Sunday, June 23, 2013

A Different Blue by Amy Harmon - 5 Stars


A Different Blue by Amy Harmon - 5 Stars

Beautiful.



"Once upon a time there was a little blackbird who was pushed out of the nest, unwanted."  This is the story about Blue Echohawk.  She has been dealt a bad hand in life but uses her tough exterior to press on.  She is lost.  She doesn't know who she is, where she is from or where she is going.  This book was a "suggested" read from Amazon and I finished it in 2 days.  I couldn't put it down.  Blue's journey is heart-wrenching, breath-taking, tear-inducing, frustrating, maddening and beautiful.  I savored each page.  I was drawn into this book and my tears were flowing regularly.  Amy Harmon takes you on the journey with Blue and forces you to feel the anger, grief, desperation, hopelessness, and love that is flowing through Blue.  I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend you read it.  

Here is one of my favorite lines in the book spoken by Blue's teacher Wilson and (*spoiler*) love interest.  :)
"Sometimes the things we want to be rescued from can save us."

Here are some others:
"Sometimes I feel like I have a huge, gaping hole from my chin to my waist, a wide open negative space that life has just carved away.  But it's not beautiful, Wilson.  Sometimes it feels empty and dark...and...and no amount of sanding or polish will make it into something it isn't.  I'm afraid if I let you love me, your love will be swallowed up in that hole and in turn YOU will be swallowed up by in."
-Blue

"You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you."
-Wilson

I loved this book and I think you will too!!  If you like my reviews or you like the type of books I read be my friend on Goodreads! Chances are I want to see what you are reading too! :)


My Scale:

5 stars – made me feel what they felt, was obsessed to the point where I couldn't concentrate at work because I wanted to read. I wanted to read every free minute possible –even if it was a few minutes in the Burger King drive-thru or the couple minutes I’m waiting for the toaster.


4 stars – I felt what they felt, was moderately distracted at work and read when I could. Thought about the characters but there wasn't an impulse to read with each beat of my heart.


3 stars – great story, able to feel their emotions but wasn't distracted at work. I read when I could but not necessarily every night before I go to bed like normal.


2 stars – interesting story, but not pulled in. Finished the book because I want to know what happened at the end.


1 star – didn’t even finish the book

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Vain by Amelie Fisher - 5 stars

Completely Unexpected….Blindsided by this Profound Love Story.


When I read the description of Vain and purchased it, I was expecting a gritty, scandalous account of one brazen young women.  However, what I found was a story of a girl thrust into a dangerous, depressed world expecting misery but found herself.  In learning to love herself she was then able to learn true love and what it means to truly care for another being.
Sophie Price is a pompous, promiscuous, rich kid.  She didn’t care about hurting other people’s feelings (even those she called friends) because she was their queen…and they bow to her…not the other way around.  The normal weekend party is busted by police and Sophie is caught for the second time with drugs and the judge isn’t going easy this time.  Her sentence…an orphanage in Uganda for 6 months.

At the orphanage Sophie meets and works with Dinjane (Ian), who at first does not seem to like Sophie and selfish ways.  As they continue to work together, they learn more about each other and become closer.  Ian, the children and the other orphanage volunteers show her a deep love she never knew existed.

Sophie’s journey transforms her life.  Learning truths about herself and the world, she discovers what a small glimpse of the world she received back home.

This book, as I mentioned, was completely unexpected and I loved every minute of it.  The characters were interesting and you were so easily drawn into their world – the pain, the suffering, the joy, the love...I was wowed by this book.  5 stars all the way!


My Scale:

5 stars – made me feel what they felt, was obsessed to the point where I couldn't concentrate at work because I wanted to read. I wanted to read every free minute possible –even if it was a few minutes in the Burger King drive-thru or the couple minutes I’m waiting for the toaster.


4 stars – I felt what they felt, was moderately distracted at work and read when I could. Thought about the characters but there wasn't an impulse to read with each beat of my heart.


3 stars – great story, able to feel their emotions but wasn't distracted at work. I read when I could but not necessarily every night before I go to bed like normal.


2 stars – interesting story, but not pulled in. Finished the book because I want to know what happened at the end.


1 star – didn’t even finish the book

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Collide by Gail McHugh - 5 stars

After her mother passes away, Emily moves to New York to be closer to her boyfriend Dillon.  She loves Dillon, the amazing man that helped her through the death of her mother and her stalwart companion.  Emily moves in with her best friend from college and finds a job at a local restaurant.  On her first day at work, her boss asks if she can drop off a delivery order on her way home since their delivery boy quit.  She makes the delivery to none other than Gavin Blake – the deliciously striking, marketing mogul.  He immediately is drawn to Emily and pursues her.  Although Emily finds him attractive (IMMENSELY attractive) she is in love with Dillon and isn’t the cheating type.  When Gavin shows up at her work the next day and asks for her name she says “Molly” and then throws way the business card he gives her thinking that would get rid of him.  Later that night they meet again when they discover Gavin is one of Dillon’s best friends….EEK!  But no…this doesn’t stop Gavin from pursuing Emily…at least as a friend.  He is drawn to her like a moth to a flame.  Through time, Emily comes to befriend Gavin.  She also can’t stay away – resistance is futile when it comes to Gavin.  He is so much more than she thought he was - kind, loving, funny, charming and of course dangerously sexy.  When their worlds collide – will anyone be left standing?

This book had me laughing hysterically (very difficult to hold in when your husband is asleep next to you!!), crying, frustrated and just plain angry.  The characters are so entertaining and so vivid…I simply adored this book.  I loved Gavin’s cocky, mischievous, witty and sarcastic comments – I definitely am adding him to my mental list of “book boyfriends.”  Emily was so frustrating because she had no sense …at all.  It was so obvious she should be with Gavin.  How could she not see it after how horrible Dillon is?  She is so closed off to her own emotion like she is trying to prevent someone she cares about from leaving her again.  She doesn’t want to lose the last link to her mother and I understand that but at the same time- would her mother have wanted her in the position she is in?  No way!  I don’t want to give too much away but you MUST read this book. 

I only had two complaints about this book.
1.       I didn’t like the point of view it was told from - this is just a personal preference.  I would have preferred the story have been told as first person POV for each Emily and Gavin.  However it was told in a third person/omniscient POV.  I like it when characters are saying “I felt…” as opposed to “She felt…” – I found it distracting since I like to read like I’m in the action not a bystander.

2.       The ending was brutal….MAJOR CLIFFHANGER!   I am not sure if I can wait until the second book comes out this summer!  Well played Gail McHugh, well played. 
 
 

 
 
#GailMcHugh
#GavinBlake
#Collide
 
 
My Scale:

5 stars – made me feel what they felt, was obsessed to the point where I couldn't concentrate at work because I wanted to read. I wanted to read every free minute possible –even if it was a few minutes in the Burger King drive-thru or the couple minutes I’m waiting for the toaster.

4 stars – I felt what they felt, was moderately distracted at work and read when I could. Thought about the characters but there wasn't an impulse to read with each beat of my heart.

3 stars – great story, able to feel their emotions but wasn't distracted at work. I read when I could but not necessarily every night before I go to bed like normal.

2 stars – interesting story, but not pulled in. Finished the book because I want to know what happened at the end.

1 star – didn’t even finish the book


Saturday, March 16, 2013

Deeper We Fall by Chelsea Cameron - 5 stars

I finished Deeper We Fall by Chelsea Cameron - my rate? 5 stars

Zan have I loved, Zack have I hated.  Wow.  I was totally enthralled with Zan and that is what made me obsessed with this book.  He has such a huge heart and is so broken and I just wanted to get my super glue of love and put him back together....and so did Lottie. :)  I was so glad when his secret came out and thought...."hmm secret is out, story is probably over"...Wrong!  SO MUCH MORE HAPPENS!!!  Authors don't always end the story soon enough and I was afraid that is what was going to happen here.  I have read a few books where they continue after the main "dilemma" is resolved and I'm left wondering "why am I still reading?"  This was not the case as I was still captivated with the story.  

I loved this story line, although it was the same good girl/bad boy theme, it has some twists in there that were quite original and I thoroughly enjoyed.  The people in the book were realistic and I felt like I had become part of their family of friends.  Yes, I did in fact read this in the Burger King drive-thru, on lunch breaks, during my favorite TV shows and before I went to bed - and that is why I gave this book 5 stars.

I am very excited for the 2nd book in the series,  Faster We Burn (Fall and Rise #2) - as we get to know more about Stryker and Katie.....<3

Here are a few quotes to make you lust after:

"I couldn't stop looking at her.  Once again, she was the eclipse, drawing me in.  It sounds intense and it is, being drawn to look at someone like that."  - Zan/Alexander Parker

"Sure, she was pretty and fun, but there was something about Lottie.  I didn't know what it was, but I knew I wanted to be around it more than I wanted to breathe." - Zan/Alexander Parker

"Forced myself to stop imagining a world in which she would look at me with anything other than pure hatred and pain." - Zan/Alexander Parker

Conversation between Zan & Miss Carole:
"She's not following me anywhere, unless it's to kill me."
"You always underestimate your charm, Alex."
"Charm can't overcome pure hatred."

"I thought about what he(Stryker) had said the rest of the day.  That once people decided what they thought of you, that was it.  You'd been judged.  You got a stamp on your forehead that you could never wash off." - Zan/Alexander Parker

The story is told from both Zan & Lottie's points of view but Zan's quotes just always got me...plus I'm a sucker for a broken bad boy.  :)

Also....I have always pictured Steven McQueen as my Zan Parker :)  With the dark longish hair (long enough to get your fingers in...which Lottie does... he he) and beautiful dark-brown-melt-me-eyes, he just seems perfect!





If you aren't convinced please share your dream casting of Zan Parker!!











Here are some songs that came to my head as I read:
For Lottie & Zan : Ho Hey by the Lumineers and of course I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons
Lottie: Rise Above This by Seether and Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men
Zan:  All I Wanted by Paramore and Blurry by Puddle of Mudd
Zack: Had Enough by Breaking Benjamin


#deeperwefall
#chelseacameron
#bookquotes
#zanparker

My Scale:

5 stars – made me feel what they felt, was obsessed to the point where I couldn't concentrate at work because I wanted to read.  I wanted to read every free minute possible – even if it was a few minutes in the Burger King drive-thru or the couple minutes I’m waiting for the toaster.

4 stars – I felt what they felt, was moderately distracted at work and read when I could.  Thought about the characters but there wasn't an impulse to read with each beat of my heart.

3 stars – great story, able to feel their emotions but wasn't distracted at work.  I read when I could but not necessarily every night before I go to bed like normal.

2 stars – interesting story, but not pulled in.  Finished the book because I want to know what happened at the end.

1 star – didn’t even finish the book

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

First Post...Here Goes Nothing.

Yes, this is my first post of my first blog.  Why start a blog?  Well, I get extremely excited about books, movies, music and other products and things going on in my life.  Of course I share my excitement with my husband and friends but they don't always share in my exuberance.  This is my way of getting on my soap box and sharing with the world what I love and I hope that those who read will also share in my enthusiasm.

I can be a bit odd and goofy and over excited and I like to share with people like me.  :)  So like I said...here goes nothing.  Now you know why I'm blogging and I'm also going to share some of what I love and what I plan on blogging about.  My big motivator was books because I LOVE books and of course my husband does not care about my loves stories and paranormal romances so I can't really share this with him so I just need to get it out somewhere!

Favorite authors?  I started loving Nicholas Sparks in high school but have come to discover a whole new world of paranormal romance thanks to a great friend who forced me to read Twilight (yes forces since I had made fun of her for YEARS for reading the books and watching the movies lol).  After reading Twilight and getting a Kindle I remembered my love of the literary escape.  Some of my current favorites are Amy Bartol, Colleen Hoover, Abbi Glines, Tijan, Jennifer Armentrout (or J. Lynn), Moira Young, Jamie McGuire, Dawn Rae Miller, Anne Eliot, Jennifer Echols, Jessica Park, Rebecca Donovan, Veronica Roth, Lauren Oliver, Shelly Crane, Kristin Cashore...just to name a few.  Those are some that I have read several of their books and thoroughly enjoyed.  But take a look at my Goodreads page and see for yourself!  Recently I can't stop thinking about the Premonition Series by Amy Bartol, the Immortal Prophecy Series & Fallen Crest Series by Tijan, the Lux Series & Gamble Brothers Series by Jennifer Armentrout/J.Lynn, and the Sea Breeze Series by Abbi Glines....those are the ones I'm really just giddy over them coming out.  Some of the others I am still waiting for the next in the series to come out but the ones I mentioned have me extremely giddy!

So, what am I reading right now?  Deeper We Fall by Chelsea M Cameron.  This is my first book by Chelsea and I am loving this book!  Zan is so quiet, mysterious and dangerous....and DELICIOUS!  Zan and his older brother Zach were in an accident with Lottie's best friend Lexie 2 years ago after a party.  Zan was driving.  Zan gets sent to Juvi  after Lexi suffers severe brain injuries.  Lottie hates the Parker brothers and hopes to never see them again.  Her hopes are destroyed when she moves into her Freshman college dorm and finds that her roommate is dating Zach - she soon realizes Zan is also there.  Zan has loved Lottie since grade school but knows she will never forgive him for causing the accident that caused her best friend's life altering trauma.  Zan does all that he can to prove he isn't the person she thinks he is.  When will Lottie finally forgive him and see that he is everything she needs?  I don't know! because I'm still reading and soooooo frustrated!! In a good way of course :) lol  She is so blinded by her hate...she is only now starting to slowly take her blinders off.  It's sad how our own hate can totally shut us out from the one thing we we need to get over it...love.  I'm hoping to finish the book tonight or tomorrow.  Too bad I actually have to work for a living otherwise I'd read all night. :)

#ChelseaCameron
#DeeperWeFall
#lovestories
#YARomance