Books Read-2015 – Page 9 – Cindy's Love Of Books

Review/ After We Collided

Posted on March 2, 2015February 25, 2015 by Cindy

After We Collided Series: After Series #2

by Anna Todd
Format: Paperback
Published by Simon and Schuster on November 25th 2014
Pages: 688
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Women, Fiction, General, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Suspense, Thrillers

Book Two of the After series—now newly revised and expanded, Anna Todd’s After fanfiction racked up 1 billion reads online and captivated readers across the globe. Experience the Internet’s most talked-about book for yourself!Tessa has everything to lose. Hardin has nothing to lose…except her. AFTER WE COLLIDED…Life will never be the same. #HESSA After a tumultuous beginning to their relationship, Tessa and Hardin were on the path to making things work. Tessa knew Hardin could be cruel, but when a bombshell revelation is dropped about the origins of their relationship—and Hardin’s mysterious past—Tessa is beside herself. Hardin will always be…Hardin. But is he really the deep, thoughtful guy Tessa fell madly in love with despite his angry exterior—or has he been a stranger all along? She wishes she could walk away. It’s just not that easy. Not with the memory of passionate nights spent in his arms. His electric touch. His hungry kisses. Still, Tessa’s not sure she can endure one more broken promise. She put so much on hold for Hardin—school, friends, her mom, a relationship with a guy who really loved her, and now possibly even a promising new career. She needs to move forward with her life. Hardin knows he made a mistake, possibly the biggest one of his life. He’s not going down without a fight. But can he change? Will he change…for love?

This is the second book in the After series.

I was pretty excited to start this one because I really enjoyed the first one. This is by no means a quick read because this is another book at 671 pages and it took me roughly a week to read it. Although I have to admit at times I really felt like throwing the book out into the snow and just ditching it but I am going to admit that this book was a train wreck waiting to happen and you know you want to stay and watch.

I won’t get into an exact review because this is the second book in the series and I don’t want to spoil it for the ones who are about to read this or are planning on reading this.

The main focus of the book is of course the struggling relationship between Tessa and Hardin with a little mix of Zed thrown in.

I actually started to fall for Zed because yes he is a bad boy but I think deep down we would be a much better choice for Tessa. I think had I been Tessa I would have seriously thrown the towel in and walked away from Hardin. Tessa gives him chance after chance after chance and he still ruins it. He is ruining this poor girls life. Zed is that guy who truly cares about Tessa and I am sure they would have a perfect relationship.

Yes you can tell that I hate Hardin with a passion. He is nothing but a selfish manipulated jerk who things its okay to tell Tessa who she can and cannot speak to, see etc. This boiled my blood because no man should ever tell his girlfriend that and had it been me he would be gone. He knows how to manipulate Tessa and its sad because she is so naive she doesn’t see this. Is she afraid to leave Hardin? Maybe but I know had it been me I would have been gone along time ago there would be no second, third, fourth etc chances. Hardin is a BULLY in my eyes and one that needs to be taken down a few notches.

Now with that being said will I continue on with the third book, After We Fall? More the likely because I want to see where this goes and if Tessa will develop a back bone to stand up for herself and not put up with Hardin’s crap and lies.

I think I might wait to start the third book just to give myself a break from their story.

Have you read this? What do you think?

Review & Blog Tour/ New Uses For Old Boyfriends

Posted on February 16, 2015February 17, 2015 by Cindy

New Uses For Old Boyfriends Series: Black Dog bay #2

by Beth Kendrick
Format: Paperback
Published by Penguin on February 3rd 2015
Pages: 336
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Genres: Contemporary Women, Fiction

After growing up in privilege and marrying into money, Lila Alders has gotten used to the good life. But when her happily-ever-after implodes, Lila must return to Black Dog Bay, the tiny seaside town where she grew up. She’s desperate for a safe haven, but everything has changed over the past ten years. Her family’s fortune is gone—and her mother is in total denial. It’s up to Lila to take care of everything...but she can barely take care of herself.The former golden girl of Black Dog Bay struggles to reinvent herself by opening a vintage clothing boutique. But even as Lila finds new purpose for outdated dresses and tries to reunite with her ex, she realizes that sometimes it’s too late for old dreams. She’s lost everything she thought she needed but found something—someone—she desperately wants. A boy she hardly noticed has grown up into a man she can’t forget...and a second chance has never felt so much like first love.READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

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.

This is the second book in the Black Dog Bay series and I have to admit at first I didn’t realize it until I was reading it and a few characters names popped up that I am like I have seen their names before so I quickly had to check it out and yes this is the second book but let me tell you that you don’t really need to read the first one, Cure For The Common breakup to follow along with this book.

Like I mentioned in my review for Cure For The Common Breakup, I have never read anything by Beth Kendrick before this and I am really interested in reading more because I really enjoy her writing. So I will be checking out her other books very soon.

Lila is the main character in New Uses For Old Boyfriends and she is living the dream life. She is married and is one of the host of a shopping channel. She thinks things are good until her husband divorces her and leaves her with barely anything. She decides to move back home and help her mother out since she recently lost her father.

Lila things that things are good for her mother and that there is enough money to take care of herself and possibly Lila but she quickly realizes thats not the case. Not only is Lila in financial trouble but so is her mother. Lila always thought that her father had everything in control but realizes things weren’t as they seemed and it seems like her mother, Daphne who was once a model in her younger days has a shopping problem and it leaves them no choice but to have to sell the house in order to get out of the red.

Daphne wants nothing to do with that and fights every step of the way and its only when Lila discovers that the situation is more serious then expected. When Lila discovers all the vintage gowns and clothes hidden away she encourages her mother to sell them and once they realize there is a demand they thing that this could be the answer to their financial problems.

Now no book would be complete without a little romance and Lila has her share of it. Her mother has her sights set on Ben an old high school boyfriend that would be the perfect man for Lila. Lila at first thinks she could rekindle that romance but so discovers that Ben has his sights on someone else that he is hoping will work out and will it?

The second man, Malcolm, who she discovers by accident and who I have to say that I actually liked from the moment he was introduced. Back in high school Lila had snubbed him and he remembered it like it was yesterday he slowly chips away at her but will be win her heart?

I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a fun and quick read. The third book is called Put A Ring On It and its out November 2015 and you know I will be reading this when it comes out.

Review/ After

Posted on February 10, 2015February 11, 2015 by Cindy

After Series: After Series #1

by Anna Todd
Format: Paperback
Published by Simon and Schuster on October 21st 2014
Pages: 592
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Women, Fiction, General, New Adult, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Suspense, Thrillers

Now newly revised and expanded, Anna Todd’s After fanfiction racked up 1 billion reads online and captivated readers across the globe. Experience the Internet’s most talked-about book for yourself!There was the time before Tessa met Hardin, and then there’s everything AFTER... Life will never be the same. #HessaTessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way. But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to. But he’s also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before. He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn’t the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper. Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her? Unless…could this be love?

I just recently heard about After by Anna Todd and her series of books and I have to admit I was curious about them so thankfully Chapters had a promotion that I took advantage off and bought three books in the series.

The books in the series are: After We Collided, After We Fell and After Ever Happy (available Feruary 24th)

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I started them and I am going to say that I was pleasantly surprised. In case you didn’t know, Anna had originally wrote this on Wattpad and its fan fiction which I have to admit that this is something new to me. Its inspired by One Directions bad boy Harry Styles. I am not on One Direction fan and have no idea who is in the bad and what they do but I figured why not give it a try. I have been looking for something a little different to read and this was it. I just wonder is the Wattpad version the same thing or is it different? I will need to check that out.

I read this over a course of about a week (582 pages) and I was hooked after a few chapters and thankfully I have book two sitting here waiting to go because I am curious to what happens next in this wild and crazy relationship that Tessa and Hardin have.

The main character Tessa actually rubbed in the wrong way in the first few chapters because she comes off as this goodie two shoes, who is the perfect girl, has the perfect house, has the perfect mother, boyfriend etc…you name it that is what she is. I honestly didn’t think I was going to like her but as the story progresses you realize that she is the way she is because of the way she is brought up.

Now the other main character is Hardin and I am going to admit I had a love/hate/love relationship with him. One minute he is this jerk that you just want to punch in the face and then the next you love him until he opens is mouth again and then I wanted to punch him. I really don’t think I could have stayed with this ticking time bomb because he would have drove me crazy.

Their relationship is like watching a train wreck happening and that makes you want to read the book more to find out because it was always them fighting over something. I do have to admit at times it was just a little much and way Tessa stayed is beyond me.

Tessa is clearly head over heels in love and has given up her family to be with him. Is he worth it? Now is Hardin in love with her? That was going through my mind the whole time because he would be sweet and loving one minute then crazy jealous and flipping out the next. He had to control Tessa and for me I loved when she stood up to him.

Throughout the book I kept saying something is up because this can’t be love for him and then slowly Tessa breaks down the walls and he starts revealing things about his past which make a bit of sense but I still was leary of him and boys was I surprised at the end of the book. I was not expecting that to happen. How will Tessa react? Could that be the straw that breaks the camels back?

Probably not since there are three other books in the series which I am dying to read now.

Have you read the book or heard about it? What did you think?

Review/ Owl Diaries “Eva’s Treetop Festival”

Posted on January 26, 2015January 26, 2015 by Cindy

Owl Diaries #1: Eva's Treetop Festival (A Branches Book) Series: Owl Diaries #1

by Rebecca Elliott
Format: Paperback
Published by Scholastic Inc. on January 6th 2015
Pages: 80
Goodreads
Genres: Animals, Birds, Chapter Books, Girls & Women, Readers, Young Adult

This adorable early chapter book series is perfect for young girls who love friendship stories starring animal characters! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow! Eva Wingdale gets in over her head when she offers to organize a spring festival at school. Even with her best friend Lucy's help, there is NO way she will get everything done in time. Will Eva have to ask Sue (a.k.a. Meanie McMeanerson) for help? Or will the festival have to be cancelled? This book is written as Eva's diary -- with Rebecca Elliott's owl-dorable full-color illustrations throughout!

This is the first book of the Owl Diary series and one that I am excited to continue. Rebecca is a children’s book author/illustrator and has several picture books under her name. I will need to check them out because they seem like cute books.

I first discovered this book from Becky from her blog Becky’s Book Reviews. You can click on her blog name to read her review of the book.

Seeing anything with Owl in the title got me. I just have to start off by saying that the cover is the cutest.

This book is clearly aimed at children and the younger kids who can read chapter books. I breezed through the book quickly. The book is in a diary format that will make reading for the younger kids easier.

Eva is a busy little owl who sleeps during the day and keeps herself busy at night with school, crafting, handing out with her best friend, Lucy, walking her pet bat and so much more.

I fell in love with Eva right away and how could you not when you share the same likes such as pumpkin, crafting, clothes etc. If I was an owl Eva would so be my bestie.

The idea for a Treetop Festival came via her friend Lucy who was helping her mother plant flowers. Eva thought long and hard about it and came up with a plan and presented it to her teacher Mrs. Featherbottom who loved the idea but only gave Eva a week to pull it together. Can she do it?

I loved how at Eva took everything upon herself and quickly realized that its okay to ask for help. We all do that and try to do it all and its okay to realize that even though we bite of more then we can chew we can ask for help.

Eva’s Treetop Festival is filled with a ton of cute illustrations and each one accompanies the story that is being told. They are all so cute,

Book 2 Eva Sees a Ghost is coming out in a few months. Will I go out and buy it? Of course I will just because its a cute book that I would love to see grow. This would make the perfect book for girls and girls who love owls. I think they would get a kick out of this series.