"I was going to destroy her the same way she destroyed me, from the inside out."
Dangerous Exes, an all-new contemporary romance in the scorching series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken, is coming October 30th!
Tuesday 30 October 2018
Saturday 27 October 2018
Batch Reviews #8
Publishing Date: August 28, 2018
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages: 320
My Review: This was such a lovely story about a young boy named Darius, who struggles with mental illness, and finds himself not feeling at peace, whether it's at home or at school. Because his grandfather is getting older, they decide to have a family trip over to Iran so that Darius can get to know his family over there. There, Darius meets a new friend in Sohrab. They play soccer together, and just get one another. It's a beautiful friendship, and from there, Darius begins to mend the relationships he has with his father, and his grandparents. It's lovely because it's about finding oneself and how someone can feel at home, when they aren't physically at home. It reminds us as readers that the notion of home can be more than simply the house you live in. I really enjoyed Khorram's writing and I can't wait to see what else he writes!
Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo
Disclaimer: I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. Indigo Books & Music Inc also gifted me another copy which I used for a twitter giveaway. #IndigoEmployee. All opinions are my own.
Publishing Date: September 12, 2017
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages: 368
My Review: I had wanted to read this book for a while, and coincidentally, it was one of my book club reads a few months back. My boyfriend had selected it because he really enjoyed Ready Player One, and wanted something along the same lines of a world of gaming and hacking. I had read other things by Marie Lu before so I knew going into it, it would be fast paced. The world that Lu creates felt like an amalgamation of many other worlds we have come to know in YA. I personally don't mind that because I like being able to compare a book to other ones. I will say, I did like that this one took place primarily in Tokyo, because that city will always be my favorite city in the world. I liked how the game was set up, I liked Hideo's character so much, and I loved the dynamics between Emika and her teammates. What I didn't love is that at times, Emika, felt too much like a "special snowflake" - I know she's the protagonist, but at times I really rolled my eyes at her being able to just find the problem in a code immediately, when supposedly a series of experts and Hideo (the creator), could not see it. She wasn't as likable for me as a protagonist, and I was much more interested in seeing other characters. I will say too that the big twist wasn't all that surprising for me, and when it comes to narratives like this, I feel a tinge of disappointment if I'm able to figure it out. That being said, it was a decent read because I really enjoyed the world building.
Available for purchase:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: An advanced reader's copy of the book was provided by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Publishing Date: September 18, 2018
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages: 352
My Review: Wildcard is the sequel and finale to Warcross, and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed Wildcard much more than the first one. It picks up right after the first book with Emika trying to uncover what's really going on with Zero and what Hideo is trying to do. She's stuck in between and torn between where to show loyalty. She finds herself back in the games of Warcross. There were MANY twists and turns that definitely surprised me, and the biggest thing about this was that the narrative demonstrated that there are consequences for certain actions. Hideo, for example, didn't simply get off Scot-free, for his actions. I really appreciated that because although, it's a YA fantasy/sci-fi novel, that takes place in a world similar to ours, that doesn't mean that various actions just get swept under the rug. As I mentioned above, Hideo is my favorite character, so I was glad to see more of him in this book, and in a more proactive role. Overall, it was a satisfying end to the duology, and it definitely made me miss Tokyo.
Available for purchase:
Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: An advanced reader's copy of the book was provided by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thursday 25 October 2018
[Teaser] Dangerous Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
In #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel van Dyken’s scorching series, revenge is a justified pleasure…
Isla made one teeny little mistake. Now she and her PI company, Dirty Exes, are being targeted by one seriously angry and furiously sexy ex-quarterback. Jessie freakin’ Beckett. But there’s no way some NFL superhunk is going to take her business away. If only he didn’t make her so hot—and bothered.
Jessie wants payback for a ruined reputation. His plan? Top secret. His hard-to-hide arousal for Isla? Not so much. Especially when they let down their guards and sneak a kiss. Like any juicy scandal, it goes so viral, so fast, that only a good lie can combat the bad press. Mortal enemies in a fling? No way. Um…this is love!
Actually…could it be?
Isla’s not faking it. Jessie can’t. As the game of let’s pretend gets real, Jessie forgets all about revenge. That’s the problem. His plan is already out of his control. Now it could undo everything they’ve been trying to build. Coming clean may be the only thing that can save it.
Read Today!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2xOXcwA
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2OPTU3D
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kiJtYA
Disclaimer: I have signed up with Social Butterfly PR to help promote this author and her book. All opinions are my own.
Tuesday 23 October 2018
Blog Tour: A Curve in the Road by Julianne Maclean - Review & Tour-Wide Giveaway!
Publishing Date: August 14, 2018
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing - Amazon Publishing
Pages: 270
Contemporary Women's Fiction
The Premise from the Publisher: "Abbie MacIntyre is living the dream in the picturesque Nova Scotia town she calls home. She is a successful surgeon, is married to a handsome cardiologist, and has a model teenage son who is only months away from going off to college. But then one fateful night, everything changes. When a drunk driver hits her car, Abbie is rushed to the hospital. She survives, but the accident forces unimaginable secrets out into the open and plagues Abbie with nightmares so vivid that she starts to question her grip on reality. Her perfect life begins to crack, and those cracks threaten to shatter her world completely. The search for answers will test her strength in every way—as a wife, a career woman, and a mother—but it may also open the door for Abbie to move forward, beyond anger and heartbreak, to find out what she is truly made of. In learning to heal and trust again, she may just find new hope in the spaces left behind" (Lake Union).
My overall thoughts and review: I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book because I thought that it would go in a completely different direction in terms of what happens to Abbie in the car crash and the aftermath. I went in thinking that the accident was the worst of it, but in a way, it's a catalyst for so much more to unfold? I was only a few chapters in reading this book when I already started tearing up. Warning: there's a dog in the book and the dog does live (so that's good news), but the moments when he's rocky really breaks your heart. The way Maclean describes the car crash and that sinking feeling afterwards of not knowing where your family is felt so vivid and surreal, I honestly felt like I was in Abbie's shoes. Abbie's perfect world begins to shatter all the while she has to handle her grief. It's such a complex situation that Abbie is in because she's filled with not only grief but also anger. This book brings about many questions in terms of how well do you really know a person? and the realm of 'What Ifs.' This is my first time reading something by Julianne Maclean and I will say the book moves incredibly quickly in terms of pacing. The writing is highly readable and you'll find yourself flipping the pages quite quickly. I liked that it kept me on the edge of my seat in terms of what was to come next, and I appreciated how raw the feelings of everything were. If you ever lost a loved one, this book would definitely punch you in the heart. I enjoyed the book but I will say I felt that the end was quite rushed in the last thirty or forty pages with it moving in months. I would've liked those chapters to be teased out more. Overall, this was definitely a heart-wrenching read about family, marriage, grief, and how to move on after a tragic event. I think fans of Jojo Moyes would definitely enjoy this read!
Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository
Giveaway
Disclaimer: I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Thomas Allen & Son in exchange for an honest review and participation in this blog tour. All opinions are my own.
Sunday 21 October 2018
TeensRead Preview with Raincoast Books - Winter & Spring 2019 | October 21, 2018
Yesterday was the annual Winter/Spring TeensRead Preview hosted by Raincoast. The main one takes place in Vancouver, but we have some lovely organizers here in Toronto who put it together via livestream at a local public library. There was tea, pie, and donuts! It was the perfect atmosphere to hear about all the exciting and upcoming books. Faith Erin Hicks also came up to talk to us about her upcoming release and also her exciting collaboration with Rainbow Rowell for "Pumpkin Heads." Thanks so much to Raincoast for the invite and to the Toronto organizers for a lovely event. I went home full on sugar and with a way bigger TBR list!
Here are some of the upcoming titles that I'm most excited for:
You Owe Me A Murder by Eileen Cook (March 5/19) - twisty take on the classic Strangers on a Train. I love all thrillers that Eileen writes so I'm super excited for this one. I got a copy of this in my swag bag, so be sure to look out for a full review of the book early next year ;)
The Similars by Rebecca Hanover (January 1/19) - new duology with the second book coming in 2020. You've got a boarding school setting and clones!
Enchantee by Gita Trelease (February 5/19) - another first in a new duology. It is being pitched as Caraval meets Marie Antoinette. The setting is Versailles during the French Revolution and the main character is present at the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. For those of you that know, Marie Antoinette, the film, is my favorite film ever. Can't wait for this!
Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway (February 5/19) - debut novel from a Canadian author. It's a historical fantasy, first in a series. It's being compared to Code Name Verity meets The Winner's Curse. We've got action-packed, missions, mystery, and of course, romance!
The Lost by by Natasha Preston (April 2/19) - I don't think I'll ever tire of reading thrillers. I love guessing them. This however is completely new because if you are a fan of escape rooms, this is an escape room thriller! Protagonist and her friends are kidnapped and taken to a building where every room is a test :O
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan (April 2/19) - Another first in a new series. It is inspired by Joan of Arc with a peasant girl working to assassinate the mad king. There are conspiracies uncovered and the lead is stuck in between the politics of a Holy War. I have a soft spot for Joan of Arc related content. She was the first person I ever presented on in middle school, and also someone I wrote reports on frequently. I was also so fascinated by her. I'm so pumped for all this new content coming out inspired by her story!
A Place for Wolves by Kosoko Jackson (April 2/19) - It is being pitched as Code Name Verity meets Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. It takes place in the late 90s and it is an #ownvoices historical YA thriller. Also Jeff Zentner blurbed this book. That's enough for me.
Finale by Stephanie Garber (May 28/19) - The third and finale book in the Caraval series. You all know that I loved the first book in that series. I still need to get around to reading the second one.. whoops. But omg, Entertainment Weekly released the cover for this book and it looks stunning! I can't wait to see how it all ends for Tella and Scarlett!
Voices by David Elliott (March 26/19) - Another book that I got in my swag bag and I actually started reading it on my commute home yesterday. Again, the subject matter is Joan of Arc (hooray).. but the unique thing about this book is that it is told in verses. There's also passages from the trial documents. I'm about 1/3 of the way through and I'm really enjoying this. This is something super unique and I can't wait to read the rest of it!
What books are you most excited for that is coming out next year? Let me know in the comments!
Saturday 20 October 2018
Review: The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting
Publishing Date: August 7, 2018
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 352
Contemporary Romance
The Premise from the Publisher: "Lilah isn't sure what hurt worse: the day Ethan left her to focus on his hockey career or the day he came back eight years later. He might think they can pick up just where they left off, but she's no longer that same girl and never wants to be again. Ethan wants his glory days back. And that includes having Lilah by his side. With her, he was magic. They were magic. All he has to do is make her see that. Just when Lilah might finally be ready to let Ethan in, though, she finds out their reunion might have nothing to do with love and everything to do with improving his game. But Ethan's already lost her once, and even if it costs him his career, he'll do anything to keep from losing her again" (GCP).
My overall thoughts and review: If you've been following me for a while, you will know that Helena Hunting is one of my favorite romance authors ever. I fell in love with her writing when I first read Hooking Up (Sexy Lexy is one of my book boyfriends and will be forever), and so it's no brainer that when she had a new book coming out, I had to read it. No surprise here, but I also loved this book a lot. The thing about Helena is that she is able to combine sexy moments, with laugh out loud moments, and like a perfect dash of all the angst. This book was heavier on the angst side in comparison to her Shacking Up series books. The book opens with Ethan and Lilah being reunited because Ethan's dad recently had a stroke. Lilah and Ethan were high school sweethearts, but he made the decision to end their relationship when he got drafted into the NHL. Lilah never fully got over that relationship, but she still maintained a strong relationship with Ethan's family. Ethan's dad getting sick really affected her as well. I liked that through this awful experience, they were able to really clear the air about what happened eight years ago, and find a way to fall in love again, but also learn from their past mistakes. They have this all-consuming intense love and the book also tackles how they work around work commitments and school commitments as well, which I find often not mentioned sometimes in romance stories. I'm definitely a sucker for second chance romances and Helena does a great job with this one. This had me tearing up, laughing, and also hugging my book. I'm totally holding out for a follow up that follows Lilah's sister, Carmen, and a certain Doctor ;)
My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ (5/5 stars)
Available for purchase at:
Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Hachette Books Canada in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Friday 19 October 2018
[Teaser] Dangerous Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
In #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel van Dyken’s scorching series, revenge is a justified pleasure…
Isla made one teeny little mistake. Now she and her PI company, Dirty Exes, are being targeted by one seriously angry and furiously sexy ex-quarterback. Jessie freakin’ Beckett. But there’s no way some NFL superhunk is going to take her business away. If only he didn’t make her so hot—and bothered.
Jessie wants payback for a ruined reputation. His plan? Top secret. His hard-to-hide arousal for Isla? Not so much. Especially when they let down their guards and sneak a kiss. Like any juicy scandal, it goes so viral, so fast, that only a good lie can combat the bad press. Mortal enemies in a fling? No way. Um…this is love!
Actually…could it be?
Isla’s not faking it. Jessie can’t. As the game of let’s pretend gets real, Jessie forgets all about revenge. That’s the problem. His plan is already out of his control. Now it could undo everything they’ve been trying to build. Coming clean may be the only thing that can save it.
Read Today!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2xOXcwA
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2OPTU3D
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kiJtYA
Disclaimer: I have signed up with Social Butterfly PR to help promote this author and her book. All opinions are my own.
Wednesday 17 October 2018
[Cover Reveal] BEDTIME READS SERIES by Kennedy Fox
Cover design by Outlined with Love Designs
Photographers: FuriousFotog and Wander Aguiar
Models: Joey Berry, Chase Ketron, & Andrew Biernat
Friday 5 October 2018
Penguin Random House Canada Fall Preview | October 2, 2018
Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. The lovely folks at PRHC had their Fall Preview again earlier this week for booksellers and bloggers. I was so excited to attend because they always put together a great presentation showcasing all the great books for the holiday season. This helps so much for someone who is a bookseller, but also someone who has no self-restraint and loves adding more to their TBR pile ;)
They mentioned a ton of books that have been recently released and are coming soon, and I can't wait to read so many of them. Here are the ones I'm most excited for:
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally sounds absolutely hilarious and charming. It's basically a conversation between the two about life and all things love. I saw them read an excerpt on a late night show and I immediately added it to Audible.
Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking is his final book to us which is going to be published posthumously. The foreword is by Eddie Redmayne who played Hawking in a movie and the afterword is by his daughter. I loved Hawkings writing so much and I'm sure this one will be a bittersweet read.
The Winters by Lisa Gabriele is pitched as a modern day Rebecca (by Daphne du Maurier) and also compared to Curtis Sittenfield's Eligible. I loved both books so I'm totally here for this. Also can we talk about the cover? It's stunning!
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami - I mean, are you surprised that I'm excited for this one? I am over the moon excited for this to release and I will drop everything to read it. I've been eagerly awaiting this and I already know I'm going to love it.
Becoming by Michelle Obama - I don't read a lot of non-fiction and usually when I do, it's often memoirs or essays. I'm so excited for this one because I just admire Michelle so much as an individual and all the work that she has accomplished. I'm also longing for a time when she was our First Lady so much. I can't wait to read this and I think I'll definitely opt for an audible version if she's going to narrate it!
The Kingfisher Secret by Anonymous - the details for this book are still very vague and the author will remain anonymous. All I know is that it's a fun spy thriller and it takes place in the White House. There may or may not be some links to factual stuff, but I think it will be fun trying to decipher things as I read along ;)
Are you excited for any of the titles mentioned above? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! :)
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