28th, 2013
Harlequin Teen
462 pages (Hardcover)

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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.... (From Goodreads)

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Let's take a moment to admire this cover.  THIS COVER IS FANTASTIC!

I loved this book.  I loved everything about this book.  I don't know if I can say anything negative or constructive about this book.

The characters really drive this story, so it's a good thing that they are amazing!  I loved Beth in Pushing The Limit, and was pumped that this book was about her.  The development here is epic and we learn so much more about her and her past.  It's impossible not to feel for her and her story.  Then there is Ryan, the classic my-life-looks-perfect-but-really-isn't character.  He doesn't feel like a cardboard cutout character.  Again, his emotions are brought to life so vividly.  Their relationship is all over the place and brings ALL THE EMOTIONS!  The secondary characters are also very well written, which only makes the book even better!

The story as a whole is well developed and well written.  It helps that I love books that incorporate sports, but the addition of baseball and competitiveness brings a flare that really appeals to me.  If you don't know baseball, some of the lingo may throw you off, but none of that is essential to the story.

The book progresses in a way that really makes you understand Beth.  Her story is so complex and, at first, I couldn't undersstand her actions.  They will make sense though.  You still may not agree, but it does all come together to make her reactions understandable.

I give this book a must read.  Seriously, go buy it now.  Dare You To is heart-wrenching and wonderful.

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

Published July 31st, 2012
Harlequin Teen
392 pages (Hardcover)

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. (From Goodreads)

Holy crap, this book is good!  Why did I not read it sooner?

Both Echo and Noah are battling some personal demons that I cannot even begin to fathom, and that's what makes this story so amazing.  They fight adversity and find strength in one another and it is beautiful.  Both characters are very well written, as are many of the secondary characters (although I still don't understand Grace's problem.  Geez girl, you are conceited...).

There has been a lot of hype over this book, and it earned every bit of it.  I found the story touching and enjoyable, barely able to set it down.  If you haven't read Pushing The Limits yet, you should before Dare You To (Beth's story!!!) gets released May 28th.

Much love, Samantha