Waiting For Wentworth: 09/01/2013

Sunday Updates (36)

Inspired by features from The Sunday Post from Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Sunday Summary from Book Twirps.

I am a day late with my post, but I had a busy weekend, so I give you my Sunday Updates on Monday.... lame title. Whatever. My husband and I have been trying to spend quality time with our kids. Our daughter turned 16 last Monday, and our son turned 19 on Saturday, and it's freaking us out how old they are. Neither one of them is attempting to drive yet, so at least we don't have that to worry about! No boyfriends or girlfriends, so we are thankfully drama free (at least so far!)

I received my first ever ARCs in the mail. Seriously. After 2 years of blogging. Which is way cool with me, because it's not something I have been pursuing. These were offered to me, and I graciously accepted, and now I can't wait to read them!

The Last Forever by Deb Caletti (Courtesy of Simon Pulse)
Bang (Visions #2) by Lisa McMann (Courtesy of Simon Pulse)

photo NoOneElseCanHaveYou_zpseae84872.jpg

eARCs For Review:
(All Courtesy of Harper Collins Children)

Salvage by Alexandra Duncan
No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale

I can't wait to read all of these!!

Reviews posted on my blog last week:

Where My Heart Breaks by Ivy Sinclair
Play by Play (Play Makers #1) by Kate Donovan
Out Of Play by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn

That's it for this week. My birthday is in a few days, and I have asked for a Kindle. I have an HP Touchpad, and I think I want a dedicated ereader. But then again, the new Kindle Paperwhite isn't much cheaper than the new Kindle Fire. Decisions, decisions....

New In My Etsy Shop On A Saturday

I purchased some fabric that was only recently released, and I spent this week whipping up new items for my Etsy Shop. I LOVE new fabric!

Padded Zipper Pouch Dahlia in Lavender

Look how pretty!

Long Zipper Pouch Pencil Case Swallow Study in Teal

Cosmetic Case Makeup Bag Dainty Daisies in Emerald

Padded Zipper Pouch Dainty Daisies in Lavender

Cosmetic Case Padded Zipper Pouch Swallow Study in Lavender

Clutch Swallow Study in Chocolate and Hive in Mint

This is my favorite item that I made this week. Look how cute it is!

Out of Play by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn

Publication Date: August 6, 2013
Page Count: 320
Published by: Entangled Teen
Source: eArc provided in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.　

Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door.

Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.

This is the first book I have read by either author and I really enjoyed it! I was really impressed by how well this book was written, and I always love stories with dual POV.

I really loved the characters, flaws and all. Bishop had some major issues, and he really struggled with his addiction. I felt that deep down he had a huge heart and really wanted to do the right thing. But because he was still in denial, he screwed up a few times. He was finally forced into admitting that he had a problem. I admired him for owning up to his addiction and taking charge and doing something about it. I loved watching Bishop grow and become a better person throughout the story.

Penny was one tough cookie! She was strong willed and determined to do things her way. I really loved the way she was written. Penny's life revolved around her family and the boys' hockey team (who all loved her!) She was more comfortable hanging out with the guys than she was with girls. I could really relate to that because I was the same way while growing up. She is under a lot of pressure because everyone assumes that she will pursue her hockey dreams by attending college and joining a girls team. All Penny really wants is to stay in Alaska and keep playing with the guys.

I loved the slow building relationship between Penny and Bishop. They were both cautious, but the more time they spent together, the more they understood each other. It wasn't all smooth sailing, and they butted heads a few times, but I like that they were able to work out their problems and deal with whatever was going on. Out of Play is definitely YA, nice and clean without the complications of sex to muddy their fledgling relationship.

I fell in love with the story. It was emotional at times, but it also had moments of sweetness. And the characters were just wonderful. Penny and Bishop had real life problems that they needed to work out. I found myself interested in what would happen to Penny and Bishop, and if they could find peace and happiness. Overall, this was a wonderful story, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to share books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: April 15th 2014 by Dial Books for Young Readers

Synopsis From Goodreads:

From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

I was hooked as soon as I read "swoony summertime romance"!!! What's not to love about that synopsis? Plus, it's a stand alone contemporary - my favorite!

What are you waiting on this week?

Play by Play (Play Makers #1) by Kate Donovan

Novella
Kindle Edition, 85 pages
Published September 9th 2013 by Beyond the Page Publishing

Source: eArc provided in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Former college football star Jake Dublin’s wildly popular sports blog also details his personal life. And lately it’s all about Sophie, the pretty young woman who just moved into his apartment building. His readers know her only as “Elevator Girl,” and they’re all rooting for Jake to score.

The blog posts and banter with his followers are all in good fun, and he fully intends to come clean with the woman he’s wooing and wowing. That is, until she confides that she grew up in a house full of jocks and even dated a few. Her verdict? Never again!

Jake knows he needs to confess. But somewhere along the line he fell in love with Sophie and can’t stand the thought of losing her. So he procrastinates, and blogs, and digs himself deeper into a hole, until it all leads to a showdown that’s so nail-biting, not even the best play-by-play guy could ever have seen it coming

Play by Play was a super short novella with a really original premise. It only took about an hour to read because I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and I couldn't wait to find out what happened!

Jake is an ex-jock who loves sports so much that he even blogs about it. One day, Jake meets Sophie in the elevator of his apartment building. While Sophie is friendly, she firmly blows off Jake's advances. Jake is perplexed by the cold shoulder and ends up blogging about Sophie, calling her 'elevator girl'. Soon, Jake's readers are invested in his 'relationship' and start giving him advice.

Unfortunately, Jake doesn't come clean with Sophie about how into sports he is, and Sophie has given up on stupid jocks who only live for their sports. This secret creates a huge dilemma for Jake because he believes that if he tells Sophie, he will lose her. Jake manages to make a mess of things, but he is able to blog about it with a sense of humor that I enjoyed. The big question is how will Sophie react when she finally finds out about Jake's sports blog and 'elevator girl'?

Because this is a novella, there really is no character development. It's a fast moving story filled with blog posts and sweet dates. I liked Jake and Sophie as individuals and as a couple. I could see how their relationship really had the potential to be something great. I really enjoyed this book and I found it highly entertaining. Despite the cover, this is not a steamy romance book. Any time things got heated the author did the 'fade to black' maneuver. Overall, this was a cute and charming sports/romance book that was a quick and easy read.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Where My Heart Breaks by Ivy Sinclair

Publication Date: August 29, 2013
Page Count: 182
Genre: New Adult
Source: eArc provided in exchange for an honest review
Purchase on Amazon

Synopsis From Goodreads:

If there were a course in screwing up your life, Kate Spivey would get an A+.

Trust is in short supply for Kate at the start of the summer before her senior year of college. Her parents sentenced her to spend it under the watchful eye of her aunt at the famous Willoughby Inn. It was further proof that she was a prisoner in, and not the decision maker of, her life. Nothing she does is good enough to prove that she learned from the mistakes of her past.

Almost immediately, Kate finds that her new summer home holds another person who understands the unfairness of her situation better than most. Reed Black has had his own share of tragedy and regrets, but instead of trying to fight his reputation, he embraced it.

Sparks fly between Kate and Reed, but his mixed signals remind Kate that she needs to watch her step. He is one temptation she can't afford to indulge in, no matter how strong her attraction to him. If she isn't careful, she'll lose more than her heart.

This is the first book I've read by Ivy Sinclair and I enjoyed it very much. Where My Heart Breaks is a short and sweet New Adult romance with very likable characters.

The protagonist, Kate, was so lost in the beginning. She was just doing what she was told, and trying very hard to redeem herself in her parent's eyes. Her parents were very heavy handed and over the top with their demands from Kate. They cared more about what others thought of them than they did about their daughter's happiness. Kate didn't want to be a disappointment, and she was scared about her future, so she gave in and went along with what her parents wanted, even though it made her unhappy and resentful. As the book progressed, Kate was able to realize that she wasn't content doing what she was told. She needed to take control of her own life, stand up for herself, and start doing what SHE wanted.

I actually really liked Reed. He seemed pretty straightforward on the surface, but deep down he was harboring a painful past that he desperately tried to keep hidden. I thought Reed's reputation was completely unfounded. He didn't come off nearly as bad as the townsfolk made him out to be. It was completely unfair to be judged in such a way. As we get to know Reed more, you can see how his need for privacy may have sparked some of the rumors about him. To me, he came across as reluctant to be in a relationship to avoid being hurt. With a past like his, you can't blame the guy for that.

I really enjoyed the side story about a book (that was kind of a love story) that was written using Bleckerville as the backdrop. Kate and Reed started bonding while visiting the book's locations. I enjoyed the time they spent together researching the book, and I could see them falling for each other. But they also really struggled with the disapproval from family and friends. To make their relationship work, they both knew they would have to set aside what others expected of them and take control of their future.

I think the story would have been far more enjoyable to me if it were told in dual POV from both Kate and Reed. I just really love dual POV! I would have loved to be inside Reed's head during this book. Reading from Kate's POV only gave me insight into her character. But I found Reed to be so much more intriguing and I really wanted to know more about him.

Where My Heart Breaks was a quick and easy read that was pretty straightforward, which worked for me. BUT... because I was enjoying the characters and the story so much, I would have loved for it to be longer! I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters OR the setting. Overall, this was quite an enjoyable book that I would definitely recommend.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to share books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Palace of Spies (Palace of Spies #1) by Sarah Zettel

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: November 5th 2013 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Synopsis From Goodreads:

A warning to all young ladies of delicate breeding who wish to embark upon lives of adventure: Don't.
Sixteen-year-old Peggy is a well-bred orphan who is coerced into posing as a lady in waiting at the palace of King George I. Life is grand, until Peggy starts to suspect that the girl she's impersonating might have been murdered. Unless Peggy can discover the truth, she might be doomed to the same terrible fate. But in a court of shadows and intrigue, anyone could be a spy—perhaps even the handsome young artist with whom Peggy is falling in love . . . History and mystery spark in this effervescent series debut.

Doesn't this sound awesome? Love the 'history & mystery' line. Sounds like a great adventure.

What are you waiting on this week?

A Little Too Far (A Little Too Far #1) by Lisa Desrochers

Expected publication: September 17th 2013 by HarperCollins

New Adult

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / GOODREADS

Synopsis:

Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

A Little Too Far is so different than anything I have ever read. Not just for the step-brother angle, but mainly because the second love interest is a soon to be priest! Tell me THAT doesn't grab your attention! I opened this book up to read a few pages before bed one night and I ended up reading the whole thing in a few hours! It was so good that I just couldn't put it down.

I'm still not sure how I feel about Lexie. At times she seemed a bit immature, and I thought she based her decisions on sex too often. I also wondered at her ability to see beyond herself and what she wanted. She found herself not in one, but two, forbidden relationships at virtually the same time. Lexie felt a lot of guilt over her step-brother, and she believes that she needs to move on and away from him, but she is conflicted because she really loves him. I liked that Lexie spent time learning about herself and what she needs to be fulfilled in life. I did wonder about some of her choices at times, but by the end of the book she had redeemed herself in my eyes because of her desire to do the right thing for everyone involved.

I spent so much time with Alessandro that I ended up really loving him! I thought he was wonderful (and hot and swoony and ALL THAT!) I learned so much about him and his background from the conversations that he and Lexi had. I love how restrained he was around Lexie, at least at first. But as time went on and he and Lexie grew closer, you could see how hard he was fighting with himself over his feelings and doing the right thing. I found myself conflicted over whether or not I wanted him to end up with Lexie. I think they could make a relationship work, but at what cost?

My one and only complaint - and it's minor - is that I didn't feel like I knew Trent very well. I did like him, but mainly because Lexie liked him so much. He had this hot, tortured musician thing going on that I loved, and he did seem to really care about Lexie. But most of what we learn about him was only seen through flashbacks from Lexie's POV. I would have really liked more scenes, especially in the present, between the two of them. I would really have loved to know firsthand his thoughts, feeling, and actions while Lexie was in Rome, because you know he was heartbroken and going through an emotional time. I would have liked to experience how wonderful he was first hand, instead of having to rely on getting all of my information on him from Lexie. I really wanted to form my own opinion of him, and I wasn't able to do that.

I don't have a problem with love triangles - IF they are done right. It never truly felt like a triangle because the 2 guys weren't openly 'competing' with each other, and I liked that. Lexie had chemistry with both guys, and the complicated feelings that came with both relationships really confused her. I honestly had no preference as to who I wanted Lexie to ultimately end up with, and I could understand and sympathize with Lexie's conflicted feelings about the 2 men.

I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series. A Little Too Far is a wonderful new adult contemporary that is quite entertaining, and I was left with a lot of good feelings after reading it.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Other books in the series:

A LITTLE TOO MUCH (coming November 12, 2013)

A LITTLE TOO HOT (coming January 21, 2014)

About the author:

Lisa Desrochers lives in northern California with her husband, two very busy daughters, and Shini the tarantula. If you'd told her five years ago she'd write a book, she'd have laughed in your face. As it turns out, she'd owe you an apology. Writing has become an addiction for Lisa and A Little Too Far, courtesy of HarperCollins, is her first novel for adults. She is also the author of the young adult Personal Demons trilogy from Macmillan.

When she's not writing, she's reading, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise. Connect with her online at www.lisadwrites.com , on her blog at lisadesrochers.blogspot.com, on Twitter at @LisaDez, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LisaDesrochersAuthor.

Be sure to visit all of the stops on the TOUR!

The Giveaway Prizes:

- An iPad Mini - one winner

A knowledge pendant, tote bag, and tattoos (Trent’s tattoo!) - one winner

A signed copy of HarperCollins’ BETWEEN THE COVERS sampler with the 1st two chapters of A LITTLE TOO FAR annotated, knowledge tote, and tattoos - one winner

A signed copy of BETWEEN THE COVERS with the 1st two chapters of A LITTLE TOO FAR annotated, and tattoos - two winners

The Giveaway Details:

Giveaway is US/Canada ONLY.

There will be FIVE winners total.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Inspired by features from The Sunday Post from Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Sunday Summary from Book Twirps.

I haven't done one of these posts in quite a while, so I have a lot to share (and a lot to read!!)

Purchased:
The Liberator (Dante Walker #2) by Victoria Scott
Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Opal (Lux #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

From NetGalley:
Palace of Spies (Palace of Spies #1) by Sarah Zettel (Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group)
(Never) Again by Theresa Paolo (Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP)
Made of Stars by Kelley York (Thanks to Entangled Publishing)
The In-Between by Barbara Stewart (Thanks to St. Martin's Press)
Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne (Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Flirt)
After Eden (After Eden #1) by Helen Douglas (Thanks to Bloomsbury USA Children's Books)
Play by Play (A Play Makers Novella 1) by Kate Donovan (Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing)
Hell Without You by Ranae Rose (Thanks to Ranae Rose)
Alienated (Alienated #1) by Melissa Landers (Thanks to Disney Book Group)
(No Photo) Something Real by Heather Demetrios (Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)

From Edelweiss:
Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington (Thanks to Soho Press)

Coming up this week on the blog:
Monday: Blog Tour and Review of A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers
Review: Where My Heart Breaks by Ivy Sinclair
Waiting On Wednesday
Review: Out of Play by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to share books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Hardcover, 288 pages

Expected publication: February 25th 2014 by Point

Synopsis From Goodreads:

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY . . . for teens, from romantic comedy star Elizabeth Eulberg.

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can't be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan's friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they're best friends -- which wouldn't be so bad if they didn't keep getting in each other's way. Guys won't ask Macallan out because they think she's with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can't help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again -- and one kiss away from true love?

I must read this book! It sounds totally awesome, and I love contemporaries, so this sounds perfect for me. And on a shallow note, how cute is that cover?

What are you waiting on this week?

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Page Count: 320, Paperback
Published by: Harper Teen
Source: Library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

I have such a huge crush on this book! I thought it was super cute and adorable, with realistic characters and a wonderful swoony romance. This was a fun and refreshing story that really put a smile on my face.

Caymen was a completely likable character. She had such a dry wit and was always quick with a sarcastic reply, but never in a rude way. I found it funny that not everyone got her sense of humor. Caymen doesn't censor what comes out of her mouth, so even Xander didn't know how to take her at times. Caymen wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life after graduating. All she DOES know is that she wants MORE, but she also feels the responsibility of sticking around and helping her mother with the doll store. I really felt her anguish over doing the right thing for her mother, while still trying to be happy and fulfilled with her own life.

Xander was fantastic and so endearing. I would have a crush on him if I were much, much younger. He wasn't cocky or arrogant, but he DID occasionally have a sense of entitlement that I didn't enjoy about him. I also thought he was pretty clueless at times, especially when it came to the way that 'normal' people lived. Still, he managed to insert himself in Caymen's everyday life in a way that felt natural. Caymen soon realizes that she and Xander have a lot in common, and that Xander is dying to break free of his father, who is grooming Xander to take over the family's multi-million dollar hotel chain. Xander, like Caymen, wants more from life than what his family expects of him.

I adored Caymen and Xander when they were together. There was SO much lovely banter between the two of them. The dialogue between them was wonderful because it felt so real and flowed really well. I also loved the fact that Xander didn't outright pursue Caymen. It was a lot more subtle, and it was the little things he did that really got to Caymen (and me!) I loved seeing them spend time together, getting to know each other, learning about each other, and best of all, falling for each other.

The secondary characters were so unique and had such varied personalities. I liked Caymen's best friend, Skye. She brought fun and lightness into Caymen's life, and she was always there when Caymen needed her. Skye's boyfriend, Henry, I wasn't impressed with at first, but he grew on me. I never got a good vibe from Mason. He was intense when he was around Caymen, but he seemed more of a 'love the one you're with' kind of fella. I didn't really like Caymen's mom, Susan. She never seemed honest or trustworthy, and I didn't like that she put such heavy responsibility on Caymen.

This is a wonderful contemporary that is highly entertaining and absolutely adorable! The only downside was that I felt the ending was wrapped up too pretty, but I was still left with lots of good feelings about the book as a whole. I do love my contemporary stories, and I had a great time reading this one.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

YA Stand Alone Reading Challenge
YA Contemporary Reading Challenge

August Recap and September TBR

I had a pretty good month of reading. But now I am behind on my reviews!
And September! There are SOOOOO many books being released this month. It's crazy!

Books I Read in August: