Effortless by S.C. Stephens

Publisher's Description:

After being caught in the middle of a love triangle which led to a devastating betrayal, Kiera pledged to learn from the mistakes she’d made. She was determined to never again inflict that kind of pain on anyone, especially the soulful, talented man who held her heart. But life offers new challenges for every relationship, and when Kiera’s love is put to the ultimate test, will it survive? Love is easy . . . trust is hard.

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I was mostly disappointed in this book because it seemed like an unnecessary extension of the first book. It's an almost 500 page epilogue, really.

As I mentioned in my previous review of Thoughtless, one of the things I like best about Stephens is her character development. Unfortunately I also thought it was what was most missing in the sequel. Some of the secondary characters make a few steps forward in their lives. Kiera's sister, for one, and Denny for the other. On the whole though, they stay relatively stagnant even thought their worlds are exploding and expanding around them. The guy's band takes off for a nationwide tour, and it brings all of the drama you'd expect, but without any of the growth.

I did like that that Denny made an appearance in this book as well. Not immediately and not without scars, but he was probably the character that developed the most through the second novel. It would have been very easy for Stephens just to send him back to Australia, throw him out as a character and we would never seen him again. I think she tackles a very difficult plot point by bringing him back into the fold. Admittedly, I'm not sure how realistic it is, but I respect her choice.

Unlike the first book, there were large portions of this book that just felt entirely unnecessary. Stephens jumped forward through months at a time, quickly covering the entire year that the band was on tour and jumping ahead to the dramatic plot points. The sex scenes also seemed more frequent and almost gratuitous. I enjoyed Kiera's trip back to Ohio and her family home, but it was short lived. I was disappointed that Stephens (so great at character development) didn't take the opportunity to let us get to know Kiera better through her parents.

I didn't like Effortless nearly as much as Thoughtless… but I'll probably finish the series just to see how Stephens brings the drama to an end.

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Publisher's Description:

For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

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I want to address a major point of the novel first. I don't usually take issue with love triangle stories per se, especially where the author has thoughtfully constructed delicate but powerful relationships. Unfortunately, love triangles are all too often a part of real life, and if art mimics life, love triangles are bound to appear in novels. (Especially YA because we all know what being a teenager can be like sometimes.)

I do have a very hard time stomaching cheating or adultery however. (It made me very uncomfortable through Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed and it was probably my least favorite part of Gone with the Wind.)

I had to dock Thoughtless a few stars for the way my stomach turned during pivotal plot points. The bottom line is this is a love triangle that takes place during a relationship. The main female character, Kiera cheats on her boyfriend, Denny with his best friend Kellan while she is still with Denny. She's with him both emotionally and physically and I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse. (She can't makeup her mind because she loves them both? Or she has so little respect for them both?)

Luckily I really liked Kiera as a character. I identified with her although we have little in common. I came to understand where she was coming from, even if I didn't agree with it and I appreciated the realistic guilt the author had her suffer. (Not over-dramatic, but deep and cutting.) If you are less bothered than I am by cheating then this might not be as much of an issue for you.

I also really appreciated the unique setting and the older age of the characters and Stephen's ability to write them as adults and not as teenagers who just happen to be in their mid-20s. They actually act their age. They have their own goals, ambitions and weaknesses. Character development is definitely one of Stephen's strengths and her secondary characters are as likable, if not more likable, than her main characters. They have their own personalities and don't just mesh into one giant blob in the background.

Oh, and some of the scenes will leave you heart thuddingly breathless. If you read Thoughtless, you know I'm talking about the rain scene. Stephens writes tension - both good and bad - masterfully. She does a great job of balancing anticipation and gratification so the reader doesn't spend the entire book waiting for action and so there isn't too much of it that it gets old.

I only gave it three stars because of the explicit cheating, the kind of cliched plot-idea (A rockstar? Really?) and because the writing isn't going to change your life. The plot moves briskly but there are parts that drag when they shouldn't or breeze past when they should be slower and more developed.

All in all, 3 out of 5 stars ain't bad and I liked it enough to read the sequel. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Series to Start

Today's Top 10 Tuesday from The Broke and the Bookish is perfect timing! Joining the book blogging world beyond Goodreads has introduced me to so many new obsessions in the blogosphere, usually in the form of favorite or beloved book series. Since I joined the 2013 Series Catch-Up challenge this year, I've been even more motivated to knock some of these off of my TBR list!

My Top Ten Series I'd Like to Start:

1. The Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) series by George R.R. Martin

I've loved watching Game of Thrones on HBO because it's so beautiful, but I bet the storyline is far better in this wildly popular series.

2. The Stephanie Perkins "trilogy"

Sometimes I think I'm the only person in the entire book blogging world who hasn't read these beloved books. I have to say the new covers just make me want to pick them up even more now!

3. The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater

I've seen these on shelves and in hands forever, but for the longest time thought they looked like a yet another Twilight ripoff, but I'd like to make my own mind up.

4. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor

People absolutely rave about Laini Taylor's writing and if there's one thing I love more than just good storytelling, it's great writing. This is definitely at the top of my "to-read" series list and will probably be one of the first ones I pick up this year

5. The Uglies series by Scott Westerfield

These have been out so long they're almost a "classic" but I've never even glanced at them!

6. The Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand

I know you're not supposed to judge a series by their covers, but check out how cool these look. Plus, I'd love to know what the hype is all about.

7. The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer

That Lunar Chronicles series is so hot right now. No, but really... I feel so left out since I haven't read either of these, or the next two, Cress and Winter. Love these not-so-classic retellings.

8. The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi

Another somewhat controversial pick, people seem to uniformly love Shatter Me although theres some difference in opinion on the last one, and wherever there are differences I like to make up my own mind.

9. The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo

This series sounds like it has an incredibly detailed and believable fantasy world. It reminds me a little of Harry Potter, not because of the plot but because of the uniqueness and depth of the world it's set in. I'm looking forward to seeing if people are right about that.

10. The Graceling Realm series by Kristin Cashore

Of all the series I've seen online, I don't think I've ever seen a bad word written about this one. I actually have been putting off starting it because I'm a little afraid I might fall in love with it as well.

Those are my picks! What are yours? 

Leave me a link or your URL to check out!