Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Review: #BabyLove: My Social Life by Corine Dehghanpisheh

#BabyLove: My Social Life
#BabyLove: My Social Life
By Corine Dehghanpisheh
Illustrated by Corine Dehghanpisheh
Published July 9th, 2015 by My Art to Inspire

*A copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!*

4 stars - #GreatRead!  


Synopsis: "Click." "Tap." Tag and Post. An adored baby tells a modern tale about life in today's digital world. #BabyLove: My Social Life highlights the social phenomena of sharing daily activities using technology and social networks.

Review:

#BabyLove is a picture book that illustrates the life of the modern baby. While this is a picture book that talks about a baby's life, it does seem to be more aimed towards adults. This didn't bother me though. :) 

I thought it was a pretty accurate portrayal of today's parents and their children.I see this quite a bit with the parents that I babysit for or that I see around town. Not everyone is like this but it is to be expected in our digital world. 

Anyways, #BabyLove was a pretty interesting read and quite humorous at times. This baby is recorded by picture or video from the time he wakes up to the time he gets ready for sleep. I really enjoyed the illustrations and applaud Corine for coming up with the story and the illustrations. A #FunRead for sure! :) 

Vanessa



Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Review: Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin

Divine Vices (Divine Vices #1)
By Melissa Parkin 
Published September 29th, 2015
415 pages

*A free copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!*

4 stars - Awesome!

 Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

The last thing sixteen-year-old Cassie Foster needs is trouble, but that doesn’t stop him from finding her.

Nine months after the tragic accident that killed her mother and sister, this high school junior just wants a fresh start. Settling down in the quiet town of New Haven, Maine, she’s found peace at last…until the new resident bad boy, Jackson Matthews, comes into the picture. Arrogant, sarcastic, and devastatingly sexy, he’s the very last thing Cassie wants to entertain. Romance was never part of the plan. But when terrifying circumstances drive these two together, she finds herself in over her head and drawn in by his allure. As local girls begin disappearing, Cassie can’t help but wonder if it’s just a coincidence that everything started when this blue-eyed Casanova strolled into town. Will falling into Jackson’s arms mean she’ll be falling victim to a real lady-killer…or worse?

The answer will open the door to a world she never thought possible.


Review:

I have to say that Divine Vices was definitely not what I expected it to be. To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect but I was glad that it proved to be an awesome read. :) 

I was pretty much hooked from the beginning of the book. This was such an interesting and pretty unique read. I would definitely recommend to fans of paranormal romance or suspense. 

Cassie was a pretty great character. She was a realistic character and had some unique ways of thinking for someone that age. She had an interesting personality and there were more than a few times I could relate to her. She was different from the other kids and more mature as well. Her friends were nice as well and I enjoyed the fact that they were each different in their own way but still hung out with each other. 

Jackson was definitely something else. I was certainly surprised with what we find out at the end of the book. I can't say that I saw it coming. :) 

It's not really till near the end that we find out about what is going on in the town and with the characters. Once we do though, it's pretty interesting and I can't wait to find out more about it. 

Overall, an interesting and captivating read! I definitely recommend and cannot wait to see where Melissa goes with this series. Go ahead and check it out today! 

Vanessa 

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Sweet Temptation Blitz







Hello Everyone! I am so excited that SWEET TEMPTATION by Wendy Higgins releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway! I definitely cannot wait until I get my hands on this beautiful book. Look at that cover!! It's going to be so awesome to learn more about Kai. :)



If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful series by Wendy Higgins, be sure to check out all the details below.




This blitz also includes a giveaway for a a paperback of the book with a signed bookplate and bookmarks! US only. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.



About The Book:






Title: SWEET TEMPTATION

Author: Wendy Higgins

Pub. Date: September 8, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 485

Format: Paperback, eBook, audiobook

Find it: AmazonBarnes & Noble, iBooksGoodreads
Synopsis



Bad boy
Kaidan Rowe has never wanted for anything—money, popularity, musical talent…hot
girls—but seducing them is part of his duty as a Nephilim, slave to the demon
Dukes. As the son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan has learned his father’s ways,
becoming a master of passion, a manipulator of chemistry. Disobeying his father
would mean certain death. Thankfully for Kaidan, he’s good at his job. And he
enjoys it.



Until he
meets Anna Whitt—sweet, smart, feisty, and inexplicably good—the one girl
seemingly immune to his charms. The daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen
one, she has a certain power over him, one that makes him wish for more than he
could ever deserve.



Determined
to save all the Neph from their dark lives as the influencers of sin, Anna
joins forces with Kaidan to overcome the demons’ oppressive ways. In the light
of her affections, Kaidan must undergo his toughest test of all, a battle of
the heart.



Sensual and
swoon worthy, this companion volume to the acclaimed Sweet Evil series from New
York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, told from the perspective of the
irresistibly sexy and mysterious Kaidan Rowe, gives readers revealing insights
into his struggle, his intense connection to Anna, and most of all, the true
emotions that drive him.





Author Note:

Sweet Temptation will encompass the entire trilogy in a condensed version, beginning
with Kai's life before he met Anna, and taking readers through the epilogue of
Sweet Reckoning. Sweet Temptation is a companion novel, not meant to be a stand
alone story. It will definitely be a richer experience for those who have read
the original trilogy.









Go HERE to read an excerpt fro SWEET TEMPTATION!

Also check out Wendy's PINTEREST board for KAI!





About Wendy Higgins:


Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NYT bestselling
author of the Sweet Evil series from HarperTeen and her
independently published Irish fantasy, See Me. She is a former high
school English teacher who now writes full time, and lives on the Eastern Shore
of Virginia with her veterinarian husband, daughter, son, and doggie Rue. 

Wendy earned a bachelor's in Creative Writing from George Mason University
and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford. Writing Young Adult
(YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those
pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood.













Connect with the author:












Giveaway Details:



1 Paperback
of SWEET TEMPTATION and a signed bookplate and bookmarks. US Only.


Ends on September
18th at Midnight EST!

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Review - The Ugly Stepsister by Aya Ling

The Ugly Stepsister 
By Aya Ling
Published June 12th, 2015


4 stars - Wonderful Retelling!

*I received a copy of the book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.*

When Kat accidentally rips apart an old picture book, she’s magically transported into the world of Cinderella–as Katriona, one of the ugly stepsisters! Life turns upside down now that she’s a highborn lady and must learn how to survive the social season, including how to get through the door in a huge metal hoop skirt. To get back, she’ll have to complete the story, right to the end of happily ever after. But the odds are huge: the other stepsister is drop-dead gorgeous, the fairy godmother is nowhere to be found, and the prince, despite being insanely hot, openly dislikes balls. Can she ever return to the modern world?

Review:

I absolutely LOVE retellings of fairy tales. I just can't seem to pass one up and I'm glad that I didn't pass this one up. The Ugly Stepsister is a retelling of Cinderella and is told in a different and refreshing way. 

Kat is transported into the world of Cinderella when she rips apart an old picture book. Instead of becoming a simple bystander or even Cinderella, she becomes on of the ugly stepsisters. She then has to figure out how to complete the story so she can get back to the real world. 

Kat was an interesting character to read about and I enjoyed seeing her figure out how to finish the story. I think it was interesting that Kat became one of the ugly stepsisters when she wasn't actually a mean girl. Kat is kind and cares for others and that was definitely different than the way she was supposed to act. There were a few other interesting characters that I enjoyed reading about as well. I loved seeing Kat interact with the other characters and mix things up in the story world.

The Cinderella story itself wasn't exactly like the Cinderella we are all used to hearing about. Aya Ling changed things up but kept the reader's attention at the same time. This was definitely an enjoyable read that was a little bittersweet at the ending. I recommend it to lovers of retellings and fairy tales in general. Give it a try! 

Vanessa