Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

I could literally sum this book up in one sentence.  

It was amazing.  

Okay, I'm done.  Thanks for reading.  :-)

No, seriously...this book was great.  But, it's Colleen Hoover so I mean, should you expect anything less?  

Point of Retreat is the sequel to Slammed, and takes place about a year or so after the events at the end of the first book.  

Knowing that this review follows right after my review of Slammed, I don't want to give too much away, in fear that I might ruin Slammed for anyone stopping by to read that review.  So, I guess I'll just say that things are going well for Lake and Will, for the first time in a long time.  But it's a book, and obviously things can't stay that way...otherwise it would be a very short, boring book.  The twists and turns in this book are heart wrenching.  Colleen literally takes you in a hundred different directions, tugging your heart strings at every turn.  But, that's kind of her thing, and she's really, REALLY good at it.

“My heart pounds against my chest. Not because I'm nervous. Not even because I want her worse that I've ever wanted her before. It's pounding against my chest because I realize I've never been so sure about the rest of my life than I am in this moment. This girl is the rest of my life.” 

When I started this book, I was curious as to why she named it "Point of Retreat", and I soon found out. There is a definite reason.  And it's a point of, let's say....frustration in the book. I don't know how many times I would be reading thinking to myself "Yes, nice....Yes!! NO! NO!  STUPID BOOK!" and then it would start all over again.  Don't worry, you'll understand when you read it.

There are so many great lines in this book.  I could write nothing in this review but quotes from the book, and that would be enough to hook you.  Point of Retreat is written from Will's POV and I love being inside his head, hearing his thoughts and hearing his words.  It's beautiful, and totally hot.  

“I love you because of you. Because of every single thing about you.” 

So, please...do yourself a favor and read this book.  It's beautiful, romantic and makes your heart swell.  It's a testament to why we all fell in love with Lake, Will and Colleen Hoover.

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Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Can I first start by saying I heart this book.  I heart this book so hard...

Okay, I had to get that out.  Thanks.  I feel better now. :)

No wonder Colleen Hoover has become such a success.  This book is absolutely amazing.

Slammed is one of the big titles in the new category of romance called "New Adult".  I heard an editor classify it as the "Beverly Hills 90210 - The College Years" of romance.  And I guess I sort of agree, with one caveat   New Adult feels grittier to me.  It has a raw and emotional feel to it that a soap opera can't pull off.  Kelly and Dylan had their ups and down, but I didn't cry when they broke up or scream when things didn't go their way.  Authors in this genre have a way of sucking you into their stories and making you feel, and bleed for the characters they create.  I don't think I've been so stressed, cried or been so angry over a book more than a New Adult novel.

In Slammed, you meet Lake, or Layken who recently lost her father and is moving from Texas to Michigan with her mother and younger brother to start a new life.  She's utterly depressed about the move, and makes it clearly known to her family.  Her opinion is completely reversed when she meets her neighbor Will.  He's older, totally hot and Lake finds herself forming an deep and instant connection to him.  They both free-fall for each other, until their world's are rocked, and they discover the connection they feel can be no longer.  But how do you walk away from your destiny?

I love New Adult, but I must admit, it's an interesting category in romance.  In most categories of this genre, as a reader, you know what you're getting out of a novel.  In YA - teens, with little to no sex.  Paranormal, well...that does really require an explanation.  Erotica - full out banging, lol.  But New Adult...it's kind of all over the place.  I've read some books in this category that mimic a contemporary romance novel, and the characters happen to be younger.  I've also read New Adult books that edge closer to YA, with fade to black sex scenes or none at all.

"His breath becomes heavier as his lips slowly move across my shoulder and onto my neck.  The room starts to spin, so I close my eyes.  His lips make their way to my jaw and closer to my mouth.  When I feel him pull away, I open my eyes and he's watching me.  There's a slight moment of hesitation in his eyes just before his lips close over mine."  

Slammed is closer to YA I think.  There is no sex in this book.  But I think this is where Colleen's talent as a writer kicks in, because there is no lack of heat.  Will Cooper is H.O.T.  When he gets on that stage and reads poetry (I know, right?!  Poetry!) it's flat out sexy.  The movie rights have been sold for this book, and I CANNOT wait to see these slam poems done on stage.  It's hard to imagine the flow when you're reading them on the page, so seeing and hearing them will be every Hoover fan's dream!

“So you keep your ocean, I'll take the Lake.” 

I loved this novel so much.  I devoured it in an afternoon...and moved into the sequel, Point of Retreat, right away.  I highly recommend it.  There is a third book also called "This Girl" which is a retelling of Slammed from Will's POV.  I haven't read it yet, but I definitely plan to.

“I got schooled this year by a boy. 

A boy that I'm seriously, deeply, madly, incredibly, and undeniably in love  

with.And he taught me the most important thing of all... 

To put the emphasis  

On life .” 

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I'm still here...

...barely.
I think I've managed to read a total of forty pages, and had a grand total of thirty minutes to work on my novel this week.  I've had a great week with my family, but holy crap...I'm exhausted.
My in-laws are visiting from Cali, and my girls are enjoying every sweet little minute of it.  They are being spoiled rotten.  I think it's going to take a full month to straighten them out after this, lol.  We spent two days in D.C./Annapolis (it was freaking cold).  We went to the National Zoo and the American History Museum. My oldest daughter saw a computer from 1980 and said "Wow!  That's old!".  Never mind the fact that we were in a room with 200 year old dresses, and the first telephone.
But things are getting back to normal, and I'm hoping to finish reading an actual book some time soon.  I'm a 2-3 book a week girl.  The fact that I've been reading the same bloody book for almost two weeks is starting to make my eyes twitch.
I did go on a book binge last night (sorry honey) and bought four new books!  BN and Amazon were having an epic sale, so I had no choice.  I was required as a book lover to buy books, it's like a law or something.  I bought Slammed and Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover and both Vincent Boys books by Abbi Glines.  I've wanted all of these books for a long time, and at half-off the normal selling price, I couldn't resist.  And now they are all MINE!!
So stay tuned, review of The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark will be coming this week, promise.