Tuesday, August 21, 2018

***** New Book Review**** Eight Goodbyes by Christine Brae Release Date August 21, 2018


Synopsis:

“One universe, nine planets, 204 countries, 809 islands and 7 seas. And I had the privilege of meeting you.” - Unknown

When Tessa Talman meets Simon Fremont for the first time, not only is she attracted to him, she’s intrigued by how different their lives are. He’s a dedicated scientist, practical, pragmatic, and grounded—while she’s a head-in-the-clouds romance author. As their relationship grows, they agree to meet in places around the world, while continuing to live on opposite sides of the globe.

Though their feelings for each other deepen, their priorities remain the same. Simon is in a hurry to be financially sound and settle down, but Tessa is enjoying her freedom and newfound success. Neither is willing to give in, but as each goodbye gets harder, Tessa begins to wonder whether fame is the path to happiness, or if she has everything she needs in Simon.

Just as Tessa finds the courage to go after her own happily ever after, the unthinkable happens, separating them in ways they never imagined. 

To move forward, she must let go of the past, and determine once and for all if love is truly more powerful than the pain of goodbye.



Goodreads:


Where To Purchase:

Amazon:


Barnes & Nobles:


My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

First off this review is hard for me to write without giving away parts of the story. To say that Christine out did herself is an understatement. She has done an incredible job delivering this story of love, hope, time, and distance. I have to say I love LOVE the cover of this book. Stuart Reardon who is the cover model is incredibly gorgeous. He made Simon come off the pages into a mental image that I will not forget for a long time. Enough fan girling it is time for the review.

Tessa is an up and coming author who is at the top of game traveling around the world promoting her romance book. It is on one of these trips she meets Simon who is on his way to a conference for his job. All during the plane ride she sneaks peeks at him and admires him from afar. While unbeknownst to her Simon is checking her out as well. The two of them end up at the same hotel and they talk to one another finding out what each other does for a living. As they talk they decide they are going to be long distance friends and meet whenever they can. Tessa is always traveling for her book tours and Simon is always in his lab working.

This is where the story comes to life. With each meeting they start to build a friendship. Doing things together and talking to one another until they meet again. Tessa teaches Simon to be care free and live each day in the moment and Simon teaches Tessa that some things are worth taking a risk on. As these two grow together you will see a true romance unfold right in front of you. This story will make you laugh and cry and everything in between but it is so worth the read. I recommend this book to EVERYONE who loves a good no great romance.

***** I received this book via Author in return for an honest review*****



About The Author:

Christine Brae was born and raised in the city of Makati, Philippines before she met and married her best friend who whisked her away to Chicago over twenty years ago.

Christine is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life (The Light in the Wound, 2013) and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. Her second book, His Wounded Light was released in December, 2013.

Christine’s third book, Insipid, is a standalone that was released in June, 2014, and her fourth book, In This Life, released in January 2016. Eight Goodbyes is scheduled to be released in August, 2018.

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago.

Christine is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin Literary Management.


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Friday, August 17, 2018

Now Is Everything & That Night By Amy Giles Book Reviews


Synopsis:

The McCauleys look perfect on the outside. But nothing is ever as it seems, and this family is hiding a dark secret.

Hadley McCauley will do anything to keep her sister safe from their father. But when Hadley’s forbidden relationship with Charlie Simmons deepens, the violence at home escalates, culminating in an explosive accident that will leave everyone changed.

When Hadley attempts to take her own life at the hospital post-accident, her friends, doctors, family, and the investigator on the case want to know why. Only Hadley knows what really happened that day, and she’s not talking. 

Goodreads:

Where To Purchase:

Amazon:

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Now Is Everything is one of those books that has you crying and cringing at the same time. When I went to the library to get some new books this book was on the shelf. I picked it up and read the jacket and said I have to read this book. This book has everything in it from alcohol, to abuse, to avoidance of things.

Hadley is a good girl. She does everything her father says because if she does not then she will have hell to pay and it is just not worth it in her eyes. So she has great grades, plays sports, and takes care of her little sister. Her mother is an alcoholic and drinks her day away not caring what happens or when. Then you have Hadley's little sister who is so innocent without a care in the world because her sister takes all the beatings for her. Then you have Charlie who Hadley has had a crush on for so long she can't remember. Then there is Hadley's dad who I left for last because he is an abuser and I hate HATE abusers. He beats and belittles his wife and older daughter. And Hadley has ha d enough there is time to do something about it because he is going to kill her one day.

Then Charlie and Hadley start building a friendship that turns into a relationship and she can no longer hide the abuse. She tells Charlie everything and they come up with a plan to stop Hadley's father from abusing her or her little sister.


Synopsis:

An emotional sophomore YA novel from acclaimed author Amy Giles, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Niven, about tragedy, love, and learning to heal.

The year since a mass shooting shook their Queens neighborhood has played out differently for Jess and Lucas, both of whom were affected by that night in eerily similar and deeply personal ways.

As Jess struggles to take care of her depressed mother, and Lucas takes up boxing under the ever-watchful eye of his overprotective parents, their paths converge. They slowly become friends and then something more, learning to heal and move forward together. But what does it mean to love after an unspeakable tragedy?

Goodreads:

Where to purchase on October 23, 2018

Amazon:

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Where to start on this review? This book is so deep and so relevant to today's society that I cried while I was reading this book because young adult shootings are happening more often. Kills killing kids for no reason. This is a senseless act that needs to stop.

In this story we meet Lucas and Jess. They have been involved in a shooting and they have both lost loved ones. They are dealing with it differently and both know what painand loss is but they don't know how to deal with it.

Lucas loses his brother in the shooting. He is totally devastated because his brother is his best friend and he needs him in his life right now. Jess also losses her brother and she can't think about living without him. He was her world.

When Jess and Lucas come together and become friends they find more then friendship there. They find that together they just might survive this tragedy and be able to move on. This is a must read book for all kids. This is a story about love, loss to gun violence, and healing.

***** I received this ARC from Edelweiss*****


About The Author:

Amy Giles is a young adult author. She lives on an Island that is Long with her husband, two daughters, and rescue dog.

Praise for NOW IS EVERYTHING

“Powerful and haunting, Now Is Everything explores the complexities of family and abuse, as we follow one girl on her courageous journey to choose love over hate and hope over fear.” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be

“Hadley is living the hidden, complex life that so many young people know - a teenager trapped inside her dysfunctional family. This beautiful and sad book will push you toward an unexpected conclusion. You won’t be able to put this novel down.” —Peter Brown Hoffmeister, author of Too Shattered For Mending

“An incredibly powerful and moving debut that is not to be missed, Now Is Everything tackles the tragic reality and heartbreak of familial abuse that will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page. This book is a must read and Hadley’s story is way too important to not be shared; I cannot sing enough praise for Amy Giles and her gorgeous debut.” —Erin L. Schneider, author of Summer of Sloane

“Now Is Everything is equal parts heartbreaking, unflinching, and hopeful. Hadley’s story will no doubt reach readers who need it.” —Kara Thomas, author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters

FUN FACTS

Q) What three items do you need to have with you when you write?

A) Coffee, coffee, and quiet.

Q) How do you pronounce Giles?

A) Buffy fans know this one! Giles is pronounced with a soft G, like gentle, giant, germs.

Q) What are your hobbies when not writing/reading?

A) I’m not a very well-rounded person. I’m a mediocre cook—I prefer to be fed than to feed. Does throwing something in the dirt and hoping it lives count as gardening?

Q) Guilty Pleasures:

A) Rainy days, key lime pie, disaster movies, listening to music at ear-bleeding decibels.

Q) “Not-so-much” things:

A) Spicy foods, hiking, roller coasters, zombie-anything, Game of Thrones, reality TV, sightseeing tours, sports, pork chops, monologues, stadiums, cold soup, the expressions spot on and per se…yeah, okay, this list is getting long.

Q) Best friend or friends?

A) I have besties from every stage of my life, from my first friends—my cousins—through school, college, work, parenting. I cherish all of them for putting up with me supporting me all these years.

Q) Favorite ice cream flavor?

A) I’m an equal opportunity ice cream consumer. I have yet to meet a flavor I don’t like. However, if there’s a pint of vanilla in the freezer, it will not keep me up all night thinking about it.

Q) Pizza or cheeseburger?

A) Pizza, but cheeseburgers are the #1 reason why I can never be a vegetarian.

Q) Worst job you ever had?

A) Working in the dish room of my college dining hall. I smelled like a hot dog cart by the end of my shift. Runner up award goes to mopping floors of same dining hall. I was written up for mopping around a slice of bacon three days in a row.

Q) My happy place:

A) The beach. Any beach will do, but my local beaches in Long Island do the trick when I need a quick fix.

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