Review: There You'll Find Me

There You'll Find Me
By: Jenny B. Jones
Release Date: October 4, 2011

Description:
Grief brought Finley to Ireland. Love will lead her home.

Finley Sinclair is not your typical eighteen-year-old. She's witty, tough, and driven. With an upcoming interview at the Manhattan music conservatory, Finley needs to compose her audition piece. But her creativity disappeared with the death of her older brother, Will.
She decides to study abroad in Ireland so she can...more Grief brought Finley to Ireland. Love will lead her home.

Finley Sinclair is not your typical eighteen-year-old. She's witty, tough, and driven. With an upcoming interview at the Manhattan music conservatory, Finley needs to compose her audition piece. But her creativity disappeared with the death of her older brother, Will.

She decides to study abroad in Ireland so she can follow Will's travel journal. It's the place he felt closest to God, and she's hopeful being there will help her make peace over losing him. So she agrees to an exchange program and boards the plane.

Beckett Rush, teen heartthrob and Hollywood bad boy, is flying to Ireland to finish filming his latest vampire movie. On the flight, he meets Finley. She's the one girl who seems immune to his charm. Undeterred, Beckett convinces her to be his assistant in exchange for his help as a tour guide.

Once in Ireland, Finley starts to break down. The loss of her brother and the pressure of school, her audition, and whatever it is that is happening between her and Beckett, leads her to a new and dangerous vice. When is God going to show up for her in this emerald paradise?

Then she experiences something that radically changes her perspective on life. Could it be God convincing her that everything she's been looking for has been with her all along?

Review:
So first let me say how much I love that I read this book and it's all thanks to Random Reads. If it wasn't for that random generator I probably wouldn't have picked this book up ever and what a Shame it would have been. This book was really heartfelt and addicting. My heart definitely wept for the main character and all the things she was going through. I especially loved that this book took place in a foreign county, those are always more exciting for some reason. Especially a place like Ireland with so much history and presence.


We meet Finley as she is starting a new school in Abbeyglen, Ireland for a year. She's still pretty much broken about her brother who passed away in a bombing, she doesn’t feel the same and believes that if she takes this trip it will bring him closer as well as helping her find God. She doesn't hear him anymore and that makes her even more scared. During this new adventure of hers she has her brother’s journal and is trying to retrace his steps by visiting each location he wrote about, after all he was a very faithful person and said he could hear God speaking to him at each location. This made her want to go even more especially since she was writing an audition piece for the NY Conservatory dedicated to Will.

During this adventure abroad she gets stuck having to help an older woman in a hospital by being her friend. But of course she gets partnered with someone who is dying which is even harder for her. But throughout he book she learns to listen and understand people better, even if they are dying it’s not a bad thing if you get attached to them. After all you are a product of all the lessons you have learned in life.

She also meets a famous actor and befriends him. She sees right through him believing and not believing that he is the person portrayed in the tabloids. They form a bond and he helps bring her to all the different locations. Again more lessons learned with this relationship and sometimes you notice how much everyone has a little baggage in their lives. It’s hard for everyone just in their own special way.

There is a lot of talk about God in this book, and don’t get me wrong I’m not very religions but it really fit the book well. I enjoyed reading this and meeting all the characters and even hearing the little Irish accents when they were talking to one another. It was very peaceful and emotional at the same time, especially the ending, tears just streamed down my face. It was a beautifully written book and I’m really glad I had a chance to read it.

Teaser Tuesday: Exhale

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: •Grab your current read •Open to a random page •Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page •BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) •Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser for the week:

"He’s gonna feel like crap when he realizes that you’ve picked Derek over him.” She laughed then and I wanted to dump the bowl of popcorn sitting in my lap over her head. “Especially, since they’re freaking identical twins!”


Exhale By Jennifer Snyder (Kindle Locations 469-471)  

Blog Tour: Kiss Me by Jillian Dodd - Review/Giveaway/Excerpt

Kiss Me
By Jillian Dodd
Release Date: November 28, 2012
Series: Keatyn Chronicles #2

Description:
I've always written scripts for my perfect life.

But no way could I have ever scripted this.
My life is so far from perfect, it’s not even funny.
All because of a stalker.

I’m at a boarding school where I have to lie about who I am.
I can’t see my family.
I’m tutoring a Hottie God that tortures me with his smile.
The most popular girl already hates me.
But there’s this boy.
This hot, sweet, sexy boy.
So I’m going to stop trying to script my life and just live it.
Because who knows how long I have left.

GoodReads | Amazon | Barnes&Noble

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Review:
We are back in the wonderful chaotic and fast paced world of Keatyn “Monroe”. If you haven’t read the first book you should really get on that. Last we left Keatyn she was being chased by stalker and forced to go into hiding across the country at a boarding school. Here she is surrounded by beautiful people and she starts to fit right in, sure there are some who don’t like here but they are just jealous I’m sure.


So right now she’s loving Aiden but Dawson is making a really hard play for her. But she’s not sure because she thinks he’s still in love with Whitney who is the one who doesn’t like her. This book is still so very much Gossip Girl, with a twist of Sex and the City and that’s what I love about this book. Not to mention that it is very fast paced. Once it starts hitting that stride you just cant’ stop reading because it is just that good.

Being away from her family is still hard on Keatyn though and even though she fills her times with boys and drama she still doesn’t like the fact that she had to leave them and now fears for everyone’s safety. Vincent is still out there and he does make an appearance in this book but it’s just so creepy it even made me cringe. It just goes to show you how really unsafe you are out in this world. Face book is just bad all around because anyone can find you, or try to find you at least.

I don’t want to give too much of the book away because if I start giving all the gossip it will reveal everything. Let’s just say I’m totally team Aiden, even if the book is Dawson based there’s just something about him that has me intrigued. Sometimes it’s good and healthy to fight with other people, it can’t always be perfect, and those are the relationships that have the most trouble. And I’m really digging on Dallas he is very mysterious in his ways. Seriously, how does he know absolutely everything, makes you wonder?

Well I can’t wait to read the next book and find out exactly who Keatyn is going to start dating, if she even decides to date anyone and will Vincent find her location? Really interesting book and I love the covers of this series because it’s just flat out simple, and sometimes not everything can be simple, so it works.  Also it looks like a progression of maturity for Keatyn as well.  Please look at all the covers below, she looks young then more mature and then the last one more serious.  I like it, they even zoom in more to her as the series progresses. Great thinking there.

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About the Author:

Jillian Dodd grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys and Nebraska football. She has drank from a keg in a cornfield, attended the University of Nebraska, got to pass her candle, and did have a boy ask her to marry him in a bar. She met her own prince in college, and they have two amazing children, a Maltese named Sugar Bear, and two Labrador puppies named Camber Lacy and Cali Lucy.

She is the author of the That Boy Trilogy and The Keatyn Chronicles Series.

Jillian Dodd | Facebook | Twitter| Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

Keatyn Chronicles fan page | Keatyn Chronicles on Twitter

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Excerpt:

My hair is up in a high ponytail today and Aiden moves his face in close to my neck.

“You have a pretty neck.”

“What? No. It’s too long,” I scoff.

“Naw, it’s almost regal,” he says, as his lips move closer.

“Maybe for the Queen of Giraffes,” I joke.

“I've never kissed your neck.” He puts his hand on the side of my head and pushes it slightly. “Tilt your head.”

I do as he asks. I know I shouldn’t. I should run away. But it’s impossible to resist an order from a god.

He takes the tip of his finger and glides it from just underneath my earlobe to my collarbone. He blinks lazily and then puts his lips like our almost kisses. He is as close as he can possibly get to my neck without actually touching it.

And even though his lips don't touch, occasionally, he accidentally—or on purpose, maybe; who knows a god’s train of thought on this—touches it with his cheek.

I can feel some stubble on his cheek. He hasn’t shaved in a few days and the hair is so light it’s barely visible, but just that little bit of scruff looks so sexy on him. It changes his perfect face from a work of art to something of museum quality. It makes his beautiful face look more angular and masculine. And even though scruff usually scratches my face, his feels soft against my neck.

Have you ever rubbed a balloon across your hair and made it stick straight up? That's how my whole body feels. All my nerve endings, or synapses—really, I don’t even know what a synapse is exactly; I think it’s in the nerve family . . . Whatever, they are all sticking straight up like balloon-rubbed hair.

He’s still at my neck when he says, “Too bad I'm not a vampire. I’d bite you. Make you mine.”

“Trust me. You don't want me. Dawson tried to give me the key to his heart. I wouldn’t take it.”

“Is that why he’s wearing that key necklace?”

“Yeah, he’s wearing it until I change my mind. And I don’t know why I keep waiting. I didn’t wait for anything else.”

I hope to piss him off with my reference to sex with Dawson, so he will move his powerful lips away from me.

Instead he whispers, “Just because sex is good with someone, doesn't mean you’re destined to be with them. Imagine what it will be like with the guy you’re really supposed to be with. Your true love.”

When he speaks, his lips graze my neck a few times.

“You’re touching my neck. With your lips,” I say raggedly. I can barely breathe when he’s this close to me.

“I’m talking. Not kissing. It doesn’t count.”

And I don't know where this comes from—not from rational thought, obviously—but I make a little breathless moan and say, “Talk some more.”

I feel his mouth form a smile on my neck.

“Remember what I told you? In French. Your lips are my bliss?”

Then he speaks it in French. His lips grazing my neck with each syllable.

I forget who I am.

I forget where I am.

I have but one solitary thought.

Those lips must be on me.

“Aiden, come here.”

“I'm here.”

 I grab his face. “No, like, do that to my lips. The not-kissing-kiss.”

“It won’t be enough. You want to kiss me, don’t you?”

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Giveaway:

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TGIF - Ramblings

This morning I hated my alarm clock .... because it woke me up.  How dare it wake me up the way it did.  5:00am, I'm really tired of getting up at that time ... so in conclusion I have my alarm clock, because it did it's job.

.....

You ever wonder how it would feel to be a character in a book.  Think like toy story when toys come to life when we aren't looking.  Well what if books came to life when no one was around.  (When a tree falls and no one is around does it still make a sound?) Any who imagine all the characters are out there living their worlds, and for them it's a reality.  Imagine that.  How strange would that be.  I think I would like to be .... Harry Potter for a day a good day of course, not a bad one.  Or even to flip it around a little, Mr. Darcy just to see how he really thinks and functions on the inside.  Then maybe I'll jump on another adventure and be Juliet from Romeo and Juliet before the tragedy of course.  Wouldn't it be fun to actually live and breathe the time and place of what you are reading.  Right now I'm reading a book and she wants to be an actress so bad, she's on the set of a movie place and honestly I don't think I want her spot the way things are going but wouldn't that be something.  I know we all probably do that anyway imagine the way it is in our minds but imagine it coming to life. 

I'm rambling again I know but I'm bored and I just really felt like being in a sharing mood today.  Anyone out there feel the same way?

Random Reads (1)

Random Reads is a meme where we pick a random book from our shelf to read within the month hosted by imlovingbooks.com.

 

It’s easy to play along…

• If you’re on Goodreads enable sorting to your to-read shelf (you should see numbers next to each book now).
• Go to Random.org and type in the Min as 1 and the Max as how many ever books are on your to-read shelf.
• Scroll down to the book matching the number Random.org picks.
• Link up to your Random Reads post (below).
• Read and be merry.

This I have to say is one Brilliant idea I never thought of, and when I saw it today on Books Like Stars I new I had a new feature and one that is just too smart not to choose.  I always have a hard time choosing the next book to read.  And it's a monthly meme not a weekly so it's even better!  This is definitely a way to get those books off your to read list, the ever growing TBR!

 

Without further adieu here is my book for this month:

 

Drumrolls please .......

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm "Waiting on":

The Summer I Became a Nerd
by Leah Rae Miller
Release Date: May 7, 2013

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's an...more On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

Cover Reveal: Unbroken by Melody Grace

Expected publication: March 12th 2013

"Mom always told me there are two kinds of love in this world: the steady breeze, and the hurricane. Emerson Ray was my hurricane…"

Juliet McKenzie was an innocent eighteen-year old when she spent the summer in Cedar Cove—and fell head over heels in love with Emerson. Complicated, intense Emerson, the local bad boy. His blue eyes hid dark secrets, and just one touch could set Juliet ablaze. Their love was demanding and all-consuming, but when summer ended, tragedy tore them apart. Juliet swore she’d never go back, and she’s kept that promise… Until now.

Four years later, Juliet’s done her best to rebuild the wreckage of her shattered life. She’s got a great boyfriend, and a steady job planned after she graduates. Returning to Cedar Cove to pack up her family’s beach house to prepare it for sale, Juliet is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her future. But one look from Emerson, and all her old desire comes flooding back. He let her go once, but this time, he’s not giving up without a fight. And Emerson fights dirty.

A heartbreaking history. An unstoppable passion. Torn between her past and future, Juliet struggles to separate love from desire. But will they find a way to overcome their tragic secrets—together? And after so much damage has been done, can a love remain unbroken?

*This book contains adult situations and explicit content.*

Make sure to follow author Melody Grace! She will be revealing a sneak peek soon!

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/melodygrace and http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17342189-unbroken

Facebook † Twitter † Blog


GIVEAWAY

OPEN INTERNATIONAL

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Promotion Event: Sweetest Taboo (Taboo, #1) by Eva Marquez

Sweetest Taboo
By Eva Marquez
Release Date: October 1, 2012
Series: Taboo #1

Description:
Isabel Cruz was fifteen years old when she met Tom Stevens. She was 15 when they started dating, and 16 when she lost her virginity to him. By the time she turned 18 and went to college, everything had fallen apart.

This hadn’t been an ordinary love, though. Not a love between two dear friends, or even high school sweethearts. This had been the most taboo sort of love there was: a relationship between a student and her teacher. Isabel started her high school career as a normal student, but set her sights on Tom Stevens as soon as she met him, and pursued him with an intense – and sometimes reckless – fascination. When he finally approached her after swim practice and told her that he shared her feelings, it was the start of a forbidden and dangerous relationship.

Join Isabel as she makes her way through this dark love story, hiding from teachers, lying to her parents, and defying the authorities to make a life with the man she loves. Watch as she discovers the wonders of love and romance, and the terrible betrayal of jealous friends. And cry with her when she learns the hard truth about life and the people in her world.

Sweetest Taboo is inspired by the true and tragic stories of students who fall in love with their teachers, and live with the hard truths of forbidden romances. In a world full of after-school specials on sexual predators, this touching book seeks a different path, casting both student and teacher in a gentle light, and showing that true love may lie at the base of even the most illicit romance.

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Excerpt:  

From Chapter 1:
“You’re my sweetheart," he told me, his voice sad. "I can’t imagine life without you. I don’t want to have to imagine life without you.”

Tom rarely used terms of endearment with me, these days. When he did – in these rare moments when he called me his sweetheart – my heart melted. All of the turmoil, the sleepless nights, the protracted nature of our relationship, became nothing more than a passing inconvenience and very worthwhile. Tonight, though, I knew that the word came with drawbacks. They gave me the courage I needed to say the words I’d been dreading.

“My graduation won’t affect our relationship, you know that," I told him. "Look at how much we’ve been through together. If we made it through all of that, we can make it through anything. Tom, I want to be with you always, no matter where life takes me after graduation.”

I spoke passionately, fully believing in what I said. I was absolutely devoted to this man. But somewhere deep inside, I knew I was being dishonest. Neither of us wanted our relationship to change, but it was clear that things were going to change, and soon. I had just been offered a place at a small, private liberal arts college on the East Coast. The choice had been difficult because although I wanted to stay close to Tom, I also wanted to move forward with my life. In the end, I accepted the offer. Tom hadn’t really reacted when I told him. It hadn’t affected our relationship. Now, though, the cracks were starting to show.

“I want to believe that,” Tom answered quietly. “I loved the last letter you wrote me. Every time I read your letters, I feel like I’m sixteen again. I feel like I’ve come out of a deep sleep." A pause, and then, "I can’t lose you, Isabel. You’re the reason I wake up in the morning; I can’t love anyone more than I love–”

Suddenly I heard a distinct click on the line. My heart plummeted.

“Did you hear that?" Tom snapped, his tone suddenly terse. "Did someone pick up the phone at your house?”

“Hold on a minute, let me check inside.” I slipped back inside and listened, but the house was completely quiet. The kitchen phone was on the counter, my mom’s office was dark, and I was holding the only other phone in the house.

"Who picked up the phone?” Tom repeated, worry coloring his voice.

The click had not originated on my end of the line. I should've been relieved, but my panic rose even more.

“Tom," I whispered into the receiver. "It wasn’t here, everyone’s asleep..."

“I have to go," Tom interrupted abruptly. "Danielle's coming.”

There was another click, and the line went dead.

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About the Author:

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, daughter of European immigrants, Eva Márquez has spent most of her life outside of her home country. At the age of five, Eva accompanied her parents to the United States, where the family settled permanently. After graduating from university, she went on to complete graduate studies in International Relations in Spain. Eva received her Master of International Studies degree from the University of Sydney and went on to work in the global health field in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia. Eva currently resides in Southern Africa.

Visit Eva’s Amazon Author Central Page

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(1) KindleGraphed eBook copy of SWEETEST TABOO. Open International. Books will be gifted from Amazon only.  

Winners will be chosen using a random generator, all you have to do to enter is leave a comment.  That's all. Leave a comment between now and March 1st and you will entered in the giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Sweetest Taboo. 

Blog Tour: Lennon’s Jinx - Review/Giveaway

Lennon's Jinx
By: Chris Myers
Release Date: January 15, 2013

Description:
Sometimes, we don’t get to choose who we fall for.

Lennon spends most of his time raising his little sister Currie while trying to skate through his senior year of high school. He prefers groupies with no-strings attached but finds himself strangely attracted to Jinx, the straight-A student in his choir. Lennon’s curiosity overrules his good sense as he tries to peel away the layers to discover the reason for Jinx’s skittishness.

Jinx conceals the black truth about herself from her friends. She won’t admit to them that she screwed up big time, losing her first love and what she once held most precious.

When Lennon’s band holds auditions to replace their keyboard player, Jinx comes to tryout and almost leaves after seeing Lennon. Despite the fact she despises him, she joins the band to nurture her love of music that will hopefully ease the guilt gnawing away at her.

Like the rest of his band mates, Jinx soon witnesses Lennon battling his infamous father for the custody of Currie. While confronting his pent-up anger at his dad, Lennon exposes vulnerabilities he had no intention of letting any girl ever see, especially Jinx. Their reckless pasts may bring them together or further complicate their already messy lives.

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Review
Sometimes a book comes around and you get the pleasure of reading it and it completely touches you in every way.  This was that kind of book.  It was emotional, serious, fun and an all around must read for any person who enjoys reading young adult books or just any book in general, that's how good it was, I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.  The characters were wonderful and addicting and the story line was amazing and throw in some music and it was just perfect. 

We meet Lennon and Jinx right away.  Each one are very different from the other but still they have so much in common, they just don't know it yet.  Jinx catches Lennon in a compromising position and kicks him out of her party.  This is where the fun begins.  Lennon is a well known player and Jinx is anti men, at least that's what everyone thinks since she broke up with her ex.  Their relationship has never been a good one, mainly nonexistent.  That is until Jinx walks in to audition for Lennon's band and becomes his new keyboardist. 

With this new close proximity to each other they are now bound to get into each other's business.  They both have family issues and are trying to get passed them but throughout this Jinx learns that Lennon isn't the man whore she thought he was, he still is but he is also a very caring person and this touches her more than anything.  He later finds out the truth about what happened to Jinx as well and learns that he needs to be careful with her and make sure she feels comfortable throughout their growing relationship whether it's a friendship or more.

There are also Currie, Lennon's sister and her best friend Zoe.  Lennon has taken care of Currie her whole life and would do anything for these two girls.  Their relationships are absolutely adorable in every way possible.  They represent what a family should be to one another, it was simply beautiful  Because of these two beautiful girls everyone rallies together to be there for them and the entire story line between all the characters is very moving. 

My hear breaks and smiles throughout this book and it makes you think some things in life are just really unfair and shouldn't happen to the most innocent of people.   But then there are other parts where there is so much resentment and hate that it makes you realize there are people out there that don't deserve a second or even a first chance.  This book really had it all.  The good the bad and the ugly.  It is a must read, because it has all the elements of a book that will make you feel and remember for a long time.  I know that I will remember this book. 

The cover was great, really reminds me of how Jinx is described in the book and she completely looks like a rock star.  The major bonus in this book was that there were songs written by both Lennon and Jinx, which brings in their prospectives even further.  I love books that involve music together.  I really do think that music can bring out so many emotions in you and bring back many memories. The author also has a great writing style when it goes from one character to the next so you get both point of views.  This is something I always find entertaining to see a male and female point of view of the same situation. Great characters, great story, great music, great writing and overall greatness. 

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About the Author

Chris Myers suffers from an overactive imagination. In second grade, Sister Bernice produced Chris's first play about pumpkins mauling and eating children. Apparently, the nuns didn’t catch the underlying meaning. This instantly raised Chris to stardom amongst her peers for the several days off from schoolwork while in production. She spent her high school years writing torch songs for fantasy guys then moved onto writing thrillers and young adult. Chris lives in Colorado with her daughter, her better half, and BeBe, a rambunctious Bichon.

Chris literally has very few photos of herself, even though photography put her through college. Here she is with her sisters and daughter. Chris is the one with the vino.

Chris started out as an art major, then moved to bio-chem, hoping to play Victor Frankenstein as a genetic engineer or messing with people's minds as a psychiatrist. Just as she was about to graduate, she decided being broke for another four to ten years wouldn't work out for her adventurous spirit and traveling. She ended up with an electrical engineering degree then a masters. As it turns out, she should've finished her first novel twenty-five years ago and stuck in the make-believe world where she is happiest.

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Giveaway!

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Review: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
By: Jessica Sorensen
Release Date: December 13, 2012
Series: The Coincidence

Description:
There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.

Review:
This book just unbelievably blew my mind.  The amount of hurt, pain, passion, and intense feelings was none to short in this book.  From the very beginning emotions were swirling around and the intensity was breathtaking and just out of this world.  I just can't wait to pick up another book from this author and it dearly pains me that the next book in this series is not until next year, ugh.

Imagine two people so broken accidentally meeting up with one another at the most inopportune time, but that single meeting has changed both their lives and they are connected forever without even knowing it.  Callie has just started college and it turns out that Kayden, the boy she had that meeting with just so happens to go to the same college and they start running into each other, sometimes literally. Their relationship starts to intensify as their secrets come out slowly whether willingly or in a drunken stupor but their attraction supersedes these secrets and their friendship grows.

Kayden has lead a life of abuse by his father, to the point where he doesnt' even feel pain anymore but that day that Callie came in and stopped his father from continuing the beating changed his life,  Callie on the other hand went through something traumatic when she was twelve and doesn't let anyone get close to her.  So as you can see these are quite some dilemmas they have but they work through it and watching their relationship grow and their secrets come out are intense and the passion between them is inevitable.  When situations get harder they grow closer even though Callie just wants to run away sometimes she starts to be braver and stand up for herself, as well as Kayden he too starts to stand up for himself.

The ending, was the mind blowing experience and I can't even talk about it because you have to read it for yourself, really I just can't wait to read the next book it's just not fair that it doesn't come out until next year.  It just hurts.  Overall this book was amazing, I'm still trying to catch my breathe from the passion these two shared.  I'm almost tempted to go back and read it again that's how good it was.  The characters were amazing and you felt so much for them, even if you didn't experience what they experienced you completely sympathize with them and feel connected to each and every character.  Even the background characters Luke and Seth both have their own stories that I would love to find out more about.

The cover is beautiful too, it's the perfect picture of them just freeing themselves in the rain like they did in the book.  Again this book was breathtakingly mind blowing.  I don't know if it's just me but I can even feel the intensity from just looking at the cover.  My hear breaks for all the characters.  Is it February 2014 yet?

Valentine's Day! Books I love!

So first off let me say Happy Valentine's to all my readers!  Thank you for stopping by today it's always a pleasure!  So like many people today I'm sure are looking up exactly what is Valentine's Day and why is it now so commercialized.  I did the very common sense thing and went to Wikipedia hehe.  Here's a section on this famous holiday that I actually enjoyed:

The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer.[25] Chaucer wrote:


For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

["For this was on Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."]

This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia.[34] A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381.[35] (When they were married eight months later, they were each only 15 years old).

I've always enjoyed that era - at least watching movies, hello the Tudors was an amazing series! Any who so today I want to talk about some of my favorite books about love, or just books I love.  Here's my top 5 books that bring the emotion out in me:

1. Just One Day By Gayle Foreman - maybe it's because I just read it and can't get my mind off it, but really what are the chances of something that significant happening the way it did in the book.  I love the love in this book because it is like a stain.  If you've read the book you know what I mean!

2. Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols - usually I would pick any book but I think the love between the two main characters is crazy love, and it's passionate love not physically but emotionally they just want so much so bad, but go about it the wrong way and that's why I love this book.

3. Summer Series by Jenny Hahn - A love triangle at it's best and it's worst, the whole series made me just cry and cry and love and feel and it was just amazing.  Have you read it yet?

4.Something Maybe by Elizabeth Scott - it's a simple love but love it is and it is fierce when realization finally hits the main character.  It was just all around awesome and the guy in this, there need to be more like him around this world, that's for sure.

5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - so I start off with a book that happens in Paris and end off with a book that takes place in Paris.  I really do think Paris might actually be the city of Love after all.  I'll make it there one day, I just know I will.  Amazing book and if you haven't read it, then you must be nuts!

Because I couldn't help it - I have to add an honorable mention because this book reminds me so much of my life at one point and the love these two have is so undeniable even if they are trying to deny it lol.

The Duff by Kody Keplinger - and if you haven't read this one, seriously there's something wrong with you Kody's books are the best I can't wait to read her next one, whenever it comes out.

 So there you have my list, I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and well a great weekend.  I'm going to finish work then go home and eat some of my lovely chocolates :-) after I give the kiddies their gifts of course.

Cover Reveal: Drowning In You

Drowning in You

By: Rebecca Berto

Release Date: April 12, 2013

Description:

Secretly crushing

Crushed by a tragedy

Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her mom dead and two dozen people, including her millionaire dad, injured at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts.

Now twenty, Charlee is left to care for her ten-year-old brother and hold their crumbling lives together while their dad fights for his life in intensive care.

Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships, and has a Dad with a fair share of illegal affairs. With his reputation, many don’t believe he didn’t plan the Mason’s disaster.

And at twenty-one, he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him, after all these years.

Charlee and Dexter begin bumping into each other and they realize their secret crushes aren’t so secret anymore. But how can they be a couple when Dexter learns his dad is trying to steal money from the May’s millionaire fortune?

About the Author

Rebecca Berto writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction.


Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their doggy.

Rebecca Berto | Facebook | Twitter

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: •Grab your current read •Open to a random page •Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page •BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) •Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser for the week:

I often wonder what drives people to do things. Whether it’s put into their minds at birth, or if it is learned as they grow. Maybe it’s even forced upon them by circumstances that are out of their hands. Does anyone have control over their lives or are we all helpless?



The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
By Jessica Sorensen (Kindle Locations 218-219)

Review: Riptide

Riptide
By: Lindsey Scheibe
Release Date: May 8, 2013

Description:
Grace has one summer to prove she’s good enough

For Grace Parker, surfing is all about the ride and the moment. Everything else disappears. She can forget that her best friend, Ford Watson, has a crush on her that she can’t reciprocate. She can forget how badly she wants to get a surf scholarship to UC San Diego. She can forget the pressure of her parents’ impossibly high expectations.

When Ford enters Grace into a surf competition— the only way she can impress the UCSD surfing scouts—she has one summer to train and prepare. Will she gain everything she’s ever wanted or lose the only things that ever mattered?

Review:
When reading the description of this book I thought it had some really great potential and all though it didn’t meet all the needs I thought necessary to make this an amazing book it was a good read. If only for the surf lingo alone was interesting enough for me to read it all the way through, I just love surfers, they are so intriguing.


We meet Grace who is training to surf in a competition that will hopefully get her into her college of choice. But her parents have other ideas about her future, more in the field of the ivy leagues. They are very prim and proper and everything has to be a certain way, it’s all about the façade even though behind all that it’s anything but perfect. Grace’s father definitely has a bit of a temper problem and her mother is a complete doormat.

Ford is Grace’s best friend and helping her out with the competition, but at the same time he is also interning with her father at the law firm in hopes of one day becoming a lawyer who can help illegals stay legal in the country. He seems like a good guy and really likes Grace, but she keeps pushing him away. So he finds someone else who actually wants to be with him. It’s very back and forth between the two of them.

Towards the end of the books Grace really needs to make a big decision, whether she follower her dream of surfing or to follower her parents idea of what is going to be her future. It’s a hard decision for any kid to make, but sometimes you just have to do what makes you happy and deal with the consequences in the end. You really only have yourself you can count on in life and you have to make the best of it. That is one great lesson I think I got from this book. Sometimes you have to be selfish in life if you know it’s what the best is for you and those around you.

Overall the book was interesting and again loved the surfing in it. The cover is amazing, and I can completely picture the whole book while it’s happening in my mind. Although I wish there was more depth to the characters, seemed very straightforward with not enough background. Make sure you check the book out when it comes out.
Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Flux Books, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Memorable Monday

So this will be my first time doing this meme, and I can't wait to get started...

Memorable Monday is a meme hosted by Escape in a Book which you will share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.

Provoked by a quote, delighted by a quote or perhaps you fell in love with a beautiful quote? Share the quote(s) with us in your own Memorable Monday post.

And so because I literally cannot stop thinking about this book and have recommend it to several people already.  here is a quote from Just One Day by Gayle Foreman:

“You’re comparing love to a . . . stain?” He leans so far back in his seat that the front legs of his chair scrape off the floor. He looks very satisfied, with the crêpe or with himself, I’m not sure. “Exactly.”

 

Cover Reveal: The Only Exception by Magan Vernon

The Only Exception
By: Magan Vernon
Release Date: April 9, 2013

Description:
Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the uber conservative senator’s son, Trey Chapman.

No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.

A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.

**Due to sexual content and heavy subject matter, this book is recommended for ages 16+**


*************************** About the Author:

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.


TOE on GR http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17206230-the-only-exception
Twitter https://twitter.com/MaganVernon
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Magan-Vernon/215620155165079
Blog/website www.maganvernon.com

Review: Just One Day

Just One Day
By: Gayle Forman

Release Date: January 8, 2013
Series: Just One Day

Description:
A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Review:
I don't know how she does it, but Gayle Forman is amazing, she really knows how to suck you into a world and a life and make you feel what the character is feeling. Every emotion possible is in this book, I feel like I just got out of an emotional roller coaster and it won't end until the next book comes out. This is not soon enough in my opinion. These companion books of hers are well thought out and give everyone both perspectives of the stories. I feel compelled to let you know my heart is soaring right now. I was addicted from the very beginning of the book and now I'm going insane with a need to read the rest of the story.

We start off with Allyson and Melanie in London on a trip after their senior year in high school. It was a graduation present for them to go out and explore, but Allyson is very straight and narrow and is seen as the good girl. But honestly she just hasn’t found herself yet. They come upon a play that is playing in the park and there is a guy in the play that just catches her eye, something about him. The next day when they are off to another place she runs into him and they talk about how she missed going to Paris on her tour because of the strike. He convinces her to go with him and that’s when their adventure begins, because for just one day they explore Paris together.

They arrive and they experience the environment around them and they really have an amazing connection that you can feel it seeping through the pages. My heart jumps and gasps when they do. It’s beautiful really. Something happens and by the next day they get separated, she feels like he left her, but she’s not sure. Either way she needs to get back so she can get home to America. She does, and starts college. But it doesn’t seem to click with her. I can totally feel her depression and I feel so bad for her, but through time and making new friendships she learns to be open again. This brings her to the bright idea of finding him, just to find out what really happened.

She sets of to Paris at the end of the summer to look for him, on a wild goose chase. But things start falling into place and there are signs everywhere telling her this is where she should be. This was an adventure that is exciting and brave and just an all out freedom for Allyson. She starts to give up hope, and that’s when even more things start to fall into place. I don’t really want to give any more of the story away. Just know that I think this has to be the best book I’ve read in quite some time, I’m still reeling from it.

I cannot wait to read Willem’s point of view. I know that it’s going to be fantastic and I’m going to fall for him even more than I did in the first book. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the book, and I leave you with, if you haven’t read it yet – what are you waiting for!!!!!

We are born in one day. We die in one day. We can change in one day. And we can fall in love in one day. Anything can happen in just one day.

Review: Rapunzel Untangled

Rapunzel Untangled
By: Cindy C. Bennett
Release Date: February 12, 2013

Description:
Rapunzel is not your average teenager.

For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction. But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is.

Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.

Review:
First let me start off by saying that Rapunzel is by far one of my favorite fairy tales to begin with so I definitely had high hopes for this version.  I was pleasantly surprised that even though there were very similar story plots, obviously because it's Rapunzel but there were some great modern twists to the tale that I really enjoyed.  The characters I definitely sympathised with throughout the whole book, even the evil "mother".

We first meet Rapunzel and her mother interacting in a normal way doing an every day thing.  She is completely clueless because she doesn't know anything other than her mother and being in the tower all day.  Her mother explained to her while she was young that she has a disease that if she came into contact with other people or the outside world that she could die, and she couldn't do that because one day she would be savior to the world.  Again not thinking anything of it Rapunzel completely believed her mother, she had no reason to doubt her at all.

That is until she decided to explore more on the computer, which she was allowed to have so that she could complete her homework.  This is where she discovered the wonderful world of Facebook.  Searching for a high school near her she wanders upon Fab Fane's page.  She starts communicating with him and soon they develop a sweet friendship, which escalates more as he starts to visit her when no one is around.  It's really rather sweet how he gets to show her things she's never experienced before like being outside, chocolate, parties and Thanksgiving dinner with a big family.  Throughout all this and his sneaking visitations together they start to explore the mansion that Rapunzel lives in.  Discovering rooms that lead to no where, and hallways that end abruptly, it's all very confusing and abnormal even to Rapunzel.

These escapades are leading Rapunzel more and more into questioning her Mother and her intentions with her.  She finds papers which lead her to believe that her mother really isn't her mother.  This is when the fun and adventure begins.  The book really picks up here and you get really sucked into what is really going on, and then they throw you for a loop at the end of the book.  But you really have to read it to find out what happens.  Just know that's it's worth the read.

Overall the book was a really great twist on the traditional Rapunzel story which was modernized to represent this time period.  I love that cover too, I wish I had hair that beautiful. 

Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Cover Reveal: Trust In Me (Friends & Lovers, #3)

Trust in Me

By: Bethany Lopez

Release Date: March 5, 2013

Series: Friends & Lovers #3

Description:

Roni’s dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer were smashed under the brutal rage of her ex-husband's fists. Getting divorced and starting over at the age of twenty-two was never her plan, but maybe in Texas, she'll find her path. When the town's local player, Rich, opens a Rec Center, she sees a way to rekindle her dancing dreams...and maybe have a little fun with her sexy new boss.

Rich never expected to fulfill his dreams in the town he planned to leave behind, but that's just what he's doing. His reputation as a noncommittal ladies' man might make it challenging to earn respect in the business world, but he's willing to prove that he's serious. In fact, when it comes to pursuing Roni, he's more than willing. But she's taking a page out of his book, not wanting to risk another relationship. Can he convince her that his playboy days are done and that she can trust him with her heart?

Trailer:

About the Author:

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult novel. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her contemporary Young Adult series, Stories About Melissa. Ta Ta for Now!, xoxoxo, and Ciao are available now. Bethany is currently working on a Contemporary Fantasy YA and a Contemporary New Adult Trilogy.

Bethany Lopez | Facebook | Twitter