Archive for April 2015

Mini-Review: Getting Lucky Number Seven

Thursday, April 30, 2015 0 Comments A + a -

Adorable. From the nerdy-ness to romantic. I will admit that there were some slow parts, but all together it was an enjoyable simple read.
The characters were great and a lot of fun to get to know. Lyla's personality is a lot like mine, minus the cats add in dogs. And Beck is relatable, to a point, because he's the kind of friend that would drop everything for a friend in need especially one that he cares about.
Reading about Beck and Lyla's relationship, one could tell that there was chemistry even from the beginning. And it just goes to show that everyone should say a joke when they meet someone new, at least in books. Also, the fact that Beck and Lyla kept the friendly relationship they made inside the classroom with them when they were outside that environment. The friendship was believable.

 And if you ask me, that's how everything should start, with a real friendship, before jumping into something deeper. GLN7 revolves around that friendship and the trust that is made.

 Getting Lucky Number 7 was good. If you love friends to lovers, HOCKEY players (who doesn't???), and cats then this book is yours.
With more books to read

-Vangie
Proverbs 17:17

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 1 Comments A + a -

HERE’S THE SCOOP!

Fans of Cora Carmack’s Rusk University, we have a SUPER exciting announcement:



 ALL CLOSED OFF Coming 2016

ALL CLOSED OFF, Book 4 in the Rusk University Series, is coming!!!


Check out this message from Cora!

*WARNING: This letter contains spoilers for All Broke Down. If you haven't yet read that book, read at your own peril. SECOND WARNING: this letter talks about fictional characters as if they are real people. Sorry I'm not sorry. THIRD WARNING: The letter below broaches a serious topic that could be a trigger for some people*



 Hello beloved readers!

 The first person who read one of my Rusk University books was my older sister. I gave her All Lined Up when I finished, and her first question was "Are Ryan and Stella going to be together?"

 At the time, I told her no. I had plans for both of them that included their own storylines. I thought they were too much alike. They'd make great friends. They might even hook-up, but in the end... I couldn't envision anything serious for them. So I actually rewrote some of their scenes trying to make that aspect of their connection more obvious. And still, when All Lined Up released, amidst the chatter about sweet Carson and sassy Dallas, I had people asking if Stella and Ryan were next. I denied it again (and again and again).

 But sometimes in writing, the stars align and a character will become bigger and more real than you could have possibly imagined. It's a wonderful experience, but in Stella's case it was also incredibly heartbreaking. While I was writing All Broke Down, the news was inundated with information about the Steubenville rape trial and other tragedies and injustices like it. Tragedies where women have been violated first by an attacker, then by judgmental and hateful people, and finally by a justice system that repeatedly fails survivors of sexual assault. Having grown up in Texas, where too often football stars are treated like gods and can get away with just about anything, it hit particularly close to home. And since All Broke Down featured a passionate activist heroine, I felt compelled to reference this chronic dark underbelly of elite sports.

 I can remember vividly sitting on my couch, brainstorming how I would incorporate such an event into the book. I had thought the assault would happen to an unknown character, and maybe I would focus on the way it divided the team and the school and the town. But like I said... Sometimes a character will become bigger and more human than I anticipated. And it sounds crazy, but in my mind, I felt Stella push her way forward and say, "Mine. This is my story." I immediately began to cry. Sob, really. Because I loved her as a character. She was hilarious and strong and didn't take crap from anyone. She was everything I always hope to be. And I didn't want her to go through that. Even as I cried, my brain began to tell me that it made sense. Stella was vibrant and enjoyed a wild party. She was not afraid of her sexuality, and she had no problem with casual sex. She was the kind of girl that probably had a reputation. The kind of girl who could be heinously and violently taken advantage of, and people would STILL blame her. Because she was in the wrong place, wearing the wrong clothes, behaving in the wrong way. But just because it COULD happen to her, didn't mean I wanted it to. But once again, Stella was there in my head saying, "Someone needs to tell this story. And I'm strong enough to do it. Let me." And when Stella chose her story, she also chose the man I'd been adamant wasn't right for her. Because as it turns out... Those two characters who I thought were too alike aren't so alike anymore. And Stella needs Ryan to help her hold on to that vibrant and strong girl she was before.

 So I let go of all the plans I had for her, and allowed her to tell me her story, which is about more than just sexual assault. It's about the aftermath. Depression. Shame. Guilt. Anger. Injustice. Victim-blaming. Slut-shaming. It's about the way that kind of event can change everything-- how you relate to people, how you think, how you dream, how you love. It's about the way the rest of the world moves on to the next big tragedy, and you're still left holding the broken pieces of who you used to be, with no idea how to put them together again or even if you want to. It will be the most difficult story I ever tell. And the most important. Because it’s a story that belongs not just to Stella, but to millions of people around the world. It’s a story that belongs to a new person every 107 seconds*. And that’s just in the United States. Think about that for a moment. 107 seconds. Stella’s story won’t be any easier to read than it will be to write. But I hope you’ll help me drag this story into the light.

 So now I’ll step off my soapbox and just tell you about the book…

ALL CLOSED OFF:

 Stella Santos is fine.

 Maybe something terrible happened to her that she can’t even remember. And maybe it drives her crazy when her friends treat her like she’s on the verge of breaking because of it. Maybe it feels even worse when they do what she asks and pretend that it never happened at all. And maybe she’s been getting harassing emails and messages for months from people who don’t even know her, but hate her all the same.

 But none of that matters because she’s just fine.

 For Ryan Blake, Stella was always that girl. Vibrant and hilarious and beautiful. He wanted her as his best friend. His more than friends. His everything and anything that she would give him. Which these days is a whole lot of nothing. She gets angry when he’s there. Angry when he’s not there. Angry when he tries to talk and when he doesn’t.

 When Stella devises an unconventional art project for one of her classes all about exploring intimacy—between both friends and strangers—Ryan finds himself stepping in as guinea pig after one of her subjects bails. What was supposed to be an objective and artistic look at emotion and secrets and sex suddenly becomes much more personal. When he hits it off with another girl from the project, Stella will have to decide if she’s willing to do more than make art about intimacy. To keep him, she’ll have to open up and let herself be the one thing she swore she’d never be again.

 Vulnerable.

 *****

 ALL CLOSED OFF will be releasing sometime in early 2016. I don't have a date yet for several reasons. The first and most important, is that I want to do this story justice. And as such, I have no intentions of rushing the process. Secondly, I'll be returning to indie publishing for the remainder of the Rusk series. As you can probably tell, this story means a great deal to me. And by having the ultimate control over everything from timing to editing to price, I'll be able to ensure that I'm able to create exactly the story I envision. Unfortunately, that means you won't be seeing the paperback of ALL CLOSED OFF on the shelves in most stores. Nor is it currently available for pre-order. But I hope you'll add the book on goodreads, follow me on social media, and/or join my newsletter. I promise to shout it all over the place when I have a set release date or pre-order links.

 Thank you for listening as I told you the evolution of Stella's story. When it's finished, I hope you will feel as passionately about it as I do.

 All my best,

 Cora Carmack
*Statistic from RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network)


 #WhenitHappened banner

And an opportunity to add your voice to Stella’s…

Stella’s experience is only one story of many. She was with someone she trusted when it happened, and the only memories she has are pieced together from her own blurred recollections and the things people have told her. Not everyone’s experience with sexual assault is the same. Each person reacts, copes, and overcomes differently. And while this book is about one specific character’s journey, I would like to tell as many sides of this story as possible. As Stella grapples with her thoughts and emotions she’ll be searching for advice, for comfort, for a place where people understand her and can identify with what she’s experiencing. There will be room for truth within the fiction, and if you’d like that truth to be yours, this is your chance.

 If you have a story like Stella’s, and you want your voice to be heard….

 If there’s something you wish more people understood about what you’ve gone through….

 If there’s something you’d like to tell people struggling with a story like yours…

 I’d like to give you the opportunity to add your voice to Stella’s. Use the hashtag #WhenItHappened and let your voice be heard on your own by posting on your own social media, or if you’d rather I share your words fill out this google document and tell me your story. You can fill out this form anonymously or not. I’d like to begin this discussion now because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. But my hope is to include as many stories as possible within the book itself.

 So many have stories of #WhenItHappened. Your voice and your story deserve to be heard. I’m listening.

 Author Bio &Links:

 HeadshotCora Carmack is a twenty-something New York Times bestselling author who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She now splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City and spends her days writing, traveling, and spending way too much time on the internet. In her books, you can expect to find humor, heart, and a whole lot of awkward. Because let’s face it . . . awkward people need love, too.

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Mini-Review: Kissing Madeline

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 1 Comments A + a -

You know a book is good when it's like caffeine. When every word, every sentence, every paragraph energizes you like coffee it's a book worth praise.
Especially when you lose sleep over it because even after finishing the book by 2:30 in the morning you're reminiscing on what you JUST read for an extra hour.

Kissing Madeline was wonderful, scratch that, it was a lot better than wonderful but I'm half dead right now so my brain can barely think. From the characters to the situations to the feel of it, all of KM was adorable and lovely and I'm smiling just thinking about everything.

Out of the whole story, Maddie would have to be my favorite part. Everything about her was perfect. The way she handled situations showed that she will do whatever has to be done to do what SHE wants to do. She's wholly independent, and she knows that the sexual pleasures going on between her and Daren are just that, pleasures. She says multiple times that she doesn't need a man but that doesn't discourage her from wanting one. And she knows the difference.

Kissing Madeline has to be on top of your TBR pile. It's fudging steamy, has depth, amazing characters and character development, and there football. What's not to love?

Impatiently waiting for Lex Martin's next book
-Vangie
2 Corinthians 5:7 
4/5 Stars
P.S. Guys, can their ship name please be Madden??? PLEASE
P.P.S. The cover is gorgeous. *heart eyes forever*

Mini-Review: One Night

Thursday, April 23, 2015 0 Comments A + a -


One Night went way beyond my all but one of my expectations. My biggest expectation was to cry, with mucus and blurry eyes and fat cheeks, the works, but gladly none of that happened.
Don't get me wrong this book was sad, but it wasn't "OHMYGOSH MY BABIES" sad, it was more along the lines of "Aww my poor babies". Besides that, everything about this beauty was gold.
The writing was spectacular. It seems as if AJ Pine's writing improves every time she writes a book. I can't wait until she's written 25 books and is covered in tattoos, because I know I'll be blown away. The descriptions, the emotions aren't just that, they're more, they're deeper. Some points are confusing not everything is clear cut but that's because Jess isn't black and white, even though she thinks she is.

 When you're battling a mental illness it's hard to find peace, it's hard to be happy with where you are in life without having to worry about what's to come. That right there is Jess' situation.

 She has her fears like everyone in this world, but her's are amplified. It's not her being dramatic nor is it her succumbing to her illness. One Night is about showing strength in your weakest of times. It's about you realizing that you need people's help; not everything can be done by ourselves even though we want it that way so badly. People are there for us to lean on; we need to take advantage of that support and comfort.

 Again I say that One Night was lovely. Everyone needs to read this beauty and bask in its greatness.
With more books to be read
-Vangie
4/5 Stars
Romans 5:8

Mini-Review: Second Position

Monday, April 20, 2015 0 Comments A + a -

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book but they mainly swayed toward the good side of feelings.

It took me a lot longer than I thought it would to read Second Position. My goal was to have this review up on Thursday, but it seems as if every time that I tried reading I would end up falling asleep. That's either because I would pick the book up at 10PM or because the syntax was lyrical. I'm betting on the latter.

 The writing wasn't the best nor was it bad. It's a lot different from what I'm used to and that took a while to get into. Once I got the hang of the sway, I started to really appreciate the writing and enjoy the story. Katherine Locke's writing is very straight forward and to the point and yet somehow unclear at the same time. I couldn't help but love that.

 Aly and Zed were something else together. From the very first chapter you know there is something deep and confusing about the two. Throughout the book you realize how very little you know about these characters. It's like looking at a glacier, we only see the tip when there's so much more that we don't see. That's a lot how Aly and Zed are, especially Aly.

 We see Aly's problems, we're witnesses of her actions because of her condition and yet we don't really understand why. In Second Position it does say why, don't get me wrong, but it fells like there are more reasons than what's being told to us or maybe it's just me wanting to know more.

 Second position is a great read. But you kind of have to be in the mood to read it because it's not all rainbows and sunshine.
With more books to be read
-Vangie
1 Peter 3:14
4/5 Stars

Flat-Out Love

Thursday, April 09, 2015 0 Comments A + a -

Author: Jessica Park

 Published Date: April 11th 2014

 Rating: 4/5 Stars

 Synopsis: Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it. 

When Julie’s off-campus housing falls through, her mother’s old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side … and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes. 

And there’s that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That’s because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie’s suddenly lonesome soul. 

To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that … well … doesn’t quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer. 

 Add to Goodreads!

 Review:
I've heard about this book very little since it's release. When I did hear it, it was during the time i was book-money broke. I never had the chance to buy it. Thankfully, I have an awesome library that has this book. Correction: THE AUDIOBOOK.
One day, I was strolling the aisles in the library when I spotted Flat-Out Love. But, as I said before, it was the audio and before then I never had a book literally talk to me (mainly because I'm not that good a listening). Thinking it was sign, because it was RIGHT THERE YELLING MY NAME, I decided to give this audiobook a try.

 Consider me a changed woman. As soon as I left the library, I popped the CD into my car and was instantly hooked. I found myself driving in circles around my block so that I wasn't left in suspense. I didn't want to get out of the car! When I HAD to, I quickly ran to the house and popped the sucker into my laptop. From there, I listened to this audio nonstop for 6 hours while I crocheted. GUYS I don't think you understand! I have found a way to crochet AND read. Since I loved the book as well as it's audio, as soon as I finished, I went searching for more audiobooks.

 Now to the actual review... 
I knew something was fishy from the beginning! Well, it says it in the synopsis but I didn't read that so you can't say anything!
Anyways, I KNEW IT... Okay one thing I love about audiobooks is that you can't skip to the last page and see how it ends. And when it came to this book, I'm so glad that I couldn't do that. Because even though I knew it, that didn't mean that I did not want to know the ending.

 I freaking love Matt. Like LOVE. For me, it felt kind of awkward that the voice I was hearing was coming from a lady but that doesn't take the character away. And Matt the character I fudging love. His brain and his dang puny clothes are my life.
Finn. Get away. I don't necessarily hate you but DARN YOU. You got in the way dang it. Well technically the idea of you got in the way...(if you're confused then that's a good thing).

 Julie, I don't know how I feel about you other than the fact that I like you. You're caring, smart (not Matt smart but no ones that smart), and awesome for the most part. I am just a little frustrated at you toward the end with the revelations going around. But for the most part I understand.

 Another thing about audiobooks is that with the voice clearly audible, you can hear the character development. I'm pretty sure I would've seen the development while reading, but there's something about hearing it that it has a greater impact. 

 Over all, this book was fantastic. It quickly became one of my favorites and has me freaking eager to get everything that Jessica Par has written.
Putting more audiobooks on hold at my library
-Vangie
Matthew 6:34
P.S. Guys I'm hooked... 
(this is where I ask for some audio book recs! PLEASE send them my way!)
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