Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Review: The Hazards of Skinny Dipping by Alyssa Rose Ivy + Giveaway!

The Hazards of Skinny Dipping
The Hazards of Skinny Dipping by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 248
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter
 
This isn't a deep book about first loves or self-discovery. If you want a book like that, I'd be happy to recommend one, but I don't have that kind of story to tell. Instead my story is about rash decisions and finding out that your dream guy is bad in bed. It's the story of when I finally went skinny dipping, and how my life was never the same again. Oh, and it's also the story of my freshman year of college and realizing Mr. Right might have been there all along.

I'm pretty sure Alyssa Rose Ivy could not write a book I don't love! This is my new favorite New Adult! It's the summer before Juliet is headed off to college. Her cousin thinks she hasn't experienced enough adventurous things to be ready so she gives her a list to complete before she starts her freshman year. The last thing on the list is skinny dipping. Juliet is at her vacation beach house and takes the plunge to swim naked in the pool. All by herself doesn't seem like much of an adventurous dare to complete but it's a big step for Juliet. But then Dylan shows up, the super hot neighbor she has been crushing on for years. He joins her skinny dipping and they end up having a one night stand. This is her life long crush so of course she takes the chance but it turns out to be a not so hot night. No biggie except he goes to her college and wants to keep seeing her.

I think a big reason I loved this book so much was I could relate to a lot of different parts. Dylan wasn't a dream boyfriend but reminded me of many early boyfriends I had. Someone you like and want things to work with so you kind of push through hoping it will get better or thinking the first time was just off. Dylan was rather selfish but young guys often are. The only thing that kind of bothered me was why Juliet didn't say anything after dating him for awhile. It's time to be like hey buddy this is not working for me and you need to be doing this and this. I mean if he thinks you are enjoying what he is doing then it's not going to change. LOL And it was hilarious how he kept thinking everything was great. I just kind of assumed maybe it was because she was young. Although there was a rather humorous scene where he thought she wanted to try bondage. Some great laugh out loud moments on that one.

The only thing I didn't completely relate to was the sorority and fraternity stuff. Never joined one or had any desire to join one but liked seeing the dynamic Juliet had with her sorority sisters. While rushing she meets Reed. Reed is hot and buff and kind and funny and gives her a sweet job. Takes her awhile to see the potential there even though it was screaming at me. It is hard to get over your first big crush so Juliet had to see things through with Dylan which is kind of understandable. I loved that this was a simple, sweet, funny, and relateable story. I've been reading a lot of New Adult lately and some of the very depressing ones with the characters with very tragic pasts are starting to get me down. While these characters lives aren't all sunshine it was never depressing either. This was more of a fun summer read that had me laughing out loud and swooning and re-reading several of my favorite scenes. I highly recommend it for New Adult fans looking for a great but light and fun romance plus Reed is well worth meeting. :-D



"I thought about how I could be walking into a torture chamber, which made me think about walking into Christian Grey's playroom. I laughed."

"It would be a sweatshirt dress."
"You're not that short."
"But you're that big."
He laughed. "Yes, I am."
"Why do I get the sense you aren't talking about height?" I pulled on my sweater.
"Because I'm not."

"Oh, it worked, but at least I knew there was a chance I'd get to take it off."

"Can we order in? I'd love to find a really bad movie to watch."
He sat down on the edge of his bed. "A bad movie? Why not a good one?"

"Because I don't want to worry about missing any good parts if I'd rather make out with you."
He laughed that really deep laugh of his. "In that case, let's find a horrible movie."


"No. You wanted to see me. You can take all the time you need. When you're ready, I promise I'll still be here. I'm not giving up on us."

Rating: 5/5


~Giveaway~ 
Summer is here! Work is slow so I'm in a good mood and feel like making it up to all my followers how slow my blog has been the last month when I was tired and things were hectic. So there will be a new giveaway everyday this week. I've had a bunch of stuff I've been meaning to pass on for awhile. Starting with this book since I loved it so much, it's a great summer read, and it's on sale! Not sure how long the sale lasts but if it lasts until the end of the giveaway then I'll pick a bunch of extra winners!
As usual rules are all listed in the rafflecopter.

22 comments:

  1. I need to meet Reed, great review and this does sound like a fun summer read and NA is like crack!

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  2. Love the quotes and knowing this is your new fave NA, I need to check out soon

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  3. This sounds like a great summer read! I can't wait to get my hands on it. Thanks so much for the review. I had been wondering about this book.

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  4. Wow. Well, this looks great
    I LOVE YA and NA contemporaries. Specially the light ones
    The dark ones are nice every once in a while, but the light ones are much more fun
    GREAT review
    Your reader,
    Soma
    http://insomnia-of-books.blogspot.com/

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  5. This book looks like pure fun! I definitely want to read it now! And I love your enthusiasm :)

    -Taylor @ Reading is the Thing

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  6. I loved how awkward things were between Juliet and Dylan! I really liked this one too, love Alyssa’s books!

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  7. I haven't tried any books by Alyssa yet but I hear really good things about them! This one sounds perfect for the beach! I love how Dylan is not the perfect dream boyfriend but someone more realistic - which is way easier to relate to. I've never been in a sorority (we don't even have those around here) so it,s all very foreign and fascinating to me I usually really enjoy reading about it. Anyways, I think I'd like this one! Great review! :)

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  8. Thanks for the great review! This sounds like a great pool/summer read :)

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  9. Great review. And I agree, if she doesn't speak up, things won't change

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  10. All entered. I could read this NA. I keep telling you this but I can't handle too much of rip your heart out gut wrenching NA that is out there. It is so nice to see something fun and light. I never wanted to be a aprt of a sorority either.

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  11. One of my summer goals is to try some more NA. Don't worry about the blog slowdown -- everyone needs a break sometimes :)
    Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics

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  12. This sounds like a great book! I'm glad you liked it. (: I haven't had the chance to read this myself, but I'm hoping to soon. The characters sound great! Thank you! :D

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  13. I've been kind of leery of the NA genre lately, but this is one that I DO want to read. Ha, yeah, I don't think I would've done well in a sorority. I like reading about them though.

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  14. Sounds fantastic. I guess I'm off to buy I, now. Thanks for adding ANOTHER book to my pile :P lol

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  15. What a fun review! I had a feeling you would really like this, Jennifer. Reed was so freaking nice, and I just loved him. Dylan was such a douche at times, and I got so cracked up when he thought Juliet might want handcuffs!

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  16. Oh, this sounds like the perfect summer read! Light and funny...just what I'll need after I finish The Sea of Tranquility. :P Great review...glad you enjoyed it!

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  17. I do love finding new favorites. Relateable is important. A good point. It does look like a fun read.

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  18. I am really looking forward to this one, I love reading about college life! I am glad you could relate to this one so well (other than the fraternity stuff that it).

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  19. I've been wanting to read this NA so badly! Glad it was a good one!

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  20. I just bought this one last week and I am really looking forward to reading it!! Great review!!

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