Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella - Paperback Giveaway!

“Celebrate May with FINDING AUDREY!”

Hi guys, I am so happy to share with you today this awesome giveaway of one paperback copy of Finding Audrey!

I reviewed Finding Audrey last year (see my review HERE), and I absolutely loved this book. It was heartwarming and incredibly sweet and funny. I loved the humor, I loved the depth, I loved the family dynamics and most of all, I loved Audrey as a character. 

This is a perfect Spring/Summer read, whether you're spending your time on the beach, at the lake, or on your balcony/patio at home. It's such a charming and fuzzy story, I promise you - you will be absolutely delighted!

So, without further ado, here is the giveaway. Be sure to also check out the full schedule, as this month many bloggers came together to celebrate the PB release of Finding Audrey and each of us has a separate giveaway to share (many chances to win!).

Finding Audrey is available for purchase wherever books are sold!

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is US only and it ends 06/06/2016

May 1: Bookhounds YA

May 2: The Reading Date

May 3: The Fandom

May 4: Here's To Happy Endings

May 5: Love is Not a Triangle 

May 6: Undeniably {Book} Nerdy

May 7: Novel Ink

May 8: Electively Paige 

May 9: Into the Hall of Books

May 10: Eclectic Bookworms

May 11: Wall to Wall Books

May 12: Winterhaven Books

May 13: Once Upon A Twilight

May 14: A Midwife Life  

May 15: Book Syrup

May 16: Across the Words

May 17: Slow Reader's Blog

May 18: Books Buying Beauty

May 19: In Wonderland

May 20: Fangirlish

May 21: YA Interrobang

May 22: Stories for Coffee

May 23: A Midsummer Night's Read

May 24: Lost in Literature

May 25: Live, Love, Read

May 26: Bookish Lifestyle

May 27: Art Books Coffee

May 28: Luxury Reading

May 29: Peace Love Books

May 30: Swooney Boys Podcast

May 31: Fiction Fare

Leap by M.R Joseph

 

Genre:	YA Fiction
Publication.Date:	April 25th 2014
Pages:	204
Published By:	M.R. Joseph
My review copy:	I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Where to get:

Amazon

Goodreads

What if you had no idea your “future” lived beside you your whole life? What if that person was also your best friend? What would you do when you finally realized it?

MacIntyre “Mack” Cooper and Corrine “Rinny” Blanchard have known each other since birth. Living next door to one another on the South Shore of Long Island, and their parents being best friends, meant growing up together was unavoidable. Their bond made them inseparable.

What Corrine didn’t expect was the attraction she began to feel towards her best friend as the two grew older.

As Corrine’s feelings evolve over time and tragedies transpire, she must put her feelings for Mack aside and continue to be just his best friend- unconditionally- when he needs her the most.

However, what happens when the person you love most in the world is taken away without warning just when you need them the most? Would you give up hope or would your love keep hope- and him alive?

No one knew Rinny like Mack did. No one ever would. Mack’s advice to her was when life takes a turn, and your faith is tested and your dreams seem out of reach, sometimes you just have to take the leap

Mack was my first everything. My first friend. My first partner in crime, my first batting coach, my first kick to a set of balls, my first kiss, my first...love. My only love. The one man who could bring me to my knees just with the sheer masculinity of his voice. Words rolled off Mack's tongue like sinful chocolate. Velvet and silky. His words were mesmerizing, intoxicating, and forceful at times, but no matter what you hung onto each one.

Corrine, I believe in miracles. I believe that there's someone watching over him and that he'll be back with us soon. I have to believe that. You have to believe that and everyone else who loves him needs to believe that. 

 

Each day gets harder and harder. Every day when there's no word about Mack, it pulls me down. So far down sometimes I don't think I can ever climb back up. There's no God. If there were, this life, or lack of wouldn't exist. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself. I'm tired of lying to Haven. I'm tired of it all. 

 

 Rinny and Mack became best friends in utero, when their parents moved in next door to each other. Over the years that followed they were each others best friend, confidante, from childhood, to adolescence, to high school and college, they were always right there in front of each other sharing every funny, scary, embarrassing, honest truth with each other, there was nothing they couldn't say to one another, no instance in their young lives where they wouldn't support each other, for years they were each others person until the unthinkable happens and Rinny is forced to face her life without Mack. She is forced to stand on her own two feet without Mack. Will she survive?

Moving back and forth from present circumstances to the beginning and beyond of Mack and Rinny's relationship, this story delves into the heart and soul of a relationship that has lasted decades. Through the years these two have been everything to each other. They have lived through each other. They have loved each other. Now when the most horrific thing happens to one of them, how will the other live on?

I loved everything about this book. The way the author jumped back and forth from present to various different time periods in the characters lives. The way the author made Rinny so raw and real and relatable. The way the story twisted and turned so much that you couldn't possibility know what emotion you would feel next. Loved it all. This is a definite must read for any reader. Add it to your shelves today!

 

 

Book Review: Down With The Shine by Kate Karyus Quinn

Genre:	Young Adult, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Publication.Date	April 26th 2016
Pages:	355
Published By:	Harper Teen
Author	Kate Karyus Quinn
	Down With The Shine on Goodreads
My review copy:	Received from the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Where to get:

Make a wish…

Lennie always thought her uncles’ “important family legacy” was good old-fashioned bootlegging. Then she takes some of her uncles’ moonshine to Michaela Gordon’s annual house party, and finds out just how wrong she was.

At the party, Lennie has everyone make a wish before drinking the shine—it’s tradition. She toasts to wishes for bat wings, for balls of steel, for the party to go on forever. Lennie even makes a wish of her own: to bring back her best friend, Dylan, who was murdered six months ago.

The next morning gives Lennie a whole new understanding of the phrase be careful what you wish for—or in her case, be careful what wishes you grant. Because all those wishes Lennie raised a jar of shine to last night? They came true. Most of them came out bad. And once granted, a wish can’t be unmade…

(Goodreads)

May all your wishes come true, or at least just this one. 

     Part darkly humorous cautionary tale, part twisty supernatural thriller, Down With The Shine takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride filled with chopped-off fingers, magical moonshine, Cheetos, ballsy moves (pun intended) and completely unpredictable plot turns. I had tons of fun reading this book and absolutely loved how Kate decided to end the story. As far as magical realism goes, this was, hands down, one of the most intriguing and entertaining stories I've had the pleasure of reading in my entire blogging "carrier".

     In an act of rebellion and trying to finally "live her life to the fullest", Lennie sneaks out of her home to attend the most popular "IT" party of the year. In hopes of being accepted by the crowd, she brings some of her uncles' famous moonshine with her. As the teenagers start drinking and partying, things quickly get out of hand - Lennie decides to do the traditional moonshine toast with everyone, asking people to "make a wish", and then granting each wish with "may all your wishes come true, or at least just this one." Everyone is having the time of their lives, until the morning comes and people wake up to see their wishes actually granted. And considering some of them wished for "balls of steel", "Midas touch but with Cheetos", "being old and wise and irresistible", or even - in Lennie's case - having her dead friend back alive and safe at home, you can only imagine the mayhem that follows.

     And that's not even the worst of it. Because now, with Lennie accidentally revealing herself as a wish-granting moonshine geenie (which, btw, she had no idea that she was), Lennie's power-crazed murderer of a father is finally able to locate her. And he is coming for her.

    How can a single book contain so much awesomeness? Honestly, this was such a fantastic, genre-bending mash-up, I was continuously blown-away until the very end. The barrage of absurdity that follows the wish-granting night is just as hilarious as it is kind of terrifying (can you imagine having the Cheetos touch?). I loved the energy flowing from this book, and I also adored its eerie, alluring and completely surreal atmosphere. Between the horror-like moments filled with mild gore (oh you know, chopped off fingers, a stab wound here and there, a few Cheetos-bursts deaths, etc), and the scenes of melting sweetness between Lennie and Smith, I felt like I was on an emotional see-saw. But it wasn't tiring or nauseating, not at all, it was actually very refreshing and gripping, with a nicely executed build-up of sexual tension and swoony kisses skillfully intertwined with jaw-dropping twists and humorous tension-breakers. It was inventive. It was mesmerizing. It was just so much fun to read. 

     I loved the noir humor in this book. Thick and gritty, it was so well-fitting, I don't think the story would be half as awesome without it. I snorted my drink a couple of times - usually whenever W2 would do or say something so incredibly outrageous and hilarious, I just couldn't keep a straight face. At the same time, I also really appreciated the darker and more serious undertones flowing through this book. I thought the plot involving Lennie's family was really well-thought-out and it added a very interesting aspect to the story. I also really loved the ending. It was one of the most flawlessly executed endings I've seen, and I wouldn't have the story end in any other way. Perfectly satisfying and very meaningful.

     Overall, if you enjoyed Kate's previous books (like Another Little Piece), chances are you will love Down With The Shine even more. They both have this creepy, darkly humorous, twisty, vaguely magical thing going on, so if you're into that kind of stories, you will not be disappointed.
Personally, I loved this book and I know many of my friends loved it just as much. So go ahead, take a sip. Make a wish.
     

  

Backlog Reviews: A Mad Zombie Party; Me Before You, These Shallow Graves

Series:	White Rabbit Chronicles #4
Genre:	Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Zombies
Publication.Date:	September 17, 2015
Pages:	Audiobook
Published By:	HarlequinTeen
Website:	Gena Showalter
	A Mad Zombie Party on Goodreads
My review copy:	Borrowed from local library

Where to get:

The enemy has risen from the grave. Together we slayers must stand, or one by one we will fall.

Ali Bell's crew of zombie slayers thought they'd won the war against Anima Industries, the evil company responsible for capturing and experimenting on zombies in an effort to discover the secret to immortality. In the last epic clash, the slayers lost many of their crew and closest friends. But Frosty, the ice man himself, has not recovered from one casualty in particular — the love of his life, Kat Parker.

On the path to self-annihilation, Frosty receives a message from beyond — Kat's spirit returns, insisting he partner with rogue slayer Camilla Marks. Frosty will do anything for Kat. Except that. Camilla's betrayal caused Kat's death.

But when Anima rises from the grave stronger than ever, Frosty, Camilla and all the slayers will have to work together to survive. And one broken slayer will learn that sometimes the line between hate and attraction is blurred... and the road to redemption may mean letting go of the past and grabbing hold of the future.

(Goodreads)

I enjoyed A Mad Zombie Party, as well as Frosty and Milla, but I feel this addition was missing something. And I think that something was Cole and Ali. Yes, Cole and Ali were there and an integral part of the story and around quite a bit, but whenever they left, I wanted narration to follow them. There was nothing wrong with Frosty and Milla and their romance was a great slow burn - especially given Milla's part in Kat's death - but they weren't Cole and Ali. I hate comparing them, but a part of me can't help it.

The slayers powers continue to grow and change, making for a good story that kept me listening for hours on end.

If you're a fan of The White Rabbit Chronicles, I would absolutely read A Mad Zombie Party as it was a good ending to the series and I'm happier with the way this ended (not that The Queen of Zombie Hearts was a bad ending, but if you read it I'm sure you know what I mean).

Series:	Me Before You #1
Genre:	Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary
Publication.Date:	January 5, 2012
Pages:	Audiobook
Published By:	Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
Website:	Jojo Moyes
	Me Before You on Goodreads
My review copy:	Borrowed from local library

Where to get:

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

(Goodreads)

I had Me Before You on my TBR list for a while before ultimately removing it for some reason or another. It wasn't until I saw the movie trailer with Emilia Clarke (whom I adore) and Sam Claflin (whom I love) that I decided to put it back on my TBR list. And I'm so glad that I did.

After losing her job at a coffee shop, Lou has a variety of jobs before finally landing as a six-month position as caretaker for Will Traynor, a snarky and humorless quadriplegic. The romance is incredibly sweet - probably one of the ultimate slow burn relationships. Lou isn't trying to romance Will, but bring back his zest for life and in doing so they slowly begin to realize how much they care for one another.

Me Before You is incredibly emotional and there were times I just had to pause my audiobook and reflect on the story. Lou is a fun loving and exciting character that Jojo just brings to life! She breaks through Will's cynical nature, allowing him to experience life once again.

I cannot recommend Me Before You enough. The story is honest and lovely, full of hope and reminders that each and every day with those you love is precious.

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Adult, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Myster
Publication.Date:	October 27, 2015
Pages:	Audiobook
Published By:	Random House Delacorte
Website:	Jennifer Donnelly
	The Shallow Graves on Goodreads
My review copy:	Borrowed from local library

Where to get:

Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.

The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.

The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

(Goodreads)

I absolutely loved These Shallow Graves. I listened to it on audiobook at work, but with only a few chapters left and the work day ending, I had to download it on eBook so I could read it when I got home. I could not stop listening / reading!

Jennifer created one of my absolute favorite character troupes. A woman in a time where women had no voice and not only gave her a voice, but made her kick ass as well! Jo is strong in both mind and spirit, refusing to back down because of society's rules. After overhearing a reporter state that her father's accidental death was anything but, Jo takes it upon herself to team up with said reporter and find the truth.

Their investigation leads them on a whirlwind of revealed secrets and introduces Jo the underbelly of her city, giving her a brand new perspective on the world.

I loved the relationship between her and Eddie. It was very well written and I myself am a fan of Eddie. I'm hesitate to say there's a love triangle - it's more situational than anything. Being of the upper class, Jo is expected to marry well, but her feelings lie with Eddie while her sense of obligation lies with Bram Aldrich.

There is also a friendship that comes sort of out of the blue with Jo and Fay, but I found myself loving their banter and the relationship they formed. It was that sort of friendship that proved backgrounds don't matter and two strong females will come together in support of one another.

A must read for anybody who loves historical fiction, strong female characters, a deeply involved and dark mystery, and twists around all corners!

True Love by Jennifer Lopez {Not Your Average Book Review}

 

Genre:	Non Fiction
Publication.Date:	November 4th 2014
Pages:	276
Published By:	Celebra
My review copy:	Borrowed from the library

Where to get:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

In Jennifer Lopez’s first ever book, True Love, she explores one of her life’s most defining periods—the trans-formative two-year journey of how, as an artist and a mother, she confronted her greatest challenges, identified her biggest fears, and ultimately emerged a stronger person than she’s ever been. Guided by both intimate and electrifying photographs, True Love an honest and revealing personal diary with hard-won lessons and heartfelt recollections and an empowering story of self-reflection, rediscovery, and resilience.

Completely full-color, with photos throughout and lavishly designed, True Love is a stunning and timeless book that features more than 200 never-before-seen images from Lopez’s personal archives, showing candid moments with her family and friends and providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at the life of a pop music icon travelling, rehearsing, and performing around the world

I wake up in bed alone. The silence in my room reminds me of the emptiness in my heart. I failed at love__again. Except this time, it wasn't just me. I am haunted by the inescapable thought that I let down my beautiful babies, Max and Emme. I wanted so badly for things to have turned out differently.

Whenever it feels uncomfortable to tell the truth, that's often the most important time to tell it.

You have to take care of yourself, your body, your mind, take care of your soul__be your own keeper

. 

 

Every single one of us struggles with relationships. Whether it be a marriage or a boyfriend/girlfriend situation. Lately I have been going through some hard times that I never saw coming. I was completely blindsided by them and I had no idea how to react to them. This post, although a bit hard for me, is something I felt the need to share. Since everyone that reads this blog shares a love of reading as I do, I feel connected in some way with each and every one of you. We all experience difficulties in life. This book found its way into my sights at just the right moment and touched me so deeply, I felt the need to share.

I have always admired Jennifer Lopez. I first started following her career when I saw the movie Selena and I just thought she was such a great singer and performer. Ever since then, I have kept up with what she has been doing. She has had several failed relationships that have been very public. She talks about her breakup with Marc and how this relationship opened her eyes to her patterns in love. She couldn't figure out why she couldn't get love right.

When someone hurts you, you automatically tend to blame yourself. You think what could I have done differently? Why wasn't I good enough? But in reality, relationships fail for many different reasons and usually it isn't your fault. It is just circumstances working against you.

 Jennifer discusses her last few serious relationships and starts to realize that she spent a lot of time trying to be perfect. She wanted this person to believe she could be their everything. When she couldn't be perfect, she started to be sad. This was a pattern she found kept repeating over and over again.  She then realized she wasn't happy within herself. I know its crazy. Jenifer Lopez wasn't happy with herself? But, I guess she really is just like you and me. I loved the realness of this novel. I felt as if she was sitting down and having lunch with me and giving me all this great advice based on her past experiences and heartaches.

You have to be happy with you, before you can make someone else happy.



This is really true. When I reflect on this quote, I realize that I too have some self esteem issues and I tend to be a people pleaser. I want to make everyone else happy and sometimes I forget about little old me.

I learned so much from this book and I really gained a lot of insight and helpful advice to use as I'm going through this downtime. I hope that if you need an inspirational lift you will decide to pick this book up. Jennifer Lopez gives great advice :)