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Review: Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Between You and Me

By: Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Pub. Date: June 12, 2013

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 272

Source: Netgalley

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review. 

What happens when you are followed by millions . . . and loved by none? Twenty-seven-year-old Logan Wade is trying to build a life for herself far from her unhappy childhood in Oklahoma. Until she gets the call that her famous cousin needs a new assistant— an offer she can’t refuse.

Logan hasn’t seen Kelsey in person since their parents separated them as kids; in the meantime, Kelsey Wade has grown into Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrity. But their reunion is quickly overshadowed by the toxic dynamic between Kelsey and her parents as Logan discovers that, beneath the glossy façade, the wounds that caused them to be wrenched apart so many years ago have insidiously warped into a show-stopping family business.

As Kelsey tries desperately to break away and grasp at a “real” life, beyond the influence of her parents and managers, she makes one catastrophic misstep after another, and Logan must question if their childhood has left them both too broken to succeed. Logan risks everything to hold on, but when Kelsey unravels in the most horribly public way, Logan finds that she will ultimately have to choose between rescuing the girl she has always protected . . . and saving herself.

I usually don't read books written by two authors. Most of the time you can tell very easily where the different authors voices begin and end, but Between You and Me worked for me. The story starts off showing the reader the busy life of Logan. She's successful at work, but not so much in her love life. Despite that, she has a great group of friends and she's ready to celebrate her birthday! That night she gets a call from her cousins assistant, asking Logan to come and visit. Logan hasn't seen Kelsey since they were children (15 years ago) so she goes right away.

Despite the synopsis, I still thought that Between You and Me was going to be a light hearted, fluffy summer read, but it was a lot more intense then that. But intense in a good way! We get transported to this rich and glitzy life filled with heartache and family secrets. I can definitely see this story as a movie! Logan becomes Kelsey's assistance and I loved seeing the inner workings of having to put on a show. There is so much to know and so many details!

The characters were very interesting. Both Logan and Kelsey had many ups and downs and it was hard to not feel for either of them. I wasn't a huge fan of Logan though. She was just such a pushover, I wish she was just a little bit stronger. Kelsey was definitely dealing with her life in the spotlight and it was sad seeing her downward spiral.

This is the first book I've read by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus and it won't be the last!

Review: Tarnish by Katherine Longshore

Tarnish

By: Katherine Longshore

Pub. Date: June 18, 2013

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Pages: 416

Source: Netgalley

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court--and to convince the whole court they're lovers--she accepts. Before long, Anne's popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice--but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart's desire and the chance to make history.

I am obsessed with anything that has to do with the Tudors, especially when Anne Boleyn is involved. Usually when you are reading fiction about Anne and Henry it's starts at the beginning of the end-a little bit before Henry switches religions and divorces Catherine of Aragon and begins his relationship with Anne. Tarnish starts many years before that and features a young Anne when she arrives back in England. I loved reading about a young and insecure Anne and watching her transform into the confident Anne we know of today.

In Tarnish, Anne is trying to figure out her away around Court without causing any trouble. After spending most of her life in France where things are completely different, she dresses funny and acts differently then the English. She definitely doesn't act like a proper English women and this is what I loved about Anne. She wanted to belong and fit in, but she wasn't willing to sacrifice who she was to get that acceptance. I also love that she would tell Henry off. She was one of the only young females at Court who refused to be his mistress. She had too much self respect for that, which made Henry respect her. Her life might have ended in a horrible way, but I think girls can learn a lot from her in that respect.

I always enjoy reading about how life was like at Court. It was rich and beautiful but also ridiculously stupid. I could never imagine living like that, but life was so different in the 1500's and it is so interesting to read about it. The setting in Tarnish was so wonderfully done and I felt like I was transported back to 1520's English Court.

I haven't read Gilt yet, but I definitely will be reading it soon! Katherine Longshore is hugely talented in her way of taking real life histories and turning those events into YA novels!  

Review: Ink by Amanda Sun

Ink

(Paper Gods # 1)

By: Amanda Sun

Pub. Date: June 25, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 377

Source: Netgalley

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review.

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

I've been hearing such wonderful things about Ink so I was really excited to be able to read it. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed. There were parts of Ink that I really enjoyed, including the character of Katie and the mystery behind the art work and mythology. But for the most part, I don't think this story was for me.

After Katie's mother dies, she is forced to live with her Aunt in Japan. Katie doesn't know the language or understands the culture, but she is trying to make the best of it. I really loved her personality. Some of her lines where laugh out loud funny. She was fun and sarcastic, and just trying to make it through the day in a very strange land. But one day, after encountering a fight between Tomohiro and his girlfriend, Katie swears she sees a drawing move. But every time she tries to ask him about it, or talk to him in general, he is rude and nasty.

Tomo was such a jerk at points that it was hard for me to actually like him when we learn all about him and his secrets. Yes, he's been through a lot and he doesn't want to get close to people, but that doesn't give him the right to be an absolute douchebag. When he was being sweet, I really liked him and Katie together. They had a nice connection, though I still think she could have done better.

What I absolutely loved about Ink was the mythology of the Paper Gods. This is something I have never heard of before since I am not familiar with Japanese culture at all. I loved learning about something new and I love the way that Amanda Sun tied it into the story.

The eARC was filled with the drawings and sketches that was mentioned in the story. I thought this was a wonderful touch and it really made the story come to life!

While I feel that Ink was not for me, there were still so many things about this story that I enjoyed. I would definitely recommend it! Ink is a completely different and original novel than anything else out there! 

Cover Reveal: Nomad by JL Bryan

I am so excited to be part of the cover reveal of Jl Bryan new book, Nomad! How awesome looking is this cover?

Nomad

By: JL Bryan

Expected publication: July 26, 2013

They took everything: her family, her home, her childhood.

By the age of nineteen, Raven has spent most of her life in the sprawling slums of America, fighting as a rebel against the dictatorship. When the rebellion steals an experimental time-travel device, she travels back five decades to the year 2013. Her plan: assassinate the future dictator when he is still young and vulnerable, long before he comes to power. She must move fast to reshape history, because agents from her own time are on her trail, ready to execute her on sight.

Add it to your goodreads shelf!

Author Bio:

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, dogs Violet and Tiger Lily, and cats Shadow and Sue. 

Author Links:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Amazon

Review: Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

Openly Straight

By: Bill Konigsberg

Pub. Date: June 1, 2013

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages:  336

Source: Netgalley

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review.

Rafe is a normal teenager from Boulder, Colorado. He plays soccer. He's won skiing prizes. He likes to write.

And, oh yeah, he's gay. He's been out since 8th grade, and he isn't teased, and he goes to other high schools and talks about tolerance and stuff. And while that's important, all Rafe really wants is to just be a regular guy. Not that GAY guy. To have it be a part of who he is, but not the headline, every single time.

So when he transfers to an all-boys' boarding school in New England, he decides to keep his sexuality a secret -- not so much going back in the closet as starting over with a clean slate. But then he sees a classmate breaking down. He meets a teacher who challenges him to write his story. And most of all, he falls in love with Ben . . . who doesn't even know that love is possible.

This witty, smart, coming-out-again story will appeal to gay and straight kids alike as they watch Rafe navigate being different, fitting in, and what it means to be himself.

I really loved this book! It was a wonderful combination of fun, laughter, and heart. The writing is so perfect and Rafe was so easily relatable. He's been out since 8th grade and coming out was very easy for him. His parents supported him and everyone at school and in the community accepted it without question. When he leaves his town and goes to an all boys school, he decides that he isn't going to tell anyone he is gay. He is tired of having the label as "gay kid" and just wants to be normal for a change. He ends up meeting a great group of friends, including one openly gay boy.

The characters were the best part of the story, They all were written perfectly. His parents were crazy and I loved every moment of them, his best friend, Claire Olivia and the new boys from school, especially Ben were all amazing. Ben and Rafe have a very interesting relationship, Ben thinks that they are exploring their sexuality together and has no clue that Rafe has already explored this side of himself.

I really just loved everything about this story. I plan on reading everything else that Bill Konigsberg has written. I am a fan for life!

Review: Touching Melody by RaShelle Workman

Touching Melody

(Forever First # 1)

By: RaShelle Workman

Pub. Date: May 14, 2013

Publisher: Polished Pen Press

Pages: 161

Source: Netgalley

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review.

Maddie Martin's first weekend at college is nothing like she's used to. It's wild, like the wilderness on which the University of Bellam Springs sits. Roped into going to a fraternity party, she literally runs into Kyle Hadley. The boy she's loved since she was nine. The boy she promised all of her firsts to. But that was before his father killed her parents.

Determined to stay away from him, she throws herself into her music. Practicing piano eases her heavy heart, calms the sadness, and pushes away images of Kyle's face.

Until it doesn't.

Her music professor asks her to play a duet for their annual Winter Gala. Doing so means she'll be assured another full ride scholarship. It's an opportunity she can't pass up.

But Kyle is the other half of the duet. And that means hours and hours of practicing.

Weeks of seclusion - just the two of them. And it's more than just music. It's passion like Maddie never believed was possible.

The inevitable happens. She falls in love with him all over again.

But, will loving him be enough to erase all the hate in her heart for his father? Can she look at him, and not see the evil in his family tree?

And maybe it's all a set up. Maybe Kyle is only pretending to care so he can finish what his father started, and kill her too.

Based on the synopsis, I was expecting something different. I spent the first few chapters confused because I thought that Kyle knew what his dad did to Maddie's parents. Once I realized he had no idea what his father had done, it all started to make a lot more sense. Kyle really had no idea why his best friend wanted nothing to do with him, but he kept on hoping that one day she would come back to him. I enjoyed the connection between Kyle and Maddie. Both had sad pasts-Maddie was the one who found her murdered parents and Kyle grew up without a mom and an abusive dad. They definitely needed each other and I hated that it took Maddie so long to be honest with Kyle.

Maddie was a character that I could not connect with. So many times I wanted to stop reading because of how much Maddie annoyed me. One minute she wanted to be with Kyle, the next she freaked out, passed out, and wanted nothing to do with him. This happened way to many times in the story and I could not take her seriously and I stopped caring about her.

I had some problems with the writing as well. The story is told in the POV of both Maddie and Kyle, which is something I always love, but since I hated Maddie, I didn't like half the book. Kyle was written a lot better and I enjoyed his parts much more.

Touching Melody is not one of my favorite books that I read recently. It wasn't horrible, but there were a lot of things that I didn't like about it. There were too many plot holes, or things that just didn't work. The story did get a lot better as the story went on, and the ending was absolutely adorable.