Zøe Haslie's Blog, page 4
March 5, 2018
Review: “Her Billionaire Rancher Boss”, by Genevieve Turner
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She’s handed in her resignation—but this wealthy rancher has another position in mind…
In three months, Pilar Lopez will be free: free of the charity she’s always had to take from the Merrill family, free to live where she wants, free to be her own person. The secretarial job Benedict Merrill gave her five years ago has allowed her to support her younger brother and she’s indebted to the wealthy rancher. But soon her brother will be on his own and she’ll leave the tempting Benedict—and her powerful attraction to him—behind forever.
When she hands in her resignation, Benedict reveals plans of his own—ones that involve Pilar in his bed. She can handle a three month affair, no sweat. But when she starts to fall for Benedict, will she be able to handle loving him for always?
My Review:
Goodreads Rating: 3*
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’re probably thinking why the hell would I read this? And the answer is simple. To quote the main character in this book: “Why not?” It was free (I downloaded it from Amazon), I’ve never read anything on this genre and I felt like going wild (?)
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The book in itself is a quick read with more romance than erotica (which I am thankful for!) and with some family drama bringing the main characters together.
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My main issues with the story is that I felt Pilar kept saying A (“insert feminist-slash-self-sufficient woman thought) and wishing for B (insert housewife cliché) and the book kept going on and on between those poles and I got a bit irritated. I have no issue with a feminist character or a housewife either, but make up your damn mind, woman!
Another thing that bugged me a bit was the fact that 89% of the book was builing up to two main conflicts that get solved magically over-night and the ending is basically a “buy my next novel” to find out more, something I don’t particularly appreciate in any book of any genre.
Other than that, I found it interesting enough to keep me reading all the way till the end and I enjoyed digging in Benedict’s and Pilar’s past and their long-due love story (because that was as far from an affair as I am from being a good singer!)
March 3, 2018
Review: “Serenade”, by Heather McKenzie
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When billion-dollar heiress Kaya Lowen is kidnapped, her devoted bodyguard vows to stop at nothing to get her back. But, as Kaya gets her first taste of freedom away from barred windows, armed guards, and a father with questionable motives, a dark family secret begins to unravel and she wonders if staying in the arms of her blue-eyed abductor is safer than being found. At least, that’s what her heart is telling her. Her head is saying run…
Now the hunt is on.
Deep in the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains, Kaya and her captors endure the worst Mother Nature can throw at them. While they are relentlessly pursued across rugged terrain and through raging storms, the captivating stranger who stole her from her father also steals her heart. Caught in the middle of a deadly game, Kaya desperately tries to do the right thing as her rescuers draw ever closer. Her survival soon comes down to a difficult choice—one she must make—between old loyalties and new love.
Serenade sings a timeless tale of courage, self-discovery, and the power of finding your own voice on an epic journey of life-or-death love.
My Review
Goodreads Rating: 5*
For the first time in a long while, I don’t think my words can do justice to this awesome book I just read. But, I have to try anyways! First off, this book is currently free on Amazon, so you should definitely download it in two clicks! I’m gonna use Bowie to highlight this:
Now, I can move on to talk about the book. Kaya has lived her entired life guarded, protected… or should we say trapped in a golden cage? She was never free to go or do anything. She was never alone. And no matter where she goes or what she does, her life will always be at risk because of her name: Kaya Lowen, future heir to a farmaceutical empire. Through the years, her father has managed to make a fair share of enemies who are willing to hurt Kaya to get to him.
When she turns eighteen, Kaya only has one wish: to participate in the Death Race, a 24-hour marathon in the mountains in extreme conditions. To get “brownie points”, his dad accepts, and that’s when things start, because during the race, Kaya is kidnapped!
Far from being the villains in the story, Kaya gets to know her kidnappers and their stories, what moved them to commit such a crime and what lays in their hearts. But, most importantly, she finds love at first sight in Luke, and Luke feels the same for her.
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To make things worst, Kaya’s engaged to her bodyguard, Oliver, who she thinks she loves but she’s not sure she is in love with. I will confess that I feel love and hate towards Oliver. He can be the most tender person in the world one minute and turn into a sexist, authoritative asshole the next, and that’s not romantic!
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Throughout pages of adventure in the middle of the Canadian mountains, Kaya will find out things about herself, her past, her new friends, her future and people who surround her. Kaya will learn to break free from his father’s imprisionment and start to trust her own judgement and make her own decitions. Moreover, she turns into a bad-ass heroine rather than becoming a damsel in distress.
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This book surprised me in every possible level 
The characters are beautifully built, the plot keeps moving forwards, dragging the reader through the pages, the descriptions are magical and the cover… OMG the cover! Even though Kaya is the main narrator, we get different points of view: from the kidnappers and from her bodyguards, and I must admit that I’m not a big fan of this in general (and I tend to find masculine points of view slightly depressing and super emotional), but Heather McKenzie did an amazing job at keeping her characters reliable, plausible and, above all, unique.
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Finally, I’m not gonna talk about lose ends, because I feel they will be readdressed in the coming books, but I would like to know where the heck Angela is! =)
Some Quotes:
“There are so many things in the world I want to show you. You should let me.”
“The whole world is ours, Kaya. We can go, or do, whatever you want.”
March 2, 2018
Meet MG & YA Author Stevie Rae Causey
Hi, guys! Today, I have a new author to introduce you to ^^
So, let’s get to it!
Q. Welcome to the blog. Please introduce yourself and tell us about your work.
A. My name is Stevie Rae Causey and I write Middle Grade and Young Adult fantasy.
[image error]Q. Are you a self-published author or traditionally published? What’s the first book you published?
A. My current series is self-published. The first book I published was Ring of Fire, the companion novel to my Amasai Rising trilogy.
Q. What’s the first book that had an impact in your life and how?
A. It’s hard to pick just one. So many different books meant different things to me growing up, but if I had to choose I would probably say The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I still have my original copies, taped together. During a particularly hard time in my life, my dad wrote on the inside cover of Fellowship about how the series had always helped him find the magic in life. That’s why the signed copies of my first book say “Never stop looking for the magic.”
Q. As a writer, what are the topics you feel are the most difficult to write about and why?
A. I think that many writers put more of themselves into their characters than they realize. When one of my characters is experiencing something that I have, or is unpacking hard emotional stuff that I relate to, that can get really hard. Sometimes I’m surprised by it, because I don’t go in to a scene relating to them in that way, but often I come out of it having processed something myself as well. Its cathartic, but it also feels very vulnerable. I think it makes for relatable characters though.
[image error]Q. If one of your books turned into a movie, which one would it be? Which actors would have the lead roles? Who would direct it?
A. This thought always makes me a bit nervous, because movies so often ruin the story. I think Emma Watson would be a great choice for Kala in Ring of Fire. Hallie Berry would be a good choice for Eoma, and Patrick Stewart would fit well in the role of Charlezon.
Q. What is it like to self-publish your books? What does it mean to be an indie author?
A. It is a lot harder than I ever would have known. Managing everything about the book’s production and marketing is a full time job in and of itself. When I first considered self-publishing I was still under the impression that “anyone” could do it, and that I would be seen as less valid as a professional. While there is still a lot of bias toward indie authors, I’ve gained confidence and validity by being part of the indie community, and it has helped me to improve my craft in ways that I’m not sure traditional publishing can offer.
Q. A word of advice for aspiring authors?
A. Everyone thinks you have to have a natural talent for writing. Some people do. Some people can sit down and knock out a best-seller in their sleep. But for most of us? Even with a hint of that natural talent, writing is a skill. It can be learned. It can be improved. It must be practiced. So don’t let a lack of “talent” stop you from developing it.
Q. Do you like to hear from readers? Please let us know how to stalk you online 
March 1, 2018
A Gift For All Of You ♥
Hi, guys! It’s almost Friday and, to celebrate, I have a present for you, my lovelies
I’m kidding! Of course it’s not me! But click on the picture and see what happens
February 28, 2018
March, Come Here Often?
Hi, guys! How are you? It’s the last day of February, in case you didn’t notice!
And I’ve put together my favorite moments in this awesome monthly wrap up. Read on to go over what happened in the last few weeks:
Reviews:
[image error]* Silver Storm, by Cynthia Wright
* Better Than This, by Tia Souders
* I Wish For You, Camilla Isley
Specials:
Interviews:
* Contemporary Author Cindy Hale
* Multi-genre Author Cecily Wolfe
* YA Fantasy Author Zoe Blessing
Movie Time:
I only wish for more reading time for March, since I haven’t read a lot in February! We’ll see how that goes ^^ In the meantime, I’ll celebrate what I consider a great blogging month
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February 27, 2018
TTT: Re-read Until the End of the World!
Happy Tuesday, guys! For those of you who don’t know it, TTT is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week, we are including ten books that we could re-read forever
The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks
The Distance Between Us, by Kasie West
The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë
6. One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez
7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
8. Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie
9. Harry Potter (x7!), by J. K. Rowling
10. Pride & Prejudice, by Jane Austen
Well, for me it narrows down to those 10! How about you? I can’t wait to find out what you’re stuck with
February 26, 2018
Meet YA Author Zoe Blessing
Hi, lovelies! This Monday, I bring you a new interview ^^ Do you enjoy reading YA Fantasy? Then, let’s hear what Zoe Blessing has to say!
Q. Welcome to the blog! Briefly introduce yourself and tell us what genre(s) you write.
A. Thanks for the warm welcome! And the hors d’oeuvres! (There weren’t actually hors d’oeuvres. I just wanted to see if I could spell it. I couldn’t.) When I’m not eating imaginary food, I write Young Adult fiction. My current series is YA Fantasy.
Q. Are you a self-published author or traditionally published? What’s the first book you published?
[image error]A. I went the independent route. My first book is named Siena, after the main character. It’s about a young teen who can heal with her hands, but lives in a tribe with prejudices against those with “unnatural” abilities. Imagine being able to help people in such a profound way, but being called an Aberration for it. Talk about esteem issues.
Q. What’s the first book that had an impact in your life and how?
A. This might sound stupid, but the first time I ever opened a thesaurus, my eyes nearly popped out at all the different ways to phrase things. You could say it was magical. Or spellbinding. Or mysterious, bewitching, fascinating, extraordinary, and entrancing, all at the same time. I’d always loved words, but after discovering the thesaurus, I discovered nuances. Each word was a different way to say the same thing, which meant I could express myself in more precise and creative ways.
Q. If one of your books turned into a movie, which one would it be? Which actors would have the lead roles? Who would direct it?
A. A few readers have told me they get a Clan of the Cave Bear feel from my book, Siena. Which, of course, made me think about a 15-year-old version of Daryl Hannah playing the lead. I haven’t thought hard about who would play the roles though, because isn’t that what casting directors are for? Oh, and if Steven Spielberg could direct, that would be perfect. Thanks for arranging it!
February 24, 2018
The Liebster Award
Hi, guys! I am super excited that María at Bookgraphy nominated me for this award. Thanks a lot
The rules:
Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog/post
Answer the nominator’s 11 questions
Come up with your own set of 11 questions to be answered by your nominees
Nominate 11 bloggers of your choosing – don’t forget to tag them, provide a link to their blogs – let them know!!
Now…
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My answers:
Q. Which was your first favorite book?
A. “The Little Prince” although, funny story–I hated it as a kid and it began to grow on my when I grew older!
Q. Where is your favorite place you’ve ever been?
A. Copenhagen, Denmark. I lived there for an entire year and it’s a city that will always have a special spot in my heart!
Q. What book character reminds you of yourself?
A. Not a single one comes to mind right now! I must be pretty unique… or suffer a serious loss of memory…
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Q. Do you prefer physical books, ebooks or audiobooks?
A. As I’m travelling a lot, ebooks are fine with me, since they allow me to keep my weigh in check. But I will always love physical books the most
Q. Which Fantasy creature would you love to have as a pet?
A. A dragon. Talk about a bad-ass pet!
Q. Who would be your dream book girl/boyfriend?
A. I like to keep an open mind, BUT I fell in love with José Arcadio Buendía (One Hundred Years of Solitude) when I was fourteen, the one that left with the gipsies (if you read the book you know you need references!) and he’s still one of my biggest bookish crushes.
Q. What’s your favorite Superhero?
A. I’m not really into comics, but if I had to choose… Hmm… No, I can’t. Sorry!
[image error]Q. What book has influenced you the most and why?
A. I want to say “The Little Prince” again because it’s crowded with great lessons, that are beautiful in their simplicity.
Q. Other than Blogging, what are your hobbies?
A. Travelling, reading, watching TV and movies and writing, of course!
Q. What’s your favorite quote or personal mantra?
A. Time and distance can heal everything.
Q. Who inspires you?
A. People I meet travelling, books I read, authors (who also happen to be people but I don’t meet them travelling!), movies I watch. Anything really, even my pets!
MY QUESTIONS:
What are your favorite genres to read?
What’s the first book you ever recall reading?
Do you read self-published authors? Why? Or why not?
Who is the author you stalk online the most?
Favorite bookish boyfriend/girlfriend?
What are your favorite things of being a book blogger?
If you could spend a day in a book, which one would it be?
Turn your favorite book into a movie! Who directs it? What actors get the main roles?
Kiss, marry, kill. Go!
A huge book dissapointment?
A book recommendation for anyone reading this =)
NOMINATIONS:
Lili’s Blissful Pages
A Gingerly Review
Reading Renee
Readable Life
Me Love Books
The Book Dutchess
Written Word Worlds
Odd and Bookish
Emma Reads Too Much
Saturday Nite Reader
Sammy’s Shelf
I’m looking forwards to your answers
February 23, 2018
Review: I Wish for You, by Camilla Isley
[image error]If all your wishes could suddenly come true, what would you do?
A year ago when the love of her life dumped her for no apparent reason, Ally thought she had hit rock bottom. But now that she has seen him with another woman, and one she knows only too well, her life seems to have reached a whole new level of low.
Yet, when she stumbles across an ancient object infused with magical powers and a stranger with a dark past appears out of nowhere promising to grant all her wishes, she finds herself hoping again.
Suddenly Ally’s life is turned upside down; she has a mystery to solve, a rival to beat, a millenarian curse to break, and well, she wants to have some fun playing with her new “gifts”…
But can she wish her way to happily ever after?
My Review:
Goodreads Rating: 3*
I must confess that when I picked up this book I pictured I would be reading an Aladdin retelling and I was most excited about it.
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If you follow me in Goodreads, you probably saw my gifs stating how much I was enjoying this. However, as the story developed, it turned more and more into a Chick-lit story and lost most of its retelling features, which in turn made me lose interest and become a bit dissapointed. All in all, I literally loved 30% of the book and pretty much disliked or felt meh towards the remaining 70%. Why? Read on!
First off, the genre. Chick-lit is just not for me. I love watching movies on this genre and I do think this story would make a killer movie, but I hate reading this kind of stories. I quickly get annoyed at the level of detail on things I find superficial and lacking. When you are magically granted five wishes and waste two on money and looks, you lose all my respect. But…
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There are, nevertheless, two things I loved about this book: The cover (let’s face it, it’s just perfect ) and Arthur (seriously, why don’t they make them like him anymore?!). Arthur was the one character that kept me reading till the end, the only wise one (among lots of nice adjectives I could use to describe him ^^). But the rest of the characters are just cliché and annoying, specially Ally. At times, she gets so self-centered, conceited and selfish, that it’s hard to feel empathy towards her. I do get that it was kind of the point, but that didn’t made it less frustrating for me.
That being said, the chemistry between her and Arthur is great, their dialogues are witty and full of emotion and I really enjoyed those. I’m really happy that I reached the end of this story, because it got considerably better. In fact, the last 20% of the book sort of lifted my final rating. It left feeling all cozy like this:
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All in all, I consider the story to be a quick, fun read, so if you enjoy the genre make sure to give it a try!
3 Days, 3 Quotes, Day 3
Hi, lovelies! How are you? Like I told you a few days ago, I have been nominated for this great challenge by Michaela’s blog Journy into Books. I should have posted my final quote yesterday, but life kept getting in the away, and as a result, here I am ^^
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Today, I have something special, a quote from my debut novel “Just For a While”. I gave this a lot of thought because I didn’t want to sound conceited, but I decided to share this with you because you’re most likely my first reader audience
“She drew the things that stuck to her mind, the things that caught her attention and, specially, the things she wasn’t capable of understanding fully. But she hadn’t even realized it. Art had become her way of processing reality.”
Today, I’d like to name three special blogs to join this great challenge:
