Jessica Linden

4.5 stars.

Letting Go is a very charming new adult romance by Jessica Ruddick. This debut novel is a sweet, fun read with minimal angst or drama. The characters are endearing and the plot is refreshingly unique.

Cori Elliott is a type A personality whose second year of college is not beginning under the best of circumstances. She is scrambling to cover her tuition after her financial aid falls through and she is devastated to learn her boyfriend Tyler's death the previous spring has been ruled show more a suicide. Cori makes an impetus decision to go to a frat party where she acts even more out of character when she gets drunk and makes out with a hot stranger, Luke Evans. Luckily for Cori, Luke is actually a really great guy, but her inability to be honest about her past becomes a huge stumbling block for their burgeoning relationship.

Cori is a likable, but frustrating, character. She has very high standards for herself and she works hard to maintain her perfect GPA. Cori is quickly overwhelmed trying to balance her classes, a new relationship and finding last minute financial aid. She is also struggling to make sense of Tyler's suicide and she is caught in an endless loop of blaming herself while at the same time playing the "what if" game.

Luke is a couple years older than Cori and he, too, is very serious about college. While he devotes plenty of time to studying, he also knows how to have a good time. Contrary to Cori's assertions he is perfect, Luke made his share of mistakes in his previous relationship and he is completely honest about his role in its eventual demise. The only thing he asks in return is that Cori also come clean about her past as well. Although she has numerous opportunities to explain her relationship with Tyler, Cori tells a bunch of half truths and tries to convince herself that lying by omission isn't really lying. However, it is only a matter of time before Tyler discovers her secrets but will he be as understanding as she thinks he will be?

Letting Go is a very engaging novel and Jessica Ruddick does a wonderful job keeping the story moving forward despite Cori's inability to completely let go of her past. The characters are beautifully developed with realistic issues to overcome. The romance between Cori and Luke is absolutely delightful and although their love scenes are not explicit, there is no denying the chemistry between them. It is an all around terrific read that fans of new adult romances are sure to enjoy. show less

Ava Parks would have killed for an iPhone for her sixteenth birthday. Anything would have been better than coming into her birthright of being a seeker for the Grim Reaper, an arrangement made by her fallen angel ancestor in exchange for his re-admittance to heaven. And she isn’t just any seeker—she finds souls that have the potential for becoming angels and sentences them to death. A year and two souls into her role as a seeker with her conscience overflowing with guilt, Ava comes up show more with a plan to thwart the system. When it goes awry, she is forced to submit the name of a classmate, Cole Fowler, an ornery, rough around the edges guy who always seems to come to her rescue, whether she likes it or not. Her feelings for Cole prompt her to intervene, and she saves him from death, upsetting the Grim Reaper’s agenda.

While Ava schemes to find a way to save Cole, she learns he has some secrets of his own. She lets him believe he is protecting her, and not the other way around, until a final showdown with the Grim Reaper forces Ava to make choices Cole may never forgive. show less

My oh my are things fiery or what between Claire and Bennett who one time many summers ago were almost and item or were in fact an item according to Bennett's mum. Claire is back thinking that one summer years ago will help her get her get the resort passed to build for her brothers in-law.
There are loads of laughs not just from how Claire and Bennett act, but I love Claires sister along with Bennetts family (blood or not), then the characters within Carolina Banks, you also get a great show more story about young love reigniting if stubbornness can be turned into seeing the potential of not just a resort but second chance.
Can't wait for the next in this series!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. show less

This book was very addicting, once you start it’ll be hard to put down so clear your schedule as you’ll be stuck to its pages until you’re done. I enjoyed the story as it was something different from what I’ve read lately and definitely had a unique plot line.

Jessica Ruddick’s sharp dialogue and humorous repartee between her characters had a strangely reminiscent quality of Joss Whedon’s Buffy days.

Her plot is fast paced and the storyline loosens quickly into a byzantine but show more fun tale. Boredom is NOT something you should feel when it comes to her work especially with that great dialogue and unique world she’s created.

Even knowing what I was getting into I still felt surprised at how much it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be but in a good way. When it comes to the YA genre you get recycled plot lines so often or stuff that is similar enough just with different genders, times or settings it was a refreshing change of pace to fall into a chronicle like this.

This book deserves a look, a read, a chance to pull you into something different than what you’re used to as Ruddick provides an escape into something special. Best of all, it’s only book one in a new series. show less