Book Review: The Good Sister by Wendy Corsi Staub

The Good Sister by Wendy Corsi Staub
Publisher: Harper
Publish Date: Sept. 24, 2013
Paperback, 432 pages
ISBN: 9780062222381





My Review:
I love Wendy Corsi Staub and was very excited to get to read this one for review. And not only was it Wendy Corsi Staub but it had a plot line that centered around the dangers of the internet for teenagers. So I had to read it. And it was a good book, it kept me hooked and kept me reading, but sadly it seemed missing something for me. It was still a good read and not something I was sorry I spent my time reading, but still there was just something.

First there are the characters, Carley has been troubled ever since starting Sacred Sisters Catholic School. There have been obvious bullying events. Also she has been separated in high school from her best friend since they were in diapers. And not only is there separation there has been a rift between them as well so Carley's only friend is "Angel" who she meets online in a bullying forum. Angel understands her much better than anyone else in her life does. Jen is Carley's Mom who is trying her best to communicate with Carley and understand what is going on in her life. She's an attentive Mom and caring, but finds it hard to get through to Carley, but she knows there is something more going on especially when other teens who have no reason in the community begin to commit suicide. I liked the characters, Carley while truculent is relatable. There is a lot of bullying these days taken to extremes like in this book and I was sad for her and wanted her to find a friend. I rooted for both Jen and Carley in this book because I did like them both and that was the redeeming quality of the novel. The fact that the characters were likeable.

Where the book fell more flat for me was in the plot. It was plotted out wonderfully. I understood where Ms. Staub wanted to go with the book and loved that part. But somewhere in the execution it just lost me. It's like it took a long time to set up and then suddenly was speeding along but not in a good way. I would get kind of lost at times. Then bam! It was the ending everything was explained and tied up in a neat bow. It just felt slow then rushed. Maybe there was a page/word constraint and she was working with that. I understand that. And while I still enjoyed the book, it was here in the plot that I just found it to be lacking that thing that makes me say Wow! when I finish a book.

With likeable characters and an interesting plot, The Good Sister is still a book to be checked out especially if you like/love Ms. Staub. I will willingly admit that these are all my opinions and this maybe the book you gush about. And if you do, please leave me a comment because I would love to see your review and hear what you loved. Maybe I missed something completely. So if you love a good mystery centered around revenge and internet danger, this could be just the book for you. But for me I think I will eagerly await Ms. Staub's next book!


My rating: 3.0/5.0

About the Book:
In New York Times bestselling authorWendy Corsi Staub's electrifying new thriller,a mother races to save her daughter beforeher darkest nightmare comes true.

Sacred Sisters Catholic girls' school has hardly changed since Jen Archer was a student. Jen hoped her older daughter would thrive here. Instead, shy, studious Carley becomes the target of vicious bullies. But the real danger at Sacred Sisters goes much deeper.

The only person Carley can talk to is "Angel," a kindred spirit she met online. Carley tells Angel everything—about her younger sister, about school, about the sudden death of her former best friend. Angel is her lifeline. And Angel is closer than she knows.

When another schoolgirl is found dead, Jen's unease grows. There are too many coincidences, too many links to her past. Every instinct tells her that Carley is the next target. For someone is intent on punishing the guilty, teaching the ultimate lesson in how to fear . . . and how to die.

***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series Spotlight, Cover Reveal & Giveaway

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series 
Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors.

"Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love."

Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford
Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin
Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson
Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White
Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver
Book 6: Immersed in Love by Jennifer Griffith

Home Matters by Julie N. Ford

According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous when she can't even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She's confident that her destiny is finally within reach.

When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever.

Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin

Drew Westfall wants nothing more than to forget what he had to do in the name of "smart" business. Cutting off all ties with his parents—including handing over the entire contents of his trust fund to a charity—he takes off for Bridger, Colorado where his best friend has an extra room for him. It doesn't take long for him to realize that his business degree won’t do him much good in a town as small as Bridger, but he's broke and has nowhere else to go.

Eden Torresi has every reason to wallow. Not only did she lose her mother, but she had to drop out of nursing school and is in a relationship with a guy unwilling to commit. But Eden isn't the wallowing type. Instead, she chooses to spend most of her time taking care of the seniors at Silver Linings Nursing home. When she learns that her boyfriend's new roommate is down on his luck, her caring nature makes her want to reach out to him and offer what help she can. But the more time they spend together, the more complicated things get, especially when the seniors of Silver Linings decide to play matchmaker.

Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson

Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year ended in a fiasco. Only Jace Sutton knew the real reason why—that she was a spineless coward. Now, seven years later, her father's been in an accident and needs help, and Cambr has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and boards a plane, hoping against hope that Jace is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past.

If only life worked that way.

Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she’d led him on, bruised his heart, and left town without a backward glance, he was forced to pick up the pieces and try not to hate her for it. Eventually, he put it behind him and moved on, creating a life for himself in his beloved hometown. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jake instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs.

If only it were that easy.

Lost and Found by Karey White

Lydia was supposed to have an adventurous and exciting summer. Instead she's done nothing more than read and eat takeout. Now it's time to go home, and what does she have to show for it? A big fat nothing. Unless, of course, her trip to the airport somehow turns into something more than just a flight home.

Blake feels like he's been sent on a wild goose chase. While work is piling up back in Denver, he's on the other side of the country, hunting for some mysterious box that his grandfather left him. Well, no more. Nothing inside that box could possibly be more important than the opportunity to make it as the youngest partner at his firm. So he's going home, and that's that. But that's before he discovers his flight has been cancelled.

When these two strangers meet at the airport, they make a split-second decision to search for the box together. Maybe with both of them on the hunt, Lydia can have her adventure and Blake can find the box. And maybe, if they’re lucky, they’ll even find some romance.

Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver

Thirty seven year old Francie Davis, a recent widow and empty nester, gets to attend college at last. She’s sure her luck has changed when she also lands a job on campus that will pay her tuition, as administrative assistant to a history professor. When her handsome new boss yells at her on the first day of work, Francie worries she will never be good enough.

For Professor Alex Diederik, life is going downhill fast. Not only is his bitter ex-wife trying to poison their only daughter against him, but now his one place of solace—his work environment—is being complicated by his attractive new administrative assistant. She drives home his feelings of failure as a husband and father, and Alex wonders if hiring her was the right thing to do.

Francie will have to put aside her hurt and insecurities or risk her dreams, while Alex must look outside himself if he’s to mend the breach with his daughter. And, perhaps, find someone who can help heal his pain.

Immersed in Love by Jennifer Griffith

Lisette Pannebaker speaks five languages and has a brilliant business plan—personal language immersion. Clients can hire her to shadow them and speak all day in any language they need to learn for business or travel—whatever.

But there’s a major hitch: she’s far too pretty. Clients with less than honorable intentions sign up just have Lisette at their side. Solution? A make-under. Way under.It works like a charm. None of her male clients show her the least bit of interest.

Until… Erik.

Erik Gunnarsson is charming, kind, and smart—everything she’s ever looked for. Even though he seems to have a secret and she swore she'd never date a client, Lisette is tempted to shed her disguise—even if it means jeopardizing her career.



Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/31/13

Bloggers who put up a spotlight post about these books on their blog can enter to win an additional $25 gift card or paypal cash.  See details in the Rafflecopter.

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Facade by Nyrae Dawn

FACADE by Nyrae Dawn

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Genre: New Adult

Mass Market

ISBN: 9781455576319

Summary:

No one knows who twenty-one year-old Adrian Westfall is behind his façade. After what he's done, he deserves to live alone with his pain, even if he'd do anything to forget. Anything for a moment of quiet without his past haunting him.

Eighteen year-old Delaney Cross wants nothing more than to absolve her family from her father's sins. To keep her suicidal mom off that ledge, and help her brother Maddox get the light back in his eyes. She thinks their road to freedom is through Adrian.

Adrian and Delaney are bound together by tragedy... Only Adrian doesn't know it.  As their lives intertwine, they find a solace in each other they never knew existed. Laney knows she needs to tell him-to come out from behind her smoke screen, but to say the words could mean losing him.

Two people. Two disguises. True love. Will it be enough to save them when all secrets are bared?

Author Bio:

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn's passion. Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she's a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she's not with her family, you can be pretty sure you'll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her. Nyrae also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.

 

 

 

 

 

Author’s Social Networking links:

Blog 

Twitter (@NyraeDawn)

Facebook

Goodreads

 

Excerpt:

When I see my sister, Angel, walk over to Ash’s grave I don’t get out of the car. When some guy walks up and grabs her hand, I don’t know who he is and yet, I don’t bother finding out. They hug and I don’t walk over and do the same thing to her. It’s not our thing to stand around having some group, mourning session over the two year-old boy who died too soon.

            Nope. This is real life. Not like all the stupid fucking books I read or the movies people watch or the reality shows that couldn’t be farther away from reality.

            Without moving an inch, I watch her. Watch as she sets flowers on Ashton’s grave. As the guy pulls her into a hug. As they kneel on the ground, probably talking to him in a way I’ll never have the balls to do.

            The guy says something to her and then gets up and walks away. I duck further down in my seat, but no one is paying attention to me. He heads back to a little car and waits.

            Angel’s hands go to her face and I know she’s crying in them. Know she’s mourning the loss of Ash, the boy she loved so much. The boy she took care of better than any mom could. I know she sent the guy away because she’s like me and needs to handle shit on her own. Only unlike me, she’ll never run.

            She cries out there for probably thirty minutes. The whole time my chest is tight. Aching. It’s hard to breathe and I want to turn away, but I don’t. I deserve to feel this way and deserve to see this.

            A fist squeezes tighter and tighter around my heart. My face is wet, but I don’t bother to wipe away the tears, either. Real men don’t fucking cry. That’s what dad always said before he hit me in a series of body shots, until I couldn’t stop myself from doing just what he said I shouldn’t do.

            Then he’d beat me harder for being weak.

            Angel’s shoulders are shaking. I can tell from this far away.

            I’m not an idiot. Never have been. I know it wouldn’t make me weak to walk over there and hug her. To hold her and tell her it’ll be okay, but I still won’t do it. What right do I have to try and console her, when I’m the one who destroyed everything?

            When I’m the one who let Ash die?

            So I sit here and watch her, just so I’ll never forget the pain I caused.

Giveaway:
1 WINNER: $25 gift card to the e-retailer of your choice, plus a print copy of FAÇADE
5 WINNER: Forever New Adult Prizepack including print copies of: FAÇADE, THE COINCIDENCE OF CALLIE & KAYKEN (Jessica Sorensen), THE EDGE OF NEVER (J.A Redmerski), and ELITE (Rachel Van Dyken).

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Book Review: A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers
Publisher: William Morrow
Publish Date: September 17, 2013 (ebook), October 1, 2013 (paperback)
ebook, 336 pages
ISBN: 9780062298997 (ebook), 9780062299017 (paperback)
New Adult, A Little Too Far #1

My Review:

Are you ready for an amazing new adult novel? I know I always am. I love Lisa Desrochers as a young adult author, and wondered how well she could make the slight changeover to new adult. Would she disappoint, would she rock it? Well let me tell you she rocked it! I love new adult but she took it somewhere I never expected and I liked it. It's hot, has lots of angst and finally an ending I loved. So I would say go and get this one and then be ready to be anxious for book #2, A Little Too Much which comes out in November. I know I am.

So what did I love? The characters, there is Lexie who is a college student with a bad breakup who escapes to a school halfway across the country. And then she's escaping for a year abroad to study. It can't get much better. There is Trent, her amazing step-brother. They can talk about anything and are so close. And then they get closer. And no I didn't have a problem with it. They are {STEP}-siblings and Lisa Desroches writes the book in such a way that you get their closeness and how this could happen. Then lack-of-communication happens and Lexie heads off to Italy unsure of what exactly is going on between her and Trent. Then enter Alessandro a handsome young reverend who will be a priest soon. I loved all three main characters, they each had some growing to do and they were all pretty amazing. I wasn't really sure how I wanted things to end until they did and I felt really good about it.

As for the plot, it kept me reading. The love scenes are scorching. The scenes at the Catholic Church for confession are rather amusing. It makes me glad I'm not Catholic and have to do confession. There is humor, there are sexy scenes. There is growth of characters and there is the decision that all three characters have to make. This makes the book. Well along with the good sex and the jealousy and the stupid miscommunication and lack of communication that comes with all relationships. But it all works and works well together.

I cannot wait for the second book in this series. While this one ties everything up pretty well for one couple, I can't wait to see what Lisa does in a second book in the series since I think she knocked this one out of the park. With a sassy main character who has some issues and insecurities to deal with to two hot secondary characters, this book will make you want more and you'll be finished with it before you know it. I loved it!

My rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book: 
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.
 

***I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Come Join Jay Asher for a Literary Hangout on Air for Banned Books Week (9/24)

It's Banned Books week and you'll want to check this out.  Thirteen Reasons Why is one of my favorite books and I have The Future of Us on my Kindle.  I'm going to be there, so come join in as well!

Giveaway to chekc out: Entangled in the Wild

This is a contest you will want to check out.  Entangled Select and Entangled Teen is hosting a contest and giving away an iPad mini. 


The low-down:

1. Take a picture of yourself with any of the books listed on the website in a bookstore.  (The books will change with new releases, so come back to see which books we’re looking for each month!)
2. Post the picture to Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram, Google Plus, or your blog. Make sure to use the hashtag #EntangledInTheWild so we can keep track and RT. We’d love to know what bookstore you found our books at so when you tweet, make sure to tweet, “I’m in xx bookstore in xx state. #EntangledInTheWild.”  So, for example if you’re in B&N in California, you’d tweet, “I’m in B&N in Palm Desert, CA. #EntangledInTheWild.”
3. Enter the post’s link in the Rafflecopter at their website.

 So run and check out your bookstore for these great books, I know I will be!

Book Review: Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Teardrop by Lauren Kate
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pub date: Oct. 22, 2013
Hardcover, 464 pages
ISBN: 9780375990694


My Review:
So this will be two days in a row of absolutely gushing reviews, but I lucked into a spell of absolutely amazing new releases. First with 3:59 which I reviewed yesterday and now with Teardrop, which is completely different, but again an amazing book.

I also should probably say I love Lauren Kate, though I was not paid to say that. So when I saw her newest offered on Amazon Vine, I had to read it. But like 3:59 for some reason I put it off. I think it may have been the size, it's over 400 pages and I'm always afraid I won't like it and I always feel like I should finish. And 400 is minor I know, I've read 800+ page books frequently. Maybe too I was afraid of being disappointed by a Lauren Kate book after all the book synopsis sounds really different. However I should not have feared. The book flew by and Lauren Kate could never disappoint!

What did I like? Eureka for one, she's a great main character. Her life has been devastated and everything has turned on it's ear with her Mom's death. She honestly feels she has nothing to live for but Brooks and her Mom's memory. And then a strange boy comes into her life and sets things into motion that changes everything. Yeah, I like her. I also like Ander, yes he's mysterious and yes we know there are some things he's hiding, but I wanted to know what those were and I was cheering for him through the whole book. I also loved the setting. Lousiana, but not New Orleans really drew me in (not that I don't love New Orleans stories, but it was interesting to see a slightly different more small-town area). And the plot, what was not to love about that. Also it uses the myth of Atlantis, what's not to love? It's fast-paced, I read most of it in one afternoon and gripping. I cared about the characters and I was dying to figure out just where the book and the series were heading. So that made for a book I could not put down.

What I didn't like? While the ending wraps up that book fine, I don't want to wait another 6 months-1 year until the next book! This is me whining, this was so good I need more Eureka now! I need to know where the next book will go because I know I will like it. So it really isn't a complaint, more of a whine. You'll understand when you read it and you just have to read it now, don't you.

So with great plot, interesting characters and an exciting start to a series, Teardrop is one amazing book. It goes on sale next month, but I recommend putting it on your wishlist now if you haven't yet! And after you read it you'll be stalking Lauren's pages to find out when the next book releases, which reminds me, I'm off now to look around and see!

My rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book:
Never, ever cry. . . . Eureka Boudreaux's mother drilled that rule into her daughter years ago. But now her mother is gone, and everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, the tall, pale blond boy who seems to know things he shouldn't, who tells Eureka she is in grave danger, who comes closer to making her cry than anyone has before.

But Ander doesn't know Eureka's darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her oldest friend, Brooks, and a strange inheritance—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book no one understands. The book contains a haunting tale about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea. Eureka is about to discover that the ancient tale is more than a story, that Ander might be telling the truth . . . and that her life has far darker undercurrents than she ever imagined. From Lauren Kate comes an epic saga of heart-stopping romance, devastating secrets, and dark magic . . . a world where everything you love can be washed away

***I received this book from Amazon Vine for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***