Book Club Friday: Ten Tiny Breaths

This week I am reviewing Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker.

Summary:

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.

But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.

Good Reads

Review:

I read Ten Tiny Breaths while on vacation this week. The novel is narrated by Kacey as she starts a new life in Miami and tries to leave a life behind in Michigan. I loved how the  novel gave a realistic view of her life and dealt with hard topic in an honest way.

One of my favorite thing about the book was the relationship between Kacey and her new neighbor Trent. Trent starts off as the slightly mysterious hot neighbor that Kacey refuses to talk to. He slow transitions as she gets to know him and let him into her world. Another relationship I enjoyed was that between Kacey and her other neighbor Storm. Storm is the friend in this new town that helps to connect Kacey to her new life. I love that Storm is a great friend to Kacey and her sister without pushing them about their past. But she is also there when they need her and is a constant presence throughout the book.

I also liked the internal dialogue that goes on in Kacey's head as she deals with the car crash that killed her parents, best friend and boyfriend. She is still dealing with the accident and the trauma she has had to endure. She would prefer to keep it in the past and leave it there. However life seems to have away of interfering. I especially enjoyed seeing how she choose to cope with the past and how that changes throughout the book.

Overall, this is a great book I would recommend for anyone who enjoys teen or new adult books. The book is very exciting and keep you engaged with every page.

Book Club Friday: An Abundance of Kathrines

This week for book club friday, I am reviewing An Abundance of Katherines by John Green.

Summary:

Katherine V thought boys were gross
Katherine X just wanted to be friends
Katherine XVIII dumped him in an e-mail
K-19 broke his heart 
When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun--but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

Good Reads

Review:

This book has been on my junior year of high school when I saw it on display at the library. It then disappeared in to the mass of books that are library shelves. Only to resurface a few years a go when I started watching vlogbrothers videos (youtube videos by John and Hank Green) and reading John Green's other novels. After several attempt to read it without success (mainly due to school work) I finally finished this week.

This book was definitely worth the wait. I loved all the characters and the format of the book. The book contains a lot of random tangents in the form of footnotes. The footnotes are full of interesting (though irrelevant) facts and anagrams. They really made it feel how Colin must think about things.

One of my favorite characters was Hasan, Colin's best friend. He is stuck on pause after taking time off before college. I can definitely relate to his lack of motivation. He also acts as Colin's filter for the outside world. I also loved how Colin changes throughout the book as he works on his theorem and interacts with the residents of Gunshot. It was also interesting to see how Colin thought of his intelligence and being a child prodigy.

The math nerd that I am loved the idea of a theorem that could predict the outcome of any romantic relationship. I love how the theorem is almost a character in and of its self. It goes from a simple graph with little accuracy to a complex theorem with several variables. It develops as Colin remembers things about his past relationships.

Overall this was a great novel perfect for anyone going though a transition in their life or who has enjoyed John Green's other books or videos.

Book Club Friday: Perry's Killer Playlist

This week for Book Club Friday i am reviewing Perry's Killer Playlist by Joe Schreiber.

Summary:

When Perry ends up in Venice on a European tour with his band Inchworm, he can’t resist a visit to Harry’s Bar, where Gobi told him she’d meet him someday. The last time he saw Gobi, five people were assassinated one crazy night in New York City. Well . . . Gobi shows up, and once again Perry is roped into a wild, nonstop thrill ride with a body count. Double crossings, kidnappings, CIA agents, arms dealers, boat chases in Venetian canals, and a shootout in the middle of a Santa Claus convention ensue.

Good Reads

Review:

This is the sequel to Au Revior, Crazy European Chick. I really enjoyed the first book and was excited to find out that there was a sequel. The book i s pretty short at only 224 pages but those are some action packed pages. From the moment Gobi shows up the book is a whirlwind of fights, car chases, and explosions. It was like a teenage action film in book form. That being said there was little time for character development. One of my favorite parts of the book was the male narrator. I feel like a majority of the YA/ teen fiction has a female narrator (this is definitely true of popular books). Making the the role reversal of the sidekick type narrator being a nerdy guy next to a badass chick. The story also provided a nice break from my normal type of books with all the action making nice change from romance. Overall, I felt this book was a good action packed book. However the first book was better and a must read before hand. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Au Revior, Crazy European Chick. And I would recommend the series to anyone who likes action movies and formidable assassin chicks.

Book Club Friday: When in Doubt, Add Butter

This week for Book Club Friday I am reviewing When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison.

Summary:

As far as Gemma is concerned, her days of dating are over. In fact, it’s her job to cater other peoples’ dates, and that’s just fine by her. At thirty-seven, she has her own business, working as a private chef, and her life feels full and secure. She’s got six steady clients that keep her hands full.

There’s Lex, the fussy but fabulous department store owner who loves Oysters Rockefeller and 1950s comfort food; Willa, who needs to lose weight under doctor’s orders but still believes butter makes everything better; a colorful family who may or may not be part of the Russian mob; an überwealthy Georgetown family; the picture-perfect Van Houghtens, whose matriarch is “allergic to everything”; and finally, a man she calls “Mr. Tuesday,” whom she has never met but who she is strangely drawn to.
For Gemma, cooking is predictable. Recipes are certain. Use good ingredients, follow the directions, and you are assured success. Life, on the other hand, is full of variables. So when Gemma’s takes an unexpected turn on a road she always thought was straight and narrow, she must face her past and move on in ways she never would have imagined. Because sometimes in life, all you need is a little hope, a lot of courage, and---oh yes---butter.


GoodReads

Review:

I had previously read Shoe Addicts Anonymous by the same author and was unimpressed by the book. However, I found this book to be great. I found the idea to be an interesting  and fresh idea for a chick lit book. One of my favorite parts of the book were Gemma's clients. They each had their own personality and story line. I felt like at the end of the book I cared about them getting a happy ending as I did for Gemma. While some of the characters seemed a little larger than life, they still managed to seem realistic. 
Another thing I loved about the book and what originally drew me to it was the food. I love chick lit that has a foodie element to it. It allows me to combine two of my love into one book. Overall, this was a fabulous book with lovable characters and an original plot-line. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a fun light read.

Book Club Friday: The Tyrant's Daughter

This week for Book Club Friday I am reviewing The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson.

Summary:

From a former CIA officer comes the riveting account of a royal Middle Eastern family exiled to the American suburbs. 

When her father is killed in a coup, 15-year-old Laila flees from the war-torn middle east to a life of exile and anonymity in the U.S. Gradually she adjusts to a new school, new friends, and a new culture, but while Laila sees opportunity in her new life, her mother is focused on the past. She’s conspiring with CIA operatives and rebel factions to regain the throne their family lost. Laila can’t bear to stand still as an international crisis takes shape around her, but how can one girl stop a conflict that spans generations? 
J.C. Carleson delivers a fascinating account of a girl—and a country—on the brink, and a rare glimpse at the personal side of international politics. 


Good Reads

Review:

This is not my normal type of book. I don't tend to gravitate towards book about international politics or spy stories. However I found this book a very enjoyable read. for me a good test of a book is how long it take me to finish it. I downloaded it on a Monday and had finished it by Wednesday afternoon. It transports you into the fluctuating world that Laila is dropped into when she is moved to the suburbs of DC after her father's death. One of my favorite parts of the story was Laila and her brother's adjustment to american life. From the difference in abundance to new friendships. It was interesting to see how they dealt with the culture shock. This was especially present in the relationship between Laila and her american boyfriend. I also enjoyed the honest way the she deals with finding out things about the past life that were not as she thought.

Overall, I loved the fast paced, honest story of the Tyrant's Daughter. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in looking at American life though a different lens or who enjoys book about middle eastern politics.

*I received this book from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

What are you reading?

Book Club Friday: Brooklyn Girls

This week for Book Club Friday I am reviewing Brookly Girls by Gemma Burgess.

Summary:

Fantastically funny, fresh and utterly relatable, Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess is the first novel in her brand new series about five twenty-something friends—Pia, Angie, Julia, Coco and Madeleine—sharing a brownstone in hip, downtown Brooklyn, and discovering the ups and downs and ins and outs of their “semi-adult” lives. The first story belongs to sophisticated, spoiled, and stylish Pia, who finds herself completely unemployed, unemployable, and broke. So what is a recent grad with an art history degree and an unfortunate history of Facebook topless photos to do? Start a food truck business of course! Pia takes on the surprisingly cutthroat Brooklyn world of hybrid lettuce growers, artisanal yogurt makers and homemade butter producers to start SkinnyWheels—all while dealing with hipster bees, one-night-stands, heartbreak, parental fury, wild parties, revenge, jail, loan sharks, playboys, karaoke, true love, and one adorable pink food truck. And that's without counting her roommates' problems, too. Gemma Burgess has captured the confusion, hilarity and excitement of the post-graduate years against a backdrop of the pressures and chaos of New York City life, with heartfelt empathy, fast humor and sharp honesty.


A charming debut series about five twenty-something girls and the humor, heartbreak, and drama that bring them together.

Good Reads

Review:

I first heard about this book when Carly of the College Prepster listed it has her book club book. I then waited patiently for the library copy to become available. This book was definetly worth the wait. The book reminded me a lot of what I think the show Girls is about (I've ever watched but after reading this I really want to). The book is about Pia 

What are you reading this week?

Book Club: The Perfect Hope

This week I am reviewing The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts.

Summary:

Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out - with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He's surly and unsociable, but when eh straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except, apparently, Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro...

As the former manager of a D.C. hotel, Hope is used to excitement and glamour, but that doesn't mean she can't appreciate the joys of small-town living. She's where she wants to be - except for in her love life. Her only interaction with the opposite sex has been sparring with the infuriating Ryder, who always seems to get under her skin. Still, no one can deny the electricity that crackles between them...a spark that ignited with a New Year's Eve kiss.

While the inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope's experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome - and embarrassing - appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder's emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him...

Good Reads

Review:

This is the third book in the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy. I loved this book. My favorite part of the book is how it continued the story of Lizzy, the Inn’s resident ghost. In the other two books Izzy serves more as a side character to help get the couples together. But in this book Izzy gets more of her own story as Hope searches for Lizzy’s lost love.

I also like reading about Hope and Ryder’s romance. While there coupling was pretty obvious by the end of the second book, it was still interesting to see the twist and turns it took. Overall it was a pretty formulaic romance but the added elements of the lives of the previous characters kept it interesting.

I thought this book was the worst of the trilogy because it didn’t seem to develop the story of the main characters (since they were already developed in the previous book). Overall it was a good ending to the series but not very interesting as a standalone book. I would recommend it for anyone who has read the first two books. And I would recommend the books for anyone who love a good romance series set in a small town.

What have you been reading?

Book Club: Just One Day

This week I am reviewing Just One Day by Gayle Forman.

Summary

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Good Reads

Review

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the second one. The story is told from the point of view of Allyson. She goes on a tour on Europe and at the very end she meets Willem. They go off to explore Paris on her last day before returning to America. The first part of the book is centered on their journeys around Paris. I loved this part of the book because I have always wanted to visit Paris. I also loved that they didn’t really visit the main tourist parts but instead just explored they city. Most of all I liked getting to see Allyson and Willem’s relationship develop.

The second part of the book is about Allyson’s life has she tries to get over Willem and survive her first year in college. I could totally relate to how she felt transitioning from high school to college and struggling to live up to the idea of the happy college student. Then she finds her place with a great group of friends. These friends help her get her life back on track and are the kind of supporting characters that make the book come alive. I enjoyed watching how Allyson found her self and learned to follow her dreams.

Overall I thought this was a great book that will leave you with a serious case of wanderlust. I would recommend it for anyone who loves romances about travel, Shakespeare, or falling in love.