Sage Nestler's Blog, page 62

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

Title: Nerve

Author: Jeanne Ryan

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it’s exhilarating–Vee and Ian’s fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they’re directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they’re playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE

Review:

Nerve has just been turned into a movie, and I have to admit that that is why I chose to pick up this book.  The synopsis intrigued me, and I liked how it seemed to be a modern Hunger Games.  However, I was finding it hard to find the original novel that wasn’t a movie tie-in, and I found that that was because, apparently, it wasn’t up to par.  That being said, I found the movie tie-in version to be quite good, and even though I haven’t seen the movie yet and can’t compare it to the book, Nerve made for an interesting read.

One of the best things about this novel was that the main character, Vee, was essentially a person who was always in the background and wanted a chance to be noticed.  I liked how Jeanne Ryan didn’t make Vee sound as though she was a gorgeous, unapproachable character, but instead made her awkward and someone who didn’t just survive off of her looks and pass them off as a personality.

The premise of this novel is that the online game, NERVE, is a big hit, and if you do a dare successfully you are able to win prizes.  However, once you begin the game NERVE takes over your phone, and won’t let any calls or messages come through.  They then have access to your personal life and your online profiles, and base your dares off of your fears and your own experiences, while also bribing those who know you with prizes so that they can give NERVE more information on you.

I loved the premise of this book, and how it represented how the internet and our technology is taking over our lives, but I didn’t give this book a full rating because I was not happy with the ending.  While the rest of the novel was brilliant and an insane page turner, the ending came off as a bit cheesy and rushed, as though the author was tired of writing it and wanted it to end.  The last few chapters of the book also went pretty slow, and I felt that the ending was drug out, and then clipped.  Ryan planned the rest of this novel out well, but I don’t think that she thought through to the ending.

However, Nerve was an ice read, and I think that young adults will love it.  It connects to today’s teens, and society in general, and made me rethink how attached we all are to technology.  Even though it doesn’t run our lives quite like those who created NERVE, we are giving it the choice to take over.

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Summer Author Tour: D.R. Perry

Today’s featured author is D.R. Perry!  Her books are focused more on the paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy side, and she already have quite a few out.  Below I have provided for you exclusive content from one of her novels, “Bearly Awake”, her bio, and my personal interview with her!  Please check out her fabulous work, and enjoy!

BIO

D.R. Perry lives in Rhode Island, where all her books are set. Although she’s not a native New Englander, once up north she got so inspired she couldn’t leave. A wild Northern Muse attacked. D.R. used Typing; it was Super Effective.

D.R. writes all kinds of things. Mostly, they have strange and unusual elements. Not strange isotopes or Strontium or anything like that, but creatures who are people or people who are creatures. Beware of the Attack Poetry and rampant puns. Keep off the grass, or the song parodies may bite.

She lives with her husband, daughter, and dog in the Ocean State, which she loves to remind people is not an island and not Long Island. D.R. is well aware that her home state has both of those things, but isn’t defined by them. Maybe she likes it here so much because it reminds her that she’s also more than the sum of her parts.

D.R. hopes you have as much fun reading her books as she did writing them.

INTERVIEW

1) What is your favorite genre to write, and do you write across different genres?

Like any “favorite” thing of mine, it’s subject to change. Sometimes it’s Paranormal, sometimes Fantasy, sometimes Sci-Fi. I’ve even written Historical stuff. It’s my favorite when I’m writing it.
2) What has your publishing experience been like?

I’ve done some freelance projects and published four of my own books. Right now, I’m publishing one book a month to get the Providence Paranormal College series done. The complete series should be out by December.
3) What is your advice to aspiring authors?

Keep on writing. It’s a practice skill. The more you do, the more you learn. Also, you get faster and better with each story.
4) What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?

Fun! Since PPC is a Paranormal Comedy series (with a touch of serious business thrown in), I hope everyone reading gets some laughs and entertainment.
5) What are you currently working on?

Providence Paranormal College is an institution of higher education for supernatural people. It all started with Bearly Awake, which is about a werebear who never saw snow and wants to hibernate, but can’t if he wants to pass his exams. I’ve gone on to write more books about other characters, including a vampire, a werewolf, and a dragon.

BONUS CONTENT

Book title: Bearly Awake



Blurb: Bobby Tremain’s life used to seem charmed, but since his dad’s crippling accident, he has an avalanche of problems. He’s the first in his family to have a shot at college, also the first to head north of Louisiana. An early snow calls his Bear to hibernate a week before finals, but he needs to pass or he flunks out of Providence Paranormal College.Lynn Frampton’s loneliness is almost more than she can take. She went to college on the other side of the country to get away from the persistent curse of unpopularity in a small town. Once at college, Lynn’s prickly personality has pushed everyone away yet again. At least she’s at the top of her class.Bobby needs Lynn’s help to stay awake and pass his exam, and she discovers she needs companionship more than she’d ever imagined. Lynn’s all set to transfer to a school back home, but Bobby thinks she’s his mate. Can he keep awake long enough to pass, and more importantly, convince his love to stay?

Excerpt: “Think fast!” At the sound of Lynn’s voice, I reached out, plucking a thick stack of rubber-banded index cards from the air. A stinging in my pinkie made me wince. The hibernation urge had me off my game. Usually, I could catch just about anything in human form, and most things in bear. That’s another thing I wouldn’t be able to do this weekend. Let my bear out.

“What are these?” I blinked bleary eyes. The top card had one word on it, but the wide band across the middle blocked too much of it to read.

“My Ecology flash cards.” She switched on and moved a wireless mouse, waking her laptop up. Then, she pulled open a drawer to reveal a USB keyboard. She plugged it into a port, then pulled up an audio app. “Shuffle them.”

“Why do we need cards if you’re setting up your computer?” I sat on the bed to use the nightstand as a card shuffling surface.

“Study aids.” Lynn looked over her shoulder and smiled. “I’ve got all kinds. Trust me, I’m a Valedictorian.” She dropped a wink and I laughed.

“Can you get more specific for the sleep-deprived among us?” I pulled the band off the cards carefully so they wouldn’t go flying.

“This music ought to help keep us awake.” I couldn’t help but sigh with relief. Study tunes were like a last-minute pardon from listening to recordings of Watkins’ lectures. With a few sweeps and clicks, a wailing voice backed by heavy metal thunder poured out of her speakers. I recognized it.

“Iron Maiden?” I had to think for a moment before trying to shuffle them. There were so many, I had to split the deck a few times and shuffle the sections. These cards were serious business. Once they’d been thoroughly mixed, I gathered them together and held them out to Lynn.

“When you want to stay awake, there’s nothing quite like music that chases down your eardrums like a hell-hound.” She took the flash cards back from me and smiled. “Let’s do this!”

Weekly Update – 08/01/2016 – 08/07/2016

Happy August, Everyone!

Wow, I can’t believe that it is August already!  So much has changed over this summer, and I am very excited about where my blogging, writing, and business careers are going.  Not only have I added two more options to our monthly book box, Go Indie Now!, but those two new options are premiering this month!   Our erotica/romance boxes will be going out this week, and our fiction and poetry boxes aren’t far behind.  That being said, it is going to be quite a crazy month, but below are the books that I will be reviewing this week:

The Raven Trilogy: The First Journey by Melka Stansah
Ruby Ink by L.J. Wilson

I am excited for what is to come, and I hope that you are too!  I will also be writing a post featuring our July Go Indie Now! Fiction Box that was quite a success.  I hope you all have a wonderful week, and happy reading!

Much love,

Ashley

Coral & Bone by Tiffany Daune

Title: Coral & Bone

Author: Tiffany Daune

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Halen knows the sparks igniting under her fingertips are dangerous. She has spent her entire life trying to quell the tingly feelings that make her destroy things, but now that she is back in Rockaway Beach, where she watched her father drown, the flames have become impossible to tame. Halen is trying to hold on, but when she is thrust into a mysterious new world, the underwater realm of Elosia, she unravels the secrets of her past and can’t help but ignite. As she explores Elosia, she realizes her life has been a lie. And when those who have deceived her come to her for help, Halen must choose—walk away or unleash the magick that could destroy them all.

Review:

Let me start of this review by saying that this novel is absolutely golden.  The originality of the concepts and characters blew my mind, and I was captivated once I got past the first few chapters.  Tiffany Daune is an artistic author, and she shows you what she sees, instead of tells you, and that makes her a professional in my book.  All of her characters were clearly likable, and the magick she gave them added an admirable intensity to the plot line.  Usually when I read a novel I am able to compare it to another that has been published and is similar, but this novel does not compare to any books that are already published.  Daune clearly thought out her story perfectly, and I was intrigued until the end.

Even though Daune’s story is full of intricate concepts, there was no place in the novel where I felt that she was keeping something away from the reader.  Many times complex stories such as this one can leave the reader confused and frustrated, but Daune’s words clearly welcomed me into her world, and I didn’t want to leave.  Her words painted pictures as beautiful as the cover of this book, and the quotes below are some of the best pieces of writing I have read in quite some time:

“She couldn’t quite remember.  Memories of him came and went like the tide, leaving fragments for her to pick up, each moment like a treasured piece of sea glass.”

“Her eyeliner dripped like black tears down her cheeks as she scanned the waves.”

As an author myself, I am partial to the use of descriptions such as these, as I think it is important to paint a picture for the reader, and to make sure that your story does not come off as flat.  Daune’s world glimmered and shined in this novel, and I am eager to start the sequel immediately.  Halen, the main character, is now one of my favorite characters due to her complexity, and I am more than astounded by Daune’s talent.  Her books deserve widespread attention, and I highly suggest you go and pick up her work if you love great magical tales.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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Review: The Best Damn Book Box – June Box

Hello Everyone,

Today I will be reviewing the June The Best Damn Book Box, which I received in the mail today on July 30, 2016.  I have reviewed this box before, and I did give it a 5/5, but due to changes in the box and the company, I am compelled to write a new review based on the status of the box as it is now.

In the past couple of months this box has grown tremendously, and due to that growth, the box has changed.  I have been with The best Damn Book Box since day one, so I have noticed these changes more then some others have, so my opinions are solely my own.  I know that this box has received a lot of drama from people lately which is uncalled for, so I wanted to review it based on what I feel the quality of the items and the box as a whole to be.  So here goes.

June Game of Thrones Box

June’s theme was Game of Thrones, and while I have not seen the series I have read the books, and I am in love with them.  I was quite excited for this box, but my excitement fizzled out in late June when I realized I would not be receiving my box for some time.  The company had a few hiccups that caused the delay, but when the box already had a history of being delayed, I was not hopeful.  I do think that subscription boxes should arrive within the month that they are said to represent, and that in itself knocked off a point for me.  Two months is too long to receive a box, especially one in which I prepaid for six months ago.

Moving On – Appearance:

In past boxes, every item had been meticulously wrapped as though they were presents.  Opening the box used to be like opening a cozy gift from someone who loves you, but that has since changed.  Instead, all items were wrapped in black and red tissue paper for more of a minimalist experience.  While this was still cute, it didn’t have that coziness that I had become accustomed to.

The Items:

The book included in this month’s box was “The Crown’s Game” by Evelyn Skye.  I hadn’t heard of this book before receiving this box, so I was quite intrigued.  It is a great pick, and I am excited to dig into it.  I think that, based on its back cover blurb, it is a great fit to be paired with the Game of Thrones theme, and luckily I haven’t seen any other book boxes who included this book as well.

*Amazon retail value is $10.58.

Included were also a couple of advertisements for other authors and their work.  Both of the authors presented are indie authors of whom I have worked with before, so seeing their items in the box was a pleasant surprise.  While these items don’t have monetary value, their presence shows that the owner has great care for little known authors, and I appreciated that.

*No retail value.

In the past few months, The Best Damn Book Box has used the same artist to create pieces of artwork that go along with the theme.  Last month’s Beauty and the Beast print was nice, but this piece of art is much better.  I judge on quality more than retail value in boxes, and that means that this piece of art was priceless because it can’t be bought anywhere else.

*Possible retail value of $1, if that.

The next item was a watercolor bookmark, artist unknown.  A list of all items and shops included in the box was not present this month, so I am unsure as to who designed this.  While it is a pretty picture,  this is the fourth paper item in the box.  That being said, it didn’t strike me as a piece of value.  If the art was created specifically for this box, then I think that it qualifies in the category of uniqueness.  However, with not artist name, I can’t be sure of its origin.

*Possible retail value of $1, if that.

This dragon necklace was also included.  It is an okay piece, but seems cheap.  I have seen this on ebay for 99 cents, and it being included seemed a bit like filler.

*Retail value of 99 cents.

This “Mother of Dragons” coast by Pigsey Art was actually quite nice.  It is well done, and usable.  One of my favorite items from the box.  The shop that created this is a small business, and I love the inclusion of little known shops into boxes.

*Retail value of $6.

These bookmarks are from Nerdy Grl Designs, and are adorable.  They are magnetic, and I assume they are original art.  I have received some bookmarks from this shop in other boxes, and love how unique they are.

*Retail value unknown.

A “Mother of Dragons” pin.  This piece is cute, but probably something that I don’t have a use for.  I am not sure who the artist is, or who created this, but it is another filler piece.

*Retail price unknown.

This last item is a pack of wax melts that smell AMAZING.  I have already begun to melt them, and the color they turn into when melted does resemble blood.  They weren’t in everyone’s box, only those who got their boxes last, and they did compliment the box well.

*Retail price unknown.

Overall, I give this box a 3/5.  It lost a point for the insane wait time, and another for the majority of the items in the box being filler.  This box would have scored better if it had been a $25 – $30 box, but $40 is too much for what you get.  The only items I would keep from this box would be the book, wax melts, magnetic bookmarks, and the coaster, and I would have paid $25 at most for all of them.

However, this is just my opinion and I paid for the box myself.  It was not given to me for a review, so my thoughts are solely as a consumer.  If you are looking for more of a fandom box, The Best Damn Book Box is for you since the focus seems to be more on the theme then the books provided.  The owner does not read the books they include beforehand, so the book choices are always a gamble.  However, if this box were reduced down to $25, I would re-subscribe.  I just can’t convince myself now that the money spent on this box is justified.

Poetry Contest!

Hello Everyone!

I am excited to announce that we at Go Indie Now! Bibliotherapy Box are hosting a poetry contest in celebration of our Poetry Box that is premiering in August!  Below are the details:

Visit our book club on Goodreads.
Write an original poem that has never been published anywhere else, and post it in the comments along with your name.
The winning poem will be announced on August 31, and it will be featured in an art print in our September Poetry Box!
The winner will also receive an exclusive 50% off coupon to purchase their first Poetry Box from us.

Any and all poems are fair game!  Please try to limit explicit content, however, as our poetry box is designed for all ages.  Good luck everyone!

Much love,

Ashley

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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Writing Tip: The Trap of Big Books and Long Series

Hello everyone!

I’m sorry it has been so long since my last writing tip.  Things have been crazy with the Go Indie Now! Bibliotherapy Box, but I was honestly surprised to receive so many emails asking me when I would post another one again.  It warms my heart to know that so many of you anticipate my posts, so I promise that I will try to make them more frequent.

Now that that gushiness is out of the way, today I would like to talk to you all about:

THE TRAP OF BIG BOOKS AND LONG SERIES’

Alright, here we go.

How many of you writers out there are striving to write the biggest possible book that you can, or the longest series that you can?  And why do you want to do this?  My suspicion is that perhaps you want to dwell in your story as long as possible and want to gain a large following, which is fine, but please consider what I’m about to say.

I have never finished a series that is longer than three novels (besides A Series of Unfortunate Events and Harry Potter), or a book that is longer than 400-500 pages.  Why is that?  BECAUSE OF FILLER.  I can’t tell you how many times I have had to stop reading a book or series because it simply gets boring.  When I feel that an author is bored of their story and is just trying to make it last, then I have to let it go.  My philosophy is that I would rather read a short book that leaves me changed in the end, than a large book or series that I feel like I have wasted my life on.  Less is more in this situation, as it is in most, and if you don’t have enough substance to your characters or your plot to fill out a book longer than 300 pages, or a series longer than one novel, then don’t push it.  You want your reader to be changed after they read your work, instead of feeling let down and empty by the time they finish whatever you have written.  One of the reasons that I think authors have chosen to strive for the longer series or long book is because of the Harry Potter series and how successful it was, and still is, but what you need to understand is that J.K. Rowling created an entire world with her story and characters, and she didn’t run out of substance.  She wrote each book as though it was the first book, and not a continuation, and her passion shone through the paper.  If you story is strong enough to last as long as hers did, then so be it.  But please follow these rules when considering whether this route is right for your story.

Is your conflict solvable within one novel?

If it is, then let it be solved in one novel.  Don’t drag it.  No one wants to know what happens after “happily ever after”, so just let it lie.

Do your characters still need time to grow?

Then please, write on.  Whether that means in a longer novel, or in a series, then please let it happen.  But don’t force them into someone that they are not.  If they have no story left in them, then your readers will sense it.  Leave your readers amazed, and please don’t turn into the author who wrote an amazing first novel, but fizzled out the rest.  Pack that punch.

Are you trying to aspire to be a certain writer, and are basing your plan off of their success?

THEN PLEASE STOP.  You can’t force yourself to follow another author’s footsteps, just liek no one else can follow you.  Make your own path.  If you are meant to write a longer series, then let it happen and don’t force it.  And please make sure that you story doesn’t echo something that has already been done.

Is each lose end tied up?

No?  Then please make sure to write on and give each of your characters justice.  Yes?  Then don’t make more conflict for the sake of conflict!  Your readers will know if a story or conflict has been dragged out, and more often then not, they will lose care for your story and move onto something else.

Do you foresee a new story that can evolve from the world you have created?

Then by all means, write another novel with another story set in the world that you created.  But please make sure that it isn’t less than your first novel.  Aim to make your sequels better than the first, and more often than not they will be.  But make sure that you plot and characters have fully evolved, and don’t mess up the details you may have stated in a previous book.  Readers will pick you apart for that, believe me.

These are some great rules to live by when considering how long you want your story to last, and I hope that you do choose to consider them.  I have seen many great writers go under due to inadequate series or plot development, and I don’t wish that on anybody.  Remember, always aim to be better than yourself, and you will be.

Much love,

Ashley

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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Writing Tip: The Trap of Big Books and Long Series’

Hello everyone!

I’m sorry it has been so long since my last writing tip.  Things have been crazy with the Go Indie Now! Bibliotherapy Box, but I was honestly surprised to receive so many emails asking me when I would post another one again.  It warms my heart to know that so many of you anticipate my posts, so I promise that I will try to make them more frequent.

Now that that gushiness is out of the way, today I would like to talk to you all about:

THE TRAP OF BIG BOOKS AND LONG SERIES’

Alright, here we go.

How many of you writers out there are striving to write the biggest possible book that you can, or the longest series that you can?  And why do you want to do this?  My suspicion is that perhaps you want to dwell in your story as long as possible and want to gain a large following, which is fine, but please consider what I’m about to say.

I have never finished a series that is longer than three novels (besides A Series of Unfortunate Events and Harry Potter), or a book that is longer than 400-500 pages.  Why is that?  BECAUSE OF FILLER.  I can’t tell you how many times I have had to stop reading a book or series because it simply gets boring.  When I feel that an author is bored of their story and is just trying to make it last, then I have to let it go.  My philosophy is that I would rather read a short book that leaves me changed in the end, than a large book or series that I feel like I have wasted my life on.  Less is more in this situation, as it is in most, and if you don’t have enough substance to your characters or your plot to fill out a book longer than 300 pages, or a series longer than one novel, then don’t push it.  You want your reader to be changed after they read your work, instead of feeling let down and empty by the time they finish whatever you have written.  One of the reasons that I think authors have chosen to strive for the longer series or long book is because of the Harry Potter series and how successful it was, and still is, but what you need to understand is that J.K. Rowling created an entire world with her story and characters, and she didn’t run out of substance.  She wrote each book as though it was the first book, and not a continuation, and her passion shone through the paper.  If you story is strong enough to last as long as hers did, then so be it.  But please follow these rules when considering whether this route is right for your story.

Is your conflict solvable within one novel?

If it is, then let it be solved in one novel.  Don’t drag it.  No one wants to know what happens after “happily ever after”, so just let it lie.

Do your characters still need time to grow?

Then please, write on.  Whether that means in a longer novel, or in a series, then please let it happen.  But don’t force them into someone that they are not.  If they have no story left in them, then your readers will sense it.  Leave your readers amazed, and please don’t turn into the author who wrote an amazing first novel, but fizzled out the rest.  Pack that punch.

Are you trying to aspire to be a certain writer, and are basing your plan off of their success?

THEN PLEASE STOP.  You can’t force yourself to follow another author’s footsteps, just liek no one else can follow you.  Make your own path.  If you are meant to write a longer series, then let it happen and don’t force it.  And please make sure that you story doesn’t echo something that has already been done.

Is each lose end tied up?

No?  Then please make sure to write on and give each of your characters justice.  Yes?  Then don’t make more conflict for the sake of conflict!  Your readers will know if a story or conflict has been dragged out, and more often then not, they will lose care for your story and move onto something else.

Do you foresee a new story that can evolve from the world you have created?

Then by all means, write another novel with another story set in the world that you created.  But please make sure that it isn’t less than your first novel.  Aim to make your sequels better than the first, and more often than not they will be.  But make sure that you plot and characters have fully evolved, and don’t mess up the details you may have stated in a previous book.  Readers will pick you apart for that, believe me.

These are some great rules to live by when considering how long you want your story to last, and I hope that you do choose to consider them.  I have seen many great writers go under due to inadequate series or plot development, and I don’t wish that on anybody.  Remember, always aim to be better than yourself, and you will be.

Much love,

Ashley

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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Backstage: A Boy Band Novel by Jacqueline E. Smith

Title: Backstage: A Boy Band Novel

Author: Jacqueline E. Smith

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Melissa Parker might just be the luckiest girl on the planet.

She’s just turned twenty-one.

She’s best friends with The Kind of September.

And she’s dating Sam Morneau, everyone’s ultimate celebrity crush. Of course, no one is supposed to know about that.

As it turns out, no one is supposed to know about a lot of things that happen behind the scenes of life with the planet’s most popular boy band. Now, what should be Happily Ever After for Mel and Sam is turning into a series of secrets, manipulation, and potential heartbreak… Just in time for The Kind of September’s world tour.

Review:

Backstage is one of those sequels that you just can’t help but love more than the first novel.  Not only did it present us with fully evolved characters, but also with an outstanding look at the early 20s experience.  Jacqueline E. Smith knew how to portray early adults just blossoming into adulthood, and the pain that can come along with that change.  She covered the effects of stardom on the younger crowd, and how it changes people and relationships.  In the end, I didn’t think that I was reading about world renowned superstars; instead, I felt as though I was reading about my best friends.

Having come down from the high that is Boy Band, I quickly moved onto this tantalizing sequel.  Even though I was reading more for the boys than for Mel, the main character, I was pleasantly surprised by the maturation of our heroine.  She didn’t come off as the love sick, early adult that she was in Boy Band, but a knowledgeable college student/friend to superstars.  We begin to see her struggling between her college classes, and the star experience, and it is interesting to see her trying to embrace what she thinks she should be doing, and what she ended up doing instead.  Throughout the novel it seems as though she is ashamed for not doing the classic college experience even though she has become widely successful, and that is something that is very common in today’s early adults.  We all think that we have to follow a specific path, or else we are failures, when that is not the case at all.  She is growing into the person she is supposed to be, and by entering her first real relationship she has grown in strides.

In Boy Band, we were presented with a band of boys who gained stardom early, and thrived off of the fame and high that they got from performing; but in Backstage, their fame is bittersweet and begins to deteriorate their personal lives.  They begin to understand how fragile their images are, and how relationships can be tainted by the press and fame that hounds them on a daily basis.  Watching how they rarely got time for themselves broke my heart and made me realize just how often we all have to put a front on to try and come off as a certain person to society.  But for these boys, they had to do that 24/7, and it had a huge impact on themselves and their relationships with each other.  Fame comes between many of them, and watching their struggles made me feel for them and the road that they chose to take.  It was in this novel that they came to fully realize that this road that they have chosen changed them forever, and they will never be known as anything other than members of the band “The Kind of September”.

Smith pulled out all of her remarkable writing tricks in this novel, and even though it was short, its effect was stronger than any longer novel that I have read.  She has come to understand her characters and their story more, and she allowed them to tell their own story without much guidance.  I haven’t devoured a book as quickly as I have Backstage, and if you haven’t picked up Smith’s work, then you are missing out on a complete literary experience.  I look forward to reading the third novel in this series, and it has easily become one of my favorites.  While it does surround a carefree concept, there were real obstacles presented within the characters, and those were what humanized them.

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Weekly Update – 07/25/2016 – 07/31/2016

Happy Monday Everyone!

This week I will be reviewing:

Backstage: A Boy Band Novel by Jacqueline E. Smith
Coral & Bone by Tiffany Daune

A Few Updates

August will be our first month premiering the Romance/Erotica box and Poetry box at Go Indie Now!  Below are the themes for each box in August, and August 10 is the deadline to reserve your spot for any one of them.

August Fiction Theme: Dystopian/Post – Apocalyptic Heroines (A bibliotherapy session for when you need a boost of confidence)
August Poetry Theme: The Wandering Soul (A bibliotherapy session for when you need to be understood)
August Romance/Erotica Theme: Full of Hart (A bibliotherapy session for when you need to believe in humanity again)

Go Here To Order

Have a great week everyone!

Much love,

Ashley

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!

WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE

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