Cindy

Meme/Waiting on Wednesday #21 BEA Buzz Book

Posted on May 27, 2015April 13, 2015 by Cindy

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine and its spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly waiting for. I plan on including upcoming releases and books that are already released.

This week I am featuring:

From the acclaimed author of How to Love comes another stunning contemporary novel, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen.

Molly Barlow is facing one long, hot summer—99 days—with the boy whose heart she broke and the boy she broke it for . . . his brother.

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything. She has every right to hate me, of course: I broke Patrick Donnelly’s heart the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe wouldn’t quit till he got me to come to this party, and I’m surprised to find I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.

New York Bound

Posted on May 26, 2015April 28, 2015 by Cindy

I am on my way to New York this morning and I am so excited as you can probably tell.

When I think of NYC Empire State of Mind always comes to mind. Does anyone have that one song that comes to mind when they travel to a city?

Review/ Can’t Look Away

Posted on May 25, 2015March 7, 2015 by Cindy

Can't Look Away by Donna Cooner
Format: Paperback
Published by Scholastic Inc. on August 26th 2014
Pages: 272
Goodreads
Genres: Adolescence, Dating & Sex, Death & Dying, Social Issues, Young Adult

Donna Cooner establishes herself as our own Jodi Picoult in this timely tale of sisters, loss, and redemption. Torrey Grey is famous. At least, on the internet. Thousands of people watch her popular videos on fashion and beauty. But when Torrey's sister is killed in an accident -- maybe because of Torrey and her videos -- Torrey's perfect world implodes. Now, strangers online are bashing Torrey. And at her new school, she doesn't know who to trust. Is queen bee Blair only being sweet because of Torrey's internet infamy? What about Raylene, who is decidedly unpopular, but seems accepts Torrey for who she is? And then there's Luis, with his brooding dark eyes, whose family runs the local funeral home. Torrey finds herself drawn to Luis, and his fascinating stories about El dio de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. As the Day of the Dead draws near, Torrey will have to really look at her own feelings about death, and life, and everything in between. Can she learn to mourn her sister out of the public eye?

This is Donna Cooner’s second book and it was just as good as her first one called Skinny. Which I read and review on my blog and you can read my review by CLICKING ON THIS TEXT.

I didn’t realize she had a second book out until I was going through the Scholastic book club flyers. When I saw it I instantly ordered it. I read it right away. It was a fun quick read.

Torrey Gray is a 15 year old youtube beauty guru with a huge fan base who is dealing with the lose of her sister, Miranda who got hit by a drunk driver.

When you watch youtube stars you think that everything in their life is perfect and that is exactly what they want you to see and Torrey is not exception. She views all her subscribers as online friends and they are there to boost up her confidence and make her feel good.

What once brought joy to Torrey is now her downfall as all the haters are coming out and blaming Torrey for the death of her sister, saying it was her fault.

I am going to admit in the beginning I had a hard time warming up to Torrey because she came off as very vain and wanting to please the fans more then what her sister wants. Miranda had better things to do then be conned into taking photos of her sister at the mall. I am sure when Torrey started out she was humble but I think once those subscriber numbers increase she turned into this whole other person and I have noticed that in watching some youtubers.

In the beginning they are so humble and appreciate what they have but once they start growing its like they forget who they are and its all about getting more viewers and they loose who they truly are.

So I was wondering how this journey of moving to Texas would change Torrey and it was nice to see with some help of a good friend, Luis who helps her see things and helps her come to terms with the death of her sister.

But will Torrey come to terms with the lose of her sister?

Just remember everything you say and do on the internet lives forever.

Welcome BEA Visitors 2015

Posted on May 24, 2015May 25, 2015 by Cindy

Hi Book Expo America 2015 attendees,

Welcome to Cindy’s Love of Books. Perhaps your a blogger, author, PR person or someone I met in line waiting for a drink/food or to meet an author. Perhaps you are a publisher or PR person and I spoke with you at Javits or another event in New York during the week.

However you found me, I’m really glad you did. My name is Cindy and I run Cindy’s Love of Book. You can check out my About Me page to learn all about me and my blog. If you’re interested in a review, check out my review policy. If you’d like to contact me please do so by my emailing me at cindy@cindysloveofbooks(DOT)com or on Twitter @cindyloveofbook.

This is my seven year blogging and I have been loving every minute of it. This will be my fourth time attending BEA.

I look forward to hearing from you wither its to chat, review books or anything else.

To Cindy’s Love of Books readers,

I haven’t forgotten you guys! Cindy’s Love of Books will continue as usual without me. I’ve have reviews and other stuff scheduled to post this week. I will hopefully try to have mini posts from NY and BEA posted nightly if possible although I have to admit I’m not sure I will be able to since I usually try to make the most out of my NYC/BEA trip.

Hopefully I will able to offer little give aways to those who weren’t able to attend BEA this year. I will be looking out for things that I can offer up as give ways to you guys. Any suggestions?

If you need me for anything, you can still contact me through email or Twitter, though it may take me slightly longer than usual to respond.

Have a good week everyone.

#SRC2015 Book Spotlight/ The Grown Ups

Posted on May 22, 2015June 8, 2015 by Cindy

From the author of The Summer We Fell Apart, an evocative and emotionally resonant coming-of-age novel involving three friends that explores what it means to be happy, what it means to grow up, and how difficult it is to do both together.

The summer he’s fifteen, Sam enjoys, for a few secret months, the unexpected attention of Suzie Epstein. For reasons Sam doesn’t entirely understand, he and Suzie keep their budding relationship hidden from their close knit group of friends. But as the summer ends, Sam’s world unexpectedly shatters twice: Suzie’s parents are moving to a new city to save their marriage, and his own mother has suddenly left the house, leaving Sam’s father alone to raise two sons.

Watching as her parents’ marital troubles escalate, Suzie takes on the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers and plans an early escape to college and independence. Though she thinks of Sam, she deeply misses her closest friend Bella, but makes no attempt to reconnect, embarrassed by the destructive wake of her parents as they left the only place Suzie called home. Years later, a chance meeting with Sam’s older brother will reunite her with both Sam and Bella—and force her to confront her past and her friends.

After losing Suzie, Bella finds her first real love in Sam. But Sam’s inability to commit to her or even his own future eventually drives them apart. In contrast, Bella’s old friend Suzie—and Sam’s older brother, Michael—seem to have worked it all out, leaving Bella to wonder where she went wrong.

Spanning over a decade, told in alternating voices, The Grown Ups explores the indelible bonds between friends and family and the challenges that threaten to divide them.

Review/ Courtney Crumrin The Final Spell Vol.6

Posted on May 22, 2015May 16, 2015 by Cindy

Courtney Crumin The Final Spell Series: Courtney Crumrin #6

Format: Hardcover
Published by Oni Press on August 20, 2014
Pages: 152

On the run from the Coven with her former teacher Calpurnia, Courtney Crumrin is quickly learning just how sinister the witches and warlocks of Hillsborough can be - but she never thought she'd see the day when Uncle Aloysius turned on her as well. It's a lot harder to fight a battle when the only family you care about is against you, and Courtney's only salvation may lie in the Twilight Kingdom - and away from the mortal world. But Aloysius won't give up his niece so easily, even if he has to fight the night creatures to do it!

Originally this was suppose to be the final book in the Courtney Crumrin series but I see they did another volume which I am just about to read.

Like the previous books it picks right up where volume 5 ended which I think is really nice. I am sure they could have combined all the comics into one volume or even two but that is just my opinion.

This will be basically a mini review because I don’t want to give to much away. This was a quick read and I really enjoyed this one. Its nice to see how much Courtney has grown from the first volume. She is a cute and spunky girl who takes nothing from no one.

Courtney is reunited with her former teacher Calpurnia and they are on the run from the Coven. It seems like everyone has turned on Courtney even her uncle. It appears like Courtney knows too much and they are trying to get to her and make her forget everything she knows but will she allow that?

In this volume Courtney dominates and lets nothing stand in her way.

This was a fast pace read.

Review/ Courtney Crumrin The Witch Next Door Vol 5

Posted on May 21, 2015May 16, 2015 by Cindy

Courtney Crumrin, Volume 5: The Witch Next Door Series: Courtney Crumrin #5

by Ted Naifeh
Format: Hardcover
Published by Oni Press on May 14th 2014
Pages: 148
Goodreads
Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, General, Young Adult

The first five issues of the full-color Courtney Crumrin comic series are collected for the first time in a special hardcover edition! Holly Hart is new to Hillsborough and witchcraft. When her family moves in next to Courtney, the two girls quickly become friends. But as Courtney watches Holly making the same mistakes she once made, she begins to have second thoughts about teaching the girl magic. And when Holly sees the aftermath of the other children's

One of the good things about getting back into the library is being able to catch up on some graphic novels that I discovered last summer and imagine my surprise when I discovered that the next three volumes of Courtney Crumrin were out. I quickly borrowed them because I wanted to catch up.

The Witch Next Door is volume 5 and they are super quick reads. It picks right up from where volume 4 left off which is really nice.

In this graphic novel a new girl (Holly) moves in and its right across from Courtney’s uncle’s house. Courtney is thrilled to finally have a friend and things are going really good until magic steps in between their friendship. Courtney and Holly get along so well because they both are deemed as outcast and appear to be exactly alike in manner and style of clothing. I think Holly is thrilled to finally have found a friend.

I don’t want to say much more about the book because I can literally give it away. Its a really good read and if your a fan of dark graphic novels then I have to recommend this. It was nice to see how much Courtney has grown emotionally, mentally and magically.