REVIEW: One Small Thing by Erin Watt

OUR REVIEW:

As with many other Erin Watt titles, One Small Thing got under my skin and stayed there the entire time I read. The characters and relationships were so frustratingly life-like that I found myself cringing and rage-reading -- because I, unfortunately, know that there are people in the world like the students of Darling High School (and like Beth's parents)-- and couldn't stop until I found out if Beth and Chase were going to find some relief from their situations, or not. If you've read any Erin Watt novels you know that the relief you're going to get is not going to come easy or quickly--One Small Thing definitely follows that formula. The characters made me crazy and angry and frustrated and just arggghhhhhh. Their story of grief and guilt and love and loss was a quick read, albeit one that had me wanting to reach in and throttle any one of them at some point--which just goes to show you how great this writing duo is that I'm that invested in what the heck these characters are up to.

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SYNOPSIS:

Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems like a small thing, just for her.

Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is…

Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.

Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again.

REVIEW: Fallen Heir by Erin Watt

Shel: This is a fairly accurate depiction of what I looked like when I finished Fallen Heir by Erin Watt: 

Court: Right girl! Mind. Blown. Just when I think these girls can't mess with my mind even more...they DO! And I die. And I cannot wait for whatever they give us next because it will BE AWESOME! 

Shel:I mean, SERIOUSLY, Erin Watt...how do you do this to me with these Royals?!! I go in all innocent and curious: 

Shel: and then I get all wrapped up in the drama and crazy that seems to follow all Royals: Court: I love that their world is one that I cannot even comprehend...and they do insane things...but they're really beautiful at their heart, and even if it takes themselves even a really, really, really long time to figure that out...they're one loyal bunch at the end of the day. 

Shel: and it never, ever fails....I end up with a blown mind and a bad case of the book hangovers:

 .

Court: Agreed. It went by way too fast, and now I feel the need to re-read the other books so I can stay in this world longer! 

Shel: All of this to say that I loved getting in Easton's head...and what a fucked up head it is. He's so much of what I thought he would be and so much not at alllll what I thought he'd be. He's such a jackhole sometimes and other times he's so in need of a hug and some love and reassurance that I'm not sure how I feel about him. I guess the best way to describe him is a lovable hot mess. This boy manages to fuck some shit up and all I can say is damn, I hope the Erin Watt duo writes him in some major help/therapy in book two. Court: He's quite complicated, isn't he? I really enjoyed him in the other two books because he's always the fun guy, and always the one that tries to lighten things up when things are really going sideways but now being in his head we can see he is way more complicated and way more effected by things that have happened and so completely loyal that I just love him.

Shel: What? Court: EEP! 

Shel: Did I not mention there's a book TWO?!!! Yeah...get ready to die of angst at the end because the queens of the cliffhanger are going to leave you tottering on the edge. Court: I think I'm dealing okay just because WE GET MORE! I'm always excited about that, and I figured that to get through everything they needed to get through (because we have a lot to delve into, y'all) that there would be more. I am quite excited about it! 

Shel: But enough of that, let's also talk about Hartley. This girl is really the perfect foil for Easton; she's not interested in his antics at all--or at least she isn't at first. The more she hangs out with him,though, the more she softens towards him and, unfortunately, also gets sucked into the drama that comes with being anything with a Royal. Plus, she's got drama of her own--how her drama is resolved in the next book is also something I'll be very interested in reading. Court: Ugh, she's complicated too! There's too much complicated going on! It was interesting because he is persistent to get to know her, and they really are like oil and water in some ways...but so alike in others. I can't say too much just because "spoilers" yo, but I really liked her as a character and feel like she's really going to REALLY get into the thick of things in the next book.

Shel: Finally, the bitches of Astor Prep are out and in a full effect and Erin Watt can write the best teenage bitches with the best drama ever. I was totally sucked in. How one wench in particular gets her comeuppance is something I cannot wait to read. I hope they mess her up sooooo good. (I'm a horrible person, aren't I). Court: NO! She is. SHE IS, SHELLEY! Ugh, it hurts so good to read about these people and the things they do and say. I just can't even, y'all...We got a taste of it before, and a new queen bee is looking to take over and it's going to probably hurt before it stops hurting so I'm trying to prepare myself already! 

Shel: With glimpses of Ella and Reed, Easton and Savannah, Lauren (don't even get me started on her. OMG.) and the twins, Fallen Heir is a novel that has me thirsty for more. I cannot wait to see how Easton and Hartley deal with this situation and what the consequences of all of this will be. If any of my guesses are correct, I have a feeling it's going to get way more messed up before it gets cleaned up and I'm ready. Court: YES! I'm ready too. That gif though, hahahaha. Things were really starting to spiral and ramp up with where they ended things, but definitely appreciated how things were developing. I really need more of our favorite characters! And things are going to get even more complicated if I can read this foreshadowing correctly (just so you know, I usually can't!) but we'll seeeeee!!!!! 

BUY IT HERE.

Synopsis: 

These Royals will ruin you.

Easton Royal has it all: looks, money, intelligence. His goal in life is to have as much fun as possible. He never thinks about the consequences because he doesn’t have to. 

Until Hartley Wright appears, shaking up his easy life. She’s the one girl who’s said no, despite being attracted to him. Easton can’t figure her out and that makes her all the more irresistible. 

Hartley doesn’t want him. She says he needs to grow up. 

She might be right. 

Rivals. Rules. Regrets. For the first time in Easton’s life, wearing a Royal crown isn’t enough. He’s about to learn that the higher you start, the harder you fall.

Warning: This book has a cliffhanger. The story will be resolved in Cracked Kingdom, due out January 2018.

REVIEW: When It's Real by Erin Watt

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: When It's Real checks off all the boxes for us and is adding to what we now know we should expect from an Erin Watt book. It has fantastically snarky dialogue, lots of great tension, and two interesting teenage characters--Oakley and Vaughn. Let's start with those two, shall we? The writing duo Erin Watt has a way of making me strongly dislike their male protagonists only to turn the tables on me and have me totally loving them. When I first "met" Oakley he was so easy to dislike--so arrogant and spoiled and frustrating--but as the novel progressed, so did Oakley. He gradually became less douchey and more vulnerable and open, even as he held on to this sort of swaggering confidence; it was this combination of alpha vulnerability that turned things around for me and a large part of that had to do with Vaughn. Vaughn was more like able than Oakley but she was not without her own flaws (as we all are); namely her weaselly boyfriend W (ugh, that guy was a loser with a capital L) and using her snark as her armor when with Oakley. As she shed her armor and allowed herself to be open and more vulnerable with Oakley, she seemed to trigger him to want to do the same. I especially liked that the writers created her to be less than confident on her next steps --I think it's great to see a main characters not have all the answers and yet are allowed the room and space to explore rather than make a hasty career/school decision. Oakley and Vaughn were a fun pairing to read.

Court: Shel did such a wonderful job of telling all of the things to like about the characters, so I'll take a moment to gush about the authors. There was absolutely so many things to like about this book, and I am still in a gigantor book hangover. Erin Watt has absolutely made all of my book dreams come true. 1) We love stories about famous people...sue us, it is an addiction. 2) We also love stories about famous people associating with normal people (desperate fantasy? Probably...lol) and 3) we love stories when the author (or in this case author(s) are so seamless in their storytelling that we cannot get enough of this book. Oakley and Vaughn's story is a very dysfunctional way to get to know each other, and I could not wait to find out what happens next. They are fun to read, and thank goodness we had dual POV. Erin Watt writes so well together, that you literally think it is the same person and I really love this dynamic. I loved them when Paper Princess came out, and now I obsessively obsess about every single thing they make a peep about in their writing world...because honestly, you should know who they are or you are missing out. I 

Shel: Part of the fun was never knowing what one would say to antagonize the other; I liked how the tensions started with their first meeting and continued to simmer in the background as their feelings morphed into what we see at the end--that tension kept it interesting . The dialogue  and texts and tweets weren't just what moved the plot along they enhanced the entire reading experience--there was a lot of laughing and swooning going on. Court: As I said their way of getting to know each other had me a bundle of nerves and experiencing angst and dying to know what would happen next, but at the same time hoping it would never end. I laughed out loud, I might have teared up once, and I absolutely devoured this book!

Shel: Not only were the main characters interesting, the secondary characters were too. The various conversations and situations with body guards, friends, and family members, and others helped round out Oakley and Vaughn and have me hoping that we may revisit them all in the future. I enjoyed them all so much that I'm already hoping they'll be a holiday short or a newsletter special or a cross over into the Royals so that I can see them all again--I miss them already. Court: ME TOO! Would it be productive to re-read this book until the next Erin Watt book comes out? I cannot get enough. I was wishing for more pages, and was wishing that I could slow down but the characters had me so engrossed that I could. not. stop! 

Shel: Erin Watt fans--this isn't the high drama of the Royals (thank god, I barely made it out alive) and we think you're going to love When It's Real because it's not that high drama but something that is equally good and stands on its own. Court: I agree. This was a perfectly finessed book in every way. I loved every scene, and really was so glad of so much growth in each character and the plot was so well developed and the setting was one that I love so much. And I'll stop now that I am just writing in incoherent run-on sentences, but you get the gist. You will not regret giving this book a try! 

BUY IT: http://amzn.to/2qt9dD0

Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Erin Watt comes the addictive contemporary tale of a teen rock star in need of an image makeover and the teen girl hired to be his fake girlfriend. 

Meet Oakley Ford-teen celebrity, renowned pop star, child of famous movie stars, hottie with millions of fangirls… and restless troublemaker. On the surface he has it all, but with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry, and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley's team decides it's time for an intervention. The result: an image overhaul, complete with a fake girlfriend meant to show the world he's settled down.

Enter seventeen-year-old Vaughn Bennett-devoted sister, part-time waitress, the definition of "normal." Under ordinary circumstances she'd never have taken this gig, but with her family strapped for cash, she doesn't have much of a choice. And for the money Oakley's team is paying her, she figures she can put up with outlandish Hollywood parties and a team of publicists watching her every move. So what if she thinks Oakley's a shallow, self-centered jerk? It's not like they're going to fall for each other in real life…right?

Find Erin Watt here.

REVIEW: Twisted Palace by Erin Watt

These Royals will ruin you…
From mortal enemies to unexpected allies, two teenagers try to protect everything that matters most.

Ella Harper has met every challenge that life has thrown her way. She’s tough, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to defend the people she loves, but the challenge of a long-lost father and a boyfriend whose life is on the line might be too much for even Ella to overcome.

Reed Royal has a quick temper and even faster fists. But his tendency to meet every obstacle with violence has finally caught up with him. If he wants to save himself and the girl he loves, he’ll need to rise above his tortured past and tarnished reputation.

No one believes Ella can survive the Royals. Everyone is sure Reed will destroy them all.
They may be right.

With everything and everyone conspiring to keep them apart, Ella and Reed must find a way to beat the law, save their families, and unravel all the secrets in their Twisted Palace.


Paperback, 370 pages
Expected publication: October 17th 2016 by Everafter Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase a copy: Goodreads
USA!: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9C7U18
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M9C7U18
CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01M9C7U18
Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01M9C7U18
Germany : https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01M9C7U18
France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B01M9C7U18
Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B01M9C7U18
Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B01M9C7U18
Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B01M9C7U18
Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01M9C7U18

Our Review

Shel: This book had my heart racing from page 1. Court: I know. Once I started, it would've taken a tank running into my house to get me to stop. The writing is that awesome, and I tried to sit down and focus and absorb everything I could. I probably was just shy of barely inhaling it! 

Shel: Between finding out the story behind Steve, the accusations against Reed, and my suspicions of every other character that ever crossed a page, I could not get my pulse down or my eyes to stop racing across the page. Court: Me either. This story is a tangled web, and ohhh my the tangled web they weave, those Royals. Lifestyles of the rich and famous and all of that...but there is still such a sense of family, albeit dysfunctional, between them that I can't help but root for every single one of them. As always I want more Royals, don't even care which one! 

SHel: This was the absolute perfect ending to this series. They strung us along with cliffhanger after cliffhanger and theory after theory and I loved every single angsty moment of it. Court: Again, spot on. I thought the entire series was fun, steamy, and unexpected. Every page was well written, the characters and setting original...and I just can't get enough. Even with those cliff hangers, I didn't stress too much because the duo of Erin Watt was in charge of the speed we were going and I had faith they wouldn't steer me wrong. They haven't before! 

Shel: Ella was amazingly strong, as was Reed. I loved how they helped each other and what they thought of each other. The other Royals were the funniest and sweetest (except Gid--what's his story?!). And omg, Wade stole the show! The bad guys were bad and some were surprisingly not as awful as I originally suspected. Court: Amen to that. When you're as cynical as me, and think everyone just sucks, I couldn't get over how much some people just sucked. Even back in the beginning of this series, but this one --everything comes full circle. I liked how "internal" everything was...and can't really say much more about it...but I just wish I could read it every day forever.

Shel: I truly hope we get to see them all again ...there's just so much more story to tell for all of them.  Court: Yes, I hope this world does not end here. I know these ladies are busy, but I can't wait for more from both of them separately...but I really hope there is more soon together! 

REVIEW: Broken Prince by Erin Watt

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: Warning #1: DO NOT start reading this at 11pm unless you have absolutely nothing to do the next day or you will find yourself going without sleep and without people to commiserate with. Fortunately I have summers off and could stay up until all hours of the night obsessing over this book, so I did. Unfortunately, no one else was up so I had to deal with my anxiety and 'what ifs' and other things by sending texts to Courtney knowing she was sleeping (so in other words, I had to be a big girl and deal with it BY MYSELF--insert despair emoji here).  Court: Let the record show I told her that she'd be up alllll night and wouldn't stop! Hahaha. That's the best book though, that even though life functions the next day will be minimal...it will totally be worth it.

Shel: Warning #2 If you haven't read Paper Princess you probably should start with that novel and that review ( posted here ) and not go much further in this review. We're going to do our damnedest to not spoil anything here for Broken Prince but may mention some things from Paper Princess in passing and we'd hate to ruin your experience with either book, so read on at your discretion. Court: I concur. Definitely should not read this book without reading that one, because your experience will be so much better. Be #royallyruined properly, please.

Shel: I honestly could write an entire post of 'warnings' about this book. For instance, this book will #royallyfuckingruinyou but let's face it, Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick are the two who are really ruining us. These two crafty devils are ruining us for any book that has the unlucky position of being read after a Royals book. JFC. I'd barely recovered from my Paper Princess hangover and here I am completely book drunk and absolutely worthless because Broken Prince nailed it (and nailed me). I swear to god whatever writing voodoo they have going on with this series is addictive and I hope they never ever stop; I will willingly submit to their voodoo magic anytime, anywhere. Every single piece and part of Broken Prince (and PP for that matter) work--the pacing, the dialogue, the characters you love to hate and hate to love ...and love to love are superbly developed, and the plot gives you enough detail and information to answer the questions you've been wondering about only to be gasping and grasping for answers at the end (hellooooooo cliffhanger). Court: Yep. We have many lists of characters. Ones that we're watching. People who have the "C" word dangling above their head, if labels were to dangle over their head. And I think it should be noted that I've seen some shade thrown around out there about this series, but the best part that I love about it is that it is outside of the reality of my high school years...suspend reality, and chillax and enjoy it please. I have a lot of nostalgia for when you're newly dating and everything is new and exciting, especially things you *haven't* done...and that made me smile like a thousand times brighter than the sun, because it was FUN and sexy and sweet! And the mean girls are mean, and the boys that we love in this series have some seriously messed up heads and issues, and I want to hold them to my chest (ahem, haha) and solve some of their mommy issues. 

Okay, /rant, and continue on.

Shel: I could warn you that you're going to catch a very solid case of the feels and it's gonna hit you from every direction--horror, tenderness, pride, anger, frustration, hilarity and more. Court: I think that is a big like factor...Erin Watt et al make me feel *everything* - every single emotion felt, and honestly at any given time for any given character. Which annoys me when I want certain people to make smart choices, and they don't. And then do something brilliant a few pages later, only to annoy me again. But, well rounded plot, and new questions, and gasp worthy moments at the ready...and I read this thing at warp speed.

Shel: I could warn you about how much you're going to fall in love with this series all over again and feel wholly unprepared with your anxiousness at waiting for the next one to come out. I could warn and warn and warn or I could just tell you about my texts to Courtney while I read and she slept; I basically made a series of lists--

The very short list of people I liked (it changed the further I read).
The increasing list of people I wanted to bitch slap or cunt punt (this list held steady for a large part of the book).
The list of places in the book when I had a verbal gasp (several).
The list of creative cursing I used and used often from pretty much chapter one (I pulled out some oldies but goodies for this round of reading).
The list of emojis and gifs that littered our texts back and forth..and for that matter, a good number of exclamation points too.
And my constant comparison to 90210 that slid into Melrose Place and ended in a very 1980's nighttime soap opera comparison a la Dallas or Falcon Crest. The drama and angst and good times were on point and would make a fantastic nighttime soap.

Court: HAHAHAHAHA. OMG. That is amazing. And somewhat makes us seem a little bit insane, but baby, we're crazy - and we like it. So...mostly I wish I could re-read both of these books for the first time again. I wish that the Royals were real. And...just know, that you can come crying to us whether you love it or hate it, we'd love to chat - but do think you'll love it, hate it, love it some more...and then just make a mess of your hair in frustration because it sucks you in, and then we have to wait for another. But, wait we shall. Brilliant, Erin Watt - just bloody brilliant.

Shel: All of this to say that I am in awe of what the duo who make up Erin Watt have done. I'm absolutely addicted to this series and I cannot wait for the next book to be published. Thank you, ladies, for giving us a series that reminds us of how much fun this book world is. Court: Yes! These pages hold gold in the form of words, and I cannot tell you how refreshed as a reader I am every time I read them. And then am hungover trying to find the next magical thing to read. Sigh. JUST READ IT ALREADY!

BUY IT: http://amzn.to/28Zznpc

Synopsis:
These Royals will ruin you…

From wharf fights and school brawls to crumbling lives inside glittery mansions, one guy tries to save himself.

Reed Royal has it all—looks, status, money. The girls at his elite prep school line up to date him, the guys want to be him, but Reed never gave a damn about anyone but his family until Ella Harper walked into his life.

What started off as burning resentment and the need to make his father’s new ward suffer turned into something else entirely—keep Ella close. Keep Ella safe. But when one foolish mistake drives her out of Reed’s arms and brings chaos to the Royal household, Reed’s entire world begins to fall apart around him.

Ella doesn’t want him anymore. She says they’ll only destroy each other.

She might be right.

Secrets. Betrayal. Enemies. It’s like nothing Reed has ever dealt with before, and if he’s going to win back his princess, he’ll need to prove himself Royally worthy.

More info. about Erin Watt: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14902188.Erin_Watt