Category Archives: Contemporary
Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker Audiobook Review
Book: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker, Simon & Schuster Audio, May 14, 2013
Book Info: Contemporary Romance / NA, Audiobook received for review from Simon & Schuster Audio. Running time: 8 hrs, 58 mins. Read by: Elizabeth Louise. Also available in e-book format from Atria Books.
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
More Info: Goodreads | Audible | Amazon
Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker is an emotional and addictive story about learning to breathe again when your world falls apart. I’ve read my share of angsty New Adult books so I could anticipate the twists and turns in TTB, but I still listened with rapt attention. I rooted for the physically and emotionally scarred main character to heal and to hopefully get her HEA.
Kacey is reeling from a traumatic car accident that turned her world upside down. All she has left is her sister Livie, and she’ll protect her with her last breath. The two sisters relocate from Grand Rapids to Miami to get out of a dangerous situation and try to make it on their own. Kacie has demons to overcome, and new friends and a handsome stranger are more than willing to help.
This New Adult book tackles the issue of PTSD. Kacey numbs her pain with one-night stands, kickboxing and alcohol. But now she has a chance at a fresh start and to find healthier coping methods. She has her fifteen-year-old sister relying on her so she gets a job to keep a roof over their head.
In the Melrose Place style apartment building, Kacey makes fast friends with Storm and Trent. Storm is the mother of a young daughter, and she gets Kacey a job bartending at the strip club she works at. Storm, aka Nora, is a sweet and supportive friend in Kacey’s corner and helps her to open up. Trent is the hot neighbor Kacey meets in the laundry room and they both have dirty laundry to air so to speak. Trent’s always around right when Kacey needs him, and literally and figuratively breaks down her door.
I liked the theme of healing and forgiveness and remembering to breathe in TTB. Each section of the book is titled with a stage in Kacey’s healing journey. Kacey’s progress is hard earned and realistic- nothing comes easy. The PTSD story is intriguing and handled well.
In Kacey we see a different New Adult character; Kacey’s not in college, but just trying to survive and provide a better life for her sister. Kacey is tough yet vulnerable and is a hard shell to crack. We see her at work, putting food on the table, and blowing off steam at the gym. Kacey’s sister Livie is a ray of sunshine and is working towards college. She also helps out with babysitting Storm’s daughter. It’s nice seeing the new family/friendship bonds that form for the sisters.
The romantic relationship in the story is an important part of Kacey’s journey, but it’s refreshing that the story is not entirely all about that. There are many issues that Kacey face on her own before tackling a relationship, and I like the way Tucker handles that aspect.
Elizabeth Louise reads the audiobook. I was pleasantly surprised to find I recognized this narrator’s voice. It took me a second to figure it out but she also narrates the Thoughtless series under the name Rebekkah Ross. If you’re an S.C. Stephens audiobook fan, you’ll be happy to hear Kellan and Kiera’s narrator again. Louise has an age appropriate sounding voice for New Adult age characters, and she captures the damaged voice of Kacey well. I really like Louise’s voice for the male characters too- they sound very natural. I got through this 12-hour audiobook in no time at all.
Ten Tiny Breaths is engaging with good, well-rounded supporting characters and relationships that take the story to another level. Tucker weaves a good story and I’m eager to read more about Livie in One Tiny Lie.
The author has an audiobook giveaway going on now if you’d like to give the Ten Tiny Breaths audiobook a try.
True Blog Tour: Interview with Erin McCarthy and Book Giveaway
I’m excited to welcome author Erin McCarthy to the blog today. I recently read her book True, a New Adult e-book from InterMix, an imprint of Penguin.
You may be familiar with Erin’s Fast Track, Vegas Vampires, or NY Girlfriends series’ but now she’s getting her feet wet with New Adult. I chatted with her a little about the NA genre, tattoos, and what’s coming up next.
True is about Rory, a smart, sexually naive college student, whose friends hire the perfect guy to give her some experience. Tyler is the tattooed bad boy type in the EMT program. He has more than a casual interest in Rory, but he also has some serious family drama going on competing for his attention. Do they have what it takes to go the distance? If you liked the intensity of Beautiful Disaster, True may be the right book for you.
Please welcome Erin McCarthy to the blog today:
Thanks for answering a few questions about True, Erin! I really enjoyed the book and I’m looking forward to reading more about these characters.
Where did you get the idea for True?
Honestly, I have no idea. I was just brainstorming ideas for a new adult and suddenly Rory was there in my head.
Rory is easy to relate to, and I liked seeing her character develop as she gets more immersed in Tyler’s world.
This is your first New Adult novel. What drew you to that category?
I love the raw honesty of the genre. It’s so emotional at that age, and everything you do is helping you define yourself as an adult. Mistakes, passion, highs and lows, it’s a unique point in life and I was excited to try to capture that.
I think it’s an exciting category too, and I’m interested to see how it evolves. Raw honesty is a good description.
Did you read any New Adult books for research? Do you have any favorite titles or authors to recommend?
I did read popular New Adult authors like Tammara Webber, Jamie McGuire, Abbi Glines, and Colleen Hoover just to see what was out there. Lots of good titles to chose from!
Those are some of my favorites. I loved Easy especially, and everything by Colleen Hoover.
There is a meaningful tattoo featured in True. Do you have any ink? If you were to get a symbolic tattoo what would it be?
I have two tattoos. On my forearm I have the phrase in Latin “I’ll either find a way or I’ll make one.” It’s a tattoo for strength and determination. On my foot and ankle I have a vine of morning glories, which was my dad’s nickname for me when I was little. In the vines, the phrase “Let it Be” is woven to remind me that I can’t control the fact that he died in my twenties, but I will always have the great memories. For me, something permanent on your body should have deep meaning, but it’s not for everyone.
Thanks for sharing the meaning behind your tattoos. That’s a lovely tribute to your dad and I’m touched that you shared it with us.
What were your favorite characters and/or scenes to write?
Obviously, I love Rory and Tyler, but I have to say that Jayden wormed his way into my heart. His honesty and acceptance is awesome. My favorite scene was probably out by the garage at Tyler’s house, when it becomes obvious their relationship had changed, become something more.
Jayden is awesome, and I like all the scenes with Tyler’s brothers actually. 
What is your writing process like? Any quirks, favorite drinks or snacks, best time of day to write, or music you like to have on hand?
Diet Coke and coffee and water. I drink liquids all day and you will never see me without a drink in my hand or my bag. I write during the day, ten to 3ish Monday through Friday. I always listen to music though it depends on what it is according to the book. I tend to listen to what the character would listen to, so for TRUE there was a lot of metal involved.
It’s interesting how some authors need complete silence to write and some feed off of that musical energy. Metal and diet coke go hand in hand 
Let’s play casting director. Who would star in the movie version of True?
I am super territorial about my guys and I can never think of an actor that would be what I pictured in my head. Girls are a little different, I’m more flexible. I could see Emma Roberts as Rory.
I can see that. And yes, maybe an unknown actor for Tyler and his brothers.
Is it true that a sequel/companion novel is in the works about another character in True? Can you tell us a little about that? Will we see more of Rory and Tyler?
It is true! And no, that isn’t a pun. 
The second book will feature Riley, Tyler’s brother, and Jessica, Rory’s roommate. Tyler and Rory will be back, along with the younger Mann brothers. Jessica finds herself without a place to stay after lying to her parents, and she ends up bunking with Riley… lots of sparks between those two.
Haha I didn’t think about the True pun! I think we saw some of those sparks in True and I can’t wait to see how it develops.
Thanks for the chat, Erin and InterMix Books!
About the Author:
Erin McCarthy is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 40 novels and novellas in the paranormal, contemporary romance, and young adult genres. The author is a RITA award finalist and an American Library Association winner of the Reluctant Young Reader award. She lives with her family in Ohio.
Connect with Erin: Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads
Buy True: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
About True:
When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide
that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…
True is available as an e-book exclusive from InterMix/Penguin for $3.99.
Congrats to Nicole who won an e-book of True!
The Week Before the Wedding Blog Tour: Interview with Beth Kendrick
I’m excited to welcome author Beth Kendrick to the blog today. I recently read her book The Week Before the Wedding, a contemporary romance from NAL Trade that just hit stores this week. It’s about what happens when a bride-to-be’s world is turned upside down by the appearance of her ex-husband.
The Week Before the Wedding is so fun, like reading the book version of a rom-com – think Sweet Home Alabama or My Best Friends Wedding. Emily is caught between her old flame, bad boy turned hotshot film producer Ryan, and her fiancé and man of her dreams, surgeon Grant. I liked them both- how often does that happen in love triangles? The comedy and romance put a smile on my face all the way through.
And here’s Beth Kendrick to share some behind the scenes info on the book:
Hi Beth! Thanks for answering a few questions about your latest release. I enjoyed your book and I’m thrilled to have you on the blog.
The story is so fun and romantic like a romantic comedy, and I can easily imagine it as a film. What are your 
favorite rom-coms, and if The Week Before the Wedding was a movie, who would star?
My all-time favorite rom-com is “Clueless.” (To this day, when I’m struggling to parallel park, I’ll mutter, “You’re a virgin who can’t drive” to myself.) I also adore “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Muriel’s Wedding.”
I would be thrilled if “The Week Before the Wedding” were adapted for a film. I don’t usually create characters with real people or celebrities in mind, so I’d leave that decision up to the casting directors!
Love those movies! Now I’m going to have to re-watch Clueless. I couldn’t help but cast the film in my mind while I was reading it.
Are there any funny real-life wedding stories that inspired the book?
There’s a scene set in a high-end male strip club that may or may not involve some autobiographical elements. But to hear that story, you’ll have to corner me at a writing conference and ply me with martinis…
I see! Haha we’ll have to see about that.
Keeping with the wedding theme, what is your favorite flavor of wedding cake?
Chocolate cake with chocolate filling and chocolate frosting. Plus, a little chocolate sauce on top—you know, to cut the sweetness.
If your book had a theme song, what would it be?
This story was inspired in part by the Sugarland song “Stuck Like Glue.” It’s an upbeat, funny song about the people in our lives who drive us crazy but love and understand us in a way no one else does. Sometimes great chemistry overrides conventional wisdom…and that’s not always a bad thing!
Fun fact: If you watch the video on YouTube (below), you will notice a tarnished silver skull ring in the opening shot. That skull ring makes a cameo in the book!
Very cool! I believe the skull ring is mistaken for a wedding ring in the book – that would be an unconventional choice.
Favorite/worst songs played at wedding receptions?
I’m a sucker for the classics: “Moonlight Serenade” by the Glen Miller Orchestra and the Etta James version of “At Last.”
And I’m in no position to criticize anyone else’s song choices, because my mother’s side of the family has this tradition where we always play Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” at some point during every reception. (Like most writers, I come from a weird family!)
That’s an awesome tradition!
What was your favorite scene to write?
The scene where bride-to-be Emily is trying on her dainty heirloom wedding dress while simultaneously trying to referee a flower girl fight, stop her mother from stabbing the groom’s mother with a bejeweled stiletto, and stay out of sight of her fiancé…and in doing so, runs right into the ex-husband she’s been trying to purge from her heart for the last ten years.
Ryan, the ex, hasn’t seen Emily since she was fresh out of college and favored a wardrobe of faux leopard print and leather hot pants. And now she’s in pearls and kitten heels. So he gives her a slow, smoldering once-over and then he says…well, I won’t ruin it for you, but it’s one of my favorite lines in the book!
Me too- I love that scene. I fell for Ryan right away. Their chemistry is off the charts.
Have you ever wanted to write a sequel to any of your books or do you prefer writing standalone novels?
My next novel is called The Cure for the Common Break Up, and it’s actually a spin-off of The Week Before the Wedding. The heroine, Summer, was Emily’s maid of honor. Summer is one of those characters who just burst onto the scene and stole the spotlight. My editor and I both adored her, so we decided she deserved her own story.
Glad to hear there’s a companion book in the works!
How have your own rescue dogs inspired your writing?
Oh, yes. Their behavior may be bad, but I console myself that I’ll get good material out of it. Those shredded rolls of paper towels did not die in vain!
What have you been reading lately?
I’m in the middle of Data: A Love Story by Amy Webb. It’s the funny, fascinating memoir of a tech-savvy journalist who was fed up with the horrors of online dating and figured out strategies to “game” the system so she could search out—and attract—the most compatible prospects. So interesting from a cultural, psychological, and mathematical perspective.
I haven’t heard of that one. Data does sound fascinating.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions, Beth!
About the Author:
Beth Kendrick’s writing career began at a wedding. She was invited as a plus-one to a wedding, and when she heard that the bride was a successful romance novelist, well, how could she say no? Being a writer had always been herdream job, and here was the chance to run elbows with one! She waited until the bride and all her author friends uncorked the good champagne, and then sidled up to them at the bar and peppered them with endless questions about writing, editing, and landing an agent. Before long, she was knee-deep in the manuscript that eventually became MyFavorite Mistake.
Since then, Kendrick has written eight more novels, including Nearlyweds, which was made into a movie by Hallmark starring Naomi Judd (released in January 2013), and the popular title The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service, which was recently included in a “Top 10 Women’s Fiction” list from Booklist.
Former wild-child Emily McKellips yearns for a drama-free life, complete with a white picket fence. Her dreams are about to come true: she has a stellar career, a gorgeous house, and the perfect fiancé. Now she just has to survive the week before her wedding at a rustic lakeside resort in Vermont with her extravagant mother, her impossibly well-adjusted future in-laws, and a pack of restless bridesmaids. Then it’s happily ever after.
But when Ryan Lassiter, her ex-husband from a starter marriage, shows up unexpectedly, Emily can’t help but remember the kind of girl she used to be—and the kind of girl she might still be. As the bridesmaids revolt and the mothers of the bride and groom do battle, Emily is surprised to discover new sides of both her ex and her fiancé. She thought she had life and love all figured out, but the next seven days might change her mind—and her heart.
Celebrate Wedding Week with Beth Kendrick by entering her #weddingweek twitter sweepstakes!
Every day of Wedding Week (May 13-17) one entrant (US only) will be chosen at random to win a copy of The Week Before the Wedding.
How to enter #weddingweek sweepstakes:
1) Follow the author on twitter at @BKendrickBooks
2) Tweet a picture of your wedding dress or dream wedding dress to the above twitter handle
3) Use the hashtag #weddingweek in your tweet
What a fun contest! Find out all the contest rules and information at Beth Kendrick’s website.
Inhale Exhale Blog Tour: Interview with Sarah M. Ross
I’m excited to welcome author Sarah M. Ross to the blog today. Her new book Inhale Exhale made its debut this week. We chatted about her New Adult release, writing contemporary vs. paranormal, and summer jobs, and Sarah gave me an excuse to put a picture of Jordan Catalano on the blog. Win!
Hi Sarah! Thanks for answering a few questions about your latest release. I enjoyed your book and I’m thrilled to have you on the blog.
Thank you so much for having me, Lucy! I’m very happy to be here!
You have written several paranormal books, but this is your first contemporary book. What inspired you to make the change, and how did you like writing contemporary?
Writing contemporary is hard! Much harder than I expected. Contemporary writing forces you to focus on the emotions of the situations and characters, rather than the action of the scene (like a lot of paranormal writing). Writing Inhale Exhale really pushed me as a writer; it was emotionally exhausting but very rewarding!
Do you think that readers are gravitating more towards contemporary now, particularly with the popularity of New Adult, and why do you think that is?
I think that New Adult and contemporary really are the popular kids in school right now, and their popularity is due in part to Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, and Abbi Glines (some of my favorite ladies!) A few years ago, everyone was all about paranormal books. Twilight and vampires ruled the school. People loved the romance in these books, but tired of the overwhelming number of vampire books on the market. So they kept the romance and ditched the vamps. I don’t know how long New Adult Contemp will be the King of the Castle, but no matter what, there never be a lack of books to read—in any genre!
That makes sense to me. And you’re right, at least there’s a book out there for any mood!
In Inhale Exhale Jillian gets a summer job at an office. What was your favorite or worst summer job?
When I was sixteen, my grandparents had friends who owned a flower shop and nursery. When they asked if I wanted a summer job with them, I thought I was going to be arranging flowers all summer and quickly said yes. Then I found out that I would be working in the back, in the garden center. I would work for eight hours watering plants, consolidating perennials, and carrying 50 pound bags of “fertilizer”. It was the worst summer job I’ve ever had. (Besides, anyone who knows me knows that I have a black thumb and kill every plant within a 50 yard radius of me. It was not the ideal job for me!)
That does sound like hard work!
Keeping with the summer theme, do your reading habits change in the summer, and what are your favorite summer reads?
I don’t think my reading habits change as far as what I read, but instead of how much I read. I tend to read more, as I’m laying out at the pool or by the beach more often. And when I’m reading on the beach, I tend to like lighter reads. Nothing that makes me think too hard, just a sweet story that I can get lost in for a while.
Did music play a part in your writing process? Any particular songs you feel relate to the book?
I don’t listen to any music when I’m writing. (I don’t listen to a lot of music period). I’m one of those people who needs complete silence to write. I tend to get easily distracted, and have even been known to write what the TV is saying instead of what my characters are saying if I have it on.
The book has dual POV with Jillian and Grant. Which perspective was more fun to write? Did you ever consider adding Christian’s POV as well?
I loved writing the dual points-of-view in this book! There have been so many times when I’ve read a book when I wish I had the guy’s perspective, so when I began writing Inhale Exhale I knew I wanted to include Grant’s perspective. The story really is theirs, not just Jillian’s. They each have their own struggles they’re trying to work through.
Writing Grant’s POV was fun, but I was nervous. I’m not a guy, so I was worried I wasn’t doing him justice. I even had a male friend read each of Grant’s chapters to make sure I made him “manly” enough!
I didn’t consider adding Christian’s POV because even though he is at the center of Jillian’s problems, he really is a secondary character. I didn’t want readers to focus on what he was thinking or doing, because that might take away from the other issues presented between the two main characters.
I’m glad you wrote dual POV. I liked getting into both character’s heads, and yes I think Grant sounds “manly” enough. I guess it would muddy things up to have Christian in the mix.
In the book Jillian is torn between the hot, ambitious IT guy Grant, and her long-time boyfriend, the rock musician Christian. Let’s play casting director- who would play the trio in the film version?
Oh goodness! This is hard one! I mention in the book that Christian reminds Jillian of Jordan Catalano from My So Called Life. So for Christian, I’d have to go with Jared Leto. She was young when she started dating Christian, and like we do when we’re teens she was much more infatuated by how hot he was rather than what he was like as a person.
I’m not sure who I’d cast as Grant and Jillian. I see them so specifically in my mind that I don’t know who in Hollywood could be them. I’ll let your readers tell me who they’d cast after they read it.
What was your favorite scene to write?
There were so many parts of the book that I enjoyed writing, it’s hard to pick just one. I think the one that sticks out in my mind the most was the bar before bowling scene. I just loved all the tension that was building. It was like the part on a roller coaster when you’re going up the big hill, and you know it’s going to be awesome once you get to the top but you’re still a little nervous about how high you’re going. That’s what that scene was like for me.
I shared an excerpt of your book a few weeks ago, and there were some positive comments about the hotness factor. 
You have a knack for writing these steamy scenes. Are they as fun and effortless to write as they seem?
Haha! No. it was not easy and effortless to write. As a matter of fact, I giggled like a 12-year-old girl the entire time. It was very hard for me to write all of the steamy scenes. The “beach” scene took me two solid days—and my face was bright red the whole time!
But I’m very glad that—despite my difficulty—the scenes turned out as steamy as I’d hoped and that the audience enjoyed reading them.
What project are you currently working on that we can look forward to?
I’m currently working on a few things. The first is the sequel to Echo of an Earth Angel (titled Fate of an Earth Angel). The second is a mature young adult contemporary that is yet unnamed. I hope to have both out later this year!
Sounds like you’ll be very busy writing. Thanks for the chat, Sarah!
Thank you so much for having me!!
About the Author:
Sarah Ross started her obsession with reading at an early age, getting in trouble for sneaking BabySitter Club and Nancy Drew books into math class in elementary school. She would read any fiction book she could get her hands on. Sarah knew it was an addiction when instead of grounding her from TV or music, her mom would take away her books as punishment (The Horror!). Her love of all things paranormal was inspired by her good friend Laurie, who convinced Sarah that books with vampires, witches, and all things shifter were amazing. After a little reluctance, she gave it a shot with the Sookie Stackhouse books, realized she was right, and the rest was history.
Sarah grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English, and taught 8th graders to love reading as much as she does for several years. She will always be a proud member of the Steelers Nation, but couldn’t take the cold and moved her frozen tush to Florida where she now lives with her family and two cats. You will find Sarah now with her trusty Kindle in hand and toes in the sand!
Visit Sarah: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Inhale Exhale is on sale now: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Jillian had a plan: celebrate the end of her first year of college with an amazing summer full of beaches, barbeques, and bonfires. When her mom insists she needs a summer job, and her boyfriend spends more time with his band than with her, Jillian’s plans go down the drain.
Grant had a plan: finish his Masters, get a great job at Google, and get the hell out of Georgia. He might be giving up some of the fun of his youth, but he knows his all work and no play method would be worth it when his dreams come true.
But things never go according to plan.
When temptation brings them together and tragedy tears them apart, Jillian and Grant will be forced to choose: fight for their dreams, or fight for each other.
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway to win a signed copy of Inhale, Exhale and some other goodies!
Related articles
- Inhale, Exhale by Sarah M. Ross Excerpt and Giveaway (thereadingdate.com)
- Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: Inhale, Exhale by Sarah M. Ross (thebookhookup.com)
First Comes Love and Second Chance by Katie Kacvinsky Book Review
In honor of the paperback release of First Comes Love (out today!) I have a review of the book and the sequel Second Chance. First Comes Love came out a year ago with a very different smoldering-looking cover. The cover re-design sells a whole new image that I personally think match the tone of the story very well. Making up for lost time, I read the first two books in the series back to back.
First Comes Love is the story of Dylan and Gray, opposites in every way. Gray is drifting after suffering a loss; he’s depressed and lost focus, even giving up his college baseball scholarship. Dylan is a free spirit who loves to travel and live life to the fullest. She does not want to get tied down and is just into having experiences. Gray gets sucked into the bright light that is Dylan and against the odds the pair fall in love. But are they just too different to go the distance?
This is Katie Kacvinsky’s first contemporary series- she also writes the dystopian Awaken series. I think this is a seamless transition for Kacvinsky and I like that she wrote a New Adult book without even knowing it was a thing. After high school, life is not always easy for everyone with the perfect college and life, and this book addresses the messiness of it all.
I wanted Dylan to save Gray from his funk, and for Gray to help Dylan to settle down, but in this book there’s no easy answers or tidy ending. The way the two see each other kind of reminded me of Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park. Gray is drawn to Dylan, but also a little embarrassed of her too. She marches to the beat of her own drummer with ill-fitting mismatched clothes, messy hair and impulsive behavior.
We get inside both Dylan and Gray’s heads with alternating POV. Gray’s character is a little easier to warm up to than Dylan’s MPDG type. Still, I kind of loved that the two got together- they balance each other out. Writing slow-burn romance is Kacvinsky’s forte and that’s my favorite kind to read. There’s emotion and romance along with some light, heart-warming moments.
The summer in Arizona setting is a nice backdrop to the story, and Kacvinsky makes you feel like you are there with Gray and Dylan on their hikes and adventures. They also take a little road trip to Los Angeles and that just sets a vacation like mood.
First Comes Love was written as a standalone, but Kacvinsky decided to extend the book to a trilogy. She self-published book two Second Chance. After reading First Comes Love, I felt satisfied by the ending as is, but was attached to the characters and glad to see Gray and Dylan’s story continue.
In Second Chance, there’s been a little distance between Gray and Dylan. Dylan is traveling around the world and doing her thing, while Gray is trying to go back to normal and reconnect with his college baseball goals. Where do the two fit in each other’s lives?
I like the angst and the opposites attract story- the two have chemistry, but they are such different people. I root for this pair and hope they make it work. In this book, there’s a new setting and new characters and stumbling blocks in the way of the couple’s HEA. Both Gray and Dylan still have some growing up to do and need to figure out what they want and if compromises can be made.
There’s one song Gray mentions listening to in the book (Missed the Boat by Modest Mouse) that kind of sums up the mood:
The laid back pace, setting and romance in this series makes for an ideal summer read to tuck in your beach bag. Dylan and Gray’s love story will leave you eager for the next book. (Write faster, Katie!)
I had the chance to interview Katie Kacvinsky recently about all her books, and you can check it out here and also enter the giveaway for your chance to win First Comes Love and Second Chance. I’m jealous of whoever wins! I borrowed First Comes Love from the library and bought a kindle edition of Second Chance but think I’ll have to pick up the paperbacks for my own library.
Find out more about the series here:
manicpixiedreamgirl by Tom Leveen Book Review
Book: manicpixiedreamgirl by Tom Leveen, Random House Books for Young Readers, On Sale Now
Book Info: YA Contemporary, Review copy provided by the publisher, Available in HC 256 pages
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
More Info: Goodreads | IndieBound | Amazon
Tom Leveen has a unique voice and writes interesting male characters, so I was intrigued to check out his latest book manicpixiedreamgirl. Leveen’s characters are usually creative types and not the typical leading men you see in YA. And since I’ve seen lot of movies featuring manic pixie dream girls, I was curious to see the bookish incarnation of that quirky unattainable girl.
I always think of Zooey Deschanel in 500 days of Summer (or any of her projects really) when I think of MPDG‘s. These types of characters are like the muse to tortured artist type guys. After seeing MPDG’s in several films, it seems like they are there on to inspire the male lead & help them take the next step to reach their goals. So, based on my movie viewing experience, I had an image in my mind of the typical MPDG- pictured below with the smitten male leads:
Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon Leavitt in 500 Days of Summer
Kirsten Dunst & Orlando Bloom in Elizabethtown
Michael Cera & Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Scott Pilgrim
In manicpixiedreamgirl, Tyler is in a relationship with Sidney Barrett, but secretly worships Becky Webb. Becky is a talented actress in school productions, and a loner type who reads Stephen King, just like him. Tyler joins the tech crew in drama class just so he can be near her. Everyone but Becky knows about Tyler’s obsession – even his girlfriend Sid knows. Tyler’s a writer and Becky’s his muse, but he has her on too high a pedestal to make a move. One of his stories about Becky gets published though, getting his feelings out in the open ready or not.
The book has an interesting structure and is set on one pivotal night in seventeen-year-old Tyler’s life, with frequent flashbacks to fill in the important details in the story. The story takes place over two years from when he first sets eyes on Becky. We follow Tyler as he stalks Becky around school and asks his friends for info on her. Sidney falls for Tyler in the meantime, and he strings her along while pining for Becky. It’s tortured and messy like real life, and none of the characters behave how you want them to, but I still had to keep reading to see how it would turn out.
I thought the male voice in manicpixiedreamgirl was very strong and unique. Tyler’s smart and likes being around the drama kids and writing. It’s nice to see the guy’s POV when he falls for the unattainable sort of girl, and all the missteps along the way. Leveen’s writing is sharp and engaging, and he juggles the flashbacks with ease. Becky is in many ways similar to MPDG’s in film, but she keeps you guessing all the same.
I think this book will appeal to guys as well as girls, especially readers who enjoy John Green and David Levithan, and Leveen’s own Zero. manicpixiedreamgirl is in stores this week, and his next novel Sick is due out in the fall.
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch Audiobook Review
Audiobook: If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch, published by Blackstone Audio Inc, March 26, 2013
Book Info: YA contemporary, purchased via Audible. Run time: 7 hrs, 51 mins. Read by: Tai Sammons. Also available in HC, 256 pages from St. Martin’s Griffin.
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars, Raw, emotional, and honest.
More Info: Goodreads | Audible | Amazon
I read the book If You Find Me recently and was so impressed. I didn’t write up my thoughts on it right away though, so when I saw the audiobook I took the chance to experience the book with fresh ears. If You Find Me is Emily Murdoch’s debut novel and is heartfelt, harrowing, and lovely all at once. This is a tough issue book about abuse and survival that is hard to hear/read at times but very powerful and uplifting too. Tai Sammons’ narration makes the story feel even more realistic, and I noticed things I missed the first time I read the book.
If You Find Me is the story of 15-year-old Carey and her 5-year-old sister Jenessa. They live in the woods in a camper with their unstable mother who frequently leaves them alone to find drugs. Carey is more like a mother than a sister to Jenessa and they only have each other to rely on. One day, Carey’s father and a social worker suddenly appear to rescue them from the woods. Now they must adjust to life in the real world, including school, technology, what to wear, and how to act. But the woods still haunt them in various ways, and secrets can’t be kept forever.
Even though I’ve read the book and listened to the audiobook now, it’s still hard to put my thoughts into words. The descriptive writing would sometimes distract me with its elegance and I’d get lost in the story. Even though the subject matter is disturbing, Murdoch adds lighter moments like a new friend, or a cute dog, to brighten the mood. But at the same time there are certain recollections of Carey’s that hurt like a kick in the gut. The reader learns about Carey’s backstory through flashbacks that hint at the mystery behind Jenessa losing her voice.
Carey has an artistic spirit and a unique way of thinking and expressing herself. She is such a mature character, that it was easy to relate to her from one mother to another, even though she’s still a teen. The sisterly bond is strong understandably, and I rooted for them both to get some well-deserved peace and happiness. My heart soared with each small victory on their journey, and ached for the pain that lingered.
Tai Sammons’ reads the audiobook, and this is my first experience with her narration. Her dialect is spot on and she conveys Carey’s emotional state of being well. The book is set in Tennessee and Sammons’ gives the book an authentic feel with her Southern accent. Sammons’ gets to use her talents on different types of voices like the mean girl, authority figures, and a child’s voice for Jenessa. I’d listen to this narrator again- she delivers a strong, nuanced performance that made me feel all the emotions. Though the book is powerful on its own, the audiobook made me connect even more with the story.
If You Find Me is a great choice for realistic contemporary readers, and one you won’t want to put down. I’m looking forward to reading more from Emily Murdoch.
