Review: Time Out by Leah Spiegel

Time Out (Foolish Games book 2)
Author: Leah Spiegel
Release Date: September 22, 2012
Genre: YA/New Adult Romance
Published By: Kindle Edition

Summary from Goodreads:
Joie and her friends are continuing to follow the Grimm Brother’s Band across their countrywide tour. They thought the worst was behind them but they had no idea that things were just getting started. Terrorists’ bombings call for all entertainment venues to be on high alert. With all of the new staff and crew members, the band finds it hard to know who to trust. Meanwhile things begin to heat up between Joie and Hawkins in and out of the bedroom when an ex-fiancé suddenly shows up on the scene but the real surprise has yet to come. If the band wants to continue on the tour, they must figure out who is really behind it all before time runs out…

You can get a copy and you should here

My Review:
warning: this review has a lot of potential for supreme fan girl gushing

Leah Spiegel has become one of my most favorite authors with her Foolish Games YA/New Adult books. I'm pretty sure that I loved Time Out even more than Foolish Games. Right away I was yelling "no! no, no, no! Joie and Hawkins don't need any more complications!!!" I guess I was wrong though because the complications were vast and I loved every minute of it. Really, I'm not exaggerating. Every. Single. Minute.

Time Out pretty much starts off right where Foolish Games ends so we've gotten to know all of the characters and have already fallen in love with them. This allowed for the story to get right to it and  to quickly suck you in. Luckily I started this book on my vacation because there was no way I could put it down once I started reading.

I love how Spiegel writes a book that has it all. Drama, Romance, Mystery, and Suspense! Hawkins and Joie's sexual tensions are as hot as ever. Joie is such a great female protagonist, she's tough, snarky, and loyal to a fault. Hawkins, Hawkins, Hawkins, oh what can I say about sexy sexy Hawkins, I'm so totally in love with Hawkins! Yeah, he makes some dumb decisions but he always seems to make them in the name of love. How can you not love a guy that just wants his girl to be safe. Sexy Sigh!

Another thing that I love about the Foolish Games books are the amazing side characters. The building romance between Riley and a certain someone (no spoilers) is a great addition to the story and I really hope we get to see more of it in the next book. Yep, you heard me, I heard from a very reliable source that there will indeed be another book! Squeal!!!! Lizzie's character was toned down a bit and I'm not sure if I'm glad of that or not but I'm looking forward to where the story is heading for her as well. Obviously I can't wait to read book 3!

Plot: Contemporary perfection

Characters: Perfectly flawed and wonderfully written
Writing: So much fun to get totally lost in
Ending: Wraps up the current situation while setting things up for future wonderfulness
Overall: Really, what else can I possibly gush on about. Spiegel writes a gripping romantic tale with hot rock stars, a beautiful gay best friend, and suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Yeah, ok it's official  I've definitely gushed enough about this one.
Mature Content:The characters in this book are out of high school so the situations are definitely a bit older than the average YA contemporary. However, the sexual scenes while hot are not graphic at all.

Recommendation: If you are loving the New Adult contemporaries the way I am then I highly recommend The Foolish Games books.

Neurotic Thoughts - Foolish Games

Foolish Games
Author: Leah Spiegel
Release Date: 2011
Genre: YA/Adult Crossover Contemporary 
Published by: Createspace
Source: I won this copy from Leah Spiegel and  Book Whore for book club
Summary from Goodreads:

Falling in love was the last thing Joie had on her mind when she was thrown into the marketing scandal intended to boost the Grimm Brothers Band's declining sales. Joie thought she knew the players of the game; she was the writer, J.T. Hawkins was the famous rock star, and Lizzie was her beautiful cover to the world. That was until a psychopathic stalker, who seemed to be three steps ahead of everyone else and calling all the shots, upped the stakes. In a situation where many different kinds of games were being played, Joie had to figure out if or who was bluffing because her life. . . and her heart, might very well depend on it.

Foolish Games was a great read for me. It had everything! Super hot rock stars, mystery, suspense, best friends (both great and evil), life changing events, and lots of opportunities for three just graduated teens to become adults. Mix all that with an original (although slightly predictable) plot line and a romance almost every girl has dreamed of and you've got yourself one sweet treat. 


Joie and her friends Riley and Lizzie are following the Grimm Brothers Band around on their summer tour. Riley has been hired to write blog reviews of the band's shows. Joie has the transportation and a little cash that her father recently left her and Lizzie just happens to be dating one of the opening band members. After a not so nice run in with lead singer Hawkins, Joie writes a derogatory fake blog review about what an ass Hawkins is basically. Things happen and the fake review accidentally gets sent and published. This all kicks starts the beginning of Foolish Games. 


I was really enjoying reading a light hearted romance in the beginning of Foolish Games and then the book took a turn. A good turn. Things got kicked up a notch by crazy dude stalking the band and in all of the craziness he ends up stalking Joie and friends as well. 


Leah Spiegel did a great job of intertwining a romance with a suspense novel and even though I was pretty confident that I knew what was going to happen in the end, I had no idea of the roller coaster ride that I would be on to get to that ending. 


Even with all of the great twists and turns my favorite part of this book were the characters. What an amazing mix of people and emotions. The vulnerable rock star with a huge chip on his shoulder. Joie our main character who is just as vulnerable and has set up all of these walls to keep herself from ever being hurt again. The bitchy friend that you want to slap repeatedly. Riley, oh I can't say enough about Riley. He is always there for Joie with concern, honesty and a shoulder to lean on ( I loved him so much if you can't tell). 


Trying something new for me at the end of this review let me know what you think.


Plot: Unique and fun 
Characters: Amazing
Writing: A definite page turner
Ending: Slightly predictable, but awesome all the same
Kid Friendly: For a book about a bunch of older teens following a band around not as bad as you would think. Mentions of sex, drugs, and drinking but no overly descriptive scenes
Overall: A highly addictive, sweet romance with a touch of heart pounding suspense