Book Review: Together We Caught Fire by Eva B. Gibson

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publish Date: February 4th, 2020

Series: Stand Along

Source: E-galley from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

A forbidden attraction grows even more complicated when the guy Lane Jamison has crushed on for years suddenly becomes her step-brother in this sexy and gorgeously written debut novel about the lines between love, desire, and obsession.

What happens when the boy you want most becomes the one person you can’t have?

Lane Jamison's life is turned upside down the week before her senior year when her father introduces her to his new fiancée: mother of Grey McIntyre, Lane’s secret, longtime crush. Now with Grey living in Lane’s house, there’s only a thin wall separating their rooms, making it harder and harder to deny their growing mutual attraction—an attraction made all the more forbidden by Grey’s long-term girlfriend Sadie Hall, who also happens to be Lane’s friend

Torn between her feelings for Grey and her friendship with Sadie—not to mention her desire to keep the peace at home—Lane befriends Sadie’s older brother, Connor, the black sheep of the strict, evangelical Hall family. Connor, a metal working artist who is all sharp edges, challenges Lane in ways no one else ever has. As the two become closer and start to open up about the traumas in their respective pasts, Lane begins to question her conviction that Connor is just a distraction.

Tensions come to a head after a tragic incident at a party, forcing Lane to untangle her feelings for both boys and face the truth of what—and who—she wants, in this gripping and stunningly romantic debut novel.

My Review:

Lane, Conner, Grey and Sadie are the main characters in Together We Caught Fire, a book about forbidden romance, teen angst, and a lot of other issues that may not be okay for everyone to read. There is definitely a need for trigger warnings with this book - suicide and drug use, among others.

The beginning of this book was extremely confusing, I wasn't sure what was going on. It got better but to be honest, the overall book fell a little flat for me. There were some great parts, I'll give you that. At first I enjoyed the playful friendship between Conner and Lane, and the time they spent together. But then things changed and their relationship changed to this weird back and forth. Sadie was an interesting character that felt out of place to me.

Overall, this just wasn't the book I was expecting. I think people are going to fall into 2 categories with this one, you're either going to love it, or not and it looks like I fall into the latter.

Book Review: Find Your Pleasure: The Art of Living A More Joyful Life by Cynthia Loyst

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: January 7th, 2020
Series: None
Source: E-Galley from publisher in exchange for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

Find Your Pleasure is a pleasure revolution: where society has told women to feel guilty or ashamed for embracing pleasures, Cynthia Loyst shows you how to get to the heart of what you need and want, in every aspect of life.

Live: Uncover the beauty of everyday moments, celebrate family and friends, find fun and satisfaction in your workdays, and enjoy the immense rewards parenting has to offer—all while being mindful of taking care of yourself.

Love: Cynthia reveals everything from learning to enjoy your body more, ways to feel intimate and communicate effectively with your partner, and the keys to having better sex.
Inspire: Find out how to let your creative self bloom, seek out exciting new pathways in life, and let kindness guide you with Cynthia’s tips and tricks for mastering mindfulness and meditation.

Through her insightful anecdotes, Cynthia empowers women to revel in all of life’s joys, even the messy ones. Filled with beautiful color photographs, Find Your Pleasure is a treat for the soul that you can devour in one go or savor in tiny bites.

My Review:

What a simple thought this is...do what brings you pleasure in life, and don't feel bad about it. But like most people, I find this hard. I don't have time, I don't have the energy, I should do something else instead...etc. But Cynthia Loyst writes that it doesn't need to be super difficult or time consuming (if we choose), and we don't need to feel guilty for taking time to do what we love. I love these movements that have taken over - find a more joyful life, kon-mari your space - I'm not usually one to jump on these so-called "bandwagons", but there's something about simplicity and joyfulness that resonates with me this time around, which is why I wanted to read this book - I also really like Cynthia on The Social! And trust me when I say I'm working on this and decluttering my home, and man it feels great!

While Cynthia is first and foremost a relationship/sexual health columnist/writer, Find Your Pleasure doesn't only focus on those aspects. In this book she talks about finding pleasure with family, friends, in your work life, and home life. Plants make you feel happy? Fill your home with them! Want to lay in a hot bath for hours? Do it and lock the door so no one can bother you!

She writes about how women feel guilty taking time for themselves and how we stop doing the things we love for us becuase we've been engrained to feel this way from society. On Instagram I follow a lot of advocates (body positivity, equality, etc) and I'd say it's people like them and Cynthia Loyst that are paving way for a more accepting world a little each day, and I applaud them. Now excuse me while I go drink my coffee, and listen to Justin Bieber, because right now that's what brings me pleasure!

Book Review: Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells

Publish Date: July 30th, 2019
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Series: Shatter the Sky #1
Source: ARC from publisher in exchange for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:


Raised among the ruins of a conquered mountain nation, Maren dreams only of sharing a quiet life with her girlfriend Kaia—until the day Kaia is abducted by the Aurati, prophetic agents of the emperor, and forced to join their ranks. Desperate to save her, Maren hatches a plan to steal one of the emperor’s coveted dragons and storm the Aurati stronghold.
If Maren is to have any hope of succeeding, she must become an apprentice to the Aromatory—the emperor’s mysterious dragon trainer. But Maren is unprepared for the dangerous secrets she uncovers: rumors of a lost prince, a brewing rebellion, and a prophecy that threatens to shatter the empire itself. Not to mention the strange dreams she’s been having about a beast deep underground…
With time running out, can Maren survive long enough to rescue Kaia from impending death? Or could it be that Maren is destined for something greater than she could have ever imagined?

My Review:

I struggled to get into this book for some reason. I'm not too sure why, it just didn't hook me immediately. But I was not willing to give up, I knew there was something to Shatter the Sky and I'm glad that I kept to it. I don't actually read a lot of fantasy books like this so that may explain the lack of interest right away. 

Maren and Kaia, two girls in love are separated and Maren sets out in a world unknown to her to find and rescue Kaia and along the way learns so much about herself and the world she lives in. I wouldn't say that there was anything that made Maren stand out as a main character, I think I preferred Kaia and her carefree, exotic ways, but seeing as Maren was on the rescue mission, we got to follow along with her. 

I will say that once the dragons entered the picture, the story became more enjoyable and we'll see what Storm the Earth (book #2) brings us in 2020. I think overall, Shatter the Sky was a good debut but I have so many unanswered questions and a need to know more. 

Book Review: Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: November 20th, 2018
Series: Stand alone
Source: e-galley from publisher in exchange for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

My Review:

The cover is gorgeous. That's what first got my attention I must say. Then it was the movie trailer that piqued my intrigue and one day, an e-galley showed up in my inbox and I was so excited.

Five Feet Apart is a heart-warming YA love story. We meet Stella, who basically lives in the hospital because of CF. She's been on this journey for as long as she can remember, and for as long as she can remember, she's been in control. She makes lists, crosses off lists, takes her medicine and everything else with care and routine. It's not until Will shows up at the same hospital, with CF that things start to get out of control. He's reckless, and cute, and not willing to let his illness control anything. Stella and Will share the same sickness but not much else. But friendship blossoms with Will's carefree attitude and Stella finds herself doing and feeling things she's never felt before. 

I must admit, there was a bit of medical jargon that had to do with CF that I had to Google. I needed to know what B. Cepacia is and how the medical vest worked and so much more before continuing so I will say that reading Five Feet Apart has made me a hell of a lot more aware of what cystic fibrosis is. So I got awareness of this awful disease if nothing else. But there is so much more to Five Feet Apart. It's definitely a book that will make the reader smile and then cry, and smile all over again. It is worth the read! And I cannot wait to see the movie! 

If you haven't already watched the teaser trailer, you can now!

Book Review: Save The Date by Morgan Matson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: June 5th, 2018
Series: Stand alone
Source: ARC / e-galley from Netgalley in exchange for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.
The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.
There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.
There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.
Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.
Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future. 

My Review:

Save The Date is a perfect summer read! I've said this before about another Morgan Matson read, Since You've Been Gone. But it's true, there is something summery and flirty about these books, like they need to be read outside on a warm, bright, sunny day. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I was able to paint the picture in my head so clearly. With the playful banter between the family and the running around on the wedding day, it played out like a movie in my head. The only (minor) thing that I didn't love about Save The Date was it's predictability. There were so many obvious things about to go wrong, and each and everything that could, did. I'm not sure if Morgan Matson did this on purpose, or not, but I found that to get a little boring after the first few incidents.

Charlie is a fun, helpful and eager to please kind of girl. She would do whatever it takes to make the wedding weekend perfect, and to make sure things are running as smoothly as she can make them. And with everything going on in the upcoming days to the wedding, this keeps her extremely busy, almost too busy for her best friend Siobhan (who didn't play a huge part in the book and we could have done without her as the BFF, in my opinion). But along the way she learns that not everyone is as they seem, and sometimes you find friendship in the strangest of times. 

Overall, Save The Date is a fun read, especially if you have a big family (extended in my case) because you can so easily relate to this family - the lame jokes from one person (J.J), the b/f or g/f brought into all the inside jokes etc (Brooke), the noisy kitchen (everyone!!), the fun and exciting games (capture the flag) - it's all there. Though if you are planning your wedding this summer, maybe don't read this one right now, you don't want to start thinking that EVERYTHING can (and will) go wrong!

Book Review: Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

Publish Date: March 27, 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Series: Stand Alone
Source: ARC ebook from Netgalley

Goodreads Synopsis:

For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.
Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him.
When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.

My Review:

I actually found this book super hard to get into. In fact, I couldn't. I tried so many times at first and found myself thinking of just about anything else. I knew I needed to read it for NetGalley and get a review up, so one night, I started again. Once I set my sights on actually reading it, I found that I was enjoying it! It was funny, heartfelt and I was finally looking forward to being able to read, and then it "expired" and I couldn't read my galley copy any longer! 
So to be honest, I can't write a fair review. I will say I have heard amazing things about Emergency Contact and the reviews are so good. I'd love to pick up this book at some time, and give it a second chance for sure!
If you've read it, what did you think?

Book Review: Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker

Publish Date: January 23, 2018
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 448
Series: Stand Alone
Source: ARC Netgalley from publisher in exchange for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and illicit affairs from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrated for her “propulsive plot twists and searing seduction” (USA TODAY).

Noah Marshall has known a privileged and comfortable life thanks to his mother, the highly decorated chief of the Austin Police Department. But all that changes the night she reveals a skeleton that's been rattling in her closet for years, and succumbs to the guilt of destroying an innocent family's life. Reeling with grief, Noah is forced to carry the burden of this shocking secret.
Gracie Richards wasn't born in a trailer park, but after fourteen years of learning how to survive in The Hollow, it's all she knows anymore. At least here people don't care that her dad was a corrupt Austin cop, murdered in a drug deal gone wrong. Here, she and her mother are just another family struggling to survive...until a man who clearly doesn't belong shows up on her doorstep.
Despite their differences, Noah and Gracie are searching for answers to the same questions, and together, they set out to uncover the truth about the Austin Police Department's dark and messy past. But the scandal that emerges is bigger than they bargained for, and goes far higher up than they ever imagined.
Complex, gritty, sexy, and thrilling, Keep Her Safe solidifies K.A. Tucker's reputation as one of today's most talented new voices in romantic suspense. 


My Review:

Keep Her Safe, a new suspense novel by best selling author K.A. Tucker came out today! As many of you know, I love this author. The talent she exudes in her work is amazing. (Ten Tiny Breaths series will prove this). So obviously, I was happy to get the ARC of Keep Her Safe and provide a review for you all.

Noah Marshall has had an easy life. His mother is the chief of the police department and they live a pretty normal life in Austin. Friends, sports and school are life for him. He is a polite, handsome Texan with a good head on his shoulders. One night Noah's mom, Jackie, in a drunken state reveals some things to Noah that he doesn't quite understand and brushes off but in a flash his life is turned upside down and he comes to realize that it wasn't all just gibberish.

Gracie on the other hand lives in a trailer park where she doesn't know if her mom will make it day to day, or even hour to hour sometimes. Life has been harder for the both of them since Abe, a loving father and husband was murdered on the job on the Austin PD. Gracie is tough and sassy (she has to be to keep her neighbours honest). She takes care of her mom, herself and a stray one-eyed dog. So on the day Noah arrives on her doorstep, all guards go up and Gracie reverts to her protective self. Little do they know that their lives are about to change forever. From that moment, it will bring Noah and Gracie together in ways they never thought possible and will reveal answers to questions neither of them ever thought the need to ask.

Keep Her Safe is written through many POV's. We get Noah, Gracie, Abe and Sheriff Marshall. I love when authors do this, and can pull it off. I love how we get a full 360' view of the story being told. I did find a few of the parts of the book to be predictable early on, but it didn't ruin it for me. I still felt it when K.A. Tucker confirmed in writing what was going through my head.

Keep Her Safe has been listed as a romantic suspense, and yes, there is romance but it doesn't overpower the book. And it's not super gushy romance either. It's a mature, ever developing kind between some pretty awesome characters. There was enough to remind you that you are reading K.A. Tucker. (Again, read Ten Tiny Breaths series!)

While I wasn't a huge fan of K.A. Tuckers thriller, He Will Be My Ruin, I was a tad worried Keep Her Safe wouldn't live up (being it was a suspense novel) but I was wrong. Keep Her Safe was written with more finesse, more"umpf" and way more wow factor in my opinion. And I would happily recommend Keep Her Safe for any fan of K.A. Tucker, any fan of suspense or romantic suspense.

Book Review: Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill

Publish Date: June 6th, 2017
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 400 pages
Series: Stand Alone
Source: ARC from publisher in exchange for honest review 

Goodreads Synopsis:

A young, street-savvy runaway looking for a place to call home realizes he might have conned his way into the wrong family in this fast-paced and thrilling novel from award-winning author Cristin Terrill.
When ten-year-old Daniel Tate went missing from one of California's most elite communities, he left no trace. He simply vanished.Six years later, when he resurfaces on a snowy street in Vancouver, he's no longer the same boy. His sandy hair is darker, the freckles are gone, and he's initially too traumatized to speak, but he's alive. His overjoyed family brings him home to a world of luxury and comfort he can barely remember. In time, they assure him, he'll recover his memories; all that matters now is they're together again. It's perfect. A miracle. Except for one thing.He isn't Daniel Tate.He's a petty con artist who accidentally stumbled into the scam of a lifetime, and he soon learns he's not the only one in the Tate household with something to hide. The family has as many secrets as they have millions in the bank, and one of them might be ready to kill to keep the worst one buried. 


My Review:

Unfortunately, it took a while before I felt eager enough to pick this one up. I kept putting it off, I was in a sort of reading funk I guess. But when I started, right through to the end, I was hooked. It starts off with lies, and the narrator straight up says “I’m lying!” WHAT? I didn’t know what to make of this, but with a title like Here LIES Daniel Tate, and a synopsis like this one, it totally makes sense. OR does it?! That right there, is how I felt reading this book (for the most part, except for one obvious and disturbing plot twist).

“Daniel Tate” doesn’t know who he is, or who he has ever been, he floats through life, living in shelters for as long as he can, then runs. Then he stumbles upon a perfect situation, a rich family that he can con into taking him in for a while. The longer he stays, the more complicated and strange it becomes and that’s when he realizes that this situation isn’t quite as it seems on the outside. Secrets are made, secrets are revealed and who really knows the truth in this thrilling novel.

The characters were interesting enough, except for a random love interest thrown in for no apparent reason. We could have easily done without it in my opinion. I loved that the story had my mind racing with each page, one minute I thought I had it figured out, then one minute I questioned everything I thought I knew. The ending will have the reader rushing to finish and leave them with their mouth agape, wondering what the hell just happened (but in a good way!) It’s definitely a book worth reading!

Blog Tour: Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker

I am so excited to be a part of this blog tour with the U.S. and Canada. K.A Tucker is one of my favourite authors, so when I was asked to participate in this tour, it was a no brainer! Be sure to check out the rest of the stops along the way, and check out the giveaway at the end of this post!

Publish Date: June 27th, 2017
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN: 9781501133381
Pages: 368
Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review


Goodreads Synopsis:

Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania (population three thousand outside of tourist season). 

And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed date, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has rescued: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.

Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works. For a time.

But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. There’s an immediate connection, and it’s more electric than the bond of two people who endured a traumatic event. It’s something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something she is afraid to trust.

Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine...before the spark fades?

My Review:

I am a huge fan of K.A Tucker, with One Tiny Breath series my all time fave. And I know you're going to hate me for saying this, but I was disappointed with He Will Be My Ruin, and I was hoping for Until It Fades to be my redemption read . And let me tell you this... it was!! I am back to raving about Mrs Tucker and her incredible talent as a writer and story weaver and picture painter. 

Heres my reasons:

Writer - creates such a unique novel which flows flawlessly and seamlessly. 

Story weaver - knocks the ball out of the park with these fantastic characters that are realistic and genuine. And a plot that can keep the reader engaged from beginning to end. 

And picture painter - detail in everything to help reader along and feeling as though you are there and part of the book.

Just incredible! 

Catherine is a small town girl with a history that is known to many (for all the wrong reasons ) and she wants something different. She wants to forget about her past, but her young daughter,and her paycheck to paycheck job make that almost impossible. Then Brett comes along and things start to change and maybe he is what she needed to move on all along.

I really liked how likeable both these main characters are. Catherine is a hard working young single mom just trying to do her best and the love she has for her daughter is clear. Brett is a down to earth guy with a connection to Canada (and being a Canadian too, I loved the Canadian thrown in here and there!) And the relationship they build is a great one. It's fun, flirty and playful.  I read a lot of their interactions with a smile on my face.

It didn't stop there with great characters though. Keith, Catherine's friend is a great guy too. He's been there since the beginning and Catherine could not imagine a life in which he wasn't a part of. Another memorable character is Lou.  She stood up and helped Catherine when she needed it most and she's a smart, kind helping hand. And her no BS attitude is awesome. These characters plus more make for such a dynamic novel.

There's something romantic and sexy about Until it Fades. You'll get that giddy feeling when reading the book and when an author can make you feel, honest to goodness feel, during a novel, you know it's a good one.  KA tucker has done it again, and I can't thank her enough for writing some of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

K.A. Tucker is the author of He Will Be My Ruin and the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series. She currently resides outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and a Chug.

FIND K.A. TUCKER ONLINE:

 http://www.katuckerbooks.com/ * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

ORDER:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books-a-Million * IndieBound * Walmart * Apple * Google * Kobo

A GIVEAWAY:

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Book Review: The Lost Property Office by James R Hannibal

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: Nov 8th, 2016
ISBN: 9781481467094
Pages: 400
Series: Section 13, Book #1
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

James R. Hannibal presents a thrilling adventure through history, complete with mysteries, secret items, codes, and a touch of magic in this stunning middle grade debut.

Thirteen-year-old Jack Buckles is great at finding things. Not just a missing glove or the other sock, but things normal people have long given up on ever seeing again. If only he could find his father, who has disappeared in London without a trace.
But Jack’s father was not who he claimed to be. It turns out that he was a member of a secret society of detectives that has served the crown for centuries—and membership into the Lost Property Office is Jack’s inheritance.
Now the only way Jack will ever see his father again is if he finds what the nefarious Clockmaker is after: the Ember, which holds a secret that has been kept since the Great Fire of London. Will Jack be able to find the Ember and save his father, or will his talent for finding things fall short? 

My Review:

Jack is unique, and always has been. He can hear and feel things that most people can't. He's written it off for the first 13 years of his life as just an odd quirk that he has to live with. It isn't until his sister Sadie thinks she sees their missing dad that it all starts to come together and make sense a little to Jack Buckles. 
The book starts off a little slow to be honest, it took a little persuasion to sit down and read at first. Not that it wasn't good or anything, I just wanted something to hook me in! Once past the first few chapters, things start to look up. We meet a strange young girl named Gwen who can help Jack and together they set off on an adventure to find what the Clockmaster is after. Written with such vividness, the reader can easily see what James R Hannibal had in mind, but also so much creativity that the reader could just as easily envision their own world.
It's a history lesson, a mystery, and a magical ride all rolled into one. I can definitely see fans of Harry Potter taking a liking to The Lost Property Office (I mean, it made me start rereading Harry Potter..again!). Fans of Sherlock will also enjoy this. And even if you don't like/know either of those, that's ok! There's something in this book that you'll enjoy!
Also, the cover art is pretty cool! The pretty little bug on the right hand corner of the book is fantastic! And I was happy to see a ton of The Lost Property Office copies out in plain sight on display at my local Chapters. The cover will most likely draw a lot of readers to it!

Book Review: Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan

Publish Date: August 6, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 
ISBN: 9781451621389
Pages: 266
Series: None
Source: Bought

Goodreads Synopsis:

An award-winning memoir and instant New York Timesbestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery,Brain on Fire is the powerful account of one woman's struggle to recapture her identity.
When twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan woke up alone in a hospital room, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, she had no memory of how she'd gotten there. Days earlier, she had been on the threshold of a new, adult life: at the beginning of her first serious relationship and a promising career at a major New York newspaper. Now she was labeled violent, psychotic, a flight risk. What happened?
In a swift and breathtaking narrative, Susannah tells the astonishing true story of her descent into madness, her family's inspiring faith in her, and the lifesaving diagnosis that nearly didn't happen. "A fascinating look at the disease that . . . could have cost this vibrant, vital young woman her life."(People),Brain on Fire is an unforgettable exploration of memory and identity, faith and love, and a profoundly compelling tale of survival and perseverance that is destined to become a classic.

My Review:

From the first time I saw this book and read a quick exerpt, I knew it was something I needed to read. I don't read a lot of memoirs or biographies and because of this, I didn't want to spend the $20+ for the book. I kept waiting and looking for it at garage sales or thrift stores and one lucky day I found it! It was time for me to finally sink into Brain on Fire - My Month of Madness.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed after I read it. It's a memoir as I mentioned, so it's hard to say it was a bad book, because it wasn't but it just wasn't as exciting as I had expected it to be. Let's clear this up a little. When I read the little chapter, I was intrigued because Susannah had no idea who she was or where she was. But there's a lot more behind this than I had thought. Without giving away too much of the book, she had her family and her boyfriend there with her at all times helping her along the way. In my mind, I pictured this poor woman waking up alone, all by herself with no one. I think that's what I wanted. More mystery with who she was overall and I wanted to come along on a journey with her as she finds herself. We do get the mystery while figuring out what caused Susannah to have a "month of madness" and it's an interesting read, and we definitely follow along as she finds herself and rediscovers her life before this all happens.
Brain on Fire was an okay book to read, it's hard to believe that our bodies and minds are so fragile and anything can happen to anyone at any given time. I'd recommend this read to anyone who enjoys memoirs and/or medical suspense reads.

Book Review: Somewhere There Is Still A Sun by Michael Gruenbaum with Todd Hasak-Lowy

Publisher: Aladdin
Publish Date: August 25th, 2015
ISBN: 9781442484863
Pages: 384
Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

Resilience shines throughout a boy’s firsthand, present-tense account of life in the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust, an ideal companion to the bestselling Boy on the Wooden Box.
Michael “Misha” Gruenbaum enjoyed a carefree childhood playing games and taking walks through Prague with his beloved father. All of that changed forever when the Nazis invaded Prague. The Gruenbaum family was forced to move into the Jewish Ghetto in Prague. Then, after a devastating loss, Michael, his mother and sister were deported to the Terezin concentration camp.
At Terezin, Misha roomed with forty other boys who became like brothers to him. Life in Terezin was a bizarre, surreal balance—some days were filled with friendship and soccer matches, while others brought mortal terror as the boys waited to hear the names on each new list of who was being sent “to the East.”
Those trains were going to Auschwitz. When the day came that his family's name appeared on a transport list, their survival called for a miracle;one that tied Michael's fate to a carefully sewn teddy bear, and to his mother's unshakeable determination to keep her children safe.
Collaborating with acclaimed author Todd Hasak-Lowy, Michael Gruenbaum shares his inspiring story of hope in an unforgettable memoir that recreates his experiences with stunning immediacy. Michael's story, and the many original documents and photos included alongside it, offer an essential contribution to Holocaust literature.

My Review:

Right off the top, I don't read historical books, ever. I don't find them interesting enough. If there is a topic that interests me, I'll watch documentaries or movies. They always hold my attention and I retain a lot more that way. But I thoroughly enjoyed this historical memoir about a young boys life as a Jew in Prague and his surviving journey through the Holocaust. 

I think what made this more catchy was that it was a book geared to 10-15 year olds. It was told as a story that the youth could put themselves in, and there wasn't an information overload.

In Somewhere There Is Still A Sun we follow Misha, a young boy who loves his father, soccer and exploring his surrounding town. He's like any other young child in the streets of Prague in 1939 making up games and kicking around a ball and just enjoying life, but when the first rules are thrown his way by the Nazis he is a bit confused by the injustice and when more and more stupid rules are enforced, Misha see's just how bad things are becoming. When his father is taken away by SS officers and his mother and sister along with him are forced out of their home not once but twice and moved to the Terezin concentration camp, Misha fears that things are at their worst. Misha is separated from his mother and sister and forced to live with 40 other boys in a group called the Nesharim. Some days are normal where they can play soccer and be boys again, but other days are spent worrying about the next transport and what will happen if Misha and his family are to be a part of that.

There is so much emotion in this book. You can feel the love and the hatred surrounded by everyone. You pick up so clearly the fear but also the sense of family, and you can feel the pain endured by the poor people who were herded like cattle and deprived of basic necessities. The last few chapters were an emotional roller coaster and the authors did a great job with the writing, the details and the pure rawness of creating this memoir that I think should be a book available to all young readers.

Book Review: The War Against The Assholes by Sam Munson

Publish Date: June 16, 2015
Publisher: Saga Press
ISBN: 9781481436878
Pages: 261
Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review

From Goodreads:

Contemporary fantasy meets true crime when schools of ancient sorcery go up against the art of the long con in this stunningly entertaining debut fantasy novel.
Mike Wood is satisfied just being a guy with broad shoulders at a decidedly unprestigious Catholic school in Manhattan. But on the dirty streets of New York City he’s an everyman with a moral code who is unafraid of violence. And when Mike is unwittingly recruited into a secret cell of magicians by a fellow student, Mike’s role as a steadfast soldier begins. These magicians don’t use ritualized rote to work their magic, they use willpower in their clandestine war with the establishment: The Assholes.

My Review:

Okay, so let me start this by saying I could not finish this book. And I usually finish books. Once I start, I stick through it to make a fair judgement call on the whole book. I just could not make it to the end of The War Against The Assholes.
The premise was different but fun. Fantasy and true crime? Not usually my genre of choice, but let's be honest, the title is enough to want to dive right into this one. Who wouldn't want to wage a war against the assholes out there? Am I right? So I figure the book would be fun, and witty and something new and different. But what I got was confusing, strange and yes, something new and different but not the new and different I wanted. 
So unfortunately, I'm the asshole here by saying this book was not worth my time. I could have used the time to finish rereading the Twilight series (I'm on Eclipse!). Maybe this book will be for someone else, but they won't be hearing about it from me.

But let's take the time to acknowledge the publisher of The War Against The Assholes. SAGA Press, a new and exciting imprint of Simon & Schuster. Good things look like they'll come out of there, I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to offer in the near future! Take a look here.

Happy Reading! 

Book Review: Hit By Delilah S. Dawson

Publish Date: April 14, 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2339-7
Pages: 336
Series: Hit, #1
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review

From Goodreads:

NO ONE READS THE FINE PRINT.

The good news is that the USA is finally out of debt. The bad news is that we were bought out by Valor National Bank, and debtors are the new big game, thanks to a tricky little clause hidden deep in the fine print of a credit card application. Now, after a swift and silent takeover that leaves 9-1-1 calls going through to Valor voicemail, they’re unleashing a wave of anarchy across the country.
Patsy didn’t have much of a choice. When the suits showed up at her house threatening to kill her mother then and there for outstanding debt unless Patsy agreed to be an indentured assassin, what was she supposed to do? Let her own mother die?
Patsy is forced to take on a five-day mission to complete a hit list of ten names. Each name on Patsy's list has only three choices: pay the debt on the spot, agree to work as a bounty hunter, or die. And Patsy has to kill them personally, or else her mom takes a bullet of her own.
Since yarn bombing is the only rebellion in Patsy's past, she’s horrified and overwhelmed, especially as she realizes that most of the ten people on her list aren't strangers. Things get even more complicated when a moment of mercy lands her with a sidekick: a hot rich kid named Wyatt whose brother is the last name on Patsy's list. The two share an intense chemistry even as every tick of the clock draws them closer to an impossible choice.
Delilah S. Dawson offers an absorbing, frightening glimpse at a reality just steps away from ours—a taut, suspenseful thriller that absolutely mesmerizes from start to finish. 

My Review:

In this dystopian novel, we follow Patsy on her journey to eliminate debt and/or the people responsible for the debt, one by one.
When this book was brought to my attention I was intrigued right away. The premise, the character (Patsy) and the cover (which is different from the one I was expecting. The pic to the right is what I wanted. ). Also, I was desperate for another ARC to get back into reviewing them! This all made me eager to dive into Hit as soon as it arrived! (Thank you again Simon & Schuster)

Unfortunately, Hit was a book that I didn't really enjoy, but needed to know what happened next. It was the quality of writing that could draw me in that made it so I couldn't put it down. I wanted to love it, but I wanted more. Why Valor National has taken over everything? (We kind of know the reason why - they bought out the country and it's debt but I want to know deep down the reasons.) When? How could they? We're just thrown into Patsy becoming an assassin because of the astronomical debt the country is in and we're expected to just go with it. There were a lot of holes throughout Hit and unrealistic things happening (I get that it's a book, a world created by the author so it has a high probability to be that way, but some parts had me so unsure of the whole book.) But I kept going - as I mentioned I was drawn into the possibility that it would meet my expectations. 

We don't meet many characters, and I enjoy books with just a few key characters like Hit. It's nice to get to know them on a deeper level. Patsy, the main character is doing what she's doing because of her Mom. Her mom has been sick and the only way Valor National will help her is if Patsy signs up to either recruit 5 people, or kill them. Along the way we do meet other characters and while they are important to the overall book and entwine some way or another, they just don't stick around! Except Wyatt, who for reasons only he knows, sticks around with Patsy even though circumstances show that maybe the shouldn't. And because they like the same music, and both find each other attractive, along comes the romance.

Hit was not a "hit" for me. Maybe with some more back story to go with it, it could have been. Though the cliff-hanger ending we're left  leaves me thinking that I should probably read book #2 when it comes out.