Book Reviews – Page 6 – Cindy's Love Of Books

Review/ Love And Other Foreign Words Blog Tour

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Cindy

Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan
Format: eARC
Published by Penguin on 2014-05-01
Pages: 336
Goodreads
Genres: Family, Love & Romance, Marriage & Divorce, Siblings, Young Adult

Perfect for fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell, Love and Other Foreign Words is equal parts comedy and coming of age--a whip-smart, big-hearted, laugh-out-loud love story about sisters, friends, and what it means to love at all.

Can anyone be truly herself--or truly in love--in a language that's not her own?

Sixteen-year-old Josie lives her life in translation. She speaks High School, College, Friends, Boyfriends, Break-ups, and even the language of Beautiful Girls. But none of these is her native tongue--the only people who speak that are her best friend Stu and her sister Kate. So when Kate gets engaged to an epically insufferable guy, how can Josie see it as anything but the mistake of a lifetime? Kate is determined to bend Josie to her will for the wedding; Josie is determined to break Kate and her fiancé up. As battles are waged over secrets and semantics, Josie is forced to examine her feelings for the boyfriend who says he loves her, the sister she loves but doesn't always like, and the best friend who hasn't said a word--at least not in a language Josie understands.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Welcome to my first review of the Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge.

This is Erin McCahan’s second book, her debut novel was I Now Pronounce You Someone Else. I never got to read it but I do own it and I think after reading this I really want take I Now Pronounce You Someone Else off my trb to read,

You should know that these two books are not tied together. They are both stand alone’s.

The main character of the book is Josie. She is a almost 16 year old girl who at times is going on 30. She is very smart as she attends high school for half a day and then takes college courses the rest of the day. Josie thinks she knows it all when it comes to the real world and even though she is smart she is not street smart.

I have to say that I really liked Josie through out the book because she was this regular smart girl who knew it all and she could dish it out and spoke her mind. If she didn’t like you she let you know and I have to say that I really like that about people. She never sugar coated anything.

I loved how close the family was with each other. Their interactions with each other. You can see that they are a loving family although I think Josie worries more about her interactions with her sisters husbands/boyfriends more then she should.

When her sister Kate brings Geoff home to meet the family, Josie instantly hates him and wonders what her sister sees in this guy. I have to say when he was introduced I hated him with a passion and honestly I did throughout the book. I never did like him. I thought he was a little too cocky and know it all at times. I mean who goes to someone’s house and tells them they use to much basil in their sauce? No one that I know. I also think what he would say to Josie were a little hurtful (saying she has no friends) and what was with the wink he would always give her? That was a little creepy for me.

Josie tries to get her sister Kate to break up with him because she thinks he is no good and I have to say I think I would have probably have said the same thing. As Kate is getting ready to get married she turns into bridezilla and I started to really dislike her. I can understand the stress of arranging a wedding as its alot of work but some of the things she said to Josie were a little mean as you will find out when you read the book.

Will Josie be able to break up Kate and Geoff?

Throughout the course of the book you can see Josie trying to find a love of her own and she does actually see a guy in the book but ends up breaking up with him because she knows she will never love him and I thought that was so admirable of her, then she starts crushing on Ethan her instructor at collage, and then a shocker comes in the form of Stu a long time friend and neighbor of hers. Stu is just like Josie very smart and knows what he wants and won’t settle for anything less.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I will probably end up picking up a copy at some point to reread again.

Review / Maggie Malone & The Mostly Magical Boots

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Cindy

Maggie Malone and the Mostly Magical Boots by Carolyn EvansJenna McCarthy
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. on 2014-05-06
Pages: 224
Goodreads
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Young Adult

If you could be anyone—who would you choose?

Sixth grader Maggie Malone is having her worst birthday ever. She's the new girl at Pinkerton Middle School where she has zero friends. And her favorite gift-giving aunt sent her a pair of boring, brown, hand-me-down boots. (Yeah, those'll make her popular.)

Maggie wishes her life could be more like tween pop sensation Becca Starr's. BAM! When Maggie looks around there's no ball gown or handsome prince—just a bright spotlight...and twenty thousand screaming fans. It turns out Maggie's boots are more than a little magical.

And now she gets to spend a day in the life of anyone she chooses... Be careful what you wish for...

When I read the synopsis of this book I knew I wanted to read this. Its a light and fun read.

These are two new to me authors and I have to say I really enjoyed reading the book and look forward to perhaps having more Maggie Malone in the future.

Growing up I am sure at some point you wished you could live in someone else’s shoes, right? I know I sure did and plenty of times at that and honestly even as an adult I sometimes wish I could do it.

Who would you want to be for a day?

Maggie is a 6th grade girl who basically has everything she could ever want until her dad loses his job forcing Maggie to give up the world she has known of attending private school, her friends and more. The worst part is that its mid year so Maggie is being forced to attend public school.

To top all that off Maggie will be turning 12 very soon and her favorite aunt, Auntie Fi, who always gives the best gifts sends Maggie a pair of old beat up brown cowboy boots. Maggie is truly disappointed and wonders if things could get any worse for her?

Auntie Fi has included a letter about the boots and it was after I read that, that I had to read more. I needed to know what these boots could do and how it would impact Maggie’s life.

These old beat up brown cowboy boots are going to change Maggie’s life and the way she looks at things. You will be in for one funny adventure as you read along. I highly recommend this book. Its a fun read. I am sure girls 12 and up would get a kick out of reading this.

Review & Giveaway / Spun Blog Tour

Posted on May 3, 2014May 5, 2014 by Cindy

Spun by Catherine McKenzie
Format: eARC
Published by HarperCollins Canada on 2014-04-29
Pages: 150
Goodreads
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, General, Romance

In this funny and touching novella, bestselling author Catherine McKenzie returns to the story of Amber Sheppard, It Girl and celebrity train wreck from McKenzie’s reader-favourite novel, Spin.

Life has been rough for starlet Amber since leaving rehab. She’s been two years sober, but no one seems to believe her -- not the gossip media, not casting agents, and most certainly not her spotlight-loving parents. With her friendships ruined by betrayal and her career at a standstill, Amber’s just trying to get her life back on track. It doesn’t help that her former love, movie star Connor Parks, keeps trying to draw Amber back in, not just to their relationship but to his hard-partying ways.

One fateful night, Amber breaks down and agrees to join him on board his private jet as it readies for take-off -- a decision that will change her life forever and expose her to a whole new level of scrutiny and heartbreak.

“Short, sharp, sophisticated, you'll want to read it all in one breath. Spun is the next best thing, and should vault Catherine McKenzie to the top of the charts again, right where she belongs.”—Gwendolen Gross, bestselling author of When She Was Gone

“I’ve loved everything Catherine McKenzie has ever written, but this one tops them all. The voice is lively, the dialogue is snappy, and the pace is perfect. Spun is a story I’ll read over and over.”—Tracey Garvis Graves, New York Times bestselling author of On the Island and Covet

“For anyone who read Spin and wondered, ‘What happened next?’ Spun is a short story that is long on compelling, believable drama. An arresting tale that pits impulse against intellect and desire against need, Spun explores the importance of caring as much about tomorrow as today. Its suspenseful conclusion will make your hold your breath through the very end. I loved it.”—Therese Walsh, author of The Moon Sisters and The Last Will of Moira Leahy

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I was recently contacted by Catherine McKenzie to see if I would like to review her newest book/ novelle Spun and you didn’t have to twist my arm or ask me twice because as soon as I got the email I wrote back with a yes please.

The first book was Spin and I loved it and when it ended I was left wondering about the Amber, Katie, and Connor so it was nice to see that Catherine had written this novelle to sort of bring a little update on them.

I won’t get into Spin but if you want to know what I thought you can click HERE and it will take you to my review.

Spun is told in Amber’s point of view. It was really nice to hear Amber’s side. Amber has completed two years of rehab and she is very proud of herself for what she has managed to accomplish. Its been hard for her because at every turn there is someone who is trying to put her down and not believe her. I mean she says she is clean and sober but when you see someone stumbling around you have to wonder, right?

Even though Amber has moved on with her life and is trying to get her life back on track, she is still drawn to Connor, who she realizes is toxic to her recovery. You can see she wants to be with him and wants him to get help. She drops everything to rush to him when he calls her. Little does she realize that this will be the last time she sees him.

When she hears the news she is upset wondering if she had stayed could things have been different? Its a tough call to make and one that I think she regrets making. Would you be able to stay or would you walk away?

Since its such a quick read I don’t want to give away too much but if you loved and enjoyed Spin then I highly recommend you pick this up to read.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review/ The Offering

Posted on April 22, 2014April 22, 2014 by Cindy

The Offering Series: The Pledge #3

by Kimberly Derting
Format: ARC
Published by Simon and Schuster on 2013-12-31
Pages: 304
Goodreads
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Girls & Women, Love & Romance, Young Adult

True love-and world war-is at stake in the conclusion to The Pledge trilogy, a dark and romantic blend of dystopia and fantasy.

Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She's done admirable work to restore Ludania's broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she's mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks.

When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom.

But things aren't always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap-one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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The Offering is the last book in the Pledge trilogy. The other books in the triology are The Pledge and The Essence .

I am really looking forward to starting Kimberly Derting’s other books The Body Finder Series (The Body Finder, Desires of the Dead, The Last Echo & Dead Silence) and she has started a new trilogy called The Taking. Which sounds really good. Have you read any of Kimberly’s books?

With this being the last book in the series I am going to try and avoid going into too much detail about the book. I will say that I really enjoyed and I loved the characters and the story line. I was sad to see it end but happy with the way it ended.

I loved watching Queen Charlaina of Ludania grow. She started out the first book as a vendor girl with probably no expectations of ever becoming a queen although I wonder if she ever dreamed of becoming a queen? When she became queen she didn’t let it all go to her head and I loved that about her. She was looking out for the best interests of her and her queendom.

She wanted the Queendoms to have peace and get along but Queen Elena made sure that wouldn’t happen and she tried everything in her power to make sure that would happen. Queen Charlaina will do anything to protect her Queendom, her family and friends even if that means sacrificing herself.

The Offering was were Queen Charlaina shined in my opinion. She has grown up alot since The Essence. She is a strong character that knows within herself she can think for herself and can fight. She manages to push the essence of Sabara and she can keep her at bay even though you can tell Sabara is fighting to win.

There will be some shockers in the book that you won’t expect as I was but it was nice to see things all come together. There was no loose strings lying around.

I really enjoyed the series and happy that I finally got to read the books that I had sitting on my shelves since the first book came out.

I have to say that I absolutely loved the covers for the books.

Did you read this series? What did you think of them?

Review/ Seduced By The Game

Posted on April 17, 2014April 17, 2014 by Cindy

Seduced By The Game Format: eBook
on April 4, 2014
Pages: 460
Goodreads

It’s time to drop the gloves and fight! Support the Fight against cancer that is. This anthology of 8 novellas is hot enough to melt the ice these players skate on. Featuring spell-binding novels from popular New York Times & USA Today, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble bestselling authors, including Toni Aleo, Cassandra Carr with Cindy Carr, Jami Davenport, Catherine Gayle, Jaymee Jacobs, V.L. Locey, Bianca Sommerland, & Nikki Worrell.

Bianca Sommerland BLIND PASS (The Dartmouth Cobras 0.5)
Nothing could stop Tim Rowe, the assistant coach of the Dartmouth Cobras, from falling in love with Madeline, but love alone can’t satisfy every need. Sometimes, to reach the goal, you have to take the chance with a . . . Blind Pass.

Jami Davenport CRASHING THE BOARDS (Seattle Sockeyes 1.5)
Professional party crasher, Izzy Maxwell, needs the cooperation of reluctant party guest Cooper Black, the team captain of Seattle’s new hockey team, but Cooper can’t get past his anger over the team’s relocation to Seattle. Can Izzy melt Cooper’s frozen heart or will this party crash along with her fledgling business?

Cassandra Carr and Cindy Carr HOOKING HANNAH
When Hannah attends the NHL All-Star game, she doesn't expect a hockey player of all people to turn her world upside down. Her sister is married to a player and Hannah never wanted that life. But Scott could change everything. For Scott's part, he has to know the woman who stirred his blood with just a look, and once he does, he realizes he wants Hannah to be his forever. Now to convince her...

Catherine Gayle TAKING A SHOT (Portland Storm 2.5)
Katie Weber has had a crush on Jamie Babcock for almost two years, since he joined her father’s NHL team, the Portland Storm as an eighteen-year-old rookie. When cancer takes her health, her hair, and even her friends, she can’t bear to go to senior prom…until Jamie intervenes.

Toni Aleo - Tangled in the Laces (The Assassins series: Prequel to Laces and Lace)
In Tangled in the Laces, Karson King is on the fast track to the NHL. Lacey Martin is coming back from a hard fight against cancer and is terrified of him but the attraction is too much to ignore. Soon their love is so intense, neither of them see the rest of their lives without the other. Will Karson prove that he will protect her heart at all costs, or will he leave Laceyto pick up the pieces of her life once again?

V.L. Locey - Heir Apparent
Superstar Cam Evans is fighting to climb out of a slump that`s growing worse with each day of living in denial. Fresh from the minors, Jacobi Neal is hungry for this chance to play back-up for the legendary goalie. Can two men battle each other, their inner demons, and the sizzling attraction building between them?

Jaymee Jacobs, A VALUABLE TRADE
Bryan's life gets turned upside when he gets traded to the Dallas Comets, and things get even messier when he meets Georgiana, the Director of Team Services. He's got a lot of work to do to prove his worth to his new team, but Georgiana's sure he'll prove to be a valuable trade.

Nikki Worrell – Captain, My Captain (Prequel to the NHL Scorpions Series)
Keith Lambert is the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers—until he’s not. To everyone’s shock, he’s traded to the San Diego Scorpions. As if that’s not bad enough, Phoebe, his girlfriend of two years, decides she doesn’t love him enough to follow.

All alone in a new town, Keith is drawn to Kelly, his take out delivery girl. When she shows up at ice girl tryouts, he’s lost. She’s all he can see. Can he convince her to forget her past and take a chance on him or is he destined to be alone in a new town a little bit longer?

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Seduced By The Game is a collection of eight novellas written about one of my favorite things, HOCKEY. I should mention that proceeds from the sell of this book are going towards the fight of cancer.

Before getting this book to review I had no clue that their was actually anything written like this, hockey romances is a whole other genre of books. You are probably saying Cindy you are a hockey fan and you live in Canada how did you not know about this? Well I am actually saying this and I think my only defence would be that I don’t read alot of romance books so I am not normally in that section but let me tell you after reading this book I am making it a mission to go and and search for these books.

After reading the eight novellas I have to say that I think I might have a new interest. The authors in the book are all new to me and I have never read anything of theirs so that was something nice.

One thing I was worried about going into this was that each of these stories are either prequels to books, parts of a series etc and I was worried that I would be lost in reading but I am happy to say that each story is written so that you can follow along like you are just reading a new story.

I’m not quite sure how I want to go about this review without making it super long and giving away the story so I think I will just briefly talk about each book.

The first story is Toni Aleo’s TANGLED IN THE LACES (The Assassins series: Prequel to Laces and Lace coming out in 2015). The book is about Lacey Martin and she has survived breast cancer and Karson King who just happens to be a perspective first-round draft pick hockey player. This is the prequel to the novel Laces and Lace.

The next story is Cassandra Carr’s and Cindy Carr’s HOOKING HANNAH. This is a mother and daughter duo writing this. Hannah doesn’t think very highly of hockey players. Her sister is married to a hockey player and she has sworn she doesn’t want to live that life. In walks Scott Richards and he makes it his mission to change her mind on them. Will Scott be able to change Hannah’s mind?

The third story is Jami Davenport CRASHING THE BOARDS (Seattle Sockeyes 1.5). This is about the hockey team The Giants. They have been sold and the team is being relocated to Seattle. The team captain, Cooper Black and his team mates aren’t very happy about this move and honestly who can blame them. Its probably not fun to pack and move to another place. The management behind The Giants take it upon themselves to hire a professional party crasher, Izzy to come in and crash the welcome party for the team. Did you know that there was such a thing as a professsional party crasher? I actually liked this story because this was one that I felt probably does happen in real life.

The fourth story by Catherine Gayle TAKING A SHOT (Portland Storm 2.5) is about Eighteen-year-old, Katie Weber. Katie is suffering from leukemia and she is sadly losing the battle. Katie’s dads team the Portland Storm has a player, Jamie Babcock that Katie likes and little does she know he likes her to. Everyone knows that Katie, is losing the battle and thanks to Jamie’s team mates they talk him into asking Katie to her prom because they think that this will give her something to live for . This was one of the saddest stories in the book and yes I did cry. This was one of my favorites in the book.

The fifth story is by V.L. Locey HEIR APPARENT. When Jacobi Neal, who is an up and coming goal has the chance to play with Cam Evans who is the teams goalie. Cam is Jacobi’s childhood idol. So being able to interact with him makes for a great story. I was curious about this one because I always wondered what it would be like to hang out with my childhood idol.

The sixth story is by Jaymee Jacobs, A VALUABLE TRADE. When Bryan Comstock discovers he is being traded to the Dallas Comets, he is not very happy about this. I am sure hockey players are never happy when they get traded because they have built relationships with team mates and now they have to walk in as the new guy. Thankfully the Director of Team Services for the Dallas Comets, Georgiana Pierson will do everything in her power to make the transition a smooth one for him.

The seventh story is by Bianca Sommerland called the BLIND PASS (The Dartmouth Cobras 0.5) The assistant coach Tim is falling in love with Madeline. What do you do when love is just not enough?

The final story is by Nikki Worrell – CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN (Prequel to Scorpions Series). This is about team captain Keith Lambert of the Flyers. Everyone is shocked when they hear that he is being traded to the San Diego Scorpions. Adding to the shock of having to pack up and move, Keith’s girlfriend of two years, Phoebe lets him know that she doesn’t love him enough to make the move with him. Keith ends up alone in a new town and I honestly can say I know how that feels so I felt for him. Its not until Kelly walks into his life that he thinks things can turn around. He works hard on trying to change her mind, can he?

You can check out the rest of the tour stops by going here http://www.seducedbythegame.com/blog-tour.html

Review/Stained

Posted on April 2, 2014April 21, 2014 by Cindy

Stained Series: Stained Series #1

by Ella James
Format: eBook
on 2012-08-16
Pages: 244
Goodreads

BOOK ONE IN THE BESTSELLING STAINED SERIES:

Seventeen-year-old Julia is finally living the good life. She's traded a hard cot in a Memphis orphanage for her very own room in a perfect little house, on a perfect little street, with a perfect set of parents who picked her to be their daughter.

But Julia is hiding a secret - and one fall night, she returns home from a friend's house to find that her secret has found her. Her 'forever home' is ashes. Her parents are dead. And, in the sky above the flames, a winged creature hunts her.

The Nephilim King, Samyaza, has taken everything from Cayne. After struggling in the darkness for years to piece together his shattered life, Cayne is finally ready to confront his past and avenge the loss of everything he loved. He tracks Samyaza to a Memphis warehouse, where he winds up flat on his back, in the healing hands of a beautiful, dark-haired girl he doesn't need to know.

Unbeknownst to either of them, they are already bound. Cayne's past holds the answers to Julia's future. But what will pose the greatest threat to her? The bounty placed on her head by the leaders of two Celestial realms, or giving her heart to a man who is bound, by birth, to break it?

- STAINED BOOKS TWO AND THREE LISTED IN AMAZON'S TOP 100 YA EBOOKS OF 2012.

-NOMINATED BEST DEBUT NOVEL AT UTOPYA CONVENTION 2012.

-NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 10 YA ROMANCE BOOKS OF 2011.

-WINNER OF THE FLAMINGNET TOP CHOICE AWARD.

-CAYNE NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 10 BEST BOOK BOYFRIENDS OF 2011.

-FEATURED ON NUMEROUS AMAZON BESTSELLER LISTS.

-FIRST IN A COMPLETED SERIES OF FOUR (INCLUDING STOLEN, CHOSEN, AND EXALTED).

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I was recently introduced to Ella James and her books. So when I was asked if I wanted to review this one I quickly jumped at the chance to do it because the book sounded really good and it was something different from what I have read in the past.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book and didn’t realize that it would be a book that I would literally have to fight with to put down. This book was none stop action from the get go. So if these kinds of books appeal to you then you have to pick this up to read.

Stained in a young adult paranormal book.

Stained opens up with Julia discovering that her foster parents house is on fire. She quickly leaves the scene. She had snuck out to be with a friend. Before leaving Julia realizes that no one will be getting out alive. To her shock and confussion Julia sees a demon (Angel of Death) above the house.

Julia has no idea what is going on. Who is this demon? Was she suppose to be in the house at the time of the fire?

During this time I have to say I was a little confused because nothing was really talked about in regards to Julia and her living with this family or even how long she was living there. Slowly we discover more about Julia.

The reason why Julia has run from the house is because she doesn’t want to return to foster care so I think she was in the system for quite awhile.

After her running she spends the night in an abandoned warehouse. Thinking that she will be safe there until she is awaken by a crashing sound and a very cute guy (Cayne) is fighting the demon from the night before. At this point I was curious to who these guys were and how Julia would play into the situation.

The demon is out to hurt this guy and he leaves him almost at death’s door. Enter Julia who tries to save this guy and this is where the book gets interesting. Can she save this mysterious guy? Who is this demon and what does he want with Julia?

We don’t really get the answers in the first book so hopefully in Stolen we will find out.

I loved Julia and Cayne and can’t wait to see this storyline develop and to find out why the Angel of Death wants her dead.

The other books in the series are:

Book 2 Stolen
Book 3 Chosen
Book 4 Exalted

The above books are already available to buy in the Kindle store