Review - One by Sarah Crossan

Title: One

Author: Sarah Crossan

Pages: 448

Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens

Release date: 27th August 2015

Blurb from Goodreads:

Grace and Tippi are twins – conjoined twins.

And their lives are about to change.

No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world – a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love?

But what neither Grace or Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined…

From Carnegie Medal shortlisted author Sarah Crossan, this moving and beautifully crafted novel about identity, sisterhood and love ultimately asks one question: what does it mean to want and have a soulmate?

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley*

3.5/5 stars

Grace and Tippi are conjoined twins.

Up until now they have been homeschooled but the cost has become too much so Grace and Tippi have to go to high school.

Grace and Tippi worry that they won't make friends and that people will make fun of them but it turns out that they have more important things to worry about, something that might change their lives forever.

One was a thought-provoking and emotional read.

I had never read a book with conjoined twins as the main characters before and it was interesting how they viewed their situation compared to how people on the outside did - Grace and Tippi were everything to each other and didn't care that they shared the bottom half of their body, whereas people who saw them thought it must be the worst thing in the world. Grace and Tippi were just happy to have lived so long when the doctors thought they wouldn't.

Grace and Tippi were likeable and I thought they were inspirational - their lives weren't the easiest but they had a good outlook and laughed a lot.

I liked Dragon as well and felt sorry for her being in the background. I would have liked to have seen more of her.

The plot was good and held my attention but I wasn't gripped. I liked the writing style and found it easy to follow.

Overall this was an intriguing read that I would recommend.

Book Blitz + Review - Emeralds and Fire by Aurelia Fray

 

Title: Emeralds and Fire.

The Tienimi Club Series book one.

Author: Aurelia Fray

Publisher: Hot Ink Press

Release Date: 3rd September 2015

Synopsis:

After Jane McGrath’s career is put at risk by her lecherous boss, she decides she is owed a little payback. Feeling an unhealthy combination of brave and stupid, Jane fakes her boss’s signature and recommends herself to one of the most private and secret resorts in the world: Tienimi.

Exclusivity, pampering, companionship, intimacy, Tienimi offers it all. Set on a small idyllic Hawaiian island and only accessible through personal recommendation, The Tienimi Club resort is the place to be for the super-rich and elite.

Jane knows she doesn’t belong in a place like this.

In a place where every need is catered for.

Where every desire is made a reality.

Where even someone like plain little Jane has the chance to fall in love.

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Purchase on Amazon

About the Author

Aurelia Fray is the naughty Hyde side of a rather ordinary woman. Whenever her mistress lets her out to play, there are sure to be tales worth telling. She lives and works in London, England, enjoys all things artistic and spends most of her time buried in books or paint.

With a degree in English literature and a love of all things wordy it is no real surprise she adores penning salacious stories. She has won various short story and poetry competitions and suspects that her foray into erotic literature will be a titillating adventure for author and readers alike.

Author links:

Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Author website | Tienimi website

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Aurelia Fray*

5/5 stars

When Jane McGrath comes across one of her boss's emails about an exclusive Haiwaiian resort called Tienimi she accepts the invitation, saying that her boss recommended her.

Tienimi sounds luxuious, a place where anything you could want is possible, a place where the rich go to socialise and relax.

But as soon as Jane steps off her flight she realises that she doesn't belong there - she isn't rich or beautiful.

Then she meets Chris, her assigned companion for her time at Tienimi. He's gorgeous and Jane finds herself falling for him.

Will Jane be able to say goodbye?

 

Emeralds and Fire is a brilliant read.

I loved Jane and Chris. You could definitely feel the tension between them and I really enjoyed reading as they interacted. I liked Cath as well and the friendship she made with Jane.

Tienimi is definitely an interesting idea! I would love to go there (I would wear an emerald bracelet though!).

The writing style and plot sucked me in and I was sad when the book came to an end - an end that had me tearing up!

I can't wait to read the rest of this series!

 

Overall this is a book that I would definitely recommend.

Blog Tour + Interview + Giveaway - Up for Forever by Heather Young-Nichols

Find the tour schedule here.

Title: Up for Forever (Up for Grabs #2)
Publication date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Author: Heather Young-Nichols 

For Kendra Roberts, love is for fairy tale princesses who don’t live in the real world. Mr. Right? What a joke. It’s more like Mr. Right Now. 


But imagine her surprise when she realizes it’s been two whole years, and Mr. Right Now has become something more. How the hell did that happen? 


Panic sets in when Kendra finds out that Adam Burger might be planning a future for them and making her his “Mrs.” Mrs. Burger.
Not. So. Fast.
Kendra ends things with Adam, feeling bad for letting things go this far. 


After months of trying to convince herself she made the right decision, a mutual friend’s wedding throws them back together again. 


In one mind-blowing moment, Kendra comes to the crushing realization that she’s been in love with Adam all along.
But when Adam seems to have already moved on, will Kendra fight for their forever after? Or will she let her once Mr. Right Now go and become someone else’s Mr. Right?

Goodreads

Purchase links:

  

Amazon

Purchase Up for Grabs:

 

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When did you start writing? 

I started writing really young. I’d come up with these short stories that I’d give my mom as gifts for her birthday or Christmas. The writing part lasted into my teenage years. College came and time was hard to come by then life happened. But in 2009 I picked up a pen (or computer) and worked away. Haven’t taken a break since. 

What makes you want to write? 

The stories in my head make me want to write. The characters make me want to write and every time someone reads one of my stories, leaves a review or contacts me to tell me that they loved it, I just want to write more. 

Do you ever get writer's block and what do you do to get over it? 

I don’t really get writer’s block because even when I’m stumped on something, I still take a seat and get some words down. Even if they turn out to be terrible words, I’ve still written them. My problem, at least this summer, has been time. There’s never enough of it. 

Do you have a special way of going about writing? 

Not really. As a writer, I have to grab what I can when I can. I’ve worked in my loud house with the kids home, headed to Barnes and Noble where people are everywhere, and been alone to write. I prefer to use my laptop but a paper and pen works as well. I’m flexible. More because I have to be than I want to be. However, sitting in complete silence trying to be creative, doesn’t work for me. There needs to be something in the background. 

Do you have any works in progress? 

I have many works in progress. Lol. I have a few stories that just need to be edited and others that are partially written. Sometimes I have to put away what I want to work on to be able to finish what I have to work on. Most of what I have is in the New Adult phase of life. I really enjoy characters in this age group. 

What are your hobbies? 

Reading is a huge one for me. No surprise there. Baseball is another big hobby of mine. I don’t play it anymore but I love the Detroit Tigers and love going to games. 

How did you choose the character names for Up for Forever? 

Adam came about because I love that name. His last name, Burger, was randomly chosen. I knew a guy with that last name in college and yes, it was spelled that way. Kendra just came to me when I was writing Up for Grabs. Who would Flannery’s best friend be? Kendra of course. 

Who is your favourite character in Up for Forever? 

Adam is my favorite character in Up for Forever, no question. He’s hot and awesome. Patient but not a push over. He wants her forever but will let her go if she doesn’t play her cards right. He’s not perfect but I love the way he handles himself. 

How did you get the idea for Up for Forever? 

Well, Kendra and Adam were already together in Up for Forever so I had to come up with a story for them. Kendra is clearly not a romantic person. Her personality is more of the hero persona that we see in romance novels. So what happens when a girl who never wanted a relationship finds herself smack dab in the middle of one? That’s where their story started. 

What was your favourite part of writing Up for Forever? 

Getting inside Kendra’s head. She was this tough girl who didn’t think anything of her best friend selling her virginity. She had this hot guy but swore she wasn’t in a relationship. She’d never admit to loving anyone but Flannery. What made her that way? Who broke her? Can she find her path in the middle of the chaos? I loved getting to be a part of that. 

What are you currently reading? 

I’m currently re-reading a few things. I call them palate cleansers because they are my awesome go to’s when nothing is pulling me in. 

What is your favourite book? 

It changes. For now I’ll go with Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. Just amazing. You start that book thinking it’s going to be one thing then your heart has broken, you’ve laughed and you don’t want the ride to end. 

Who is your favourite author? 

So, so many. Nyrae Dawn is consistently awesome. The other top one would be Colleen Hoover. 

What is your favourite film? 

It’s a toss-up. Memphis Belle, a movie about a crew in World War II and The Young Victoria, which to me is one of the most romantic movies ever. It just sucked me in. 

What is your favourite TV show? 

Right now it’s Modern Family. It’s so funny and at times inappropriate which reminds me of my own family. 

Quick-fire questions: 

Chocolate or ice cream? Ice cream

Paperback or ebook? Paperback

Dogs or cats? Dogs

Go out or stay in? Go out

Summer or winter? Summer

 

 

About the Author

Heather Young-Nichols was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan and graduated from nearby Saginaw Valley State University with a degree in sociology. The only thing that rivals her love of reading is her love of baseball. When not with her husband and three kids or the cat that likes to bite, she is working to bring the characters in her head to life. 

Connect with the Author:   

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Month9Books Friday Reveal + Giveaway - Cover Reveal - Super Freak by Vanessa Barger

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are revealing the cover for

Super Freak by Vanessa Barger

an MG title presented by Tantrum Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Thirteen-year-old Caroline is a freak. Her parents have uprooted her to a town full of Supernaturals. You'd think she'd be thrilled. But, with someone without a magical bone in her body, this daughter of tree sprites feels like even more of an outcast than she has ever before.

To make matters worse, her new home is cursed. But when Caroline takes to investigating the mysterious and strange happenings of Harridan House, her BFF goes missing. Seems someone doesn't want Caroline sticking her non-magical nose where it most certainly does not belong. Determined to prove herself, Caroline uncovers a plot to destroy her new hometown.

Undeterred, Caroline can't give up. But what's a human without magical powers to do? Caroline better figure it out fast, before she loses everything she has ever loved and the whispers she's heard all her life prove true: Caroline is a useless superfreak.

Super Freak by Vanessa Barger
Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Tantrum Books
Genre: MG, Fantasy

BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Vanessa Barger was born in West Virginia, and through several moves ended up spending the majority of her life in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a graduate of George Mason University and Old Dominion University, and has degrees in Graphic Design, a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, and a Masters in Technology Education. She has had articles published in Altered Arts Magazine, has had some artwork displayed in galleries in Ohio and online, and currently teaches engineering, practical physics, drafting and other technological things to high school students in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She is a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), the Virginia Writer's Club, and the Hampton Roads Writers. When not writing or teaching, she’s a bookaholic, movie fanatic, and loves to travel. She is married to a fabulous man, and has one cat, who believes Vanessa lives only to open cat food cans, and can often be found baking when she should be editing.

Connect with the Author:  

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | YouTube

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Titles not yet released will be upon its publication.

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