The Sweet Gum Tree – Katherine Allred

Sweet tea, corn bread, and soup beans-everyday fare for eight-year-old Alix French, the precocious darling of a respected southern family. But nothing was ordinary about the day she met ten-year-old Nick Anderson, a boy from the wrong side of town. Armed with only a tin of bee balm and steely determination, Alix treats the raw evidence of a recent beating that mars his back, an act that changes both of their lives forever. Through childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank Anderson, Nick’s abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer. Suddenly, Nick is gone-leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick’s abandonment, a bad marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she’s starting to get her life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is booming, and she’s content if not happy — until the day she looks up and sees Nick standing across the counter. He’s back…and he’s not alone. Once again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might break the protective wall she’s built around her emotions-the truth about Frank Anderson’s death. But when that truth comes out and those walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional explosion that could destroy as well as heal.

{summary and photo from Goodreads}

Overall Rating: Perfection

Willingness to put down
10/10 – I’ll admit, I started this in the beginning of January, read about two pages, then set it aside to read “Hopeless” and a few others.  But once I picked this book back up, I could not put it down.  I read it every spare moment I had.  I absolutely adore this story. I love that it takes you through their childhood.  That you get to fall in love with the characters.  Yes, I wanted to smack Alix a few times in the second part of the book… but over all… it is such a great book!

Heart Fluttering
9/10 – Nick and Alix’s relationship was so amazing.  You seriously feel like you are in the book with them, and you feel what Alix is feeling. It’s like starting a new relationship and having all the heart flutters that come with it. 
School Girl Giggling
7/10 – Like I said, this book takes you through a relationship – of course there was giggling.  Was there crazy, husband-look-at-me-sideways giggling?  No.  But there was many smiles and sighs.
Leading Man’s Boyfriend Potential
10/10 - Oh Nick.  The boy from the wrong side of the tracks.  How can you not fall in love with him?  You can see that he has an amazing heart.  He is loyal to those he cares about.  He sticks up for you… takes no crap from anyone.  There are moments I was pissed at him and just wanted to shake him… but in the end… he’s Nick… and I have a crush on him.

Favorite Quotes

“I don’t think I have much choice.” He brushed my hair back. “You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted, Alix, the only one I’ll ever want.  That’s a promise.”

“Do you want to know the real reason I came back, Alix? It was because of you. You’re my roots. Wherever you are would be home to me.”

“…And if it takes me the rest of my life, I’ll make you care again. That’s a promise.”

“I have to try, damn it. I’ve never stopped loving you. I won’t give up that easily.”

My Heart For Yours – Jolene Perry & Steph Campbell

For Tobin and Delia, everything was always equal.

A bargain, a trade, a deal to be struck.

A kiss for a kiss.
Your shirt for mine.
Break my heart, I’ll break yours.

Their disastrous split was no different. Tobin’s spent the last year pretending Delia never existed, and Delia’s been in D.C., pretending to be anything but the country girl that she is.

When tragedy brings her back to town, Tobin and Delia realize that time apart hasn’t healed either one of them. But staying away from each other is harder than they imagined, especially in small town Louisiana, and old feelings are quickly brought back to the surface.

In the mess they’ve created, is there anything to be salvaged of a love that they both thought would be forever?

{summary and photo from Goodreads}

Overall Rating: Worth Checking Out

Willingness to put down
7/10 - This book is relatively short but I never did get bored! The story moves along quickly and I enjoyed the story development.
5/10 - Hales is right, this book is relatively short… however, I did get bored.  I got tired of Delia not standing up for what she wanted.  I got tired of how she kept going on and on that Tobin hurt her and she hurt him… yet, you didn’t get to find out what truly happened to them until half way through the book.  It was just a very slow read for me… So, I’m glad it was short.

Heart Fluttering
7/10 - The passion between Tobin and Delia is obvious. I didn’t really fall in love with Tobin but I loved how intense their relationship got.
6/10 - The flashback moments redeemed the book some for me.  You get to see how close their relationship was.  And it is obvious from the start that they still have some kind of feelings for each other. 

School Girl Giggling
4/10 – There weren’t a lot of funny parts in this story. There were a few tears though!
3/10 – Sigh…. I wish there was moments that I giggled…. but Hales is right, not a funny story.

Leading Man’s Boyfriend Potential
6/10 - I can’t say country boys are my type but I definitely lusted after Tobin. I loved him and Delia together.
7/10 - Tobin just seemed like one of the best (boy)friends you could have.  He is so passionate about Delia (and anyone he loves).  He’s a guy you’d want on your side. 

Favorite Quotes

“Because brothers don’t let each other wander in the dark alone” – Tobin

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs… for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

{summary and photo from Goodreads}

Overall Rating: Worth Checking Out

Willingness to put down
8/10 – I don’t know if it was because I just wanted to finish the book, or if I really was enjoying it so much I couldn’t put it down.  I did love the story… though I was able to predict everything that was going to happen – so I my attention wasn’t completely hooked on the book.  The story was great though, and I did enjoy reading it.  I loved how true the book was.. it wasn’t full of cookie-cutter cuteness or stories you could never truly related to.  The book was 100% real, in that life isn’t always full of happiness and sunshine.

Heart Fluttering
6/10 – I don’t think this was a book that was intended to be heart-fluttering.  But there were some cute moments that I smiled at.  There were also moments where I teared up, so I guess you get the best of both worlds here… Ha.

School Girl Giggling
4/10 – Again… not a book that I’m assuming was intended for giggling.  I laughed at parts.  I did enjoy the relationship between the two characters… but no cheeks hurting from grinning and giggling so much.

Leading Man’s Boyfriend Potential
9/10 - Oh Augustus… he’s so funny, witty, charming, handsome, caring, loyal… I laughed with him, I teared up for/with him… He’s pretty much an amazing boyfriend.

Favorite Quotes

“What a slut time is. She screws everybody.”

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”

“You have a choice in this world, I believe, about how to tell sad stories, and we made the funny choice.”

“Maybe ‘okay’ will be our ‘always”

Hopeless – Colleen Hoover

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

{summary and photo from Goodreads}

Overall Rating: Perfection

Willingness to put down
10/10 - Seriously, set aside a day to just read this book, because you will not want to put it down.  I, unfortunately, had to put it down and it took me a week to read it, since I have babies… but once my hubby was home, I would just sit and read.  And about halfway through, I just said screw it, and stayed up late to continue reading and finish the book.  Sigh… everything about the book is amazing that you just don’t want to have to drag it out… but than again… dragging it out is nice, because you get to spend that much more time with Holder.
10/10 - Cales is not exaggerating, people will have to pry your hands off this book. I rarely reread anything but I can see myself rereading this book many times. The plot is so original and so complex that there isn’t one page where you feel you can set it aside for a minute. The “New Adult” genre that this book fits so well in is so satisfying. I think “5 Star” reviews are thrown around a lot but this book is more than deserving.

Heart Fluttering
10/10 - Gah, every moment with Holder, I swear my heart was beating 10x faster.  And just the things he’d say, sigh… even the simplest, like when he would see Sky and say “Hey You.”
10/10 - Holder is my favorite love. Just the most clever, original romantic moments!

School Girl Giggling
10/10 - I cannot tell you the number of times I giggled.  My cheeks hurt by the end of the book.  My hubby looked at me like I was weird (and rolled his eyes at me).  Here is a small example:
He’s quiet for a minute, then grins again. “I can’t believe you think I’m hot.” “Shut up.” “You probably faked passing out the other day, just so you could be carried in my hot, sweaty, manly arms.” “Shut up.” “I’ll bet you fantasize about me at night, right here in this bed.” “Shut up, Holder.” “You probably even…” I reach over and clamp my hand over his mouth. “You’re way hotter when you aren’t speaking.”
10/10 - I also got several strange looks. I can’t remember the last book that truly made me giggle! I loved every moment!

Leading Man’s Boyfriend Potential
10/10 - Holder, Holder, HOLDER!!!  Oh my goodness.  There is nothing wrong with this boy.  I swear… he does nothing wrong, yet beats himself up over everything.  He has a heart of freaking gold.  He is caring, loyal, loving, funny, sexy (yeah, I said sexy!!), spontaneous, intense… sigh…. I think I have to go read the book again.
10/10 - Holder is not your average book boyfriend. He is not immature with issues to work out through the book. He is just perfect! You get to just enjoy their growing relationship without the stereotypical drama that similar books revolve around. I am so jealous that you still get to fall in love with him for the first time. What are you waiting for???

Favorite Quotes
“F#%k all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.”

“I live you, Sky,” he says against my lips. “I live you so much.”

“If God’s the type of guy that would damn you to Hell just for loving someone, then I wouldn’t want to spend eternity with Him, anyway.” – Sky

“I’ve been looking for you my whole damn life.” – Holder

“Dean Holder? Messy brown hair? Smoldering blue eyes? A temper straight out of Fight Club?” – Six