[Review] Deeper by Blue Ashcroft

Deeper by Blue Ashcroft
Publishing Date: July 31, 2013
227 Pages
Format: ebook, purchased

Synopsis 

Rain Wilson isn't ever going to love again.

It's a promise she made the day her boyfriend died in a water park accident, one she still blames herself for. Now she's a senior lifeguard in a new town with a new pool and she's just going to keep her head down and everyone safe.

Until a mysterious guy follows her into the waves at the pre-season bonfire and kisses her senseless. It's just one mistake, and Rain is determined t o put it behind her, until the dark haired, blue-eyed hottie turns out to be her new co-supervisor Knight McAllister.

Knight is got, tatted, and carrying baggage of his own. He's not happy about having Rain for a co-supervisor, and he's even less happy about his attraction to her.

But between lifeguard drama, hot underwater kisses, and a growing attraction between them that can't be stopped, Knight and Rain are being pulled deeper into their pasts, and realizing that sometimes too much broken can make a relationship impossible.

Then again sometimes it's the broken parts of us that fit together best.

My Review

I downloaded this book from Amazon when it was free because I thought the story sounded pretty good, plus I love free books! While this story wasn't bad, it wasn't great either. For some reason, it just didn't grab hold of me like I thought it might. I was still interested enough to continue reading it, and I'm glad I did. But it wasn't the best work I've read.

Rain and Knight are both interesting characters with a lot of baggage between the two of them. I think they made a pretty good pair as they were able to help each other work through their problems and start to come to terms with the events of their past. However, I thought the story could have been a little better developed. There was also a lot of talk about sex and rape in this book, which I'm not sure was completely necessary. Some of the parts were important to the story, but not all of them, so I think some mentions could have been cut out. I don't really have anything concrete to say that could have been better; it was a decent story that I liked, but didn't love.

Tell Me Something Tuesday 4.29.14

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings. Each week a new question is presented. Check out Heidi's blog for all the details :)

This week's question: How much does a book cover play into your decision to pick up a book? 

I will openly admit that it plays into my decision a lot! If I'm browsing the aisles of a store and I see a book that catches my eye, I always stop to see what its about. It also works the other way - if I see a book and the cover doesn't appeal to me, I may not pick it up. Sometimes the title of the book, or the author, will make me pick it up even if the cover isn't great.

That being said, it's not the only way I check out a book. If I've heard good things about it or read books by that author before, then I'll likely pick it up to see if it's something that I would enjoy.

*Book Blast* Love Finds a Way - Boxed Set

Love Finds A Way

Boxed Set

Four unconventional

love stories, from popular and bestselling romance authors,

(Margaret Ethridge ~ Karen Booth ~Kare Stivali ~ Holly Gilliatt)

each with sequels
from Turquoise Morning Press

Limited time offer… $ .99

(Special Promotional Price)

~

BRING ME BACK by Karen Booth

Claire

Abby was a starry-eyed teenager when she fantasized that British rock star
Christopher Penman was her boyfriend. More than twenty years later, she's about
to fall in love with him for real.

“Fast-paced, sexy and altogether irresistible. A flat-out
fabulous read!”–New York Times Bestselling author Celia Rivenbark

“Ms. Booth has hit a home run with this riveting story
that’s full of life, trials and tribulations, joy, but most of all, love.” –5
stars and a recommended read, BlackRaven’s Reviews

“If you are a fan of drama, humor and heart with a wonderful
blend of bittersweet and delicious sensuality, then you need to read Bring
Me Back. I’ve added it to my absolute favorites, the ones I curl up with when
I’m down and need to remember to love and laugh and believe in magic.”–5
Stars, The Book Tart

Included on the Top Ten Romances of All Time list by Patience Bloom from

Harlequin. An All-Romance bestseller.

Karen Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in
the South, raised on 80s music, Judy Blume, and the films of John Hughes. A
former music industry exec, she loves to write about the world of backstage
passes and band dynamics.

 ~~~~~~

CONTENTMENT by Margaret Ethridge

Fifteen
years after saying “I do”, Tracy Sullivan feels lost in a tangle of marriage,
family, home, and career. Poised on the verge of losing it all, she embarks on
a quest to redefine her life. With the help of a few good friends and the
enduring love of her husband, she discovers that while happiness fleeting, contentment
can last a lifetime.

“The story is honest, well told, and so sweet. I loved it.”
–5 stars, Amazon bestselling author Jennifer Johnson

“You'll want that Hollywood ending that never happens in real life. What you

will get a story that is so true to real life that it'll make your stomach
twist and your heart hammer.” –5 stars, Another Look Book Reviews

“This is story-telling at its best.” –5 stars, Amazon
customer review

“Have you not read Margaret Ethridge? Hop to it! Although she is a new author,
her work is consistently intriguing, even while writing different romantic
genres.” –Booking It

MargaretEthridge is the Amazon bestselling author whose stories of life and
love have made her a fan favorite and a Booksellers Best finalist. 

 ~~~~~~

MEANT TO BE by Karen Stivali

Sometimes
you're already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the
right one. Daniel and Marienne's friendship has helped them weather every
hardship---now they're both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.

Best Books of 2012 –Literati Literature Lovers (Meant To Be and its sequel Holding On)

Books That Rocked My World 2012 –Guilty Pleasures Book
Reviews

“Meant To Be is simply an amazing
story that is heartwarming and genuine, it is one that will make you believe in
soul mates.” –5 stars, Jersey Girl Book Reviews

“If you're looking for engaging, soulful characters, enough drama to take you
through a myriad of emotions that entail everything from laughter to anger to
crying, and enough passion to make you sizzle in all the right places,
then Meant To Be is the book to
read.” –5 stars and a Recommended Read, BlackRaven's Book Reviews

Karen Stivali is a multiple award winning author of contemporary and erotic

romance. She writes novels about love...like real life, only hotter. 

~~~~~~

′TIL ST. PATRICK’S DAY by Holly Gilliatt

Over the course of one winter, three best friends encounter what happens
when love doesn’t go according to plan.

“With the author's ease of putting words on paper, the story
flows through your mind, connecting on a deep emotional level. You will find
yourself hoping, gasping, shedding a tear or two and smiling with happiness
as the story unfolds.”

–Literati Book Reviews

“Gilliatt creates characters who you connect with… The reader is placed in the
middle of these three women’s lives; you experience their ups, their downs
and their own journey of self-discovery.” –BestChickLit.com

“The main theme of this novel was friendship, but it’s followed very closely by
love—and not just romantic love. …It’s fantastic.” –5 stars, Pink Fluffy
Hearts

Holly Gilliatt writes funny, heartwarming tales of
love and friendship. She is the author of two published novels with a
third due out in July.

Release Date:
April 29, 2014

Category: Mainstream Fiction > Women’s Fiction > Romantic Elements

Length: Four full-length novels, Boxed Set

Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press

ISBN: 978-1-62237-291-1

Ebook Price:
$0.99

(Special
Promotional Price) 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | IBOOKS | SMASHWORDS |

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS | PUBLISHER

~

Giveaway

These 4 great authors are giving away a $25 gift card to Turquoise Morning Press!

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[Review] Carly's Voice by Arthur Fleischmann and Carly Fleischmann

Carly's Voice: Breaking Through Autism by Arthur Fleischmann with Carly Fleischmann
Publisher: Touchstone
Publishing Date: March 2012
386 Pages
Format: hardcover, purchased

Synopsis 

At the age of two, Carly Fleischmann was diagnosed with severe autism and an oral motor condition that prevented her from speaking. Doctors predicted that she would never intellectually develop beyond the abilities of a small child. Although she made some progress after years of intensive behavioral and communication therapy, Carly remained largely unreachable. Then, at the age of ten, she had a breakthrough.

While working with her devoted therapists Howie and Barb, Carly reached over to their laptop and typed in "HELP TEETH HURT," much to everyone's astonishment.

This was the beginning of Carly's journey toward self-realization. Although Carly still struggles with all the symptoms of autism, which she describes with uncanny accuracy and detail, she now has regular, witty, and profound conversations on the computer with her family, her therapists, and the many thousands of people who follow her via her bog, Facebook, and Twitter.

In Carly's voice, her father, Arthur Fleischmann, blends Carly's own words with his story of getting to know his remarkable daughter. One of the first books to explore firsthand the challenges of living with autism, it brings readers inside a once-secret world and in the company of an inspiring young woman who has found her voice and her mission.

My Review

A friend of mine recommended this book to me. Her son is autistic, and while she hasn't read it yet, she heard it was really good. It took me forever to find this book in a used book store! As much as I wanted it, I'm still really cheap when it comes to buying books, and I rarely buy them new. But I finally found it! I was pretty excited to start it, so right when I finished the one I was currently reading, I started this! I don't read a lot of non-fiction, so I wasn't sure how I'd like it, but it turns out I really loved it! 

The book sucked me in from the first pages. Hearing Arthur talk about the struggles that his daughter is facing is very moving. But it doesn't only focus on her; he talks about the struggles the rest of his family faces, what its like for his other two kids to grow up with an autistic sibling, the daily struggles his wife handles while being home all day, and what its like being a dad to a girl that you don't understand.

For anyone facing these struggles, I'm humbled. I can't imagine not being able to communicate my needs and wants. It has got to be so incredibly frustrating, not only for the caregivers of an autistic person, but for that person him/herself. This book definitely makes me realize how much everyone takes for granted the little things we do on a daily basis, like dress ourselves, tie our shoes, comb our hair. These little things aren't easy for kids/people with autism and they have to work so hard to accomplish everything they do.

I think this book gives a very real life portrayal of what daily life is like for a family caring for someone with autism. These people are so very strong and though they could give up, send their child to a home, put the responsibility on someone else, they don't. They fight through their frustrations and fight for their child. I definitely think this is a great book for anyone wanting to learn more about autism. We are able to see inside the mind of a child with this disorder, and its truly eye-opening.

Want to learn more about Carly? Follow her on her blog, Facebook or Twitter!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarlysVoice

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlysvoice

Website: http://carlysvoice.com/home/

Don't forget, it's Autism Awareness Month! To learn more, visit the the sites below! (: 

http://www.autism-society.org/

http://www.autismspeaks.org/

Feature and Follow Friday! 4.25.14

Feature and Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community. If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers. But you have to know, the point of this hop is to follow other blogs also. I follow you, you follow me. 

The general rules are: 

- Follow the Feature and Follow Hosts (Parajunkee and Alison Can Read)

- Follow the Featured Bloggers

- Put your Blog name and 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 say hi and that they are now following you in your comments. 

-Follow, Follow, Follow as many as you can. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Don't just follow, comment and say hi in the post! 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, please follow back! 

This weeks question: Have any pets? Tell us or show us! 

My fiance and I are the proud "parents" of these two sweet little guys! They're about 2 years old and we've had them for 1 1/2 years already!Romeo is the chubby black and white and Tiger the orange. Their names definitely fit their personalities! Tiger is always getting into trouble but can be super sweet and cuddly sometimes. Romeo is the lover but more independent; he only cuddles when he wants to! 




Someone got into my ball of yarn... Romeo looks like the culprit, but we think it was Tiger (: 

Harry Potter Moment of the Week! 4.24.14

Harry Potter Moment of the Week is hosted by Leah @ Uncorked Thoughts. The aim of this meme is to share with fellow bloggers a character, spell, chapter, object, quote, etc. from the books/films/JK Rowling or anything Potter related!

Least Favorite Book

Oh, this is tough! I honestly haven't read the books in quite some time (though I watch the movies all the time), so I'm trying to remember everything that happened! I don't really have a least favorite, but if I had to choose, I would say The Chamber of Secrets. I don't necessarily have a good reason, it just wasn't among my top picks! Plus, I really hate snakes, so maybe that's why (: 

I really should reread these books though! I love them all and pretty much have the movies memorized. But there's always so much left out in movies compared to the books. Maybe I'll try not to buy as many new books in the next couple of months so that I can catch up a little on my TBR pile and do some rereads!

[Review] Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publishing Date: June 26, 2007
288 Pages
Format: paperback, won

Synopsis 

There are two sides to every breakup.

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.

Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.

It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.

But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.

Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

My Review

This was a fun, cute book to read! I started it Friday morning and finished it Friday night. It was short and sweet, just how I like my romance novels! I really loved how the story flipped from Jordan to Courtney, and from the present to the past. I thought it was a unique way of portraying the story. If it had just been in the present, and they talked about the past, I don't think it would have been that good. I loved reading about Jordan and Courtney's relationship in the past, and how that affected their present time together. They both struggled with the breakup, and still very much want to be together. But neither knows how the other feels until their road trip puts them to the test. Again, this was a short and sweet read; I would recommend it :)

[Review] Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Sever by Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Chemical Garden, #3
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publishing Date: 2013
371 Pages
Format: hardcover, purchased
Buy Links

Synopsis 

With time ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers.

After enduring Vaughn's worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuse in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine's memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine's side, even if Linden's feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan's growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future - and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Garden Trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

My Review

Yay! I finally finished this series and found out what happens to everyone! I have to say that this book surprised me! I wasn't sure what to expect and what would happen to everyone. Some parts are definitely a little sad, but others are very happy. I really loved Reed! I thought his character was great; he's so loving even though he tries to act all tough and withdrawn. Deep down, you can see how much he cares about Linden, Rhine, Cecily and Bowen. He's very a very quirky and fun character.

Without giving away spoilers, Vaughn surprised me a lot, and so did Rowan. The story took a different twist that I imagined, but I'm very happy it turned out the way it did! Throughout the whole story we can feel Rhine struggle with the way her life has played out so far, but we also feel the hope that she holds onto, even if she tries to deny it. All the characters in the book seem to have so much hope in what the future could bring, but are so uncertain of how things would change.

This was a very unique trilogy, unlike so much that I've read. Sure, it had dystopian themes of trying to create a perfect world, but the ramifications of those actions are so different. The fact that a virus kills of young adults when they're 20 and 25 is so crazy to think about! I would definitely recommend this series! Plus the covers of these books are just gorgeous; it's what caught my eye first!

Feature and Follow Friday! 4.18.14

Feature and Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community. If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers. But you have to know, the point of this hop is to follow other blogs also. I follow you, you follow me. 

The general rules are: 

- Follow the Feature and Follow Hosts (Parajunkee and Alison Can Read)

- Follow the Featured Bloggers

- Put your Blog name and 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 say hi and that they are now following you in your comments. 

-Follow, Follow, Follow as many as you can. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Don't just follow, comment and say hi in the post! 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, please follow back! 

This weeks question: Spring Break. Where would be your favorite destination spot if you could join the spring break festivities? 

I'm not into the traditional spring break partying, so I can't say I'd enjoy that, but I think going to California and finding a nice beach would be great. I've never been there before, but I've always wanted to! 

[Review] Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Fever by Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Chemical Garden, #2
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publishing Date: 2012
341 Pages
Format: hardcover, purchased

Synopsis 

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menageries of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine's twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can't seem to elude Rhine's father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In this sequel to Lauren DeStefano's harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

My Review

I just finished this book and jumped right into the next! I really enjoyed reading Wither, but took a break before reading Fever. Sometimes I can only handle so much fantasy type books. But I'm so glad I finally finished Fever! I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I knew that I had to find out what was going to happen to Rhine and Gabriel!

I really liked the carnival-type setting where Rhine spent some time with Gabriel. I found the characters to be intriguing, and Maddie to be very adorable. But it also made me sad about the way all those young kids were being treated! Rhine and Gabriel take on a big responsibility when they leave and have to fight for what they believe in. I can't wait to finish the final book! I want to know what happened to Rhine's brother and Maddie. And I want to know what ultimately happens to Rhine and Gabriel! Hopefully I find out (:

[Review] Wild About Her Wingman by Robin Bielman

Wild About Her Wingman by Robin Bielman 
Series: Secret Wishes, #3
Publisher:
Publishing Date: April 14, 2014
220 Pages
Format: ARC, ebook
Buy Links:

Synopsis 

Playing it safe never felt so risky.

Erin Watters is her small town's resident wild child - she doesn't do boring, and after having her heart annihilated, she definitely doesn't do relationships. Her friends have other ideas, though, and when they throw down a matchmaking challenge, impulsive Erin can't ignore it. Even when the annoyingly hot Troy Strieber accepts the matchmaker role...

As a rescue paramedic, Troy's used to watching out for people. Never mind the bet he made with his buddy to play Erin's wingman. But the more time he spends with the sexy, charismatic woman, the more he discovers a side of her she doesn't let many see. Soon what started as an innocent game of matchmaking has both of them thinking about the person right under their nose. But Troy's a play-it-safe guy, and he won't let a woman who lives for risk ever steal his heart.

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. 

I've read the first two in this series and really loved them. So I was very excited when I had the chance from the author to read and review this book before it was released! I'm a huge fan of romance novels and this one definitely fits. We catch a little glimpse of Erin and Troy's chemistry in the second novel when he takes care of her after a fire at a local restaurant/bar. However, it's really just a hint at something, and we don't get to see anything develop until their story starts in this novel. Troy is a paramedic and plays it very safe. He doesn't take risks and isn't impulsive. Erin, on the other hand, does take risks, and this is something Troy can't handle. He doesn't want to be in a relationship with a risk-taker like Erin, and would prefer to find someone a little more settled down. And Erin doesn't want to be with someone who is so safe and by-the-books. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize they can't fight their attraction.

This book is fun, sweet and so romantic. Erin and Troy are lovable characters and I enjoyed reading their story. Ms. Bielman definitely knows how to create a wonderful romance with her words. All of the characters are fun and I love that each character from the previous books are brought back into the stories. I love the setting of small-town Cascade and feel like I can picture everything! Ms. Bielman does such a wonderful job with her writing that I could feel the pain of the characters when certain subjects were brought up. She really has a way with words! I can't wait to read more by this author, and if you are looking for a romance, definitely check out this series! You won't be disappointed.

*Book Blast* Review of Kissing the Maid of Honor by Robin Bielman

Kissing the Maid of Honor

A Secret Wishes Novel

By: Robin Bielman

Sale Price of $.99 for a Limited Time

Synopsis 

Sela Sullivan is resolved to be the best maid of honor ever, even if it means tolerating the best man. Insufferable, too-handsome Luke Watters is not only the guy who humiliated her at a kissing booth in high school, but he also happens to be her best friend’s older brother. 

Positive he’s the same arrogant jock, Sela vows to focus on her duties and steer clear of the frustrating—and frustratingly tempting—Luke.As a world-renowned extreme-sports photographer, Luke is used to undertaking life-risking adventures. But risking his heart for the beautiful Sela Sullivan, who clearly still hates him for his rejection all those years ago? He didn’t see that coming. Sela inspires a passion he’s never known, and the more time they spend together, the more he craves her. But can he prove to the maid of honor he’s become a man of honor?

My Review

This book was so sweet and romantic! I started it on Tuesday and finished it Wednesday! I didn't want to put it down! I really love reading romances, and this one was a lot of fun. Luke and Sela are perfect for each other and you could just feel the connection they had by simply reading their story. I thought Sela throwing money into the wishing well at the beginning of the story was so adorable, and a really great touch to everything. Sela has a good head on her shoulders and trying to get Luke to settle down is a good idea, especially because of his risky job. Overall, I loved this story and cannot wait to read the next in the series! 

Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/02/now-booking-tasty-book-blast-for.html

Buy Links 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Kobo

About the Author

Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and crazy-cute mini Labradoodle, Harry (named after Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books). When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also likes to run, hike, and dip her toes in the ocean. Filled with wanderlust, she longs to visit many different places and fulfill her curiosity. She wouldn’t mind indulging her sweet tooth in every location either. She’s a lover of sticky notes, cable television shows and café mochas. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it's real. 

She writes contemporary and paranormal romance and loves to connect with readers. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com. She can also be found online here:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Feature and Follow Friday! 4.11.14

Feature and Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community. If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers. But you have to know, the point of this hop is to follow other blogs also. I follow you, you follow me. 

The general rules are: 

- Follow the Feature and Follow Hosts (Parajunkee and Alison Can Read)

- Follow the Featured Bloggers

- Put your Blog name and 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 say hi and that they are now following you in your comments. 

-Follow, Follow, Follow as many as you can. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Don't just follow, comment and say hi in the post! 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, please follow back! 

This weeks question: Tell us about a book you didn't like and why we shouldn't read it (as nicely and respectfully as possible) 

I didn't like I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb. I found it really dragged out and kind of boring. I don't even think I finished the book, to be honest. 

WWW Wednesday! 4.9.14

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should be Reading. To participate, simply answer the three following questions:

- What are you currently reading?

- What did you recently finish reading?

- What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading 

Gerald's Game by Stephen King 

This is the first King novel I've ever read. I just started it today, and am about 1/4 of the way through. Not too sure how I feel about it yet, but I'm going to keep reading for a while. I have a couple other's of his on my shelves as well, so if I don't like this one, I won't give up on him yet! 

Recently Finished

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

Just finished this last night! This is a reread for me. You can see my review here. 

Up Next

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

I THINK I'm going to read this next. I'm usually pretty bad at this part of the meme because I might be in the mood for something now, but when it comes to actually picking up another book, I tend to find something else that grabbed my attention. Time will tell (: 

[Review] The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central
Publishing Date: April 1, 2005
352 Pages
Format: hardcover, purchased
Buy Links: Amazon  |  B&N

Synopsis

When confronted by raging fires or deadly accidents, volunteer fireman Taylor McAden feels compelled to take terrifying risks to save lives. But there is one leap of faith Taylor can't bring himself to make: he can't fall in love. For all his adult years, Taylor has sought out women who need to be rescued, women he leaves as soon as their crisis is over and the relationship starts to become truly intimate. When a raging storm his his small Southern town, single mother Denise Holton's car skids off the road. The young mom is with her four-year-old son Kyle, a boy with severe learning disabilities and for whom she has sacrificed everything. Taylor McAden finds her unconscious and bleeding, but does not find Kyle. When Denise wakes, the chilling truth becomes clear to both of them: Kyle is gone. During the search for Kyle, the connection between Taylor and Denise takes root. Taylor doesn't know that this rescue will be different from all others, demanding far more than raw physical courage. It will lead him to the possibility of his own rescue from a life lived without love and will require him to open doors to his past that were slammed shut by pain. This rescue will dare him to live life to the fullest by daring to love.

My Review

I've read this book more times than I can count, and I never get tired of it. It's one of those go-to books when I'm in the mood for a really good read, or when I just don't know what else I want to read at the time. I haven't read this one in quite some time so I decided that it was a good time for a reread.

I have to say that one of the first things I loved about this book was Denise's son, Kyle. He struggles with a learning disability and Denise has given up her former life in Atlanta and being a teacher to dedicate her time trying to teach Kyle to speak. He has been seen by every doctor and specialist available with no avail. He comes across as an incredibly sweet boy who tries so hard to learn and Denise's dedication is inspiring. Then Taylor and Denise start seeing each other and you can see the sparks fly. And the way Taylor acts with Kyle is very endearing.

But Taylor has so many hidden demons that he tries to bury and not deal with. As the story unfolds, we begin to realize more why Taylor is the way he is. But he still won't accept help from anyone. Denise tries, but he pushes her away. His mom tries, but he won't talk to her about it. Mitch, his best friend, tries, but again, he won't speak of it. My heart ached for Taylor, Denise and Kyle as the story unfolds. They have all been put through so much, and readers can feel their emotions as if they're experiencing themselves. This is easily one of my favorite stories by Nicholas Sparks and I recommend it to anyone any chance I get.

Top Ten Tuesday 4.8.14

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the The Broke and the Bookish. Every week she posts an idea for a 'Top Ten' list relating to books, and encourages other book bloggers to respond and participate. All the details are listed on her site. 

This Week's Topic: Top ten five most unique books I've ever read 

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

Its about a circus that travels around and is only open during the night and the two main characters are in a competition with each other, without really knowing who the other person is. One of my favorite books of all time and beautifully written. 

2. Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

I've never read anything where a person's life is basically portrayed as a mistake and should never have been born. This book has a very controversial issue at heart and I loved reading about these characters lives. Can't say I've read anything like this since. 

3. Harry Potter by JK Rowling 

Pretty self explanatory and I'm sure on many people's lists. This has to be one of the most original books/series I've ever read. I'm so glad I was able to experience this world with the characters!

4. A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

I don't even know what to say about this book. I haven't read any others in the series yet, but they're so complex and have so many characters! I can't imagine how Martin came up with these ideas, names, plots, etc. I can't wait to start reading the next one (: 

5. The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini 

Before these books, I hadn't read anything set in Afghanistan before! Both are beautifully written and I love reading his work!

Tell Me Something Tuesday 4/8/14

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings. Each week a new question is presented. Check out Heidi's blog for all the details :)

This weeks question: Do you read New York Times Bestsellers? 

The easy answer is yes, I do. My thoughts are that they're on there for a reason and a good amount of people probably enjoyed them, so I might too. And this has worked for many books. However, as I've gotten more into reading and blogging, I pay less attention to whether they're on that list or not. I buy books based on authors I like, things I've heard about them, etc. I'm not going to buy a book simply because it's on a list. If I think it sounds interesting, then I'll pick it up. But there have definitely been times that I've picked up a book because it's a bestseller, and can't see what all the fuss is about. Sometimes these books are hyped up way too much and I don't enjoy them as much as someone else may have. But I don't think that's only in regards to books on this list, this can happen with any book. 

What about you? Do you read NYT Bestsellers? 

[Review] The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Publisher: Mariner Books
Publishing Date: 2003
291 Pages
Format: paperback, purchased

Synopsis 

Jhumpa Lahiri's debut story collection, Interpreter of Maladies, took the literary wold by storm when it won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000. Fans who flocked to her stories will be captivated by her best-selling first novel, now in paperback for the first time. The Namesake is a finely wrought, deeply moving family drama that illuminates this acclaimed author's signature themes: the immigrant experiences, the clash of cultures, the tangled ties between generations.

The Namesake takes the Ganguli family from their tradition-bound life in Calcutta through their fraught transformation into Americans. On the heels of an arranged marriage, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli settle in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Ashoke does his best to adapt while his wife pines for home. When their son, Gogol, is born, the task of naming him betrays their hope of respecting old ways in a new world. And we watch as Gogol stumbles along the first-generation path, strewn with conflicting loyalties, comic detours, and wrenching love affairs.

With empathy and penetrating insight, Lahiri explores the expectations bestowed on us by our parents and the means by which we come to define who we are.

My Review

This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while... probably well over a year. But every time I picked it up, I got sidetracked and found something else to read. I finally decided that I was going to start - and finish - it. I read it within about 4-5 days, which may seem pretty fast, but lately, that's somewhat slow for me. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I think it's a good read, but it's not something that I would pick up and read again.

I really liked learning about the lives of Ashoke and Ashima; how they grew up in India, traveled to the US, and adjusted to the American lifestyle. I like learning and reading about different cultures, how they live and how being emerged in a new life can be incredibly challenging. The struggles they faced while attempting to adjust and while trying to name Gogol were very well portrayed. They really wanted to keep the tradition of having a grandmother name the baby, but when that wasn't possible, they had to choose something else.

We mostly follow Ashoke, Ashima and Gogol's life throughout this book, and I wish I could have read about Sonia's perspective growing up as an Indian-American. I found it fascinating getting the perspective if Gogol, how he felt about his name, and how he almost felt ashamed about his parents and their culture. It seems as though the older he got, the more he came to accept his culture, his background and him family, but it must be incredibly difficult feeling like that as you grow up and being a parent watching your child stray from his culture. Overall, I thought this book was good, but like I said, nothing that I would probably reread.