Sticky Note - 23.2.18

I no longer blog here but you can now find me at word drift. Hope to see you there!

13 September 2012

Chasing McCree by J.C. Isabella Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

Today, I'm delighted to introduce you to J.C. Isabella and her YA contemporary novel, Chasing McCree. It sounds like a really great contemp that I'd enjoy so hopefully I'll be able to read it soon! Below, is an excerpt from the book itself and don't forget to enter the giveaway as well! Enjoy!

 

Briar Thompson had it all. The right clothes, the right friends, the right car. Being popular was all that mattered. Her parents were rich and treated like royalty throughout the community. She thought her senior year of high school was going perfectly, until the night her drink was spiked at a party by one of her so called friends.
That was the night she met Chase McCree.
Chase wanted to go back to Montana. To the ranch and the wild, wide blue sky that went on forever. He wanted nothing to do with flashy cars or spoiled rich kids. But he found himself head over boots for the quirky cheerleader who turned her back on her social status. She befriended him when no one else would.
Shunned and hurt by the people who were once her friends, Briar flees with Chase to his family ranch in Montana. There she discovers another world, and apart of herself she never knew.
The cowboy wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met. The cheerleader wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met. Apart their lives didn’t seem to make sense, but together, they were chasing forever.
Excerpt

Chapter 4 - Chase

 “Tuesday nights I fix a mean pot roast.” Grandma said, her frail, boney arms clutching me in a tight hug. I was surprised by her strength, for such a small older woman. “Look at you, not an ounce of fat.”

“Uh, thanks.” My face went red, and Briar pulled her off of me.

But Grandma wasn’t finished. “My hubby was that fit once. A prized fighter. What a doll. A really awesome boxer. He could knock em’ out. One two! Down on the mat they go, stars in their eyes, teeth missing outta their heads.”

“Wow, really?” I asked, trying to hold in my laughter as she held her fists up and punched the air.

“Yup,” Grandma clicked her tongue. “Unfortunately, he took one to many hits to the noggin, if you catch my drift. Never was the same after the bar brawl of eighty-two.”

“Your grandfather was in a bar fight?” I glanced at Briar.

She smiled. “I hear he was pretty wild.”

Grandma purred. “An animal. Next time I see you, I can tell you some stories about our trip to Africa. I almost got married off to a tribal chief when Grandpa lost a poker game to a witch doctor and a monkey who played the harmonica.”

Briar laughed. “Grandma, I’m going to say goodbye to Chase, why don’t you go check on your sangria?”

“Oh, I see how it is. You kids want to smooch while the old bird isn’t looking.” Grandma turned for the house, socks jingling as she opened the front door. “I wasn’t born yesterday, you know. I got these gray hairs and wrinkles from a hotheaded husband and a son who couldn’t keep his pecker in his pants. Don’t know how he’s managed to stay married to your mother for so long. She must have a magical vagina.”

The door shut. I looked at Briar. She went pink with embarrassment, and I was about to tell her I loved her grandmother, but the front door reopened. Grandma poked her head back out. She narrowed her wrinkly eyes and pursed her lips together, studying me closely, then Briar. “I know times are different now, and you kids do things that would turn my hair white. Do yourselves a favor and use protection. No glove, no love.”

The door snapped shut behind her, and I couldn’t make eye contact with Briar as we walked back for the truck. Her grandmother didn’t mince words.


Author Spotlight 
JC Isabella.jpg
I'm J.C. Isabella, and I love to write. I've been writing for about ten years now. Mostly it was just for fun, for me. But my friends liked my work, so I decided to self publish. I hope you enjoy the rest of my site, and the books I have written. The reason I chose to write romance, is because I love a happy ending. In YA there are so many lessons to be learned, so many firsts to be had. Why not write about first kisses, first crushes, or trying to explain to your father you were bitten by your boyfriend, who happens to be a werewolf? One thing I will always promise in my books is a happy ending. I've always hated getting to the end of a really great novel, and feeling let down because it didn't end the way I thought it should. So about ten years ago, I decided to write a book. I remember it was about these kids who hijack a boat to find buried treasure in Mexico.... Needless to say, my writing has come a long way since my teen years, and I know I have room to improve, but I feel guilty having these books sitting in my computer, with no one to read them. So I'm putting them out for the world to see! I try not to take myself too seriously. I'm not an editor, nor am I a total wiz when it comes to grammar or language. I try my darndest though, and I hope to give people an enjoyable read that is nice a break from reality. I put a lot of work into what I do, and I appreciate people reading my work. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Hehe, I giggled so much at that! I absolutely ADORE feisty grandparents in books so I can't wait to meet Briar's grandma!  Let me know what you thought of it in the comments!

And now for the giveaway.  Up for grabs are 5 e-book copies of Chasing McCree and another 5 e-book copies of McCree's Star Spangled 4th which is a short story.  Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favour!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy reading,
Beverley xx

11 September 2012

REVIEW: Beneath the Glitter by Elle & Blair Fowler



Name: Beneath the Glitter
Author: Elle & Blair Fowler
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: September 4, 2012 (US)
Pages: 288, Hardcover
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3 Teacups

From internet stars Elle and Blair Fowler comes a scintillating new novel that takes readers Beneath the Glitter of the glitzy L.A. social scene.
Welcome to a place where dreams are made.  And where nothing—and no one—is ever what it seems.
After their make-up and fashion videos went viral on YouTube, sisters Sophia and Ava London are thrust into the exclusive life of the Los Angeles elite.  Here fabulous parties, air kisses, paparazzi and hot guys all come with the scene. Sophia finds herself torn between a gorgeous bartender and a millionaire playboy, and Ava starts dating an A-list actor.  But as they’re about to discover, the life they’ve always dreamed of comes with a cost.
Beneath the glitter of the Hollywood social scene lies a world of ruthless ambition, vicious gossip…and betrayal.  Someone close to them, someone they trust, is working in the shadows to bring the London sisters falling down. And once the betrayal is complete, Sophia and Ava find themselves knee-deep in a scandal that could take away everything they care about, including the one thing that matters most—each other.

[summary taken from Goodreads]


Jen's Review 

Having watched Elle & Blair's beauty videos on Youtube for more than a year now, I am a huge fan of both of their videos, and so I didn't hesitate at the chance to read their debut novel. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect--it's not like I should judge before I've even read the book (that's just RUDE!). I went into it expecting a light, fun, drama-filled read, perfect for lounging by the pool. That's exactly what I got, but I was pleasantly surprised with the depth of some of the situations. BENEATH THE GLITTER had its ups and downs for me, nonetheless it all balanced out to be a pretty good novel.

The Good Stuff:
  • The characters. I think that the characters were all super fun and enjoyable.  They could have been developed more (there's always room for improvement!), but what I got was good enough to be likeable. I found it extremely amusing with the fact that Sophia & Ava are pretty much Elle & Blair themselves. I genuinely saw themselves in the characters in the story.
  • Lots of description! I loved the description and detail for the story. Though sometimes it was unnecessary, it created a very vivid world of LA for me.
  • Cute chapter titles. Though this doesn't matter much, I found the chapter titles to be entertaining, and it just added to the cute and funny factor for this story.
  • The sister-bondage. The relationship between Sophia & Ava was very precious and I adored their growth in working together as business partners, and as sisters. It's heartwarming.

The… Not So Good Stuff:
  • The plot. Sure, the plot was drama-filled, but it wasn't really working out for me. Being just short of 300 pages, BENEATH THE GLITTER took me much too long to read. It was really slow from beginning to end (okay, there was ONE scene that was intense),  and I kind of felt myself pushing through the novel. It's a bit repetitive, even.
  • The amount of STUFF going on. I just said the plot was kind of boring, and it kind of was. But there was also  too much stuff going on. I would have liked it if the story stuck to one main problem. We've got boy problems, London Calling, photography, sister problems, love triangle (ish), the pet shelter, etc. It kept jumping back and forth, and honestly, I think the story would have been more organized if it was toned down a little.
  • The AMOUNT of characters in the story. At one point, it got a little overwhelming. There are SO many characters, from the main, to the love interests, to the side characters. GAH.
  • THE ENDING. My goodness, the ending is frustrating me right now as I type. It's so confusing, there HAS to be a companion/sequel to it. I'm not saying it's exactly a cliffhanger, but it's discombobulating and there were quite a few questions left unanswered. It's frustrating!

So, there you have it. My thoughts. The plot really derailed my overall enjoyment of the story for me. However, I'm pretty happy with the way the story turned out, and I am still looking forward to whatever Elle & Blair have in store for their readers. If you liked Lauren Conrad's L.A. CANDY series, you are sure to enjoy this one as well. A cute, Gossip-Girl-esque novel that is entertaining and light-hearted.

3 teacups for Beneath the Glitter!


                   *Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for providing me eARC to review*


9 September 2012

Showcase Sunday #5


Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky over at Books, Biscuits, and Tea! It's a great way to share what you have received the past week and to also gush over the wonderful books other bloggers have added to their bookshelves!

Beverley and I will be doing Showcase Sunday every two weeks from now on. Enjoy the two week haul from BOTH of us! :)


Jen's New Books: 

Teeth Broken My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century Origin
The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1) Doomed Splintered Possession (Possession, #1)

For Review:

Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz 
Broken by A.E. Rought 
My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris 
Origin by Jessica Khoury
The Lost Prince 
Doomed by Tracy Deebs 
Splintered by A.G. Howard 
Possession by Elana Johnson

*MUCH thanks to Edelweiss, Netgalley, S&S, Broken Robot, Entangled, Penguin, HarlequinTeen, Bloomsbury, ABRAMS, and Elana Johnson. :)


Prince of Wolves (The Grey Wolves, #1) Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death, #1) Partials (Partials, #1) The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Bought:

Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Partials by Dan Wells
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky


The Fame Game (Fame Game, #1) Every Day Where Things Come Back Everneath (Everneath, #1)
Library:

The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad
Every Day by David Levithan (audiobook)
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Everneath by Brodi Ashton (audiobook)



Beverley's New Books: 

*runs away* Yeah... Look at all those wonderful books Jen's got ^ I don't know about you but I am really jealous of her right now ;) But of course, I'm obviously looking forward to her reviews!

Anyways. I haven't received any new books in the past two weeks, mainly because I'm back to school and have to cut down on requests.  But I did get one book which I forgot to show you guys last time:


For Review:

The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable:  I ADORE Chicken House!  They sent this to me as another surprise and it was beautifully packaged.  It came in a silver envelope, wrapped in purple tissue paper and sprinkled with a handful of pretty gems.  It's targeted towards a younger age group but I think I'll enjoy it.  It seems so magical and enchanting and it's set in RUSSIA!

Won:

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris swag:  I joined Rachel Harris's Flirt Squad where you have to complete different tasks to earn points.  I managed to get past the second stage so the lovely Rachel sent me some cute swag!

What did you guys get this week?  Link us up!

Happy reading,
Beverley and Jen x

7 September 2012

REVIEW: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Name: Sweet Venom
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Publisher: Templar
Release date: 4th September 2012
Pages: 361
Source: From publisher (for review)
Rating: 4 stars

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.
Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.
Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.
These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.
Beverley's Review

When I heard this book was entwined with Greek mythology, I just knew I had to read it.  And it certainly didn't disappoint!  I've heard nothing but good things about Tera Lynn Childs's books and I hoped this would live up to my expectations (it did!)

What I adored about this book:

  • The storyline.  It's unique, utterly creative and encourages girl power!  This time it isn't the boys out there fighting off the monsters, the girls are showing who's best!  Sweet Venom takes 'kick-ass' to a whole new level!
  • The different POVS.  Sometimes triple POVs aren't great but Tera Lynn Childs works her magic and ensures it will appeal. Because each girl has their own distinct personality, it was refreshing to read each chapter from a different POV.  Even without the girl's names at the start of the chapters, I'm sure I would still be able to tell whose POV it's from as it is so easy to tell them apart.  I'm glad to say it works brilliantly and one of the main things I loved about the book.
  • The Greek mythology.  The beasties which the girls fight aren't any old monsters - they're straight out of Greek mythology.  I loved this element of the book because it's so different from anything else I've ever read and the way the author wove in ancient Greek history into the storyline is just amazing.
  • The girls.  The three sisters are so different yet so similar at the same time and I warmed to them all instantly.  Gretchen is so fearless and caring, and I wish I had a best friend like Grace.  Despite getting off to a frustrating start with Greer, I couldn't help but admire her as much as the others in the end.
  • The boys.  Three female protagonists = three love interests.  Triple the fun!  Even though romance isn't heavy in Sweet Venom, it was still nice to have slight undertones of love throughout. All three boys were really sweet and obviously cared for the girls. 
  • The writing.  Tera Lynn Child's writing style is... lush.  Each paragraph has the ability to entice you and I found myself with the ability to clearly imagine the world in which the triplets live - however unbelievable it may sound in reality.
What I didn't love so much about this book:
  • The pace at the beginning.  It was quite slow and I was a bit confused to start with but this is only a minor fault that you probably won't end up noticing.
  • The wait for the second book.  Fine... that isn't really a valid flaw.  But still... it ends on a cliffhanger and I'm desperate to get my hands on the second book!  My bookshelf already has a reserved space for the next books.
Sweet Venom is one heck of a kick-ass read with admirable heroines saving the unsuspecting human world one monster at a time.  Tera Lynn Child's writing will captivate you from start to finish and you'll find yourself immersed in a world of mythological beasties!

4 teacups for Sweet Venom!
The Sweet Venom UK Blog Tour will also be stopping by on Tuesday 25th so keep an eye out for that!

5 September 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #7

Waiting on Wednesday is a fabulous meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!  It's a wonderful chance to share the books we're eagerly anticipating and to find out what our fellow bloggers are looking forward to reading!

Bev's eagerly anticipating...

Return to Me
Three months before Rebecca Muir is set to begin college, her father reveals a secret that tears the family apart: he is leaving them.
In an instant, Rebecca’s life crumbles—she has to rely on her mother now, when her whole life she’s been her father’s girl; she’s not sure she can trust her high school boyfriend; and her carefully planned-out life suddenly feels all wrong.
Reb’s journey takes her across the country and back, and is for anyone who has experienced uncertainty or betrayal. This book will inspire readers to overcome life’s challenges and come out triumphant on the other side.

 I love inspirational contemporaries and this sounds like my cup of tea. I enjoy reading about characters who pull through difficulties in life and I'm always on the look out for emotional reads to dive into. Hopefully this will be released in the UK soon so I don't have to wait too long!



Jen's eagerly anticipating...


 It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

I WILL READ ANYTHING BY RUTA. Between Shades of Gray is just, ugh, too amazing. It has to be one of my favorite novels of the year.  She's like the only author that I'll read historical fiction from, y'all. THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING. I WILL get my hands on this lovely book, I will.

What are you waiting on today? 

Happy reading,
Bev & Jen xx

3 September 2012

REVIEW: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Name: Beautiful Disaster
Author: Jamie McGuire
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: August 14, 2012 (US)
Pages: 432, Paperback
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 4 Teacups

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand. 
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.  
[summary taken from Goodreads]


Jen's Review 

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER is a very, very, messed up book.

A very, very--ADDICTING--messed up book.

I admit it, I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this book, I could NOT put it down! The entire time, I HAD to know how Abby and Travis's relationship was going to end. I'm not sure what else compelled me to read until the end, but it's so freaking addicting! I read this in 2 days y'all, and this is one fat book--nearly 450 pages!! However, there were so so many imperfections & flaws in this book that I am going to rant about for a little bit.

(That was a warning. In case you didn't get the memo, RANTING AHEAD.)

First off, I was reading Katie's review (from Katie's Book Blog) and after reading her review, I couldn't help but notice this as well. WHY. WHY does Travis call Abby PIDGEON? Abby is a perfectly fine name. PIDGEON. Seriously? No. There wasn't even a reason as to why he started calling her that. He started calling her "Pidge" before he even got to know her. Whenever he called her that, it just seemed like he was the upperhand; it made her sound like a weak and naïve girl (which she kind of… is) that needed to be sheltered under someone else's protection.

Next, Abby & Travis have an EXTREMELY unhealthy relationship! I would be freaking scared to have a boyfriend who can beat the crap out of anyone. Their relationship = a rollercoaster ride. They break up and make up and break up and make up--it's like, JUST STAY TOGETHER. Also, he is so DEPENDENT on her. Like, so badly. As well possessive! This is going to sound super cheesy but, I learned in health class that controlling your partner in a relationship is NOT SAFE. Yep, sounds like Travis.

The last bit of the rant: Travis and Abby are kind of selfish, if you think about it. Either that, or America and Shepley are too nice. A & T'S relationship literally crumbled A & S's relationship in every chapter. I LOVED America and Shepley-- they helped their friends through thick and thin. So why would they let Travis and Abby ruin their relationship? And why couldn't Travis and Abby realize it? Oh wait, they were too busy worrying about their own rollercoaster relationship.

(This concludes the ranting.)

Whew, aside from those negative topics, let's move on to the positive. As mentioned above, there was TOTALLY the addictiveness factor. And, the SMEXY TIMES (term stolen from Gianna @ Books to Infinity). Mmm, yummy. To add on to that, BEAUTIFUL DISASTER has caused me to fall in love with New Adult novels. =)

Alrighty then, so my overall thoughts: While BEAUTIFUL DISASTER had it's major problems here and there, the engrossing story won me over and turned out to be quite a satisfying read.

4 stars to Beautiful Disaster!

*Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an eARC to review*

1 September 2012

Alfie the Sniffer Pup (September '12 Edition)

Alfie the Sniffer Pup is a monthly feature here on A Reading Daydreamer where I spotlight exciting upcoming releases and book-ish news which my pup, Alfie has kindly 'sniffed' out for me!
I can't believe it's time again for another Alfie the Sniffer Pup. Time seems to be flying by! This will be the first full month that Jen and I are blogging together (find out more about her HERE) and I can't wait for all the posts we have planned.

As much as I'm looking forward to a month of co-blogging, I'm also eagerly anticipating the releases Alfie has sniffed out!  Remember to click on the covers to find out more and to add to your Goodreads!

What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles, #1) My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century Burn for Burn The Diviners My Beating Teenage Heart

What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1)
My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris
Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
The Diviners by Libba Bray
My Beating Teenage Heart by CK Kelly Martin

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1) Wolf Pact (Wolf Pact, #1) Sweet Venom Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1) The Dead Girls Detective Agency

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
Wolf Pact (Wolf Pact #1) by Melissa de la Cruz
Sweet Venom (Medusa Girls #1) by Tera Lynn Childs
Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1) by Jay Kristoff
The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox

Cursed Ten Origin Beneath the Glitter Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy, #1)

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Origin by Jessica Khoury
Beneath the Glitter by Ellie and Blair Fowler
Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Looks like September is set to be another month filled with awesome releases!  I've been dying to read What's Left of Me since... FOREVER!  And I'm desperate for My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century too - it's published a few days after my sixteenth birthday so I will definitely be nabbing a copy :D  Burn for Burn sounds amazing too although I've been told it won't be published until 2013 over here in the UK. Major sadface.  The Diviners is next on my TBR pile and I'm currently reading Sweet Venom.

Since it's my birthday this month, I'd love if you could tell me which releases I should ask for!  Are there any I haven't mentioned that would be worth reading or should I ask for a few of the above that Alfie has sniffed out?

Happy reading,
Beverley x
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