Review and Interview: The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Author:

Published On: 2/16/16

Page Count: 464

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix's father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix's existence rather dangerously in question...

Overall Rating: 5/5

I feel like Nix and crew could have some short stories on the adventures they had before the book took place.
Heidi writes wonderfully and her characters keep you intrigued from start to finish.

 The bond between father and daughter is strong even at times when it feels like it is fraying. Although a slight love triangle did occur it wasn't one that distracted from the main story.
The locations and maps are described so in depth. My finished copy will be well loved once I can put an image to those details.

Cover: 5/5

: I love it. love it. love it. I mean if I wasn't obsessed with it would I have had it out on my book blanket? (The answer you should be saying is NO) it's a ship, a whale that looks like a wave but what's that Eyes. There is a freaking face in the water as well. I didn't see it at first but now I can't stop seeing it.

Characters:

Nix: oh my goodness this girl is so frustrating. She has had every opportunity to screw up her dads plans as a map reader yet she understands why he does what he does and goes with it. She is extremely smart and resourceful. Heidi wrote a character anyone could relate to even if you aren't a time traveling "pirate."

Joss: She was an interesting character and I'm interested to know more of her background now that the book has ended. At first you have no idea where she can fit into all this but then the pieces start clicking together.

Slate although rough around the edges is really just a grown man with extremely strong emotions. He has an addiction and this story shows that even love can be a bad addiction.

Plot:

If you had the opportunity to see your loved one again even if it meant traveling the seven seas (and then some) wouldn't you? That is exactly what Slate has been doing alongside his daughter Nix. All you need to know is Nix is tired of not knowing how each map will work and Slate is exhausted from all of them failing. If this map doesn't do the job will he walk away and never look back? Or will he push through and risk everything he has including his own daughter? Read to find out.

1. My path to publication was a little strange--but perhaps they all are. My particular strange story is as follows: I come from a musical theatre writing background, and I started writing the novel on a whim because my collaborator was out of town music-directing a tour. Once I finished, I was all set to put it out on Wattpad or Amazon for ninety-nine cents and write the next thing when my mother suggested I try to go the traditional route instead. (THANKS MOM.)

I figured, well, alright. I'll give myself six months to try to get an agent, and if it doesn't happen, no harm done. Long story short, it did happen under my six month deadline. Three months after signing on with Molly at The Bent Agency, she sold the book at the Bologna Book Fair. There was a flurry of phone calls and emails. I was actually on bedrest for pre-term labor at the time so it was a little surreal--the doctors had said "I forbid you to do anything exciting or stressful" and so I tried to take a lot of deep breaths the whole time. 

It all seems rather sudden in retrospect, but I had very little concept of how The Publishing Business works back then. I think I probably still don't. There are so many different ways to get there, and different timelines for different people. But I would say it took about nine months for the book to go from Query Draft to Contract. Just about as much time as the average baby.

2. I listen to songs I've heard a zillion times before--otherwise, it's too distracting. For The Girl From Everywhere, I was on a Marianas Trench kick, where I played Ever After and Masterpiece Theatre on endless loop for about a year. Also, there may have been some old sea shanties, but if there were, they were so filthy that I cannot technically admit to listening to them nor can I recommend them in writing.

3. Here's a spotify Marianas Trench link if you're so inclined. HIS VOICE THO. https://open.spotify.com/user/1257134018/playlist/0MY8Q8uDbq9vQfxHe2fpPU 

4. I just finished Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson, which took me on an incredible adventure. And then I read This Is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp, which broke my heart.

5. I know that I'm really looking forward to Alwyn Hamilton's REBEL OF THE SANDS. We share an agent so I have it on best authority that book is going to be amazing. If you're looking for more time travel and true love (and I'm always looking for time travel and true love), Emily Henry's THE LOVE THAT SPLIT THE WORLD seems a perfect fit.


TTFN,
Ashley

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Book Tour Review: Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk

Author: Melissa Gorzelanczuk

Published On: 1/26/16

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Page Count: 240

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.

Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.

Overall Rating: 5/5
Greek mythology meets Teen Mom is a prefect comparison to Arrows. This was a quick read and one that I will be passing on to a close friend. The element of dancing was intriguing but what really made this for me was the idea that its alright to put yourself before others.

Cover: 
This is so simple and adorable. I really like this. In fact my dad and I made a cover with a arrow heart to match. Sometime simple covers like this is all it takes to catch a person`s eye.

Characters:
Karma: Even when she wants to give up she never does. She has this drive that I see in some of my friends who are younger moms. She wants to make a great life for her and her daughter even if that means staying with a man who doesn`t understand her anymore. She is the girl that has a beauty around her but doesnt let it go to her head. She is smart and sweet and knows that even when you make a mistake you have to learn from it and move on.

Aaryn: Yes he F****d up but at least he does try to make things right and he feels guilty about it all. He fights for what he believes is true even though he doesn`t understand how humans work.

Danny: Just NO, Karma could have left this (insert not nice word here) even after being hit by an arrow. She didn't though because she hoped to find the person he use to be and pull him back from the shadows. 

Plot:

About Melissa

Melissa Gorzelanczyk is a former magazine editor and columnist who believes love is everything. Her debut young adult novel ARROWS is coming from Random House/Delacorte Press on January 26, 2016. Proud member of the SCBWI, The Sweet Sixteensand the Class of 2k16. She lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with her husband and family. Also believes love is strong coffee, arrow jewelry and simple, beautiful everyday things.

Here are the other stops for this mini book tour:

Tour Stops

Ashley @ Books Buying Beauty

Bex @ Lit Geek Chic

Blessie @ Mischievous Reads

Tika @ Fangirl Confessions

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review and Interview: The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie

The Abyss Surrounds Us
Emily Skrutskie
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Flux
Published On: 2/8/16

Cover: 3.5/5
At first I wasn't a fan of the spacey background and animated character but now after reading the book I do think it's fits.

Characters: 5/5
Reckoners are a huge part of the book. They are basically genetically modified creatures used to protect ships from pirates. They take the best attributes of several creatures and put them in an egg. When this embryo hatches it is up to the trainers to start work immediately. Cas has two reckoners we get to read about in some detail.

Cassandra aka Cas is a Reckoner trainer in training. She has potential to be the greatest but her inability to follow directions-hard fast rules- is her downfall. I do love how we get to watch her grow into her feelings. At times she has to make pretty harsh decisions but she does so with a planned grace.

Santa Elena the criminal pirate. All she wants is a Reckoner for her ship so she can rule the seas with her crew. Even though she is supposed to be the "evil" villain in this story I enjoyed how she went about her piracy. Yes she is using Cas for the Reckoner pup but she also seems to care about what Cas has to say. Santa Elena has a past and I would love a novella about it.

Plot: 5/5
Pirates, giant genetically modified creatures and one girl who controls the fate of this world. If a Reckoner pup falls into the hands of pirates the balance of the trade and travel route will be thrown off. Cas a new trainer will have to step up to the plate and do the job she's been training half her life for. If she fails the pirates win, if she succeeds her family will never speak to her again but she will have freedom. The lengths Cas goes to protect those she has come to trust ignores the evil she has been told pirates are.

Overall Rating: 5/5
This is a mash-up novel with a little science and little fantasy and a dash of romance. This was one of my most anticipated debuts and I'm so glad I received an early copy.

Pick up your copy of The Abyss Surrounds Us NOW!!

1. Did you listen to a playlist while writing?

During the actual act of putting words on a page, I can't be listening to music with lyrics. It's something about focusing on one language at a time. I can work if I put on a film soundtrack, but music with words just slows down my thought process. I do keep an inspiration playlist though, full of songs that remind me of the story I'm working on.

2. Want to share your playlist?

Sure! My playlist for THE ABYSS SURROUNDS US can be found on my Spotify account here: https://open.spotify.com/user/skrutskie/playlist/5TF26RwvPKPkRJeuzpTotg

3. Outside your book who would you "Ship" your MC with?

Tough question! Cas is pretty choosy when it comes to romantic stuff, so it'd have to be someone who she can really connect with. Is it cheating if I pick someone from my CP's upcoming book? Because Daphne, from Tara Sim's TIMEKEEPER, is exactly Cas's type—a no-nonsense blonde who isn't afraid to mix it up. 

4. Describe your book using emoticons.

5. Why YA as your genre?

I started writing YA as a fifteen-year-old, figuring that because I was a young adult, that's where my voice fit best. Now, six years later, not much has changed. YA literature has always appealed to me because it's so story-driven. There's a constant need to be an efficient storyteller, and that's something I really value when I write. Maybe as I get older, my voice and style will shift into the territory of adult, but right now, YA is home.

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry

Author: Emily Henry

Published On: 1/26/16

Page Count: 316

I received this ARC for free in return for my honest opinion

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Natalie Cleary must risk her future and leap blindly into a vast unknown for the chance to build a new world with the boy she loves. 
Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start... until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right.
That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.”

Overall Rating: 5/5

Overall this novel is a captivating read. Natalie has to make some tough choices but what really kept me reading was the glimpses of an unordinary world.

Cover: 5/5

This is gorgeous and I wish I did an IG photo of it instead of using a photo app. The colors are so bright and I love that the girl is unzipping the sky by falling.

Characters: 4.5/5

Natalie: She is ready to leave her small town behind and has all these goals. Nat doesn`t talk about “grandmother” much but her best friend at least supports her theories.

Beau: Dang this boy. With the piano playing and mysterious air about him I couldn`t help but want to know more about him. Even when he goes missing (it gets explained) I still have him on my mind because he is the one that progresses the storyline.

Grandmother: Now this is a character I could get into and understand. Her stories are amazing and kept me wanting more. I would sometimes have the same response Natalie would have but other times I would get it before her.

Plot: 4.5/5

This is very contemporary heavy however it has a fantasy feel as well. There is of course the idea of different worlds. Emily makes these subtle changes in each world that make the plot thicken because you aren`t sure which world Nat and Beau are in. Although some parts are slow and I tended to want to skim if you just stick it out it picks up I promise.

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Author: Marieke Nijkamp

Published On: 1/5/16

Page Count: 292

I received this ARC for free in return for my honest opinion

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student's calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

Overall Rating: 5/5
Me: what happiness can come from this type of traumatic event?
Debate Friend: The Illumination of strengths and weaknesses each individual has.
Me: Sorry can't comprehend the epicness of this story that lasted 54min.
Debate Friend: ... Read a fairytale before bed that way you won't be as sad.

Cover: 5/5

See my Instagram for my rendition of the cover. Without picking the book up my friends knew it had to do with school and death.

Characters: 5/5

Tomas: He is such a trouble maker but when it comes down to protecting those he cares about he jumps at it. I fell for him so hard because I get what its like to be the smart kid who is tired of being judged. 

Autumn: What it must feel like to be the shooter`s sister. I`m disapointed in her ability to not only stand up for herself but also her inability to follow instructions. If this was a real event you would never disobey a direct command and run away. 

Claire: The shooter`s ex girlfriend. In all honesty she didn`t really fit with the story. Her brother Matt did more than her and I really cared about him. She just seemed to be more fuel to the reason he shoots up the school.

Sylv: All Sylv cares about is protecting Autumn as well as taking care of her Mama who is sick. This being so short of a story i wish her character could have been fleshed out more. 

Plot: 5/5

 I made a snap story while reading this for #Cramathon. Thank god its gone because I may or may not have cried during the ending snap. So many lives ended within a matter of 54 minutes and its terrifying to think how real this could be. Marieke does an amazing job of laying out the details of how not only the shooter thinks but also how everyone reacts to the situation.

Goodies:

Why YA as your genre?

Because YA is brave and rife with possibilities.

What book would suggest to be on the lookout for besides yours?

Oh my goodness, 2016 is going to be such a wonderful year for books! In contemporary YA, I’m so excited about Paula Garner’s Phantom Limbs and Julie Murphy’s Ramona Drowning. In fantasy, I absolutely loved Renee Ahdieh’s The Rose and The Dagger, Audrey Coulthurst’s Of Fire and Stars, and Traci Chee’s The Reader. S. Jae-Jones’s Underground is simply magical too. And finally, keep an eye out for Brooks Benjamin’s My Seventh-Grade Life in Tights, which is fun, dance, and happiness in book form.

                                                                                                                                 

How much research did you do for This is Where it Ends?

A lot of it. For every hour I spent writing, I spent (at least) another researching. I read firsthand accounts of shootings, I listened to 911 calls, I plowed through hundreds of pages of investigative reports, I talked to people, I kept up with news and social media feeds as active shooter situations emerged, I familiarized myself with the psychology of being held at gunpoint. As much as possible, I immersed myself in what we know about school shootings (which is both a lot and not a lot at all). And I tried to translate that to the book.

At the same time, of course, This Is Where It Ends is still fiction. The story isn’t about the technicalities of a shooting; it’s about four teens in a harrowing situation whose world is being turned upside down. So I allowed for that, too, in the way the story unfolded. But I wanted to ensure that any poetic license remained respectful to real life.

Do you listen to music as you write?

Yes! It depends a bit on which stage of the writing process I’m in, but I love my playlists to get in the right mood for a story. For This Is Where It Ends, The Fray’s How To Save A Life was a great song for tone, for example.

Outside of writing and reading what other hobbies do you have?

Writing and reading do account for a lot of my spare time! J But I also love to travel. I love exploring new places – be it cities, culture, or nature. These days, I travel around the US quite a bit, usually for conventions and other book-related fun, but I also backpacked around Ireland, spent a week in a yurt in Dartmoor, and loved the liveliness of the Tunisian souqs.

Marieke Nijkamp is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek. She holds degrees in philosophy, history, and medieval studies, and wants to grow up to be a time traveler. Her debut young adult novel This Is Where It Ends will be published by Sourcebooks Fire on January 5, 2016.

For additional bio information + photos, see http://www.mariekenijkamp.com/musings/press-kit/

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: Everything,Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything,Everything

Author: Nicola Yoon

Published On: 9/1/15

Page Count: 310

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Overall Rating: 5/5

I adored this book. I originally rated it a 5/5 for me but after stewing it over I`m thinking I should decrease to a 4/5 because yes that plot twist OMG and the non-awkwardness of Olly and Maddy`s first date. I guess I wanted it to be weird and uncomfortable. I would highly suggest picking this one up though. The format is great and you don’t want to put it down.

BEA `15 First group in line for Nicola`s signing

Cover: 5/5

I love this cover. It’s Everything it needs to be. The colors are great and I love how the white just contrasts the chaotic bottom. It’s like the two sides to Maddy`s life.

Characters: 5/5

Maddy: She wants to not only live but live a life worth remembering. Being locked in a house and not having an exciting life has to be rough. She is so smart, almost too smart for her own good.

Olly: He is different, but in a good way. Next door he deals with an abusive, alcoholic father, and a mother who won’t leave. At first, he tries to visit Maddy at home, but when that fails epically, he starts writing notes on his bedroom window (Which is so swoon worthy)

Plot: 4.5/5

So this is where it gets hard on my rating. So much happens that I can`t really talk about cause of things. I would like to talk about the format instead though. Anna over at Starcrossedbookblog does an amazing review of this. The format is full of Madeline’s notes, IM`s and just general thoughts. I think the reason why I was able to read this so quickly was due to the format. It was fast paced and flowed so nicely.

Hope you enjoyed my review. Please let me know in the comments below if you`ve read this lovely book.

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Vengeance Road

Author: Erin Bowman

Published On: 9/1/15

Page Count: 318

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

When Kate Thompson’s father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, the eighteen-year-old disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers and justice. What she finds are devious strangers, dust storms, and a pair of brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, she gets closer to the truth about herself and must decide if there's room for love in a heart so full of hate.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Overall I would highly recommend picking this up even if you think you don't like westerns. You learn acceptance and loss throughout the book and get a strong independent female as your main character.

Cover: 5/5

I absolutely love how the cover fits into the western description. All the way to the guns that belonged to Kate`s dad. I`m excited that the arc is the final cover because it is honestly what drew me in to read the synopsis.

Characters: 5/5

Kate: Sums up the definition of a read western female. All the wants to do is make her father proud. She is a steady shot and even though she has those “girly” moments they fit her character so well.

Jesse: The ideal big brother. He takes control and thinks before acting. Although this is great at times the rest of it drove Kate and myself as the reader crazy.

Will: He`s an independent little brother and in my head I nicknamed him the “trickster.”

Waylon Rose: His whole persona encompasses everything the Wild West outlaw was about. Love how Erin incorporated Waylon to have a signature on his victims.

Plot: 5/5

After reading I did learn this was loosely based on the mining story of “The Dutchman.” Which is kind of really cool if you go read about it. Kate starts out to seek revenge for her father but ends up learning so much about herself that the book leaves you wanting more for her.

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: I`ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I`ll Meet You There

Author: Heather Demetrios

Published On: February 3^rd, 2015

Page Count: 388

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99.

Cover: 5/5

                This just screams “PICK ME UP AND READ”. I`ve seen a few books coming out this year that have similar motel type covers but this by far is my favorite. It fits Paradise completely.

Overall Rating: 5/5

I jumped into reading I'll Meet You There a book that involves an amputee from war. Reading the struggles and how he adapted in his own ways was really great. Would highly suggest reading it.
The handwritten letter from author Heather Demetrios added to the epicness of Josh and Skylar's story.

Characters: 5/5

Skylar: She is so artsy and sweet. I felt for her wanting to get out of such a small town. She felt trapped and did whatever it took to get a job done. Skylar at times got on my nerves but in the end She really meant well and her and Josh are great together.

Josh: I wanted to punch him for being such an ass but then I realized why he was being an ass. I feel like his character I was a lot more bias with because of having a military background. I understood his desire to get back out there and the blaming himself for everything. Overall I did like Josh and the bonus letter made him that much sweeter.

Plot:

Mostly set in or around The Paradise Motel Skylar and Josh grew up side by side. Josh a player and Skylar ready to escape to better things.  I hated the synopsis of this boo because it gave away Josh`s injury. Skylar tries to help Josh with his prostetic but he is constantly shoving her away. This is understandable. Josh`s old friends don`t realize why Josh has changed and its only Skylar who really seems to step up and help him through the nightmares.

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Published On: August 11^th, 2011

Page Count: 375

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

Overall Rating: 6/5

Just oh my goodness if you haven’t read this yet please do. I need someone to nerd out with me. I fangirled so hard at BEA when he signed Armada.

Cover:

I read on kindle but the paperback I have since bought is pretty awesome. It’s simple but still cool.

Characters:

Wade: Can I just say how dedicated all three of these kids are. Wade just wants what is best and he is so determined to solve the puzzle. He is helpful and near the end rather have friends in reality then over the Oasis.

Art3mis: That twist though….Just wow. Strong and an original character. At first is a little mysterious but starts to open up to Wade and Aech.

Aech: Out of all the players I feel like he wants this more than anyone. He wants the world to be better but most of all he doesn`t want the prize to fall in the hands of the Sixers.

Sixers: They are a completely ruthless group of “gamers” that work together to try and solve the Famous Easter Egg. They aren`t in it for the love of knowledge and gaming they are in it to monopolize the Oasis.

Plot:

Ernest Cline is able to take 80`s pop culture references and turn it into a futuristic alternate (or real) reality. The Oasis is the perfect place for everyone to run away from the horrible tasks of everyday life. They can be whoever they want to be and best of all they never have to leave their seats.

The hunt itself was what really did it for me. There was so much excitement and puzzles that I found myself wanting to search and watch the games a movies referenced.

Extras:

01/25			21.0%		"Loving the concept so much and why did I not pick this book up when it first came out. Amazing Concept with so many references that I understand"
01/28			41.0%		"I really like Art3mis and Aech's characters. The Sixers are completely ruthless, why anyone would work for them is beyond me."

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier

Dream a Little Dream

Author: Kertsin Gier

Published On: April 14, 2015

Page Count: 322

Synopsis: (Found on goodreads)

Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv's dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially the one where she's in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.

The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They're classmates from her new school in London, the school where she's starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again).

Overall Rating: 5/5

Finished this in under 7 hours which was the start of an amazing book reading binge. This story is so descriptive and the story flows well. Out of Gier`s works I would have to say this one is my favorite.

   

Cover: 5/5

This cover is stunning. I am glad they did a cover change from the Netgalley original version. This one just matches the plot of the book perfectly. The colors pop and the items have significance in the book itself.

Characters: 4.5/5

Liv Silver: She is inquisitive and for me very relatable. She wants to solve problems and uncover hidden gems in life. Although sometimes her personality can get her in to some trouble she seems to finally have control of her life and what she (might) want to do.

Grayson Spencer: I am torn between Grayson and Henry as Liv`s love interest. Grayson is different and sometimes sulks about life but he has an interesting past and is learning to move forward. He looks out for Liv and doesn`t want to see her get hurt.

Henry Harper: He is super secretive and you never truly know what he is thinking. Although he is Liv`s bf I still feel like he has some super dark secrets that as readers we aren`t going to like. I hope to find out more about him in book 2 (please can it be here yet).

Secrecy: Is the name of the blogger of the school Tiddle-Taddle. S/He knows everything that is going on. Liv loves mysteries so she is trying to figure out who Secrecy is. I typically hate people like this that meddle in everyone’s lives and then gossip about it. Secrecy however I think understands what is “alright” to talk about- trivial things in a person life versus something that could truly hurt them.

Plot: 5/5

There is tons of witty banter between characters and then there is a little interesting dream exploration. Gier also used the idea of doors to other people’s dreams actually being doors. People can put locks and defenses on their doors to keep other’s out. This was a fun way to sort of get a look at what type of person they would be. Some were simple others were a little more tricky. There is some high school drama but most of it isn`t your typical teen angst. There is also a bit of a romance going on here, but it progresses slowly and is sweet and seems real.

Quotes:

Pg.275

                “Whether he`ll come by way of Oberammergau or by way of Unterammergau or whether he`ll come at all isn`t certain.”

Pg. 279

                “It`s in dreams more than anywhere else that you get to know people best-along with all their weaknesses and secrets.”

TTFN,

Ashley

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Review: Every Last Word by Tamera Ireland Stone

Every Last Word

Author: Tamera Ireland Stone

Published Date: June 16^th, 2015

Page Count: 368

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

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.

Overall Rating: 5/5 (Would totally add more stars)

                I had the opportunity to read this out loud to my parents on our drive to see family for 10hrs. Maybe it’s because I was able to slow down and process more of the book because I was talking out loud but the emotions Every Last Word evokes is so strong and provoking. Highly recommend.

 Cover: 5/5

                I love the cover. It is so simple yet fits the plot of the book so well. The only thing that could be different is adding in a fry wrapper or something to represent the humor in the book as well. I also love that the title is said in the book. It makes it mean so much more.

Characters: 5/5

                Samantha: or Sam as she likes to be called during the summer is struggling to leave the safety net of “friends.” Her struggle with perfection and not being “crazy” is well written. Having OCD or Pure-O isn`t something that you want everyone to know about so her being to open up using poetry and making new friends shows such growth.

                AJ: He is shy in the hallways but if you give him a guitar and mic stand he sweats confidence. He teaches Sam about growing up and moving on. He stands by her even though they didn’t start out on the right foot. He keeps the key to Poet`s Corner and keeps the tradition of the room alive.

                Caroline: She is everything that Samantha is not. Brave and opinionated. I love that Caroline offers the best advice at just the right time. She makes it possible for those in need to make friends and find themselves. She is creative and funny and probably the perfect best friend.

Plot: 5/5

Stone writes such relatable characters and they experiences they have most teens have gone through. OCD is seen as not as serious so this sheds new light on an illness that some don’t know much about.

This isn`t just about OCD, its about moving on and realizing that having toxic people in your life isn’t healthy. That no one is ever going to be perfectly normal. Samantha grows so much in this novel.

Poet Corner, Freaking incredible. It sounds absolutely magical and whimsical and I could probably spend hours down there, reading every single poem pasted to the walls.

Social Media Reactions: Watch the panic of reading out loud to my parents occur in twitter and goodread updates.

Twitter Updates:

@tamaraistone @HyperionTeens reading #EveryLastWord out loud to parents on 10hr drive to Washington. 175 pages in and loving it. :)

@tamaraistone pg 245/355 reading out loud was a big awkward but we got past it. I'm feeling a crushing moment coming and I'm nervous.

@tamaraistone Oh My God... I just can't... My mom audibly gasped, my dad said "no fucking way" only 50pgs to go and I already want to reread

#EveryLastWord Last update. Finished in rest area and there were tears. Amazing story and I can't wait to pass it on. Thank you @tamaraistone

Goodreads updates:

06/08	page 228		61.0%	"The swimming part. Oh Lordy. :) managed to read it straight faced outloud. I like AJ and I really don't want to see anything get messed up between Sam and Him. There is a sinking feeling that something will happen."
06/08	page 303		82.0%	"https://twitter.com/bookz4nerdz/statu... Literally twitter has become this books journey. I'm just said it's over in 50pgs. Lots of feelings right now in the car"

Let me know what you think in the comments below. Have you read ELW yet? What outlets do you use to channel your feelings?

TTFN,

Ashley

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