Waiting on Wednesday #123

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

Emancipated by M.G.Reyes

Publication Date: May 26, 2015

Summary-

The good girl, the bad boy, the diva, the hustler, the rock star, and the nerd. Six teens legally liberated from parental control for six different reasons, all with one thing in common: something to hide. 

Now they’re sharing a house in Venice Beach, acting like a family, and living their lies. No parents. No limits. No alibis. One witnessed a crime, another might be a murderer—and one’s been spying on them all.

As they cling to a fantasy of freedom and slowly let down their guards, the past creeps up on them. And when one of them gets arrested, everyone’s carefully constructed facade comes crumbling down. 

In this steamy, drama-filled series, relationships are tested and secrets revealed as lies threaten to destroy their perfect setup.

This one sounds really interesting.

What are you waiting on? :)

Top Ten Tuesday #53

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is: 

top ten authors Sarika want to meet

Here's my list: 

Note: I am including late authors as well because, why not? 

1) Samuel Beckett

2) Albert Camus

3) John Green

4) Khaled Hosseini

 

5) David Levithan 

6) Trish Doller

7) Simone Elkeles

8) J.K. Rowling 

9) Helen Scott Taylor 

10) Kelley York 

Which authors would you like to meet? Link me up to your posts or simply let me know in the comments below. Happy reading! 

Review- Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

Goodreads Summary:

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat... and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.

REVIEW:

I was completely blown away by Tarryn Fisher's Love Me with Lies series. While I didn't love it as much as everyone else did, I still liked it enough for it to be on my mind for a long time after I finished reading it. I was quite excited about Mud Vein as the both the cover and the summary intrigued me at first glance. Unfortunately- and I say unfortunately because I don't particularly like this feeling- I have mixed feelings about the book. If this were a book I had to study, I would have opted for a detailed character analysis, but because it isn't, I'll just try to sum up my thoughts on the plot, the psychology, the characters and the writing. And as usual, I will leave it up to readers to know the story. That's not my part to tell, but the reader's to figure out.

The plot: This was one interesting and engaging plot. The book started out very slow and I have no idea what made me continue with it. I was just about to give up when something really astounding came up and I knew I had to know what would come next. The approach was something new and great but the way in which it was executed was not all that fancy. The book is basically divided into three parts, each named as per the stages of grief and that was something truly kick-ass to do. The second part was really well put down. It just flowed and it was the only part where I felt connected to the story. Other than that, I found the plot to be less engaging. I felt like I was waiting for something that never happened. I especially did not like the conclusion of the whole issue that was going on. It was too average for my liking. Although what I did love was the end. For a change, I found a kind of ending that I like to read about and that's real. 

The psychology: Like with her Love Me with Lies series, Tarryn Fisher takes up basic human psychology in Mud Vein as well, and that is such a feat. The author puts down human emotions and human nature in their natural, raw and true form. It's messed up but then it gets too messed up. Inertly, we are all very similar but we aren't very open about how we really feel. But the main character in this book is exactly the way she is, inside and out. It's all a game in this novel. Life is a game and everyone plays hard. The psychological aspect was pretty apt and strong. At the same time, it was too heavy and suicidal.   

The characters: The main female character is Senna. The main male character is Isaac. Then we have Senna's love, her shrink and her parents. What I didn't get about Senna is that she calls what her shrink says "existential crap", she hurts herself, she likes pain, she loves death, she is isolated, she doesn't take well to conventions and society and yet, she exists. Some might say she is strong to survive, while others might say she's just too weak to give up. She doesn't accept love, she doesn't express herself, she lives alone, and she walks out of conversations midway. She has an entire room painted white. I get it. I understand her. Even I can be as dangerous as her sometimes. But my point is, why inflict so much torture upon yourself? No matter what she does, she suffers anyway. Isaac and her shrink try hard to get her on track but she won't listen to anyone. Why? Because she's just like that. With Senna, it's either love or hate. There's no in-between. She is a modern, independent, strong yet confused woman whom I didn't really understand and I'm not even trying.

The writing: Wow. Tarryn Fisher's writing is so cool. I absolutely love it. If there's anything I absolutely love about this book, it's the writing. It's so pure and full of passion. I could actually make out how much the author loves writing and how passionate she is about her words. Her words have so much depth to them, it's hard to not praise it and fall in love with it. Even simple stuff was put down so meticulously and some of the lines were just too magical and so real. I loved loved loved the writing.

Mud Vein was a dark, deep, dirty, disgusting and dangerous read that I both liked and disliked. I loved certain significations in it and I loved the whole concept behind the title. It was something very different and that, for me, was refreshing, but at the same time, if I am to read only one book for the rest of my life, this wouldn't be the book I'd pick. Tarryn Fisher has some absolutely smashing ideas and she is a superb writer. She shows human nature in its true and unfiltered form and I love that about her. While Mud Vein had some great stuff in it, I wanted more. It didn't blow me away and I really wish it had. Save aside an incident or two, I didn't feel anything throughout the course of the story and I feel nothing after having finished it. Maybe that's the point of it or maybe it isn't. 

RATING:

Review- Truly, Madly Manhattan by Nora Roberts

Summary-

Local Hero
Who was that masked man...? When Mitch Dempsey appeared in Hester Wallace's doorway bearing gifts, she knew she should beware. She'd just moved and didn't need trouble in the form of an all-too-attractive downstairs neighbor. Her nine-year old son had no such qualms. When he discovered Mitch was the creator of his favorite comic book here, he was sold.

Though Mitch was no Superman, Hester made him feel he could leap tall buildings in a single bound. But could he convince her she needed a hero to call her own? 

Dual Image
On-camera conflict leads to behind-the-scenes love in this story of reluctant desire from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. 

Working with screenwriter Booth DeWitt is the chance of a lifetime for actor Ariel Kirkwood, but she’s landed the role of his conniving ex-wife in his semiautobiographical film. Doing her job well means turning him off, unless Ariel can convince the intense Booth to see her for the woman she is when the cameras stop rolling. 

Review-

Truly, Madly Manhattan is a combo of two of Nora Roberts classic novels called Local Hero and Dual Image. I didn't know that but I liked the summaries for the both of them and it seemed like a good deal so that is the reason I picked up Truly, Madly Manhattan.

Local Hero is the story of Hester and her son who move into a new place. While Hester is trying to find the balance between her work and son she doesn't expect her neighbor Mitch to pop in or the things she feels for him. I liked Hester and her hesitance where Mitch was concerned was easy to see. Mitch on the other hand was the goofy and nerdy hero who was the creator of the comics Hester's son loved.

I liked Mitch's profession and how he may seem laid back but had a lot of depth to him. Mitch and Hester's romance was slow but sure. I also enjoyed all the conversations Mitch and Hester and her son shared. They made a good team. I liked Local Hero.

Then we have Dual Image. I have to admit I enjoyed Dual Image more than I did Local Hero. The reason being there was so much more happening in Dual Image. Ariel is a tv actress who lands a major part in a movie. The movie has the screenwriter Booth who is our hero and who has written a semiautobiographical film where Ariel plays the cold ex-wife.

Ariel was a free spirit, full of love and laughter. There was more going on in her life than she led on for people to belive. I loved her positivity. Booth on the other hand was cynical and silent, always doubting things. I loved the opposites attract plot here and how Booth finally got over his issues. All the filming scenes were extremely fun to read paired with the romance. I enjoyed Dual Image.

Review- Sweet by Tammara Webber

Summary-

He’s the love of her life, but he doesn’t know it.
She’s his one moment of sacrifice in a lifetime of survival.

He was damaged and wild, but resilient.
She’s always been obedient. Now she’s restless.

Home for the summer between college and med school, Pearl Torres Frank knows two things: Boyce Wynn is the embodiment of everything she should run from, and everything she wants to run to. Rebellious and loud. Unconcerned with society’s opinion of him. Passionate. Strong. Dangerous.

And one more trait he hides from everyone but her:
Sweet. 


Review-

I had read Easy by Tammara Webber a long time back and enjoyed it. But then I was really not interested in reading Breakable so I decided to skip it. Then came Sweet and I was curious to see Boyce and Pearl's story. I am happy to say that I liked Sweet. It can be read as a standalone and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading new adult.

Pearl is the good girl. She is far too intelligent for her own good and that is why people expect her to go to medical school. But her heart isn't in it and she decides to return home to study marine biology. That is when things change for her. I really liked Pearl as a heroine. She was so sweet and shy and it was time she stood up for herself and what she wanted. I loved her even more with Boyce.

Boyce is the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. He had to deal with his older brother dying in war to his mother leaving when he was a kid to dealing with his drunk father. But now he finally has the freedon to live for himself. The only thing he wants more than anything is Pearl even though he knows he doesn't deserve her. I really liked Boyce too. He was a great guy who deserved so much more in life.

Boyce and Pearl were opposites in so many ways but they were perfect for each other. They have known each other since they were kids and they have always shared an intense connection. Pearl and Boyce never gave a name to their relationship but it was easy to see that they were head over heels in love with each other. I loved how they both found their way to each other.

We do get glimpses of Landon and Jacqueline in Sweet. The romance Boyce and Pearl shared was truly sweet and genuine. Sweet was a light and romantic read, one which I genuinely enjoyed reading. It was about figuring yourself out and dealing with life as it comes. Sweet was a good read.

Waiting on Wednesday #122

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

Modern Monsters by Kelley York

Publication Date- June 2nd 2015

Goodreads Summary:

Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went…

And wished he hadn’t.

Because something happened to a girl that night. Something terrible, unimaginable, and Callie Wheeler’s life will never be the same. Plus, now Callie has told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the police, and figuratively, with the angry kids at school. As the whispers and violence escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if it means an uneasy alliance with Callie's best friend, the beautiful but aloof Autumn Dixon.

But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life…

This is one wait that is going to kill me, literally and figuratively. 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? Happy waiting, and happy reading! 

Release Day Blitz- Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance by Danielle Younge-Ullman

Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance

by Danielle Younge-Ullman

Release Date: 05/05/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Lola Carlyle is lonely, out of sorts, and in for a boring summer. So when her best friend, Sydney, calls to rave about her stay at a posh Malibu rehab and reveals that the love of Lola’s life, Wade Miller, is being admitted, she knows what she has to do. Never mind that her worst addiction is decaf cappuccino; Lola is going to rehab.

Lola arrives at Sunrise Rehab intent solely on finding Wade, saving him from himself, and—naturally—making him fall in love with her…only to discover she’s actually expected to be an addict. And get treatment. And talk about her issues with her parents, and with herself. Plus she has insane roommates, and an irritatingly attractive mentor, Adam, who’s determined to thwart her at every turn.

Oh, and Sydney? She’s gone.

Turns out, once her pride, her defenses, and her best friend are stripped away, Lola realizes she’s actually got a lot to overcome…if she can open her heart long enough to let it happen.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

Excerpt:

Thanks for having me! For today’s blog post, I am posting an excerpt from my debut YA novel, LOLA CARLYLE’S 12 STEP ROMANCE. In this scene, Lola finally gets the chance to spend some time on the beach with her crush, and the boy she faked her way into rehab to rescue/forge a love connection with.

We both laugh, and water swirls around my ankles.

“But Carlyle, what happened?” he says, his expression getting serious again. “Last I knew, you were a kid and now you’re here. What’s the deal?”

“Oh,” I say with a dismissive wave, “just a bit of a drinking thing. You know how it goes.”

“Right…”

“Yeah…”

“I wondered about something,” he says, coming closer.

“What?”

“You, ah, you kissed me, Carlyle.”

“Oh, you noticed,” I say, trying to be nonchalant even as my heart rate increases.

“Yeah, I noticed. Hard to miss.”

“Well then, so I did.”

“So…? What was that about?”

“Poor impulse control?”

“Really?”

“No.” I swallow. “Actually, I always wanted to kiss you. Figured I’d check it off the list.”

“Off the list?”

“Yep.” I shrug like it’s no big deal, even though my legs feel like Play-Doh. “So, now I have.”

“And?”

“And it was fun,” I say, and then turn and start walking back along the shore toward Talia.

Wade follows, half walking, half paddling in the shallow water.

“Wait, wait! So…you had a crush? During the movie? Are you saying you had a crush on me?”

“I wanted to kiss you, that’s all,” I say over my shoulder.

“That’s a crush, Carlyle. I call that a crush.”

“Maybe.”

“Why didn’t you say something? I know we lost touch for a bit, but you could’ve called me. Or friended me on Facebook, followed me on Twitter,” he says, all the while struggling to get out of the water and balance his board.

“Followed you on Twitter? Please. I’m not some cheesy fangirl.”

I searched Facebook early on, but he wasn’t there. By the time I looked again he had three thousand “friends,” most of them female. And I do follow him on Twitter, but not as me and not that I’d admit it, ever.

“But you’d have been my cheesy fangirl.” He comes up beside me, carrying the board by his side. “I’m very fond of cheesy fangirls.”

“You have enough of those.”

“My loss.”

“I’d be a bad cheesy fangirl. I’d get bored. I’m too fickle, I’m crap at the adulation thing, and I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing you on a T-shirt.”

He howls with laughter.

“Plus, I have trouble sharing.”

He stops laughing and looks at me. “Sharing, huh? You sure?”

I feel a moment of eww, but brush it away. “Very.”

We get closer to Talia on her rock and the lifeguard station, and our walking slows almost to a stop, as if by silent agreement.

“By the way,” Wade says, “I’m sorry about your parents.”

“Aw, no big deal.”

“Of course it’s a big deal. It’s your parents.”

“Sure, but it happens all the time, right?”

“Not where I’m from. Well, not as much.”

“That’s why you started out sweet, W.A.D.E.”

About the Author:

Danielle Younge-Ullman is a novelist, playwright and freelance writer. She studied English and Theater at  McGill University, then returned to her hometown of Toronto to work as professional actor for ten  years. Danielle’s short story, Reconciliation, was published in MODERN MORSELS—a McGraw-Hill  Anthology for young adults—in 2012, her one-act play, 7 Acts of Intercourse, debuted at Toronto's SummerWorks Festival in 2005, and her adult novel, FALLING UNDER, was published by Penguin in 2008.  Danielle lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters.

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