Book Review: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits 2)

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 by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm grateful to the publisher for an ebook they allowed me to read and review (through NetGalley) even before the book's official release date.

My review is in no way influenced by this fact.

I forgot how intensely emotional, vivid and deep Katie McGarry writes. I loved Pushing the Limits and Dare You To is no different. I loved every second of reading it. It was alluring, heartfelt and full of so much feeling.

There are no two people more different than Beth and Ryan. Ryan Stone is cocky, hot, arrogant and charismatic – the typical jock girls would fall for.

Ryan gives me a condescending smile. “Changed your mind? Don’t worry, most girls do when it comes to me.”

Ryan’s the kind of guy everyone expects perfection from. Born with natural talent and good looks, he has his bright, perfect future ahead of him. Until Beth comes barreling into his life and makes him question everything and rouse inexplicable feelings and desire. Ryan hates losing. And when Beth becomes the object of a dare, Ryan would do anything to get her to fall for him and win.

Elisabeth “Beth” Risk with her nose piercings, ripped up jeans and a smartass attitude spells trouble. She’s very stubborn and fierce and cares very little about what other people think of her. She’s an introvert and prefers to be alone. She keeps everyone at a distance and doesn’t easily trust people. She refuses to let anyone near her and she doesn’t let herself feel for others. Beth hides a broken, hopeless, scared girl behind the cold, indifferent attitude she chooses to show towards other people.

“Here’s the beauty of living in America. You can’t make me do a damn thing.” - Beth

The chemistry between Beth and Ryan is clear and undeniable. Their relationship doesn’t come easy however – not when one is running away scared of it and the other keeps on denying it. They both burn with so much passion and determination. The sardonic remarks and the easy banter between the two are very amusing. I love the way they relate to each other and that no matter how much they refuse to admit what they’re both feeling, they still somehow find themselves coming to each other for comfort and much-needed strength.

I am coming up with nothing more to say which is quite ironic since there are so many good things to say about Dare You To. But all you have to know is just this: I swoon for this book. I was completely in. There was never a moment that I found myself bored stiff. Also, I loved the way the minor characters were presented. They were profound, baffling, and intense. They made the book all the more devouring. Dare You To is written in the alternating POV of Ryan and Beth. I loved knowing what’s going on inside their minds – much confusion is avoided and we can feel more the sincerity of their actions and words. It helps us relate to them more and understand and know them better and in a deeper sense.

I loved the story, the plot, the romance, the passion, the intensity and I absolutely adore the cover (it captures the perfect Ryan and Beth image and an achingly familiar moment). I had goose bumps reading the book and that rarely happens. Totally recommended!

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Book Review: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden 2)

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.



The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Allison Sekemoto is just as fearless as before if not more so. In the second installment of the Blood of Eden series, we are once again thrown into the dark and thrilling world of savage rabids, vicious mole men, bloodthirsty vampires and a growing romance that cannot be.

There is no doubt that Julie Kagawa is an incredible writer. The Eternity Cure is everything I expected it to be. It was written flawlessly, unraveling the story in a way you’d want to savor and anticipate. There was never a dull moment.

The Eternity Cure is a kickass, action packed, engaging book. I was completely absorbed in every twist and turn of the story.

This book has a lot in store for us readers – would-make-you-open-mouthed, unexpected twists, betrayals that would catch you by surprise and unlikely alliances will be formed.

Some confessions I have to make about the book: I’m beginning to like Jackal than I’m willing to admit. He’s cocky, evil and ruthless but he has this noble way about him. He doesn’t kill without purpose and he’s his own person. He’s obnoxious but very entertaining and quite the charmer too.

“Oh, don’t mind me,” came an extremely sarcastic voice near the wall. “You two go ahead and make out—I’ll just sit here and bleed quietly.”

I love that we get to see a new side to him very different from what we’ve seen of him in the first book. We’d have a chance to know him in a new light and perhaps change our made-up minds and perceptions about him.

Another character I very much love – Zeke. Still the same sweep-you-off-your-feet charming, sweet, honest, selfless Zeke. He has grown, became much stronger and even more determined than when last saw him in The Immortal Rules. He has definitely proven himself more in this book and he came out more of a badass.

Expect a lot of swoon moments between Zeke and Allie. I love how they’re both so stubborn and fierce and determined. Even if all odds and common sense are against it, they have an undeniable pull to each other that they’re willing to stand and fight for.

“Only death will take me away from you, vampire girl,” he whispered. “And even then, I’ll watch over you from wherever I end up.”

These two can make you feel sad, happy, defeated and heartbroken all at the same time.

They will be faced with harder choices and tougher, evil villains.

In The Eternity Cure, secrets long buried will be revealed. We’d get to see more glimpses of the past and know the characters in a deeper, more intimate sense.

I admit there are some characters I had grown to like and respect and some I just want nothing more than to throw out the window and have the rabids have their way with them.

I love, love The Eternity Cure! It haunts. It’s brilliant. It’s intense.

And the ending! That was a perfect, cruel way to end it. I cannot tell you how much it broke my heart and surprised me. Now there’s a perfectly good reason for me (and you) to want the third book now.

This book would keep you up all night… no doubt one of the signs of a really good book.


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