Books and Swoons

Waiting on Wednesday (#96)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

Expected Release Date: February 24, 2015

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

“Ori’s dead because of what happened out behind the theater, in the tunnel made out of trees. She’s dead because she got sent to that place upstate, locked up with those monsters. And she got sent there because of me.”
The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices—one still living and one long dead. On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of a girls’ juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries.
We hear Amber’s story and Violet’s, and through them Orianna’s, first from one angle, then from another, until gradually we begin to get the whole picture—which is not necessarily the one that either Amber or Violet wants us to see.

I've been curious about Nova's books ever since I heard 17 and Gone was first released. I'm super excited about reading this one because it sounds creepy and just what I'm looking for.

What are you "Waiting on?"

Quotes (#95)

Morning Swooners,

I hope you had a great Valentine"s Day weekend, but if you didn't, like my grumpy cat compadre here I hope your week will be better. On to the quotes...

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”

~Elbert Hubbard

“I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough..”

~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.”

~Robert Fulgham, True Love

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”

~Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

“They didn’t agree on much. In fact, they didn’t agree on anything. They fought all the time and challenged each other ever day. But despite their differences, they had one important thing in common. They were crazy about each other.”

~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.”

~Joan Crawford

“For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.”

~ Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss

May your Monday go by quickly.

Favorite Friday (#23) - In Bloom by Katie Delahanty

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: In Bloom by Katie Delahanty.

My name is Olivia Bloom and I. Am. Free.

I left for LA with everything I owned piled into my old Volkswagen and dreams of becoming a costume designer. Little did I know I’d wind up designing for a lingerie company—yeah, not sure how I landed this gig—and taken under the wing of two young Hollywood insiders. The fashion shows and parties were great, but life really got exciting when the seriously hottest lead singer of my favorite band started to fall for me.

How does someone like me, an ordinary girl from Pittsburgh, wind up in the arms of the world’s sexiest rock star—surrounded by celebrities, fashion, and music—and not be eaten alive? Berkeley is everything I've ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, but the paparazzi, the tabloids, the rumors, it's all getting a bit too crazy. My life has become every girl’s dream come true, if only I don’t blink and lose it all…

I love this story and it's characters! This is the type of story that leaves you feeling happy. In Bloom is a great read any time but especially on Valentine's Day Weekend.

About the author:

Katie Delahanty is a fashion designer turned novelist. She graduated with a BA in Communication Studies from UCLA and a Professional Designation in Fashion Design from FIDM. Her debut novel, IN BLOOM was published by Entangled Publishing in February 2014 and her second novel, BLUSHING, is due out in early 2015. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Author's links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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: The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye
Author: Cynthia Hand
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Edelweiss
Review by: Jenn and Nahomi

There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

Jenn's Rating: 5 stars out of 4 stars

Nahomi's Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

*We received an eARC of this book from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

Nahomi:
The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a beautifully told story of a family dealing loss of their loved one. I was emotionally exhausted by the time I finished this book. Cynthia Hand does a beautiful job of depicting the grief and emotional turmoil that accompanies the death of a loved one.

From the beginning I was invested in Lexi's Journey through the healing process. The writing was flawless as always with Ms. Hand. Throughout the novel there was this sense of mystery which kept me turning pages. There were several points in the book where I found myself sobbing like a baby. Although I was depressed for a few days after I read this book I absolutely loved The Last Time We Say Goodbye.

Jenn:
There is just something about Cynthia Hand and her story telling that just manage to sucks me and lets me forget the world. The Last Time We Say Goodbye is another work of Ms. Hand that I will forever remember. There were so many times throughout the book where I had to stop and finish crying because I just couldn't see through my tears.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye follows the story of Lex as she deals with the aftermath her brother's death. I won't say much in regards to the plot but I will say that once I started reading, I just couldn't put it down. I just had to know what happened next and I wanted for Lex to get some closure. Ms. Hand managed to create such emotions in me that I felt Lex's pain and sadness and I, too, couldn't see through the fog of Lex's grief.

It is because of this, this intense reaction of emotions that I will forever be a fan of Cynthia Hand and her work. And reading her acknowledgement? I was a blubbering mess. I started crying all over again and it made this reading experience that more profound. So I want to thank Cynthia Hand for creating this book and for creating such emotions in me. But I especially want to say thank you for sharing this story. It must not have been easy to do so.

So go out and read this book. Just make sure to grab some tissues before sitting down.

Waiting on Wednesday (#95)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Fall With Me (Wait for You #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Expected Release Date: March 31, 2015

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

Eleven months ago, bartender and weird-shirt-wearing extraordinaire Roxy and Officer Reece Anders had a one night stand. Well, kind of. She’s been in love with him since she was fifteen, and he wishes that night they shared never happened. She’s sworn him off forever, but the past and future collide, forcing her to rely on the one man who broke her heart not once, but twice.

Her best friend since birth has been in a long-term care facility since he became a victim of a hate crime years ago, and the person who put him in there is out of prison and wanting to make amends with him and Roxy. She’s not sure she has room for forgiveness in her and when she begins to receive frightening messages and is on the receiving end of escalating violence, she thinks she knows who is to blame. The man who already destroyed one life already.

But Reece isn’t convinced. The threats are too personal, and even if Roxy doesn’t believe him, he’s not willing to let anyone hurt her. Including himself. He’s already messed up more than once when it comes to Roxy and he’s not going to let history repeat itself.

I absolutely love this series! I can't wait to jump back into this series and see how all of my favorite characters are doing!

What are you "Waiting on?"

Review: After The End by Amy Plum

After The End
(After The End #1)
Author: Amy Plum
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Signed copy from BEA14
Review by: Nahomi

She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future. World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

4 stars out of 5 stars

I loved Amy Plum's Revenants series, so when I heard that she was coming out with a new series I was so excited to read it. I finally got around to reading it and I wasn't disappointed. It was a little difficult for me to get into in the beginning because of all of the back story and terminology being introduced but once I got passed that I was invested in the Juneau's journey.

After The End is a heart clenching story. Juneau is forced to deal with the loss of her family and finding out about being betrayed by the elders of her clan. The story is an emotional roller coaster of Juneau trying to find herself among the lies she grew up in. All the while being hunted down by several people for reasons unknown to her. There are several moments full of tension and suspense throughout the novel. The level of suspense and mystery kept me turning pages and left me with the need to find out what happens next.

Juneau is naive but is very in touch with her instincts and although she is lost and has doubts about everything she has been taught, she tries to stay true to herself. She is kind and fierce all at the same time. Miles, on the other hand, is selfish. I get that he has abandonment issues and maybe his actions are more to call attention than anything else but until the end of the story there is not one redeeming quality in him. Together they are the odd couple but it works.

The plot the pacing and the characters are all good. I enjoyed reading After The End and am curious to see what happens in Until The Beginning.

Quotes (#94)

Morning Swooners,
This week I am determined to get things done, hence the Merida gif. I am ready to kick Mondays butt if it doesn't kick mine first. So let's get our week started right with some of my favorite quotes.

"She wanted something to happen - something, anything: she did not know what.”
~Kate Chopin

“She was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world.”
~Kate Chopin, The Awakening

“It takes a lot of time to be a genius. You have to sit around so much, doing nothing, really doing nothing.”
~Gertrude Stein

“Books are the carriers of civilization...They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print.”
~ Barbara W. Tuchman

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that receives it.”
~ Edith Wharton

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”
~ Ruth Reichl

“And I am all the things I have ever loved: scuppernong wine, cool baptisms in silent water, dream books and number playing.”
~ Toni Morrison

That's it for today I hope you guys have a wonderful week.

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

Happy Sunday Swooners,

I am so excited to be participating in the cover reveal of Sweet Temptation! The cover is so pretty, I love the color of Anna's dress. Check out the cover and sign up for the giveaway!

Sweet Temptation (The Sweet Trilogy #4) by Wendy Higgins

Expected Release Date: September 8, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / iTunes

Synopsis:

Bad boy Kaidan Rowe has never wanted for anything—money, popularity, musical talent…hot girls—but seducing them is part of his duty as a Nephilim, slave to the demon Dukes. As the son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan has learned his father’s ways, becoming a master of passion, a manipulator of chemistry. Disobeying his father would mean certain death. Thankfully for Kaidan, he’s good at his job. And he enjoys it.

Until he meets Anna Whitt—sweet, smart, feisty, and inexplicably good—the one girl seemingly immune to his charms. The daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen one, she has a certain power over him, one that makes him wish for more than he could ever deserve.

Determined to save all the Neph from their dark lives as the influencers of sin, Anna joins forces with Kaidan to overcome the demons’ oppressive ways. In the light of her affections, Kaidan must undergo his toughest test of all, a battle of the heart.

Sensual and swoon worthy, this companion volume to the acclaimed Sweet Evil series from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, told from the perspective of the irresistibly sexy and mysterious Kaidan Rowe, gives readers revealing insights into his struggle, his intense connection to Anna, and most of all, the true emotions that drive him.

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author:

After earning a bachelors in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until becoming a mommy. Writing Young Adult (YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Evil is her debut novel
Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Favorite Friday (#22) - Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

This week pick is: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver.

I’m pushing aside
the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana
and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

I remember, quite vividly too, how distraught and emotional and hysterical this book left me. I remember calling Nahomi in tears once I finished this book because I was so immersed and so invested in this story that once I read the last page, I needed some comforting. I don't think I've had such a reaction to book like I have to this book so I will forever remember and love this book for giving such a reaction to it. If you haven't already read this series, I suggest that you do. It is so good.

About the author:

I was born in Queens and raised in Westchester, New York, in a small town very similar to the one depicted in Before I Fall. My parents are both literature professors, and from a very early age, my sister and I were encouraged to make up stories, draw, paint, dance around in costumes, and essentially spend much of our time living imaginatively. Our house was old and full of art and towers and towers of books, and that’s still the kind of house I like best.

I started writing as a way of extending my love of reading; when I read a book I loved, I would continue to write sequels for it (I was inadvertently a fan fic writer, before “fan fiction” was even a term!). Later on, I began working on my own stories, and keeping company with a lot of imaginary friends.

I pursued literature and philosophy at the University of Chicago, and then moved back to New York to attend NYU’s MFA program in creative writing. I simultaneously began working at Penguin Books, in a young adult division called Razorbill, and while there, I started work on Before I Fall. I left in 2009 to pursue writing full-time, and now I happily work in my pajamas every day.

I have a variety of interests apart from writing, including reading, cooking, traveling, dancing, running, and making up weird songs. Some of my favorite things are: being cozy; fires; autumn; fuzzy slippers; very high heels; great wine; dark chocolate; ketchup; pasta. Things I hate: practical shoes, liars, and bananas. I divide my time between Brooklyn, upstate New York, and various hotel rooms.

Author's links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Tumblr / 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: Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes

Paper or Plastic
Author: Vivi Barnes
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Entangled Publishing
Review by: Nahomi

Welcome to SmartMart, where crime pays minimum wage...

Busted. Alexis Dubois just got caught shoplifting a cheap tube of lipstick at the local SmartMart. She doesn’t know what’s worse—disappointing her overbearing beauty-pageant-obsessed mother for the zillionth time…or her punishment. Because Lex is forced to spend her summer working at the store, where the only things stranger than the staff are the customers.

Now Lex is stuck in the bizarro world of big-box retail. Coupon cutters, jerk customers, and learning exactly what a “Code B” really is (ew). And for added awkwardness, her new supervisor is the totally cute—and adorably geeky—Noah Grayson. Trying to balance her out-of-control mother, her pitching position on the softball team, and her secret crush on the school geek makes for one crazy summer. But ultimately, could the worst job in the world be the best thing that ever happened to her?

3 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an early copy of this title from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

Paper or Plastic is a cute story, that has a lot of good themes. It took me about 75 pages to be able to get into the story because Alexis's internal monologue was annoying, especially in the beginning. After I got over my initial annoyance with Alexis I was actually able to get into the story and finished it fairly quickly.

The plot and the pacing of the story are good, although the plot is a little predictable. I love how the story transitions from one section to the next seamlessly. Alexis shows a lot of character growth by the end of the story and I think that is one of the main reasons I liked it better towards the end. I really liked the relationships she formed with her co-workers at the supermarket.

I enjoyed how the relationship between Alexis and Noah evolved. It took them some time to get to know each other and get over their initial misconceptions of each other. Noah is such a sweet guy. He is always looking out and trying to protect others. Noah and Alexis compliment each other very well.

Paper or Plastic is a good story overall. The ending left me high and dry so to speak it felt kind of abrupt, although all of the major conflicts were resolved. Other than my initial qualms with Alexis I enjoyed reading Paper or Plastic.

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )