Book: The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Author: Emily M. Danforth
Series: No
Number of Pages: 470
Source: My amazing sister

The Basics:When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they’ll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief doesn’t last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship — one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to ‘fix’ her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self — even if she’s not exactly sure who that is.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

My Musings:

The best part about reading are the characters and stories that stick with you, the ones you remember 10 years after you've read them, the ones you mention in random conversations. Not unlike a fond friend from high school that you mention everyone in a while because you loved them, because they were your person. Cameron is like that for me. I miss her. I miss her sarcasm, her doll house, her adventured with Jamie. I miss her.

The writing style is great; it never feels stuffy or awkward, it feels natural and real. Something that's been missing from a lot of books I've been reading lately. Danfroth creates really great character that are easy to fall in love with and relate to. The book is broken up into section one for every new part of her life. The book starts out when she is very young and we, as readers, watch her grow and mature, as she enters high school and eventually is sent of to a boarding school to "fix her". It was definitely was frustrating to see Cam go through all the homophobia and backlash to her sexuality. My heart went out to her and it was sad to see her go through that and be so helpless in those situations. I really hope that she is happy somewhere with a girl she loves.

For me, when I think of Cameron I think of two things:

1. Dollhouse
2. Movies

She is a much more complicated character than this but I loved her little quirks and hobbies and the way they were portrayed because it made her more of a person, a real person, somewhere in the middle of Montana, and that for me is one of the most beautiful parts of this book. The amount of detail in this book is impeccable and I loved that the author took her time to create a world and characters grounded in things everyone can relate to.Seeing her grow up made me more protective of her and even more involved in the story. Safe to say that characterization was on point.

The plot itself is just...it's great. I have laughed with Cameron, I have cried with Cameron. It has been a hard journey for her and I'm so glad that I read this book and went on this journey with her.

Overall this book was great. It's a book I really enjoyed but most importantly it's a story that I'll keep with me. It's beautiful and heartbreaking, its frustrating and satisfying. It's a book I think everyone should read. 

Book Talk: A Bitter Pill to Swallow

Release Date: January 1, 2016
Book: A Bitter Pill to Swallow
Author: Tiffany Gholar
Source: Author (this doesn't compromise my review)

The Basics: On the edge of the Chicago medical district, the Harrison School for Exceptional Youth looks like a castle in a snow globe. Janina has been there since she was ten years old, and now she's fourteen. She feels so safe inside its walls that she's afraid to leave.

Devante's parents bring him there after a tragedy leaves him depressed and suicidal. Even though he's in a different place, he can't escape the memories that come flooding back when he least expects them.

Dr. Gail Thomas comes to work there after quitting her medical residency. Frustrated and on the verge of giving up on her dreams, she sees becoming a counselor as her last chance to put her skills to the test.

When he founded the school, Dr. Lutkin designed its unique environment to be a place that would change the students' lives. He works hard as the keeper of other people's secrets, though he never shares any of his own.

But everything changes late in the winter of 1994 when these four characters' lives intersect in unexpected ways. None of them will ever be the same.

Sooo before I start the review I wanted to let y'all know that Perks will now and forever simply be a book blog blogging about booksih things. I decided to start a new blog called Of Roses and Rebels  to blog about lifestyle things. So go check it out and give me a follow if you want more lifestyle posts from me :) Ok now on to the review...

My Musings:

I remember when I got this book in the mail. I was so excited to open it when I saw the cover and actually held the book I died a little. It took me a while to start reading it and this review is really late seeing as it is June. I had no real expectations for this book which Is probably the best way to approach books just because it's easier to be objective and true to the actual quality of the novel.

It was in my AP Spanish class during a free period that I started this book. I have to say the plot and the basic idea of the novel is amazing. I love that this book deals with mental health and the issues within that world. As a person with an anxiety disorder, I definitely appreciated having characters I could relate to and root for. I also really appreciated the fact that most of the main characters were people of color. That's not something you see in most books which is part of the reason that this book is so special and so amazing. Essentially this follows three people and their relationships and lives. The plot itself is innovative and pretty good. There was no plot holes so it was consistent and innovative. The characters experience so much strife and deal with a lot. I developed a lot of respect for them. I really LOVE that Gholar wrote about these things because it's easy to romanticize mental issues but I really appreciated that she tried to give a more realistic, gritty feel to the novel.

That being said I wasn't a big fan of the writing style or the characterization of the characters. I felt like I couldn't really connect to the characters and I felt like so many moments in the novel were exaggerated or just to cheesy for me. The set up to some of the characters actions took the seriousness out of those moments and made them a little bit cheesy. For instance, the romance for me was just no. While I think the relationship between  Janina and Devante was cute and definitely got better as the book progressed I really didn't like the fact that it was instalovey. I would have preferred seeing them slowly get to know each other rather than just falling in love right away. I definitely would have appreciated their relationships even more.

I really, really wanted to like this book. And I did love it at times. However, I couldn't really get into it and get pass some of the awkward moments and cheesy bits. The book gets better the more you read, but the initial few chapter and beginning middle were a little harder for me.to get through.


My Rating:

Book Talk: This Raging Light

Release Date:
Book: This Raging Light
Author: Estelle Laure
Series: No
Number of Pages: 288
Source: Netgalley (I received this book in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics:Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.

Add it on goodreads 


My Musings:

When I was perusing on netgalley I came across this book and I thought it looked really interesting. Plus I love contemporary novels. To be honest I haven't read a good fantasy novel in a really long time, but that's beside the point. I requested this book not really realizing the buzz surrounding it. I'm so very happy I was able to read this book! It's honestly so good!

Books about heavy topics have to be done well or else they come across cheesy, dramatic, and overdone. The premise of the book is very heavy and dark at times. But the way the author went about it made it realistic and easy to empathize with. I loved the story line. I think it's a story that's important to tell and the way Laure did it was perfect. I kept waiting for some sort of happy ending but there's really not. If anything Lucille's life just kept getting worse. She took blow after blow and I think that instead of overdoing writing, the author allowed the story to unfold simply and without forcing it. That, for me, made it such an amazing read!

The whole theme of the book is too keep fighting even when everything seems to falling apart anyways. The characters each had their own struggles, their own obstacles to overcome and the way they came together to help one another was so inspiring. The characters are beautifully developed and showcased. Lucille's best friend is my favorite even though you really don't get to see her too often. I think that she represents the person we all want to have in our lives; kind hearted, funny, and supportive. Digby is great, for the most part. None of the characters are without flaws and I think that those imperfections only add to the story!

 One of my favorite parts of the book is the way relationships are developed. The parents here lean to much on Lucille and that takes it's toll on her, and leads to this big falling apart moment. But the relationship is not without love, it's just twisted and unbalanced. Lucille's relationship with her sister is my favorite relationship in the book. It's this give and take that is so heartwarming. For the actual romance part of the book, it's a little weird at first but I learned to love it and ultimately ship it!

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this book! It's a beautifully tragic story about strength, love, and life. Whether you like contemporary or not, this book is a must read!

My rating:

Coffee for this book: Okay no coffee today because this book requires something a little more comforting. A  nice cup of lavender tea is perfect for this! Am I the only one who thinks tea just makes everything better?

Book Talk: Pixelated by L.S. Murphy

Release Date: June 30 2015
Book: Pixelated
Author: L.S Murphy
Series: no
Number of Pages: 226
Source: I received an epub from the author (This has no bearing on my review)

 The Basics:
Senior Year.

Middle of nowhere.

What's the new girl to do?


For Piper Marks, the answer is simple. She’s determined to have her photography rock the cover of National Geographic someday, and moving to Clarkton, Iowa for her last year of high school is not going to stop her. Even if her usual subjects have changed from bright lights and skyscrapers to fields, cows…and more fields.


But when photographer at the local paper quits in a huff, she steps into his spot. Her new job keeps Piper busy capturing tackles, and zooming in on first downs and end zone dances, not to mention putting her directly in the path of varsity football star Les Williams IV. Her new friends warn her off, but she can’t resist the pull she feels toward this mysterious country boy. But this small town is keeping a secret, and it’s one that could destroy any chance they have to be together.


It’s up to Piper to decide what to do with the distorted truth. Can she risk exposing her heart? It might be worth it, 'cause Les is about to change her world from black and white to fully saturated color.

My Musings:

So I first received this book over summer break and finally was able to read it over winter break and am now finally reviewing it. The reason I said I would review this book was because I was starting my senior year I could relate with the book a lot better. There are a lot of great qualities about the book that I really enjoyed but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped nor was it as good as I wanted it to be,

First things first: the problems I had with the book. For me it moved slowly at first and didn't really pick up until close to the end of the novel. In fact once it was over I couldn't really believe it was over. The pacing was sporadic and not in a good way. That being said there were parts where I just had to keep reading and find out what happened, but for a large part of the novel I just felt a little bored.  My only real issue with the romance is that it's kinda a  insta-lovey situation. It wasn't a classic case of insta love, but it did start off that way. There were parts of the romance I enjoyed but it was also really cheesy, sometimes the good kind sometimes the bad kind. This novel is really cheesy and it made it really hard to relate to Piper because a lot of things felt fake. It was hard for me to see genuineness in her friends (past and present) and in her school troubles. In fact the only really developed character is Piper. The writing style was good for the most part, the only issue I had and I think is the cause of the cheesiness, is that it feels like it's trying too hard. Like it can't quite capture the teenager of it all so it goes overboard a little.

Now for the things I did like about the novel. It was surprisingly funny. Piper is kind of hilarious and her internal monologues and rants are pretty similar to mine, now that I come to think of it. The humor is spot on and one of my favorite parts of the novel. I also really liked how the author portrayed Piper's family life. Her parents were somewhat realistic, but I think the little plot twist at the end made the characters more likable and respectable. Looking back on it, the parents and family situation were portrayed really well and I think that it was woven into the story line rather well. That being said, while i'm not a big fan of the romance, there were many moments I thought were cute. While the initial start of it was too insta love for me, the relationship did develop in a cute and good way. Lastly, the plot was good, It was developed pretty well despite the slow start. The plot, while centers around the romance, does a good job of incorporating other things.

Overall, the book was decent. It's not my favorite but I did have fun reading it. There were a few issues but if cheesy novels are your thing then this is a good option for you.

My Rating:

Coffee for this book: A dirty chai latte, trust me it's got enough caffeine and enough sweetness to compliment the book.

Book Talk: The Trouble with Destiny

Release Date: December 8,2015
Book:The Trouble with Destiny
Author: Lauren Morrill
Source: Netgalley ( I received this in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics:
It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey...


With her trusty baton and six insanely organized clipboards, drum major Liza Sanders is about to take Destiny by storm—the boat, that is. When Liza discovered that her beloved band was losing funding, she found Destiny, a luxury cruise ship complete with pools, midnight chocolate buffets, and a $25,000 spring break talent show prize.


Liza can’t imagine senior year without the band, and nothing will distract her from achieving victory. She’s therefore not interested when her old camp crush, Lenny, shows up on board, looking shockingly hipster-hot. And she’s especially not interested in Russ, the probably-as-dumb-as-he-is-cute prankster jock whose ex, Demi, happens be Liza’s ex–best friend and leader of the Athenas, a show choir that’s the band’s greatest competition.


But it’s not going to be smooth sailing. After the Destiny breaks down, all of Liza’s best-laid plans start to go awry. Liza likes to think of herself as an expert at almost everything, but when it comes to love, she’s about to find herself lost at sea.

My Musings:

To be quite honest with you I didn't think I was going to like this book. I thought it was going to be a cheesy romance filled with cliches. I don't know why I picked this book to be honest but I did pick it up and I'm happy I did.

Now I wasn't totally wrong about this book being cheesy. It is. Very much so. But please don't let that deter you from reading the book. There's a lot more to it than romance and unrealistic scenarios. The writing style, while not special, creates the  interesting and laugh out loud voice of Liza. I think it was her voice that made it easy to relate to her. She's neurotic, nerdy, and sarcastic. I think the voice of the story is a large part of why I really liked the book.

Furthermore, characterization is pretty good. We get to see Liza go through a lot and she proves to be really strong but oblivious. I love Liza, I feel like if she went to my high school we would be friends. She's very real and you get to see multiple levels. But I feel like she's the only person we get to see on multiple dimensions. Most of her friends serve to help the plot or the smaller issues within the story line. I honestly think that this was the biggest problem with the book and the reason why it felt cheesy. You only got to see one side of most of the characters, which I guess makes sense considering that the plot only really revolves around a few people. However, eventually you get to see different side to Demi, which was predictable but nice to see all the same. I think that because this book is as much character driven as it is plot driven, characterization was focused on Liza.

That being said, I really did enjoy the book. The plot was funny, cute, and most importantly relatable. I actually really liked the plot. I thought it was such an amazing journey. Liza had her eyes set on the prize and honestly I really admired for dedication to the band. I was rooting for Liza the entire time, really hoping that the band would win. Romance, however, was just as important as the money needed to save the band. The romance was cute and all but I wasn't the biggest fan of it. It was predictable and to be honest you say one side of it for the entire novel. Then all of a sudden the other realizes they have feelings for the other. Like I said there were a lot of cute moments and I do ship them, I'm just not the biggest fan of it. As for the band plot, I really liked it. I liked the rivalry, the drama within the band, the way Liza fought for her band. This aspect of the story was on point and I did like how the romance was intertwined with the main part of the plot.

Overall, it was a good book. It was cheesy but the good kind. The romance was cute at times but not my favorite. I did like Liza and I loved how realtable she was. It was a good story if you want a nice fluffy read.

Coffee for this book: Machiato

Book Talk: A Little Something Different

Release Date: August 26, 2014
Book: A Little Something Different
Author: Sandy Hall
Number of Pages: 272
Source: Bookshop

The Basics:The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out. But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship. Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together....

My Musings:

So I've heard nothing but good things about this book. I've heard that it was insanely cute. I was recently made fun of for saying that this book was so cute I could die of cuteness. I mean the amount of fluff and sheer cuteness is too much sometimes lol.

The whole idea of reading about a love story from outside viewpoints is so original and cool, that I was instantly invested in this. In some ways it's like reading a fanfic about your OTP and wanting desperately for them to end up together. The plot was great and even though it was slow moving (because the romance was slow moving) I was never bored. Frustrated, maybe,but I never wanted to put the book down! The writing was amazing as well. Due to the fact that the plot was entirely character driven, and the romance was a painfully slow development, the writing had to be good, and it was. It was funny, cute, deep, and different. I loved the mentions of ships and feels and fangirl vocab. Like I got some serious weird looks because I was laughing out loud in public areas, but trust me when you read this, you'll understand.

You don't really get to understand or delve into the minds of the different characters in the novel, but you do grow to like them, or in some cases tolerate them. Most of the characters save for maybe Hilary, are really relatable people that I would probably hang out with. I just really don't like Hilary, for more reasons than I care to rant about, but she just is so annoying and VAPID. I love all the different viewpoints. I think my favorite were Inga, their creative writing teacher, and Charlotte, the starbucks barista, oh and Victor, their classmate. It's nice to see people who are just part of day to day life learn to ship and root for two complete strangers, even if you don't like them.

Okay the root of this entire book is romance.As cute as this book is it's not that cheesy. There are so many unconventional things about Lea and Gabe that make their shy romance anything but icky cheese. I think being able to see them from outside P.O.V's is such an advantage because you get to see the characters in ways they would never see themselves. You get to see them and their feelings grow through unbiased and biased eyes. Plus these two are so cute that's it's just awesome to meet fellow shippers even if they are fictional people

Overall this is a great book and it's just so worth reading. It's a nice cute read that will definitely make you smile and laugh and fangirl.

My Rating:

Coffee for this Book: A Dirty Chai Latte, you will want coffee to finish this book and have energy to fangirl!

Book Talk: Every Last word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Release Date: June 16, 2015
Book: Every Last Word
Author: Tamara Ireland Stone
Number of pages: 368
Series: No
Source: Netgalley ( I received this in exchange for an HONEST review)

The Basics:If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling. Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist. Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

My Musings:

I have an anxiety disorder. That means I get really nervous in random situations and it means I end up having panic attacks. My mind is generally not a happy place to be. That's true for mops people. We worry, we think too much, we live in dangerous thoughts sometimes. That's why this book fought my attention.  "If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling". Aside from the pretty book cover the summary is so intriguing and, at least for me created a relationship with Sam from the get go. Right off the bat I was excited to read this book and was so happy to get my hands on a copy of it.

Plot wise this books was incredible. At times it was very much character driven, but there were a couple twists that were just bankers. There one at the end that pretty much shattered my soul. This story line is incredible. It had me laughing, and crying, and smiling, and wanting to give the characters hug. Essentially it makes you feel everything a book is supposed to make you feel. This is honestly one of the best books I've read in a while. The plot is very well developed and everything fits together nicely, so to speak. It's realistic and very well written. I love the idea of having a poetry corner and I really wish my school had one. I wish we had a place to escape reality with other people who cared about one another completely and totally. Writing for me is such a cathartic and fun experience that I couldn't help but love the whole premise of words helping someone heal and become who they wanted to be. The story line moves pretty fast and it's such an amazing ride. I honestly couldn't put it down. I'm pretty sure I've even annoyed my family with my refusal to do anything but read.

There were so many small things in this book that helped make me fall in love with it. Like the poems. Caroline Poems made me cry. And I loved being able to find pieces of me in every single one of the poems in the book. I loved the descriptions. I loved how Sydney writes her poems on fast food wrappers. I love how the poetry corner is decorated. I love Shrink Sue. Okay now I'm just fingerling lol

The characters were impeccable. They were so beautiful and flawed and realistic and heartbreaking and just so awesome that I couldn't help but love them. I love Caroline and Sam and AJ and every one in the Poets corner. I loved how it was so easy to hate but understand the "mean girls". They sucked as people but you couldn't help but understand them and understand why Sam didn't want to leave the "crazy eights" or so they were called. One thing that stood out for me, that was extremely important, was how the author made sure to make all the characters real people. They had different sides to them, they had their own voices, they were unique. Sam is more than just her OCD. She's a person and the author never treated her different because of it. Sam has OCD but the author created such a rich, and awesome character that 1)made me feel like we could have been friends, Sam and I and 2) stressed the fact that Sam was more than her mental disorder. AJ is so cute and so dreamy. I love him! Caroline *sigh* I love the girl. The characters are likeable and have you constantly rooting for them. None of them are perfect they have their flaws, they've made mistakes, they all have something and that's what makes them real and likable.

Romance is something that I do like to read about. But I think that it was awesome how romance wasn't the driving point of the entire novel. It was a strong supporting part but it wasn't driving the plot car or was it riding shotgun. It was in the backseat. This helped the characters shine through as well as support the message of the novel.  But I will say that the romance was cute and slow paced and realistic and did I say cute? I loved it and I totally ship Sam and AJ.

People deserve to be around people whole care about them. Life is always going to pushing things in your way, making things hell for you sometimes and you need to learn to be you, and you need to find people who accept you. You need to take care of yourself, and be loud, and take up space, instead of making yourself small for people who don't really care. This book has had an incredible impact on me and I can't even express how much I love this book. So read it!!!!

My Rating:



Book Talk: A Magic Dark and Bright by Jenny Adams Perinovic

Release Date: April 28, 2015
Book: A Magic Dark and Bright
Author: Jenny Adams Perinocvic
Series: Yes
Source: Netgalley ( I received this in exchange for an honest review)
Add it on Goodreads

The Basics:Amelia Dupree hasn’t seen the Woman in White since the night her brother died. The ghost seems to have disappeared from the woods surrounding Asylum, Pennsylvania—that is, until Charlie Blue moves into the creepy old MacAllister House next door. Amelia can’t help liking him, even though she spent her childhood thinking his grandmother was a witch. And she definitely can’t ignore the connection between his arrival and the Woman in White’s return. Then Amelia learns that the Woman in White is a prisoner, trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead. Devastated by the idea that her brother could be suffering a similar fate, Amelia decides to do whatever it takes to help the Woman in White find peace--and Charlie agrees to help her. But when Amelia’s classmates start to drown in the Susquehanna River, one right after another, rumors swirl as people begin to connect the timing of Charlie’s arrival with the unexplained deaths. As Charlie and Amelia uncover the dark history of Asylum, they realize they may have unleashed an unspeakable evil. One they have to stop before everything they love is destroyed 

My Musings:

Can we just say that this cover is absolutely beautiful! I mean come on! Plus the summary is definitely eye catching. I have to say the book wasn't exactly what I expected but I rather enjoyed it. By the time I got around to reading this book I had forgotten why I had picked it up. So I started this book completely unbiased. I enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Okay lets talk plot. It was a pretty good storyline. It was inventive and original. There were a couple of twists and turns throughout the book that added to the complex story line. I will say that there's a few parts you can see coming. While sometimes predictable, the main bulk of the storyline was still really good. I loved the fantasy element that was mixed into the novel. For a while this storyline reads almost like a contemporary novel, it isn't until it progresses that you can see this magical element begin to grow. I think this adds to the drama of it all.Because there is an element of cheesiness in the novel, I do feel like it cheapens some of the magic components of the novel. But only slightly. It's still readable, but it is notably there. But overall I really liked the plot. I loved how the place added to the story. I mean come on the place is CALLED ASYLUM. I loved the creepy factor and the whole ancient family history thing. I thought that it was really cool how everything was connected and helped feed the plot.

Okay now for characters.So I mentioned there was a cheesy factor. It stems from the characters. While I really like them. I love Charlie and Amelia and Leah. They were really solid characters. I wanted to know more about Charlie because without more of a backstory or just more details, he lacks some depth. He comes off as just a good guy with a darkish past. I feel like there's more to Charlie and I look forward to reading the next few books to see where his character arc takes him. Amelia is pretty awesome. Her character was very well developed my only complaint is that there were instances where she came off damsel in distress-y to me and dramatic. Which is why some of the parts of the novel were a bit cheesy for me. Now Leah for me was by far my favorite character. She was this sassy, funny person that I would love to be friends with. She had her moments where she felt a little cheesy and unreal but her character for the most part was pretty awesome;. Now for Ransom. I don't really have much to say about this guy other than creepy. Very creepy from the get-go.

I just realized I started the last two paragraphs with "okay" and was about to start this one with "okay". I need a better transition word. Time for the romance part. Cheesy but cute. It was slow and not rushed which I appreciate, but some scenes for me were cheesy, but were easy to forgive because Amelia and Charlie are just so cute.  Because the plot of the book is so awesome, I really like how the author made the romance take a backseat. I think the romance adds to the plot and I liked that it wasn't overdone or forced into the spotlight.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I think its nice, creepy, but awesome summer read. I definitely recommend it!!

My Rating:

Coffee for this book: A comforting cappuccino 

Book Review: Gates of Thread and Stone

Release Date: August 5, 2014
Book:Gates of Thread and Stone
Author: Lori M. Lee
Number of Pages: 335
Series: Yes

The Basics:In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe. In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her. Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

My Musings:

I hadn't read a good YA fantasy book in a while. I hadn't read a pure fantasy book in a really long time in general. When I got the chance to read this I really wanted to give it a shot. I first heard about this before it came out and I though it sounded interesting so I thought to myself, why not? To be brutally honest, I wasn't expecting much from the book. I thought it would get cheesy fast. I was pleasantly mistaken.

The first sentence of the book draws you in right away. From there on it slowly sinks teeth in you until you've pretty much fallen under it's spell. The writing style is pretty good. Ms. Lee has great descriptions and I loved being inside Kai's head. I was never bored with Kai, angry; maybe, frustrated;probably, rooting for; definitely. The author creates a coarse world, filled with danger and does it well.

OMG THIS PLOT. I could not put this book down. It's insane. There are so many twists and turns right up till the end. I love how action packed this was. This is the first book in a while that made me just fall in love with the story, the plot, the characters, I was enveloped by the horrible things they endured. The heartache forced upon them. I was filled by a need to find out what was going to happen next. Not all of it was twisty and turny. Some of it was just a lot. A lot to take in. I think the plot was really well developed and you'd be surprised at how much little details make a difference in this book. Not only by creating a full storyline, but by actually giving you hints and stuff for the ending. Like every little bit matters. I love that! It's never really slow, but it does pick up a lot towards the middle. Like if you thought the beginning was cray, just wait, this book is going to make you suffer. AND THEN THE ENDING! like what? how is that ending okay? I need to read the next book. I NEED to know how the heck things end up with Avan, Kai, Reev.

Character wise there was some development. Kai definitely grows up, hardens up. Avan stays consistently the same. He doesn't really change much throughout the story. He's a great character, don't get me wrong but the only real changes he goes through are his acceptance of his feelings for Kai, which is GREAT, and a plot twist which i'm not going to spoil here. Reev is a ghost, but a lovable one. He's a good guy it seems like. He cares about Kai. He loves her. They're each other's family and it's endearing seeing them together. It was a more plot driven novel but the character's, their storylines, the things they said, the things they did for themselves and others just makes you want to be friends with them, It was heartwarming to read about people who would be willing to lay down everything they have, lives included, for one another. Especially in a world so dark and cruel as the one they live in. I think it's great that their humanity is ultimately the best part of them.

Romance. Well let me say this it's obvious that Kai and Avan are completely and totally in love with one another. There are cute moments where you ship them with all your heat and soul. There is another guy who enters the picture. It's a cute romance they have, Avan and Kai. I think they're so good for each other. But they're also not the type to just admit they're feelings. Which seems to be the case in every book i've ever read. Anyways. It's cute, not the focal point, but yeah. I don't want to say too much and give away the ending, but I'll say one last thing. They show they're feelings not with words or sounds or syllables, but with actions, touches, and decisions.

Overall GREAT book. So amazing. I was hanging on every dreking word. lol you have to read this book.

My Rating:

Book Talk: Paper Towns by John Green

Release Date:September 22, 2009
Book: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Number of Pages: 305

The Basics:Who is the real Margo? Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew... 

My Musings:

I love John Green. I love the way he writes, I love the way he creates characters, I love everything about his books. This is the third book by him I've read. The first was TFIOS, and that books was amazing. I even wrote a letters to Augustus and Hazel   and made a playlist for Looking for Alaska. So I was expecting to love this book and be totally in love with every aspect of the novel. Maybe my standards were way too high, maybe it's the fact that I had to read this in tiny increments, but I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong the books is AMAZING but I don't feel as strongly about it as I did TFIOS and Looking for Alaska.

The book hooks you in right away. The writing style is amazing. I love how John Green describes things, the thoughts Q has, and how profound he can be as well as funny. There's something nice about reading a book that can make you actually LOL/ I love the sarcasm, the humor, and not surprisingly quotable lines.

The plot was super well developed I think. It starts off pretty fast pace, things happening in every chapter. For the first quarter I guess Margo and Q are pulling pranks and stuff. But then Margo disappears and the whole books slows down. Which I get. I totally get why it slows down. It adds to the fact that Margo was this ball of fire propelling her life and those around her. Similarly her character propelled the book, albeit a lot slower when she disappeared. But I wish it was just a tiny bit faster. There were so many moments when Q was trying to figure out where Margo was, that broke my heart. Like Prom Night. Or when him and his friends go on a car ride near the end of the book. I love how this was both very character driven and very plot driven. We see Q have a new appreciation for people and life, and we see the journey that leads him to his goal: Margo and understanding her. Which he kind of does at the end of the book.  I loved all the intricate little details in the book, like the black Santas and the bloody Ben story. I loved how every little thing in the book, all the hints, and non-hints all tied together at the end.

If there's one thing I think I love most about John Green novels, is that his characters are so heartbreakingly relatable, realistic, and just damn amazing. Q is this nerdy guy who sticks to routine and is pretty much just there in high school. Margo is the beautiful, charismatic, queen bee. Q is also this guy desperately in love with a girl he thinks he doesn't deserve or have a chance with and wants more out of his life. Margo is a broken person, looking for a way to feel happy again. Ben is this sex crazed pretend macho guy that you simultaneously want to laugh with and slap. But then again, most guys are like that. Radar is pretty nerdy and I love him for it. I like Lacy and her girlyness but I will admit she gets a little annoying. All the storylines intertwine really well together and mesh to create a kind of haunting story about a girl wanting to be found when in reality she just needs to find herself. In reality, while I loved all the characters, I only really connected or could relate to, Margo and Q. Which I didn't really mind because it was centered around them, but I was disappointed that I couldn't like the other characters more.

This is the kind of romance that you ship from the get go. Q and Margo. They just work. You desperately hope for Margo to be alive at the end of the book for them to have their moment. This is the romance that makes you giggle with glee as they laugh and do stupid things. I think it's really cute. I love how Q realizes that Margo isn't the girl he pictured but learns to love her anyway. He learns to love her darker gory bits, not just this glorified image that every one seemed to have of her.

Overall it was a great read. I was a little disappointed with how it lost momentum and how I couldn't really relate to the minor characters. But like I said the plot is golden, the character and character development is on point, and the ending was perfect for this book. Not gonna lie I teared up a bit.





Coffee For This Book: A Vienna. It has the perfect amount of espresso to keep you up reading this book, and whip cream on top to help you eat you feeling when this book gets emotionally hard to read. Which it does. 

My Rating

Book Talk: Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Release Date: September 29,2009
Book: Liar
Author: Justine Larbalestier
Number of Pages: 376
Source: Library :)

The Basics: Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly.

Add it on Goodreads

My Musings:

I actually was recommended this book and one day when I was strolling down the aisles at the library I picked it up. My friend was fangirling over the book after she finished it, I was a little weary of the hype she was building around it, but honestly this is such a fangirl worthy book!

I loved the writing style. I loved being reading about Micah and her story. The descriptions were pretty good, the author did an amazing job at making everything come alive. From the characters to the lies.

The plot is amazing, There are turns and spins and the whole time you are just wondering if she's telling the truth. I love reading unreliable narrators, they make things ten times more interesting. Micah in one of the most unreliable narrators ever, which just adds to everything. The story line is well constructed and everything seems to make sense even after you've been blindsided. Like when she tells you why she's a impulsive liar. Or when she gives you the golden little truth nuggets after lying to you for a full chapter. I love not knowing what the real truth was, if Micah was being honest or just weaving an elaborate tale. But once you get to the end, and everything is revealed all her lies make sense. Because for a secret that big, you need an army of lies to protect it. Or is that a lie too?

The character's are rich and well developed. I love Micah's sarcasm and the way she thinks. I literally laughed out loud a lot while reading it. But there were also a lot of worry eyebrow faces and gasps and shocking things that made me both want to give her a hug and punch her. Though i'm pretty sure if we got in a fight I would lose. She loves running, biology, and her boyfriend Zach. I hate running so I respect her running skills, Bio is okay, Zach...well.. Micah finds herself being blamed for Zach's death and people at her school start saying some vile things about her. Even though technically she was never his actual girlfriend. Which kinda made me want to punch Zach because that's such an asshole thing to do. Anyways, this book was amazing! Character development was on point.

Romance wise there isn't really anything to talk about. But as I said before not the biggest fan of Zach but I don't hate the guy. I love Micah and I just want her to be happy. She's been through a lot, had to cover a lot of that up, and still pretend everything was fine even after she discovers/tells us the truth.

This is a MUST READ. It's amazing and I definitely believe that this is a book that everyone should give a shot. Murder, deception, suspense, this all makes this book even crazier and even better.

Coffee for this Book: Americano. You're gonna wanna stay up and finish this book. I promise you a nice big cup of Americano will help you stay up and see the truth and maybe even the crack of dawn.

My Rating:

Book Talk: Since You've Been Gone ARC

Release Date: February 17, 2014
Book: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Mary Jennifer Payne
Pages: 224
Source: Netgalley (I received this book in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics:Is it possible to outrun your past? Fifteen-year-old Edie Fraser and her mother, Sydney, have been trying to do just that for five years. Now, things have gone from bad to worse. Not only has Edie had to move to another new school she's in a different country. Sydney promises her that this is their chance at a fresh start, and Edie does her best to adjust to life in London, England, despite being targeted by the school bully. But when Sydney goes out to work the night shift and doesn't come home, Edie is terrified that the past has finally caught up with them. Alone in a strange country, Edie is afraid to call the police for fear that she ll be sent back to her abusive father. Determined to find her mother, but with no idea where to start, she must now face the most difficult decision of her life." 

Add it on Goodreads 

My Musings:

First I want to say that this is the first book I've read from YA fiction where I am older than the main character. This is a first for me and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. Anyways, I have to say I was somewhat excited to read this book, but the cover and the summary intrigued me so I decided to give it a shot. I tend to shy away from these type of books because I feel like there is a tendency to make it too dramatic and not properly developed. That being said I was pleasantly surprised that I liked this book, but It did let me down in some aspects.

The writing style is very simple. There isn't a lot of description within the novel. Its very much a simplistic way of writing, but in a way I felt like it did serve the book because of how fast pace it was. However because of how fast pace it was, and how simplistic the writing was I felt like I couldn't really connect with the story or the characters which for me, is a pretty fatal flaw. As a result it took me  a while to even begin to get into the story and get involved. I will say that there were several well written moments, like when she goes and see's her dad, or when she first arrives at her new school.

I found the plot to be pretty straight forward but pretty unrealistic and dramatic. The whole point of the novel is for Edie to find her mom and be able to deal with what she finds out. In this aspect itself, it's pretty solid and I enjoyed it. But there were a couple moments that I felt were added just for the sake of adding drama. Like when Jermaine jumps into the water to save a little kid. It didn't really help the plot along. It just elevated the drama. Or how instead of going to the police Edie decides to go look for her mom on her own. Now, if my mom went missing you bet I would call the police. If I really needed to I would look for her myself too. But if you take out these drama filled moments and leave the essential plot, its actually not a bad story line. Aside from that, some moments I felt like the author had it spot on. There's a moment were the author tackles racism and I those moments that unveil that side of humanity were pretty good. I have to say the moments that had more of a real feel, and just fit better into the story line elevated the plot and the overall book.

I didn't really like the characters. That being said, its probably because I didn't really connect with them, and because at times I feel like there were unrealistic. Similar to the plot issues, the characters had moments that didn't seem to make sense. I definitely admire Edie. I think she's a strong character and she's pretty bad ass for the most part. I just had a hard time agreeing with her decisions. I had a hard time being able to empathize with her because I was frustrated with her the majority of the time.
Jermaine I liked. He ends up helping Edie, but the way he decided to help her seemed like a little bit of a stretch. Aside from my initial reservation, Jermaine really grew on me and I did end up liking him. I guess I should emend my earlier statement to I didn't really like the main character.

Overall it was a pretty decent read. It wasn't anything special, and personally the cheesy drama level was a little too high for me. But If you can get over the tiny stretches and the extra ommphness of it all then you should give it a shot!

Coffee for thins book: Some moments can get to be too much, both on the cheesy level and the emotional level. So I recommend a Vanilla Latte Espresso. 

My Rating:

Book Talk: We Should Hang Out Sometime

Release Date: December 23, 2014
Book: We Should Hang Out Sometime
Author: Josh Sundquist
Number of Pages: 336
Source: Netgalley (I received this book in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics:A bright, poignant, and deeply funny autobiographical account of coming of age as an amputee cancer survivor, from Josh Sundquist: Paralympic ski racer, YouTube star, and motivational speaker. Josh Sundquist only ever had one girlfriend. For twenty-three hours. In eighth grade. Why was Josh still single? To find out, he tracked down the girls he had tried to date and asked them straight up: What went wrong? The results of Josh's semiscientific, wholly hilarious investigation are captured here. From a disastrous Putt-Putt date involving a backward prosthetic foot, to his introduction to CFD (Close Fast Dancing), to a misguided "grand gesture" at a Miss America pageant, this story is about looking for love--or at least a girlfriend--in all the wrong places.

My Musings:

Alright I have to say I was waiting for this book to come out. It was on one of my Waiting on Wednesday posts and it's also the first WoW book that I've actually read. So needless to say I was really excited when I received this book! Also how cute is this cover? Like so cute right? Anyways lets get to the actual review.

Book Talk: The 100 by Kass Morgan

Release Date: September 3, 2013
Book: The 100
Author: Kass Morgan
Number of Pages: 323
Source: Netgalley (I received this in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics:In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again

My Musings,

Okay so I LOVE the show. I love the characters, the changing dynamics and relationships, the plot, the story line. Everything. I really wanted to read the book just because I wanted to see what it was like, how it compared to the show. Plus I heard that there was a lot of #bellarke, I ship them so hard. So I read the book with a pretty open mind and I actually really like it.

The writing style isn't really anything special. There aren't incredibly fancy sentences conveying a deep rooted emotion. But it's perfect for this book. The plot is different from the show, but it's good. It surprised me and took me on a journey that I enjoyed. I liked the originality of the story line and the twists and turns it takes. It's not as crazy as the show, but it's pretty good. I love how it was told in different view points. You get to see what Clarke is thinking, what Bellamy is thinking, what Glass is thinking. But because of this changing view point the story line does lag a little bit. It takes a while for things to happen because each character gets a say in what they think, which I actually kind of liked. My mind was a little poisoned by the show because I kept waiting for different things, some happened fast, others didn't come until the end of the book.

The characters are well written, I was able to connect with the characters. They felt real to me. I love Bellamy's character. He is strong and capable and you see him grow in the book. You get to see more of the back story for each of the characters which intensifies the relationship a reader feels with characters in the book. I really felt for Bellamy and Octavia. I wanted to give Well's a hug and then punch him. I wanted to give Clarke advice. That was a big plus in the book. There are different characters in the book than in the show, but you grow to love those two. I honestly don't miss Finn at all. I love Glass. She's willing to do anything for the guy she loves and I respect her for it.

Romance wise, there isn't anything highly original, but I love it. Wells is in love with Clarke. Clarke kind of sort of hates his guts. Within reason of course. Bellamy is cute, sweet, badass and has a giant crush on Clarke and Clarke is crushing on him too. I like the romance and the way it develops. As a reader i'm definitely torn between Wells and Bellamy. Wells has risked everything for Clarke. Bellamy has been through hell and deserves to be happy. I can't wait till the next book!!!

Overall i'm pleased with the way the book happened. I love how different the book is. I love the characters and the original story line.


Coffee for The 100: I recommend a nice warm Caramel Brulee Latte. It's warm and soothing perfect for the WTF moments in the book. 

My Rating:

Book Talk: Melt by Selene Castrovilla

Release Date: November 6, 2014
Book: Melt
Author: Selene Castrovilla
Pages:280
Source: Netgalley (I received this in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics: Based on true events, MELT is both a chilling tale of abuse, and a timeless romance. MELT will hit you like a punch in the face, and also seep through the cracks in your soul. MELT is a brutal love story set against the metaphorical backdrop of The Wizard of Oz (not a retelling). When sixteen year old Dorothy moves to the small town of Highland Park, she meets, and falls for Joey – a “bad boy” who tells no one about the catastrophic domestic violence he witnesses at home. Can these two lovers survive peer pressure, Joey’s reputation, and his alcoholism? Told in dual first person, Joey’s words are scattered on the page – reflecting his broken state. Dorothy is the voice of reason – until something so shattering happens that she, too, may lose her grip. Can their love endure, or will it melt away?

My Musings:

I had pretty high expectations from this book. Everything about the summary caught my eye and attention. It seemed to be profound and inspiring. So I wanted to read it. To be honest I was kind of let down.

The plot, I felt like was a little rushed at times, but it was original somewhat. The very first few pages of the books are crazy and get you sucked into the story. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it that much more crazy, heartbreaking, and captivating. I liked how the story unfolded, even if it was a little predictable. I liked the alternating perspectives. It's always fun to see a story from multiple points of view. If i'm being totally honest I kind of wish we could have seen Dorothy and Joey's relationship develop more. It kind of just happens. At one point they end up just being together, you don't really get to see them get to this point. It's a soft spot in the plot because it's hard to be sympathetic to their relationship when its underdeveloped and rushed. Especially since their relationship is the main point of the story.  However, I will say this, if you can get past the whole rushing of the relationship, the ending is pretty good.

 I have to admit I really disliked Dorothy's chapters. I'm not sure why, but her character just annoyed me. She seemed emotional, dependent, and pushy at times. I couldn't connect at all really with Dorothy's personality. She just irked me. I LOVED Joey so much. He's strong, sweet, and actually really sweet. He's a good person and a good boyfriend without being overly dependent on Dorothy. I loved reading his chapters because they were so simply written, but they explained such profound things. I looked forward to reading his chapters and seeing what went on in his head.

One thing I did like about the novel is that even though this book is about a relationship, it still develops both of them as separate people. You get to understand Dorothy because she's put into different situations with Joey. You get a real feel for the type of life they lead and the type of person they are. Personally, I think it strengthens their relationship, because if you can see where each of them come from and how the end up meeting in the middle, the story is just that much cuter.

I liked Dorothy and Joey together. Despite the fact I didn't really like Dorothy, I did like her with him. I wished their love was a little bit more developed in the beginning, but it makes up for it, kind of, towards the middle.

Overall, I was disappointed with the book. I liked aspects of it, but I can't help but feel that it was rushed. I think the readers needed to see more of the relationship, more of the characters, for the story to feel real.

Coffee For Melt: A Nice Hazelnut Latte. 

My Rating:

Book Talk: The Odyssey of Falling by Paige Crutcher + Giveaway!

Release Date: November 4th, 2014
Book: The Odyssey of Falling
Author: Paige Crutcher
Number of Pages:338 (e-book form)
Source: Netgalley (I received this in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics:Meet Odd. Audrey “Odd” Ashworth is an exceptionally bright girl with a sympathetic heart. She’s in the top 4% of her class. She’s obsessed with getting into Manhattan School of Music, committed to following the “signs” the universe delivers, and infatuated with her recently deceased best friend’s boyfriend. Life is a little strange for Odd. Until she finds her best friend’s diary in her crush’s car, and decides to do the bucket list tucked inside the pages. As Odd seeks closure and a way to honor her friend, she discovers there’s nothing wrong with being a little strange, especially if it helps you discover who you were meant to be. Along the way, Odd falls into trouble, adventure, and finally love.

My Musings:

Okay first of all, isn't the title awesome? I love the title, I think it's original and perfect for the book. The cover is also pretty awesome. I was scrolling down Netgalley when this book caught my eye. The summary made me want to read this book and I couldn't wait to start it! I had pretty high expectations for this book and it didn't disappoint.

Characters are vibrant and colorful. They stick out from the page and feel real, which is all a reader really wants. You get to see different sides of them instead of them just being a one dimensional cardboard cut out. I love "Odd". I ca relate to her and they way she feels. Her voice is strong and poignant throughout the novel. She's strong, but doesn't really know it, and amazing, but doesn't know it. Perhaps my favorite character was Bandit. He isn't afraid of saying what he thinks and is overall a strong person. And also how awesome is his name? Chase is a complex character. He's kind of broken (pretty much everyone is in this book) but slowly you can see him devolve into a strong character whose maybe not made the best decisions. I love the characters, they were very well developed.

This book is more of a character driven book than a plot driven book. It's Audrey's journey to acceptance and moving on. The story line is good. It's a pretty faced paced book and the beginning will definitely get you turning the pages. Being on this journey with Audrey is really special. Audrey stumbles about trying to finish the list that her friend, Meredith, left. Guilt and grief fuel her and that is a dangerous combination. She starts to go off the rails but her friends are there for her so that she doesn't completely end up messing everything up. There is a pretty awesome plot twist at the end of the book that puts a lot of things in question. Overall the story line is pretty solid.

There's nothing I hate more than insta-lovey couples. Glad to say this isn't the case in this book. The romance is a bit complicated and twisted by grief and past feelings. Audrey is dealing with her feelings for Chase. She's had a crush on him since before Meredith died. Then there's Bandit. Sweet, dependable, Bandit. Her feelings for him surface slowly at first and then all of a sudden, It's not really a love triangle at all, but more like Audrey accepting her feelings for one of the boys. Romance doesn't really play as huge a role as you think it would. While it's important other things take the front seats, like the list, grief, dealing with friend drama. What I love about this romance is how real it is. It's intertwined with the story line so perfectly that you can't help but root for Audrey to just accept her feelings and for her and her guy to be together!

I loved this book. It's amazing and well written. I love the sparks of sarcasm and wit. It definitely made me laugh out loud, but it also made my heart ache for the characters.


Coffee For The Odyssey Of Falling:  This book is equal parts heart wrenching and uplifting. You'll definitely want the company of a warm liquid when you're up late reading this. I recommend a nice Hazelnut Latte.

My Rating:

Where to Find Paige:

Author Website
Twitter  @PCrutcher
LinkedIn

Goodreads

Amazon

Virtual Tour Page 

Giveaway Time!!!

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Blogtober: Queen Of Someday Book Review

Release Date: October 17, 2014
Book: Queen of Someday
Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Number of Pages:262
Source: Netgalley  (I received this in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics:
ONE GIRL WILL BRING AN EMPIRE TO ITS KNEES...
Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.
Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.
Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.
In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

Add it on goodreads

My Musings:

If i'm going to be totally honest today, I was dreading reading this book. No, not dreading, but I really wasn't looking forward to it. I thought it was going to be some cheesy romance novel with a couple of history moments here and there. I'm glad to say that this book proved me wrong. It's not the best book i've ever read, but it's actually pretty good.

Character wise, the author did an amazing job making the characters realistic and developed them in a way you could relate to.  I loved how kick-ass Sophie was. She's a good fighter, archer, horse rider, and yet she can also be the epitome of ladyness. The only thing that kind of caught me of guard was Peter's turn to the darkside, if you will. I thought that it was kind of unwarranted. Not really set into his character, you know. Like he's supposed to be this spoiled kid who doesn't know any better, and then he just looses it. I mean I know that the synopsis says he is sadistic but you don't really see it until the end of the book. I guess it made sense, but I wish there had been more development and not just a spontaneous twist. I loved Alexander and Sergei. They were pretty solid characters, nothing really too special about them.

I think the author did a pretty good job with the plot. At times it was a bit predictable and other times I was just sitting there with my jaw open, in shock. It was a  pretty good balance. This was more plot driven. Which I think is why the neglected developing Sergei and Alexander further, or making Sophie's relationship with Rina more evident. But I think those weaker aspects are okay because the plot was pretty strong. The path the book to end was perfect and well written. The ending definitely left me wanting to have the next book to read.

I usually just do a romance bit, but I feel like for this book I'm going to relationship type of paragraph thing. Okay, Ficklin, like I said before, put some aspects of the book on the back burner because the book was more plot driven. There are four fully developed relationships in the book. Sophie and the Queen, Sophie and Alexander, Sophie and Peter, and  Sophie and Sergei. Everyone else's relationships are established but you never really delve into the relationships. Like Sophie and Rina are best friends but I didn't feel like they were. I felt like that moved a bit fast and wasn't developed enough. 

I liked the romance. Was I the only one who at the very beginning thought that she was going to fall for Sergei and not Alexander? I was biased to this thought for more than half the book. As a result I didn't really appreciate the relationship between Alexander and Sophie. I think at one point I though Alexander was messing around to get Sophie sent away. After I accepted my ship wasn't going to happen I definitely rooted for Alexander and Sophie. It wasn't insta-lovey, but there wasn't some great lead in to it. *sigh* They were a cute couple. 

I'm not a fan of surprises but i'm glad this book surprised me. I'm glad that it exceeded my expectations and proved itself to be a good book. I recommend this book to those who like Historical Fiction or read those Dear America books as a kid. 


Coffee For this Book: A nice warm Macchiato. 

My Rating