Monday, May 18, 2015

Never Never Continues On

The amazing literary writings of Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher have once again released a new novella, the second installment for Never Never, Part 2.  




Again with this book, I tend to be in the minority in thinking it's just mind-blowingly amazing. I mean, it's good.  I liked it, I really did.  But this was basically just the middle part of a mysterious story that still didn't really give me, the reader, any new information into what in the heck is happening with Silas and Charlie.  In fact, it left me with MORE questions, like, why the heck was Charlie back at her old house and what was happening to her there?

This book was very short, much like the first, and I understand the reasoning behind it with contractual obligations, blah blah blah.  It was still a looong wait for such a short little snippet of a story, in my opinion.


It feels as though Silas and Charlie are really prepared this time though, so I am really and sincerely hoping that they start to really unravel the mystery of what's happening to them in the last book.  I'm also hopeful that it is as good as I want it to be.  C'mon Colleen & Tarryn, don't let me down!  Seriously.  Because if you do, I might cut ya!

A Little Abstract

A few months ago I read and reviewed new author B.L. Berry's debut novel, Love Nouveau. The story totally left me thinking, "whaaat?" because it just left me hanging there.  The good news, the author told me, was that there was going to be a second installment to help wrap up the story.  So I've been waiting...and waiting...and anxiously waiting for Berry's second release, Love Abstract.  

I received an ARC of Love Abstract this past weekend for an honest review, and since it was released to the public today, I had to put in some overtime in reading to finish it quickly.  That really wasn't a problem since I was so excited to read it.

This book picks up where the other one ends, right after Ivy and Phoenix move to New York together.  They're in mushy, they're gushy, they're totally in love.  In fact, the dialogue in some spots got a bit stale because it just kept repeating the same things over and over;  they love each other, they were made for each other, he/she is "the one." As the story progresses though, we discover that although Phoenix has this desperate need for Ivy to trust him, he's not being entirely honest with her.  He feels bad and guilty for not telling her what he's realized, and anguishes over it several time, yet still fails to tell her.  One drunken night, when Ivy finds out the truth, we are catapulted into will she-won't she forgive him.  Were they truly made for each other as they professed?

I was a bit bothered by the fact that these two main characters prattle on repeatedly about how they are just absolutely in love and nothing will stand between them and then when something gets tough, Ivy runs.  I get that it's sort of one of her flaws as a character, she runs because she doesn't know what to do but it makes her seem sort of shallow and weak when I originally thought she was this strong character.  On the flip side, I see WHY she was so hurt when Phoenix's "secret" is finally out.  I never would've guessed that...well, until Hailey (Phoenix's ex) stopped by and alluded to something happening, that is.  What a twist!

I LOVED the addition of the new character Blake.  I'm still unsure if he's not maybe bisexual, but regardless he was a delight.  Despite the fact that he's a bit flamboyant, and extremely outspoken he also has a lot of sage wisdom to give out.  I really enjoyed him and his friendship with both Ivy and Phoenix.

Again, the cover is gorgeous.  I like the pretty watercolor image used, much like on the cover of the first book.

I think that because I fell so in love with the first book, Love Nouveau, that my expectations for this second one might have been too high.  I hate when that happens because it's not necessarily the author's fault; some of the blame goes straight to me because living up to what I expected in my head and heart was probably a near impossible, Herculean task.  I honestly think Berry could've condensed this second novel into half of what it was and simply added it to the first one to make one complete story.  That's just MY opinion though because I felt like this second novel just sort of went on and on a bit.  Don't be mistaken, I still liked it a lot.  I needed that closure and ending for the story.  It was a beautiful love story with lots of surprises...even if it wasn't exactly what I expected.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Cover Reveal!!

THE WAY WE BREAK
Promotional Information


SYNOPSIS

Book Two in the USA Today bestselling Story of Us series.

Live the truth...

The truth about Hallie has torn Houston and Rory apart for a second time. Houston is finally unburdened of the secret his sister confided in him, but now he must deal with the aftermath.

He has vowed to set things right for Rory, and he's determined to get her back. But the destruction left in the wake of Hallie's letter is not the only obstacle he must face. Houston must find a way to win Rory back by showing her their story isn't over yet.

..or live the lie.

In her desperation to move past the anguish of Hallie's secret and Houston’s lies, Rory seeks solace in Liam. When Liam is transferred to another tech company in California, Rory jumps at his invitation to leave Portland, and her broken heart, behind. In California, Rory finds a friend who opens new doors for her in the literary world. But does this new friend have ulterior motives?

The Way We Break is the second book in The Story of Us Series, which follows the tumultuous love story of Rory and Houston. The sequel and final book in the series, The Way We Rise, will be released September 2015.

AUTHOR BIO

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time watching old reruns of Friends and Sex and the City. When she’s not watching reruns, she’s usually enjoying the California sunshine or reading – sometimes both.  

Come chat with her on
You can also follow her blog at http://cassialeo.com to stay up to date on new releases and giveaways.

THE STORY OF US SERIES ON GOODREADS

The Way We Fall (Book One):

The Way We Break (Book Two):

The Way We Rise (Book Three):


THE WAY WE FALL PURCHASE LINKS



Monday, May 11, 2015

Tattle Tale

Last night I finished reading best selling author Harlan Coben's novel Tell No One.  I read this based on the reading challenge that I'm doing this year and I had to read a book that a friend recommended.  So, my dear friend (and fellow book nerd) Lindsay gave me this book and told me that I HAD to read it because she loved it.  Though I don't know that I would say that I too loved it, I did however enjoy it quite a bit.  :)  

This novel is a psychological thriller that tells the tale of a man, Dr. David Beck who loses his wife Elizabeth, the love of his life and childhood sweetheart, to a murder 8 year ago.  It was such a horrific and terrible experience that he still isn't over losing her, despite the fact that he's tried dating a few times and tried to "move on" with his life.  His life, however, is being a pediatric doctor to the poor and he's thrown himself into his work since Elizabeth's death.  Out of nowhere he begins receiving strange messages with information that only she would know about. Suddenly everything he thought he knew is coming unraveled and he is determined to figure out what is happening.  

Coben did a fantastic job in writing a novel where the story is constantly leaving the reader saying, "what?" because of all the twists in the plot.  There are several characters who you think you understand and then he changes it all up on you.  Nothing in this story is what it seems.  Nothing.  It's fast paced and full of action on every page.  The dialogue is humorous and witty so it helps keep the story flowing nicely.  

As I said, I don't that I LOVED this book, but I certainly really enjoyed reading it and am really happy it was recommended to me.  If Coben's other books are similar to this, he may have just found himself a new fan.  


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Author & Book Pimping

Once upon a time I promised this wonderful up and coming author that I would pimp her new release, the second in a series called The Art of Falling. Then I got sick.  Really, really, really sick and I missed the email with the media kit and missed the deadline and all that shtuff.  Then I felt bad...and sad...so I'm hoping that the phrase "it's better late than never" will apply here and all will be forgiven; mostly because I just loved the first book, Love Nouveau.  So, without further ado, I present to you the cover reveal and prologue for the upcoming Love Abstract, by author B. L. Berry.

Things aren't always what they seem. 
And in the light, Sleeping Shadows awaken and truths are exposed.
Love...
I love you.
Of all the lies he ever told me, that is my favorite.
Deceit...
Phoenix isn't who he thinks he is.
He is what he hides.
I know that now.
Lies...
His lies became so real he started to believe them,
deceiving even himself.
His silence lies, too.


The truth won't set you free. It will destroy you.
Love is deceptive like that.




Phoenix


It all started with a little white lie.
A lie of omission, if you want to be technical.
But somewhere along the way, that little white lie turned into a massive, gaping black hole, mercilessly sucking in every facet of my life bit by fucking bit.
I’ve done everything I can to protect Ivy, to keep her out of my screw up. But one day she’s going to find out. And I know I need to tell her before someone else does. I need her to understand. I need her forgiveness. I need her to hear the sincerity in my words, my apology.
I can only hope that Ivy is open-minded and understanding enough to accept my past transgressions as she’s accepted her own. She has to accept me as I accepted her, fuck ups and all, right? 
Ivy knows I’m not myself. I haven’t been myself in what feels like years. She can see the guilt of an unnamed crime written all over my face, but for whatever reason, she chooses not to say anything. Maybe she’s terrified of what the truth will bring?
She should be.
And frankly, so am I.
The demons of my past haunt me every fucking day. I wish things had unfolded differently. I never imagined that one decision could ever bite me in the ass like it has. But I can’t turn back time and rewrite the past without changing the course of my present … my future. The choices I made ultimately led me to her. And she is all that is good in my life …
The one thing going right.
And I won’t give that up without a fight.
The streetlight streaming in through the cracks in the blinds is just enough to illuminate our bedroom. I’ve been awake for hours; my mind racing to all the dark places I hate visiting.
I sit up, careful not to stir Ivy. Her hair cascades across her pillow. She looks so beautiful when she’s asleep. There’s no worry in her face, and she is just at peace with the world. Everything about this woman was created specifically for me. I can watch her for a single moment and easily find one thousand new things I love about her.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve perfected the fine art of quietly escaping our bedroom. I stealthily make my way to the door and slowly turn the handle. I look back over my shoulder and watch her sigh in her sleep. She’s snoring softly, and I just know.
I know that this is it.
She is it.
Most guys would never admit the moment they knew they wanted to marry the love of their life.
Then again, I’m not most guys.
I’m just an asshole. Quite possibly the luckiest asshole in the history of assholes.
And who knows how long my luck will last.
Because today is going to be the day I come clean and tell her what happened.
And this time I mean it. 



About B.L. Berry
B.L. Berry is many things. A New Adult author. A self-proclaimed music whore. A long-course triathlete. A marketing savant. And a full-time working mom. While there are never enough hours in the day, she does the best she can to get things done and hopes for technological advances in human cloning.  

When she’s not hiding behind her computer writing, you can find her spending time with her family or catching up on her favorite TV shows. Rumor has it she’ll sleep when she’s dead.
She is Canadian by birth. Mexican by marriage. Chicagoan by heart. Kansan by choice. Jayhawk purely by common sense.
Residing outside of Kansas City, she lives with her husband, two children and black pug. Each day her family thanks the makers of e-Readers, because without which they would be living amongst stacks and stacks of romance novels. Conversely, each day B.L. Berry thanks the makers of e-Readers for hiding her book-hoarding tendencies.

Twitter: @BLBerryWrites
Instagram: @BLBerryWrites

Love Abstract on Goodreads:

Monday, May 4, 2015

Big Little Lies

The most recent Reading Challenge book I finished was Big Little Lies, by Australian author Liane Moriarty.  I'd never read anything by this author before so I had no idea what to expect upon beginning.  I'm happy to say, however, that I was pleasantly surprised with her witty writing style and clever twists in the plot.

Big Little Lies involves several adults whose children all attend Perriwee School.  We get a view inside the lives of a handful of the families and find out that what they show on the outside isn't necessarily what's really happening inside the walls of their homes.  Nothing is as it seems...or so it seems.  This story actually begins where it ends and then falls back in time to lead up to a crime that is committed. So while you're reading it, you know there's a murder and you know that presumably one of the parents is involved but that's about all you know.  

I love the way this was written too; it's quite interesting in that the story jumps from family to family and then back and forth again to witnesses (other parents and school members) of the crime.  At first it seemed like it would be hard to follow but after getting into the story a bit, it was not difficult at all and really just lent to the overall flow of the story and gossipy nature of the characters.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.  It is no surprise after reading it why it's been on the New York Times Best Seller's list.