ARC Review: Dirty Little Secret

Dirty Little Secret

Author:  Jenifer Echols
Series: Standalone
Pages:288
Publisher: MTV Books
Release Date:July 16th,2013
Source: Via Edelweiss 
Thank you so much for providing me with a copy to review!

Summary:

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

Jennifer Echols has always been one of my favorite authors. This is because after reading her books I get such a feeling of just relief and happiness for all of the characters. When reading one of her books, I am always so immersed; I read it in one sitting. Also, her books are always short and fun stories to read in-between other novels. However, this one was a lot longer and just made it so much better, than the rest, but I still wish it would have been longer!

Bailey has always traveled the world with her sister to blue grass festivals since she was little and always was a duo. Until one day, a producer signs her sister and decides that he just wants her sister and not the duo. First of all this doesn’t sound bad at first right? Well, gets worse because than she is pretty much exiled from her family and her parents don’t even care that she’s just lost her dream. This is really bad parenting in my opinion. I mean come on who does that to their child. Anyway, she starts to rebel and her parents decided to create all these new rules. Rules that are so stupid and inconsiderate to Bailey – she is banned from playing music.

Bailey struggles at the beginning of this book because her family won’t even talk to her. Her grandfather might have been the one shining star in her life throughout this book because he gets her a job at the mall. This job at the mall starts it all because this is where she meets the hot, heart breaking, Sam. Sam *Sigh just saying his name makes my mind do flips. Sam and Bailey have a really good connection. Not too long after meeting, Bailey is faced with the hardest decision yet. Should join his band or continue to live under the rules of her, not so great, parents.

I have to say this book was all about country music and I love country music. This aspect of the book just made the book come to life. I can honestly say that as much as I love country music and know about country music, I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about it that really shocked me.

 Sam was your supper hot, heart breaking, lead singer and guitarist. While, Bailey is a teenager trying to find her way back home – the music industry. Sam, I just want to say his name over and over again. Sam is a person who hides his feelings. He is very confident until, you get to know him. In this book, Sam is a very Dynamic character because he has all these layers that you wouldn't expect from him. He’s faced with so many struggles throughout his life that your heart aches for him and you can’t help, but love him; even when you want to be mad at him. Sam’s intentions were always good, but because of the things that happen in this story, you might not always think so until the end.  Thinking of Sam makes me want to go re-read this because while he wasn’t the main character he defiantly caught my heart.

Bailey, shocked me throughout this whole book. I loved her transitions throughout the story because they were just amazing. She finally decided to live her life how she wanted and stopped being jealous and bitter towards her sister. 

I have to admit, I loved this book with all my heart and I had some favorite scenes that made me laugh and made my heart flutter. While, there were other scenes that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.

In the end, this book captured my heart 100%. The country music and great dynamic characters in this book will capture everyone who reads it. Even if you’re not of fan of country, you better go put your cowboy\cowgirl boots on and go read this because I promise you, you will fall in love. You might even learn a few things about country music. 

|Review|Game On by Monica Seles

Game On by Monica Seles

Twitter|Website

Bloomsbury,256pgs.
Series: The Academy
Release Date: June 4th, 2013
Source: Review copy provided from publishers
 * Thanks so much! I enjoyed this book so much.

The Academy is an International Sports Mecca for teen athletes of all sports. There are only two ways in. Deep pockets or enough talent to score a scholarship.

Young tennis star Maya's dreams have finally come true when she earns a scholarship to The Academy. Plucked from her small town, Maya moves to the sports training facility/boarding school to (hopefully) start the beginning of her pro career. But Maya's fantasy of The Academy doesn't quite match the reality. Because where there are hot, talented teens, there's a lot of drama. Meet the players:


Cleo: Maya's rebel/punk roommate who is nearing the top of the golf world.
Renee: The gorgeous swimmer with enough money to buy her way into The Academy.
Nicole: A tennis star who feels threatened by Maya (but she'd never admit it).
Travis: The son of The Academy owner--perfectly groomed to be the next NFL star.
Jake: Travis' younger brother--the bad boy to his brother's good.

At the Academy nothings as it appears to be... or is it? 


Maya is a tennis player desiring to make her dream come true -- to go to the Academy and make it pro, but the Academy isn't all it appears to be. Maya is a relate able character that tries to find the best in people and is focused on her dream. When first arriving she meets her new roommate, Cleo, a spunky, Asian, golf player trying to make it big in hopes of providing for her family back home and making an impact of the image of golfers. Maya soon finds out that accomplishing her dream isn't as easy as she thought it would be. At the Academy, everything is based on how much money you have and stereotypes. Can Maya break through that and accomplish her dream? Will she fall in love with Travis, the sweet, loving guy who is hot and the quarterback of the football team or his brother Jake, a guy who is just opposite from his brother in everything he does. Oh and did I mention, their dad's the owner of the Academy. How will Maya hold up in the tough world of the Academy?

Maya is a regular girl that is thrown into this new world without a clue of the social structure of this Academy. She finds out rather quick that everything is based on how much money you have and that she's a nobody until she makes it big. Maya is a girl that is trying to find her place at the Academy along with trying to make friends and how to handle the guys. I really started to dislike the academy because everything is so stereotypical that nothing seemed unique about this book. The question that came to mind was, is this really how this book is going to be? My question was soon answered later with a no.

One character I quite adore is Cleo. She is, like I said before, a spunky Asian. I just couldn't get enough of her. When you think of a golf player you think a man or women who is calm and collected, but they all dress alike. (Forgive me I just went to a golf tournament.) Cleo is the opposite of your normal,calm and collected golf player. She is unique and defiantly pushes the limits on these standards of golf players and I love that because she is testing the boundaries on her society.

This story has so many ups and downs, secrets, and betrayals that I am dying to write about! You do not know how bad I want reveal it! It's so hard to write this review because at one point I really loved some characters, but now that i've read the whole book, my opinion on them has completely change and I'm not sure how to feel yet. However, I know that this book is destined to keep you on your toes trying to figure out what is going to happen next in this love triangle and who you have to watch your back against.  There were so many characters I grew fond of and some of them proved to be worthy of that fondness. While others, proved to be just who I thought they secretly were!

In The Academy: Game On the Academy is turned upside down! Characters who you think you know and love just might not turn out to be who they appear to be.In a world of lies and desiccate there is only so much you can do before you get burned.After reading this, I want more! I can't wait for the second one and for some characters to finally get what they deserve!!


The Academy: Game On is a book that tests the boundaries on friendships,relationships,and how far you are willing to go and change for your dream.Will Maya make it at the Academy? 

Be sure to find out by reading :) 
 

ARC Review: Famous Last Words by Jennifer Doktorski

Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Twitter|Website
Henry Holt and Co,288

Release Date: July 2nd,2013

Sixteen-year-old Samantha D’Angelo has death on the brain. Her summer internship at the local newspaper has her writing obituaries instead of soaking up the sun at the beach. Between Shelby, Sam’s boy-crazy best friend; her boss Harry, a true-blue newspaper man; and AJ, her fellow “intern scum” (aka the cute drummer for a band called Love Gas), Sam has her hands full. But once she figures out what—or who—is the best part of her summer, will she mess it all up?F

As Sam learns her way around both the news room and the real world, she starts to make some momentous realizations about politics, ethics, her family, romance, and   most important—herself.

This book had me from the very first couple of sentences from the summary. I am currently taking a journalism class, which is pretty much writing in the school newspaper and yearbook, and just a story about a teenage student who writes just intrigued me.! Who knew this story would turn out to be so much more than that and so scandalous, but so sweet at the same time!

Sam, Samantha, is the main character in this story and might I add that she is an amazing writer. Sam has a summer internship at the local newspaper which sound awesome right? Except that she's writing the obituaries instead of a lead story. The thing about Sam is that she doesn't care what she's writing as long as she's writing. Her friend,Shelby, may tease her and say her jobs lame and that she's not living her life .. etc, but Sam doesn't care because she's doing what she loves and does best -- writing. This is what I love about Sam she doesn't really care what others think about her as long as she's doing something she enjoys, she could care less and I really connect to her because of that. 

As the story progresses, Shelby just starts to annoy the living hell out of me. I hate saying it, but she really does. She calls Sam all the time wants her to do things out of her comfort zone,Sam feels bad, goes and Shelby then, always, leaves her alone to do nothing. She also whines and complains a lot to because Sam is always working instead of hanging out with her. I don't really see how her and Sam are best friends -- they are nothing a like with no common interest and they are always fighting.I understand how best friends are and how sometimes we have friends that bring out the best in us because we are to shy, but Shelby just didn't do that for me and I couldn't connect to her character at all.


Throughout this story there is a mystery element that I really enjoyed. Being an intern, Sam doesn't really get to experience much besides making phone calls to the people who's died families. So when she finally gets a good,mystery, case to work with, I jump out of my seat for joy and then hurry up and sit back down for the ride because there was a lot of twist and turns to this fun mystery. I felt like I was kind of watching or reading Nancy Drew and I liked that a lot. 

Another thing I didn't see coming, though it is in the summary, is the romance part of this story. There is just so many things going on throughout this story -- Sam trying to find herself and who she is, her trying to solve the mystery, making new friends who are just like her & getting closer to her family, that I just didn't expect it.  

Sam really struggles throughout this story with herself. Sam is normally the shy girl who just has always been Shelby's shadow. She is finally making friends that actually have common interest with her and the guy who becomes her love interest is the guy you never would have expected because they've always been friends. I did, however, see it coming because I guess I read to many contemporary stories, but it was slow and progressive! I don't hate insta- love, but I like a story better when it doesn't have ista-love because I like getting to see the characters fall in love with each other and you really get to see that in this story and that makes me love it even more. 

With this being said, the ending was amazing and breathtaking. I didn't want it to stop! In fact, I wish it would have been longer because I really connected with Sam and the person she became and was. 

If you like contemporary stories with a little Nancy Drew this is the story for you and I promise you Sam-I-Am will leave you laughing,inspired, and in love with her and her secret guy ;) 
So don't miss out!

Stacking the Shelves(It's offically Summer!)

 Stacking the Shelves is a meme that is hosted by tyngas reviews.If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves or the guidelines, please visit the Offical Guidelines page

Long time no see huh? I know, I know, I have been so busy with exams and lost track of the books i've received so I might miss a couple this time. *crosses fingers! I hope not though! So here we go these past couple of months i've gotten....

 Bought

 

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding

For Review

(Thanks so much for allowing me to read & Review these books!!)

Absent by Katie Williams

Burning by Elana K. Arnold

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles

Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance

Academy: Game On by Monica Seles

Won\Traded

(Thanks Simon pulse it and Skye!)

He's Gone by Deb Caletti

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti

Winger by Andrew Smith

So that's it for this Saturday! Have you read any of these books?

Leave me a comment below and let me know :)

Summer Reads

Hey guys,
Long time no see, yes, I have been very busy with exams and finishing the school year so I have not had anytime to read pretty much the whole month of May, but no fear, it's summer and I finally have time to read and get this blog back on track. So my summer post is going to be my summer reads that I am defiantly reading and don't get me wrong, I will read way more than what's on this list! It's summer, which means I read twice as fast because I have more time during the day to read. So, here are my summer reads. Please leave me a comment and tell me what your planning to read this summer and if you've read any of these books, on my list, please leave me a comment and tell me what you thought.

Absent
Katie Williams

Dare You To

Katie McGarry

Winger

Andrew Smith

Spies and Prejudice
Talia Vance

Academy: Game On

 Monica Seles

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Georgetown Academy

*Drum roll* 

Georgetown Academy:book 4 
by: Jessica K. Etting & Alyssa Schwartz
June 15th, 2013 

Summary:

When the vice president resigns and Ellie and Taryn’s parents emerge as the frontrunners, the girls find themselves back in the spotlight.


Ellie could not care less about becoming the Second Daughter, but she knows how much the opportunity to make history means to her mother – and women everywhere. With her family taking center stage, Ellie must decide whether she can put her feelings for Gabe on hold - again.


Taryn, so used to captivating the hearts and minds of everyone she meets, is unbothered by the increased media scrutiny. But an inopportune screw-up has her
beholden to an unlikely – and unfriendly – source for help.


Overnight, Evan has skyrocketed from social pariah to Miss Popular. As she and her reluctant parents adjust to her new lifestyle, the last thing she needs is a front-page scandal.


Brinley can’t stop thinking about her Stowe-bound hook-up…until her father’s intern, Patrick, starts flirting. Is it time to abandon her fling now that she has a more appropriate suitor?


With the second highest office in the land up for grabs, everyone is picking sides. But where does the heart lie when duty, truth, and love collide?

                         About the Authors:

 

Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz met the first day of freshman year at the University of Southern California and instantly bonded over their obsessions with Brenda Walsh, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Babysitters Club books they read growing up. After spending a full year mourning the end of college, they began writing television and feature scripts together. They have set up pilots at ABC, NBC, Fox and CW, and sold films to The Weinstein Company, Happy Madison, Paramount, New Regency, MGM and Alloy Entertainment. They love writing female-centric stories, especially for teen and tween audiences, mainly because they still think they are the 18-year-old girls they were when they first met at USC.

And now time for the awesome giveaway!

One winner will receive a 50$ Amazon gift card, 2 winners will receive a 25$ Amazon gift card and 4 winners will receive a bundle of all four books via ebooks. The winners will be chosen on June 15th ( the release day!) so be  sure to enter before then! 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

ARC Review: Stung by Bethany Wiggins

Stung

Author: Bethany Wiggins
Pages: 304
Publisher: Walker Children's
Release Date: April 2nd, 2013
Source: Received a copy from Walker Children's Via NetGalley.Thanks so much for providing me with a copy to read

 Summary:

There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

Stung is a very intriguing book that brings you into a world that you could only dream of creating in your wildest dreams.

Fo, Fiona, wakes up in her room and that's pretty normal right? Except for the fact that everything around her has aged -- her carpet is faded, the window is broken and everything  in her house looks like it has been abandoned for years. Fo is very confused at this point because she only remembers being thirteen years old and just having her birthday party. Fo is scared and curious because she has awoken to no family and a strange mark on her hand that is an oval with five marks on either side, making her a ten. Fo has no idea what is going on in the world around her and totally oblivious to the rules and why people want her captured. Leaving Fo to defend for herself, on the wrong side of the wall, against people who want Fo dead.

 Fo is a very unique character in my opinion because she doesn't know what's going on in soceity now and this makes me connect to her because she is oblivious just like the reader and when she learns something new so do we.Like I said before,Fo really is oblivious to the rules that have now become of this new soceity and this makes her so vulnerable. In this story she is taken advantage of because of this, but she still finds a way to stay strong. Fiona is also a really strong character in this book because when she should loose hope, she doesn't! She fights on until the end. I honestly can not put into words how dynamic and complex of a character Fiona was. Throughout this book there was not a second when I hated her that I could not read anymore. Quite frankly it was the opposite.

Stung also has a complex and interesting plot; the plot never failed to surprise me.  I love how this book always kept the story fresh by adding something new in every chapter weither it was new information, new people or new details about a person. This review is so hard for me to write because this book is just so unique and so well written that I can not put it into words.

In the end, this book was amazing and brings you into a world so unique that you will be intrigued and want to follow Fo through her journey. This story always has something to throw at you and it will shock you at points. At the end the story is really bitter sweet and I can't wait to read the next one!

Fans of The Maze Runner and Hunger Games  should read this book because it has the best of both worlds from both of these fantastic stories with an added twist. Readers will also not be disappointed in this imaginative, inspiring, story of a girl who is just as confused as the reader.

Cover Reveal and Giveaway

     Addicted To You 

       Krista and Becca Ritchie

           Release Date : July 1st, 2013

 

Summary:
 Two addictions. One lie.

No one would suspect shy, Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy onboard can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Now the only person who can truly help her, can barely help himself.

When I opened the file to see the cover I was actually really shocked! I knew they said it was going to be nice, but I didn't think it was going to be this amazing, beautiful, cover they produced. This cover draws me in and even though it's a little out my age range by about 2 years, I probably will still read it. It will either be now or than I am not sure yet, but I think this book will be one to look out for so I definitely want to read it! So be sure to check it out and read it when it comes out.

And now for a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway