Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts

Sunday, December 6, 2015

[Book #Review] The Casquette Girls by Alys Arden

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the casquette girlsTitle: The Casquette Girls
Author: Alys Arden
Publisher: Skyscape
Date of Publication: November 17, 2015

Seven girls tied by time.
Five powers that bind.
One curse to lock the horror away.
One attic to keep the monsters at bay.
**
After the storm of the century rips apart New Orleans, sixteen-year-old Adele Le Moyne wants nothing more than her now silent city to return to normal. But with home resembling a war zone, a parish-wide curfew, and mysterious new faces lurking in the abandoned French Quarter,normalneeds a new definition.
As the city murder rate soars, Adele finds herself tangled in a web of magic that weaves back to her own ancestors. Caught in a hurricane of myths and monsters, who can she trust when everyone has a secret and keeping them can mean life or death? Unless . . . you’re immortal.


The Casquette Girls is hands down one of the best books that I have read in 2015. Filled with mystery, fantasy, romance, and magic, I couldn't put it down. Taken place in New Orleans after a huge storm destroyed the city and left so many families stranded, it also shows a different side of magic that's hidden in the broken windows. 

“And when all was done and all was said, we sat silently staring at the moon's reflection on the rippling river, soaking it all in. The differences between people, cultures and times.
The monsters. The myths.
The heroes.
The victims.
The love and loss.
Loss and love.”

Story begins with Adele Le Moyne returning from living with her mother back into New Orleans to stay with her dad. And just because her wardrobe improved, doesn't mean that she isn't still the same girl that had to leave her house when the Storm started. Struggling with the destruction around the city that she knows so well, Adele witnesses way too many strange things that should not happen. Even being able to move things without even touching them starts to wake her up. When she meets two brothers that are even stranger than anything she have seen, her life would be changed forever. 

“In the words of the great Monsieur Baudelaire, 'The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he doesn't exist.”

I loved Adele, I really did. Although she seemed to be naive and a little too immature for my taste, I learned how to appreciate her personality and view on the world. The book had a good pace, was entertaining, and will make a great read on those cold windy days! 


Alys
Alys Arden was raised by the street performers, tea leaf-readers, and glittering drag queens of the New Orleans, French Quarter. She cut her teeth on the streets of New York and has worked all around the world since. She either talks too much or not at all. She obsessively documents things. Her hair ranges from eggplant to cotton-candy-colored.
One dreary day in London, while dreaming of running away with the circus, she started writing The Casquette Girls. Her debut novel garnered over one million reads online before being acquired by Skyscape in a two book deal. Rep’d by ICM.
Website | Twitter: @alysarden | Facebook | Blog


Giveaway

2 physical copies open US only.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

[Book #Review] Popular by Lauren Urasek

PopularPopular
by 
With more than 15,000 4- and 5-star ratings, an average of 35 messages per day, and hundreds of thousands of profile views from interested suitors, Lauren Urasek was dubbed "the most popular girl on OKCupid" byNew York magazine. She then started a popular Tumblr detailing her experiences with Prince Charmings (and Not-So-Charmings), and now tells all in a series of frank, funny essays about the ups and downs of dating in the city that never sleeps. She's run the gamut of the nominally "single and ready to mingle" males of New York City, from dudes who went in for a kiss within the first ten minutes to one who conducted an impromptu “girlfriend job interview.” And in between the horror stories and dating disasters, Lauren shares some real talk about what works—and what doesn't. Her tales of wooing and woe will leave anyone who's ever tried online dating rolling in the aisles.
 
Lauren's 19 essays are punctuated by cheeky yet informative sidebars on:
- 10 male accessories or clothing items that'll turn a girl right off
- Red flags you should NEVER ignore
- Quirky/weird/offbeat ways to find out whether a guy's not right for you
- The 15 WORST usernames
- A comparison between different online dating services (OKCupid, Tinder, Match, etc.)
- And much more!



Popular by Lauren Urasek could be viewed as an open window to single woman's life in NYC where all she's trying to do is date and find someone who gets her. But add the personality of the author itself into what should be a simple novel, and you get an awesome book worth checking out! Starting out as an introduction and an honest note that she doesn't know why in the hell would anyone choose her as the most popular women on online dating websites, this book also continues into short stories of past experiences and advice on what to do and not to do on those awful blind dates. 


Urasek really touched me with the honesty that the book was written. All of the embarrasing stories, everything that women are afraid to say, she said it. Going from trying to get over a long-term relationship to daily dates could be tough, specially when you have creepy guys messaging you day and night. 
"Insecurities can get the best of us when meeting someone new - or even when we're in an already established relationship. I've been known to fuck up both dates and relationships because of baggage stemming from the bullshit self-esteem issues I grew up".
Urasek really touched me with the honesty that the book was written. All of the embarrasing stories, everything that women are afraid to say, she said it. Going from trying to get over a long-term relationship to daily dates could be tough, specially when you have creepy guys messaging you day and night. But from the insecurities and some of the past that she had to deal with, I related to her. I do wish that the book stayed the same pace as it was from the beginning but this is a solid 4 star rating for me. Just because she swears. ALOT. And has a pretty badass sense of humor ;)

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

[Book #Review] Sidekick by Natalie Whipple

Sidekick
Title: Sidekick
Author: Natalie Whipple
Publisher: Whipple House
Date of Publication: November 10, 2015

Russ is a high school football player who feels like he always comes in second to his best friend, Garret. In sports. In school. With girls. Well, he's tired of it, and he gets the rather foolish idea that if he can win the heart of the new girl in town before Garret he can prove he's not just sloppy seconds.

His plan? Use his anime-obsessed sister's group, who has befriended the new girl, to get closer to her. He'd never tell the team, but he's been going to Anime Night for years and might even enjoy it. That would ruin his reputation, just like his secret love for cooking and James Taylor.

But pretending to be something you aren't catches up to you eventually, and Russ can only get away with living two lives for so long. As more than one person reveals they have something to hide, Russ must figure out what and who he really wants in his life. And more than that, he needs the courage to make it happen.


Russ is your typical high school football player who's just a little more than a jock with a reputation. Although his best friend is always on top of everything, Russ wants to be an individual and stand out. So when he meets HER, he has to do something different, something better than what he has been doing. But eventually everything catches up to him and small lies turn into broken hearts. 

I really enjoyed the book and although it wasn't as fast as I would like it to be, I enjoyed the writing and the style that the author has. Perfect for those high-school memories, this is perfect for someone that wants a light read. 
 

Saturday, November 7, 2015

[Scavenger Hunt] Kiss Kill Love Him Still by Jamie Blair & Dawn Rae Miller


Kiss Kill Love Him Still
by Jamie Blair & Dawn Rae Miller
Release Date: November 10th 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
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Synopsis:

Jackson Landis kept secrets. It's how he got girls into bed, the grades he wanted, and a reputation for being the life of the party.

But now he's dead, and no one knows how or why. Especially not the four girls whose secrets he protected. Secrets so scandalous they could cause each girl to lose something valuable. Secrets so dark, someone may have killed for them.

The four girls - a campus drug dealer, an overweight bookworm, a closeted lesbian, and a spoiled princess have one thing in common – they’re terrified the things Jackson knew may not have died with him. As Reggie, Haddie, Val, and Livie try to piece together her own role in Jackson’s death, each girl realizes Jackson had some not-so-pretty skeletons of his own.

Which makes a girl wonder, who really wanted Jackson Landis dead?

WELCOME TO THE SCAVENGER HUNT BLOG TOUR!

We're trying to discover who killed Jason Landis in Jamie Blair and Dawn Rae Miller's book. In the 7 days that the tour will be running, you will find interviews with the suspects, their profiles and music playlists that will help you decide who you think did it.

Each day you will find a team that will introduce you one character. The winner team will be picked on November 11th and will have the pleasure to host an exclusive excerpt from Kiss Kill Love Him Still.

Please note that reviews from bloggers will be published on November 11th and November 12th, see schedule, and that might give you an extra insight to the book, too!



Height: 6’2”

Weight: 195 lbs

Hair: Short, black

Eyes: Dark brown

Demeanor: Restrained hostility

Motivation for killing Jackson Landis: Jealously over Jackson’s relationship with Regina Walker.


Officer McMichaels: Mr. Brown, do you work for Regina Walker?

Marcus: Work for her? She’s broke. How would she pay anyone to do anything?

Officer McMichaels: Are you in love with her?

Marcus: What the hell does this-- 

Officer McMichaels: Sit down and answer the question.

Marcus: Fine. I’ll answer. That’s none of your goddamned business. 

Officer McMichaels: Was Regina sleeping with Jackson Landis?

Marcus: If she was, I never got my invite to the threesome, so how the fuck would I know? 

Officer McMichaels: For your own good, I suggest you start cooperating and answer my questions. 

Marcus: You want to know if Reggie was doing Jackson, ask her.

Officer McMichaels: You’re wasting my time.

Marcus: I could’ve told you that before you hauled me in here—saved us both time.

Officer McMichaels: Get out of here, but expect me to find out what you know, Marcus. You can lie, but I’ll find out in the end.

Marcus: Am I supposed to be afraid or something? Was that a threat?

Officer McMichaels: We’ll talk again soon, Mr. Brown.




NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO DECIDE!


This is what the authors propose:



Follow the Kiss Kill Love Him Still by Jamie Blair & Dawn Rae Miller Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.



Young adult author of the Kirkus-starred novel Leap Of Faith (Simon & Schuster 2013), and Lost To Me (2014), featured in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling anthology, Dirty Boys of Summer. Represented by Rebecca Friedman of RF Literary.


Dawn is a Twitter and fashion addict whose favorite things in life are her family, gorgeous dresses, tea leaf salad, and French macarons. She splits her time between San Francisco and Northern Virginia, and is always up for a trip to Paris.
During release week the book will be on sale for $.99. On top of this sale Dawn and Jamie will also be giving away 2x3 book buttons to the first 100 people who buy the book!

Do you want some Kiss Kill Love Him Still button? Just click here to submit your entry.