Can't Wait Wednesday #8 - The Impossibility of Us by Katy Upperman

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Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings. 

I've decided to switch to this since Waiting On Wednesday has been over for a long time now. But its basically the same concept. Books that I cant wait to get my hands on or am really interested in that are to be released soon.

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Why I Can't Wait:
Just because it sounds like its going to be so good. With this being about a girl who lost her brother in Afghanistan. And then finding love in a boy who's Afghan. I just know it's going to be good.
Plus, there's that gorgeous cover.

The Impossibility of Us by Katy Upperman

The last thing Elise wants is to start her senior year in a new town. But after her brother’s death in Afghanistan, she and her mother move from San Francisco to a sleepy coastal village.

When Elise meets Mati, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Mati is new to town too, visiting the U.S. with his family. Over the course of the summer, their relationship begins to blossom, and what starts out as a friendship becomes so much more.

But as Elise and Mati grow closer, her family becomes more and more uncomfortable with their relationship, and their concerns all center on one fact—Mati is Afghan.

Beautifully written, utterly compelling, and ultimately hopeful, THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF US asks—how brave can you be when your relationship is questioned by everyone you love?

Published by: Swoon Reads

The Release Date for the book is:
July 31, 2018

Pre-Order:

Barnes&Noble  |  Amazon US

Or pre-order it from Book Depository using my Affiliate link:
Book Depository

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Blog Tour Stop & Review for Kissing Games by Tara Eglington

The Bookish Island's Blog Tour Stop for:
Kissing Games by Tara Eglington
With Review

Are there spoilers?

There aren't. 

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Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for letting me be a part of this blog tour.

Title: Kissing Games

Author: Tara Eglington

Series: Aurora Skye #2

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Pages: 342

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Published: 20l8

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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Source: NetGalley

Date Read: May 12, 2018

Rating: ★★★★☆

For a girl who shares her name with a princess (aka Sleeping Beauty), Aurora Skye’s romantic life seems fathoms away from a fairy tale. Sure, she’s landed her prince charming, Hayden Paris. And she got her wish—one first kiss with all the knee-trembling, butterfly-inducing gloriousness she’d hoped for. But instead of happily ever after, their second kiss landed Hayden in the emergency room. If that’s not mortifying enough, the whole school is now referring to her as "Lethal Lips."

When Aurora's best friend decides to run for class president and offers up Aurora's matchmaking service as one of her campaign initiatives, the kissing games begin. Aurora has to convince everyone that her program works—but that might be hard to do when it seems like her own love life might be falling apart.

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And this is the Australian Edition of Kissing Games and the original.

Title: How to Convince a Boy to Kiss You

Author: Tara Eglington

Series: Aurora Skye #2

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Pages: 446

Publisher: Harper Collins Australia

Published: 2013

Goodreads  //  Book Depository

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About the Author:

Tara Eglington

TARA EGLINGTON grew up in Byron Bay, Australia. Her hobbies when she’s not writing include watching endless cat videos on YouTube, planning pretend holidays to the Maldives, and day-dreaming about who would play Hayden Paris in a film adaptation of How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You, her first novel. She lives in Australia.

Goodreads  //  Twitter  //  Facebook  //  Instagram

The Rating:

My Review:

I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. But I got the opportunity to participate in this blog tour. Which made me happy because I loved reading this book and the first.
How To Keep a Boy From Kissing You


Kissing Games picks up where How To Keep a Boy From Kissing You ends. With a continuation of our main character's new relationship with her prince. And her friends, and the Find a Prince/Princess Program.
In KG (as I will be referring to it from now on) we see how Aurora has grown up and matured. With her new boyfriend, her matchmaking program, and the abandonment issues she developed with her mother leaving her and divorcing her father. We also get to go along with her as she dives into the uncharted waters of kissing and dating Hayden. Hurting him and embarrassing herself in front of her father and his new friends along the way. But also how she struggles to believe just how much Hayden cares about her.

They re too cute in the first book, but in KG their relationship grows and flourishes. There are some definitely swoon-worthy scenes. Abd we see Hayden as a sweet and caring boyfriend. Winning a place on my book boyfriend list.

Get it here using my Book Depository affiliate link.

Book Depository

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Can't Wait Wednesday #7 - Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

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Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings. 

I've decided to switch to this since Waiting On Wednesday has been over for a long time now. But its basically the same concept. Books that I cant wait to get my hands on or am really interested in that are to be released soon.

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Why I Can't Wait:
Another pretty cover. *heart eyes*
Reading the synopsis reminded me of a movie. But I can't remember the name.
Plus, another story with Romeo and Juliet influences. Which makes me read my copy of the book even more.

Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

Megan Harper is the girl before. All her exes find their one true love right after dating her. It’s not a curse or anything, it’s just the way things are, and Megan refuses to waste time feeling sorry for herself. Instead, she focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theatre, and fulfilling her dream school’s acting requirement in the smallest role possible.

But her plans quickly crumble when she’s cast as none other than Juliet–yes, that Juliet–in her high school’s production. It’s a nightmare. No–a disaster. Megan’s not an actress and she’s certainly not a Juliet. Then she meets Owen Okita, an aspiring playwright who agrees to help Megan catch the eye of a sexy stagehand in exchange for help writing his new script.

Between rehearsals and contending with her divided family, Megan begins to notice Owen–thoughtful, unconventional, and utterly unlike her exes, and wonders: shouldn’t a girl get to play the lead in her own love story?

Published by: Speak

The Release Date for the book is:
May 22, 2018

Pre-Order:

Barnes&Noble  |  Amazon US

Or pre-order it from Book Depository using my Affiliate link:
Book Depository

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Top Ten Tuesday #6 | Best Character Names

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

May 22: Best Character Names

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I decided to write down some of my favorite names that I can quickly think of in MOVIES, BOOKS and TV.


Movie


Darcy - Pride and Prejudice

Jenna - 13 Going On 30

Declan - Leap Year

Andie - Pretty in Pink

Mia - The Princess Diaries

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Books


Juli - Flipped

Benedick - Much Ado About Nothing

Ford Falcon - The Scavengers

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TV


Spencer Reid - Criminal Minds

Phryony - Miss Fishers Murder Mystery

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Monthly BookHaul | May 2018

May Book Haul 

I got some more books from bookoutlet that just arrived.

I made another purchase on Book Outlet because I had some points and saw that they had the Penguin edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the first Nancy Drew book.
I wanted them because I had already read Alice but not Through the Looking Glass. And I loved the Nancy Drew movie when I was younger but never read the book. So now I can.

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The Books:

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
Fixing Delilah  by Sarah Ockler

I So Don't Do Mysteries by Barrie Summy

Kissing in America  by Margo Rabb
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule
Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories Edited by Stephanie Perkins

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Stacking the Shelves #13

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what books they got throughout the week!



Update:

I finally finished reading Kissing Games this week.  And am moving on to my next book on my May tbr. Which is And We Stay. And since its a short book I may have already finished it or am about to finish it.

 

Kissing Games by Tara Eglington

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard



Book Mail:

I got some more books from bookoutlet that just arrived. This week. The link to the Book Haul below.

Monthly Book Haul for May

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James Bravo's Shotgun Bride by Christine Rimmer | Book Review #104

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
James Bravo's Shotgun Bride by Christine Rimmer

Are there spoilers?

None this time.

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Title: James Bravo's Shotgun Bride

Author: Christine Rimmer

Series: The Bravos of Justice Creek #4

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Pages: 224

Publisher:  Harlequin

Published: 20l6

Genre: Romance, Contemporary

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Source: Harlequin Newsletter

Date Read: Dec. 20, 2017

Rating: ★★★☆☆

JAMES BRAVO IS MARRYING HIS DREAM WOMAN. THERE'S JUST ONE CATCH…

Tied to a chair and staring down the barrel of a shotgun isn't how James Bravo planned on proposing to the woman he's secretly longed for for months. He also isn't the father of Addie Kenwright's unborn baby—even if her grandfather thinks he is. James has never stolen so much as a kiss from the beautiful rancher…but all that changes when he and Addie say "I do."

Three times burned is enough to put a single woman off wedlock forever. Addie only agreed to this crazy scheme to appease her ailing grandpa. Now the mother-to-be can't get enough of the hunky, blue-eyed attorney. Are Addie and James ready to take the plunge for real and turn a temporary arrangement into the marriage of both their dreams? 

The Rating:

My Review:

This book starts off weird. With Addie's grandfather, Levi, accusing the love interest, James, of being his granddaughters baby daddy and to "make an honest woman out of her" by marrying her, all with a shotgun pointed at him. Of course, then Addie walks in to see this and quickly starts yelling at her grandfather to stop what he was doing because James isn't the father of her baby.

Like I wrote above in the books info. I got this book through a newsletter email from Harlequin. I was totally on board with reading this book even when I ignored/didn't read the synopsis. And I felt conflicted when I did. I just -ugh!

James, to me, was so creepy sometimes, and forceful at other times. Like he knew that what he was doing, his mind tricks of "I say this but I know it will make you do/think this way", he knew his effect on Addie. So I didn't like him AT ALL.

Addie, on the other hand, I loved. I wanted her to find happiness. And to have her baby in peace.

[That's another thing. What the f*ck is wrong with Levi. Couldn't he just trust her]

Her story with the baby's father was sweet. And I thought she was strong and amazing. But when she was around James she turned into a girl blinded by love. Which is awesome cause she deserves it, but she let him do his mind trick.
I really don't know how to explain this. But its how I felt when I was reading this book.

Now I kind of wish I had a physical copy of this to re-read it in the future to know if I still feel the same for this book but since it was a free e-copy I can't re-read it.

Get a copy at:
Barnes&Noble  | Amazon

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Can't Wait Wednesday #6 - Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

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Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings. 

I've decided to switch to this since Waiting On Wednesday has been over for a long time now. But its basically the same concept. Books that I can't wait to get my hands on or am really interested in that are to be released soon.
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Why I Can't Wait:
Because Kasie West.

Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

Talking to other people isn't Kate Bailey's favorite activity. She'd much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school's podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she'll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate's surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend ... until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

Kasie West's adorable story of secrets, love, and friendship is sure to win over hearts everywhere. 

Published by:  Point

The Release Date for the book is:
May 29, 2018

Pre-Order:

Barnes&Noble  |  Amazon US

Or pre-order it from Book Depository using my Affiliate link:
Book Depository

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Top Ten Tuesday #5 | Books I Disliked but Am Really Glad I Read

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

May 15: Books I Disliked/Hated but Am Really Glad I Read

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This time I did a Top Six.
I chose to do YA books because they are the type I have read the most. And the ones I chose are the only ones I disliked to some extent.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

After Hours by Claire Kennedy

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The Good Sister by Jamie Kain

Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

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180 Seconds by Jessica Park

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

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Mothers Day | Moms in YA Books

Happy Mothers Day!

I decided to check my shelves and see what YA books that I've read have good moms. Here are the ones I picked. And their well deserved flowers.

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Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch 
 🌷To Lina's mom for wanting her daughter's future yo be a happy one even at the end of her life.

Mothership by Martin Leicht & Isla Neal
🌷Points to Elvie in Mothership for surviving a spaceship hijacking while pregnant.

No Love Allowed by Kate Evangelista 
🌷To Didi's mom for working hard for the money and being there for her daughter's mental health.

The Ghost and The Goth by Stacey Kade
🌷To Will's mom who trusted and believed her son when it counted.  The Ghost and The Goth.

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The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli 
🌷😚 to the awesome moms in The Upside of Unrequited.

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
🌷To Simon's mom, who needs epic high fives for being cool and understanding.

Vengrance Road to substitute 
Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman
🌷To Kate. I don't have Retribution Rails. But I loved how awesome Kate was in that.

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How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks | Book Review #103

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Are there spoilers?

I don't think there are any.

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This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books. I decided to not do this for the books I've read on 2018. But it has been 8 months since Hurricane Maria. And I'm happy to announce that now we have water, and electricity.

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Title: How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days

Author: Kerrelyn Sparks

Series: The Embraced #1  

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Pages: 396

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Published: 20l7

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Historical

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Source: Goodreads Giveaway win.

Date Read: Oct. 16, 2017

Rating: ★★★★☆

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.

Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?

If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?

The Rating:

My Review:

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

This is also one of the books I managed to read all in one day. And I loved the story. It just has the right mix of drama, romance, fantasy and steamy sex scenes. But despite this being the first book of this kind that I've read, I didn't mind it at all. It was beyond what I thought it would be like. Yes, there was a few clichés; insta-love, easy resolutions, etc... But I didn't mind that. In fact, I finished the book wanting there to be a sequel. And there is.

As for what I thought about, in regards to the character. Luciana our heroine wasn't always in distress, and she managed to not act like a baby for most of the book like I thought a character in this kind of book would act like. So I didn't hate her. Is she my favorite? No. But maybe her ghost/twin sister, Tatiana is. Not only did she help spy for her sister, but she had sass. And just the perfect amount.

There's also the world. The map at the beginning which is cool. Elves, dragons, curses, shapeshifters, and royalty along with magic and our male lead is a cursed weather controller who just so happens to be hot. What's not to love about all of that.

Get a copy at:
Barnes&Noble  | Amazon

Or get it here using my affiliate link. Please:
Book Depository

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Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel by Kimberly Willis Holt | Book Review #102

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel by Kimberly Willis Holt

Are there spoilers?

A few ones may have escaped me.

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Title: Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel

Author: Kimberly Willis Holt

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Pages: 336

Publisher:  Henry Holt

Published: 20l7

Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction, Family, Childrens

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Source: Borrowed.

Date Read: Nov. 21, 2017

Rating: ★★★★★

Twelve-year-old Stevie's world changes drastically when her parents are tragically killed and she is forced to live with her estranged grandfather at his run-down motel. After failed attempts to connect with her grandfather, Stevie befriends the colorful motel tenants and neighbors. Together, they decide to bring some color and life to the motel by planting a flower garden, against Stevie's grandfather's wishes. It will take Stevie's departure before her grandfather realizes just how needed she is by everyone.

The Rating:

My Review:

Stevie lost both her parents when car hits their produce stand. Leaving her alone, till she finds out she will be sent to live with her grandfather. Someone she knows little about. He lives in Texas where he lives in and runs a small motel. There she meets Mrs. Crump her elderly tutor, and fellow tutoree, Frida. Violet, the head house keeper, Roy, the handyman's son And long term residents, Horace and Ida. Then she gets to visit her fathers sister and her family. Finding out somethings about her parents that her grandfather wouldn't tell her.

I loved the characters. All of them seemed to stand on their own and in their own way they influenced Stevie's life in a good way. Of course Roy was very adorable as a character. And throughout the book Stevie grieves by gardening and wanting to help those around her. Finding out things about her parents along the way and getting along with her grumpy quiet grandfather.

This is a well written book with great characters and although its slow I enjoyed every page.

Get a copy at:
Barnes&Noble  | Amazon

Or get it here using my affiliate link. Please:
Book Depository

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