Book Reviews & Stories by Danielle
Hope everyone has fun watching the Super Bowl today!
As I like to do every week, I’m participating in Teaser Tuesdays. Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. It’s easy to participate. Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
TITLE: Throw Like a Woman
AUTHOR: Susan Petrone
PUBLISHER: The Story Plant
RELEASE DATE: March 24, 2015
GENRE: Women’s Fiction
“All she wanted to do was cuddle her son (even though he would refuse to be cuddled) and tell him that she was sorry for doing anything to hurt him and sorry that his father wasn’t here and that she felt horrible seeing him in pain.”
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all: great looks, incredible football skills, and smooth moves that have won—and broken—the hearts of countless girls at his high school. But his hellish home life has left him feeling empty inside, unable to experience real feelings. He thinks he’s fine being this way forever…until he meets a beautiful and witty seventeen-year-old girl named Charlotte “Charlie” Austin. She may be new in town, but she’s already been warned about Benjamin’s reputation, so it’s easy for her to shoot down his advances. Like him, she’s happier keeping people at a distance, especially since she, too, has secrets she’s not ready to share with anyone. But as the tentative friendship between the charismatic football captain and the new girl grows, Charlie finds herself feeling closer to Benjamin than she’s ever felt with anyone—and he wonders if he’s really capable of loving after all. Can they drop their guard, or is this so-called romance just another game?”
MY THOUGHTS
Both Benjamin and Charlie are hiding something. Something they are ashamed of and have no control over. But in order to love someone you have to open up. Easier said than done right?
Benjamin Nefer is the stereotypical high school jock. He’s the star of the football team with college scouts looking his way and he’s the ultimate playboy at school.
He’s trying to secure his future in football so that he can get as far away from home as possible because he never wants to see his father again.
Charlotte “Charlie” Austin is the new girl in school and wants nothing more than to keep her mother hidden. She doesn’t want anyone to know how she came into this world and she wants to protect her mom from any cruelties that may come.
When Benjamin and Charlie meet it was clear that he was a player. Charlie wasn’t falling for his charm, but they soon become friends and open up to each other. From that friendship it’s clear that they are falling for each other.
The End of Feeling contained two very important issues that are still quite prevalent in today’s society. Child abuse and abuse towards the mentally disabled. I think Bennett did a great job in putting just enough detail into the two issues to get an emotional response without going over board and making it hard to read.
I believe that having the two issues come from the perspective of teenagers made it much more impactful to read. And of course I enjoyed the teenage love story aspect of it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this book to those who like to read love stories, as the bulk of it was about a teenage romance. The book is coming out tomorrow so be sure to get your copy and let me know what you think.
FAVORITE QUOTES
“Charlie, if there’s one thing I know without any shred of doubt, it’s that DNA means nothing. There isn’t anything that says whatever makes our parents do the things they do, that we’ll do the same.”
OVERALL RATING
Buy Links: B&N
Social Media Links: Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn, Pinterest
Publishing Company: Amazon Publishing
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Genre: New Adult
Hello My Wonderful Followers,
As you know, I’m currently the Social Media Chair for the Women’s National Book Association – Los Angeles Chapter. That means I’m working hard to promote the organization’s news and events through various social media outlets including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google+. So I wanted to take this time to tell you about the biggest event that the organization puts on every year.
The 2015 LA Writer’s Conference will be held at the Mount Saint Mary’s University, Doheny Campus on March 14th. This all day event will include valuable workshops for authors and those aspiring to be. There are workshops on topics like Creating a Dream Team, the State of the Fiction Market, and Query Letters. There’s going to be great speakers, book signings, and a wine and cheese mixer as well.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, don’t miss out on this great event. You can visit http://www.lawritersconference.org for more information about the event and how to purchase tickets. Tickets will be 20% off until February 13th.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Tara Jenkins and Justin Westcroft used to be childhood BFFs. Now in high school, Justin’s a popular, all-star athlete, and Tara spends her days admiring him from afar. But when Tara saves Justin from nearly drowning in a freak accident, he’s unable to get her out of his mind. In no time at all, Tara and Justin fall deeply in love. And even though it’s only high school, they seem destined for a Happily Ever After.
Until tragedy strikes—and this time, Justin’s not so lucky. Tara passes through her days as a shell of her former self: Justin’s dead, but she can still feel his presence, and she can’t seem to let him go.
But there’s a reason for that, and it’s not just grief: Justin is In Between, and he’s still holding on.
They say that when someone saves you, you’re tied to them for life. But what about in the afterlife?
MY THOUGHTS
The In Between is a teen romance novel, but different than others I’ve read. It combines your typical teenage romance with a bit of fantasy mixed in. Not something I’m used to reading, but I gave it a shot.
I’m sure every girl has a Justin Westcroft in her life. A boy that you think could never love you because you don’t fit into his world. He’s good looking, athletic, and popular. Everything that you’re not. That’s how Tara Jenkins felt about Justin. Even though they were childhood friends, there was something different between them when she moved back to town and were in high school together. As many of us know, high school really changes you.
It isn’t until Justin nearly drowns and Tara saves him that these two finally start to connect again, but this time on a deeper level. One filled with love.
The book is split into four parts. The first follows the beginning of Tara and Justin’s relationship and how they grow as a couple. As with any high school relatioship, there’s a lot of drama between Tara and Justin’s ex girlfriend. Part one ends with a terrible accident leaving Tara alone on earth while Justin is stuck in another world.
I was a little skeptical when I started reading Part two and Justin was in some sort of purgatory. I don’t really believe in things like that, but I kept an open mind with this book. While Tara is still on earth trying to cope with her grief, Justin is trying to find a way back to her. He believes that they were meant to be together and nothing was going to keep him from her.
Part three continues much like Part two, but this is when Tara and Justin seem like they might be giving up on finding each other again. There are many things keeping them from being together and Justin finds himself in hell having to endure his worst fears. Tara, on the other hand, is starting to think she’s going insane and her actions make other’s think she’s going off the deep end.
The final part brings everything together including Tara and Justin. It’s a long journey, but they finally find a way back to each other. I wasn’t really expecting it to happen the way it did, but it was a decent ending.
I think this book provided some great perspective on life and death. Based on this storyline, life certainly continues after you have left the “human” world. If you’re lucky you get to spend the rest of your days with the ones you love.
Overall, I believe this was a great book. It wasn’t the best love story I’ve read, but I certainly felt connected to Tara. I would recommend this book to readers who love teenage love stories as much as I do.
FAVORITE QUOTES
“It’s love that reunites us beyond the divide of life and death.”
“It’s a burst of adrenaline and then the quietest calm I’ve ever felt. It’s a threshold, and on the other side, my love for him becomes more cemented than ever. That love feels like a tangible part of me now, coiling through neural pathways, pumping in my veins.”
OVERALL RATING
Buy Links: Amazon, iBooks, B&N, Kobo
Social Media Links: Goodreads
Publishing Company: Full Fathom Five
Release Date: November 12, 2014
Genre: Romance, Teens & YA
Happy Friday everyone! This week seemed so long even though I had the day off on Monday. It’s busier than usually on all fronts for me. Work is busy. Wedding planning makes me busy and I’m busy working on the social media for the 2015 LA Writer’s Conference.
Even though I have a hectic life right now, I absolutely love everything I’m doing. I don’t think I can sit around doing nothing. I get pretty stir-crazy.
Anyway…I went off on a tangent there for a bit. Back to my Friday Finds.
I’m very excited about this week’s Friday Finds. I found this great series by Jennifer Gracen. Here are the books from her Seasons of Love series.
Title: Autumn Getaway (Seasons of Love, Book One)
Author: Jennifer Gracen
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
“Author Jennifer Gracen brings together a colorful cast of friends and family in Book One of the Seasons of Love series, Autumn Getaway. Newly divorced mom Lydia is just getting back on her feet. Her college roommate’s wedding promises a much-needed getaway weekend with old friends, at a beautiful manor in Connecticut.
When she meets Sam, a handsome friend of the groom, she’s nearly overwhelmed by a confusing mix of hope and trepidation. Their instant connection feels intensely real, to both of them, but the ink is barely dry on her divorce decree. It takes all her nerve, and more than a little prodding from her girlfriends, to convince Lydia to give her heart — and Sam — a chance. But when the magical weekend comes to a close, Sam must return to Chicago, while Lydia heads back to her complicated life and young son in New York. Can their newfound connection survive the trials of physical distance and years of emotional baggage?
Written with an appreciation for the day-to-day struggles of a newly single mom, Autumn Getaway explores the burdens and blessings of family, revels in the spirit of friendship, and celebrates the power of romance and hope as Lydia and Sam take a second chance at love.” (NetGalley Description)
***
Title: Winter Hopes (Seasons of Love, Book Two)
Author: Jennifer Gracen
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
“Author Jennifer Gracen reunites sexy, sophisticated Sam and sweet but wounded Lydia in Book Two of the Seasons of Love series, ”Winter Hopes.” Newly divorced mom Lydia is still getting back on her feet, and still reeling from her intense encounter with Sam at a friend’s destination wedding. As they tentatively explore the demands and rewards of long-distance dating, their instant connection evolves against the vibrant backdrop of New York City. Each begins to trust again – opening up is difficult, even painful, but the joy and hope they feel in each other’s arms demands they lay their hearts on the line. Can their love survive the miles that separate them, and the complexities of nurturing a relationship via email, text and phone? And when Sam finally meets Lydia’s family, will old resentments and unspoken biases bring them closer together or drive them apart? Full of the passion and tension any newly-joined couple experiences, this steamy yet hopeful book lays the foundation for Lydia’s budding relationship with Sam, and offers hope for second chances and a deep appreciation for the value of a loyal friend.” (NetGalley Description)
***
Title: Spring Shadows (Seasons of Love, Book Three)
Author: Jennifer Gracen
Publication Date: October 1, 2014
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
“Lydia wasn’t looking for love. Having just finalized a difficult divorce, she attended her best friend’s destination wedding with a simple plan: to reconnect with old friends and take a much needed break from the stresses of single parenthood. But life had more in store for her. In AUTUMN GETAWAY, Book One of the Seasons of Love series, Lydia connected with charming, sensitive Sam over that weekend, and took a chance on someone new. Then, in WINTER HOPES, Sam and Lydia explored the excitement of blossoming romance. Even though a long distance relationship isn’t easy, in each other they found renewed hope, both overcoming past losses to learn to trust and love again.
Now, in SPRING SHADOWS, Book Three of the series, author Jennifer Gracen brings Lydia and Sam one step closer to lasting happiness. But it isn’t all romance and roses. The realities of a long distance relationship held between Chicago and New York start to take a toll. Add in the complications posed by Sam’s overprotective brother, Lydia’s difficult ex-husband, and an unexpected tragedy, and it all threatens to tear them apart before they’ve even begun to truly be together.
Lydia and Sam must face their pasts and come to terms with old fears and insecurities. They need to focus on the things that really matter: true love, forgiveness, compassion, and fearless commitment–another leap of faith. Full of the sweetness and heartfelt emotion you’ve come to expect from the Seasons of Love series, SPRING SHADOWS shows us the power of purposeful communication, understanding, and unrelenting self-awareness, proving that true, lasting love is possible when nurtured by healing and hope.” (NetGalley Description)
***
Title: Summer Champagne (Seasons of Love, Book Four)
Author: Jennifer Gracen
Publication Date: January 30, 2015
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
“In Autumn Getaway, Book One of the Seasons of Love series, Lydia connected with charming, sensitive Sam, and took a chance on someone new. Then, in Winter Hopes, Book Two of the series, Sam and Lydia explored the excitement of their blossoming romance. Even though their long distance relationship wasn’t easy, in each other they found renewed hope, overcoming past losses to learn to trust and love again. In Spring Shadows, Book Three of the series, author Jennifer Gracen brings Lydia and Sam one step closer to lasting happiness. But then romance and roses turn to tears as unexpected tragedy threatens to tear them apart.
In Summer Champagne, the final book of the Seasons of Love series, Lydia and Sam face their challenges shoulder to shoulder, but the deep commitment they’ve worked so hard to build brings the fear of equally serious loss. Summer Champagne takes the genuine emotions you’ve come to expect from the Seasons of Love and presses them up against the harsh reality of life in a genre-defining tale of love, healing, and hope for the future that will have you toasting the lovely couple with your own glass of champagne.” (Description from Jennifer Gracen’s Website)
It’s that time of the week again when I participate in WWW Wednesdays hosted by Should Be Reading. Feel free to leave a link to your WWW Wednesday post in the comments.
To participate in WWW Wednesday, you need to answer three questions.
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
Title: Throw Like A Woman
Author: Susan Petrone
Publisher: The Story Plant
Publication Date: March 24, 2015
Genre: Women’s Fiction
“Forty years old, divorced, with two sons on the verge of adolescence and an ex-husband who considers visitation to be optional, Brenda Haversham isn’t having a whole lot of fun. She’s also no longer qualified for the work she loves, so she’s toiling away in a cubicle instead, trying to make ends meet. Brenda is short on money, short on connection with her kids, and short on any kind of social life. The only thing Brenda has in abundance is her anger. And that turns out to be her greatest asset.
When she was a kid, Brenda’s father taught her how to throw a good fastball. That wasn’t of much use to a girl, but it is enough to astound onlookers at a “test your speed” pitching cage before a Cleveland Indians game. The more Brenda pictures her ex-husband’s face on the other end, the harder she throws. And when someone tapes her performance and puts it up online, Brenda becomes an Internet sensation and then more than that.
The Indians come calling and Brenda finds her life taking a turn in a new direction. Soon, she’s standing on the mound as the first woman player in Major League history and dealing with everything that comes with it. The money is great and the endorsement deals are even better. The fury of “traditionalists?” Not so much. And the conflicting emotions of her teammates are even harder to manage. Meanwhile, Brenda’s home life is evolving faster than she can keep up, redefining her role as a mother, a friend, and even a lover. As the season winds down Brenda will find out if she has what it takes to be a winner at both baseball and life.”
RECENTLY FINISHED READING
Title: The End of Feeling
Author: Cindy C Bennett
Publisher: Skyscape
Publication Date: January 27, 2015
Genre: New Adult
“Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all: great looks, incredible football skills, and smooth moves that have won—and broken—the hearts of countless girls at his high school. But his hellish home life has left him feeling empty inside, unable to experience real feelings. He thinks he’s fine being this way forever…until he meets a beautiful and witty seventeen-year-old girl named Charlotte “Charlie” Austin. She may be new in town, but she’s already been warned about Benjamin’s reputation, so it’s easy for her to shoot down his advances. Like him, she’s happier keeping people at a distance, especially since she, too, has secrets she’s not ready to share with anyone. But as the tentative friendship between the charismatic football captain and the new girl grows, Charlie finds herself feeling closer to Benjamin than she’s ever felt with anyone—and he wonders if he’s really capable of loving after all. Can they drop their guard, or is this so-called romance just another game?”
WHAT I MIGHT READ NEXT
Title: Autumn Getaway, Seasons of Love Book One
Author: Jennifer Gracen
Publisher: Booktrope
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
“Author Jennifer Gracen brings together a colorful cast of friends and family in Book One of the Seasons of Love series, Autumn Getaway. Newly divorced mom Lydia is just getting back on her feet. Her college roommate’s wedding promises a much-needed getaway weekend with old friends, at a beautiful manor in Connecticut.
When she meets Sam, a handsome friend of the groom, she’s nearly overwhelmed by a confusing mix of hope and trepidation. Their instant connection feels intensely real, to both of them, but the ink is barely dry on her divorce decree. It takes all her nerve, and more than a little prodding from her girlfriends, to convince Lydia to give her heart — and Sam — a chance. But when the magical weekend comes to a close, Sam must return to Chicago, while Lydia heads back to her complicated life and young son in New York. Can their newfound connection survive the trials of physical distance and years of emotional baggage?
Written with an appreciation for the day-to-day struggles of a newly single mom, Autumn Getaway explores the burdens and blessings of family, revels in the spirit of friendship, and celebrates the power of romance and hope as Lydia and Sam take a second chance at love.”
I can’t believe we’re more than half way through January (Side Note: It’s my brother’s 21st birthday today). As I like to do every week, I’m participating in Teaser Tuesdays.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. It’s easy to participate. Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
TITLE: Throw Like a Woman
AUTHOR: Susan Petrone
PUBLISHER: The Story Plant
RELEASE DATE: March 24, 2015
GENRE: Women’s Fiction
“The fragility of her own body, the reality that so much depended on her and the well-being of her body hit her with the same shock as the glass breaking.”
Stories Unfolded 