Showing posts with label Simone Elkeles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simone Elkeles. Show all posts

Review: Wild Crush by Simone Elkeles



Wild Crush 
(Wild Cards #2)
Author: Simone Elkeles
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Publisher: NLA Digital LLC
Format: E-book
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Nahomi
When the only girl you want is the one you can't have...

Bad boy Vic Salazar breaks all the rules except one: Don't make a move on your best friend's girl. It’s a Guy Code that Vic lives by. It doesn't matter that he's had a crush on her for years. Monika Fox is off limits.

Monika has a secret of her own and when a tragedy throws her and Vic together, the only boy she trusts is the one she shouldn’t confide in. Vic.

As Vic struggles to keep his distance, and Monika struggles with her secrets, will their wild connection violate every rule both vowed never to break—about relationships, about friendship, about love?

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

     A while back I read Derek and Ashtyn’s story in Wild Cards and fell in love with this world and its characters. I was so excited when I saw that the second book Wild Crush was out that I purchased it immediately! The story is good. Wild Crush is filled with a lot of angst and drama. The pacing is a little slow, although the climax is intense. The story tends to drags a little towards the end.

     I felt a little hesitant throughout the entire story because I wasn’t sure how Vic being in love with his best friend’s girl would pan out, but Simone Elkeles covered all of her bases in this respect. Trey was living a double life and I don’t want to go into details, but his behaviors were meant to ease the, she’s my best friend’s girl and I’m breaking the code uneasiness.

      I didn’t really connect with Vic and Monika. Monika comes off as a strong character because of all of her issues, but she wasn’t my cup of tea. Vic is tough on the outside and a softy on the inside, which I usually love but something about him didn’t make me crush on him like I usually do with characters that are similar.

      It was great to see Derek and Ashtyn again, as well as Alex from Perfect Chemistry!! Overall it’s a good story, but not one of my favorites from Simone Elkeles.

Wild Crush by Simone Elkeles Pre-Order Sweepstakes


Wild Crush
(Wild Cards #2)
Author: Simone Elkeles
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
When the only girl you want is the one you can’t have… Bad boy Vic Salazar breaks all the rules except one: Don’t make a move on your best friend’s girl. It’s a Guy Code that Vic lives by. It doesn’t matter that he’s had a crush on her for years. Monika Fox is off limits.

Monika has a secret of her own and when a tragedy throws her and Vic together, the only boy she trusts is the one she shouldn’t confide in. Vic.

As Vic struggles to keep his distance, and Monika struggles with her secrets, will their wild connection violate every rule both vowed never to break—about relationships, about friendship, about love?

Simone Elkeles is hosting a sweepstakes for hew newest book, Wild Crush. It is the sequel to Better than Perfect, originally titled Wild Cards. To find out about the prizes and enter the preorder sweepstakes just go to her website for more information. 

About the Author:

Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author of novels for teens. Simone's books have won many awards including being YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, being named to the YALSA Popular Paperbacks and Teens Top Ten lists, and added to the Illinois "Read for a Lifetime" Reading List. Simone also won the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of America for her book Perfect Chemistry. Simone is especially proud of the fact that the Illinois Association of Teachers of English named her Author of the Year.
Author Links: Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / YouTube

Quotes (#91)

Morning Swooners,
I am EXHAUSTED... Today starts new week, for those of you that are off today good for you. For those of you who have to work like me, I feel your pain... I wish I were home doing nothing too. But for now here are our quotes.

“If you stay, I'll do whatever you want. I'll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I'll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it'd be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I'd do it. I can lose you like that if I don't lose you today. I'll let you go. If you stay.”
 ~ Gayle Forman, If I Stay

“I choose you over everyone.”
~Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl

“What a powerful feeling, love, able to withstand time and distance and disagreements. No wonder I wanted it so badly.” 
~Jodi Meadows, Asunder

“My life might have begun as a mistake, but I wouldn't let it end as one.”
~Jodi MeadowsAsunder

“Damn, I know. I remember your mountains of books. I want to build you a library." Jack lowered his mouth and kissed me. I swallowed as emotion clogged my throat. He might as well have asked me to marry him.”
~Natasha Boyd, Forever, Jack

“We're actors in our lives, pretendin' to be who we want people to think we are.”
 ~Simone Elkeles, Perfect Chemistry

“You own a piece of me," he murmurs as he holds me afterward. "Good," I tell him. "And just so you know… I'm never giving it back.”
 ~ Simone Elkeles, Better Than Perfect

Hope you all have a great week.

Favorite Friday (#17) - Better Than Perfect by Simone Elkeles

Have a favorite book? Series? One that you've just read or are currently reading? Favorite Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Books and Swoons where we spotlight some of our Favorite Reads. Everyone is welcome to join. Just enter your information on the linky or leave us a comment!

This week pick is: Better Than Perfect by Simone Elkeles


Ashtyn's life just got complicated. Her boyfriend is being distant and her sister's back at home after ten years - with a stepson in tow!

Derek has a perfect body, THE sexiest smile and a car - Ashtyn's only way to escape from her crazy life. But Derek likes to play by his own rules and is keen to take Ashtyn on a ride she'll never forget. As they spend more and more time alone together, will Derek's flirty games drive Ashtyn wild?

*This book also goes by Wild Cards and had another cover* 

This is one of my favorite books. Simone Elkeles knows how to creates great characters full of depth. I love the premise of the story and Ashtyn is a strong female character which is rare. This story has all of the elements that I look for in a great story. It's a must read!

About the Author

Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author of novels for teens. Simone's books have won many awards including being YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, being named to the YALSA Popular Paperbacks and Teens Top Ten lists, and added to the Illinois "Read for a Lifetime" Reading List. Simone also won the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of America for her book Perfect Chemistry. Simone is especially proud of the fact that the Illinois Association of Teachers of English named her Author of the Year.

Author Links: Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / YouTube

I hope you can join us in sharing and talking about some of your favorite reads. Book talk always make me happy. 

What are one of your favorite reads?

Review: Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Release date: October 1, 2013
Source: Personal Copy
Reviewed by: Nahomi

My Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars


Synopsis:
After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek's counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else's family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain-people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek-someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

     This book was recommended to by my friend Daisel at Owl Always Be Reading, and I'm sure glad I listened. Having already read Perfect Chemistry, I was already a fan of Simone Elkeles writing. Ms. Elkeles brings the same great elements I loved from her other series. She gives us a beautiful story in which I laughed, cried, and fell in love. This novel is told from dual point of views; which I will always say Simone Elkeles is the master of. The way she transitions from chapter to chapter is flawless. I was never lost as to who is speaking and or what's happening in the story. The dialogue is really enjoyable as well. Even though at times, the characters were dealing with loss and other serious issues the dialogue is funny and refreshing. The pacing was perfect, I never felt like the story dragged or was rushed at any point.

What I liked most about this novel is that the main characters' are more like partners, they're on the same level. Ashtyn is just as capable of defending herself as Derek, and they both need saving but for different reasons. This isn't your typical damsel in distress story, where the love interest swoops in and saves the day. Ashtyn is a well respected football player, so much so, that the team made her captain her senior year. She works just as hard as the guys if not harder to prove herself. She is working hard to help her team get to the state championships, even if it means teaching Derek how to play football (lol, you'd have to read to know why this is so hilarious). 

Derek seems like he doesn't have a care in the world, but is a soft and mushy teddy bear on the inside. He has the typical attributes of a swoony boy; sweet, bad boy, HOTTT (that's right he got an extra T), did I mention he has a southern accent (I am just a sucker for accents), oh and did I mention that he is polite and can cook. For several reasons Derek is a good boy gone bad and trying to stay that way. All I can say is that he puts up a good fight. I love chemistry between Ashtyn and Derek. There relationship progresses slowly and at times seems like it might not happen, but when it does I absolutely love how it ends up. 

Look, I can go on and on about how I love this book and all of it's characters, and the writing: But, the only way you'll truly know the awesomeness of this story is if you read it. So, what are you waiting for... go read it. You won't be disappointed Wild Cards is a great story that is wonderfully written. 

P.S. For more about the book, and the four part mini series book trailers go here.

P.P.S. I am so excited about the second book and I can't wait for it to come out!

Interview & Giveaway- Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles


Release date: October 1, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

Synopsis:
After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek's counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else's family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain-people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek-someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Author Interview

What inspired you to write Wild Cards?
I always wanted to be on the football team in high school. I was a sporty girl and I’m also super competitive but none of my friends who were girls would try out with me so I didn't do it, but I kind of always regretted that and so this is my way of being able to be on the football team but not.

Do you have a favorite scene from Wild Cards?
The pitchfork scene, where they meet. Also when Ashtyn tries to teach Derek to throw a football.

What made you choose Victor for the second book?
I've just gotten off of writing the Fuentes brothers and the Fuentes family so for me I love the Hispanic community and the sense of family and what it means and so I really wanted to write Victor in as the Hispanic guy on the team. I also wanted to make this whole series diverse. I like writing about diverse people.

How many books will be in the series?
For sure there will be four but I can always extend it if there is character that people are like I need to know what happens I may continue the series. I would like to do that.  And also because I did the reality show my fans are really excited about the actual actors that played the characters, so and kinda want to know what’s going on with those characters.

Do you have a favorite of all the books you have written?
No they are like my babies, like I can’t pick. My favorite right now is Wild Cards because it just came out, it’s my new baby, I’m so excited about it. I do love football even though the book isn't about football its about the players, its like a family. I also love that even though Ashtyn is a girl she is totally accepted on the team, instead of being ostracized.

Do you have a favorite character from all of your series?
Ashtyn because she is so kick butt! But the character that is most like me is Amy from How to Ruin a Summer Vacation. For me that character is very much like me even though she is kind of a brat, she is funny and I like to make fun of life.

What character was the most difficult for you to write?
The hardest female to write was Maggie from Leaving Paradise because she is like oh woe is me, I’m so depressed, and that is so not me. It was very difficult to write her.

What do you want your fans to know about this series?
What I want people to take out from the book in general is to have a good time. I want you to escape your life for right now. I want you to be immersed in this story, fall in love with the characters and have fun. I want you to laugh and I want you to cry.

If you could be a character from one of your favorite books, who would you be and why?
I would either be Britney from Perfect Chemistry because Alex would protect me, and love me forever. There is no better love than Alex’s love for Britney. He was going to die for her, he’ll die for anyone he loves,  that is just amazing. And she is so pretty who doesn't want to be pretty. But I do love that Ashtyn is so respected by the boys and that boys are her buddies and her friends. She protects them just as much as they protect her, and I love her for that. I also like that Derek and her are partners they are more like equals

Would you consider changing genres?
I've thought about it, I've thought about time travel but I don’t know if I could pull it off, but I think I will probably try at some point, but I don’t know when.

Now for the fun part of the post, we have a pretty signed ARC of Wild Cards and we want to give it away to one of you, Swooners. So just go ahead and have fun with the Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author
Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author of novels for teens. Simone's books have won many awards including being YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, being named to the YALSA Popular Paperbacks and Teens Top Ten lists, and added to the Illinois "Read for a Lifetime" Reading List. Simone also won the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of America for her book Perfect Chemistry. Simone is especially proud of the fact that the Illinois Association of Teachers of English named her Author of the Year.

Author Links: Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / YouTube

I want to take a moment to thank Simone Elkeles for taking the time to do this interview with us. For more information about the Wild Cards Series go to Wildcards.com

Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Release Date: December 23, 2008
Source: Library
Reviewed by: Nahomi
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Goodreads Summary:
"When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked to hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more." 

           As I write this review I feel a little torn because there were several things that were done very well and other that for me were a little distracting. Simone Elkeles is a very talented writer and executed this novel very well. I love when novels are written in dual point of views but this one takes the cake; Elkeles is the master of the dual point of views. The transitions were very smooth from chapter to chapter and I was never confused as to who was speaking. The author does a phenomenal job integrating Spanish into the text which is not that easy to pull off with out being distracting. 

On to the story part, the plot moves along well and there were enough twists in the story to keep me interested and curious to find out what happens in the end. The scenes were well set and believable and the language was appropriate for the characters' age. I really love that the author took the time to include an epilogue. I always want to know what happens after a story ends. 

I had a few issues that kept me from giving Perfect Chemistry a higher rating. The biggest issue was the Mexican slang which was a turnoff for me. I'm Latina and can appreciate Spanish, Spanglish and a lot of variations of the language but some of the terminology used put me off. I felt that Brittany and Alex were a little generic and stereotypical. I also could never get into the whole gang thing. 

Apart from those few issues , this novel was very well written and I would recommend it to anyone. It's a quick read that will leave you feeling nice and happy.

Quotes:
"If you could wish on a star right now, what would you wish for?" I asked him.
"For time to stop."
"Why?"
He shrugs.
"Cause I could live forever at this moment."


~B&S~

"Kiss me to see if we still have it. 'Cause you own my heart, soul and everything else in between."


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