Review- Untouched by Melody Grace

Goodreads Summary:

Emerson Ray is trouble. Juliet knows it the minute she lays eyes on Cedar Cove’s resident bad boy. Forced to spend her summer before college in the sleepy beach town, she never expected to crash into the most devastating guy she’s ever met—or for Emerson’s blue eyes to strip through her dark secrets, and make her feel a desire she’s never known. Their connection is undeniable, but Juliet is torn. She knows, once she gives him everything, there’ll be no turning back.

Juliet McKenzie is dangerous. Emerson can tell from the way she blows through all his defences, laying bare the demons he’s carried alone all his life. He’s left a trail of broken hearts and empty beds in his wake, but Juliet is different. Her innocence is intoxicating—and the passion she keeps hidden, just below the surface. He wants to be the only one to set it free, but with every kiss, he’s closer to losing control and doing the one thing he swore he never would: fall in love.

One summer. Two damaged hearts. Their story is only just beginning…

UNTOUCHED is a prequel novella to the USA Today Bestselling UNBROKEN. It also can be read as a stand-alone story.

REVIEW:

From my Unbroken review, it is clear that I did not want to have anything to do with the Beachwood Bay series. The main characters, Juliet and Emerson were shallow and senseless. The story revolved around sex, there was no dialogue whatsoever. It was more a lust story than a love story. 

Yet, when author Melody Grace wrote a prequel novella from the points of view of both Juliet and Emerson, in spite of my indifference towards it, the curiosity in me was boiling. I really wanted to see if the two characters have any substance. Which is why I decided to give Untouched a try and compared to Unbroken, it was a pretty decent and okay read. 

In Untouched, we get to see how Juliet and Emerson actually meet and what makes them so attracted to each other. For the two of them, uh- I really hate to say this- but it's just the bodies of the other that heat things up and make them oh so desirable. Don't get me wrong, our body is what people notice for the first time and having a good body is good, but really, everything isn't about eyes and muscles and curves. But then again, that cover says it all, so maybe I was wrong in thinking there'd be more than just make up sessions. 

While the lust and desire to constantly be physically close to one another continues from Unbroken, what actually made Untouched better was dialogue. There really was no dialogue in Unbroken. In Untouched, however, Juliet and Emerson- thank sweet heavens above- talk. They actually make conversation and that was a relief. Seriously, this book should have come out before Unbroken and those of you who will take the risk of reading the series must read Untouched first to understand everything. 

Juliet and Emerson bond over the similar family situation they have at home and even though I found myself drifting off at times while reading, it was good to see Juliet try her best to help Emerson and make him understand that he isn't all alone. 

Overall, Untouched, for a short story, was an okay read, and way better than Unbroken. The two points of views made it more understandable and even though I'm not a huge fan, I must say that yes, this was a pretty alright read that was much needed to settle the sudden attraction between Juliet and Emerson. 

RATING:

Review- Undeclared by Jen Fredricks

Summary-

For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson — or any man — ever going to break her heart again.

Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way — literally — through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet.

Review-

After reading the summary of Undeclared I was really intrigued to know Grace and Noah's story. The book turned out to be a really pleasant surprise and I am so glad I took my chance on Undeclared.

Grace wrote letters and sent care packages to a Marine, whom she's never met before for four years. She thought they had grown closer to each other through those letters. But when Noah's deployment ended so did the letters. Now Grace is determined to move on and there is no way she's opening herself for heartbreak again. I really liked Grace. She was a normal girl and her feelings were really well portrayed.

Noah has had a shitty childhood. That is what makes him want control and stability in life. That was the reason he joined the Marines. What he did not see coming, were Grace's letters and the way he fell in love with her. But when the time comes to actually meet her he panics, breaking Grace's heart. Noah was a tough guy. We get to see the reasons behind his choices and that's when I liked him.

The start of Noah and Grace's relationship was unexpected but as we read from the present we see that they had a lot of growing up to do. When they meet, its like they already know each other but there's still so much more to be found out. I loved the intimacy between them. Grace was hesitant at first but I loved how determined Noah was in his persuasion.

I loved the way Jen Fredricks wrote, connecting all the dots. It was very satisfying to see how Noah and Grace's story progressed. I also loved Bo, Noah's best friend and can't wait to see how his book is. Undeclared was a pretty unique book and I really enjoyed it.

Review- Beaten by Bhagath by S.V. Divvaakar

Goodreads Summary:

‘I’m sure you can do a much better job than Bhagath!’
When BB hears these inspiring words from his sexy lady boss, his staid life as a successful analyst in an MNC goes into a tailspin.
Bitten by the ego bug and smitten by her, BB sets off on his quest to write a book that’s better than India’s greatest writer Dr.Bhagath’s blockbusters. Nothing unusual about this for BB, who likes a good fight. Except that he and Bhagath had been classmates and friends at college. 
What follows is a roller-coaster voyage of the debutant author and his book, with all its twists and cul-de-sacs. Brushes with publishers, celebrities, retailers, book chains, and competition with the alliances among giants, mark the challenger’s journey, upping the stakes at every stage. 

Will BB catch up with his famous friend? 
What will their encounter be like? 

Written from inside the ring, ‘Beaten by Bhagath’ is a gripping tale ...the first-ever about the unseen side of the wonderland of Indian fiction.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Beaten by Bhagath by S.V. Divvaakar from Yatin @ Me About My Thoughts in exchange for an honest review. We thank the author and Yatin for the book! 

I was wary about starting Beaten by Bhagath by author S.V. Divvaakar because the title clearly suggests that the book is going to talk about the famous Indian author India loves to hate. Contrary to many people out there, I have actually read and thoroughly enjoyed this particular author's books. 
I don't know if Beaten by Bhagath has any controversy surrounding it so I'm not really sure if at all I want to take any names. Honestly, the book seemed like a spoof on this author, but thankfully, it was done in a sporting way. I really wonder if the author (Divvaakar) knew that this author's brother's name, who is also an author now, is actually the same as the name used for him in the book. 
Beaten by Bhagath has been one of those few paperback copies that I finished reading within a few hours. It was an enjoyable, fun and light hearted read that had me laughing. 
This is the story of BB whose secretary thinks he has a lot more potential than K-10, the writing rock-star of the country and BB's college mate. That's when BB decides to take this seriously and begins penning down his first novel, after the completion of which he now has to bring his baby out into the real world. 
After having interacted with and even been lucky enough to hear some authors speak about their journey into the writing world, I could easily understand all the dilemmas and problems faced by BB. Some of the revelations were really shocking and I found myself cheering for BB a couple of times. 
Author S.V. Divvaakar's writing is quite good as it manages to keep the reader engaged. I have to give the author a lot of credit for thinking. Many names that are actually supremely popular in India, be it authors or book stores or publishing houses or online shopping sites even, were given different names than what they actually are, but in such a funny and slightly silly manner that anyone could guess what the author is actually talking about or referring to. 
I did have a few issues with the book and there were some things in it that I didn't quite get and many things that I didn't quite like as well. The end part just didn't sit well with me. All that aside, Beaten by Bhagath is overall a very simple, short and sweet read about an aspiring and struggling author. 

RATING:

Feature & Follow Friday #58

Feature and Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Today's question is: 

This weeks Activity:

                              Reading Nook Tour!

My reading nook is my bed. Its super comfy and cozy and I can read away for hours at a time without moving :)

What's your answer?

Follow us and we'll follow back!

Happy Friday everybody :)

Review- If You Leave by Courtney Cole

Summary-

26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.

They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.

But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.

Review-

If You Leave is the sequel and more of a companion novel actually of If You Stay by Courtney Cole. I had really enjoyed Pax and Mila's story in If You Stay so I was looking forward to read Mila's sister, Madison's story. Though the latter's story falls under adult contemporary romance.

Gabriel Vincent is an ex-Army ranger. After having seen absolute horrors in Afghanistan he just can't take it anymore so he's back. He's also suffering from PTSD which is post traumatic stress disorder. Gabe has actually come to live with his sister, Jacey, for some time who also happens to be Madison's best friend. Gabe was a good, protective guy, but he had a hell lot of issues to work through.

Then we have Madison. After Madison and Mila's parents passed away Maddy has taken complete responsibility over their restaurant. But truly, she's sick of living her dull life. After watching her parents' messed up abusive relationship she doesn't want anything to do with love but when Gabe comes along, all she wants to do is heal him.

If You Leave starts off really hot. There is an insane amount of chemistry between Gabe and Maddy and they give in to their attraction but things don't go the way they're supposed. The next few meetings are stand offish between both of them but neither Gabe nor Maddy can stay away.

Even though they are both together Gabe doesn't have a handle on his demons and so after an incident, he leaves Angel Bay. Both Gabe and Maddy have to face the harsh realities. I thought Maddy took Gabe back too quickly after his almost cheating but there's no denying that Gabe was suffering a hell lot too. If You Leave is not a light read. Its dark and gritty but I really enjoyed it.

Waiting On Wednesday #58

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

It Happened One Wedding by Julie James

Publication Date: March 25, 2014

Summary-

SHE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO SAY “I DO”

After a humiliating end to her engagement, investment banker Sidney Sinclair is done with commitment-phobic men. But when her sister winds up engaged after a whirlwind courtship, she’s thrown in to close contact with exactly the kind of sexy playboy she wants to avoid—the gorgeous best man. She’s stuck with him, for better or worse, until her sister walks down the aisle, but that doesn’t mean she has to give in to his smooth advances, no matter how tempting they are…

BUT HE MAKES IT HARD TO SAY “I DON’T”

Special Agent Vaughn Roberts always gets his man on the job and his woman in bed. So Sidney’s refusal to fall for his charms only makes him more determined to win over the cool and confident redhead. Only what starts out as a battle of wills ends up as a serious play for her heart. Because the one woman who refuses to be caught may be the only one Vaughn can’t live without…

I LOVE Julie James. Her books are fabulous and I will definitely be reading this one :)

What are you waiting on?

Book Event- The Homing Pigeons... by Sid Bahri

Hello, people! 

The Homing Pigeons... by author Sid Bahri is a book we have talked about many times before on our blog. It's one of those things that never gets old and we never get bored of it either. 

If you're interested in seeing the previous posts (if you haven't already) we did on the book, you can click on the links below- 

Teaser Tuesday (Teaser from The Homing Pigeons...)
Sarika's review of The Homing Pigeons...
Author Interview with Sid Bahri
The Homing Pigeons... Read-along Kick-off
The Homing Pigeons... Read-along Discussion #1
The Homing Pigeons... Read-along Discussion #2
The Homing Pigeons Read-along Wrap-up

If you haven't guessed it by now, let me tell you that I love The Homing Pigeons... It is undoubtedly my most favourite Indian novel so far. And Sid Bahri is easily my most favourite Indian author. 

It so happens that Janhvi and I were honoured and privileged to meet the author who flew down to our city, Pune, for the Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) which went on for three days and for a book event at Crossword Book Store.  

I, along with Janhvi of course, had the best time of my life- for four days in a row- with Sid. Trust me, meeting and interacting with an author you admire, look up to and are a huge fan of is special- an experience that will stay with you forever. 

Since the time around which the The Homing Pigeons... came out, I have interacted a lot with Sid via email and on Twitter and Facebook. I found him to be a very sweet, sportive and supportive person. Having actually met him made me realize that his virtual personality is just the same as his real one. 
The one thing I am now sure of is that Sid is not only a wonderful author, but also a wonderful human being and a person. 

I'd like to give you a glimpse into Sid's book reading sessions at the PILF and his event at Crossword. 

Janhvi and I were lucky enough to listen to Sid read from his book twice. It was simply lovely to listen to the author talk about himself and his journey into the literary world. The turnout was good and a lot of enthusiastic readers were eager to know Sid's thoughts on a number of topics ranging from commercial success, crowd wise popularity of his book, his brave and hard decision to make his passion writing his full time job, snippets from his future works and lots more. 

I am sharing some pictures from the events below. 

Sid reading from The Homing Pigeons.. at the PILF.

Sid reading from his book at Crossword, Pune.

Readers (that's us there on the extreme left) intently listening to Sid talk.

The Homing Pigeons... "Pune Team" as I'd like to call it.

Sid signing books for his biggest fan (that's my copy he's signing, by the way).

Janhvi and I really had a wonderful time with the author and the events were both amazing overall since we met tons of authors, fellow book lovers and avid readers. 

We sure hope Sid comes back to Pune soon and also visits your city someday so you get to experience first hand such a pleasure it is to meet him and how amazing a person he is. 

P.S: A lot of the photo credits go to Sid's friend and an absolutely lovely person who we were glad to have met, Ananya, and to the Crossword staff. 

P.P.S: This post is specially for Sid. You gave us some truly special memories and I'd like thank you once again from the bottom of my heart for that. Keep writing and keep rocking! 

Thank you for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Janhvi's Birthday + Things That Remind Me Of...

Yes! You read that right. Today is Janhvi's birthday! *throws confetti* 

So here's wishing a very happy birthday to the girl who has the patience to tolerate me. 

Happy birthday, Janhvi! 

This post is dedicated to my brilliant best friend and fellow blogger. 

She has this huge thing for that guy from author Abbi Glines's Perfection series. 

What's his name? It's got something to do with... Ah, ha! Woods! Yes, Woods Kerrington. 

And such a lovely birthday present it is to have your book boyfriend's book released a day before your birthday and reading it through your birthday at midnight. 

Trust me, all that girl talked about when I called her at midnight was Woods, Woods and Woods. 

So Janhvi, just for today, I'll listen to the Woods crap talk. 

This one's for you. 

Twisted Perfection on Goodreads / Simple Perfection on Goodreads

So this is the story of Della Sloane and Woods Kerrington and they both have accounts on Twitter as well. You can check them and follow them- @Della_Sloane and @WKerrington. 

The profile picture on their accounts is perfect for the two characters. 

 

Perfect, aren't they? So anyways, I like this series but I'm not head over heels over it like Janhvi so there's not much I have that reminds me of it. All I hope is that she likes this post. 

Here are some teasers for you from the latest book that I found online. Do get your copy and read, because these books are sexy and sweet. 

That's all I have! Once again, happy birthday, Janhvi! 

Teaser Tuesday #58

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

Here's my teaser: 

"Mmm, but if you're here with me I can concentrate. And then you can get naked for me again and be a naughty girl when I need you."

Della threw her head back and laughed. The sound of it made everything in my world right. 

-Simple Perfection (Perfection #2) by Abbi Glines 

Goodreads Summary:

Woods had his perfect life mapped out for him. Rise up the ranks of the family business. Marry the rich girl of his parents’ dreams. Pretend that wealth and privilege was all he’d ever wanted. Then a girl named Della breezed into town, a beautifully imperfect stranger who captured his heart and opened his eyes to a new kind of future. Woods is ready and willing to sacrifice everything for her when the sudden death of his father leaves him with his mother to care for and a business to manage.

Della is determined to be strong for Woods, even as she’s quietly falling to pieces. No matter how far from home she’s run, the ghosts of her past have never stopped haunting her. Struggling to hide her true feelings from Woods, Della fears she can’t be his rock without dragging him down into the darkness with her. But is she strong enough to let go of the last thing holding her together? 

What's your teaser this Tuesday? 

P.S: Show my best friend and fellow blogger Janhvi some love by wishing her a happy birthday! 

Review- The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen

Goodreads Summary:

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

REVIEW:

This was a bit of a disappointment. Being my first ever Sarah Dessen read, I was pretty excited to get to The Moon And More. But once I began reading it, I was super bored within a few pages. Although the book did pick up speed once I crossed the halfway mark, getting to that mark in itself was torturous. The book was so slow with nothing happening at all. It was more like reading day to day journal entries of the MC's summer. 

Emaline works at her family's business and this is the last summer she will be spending at Colby before moving out for college. She did not seem like an eighteen year old to me. She seemed way older than that. 
Emaline's boyfriend Luke was such a jock and even though he turned out to be a nice guy, I didn't like him so much. I had high expectations from the other love interest, Theo, but he turned out to be really weird and a jerk up to a certain extent.
Emaline's family life was good to see with all of them interacting a lot with each other. But her relationship with her mom was a bit confusing. I would have loved to see more interaction between her and her dad as opposed to her constant thoughts about her father. 
The best characters for me were Emaline's best friends Daisy and Morris. Daisy was a fab character and Morris was so much of fun to have around. I found myself laughing at him and his dialogues many times. I also loved Emaline's half brother Benji who was a total darling and such a sweet boy. 
It's not like I hated this book, because honestly, I didn't. It was a good, light and breezy summer read. 

What had me turned off was the slow beginning and the inactivity. And I didn't quite get the whole coming of age of an eighteen year old thing. And for a romance read, there was very little romance. 

Honestly, I don't even know what to expect from a Sarah Dessen book since I haven't read any of the author's works. But I surely expected more than what I got in The Moon And More. 

I've heard that the author's previous books are really good, but I won't be giving them a try anytime soon. 

RATING:

Review- Bollywood Fiance For a Day by Ruchi Vasudeva

Summary-

The man of her Bollywood dreams 

Winning the chance to meet the ultimate Bollywood heart-throb, Zaheer Saxena, is just what Vishakha needs to take her mind off her recent humiliation—being jilted the week before her wedding! And when gorgeous Zaheer offers to be her fake fiancé, the chance to save face with her family is just too tempting… 

It’s a deal that benefits them both—Zaheer is warding off any unwanted female attention until his next film is finished—but can Vishakha trust herself not to hope that her dream fiancé for a day will be her forever man?

Review-

Bollywood Fiance For A Day seemed to look like a cute read and that is exactly how it turned out to be. In the typical Mills and Boon book charm it had everything a romance lover wishes to see in a book. I would consider this book as a few hours well spent.

Vishakha is a doctor. She spends hours working very hard and she has sacrificed a lot to get where she is. When she wins a date with the Bollywood playboy and heartthrob Zaheer she is more than happy to take a break from her life. Her fiance left her for her own sister a week before the wedding. I found Visha really sweet. She was a nice person.

Zaheer is warding off unwanted attention from Mia, his current director's wife. When he meets Vishakha they obviously start off on the wrong foot but he can't help but be fascinated by her. But Zaheer has no intentions of committing to anyone after seeing his parents' disastrous marriage. Zahher was a little hard to like in the beginning but soon he came into his own.

The romance between Visha and Zaheer was started off on a really unexpected note.What starts as getting each other out of problems soon becomes something they both depend on. Things which were never said before are confessed to each other. It was really sweet and mushy. Both Zaheer and Visha have their own issues too.

Bollywood Fiance for a Day is a short and sweet romantic read. It can easily be read over a span of a few hours. But, be warned, it has all the possible cliches there are to find in a typical romance novel. Yet, I really enjoyed it.

*Note: This book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- English Bites! by Manish Gupta

Goodreads Summary:

English Bites! My Fullproof English Learning Formula is the story of a man who goes from being tongue-tied in school to becoming a smooth talking banker. Through a series of hilarious personal adventures and misadventures, Manish Gupta provides easy solutions to problems faced by language learners. So, whether you're a vernacular speaker, a GRE/ GMAT/CAT/XAT aspirant or just a language nut, English Bites! will expand your vocabulary and improve your verbal ability. It may even help you love the English language a little more! 

• Add over 1000 new words to your vocabulary and figure out easy and effective ways to expand your word bank.
• Combine etymology, mnemonics, jokes and anecdotes to better your understanding of the English language.
• Differentiate between similar sounding words and learn to use them right.
• Improve your general knowledge with trivia that spans brand names, automobiles, fine dining, love, money, banks, science and B-school jargon.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of English Bites! from author Manish Gupta in exchange for an honest review. We thank Manish for the book! 

It's safe for me to say that author Manish Gupta's book, English Bites! came to me at the right time. My French Masters studies have me thinking and talking more in French than English or even my mother tongue for that matter. 
My professor had once said that we pursue our higher studies in French under the impression that we have a great comprehension of the English language, which clearly isn't the case. The ever evolving, vast and widespread English language has more to it than we think and English Bites! made me realise that. 
At first glance, English Bites! may seem like a reference type text for competitive exams. Well, I personally haven't referred to any such books but if this is how they actually are, then I don't mind reading them at all because this book was not only packed with interesting facts and lots of intelligence, but it's also an enjoyable and fun read. 
The author speaks a lot about his own, sometimes silly and sometimes sweet, experiences while learning English and it was awesome to accompany him on his journey where we learn heaps of words and some really cool vocabulary relating to topics ranging from economics, coffee, sandwiches, doctoral terminology, educational degrees, marriage, the delivery of babies and lots more. 
Some facts were so interesting that I shared them with my family to enlighten them and also to show them that I know something they don't. For example, did you know that the QANTAS in Qantas Airlines stands for Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd. and French Fries are called French Fries because the act of cutting the potatoes into finger like shapes is called frenching? This and loads more makes English Bites! a book that's  packed with knowledge that's worth knowing and sharing. 
If you love to know the story and facts behind anything but if you, like me, are too lazy to do research on your own, then English Bites! is the perfect book to begin with. I did feel that at certain times, especially when talking about a certain encounter or retelling a certain incident, the author abruptly stopped and moved elsewhere. But what was impressive was that the vocabulary was true to the context. 
I would say that Manish Gupta's book is a great and knowledgeable contribution to the literary world.  

RATING: