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Saturday, August 30, 2014

Stacking the Shelves (1)

Stacking The Shelves, a weekly meme hosted Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves.


This week, a bunch of the holds I had at the library came in so I have a huge library haul.

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally I loved Stealing Parker and am excited to read another book by this author.
Taste Test by Kelly Fiore I love books that center around cooking.
Killer Instinct by S.E. Green This book has been on my TBR list for a while and the author has a great twitter.
Pointe by Brandy Colbert  I love a book about ballet and real life problems.
The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith I loved both the other books by this author and am excited to read this one.
Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl by Emily Pohl-Weary I don't tend to like werewolf books but this one sounds interesting.
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin I heard about this one on Tea Time on the Epic reads youTube.
Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon I love books that have techie/ hacker vibe so I'm excited to start this trilogy
Various Positions by Martha Schabas Similar to Point I love books about dancing/ dancers.

What books did you get this week? Have you read any of these?

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Isla and the Happily Ever After

Today I'm linking up with Jill of Breaking the Spine for Waiting on Wednesday. I can't wait to read Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins.

Isla and the Happily Ever After
Stephanie Perkins
Expected Release: August 14th 2014
Good Reads

Summary:


From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.


Thoughts:


I loved Anna and the French kiss when I read it. I can't wait for a new book from Stephanie Perkins. I really liked Josh in French kiss and can;t wait to see how his character develops in a new book. It also takes place in NYC and Paris two of my favorite cities, so that should be interesting to read about.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Book Review: Dirty Little Secret

Dirty Little Secret
Jennifer Echols
Format: hardback from library
Good Reads

Summary:


Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

Review:


Dirty Little Secret has been on my to read list for a long time now. I finally found it at the library the last time I went and just had to get it even if I was already getting 3 books in addition to the countless others I had already checked out (I love the library). The story centers around Bailey an awesome fiddle player whose parents have banned from playing. However her Grandfather gets her a minor gig at a local mall. From there she gets re introduced to the music world that she used to love and lived in until a year before. Bailey’s life becomes compartmentalized between her family life and her music life. My initial reactions to the situation with here family was how could her parents choose the fame of one daughter over the other. Instead of negotiating for a way for Bailey to keep playing. I also thought that her sister was messed up for being okay with the situation and not talking to her sister, who was also her best friend. However, Bailey finds escape in the world of music where she can do the thing she truly loves. I loved watching her relationship with Sam develop as she spends more time with him. I also loved the other members of the band. While in the beginning  I found Charlotte to be a little possessive of Sam, even though they had broken up I still wanted her to succeed. I loved Ace, the Bassist, he was super down to earth but still provided the necessary reflection that the other characters needed. While sometimes the plot was a little predictable it was still enjoyable and unexpected at certain points. It was similar to other books to be comfortable. While still being different enough to keep me interested.
Overall, What I loved about the story was the unique idea of a fiddle player in Nashville. I also loved the believable and complex characters who had you on the edge of your seat hoping everything worked out in the end. I would recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary romances or music stories. This book will definitely have me seeking out more books to read by Jennifer Echols.


Friday, August 1, 2014

Feature and Follow Friday: 8/1

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends.

Question: What is the biggest city you live near? Show us a postcard picture!

Answer:
San Francisco, CA!


I go to sf all the time during the summer for various festivals and sports games. I am a big fan of the giants baseball team. I try and go to at least three games a season.
I also love living in the area with all of the start ups and unique things happening in the area.