Best rest + #Amreading = 7 books in 5 days & micro-reviews!

So I had surgery last week and not able to work for a few weeks. While I have certainly been better, it's kind of nice to catch up on my reading. Unfortunately, I don’t have the energy to write full reviews right now, but I thought I’d post some micro-reviews on the few books I’ve read in the last few days.  (I'm not including the summaries, so for more info, click the cover art.)  If you have read any of these books, feel free to let me know what you thought of them in the comments.  Enjoy!

Broken Pieces by Rachel Thompson

Not my normal read.  This is a collection of personal essays and poems where the normally comedic author gets serious about tragedies in her own life.  Honest and sad.  Not what you might want if looking for a pick-me-up, but still an important, emotional read.  Sometimes it’s good to know that you are not the only one who has experienced pain.  The weightiness of the subjects might be tough, but this is a book that is easy to read a little at a time between other things.

* I don't do dream casts for non-fiction. It's a little weird.

The Deepest Cut by J.A. Templeton

Ooh, a YA ghost story with kissing! I loved the paranormal aspects of the story.  It was a bit insta-love, but it’s a short book, so you’ll have that.  The evil spirit was super creepy.  The only part that felt off to me was the whole cutting thing.  It felt disconnected from the rest of the story.  It could have been left out without losing any of the emotion.  I also think the title and cover art should have focused more on the creepy paranormal plot line. 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Britt Robertson (Riley), Brant Daugherty (Ian)

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

I would read Julie Kagawa’s shopping list.  She has never disappointed me with anything she has ever written. The Eternity Cure is a perfect follow up to The Immortal Rules.  The characters all had a chance to grow and come into their own.  Allie is getting super bad-ass.  Jackal provided some much needed comic relief in this dark and serious novel.  Seeing him, Allie and Zeke have to work together was fabulous. 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) -  Brenda Song (Allie), Armie Hammer (Zeke), Chris Pine (Jackal), J.D. Pardo (Vampire Prince dude...forgot his name)

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

It’s no secret that I’m in love with Richelle Mead. But when you add together Richelle Mead + sci-fi world + kick-ass heroine + brainy hero + ancient gods + a murder mystery, that equals up to a whole lot of AWESOME!  I took me a few chapters to get into the book because there is so much world-building that needs to be set up and a lot of characters to introduce, but stick with it.  I can already tell I am going to love this series!

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) -  Anna Torv (Mae), A younger Dean Cain (Justin), India Eisley (Tessa)

For Everly by Raine Thomas

Excellent new adult read!  The characters were fun; I liked the awkwardness between Everly and Cole at their first business lunch; there was some great family drama; the love story was exciting.  My only problem--and this is a major pet peeve of mine and is no way isolated to this book alone--but I am so f’ing sick of the virginal heroine.  Twenty-two years old, looks like a super model, and never been kissed? Really??? Why can’t women and men meet on a more level playing field in the bedroom?  We're all about having empowered heroines in every area except when it comes to sex.  There still seems to be a stigma around girls who embrace their sexuality.  I’m ready to go on a crusade to champion realistic female sexual power.  Who’s with me?!?!

Okay, done with my rant.  Seriously, For Everly is a really good book.  Don’t let my bitching discourage you from buying it. 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Channing Tatum (Cole), Karen Gillan (Everly)

Damaged by H.M. Ward

Yeah, I’d say these characters were damaged. Both Sidney and Peter come with serious emotional baggage.  Add to that he is both her professor and boss...yeah, there is no shortage on present drama either.  While I liked the book and thought the characters were interesting, the back stories were a tad bit on the over-dramatic side.  They just felt too contrived and not so believable.  That said, I'm a sucker for a great love story, and there were enough comedic elements to keep the story from getting too bogged down. #CouchSniffer 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Sarah Hyland (Sidney), Xavier Samuel (Peter)

Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan

This book was really messed up, but I loved it!  Maggie has made one poor decision after another in her young life, but she has the best intention of getting back on track.  The book opens with her as a bridesmaid for her sister who is marrying Maggie’s ex-fiancé, Will.  I immediately did not like Will for this reason alone. Whether Maggie broke up with him or not, how could he move on to her sister?!?  Then, enter Asher, the hot next door neighbor.  While he wasn’t perfect either, he was so much easier to like.  The book started as a train wreck of family drama, but ended up turning into a beautiful love story. 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Jacqueline Emerson (Maggie), Penn Badgley (Will), Robbie Amell (Asher)