Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge – Cindy's Love Of Books

Review/ Serenade By Emily Kiebel

Posted on July 14, 2014July 15, 2014 by Cindy

Serenade by Emily Kiebel
Format: eARC
Published by Spark Press on July 15, 2014
Pages: 358
Goodreads

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 book number 9 in the Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge. I am really enjoying the book selections so far. Its nice that they mixed up the selection so that you reading a mix of genres. Today’s book is a young adult book.

Serenade is Emily’s debut novel. I love discovering new authors. Don’t you?

I have to start off my review by saying that the book begins really slow at first but then gradually builds to where you literally can’t put the book down. That was what happened to me. I took my time reading it in the beginning because I really wanted to read it because it sounds so good and I am happy I stuck with it.

When Lorelei decided that she wanted to leave Colorado to go to Maine to study music at an elite school this caused a rift between Lorelei and her mother Cassandra. Thankfully her father, Andy supported her along the way. I have always wondered why or how a parent could resent their child from pursuing a dream or passion? I don’t think I could every resent my child and it would probably break my heart if we ever got to a point of never speaking.

Things are going good for Lorelei until tragedy strikes. Her father is involved in a car accident on the way to visit her. Things don’t look good and as Lorelei sits with her dad she has an overwhelming urge to sing to him. I can only image what she must sound like.

I think this is where Emily’s love of music comes into play and you can tell she writes from experience and knows what she is talking about.

After Andy dies, Lorelei gets a mysterious letter from Helen who is a great aunt from her mother’s side that she didn’t know about. In the letter Helen invites Lorelei to come visit her at her Massachusetts home. Lorelei decides to take her aunt up on it and goes to visit.

Things are going great with the visit until one night Lorelei in shock to see her aunt Helen, Calliope (Helen’s niece) and Deidre (a distant cousin) emerging from the fog and hovering over the water singing in unison. Lorelei isn’t quite sure what to make of it and questions her aunt. Helen is very open and honest with her and tells her that they are sirens.

What are sirens you ask? Well they are mythological women that will sing to the sailors and lure them to their deaths. I have never read anything like this before so this was one of the reasons I wanted to read and review the book. Have you read any books on sirens before? If so please leave me a comment below so that I can go and check the books out.

Lorelei discovers that she has this ability and that this could possibly be the reason for the rift between her and her mother. The ladies help ease her into this transition and its one that makes her feel uncomfortable in. Will Lorelei be able to control herself? Is there more to this then she realizes?

I am sure this is the first in an upcoming series because I was left with alot of questions and concerns.

Buy the book

Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1sOHlVf

About the author:

Emily Kiebel was raised in Colorado and went on to study classical music and English at Concordia University. She found a love for singing early in life and now sings professionally and directs a local church choir. In her spare time, she can be found exploring the natural beauty of the great outdoors with her beloved dogs, Ginny and Diggory, cooking for friends and family, traveling or dragging her friends along to obscure historical sites. Serenade is her debut novel.

Connect with the author:

Review/ After I Do

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Cindy

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Format: eARC
Published by Simon and Schuster on 2014-07-01
Pages: 352
Goodreads
Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Women, Family Life, Fiction, General, Romance

From the author of Forever, Interrupted—hailed by Sarah Jio as “moving, gorgeous, and at times heart-wrenching”—comes a breathtaking new novel about modern marriage, the depth of family ties, and the year that one remarkable heroine spends exploring both.

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes. Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage.

These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.

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.

Its hard to believe that I am almost half way done with the Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge. This is book number seven of the challenge.

Are you enjoying your summer so far? Reading any good books? Well if your looking for another fun one to read to your pile let me suggest After I Do.

This is my first time hearing and reading Taylor’s books and I have to say that after reading this I am curious about her other book. Have you read it? What do you think?

After I Do is the story of Lauren and Ryan. The beginning of the book gives us some before insight such has how they met, how they feel in love and finally their marriage. Which is really nice because you begin the journey without a million and one questions.

Like in every marriage there is a honeymoon stage where everything is bliss and then bam comes reality so to speak where everything that Lauren and Ryan envisioned turns up side down and happily ever after isn’t always the real world.

With so many people getting married so quickly and then divorcing even faster its sad that they don’t take it more seriously. I think growing up I learned from my grandparents that it will never be easy and you have to work for it. I agree with them. Marriage isn’t easy and I admit at times I am sure we wanted to throw in the towels but we didn’t and we worked through it.

For Lauren and Ryan its almost like divorce isn’t the option and I wish more people would have that kind of mentality. Don’t you agree?

So instead of divorcing right away they agree to spend a year apart from each other with no communication from each other. In hopes that they perhaps could fall back in love with each other.

As I sat and read this book I can honestly say at times I agreed with Lauren and I could relate to what she was going through and her emotions I am sure as married women can relate to them. No marriage is one hundred percent perfect. I was sitting there nodding my head. I have been married for almost 14 years and I love him dearly but I have to admit there is things that really annoy me that make me cringe (such as when he cuts something its like he is sawing wood agh) but would I change anything? No, I agree its not always perfect but hey if he can put up with me then he is a keeper 🙂

Lauren is a strong woman and isn’t afraid to ask for help when needed and she sought advice from friends and family along her journey that at times made her question things. It was nice to see Lauren come out being stronger then when she went in and she learned that she could stand on her own two feet and that it would all be okay.

I could go on and on about the book but all I will say is if you are looking for a little something different to read this summer then I highly suggest this. I am sure this will be a book I will reread again.

Thanks Book Spark for allowing me to be a part of this summer reading challenge.

Review/ The Revealed

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Cindy

The Revealed Book 1 Format: eARC
Published by Spark Press on June 17th, 2014
Pages: 314
Goodreads

Lily Atwood lives in what used to be Washington, D.C. Her father is one of the most powerful men in the world, having been a vital part of rebuilding and reuniting humanity after the war that killed over five billion people. Now he's running to be one of its leaders.

But in the rediscovered peace in this new world, a force has risen. They call themselves The Revealed, an underground rebel organization that has been kidnapping 18-year-olds across the globe without explanation. No one knows why The Revealed is taking these teens, but it's clear something is different about these people. They can set fires with a snap of their fingers and create wind strong enough to throw over a tree with a flick of their wrist. They are unstoppable, and they have targeted 18-year-old Lily as their next victim.

Lily is too close to breaking free from her father's shadow to let The Revealed ruin things, especially her developing relationship with the mysterious Kai Westerfield the son of her father's rival. Lily isn't about to lose her future just when it's starting to look promising. Not without a fight.

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 Jessica Hickam’s debut novel. I have to say that I love the cover. Isn’t it so pretty?

Just a heads up that the book is only coming out in two weeks and I highly suggest you get your hands on it when it does come out because this is another book that is perfect for reading this summer by the pool.

When I set out to look for summer reads my books have to have some romance, some action and adventure and a little mystery so you don’t know what is coming or when its coming and The Revealed hit this on the head. I really enjoyed reading The Revealed. It sucked me in right from the very start.

I should let you know that this is a YA Dystopian book.

The USA has been devasted by a war and close to 5 billion people have been killed. The USA doesn’t look like it use to. States have been destroyed with only a few remaining.

Lily has two things against her, she is the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the world (her father is running for President) who is trying to rebuild and she is 18 years old which means she has been targeted by The Reveals. The Reveals have been formed in the past 5 years and they have been targeting 18 year olds and they are never seen again. The Reveals have spell powers from snapping their fingers to cause fires, to flicking their wrists to cause powerful winds.

Who are these people? Why are the targeting 18 year olds? Where are they going? Will Lily get away before its too late?

Since turning 18 Lily has been confined to her house with no real contact from the outside world. Her parents have locked her in for her own protection but Lily being Lily just wants to live her life and not live in constant fear. So she slowly begins to count the days down until her 19th birthday when she will be safe and sound. Although its hard for her to do when she is being left constant reminders from The Reveal. Lily knows that The Reveals will get to her no matter what and she just wants to live what little life she can before they get her. I mean can you blame her?

My big question was how are they getting those notes to Lily when is she is suppose to be safe and secure in her own house with guards and camera around? Are the notes being left by someone who works for the family? I was always questioning that because really how else are they getting there?

As the story progresses Lily goes through betrayal and loss and she’s not sure who she can trust but through it all Kai who Lily has known when she was younger has become her closest ally. After first I have to say that I didn’t trust him and kept feeling he was up to something. He came off as a bad boy but it was nice to see that relationship progress considering he didn’t like her in the beginning.

I really enjoyed the book and I think this would have been a book I would have picked up on my own because of the cover and I am really thrilled to have discovered a new author. I am excited to read the next book when it comes out.

Review/ The Witch of Belladonna Bay

Posted on June 2, 2014June 3, 2014 by Cindy

The Witch of Belladonna Bay by Suzanne Palmieri
Format: eARC
Published by Macmillan on 2014-05-13
Pages: 368
Goodreads
Genres: Contemporary Women, Family Life, Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Thrillers

It’s the trouble you aren’t expecting that gets you. And it’s all around you, Bronwyn, it’s all around you like the air.…

Bronwyn "BitsyWyn" Whalen hasn’t set eyes on the red dirt of Magnolia Creek, Alabama, for fourteen years—not since her mama died. But with her brother, Patrick, imprisoned for the murder of her childhood best friend, and her eccentric father, Jackson, at his wits’ end while her eleven-year-old niece, Byrd, runs wild, Bronwyn finds herself once again surrounded by ancient magnolia trees and the troubled family she left behind. She becomes immersed in a whirlwind of mystery and magic as she tries to figure out what really happened that fateful night her friend died. And as her bond with Byrd deepens, Bronwyn must face the demons of her past in order to unravel her family’s uncertain future.

In Suzanne Palmieri's thrilling new novel, The Witch of Belladonna Bay, readers will learn if love and magic are enough to bring a broken family back together.

One of the best things about taking part in the Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge is getting the chance to read books you might not normally read and I have to say that this is the case for the third book I am reading for Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge.

When I went to check to see if the author has written any other books I discovered that she has another one called The Witch of Little Italy and it sounds like its another fun read. She also writes under the same Suzanne Hayes and those books sound just as good.

One of the things I really enjoy about this summer reading challenge is getting to read a variety of books and I think that this is going to be a really good summer with some really good books. Are you doing this challenge? Has any books interested you yet?

I really enjoyed reading The Witch of Belladonna Bay as it made for great reading while sitting outside this past weekend.

At the age of 16 Bronywn left behind life as she knew it in Alabama and has never looked back. Bronywn came from a family of wealth and privileged. Also within this family she had a father (Jackson) who was a alcoholic and a mother (Naomi) who was addicted to drugs. We discover that in the story that all the women born into the family are witches.
Fast forward 14 years later Bronywn is now living in New York State (another reason to love the book in my opinion). She is a successful photographer and in a loving relationship with Ben. She has basically tried to forget her past until she gets a call from her father, Jackson asking her to go back to Alabama because her brother, Patrick is being accused of killing her childhood best friend, Charlotte and he is at his wits end with taking care of his grand daughter Byrd who is 11 years old and is running wild.

Bronwyn knows her brother couldn’t have killed Charlotte and sets out to discover the truth of what really happened. Could Patrick really have killed Charlotte?

I really enjoyed reading The Witch of Belladonna Bay and I think if your looking for something to read this summer then I highly recommend this. There was enough going on that wasn’t over the top and it kept you wanting to read what was going to happen next.

Thanks Book Spark for allowing me to be a part of the Summer Reading Challenge and a big thanks to Macmillan for allowing me to read this book.

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.

4th Annual Summer Reading Challenge

Posted on May 5, 2014May 6, 2014 by Cindy

One of the things I love about summer (if Spring ever comes) is the chance to take it easy a little and read as much as I can. Which is usually possible once school finishes (June 23rd).

This is actually the first time I heard about the Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge and that means its my first time as well. Is anyone else taking part? If you are please let me know because I would love to check out your reviews.

I am super excited because I will be reading and reviewing 13 incredible books from now until the end of Auguust. I won’t be telling you what I am reading so you will have to come back and check often to see what books I am reading in this challenge.

The first book I will be reviewing is this one:

I will be reviewing this Tuesday May 13th.

I’m participating in the @booksparks #SRC2014! #Enter to #win a Kindle each week & jump start your #summerreading – http://bit.ly/1fmcmen