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Paradise #1
Paradise City
There’s trouble waiting in Paradise
Quiet country-girl Lexie Atkinson is about to get an education she’ll never forget. Sent from her family’s remote rural property to live in the glittering beachside Paradise City for her final school year, she is plunged into a place where looks can kill and vicious rumours can make or break you. Lexie just wants to fly under the radar … until she meets Luke Ballantine.
Impulsive and charming, one thing is clear: Luke is sexier than any guy she has ever known.
Suddenly good girl Lexie is breaking all the rules –getting detention, sneaking out to late-night parties, hanging out with boys – and then rumours start swirling … about her! Everything changes fast and Lexie will soon find out if Luke Ballantine is going to be good for her . . . or very, very bad?
Quiet country-girl Lexie Atkinson is about to get an education she’ll never forget. Sent from her family’s remote rural property to live in the glittering beachside Paradise City for her final school year, she is plunged into a place where looks can kill and vicious rumours can make or break you. Lexie just wants to fly under the radar … until she meets Luke Ballantine.
Impulsive and charming, one thing is clear: Luke is sexier than any guy she has ever known.
Suddenly good girl Lexie is breaking all the rules –getting detention, sneaking out to late-night parties, hanging out with boys – and then rumours start swirling … about her! Everything changes fast and Lexie will soon find out if Luke Ballantine is going to be good for her . . . or very, very bad?
363 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2015
13 people are currently reading
1380 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Duggan
29 books1,153 followersCJ Duggan is an internationally best-selling author of contemporary Young Adult and New Adult fiction. From small town dramas to big city dreamers, CJ’s coming-of-age tales are filled with hope and heart, and told by relatable protagonists with strong Australian voices.
A proud Yorta Yorta woman, CJ lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales. When she is not writing you will usually find her rearranging knick-knacks in her home office, or plotting the next weekend escape.
If you love ceramic owls, dusty-pink decor and old typewriters, then CJ wants to be your new best friend.
Follow C.J on her website: www.cjdugganbooks.com
A proud Yorta Yorta woman, CJ lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales. When she is not writing you will usually find her rearranging knick-knacks in her home office, or plotting the next weekend escape.
If you love ceramic owls, dusty-pink decor and old typewriters, then CJ wants to be your new best friend.
Follow C.J on her website: www.cjdugganbooks.com
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June 1, 2015
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Paradise City. A place where dreams come true. It's sunny, beachy and filled with hot surfers, summer flings and romance.
I should have known this book was going to be cheesy from the title. Paradise City is like a high school Sin City, where girls start wearing makeup when they're 12 and boys hook up with a different girl a week (oh the horrors).
From Lexie's point of view, it all seems quite scandalous and exciting. She has been home schooled on a farm all of her life, and coming into the city, her life is turned around. It becomes filled with boys, sneaking out and late night parties, and she's never had more fun. While Lexxie had a really fresh and hilarious perspective, she was a massive bimbo. And the second she meets Ballantine, she becomes totally boy-crazy and incredibly obsessed and pines over him for the entire book.
I can see why though. Ballantine absolutely smouldered all the way through and he was a really sweet, decent, incredibly handsome guy who precedes his bad boy reputation. I had to laugh at some of the eye-rolling cheesy lines describing him though:
I found it hard to concentrate, when all I could do was think about the hot boy next to me: the rise and fall of his chest, his perfectly proportioned profile, and his ludicrously good-looking bone structure.
The romance, while it had instant attraction, did gradually develop with a lot of obstacles in the way. Frustratingly, Lexie and Ballantine would hook up, but pull away before they could seal the deal because of little rumours, interruptions or things that could be solved with communication. The love triangle was quite forced, although it made for some great snarky banter between Lexie and the prickly and broody Dean.
There's a strange relationship between Lexie and her bitchy cousin, Amanda. From childhood friends, to competitive girl on girl hate, to a somewhat reluctant tolerance of each other, it was something that I never really got. In the boy crazy rebellious world of Paradise City, Lexie only starts to gain her cousin's respect from breaking the rules and hooking up with boys.
A lot of judgey labelling goes on in the book as well, which I wasn't a fan of. Everyone in the book seems to be subject to it, from Lexie writing off Amanda as a smug, bitchy rebel to thinking surfers are like the below:
"Yeah, well. I kind of imagined that you would all have long blond hair, and say things like 'gnarly, dude' and 'cowabunga."
Ballantine squinted. "I think you're mistaking a surfer for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle."
I'm pretty sure it's meant to be endearing, but it just had me rolling my eyes.
Then you have this pretty awkward scene with her supposed BFF Laura, who gives her a D&M on what she thinks of Ballantine:
Lexxie: "And what? He's a horndog surfer that usually beds the first girl he sees?"
Laura: "Well, yeah, kind of. Don't get me wrong, I'm just surprised, is all."
So of course after that conversation, this happens:
"After tonight I was no longer going to be a virgin. Ballantine would not get bored with me and I would not be the only freak at Paradise High that still held her V-plates"
HOWWW IS THIS OKAYYYY. Don't let anyone tell you what you should be doing with your virginity!
While I was entertained with Lexie's hilarious and fresh perspective, I think in the end it was the cheesiness in this book that I couldn't get past. So much of the book features Lexie pining and obsessing over Ballantine and his abs, and there wasn't much else that happened.
The book is labelled as NA, but with teenage characters and a high school setting, it's pretty much a YA book with sex. There was something about the juvenile writing that felt like a naughty fan fiction that I shouldn't be reading.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Paradise City. A place where dreams come true. It's sunny, beachy and filled with hot surfers, summer flings and romance.
I should have known this book was going to be cheesy from the title. Paradise City is like a high school Sin City, where girls start wearing makeup when they're 12 and boys hook up with a different girl a week (oh the horrors).
From Lexie's point of view, it all seems quite scandalous and exciting. She has been home schooled on a farm all of her life, and coming into the city, her life is turned around. It becomes filled with boys, sneaking out and late night parties, and she's never had more fun. While Lexxie had a really fresh and hilarious perspective, she was a massive bimbo. And the second she meets Ballantine, she becomes totally boy-crazy and incredibly obsessed and pines over him for the entire book.
I can see why though. Ballantine absolutely smouldered all the way through and he was a really sweet, decent, incredibly handsome guy who precedes his bad boy reputation. I had to laugh at some of the eye-rolling cheesy lines describing him though:
I found it hard to concentrate, when all I could do was think about the hot boy next to me: the rise and fall of his chest, his perfectly proportioned profile, and his ludicrously good-looking bone structure.
The romance, while it had instant attraction, did gradually develop with a lot of obstacles in the way. Frustratingly, Lexie and Ballantine would hook up, but pull away before they could seal the deal because of little rumours, interruptions or things that could be solved with communication. The love triangle was quite forced, although it made for some great snarky banter between Lexie and the prickly and broody Dean.
There's a strange relationship between Lexie and her bitchy cousin, Amanda. From childhood friends, to competitive girl on girl hate, to a somewhat reluctant tolerance of each other, it was something that I never really got. In the boy crazy rebellious world of Paradise City, Lexie only starts to gain her cousin's respect from breaking the rules and hooking up with boys.
A lot of judgey labelling goes on in the book as well, which I wasn't a fan of. Everyone in the book seems to be subject to it, from Lexie writing off Amanda as a smug, bitchy rebel to thinking surfers are like the below:
"Yeah, well. I kind of imagined that you would all have long blond hair, and say things like 'gnarly, dude' and 'cowabunga."
Ballantine squinted. "I think you're mistaking a surfer for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle."
I'm pretty sure it's meant to be endearing, but it just had me rolling my eyes.
Then you have this pretty awkward scene with her supposed BFF Laura, who gives her a D&M on what she thinks of Ballantine:
Lexxie: "And what? He's a horndog surfer that usually beds the first girl he sees?"
Laura: "Well, yeah, kind of. Don't get me wrong, I'm just surprised, is all."
So of course after that conversation, this happens:
"After tonight I was no longer going to be a virgin. Ballantine would not get bored with me and I would not be the only freak at Paradise High that still held her V-plates"
HOWWW IS THIS OKAYYYY. Don't let anyone tell you what you should be doing with your virginity!
While I was entertained with Lexie's hilarious and fresh perspective, I think in the end it was the cheesiness in this book that I couldn't get past. So much of the book features Lexie pining and obsessing over Ballantine and his abs, and there wasn't much else that happened.
The book is labelled as NA, but with teenage characters and a high school setting, it's pretty much a YA book with sex. There was something about the juvenile writing that felt like a naughty fan fiction that I shouldn't be reading.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2015
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/04/p...
As most of you know, I rarely read new adult, never mind actually enjoy it. It's the same tropes over and over and often sexually based with barely a hint of a storyline. Paradise City not only reinvents the new adult genre, but sets the standard that all new adult authors should strive for. Set in the fictional town of Paradise City, Lexie is the girl next door looking for a big city adventure. Originally from the sleepy town of Red Hill, Lexie has been home schooled and longs for the high school experience. Having moved years prior, her cousin Amanda and her parents agree to take the seventeen year old in, but where Lexie and Amanda were once as thick as thieves, now their relationship strained even further with the vapid and arrogant Amanda wanting her gone.
But Lexie is a tough as boots country girl and refuses to let Amanda win. She digs in her heels and is determine to make the most of her opportunity. But starting a new school isn't easy especially when Ballantine seems to be staring her down, the attraction and sexual tension can be cut with a knife. Ballantine isn't the playboy that his reputation leads everyone to believe and he and Lexie form a tentative friendship, bonding over shared detentions and late night rendezvous.
More mature young adult than new adult, C. J has crafted a sizzling storyline that could be considered to be a coming of age for the realistic, every day girl. Lexie is not only likable, but incredibly relatable and wants to find her place in the social hierarchy of Paradise City. She isn't perfect, but awkward, clumsy and naive. Her budding relationship with the sinful Ballantine is tense, but the banter and awkwardness of Lexie navigating her first real crush was absolutely charming.
I loved every moment. Uniquely Australian, Paradise City was simply brilliant. C. J is a born storyteller that breathes a realism into her characters and situations that we've all found ourselves in. But the biggest difference is, that her books span across the ages. Generations of yesterday, today and tomorrow will relate to not only Lexie, but her plight. But be warned, Paradise City does end of a cliffhanger. I can't wait to see what will become of Lexie and Ballantine and head back to Paradise City in the next installment. It can't come soon enough.
As most of you know, I rarely read new adult, never mind actually enjoy it. It's the same tropes over and over and often sexually based with barely a hint of a storyline. Paradise City not only reinvents the new adult genre, but sets the standard that all new adult authors should strive for. Set in the fictional town of Paradise City, Lexie is the girl next door looking for a big city adventure. Originally from the sleepy town of Red Hill, Lexie has been home schooled and longs for the high school experience. Having moved years prior, her cousin Amanda and her parents agree to take the seventeen year old in, but where Lexie and Amanda were once as thick as thieves, now their relationship strained even further with the vapid and arrogant Amanda wanting her gone.
But Lexie is a tough as boots country girl and refuses to let Amanda win. She digs in her heels and is determine to make the most of her opportunity. But starting a new school isn't easy especially when Ballantine seems to be staring her down, the attraction and sexual tension can be cut with a knife. Ballantine isn't the playboy that his reputation leads everyone to believe and he and Lexie form a tentative friendship, bonding over shared detentions and late night rendezvous.
More mature young adult than new adult, C. J has crafted a sizzling storyline that could be considered to be a coming of age for the realistic, every day girl. Lexie is not only likable, but incredibly relatable and wants to find her place in the social hierarchy of Paradise City. She isn't perfect, but awkward, clumsy and naive. Her budding relationship with the sinful Ballantine is tense, but the banter and awkwardness of Lexie navigating her first real crush was absolutely charming.
I loved every moment. Uniquely Australian, Paradise City was simply brilliant. C. J is a born storyteller that breathes a realism into her characters and situations that we've all found ourselves in. But the biggest difference is, that her books span across the ages. Generations of yesterday, today and tomorrow will relate to not only Lexie, but her plight. But be warned, Paradise City does end of a cliffhanger. I can't wait to see what will become of Lexie and Ballantine and head back to Paradise City in the next installment. It can't come soon enough.
April 10, 2015
Hmmm 3.5 - 4 lame cliffhanger stars
This was very YA, I wasn't quite feeling all of the characters' angst, although it was an entertaining enough read. Could've done without the cliffhanger though, hate it when a story's left hanging like that. Next part is out September.
Full review to follow.
This was very YA, I wasn't quite feeling all of the characters' angst, although it was an entertaining enough read. Could've done without the cliffhanger though, hate it when a story's left hanging like that. Next part is out September.
Full review to follow.
April 22, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
I love C.J. Duggan's books. She can write the heck out of New Adult contemporary romances. As an author on my auto-buy list, I was super excited to be a part of the Paradise City blog tour. Paradise City is the first book in C.J.'s Paradise series, which is a new adult contemporary romance series. Even though the main character is in high school, this had more of a new adult feel to it. Maybe younger new adult or a ya/na crossover. It is a little different than her Summer Boys series, in that each book does not work as a standalone. Here, you will need to read the series in order. And here, there is a cliffhanger. It caught me off guard because I have never experienced a cliffhanger in any of C.J. Duggan's other books, so I wasn't expecting it at all. And it is quite the cliffhanger, at that.
Cliffhanger aside, Paradise City is the same brand of feel good, fun and sexy romance that I have come to love from this author. I can't wait for the next book in the series already. Lexie grew up home schooled in a tiny Australian town. She is super smart, and for her 11th grade year in high school, her parents have finally agreed to let her move in with her aunt and cousin in the bigger town of Paradise. Lexie was so adorably excited about moving and going to a real high school. She was like a kid in the candy store when she got to Paradise. I loved it. She wanted ALL THE TEENAGE EXPERIENCES. And any good reader of new adult knows that means teenage romance.
I loved the way the students at school were divided into one of three different houses. I have no idea if that is how it is actually done in high school in Australia, but I would like to imagine that it is. Lexie totally got the best house too- Gilmore. (Gave me a total Gilmore Girls flashback) That is the house for the smart kids. The house for the beach bums, or cool kids was Kirkland, and that is where Boon and Luke and some of Lexie's cousin's friends are in. I knew right off the rat that most of the action was going to come from Lexie's interaction with this crowd. It took me a couple of minutes before I could get a read on Luke as a love interest, but once I did, I really enjoyed his interactions with Lexie.
Paradise City is a great romance with a great main character. I loved Lexie. A lot, a lot. And I liked the whole group of secondary characters as well. I am looking forward to seeing more of them in the next book, and getting to know them a little bit better. If you loved C.J. Duggan's Summer series, you should give Paradise City a try! And if you are new to C.J. Duggan's books, you need to get in the loop and grab all of her books. You will become addicted.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
I love C.J. Duggan's books. She can write the heck out of New Adult contemporary romances. As an author on my auto-buy list, I was super excited to be a part of the Paradise City blog tour. Paradise City is the first book in C.J.'s Paradise series, which is a new adult contemporary romance series. Even though the main character is in high school, this had more of a new adult feel to it. Maybe younger new adult or a ya/na crossover. It is a little different than her Summer Boys series, in that each book does not work as a standalone. Here, you will need to read the series in order. And here, there is a cliffhanger. It caught me off guard because I have never experienced a cliffhanger in any of C.J. Duggan's other books, so I wasn't expecting it at all. And it is quite the cliffhanger, at that.
Cliffhanger aside, Paradise City is the same brand of feel good, fun and sexy romance that I have come to love from this author. I can't wait for the next book in the series already. Lexie grew up home schooled in a tiny Australian town. She is super smart, and for her 11th grade year in high school, her parents have finally agreed to let her move in with her aunt and cousin in the bigger town of Paradise. Lexie was so adorably excited about moving and going to a real high school. She was like a kid in the candy store when she got to Paradise. I loved it. She wanted ALL THE TEENAGE EXPERIENCES. And any good reader of new adult knows that means teenage romance.
I loved the way the students at school were divided into one of three different houses. I have no idea if that is how it is actually done in high school in Australia, but I would like to imagine that it is. Lexie totally got the best house too- Gilmore. (Gave me a total Gilmore Girls flashback) That is the house for the smart kids. The house for the beach bums, or cool kids was Kirkland, and that is where Boon and Luke and some of Lexie's cousin's friends are in. I knew right off the rat that most of the action was going to come from Lexie's interaction with this crowd. It took me a couple of minutes before I could get a read on Luke as a love interest, but once I did, I really enjoyed his interactions with Lexie.
Paradise City is a great romance with a great main character. I loved Lexie. A lot, a lot. And I liked the whole group of secondary characters as well. I am looking forward to seeing more of them in the next book, and getting to know them a little bit better. If you loved C.J. Duggan's Summer series, you should give Paradise City a try! And if you are new to C.J. Duggan's books, you need to get in the loop and grab all of her books. You will become addicted.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
July 28, 2015
3.5 bad girl stars
I've never read an Australian based book so the lingo was fun for me
This story is very YA and you get that immediately. Almost has a strange twilight fanfic feel to it. However no vampire so I don’t know why that tingle resonates. Don't think I'll continue this series but if you like YA all the time then you will love it
This book was emailed as a recommendation via netgalley and as many of them as I have steered clear to I was somehow drawn to this one. But whoever wrote the teaser for it should be given a high five! “ From the author of the best selling Summer series, comes the first book in a seriously sexy New Adult series you wont want to miss. For fans of abbi glines, sarrah dessen and colleen hoover. ” How can I say no to any of those three authors! Especially Abbi Glines!
The YA of this entire thing is a mess! SO Lexie has been homeschooled her entire life and finally has convinced her parents to let her go to public school in Paradise and live with her cousin Amanda.—who OMG is the worst person that exists ever… in hopes that public school will solve all the issues for her.
I mean Luke Ballentine sounds like sex on a stick who would want to give their “v-plates” up for that ! I think this book gets 1.5 stars from just because it is believable. But the story doesn’t elicit feelings from me and the cliffhanger didn’t really sell it..however I think the cliffhanger made the book better in a way.
The story reads crazy fast so for 400 pages it flew by didn’t even take a whole day to read (including a 10 hr nap..coma…) so as far as an easy read this is it!
I will have to think on reading the author again only because YA and NA just aren’t for me but I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.. but im off to find me a good smutmance
April 20, 2015
I have enjoyed Duggan's other series and was intrigued when I saw that she had a new one coming out.
It is always fun to see how an author will shake it up when the genre is slightly different (or very different in some cases) and if truth be told, I was hoping this one might be sightly edgier, grittier than her other.
I liked Lexie immediately. There was just something charming about her small town girl with big dreams attitude.
Her and Luke together were a lot of fun. Their banter and funny moments probably made this book along with some fun and engaging secondary characters that I wish were just a bit more fleshed out, but make it exciting to see what the next book will have in store for them.
I am still somewhat shocked that this ended the way it did however. I wasn't expecting it to be left so much in the air. I knew this was a series but I was seriously hoping each book would end with some kind of conclusion instead of leaving us hanging like this did. Nothing was actually left done. It was all undone, up in the air, and on the edge of a precept.
However, with an ending like that one, the author is pretty much guaranteed her readers will come back for more.
It is always fun to see how an author will shake it up when the genre is slightly different (or very different in some cases) and if truth be told, I was hoping this one might be sightly edgier, grittier than her other.
I liked Lexie immediately. There was just something charming about her small town girl with big dreams attitude.
Her and Luke together were a lot of fun. Their banter and funny moments probably made this book along with some fun and engaging secondary characters that I wish were just a bit more fleshed out, but make it exciting to see what the next book will have in store for them.
I am still somewhat shocked that this ended the way it did however. I wasn't expecting it to be left so much in the air. I knew this was a series but I was seriously hoping each book would end with some kind of conclusion instead of leaving us hanging like this did. Nothing was actually left done. It was all undone, up in the air, and on the edge of a precept.
However, with an ending like that one, the author is pretty much guaranteed her readers will come back for more.
March 2, 2015
So I started reading this book thinking I would read just a couple of chapters and then stop. As you see, I finished it in one sitting. This pretty much sums up everything.
Full review to come...
And C.J., that ending wasn't nice!
Full review to come...
And C.J., that ending wasn't nice!
April 26, 2015
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
4.5 stars
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Hachette via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication data is April 28th 2015**
OMG....I have to wait until September to read the next in the series?!?! That is simply cruel that I can't get my next fix of the drama that is Lexie's life until then!
It is safe to say that this story hooked me. I will admit to being a little bit surprised, I expected it to entertain me but not as much as it did. This type of story is a guilty pleasure for me however I usually keep my expectations tempered. This story changed up the formula for me.
I am not going to give spoilers but I am going to give my thoughts on where I see this story progressing going forward. I do not know how many books this series will amount to however it felt like this inaugural story was setting up a framework for things to come.
The chemistry between Ballantine and Lexie was evident from the beginning and there verbal sparring was entertaining. I eagerly awaited each moment they had together to see where it was going to go. I also sensed some chemistry between Lexie and a certain other character and I feel that it is setting the framework for a future plot twist. Do I sense a love triangle in the future? It certainly appears that way and the relationship between the characters certainly adds to the drama factor.
That is all I am going to say. I would recommend this to fans of NA and YA although there is a bit of sexual content so YA audience be warned (so maybe not). This story to me seemed to fit outside of the usual formula of the genre and I found that refreshing. I also think that the story was framed in such a way that several instalments could be made and it would still be compelling to keep wanting to come back for more. I personally can not wait until the next book is out so I can find out what happens.
4.5 stars
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Hachette via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication data is April 28th 2015**
OMG....I have to wait until September to read the next in the series?!?! That is simply cruel that I can't get my next fix of the drama that is Lexie's life until then!
It is safe to say that this story hooked me. I will admit to being a little bit surprised, I expected it to entertain me but not as much as it did. This type of story is a guilty pleasure for me however I usually keep my expectations tempered. This story changed up the formula for me.
I am not going to give spoilers but I am going to give my thoughts on where I see this story progressing going forward. I do not know how many books this series will amount to however it felt like this inaugural story was setting up a framework for things to come.
The chemistry between Ballantine and Lexie was evident from the beginning and there verbal sparring was entertaining. I eagerly awaited each moment they had together to see where it was going to go. I also sensed some chemistry between Lexie and a certain other character and I feel that it is setting the framework for a future plot twist. Do I sense a love triangle in the future? It certainly appears that way and the relationship between the characters certainly adds to the drama factor.
That is all I am going to say. I would recommend this to fans of NA and YA although there is a bit of sexual content so YA audience be warned (so maybe not). This story to me seemed to fit outside of the usual formula of the genre and I found that refreshing. I also think that the story was framed in such a way that several instalments could be made and it would still be compelling to keep wanting to come back for more. I personally can not wait until the next book is out so I can find out what happens.
September 25, 2015
How bad can a good girl get?
Well,it seems that all that C.J Duggan writes ends up on my "Favorite book list".And i'm not kidding!
From the moment i heard that she was starting to write another book series i practicaly started typing like crazy ,trying to find out about what she was writing or when it was due to be published.
Now?Can i just say that i'm a happy girl?Yup,that's exactly what i am!
I'm starting to think that the best stories are those in which the good girl tries to be bad and ends up doing a lot of crazy things,but at the end she gets one thing:the bad boys attention.
I love those kind of stories cause it keeps me intrigued and makes me laugh a lot.And ,of course,every time i read them i'm asking myself a lot of questions. Yikes.
So,this book made me laugh like crazy.Even my boyfriend asked me a few times why i was laughing or why i wasn't paying attention to him. Yikes!
Imagine dreaming about a place called Paradise City.A place you think it's Heaven on earth..But maybe that place is more than you think..
Lexie Attkinson's dreams about Paradise City.All she wanted was to see how paradise is and enjoy her life more than she did until that point.But what if Paradise City isn't the place she dreamed about?What if by going there her life will change completely?
The funny part was the she did a lot of things i never expected.Like starting big rumors and breaking into places she wasn't allowed.But the best part was:falling in love.
Meet bad boy Luke Ballantine.He's the one who makes Lexie realize that Paradise City is exactly how she dreamed.Luke is charming,handsome and a bad boy!You know what they say about bad boys.right?They are trouble.
I loved every chapter and every moment .That's what i liked about C.J's book: they are full of surprises,crazy moments and amazing characters.
It was fun to read this and i enjoyed every second !It made me dream of Paradise. Yup.
You know how i rate the book i love? EPIC 5 stars for this AMAZING book.
Well,it seems that all that C.J Duggan writes ends up on my "Favorite book list".And i'm not kidding!
From the moment i heard that she was starting to write another book series i practicaly started typing like crazy ,trying to find out about what she was writing or when it was due to be published.
Now?Can i just say that i'm a happy girl?Yup,that's exactly what i am!
I'm starting to think that the best stories are those in which the good girl tries to be bad and ends up doing a lot of crazy things,but at the end she gets one thing:the bad boys attention.
I love those kind of stories cause it keeps me intrigued and makes me laugh a lot.And ,of course,every time i read them i'm asking myself a lot of questions. Yikes.
So,this book made me laugh like crazy.Even my boyfriend asked me a few times why i was laughing or why i wasn't paying attention to him. Yikes!
Imagine dreaming about a place called Paradise City.A place you think it's Heaven on earth..But maybe that place is more than you think..
Lexie Attkinson's dreams about Paradise City.All she wanted was to see how paradise is and enjoy her life more than she did until that point.But what if Paradise City isn't the place she dreamed about?What if by going there her life will change completely?
The funny part was the she did a lot of things i never expected.Like starting big rumors and breaking into places she wasn't allowed.But the best part was:falling in love.
Meet bad boy Luke Ballantine.He's the one who makes Lexie realize that Paradise City is exactly how she dreamed.Luke is charming,handsome and a bad boy!You know what they say about bad boys.right?They are trouble.
I loved every chapter and every moment .That's what i liked about C.J's book: they are full of surprises,crazy moments and amazing characters.
It was fun to read this and i enjoyed every second !It made me dream of Paradise. Yup.
You know how i rate the book i love? EPIC 5 stars for this AMAZING book.
April 12, 2015
Wow. I'm on a roll in giving away one star. Err, where's my luck with books??? Paradise City has a very promising and interesting premise. But it didn't elicit any feelings out of me. ANYTHING. NONE. AT. ALL. Maybe the occasional cringing but still:
April 29, 2015
Rating: 4.5/5
Review coming soon!
Review coming soon!
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I'm a HUGE fan of Duggan's Summer series, so when I heard that Hachette Australia was publishing her new series, I was thrilled! Unlike the Summer series, these books are not standalones - the story is left very much up in the air at the end of Paradise City, but most of the elements that I loved about Summer are still there! I can't wait to see where Duggan goes with the story next!
What I loved:
The Australian setting.
What's not to love about a book set in Australia? Paradise City brings us to a smallish Australian beach town in the 90's. I absolutely loved the ambiance! Lexie expects it to be a little slice of paradise, just like the name implies, but she finds that, despite the beach and the surfers, Paradise isn't all she'd imagined it to be.
Dreams and Expectations Versus Reality.
The book is pretty much all about how Lexie built up this experience of going to school with her cousin in Paradise City in her mind and how it doesn't live up to her expectations at all. First off (and probably most importantly), her beloved cousin Amanda, who Lexie hasn't seen in years, seems to hate her for some unknown reason. And, while Lexie is used to working hard on her studies (she'd been homeschooled all her life), she realizes pretty quickly that being a good student isn't nearly enough to help her fit in at a public school. She had all these dreams and visions of what her life would be like in this new place, and they all come crashing down around her once she gets there! I loved Lexie's reality check and I thought that Lexie was a really relatable character who I sympathized with.
The romance and friendships.
While Lexie isn't exactly sure how to fit in with
Paradise City kids at first, she soon finds a niche with some of Amanda's friends (much to Amanda's dismay). These kids are a bit rough around the edges, and Lexie gets into a little trouble trying to get in good with them, but she does eventually form some real friendships there. I should point out that I wasn't crazy about all of Lexie's choices - some of the things she does are downright dumb! - but I still managed to like her and sympathize with her. Ballantine is a classic bad boy with a heart of gold. Because of some elements of his past, he has a bit of trouble putting himself out there and trusting, but he finds himself falling for Lexie anyway. I was definitely rooting for them as a couple!
The negatives:
Amanda.
Amanda is supposed to be a pretty unlikable character (her main purpose in the book seemed to be to make Lexie miserable), but it was her sudden mood swings that really bothered me. I just couldn't quite figure her out. First she was absolutely horrible to Lexie for no apparent reason, then she was super sweet, and then, at the slightest provocation, she went back to being nasty. I didn't really understand her motivations completely, so she just kind of ended up bugging me.
The ending.
If it weren't for the blurb for the next book, I would have been really aggravated with the ending to this one. It just seemed like Lexie gave up way too easily when things went wrong. In her situation, I would have been frantically trying to explain. Still, the blurb for book two renewed my faith in Lexie a little bit and I'm very intrigued to see what happens next.
This was a great start to the series, but definitely leaves you hanging. The next book is too far away!! I give this 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
I'm a HUGE fan of Duggan's Summer series, so when I heard that Hachette Australia was publishing her new series, I was thrilled! Unlike the Summer series, these books are not standalones - the story is left very much up in the air at the end of Paradise City, but most of the elements that I loved about Summer are still there! I can't wait to see where Duggan goes with the story next!
What I loved:
The Australian setting.
What's not to love about a book set in Australia? Paradise City brings us to a smallish Australian beach town in the 90's. I absolutely loved the ambiance! Lexie expects it to be a little slice of paradise, just like the name implies, but she finds that, despite the beach and the surfers, Paradise isn't all she'd imagined it to be.
Dreams and Expectations Versus Reality.
The book is pretty much all about how Lexie built up this experience of going to school with her cousin in Paradise City in her mind and how it doesn't live up to her expectations at all. First off (and probably most importantly), her beloved cousin Amanda, who Lexie hasn't seen in years, seems to hate her for some unknown reason. And, while Lexie is used to working hard on her studies (she'd been homeschooled all her life), she realizes pretty quickly that being a good student isn't nearly enough to help her fit in at a public school. She had all these dreams and visions of what her life would be like in this new place, and they all come crashing down around her once she gets there! I loved Lexie's reality check and I thought that Lexie was a really relatable character who I sympathized with.
The romance and friendships.
While Lexie isn't exactly sure how to fit in with
Paradise City kids at first, she soon finds a niche with some of Amanda's friends (much to Amanda's dismay). These kids are a bit rough around the edges, and Lexie gets into a little trouble trying to get in good with them, but she does eventually form some real friendships there. I should point out that I wasn't crazy about all of Lexie's choices - some of the things she does are downright dumb! - but I still managed to like her and sympathize with her. Ballantine is a classic bad boy with a heart of gold. Because of some elements of his past, he has a bit of trouble putting himself out there and trusting, but he finds himself falling for Lexie anyway. I was definitely rooting for them as a couple!
The negatives:
Amanda.
Amanda is supposed to be a pretty unlikable character (her main purpose in the book seemed to be to make Lexie miserable), but it was her sudden mood swings that really bothered me. I just couldn't quite figure her out. First she was absolutely horrible to Lexie for no apparent reason, then she was super sweet, and then, at the slightest provocation, she went back to being nasty. I didn't really understand her motivations completely, so she just kind of ended up bugging me.
The ending.
If it weren't for the blurb for the next book, I would have been really aggravated with the ending to this one. It just seemed like Lexie gave up way too easily when things went wrong. In her situation, I would have been frantically trying to explain. Still, the blurb for book two renewed my faith in Lexie a little bit and I'm very intrigued to see what happens next.
This was a great start to the series, but definitely leaves you hanging. The next book is too far away!! I give this 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
April 29, 2015
Full Review @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Paradise City is set in Australia, and follows Lexie, a 17 year old girl, who moves from the country to live in the city with her Aunt, Uncle and Cousin for the final term of the school year where she will complete Year 11. I felt this was a good representation of life in Australia and dealt with normal teenage issues that affect girls not only in Australia, but everywhere… BOYS!!
Lexie was a girl that I connected to easily. She is a quiet kind of girl, who does well at school and has limited experience with boys. She expected to easily click with her extended family that she hasn’t seen since her childhood, but quickly realised that wasn’t going to happen. But she was willing to get on with her new life regardless. What she didn’t expect was to develop feelings for the school bad boy, Luke Ballintine.
Lexie was pretty amusing to read about, because she has lived a pretty sheltered life in the country, she did things spontaneously, without thinking things through. She got herself in trouble because she was trying to impress people and that landed her into detention, or getting the attention of people when she didn’t want it. Although she was embarrassed, she would straighten her spin and move on, which I thought was great.
The sexual tension between Lexie and Ballantine grew slowly throughout the story. It starts with quick comebacks and eye contact, but soon turns into something more for both of them. There are a few interesting twists thrown in, but they seemed to be intent on exploring these feelings for one another. The moments of passion were sweet and definitely showed a girl exploring something new.
I think this was a good start to the Paradise series. C.J. Duggan built realistic characters and put them in a world that is familiar to me. There was typical teenage drama and interesting side characters that I am keen to see more of. I want to read the next book now, to see what Lexie will do next – September will be here before I know it! If you like a good mature young adult read, you will like this one for sure!
Complimentary copy provided by the Publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Paradise City is set in Australia, and follows Lexie, a 17 year old girl, who moves from the country to live in the city with her Aunt, Uncle and Cousin for the final term of the school year where she will complete Year 11. I felt this was a good representation of life in Australia and dealt with normal teenage issues that affect girls not only in Australia, but everywhere… BOYS!!
Lexie was a girl that I connected to easily. She is a quiet kind of girl, who does well at school and has limited experience with boys. She expected to easily click with her extended family that she hasn’t seen since her childhood, but quickly realised that wasn’t going to happen. But she was willing to get on with her new life regardless. What she didn’t expect was to develop feelings for the school bad boy, Luke Ballintine.
Lexie was pretty amusing to read about, because she has lived a pretty sheltered life in the country, she did things spontaneously, without thinking things through. She got herself in trouble because she was trying to impress people and that landed her into detention, or getting the attention of people when she didn’t want it. Although she was embarrassed, she would straighten her spin and move on, which I thought was great.
The sexual tension between Lexie and Ballantine grew slowly throughout the story. It starts with quick comebacks and eye contact, but soon turns into something more for both of them. There are a few interesting twists thrown in, but they seemed to be intent on exploring these feelings for one another. The moments of passion were sweet and definitely showed a girl exploring something new.
I think this was a good start to the Paradise series. C.J. Duggan built realistic characters and put them in a world that is familiar to me. There was typical teenage drama and interesting side characters that I am keen to see more of. I want to read the next book now, to see what Lexie will do next – September will be here before I know it! If you like a good mature young adult read, you will like this one for sure!
Complimentary copy provided by the Publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2015
*This review also appears on my blog Genie In A Book*
Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Paradise City is the first book I've read by C.J. Duggan, and a first in my experiences reading Aussie NA fiction. While it did hold some of the stereotypical tropes of the genre, I can honestly say that it was nonetheless an addictive read. It would definitely be perfect for summer reading on the beach, and for a book which takes relationship drama, some steamy romance and witty banter along the way - I'm definitely willing to check out more of this author's work and her other series.
Lexie was a straight-A, good girl who moved in with her cousin Amanda and her family to Paradise City, only to run into all the teen drama and of course...the boys. Coming from a country town in Red Hill, there certainly wasn't much of that - and once she meets Luke Ballantine ( right on cue as the bad boy), she certainly changes her tune.
Suddenly trying to fit in with the cool crowd became important to Lexie, as well as perhaps getting some attention from a certain someone. But despite the seeming melodrama, there was more to this story and Lexie was at times a funny character with her awkwardness at times and taboos. She also cared about her new friend and tried to make an effort to stay out of trouble...though with Ballantine that of course wasn't easy. The romance was charged with tension, and there were some twists which I didn't see coming which made the whole thing all the more interesting.
FINAL THOUGHTS
After that cliffhanger, I do want to know what will happen next in this series. C.J. Duggan is an author on my watchlist now, and not only do I want to see more from Lexie and Luke - but her other books too. It's great to see Australian authors tackling this genre and making a success of it!
Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Paradise City is the first book I've read by C.J. Duggan, and a first in my experiences reading Aussie NA fiction. While it did hold some of the stereotypical tropes of the genre, I can honestly say that it was nonetheless an addictive read. It would definitely be perfect for summer reading on the beach, and for a book which takes relationship drama, some steamy romance and witty banter along the way - I'm definitely willing to check out more of this author's work and her other series.
Lexie was a straight-A, good girl who moved in with her cousin Amanda and her family to Paradise City, only to run into all the teen drama and of course...the boys. Coming from a country town in Red Hill, there certainly wasn't much of that - and once she meets Luke Ballantine ( right on cue as the bad boy), she certainly changes her tune.
Suddenly trying to fit in with the cool crowd became important to Lexie, as well as perhaps getting some attention from a certain someone. But despite the seeming melodrama, there was more to this story and Lexie was at times a funny character with her awkwardness at times and taboos. She also cared about her new friend and tried to make an effort to stay out of trouble...though with Ballantine that of course wasn't easy. The romance was charged with tension, and there were some twists which I didn't see coming which made the whole thing all the more interesting.
FINAL THOUGHTS
After that cliffhanger, I do want to know what will happen next in this series. C.J. Duggan is an author on my watchlist now, and not only do I want to see more from Lexie and Luke - but her other books too. It's great to see Australian authors tackling this genre and making a success of it!
August 22, 2015
22/8 - So what's the difference between Young Adult and New Adult? I somehow got the idea that New Adult was a continuation of where Young Adult left off. So if Young Adult is 13-19 (which is the age group I think Young Adult characters usually fall within), then New Adult is 20-25ish. But these characters are all high school students, so why isn't that Young Adult? And if I've got the definition of Young Adult and New Adult wrong, then how are they defined? It's all very confusing. Considering Luke's apparent sexual experience and the fact that Lexie had no less experience than many of the heroines in the adult romances I've read, I'm not classing this as Young Adult or New Adult, this is going on my romance shelf.
The high school students (all the main characters) in Paradise City remind me of the high school students from the long-running Australian soap, Home and Away - all ridiculously good looking. Luke seems unbelievably well-educated when it comes to sex, for an 18-year-old. He behaves like a well-controlled 30-year-old instead of the over-eager teen whose sexual stamina is in the 'blink and you'll miss it' category that he should be. It's been 13 years since I finished high school, but that's not so long that I could forget that guys like Luke just didn't go to my school. Guys like Luke only go to Summer Bay High School (from Home and Away). I'm sure most of you know Chris Hemsworth, better known as Thor. Well before he was Thor, he was Kim Hyde the principal's troubled son in Home and Away. Luke Ballantine is an 18-year-old Chris Hemsworth, unbelievably handsome with photo shopped abs and 'surfer hair' that can be flipped out of the eyes with one flick of his head.
I enjoyed the story and will continue with the series, I just found this even more fantastical than the normal, run of the mill romance (not counting romances with a purposefully paranormal aspect to the plot) that I read.
The high school students (all the main characters) in Paradise City remind me of the high school students from the long-running Australian soap, Home and Away - all ridiculously good looking. Luke seems unbelievably well-educated when it comes to sex, for an 18-year-old. He behaves like a well-controlled 30-year-old instead of the over-eager teen whose sexual stamina is in the 'blink and you'll miss it' category that he should be. It's been 13 years since I finished high school, but that's not so long that I could forget that guys like Luke just didn't go to my school. Guys like Luke only go to Summer Bay High School (from Home and Away). I'm sure most of you know Chris Hemsworth, better known as Thor. Well before he was Thor, he was Kim Hyde the principal's troubled son in Home and Away. Luke Ballantine is an 18-year-old Chris Hemsworth, unbelievably handsome with photo shopped abs and 'surfer hair' that can be flipped out of the eyes with one flick of his head.
I enjoyed the story and will continue with the series, I just found this even more fantastical than the normal, run of the mill romance (not counting romances with a purposefully paranormal aspect to the plot) that I read.
March 5, 2016
After digging into Paradise City I realised it had been way too long since I’ve read a C.J Duggan novel. I’d forgotten how much I love her writing and her way with new adult novels. She has this way of writing entertaining and fun new adult novels which I always seem to love. She's a reliable author who will always deliver an enjoyable novel.
Lexie was the character I enjoyed the most. After living her life secluded, her town so small there wasn’t a school, Lexie has been sheltered from the normal activities a girl her age would usually experience. Moving in with her aunt for the school term is probably the best thing to happen to her. Spreading her wings, she experiences things she’s only every thought about. That includes boys. Out of everything she anticipated, Luke Ballantine wasn’t one of them.
She was a character which made me smile. Going to Paradise City for her was a huge culture shock. She had this naivety and excitement about her from experiencing all new and exciting things to her and it was enduring to witness. And Luke Ballantine was the cherry on the cake. Boy, you guys have to read this for yourselves to witness Luke and the gang.
The romance was cute and slow-building. The author definitely gave us plenty of anticipation and build up when it came to the relationship of Lexie and Luke. With the cliffhanger we were left with, I’m dying for Paradise Road! Paradise City is packed with the New Adult essentials of beaches, boys and plenty of drama. If beaches and bad boys are your thing, then waste no time adding this to your list.
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2015...
Lexie was the character I enjoyed the most. After living her life secluded, her town so small there wasn’t a school, Lexie has been sheltered from the normal activities a girl her age would usually experience. Moving in with her aunt for the school term is probably the best thing to happen to her. Spreading her wings, she experiences things she’s only every thought about. That includes boys. Out of everything she anticipated, Luke Ballantine wasn’t one of them.
She was a character which made me smile. Going to Paradise City for her was a huge culture shock. She had this naivety and excitement about her from experiencing all new and exciting things to her and it was enduring to witness. And Luke Ballantine was the cherry on the cake. Boy, you guys have to read this for yourselves to witness Luke and the gang.
The romance was cute and slow-building. The author definitely gave us plenty of anticipation and build up when it came to the relationship of Lexie and Luke. With the cliffhanger we were left with, I’m dying for Paradise Road! Paradise City is packed with the New Adult essentials of beaches, boys and plenty of drama. If beaches and bad boys are your thing, then waste no time adding this to your list.
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2015...
December 29, 2015
Don't be fooled by the pretty pink cover, Paradise City by CJ Duggan packs quite the punch - of the good variety of course.
I was lucky enough to receive this book through the publisher during an internship interview. Having nothing to read with me, and a two and half hour train trip home, I started the book almost immediately and finished it before I got home. It was just that good. What's more the characters stayed with me for days.
Simply put, Paradise City by CJ Duggan is an amazing New Adult narrative. It's the story about a girl named Lexie Atkinson and her sea change when she gives up 'boring' old country life for senior schooling (yr 11 & 12) in the big smoke - or more adequately Paradise City, a surfing town on the Cold Coast, Australia. Lexie is book smart and thinks she knows exactly what she's in for, rooming with her 'BFF' cousin Amanda, who she hasn't seen in years, she knows she's in for a great year, and can't wait to leave her small town roots behind. But upon arriving in Paradise she realises pretty damn quickly that life isn't all its dreamed to be, her cousin doesn't want a thing to do with her and she doesn't fit in at school. But things aren't all bad, there is after all a sexy bad boy surfer named Like Ballantine who suddenly has Lexie's entire attention.
What I think I loved most about this book was the way in which CJ Duggan draws you into Lexie's world so quickly and so thoroughly through the scenery, atmosphere, and even the language of both country life and it's contrasts to city life. It's almost like the book has this sleepily awakening with Lexie as she journeys to the city, where her excitement is only overshadowed by the overwhelming nature and never ending noise of suburban and city dwelling. But it's with that quick realisation that Paradise City and a normal High School isn't all that it's cracked up to be that is endearing, because at the end of the day Lexie still loves school and the new experiences it brings with it. Human interaction no matter how negative is always a plus in her books where she's used to a radio 'on-air'/home schooling environments. What's more the book is written in such a way, that much like the writing, the tension whether that be caused by family, friends, or chemistry related to a certain surfer, has this natural flow that is weaved through the whole book giving it this seamless ebb and flow of a coastal town life with its highs and lows.
Another shinning feature is the larger than life array of mismatched characters assembled in Paradise City. There's Lexie Atkinson, a feisty independent teen who is trying everything and anything she can think of to shred her 'old' image and reputation of a 'good, upstanding country girl'. And Luke Balletine, the king of the surfing crowd, all round bad boy with a secret heart. Amanda, Lexie's cousin, is one of the cool girls obsessed with boys and the ideals of being a typical teenager (sneaking out, drinking etc) and a bit of the stereotypical mean girl; and Boon, Luke's right hand man and potentially a bigger gossip then the entire female population at school. Boon's sister is book smart and cautious, and yet a wild child on the inside full of pranks and endless hours of entertainment. Lexie's aunt is much like her daughter in terms of how she is always careful of what persona she is giving out to the public through her OCD cleanliness routine and perfectionist lifestyle, where as her husband couldn't be more different and aloof, completely disengaged by everything that surrounds him, except for when it comes to his young charge (Lexie) and a certain teenage boy. All of these larger than life characters share traits and personalities of people that just about every single reader would have encountered at least once through their high school lives. What should stand as random mismatched array of personalities is transformed through the magic of Duggan's words and narrative to become almost like a second family to the reader. A home away from home, where life is a little bit more exciting then it is perhaps in reality, and yet not so far enough removed that we don't believe it or feel it ourselves.
Overall it was refreshing to see teenagers acting like every day mundane teenagers in this narrative, a trait I think many of the books lack these days in both the YA and NA genres. What's more, the adults in the story - whether they be Lexie's parents, her Aunt and Uncle, or Dean Saville (Luke's older brother) - are active participants rather than just shadows in the background or missing altogether. At no point in this story did I feel like a character (teen or adult) was on the page simply there to fulfil a plot point, rather they were all integral parts of the story.
In fact there was only one small problem I had with the book as a whole and that related to the story's time lime. It seemed like it was Lexie's first week at school for the majority of the book, and then suddenly in true wham-bam-thank-you-mam style, it was the end of the school year and Lexie was leaving Paradise City for the holidays. While I understand this might be my own reading error, it just seemed a trifle bit confusing and out of place how quick that transition was. That said, the book reads extremely well and Lexie did do a lot in her first week or so of school and suburban living.
I'm not so patiently waiting for book book two - which unfortunately I just found out via the authors facebook page has been delayed by two months is now due out in November 2015! In the meantime though the author and publisher have revamped the covers to reflect the more sexy, grown up appeal of this NA narrative and I actually love what they've done with them.
Please note that there is a small amount of adult/sexual content in this book and it's recommend for mature audiences - i.e. the older spectre of YA readers (15 and above). That said this book is not erotic as I've heard and seen some people list it as, so please don't be dissuaded by the concept.
I was lucky enough to receive this book through the publisher during an internship interview. Having nothing to read with me, and a two and half hour train trip home, I started the book almost immediately and finished it before I got home. It was just that good. What's more the characters stayed with me for days.
Simply put, Paradise City by CJ Duggan is an amazing New Adult narrative. It's the story about a girl named Lexie Atkinson and her sea change when she gives up 'boring' old country life for senior schooling (yr 11 & 12) in the big smoke - or more adequately Paradise City, a surfing town on the Cold Coast, Australia. Lexie is book smart and thinks she knows exactly what she's in for, rooming with her 'BFF' cousin Amanda, who she hasn't seen in years, she knows she's in for a great year, and can't wait to leave her small town roots behind. But upon arriving in Paradise she realises pretty damn quickly that life isn't all its dreamed to be, her cousin doesn't want a thing to do with her and she doesn't fit in at school. But things aren't all bad, there is after all a sexy bad boy surfer named Like Ballantine who suddenly has Lexie's entire attention.
What I think I loved most about this book was the way in which CJ Duggan draws you into Lexie's world so quickly and so thoroughly through the scenery, atmosphere, and even the language of both country life and it's contrasts to city life. It's almost like the book has this sleepily awakening with Lexie as she journeys to the city, where her excitement is only overshadowed by the overwhelming nature and never ending noise of suburban and city dwelling. But it's with that quick realisation that Paradise City and a normal High School isn't all that it's cracked up to be that is endearing, because at the end of the day Lexie still loves school and the new experiences it brings with it. Human interaction no matter how negative is always a plus in her books where she's used to a radio 'on-air'/home schooling environments. What's more the book is written in such a way, that much like the writing, the tension whether that be caused by family, friends, or chemistry related to a certain surfer, has this natural flow that is weaved through the whole book giving it this seamless ebb and flow of a coastal town life with its highs and lows.
Another shinning feature is the larger than life array of mismatched characters assembled in Paradise City. There's Lexie Atkinson, a feisty independent teen who is trying everything and anything she can think of to shred her 'old' image and reputation of a 'good, upstanding country girl'. And Luke Balletine, the king of the surfing crowd, all round bad boy with a secret heart. Amanda, Lexie's cousin, is one of the cool girls obsessed with boys and the ideals of being a typical teenager (sneaking out, drinking etc) and a bit of the stereotypical mean girl; and Boon, Luke's right hand man and potentially a bigger gossip then the entire female population at school. Boon's sister is book smart and cautious, and yet a wild child on the inside full of pranks and endless hours of entertainment. Lexie's aunt is much like her daughter in terms of how she is always careful of what persona she is giving out to the public through her OCD cleanliness routine and perfectionist lifestyle, where as her husband couldn't be more different and aloof, completely disengaged by everything that surrounds him, except for when it comes to his young charge (Lexie) and a certain teenage boy. All of these larger than life characters share traits and personalities of people that just about every single reader would have encountered at least once through their high school lives. What should stand as random mismatched array of personalities is transformed through the magic of Duggan's words and narrative to become almost like a second family to the reader. A home away from home, where life is a little bit more exciting then it is perhaps in reality, and yet not so far enough removed that we don't believe it or feel it ourselves.
Overall it was refreshing to see teenagers acting like every day mundane teenagers in this narrative, a trait I think many of the books lack these days in both the YA and NA genres. What's more, the adults in the story - whether they be Lexie's parents, her Aunt and Uncle, or Dean Saville (Luke's older brother) - are active participants rather than just shadows in the background or missing altogether. At no point in this story did I feel like a character (teen or adult) was on the page simply there to fulfil a plot point, rather they were all integral parts of the story.
In fact there was only one small problem I had with the book as a whole and that related to the story's time lime. It seemed like it was Lexie's first week at school for the majority of the book, and then suddenly in true wham-bam-thank-you-mam style, it was the end of the school year and Lexie was leaving Paradise City for the holidays. While I understand this might be my own reading error, it just seemed a trifle bit confusing and out of place how quick that transition was. That said, the book reads extremely well and Lexie did do a lot in her first week or so of school and suburban living.
I'm not so patiently waiting for book book two - which unfortunately I just found out via the authors facebook page has been delayed by two months is now due out in November 2015! In the meantime though the author and publisher have revamped the covers to reflect the more sexy, grown up appeal of this NA narrative and I actually love what they've done with them.
Please note that there is a small amount of adult/sexual content in this book and it's recommend for mature audiences - i.e. the older spectre of YA readers (15 and above). That said this book is not erotic as I've heard and seen some people list it as, so please don't be dissuaded by the concept.
May 22, 2016
Thanks to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
There were things that I absolutely loved about this book, and others that rubbed me the wrong way, so overall I'm a bit conflicted. Maybe I'll just break it down exactly like that:
Things I loved/liked:
The Aussie slang words! My parents are Australian, and I'll always identify certain words with them, and those words in turn bring up memories of going to school, saying them in complete ignorance of anything out of the ordinary, and having kids look at me with a blank stare or straight out asking me what the heck I was talking about. These are the ones I saw in this book that struck a chord with me immediately:
texta - we say felt pens here in Canada
fringe - we say "bangs", although to me, "fringe" makes more sense!
serviette - this is one my mom still uses. Most people here would say "napkin".
knickers - haha! I mean, I know what they are, but I don't think I've ever once used this word!
lippy - we say "lipstick"
ute - honestly, we don't even really have "utes" here in Canada. This is truck country, and the bigger, the better!
jumper - sweater, hoodie, cardigan maybe. But "jumper" is usually only used in reference to cables.
chips - I think in Australia, when they say "chips", they are referring to what we call "french fries". We only call them chips when they're served with fish. Why we don't call them "fish 'n' fries", I'll never know.
biro, doona, and bitumen - I actually had to look these ones up, I had no idea what the author was talking about! Could be loosely translated as pen, duvet, and asphalt,
"up the duff" - I had a vague idea of this one, and because of the context I probably could have guessed, but even so, it made me laugh!
Lexie's character was a lot of fun! She was feisty, spontaneous, and bold - in other words, never a dull moment around her!
Some of the plot elements were really well done. There were a few surprises that I didn't predict, and I always enjoy a bit of unpredictability.
Things I hated/didn't like:
My main issue was the pacing. It felt very slow, with not a lot of action for the amount of pages there were. The action that did occur was great, but it was interspersed with a lot of fluff that could be seriously edited down.
Some of the characters were lacking development, namely Lexie's cousin Amanda. Her behaviour was erratic and for the most part unexplained. Was she dealing with severe PMS? Did something traumatic happen in her childhood? Did she have an undiagnosed mental illness? I don't have a clue, but I think a bit of explanation would have gone a long way in her regard.
Likewise, Luke's character was not as well developed as I would have liked. He was so hot and cold with Lexie, and even though some things were explained eventually, others were not. I'd have to say I have mixed feeling when it comes to Luke Ballantine!
And then there was the sexual content. Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily have a problem with this, it was just more detail than I was expecting from a book about high school kids. In this regard, "Paradise City" was definitely geared towards a more mature reader, and reminded me of some of the New Adult titles I've read. Younger readers (or parents with younger readers) should be forewarned!
So yeah, both good and bad things. Not sure if I will continue the series, but at this point I'd say that yes, I would like to see what happens to Lexie and Luke, especially considering how things were left off - bit of a cliffy, folks!
There were things that I absolutely loved about this book, and others that rubbed me the wrong way, so overall I'm a bit conflicted. Maybe I'll just break it down exactly like that:
Things I loved/liked:
The Aussie slang words! My parents are Australian, and I'll always identify certain words with them, and those words in turn bring up memories of going to school, saying them in complete ignorance of anything out of the ordinary, and having kids look at me with a blank stare or straight out asking me what the heck I was talking about. These are the ones I saw in this book that struck a chord with me immediately:
texta - we say felt pens here in Canada
fringe - we say "bangs", although to me, "fringe" makes more sense!
serviette - this is one my mom still uses. Most people here would say "napkin".
knickers - haha! I mean, I know what they are, but I don't think I've ever once used this word!
lippy - we say "lipstick"
ute - honestly, we don't even really have "utes" here in Canada. This is truck country, and the bigger, the better!
jumper - sweater, hoodie, cardigan maybe. But "jumper" is usually only used in reference to cables.
chips - I think in Australia, when they say "chips", they are referring to what we call "french fries". We only call them chips when they're served with fish. Why we don't call them "fish 'n' fries", I'll never know.
biro, doona, and bitumen - I actually had to look these ones up, I had no idea what the author was talking about! Could be loosely translated as pen, duvet, and asphalt,
"up the duff" - I had a vague idea of this one, and because of the context I probably could have guessed, but even so, it made me laugh!
Lexie's character was a lot of fun! She was feisty, spontaneous, and bold - in other words, never a dull moment around her!
Some of the plot elements were really well done. There were a few surprises that I didn't predict, and I always enjoy a bit of unpredictability.
Things I hated/didn't like:
My main issue was the pacing. It felt very slow, with not a lot of action for the amount of pages there were. The action that did occur was great, but it was interspersed with a lot of fluff that could be seriously edited down.
Some of the characters were lacking development, namely Lexie's cousin Amanda. Her behaviour was erratic and for the most part unexplained. Was she dealing with severe PMS? Did something traumatic happen in her childhood? Did she have an undiagnosed mental illness? I don't have a clue, but I think a bit of explanation would have gone a long way in her regard.
Likewise, Luke's character was not as well developed as I would have liked. He was so hot and cold with Lexie, and even though some things were explained eventually, others were not. I'd have to say I have mixed feeling when it comes to Luke Ballantine!
And then there was the sexual content. Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily have a problem with this, it was just more detail than I was expecting from a book about high school kids. In this regard, "Paradise City" was definitely geared towards a more mature reader, and reminded me of some of the New Adult titles I've read. Younger readers (or parents with younger readers) should be forewarned!
So yeah, both good and bad things. Not sure if I will continue the series, but at this point I'd say that yes, I would like to see what happens to Lexie and Luke, especially considering how things were left off - bit of a cliffy, folks!
September 25, 2015
My review can also be found on our blog Paein and Ms4Tune
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
“‘The truth is if I’m with a girl, in the sea, in the car, in a bed or on a beach,’ he said, a wicked grin flashing,’it’s because I choose to be.’” Location 1945
This is the second book I’ve read by C J Duggan. The first was The Boys of Summer, which still remains one of my favourite new adult romances. My review can be found HERE.
There’s something easy about the way C J Duggan’s writes. It has this flowing quality that means you can never just stop reading. That’s exactly what happened when I picked up Paradise City, I just had to finish it once I started.
After 8 hours of reading I found myself a little emotional because, as with The Boys of Summer, her characters were so easy to relate too. Again, they were angst filled teens who make silly decisions in the heat of the moment but, unlike The Boys of Summer, I felt as though some of the situations caused by their decisions, were slightly over done, especially towards the end. Paradise City is the first in a series and so ends with quite a large cliff hanger. This ending left me slightly annoyed, because it felt like the whole story had gone round in a huge circles only to end on a sour note. It all depends on where book two goes from here.
I really liked Lexie as the main character. She was quite naive, because she was homes schooled, and her gullibility was the cause of quite a few embarrassing moments. I liked that she was never afraid to put herself out there though, and she had a wicked sense of humor which proved a massive hit with the men.
And ooooh the men! I loved Boon and Ballantine. They were both cheeky and although they were supposed to be these huge bad boys at school, they ended up being really cute and funny. Ballantine especially turned out to be a real romantic.
I really enjoyed the dynamics of the various relationships. I liked that Lexie was always trying to play it cool so as not to give off a needy vibe and that Ballantine was always so direct. I especially enjoyed the different sibling relationships with Laura bating Boon all the time and Amanda and Lexie constantly yoyoing between love and hate. But I would love to know more about the family issues that Ballantine had. Mainly so I can understand why he and his brother had such an uneasy relationship.
If I were to be totally honest, I would have liked a little more certainty in the relationship between Ballantine and Lexie, it seemed as though there was always something making them doubt each other and it meant that I never really saw the connection between them. There were sparks, I admit that but I wanted more! I’m hoping book 2 will see them find that little bit more chemistry and perhaps a happily ever after?
The story itself had a good pace, even if the angst did cause the relationships to stutter and repeat from time to time. I would love to see where this goes next! I have no idea who i will be able to wait till September! especially after that cliff hanger!
December 9, 2015
I received an email announcing the release of the second book in this series and wondered why I hadn't noticed it before. I mean, as soon as I read the blurb I knew this was a story I definitely wanted to read this summer. And I wasn't wrong.
Lexie Atkinson lives with her parents in small town rural Australia. She's home schooled and is on the verge of ending her education when her parents decide it might be a good idea for her to attend a real school. After all, she's a bright girl and gets great grades.
So to try it out, they send her to stay with her aunt, uncle and cousin in Paradise City. She can't believe her luck and is really excited about meeting up with her cousin Amanda. Lexie has fond memories of spending a lot of her childhood with Amanda. They got along really well and she loved hanging out with her, so she can't wait to reconnect.
However, when she gets to Paradise City and Amanda totally ignores her, she gets a bitter taste of reality. Amanda goes out of her way to be mean to her, even though they share a room, and has no intention of being her friend--let alone make her feel welcome. But Lexie tries her best to fit into high school life and is still excited about living in the big city.
She refuses to let her cousin get her down and instead goes about making her own friends. While also concentrating as much attention as she can on getting to know the hottest guy in school. Luke Ballantine is supposed to be a bad boy, one who keeps staring at her and likes to send mixed messages.
Nothing will stop Lexie from pursuing what she wants. Now that she's got the chance, she's determined to get the full Paradise City experience. Even if it involves attracting more trouble and attention than one person should...
You know what? I really enjoyed this story! It turned out to be SO good.
When I started reading it I wondered why it wasn't classified as YA when we were dealing with seventeen/eighteen year olds, but I soon realised exactly why it fits more in the NA category. This story is an honest portrayal of what older teenagers go through while they're coming to the end of their high school years and all the turmoil that getting involved with someone brings. It's also a tumultuous time because although you're kinda old enough to make your own decisions, you still have to listen to your parents.
I loved the way all of the above--and a whole lot more--was portrayed in the story of a country girl who ventures into the big city hoping to find everything shiny and an instant best friend in her cousin, but instead finds out that everyone changes. That life takes a toll on people and sometimes, they grow apart. But one thing will never change: the pull of attraction.
Paradise City is such a fun book! Lexie's voice will hook you in as soon as you get started. While the story and the cast of cool characters will keep you interested. Oh, plus the sexy will also be appealing. ;) I couldn't put this book down because I wanted to know what other terrible trouble awaited our sometimes naïve, always hilarious, and passionate heroine. But that ending... :(
Also, it's absolutely perfect for this time of the year.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book...
Lexie Atkinson lives with her parents in small town rural Australia. She's home schooled and is on the verge of ending her education when her parents decide it might be a good idea for her to attend a real school. After all, she's a bright girl and gets great grades.
So to try it out, they send her to stay with her aunt, uncle and cousin in Paradise City. She can't believe her luck and is really excited about meeting up with her cousin Amanda. Lexie has fond memories of spending a lot of her childhood with Amanda. They got along really well and she loved hanging out with her, so she can't wait to reconnect.
However, when she gets to Paradise City and Amanda totally ignores her, she gets a bitter taste of reality. Amanda goes out of her way to be mean to her, even though they share a room, and has no intention of being her friend--let alone make her feel welcome. But Lexie tries her best to fit into high school life and is still excited about living in the big city.
She refuses to let her cousin get her down and instead goes about making her own friends. While also concentrating as much attention as she can on getting to know the hottest guy in school. Luke Ballantine is supposed to be a bad boy, one who keeps staring at her and likes to send mixed messages.
Nothing will stop Lexie from pursuing what she wants. Now that she's got the chance, she's determined to get the full Paradise City experience. Even if it involves attracting more trouble and attention than one person should...
You know what? I really enjoyed this story! It turned out to be SO good.
When I started reading it I wondered why it wasn't classified as YA when we were dealing with seventeen/eighteen year olds, but I soon realised exactly why it fits more in the NA category. This story is an honest portrayal of what older teenagers go through while they're coming to the end of their high school years and all the turmoil that getting involved with someone brings. It's also a tumultuous time because although you're kinda old enough to make your own decisions, you still have to listen to your parents.
I loved the way all of the above--and a whole lot more--was portrayed in the story of a country girl who ventures into the big city hoping to find everything shiny and an instant best friend in her cousin, but instead finds out that everyone changes. That life takes a toll on people and sometimes, they grow apart. But one thing will never change: the pull of attraction.
Paradise City is such a fun book! Lexie's voice will hook you in as soon as you get started. While the story and the cast of cool characters will keep you interested. Oh, plus the sexy will also be appealing. ;) I couldn't put this book down because I wanted to know what other terrible trouble awaited our sometimes naïve, always hilarious, and passionate heroine. But that ending... :(
Also, it's absolutely perfect for this time of the year.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book...
April 13, 2015
https://dreamyaddictions.wordpress.com
Well it was amazingly a fun read for me with all the juicy stuff.At first i was afraid i ain’t going to like this but after Lexie moves from boring Red hill to paradise city i hoped it will get better and after arriving in the Paradise City things started to get more interesting and just like that i was Hooked.I really appreciate the author for keeping the plot focused more on the story unlike other New Adult books which contained too much sex.This book was more of a Mature YA feel to it and the author’s writing skills are pretty good and it was easy to understand.
Lexie was home-schooled her whole life in red hill and when she was told she was going to complete her high school in paradise city she gets pretty excited about it and she thinks that her wish has come true and thought she was going to enjoy a lot with her cousin.After her first encounter with her cousin amanda who has changed a lot all her anticipations has gone out of the window.With her cousin hating her and her being new to high school Lexie thought that her life in Paradise high was going to be hard until she meets Paradise High’s bad boy Luke Ballantine who makes her feel gooey inside her. Lexie gets to experience a new life which contains secret night outs with surfer boys, late night parties and making out with school’s bad boy.Honestly i didn’t like Lex that much she always thinks about Ballantine like he is her whole world but story wise it was good so it was easy to endure her.I pretty much don’t like female protogonists who goes total bonkers over a hot boy.
While reading this book i’ve always got this feeling like”what’s gonna happen next” and there were some funny situations that made me smile. Miss Duggan created such a wonderful plot that can be considered as a fun read with not too much adultish stuff but it got an interesting plot that makes you want to continue and that’s what happened with me.Readers who are into Abbi Glines works will surely love this series.All the characters are well crafted and well connected.
After completing half of the book i thought there would be no more twists in the story but there is a big twist named “Dean” who looks more badass than Ballantine. There is a hidden rivalry going on between Luke and Dean which may be revealed in the sequel and when Lexie gets caught between them things go from bad to worst situation. After the book ended with a huge cliffhanger i just felt so unfair that it has ended like that but i still don’t regret reading this and hope there would be more exciting drama in the sequel.
This was my first book of the author and after having a taste of C.J.Duggan’s work now i’d like to read more of her works.It was a fast paced fun read with so many steamy situations and some of you may not like with some cliché stuff but it can be overlooked when you are looking for a fun read but not for an intense read.I am looking forward to the sequel and hope there would be more about Dean because i liked Dean more than Luke.
Well it was amazingly a fun read for me with all the juicy stuff.At first i was afraid i ain’t going to like this but after Lexie moves from boring Red hill to paradise city i hoped it will get better and after arriving in the Paradise City things started to get more interesting and just like that i was Hooked.I really appreciate the author for keeping the plot focused more on the story unlike other New Adult books which contained too much sex.This book was more of a Mature YA feel to it and the author’s writing skills are pretty good and it was easy to understand.
Lexie was home-schooled her whole life in red hill and when she was told she was going to complete her high school in paradise city she gets pretty excited about it and she thinks that her wish has come true and thought she was going to enjoy a lot with her cousin.After her first encounter with her cousin amanda who has changed a lot all her anticipations has gone out of the window.With her cousin hating her and her being new to high school Lexie thought that her life in Paradise high was going to be hard until she meets Paradise High’s bad boy Luke Ballantine who makes her feel gooey inside her. Lexie gets to experience a new life which contains secret night outs with surfer boys, late night parties and making out with school’s bad boy.Honestly i didn’t like Lex that much she always thinks about Ballantine like he is her whole world but story wise it was good so it was easy to endure her.I pretty much don’t like female protogonists who goes total bonkers over a hot boy.
While reading this book i’ve always got this feeling like”what’s gonna happen next” and there were some funny situations that made me smile. Miss Duggan created such a wonderful plot that can be considered as a fun read with not too much adultish stuff but it got an interesting plot that makes you want to continue and that’s what happened with me.Readers who are into Abbi Glines works will surely love this series.All the characters are well crafted and well connected.
After completing half of the book i thought there would be no more twists in the story but there is a big twist named “Dean” who looks more badass than Ballantine. There is a hidden rivalry going on between Luke and Dean which may be revealed in the sequel and when Lexie gets caught between them things go from bad to worst situation. After the book ended with a huge cliffhanger i just felt so unfair that it has ended like that but i still don’t regret reading this and hope there would be more exciting drama in the sequel.
This was my first book of the author and after having a taste of C.J.Duggan’s work now i’d like to read more of her works.It was a fast paced fun read with so many steamy situations and some of you may not like with some cliché stuff but it can be overlooked when you are looking for a fun read but not for an intense read.I am looking forward to the sequel and hope there would be more about Dean because i liked Dean more than Luke.
May 17, 2015
What should be your number one reason for reading Paradise city by C.J. Duggan? Luke. Ballantine. A sexy, bad boy surfer who does bad in such a sexy way.
Lexie Atkinson has been home schooled for pretty much her entire life. At seventeen years old, Lexie has been nothing but the epitome of “good girl”. When her parents decide that it would be a great idea to send Lexie away to Paradise City to finish off her Grade 11 and for Grade 12 and perhaps reconnect with her cousins Amanda, Lexie is beyond excited and so ready to enjoy her teenage life.
That is, until her daydreams of a joyous and momentous reunion with her cousin is anything but. Amanda seems to be the complete opposite of what she remembers as a child. Rebellious and not at all happy to have Lexis living under the same roof. And on her first night in their shared bedroom, Lexie is awoken by her cousin sneaking out of the house with a couple of guys, and her eyes fall on Luke Ballantine.
With hopes and dreams of what her first day at school with her cousin would be like, things continuously get worse and worse for Lexie, and Amanda does not help at all. Being sentenced to detention because of a cruel trick played by her cousin, it is here that things between Lexie and Ballantine start to stir, and it’s one ride that you do not want to miss.
Paradise City by C.J. Duggan is a cute coming of age story that will leave you a little hot and bothered and craving the next book. I had a lot of chuckles and felt the embarrassing moments with Lexie. And I also felt the swoon worthy moments that she and Ballantine shared, and I couldn’t help but smile for her.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stand her cousin, Amanda. Back and forth personality, and she was nothing but a user in my mind. Only befriending Lexie when she needed something, and then turning around and being impossible again (at least, that’s how I saw things). I also didn’t understand what the Uncle’s problem was. It didn’t really explain why he was being a douche towards Ballantine.
I guess also because the storyline takes place in Australia, there were some terms and lingo that I didn’t really understand, but that’s just a minor thing. There are also parts where the characters seemed way to immature to be seventeen years old (i.e. rumor mill thing). I don’t if it’s because Lexie did not have the experiences due to her homeschooling, but even her daydreams seems immature-ish for her age.
I’ll tell you what I did like about this book though…Luke Ballantine. Author C.J. Duggan does a great job of painting a picture into your head of this sext surfer bad boy that all the girls are lusting over. His smirks, his dimples, his one liners…it all melded together to create this guy that is so drool worthy.
If you’re looking for your next book boyfriend, look no further my friends. Ballantine will make you swoon all over the place. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute coming of age book that will make you chuckle and grin.
Lexie Atkinson has been home schooled for pretty much her entire life. At seventeen years old, Lexie has been nothing but the epitome of “good girl”. When her parents decide that it would be a great idea to send Lexie away to Paradise City to finish off her Grade 11 and for Grade 12 and perhaps reconnect with her cousins Amanda, Lexie is beyond excited and so ready to enjoy her teenage life.
That is, until her daydreams of a joyous and momentous reunion with her cousin is anything but. Amanda seems to be the complete opposite of what she remembers as a child. Rebellious and not at all happy to have Lexis living under the same roof. And on her first night in their shared bedroom, Lexie is awoken by her cousin sneaking out of the house with a couple of guys, and her eyes fall on Luke Ballantine.
With hopes and dreams of what her first day at school with her cousin would be like, things continuously get worse and worse for Lexie, and Amanda does not help at all. Being sentenced to detention because of a cruel trick played by her cousin, it is here that things between Lexie and Ballantine start to stir, and it’s one ride that you do not want to miss.
Paradise City by C.J. Duggan is a cute coming of age story that will leave you a little hot and bothered and craving the next book. I had a lot of chuckles and felt the embarrassing moments with Lexie. And I also felt the swoon worthy moments that she and Ballantine shared, and I couldn’t help but smile for her.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stand her cousin, Amanda. Back and forth personality, and she was nothing but a user in my mind. Only befriending Lexie when she needed something, and then turning around and being impossible again (at least, that’s how I saw things). I also didn’t understand what the Uncle’s problem was. It didn’t really explain why he was being a douche towards Ballantine.
I guess also because the storyline takes place in Australia, there were some terms and lingo that I didn’t really understand, but that’s just a minor thing. There are also parts where the characters seemed way to immature to be seventeen years old (i.e. rumor mill thing). I don’t if it’s because Lexie did not have the experiences due to her homeschooling, but even her daydreams seems immature-ish for her age.
I’ll tell you what I did like about this book though…Luke Ballantine. Author C.J. Duggan does a great job of painting a picture into your head of this sext surfer bad boy that all the girls are lusting over. His smirks, his dimples, his one liners…it all melded together to create this guy that is so drool worthy.
If you’re looking for your next book boyfriend, look no further my friends. Ballantine will make you swoon all over the place. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute coming of age book that will make you chuckle and grin.
May 9, 2015
I’ve read a couple of Duggan’s Summer Series books, and I really enjoyed them! (Note to self: Read more Summer Series books this summer!) So when I was asked to review this book, I jumped on it. I only skimmed the synopsis and knew it was a book I would enjoy.
Lexi is dying for a little change in her life. Having been home schooled in a tiny little town, she’s dreaming of the day her parents will agree to let her branch out a bit. When her parents agree that a little change would be good for Lexi and agree to send her to life with her uncle, aunt and cousin in Paradise City she can’t stop smiling! A real school with friends, a locker, social gatherings… all things she’s dreamed of for so long. Her cousin, Amanda, who was her best friend growing up, is just an added bonus! But when she gets to Paradise City she sees all too quickly that it isn’t all “paradise” like she had hoped.
Paradise City was one of those books that I picked up, instantly loved, and wanted to finish in one sitting. If life wasn’t so hectic (and if I was a faster reader) I would have definitely done just that. The pacing was perfect! There were little curve balls thrown in here and there, the romances proceeded at the perfect pace, and the excitement, drama and fun adventures never ended!
This is definitely a book I would have loved in my teens. This was basically my dream at this age too, since I grew up in a small country town where the population of cows was greater than people. I always dreamed of the beach, watching the guy you like surf, sneaking out for late night walks on the beach or at social gatherings. I really enjoyed the realistic nature of this story. The characters were all authentic and each brought their own little added touch to the story. I loved watching sheltered, sweet little Lexi come out of her skin as the story progressed too. And Amanda’s mood swings had my feelings all over the board from frustration, to anger, to flat-out laughter.
Another fantastic book from C.J. Duggan! I have to admit I had no idea this wasn’t a standalone when I first started it. So when I found out the ending was a bit of a cliffhanger I wasn’t too happy. But honestly, the ending wasn’t too bad! I’m definitely eager to get my hands on Paradise Road, which comes out in August, but I think since the wait isn’t too long it will be okay. :) And this is coming from someone who loathes cliffhangers, so take it for what it’s worth. I’m not sure if this is a duology or series with several books, but either way, count me in!
(Thanks to Hachette Australia for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
Lexi is dying for a little change in her life. Having been home schooled in a tiny little town, she’s dreaming of the day her parents will agree to let her branch out a bit. When her parents agree that a little change would be good for Lexi and agree to send her to life with her uncle, aunt and cousin in Paradise City she can’t stop smiling! A real school with friends, a locker, social gatherings… all things she’s dreamed of for so long. Her cousin, Amanda, who was her best friend growing up, is just an added bonus! But when she gets to Paradise City she sees all too quickly that it isn’t all “paradise” like she had hoped.
Paradise City was one of those books that I picked up, instantly loved, and wanted to finish in one sitting. If life wasn’t so hectic (and if I was a faster reader) I would have definitely done just that. The pacing was perfect! There were little curve balls thrown in here and there, the romances proceeded at the perfect pace, and the excitement, drama and fun adventures never ended!
This is definitely a book I would have loved in my teens. This was basically my dream at this age too, since I grew up in a small country town where the population of cows was greater than people. I always dreamed of the beach, watching the guy you like surf, sneaking out for late night walks on the beach or at social gatherings. I really enjoyed the realistic nature of this story. The characters were all authentic and each brought their own little added touch to the story. I loved watching sheltered, sweet little Lexi come out of her skin as the story progressed too. And Amanda’s mood swings had my feelings all over the board from frustration, to anger, to flat-out laughter.
Another fantastic book from C.J. Duggan! I have to admit I had no idea this wasn’t a standalone when I first started it. So when I found out the ending was a bit of a cliffhanger I wasn’t too happy. But honestly, the ending wasn’t too bad! I’m definitely eager to get my hands on Paradise Road, which comes out in August, but I think since the wait isn’t too long it will be okay. :) And this is coming from someone who loathes cliffhangers, so take it for what it’s worth. I’m not sure if this is a duology or series with several books, but either way, count me in!
(Thanks to Hachette Australia for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
April 23, 2015
4.5 Stars
As I’m a big fan of CJ’s Summer series, I couldn’t wait to read Paradise City. I knew we were going to be a great match and I was not wrong. Not at all.
This book is more like a mature YA than straight NA. This might change with Paradise Road since it seems like Dean will play a more prominent role. Lexie is a hoot! Being in her head was hilarious! She comes from Red Hole, a farm in the middle of nowhere and she’s been homeschooled her whole life. She moved with her aunt, uncle and cousin Amanda to Paradise City to attend school for the first time ever. In Lexie’s head, high school is a production from a Disney movie and overthinks, overanalyzes, and romanticizes everything. As I said, hilarious. She sort of falls into “interest” with Luke Ballantine, one of the resident surfer-bad boys in year twelve, a Kirkland boy.
“I may have been from Red Hole but at least we had the common decency to treat each other with a bit of respect. Even my drunken Uncle Eddie was more sociable toward a dog tied up outside the pub then anyone I had stumbled across in the last few days, including my own cousin. Maybe it was something in the water?”
Ballantine is dreamy, sweet, mysterious, a bit insecure when it has to do with his brother, a surfer and he gets in trouble in school constantly. Lexie and Ballantine’s relationship moved kind of fast and furious. What I found weird is that Lexie and Ballantine are attracted to each other, but hardly talk to each other. Don’t get me wrong, their moments together are fun, their dialogue entertaining and priceless, but I wish there would have been more of that.
“Oh-my-God-what-the-hell-was-that? I yelled, breathing erratically.
Ballantine laughed. “It’s probably just seaweed.”
I felt it again causing me to claw and scream at Ballantine. If he had been a tree I would have climbed him…. “Let me out” I screamed, fear carrying me through the water…”
I love the story, Lexie’s predicament and ‘newness’ in everything she saw and experienced. I loved the town, the school, Laura, Boon and even cranky Amanda. I appreciate that Amanda’s parents are vigilant (or try to be) and so are Lexie’s. Even though the story takes place in Australia, it was really easy to understand and follow. As always, Duggan’s writing is always refreshing, gripping, and amazing.
Something I didn’t like was that Ballantine and his brother Dean are at ‘war’ and we don’t know why. Not only that, but Dean seems to be interested in Lexie as well and that is no-no between brothers (I’m sure that’s written in stone somewhere.) I see a triangle coming on and I’m not too excited about it.
Overall, Paradise City was a great book! I’m glad that this is a duology because I can’t wait to know what happens with Lexi and Luke next!
As I’m a big fan of CJ’s Summer series, I couldn’t wait to read Paradise City. I knew we were going to be a great match and I was not wrong. Not at all.
This book is more like a mature YA than straight NA. This might change with Paradise Road since it seems like Dean will play a more prominent role. Lexie is a hoot! Being in her head was hilarious! She comes from Red Hole, a farm in the middle of nowhere and she’s been homeschooled her whole life. She moved with her aunt, uncle and cousin Amanda to Paradise City to attend school for the first time ever. In Lexie’s head, high school is a production from a Disney movie and overthinks, overanalyzes, and romanticizes everything. As I said, hilarious. She sort of falls into “interest” with Luke Ballantine, one of the resident surfer-bad boys in year twelve, a Kirkland boy.
“I may have been from Red Hole but at least we had the common decency to treat each other with a bit of respect. Even my drunken Uncle Eddie was more sociable toward a dog tied up outside the pub then anyone I had stumbled across in the last few days, including my own cousin. Maybe it was something in the water?”
Ballantine is dreamy, sweet, mysterious, a bit insecure when it has to do with his brother, a surfer and he gets in trouble in school constantly. Lexie and Ballantine’s relationship moved kind of fast and furious. What I found weird is that Lexie and Ballantine are attracted to each other, but hardly talk to each other. Don’t get me wrong, their moments together are fun, their dialogue entertaining and priceless, but I wish there would have been more of that.
“Oh-my-God-what-the-hell-was-that? I yelled, breathing erratically.
Ballantine laughed. “It’s probably just seaweed.”
I felt it again causing me to claw and scream at Ballantine. If he had been a tree I would have climbed him…. “Let me out” I screamed, fear carrying me through the water…”
I love the story, Lexie’s predicament and ‘newness’ in everything she saw and experienced. I loved the town, the school, Laura, Boon and even cranky Amanda. I appreciate that Amanda’s parents are vigilant (or try to be) and so are Lexie’s. Even though the story takes place in Australia, it was really easy to understand and follow. As always, Duggan’s writing is always refreshing, gripping, and amazing.
Something I didn’t like was that Ballantine and his brother Dean are at ‘war’ and we don’t know why. Not only that, but Dean seems to be interested in Lexie as well and that is no-no between brothers (I’m sure that’s written in stone somewhere.) I see a triangle coming on and I’m not too excited about it.
Overall, Paradise City was a great book! I’m glad that this is a duology because I can’t wait to know what happens with Lexi and Luke next!
April 21, 2015
I adored C.J. Duggan's Summer series so I was thrilled when I received an eARC of her new book! One night before going to bed, I decided to take a sneak peek at Paradise City. Just a few pages to get a taste and what a bad idea it was. I was immediately hooked. It was goodbye sleep and hello sleep deprivation! But let me tell you, it was worth it.
Lexie's a small town girl who has been home-schooled all her life. When her parents grant her wish to go to school in the big city, she thinks everything she's dreamed of was coming true. Turns out, all's not perfect like she pictured. First, her cousin, Amanda was no longer the nice girl from her childhood. Then, her school life wasn't as glamorous as she envisioned it. Most unexpected was her meeting Luke Ballantine. He gets her flustered. She becomes incapable of logical thoughts and behaves badly whenever he was involved (which was most of the time). I found Lexie to be whiny and needy at times. But I also think that was what shaped her realness. Her self-doubt and insecurity made her an honest narrator.
Dreamy is what I'm going to call Luke Ballantine from now on. He's cocky but very level-headed. I want to praise him for talking to Lexie instead of jumping to conclusions....most of the time.Let's pretend that ending does not exist. Another thing that's appealing about Ballantine is how little is known about him. Much of his background is a mystery and I want to know more. Why does he hate his brother? What happened to make them so hostile towards each other? Ballantine is definitely a puzzle I can't wait to piece together. I only hope he'll amaze me. Not that he hasn't already got me swooning over him ;)
At this point in the story, I have to say I'm a little unconvinced of Lexi and Ballantine's "love". I feel like their attraction comes from mutual curiosity. Lexi is the new girl in town and Ballantine is the resident hottie. That's an exciting and enticing combo. I do love it when they're together so I'm hoping they will convince me of their feelings later on. After all, they did share some super hot and extra sweet moments! I definitely ship them.
Even though I wasn't a fan of the other characters, I agreed with how they were characterized. Your assortment of typical teenager personalities. Amanda was moody, swinging between being BFFs with Lexi and hating her. Boon was sketchy and a player. Lucy, I don't even want to talk about. Laura was the one smart cookie out of the bunch. Her not-so-secret diary was brilliant. Saucy and fun!
Be warned that this book ends in a cliffhanger. It's frustrating but so gripping. Paradise City is going to be on my mind until I can get my greedy eyes on Paradise Road. I need that book yesterday!
Lexie's a small town girl who has been home-schooled all her life. When her parents grant her wish to go to school in the big city, she thinks everything she's dreamed of was coming true. Turns out, all's not perfect like she pictured. First, her cousin, Amanda was no longer the nice girl from her childhood. Then, her school life wasn't as glamorous as she envisioned it. Most unexpected was her meeting Luke Ballantine. He gets her flustered. She becomes incapable of logical thoughts and behaves badly whenever he was involved (which was most of the time). I found Lexie to be whiny and needy at times. But I also think that was what shaped her realness. Her self-doubt and insecurity made her an honest narrator.
Dreamy is what I'm going to call Luke Ballantine from now on. He's cocky but very level-headed. I want to praise him for talking to Lexie instead of jumping to conclusions....most of the time.
At this point in the story, I have to say I'm a little unconvinced of Lexi and Ballantine's "love". I feel like their attraction comes from mutual curiosity. Lexi is the new girl in town and Ballantine is the resident hottie. That's an exciting and enticing combo. I do love it when they're together so I'm hoping they will convince me of their feelings later on. After all, they did share some super hot and extra sweet moments! I definitely ship them.
Even though I wasn't a fan of the other characters, I agreed with how they were characterized. Your assortment of typical teenager personalities. Amanda was moody, swinging between being BFFs with Lexi and hating her. Boon was sketchy and a player. Lucy, I don't even want to talk about. Laura was the one smart cookie out of the bunch. Her not-so-secret diary was brilliant. Saucy and fun!
Be warned that this book ends in a cliffhanger. It's frustrating but so gripping. Paradise City is going to be on my mind until I can get my greedy eyes on Paradise Road. I need that book yesterday!
April 7, 2016
A lot of books recently have left me with that urghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh feeling. In a good way. Like urghhhhhhhhhh it’s sooooooooo goooooooooooooooooood. Honestly, the YA and NA genres elicit feels out of me like no other genre and it’s like a bloody emotional roller-coaster. Paradise City left me gasping for more. And I almost didn’t read the book – it was only by chance that I read the email from Netgalley and didn’t just sling it in my junk folder (because they send a LOT of emails these days promoting books/publishers). BUT I DIDN’T. And I got to meet Ballantine and Lexie and it feels like my life will never be the same again, sigh.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a REALLY GOOD New Adult book; in fact, C.J. Duggan reminds me a bit of Cora Carmack – Paradise City is similar in tone to Carmack’s Faking It series, which is actually one of my most favourite NA series, ever. It’s fast paced, Lexie’s a bit of a goof (and I loved her for it) and oh God, Ballantine. Can I get me a one of them, or what? UGH. What is it with these perfect NA boys, and where can I find myself one because THEY DO NOT EXIST IN REAL LIFE.
It felt so refreshing to read Paradise City. I loved the Australian setting, although there were a few words I didn’t have a clue what they meant (haha); Australia is one of my favourite places, and somewhere I really want to visit so the next best thing is always books set there and this one was freaking awesome. I loved Lexie! I felt so sad for her starting a new school (after years of being home-schooled, like Lohan in Mean Girls) and her cousin Amanda was hardly a delightful person, but Lexie was so much fun to get to know. Even rolling in to the staff room and getting into soooo much trouble was hilarious. AND BALLANTINE. Oh sweet Jesus, Ballantine. If you read this book it should be so you can meet Ballantine. Then when you’re finished, you can catch the first flight to Australia and find your own Ballantine. He’s so broody and sexy and mysterious but also really sweet and funny and it was just so hard to get a reading off him, but I loved him anyway.
I am STOKED for the second Paradise City novel, Paradise Road. There’s a very delicious love triangle brewing between Lexie, Dean and Ballantine, and while that’s not normally my thing (it’s very Vampire Diaries-ish, considering Dean and Ballantine are BROS!) I’m actually pretty stoked to see where it goes because Lexie has pretty intense chemistry with both boys, and Dean has rather snuck up on me as Paradise City progressed. There’s some evil glint in his eyes, and his words that tell me there’s a lot more to his story, and while I adore Ballantine, I’m intrigued to see how it plays out. I just can’t believe I have to wait until September *SOB*
It’s been a while since I’ve read a REALLY GOOD New Adult book; in fact, C.J. Duggan reminds me a bit of Cora Carmack – Paradise City is similar in tone to Carmack’s Faking It series, which is actually one of my most favourite NA series, ever. It’s fast paced, Lexie’s a bit of a goof (and I loved her for it) and oh God, Ballantine. Can I get me a one of them, or what? UGH. What is it with these perfect NA boys, and where can I find myself one because THEY DO NOT EXIST IN REAL LIFE.
It felt so refreshing to read Paradise City. I loved the Australian setting, although there were a few words I didn’t have a clue what they meant (haha); Australia is one of my favourite places, and somewhere I really want to visit so the next best thing is always books set there and this one was freaking awesome. I loved Lexie! I felt so sad for her starting a new school (after years of being home-schooled, like Lohan in Mean Girls) and her cousin Amanda was hardly a delightful person, but Lexie was so much fun to get to know. Even rolling in to the staff room and getting into soooo much trouble was hilarious. AND BALLANTINE. Oh sweet Jesus, Ballantine. If you read this book it should be so you can meet Ballantine. Then when you’re finished, you can catch the first flight to Australia and find your own Ballantine. He’s so broody and sexy and mysterious but also really sweet and funny and it was just so hard to get a reading off him, but I loved him anyway.
I am STOKED for the second Paradise City novel, Paradise Road. There’s a very delicious love triangle brewing between Lexie, Dean and Ballantine, and while that’s not normally my thing (it’s very Vampire Diaries-ish, considering Dean and Ballantine are BROS!) I’m actually pretty stoked to see where it goes because Lexie has pretty intense chemistry with both boys, and Dean has rather snuck up on me as Paradise City progressed. There’s some evil glint in his eyes, and his words that tell me there’s a lot more to his story, and while I adore Ballantine, I’m intrigued to see how it plays out. I just can’t believe I have to wait until September *SOB*
April 28, 2015
If you have been looking for a new adult novel with a distinct Aussie flavour, look no further than CJ Duggan's Paradise City. The first book in a new series, this book has romance, rebellion and all the love and drama fans have come to expect from Duggan's stories.
Lexie Atkinson has spend her life being home-schooled and being the perfect daughter. Now seventeen years old, Lexie gets the opportunity to live with her cousin, uncle and aunt by the beach in Paradise City. Paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be. Lexie encounters mean girls, school year pranks and a room-mate who is less than happy Lexie has come to stay. But she also meets Luke Ballantine - surfer, school captain and school heartthrob. Lexie is not in the country anymore and her life has never been so complicated. But sometimes what a good girl needs most is to be a little bad...
Paradise City is a fun read and a great introduction to what promises to be an interesting series. Lexie is a great character. She's naive about the way of the world but learns quickly once she is thrown into the deep end - a real life high school. The former home-schooled teen has to deal not only with her cousin Amanda who doesn't trust or like her in the slightest but also with an intense crush at first sight when she meets Luke Ballantine. It might seem a little clichéd but Duggan writes it in a convincing and authentic way. And despite all the completely out of date pop-culture references, this book felt fresh and new.
There is drama, conflict and a sizzling romance I didn't want to put down. The high school antics are so very high school yet there in lies some of the appeal. These are teenagers who are acting like teenagers and they don't seem out of place like these sorts of characters tend to do in other novels. I loved that even though Lexie's parents were far away there was still a parental influence in the form of Lexie's aunt and uncle (It's a pet hate of mine for the parents to be completely written out. Whilst it may be easier to the characters to get away with everything without any kind of supervision - it's just not believable for every character to be parentless. High five to Ms. Duggan for keeping parental figures around!).
Lexie's relationships with her friends, family and the infamous Luke Ballantine are interesting and dynamic. There is tension at times but also genuine feelings and love for those in here life. I can't wait to see what is next install for Lexie and the relationships she has formed in Paradise City.
Perfect for fans of Abbi Glines and Anna Todd, Paradise City is a fun and exciting read about love, family and surviving high school.
Lexie Atkinson has spend her life being home-schooled and being the perfect daughter. Now seventeen years old, Lexie gets the opportunity to live with her cousin, uncle and aunt by the beach in Paradise City. Paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be. Lexie encounters mean girls, school year pranks and a room-mate who is less than happy Lexie has come to stay. But she also meets Luke Ballantine - surfer, school captain and school heartthrob. Lexie is not in the country anymore and her life has never been so complicated. But sometimes what a good girl needs most is to be a little bad...
Paradise City is a fun read and a great introduction to what promises to be an interesting series. Lexie is a great character. She's naive about the way of the world but learns quickly once she is thrown into the deep end - a real life high school. The former home-schooled teen has to deal not only with her cousin Amanda who doesn't trust or like her in the slightest but also with an intense crush at first sight when she meets Luke Ballantine. It might seem a little clichéd but Duggan writes it in a convincing and authentic way. And despite all the completely out of date pop-culture references, this book felt fresh and new.
There is drama, conflict and a sizzling romance I didn't want to put down. The high school antics are so very high school yet there in lies some of the appeal. These are teenagers who are acting like teenagers and they don't seem out of place like these sorts of characters tend to do in other novels. I loved that even though Lexie's parents were far away there was still a parental influence in the form of Lexie's aunt and uncle (It's a pet hate of mine for the parents to be completely written out. Whilst it may be easier to the characters to get away with everything without any kind of supervision - it's just not believable for every character to be parentless. High five to Ms. Duggan for keeping parental figures around!).
Lexie's relationships with her friends, family and the infamous Luke Ballantine are interesting and dynamic. There is tension at times but also genuine feelings and love for those in here life. I can't wait to see what is next install for Lexie and the relationships she has formed in Paradise City.
Perfect for fans of Abbi Glines and Anna Todd, Paradise City is a fun and exciting read about love, family and surviving high school.
August 5, 2015
I absolutely love reading books like this over the summer because I always feel like I need something light, easy and quick and that's exactly what this book was.
Protagonist Lexie comes from a very small town and is home schooled. For as long as she can remember she has wanted to go to a proper school and envies her cousin Amanda who lives in Paradise City. When she gets the chance to move in with her aunt, uncle and cousin, Lexie is unbelievably excited but she soon finds out going to school isn't all she thought it would be.
Lexie was a likeable character although quite naive from her upbringing in a small town. She thinks she's ready for high school and everything it comes with but time after time she finds herself out of her depth and in unfamiliar situations. This made the plot really fun though and it also gave Lexie a good chance to develop over the course of the book. She really had a lot to learn.
Paradise City has a whole host of characters to get to know. Not only do we have Lexie who is trying to figure everything out but we have cousin Amanda who is not impressed with Lexie's appearance. Amanda was the typical bitch kind of character but she also grows over the course of the book and you realise there is a lot more to her than originally shown.
Of course, there is a love interest in the form of bad boy Luke Ballantine who has a very well-known reputation. The romance between Luke and Lexie was very slow burning but I liked that. It gave me a chance to get to know both characters on their own and also to really get to feel the tension between them as the attraction grew. Not only is the chemistry between the pair fantastic but I loved how it gave Lexie a bigger chance to grow as romance and boys weren't things she was used to having to deal with.
What I loved about this book was how Australian it was. I do get a bit sick and tired of reading either young adult or new adult books set in American high schools and colleges and the setting of Paradise City is what drew me towards this one. It was refreshing to have things like surfing included in the plot and while this could well be the norm for readers in Australia, we don't get much of that in books here in the UK.
Paradise City is a really fun read and perfect for the summer. The plot isn't too deep but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged. C J Duggan also gives the plot a really fun feel to it and along with the characters, it made for a really good book. This one does end on a cliff-hanger and I can't wait to read the next book in the series now when it comes out.
Protagonist Lexie comes from a very small town and is home schooled. For as long as she can remember she has wanted to go to a proper school and envies her cousin Amanda who lives in Paradise City. When she gets the chance to move in with her aunt, uncle and cousin, Lexie is unbelievably excited but she soon finds out going to school isn't all she thought it would be.
Lexie was a likeable character although quite naive from her upbringing in a small town. She thinks she's ready for high school and everything it comes with but time after time she finds herself out of her depth and in unfamiliar situations. This made the plot really fun though and it also gave Lexie a good chance to develop over the course of the book. She really had a lot to learn.
Paradise City has a whole host of characters to get to know. Not only do we have Lexie who is trying to figure everything out but we have cousin Amanda who is not impressed with Lexie's appearance. Amanda was the typical bitch kind of character but she also grows over the course of the book and you realise there is a lot more to her than originally shown.
Of course, there is a love interest in the form of bad boy Luke Ballantine who has a very well-known reputation. The romance between Luke and Lexie was very slow burning but I liked that. It gave me a chance to get to know both characters on their own and also to really get to feel the tension between them as the attraction grew. Not only is the chemistry between the pair fantastic but I loved how it gave Lexie a bigger chance to grow as romance and boys weren't things she was used to having to deal with.
What I loved about this book was how Australian it was. I do get a bit sick and tired of reading either young adult or new adult books set in American high schools and colleges and the setting of Paradise City is what drew me towards this one. It was refreshing to have things like surfing included in the plot and while this could well be the norm for readers in Australia, we don't get much of that in books here in the UK.
Paradise City is a really fun read and perfect for the summer. The plot isn't too deep but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged. C J Duggan also gives the plot a really fun feel to it and along with the characters, it made for a really good book. This one does end on a cliff-hanger and I can't wait to read the next book in the series now when it comes out.
June 25, 2015
Paradise City marks the beginning of a steamy new series for the Australian bestselling author C.J. Duggan. This is her eighth novel, but the first for me.
I am a little torn on reflection actually. As I was reading I found the beginning to be quite difficult to engage with, it wasn’t hard going it was just a little bland maybe.
Lexie Atkinson is a seventeen year old living on the family farm in the tiny town of Red Hill, she has been home schooled and always dreamed of attending a real high school. Her cousin, and childhood best friend, moved to Paradise City four years earlier and Lexie has been daydreaming of moving there to go to school with her and pick up their friendship where it left off.
Straight A’s see Lexie earn herself a place at Paradise High and living with Aunty Karen, Uncle Peter and cousin Amanda. Never in her wildest dreams did she think it would actually happen, and what she gets is far from what she could have imagined.
Paradise City seemed very Puberty Blues to me, as I was reading that thought kept jumping into my head. Part of that was the surfer boys and the Sandman panelvan, but not all of it. It just didn’t ring true for me, it seemed very cliche and stereotyped and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters.
I think my major issue was the hook-ups. They felt so very wrong to me. Don’t get me wrong I have no issue with steamy scenes but these ones didn’t ring true. There was instant attraction which was then built upon, slowly, but the hook-ups were too fast.
Lexie is a little naive and finds herself out of her depth in her new school. She had been counting on having Amanda by her side to help her out and help her fit in. Unfortunately in the four years since she’s last heard from her Amanda has become completely unrecognisable and is far from impressed that Lexie is coming to stay – and has to share her room.
Lexie plans to fill her time in Paradise with new experiences, and that shouldn’t be too hard after her very quiet life on the farm. She’s a good girl who gets straight A’s and hasn’t really ever been in trouble. Her time in Paradise is sure going to change that; detention, late-night parties, sneaking out and making out… and that’s all in the first two weeks.
paradise city
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I am a little torn on reflection actually. As I was reading I found the beginning to be quite difficult to engage with, it wasn’t hard going it was just a little bland maybe.
Lexie Atkinson is a seventeen year old living on the family farm in the tiny town of Red Hill, she has been home schooled and always dreamed of attending a real high school. Her cousin, and childhood best friend, moved to Paradise City four years earlier and Lexie has been daydreaming of moving there to go to school with her and pick up their friendship where it left off.
Straight A’s see Lexie earn herself a place at Paradise High and living with Aunty Karen, Uncle Peter and cousin Amanda. Never in her wildest dreams did she think it would actually happen, and what she gets is far from what she could have imagined.
Paradise City seemed very Puberty Blues to me, as I was reading that thought kept jumping into my head. Part of that was the surfer boys and the Sandman panelvan, but not all of it. It just didn’t ring true for me, it seemed very cliche and stereotyped and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters.
I think my major issue was the hook-ups. They felt so very wrong to me. Don’t get me wrong I have no issue with steamy scenes but these ones didn’t ring true. There was instant attraction which was then built upon, slowly, but the hook-ups were too fast.
Lexie is a little naive and finds herself out of her depth in her new school. She had been counting on having Amanda by her side to help her out and help her fit in. Unfortunately in the four years since she’s last heard from her Amanda has become completely unrecognisable and is far from impressed that Lexie is coming to stay – and has to share her room.
Lexie plans to fill her time in Paradise with new experiences, and that shouldn’t be too hard after her very quiet life on the farm. She’s a good girl who gets straight A’s and hasn’t really ever been in trouble. Her time in Paradise is sure going to change that; detention, late-night parties, sneaking out and making out… and that’s all in the first two weeks.
paradise city
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May 28, 2015
*3.5 Stars*
I'm a big fan of Duggan's Summer series so I jumped at the chance to read a new series from her. While Paradise City started out a bit slowly for me, I ended up delighted with this new set of characters and my introduction to their life in Paradise.
As a home-schooled girl from a tiny town, Lexie was a bit sheltered. But she always dreamed of living her cousin's life - a life of sun, ocean, and boys - in Paradise. So she's thrilled when she learns her good grades earned her a spot to complete her education in a public school. And bonus - she'll be living with her cousin, whom she was once very close to. Unfortunately, Lexie learns Paradise isn't all she dreamed it would be.
Lexie made me laugh. Her life in Paradise was a comedy of errors. This "good girl" was constantly getting into trouble - usually completely innocently. Her cousin has become a "mean girl" and doesn't have much to do with Lexie. However, Lexie does attract the attention of the "it" boy - a gorgeous surfer, Luke Ballantine. Several misunderstandings and Lexie tripping up, more than once, seem to have the odds stacked up against them though.
Duggan has created another fun cast of characters that I'm completely invested in and wrapped a compelling story around them. I'm dying to know what's going to happen next between Lexie and Ballantine following yet another blunder by Lexie...an innocent one. And I'm anxious for answers about certain members of her family as well. I don't want to wish my summer away, but I'm looking forward to August. ;)
**I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, via Netgally, in exchange for an honest review.**
I'm a big fan of Duggan's Summer series so I jumped at the chance to read a new series from her. While Paradise City started out a bit slowly for me, I ended up delighted with this new set of characters and my introduction to their life in Paradise.
As a home-schooled girl from a tiny town, Lexie was a bit sheltered. But she always dreamed of living her cousin's life - a life of sun, ocean, and boys - in Paradise. So she's thrilled when she learns her good grades earned her a spot to complete her education in a public school. And bonus - she'll be living with her cousin, whom she was once very close to. Unfortunately, Lexie learns Paradise isn't all she dreamed it would be.
Lexie made me laugh. Her life in Paradise was a comedy of errors. This "good girl" was constantly getting into trouble - usually completely innocently. Her cousin has become a "mean girl" and doesn't have much to do with Lexie. However, Lexie does attract the attention of the "it" boy - a gorgeous surfer, Luke Ballantine. Several misunderstandings and Lexie tripping up, more than once, seem to have the odds stacked up against them though.
Duggan has created another fun cast of characters that I'm completely invested in and wrapped a compelling story around them. I'm dying to know what's going to happen next between Lexie and Ballantine following yet another blunder by Lexie...an innocent one. And I'm anxious for answers about certain members of her family as well. I don't want to wish my summer away, but I'm looking forward to August. ;)
**I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, via Netgally, in exchange for an honest review.**
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