Series Recommendation #8: Losing It by Cora Carmack

This series tells the stories of three college friends totalling to three standalone books and two novellas. I am still unhappy about the fact that my Cade, of all main characters, did not get a novella. It's a cruel, cruel world!

Nevertheless, this was a good series. I was very impressed with CC's stuff when I read Losing It because it was my first time reading her. And just when I thought I was over-the-top crazy for the first book, she gave me Faking It. I. Adored. This. Book. Totally, totally fell for Cade. I loved him! Sigh. I want more of him to read though.

I know people who loved every written word of this series. This is an obvious recommendation for everyone who loves an NA story taken to the next level...of awesome.

Losing It

Keeping Her

Faking It

Finding It

Seeking Her

Seeking Her by Cora Carmack

A few months after being honorably discharged from the military, Jackson Hunt is still struggling to adjust back to the real world. He needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he’s going to keep his own demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal. 

Bodyguard (and baby-sitter) to spoiled-rich-girl Kelsey Summers isn’t exactly what he’d been looking for, but it’s a chance to travel, to get away from the home that has felt stifling ever since his return. It would be a pretty sweet gig if it weren’t for the fact that Kelsey’s father doesn’t want Kelsey to know she’s being followed. Hunt feels guilty (and a little bit creepy) as he watches her from afar. She’s vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When he sees her falling into the same patterns that he suffered years ago, he decides it’s time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know her is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.


Jackson and Kelsey were probably the most difficult characters to connect to in this series. At least that was how I felt when I read their book. That was probably also the main reason why their book was quite a difficult read for me. So I was glad to have this chance to know the couple again.

Unfortunately, it still didn't do it for me. I was a little excited to be reading this novella because it was Jackson's POV. I really wanted to know what he was thinking when he started his job to follow Kelsey around Europe. But the interest kind of waned bit by bit. Probably because it was already anticlimactic knowing what eventually happened with Kelsey and Jackson.

This novella just cemented how truly bad I feel that Jackson had to witness Kelsey's downward spiral. I guess knowing how things panned out between the two of them was a consolation. CC's writing is still flawless but this story in this series just didn't float my boat. If this had been a novella set after Finding It, it could've been a totally outcome though. Oh, well.


Final verdict: 6/10. Okay read.


Losing It series reviews:
Losing It
Keeping Her
Faking It
Finding It

Finding It by Cora Carmack

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong...

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life...or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.


Finally, Kelsey's story. I have liked this girl ever since the first book in this series. I liked how seemingly carefree she was and it was sad to know why she was that way. It was sad finding out the truth because her character was always such, well, a character. It was hard knowing what she really went trough.

It was a joy reading Kelsey unfolding into a freer person when she started to spend time with Jackson. I found it so because in this entire series, Kelsey was probably the most difficult person to connect to (versus Bliss or Cade). And because of that, this book was much better than I expected.

And there was Jackson. What can I say? It was unfortunate how he came to be part of Kelsey's life but he nevertheless made an awesome job of helping Kelsey come from living in her past. And I just can't hate a man who knows how to put words into paper. Letter-writing guys are nom.

One thing I would've loved to be part of the book: Kelsey's letter to Jackson right at the end. It would've been awesome to have read that.


Final verdict: 8/10. Good read.


Losing It series reviews:
Losing It
Keeping Her
Faking It

Faking It by Cora Carmack

Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.


Saying that this book hit me hard in so many ways is an understatement. I would hate to bare my life in a book review though so I will keep this short. 

CC is a master at her craft, we all know that. The narrations in her books are never stiff and it always gives me a feeling that I'm not reading but in fact, talking to these characters--which is exactly the goal of any book.

When I first met Cade in Losing It, I was too blinded by Garrett and Bliss' love story that I almost didn't give him enough attention. I actually felt guilty when I started reading this book because I really didn't know what he went through at that time. I was too busy cheering for Team Garrett. Pfft. Little did I know.

I'd thought that if I could just get over the pain, then everything else would fall back into place. Well the pain was gone, but the rift it had caused between us remained.

--

Funny how four years of friendship could be so completely devastated by one moment of more than friendship.

Ahhh, story of my freakin' life. It is not easy. I never learned how to act so you can just imagine.

This book was full of easy banter and dialogue that always hits the right spot. I cannot not love it.

Stalker.

Liar.

Jerk.

Loving girlfriend.

Yet at the same time, this book had so much emotion in it, too. There was laughter and dakness, good fun and struggle, friendship and family.

You make me less concerned with being perfect and more concerned with being real.

--

I'll take my chances against your fickle heart if it means it's mine.

This book was so much about faith. These kids were young but even when the story ended, I had no doubt that they would make it. It would be impossible for them not to. Suffice it to say, I'm on Team Cade and Max now.


Final verdict: 9/10. Great read. Must have. Sigh.

Keeping Her by Cora Carmack

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.


Before reading this, bear in mind that this is a novella. Because I did and I went "What the...!!!" when it ended. I just can't get enough of Garrick, okay? Aight.

So after the rather controversial start of their love story in Losing It, this story starts with Garrick and Bliss already engaged and leaving for London so that she could meet his parents. Bliss was already apprehensive meeting Garrick's mother based on how he himself interacts with his own mother during phone calls. That feeling of insecurity may have been a tad overboard but she was young so I totally understood her.

I'm not sure if getting drunk right before meeting your fiancé's parents was the best thing to do but I had a good laugh reading about Garrick's friends back at home. More British-accented men. Woot! Let's just say that when Bliss finally did get to meet Garrick's parents, it didn't start off well. Especially when his mother thought they were marrying in a hurry because she was pregnant.

I didn't want to be scared alone.

You don't ever have to be.

And that's why I felt this was too short because I want Garrick to have babies already. Okay, so we know that Bliss might be too young and that they really haven't settled yet as a couple. But seriously, I repeat, I want Garrick to have babies already. Little Garricks all over a book. I won't be able to take it. Garrick's mom could help babysit. Now, there's a nice picture.

Once again, too short. But more Garrick POV made up for it. Love, love, love. *happy dance*


Final verdict: 8/10. Greadt read.

Losing It by Cora Carmack

Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible - a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.


When I decided to give book reviewing and blogging another go (after being in hiatus for 6 years!), I decided to make sure that I read a whole lot of new authors. I have always stuck to my old favorites but now I am up to make new ones. There is going to be a lot of firsts with these newer authors.

So this was my first attempt to read Cora Carmack. The blurb got me hooked. I'm a big fan of Pretty Little Liars (the tv shows) and have always been on Team Ezria since the very first episode. So that explains how I finished this book in one sitting.

Garrick. Like that name isn't sexy enough. British, read Shakespeare, and a gentleman. What more could you ask for? I mean, I was happy with him just being British. 

Bliss. There goes another sexy name. The good girl, loved Shakespeare, and just a bit naughty at the right time (and with the right guy!). I actually liked the fact that when she decided to finally lose "it," well, she didn't. Cats! That was a good laugh right there.

Other stuff I liked best: how they met, the mature way they handled teacher and student situation, and the cat that hated her but loved him. Haha! Fast-paced, witty, funny that leaves you turning pages wondering when Bliss was really "losing it," and with the right kind of steamy and sexy in the mix. And have you looked at that cover?! Yessum, I'm definitely judging that cover--with a naughty smile.

I am definitely on the lookout for more Cora Carmacks.


Final verdict: 8.5/10. Must read, must have.