Book Blitz: Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry

Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits #1.5)

by Katie McGarry 

Release Date: 12/08/14

Harlequin Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry.

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.

Available for Pre-Order:
    
 

Books in the series:
(covers linked to Goodreads)
    

Excerpt From Noah’s Point of View

“Me and you,” I whisper, hoping my words will sink into her subconscious, beyond where she overthinks. “It’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Echo’s hand glides over mine, and she links our fingers together. “You like disturbing my sleep, don’t you?”

I kiss her shoulder, permitting my lips to linger on her soft skin. Guess I did wake her. “Just keeping things straight between us.”

“In my sleep?” Damn, I love that groggy voice.

“You argue less that way.”

About the Author

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

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Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

"Each and every word flies off the page and into your heart, because that is what a Katie McGarry book will do to you, it'll make you fall in love."

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Mira Ink
Published: July 31st 2012
Page Number: 392

Summary:

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.

Review:

It's a shock that I've never reviewed a Katie McGarry book on my blog because she is one of my favourite authors. Pushing the Limit is a story that I can relate to on a personal level and I've read it twice already since reading it a near year ago.

In Pushing the Limits, Katie McGarry weaves the tale of two broken souls who find that home is where your heart is despite the obvious differences. Each and every word flies off the page and into your heart, because that is what a Katie McGarry book will do to you, it'll make you fall in love.

Katie McGarry has a way with words and what I love most is that Katie McGarry writes a male character as an actual guy. Noah doesn't say that Echo is cute and has sparkling eyes, instead he does what a normal sixteen/seventeen year old would do. He talks about how big her boobs are. I've never been one to really connect with a straight male character, but with Noah I did. I understood every single thing he did because he did it all for love. He loved his brothers enough to try and get them back. He loved Echo enough to try and win her back and stand my her side. He loved his friends enough that he'd always stay by their side, no matter what they went through. He's a bad boy with a good heart.

Echo is a whole different subject. I didn't just understand her, I lived through her. Everything that Echo felt since that accident I have felt. Worthless, useless, stupid. Echo is none of that. She just needed Noah to make her realise what she has in life. Noah became to part of her heart that healed her. He became her pain relief. Her addiction. They shared a love like no other and if you read any review of a Katie McGarry book you'll always read: How does Katie McGarry write such beautiful, yet truthful stories? I cannot answer that, only Katie can, but once you find out it wouldn't surprise you at all. 

I just cannot say enough about both Pushing the Limits and Katie McGarry. She is one of the nicest authors ever. I've tweeted her a lot about her series and every tweet made, she has replied too. She's grateful to all her readers and it's nice to see an author who's vocal about it.

I love this book so much and it's no shock that I gave it a full five stars. In fact, I'd give it a million heart breaking stars.

This series is sadly ending on December 8th when Echo and Noah's story is continued on in Breaking the Rules. The rest of the companion series are out as well: Dare You To, Crash into You and Take Me On.

 

Buy the book here:

 

Amazon | Book Depository

Review: Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

"One of the most enjoyable books I've read, it reminded me so much of my childhood."

Title: Fire and Flood
Author: Victoria Scott
Genre: Dystopian/Survival
Publisher: Chicken House
Published: March 6th 2013
Page Number: 366

Summary:

Tella's
brother is dying. He's got cancer, and Tella is helpless to save him. Or so she thought. When an invitation arrives for Tella to compete in the Brimstone Bleed, a deadly competition that will lead her through treacherous jungle and scorching desert, she doesn't think twice. Because the prize is a cure to any illness. But Tella will be facing more than just the elements.

 

Review:

I must admit that when I read the synopsis I did think it seemed a little to similar to The Hungers Games, but the actual difference is that I enjoyed this so much, while I (sadly) hated The Hunger Games.

I ordered this on a whim and started it the night it arrived out of curiosity. Once I started I could not stop....until I had to fall asleep. One of the unique things about this book is that the characters are flawed, they're not all perfect and ready made for the games. Tella was an absolute joy to read from and her curiosity towards everything really made her relatable, especially to me, since I don't always trust everyone and their actions.

Fire and Flood did surprise me. One minute I was reading about this town she was living in and the next I was transported to the weird world of the Games. So many process' and so many twists, when she had to choose her Pandora and all those people came out I let out a little shout of "Kill a bitch!" and that's never a good sign. The good thing is Tella did not, she was kind of scared.

When you're reading a book like Fire and Flood, you never want it to end. I took my time while reading this book, because it was so much fun. The Pandora's reminded me of watching Pokémon as a child and I guess that's why when Tella tried to protect Madox, I smiled. Their bond was beautiful and when it was revealed as to what he could do I was in utter shock. I'm pretty sure I was Tella at that exact moment. It was like seeing a baby all grown up.

What I liked so much about this book is that it may be a Dystopian, but it read like a contemporary. There were guy problems, friend problems, sleeping problems - literally. Ants. Big Ants! - and general murder problems.

No joke!

If you attend the Games then you've basically been signed up to be murdered.

It's a bloody battle. You're all out to win the cure, so you can make friends, but be prepared to be stabbed in the back...or stab someone in the back (not literally).

I'm not sure what is going to happen in the sequel, but I cannot wait to get my hands on it when it comes out. I need to know what's going to happen with Guy and Tella, but I also need to know who's going to win.

Overall, I can definitely say that I loved this book. It's four star worthy. So pick it up, read and then devour it because it's going to consume you whole.