On Holiday

I will return from holiday soon. In the meantime, keep up with me via Goodreads and Twitter updates.

Series Sunday: Whitefern

(Audrina #2) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. 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 Whitefern, the sequel to My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews. Whitefern was Audrina's prison. The mansion swallowed Audrina's childhood and threatens her adult life too. She thought things would change for the better after the death of her overprotective father. But her husband, Arden, seems just as ambitious and cruel. When her father's will leaves Audrina with 51% of the family business, Audrina realizes she cannot easily escape the dark halls of home.

"What could possibly be worse than the horrors fate already had chosen to rain down on Whitefern?" ~ 12%

I watched the Lifetime movie adaptation of My Sweet Audrina to refresh my memory with fine details of the story. Even though there were not-so-minor changes (such as Audrina's sister dying in the womb versus growing up a fragile girl), I was reminded on how this book was strange from the start.

I began reading the advance copy of the "long-awaited" sequel immediately after watching the movie. This is where I insert a serious side-eye because are there really people out here waiting on this sequel over 25 years later? Am I the only reader that was not pressed for this story to continue?

Whitefern, to be published this Tuesday, July 26, may be disappointing to the readers supposedly waiting for it. The story does not flow. The scenes are choppy and not consistent with the original book. What are meant to be twists come across as random curveballs. Ghostwriters team, stop! I read the first Audrina book when I was young in my V.C. Andrews stan days; it was weird back then and the sequel is weird today. The cover is striking though.

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 honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Whitefern
Author: V.C. Andrews
Published: July 2016
Pages: 219
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♡

 

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. 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.

"This is overwhelming. Like my-head-is-gonna-fucking-EXPLODE overwhelming."

~ My Voice: A Memoir by Angie Martinez

 

#KillYourTBR2016 July

• My Voice ~ Finally a memoir by Angie Martinez, the hip-hop legend of radio! I already started reading and it is everything I hoped it would be. It is filled with details of her childhood, career beginnings with Hot 97 and friendships with hip hop artists and culture. 
• If I Did It ~ I never intended to read this "confessions of the killer" book written by O.J. Simpson with exclusive commentary by the Goldman family. But with the famous crime story/trial all over the television these days, I downloaded it on a whim. Why not? 
• Lazaretto ~ With recent events in the news, it seems like the Civil Rights era all over again. Sadly, not much has changed and it is 2016. Lazaretto is a historical novel set in a Philly black community in the aftermath of the Civil War. 

Reading diversely has become popular in the last couple years but I always maintained a diverse selection of books featuring authors and characters of color. I plan to read and review all of the above diverse selections that are For Us, About Us, By Us.

If you are interested in joining this challenge with me, visit Bookish for the deets. Share your progress using #KillYourTBR2016 on social media.

 

When We Collided

I walk into Barnes & Noble retail bookstore and spy an ivory hardcover book with bold writing and multi-colored paint splatters. It is hard to ignore. I make a beeline straight to the shelf it sits on, pick it up and read the blurbs on the back cover.

• "This is more than a love story."
• "Gut-wrenchingly authentic."
• "Filled with raw, descriptive truths."

At this point, I am convinced this is a book I should read. I visited the bookstore to purchase a small stack of books to read on my road trip to Chicago. Nothing too heavy of a plot but definitely interesting and cover-in-public friendly. I didn't expect to pick a book that would stay with me long after my train ride. Oh, what a story When We Collided is!

"With all her professed gratitude, my mom must understand that we're doing her job." ~ pg. 20

Jonah is a 17-year-old forced into being an adult. His father passed away six months ago and his mother is grieving hard. Jonah, along with his two older siblings, help take care of the household and the "littles," his three younger siblings. Certainly not the life a 17-year-old wishes to live.

"You wish for a boy to spend the summer with, and instead life gives you his whole beautiful family." ~ pg. 78

Vivi is a 16-year-old spending her summer in Verona Cove with her mom. The change of scenery is just what she needs after a fallout with friends back home. She wants to forget the reason behind the S-shaped scar on her arm that she covers with bangles. Everyone sees her as this vibrant girl; meanwhile Vivi is trying to accept what bipolar II disorder is to her.

Neither of them expected a summer that would change their teenage lives when they collided. I agree with the blurbs above. When We Collided may be fiction but it holds powerful truths. It is a romance like no other. It is far from a traditional perfect love story. The characters are deeply flawed, messy and complex. The writing is A1. The alternating chapters and points of view, which I usually strongly dislike, flow naturally. The ending triggered real tears; that hardly happens to me!

I could gush about this book forever and a day. Just know that Vivi and Jonah are two young adult fictional characters that will always have a place in my bookish heart; Vivi was indeed here.

Title: When We Collided 

Author: Emery Lord

Published: April 2016

Pages: 344

Edition: Hardcover

Challenge: Popsugar—The First Book I See in a Bookstore

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

Falling

"How could it be anything other than fine?" ~ 89%

Emma was just looking for a place to call home for the next year. She worked in Finance in New York for the last five years and needs at least one year to figure out what life she really wants to live. What happens is far from her expectation.

I related to the main character in that she left the rat race to pursue her dream. We all know that life is amazingly short so time is best spent happy and reading good books. Which leads me to the story itself. Falling fell flat. The writing was fine. The plot was fine. But when it came to developing the characters and wrapping readers up in an unforgettable story...no. I didn't fall in love with the characters or their love story. The twist did not spin me. Falling was just...fine.

Happy Pub Day, Jane Green!

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 honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Falling
Author: Jane Green
Published: July 2016
Pages: 289
Edition: Galley
Challenge: Popsugar—A Book With a Protagonist Who Has My Occupation
Rating: ♥♥♡

 

Series Sunday: 15th Affair

(Women's Murder Club #15) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. 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 15th Affair, the 15th book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. This novel immediately begins with four bodies found in a luxury hotel. Detective Lindsay Boxer is the lead investigator. But when her husband Joe goes missing, she fears he is the suspect. Yes, Joe! Suddenly the case gets more complicated and very personal.

"My lying liar of a husband had lied." ~ pg. 55

When I tell you this is a page-turner, I am not over-exaggerating. Seriously, bookhearts. I borrowed the hardcover from my public library but wanted to read on the go, so I downloaded the eBook too! I have not felt this way toward a Patterson book in a while but it seems I am on a winning streak. Perhaps because 15th Affair hit close to home with one of the main characters. It was more than a mystery. The story went beyond suspense. 15th Affair is a prime example of why James Patterson is a bestselling author.

Title: 15th Affair
Author: James Patterson
Published: May 2016
Pages: 296
Edition: eBook & Hardcover
Challenge: Keeping Up with Patterson
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

Baby Doll

"The pressure to keep her child safe was all consuming." ~ pg. 48

Lily has been held captive for eight years–3,110 days to be exact. Lily was a teenager when she was taken and now a mother locked in a 400-square foot damp, dark basement with her six-year-old daughter Sky. Imagine being held captive during the most impressionable years of your life. Imagine being a young child not knowing the world is so much bigger than the small basement prison you're kept in. But one day, their captor slips up; he leaves the deadbolt unlocked. Lily doesn't hesitate to grab Sky and escape! The real meat and potatoes of the story begins next.

"Her body was officially evidence." ~ pg. 71

Baby Doll is everything I wanted for a Room sequel. The aftermath of being kidnapped and held captive for years. The psychological effect on family and friends. The unknown for the innocent child suddenly introduced to a world outside of four walls. The legal outcome for the man responsible. The adjustment to life post-trauma. Baby Doll addresses it all. Kudos to the author for exploring beyond the tragedy.

So for the bookhearts that loved Room, I am sure you will want to read Baby Doll. For those that like reading well-written women's fiction, add Baby Doll to your TBR. Keep in mind it may be a bit tense for summer light reading. But if you are like me and can read any genre during any time of the year, the many plot twists in Baby Doll is worth reading now.

Happy Pub Day, Hollie Overton! Thanks for not dumping this manuscript.

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 honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Baby Doll
Author: Hollie Overton
Published: July 2016
Pages: 262
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡

 

Sistah Speak Family Reunion

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. 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.

"I would blame myself for what happened. If anyone should have known it would happen, it should have been I, the best and only sweet Audrina."

~ Whitefern by V.C. Andrews

 

Nerve

"Stop. Focus. Think." ~ pg. 9

Are you a watcher or a player? A game called NERVE is basically the classic Truth or Dare, without the truth part. Players win prizes when a dare is completed. People can watch live in-person or online.

Shy, hardworking and loyal Vee is usually the behind-the-scenes girl. With the promise of grand prizes, Vee is suckered into downloading and playing NERVE. She understands, all too late, the players are trained monkeys who will jump through hoops for a banana. Sure it was all fun and games when NERVE was just a phone app and Vee won a limited pair of shoes. Then it turned into a high-stakes deadly dare. As I am read further into this suspenseful novel, I realize it is the 2016 version of Lord of the Flies.

"That's how they get you, baby steps." ~ pg. 154

NERVE is hard to review because I don't want to give spoilers. Just know that I recommend reading it. The level of suspense will keep you flipping the pages. The story is modern and appropriate to today's technology. Everyone uses phone apps! All of my family and friends have been victim to my famous Dummie Missions! Well, NERVE takes the classic Truth or Dare game and puts a dangerous yet rewarding spin to it. While reading I kept thinking, "this shit can happen for real!"

Watch the TV spot above of the movie adaptation of NERVE and visit here for my movie review later this month. Because this I have got to see!

Title: NERVE
Author: Jeanne Ryan
Published: September 2012
Pages: 197
Edition: eBook
Challenge: Bookish Kill Your TBR—Read Adaptations
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

The Perfect Neighbors

"Would they still respect her if they glimpsed her at her lowest moments?" ~ pg. 61

Newport Cove is named one of the top twenty safest neighborhoods in the U.S. and one of the most secret-filled. Its residents are a trip. Kellie just returned to work after a decade of being a stay-at-home mom. Susan promises herself she won't eat any carbs and she will stop stalking her ex-husband. Gigi is fearful her past will be brought to light since her husband is running for Congress. And Tessa is the new neighbor and hiding the biggest secret of all.

Sarah Pekkanen is known for her "conversational writing style" and for creating characters that readers care about. However, I could not find any interest in the characters of The Perfect Neighbors. This suburban neighborhood reminded me of a Desperate Housewives episode. The build-up to secrets had me expecting a major reveal only to be let down by its dull predictability. I have read better from Sarah Pekkanen and recommend her early novels. The supposedly perfect neighbors of Newport Cove just didn't do it for me.

Happy Pub Day, Sarah Pekkanen!

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 honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: The Perfect Neighbors
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Published: July 2016
Pages: 291
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥

 

US vs. UK

The UK is my hometown glory but I live in the US. The US vs. UK bookish meme compares book covers published in the two countries. In honor of Independence Day, enjoy the battle of the book covers below, bookhearts!

US

UK

Today's first comparison is Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett. I prefer the US cover because it is clearly missing letters. Get it? Imagine if letters were gone from words? Imagine, like in the book, if a main character was gone?

Total: US 32, UK 33

US

UK

The second comparison is Night School by Lee Child. The US cover is uber plain. I am nowhere near reading this book in the series but the UK cover certainly grabs my attention first with its men walking down a dark lighted street.

Total: US 32, UK 34

US

UK

The third comparison is First Comes Love by Emily Giffin. I can spot an Emily Giffin anywhere because of her trademark US covers featuring simply a pretty pastel color, her name and the book title. The UK covers usually show a woman or a scene. Unfortunately with the UK covers, they will get lost among other chick lit books so it's a loser here.

Total: US 33, UK 34

Happy Books & BBQ Day! If the covers pique your interest, you may find my reviews by clicking the book title. But for now, which covers do you favour?

 

Series Sunday: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

(Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #1) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. 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.

"He must be a wight." ~ pg. 82

My Series Sunday pick is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, the first book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs.

If it were not for the Bookish reading challenge, I may never have discovered this book before the movie adaptation hit theaters. While browsing lists online and chatting with a tweetheart, I came across the author's name: Ransom Riggs. How cool! I had to check out whatever book this author wrote...just because. Then I discovered it was a series; even better!

I disagree with reviews comparing Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children to a fairy tale or Harry Potter. It is more fiction than tall tale. Yes, there are peculiar parts that stretched my imagination. Yes, the main character runs into eccentricities. But it stands in a category apart from childhood fairy tales and modern fantasies.

I am glad I chose to read the graphic novel edition. Instead of nonstop dialogue, this story is best seen through illustrations. The movie adaptation release date is September 30, 2016, so mark your iCals. The art by Cassandra Jean is neat and helps to visualize the story. I only wish more colors were used instead of mostly gray, black and white. I recommend bookhearts read the graphic novel edition instead of eBook or hardcover. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is the kind of story you have to see to believe. Good enough story to see the adaptation in theaters but no rush to read the rest of series. Stay tuned for my movie review in the fall.

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Published: October 2013
Pages: 272
Edition: Graphic Novel
Challenge: Bookish Kill Your TBR–Read Adaptations
Rating: ♥♥♥

 

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. 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.

"A dead bolt has a very specific sound."

~ Baby Doll by Hollie Overton