ARC Review: Not Okay, Cupid by Heidi R. Kling

I will admit that the cover of this book is what really drew me in. I had previously read a book by Heidi R. Kling and really enjoyed it, so I figured this one was worth a shot. Not Okay, Cupid had some cute moments and there were some things I really enjoyed. But on the whole, this book was just okay for me. I think part of my problem here was simply my age. While I do enjoy YA books, these characters were a bit hard to take at times. 

Hazel McCallister has her life all planned out. Her and her perfect boyfriend Jay will graduate and attend the same college before becoming engaged and eventually getting married. But before she gets the picket fence, Hazel catches Jay with her best friend Kimmy. Embarrassed by the public way it was revealed, Kimmy's brother Felix James offers to help Hazel get revenge on them by pretending to be together to make Jay jealous. But the more time Hazel and Felix spend together, the more the lines between real and fake become. Even though Hazel and Felix start to develop real feelings for one another, in the end it comes down to whether Hazel wants revenge or Felix more. 

I really liked Felix. He was cute and sweet, and I really felt like his feelings for Hazel were genuine. He had always liked her, but he had never said anything. Hazel thought that he was a slacker that was nothing but a player, and yet he had more to him than anyone knew. Hazel had everything planned out and thought she knew what she wanted. As the story progressed though, it became clear that she didn't know herself as well as she though she did though. I liked her and Felix together, and I really wish that these two had talked more. I felt like once they realized that it wasn't just a plot for revenge that they needed to communicate with one another. While some of that is age and immaturity, it was a bit frustrating here since they both made some poor decisions that easily would have been avoided had they spoken with one another.

Another big issue I had here was that there wasn't a lot of depth or development here. For the majority of the story I felt like Hazel and Felix didn't really spend much time together, so their connection while there didn't feel strong to me. I didn't believe that these two could possibly be in love, even having known each other for years. They simply didn't know one another well enough or spend enough time together for it to feel genuine. The other thing that bothered me here was that the dialogue was very repetitive and at times words or sayings used were downright cheesy. A few times wouldn't have been noticeable, but it was for the entire story and it got to the point that it distracted me from what was going on because I just kept rolling my eyes. I did think that this story had some cute moments though, and if you are looking for something light and sweet you might give this one a shot. If you are looking for something a bit deeper or mature though, this one might not be for you.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes | 

ARC Review: Paint My Body Red by Heidi R. Kling

Heidi R. Kling is a new to me author, but after I read this blurb I was so intrigued. Paint My Body Red was unlike anything I have read before, and it was a really good story. Kling captured my attention right away, and I couldn't stop reading as I had to know what was going on. This book deals with a lot of touchy subjects, and yet I thought that Kling handled them masterfully. Before starting this story I would make sure that you take the time to read the blurb as some of the issues dealt with here could be possible triggers for some readers.

After a rash of suicides at her school, Paige's mom sends her to live with her sick father fearing that Paige will be the next. Those around her believe that she will be the seventh teenager to throw themselves in front of a train. So when Paige arrives at her father's ranch, she finds out that nothing is as she remembered it. Not only is her father sick, but he is actually dying. The ranch that had been passed down for generations is falling to pieces and is in danger of being sold and the boy she once knew is now a full grown sexy cowboy. Paige finds herself tired of running and is ready to face her secrets. But can she deal with her secrets and move forward, or will they be too much for her no matter where she is? 

I was really interested in the characters of this story, and I thought that Kling did a great job of showing such depth for each of them. Paige was dealing with a lot, and it was clear that there was so much going on beneath the surface that no one knew about. Between her thoughts and her writing in her journal, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out everything that had happened both in the past and was happening in the present. Then you had Ty, her stepbrother. There was a lot to him as well, and I didn't always understand him or his choices. At times I really liked him and felt for him, and then at other times I was convinced he was a bad guy. He was definitely dealing with his own set of issues though, and I think that had everything to do with his actions. Then you have Jake, the sexy cowboy that Paige had known as a child. I liked him instantly, and I really thought that he was a great guy. There was such a huge gap in time from when Paige had known him before and the present, and I was just as curious as Paige was to find out all that had gone in in the years that she had missed. Jake had his own set of issues he was dealing with, but the more I got to know him the more I loved him. 

Overall, this was a really interesting book. I know at this point I haven't said much about the actual story and have been pretty vague, that is on purpose though as I really think that this book needs to be read blind. There are so many things that could spoil everything if said that I am just going to say that this book was different and was unlike anything I have read. Not only does it deal with teen suicide but it also deals with so many more issues including illness and loss. I found the characters deep and interesting and their story is one worth reading. I think that a lot of people will really relate to this story and it is definitely one worth taking a chance on. I will definitely be looking for more from Heidi R. Kling in the future after reading Paint My Body Red, and I think that this is one of those books that will stick with me and having me thinking about it for quite awhile.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes |