Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 152
May 2, 2017
Book Review: Like A Memory by Abbi Glines
Like a Memory by Abbi Glines
Blurb:
One memory. One special summer. The one thing Bliss had lost herself in when the fear and sickness were too much, moments never to be damaged by the harsh reality that followed… until now.
Bliss York didn’t live a normal teenage life. She didn’t go to Friday night football games, walk the halls with her friends every day, go to her prom or even walk to receive her diploma. It had all been taken from her the fall that she was fifteen years old and she was given the diagnosis no one ever wants to hear.
She had leukemia.
Seven years after spending a summer with a girl who he knew would always be his first love and the one who got away, Nate Finlay returns to Sea Breeze to help his fiancé open her new boutique clothing store. When the new employee walks in Nate is taken back seven years to the girl he thought he’d love forever. The one who never answered his calls or returned his text. The one who shut him out completely with not even a goodbye and broke his heart.
They’ve each become someone different. No longer the young teens with stars in their eyes. But does that matter when your heart still says that’s the one.
My Review: Nine years ago Bliss York and Nate Finlay met on the beach in Sea Breeze, Alabama. Seven years ago they fell in love on that same beach. They thought it was forever and then the summer ended and one day changed everything.
Nate Finlay never understood why Bliss abruptly stopped answering his texts and calls. He just assumed it was because the connection wasn't as strong for her and that she wasn't as sweet as he thought she was so he put the memories in a vault in his heart and vowed to never fall in love again.
But those memories of that summer were the one thing that got Bliss York through the rounds of Chemotherapy. The memory of that young, perfect love. She didn't think she'd ever see Nate again. Until she does.
Nate is shocked to see Bliss again after all these years, working in the store that his fiance Octavia is opening in Sea Breeze. Though he recognizes her instantly he plays it off like he doesn't remember her - even though he sees the recognition in her eyes followed by the hurt look at his "not remembering" her.
As they're left alone to set up Octavia's shop the years begin to fall away and Nate realizes that the spark he thought had been imagined is still very much there and he begins falling for Bliss all over again. But when he finds out the true reason Bliss cut off communication will he allow himself to give up the easy coldness he has with Octavia and realize that love should be messy? Will he take a chance on Bliss? Or will a devastating tragedy tear them apart once more?
Like A Memory is the book that fans of the Rosemary Beach series and the Sea Breeze series have been waiting for since Abbi first hinted at it in the last book of the Sea Breeze series. Did it meet up to all the anticipation? For me it did. Obviously Abbi was not going to write them a book where they were in love and problem free from the start - she was going to make the reader work for it. Was it worth it in the end? YES! Otherwise the book would have been completely plotless.
Bliss delivered with the virginal innocence Glines's female leads are often known for, despite her aspirations to be brave and independent while Nate was her typical male lead - kind of a pig/jerk until he "meets the right girl" and turns into a possessive caveman. And his dirty talk was downright laughable.
What I liked most about this story was the plot twist with Octavia at the end. It was predictable but definitely a page-turner.
What I didn't like about this story was that I couldn't keep track of all the kids born to the original characters from the two series. Without the last names to sort out who belonged to who it was hard and even then it was impossible with a few. Who were Holland, Saffron, and Crimson again?? I felt like I needed a chart or a map or something to keep them all straight.
There were also a ton of grammatical errors (nothing new here with Abbi's books) which at times made reading difficult.
Overall, I enjoyed the story because it was light, airy, and perfect for a quick read. The second chance at love storyline appealed to me and I gobbled it up almost in one sitting.
My Rating:4 of 5 Stars!
Blurb:
One memory. One special summer. The one thing Bliss had lost herself in when the fear and sickness were too much, moments never to be damaged by the harsh reality that followed… until now. Bliss York didn’t live a normal teenage life. She didn’t go to Friday night football games, walk the halls with her friends every day, go to her prom or even walk to receive her diploma. It had all been taken from her the fall that she was fifteen years old and she was given the diagnosis no one ever wants to hear.
She had leukemia.
Seven years after spending a summer with a girl who he knew would always be his first love and the one who got away, Nate Finlay returns to Sea Breeze to help his fiancé open her new boutique clothing store. When the new employee walks in Nate is taken back seven years to the girl he thought he’d love forever. The one who never answered his calls or returned his text. The one who shut him out completely with not even a goodbye and broke his heart.
They’ve each become someone different. No longer the young teens with stars in their eyes. But does that matter when your heart still says that’s the one.
My Review: Nine years ago Bliss York and Nate Finlay met on the beach in Sea Breeze, Alabama. Seven years ago they fell in love on that same beach. They thought it was forever and then the summer ended and one day changed everything.
Nate Finlay never understood why Bliss abruptly stopped answering his texts and calls. He just assumed it was because the connection wasn't as strong for her and that she wasn't as sweet as he thought she was so he put the memories in a vault in his heart and vowed to never fall in love again.
But those memories of that summer were the one thing that got Bliss York through the rounds of Chemotherapy. The memory of that young, perfect love. She didn't think she'd ever see Nate again. Until she does.
Nate is shocked to see Bliss again after all these years, working in the store that his fiance Octavia is opening in Sea Breeze. Though he recognizes her instantly he plays it off like he doesn't remember her - even though he sees the recognition in her eyes followed by the hurt look at his "not remembering" her.
As they're left alone to set up Octavia's shop the years begin to fall away and Nate realizes that the spark he thought had been imagined is still very much there and he begins falling for Bliss all over again. But when he finds out the true reason Bliss cut off communication will he allow himself to give up the easy coldness he has with Octavia and realize that love should be messy? Will he take a chance on Bliss? Or will a devastating tragedy tear them apart once more?
Like A Memory is the book that fans of the Rosemary Beach series and the Sea Breeze series have been waiting for since Abbi first hinted at it in the last book of the Sea Breeze series. Did it meet up to all the anticipation? For me it did. Obviously Abbi was not going to write them a book where they were in love and problem free from the start - she was going to make the reader work for it. Was it worth it in the end? YES! Otherwise the book would have been completely plotless.
Bliss delivered with the virginal innocence Glines's female leads are often known for, despite her aspirations to be brave and independent while Nate was her typical male lead - kind of a pig/jerk until he "meets the right girl" and turns into a possessive caveman. And his dirty talk was downright laughable.
What I liked most about this story was the plot twist with Octavia at the end. It was predictable but definitely a page-turner.
What I didn't like about this story was that I couldn't keep track of all the kids born to the original characters from the two series. Without the last names to sort out who belonged to who it was hard and even then it was impossible with a few. Who were Holland, Saffron, and Crimson again?? I felt like I needed a chart or a map or something to keep them all straight.
There were also a ton of grammatical errors (nothing new here with Abbi's books) which at times made reading difficult.
Overall, I enjoyed the story because it was light, airy, and perfect for a quick read. The second chance at love storyline appealed to me and I gobbled it up almost in one sitting.
My Rating:4 of 5 Stars!
April 28, 2017
COVER REVEAL: Royally Endowed by Emma Chase
This Friday I have a sexy new cover reveal to share with you all for Emma Chase's upcoming novel, ROYALLY ENDOWED! I mean really, what better way to kick off your weekend than with a sexy, drool-worthy cover reveal?
Are you ready?
Check it out!******
Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him??Sexy. As. Hell.And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them.For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, protective royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after.The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely.But in the pursuit of a fairy tale ending, Ellie learns that the sweetest crushes can be the hardest to let go. *** Logan St. James grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, in a family on the wrong side of the law. But these days, he covers his tattoos and scars with a respectable suit. He’s handsome, loyal, brave, skilled with his hands and…other body parts.Any woman would be proud to bring him home to her family.But there’s only one woman he wants.For years he’s watched over her, protected her, held her hair back when she was sick, taught her how to throw a punch, and spot a liar.He dreams of her. Would lay down his life for her.But beautiful Ellie Hammond’s off-limits.Everybody knows the bodyguard rules: Never lose focus, never let them out of your sight, and never, ever fall in love.
PRE- ORDER NOWAMAZON | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | iBooks | B&N
Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER | GOODREADS | READER FAN GROUP
Are you ready?
Check it out!******
Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him??Sexy. As. Hell.And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them.For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, protective royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after.The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely.But in the pursuit of a fairy tale ending, Ellie learns that the sweetest crushes can be the hardest to let go. *** Logan St. James grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, in a family on the wrong side of the law. But these days, he covers his tattoos and scars with a respectable suit. He’s handsome, loyal, brave, skilled with his hands and…other body parts.Any woman would be proud to bring him home to her family.But there’s only one woman he wants.For years he’s watched over her, protected her, held her hair back when she was sick, taught her how to throw a punch, and spot a liar.He dreams of her. Would lay down his life for her.But beautiful Ellie Hammond’s off-limits.Everybody knows the bodyguard rules: Never lose focus, never let them out of your sight, and never, ever fall in love.PRE- ORDER NOWAMAZON | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | iBooks | B&N
Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER | GOODREADS | READER FAN GROUP
April 27, 2017
"Book Mail" Thursday #18
This week's book mail was a bit of a letdown, but I did also get a romantic sounding ebook and another free ebook that sounds strange - yet promising. This week's book main included...
My April OwlCrate Box
Contents and Mini Review:
*stop reading here to avoid spoilers*••1) Book: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli w/ author letter, signed bookplate, and emoji sticker - 0/5 Stars (Nothing about this book appeals to me - might do a giveaway on here or my blog to unload it)
2) Sneak Peek of Umberland by Wendy Spinale - 5/5 Stars (Now that book actually sounds good)
3) Pride & Prejudice Inspired Headband from @storiarts 5/5 Stars (this is really cute and actually looks pretty good on me)
4) keychain from @bookwormboutique 5/5 stars (I like the quote on it and I think it will look nice either hanging off my purse or with my house keys)
5) Anna and the French Kiss Inspired Tea from @theteaspot - no rating until I try it. It sounds interesting, just a little worried about the tea part.. definitely could have seen it as a coffee drink though
6) ACOMAF art print by @eviebookish - 5/5 stars (I always love her products but when I heard this box would have something inspired by Sarah J Maas's books I was thinking maybe a candle or something.. so slightly disappointed at OwlCrate for that)
7) Rainbow Rowell Inspired Bookish Candle from @novellyyours - 5/5 stars ( I love the raspberry scent even if I have no idea what fandom the candle is inspired by)••Basically what it comes down to is you could have given me the little side items and kept the book. I knew this was going to be a YA contemporary novel and I do like those but this one is all wrong for me. Probably going to be my last box for a while - not sure it's worth the cost anymore.
But on another note, here are the two freebie ebooks I also picked up:
Waiting On: My 3 Copies of ACOWAR should be coming next week along with my signed copies of The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine and Unknown, Unrest, and Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins!
New Virtual Signing Alert: I always love to keep you up-to-date on new virtual signings on my favorite blog Good Choice Reading. They've just recently started two amazing Virtual Signings for Julie Eshbaugh (Ivory & Bone and Obsidian & Stars) and Renee Ahdieh (Flame in the Mist, The Wrath and the Dawn, and The Rose and the Dagger) so be sure to check those out if you love collecting signed copies like I do!
My April OwlCrate Box
Contents and Mini Review:
*stop reading here to avoid spoilers*••1) Book: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli w/ author letter, signed bookplate, and emoji sticker - 0/5 Stars (Nothing about this book appeals to me - might do a giveaway on here or my blog to unload it)2) Sneak Peek of Umberland by Wendy Spinale - 5/5 Stars (Now that book actually sounds good)
3) Pride & Prejudice Inspired Headband from @storiarts 5/5 Stars (this is really cute and actually looks pretty good on me)
4) keychain from @bookwormboutique 5/5 stars (I like the quote on it and I think it will look nice either hanging off my purse or with my house keys)
5) Anna and the French Kiss Inspired Tea from @theteaspot - no rating until I try it. It sounds interesting, just a little worried about the tea part.. definitely could have seen it as a coffee drink though
6) ACOMAF art print by @eviebookish - 5/5 stars (I always love her products but when I heard this box would have something inspired by Sarah J Maas's books I was thinking maybe a candle or something.. so slightly disappointed at OwlCrate for that)
7) Rainbow Rowell Inspired Bookish Candle from @novellyyours - 5/5 stars ( I love the raspberry scent even if I have no idea what fandom the candle is inspired by)••Basically what it comes down to is you could have given me the little side items and kept the book. I knew this was going to be a YA contemporary novel and I do like those but this one is all wrong for me. Probably going to be my last box for a while - not sure it's worth the cost anymore.
But on another note, here are the two freebie ebooks I also picked up:
Waiting On: My 3 Copies of ACOWAR should be coming next week along with my signed copies of The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine and Unknown, Unrest, and Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins!
New Virtual Signing Alert: I always love to keep you up-to-date on new virtual signings on my favorite blog Good Choice Reading. They've just recently started two amazing Virtual Signings for Julie Eshbaugh (Ivory & Bone and Obsidian & Stars) and Renee Ahdieh (Flame in the Mist, The Wrath and the Dawn, and The Rose and the Dagger) so be sure to check those out if you love collecting signed copies like I do!
April 26, 2017
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #72
This week working on my current work-in-progress is occupying my nights, but during my freetime during the day I'm squeezing in time to read...
Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb:
Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.
Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?
But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far: I first saw this book on Amazon about a year ago and it sounded good. I waited for the ApollyCon virtual signing to start and ordered a copy and since I'm waiting for ACOWAR to come out next week I just wanted a short read to get me through until I get my copies of ACOWAR. So far I'm on the fence about this book. Compared to other books I've read by Jennifer L. Armentrout, its kind of a different read. I'm thinking it might be picking up but we'll have to see. :/
Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb:
Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?
But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far: I first saw this book on Amazon about a year ago and it sounded good. I waited for the ApollyCon virtual signing to start and ordered a copy and since I'm waiting for ACOWAR to come out next week I just wanted a short read to get me through until I get my copies of ACOWAR. So far I'm on the fence about this book. Compared to other books I've read by Jennifer L. Armentrout, its kind of a different read. I'm thinking it might be picking up but we'll have to see. :/
April 25, 2017
New Release Tuesday: The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Who is ready for a pulse-pounding scare? I know I'm in the mood for a great thriller; which is great because today's New Release Tuesday Feature is...
The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb:
When Ella is mysteriously attacked on her way home from a party, her entire life changes as she finds herself at the center of an attempted murder investigation.
Ella tries to move on, but her attacker isn't done yet. He shows himself in the form of horrifying signs and symbols: a clown mask strewn on her bed, a dead bird in her backpack, a shadow moving past her window in the night. And as the weeks pass, it turns out that Ella isn't the only one being tormented.
With the help of an old flame, Jensen Carver, and her friends and family, Ella tries to attain some sense of normalcy, but she can't seem to shake the feeling that there's a dark pattern hidden in the killer's every move. Suddenly, even those in her innermost circle seem suspicious. In her seemingly safe West Virginia town, Ella starts to wonder who she can trust.
Are you excited yet? I've been dying to read this book since I first saw the cover. Oops. Dying. Probably not a good word choice, right?
The Dead ListJennifer L. ArmentroutYA HorrorApril 25, 2017
Grab Your Copy Today: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Add to Goodreads
The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb:
When Ella is mysteriously attacked on her way home from a party, her entire life changes as she finds herself at the center of an attempted murder investigation.Ella tries to move on, but her attacker isn't done yet. He shows himself in the form of horrifying signs and symbols: a clown mask strewn on her bed, a dead bird in her backpack, a shadow moving past her window in the night. And as the weeks pass, it turns out that Ella isn't the only one being tormented.
With the help of an old flame, Jensen Carver, and her friends and family, Ella tries to attain some sense of normalcy, but she can't seem to shake the feeling that there's a dark pattern hidden in the killer's every move. Suddenly, even those in her innermost circle seem suspicious. In her seemingly safe West Virginia town, Ella starts to wonder who she can trust.
Are you excited yet? I've been dying to read this book since I first saw the cover. Oops. Dying. Probably not a good word choice, right?
The Dead ListJennifer L. ArmentroutYA HorrorApril 25, 2017
Grab Your Copy Today: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Add to Goodreads
April 21, 2017
Book Review: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Blurb
You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past.The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.
My Review: ***Fair warning: This will be more of a "compare and contrast" review where I talk about both the Netflix series and the book, as opposed to a strict "book review"***
Hannah Baker has committed suicide. Hannah Baker is dead. She didn't leave a note... what she left was much worse.
Hannah Baker left behind 7 audiotapes, 13 stories about the people that made her life so miserable she thought suicide was the only answer.
Clay Jensen doesn't know why he is on the tapes. He doesn't know what he would have done to Hannah to make her want to kill herself. Clay had admired Hannah Baker since freshman year, and other than one night - he never really had a chance with her.
As he listens to the tapes, he learns the truth about the awful rumors his classmates spread about Hannah and the dark misdeeds that pushed Hannah over the edge. Could Clay have saved her? Could any of them?
I did the one thing you're not supposed to do. I watched the Netflix show before I read the book. And to be completely, totally honest? I liked the show better.
Since I watched the show first, I knew what was going to happen in the story so none of it was a total surprise to me. But strip away what the show created, you find the bones of the story.
Hannah Baker was a troubled girl. Obviously something had happened at her previous school as well - both the show and the book hinted at it, but you never did find out what. But did any of the reasons she gave really add up to enough of a reason for anyone to kill themselves? No, at least not in my opinion. Maybe the author was trying to show that the culmination of all the events would drive anyone over the edge.
In any event, this book for me was more about bullying that suicide prevention - which I know some critics of the show have been quick to point out. In my interpretation, it was a lesson that people should learn that gossip and rumors hurt people - that you should think of the repercussions before you open your mouth. That teens - or people in general - shouldn't hurt each other because you never know what that person is going through. And for that, I thought the writing was beautiful.
What I didn't like was the way it was written, per se. I know it was supposed to flip between the stories Hannah was telling on the tapes and Clay's thoughts and memories as he was listening to them but it felt a little too in someone's head. Does that make sense?
What I think I'm trying to say is that, overall I loved the bones that the story was, but I needed the Netflix show to give me the meat of the story. It felt like so much more happened in the show that made the story even better.
My Rating:3.75 of 5 Stars!
Blurb
You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past.The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.
My Review: ***Fair warning: This will be more of a "compare and contrast" review where I talk about both the Netflix series and the book, as opposed to a strict "book review"***
Hannah Baker has committed suicide. Hannah Baker is dead. She didn't leave a note... what she left was much worse.
Hannah Baker left behind 7 audiotapes, 13 stories about the people that made her life so miserable she thought suicide was the only answer.
Clay Jensen doesn't know why he is on the tapes. He doesn't know what he would have done to Hannah to make her want to kill herself. Clay had admired Hannah Baker since freshman year, and other than one night - he never really had a chance with her.
As he listens to the tapes, he learns the truth about the awful rumors his classmates spread about Hannah and the dark misdeeds that pushed Hannah over the edge. Could Clay have saved her? Could any of them?
I did the one thing you're not supposed to do. I watched the Netflix show before I read the book. And to be completely, totally honest? I liked the show better.
Since I watched the show first, I knew what was going to happen in the story so none of it was a total surprise to me. But strip away what the show created, you find the bones of the story.
Hannah Baker was a troubled girl. Obviously something had happened at her previous school as well - both the show and the book hinted at it, but you never did find out what. But did any of the reasons she gave really add up to enough of a reason for anyone to kill themselves? No, at least not in my opinion. Maybe the author was trying to show that the culmination of all the events would drive anyone over the edge.
In any event, this book for me was more about bullying that suicide prevention - which I know some critics of the show have been quick to point out. In my interpretation, it was a lesson that people should learn that gossip and rumors hurt people - that you should think of the repercussions before you open your mouth. That teens - or people in general - shouldn't hurt each other because you never know what that person is going through. And for that, I thought the writing was beautiful.
What I didn't like was the way it was written, per se. I know it was supposed to flip between the stories Hannah was telling on the tapes and Clay's thoughts and memories as he was listening to them but it felt a little too in someone's head. Does that make sense?
What I think I'm trying to say is that, overall I loved the bones that the story was, but I needed the Netflix show to give me the meat of the story. It felt like so much more happened in the show that made the story even better.
My Rating:3.75 of 5 Stars!
April 20, 2017
"Book Mail Thursday" #17
My week of relaxation was made better yesterday because... I got BOOK MAIL! Here's the bookish surprise that was in my mailbox this week...
Ever the Brave (Clash of the Kingdoms #2) by Erin Summerill
I was so excited to get an ARC of Ever the Brave! I've been dying to read it since I finished reading Ever the Hunted!
I also snagged two freebie ebooks this week on Amazon:
The Flame and the Arrow by Emigh Cannaday
Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things byMartina McAtee
One was a recommendation from Amazon and the other was a recommendation from a fellow #bookstagrammer.
Still Waiting On: - My April OwlCrate Box
May Waiting On: - My BAM exclusive copy of A Court of Wings and Ruin- My Target exclusive copy of A Court of Wings and Ruin- My signed copy of A Court of Wings and Ruin from Good Choice Reading- Signed books from Wendy Higgins and C.J. Redwine
Ever the Brave (Clash of the Kingdoms #2) by Erin Summerill
I was so excited to get an ARC of Ever the Brave! I've been dying to read it since I finished reading Ever the Hunted!
I also snagged two freebie ebooks this week on Amazon:
The Flame and the Arrow by Emigh Cannaday
Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things byMartina McAtee
One was a recommendation from Amazon and the other was a recommendation from a fellow #bookstagrammer.
Still Waiting On: - My April OwlCrate Box
May Waiting On: - My BAM exclusive copy of A Court of Wings and Ruin- My Target exclusive copy of A Court of Wings and Ruin- My signed copy of A Court of Wings and Ruin from Good Choice Reading- Signed books from Wendy Higgins and C.J. Redwine
April 19, 2017
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #71
Call me a glutton for punishment. Seriously. As if my schedule isn't busy enough I am currently reading not one, but two books. I felt like I was on fantasy overload so to take a break from the world of The Great Pursuit, which I am still reading, I also began reading a contemporary YA novel which was recently made into a Netflix show I became obsessed with. This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading...
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Blurb:
You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past.The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why.
Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.
Why I Chose This Book: I watched the Netflix show not having read the book before. After one episode I was hooked. I know how the story is going to end, now I want to see what's different between the book and the show. Does everything happen in the order it happened on the show? Were certain characters played up or downplayed when it went from page to screen? I know they say that you should always read the book first and that the movie/show version is never as good... but I think I'll be the judge of that! ;)
Have you watched the show and read the book? Which did you like better?
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Blurb:
You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past.The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why.
Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.
Why I Chose This Book: I watched the Netflix show not having read the book before. After one episode I was hooked. I know how the story is going to end, now I want to see what's different between the book and the show. Does everything happen in the order it happened on the show? Were certain characters played up or downplayed when it went from page to screen? I know they say that you should always read the book first and that the movie/show version is never as good... but I think I'll be the judge of that! ;)
Have you watched the show and read the book? Which did you like better?
April 13, 2017
"Book Mail" Thursday #16
It's been a long, busy week and there's a busy weekend ahead of me. But what should I find leaning against my apartment door upon returning home this afternoon? My latest Amazon order!
I had an Amazon e-gift card sitting in my inbox earlier this week so I treated myself to, you guessed it, a new book! Well, technically I debated between a book and the Vincent Price version of The House of Wax, but the book won out in the end. Here's what was in my Book Mail today...
Uprooted by Naomi Norvik
Why I Bought This Book: I kept seeing it on #bookstagram and the cover is gorgeous. I looked up the blurb and it sounded really great too, so when I received my e-gift card I treated myself.
Blurb: “Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
Waiting On:
My April OwlCrate Box
April's Theme:Head Over Heels
For once I haven't guessed what the book will be, so I'm eager to see what it is!
***
Have you read Uprooted? What did you think of it? Do you subscribe to OwlCrate? Have you figured out what April's book is? If so, can you tell me what it is?!? You know, privately without spoiling it for anyone else?
I had an Amazon e-gift card sitting in my inbox earlier this week so I treated myself to, you guessed it, a new book! Well, technically I debated between a book and the Vincent Price version of The House of Wax, but the book won out in the end. Here's what was in my Book Mail today...
Uprooted by Naomi Norvik
Why I Bought This Book: I kept seeing it on #bookstagram and the cover is gorgeous. I looked up the blurb and it sounded really great too, so when I received my e-gift card I treated myself.
Blurb: “Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
Waiting On:
My April OwlCrate Box
April's Theme:Head Over HeelsFor once I haven't guessed what the book will be, so I'm eager to see what it is!
***
Have you read Uprooted? What did you think of it? Do you subscribe to OwlCrate? Have you figured out what April's book is? If so, can you tell me what it is?!? You know, privately without spoiling it for anyone else?
April 12, 2017
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #70
You know how sometimes life can get busy and get in the way of you reading a really good book? That's what happened to me last week and unfortunately I didn't finish reading Cora Carmack's Roar until just last night. Which means I am just now beginning The Great Pursuit. So this "WIR"-Wednesday, I will briefly remind you of both what The Great Pursuit is about and the book it followed, The Great Hunt and do a little bit of a "Waiting On Wednesday" to make this post a little more interesting.
The Great Pursuit (Eurona Duology #2) by Wendy Higgins
Blurb:
One hunt has ended, but the pursuit for love and justice continues.
The kingdom of Lochlanach has traded the great beast that once terrorized the realm of Eurona for something far more dangerous: the ire of powerful Lashed woman Rosaria Rocato. Rosaria demands that Eurona overturn the laws prohibiting magic, or an innocent will be killed each day.
Despite the king’s resistance, Princess Aerity believes they must make peace with the Lashed, and though she’s accepted a betrothal to the man who took down the beast, she cannot help thinking about Paxton, the Lashed man who stole her heart and disappeared.
Aerity soon discovers that Paxton has joined Rosaria’s army in the war against her family. Though her feelings for him are still strong, her duty to her kingdom and her family is stronger—especially when her parents are kidnapped and she has to step up to the throne and once again put aside what’s best for her in order to do what’s best for her people. Paxton and Princess Aerity must fight to see what is more powerful: their love or the impending war between the magical Lashed and the non-magic humans.
Current Progress:Page 12 of 496 (2%)
The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology #1) by Wendy Higgins
Blurb:
When a monstrous beast attacks in Eurona, desperate measures must be taken. The king sends a proclamation to the best and bravest hunters: whoever kills the creature will win the hand of his daughter Princess Aerity as a reward. The princess recognizes her duty but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger—she was meant to marry for love—until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. And while there’s no denying the fiery chemistry between them, Princess Aerity feels that Paxton’s mysteriousness is foreboding, maybe even dangerous.
Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He is determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast—but the princess continues to surprise him, and the secrets he’s buried begin to surface against his wishes.
What I Loved About This Book: The Great Hunt was the first High Fantasy novel that I've read (unless you count Suzanne Selfor's The Sweetest Spell) and I fell instantly in love with the genre. Wendy Higgins wrote an amazing novel, based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale The Singing Bone, that is filled with romance, action, adventure, and danger. I've read so many fantasy novels since this one and yet The Great Hunt still shines as one of my favorites. I'm hoping that The Great Pursuit will live up to my love for book one and bring me the satisfying conclusion I'm looking for.
You can order signed, personalized copies of The Great Hunt, The Great Pursuit, and Wendy's other books until April 17th, on Good Choice Reading's Virtual Signing! Learn more here.
This Wednesday, I'm also waiting on an e-ARC of my friend, Leanne Rathbone's upcoming novel, DIVINE. Scroll down for my WAITING ON WEDNESDAY...
Divine (The Revelations Series #2) by Leanne Rathbone
Blurb:
What do you do when you discover that your entire life has been a lie, that you were living solely to serve the purpose of another?
Seventeen year old Grace Ayre is heartbroken. She's still reeling from the devastating loss of two people whom she loved and the realisation that her life has never really been her own.
Lies and deceptions are all she's ever known but now the truth is out. The world she thought she knew is only half the story, and the more she hears from the other side, the more she realises she is nothing more than a clueless little girl. She must reach her eighteenth birthday in order to fulfil a prophecy and end a war that has raged since the dawn of time. There's just one problem...the Guardians are standing in her way. As a band of despicable assassins without conscience, they will stop at nothing to end Grace's life and prevent the prophecy from being realised.
If she thought falling hard for a demon was her biggest problem then she was sadly mistaken.
Turning eighteen has never been so important. Join Grace as she continues her journey of discovery in Divine: Book Two of The Revelations Series.
Why I'm Waiting: Leanne is an amazing author. I devoured Grace (Revelations Series #1) in a day because I really couldn't put it down! When she asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing Divine I jumped at the chance because I'm excited to see what's going to happen next. This is truly a series and an author to look out for!
Preorder Divine here | Grab a copy of Grace here
The Great Pursuit (Eurona Duology #2) by Wendy Higgins
Blurb:
One hunt has ended, but the pursuit for love and justice continues.The kingdom of Lochlanach has traded the great beast that once terrorized the realm of Eurona for something far more dangerous: the ire of powerful Lashed woman Rosaria Rocato. Rosaria demands that Eurona overturn the laws prohibiting magic, or an innocent will be killed each day.
Despite the king’s resistance, Princess Aerity believes they must make peace with the Lashed, and though she’s accepted a betrothal to the man who took down the beast, she cannot help thinking about Paxton, the Lashed man who stole her heart and disappeared.
Aerity soon discovers that Paxton has joined Rosaria’s army in the war against her family. Though her feelings for him are still strong, her duty to her kingdom and her family is stronger—especially when her parents are kidnapped and she has to step up to the throne and once again put aside what’s best for her in order to do what’s best for her people. Paxton and Princess Aerity must fight to see what is more powerful: their love or the impending war between the magical Lashed and the non-magic humans.
Current Progress:Page 12 of 496 (2%)
The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology #1) by Wendy Higgins
Blurb:
When a monstrous beast attacks in Eurona, desperate measures must be taken. The king sends a proclamation to the best and bravest hunters: whoever kills the creature will win the hand of his daughter Princess Aerity as a reward. The princess recognizes her duty but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger—she was meant to marry for love—until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. And while there’s no denying the fiery chemistry between them, Princess Aerity feels that Paxton’s mysteriousness is foreboding, maybe even dangerous.Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He is determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast—but the princess continues to surprise him, and the secrets he’s buried begin to surface against his wishes.
What I Loved About This Book: The Great Hunt was the first High Fantasy novel that I've read (unless you count Suzanne Selfor's The Sweetest Spell) and I fell instantly in love with the genre. Wendy Higgins wrote an amazing novel, based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale The Singing Bone, that is filled with romance, action, adventure, and danger. I've read so many fantasy novels since this one and yet The Great Hunt still shines as one of my favorites. I'm hoping that The Great Pursuit will live up to my love for book one and bring me the satisfying conclusion I'm looking for.
You can order signed, personalized copies of The Great Hunt, The Great Pursuit, and Wendy's other books until April 17th, on Good Choice Reading's Virtual Signing! Learn more here.
This Wednesday, I'm also waiting on an e-ARC of my friend, Leanne Rathbone's upcoming novel, DIVINE. Scroll down for my WAITING ON WEDNESDAY...
Divine (The Revelations Series #2) by Leanne Rathbone
Blurb:
What do you do when you discover that your entire life has been a lie, that you were living solely to serve the purpose of another?Seventeen year old Grace Ayre is heartbroken. She's still reeling from the devastating loss of two people whom she loved and the realisation that her life has never really been her own.
Lies and deceptions are all she's ever known but now the truth is out. The world she thought she knew is only half the story, and the more she hears from the other side, the more she realises she is nothing more than a clueless little girl. She must reach her eighteenth birthday in order to fulfil a prophecy and end a war that has raged since the dawn of time. There's just one problem...the Guardians are standing in her way. As a band of despicable assassins without conscience, they will stop at nothing to end Grace's life and prevent the prophecy from being realised.
If she thought falling hard for a demon was her biggest problem then she was sadly mistaken.
Turning eighteen has never been so important. Join Grace as she continues her journey of discovery in Divine: Book Two of The Revelations Series.
Why I'm Waiting: Leanne is an amazing author. I devoured Grace (Revelations Series #1) in a day because I really couldn't put it down! When she asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing Divine I jumped at the chance because I'm excited to see what's going to happen next. This is truly a series and an author to look out for!
Preorder Divine here | Grab a copy of Grace here
