[Book Review] One Lavender Ribbon by Heather Burch

One Lavender Ribbon 
by Heather Burch

Can a stack of long-hidden love letters from a WWII war hero inspire a heartbroken woman to love again?

Reeling from a bitter divorce, Adrienne Carter abandons Chicago and retreats to the sun, sand, and beauty of Southern Florida, throwing herself into the restoration of a dilapidated old Victorian beach house. Early into the renovations, she discovers a tin box hidden away in the attic that reveals the emotional letters from a WWII paratrooper to a young woman who lived in the house more than a half-century earlier.

The old letters—incredibly poetic and romantic—transcend time, and they arouse in Adrienne a curiosity that leads her to track down the writer of the letters. William “Pops” Bryant is now an old man living in a nearby town with his handsome but overprotective grandson, Will. As Adrienne begins to unravel the secrets of the letters (and the Bryants), she finds herself not yet willing to give up entirely on love.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

One Lavender Ribbon is an incredible story and a true modern romance. It was like reading two stories in one where you have the letters between two people in love back in WWII and the present where Adrienne was falling for Will. The amount of raw emotions in this book was so intense, I had tried even after I finished the book. Especially after I finished the book. 

Story begins when Adrienne moves to a new house in Florida. She just got divorced and wanted to do something that will make her feel powerful and free. Her new house is a Victorian style fixer-upper but she loves it. Then one day when she goes in the basement, she discovers old letters from WWII veteran that he wrote to Grace, a woman who used to live in that same house years ago. When Adrienne decides to find the veteran, she becomes close with them which changes herself and her whole life. 

I wasn't prepared for this story to change me. I wasn't prepared at all to feel like there's more out there than what I should feel like and understand that some of my silly problems were nothing compared to losing the one you love over and over and then finding them back again. I loved everything about this book and even though it was very sweet (which I'm not used to), all the characters were sincere and made me love them. Absolutely recommended!

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[Stacking The Shelves] #21

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews featuring the books we got this week.

OMG is this almost end of June?? What is happening people, I can't believe that days are going by so fast. Was really hoping for a nice weather but nope. It's Seattle. That means bipolar weather with a sprinkle of really bad drivers. Yay *gag*

On the other hand, I finally moved! For the last 2 weeks I've been helping my parents move and since I've been staying with them because I'm in school, I had to paint my room.. It was horrible lol I should not paint rooms. That should be illegal lol

But here's my books for the last 2 weeks since I finally got Internet and was able to check my emails and comments :)

for review:

Weapon of Vengeance by Mukul Deva

The Angel of Losses by Stephanie Feldman

thrift store finds:

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher $0.99

TCity of Glass by Cassandra Clare $0.99

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich $2.99

Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich $2.99

say whaaaaaaat??? oh yea - $0.99!

What's on your list today?  Leave comments below & I'll return the favor! 

[Book Review + Giveaway] Suddenly Last Summer by Sarah Morgan

Suddenly Last Summer 
by Sarah Morgan

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan introduces another irresistible O’Neil brother who’s more tempting than dessert and twice as sinful!

Fiery French chef Élise Philippe is having a seriously bad day. Not only have the grand opening plans for her beloved café fallen apart, but Sean O’Neil is back in town and looking more delectable than ever. Memories of the electrifying night they shared last summer leave Élise very tempted, but she knows all too well that eventually Sean will be leaving…again.

Being back in Vermont—even temporarily—is surgeon Sean O’Neil’s worst nightmare. Returning home to the Snow Crystal Resort means confronting the guilt he feels about rejecting his family’s lifestyle years ago. But discovering that Élise is still in Vermont and still sets his blood racing is a very welcome distraction! Remembering last summer and how good they were together is going to make walking away more difficult than he could imagine…

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

Oh Snow Crystal, how I want to make reservations & soak up the amazing views and setting that Sarah Morgan introduces us to. Morgan is an incredible author, her writing is alive and brings together an interesting plot that is entertaining and sweet at the same time. A year later, Elise and Sean meet again. They are over the head in their career & the last thing they need right now is a serious relationship. But with history, Sean's grandfather's condition, and the heat of the moment, there might be something way more between them that either of them are ready for. 

I loved these characters!! Even though it felt a little like a cliche, the romantics of the book world do love their cliches. You have Elise, a French chef who is gorgeous, smart, and has a personality of a firecracker. I loved how classy and stylish the author portrayed her, she was really someone that I enjoyed reading about. Sean is definitely in your "Hot Doctor" category. He has the looks, the career, and he definitely likes things that are better in life. I loved his relationship with his grandfather and just his personality overall. Reading about their chemistry made me want to actually watch it on the screen & melt in their love.

 

Suddenly Last Summer is definitely a must-read this summer! It's cute, romantic, and definitely a piece of art. Even not being a big fan of romance, I really felt the connection between the characters and really enjoyed this book.

ARC copy was provided by CBB Promotions‏ in exchange for an honest review as a part of a virtual blog tour. This did not influence my review in any way and the reviewer had not been compensated. 

About the Author:

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy contemporary romance and her trademark humour and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe. She has been nominated three years in succession for the prestigious RITA© Award from the Romance Writers of America and has won the award twice, in 2012 and 2013. RT Book Reviews has called her ‘a magician with words’ and she has made numerous appearances in their ‘Top Pick’ slot. Sarah lives near London, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying. She loves chatting with readers by email and on Facebook and Twitter. More information can be found on her website.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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[Book Review] Nashville Sweetheart by Rachel Hauck

Nashville Sweetheart 
by Rachel Hauck

What do you do when the past you've been dodging shows up at your door with cameras rolling?

Aubrey James ruled the charts as the queen of country for over a decade. She'd rocketed to fame in the shadow of her parents' death both of them pioneers in gospel music. But while her public life high-profile romances and fights with Music Row execs made for juicy tabloid headlines, the real and private Aubrey has remained a media mystery.

When a former band member betrays Aubrey's trust and sells an "exclusive" to a tabloid, the star knows she must go public with her story. But Aubrey's private world is rocked when the "Inside NashVegas" interviewer is someone from her past someone she'd hoped to forget. All the moxie in the world won't let this diva run any longer."

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

Aubrey James is Nashville's Sweetheart, a famous country singer loved by thousands of people. A daughter of famous gospel singers killed in a horrible accident. With so much fame, it is no wonder that people are always spreading rumors about her and when she realizes that she cannot be private in her world, she decides to provide an interview for a local media group about her life. 

Nashville Sweetheart is the kind of book that you think you will love because of the country theme & a sweet girl whom everyone loves. And that's true. Aubrey has an amazing personality of someone who went through hard times emotionally and wants to bring happiness to everyone. All throughout the book I felt like there was a "mixed" Audrey. A lot of the times everyone called her "Diva" and sometimes she did act like it. A lot of the book was also an interview style which is great when you're reading an article but not so good when you are trying to read Fiction and want to stay interested. *snooze* 

Overall, this would be great for someone, just not me. I couldn't connect with the characters and the whole romance part of it was a little undeveloped. The stories that Audrey tells about her family were supposed to be filled with raw emotions but just weren't written in a way that would make me connect to it. 

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way.

[Book Review] One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

One Plus One 
by Jojo Moyes

One single mom. One chaotic family. One quirky stranger. One irresistible love story from the New York Timesbestselling author of Me Before You
 
American audiences have fallen in love with Jojo Moyes. Ever since she debuted stateside, she has captivated readers and reviewers alike, and hit the New York Times bestseller list with the word-of-mouth sensation, Me Before You. Now, with One Plus One, she’s written another contemporary opposites-attract love story that reads like a modern-dayTwo for the Road.
 
Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a nutshell—until an unexpected knight-in-shining-armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages . . . maybe ever.
 
One Plus One is Jojo Moyes at her astounding best. You’ll laugh, you’ll weep, and when you flip the last page, you’ll want to start all over again.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

Why is this getting such high rating? Why is it that Jojo Moyes is super popular & everyone wants to read & buy all of her books? Well because she made me cry with her beautiful writing & touching story. 

This was my first book by Moyes & I didn't really know what to expect. But right when I read first chapter, I knew I would be hooked. You have your unique but somewhat regular family. Jess is a single mother with two kids, her ex husband left 2 years ago and she's trying to meet ends. Her daughter Tanzie is brilliant! She gets offered a scholarship into private school but there is still a charge that needs to be paid off. When Jess tries to take her to Olympiad in hopes that the winnings could cover the tuition, Jess ends up going on a roadtrip with Ed, an attractive stranger who steals her heart. 

Now that I'm trying to write this review, I'm already missing Jess and her children. I thought it was genius to have the book written from everyone's POVs because it definitely made me connect with everyone more. I loved everyone. Jess, Ed, NORMAN!, Nicky, Tanzie. EVerything about this book made me happy. Their conversations were funny, thoughtful, and Jess's optimism wasn't over the top. Typically I don't like books are that too sweet but Jess got some wittiness to her & Ed definitely had his flaws that made me love him even more. 

Jojo Moyes. Thank you.

Thank you for being so talented & making me sob uncontrollably. 

ARC copy was provided by PENGUIN GROUP Viking‏ in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any way.

[Book Review] Divided by Elsie Chapman

Divided 
by Elsie Chapman

The hunter becomes the hunted. . . .

West Grayer is done killing. She defeated her Alternate, a twin raised by another family, and proved she’s worthy of a future. She’s ready to move on with her life.

The Board has other plans. They want her to kill one last time, and offer her a deal worth killing for. But when West recognizes her target as a ghost from her past, she realizes she’s in over her head. The Board is lying, and West will have to uncover the truth of the past to secure her future.

How far will the Board go to keep their secrets safe? And how far will West go to save those she loves? With nonstop action and surprising twists, Elsie Chapman’s intoxicating sequel to Dualed reveals everything.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

Few months later, West has moved on with her life from being an assassin. Being an instructor and trying to go on with her life as a complete is different but she doesn't forget what she had to go through. With having nightmares of her Alt and passed away family, she doesn't know if she can ever get over what happened. On top of that, the Board knows that she used to a striker and they want to hire her to kill three teens to save their children in exchange for a good price. 

Divided gives us more details about the world of Kersh and its history. With explanation of why the city is the way it is and the Alt system is very detailed and it finally makes sense. This is what I didn't like about the first book because a lot of the stuff was in the dark. West herself is still the annoying teen that she was but in this book I definitely start to like her more. She cares about the people that she has in her life now and overcoming her fears is what makes me finally connect with her. 

The story itself is not very Dystopian driven since it's mostly driven on the plot itself. But overall it was the perfect book to follow after Dualed and regain some of its interest of the YA readers. 

[Book Review + Giveaway] A Life, Redefined by Tracy Hewitt Meyer‏

A Life, Redefined 
by Tracy Hewitt Meyer 

Seven years ago, an innocent act by Rowan Slone turned her life into a nightmare. Since the age of ten she's lived with the burden of her baby brother's death. Now she is seventeen and all she wants to do is graduate high school, go to college, and escape the loveless family she has endured all these years—the same family that holds her responsible for his death. But no one holds her responsible more than herself.

When long-time crush Mike Anderson invites her to the Prom, suddenly her future looks brighter. Rowan's younger sister, Trina, however, is determined to ruin her new-found happiness, no matter the cost. And when Rowan discovers her mother’s long-held secret, she finds herself teetering on the edge of an abyss. Can Rowan find the strength to move toward the future or is she doomed to dwell in the past?

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

I don't know where to start with this review because this book has left me speechless. A Life, Redefined is a YA novel that really looks into the tragedy of a teenage girl who has to go through abusive family and the guild of the past. 

Having to live with knowing that she was responsible for her brother's death, Rowan just wants to move on. With one year left of school, she works for good grades so she can go to college and actually do something good. Because being with her family is impossible. Her family really made me mad. You have an abusive father who cannot stand her and lashes out on everyone the first chance he gets. Then there's the mother who lays in bed all day and eats junk like it's nobody's business. Oh yeah & how can we forget Trina, her sister who is the biggest slut in town and hates Rowan's guts. 

I thought it was kind of cute how Rowan had a crush on Mike. Although I thought he was a little weird and became way too obsessed with Rowan fast, her reaction to his attention was adorable and I loved how sweet they were. He was there for her and really showed her how to get through what she was going through. There were no mind games that you often see in YA novels. It was just him and her, liking each other and supporting.

The narrator for the audiobook was someone who I had to get used to. Becca Ballenger has a great voice but in the beginning I thought she wasn't as emotional as I thought Rowan's character should be. But as I listened more, I realized that it's how it's supposed to be. Rowan is damaged, broken, she's on her last string and Becca really shows that to the reader. Great read, definitely recommended!

Bio for Tracy Hewitt Meyer

Tracy Hewitt Meyer is a multi-genre, multi-published author of new adult fiction as well as adult paranormal and contemporary romance. She has a B.A. in English and a Master of Social Work, both of which feed her true passion-her love of writing. Born and raised in the beautiful state of West Virginia, Tracy now lives in the mid-east with her family, a goldendoodle, and a bearded dragon. 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

GIVEAWAY

In honor of this celebration, Author Tracy Hewitt Meyer will be giving away the following:
1. One Grand Prize winner will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card
2. Runner Up will an ecopy of A LIFE, REDEFINED.

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