Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday {36}

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, Hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating. 


46862557

Title:

You Deserve Each Other


Author:

Sarah Hogle


Publication Date:

April 7th, 2020


Publisher:

                                         G.P. Putnam's Sons










Summary from Goodreads:


For fans of The Hating Game, a debut lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about two unhappily engaged people each trying to force the other to end the relationship--and falling back in love in the process.



Naomi Westfield has an Instagram-perfect life, including the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family every bride dreams of being a part of. They never fight, complain, or disagree. They're preparing for their lavish wedding that's three months away. And they are miserably and utterly sick of each other.



Tired of contorting herself to fit the ridiculous standards demanded by Nicholas's family, Naomi wants out of the relationship. But there's a catch: Whoever calls off the engagement will have to foot the enormous bill for the wedding. When Naomi finds out that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of wills to see who can annoy the other into surrendering through pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.



But now that they have nothing to lose, they're finally being themselves. They're having so much fun getting on each other's nerves that it starts to feel like something else entirely. As Naomi discovers hidden feelings for Nicholas buried under three years of simmering resentment, she wonders if he feels the same way. Suddenly, the countdown to the wedding that may or may not come to pass feels more like a race to mutual destruction--and Naomi doesn't want to be left alone at the finish line.




                                                     Goodreads badge add plus

Monday, October 28, 2019

Review | Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren





44150538. sy475

Twice in a Blue Moon


by Christina Lauren

Published by Gallery Books on October 22nd, 2019

Genres: Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

Format: eARC

Source: Kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!





Summary from Goodreads: 









From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners and the “delectable, moving” (Entertainment WeeklyMy Favorite Half-Night Stand comes a modern love story about what happens when your first love reenters your life when you least expect it…



Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak.



During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.



Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.



With Christina Lauren’s signature “beautifully written and remarkably compelling” (Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author) prose and perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, Twice in a Blue Moon is an unforgettable and moving novel of young love and second chances.










Goodreads badge add plus



















Review






Sam and Tate meet while on vacation in London with their grandparents. The chemistry between the two is immediate and, as Tate is a 18-year-old and Sam is a, 21-year-old, college student, they wonder if their feelings for each other are real. But their feelings are too intense to ignore and they begin to enjoy the time they have with one another, as well as fall in love, with plans to see each other in the future. However, all that changes when a betrayal so heartbreaking occurs that makes Tate leave London, and Sam, behind.




Fourteen years later, Tate is an up-and-coming actress and is starting to film a new movie that could propel her stardom even higher. When she steps on set the last person she expected to see was Sam, the screenwriter for the film. As old feelings begin to surface once more, including his betrayal and their painful separation, they are no longer able to continue to ignore each other and must face the event that divided them if they can have any chance of finding closure and moving forward.






Having been a fan of Christina Lauren's previous works, I couldn't wait for the release of Twice in a Blue Moon! However, once I was reading this one, I have to say I was a little let down as it not only took a while to get into this book but also felt lacking. With that being said, I am ultimately glad I finished this book as the ending was by far the best part of the book. 





The first part of the book was a sort of light-hearted romance, exploring and innocent. It read similar to that of a young adult novel. It is there that we are first introduced to 18-year-old Tate and her grandmother who are in London for two weeks. While they are dining at a restaurant, they meet 21-year-old Sam and his grandfather. From there, a whirlwind romance takes place leading Tate to confide her biggest secret to Sam, only to have him betray her in the cruelest way possible. 




Fourteen years later, and we see what has changed not only between the two main characters' relationship but also their own character development and careers. While I did enjoy Tate and Sam's characters, I did not feel as strong of a connection between the adult versions of Tate and Sam as I would have liked, especially compared to their younger selves. It was only near the 80% mark that I could finally see an endless-love sort of chemistry between the two. 



While I personally thought that there were too many supporting characters that did not add value to the book but diminished it as they became a distraction to the overall story, I can admit that I did enjoy the dynamic, and particular focus, between Tate and her father. Through their relationship, one can see that this wasn't simply a book entered upon romance but one that focused on various kinds of relationships between those the characters are close to.




In the end, I was hoping to escape in a delightful world that Christina Lauren typically creates, but was unable to get fully captivated or invested in this story. While I did enjoy Tate and Sam's characters, especially their younger selves, I was hoping for more in the romance department. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read.












Rating









About the Author










Image result for christina laurenChristina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 31+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)



















Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday {35}

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, Hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating. 



46221988


Title:

Marriage on Madison Avenue


Author:

Lauren Layne


Publication Date:

January 28th, 2020


Publisher:

                                             Gallery Books










Summary from Goodreads:


“The word charm is pretty much synonymous with Lauren Layne.” —Hypable

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne, the “queen of witty dialogue” (Rachel Van Dyken, New York Times bestselling author), comes the final installment of the Central Park Pact series, a heartfelt and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that’s perfect for fans of Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren.

Can guys and girls ever be just friends? According to Audrey Tate and Clarke West, absolutely. After all, they’ve been best friends since childhood without a single romantic entanglement. Clarke is the charming playboy Audrey can always count on, and he knows that the ever-loyal Audrey will never not play along with his strategy for dodging his matchmaking mother—announcing he’s already engaged…to Audrey.

But what starts out as a playful game between two best friends turns into something infinitely more complicated, as just-for-show kisses begin to stir up forbidden feelings. As the faux wedding date looms closer, Audrey and Clarke realize that they can never go back to the way things were, but deep down, do they really want to?
 


                                                     Goodreads badge add plus

Friday, October 18, 2019

Pick A Book And Hear A Song





When I'm reading a book I am completely 100% into, I tend to listen to one or more songs while reading it. If the book is quickly progressing into one of my favourite reads of all time, I create a playlist specifically for that book. These are some songs I thought fit the books listed below. Tell me your thoughts on them and if you also listen to listen to some music while reading.









43822604


Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi


On paper, college dropout Pablo Rind doesn’t have a whole lot going for him. His graveyard shift at a twenty-four-hour deli in Brooklyn is a struggle. Plus, he’s up to his eyeballs in credit card debt. Never mind the state of his student loans.



Pop juggernaut Leanna Smart has enough social media followers to populate whole continents. The brand is unstoppable. She graduated from child stardom to become an international icon and her adult life is a queasy blur of private planes, step-and-repeats, aspirational hotel rooms, and strangers screaming for her just to notice them.



When Leanna and Pablo meet at 5:00 a.m. at the bodega in the dead of winter it’s absurd to think they’d be A Thing. But as they discover who they are, who they want to be, and how to defy the deafening expectations of everyone else, Lee and Pab turn to each other. Which, of course, is when things get properly complicated.


Goodreads badge add plus



















16096824. sy475 A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas


Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses - Book 1



Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...



Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.



Goodreads badge add plus


















17927395. sy475 A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas


Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses - Book 2


Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.
 



Goodreads badge add plus


















43220998. sy475 The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys


Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming guise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of a Texas oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.

Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love, repercussions of war, and the hidden violence of silence--inspired by the true post-war struggles of Spain.
 


                                                 Goodreads badge add plus

















40024139Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin



Series: Serpent & Dove - Book 1




Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.



Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.



Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.



The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.



And love makes fools of us all.


              Goodreads badge add plus



















18344534



Clipped Wings by Helena Hunting

Series: Clipped Wings - Book 1



An emotional love story that follows the touch-and-go relationship of Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.



As Hayden and Tenley navigate their newfound but slightly unstable relationship, they want to trust each other, but Hayden is hiding a dark and shameful past that he doesn't ever want Tenley to find out about. And Tenley has secrets of her own that could make Hayden run away forever. When Tenley asks Hayden to put a beautifully elaborate tattoo across her back, the two form what they thought was an unshakeable bond. But when Tenley's past shows up on her doorstep, will Hayden stand by her side...or run?



Goodreads badge add plus





18344535

Inked Armour by Helena Hunting

Series: Clipped Wings - Book 2



In this follow-up to Clipped Wings, the emotional love story continues between Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.



In the wake of losing Tenley Page, tattooist Hayden Stryker's tumultuous past is haunting him. Plagued by nightmares about the murder of his parents, Hayden reaches out again to Tenley. Having run from the man she doesn't believe she deserves, Tenley finally lays her guilt to rest. Despite their intense physical attraction, Hayden and Tenley struggle to repair their fragile emotional connection. As Hayden gets closer to the truth, he must find a way to reconcile his guilt over his parents' death in order to keep the woman who finally cracked his armor, and found her way into his heart.



Goodreads badge add plus



























Have you read any of the books mentioned or currently have them on your TBR? If so leave a comment below letting me know whether or not you liked it or are excited to read! 😄


~ Aimie










Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday {34}

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, Hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating. 


44284639. sy475

Title:

Would Like to Meet


Author:

Rachel Winters


Publication Date:

December 3rd, 2019


Publisher:

                                         G.P. Putnam's Sons










Summary from Goodreads:


In this charming, feel-good debut novel, a cynical assistant at a screenwriting agency must reenact the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedy movies in order to help her #1 client get his scriptwriting mojo back--but can a real-life meet-cute be in store for someone who doesn't believe in happily ever after?

After seven years as an assistant, 29-year-old Evie Summers is ready to finally get the promotion she deserves. But now the TV and film agency she's been running behind the scenes is in trouble, and Evie will lose her job unless she can convince the agency's biggest and most arrogant client, Ezra Chester, to finish writing the script for a Hollywood romantic comedy.

The catch? Ezra is suffering from writer's block--and he'll only put pen to paper if singleton Evie can prove to him that you can fall in love like they do in the movies. With the future of the agency in jeopardy, Evie embarks on a mission to meet a man the way Sally met Harry or Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts.

But in the course of testing out the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedies IRL, not only will Evie encounter one humiliating situation after another, but she'll have to confront the romantic past that soured her on love. In a novel as hilarious as it is heartwarming, debut author Rachel Winters proves that sometimes real life is better than the movies--and that the best kind of meet-cutes happen when you least expect them.
 




                                                     Goodreads badge add plus

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday {33}

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, Hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating. 










44244324



Title:

Dangerous Alliance: An Austentacious Romance


Author:

Jennieke Cohen


Publication Date:

December 3rd, 2019


Publisher:

                                            HarperTeen










Summary from Goodreads:


The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Jane Austen in this witty, winking historical romance with a dash of mystery!



Lady Victoria Aston has everything she could want: an older sister happily wed, the future of her family estate secure, and ample opportunity to while her time away in the fields around her home.



But now Vicky must marry—or find herself and her family destitute. Armed only with the wisdom she has gained from her beloved novels by Jane Austen, she enters society’s treacherous season.



Sadly, Miss Austen has little to say about Vicky’s exactcircumstances: whether the roguish Mr. Carmichael is indeed a scoundrel, if her former best friend, Tom Sherborne, is out for her dowry or for her heart, or even how to fend off the attentions of the foppish Mr. Silby, he of the unfortunate fashion sensibility.



Most unfortunately of all, Vicky’s books are silent on the topic of the mysterious accidents cropping up around her…ones that could prevent her from surviving until her wedding day.




                                                     Goodreads badge add plus

Monday, October 7, 2019

Blog Tour | Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo







43263680Ninth House


by Leigh Bardugo

Published by Flatiron Books

Expected Publication October 8th, 2019

Genres: New Adult, Fantasy, Fiction

Series: Alex Stern - Book One

Format: ARC

Source: Kindly provided by Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.





Summary from Goodreads: 









The mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Timesbestselling author Leigh Bardugo



Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?



Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.










Goodreads badge add plus





















Review








Ninth House, the first book in Leigh Bardugo's new adult series Alex Stern, was one of my most anticipated read of 2019.




Galaxy "Alex" Stern, raised by a hippie mom in Los Angeles hinterlands, dropped out of school early and was thrust into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much worse. By twenty-years-old, she was the sole survivor of an unsolved, horrific, homicide. It is while she's in her hospital bed that Alex is offered a second chance: attend one of the world's most elite universities on a full ride. What's the catch and why her? Upon arriving at New Haven, Alex is tasked by her mysterious benefactors to monitor the activities of Yale's secret societies. These "tombs" are well-known haunts of the future rich and powerful, but their occult activities are much more sinister and extraordinary than anyone might ever conceive. 





Ninth House takes its readers on a journey between both the past and present, focusing on Galaxy "Alex" Stern, an unlikely member of Yale's freshman class, and Daniel Arlington ("Darlington"), her guide/mentor teaching her about these societies. This set up of past and present made any and all plot twists seem that much more impactful and poignant. Being the sole survivor of a horrific homicide, Alex is offered a second chance in the form of a new life. Taking this opportunity, she packs up what's left of her life and moves across the country to begin monitoring Yale's secret societies for the next four years. There she is taught by Darlington about the societies and their occult activities. 



Ninth House has a wide arrange of delightfully intriguing characters, however amongst them all Alex, who happens to be the main character, stands out. Being able to see Grays, the term for ghosts in this world, as well as her abilities with them are not all as it seems. The atmosphere, being extremely palpable, and characters, both three-dimensional and captivating to read, make this book that much more enthralling.



As mentioned previously, Ninth House was one of my highly anticipated reads of 2019, but while it did not fully live up to its expectations it was still a highly enjoyable book to read. The only thing that stopped this book from getting a full 5 star review, is due to the pacing. You have to at least give this book around 100 pages before the it truly takes off and you are better able to understand the entirety of this story to its fullest. It at times felt as if the pacing was dragging, so unless you are invested in the story and/or characters then it is easy for it to fall flat for you. In the end, I still personally enjoyed Ninth House and can not wait to get my hands on the second book. 



With that being said, before diving into this book I strongly suggest looking at its trigger warnings. A list of trigger warnings will be made available at the end of this review. If you are looking for more in depth trigger warnings, there are a ton of reviews out that may be able to fully address concerns you may have. Ninth House is a dark book that looks at the lengths we go to in order to survive when faced with situations both out of our control and traumatizing. If you think you're in a good place to pick this book up then I definitely recommend it, however, if you feel like you're not then don't push yourself to pick it up. Though I understand the hype around this book and that we've been waiting a while for it but please focus  on your mental health and put it first.







TRIGGER WARNING: Extreme violence, graphic scenes, sexual assault, drug abuse, date rape drug, suicide, self-harm, and murder.





NOTE: This book is NOT young adult. Both Leigh Bardugo herself as well as her publishers have classified this book as New Adult and should be viewed and read as so. There are dark themes and graphic scenes.
























Rating









About the Author










Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse. With over three million copies sold, her Grishaverse spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, and King of Scars—with more to come. (To hear about new releases, tour dates, and giveaways first, sign up for Leigh's newsletter here.) Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including The Best of Tor.com and the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and the forthcoming Ninth House



Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Southern California, graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and even makeup and special effects. These days she lives and writes in Los Angeles.