November 30, 2014

Series Sunday: Shopaholic to the Stars

(Shopaholic #7)


Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

"This is my chance. My big, Hollywood, one-in-a-million, photo-opportunity chance. Oh my God. What am I going to wear?" ~ pg. 283

My Series Sunday pick is Shopaholic to the Stars, the seventh book in the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. Oh, how I have missed you, Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood). My fave shopaholic returns and has arrived in Hollywood. Becky's husband, Luke, is in L.A. handling PR for a famous actress. Becky and two-year-old daughter Minnie temporarily relocate.

Of course, Becky can't wait to shop on Rodeo Drive, meet celebs and stroll the red carpet. Her ultimate hope is to become a personal stylist—but in true Becky style, things get complicated. Leave it to Becky to end up the center of paparazzi attention.

The adventure. The fun. The shenanigans. The comedy. Shopaholic to the Stars wasn't worth the wait (I don't want to wait one month let alone years for a new shopaholic novel) but it certainly was an entertaining read that left off on a cliffhanger. I surely hope Sophie Kinsella doesn't take another four years to continue Becky's story in the States.

Watch the video below of an interview with author Sophie Kinsella discussing her latest Shopaholic book.


Title: Shopaholic to the Stars
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Published: October 2014
Pages: 479
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡

 

November 28, 2014

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author.


"You need a haircut, boy!"

~ Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming

 

November 27, 2014

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl


Awkward Black Girl is a web series I got hooked on in its early webisodes. Now that it is mainstream, the writing and comedy changed a bit. I stopped watching religiously. However, I was uber excited for the opportunity to review an ARC of the book. From YouTube to Galley pages!

"My name is Jo-Issa Rae Diop and I've always wanted a nickname. For the first twelve years of my life, none of my friends were lazy enough to shorten the pronunciation of my name, or affectionately bold enough to replace my name with an entirely new word, like Cocoa or Jollyrancher." ~ FIRST LINES

Jo-Issa Rae Diop (pronounced JO-EEE-SUH RAY JOPE) is the girl who tries to be less awkward, a bit cooler and a little smarter. The purpose of writing her story is to show it is okay to be awkward, learn from her mistakes and laugh at her misgivings. Well, Issa Rae, mission accomplished.

"Black people of all shapes, sizes and personalities value the moisturizing product known as body lotion. Lotioning alleviates ashiness. To be 'ashy' is to be unkempt." ~ pg. 68

There are lots of comedic stories like when Issa Rae was blocked on Twitter by a disabled white stripper. There are also chapters called ABG Guide about eating in public, connecting with other blacks and when co-workers attack. She writes about why edges are so important to the black female community and how being able to dance is seen as an automatic for all blacks. Pure entertainment in literary form!

Even if you are not familiar with ABG, this book of misadventures is a great introduction. So are the videos below. Issa Rae has a unique flair. For those that are already ABG fans, I highly recommend reading this collection of humorous essays when it is released in February 2015. You may pre-order at www.issarae.com/thebook




DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Title: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
Author: Issa Rae
Published: February 2015
Pages: 174
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♡

 

Be Thankful, Bookhearts


November 26, 2014

A Christmas Prayer


It has been five years since Alexis had a merry Christmas. She cannot seem to get in the holiday spirit since her mother passed away. It doesn't help that her and her sister are at odds. Normally this would be an exciting time for a bride-to-be but her mother-in-law is all but merry. In fact, she is quite evil and determined on breaking up Alexis and her son's engagement. Tis the season for happiness but Alexis' only Christmas wish is to make her family whole again.

A Christmas Prayer is not a full novel; it is the perfect novella size for a quick holiday read or December book club selection. Disclaimer: it is guaranteed to make you want to reach through the pages and slap a character or two. Then you may resume the holiday spirit. ;-)


DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Title: A Christmas Prayer
Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby
Published: October 2014
Pages: 192
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

November 25, 2014

Say What You Will


Very rare does a story leave me speechless where it takes weeks to write a coherent review. Bookhearts know how emotional I was (and still am) about John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park was close but a few Kleenex away. Cammie McGovern's Say What You Will has been perceived as their beautifully written love child. So I started reading this novel with the full expectation that it would be emotional.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy uses a walker to walk and a voice box to talk. Matthew's OCD causes fear, repeated thoughts and rituals. These two teens may seem drastically different but are more alike than they realize. It is Amy's senior year; she hires a student aide to help her socialize. Matthew gets the job which leads to a blossoming friendship with Amy.

Say What You Will is Cammie McGovern's debut novel. Creating main characters with a physical disability and a mental illness was a successful challenge. It doesn't take much to write a teen love story but to write complex teens with unordinary characteristics takes skill, imagination and empathy. Beautifully done.

To be loved because of your flaws, faults or handicaps instead of in spite of them >>>

Title: Say What You Will
Author: Cammie McGovern
Published: June 2014
Pages: 343
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡

 

November 23, 2014

Series Sunday: Found

(Mickey Bolitar Series #3)


Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Found, the third book in the Mickey Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. New school year, new mysteries to solve. Mickey is a sophomore still uncovering dark secrets of his father's death while being supportive of his mother in rehab. Best friend Spoon is in the hospital; other best friend Ema has an online boyfriend that vanished. Rachel is sorting out family issues while keeping Mickey at bay. Meanwhile on the basketball court, Mickey's teammates seem to hate him.

The group of teens have committed themselves to the Abeona Shelter—a secret organization whose mission is to rescue missing children. In finding Ema's online boyfriend, the group of teens discover even more secrets that permanently change their lives and opinions.

"Sometimes, explaining how the universe works is like teaching a lion to read. Reading is real. The lion is real. But he's never going to read." ~ pg. 110

Found is a YA novel with story lines to hold the interest of adults. The ending literally dropped my jaw. O_O Start (or continue) this series without further hesitation. If you are current on the series, please drop a line as I am bursting with theories to discuss.

Author Harlan Coben has #1 bestsellers in more than a dozen countries. Rightfully so. I am guaran-damn-teed to enjoy every bit of any Harlan Coben novel that I pick up. The Mickey Bolitar series keeps getting better. And oh, how I miss Myron Bolitar's series. Give me more!



Title: Found
Author: Harlan Coben
Published: September 2014
Pages: 336
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

November 7, 2014

Getting Back in the Groove

Thanks for being patient, bookhearts. I am getting back in the groove.