Waiting For Wentworth: 10/01/2015

Waiting On Wednesday (206) For the Record by Charlotte Huang

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

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

For the Record by Charlotte Huang

Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Chelsea thought she knew what being a rock star was like... until she became one. After losing a TV talent show, she slid back into small-town anonymity. But one phone call changed everything

Now she’s the lead singer of the band Melbourne, performing in sold-out clubs every night and living on a bus with three gorgeous and talented guys. The bummer is that the band barely tolerates her. And when teen heartthrob Lucas Rivers take an interest in her, Chelsea is suddenly famous, bringing Melbourne to the next level—not that they’re happy about that. Her feelings for Beckett, Melbourne’s bassist, are making life even more complicated.

Chelsea only has the summer tour to make the band—and their fans—love her. If she doesn’t, she’ll be back in Michigan for senior year, dying a slow death. The paparazzi, the haters, the grueling schedule... Chelsea believed she could handle it. But what if she can’t?

Doesn't this sound really good? Music. Band. Cute boys. Sounds cute! Sometimes I need something a bit light to read, and this seems perfect.

What are you waiting on this week?

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

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

Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown

Published October 20th 2015 by Balzer + Bray

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Samantha Donaldson's family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, mathematics, and complex puzzles, hoping to make him proud.

When Sam is asked to join the famed women's spy group La Dame Blanche, she's torn—while this could be an unbelievable adventure, how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes she can't refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known only as Velvet. Deep undercover in the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Sam must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she must fight a forbidden attraction to the enemy—a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Sam find Velvet before it's too late . . . for them both?

A thrilling story of one girl's journey into a deadly world of spy craft and betrayal—with unforgettable consequences.

I didn't read the Born of Illusion series by this author. But this book sounds really interesting, and it was released yesterday, so I don't have to wait for it!

What are you waiting on this week?

Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins

Publication Date: November 3, 2015
Page Count: 336
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

They exist in two different centuries, but their love defies time.

Cassandra craves drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger shows up on their private beach claiming it's his own—and that the year is 1925—she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making.

As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love—and Lawrence's life—into jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history…or risk losing Lawrence forever.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was quick and entertaining with a plot that was easy to follow. The combination of romance and mystery worked well, and I enjoyed the time travel aspect.

Lawrence was dreamy and romantic and perfect and all that, but he tried too hard to be deep and meaningful. Or rather, the author tried to make him too deep and meaningful, if you know what I mean. I can't even say that he was all that interesting because all he had going for him was his poetry. I suppose he could be called the perfect "book boyfriend." This might make me a bit shallow, but I still found myself liking him. Go figure.

Cassandra was something else. I actually thought she was a moody little brat. I hate to say that about her, but she was selfish and immature and more concerned with herself than anything or anyone else. I tried to like her, really I did, but I felt there was zero development in her character, so it didn't seem as if the events in the story had changed her at all.

This book was beautifully written, but I'm sad about the ending. Yes, it was satisfactory, but it didn't exactly make me happy. It actually left me feeling a bit down. And I know it had to do with that pesky little 100 year difference in time. While I really liked this book overall, there were some parts that were better than others. I liked the paranormal aspect of how 1925 Lawrence was able to exist in 2015. The mob added a dangerous element to Lawrence and Cassandra's idyllic summer romance. And the secret meetings on the beach brought a bit of excitement to their relationship.

If I'm being truthful, this book had a bit too much fluff, and not enough substance. I can live with that though, especially for the escapism that reading offers me. So in the end I enjoyed this book tremendously, and it was just what I needed to read at this time.

4 stars

Title: The Longest Ride

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hrs 8 min

Starring: Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson

Release Date: April 10, 2015
Genre: Drama, Romance

Storyline: The lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man, as he reflects back on a past love.

The Good:

Scott Eastwood is super cute and adorable. And easy on the eyes. And every now and then he sounds just like his dad. Did I mention that he's super cute and adorable? Because he is. Super. Cute. Adorable. Scott. Eastwood. Ahem, I thought I was moving on from him, and then I watched Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams video and my love was rekindled. Oh. My.

Alan Alda (Ira) was really good, and I liked his character. The couple that plays Ira and his wife Ruth when they were younger were awesome. I really loved them. They were so cute! I could have watched them all day.

The Bad:

I didn't really like the female lead, Britt Robertson. She was bland and just didn't seem natural, so it was hard for me to like her character.

If this were a book:

Eeks. I don't read Nicholas Sparks anymore. Not only do I not like the formulaic plots, I can't stand the death that is always present in his stories. My heart and my eyes can only take so much sadness.

Final Thoughts:

I ended up enjoying this more than I thought I would, so that's something. Scott Eastwood was a pleasant surprise. But Ira and Ruth were my saving grace, and the movie wouldn't mean as much to me if I didn't like them so much. They deserve their own movie!

Even if you don't like Nicholas Sparks movies, this is definitely worth watching at least once.

*Movie Reviews inspired by Chick Lit Fridays at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.*

I'm going to finish this review with a bit of eye candy. You're Welcome.

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

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

All In (The Naturals #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Expected publication: November 3rd 2015 by Disney-Hyperion

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Three casinos. Three bodies. Three days.

After a string of brutal murders in Las Vegas, Cassie Hobbes and the Naturals are called in to investigate. But even with the team's unique profiling talents, these murders seem baffling: unlike many serial killers, this one uses different methods every time. All of the victims were killed in public, yet the killer does not show up on any tape. And each victim has a string of numbers tattooed on their wrist. Hidden in the numbers is a code—and the closer the Naturals come to unraveling the mystery, the more perilous the case becomes.

Meanwhile, Cassie is dealing with an equally dangerous and much more painful mystery. For the first time in years, there's been a break in her mother's case. As personal issues and tensions between the team mount, Cassie and the Naturals will be faced with impossible odds—and impossible choices.

I really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series, and I've been looking forward to reading this one. The good news is I don't have long to wait, and I found out there is a book #4.

What are you waiting on this week?

So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 1 by Gō Ikeyamada

Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Page Count: 192
Published by: VIZ Media LLC
Source: Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Kobayashi Mitsuru and Kobayashi Megumi are twin brother and sister, with identical faces but radically different personalities: while Mitsuru is a confident charmer who wins the hearts of dozens of girls, Megumi is an average otaku who is in love with a virtual hero. Yet, the two's lives start to turn upside down after Mitsuru and Megumi switch roles...

A complicated love story starts!

Since this was my first Manga, I really didn't know what to expect. I mostly enjoyed how simple and easy it was to read. It's definitely cute, but I felt it was a little too fast paced. I liked the twins and I enjoyed their adventures in cross dressing. I have to admit that there were times I was confused, mostly because the entire book is in black and white and I had a difficult time figuring out who was who. I'm sorry, but the characters looked SO much alike. Color would have definitely helped me a LOT. Also, I found it confusing whenever something CUTE happened with either twin, they were inexplicably drawn as small children. That aspect confused me tremendously.

I like Mitsuru and his growth as a character. He's a player and has no trouble getting girls to fall all over him. But when he forces his sister to trade places with him, he ends up interested in the one girl at school who he can't charm with pretty words. Meanwhile, Megumi is too shy to even talk to boys, but she ends up at her brother's all boys school! She bumps into a cute boy with an eye patch and falls instantly in love. Both siblings have to work at keeping their identities secret while attempting to hide their true feelings from their love interests. Hilarity ensues!

I've already borrowed the next volume in this series from the library. I'm looking forward to learning more about Megumi's love interest with the eye patch. I'll let you know if I like how the story is progressing.

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

Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Simon & Schuster

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A teen is forced to make a fresh start after witnessing a violent crime — but love and danger find her anyway in this novel from Becca Fitzpatrick, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.

After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.

But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.

As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…

I didn't finish reading the Hush, Hush series, and I didn't read Black Ice (yet), but I'm still interested in reading this one.

What are you waiting on this week?

Since today is my birthday, I decided to buy myself a few books that I've been wanting to read. What could be better than treating yourself? At least I know I'm getting something that I like and will use. And my FREE Starbucks will be enjoyed later. It's a great day!

These hardcovers were all under $10 each, and Isla was under $6, all with free shipping from Amazon AND they delivered on a Sunday.

Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1) by Rae Carson

Lock & Mori (Lock & Mori #1) by Heather W. Petty

This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3)
by Stephanie Perkins

photo LavenderFlowers-24_zpsgdo7vrgr.png

This ebook was only $0.99 on Amazon!

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Borrowed from the library. My first manga. It IS cute, I just wish it was in color!

So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 1 by Gō Ikeyamada

I downloaded the eArc of Until We Meet Again from NetGalley last night and stayed up late reading. It's really good, and I think I need to finish it tonight!

Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins

Here's a conversation I had with my daughter last week:

Me: I think I'll be 29 again. 29 was a good year.
Daughter: Mom, that's weird and not possible. That would make me 1, and you would have been 11 when you had me. That's just gross.
Me: Can I at least be 39 again????
Daughter: < sigh > Mom.
Me: Okay, okay.