Review: You Are My Only by Beth Kephart

Goodreads Summary:Emmy Rane is married at nineteen, a mother by twenty. Trapped in a life with a husband she no longer loves, Baby is her only joy. Then one sunny day in September, Emmy takes a few fateful steps away from her baby and returns to find her missing. All that is left behind is a yellow sock.

Fourteen years later, Sophie, a homeschooled, reclusive teenage girl is forced to move frequently and abruptly from place to place, perpetually running from what her mother calls the "No Good." One afternoon, Sophie breaks the rules, ventures out, and meets Joey and his two aunts. It is this loving family that gives Sophie the courage to look into her past. What she discovers changes her world forever. . . .

The riveting stories of Emmy and Sophie—alternating narratives of loss, imprisonment, and freedom regained—escalate with breathless suspense toward an unforgettable climax.

*** I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley ***

It takes a few pages to get used to the writing but once you do, you’ll be flying through this gem! It is a short book so I can’t say too much without giving the plot away. Emmy, who is stuck in a loveless marriage, is blamed for the disappearance of her child. From there she is admitted into a mental hospital where she can do nothing but hope her Baby is OK.  Meanwhile, Sophie who has moved house more times then she can keep track of and who always does what her mother tells her, breaks the rules in order to speak to the boy next door. An action that will change her life forever.

The story is written from both Sophie and Emmy’s perspective. I definitely preferred Emmy’s narrative and would have loved if the book was entirely from her perspective but at the same time I did enjoy the interaction between Sophie and Joey and all the secrecy of going behind her mother’s back. The background characters such as Joey and his two aunts are all loveable in their own way.

There were times when I found the book to be very slow and had to force myself to read on but it was worth it in the end. If this sounds like a story you would enjoy then don’t hesitate in picking it up. I for one am looking forward to reading more from Beth Kephart. It is an unforgettable and heartbreaking story. 4/5 Stars 

Review: Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine and GIVEAWAY

Genre: YA, Romance
Published by: Acacia Publishing
Pages: 117
**This book was sent to me for free for an honest review**
Goodreads Summary: While other high school seniors are dreaming about their futures, Sophie and Carter are just trying to make it through each day. Carter is overwhelmed by issues at home as he struggles to support his mother. Meanwhile, next door neighbor Sophie is left to care for her three younger siblings in place of their absent and troubled mother. All that holds these two best friends together is each other, and knowing that each night they'll sit together on Sophie's front porch swing and escape from their troubles, if just for awhile. But as their relationship reaches a turning point and high school graduation nears, what lies ahead for Sophie and Carter?


What a pleasant  surprise! I had no idea that I would enjoy this little book so much. It only took me a couple of hours to read and is a perfect story to pick up if you are looking for a quick escape from your day. Sophie and Carter are neighbours and best friends who share secrets and support each other in the noblest of ways. They have both suffered greatly in the past and come from severely dysfunctional families. Sophie's mom is a prostitute who has left Sophie to take care of her three younger siblings. Carter cares for his mother who has been driven to insanity by the beatings she and Carter took from her husband. 


The chapters alternate between the two POVs. I felt Sophie's POV was stronger than Carter's. Both characters are so easy to fall for. They have been through so much in their short lives and yet, they still soldier on for those they love. I have so much respect for them both. The romance between them is sweet and endearing. They look out for each other and would do anything for one and other. They had me swooning over a bag of vegetables, cups of coffee and hand holding on porch swings.


The only thing I didn't like about this book was how short it was! I would love to have read more about them growing up, about their other relationships in school and more about Carter's dad. But I am only saying this because I enjoyed the story so much and I want more now that it is over. Chelsea Fine has a wonderfully creative imagination and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. 4 / 5 Stars. I choose Carter as My Book Boyfriend this week. Check out the post below.


GIVEAWAY TIME: I was very kindly sent a copy of Sophie & Carter to send to one lucky reader. I will be picking a winner on Saturday morning. That's 10th September. 
You don't have to be a follower to enter (although it would be nice if you were). Since I am a poor student this giveaway is open to INTERNATIONALS ONLY, sorry guys!
Just leave a comment and your email address under this review if you want to enter. Good Luck!


Don't forget to check out my 6 Month Blogiversary Global Giveaway! You'll be in for a chance to win a book of your choice!

Review: I Loved You First by Reena Jacobs

My best friend was more than just a best friend to me. Three words summed it up: I heart him. I’d never tell him though. I wasn’t stupid. Besides, what he’d told no one, but me, was a little something I wished I could forget… or ignore. He was gay. I guess gay wouldn’t be bad if I wasn’t so in love with him. Now it was just cruel. 

Stereotypes run amok in this college love story: Parties, alcohol, hookups, and breakups. Alexandria Carmichael may find it a bit much as she deals with the unreturned love from the boy who completes her. When all is revealed, not only does she risk losing her best friend forever, but also herself. Without her childhood companion for support, Alexandria takes a journey of self-discovery but fears what she’ll find at the end.

** I was sent this book by the author for an honest review**

I Loved You First is a novella length love story that had me hooked from  the very first page. Alex, a college freshman, has fallen in love with her best friend Seth. It seems like a pretty straight forward romance but for the fact that Seth is gay. Alex is the only person that knows the truth but this doesn’t change her feelings for him. Alex is forced to stand by and watch Seth as he dates a string of girls, while her heart silently breaks.

Reena Jacobs is a wonderful writer. Her characters and the situations are very real and easy to identify with. My own heart was breaking for Alex, who was in love with someone who can’t love her back in the same way. And poor Seth! I loved this guy, although there were times when I thought he was a bit inconsiderate and insensitive towards Alex. But at the same time, he has so much on his plate. I was really moved by his situation. I read this book in a few hours, it was hard to put down. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but there are some excellent scenes and an awesome bitch slap.

The background characters kept things interesting. Dink, although I don’t like his name, I did like the guy! Bruce, Seth’s love interest and all round bad guy in my books and Trinity, a breath of fresh air, who provides Alex with the strength and encouragement she badly needs.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and am giving it 4 out of 5 Stars. 

Review: The Wrong Path by Vivian Marie Aubin du Paris

Title: The Wrong Path
Author: Vivian Marie Aubin du Paris
Pages: 106
Release Date: Tomorrow! 2nd July
The book was kindly sent to me by the author for an honest review.


GoodReads Summary: Annabelle's life was finally going according to plan. She had the right group of friends. Her childhood crush had finally started to notice her. She was pretty, popular, and in love. 
And then one terrible night at a party Will enters her life and everything changes. 


Will is the polar opposite of his older brother Trevor—Annabelle’s new boyfriend—the popular, straight-A, quarterback high school star. He's wild, charismatic, and full of secrets. He's completely different from anyone Annabelle has ever known, and soon their accidental run-in becomes a pattern as Annabelle finds herself seeking him out wherever she goes. Despite his open hostility with his older brother, Annabelle is drawn to him, wanting to be with him. Will opens a new world for Annabelle, one where she can shed her carefully constructed mask and be herself. 


But being with Will comes at a price. And when tragedy strikes, she has to make a choice between the two brothers. 


And the wrong one means losing everything forever.

Talk about your guilty pleasure! I just wanted to curl up in bed with this book, a cup of tea and stay there forever. When I had finished reading I really missed it!


Annabelle is the 'in' crowd in school. The type of group that would remind you of the movie Mean Girls. I have to say Vivian really nailed the characters and the group dynamics on the head. Having gone to an all girls boarding school myself, I know the kind of people that she included in her book. They may seem like loyal, fun loving friends, but if you step out of line they will turn on you so fast and you can say goodbye to your 'friends'. This is what poor Annabelle has to deal with every day. The fear that she will be kicked out and left alone. But when she starts dating Trevor she finally feels like things are going her way.

Annabelle is too naive and soft at times, but I could still relate to her. I was that girl who got worried when my friends climbed trees and made me join them. I was always the one who worried about how we were going to get down. So I saw bits of my younger self in Annabelle which was nice. It bothered me how often she cried. Sometimes I just wanted to shake her and tell her to man up and enjoy her time with Will.

And then there is Will, *sigh*, mysterious, charming, secretive, gorgeous Will. Every scene with Will (and there are many) left me grinning like a lunatic at my laptop. Will is a true swoon worthy character. He has a bad boy reputation but around Annabelle he is kind, considerate and her knight in shining armour.Will and his shirts definitely earned a place in my heart! He is the strongest character in book and he brings out a side of Annabelle that no one else has seen. Some of the scenes (ahem...the lake) between Will and Annabelle are completely thrilling and beautiful.

What the story boils down to is which brother will Annabelle choose? Which path will she take? Will she stay with her perfect, kind and popular boyfriend Trevor, securing her place in the 'in' crowd? Or will she choose bad-boy Will, and risk losing everything she has worked for? What would YOU choose?

The Wrong Path is not solely a love story, but a coming of age story, where a young girl is struggling to discover who she really is and what she wants out of life.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I found it difficult to tear myself away from it. If you want a romance that you can *SQUEE* along with then this is for you. I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars.


Author's blog: http://vivianmarieaubinduparis.blogspot.com/
Author's Website: http://www.vivian-marie.com/

Review: Passion by Lauren Kate

GoodReads Summary: Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . . 

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last. 

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. 

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

I have conflicting thoughts on this one! Being a big fan of both Fallen and Torment I was super excited about Passion. Over all I thought it was a good read but I found most of the story was unnecessary and unrelated to what the previous books started. None of the questions from the last two books were even touched on and I missed the interaction between Luce and all her friends. 

In this third book, Luce visits her previous incarnations in order to uncover the truth about her relationship with Daniel and the curse they share. At the beginning I found this a bit tiresome but as she started to go back further in time they got more thrilling and I found myself enjoying all the jumping around in time. As sad as it was I loved reading the scenes where Luce goes up in flames in front of Daniel. It gave me so much insight into Daniel's world and how much he loves Luce and the suffering he goes through just to be with her. I was fascinated by Daniel's chapters which broke the slightly repetitive cycle of Luce's ones. It was all very romantic! 

However, Luce did frustrate me at times. Her inability to listen to any ones warnings or advice, the fact that she never questions this Bill character and the way she runs off through time to find proof that Daniel's love for her is true?! There are certainly some faults.

As a story on it's own, ya I loved it; but as a story that's part of a series I wasn't impressed. I loved reading all the soppy scenes between Luce and Daniel but the only parts in Passion that are truly relevant to the previous two books are the last few pages. I still have high hopes for the final book. She has the story lined up well for a big finish. Because I like the series so much and have high expectations for the last book I'm still going to give this one 4 out of 5 stars. 

Torment by Lauren Kate

A quick warning: If, like me, you don't like to know anything about a series before you read the first book then you might not want to read this as it does naturally contain some spoilers, being the second book in the series. Nothing major is revealed though so it's pretty safe.

Blurb: It took Lucinda an eternity to find her beloved angel, Daniel. But he waited for her. Now they are forced apart again, to protect Luce from the Outcasts – immortals who want her dead. During their separation, Luce learns about her mysterious past lives. But the more she discovers, the more she suspects that Daniel is hiding something.

What if Daniel’s version of the past isn’t true? Is it really their destiny to be together? Or is Luce actually meant to be with someone else?

For the second time this week Lauren Kate has WOWed me. Following Fallen, Luce is moved to Shoreline, a school in California for gifted students known as Nephilim – the children of angels and humans. Left on her own Luce is forced to make new friends and she delights in a friendship with Miles, a fun, sensitive and unbelievably caring guy; Shelby, her sarcastic and rough around the edges roommate, and Dawn and Jasmine, two excitable and sweet girls. These characters had a way of sneaking into my head and I found myself thinking about them fondly when I was out and about.

At first I was a bit disappointed with Torment. With Daniel gone all the time things between him and Luce changed. Conflicts and jealousies arouse as secrets about the past were revealed.  I am a soppy romantic and I guess I just wanted to see them happy and together all the time! But obviously that wouldn’t make for an exciting story. But in Daniel’s absence we see some astonishing character development in Luce. She becomes more independent and starts to question Daniel and her past.  

This book had me frustrated and on the edge of my seat throughout (but in a good way!) I think ‘Torment’ is a very appropriate title for this story. Fingers crossed the same can be said for Passion ;)

While a few of my unanswered questions from Fallen were answered, Torment left me with many more questions. The ending was gripping and exciting and to be honest, I don’t know how I am going to wait until 23^rd June to find out what happens!  4 ½ out of 5 Stars. It loses out because I wish we had seen more of Daniel throughout the book.Other than that, I loved this book! It was an emotional rollercoaster for me.

Two Words: Heart-breaking and Consuming

“When he turned to face her, the drawn look on his face was one of absolute agony. As if Luce had just ripped his heart out.”
 

Beyond the Higland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

The super long synopsis: An alluring laird. He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart – until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm’s length – but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.

A Prisoner in Time. She had a perfect ‘no’ on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne’s reservations were no match for the Hawk’s determination to keep her by his side…

Ok, so this was my first true ‘erotic romance’. I will admit that at first I found it kind of cringey and embarrassing, the synopsis especially so. But I went along with it and soon I was loving all the cheesy-ness and farfetched story lines that come with these romance novels. It is an incredibly easy book to read which is what I was looking for to help me get through my exams this week.

In 1513 Scotland, Aoibheal, Queen of the Fae, tells her court of a man of such power and beauty that no woman could refuse him, a man they call The Hawk. Overcome with jealously, the King sends his fool, sexy but sinister Adam Black to seek revenge on The Hawk.  Adam travels through time and brings back the perfect woman who hates all beautiful men. Adrienne’s rebuffs make Hawk try harder, and when the Adam, sets out to seduce Adrienne, sparks fly and the game shifts into a higher dimension.

Hawk is an example of the true alpha-male, and as I mentioned in My Book Boyfriend post he is handsome, strong and masculine in every way, but with a past that makes him vulnerable. Adrienne was messed around by a man in her past and as a result is stronger, stubborn and more independent. They are both likeable characters, although I feel that The Hawk was a bit foolish near the end.

One thing that bugged me a little was the over use of the word silvery or silvery-grey to describe different things. For one, Adrienne’s hair was slivery blond and her eyes a silvery grey. It only bugged me because when I read that someone has silvery hair I imagine grey hair. And that isn’t how I wanted to picture Adrienne. Only a minor fault.

I’m giving this one 4/5 and would definitely recommend it. There are quite a few books in the series and I have heard great things about Moning’s Fever series which I will be starting sometime next week :)

Describe it is two words? Romantic and Magical

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Synopsis: Set in the turbulent times of the twelfth-century England when civil war, famine, religious strife and battles over royal succession tore lives and families apart, The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of the building of a magnificent cathedral.

Against this richly imagined backdrop, filled with intrigue and treachery, Ken Follett draws the reader irresistibly into a wonderful epic of family drama, violent conflict and unswerving ambition. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, the dreams, labours and loves of his characters come vividly to life.

I actually read this almost a year ago but since World Without End is on my reading list I felt it would be right to start with this review.

Set in the 12^th Century, this is an incredibly well researched, historical novel. If, like me, you love historical novels, then this is one you can get lost in. It sat on my shelf collecting dust for months as 1076 pages about building a cathedral just seemed a bit daunting to me. It is not a subject that you would expect to be very exciting; but set against a medieval backdrop of knights, earls and family politics it makes for riveting stuff.

The story follows Prior Philip as he fights a seemingly never-ending number of obstacles to keep his dream of building a magnificent cathedral in Kingsbridge. Tom Builder, the master-mason, and his gifted stepson Jack, take on this enormous and daunting task. It touches on all human emotions – love and hate, loyalty and treachery, hope and despair.

The characters are very well developed. But I found some of them, namely William Hamleigh, to be so cruel and vile I almost wanted to tear the pages from the book. Some things that occur are so unjust that it was just too much for me to bare and I had to put the book down for a few days! This story is a real struggle between good and evil. It took me a good month to read. But don’t let that put you off; it is definitely worth the time invested.

After reading it I can really appreciate how hard it was to build a cathedral like this in the 12^th Century. It can take several life times. I had the incredible good luck of going to Paris last January for my birthday. When I went to visit Notre Dame this book immediately came to mind. I can’t think of a worthy word to describe how beautiful Norte Dame is. When you think about how much work went into creating a building like this… it just blew me away.

I’m giving this 4/5 stars. It loses a star because the injustices that occur were sometimes too much for me. But that is just me being soft! I invested a lot into Phillip and Tom and so it was hard for me to see them draw the short straws all the time. A brilliant novel that I would recommend to everyone.

Describe it in two words?  Monumental and Gripping 

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year old girl, is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door-to-door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night. Desperate to protect her younger brother, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard – their secret hiding place – and promises to come back for him as soon as they are released.

Sixty Years Later: Sarah’s story intertwines with that of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist investigating the roundup. In her research, Julia stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah, and to questions about her own romantic future.

The story follows Julia’s investigation of the horrific Velodrome d'Hiver Roundup in Paris 1942. The author effortlessly weaves the present day with the tragic events of the past.

Taken from her home in the middle of the night Sarah manages to innocently lock her brother in the secret cupboard in order to protect him. She is then taken, with her parents and hundreds of other Jewish families, to the Vel’ d’Hiv.

Meanwhile in the present day Paris, journalist Julia Jarmond is assigned to cover the 60th anniversary of the Vel d'Hiv-the round up. While doing research for her article, Julia discovers the story of the Starzynski family and soon becomes deeply involved in a quest to find out what happened to Sarah Starzynski and the connections involving her own family. These connections cause Julia to re-evaluate things in her life and her relationship with her husband.

One negative point…Julia’s research into Sarah’s life almost took over her own life. I found he passion she had for researching at the end a bit unbelievable. I also found the ending was quite predictable, but this does not take away from the book. In my opinion the story is about finding out what happened to Sarah.

I definitely lost sleep over this book. Sarah’s key is a remarkable and shocking story. I couldn’t put it down until I discovered what had happened to her. 4/5

Describe it in two words? Tragic and Moving

  

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

A story of impossible love and a way of life lost forever.

Orphaned, penniless, Jacob Jankowski jumps a freight train in the dark, and in that instant, transforms his future. By morning, he’s landed a job with the Flying Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. By nightfall he’s in love.

In an America made colourless by prohibition and the Depression, the circus is a refuge of sequins and sensuality. But behind the glamour lies a darker world, where both animals and men are dispensable. Where falling in love is the most dangerous act of all…

This is another book I bought after seeing the movie trailer in the cinema. If there is a good movie coming out I always read the book first because chances are, the book is better and I don’t want to miss out on a good book. Because it has been made into a movie I did have high expectations for this one and sadly I was a small bit disappointed.

Water for Elephants is not the most challenging in terms of literature but is an entertaining and easy read.  The exciting prologue and the historical aspect quickly drew me in.

Ninety ‘or Ninety-three’ year old Jacob lives in a nursing home where he spends his days sitting in a hall way staring out the window. With the arrival of a circus he starts to reminisce about his youth. Orphaned and penniless he literally runs away with the circus where he meets and falls in love with Marlena, the star of the show. However, in a cruel twist, she turns out to be married to Jacob’s boss, August, a brutish and dangerous man.

Present day Jacob is a sad, melancholic character. He is fading fast and has been virtually forgotten by his family. The periodic returns to the present interrupted the flow and suspense of the story and were unnecessary. The 1930s story alone would have been excellent.

Gruen remarkably captures the essence of circus life in the 1930s. Running away with the circus is not the clichéd fairytale you would expect. It is a harsh life full of cruelty and deceit. There is a strict hierarchy and those who step out of line get ‘red lighted’ (thrown from the moving train at night).

Overall it is an enjoyable book. The love story is intriguing and August’s character adds a sense of danger and excitement. I also grew very fond of Rosie the elephant who was often the target of August’s rage. I would recommend this book if you’re looking for something light. 3 ½ out of 5.

Watch the trailer on YouTube for the film adaptation, click here It doesn’t contain any spoilers!

Dare I say…I think the movie is going to be better than the book??

Describe it in two words?  Entertaining and Imaginative

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Synopsis: I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me.

I was in a bookshop recently where people seemed to be congregating around a stand of books. Upon investigation I discovered the book was called The Wise Man's Fear. The second in a fantasy trilogy. It seemed to be in high demand so I went home with the first book, The Name of the Wind. And so began the tale of Kvothe. The story is in two parts. Present day Kvothe who runs an inn and tells the story of Kvothe from the past. 

The majority of the book focuses on Kvothe’s experiences and struggles as he grows up. You can’t help but admire Kvothe’s intelligence and resilience in the face of hardships that no 12 year old boy should experience. The book is peppered with eccentric and mysterious characters that draw you further into its pages.

In my opinion the best years of Kvothe’s story so far are those when he is attending the University. This is where you learn about the magic in the world and just how powerful Kvothe has become.

It is a coming of age tale with a focus on the painful realities of not having food, money or social status to get you by in life. Rothfuss’s ability to take magic and fantasy and turn it into something completely believable makes this an exceptional novel. The unanswered questions at the end leave the reader wanting more!

I have since gone and bought The Wise Man’s Fear. But alas, I have to force myself to save it for awhile. Once I am finished reading it I will have to wait for the third book to be written and published. Who knows how long that will take!  4/5

Describe it in two words? Humorous and Epic