Contemporary:
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Fantasy:
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Adult:
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my reviewRe-read
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Fanfic (I went through quite a period this year where this is all I wanted to read)
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Hands on Me (jake and nessie)
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Friday, December 30, 2016
Brandi's Best of 2016
Contemporary:
Fantasy:
Adult:
my reviewRe-read
Fanfic (I went through quite a period this year where this is all I wanted to read)
Monday, December 19, 2016
Review: The Odds of Lightning by Jocelyn Davies
The Odds of Lightning by Jocelyn Davies
A bolt of lightning inspires an incredible journey in this charming, magical realism adventure that takes four teens on an all-night journey through the streets of New York City.GR
Extraordinary things happen when we least expect them.
Tiny, Lu, Will and Nathaniel used to be best friends. Then life-defining events the summer before high school tore them apart. Now, three years later, they hardly talk anymore. Nathaniel has become obsessed with winning the prestigious science scholarship that his genius older brother once won. Will has risen from anonymity to popular soccer star. Lu grew into a brash, impetuous actress. And shy, poetic Tiny has slowly been fading away.
But fate weaves their lives together again the night before the SATs, during a wild thunderstorm that threatens to shut down New York City. And lightning strikes.
Before they know what's hit them, the four teens embark on an epic all-night adventure to follow their dreams, fall in and out of love, reconcile the past, and overcome the fears that have been driving them since that one lost summer. And by the time the sun rises, odds are they’ll discover that there’s a fine line between science and magic, and that the mysteries of love and friendship can’t be explained.
Publishes in US: September 20th 2016 by Simon Pulse
Source: arc from Simon Teen
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not affected by the book being free.
Series? No
Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble Indiebound
Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter
I chose to read this one because it was sent to me by Simon, and Tiny sounded like a character that I could connect with.
Four POV can be tricky, and add to it a "then and now" style can either be great or it can be rough. However, the beginning was enough to spark my attention, and I wanted to explore the friends who used to be close and then were drawn together again under extraordinary circumstances. However after the 2nd time switch and third jump in POV, I just couldn't keep up.
Bottom Line:
My question to you, my lovely readers:
If it were the end of the world, would you stay home? (a question/quote from the book)
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Review: A List of Cages by Robin Roe
A List of Cages by Robin Roe
When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he's got it made. Sure, it means a lot of sitting around, which isn't easy for a guy with ADHD, but he can't complain, since he gets to spend the period texting all his friends. Then the doctor asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her, and Adam discovers that the boy is Julian--the foster brother he hasn't seen in five years.
Adam is ecstatic to be reunited. At first, Julian seems like the boy he once knew. He's still kind hearted. He still writes stories and loves picture books meant for little kids. But as they spend more time together, Adam realizes that Julian is keeping secrets, like where he hides during the middle of the day, and what's really going on inside his house. Adam is determined to help him, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives.
Publishes in US: January 10th 2017 by Disney-Hyperion
Genre: ya contemp
Source: earc via Netgalley from Disney
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not affected by the book being free.
Series? no
Buy it: Amazon IndieBound Book Depository Barnes and Noble
Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook
I wanted to read A List of Cages because I am drawn to books with the psychological elements since I myself suffer from several mental illnesses. I get a sense of healing from reading about others who also deal with it-- looking at issues from a new angle as well as how they cope and their own journeys of acceptance, healing, and going on with life. Not only that, but this also had the element of family that intrigued me-- the foster brother situation.
It's told in dual narrative, so we get to experience the story from both of the boys. Julian is the one that struggles, and is the one who lost his parents. He has anxiety about speaking, and often skips class, which gets him into trouble. Adam is popular and feeling on top of the world, until he gets the coveted aide position for the school psychologist. He gets a glimpse of what others has to deal with and it also puts him in a spot to reconnect with and understand Julian.
My question to you, my lovely readers:
What was/is fave elective in school?
Monday, December 5, 2016
Review: Fire in You by J. Lynn
From the # 1 New York Times and International bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J.Lynn, comes a richly moving story about heartbreak and guilt, second chances and hope. Full of familiar, fan-favorite characters and no two people more deserving of a happy ending, Fire In You will burn bright beyond the last page…
Jillian Lima’s whole world was destroyed in a span of a few hours. The same night her childhood love, Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell, broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by the hand of a stranger with a gun. It takes six years to slowly glue together the shattered pieces of her life, but Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret. She takes a job at her father’s martial arts Academy and she’s going out on her first date since a failed relationship that was more yuck than yum. Jillian is determined to start living.
She just never expected Brock to be a part of her life again. But he’s firmly back in her life before she knows it, and not only is he older, he’s impossibly more handsome, more teasing and more everything. And when he sees Jillian, he’s no longer capable of thinking of her as the little girl who was his shadow growing up or the daughter of the man who gave him a second chance at life. He sees the woman who’d always been there for him, the one person who believed in him no matter what.Brock knows she’s the one he should’ve made his, and what begins as a tentative friendship quickly turns to red-hot chemistry that sparks a flame that burns brighter than lust. Falling for Brock again risks more than her heart, because when the past sorrow-filled and guilt-ridden past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they’ve fought to build together, and destroy the dreams of those they care most about.
Publishes in US: November 28th 2016 by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Genre: adult/new adult contemp
Source: bought
** Audience alert: this is a new adult book. It does contain sex scenes that aren't fade to black, descriptions of violence and other adult situations. If you are under 18, get your parent's advice if this is a book for you.
Series? Yes Wait for You #6
My reviews;
#1 Wait for You
#1.5 Trust in Me
#2 Be with Me
#3 Stay with Me
#4 Fall with Me
#4.5 Dream of You
5: Forever with You
Buy it: Amazon IndieBound Book Depository Barnes and Noble
Author stalk away: site Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter
I wanted to read Fire In You because I adore JL Armentrout/J Lynn. This is no exception, it has a great main character with flaws and insecurities that has a lot of growth emotionally and through hard times. Jillian has a scar on her face from a violent attack is what it seems like at first, but we don't get the whole story until later. She also has hearing loss in one ear, and its a challenge I haven't seen addressed a lot.
The romance is a second chance one, and although she faced a lot of hurt the first time around with Brock, they are thrown back into each other's lives and she can't deny neither the powerful attraction and chemistry nor the hurt she felt years ago.
I liked their conclusion and where they ended up in their relationship, with her family and career wise. I enjoyed getting an update on the other characters as well.
Bottom Line: Worth the read, good addition to the series.
My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have any visible scars?
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