Books and Swoons

Favorite Friday (#31) - Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

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: Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.

MEET BECKY BLOOMWOOD, AN IRRESISTIBLE HEROINE WITH A BIG HEART, BIG DREAMS --- AND JUST ONE LITTLE WEAKNESS ...

Becky Bloomwood has what most twenty-five-year-olds only dream of: a flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is, she can't actually afford it --- not any of it. Her job writing at Successful Saving magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. Still, how can she resist that perfect pair of shoes? Or the divine silk blouse in the window of that ultra-trendy boutique? But lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank --- letters with large red sums she can't bear to read --- and they're getting ever harder to ignore. She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Her only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something ...

Finally, a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life --- and the lives of those around her --- forever.

I love this book sooo much! Becky is funny, determined, and kind of reminds me of Lucy from the I Love Lucy show. Confessions of a Shopaholic is a fun read and will make you laugh.

About the author:

Madeleine Wickham (born 12 December 1969) is a bestselling British author under her pseudonym, Sophie Kinsella. Educated at New College, Oxford, she worked as a financial journalist before turning to fiction. She is best known for writing a popular series of chick-lit novels. The Shopaholic novels series focuses on the misadventures of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who cannot manage her own finances. The books follows her life from when her credit card debt first become overwhelming ("The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic") to the latest book on being married and having a child ("Shopaholic & Baby"). Throughout the entire series, her obsession with shopping and the complications that imparts on her life are central themes.

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?

Book Spotlight + Excerpt: True North by Liora Blake

True North
(True #1)
Author: Liora Blake
Release Date: April 6, 2015
Publisher: Pocket Star / Simon and Schuster

While most novelists would consider jetting off to Hollywood for a television interview rather exciting, small town Montana writer Kate Mosely finds it all a bit eye-rollingly exhausting. Until she shares the stage and a whole heap of carnal gazes with rock star Trevor Jenkins that is. Despite his intimidating on-stage bravado, underneath it Kate discovers a man with a Rilke poem tattooed on his arm, an appreciation for cronuts, and a snarky wit to match her own.

After losing her husband in a car accident where she was behind the wheel, Kate has finally found her bearings in the world again, rebuilding a simple life she can count on. Even if that life has mostly been a lot of lonely nights watching old movies in the dark and quiet days writing for the hometown newspaper.

As she and Trevor embark on a sexy new relationship, the scarred parts of her heart start to heal, making room for a love so passionate it makes her want long-forgotten things. Wild things, heart-swelling things, and joyful things. But when a searing article in a trashy gossip magazine sends Kate running, it threatens their chances at forever.

There will be a special sale on this title for $1.99 until April 18th so be sure to grab it before then. You won't want to miss out on it.

Excerpt

Slowly, he wanders around the truck, grazing his gloved hand across the top of the bed, and takes a seat next to me. After he wipes sweat from his face with the bottom of his shirt, I hand him the water and lean back on my palms, enjoying a very slight breeze that has come along. The only thing to break the silence is Toby, bolting out from the far side of the herd and leaping into the back of the truck with his nails skittering across the bed. He flops down behind me and I run my hand over the top of his head, rubbing his warm ears and ruffling his coat.

Eventually we leave the pasture and head back to the main house, still relishing the tranquility of a hot afternoon. When I pull the truck to a stop, Toby bails out and crawls under the front porch of the house where it is cool and damp. As we amble back to the barn, from the way his gait has slowed, it’s clear I’ve finally gotten Trevor a bit worn-out. I grab his hand and lead him back to the truck, taking his work gloves and dropping them behind the seat.

“Are we done?” Trevor slumps into the passenger side of the bench seat and throws his arm over the back of it, letting his head lean against the back glass.

“Yes, princess. We’re done.”

“You better be careful, calling me names like that. I wouldn’t hesitate to drag you out and bend you over that tailgate, just to prove a point.”

“I’m sure I could handle it.”

He opens his eyes a sliver to look at me. All the fatigue fades from his expression and he leans forward a bit. “I’d love to see you try.”

I am just about to turn the key in the ignition, but when he turns those glittering hazel eyes on me, full of urging provocation, I suddenly imagine having everything with him. Not just this part, where he’s making me feel unbelievably sexy despite the dirt and sweat covering me, but the rest of it, too. When he’s wearing work gloves, letting chickens scare the hell out of him, and trying to make a place in my world. When he’s doing something as mundane as pushing our grocery cart through the A&P parking lot, while still holding my hand. My chest hurts at the idea of it, a mtwisting ache that feels like I’m making room for him. Even if that means I might have to let the sadness that resides in the heavy shadows of my heart finally fall away.

About the author:

Liora Blake is a contemporary romance author living in Colorado. Although her path to here was paved with a million detours, plenty of pitfalls, and many a crisis of faith, she thinks it’s a pretty amazing place to be. She writes because it’s what she’s always wanted to do, she writes novels because she likes to tell the whole story, and she writes romance because a happily ever after is the best kind of story to tell.

When she isn’t writing, she’s likely baking cookies she shouldn’t eat, inventing elaborate excuses to avoid going for a run, or asking the nice barista to sell her another quad-shot Americano.

Liora is represented by Victoria Lowes of The Bent Agency.

Author Links: Facebook / Twitter / Website / Pinterest

Waiting on Wednesday (#103)

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:

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Expected Release Date: May 5, 2015

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

Let me just say that I love the cover. The synopsis really caught my attention. I love how Sarah Dessen writes and can't wait to get my hands on Saint Anything!

What are you "Waiting on?"

Review: Captive by Brighton Walsh

Captive
(Captive #1)
Author: Brighton Walsh
Release Date: March 24, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: St. Martin's Press
Review by: Jenn

He’s the most dangerous man she’s ever met…and she’s falling in love with him.

Madison Frost is desperate to escape her life. Daughter of a prominent businessman, she has everything a girl could ask for. Except for a family who’s present in her life, and anyone to talk to outside the four walls of the prison she calls home. Madison dreams of one day leaving her life behind. She never thought being kidnapped is how it would happen.

Now she’s being held captive by a man who’s as frightening as he is sinfully gorgeous. Enormous, muscular, and filled with secrets, the man they call Ghost is an enigmatic mercenary, and Madison is trapped with him. She doesn’t know who hired him or why, but the more time she spends at his mercy, the more she realizes he’s not what he seems. Beneath his rough exterior lies an unexpected gentleness and a heart as broken and battered as her own.

But as Madison lets down her walls, Ghost holds tight to his, hiding secrets that could destroy everything.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way.*

Captive was an interesting read for me. I am a big fan of Brighton Walsh and of her work. I always want to get my greedy hands on her work and, luckily enough, I was able to get an ARC of this title and I pretty much read it in a day. However, this wasn't an absolute love for me.

Captive is a captor/captive and I'll be honest, it not my typical romance read. However, because it is Brighton Walsh writing, I definitely decided to give it chance. Madison Frost is kidnapped by man who is named Ghost and while she feels attracted to him, she knows she must try figure out why he kidnapped her and how to get away. Being as this is romance and this Brighton Walsh, the smut is nothing but HOT and sexy. Madison is a super smart girl but insecure with her body. Her history broke my heart but seeing her grow and find her inner strength was so believable and I couldn't help but cheer for her. Ghost was very interesting to get to know. He has his own backstory and in learning about him helped in understanding why he kidnapped Maddie. It does't mean I can forget it but I can see where he is coming from. What helped in understanding him is how much tried to fix the mess he helped make in kidnapping her and how he knew something was not right. I won't say much more just because I feel like I'm one step away from spoiling the book.

I want to say that while the subject matter is still iffy with me, it is my personal opinion and it not on anything on the book per se. While I think that the romance and sexy time happened too quickly and I know I wouldn't have done what Maddie did, Ms. Walsh did it in a way that is very real. Brighton handles this delicate subject in a great and realistic way and I have to give her major kudos for doing so. I think the way that Brighton handled how Maddie deals with the resolution of the kidnapping in the end made the whole captive/captor issue a lot easier to bear and helped me in appreciating this book. And fine, let's be real, Brighton's heroes are not too bad on the eyes. Ghost can throw me over his shoulder any day. *cough* Let's not tell my fiancé that.

Quotes (#102)

Morning Swooners,

It's my first day back after having been on vacation last week and I'm still a little dazed. I hope your weekend was fun. Happy Monday, now on to our quotes.

“I am little concerned with beauty or perfection. I don't care for the great centuries. All I care about is life, struggle, intensity.”
~Emile Zola

“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”
~Emile Zola

“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.”
~Emile Zola

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
~Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
~Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan

“My life-my whole life- take it, and do with it what you will. I love you-love you as I have never loved any living thing. From the moment I met you I loved you, loved you blindly, adoringly,madly!
You didn't know it then-you know it now.”
~Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”
~Dr. Seuss
Have a great week!

Favorite Friday (#30) - Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren

This week pick is: Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren.

Escaping a cheating ex, finance whiz Sara Dillon’s moved to New York City and is looking for excitement without a lot of strings attached. So meeting the irresistible, sexy Brit at a dance club should have meant nothing more than a night’s fun. But the manner–and speed–with which he melts her inhibitions turns him from a one-time hookup and into her Beautiful Stranger.

The whole city knows Max Stella loves women, not that he’s ever found one he particularly wants to keep around. Despite pulling in plenty with his Wall Street bad boy charm, it’s not until Sara–and the wild photos she lets him take of her–that he starts wondering if there’s someone for him outside of the bedroom.

Hooking up in places where anybody could catch them, the only thing scarier for Sara than getting caught in public is having Max get too close in private.

This is such a good story! I absolutely love Sara Dillon and Max Stella they are so great together. After reading this book I definitely needed several cold showers. It's definitely in my top five favorite books of all times.

About the author:

Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, bestie to a shoe-stealer, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.

Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you’ll probably find her on tumblr. She is married and absolutely not old enough to be the mom of a 14 year old (right??), thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter. She also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.

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?

Waiting on Wednesday (#102)

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:

Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins

Expected Release Date: April 7, 2015

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and best friend Bee has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can return her focus to the important things in life: school, canoodling with David, her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie, and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.
Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or connect her to David for life.

I'm so happy that there's a sequel for Rebel Belle. After that ending, I've been going crazy wondering what happens to Harper and company. *whines*I need this book!

What are you "Waiting on?"

Review: The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

The Walls Around Us
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Release Date: March 24, 2015
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: NetGalley
Review by: Jenn

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.

Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and innocence, and what happens when one is mistaken for the other.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way.*

The Walls Around Us truly exceeded my expectations by how utterly captivated I was when I read it. Going into the story, I was prepared for what everyone had been calling this book "Orange Meet the Black Swan." Now, I haven't watched "The Black Swan" and I've only seen one episode of "Orange Is The New Black" so I didn't really have much backstory on it. However, Nova Ren Suma had me hanging onto her every word.

The Walls Around Us follow the stories of both Amber and Violet but we learn right away of a third person whose story needs to be told, Ori's. To be honest, I don't know how to fully explain what this novel is about without spoiling the plot and that is the last thing I want to do with this book. Also, I always felt like I was being told a story and a very important detail was being withheld from me and every time I thought I was closer to finding out the truth, Nova snatched it away. All was revealed, of course, right at the perfect moment. And it was in that moment of clarity that had me so thoroughly impressed with Nova Ren Suma's story telling abilities. I'm not sure how she did it but the story lines were intricately woven together that I believe only a few authors can pull off that kind of work.

Now, while I loved Nova's writing abilities and how I hung to her every word, my only complaint was the end. I'm not exactly sure I understood what happened in the end. Well, let me clarify. I understood what happened but what I don't understand is the HOW. And what happens AFTER. Like, what is going to happened to that person? Will someone notice? How and what and I don't know are still racing through my mind as I try to piece together the ending. Nova, what have you done to me?!

If you're looking for great storytelling writing and some mindfuckery, I say pick this one up ASAP.

Quotes (#101)

Morning Swooners,

I am actually excited that today is Monday! I get to go visit family for the rest of the week and I'm super excited that I am getting a break! I hope you have a wonderful week... on to our quotes may your week rock!

“I've found that there is always some beauty left -- in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you.”
~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

“I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.”
~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

“Whoever is happy will make others happy.”
~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

“Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.”
~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

“A quiet conscience makes one strong!”
~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

“Anyhow, I've learned one thing now. You only really get to know people when you've had a jolly good row with them. Then and then only can you judge their true characters!”
~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

“The weak die out and the strong will survive, and will live on forever”
~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

Happy 3 Year Blogiversary to us!

Happy Friday Swooners!

Nahomi:

AHHHH! Ok, I had to get the out of my system. We are super excited that today Books and Swoons turns 3! This past year has gone by so fast that it seems like a blur. Jenn and I would like to do a recap of our past year and do a giveaway to thank all of you who follow us and support our baby. So here goes.

Jenn:

We've been blogging for 3 years now and after so many giveaways and bookish stuff, we wanted to do something different for this year blogiversary. Nahomi and I talked how we've never really share much of our lives besides the occasional personal post. So we're taking the time to show you a glimpse at our lives outside the blog.

The daily struggle at work

Working on the blog at home

Book Bash 2014 meeting Natasha Boyd!

YALL Fest 2014 with Sarah Dessen

YALL Fest 2014 with Kiera Cass

At our Bookish Xmas Party.

Boomerang Launch Party with Noelle August, AKA: Veronica Rossi and Lorin Oberweger

With Kristi Cook at her Magnolia book launch

With Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

With the Fierce Reads authors 2014: Anna Banks, Lindsay Smith, Marie Rutkoski, and Katie Finn (Morgan Matson), and our blogging friends

With our other bestie, Daisel

In NYC after doing BEA2014

Nahomi's birthday dinner

It been a crazy 3 years and we've had so much fun and struggles with it but I know I can't imagine not doing this. So thanks for sticking with us and I hope you'll continue to be readers of this blog.

Now, for the fun part! The giveaway portion of the celebration!

This is our first giveaway that will be international and the reason for that is because we wanted for our readers from all over to be able to participate. The only rule is that you must be 13 years or older. Now, go forth and enter! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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