Women’s National Book Association | LA Writer’s Conference March 14, 2015

December 6, 2014December 5, 2014 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 1 Comment

For my followers who live in the Los Angeles area, there’s a great Writer’s Conference coming up in March hosted by the Women’s National Book Association – Los Angeles Chapter and Mount St. Mary’s College. If you’re interested in attending visit the WNBA-LA website for more information.

Description:

Mount St. Mary’s College and the Women’s National Book Association, LA have partnered up to expand and develop our LA Writers Conference! We welcome a diverse group of local authors, poets, students, literary agents, publishers and booksellers to come together and create the best conference our chapter has ever put together! Attendees will participate in panels and workshops that address the commercial and creative elements that combine to turn imagination into publication.

Friday Finds | Book Fair

December 5, 2014 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 2 Comments

You know what happens when I go to lunch and there happens to be a book fair in the lobby? I end up buying a book of course! It’s a book that I’ve looked at several times and never got around to purchasing, but I finally went ahead and purchased Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.

“Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?

As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.

Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community-service position helping an elderly widow clean out her attic is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. Moving between contemporary Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful tale of upheaval and resilience, second chances, and unexpected friendship.”

What did you find this week?

Book Review & Giveaway | Inside Out by Lia Riley

December 4, 2014December 3, 2014 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEW | INSIDE OUT BY LIA RILEY

“Lia Riley made New Adult readers fall in love with her breakout debut, Upside Down. Sideswiped, the second of her series, made readers clamor for more. Now, with INSIDE OUT, Lia Riley brings her evocative Off the Map series to a stunning conclusion.

When Talia first moved from California to Australia to study abroad, she never dreamed she’d find the love of her life. Bran understands her like no one ever has before. And despite the numerous challenges they’ve faced, they’ve always managed to figure out how to stay together. But this time they’ll face their toughest hurdle yet. Is their love strong enough to keep them together?”

***

*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Inside Out was my all time favorite book of the Off the Map series. I tend to love books that are set in California and contain love, romance, and a little naughtiness.

This book is about love. It’s about family. It’s about letting go of your fears and embracing the world around you. It’s about believing in yourself against all odds.

Lia Riley has really taken Bran and Talia’s relationship to another level with this last installment of the series. When Talia contracts malaria during her short time with the Peace Corps, Bran immediately comes to her aid, flying all the way to Africa. He was there when Talia finally woke from her coma.

Bran helps Talia relocate back to California when her father insists that she recover in the states. Living under the watchful eye of Talia’s father was tough, but the toughest part for Bran was getting Talia to open up again. After returning to California she became very distant and thought of herself as a failure, but Bran was patient with her and knew that it would take time for her heart to open again. Thankfully she did.

This book explores the relationship between Talia and Bran, but also the relationship she has with her parents. And I can’t forget to mention a certain perverted creature named Chester.

Everything has come full circle since they first met in Upside Down, book one of the series. They’ve gone through so much and helped each other grow throughout each book.

***SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS***

Now for the number one reason I love this book! Drum roll please….

Talia and Bran get engaged at Yosemite National Park in California. Why is this so significant you ask? Well, it just so happens that my fiancé proposed to me in Yosemite as well. Yosemite is one of my favorite national parks. I couldn’t believe that I was able to say “yes” to the man I love overlooking beautiful Yosemite Valley with a view of Bridal Veil Falls, which is mentioned in the book.

Once it was revealed that Talia and Bran would be taking a trip to Yosemite, I jumped up to tell my fiancé. I was so excited! I just knew that Bran had something planned and couldn’t wait to find out how it ended.

And with that I want to share a picture from when my fiancé proposed in Yosemite.

Thank you to Lia Riley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me to read a copy of this book for an honest review.

Favorite Quotes

“She makes me want to be the best version of myself.”

“She’s it for me, forever, the last girl I’ll ever love.”

“One day, you’re sleepwalking through life, and the next you meet someone who wakes you up. A person who makes you want to try to dig in for your best self.”

Giveaways

Take a chance at winning the Inside Out Prizepack! You seriously can’t miss out on this giveaway. This awesome prize pack includes the following:

One digital copy of Upside Down (Book #1) Off the Map for you or a friend
TimTam’s (Australia’s best cookies)
Chocolate Koalas
Santa Cruz women’s hoodie (choice of S, M, L, XL)
Off the Map “If You Never Get Lost, You’ll Never Be Found” rubber wristband
Signed Off the Map Swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In addition, I have been given an extra digital copy of Inside Out to give away via Net Galley. All my fellow Net Galley users please take advantage of this giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Overall Rating

About the Author

After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, Lia Riley scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. When not torturing heroes (because c’mon, who doesn’t love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

Buy Links: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, GooglePlay, Kobo

Social Media Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Tumblr

Publishing Company: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

Release Date: December 2, 2014

Genre: New Adult

Check out my reviews of the first two books in the Off the Map series.

Upside Down

Sideswiped

Upcoming Book Review Excerpt | Inside Out by Lia Riley

December 3, 2014December 1, 2014 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

To get you pumped for tomorrow’s book review and for TWO chances to win prizes, I wanted to share an excerpt from Inside Out by Lia Riley. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow because you don’t want to miss the amazing prize pack!

BOOK EXCERPT | INSIDE OUT BY LIA RILEY

Who was I when I first fell in love with Bran?

A person who had courage to stare down an unfeasible situation and say, Sure, I’m up for the challenge.

Who was I when Bran threw himself at me like a wounded animal, all claws, abandonment fear, spit, and fang?

A person who accepted that the moon has two sides, light and dark.

Who am I now?

I feel like a lost soul rocking in the corner, fresh out of ideas.

Bran pushes me through the long line until it’s our turn at the passport desk.

“How long do you plan to stay in the United States?” The customs official glances from Bran’s face to his passport photo and back again.

My stomach squirms like a writhing snake. We’ve avoided any discussion about future plans, focused instead on the short term. I had to accept the reality that I couldn’t return to the Peace Corps, even with the medical separation. I was too sick, too shattered. Our discussions about the logistics of leaving Africa were easier to concentrate on than the looming issue of what we were going to do with each other. I treated the topic like an abandoned lot, filled with weeds and rusting cars, a subject to walk past and pretend to ignore.

Now a stranger is forcing the issue.

“Until this one gets better.” Bran cocks his head in my direction.

The woman scoots forward, peers at me with a faint frown. “May I see proof of a return ticket, sir?”

Bran digs out the photocopy of his itinerary. When we bought the tickets, he had to borrow money from his dad. He hasn’t said much, but I know the fact must eat at him. Add another bitter drop to my guilt bucket—soon it’s going to overflow.

“You’re on a temporary tourist visa.” The customs agent flips the passport to a blank page and stamps with obvious relish. “You have three months, starting now.”

Here we go again.

Visa issues.

Ticking clocks.

People imagine international romance is excitement, hot accents, and adventure. They don’t want to hear about the bureaucratic drudgery that threatens to harden the arteries of even the most passionate hearts.

I thought I was going somewhere.

Nope.

I am an idiot Icarus who flew too close to the sun.

Bran leans forward, his lips hover an inch from my ear, his breath a hot caress on my cool skin. “You okay, Captain?”

“Fine.”

“What are you thinking, thinker?”

“I’m just sitting here, a sitter.”

We roll past an American flag overhanging a framed photo of the president. His smile seems smug, as if to say, You really thought you’d get away?

Yes, sir. I kind of did.

“We’re up next.” Bran hands a final customs form to yet another officer who waves us toward big silver doors that open and shut like gnashing teeth. On the other side is California. I can’t shake the disorienting sense we’re heading in the wrong direction.

“Ready?”

Nope.

Bran crossed an ocean for me. I have to find the way out of this black swamp, but I’m manacled to an island of self-doubt, and the tide is rising.

***

Thank you to Lia Riley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me to read a copy of this book for an honest review.

WWW Wednesday | Dec. 03

December 3, 2014December 1, 2014 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 2 Comments

It’s that time of the week again when I participate in WWW Wednesdays hosted by Should Be Reading. 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?

CURRENTLY READING

RECENTLY FINISHED READING

WHAT I MIGHT READ NEXT

Teaser Tuesdays | Dec. 02

December 2, 2014December 1, 2014 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 3 Comments

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!

CURRENT READ | FINDING ZOE

“Facing such a huge loss at a young age forced me to see how people treat one another and what it’s like to grow up in America as part of a minority. The experience also gave me a different perspective on living with the majority – being deaf in a hearing world. My world was silent. I was cut off from communicating and had to learn to survive through that.”

Upcoming Book Review & Giveaway | Inside Out by Lia Riley

December 2, 2014November 29, 2014 ~ Danielle Olson ~ Leave a comment

Lia Riley’s Off The Map series comes to a conclusion with today’s release of Inside Out! Inside Out is the final chapter of Bran and Talia’s romance. I’ve followed these two love birds through the ups and downs that come with loving someone more than anything and have enjoyed learning more about each character. While I’m sad the series is ending, I’m still loving the final book because it contains lots of familiar places to me.

As part of the Inside Out Blog Tour, I will be posting my review of the book on December 4th which will include TWO GIVEAWAYS! I know my followers love giveaways, so be sure to check out the review on Thursday.

I want to congratulate Lia Riley and thank her for allowing me to review each book in the series. I’ve loved reading them and would recommend the series to anyone who enjoys reading new adult books.

INSIDE OUT by Lia Riley (December 2, 2014; Forever E-Book; $3.99)

Lia Riley made New Adult readers fall in love with her breakout debut, Upside Down. Sideswiped, the second of her series, made readers clamor for more. Now, with INSIDE OUT, Lia Riley brings her evocative Off the Map series to a stunning conclusion.

About the author:

Social Media Links:

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Tumblr

Buy Links:

Amazon, B&N, iBooks, GogglePlay, Kobo

Visiting The Last Bookstore

December 1, 2014November 26, 2014 ~ Danielle Olson ~ 3 Comments

During my lunch break a few months ago, a co-worker and I walked to this lovely bookstore in Downtown LA called The Last Bookstore.

I asked my co-worker why he didn’t tell me about this bookstore sooner because it’s amazing! They sell used, but decent books at cheap prices. I only spent $16 on three books including sales tax and the books seem new. They also sell new books as well, but at the retail price. I was seriously in heaven being there.

If you ever find yourself on Spring Street in Downtown LA be sure to check out this awesome bookstore. I know I’ll be visiting regularly.