Monday Round Up!

 

One of my favourite memes hosted by the lovely Shelia over at Book Journey!

 

Well I had a technical fail week! My desktop now shuts itself down randomly and I had to send my laptop off for repair! Luckily I'd pre scheduled the majority of my posts but I'm behind on comments and posts are now backlogged... How typical of both the computers in my house chose the same heavy blog week to break down!

 

Reviews!
Swell by Julie Rieman Duck- My stop on the Blog Tour- 3½ Hearts!

Other posts!

Top Ten 2012 Contemporary Reads!- Pretty self explanatory post :)

Cover Reveal- Make It Last by Bethany Lopez

Read!

6 Seconds was so different than my usual read and Just For Now was worth the wait!

Reading!

I love it! So far it is everything I hoped it would be :)

What's Next!

 

Someone requested it at the Library so I need to read it fast!

 

Upcoming Posts!

Cover Comparisons- moved to this week!

 

Upcoming Blog Tours 

This week is a busy blog tour week!

6 Seconds of Life Blog Tour- Stopping here tomorrow!

Loving Summer Blog Tour- Stopping here Thursday!

Saving You, Saving Me Blog Tour- Stopping here Saturday!

 

How has your week been?
Hopefully technology didn't fail you :)

Much Love!
Lettie
Xxxx

Swell by Julie Rieman Duck.

Welcome to my stop on the Swell Blog Tour!

When Christian Rusch plucks Beck Ionesco from the freshman ranks for himself, she’s tempted with parties, popularity, and love. But as the free-flowing booze that soaks his world seeps into her own, Beck begins using liquid courage as a way to ignore Christian’s dark moods… and cover her anxiety about his flirtatious friend Hillman.

However, when Christian breaks up with Beck, and Hillman makes a dangerous move, no amount of alcohol can stop the pain or keep her out of trouble. And just when it seems like she’s lost everything, Beck is partnered with Jesse Leary for an art project. After spending time with him, Beck realises it’s more than a study date… and Christian’s not happy about it. Then again, Beck’s not sure she’s happy with him, either.

But only after plowing through a bottle of wine, a wild fight, and one guardrail that becomes Christian’s last call, does Beck admit to her problem and ask for help from the one whose life secretly parallels her own.

This isn't something I would usually pick up but the blurb intrigued me! The book surprised me with it's depth and I really enjoyed it!

What I loved:

• Jenna- I loved Jenna, She was loyal, honest and forgiving, a true friend to Beck. I found her to be an alternate to how Beck would have been if she hadn't been tempted, she showed a mirror image of who Beck was initially and who she could be. I think her reaction to alcohol emphasised how out of control Beck and the 'popular' group were. I liked reading a down to earth girl in a book full of out of control people!
• Jesse- I am in love with Jesse! He was so supportive and genuine. I loved how he came out of nowhere and gradually grew closer to Beck. I think he was the perfect guy for her to meet when she did. He intrigued me with all his knowledge on Alcoholic Anonymous and his secretive life but he was up front and honest to Beck and respected her. All in all I think he saved my opinion of Beck I found myself warming to her more the closer she got to Jesse.
• Subject Matter- I loved how the author approached the topics of alcoholism, peer pressure, unhealthy relationships and sexual assault from such a believable angle. Beck started out as an ordinary girl so her spiralling journey into alcoholism and unhealthy relationships was much more authentic and relatable. She really highlighted how easy it was to slip down the path alcoholism without meaning to and what kind of horrible and dangerous situations it can led to. I liked how she juxtaposed Beck and Christian's unhealthy relationship with alcohol with people like Jenna and Allison who didn't downward spiral as badly. I also liked that Beck didn't make a miraculous recovery but struggled with her addictions. It made for a gritty, realistic read.
• Flashforwards- The little snippets hinting at what would happen to Beck at the start of the first chapters were so intriguing! They warned of the bad path Beck was heading down and kept you guessing exactly what would happen. They were such a clever plot device!

What I didn't love as much:

• Christian and Hillman- I'm grouping these two together as I disliked both initially and that just deepen as the book went on! I found Christian to be insensitive and self absorbed, the fact he allowed the Hillman issue to exist and escalate was inexcusable. I think I disliked him the most as he was disillusioned with how inappropriate his behaviour was towards everyone and focussed only on how it all affected his personal life plan. Hillman was a disgusting human being, an awful friend and an intimidating threatening guy. He had few redeeming qualities and was exactly the kind of guy no one should let their guard down around. I think these two characters were sadly realistic if slightly exaggerated. Christian was the rich guy who depends alcohol to cope and allows it to control him and Hillman, the guy who waited around to take advantage of drunk girls.
• Parents- I was disappointed with most of the parents in this book. The characters were all under 18, mostly drinking their parents' alcohol and out at all hours with no supervision. I have a hard time imagining my parents allowing me or not realising that I was out at all hours and completely wasted almost everyday.... I felt Beck's parents could have intervened earlier although her Dad redeemed himself later on. Christian's parents were so completely oblivious to their son's actions it was shocking! I just felt if the parents had been more observant they could of avoided half the major situations their children ended up in.

I really enjoyed how this book took me out of my usual reading zone! I loved how it explored such deep subject matter, the only negative was I couldn't connect with Beck!

Have you read
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Tour organised by

Top Ten Tuesday: Contemporary Reads of 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is: I'm choosing Contemporary 2012 reads!

 

This freebie week fits in really well with my feature! I decided to do my top ten contemporary books I've read in 2012! YA and NA!
 

 

Easy by Tammara Webber

I have been re-reading this one like crazy! I love the side cast of characters, the theme, the romance, Jackie, Lucas... Everything really! Reviewed in October.

 

 

If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman 

 

No surprises here! I loved these two books- brilliantly unique contemporaries with a fantastic cast of characters and a brilliant use of flashbacks! I loved how the two books are from two different point of views and both felt very emotionally deep and real. Reviewd in July!

 

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

 

Morgan Matson has been one of my go to summer contemporary authors since Amy and Roger! I loved concept and plot line of Second Chance Summer and the complex characters. Reviewed in July.

 

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

 

A fun festive witty contemporary read which incorporates so much of New York City and it's diversity! Reviewed in October.

 

 

Because of Low and While It Lasts by Abbi Glines

 

I have gushed over Abbi Glines Sea Breeze series it's no surprise these two made it on this list! Because of Low was much more sweet and based around family drama whereas While It Lasts was hotter and involved more emotional drama. I love the contrast between the two and the continuation of the cast while keeping the two stories separate. Because of Low reviewed in September and While It Lasts reviewed as part of  Young Adult and New Adult Month.

 

  Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

 

This book has everything you could ask for in a YA contemporary novel, a heroine you can connect to, a hot boy with depth, a unique yet familiar plot and utterly addictive! Reviewed in July

Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt





 I loved how hot and sweet this was! I liked how Whit seemed to be the more troubled on as usually in YA/NA the guy is the most 'broken'. Such an unexpected great read. Reviewed as part of Young Adult and New Adult Month!
 

What has been your favourite contemporary read of 2012?

Much Love!

Lettie

Xxxx

Cover Reveal! Make It Last by Bethany Lopez

In a small town, it's hard to recover from being dumped by your high school sweetheart. That's just what Briana has to do after Colin leaves her to follow his dreams. She focuses her energy into her friendships and the pursuit of her own goal of becoming a chef. Just when she finally feels like she's on the right path, he comes back to town.
Colin knew breaking up with Briana before leaving for college was the right thing to do. He was determined to leave small-town life behind forever, and that included his high school girlfriend. But when a sports injury puts him on the sidelines, he's forced to return home. Seeing Briana again brings back a lot of memories, and Colin wonders if he made the right decision. It doesn't take long for him to realize he wants her back, and this time, he wants to make it last.

A theme appropriate reveal! How good does this book sound?!

More on Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio,
Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult novel. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her contemporary Young Adult series, Stories About Melissa. Ta Ta for Now!, xoxoxo, and Ciao are available now. Bethany is currently working on a Contemporary Fantasy YA and a Contemporary New Adult Trilogy.

Bethany Lopez | Facebook | Twitter 

Have you read any of Bethany's other books?
Make It Lasts should be available from 12th November!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Cover Designer: Stephanie Mooney - http://mooneydesigns.net/

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Monday Round Up!

One of my favourite memes hosted by the lovely Shelia over at Book Journey!

First week of my feature month has been busy! I went out as a Superhero for Halloween, celebrated Bonfire Night and got a Samsung III courtesy of my generous Grandma who didn't want her free upgrade! I just need to take it to a phone shop and get all my content and contacts etc transferred :)
Blog wise I launched my first feature month and improved my ratings page!

Reviews!
While It Lasts by Abbi Glines- 4 Hearts!

Other posts!
Challenge Update- Self explanatory, a post on where I am with my Challenges!
November Feature- Launch post for my YA and NA Contemporary month!
Cover Reveal- First look at the cover for Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore

Read!

I really enjoyed Crash- I can see why it has had so much hype! I literally devoured Roar and Liv- I loved their chemistry and the Through The Ever Night teaser left me desperate for more!

 

Reading!

I worked out how to send it to my kindle yay! So far so good :)

 
What's Next!

 

 How gorgeous is the cover of this one? Excited to read it!

Upcoming Reviews!
Swell Blog Tour- Visits this blog on friday!

Upcoming Posts!
Top Ten 2012 Contemporary reads- Check back tomorrow to see my Favourite contemporaries!
Cover Comparisions- Comparision of two very similar contemporary covers!

How has your week been?
Are you enjoying my contemporary month so far?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxxx

Cover Reveal! Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore

 

Trapped in the underground theater world of 1890s New Orleans, Hale Ferrer has only one goal: escape. But not without Teeny, the orphan-girl she rescued from the streets and promised to protect.
Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, seems to be the easy solution. If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the penniless stagehand who captures her heart.
Denying her fears, Hale is poised to choose love until an evil lurking in their cabaret-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything.
 
Not contemporary but Leigh Talbert Moore is the author of contemp gem The Truth About Faking It and the cover is gorgeous so this will be the only non contemporary post in November!
Despite this month being about my love of contemporary I am also a big fan of historical fiction :)
Rouge will be available to buy November 12, 2012!

In the mean time check out Leigh Talbert Moore and add Rouge to your Goodreads TBR shelf!

Have you read anything by this author?
Any cover opinions?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

While It Lasts by Abbi Glines

Maybe driving home after a few (or more) shots of tequila had been a bad idea, but hell, he did it all the time. The cops had to have been freaking bored to have pulled him over. He wasn’t even swerving! That’s Cage York’s story and he’s sticking to it.

Unfortunately, his baseball coach isn’t buying it. Cage has a free ride to the local junior college for baseball -- or he did, until he’d gotten a DUI. Now, Cage has to decide: does he drop out and give up his dream of getting noticed by a college in the SEC, and possibly making it into the Major Leagues -- or does he give in to his coach’s demands and spend his summer baling hay?

Eva Brooks planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbour, had been the centre of those goals. He’d been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen, and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she’d received the phone call from Josh’s mother saying he’d been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva’s carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible.

Cage isn’t real happy with his closet-sized bedroom in the back of a foul smelling barn, or his daily interactions with cows, but he knows that if he doesn’t make his coach happy then he can kiss his scholarship goodbye. Only a sick and twisted man would decide his punishment was to be working on a farm all summer. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows.

Oh -- and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he’s every seen. But she doesn’t count, because as hard as he’s tried to charm her out of her panties - he’s pretty sure she’d rather see him hung from the rafters than let him get a taste of her pretty little lips.

 

Kicking off YA and NA Contemporary month with a review I purposely held back! I didn't think Abbi could top Because of Low... I was wrong! While It Lasts is such an amazing read!

 

What I loved:

• Cage- Wow! I found him funny and sweet in Low but I loved him in Lasts. He was everything he needed to be! Sweet, funny, respectful, hot, dangerous, risky and caring! I loved how he still needed Low and how they truly are family to one another.

• Eva- I felt for Eva not pity more empathy- it's horrible when death ruins your perfect life! I loved how she grew to appreciate Cage and see that even though he was so different from what she had planned with Josh he was wanted she needed now!
• Jeremy- I loved him so much he made it in to my Top Ten Minor Characters. He was so good to Eva he stayed with her and went at her pace through the grieving and moving on phases! I want to read more on him!
• Link- I really enjoy when authors link their books together seamlessly and although this is obviously a series you could read them separately so I love all the little link back details and foreshadowing that I picked up on! I think I picked up on it more in this one as I read and loved Because of Low whereas I haven't read Breathe.
• End- Loved it! It was perfect it hinted at their future but didn't answer all the questions I absolutely loved the letter 'epilogue' perfect link to the beginning and showcases how Eva had grown and changed throughout the book.

 

What I didn't love as much:

• Becca- Oh my gosh! She was so over the top with Cage and I'm guessing anyone new and hot! I didn't really feel she was a good friend to Eva more of an old friend!
• Mrs. Beasley- I understood where she was coming from but she seemed to be overly nosey and inappropriate in regards to Eva's personal life. She didn't offer an opinion more like laid down what she felt to be the law...
• Length- It was pretty long but I wanted more! More of Eva in Cage's environment and more of Eva and her dad- I would have loved to read the full interaction regarding Cage! So glad Abbi decided to write more on these two!

I don't know how Just For Now will top this one! It was hot, sweet and so easy to read! Firmly a fan of Abbi and the Sea Breeze series! I'm currently awaiting Amazon UK to let me  download Just For Now!


How much did you love While Its Lasts?
More than Because of Low?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx