Again, but Better by Christine Riccio

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents…sounds ideal -- but Shane's made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance…what’s that?

Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time's a ticking, and she needs a change -- there's nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She's going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure!

Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart.

Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic - the possibilities are endless.

My thoughts-

I LOVED this book. I haven't loved a book this much in a while. This was my in flight read for my flight back to Dallas from an amazing vacation in New York City with one of my best friends today. I loved the book so much that I have to write about it today...after a very jam packed vacation and being completely exhausted because I love it *that* much. The first part of the book was cute and I enjoyed the references to some of my favorite bands and tv shows, but it was part two that made me completely swoon. I would describe this book not as a young adult novel, but as the book version of a rom-com. I love everything about it! Shane is a relatable character as she faces early adulthood and college and finding her own place in the world, something that is scary for most people, and I am head over heels for Pilot. If you are in love with love stories, like to laugh out loud, enjoy a book that makes you swoon or delight in references to alt rock bands from the late 90's/early 2000s, read this book! You can purchase your copy in May or pre-order it now on Amazon. 

2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajama's by Marie-Helene Bertino (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 
About the book-

Madeleine Altimari is a smart-mouthed, rebellious nine-year-old who also happens to be an aspiring jazz singer. Still mourning the recent death of her mother, and caring for her grief-stricken father, she doesn’t realize that on the eve of Christmas Eve she is about to have the most extraordinary day—and night—of her life. After bravely facing down mean-spirited classmates and rejection at school, Madeleine doggedly searches for Philadelphia's legendary jazz club The Cat's Pajamas, where she’s determined to make her on-stage debut. On the same day, her fifth grade teacher Sarina Greene, who’s just moved back to Philly after a divorce, is nervously looking forward to a dinner party that will reunite her with an old high school crush, afraid to hope that sparks might fly again. And across town at The Cat's Pajamas, club owner Lorca discovers that his beloved haunt may have to close forever, unless someone can find a way to quickly raise the $30,000 that would save it.

As these three lost souls search for love, music and hope on the snow-covered streets of Philadelphia, together they will discover life’s endless possibilities over the course of one magical night. A vivacious, charming and moving debut, 2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas will capture your heart and have you laughing out loud.

My thoughts-

I have been hearing about 2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajama's for a while now. It's been talked about on pretty much all of the bookish Facebook groups I belong to and has been mentioned on countless must-read lists. It sounded different and interesting so I was excited to read it. I loved the concept of  going through a single day in the lives of three different people who all end up in the same spot in the end, but at times I felt like some of the details were uninteresting. Most interesting to me was the story of Serena and Ben. I always enjoyed reading about what was going on with those two and appreciated the flashback to help understand why they ended up where they were and why it was a big deal. I also found the whimsy parts of the book that dealt with Madeleine quite a bit. Hers was a sad, but intriguing story. For some reason I just could not come to care about Lorca, but without him this book would be pointless, so I understand why he was necessary. I found the book to have a more melancholy tone than a dark comedy tone, but there were definitely a few times that I found myself laughing outloud. 2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajama's was a pretty quick read and overall I thought it was a great novel from Bertino.  I would recommend the book to anyone that enjoys contemporary fiction.

About the author-

Marie-Helene Bertino is the author of Safe as Houses, winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Prize. An Emerging Writer Fellow at New York's Center for Fiction, she has spent six years as an editor and writing instructor at One Story. A Philadelphia native, she currently lives in Brooklyn.

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2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas is available on Amazon.com.

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristi Cambron Blog Tour & Book Review + Win a Kindle Fire

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

A mysterious painting breathes hope and beauty into the darkest corners of Auschwitz—and the loneliest hearts of Manhattan.

Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the altar two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl—a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes.

In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover, the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul, who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together, Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting's subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron.

A darling of the Austrian aristocracy, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire.

As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: in the grim camps of Auschwitz and in the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.

My thoughts- the first thing I thought when I saw this book was how beautiful the cover was and that the title was even quite beautiful. When I read the plot synopsis and found out that it was a historical fiction novel set during WWII, I knew I would have to read it. I love novels that are set in more than one time period, I like going through the old story with the present day character as they discover what they are searching for. I was absolutely enthralled by this book. I read it in one sitting. I had been in a place where I was getting burnt out on reading. The novels I was reading were good, but it had been a while since I had read a book that I absolutely could not put down. So for that day, no matter what my boys and I were doing, I was reading this book. They were playing in the mud, I was reading. They were watching a movie, I was reading. After I put them in bed for the night, I finished up this absolute page turner. I know I have said on this blog at least once, if not several times that I have a fascination with WWII. I just do not understand that events that took place and I think that is why I am so drawn to it. That and I think it is our duty to remember the tragedy that occurred. We owe it to those who lost their lives and those who went through the horrors of the holocaust and survived. I have read a ton of books set in this time period, but I have never heard of the hidden paintings, so this was an interesting new fact to me, that these people being held prisoner, watching people all around them die, were still trying to hold on to things that were of beauty, things that gave them hope and I was glad for it. I turned page after page hoping to see if Sera could find the painting she was looking for and hoping that William is the person he seems to be. I shed tears as I thought of what Adele must have gone through having to play her violin for the revolting people that were holding her prisoner during the events in which she would least want to play her violin. It was interesting to ponder how that would affect how she would feel about music, something she once loved. When the story concluded, I was satisfied with the ending, but sad it was over. It was such a compelling story. This was an excellent debut novel from Kristy Cambron and I look forward to seeing what her next novel holds. I recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in romance, suspense or historical fiction. You will not want to put it down.

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Purchase The Butterfly and the Violin on Amazon.com

THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN – Kindle Fire Giveaway & RSVP for 8/7 Facebook Party!

 Welcome to the launch campaign for debut novelist Kristy Cambron's The Butterfly and the Violin. Romantic Times had this to say: "Alternating points of view skillfully blend contemporary and historical fiction in this debut novel that is almost impossible to put down. Well-researched yet heartbreaking. . . ."

Kristy is celebrating the release of the first book in her series, A Hidden Masterpiece, with a fun Kindle Fire giveaway and meeting her readers during an August 7th Facebook author chat party.

 One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 7th. Winner will be announced at The Butterfly and the Violin Author Chat Party. Kristy will be connecting with readers and answering questions, sharing some of the fascinating research behind the book, hosting a fun book chat, and giving away some GREAT prizes. She will also be giving an exclusive look at the next book in the series, A Sparrow in Terezin!

So grab your copy of The Butterfly and the Violin and join Kristy on the evening of August 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!

"

Sekret by Lindsay Smith (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a free e-copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book:

An empty mind is a safe mind.

Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.


My thoughts:

I was drawn to this book because the premise sounded different from anything I had ever read. Sometimes it is refreshing to read something that just comes from a different place. Sekret had all of the elements that typically make me a like a novel, especially the great amount of suspense that takes place. I spent a good majority of the novel wondering what would happen next  and would constantly have my wheels turning with the possibilities of what the outcome will be. I am being intentionally vague about the book to avoid accidentally spoiling something about it, but I will say that following Yulia's story, especially the flashbacks she has about her family as she tries to put her story together and understand herself and her memories, is very interesting and will keep you turning page after page. Sekret is full of suspense and definitely kept me wondering throughout the story where the author was going with the story line. I love books that keep me guessing what happens next and Sekret definitely gets bonus points for a nice little plot twist at the end that I didn't see coming. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel or psychological thriller or who is interested in stories about psychic abilities or government control.
About the author:

Lindsay Smith's love of Russian culture has taken her to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and a reindeer festival in the middle of Siberia. She writes on foreign affairs and lives in Washington, D.C. Sekret is her first novel.

Lindsay Smith's Website

Sekret will be available on February 15, 2014. You can pre-order it on Amazon.com.

Wildflowers from Winter by: Katie Ganshert- Book Review

I can not say how much I loved this book. I was drawn into it from the very first line. I was invested in the characters from the get go. It is full of many tragic circumstances that make the main character re-evaluate what she thinks is important in her life. Bethany Quinn is a jaded woman. She grew up in a very small town where the tragic circumstances surrounding her father's death when she was a little girl, make her shut everyone out. As an adult, she is a successful architect in Chicago and content in her life, until even more tragic events bring her home to the small town in Iowa she swore she'd never return to. The second she gets there, she is itching to leave, but there's something about her grandpa's live in farm hand, Evan, that she can't quite put her finger on. Evan is equally as drawn to Bethany. She infuriates him half of the time, but he also finds himself wanting to find why she is so adamant about locking her feelings  away.
I find myself wondering the whole book whether Bethany would ever stop being so standoffish and open herself up to Evan. I also wondered through out the book what exactly happened to her dad that made her feel the way she did and I was cheering throughout the whole book for her to get over herself and open up to Evan. I thought this was a fantastic book from any author, but I was very surprised to  find it was a debut novel. I thought the story flowed well and as soon as I reached the end, I thought that I would love to read a second book involving some of these characters and was happy to see in the author's acknowledgments that there is indeed one in the works. I can only hope that Evan and Bethany at least in some way, are a part of that book as well. I know it will be a great novel regardless and look forward to reading it!


Read the first chapter!
More info about the book
Katie Ganshert's website



*Disclaimer- I was provided an advanced copy of Wildflowers from Winter from WaterBrook Multnomah via their Blogging for Books program in return for my review. All thoughts stated here are 100% my own.