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The Top Books I Was Forced to Read

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - When the series first started, I made fun of the first two books. I told my sister she was silly to read them, but she pushed and pushed and pushed until I finally gave in. I ended up loving it...and going to every book midnight premiere.

2. The Shack - A lot of people actually pushed this book in my direction. I didn't think it would be for me, as religious novels tend to leave me feeling a little put-off. This one, however, spoke to my soul, and I swear it's one of the best I've ever read.

3. Anna and the French Kiss - This one is thanks to all of YOU! I swore up and down that I wouldn't read this book. I proclaimed that it was far too "girly" and "petty" to be the type of thing I would like. I ate my words.

4. The Giver - This was actually required reading in school. Generally speaking, I hated required reading because I don't like being boxed into a corner and made to think a certain way. This novel, however, transcended my aversion.

5. Fahrenheit 451 - This, too, was a novel we were required to read in middle school. I think it was my first real taste of a dystopian society, and I was utterly captivated by the fact that something could so irreparably damage our world.

6. Gone with the Wind - I must credit my older sister, Nikki, for pushing this novel on me. I didn't think I'd ever read it, simply because something that's declared to be the greatest love story of all time doesn't really speak to me. This one, however, is gold.

7. Vampire Academy - This one goes to all the bloggers out there, as well! I believe several dozen bloggers told me I was really missing out and, despite my aversion to vampires, I gave it a go. Dang...I'm so glad I did!

8. Speak - I'd read other novels by Laurie Halse Anderson, and I'd seen the movie, but I'd never actually read the book. There is something so magnetic and powerful about this novel, and if it hadn't been for the rave reviews convincing me to try, I would still be missing out.

9. Pushing the Limits - Yet again, I read this book because of the blogosphere. It's not my normal type of read, but when you see the rave reviews abound, you can't help but be intrigued. I loved it, I loved the second book, and I even loved the third...more please?

10. Jane Eyre - For some reason, some of the classics have escaped me. I was encouraged by a good friend to try this one though because she knew of my love for Pride & Prejudice, as well as books such as Little Women. Yeah, she was right. Loved it.

Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry (Twitter)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: May 28, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 462
Source: Publisher

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...

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...

It all started with a dare. Beth's life is always in turmoil. From her home life, which is currently in upheaval, to her life at school, which is far less than perfect, Beth struggles on a daily basis. The last thing she'd ever expect is for the boy that everybody loves to be even remotely interested in her. But, before she knows it, perceptions are changing, and so is Beth as she begins to realize that she might be worth it all, and she might just be able to get what she wants and deserves for a change. 

There was a tense, hard-hitting beauty to Dare You To's predecessor, Pushing the Limits, which wound readers like myself up into such a frenzy that we were more than a little frantic to get our paws on the second installment. Author, Katie McGarry, dazzles and definitely doesn't disappoint her devoted fans with this remarkable story of two kids from opposite sides of the tracks that might just have more in common than they think. The novel comes alive with vivid characters and dares us to put aside our preconceived notions and fall in love with the novel as Beth and Ryan navigate the course of their own relationships. 

I've seen a lot of less than favourable reviews for Dare You To because, like myself, many readers were expecting this to be Beth and Isaiah's love story. We met Beth before, and we knew that her home life was far less than perfect, and we also knew that Isaiah was the one for her. Or was he? I was dead-set against this novel straying from what I hoped for, but as I began to read further, the author's intricate character arcs and careful development began to unravel the true meaning of this new relationship for me. Beth felt completely alone. On the surface, Ryan looked as though he had it all, but he'd lost himself along the way, as well. These two broken characters are nearly two halves of a whole, completing one another through challenges, commitment and a mutual understanding of what they're rising up from. Dare You To was more of a straightforward teen romance tale than I felt the first book was, but it actually worked for me. The author has this innate ability to create characters with whom we can actually relate. The emotions, the pain, the love and the healing - they're all tangible and entirely accessible because McGarry employs unadulterated emotion to fuel the plot. Through their struggles and triumphs, we find that we're just as invested in the story as Beth and Ryan are invested in their own budding relationship. On the minute downside, I do think that some of the secondary characters needed to be fleshed out more. Beth's aunt, Allison, could have been a remarkable and deeper addition to the storyline if I'd better understood the motivation behind her interactions with Beth. 

Overall though, I think that Dare You To was a passionate and fulfilling second installment to this fantastic series. We're treated to excellent writing and delicious prose, all which whet my appetite as a reader. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary and romance.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Publish Date: July 31, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher

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.

Echo was the IT girl. She had it all plus the world at her feet. Popular and pretty, Echo lived in the thick of it until the one night when everything changed and the entire facade was ripped away. Left with horrible scars on her arms and a nearly no memory of what happened, Echo just wants to go back to normal. Noah, however, changes things again. He's bad news, and Echo knows it, but there's this attraction and chemistry between them that she just can't deny. It might just be enough to bring a little bit of hope back.

Hey, remember when I said I hated contemporary fiction? I reserved the right to change my mind and...holy HELL...Pushing the Limits slapped me in the face with one heck of a wakeup call. Author, Katie McGarry, has crafted a fine work of fiction, seamlessly weaving the complexities of the teenage experience, internal drama, external turmoil and vivid characters into one mesmerizing story. Better yet, the drama, though intense, is real and alive, inviting you into the characters' worlds for a firsthand glimpse at their transformations. With an overriding theme of love and the ability to change, Pushing the Limits brings the genre into a new light for me.

When you think about it honestly, Pushing the Limits features everything I hate about contemporary fiction. The drama, the romance, the seemingly endless emotional turmoil - all of it usually deters me from reading contemporary novels. With Pushing the Limits, however, the story somehow toes the line from start to finish, never overstepping into the realm of being cloying. Echo (LOVE her name, by the way) was a fantastic character, lending an air of depth to what could have been a very shallow and boring plot. She's multi-layered, rich and dynamic, and the turmoil that simmers below the surface makes her easy to relate to while giving her an air of vulnerability. Then there's Noah. Good Lord. What is it with bad boys named Noah?! In all honesty though, Noah seemed every bit the bad boy, but there was this gentle sweetness to him, despite the rough edges. It was almost as though it was a little shell of protection for him, too, as he desperately wants to put the remnants of his shattered family back together. And when Noah and Echo are together, the chemistry is electric. Honestly, the dynamic between the two characters simply leaps from the pages. Pushing the Limits is alive. It's painful, heartbreaking, soulful, sweet and utterly romantic. It's one of those books that will break your heart and put it back together again.

There aren't too many books on my shelf that I will read time and time again, but I can guarantee that this will be one of them. I give it a flawless 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and romance.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.