Review: Between Now & Never by Laura Johnston

Buh boom, buh boom.

My heart thrusts with a force that takes me by surprise. Telling me something I don’t understand. A splitting pain, a longing to slip back under. They tell me I was in a hit-and-run, but I can’t remember what happened that night. All I know is that I woke up with pictures in my pocket, a card from one of those photo booths in the mall. And I’m in the pictures. Cody Rush. Me and…

Julianna.

Her brother was there that night, and my dad, the FBI agent, was the one who put her mom behind bars. What’s the connection? And why won’t Julianna talk to me now? Somehow, she holds the key to it all, and getting close–real close—to her for the answers I need will be no hardship at all…

ebook, 336 pages

Expected publication: March 31st 2015 by KENSINGTON

Terri's Thoughts

** I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is March 31st 2015**

I knew I had to get my hands on this book after reading Johnston's first book Rewind To You (review found here).  She added a voice to the YA genre that was just a little bit different than what you find out there today and it is refreshing.  This book did not disappoint.

This story was quite a bit different than her first.  A little bit darker but not too much so as to lose the YA audience.  It is still filled with teen angst, two people from opposite sides of the track being attracted to each other and enough social and emotional drama to satisfy.

Both Cody and Julianna had plenty of emotional baggage to keep the story going.  Cody with his lost memory from the accident and the death of his little brother many years ago.  Julianna with her mom in prison, her brother possibly doing drugs and financial worries to boot.  Then you throw in the fact that Cody's father is the one who put Julianna's mother behind bars.  This should be more than enough to keep the two apart....right?

I am sure that you can guess that things are not so simple and that the two keep getting thrown back together.  The story was dripping with anticipation of whether the two could overcome their hurdles and find their way to each other.  As in any YA love story this is what pieced the story together.  Two people who have a spark together and a million reasons why they should not act on it.  You get the drift...but I enjoyed it!

I have come to appreciate Johnston's writing style and her works thus far.  I hope that I have discovered her early enough in her writing career that I will be able to enjoy many more of her books in the future.  I will be keeping my eyes peeled for her next work and hopefully it will not be a long wait.

About the Author

Laura Johnston is the author of REWIND TO YOU and BETWEEN NOW AND NEVER, contemporary YA novels published by eKensington. She fell in love with the young adult genre both through her experience in high school as well as her job later as a high school teacher. Laura enjoys running, playing tennis, sewing, traveling, writing, and above all, spending time with her husband and kids.

Website:  http://www.laurajohnstonauthor.com/
Twitter:  lauralojohnston

Review: A Work of Art by Melody Maysonet

Shy, artistic Tera can't wait to attend a prestigious art school in France to prove to her famous artist father that she can make something of herself. But Tera's hopes for the future explode when the police arrest her dad for an unspeakable crime. Her father's arrest must be a mistake, so Tera goes into action, sacrificing her future at art school to pay for his defense. Meanwhile, she falls head over heels for Joey, a rebel musician who makes her feel wanted and asks no questions about her past. Joey helps Tera forget her troubles, but he brings a whole new set of problems to Tera's already complicated life. Then, to make matters worse, as her relationship with Joey deepens and as her dad's hotshot lawyer builds a defense, fractures begin to appear in Tera's childhood memories--fractures that make her wonder: could her father be guilty? And whether he's guilty or innocent, can she find a way to step out of the shadows of her father's reputation and walk free? Can she stop him, guilty or innocent, from tainting the only future she ever wanted? A Work of Art is a deeply felt story about self-image, self-deception, and the terrible moment that comes when we have to face the whole truth about the myths of our childhoods.

Kindle Edition, 242 pages

Published February 15th 2015 by Merit Press 

Genre: Young Adult

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I'm struggling a little with my thoughts on this book. I finished it and instead of writing down what I thought right away I gave myself time to think about it. The time was needed for me to figure out how I felt about it. I think the reason that I struggled so much was because there are many excellent early reviews on the book and I was just not that excited by it.

A Work of Art was a very easy book to get through with a unique and attention grabbing plot. A few uninterrupted hours is all that is needed to get through this book. I had it finished in one sitting. Tera deals with many different issues throughout the book from her father to the boy she has a crush on.

So here is what I struggled with...

Tera was seventeen and eighteen in this book but she came across a lot younger. She was so immature and naive as well as not very smart (for lack of a better word) for someone of that age. I had to keep reminding myself of her age because I visualised her at about thirteen or fourteen.

Not only was Tera dealing with the allegations against her father and remembering events from her childhood but she was also dealing with the pressures of being a teenager at the same time. Things like having a boyfriend, sex, drugs and lies were all piled on top of the fact that her dad was in jail for an unthinkable crime. I guess I was hoping that the book would dig a little deeper into her emotional state and frame of mind but it didn't. She got through each trial and tribulation without too much of an impact on her mental health. I guess I was hoping for a little more depth in this area.

The last thing I struggled with was Tera's relationship with her mother. I get why it was the way that it was but as things came to light I expected a shift. There was a slight bit of mending to the fractured relationship but again I was hoping for a little more.

So in the end I think that the book was OK but in order to properly deal with all of the issues that were presented it needed to be longer. Major things happened and any one of the things that Tera dealt with would have a major impact on any teenager. I think a little more time on Tera's emotional state would have benefited the story tremendously. The length of the book and how she went from one situation to the next made it seem a little too easy.

About the Author

Melody Maysonet has been an English teacher, editor, columnist, and ghostwriter. Currently, she volunteer teaches in a homeless shelter, but she devotes most of her time to writing fiction for young adults. She lives in Coconut Creek, Florida, with her husband and son. A Work of Art is her first novel.

Connect with Melody

Website/Twitter/Goodreads

Review: Girl Underwater by Claire Kells

An adventurous debut novel that cross cuts between a competitive college swimmer’s harrowing days in the Rocky Mountains after a major airline disaster and her recovery supported by the two men who love her—only one of whom knows what really happened in the wilderness.

Nineteen-year-old Avery Delacorte loves the water. Growing up in Brookline, Massachusetts, she took swim lessons at her community pool and captained the local team; in high school, she raced across bays and sprawling North American lakes. Now a sophomore on her university’s nationally ranked team, she struggles under the weight of new expectations but life is otherwise pretty good. Perfect, really.

That all changes when Avery’s red-eye home for Thanksgiving makes a ditch landing in a mountain lake in the Colorado Rockies. She is one of only five survivors, which includes three little boys and Colin Shea, who happens to be her teammate. Colin is also the only person in Avery’s college life who challenged her to swim her own events, to be her own person—something she refused to do. Instead she’s avoided him since the first day of freshman year. But now, faced with sub-zero temperatures, minimal supplies, and the dangers of a forbidding nowhere, Avery and Colin must rely on each other in ways they never could’ve imagined.

In the wilderness, the concept of survival is clear-cut. Simple. In the real world, it’s anything but.

Hardcover, 304 pages

Expected publication: March 31st 2015 by Dutton

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Dutton via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is March 31st 2015.

I broke one of my rules with this book.  I usually go out of my way to avoid anything related to airline crashes.  I don't read books related to the subject matter and I have never seen any movies where it occurs.  I fly frequently but do not particularly like it so I don't want to subject myself to the worse case scenario.  I hoped I did not regret it with this story.

You know what?  I didn't.  I still do not want to visualize this type of event however I found myself caught up in this story and what would happen.

You know pretty early who the initial survivors are but what you don't know is what fate awaited each (with the exception of 2) or what happened in the remote landscape while they waited to be rescued.  This story plays out gradually through Avery's memories and is well told.

What was more impactful for me was the story of how Avery was trying to cope in the aftermath of the event.  While she was clearly struggling and refusing help I wanted to know how this would pay out with the relationships in her life and her relationships with the other survivors.  I wanted to know if and when she would actually heal emotionally.  I was also drawn to Colin's story and how that would play out.

There were some points throughout the book where I got a little confused with the transitions between the before and after and had to re-read a few passages to keep things straight.  I also questioned at a couple points what had happened based on the dialogue that occurred.  There however were minor and I still enjoyed the story.

I am glad that I broke my rule and gave this story a chance.  It was a touching portrayal of people dealing with a life altering event.  I would recommend this story.

About the Author

From her Goodreads profile

I'm a writer, a second-year resident, and a bagel eater. Seriously, I can't start my day without a hot bagel and a Diet Coke (from the fountain only - and yes, this means I'm out there walking those San Francisco hills at dawn to get it!). I don't have many other quirks. That's not true. I have many. Thanks for stopping by and I hope I haven't confused/scared you.

I love a good story - fiction, non-fiction, mystery, spy novel, romance, Young Adult. I'll read anything with a good story at its core. As a writer, I live by the same rule.

GIRL UNDERWATER is my first novel, coming in March 2015 from Penguin/Dutton.

Website:  http://www.clairekells.com    

Feature and Follow Friday #64

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme that allows book bloggers to interact with each other and find new blogs! It has two hosts, Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The rules are...
 
(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog.

Question of the Week: Have you come up with any special memes or features on your blog that you'd like people to visit more? - Suggested by Take Me Away

 

We don't have any special memes or features on our blog at this time but we often talk about doing something. As of right now we do book reviews every day of the week except Friday where we try to join the FF whenever we can. 

 

How about you? Do you have any special memes or features?

 

That is our Feature and Follow Friday for this week! Comment down below if you're a new follower of ours with a link to your blog and we will make sure to follow you back. You can follow us via gfc, bloglovin, email, facebook and/or twitter. 

 

Review: Leaving Amarillo by Caisey Quinn

Nashville meets New Adult in Neon Dreams, a dramatic, sexy series from bestselling author Caisey Quinn, about a country band’s rocky road to fame—and the ambition, dreams, and love of the people who make the music.

Dixie Lark hasn’t had it easy. She lost her parents in an accident when she was young and grew up in a ramshackle house on a dirt road in Amarillo with her ailing grandparents and overprotective older brother. Thanks to her grandfather, Dixie learned to play a mean fiddle, inspired by the sounds of the greats—Johnny and June, Waylon, and Hank. Her grandfather’s fiddle changed Dixie’s life forever, giving her an outlet for the turmoil of her broken heart and inspiring a daring dream.

Ten years later, Dixie and her brother, Dallas, are creating the music they love and chasing fame with their hot band, Leaving Amarillo. But Dixie isn’t enjoying the ride. All she can think about is Gavin, the band’s tattooed, tortured drummer who she’s loved since they were kids. She knows he feels the connection between them, but he refuses see her as more than his best friend’s little sister.

Convinced that one night with Gavin will get him out of her system, Dixie devises a plan. She doesn’t know that her brother has forbidden Gavin from making a move on her-a promise he swore he’d always keep . . . a promise that once broken will unexpectedly change the future for Dixie, Gavin and the band.

ebook, 352 pages

Expected publication: March 17th 2015 by William Morrow Paperbacks 

Series: Neon Dreams #1

Genre: New Adult

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I want to start off by saying that this book is new adult through and through. If you are not a fan of NA then you probably won't like this book but if you are a fan you are in for a treat.

This is the story of Dixie Lark and her band Leaving Amarillo. The band consists of Dixie, her brother Dallas and their childhood friend Gavin. The three of them have been the best of friends since the day of Dallas and Dixie's parents funeral. What sets them apart from other country bands is that Dixie plays the fiddle. With a lot of hard work the three are trying to get their big break in the music industry.

Of course there are always complications...

Dixie has loved Gavin since the day they met when they were just kids. As they get older her feelings continue to grow. She thinks he feels the connection too but won't do anything about it. There are promises made and feelings revealed, misunderstandings and miscommunications and a whole lot in between. Not to mention it wouldn't be an NA book without a lot of smoking hot pages to go with the angst.

So what did I think?

It started a little bit slow but once it wound up I was hooked. I'm not normally a country fan but I was for Leaving Amarillo. I really liked Dixie although she did seem young for her age at times and Gavin, Gavin, Gavin...what can I say about Gavin beside yummy?? Book boyfriend material for sure. The only character that I was unsure of was Dallas. I'm going to save my judgement on him for future instalments.

The romance followed the typical formula of the NA genre but the characters and plot were unique enough that it didn't feel like I was reading a cookie cutter book and it felt authentic and original. I wish I had highlighted while I was reading because Quinn had some beautiful moments in the story that are definitely quote worthy.

A word of warning for anyone who decides to pick this book up. It doesn't end all nice and neat at the end of this book and there will be future instalments in order to find out how their story ends. It left me a little frustrated because I am not a very patient person and I want the next book now! I need to know what happens next. Sigh...I guess I don't have a choice but to wait. The next instalment will be about Dallas and then it will come back to Dixie in the one after that.

Caisey Quinn is a new author for me and I am now adding her to my list of authors to watch out for. I really enjoyed this book and am anxious for what comes next!

About the Author

Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult and Contemporary Romance novels featuring Southern girls finding love in unexpected places.

Connect with Caisey

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Review: Boys Don't Knit by T.S Easton

Knitting is a man’s game.

After an incident regarding a crossing guard and a bottle of Martini & Rossi (and his bonehead friends), 17-year-old worrier Ben Fletcher must develop his sense of social alignment, take up a hobby, and do some community service to avoid any further probation.

He takes a knitting class (it was that or his father’s mechanic class) under the impression that it's taught by the hot teacher all the boys like. Turns out, it’s not. Perfect.

Regardless, he sticks with it and comes to find that he’s a natural knitter, maybe even great. It even helps ease his anxiety and worrying. The only challenge now is to keep it hidden from his friends, his crush, and his soccer-obsessed father. What a tangled web Ben has weaved . . . or knitted.

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: March 24th 2015 by Feiwel & Friends

Terri's Thoughts

I won an advanced copy of this book in a giveaway on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is March 24th 2015.

I'm not really sure to make of this story as a whole lot does not happen throughout.  I guess it can be described as a coming of age story where the main character Ben figures out to be his own person in spite of the prejudices surrounding his new found hobby.

It was humorous at times.  Take a seventeen year old boy who discovers a passion for knitting, has an endless crush on a teacher and some misfit best friends and how could it not be.

While there wasn't a huge wow factor for me I did like the lesson it told.  To be an individual no matter what and the end result will be a happier life.  Kudo's to Easton for coming up with such an oddball cast of characters and telling a story that truly has a moral to it.

About the Author

   T. S. Easton is an experienced author of fiction for all ages and has had more than a dozen books published. He has written under a number of different pseudonyms in a variety of genres. Subjects include vampires, pirates, pandemics and teenage agony aunts (not all in the same book). He lives in Surrey with his wife and three children and in his spare time works as a Production Manager for a UK publisher.

Website:   https://www.tomeaston.co.uk       

Review: Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident.

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

Kindle Edition, 368 pages

Expected publication: March 10th 2015 by HarperCollins 

Genre: Young Adult

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from HarperCollins via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I had no expectations when I started this book which I sometimes prefer. This was my first book by Lauren Oliver so I had no other work to compare it to. All I knew was that the synopsis sounded intriguing and I was hoping I would like it. I have to say that I was thoroughly entertained and I enjoyed every minute of it..

Sometimes saying less about a book is better and that holds true with this one. I don't want to re-tell the story because I don't want to give away what I think is an important part of the book. I will say that I thought the writing was quite clever and I really enjoyed the back and forth between the two sisters and time. It had me turning the pages and finishing very quickly. I did see the twist coming but it did not impact my enjoyment at all. In fact it had me quite curious as to how Oliver was going to play it out. Although Dara and Nick were not twins, they were very close in age, and I really connected with their relationship. I am a twin and my sister is my best friend so it was really easy to identify with the closeness of the two girls.  I thought that the emotions were penned beautifully.

I'm sure if I dug deep I could find things to pick apart but my goal was to be entertained and that was more than accomplished with this book. It was a refreshing change from what I have been reading lately. I think YA fans will really enjoy this one.

About the Author

Lauren Oliver is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Before I Fall and Panic and the stunning New York Times bestselling Delirium trilogy: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem. She has also written two luminous novels for younger readers, The Spindlers and Liesl & Po. A graduate of the University of Chicago and NYU’s MFA program, Lauren Oliver lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Connect with Lauren

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads