My Thoughts: Ten Tiny Breaths by KA Tucker

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.

But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.

**Review copy received from Simon and Schuster Canada.

I have been on a New Adult kick these past few months and for the most part it has not been all that satisfying. I have found that a number of New Adult novels are exactly same thing. There are, however, a few diamonds in the rough. While I am not sure that KA Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths is much different than all the other NA novels out there. However, it was one of the firsts that I read and at the time, and I really really liked it.

Ten Tiny Breaths tells the story of Kacey and her teenage sister Livie years after their parents death in a drunk driving accident. The girls are forced to live with their aunt and uncle which is less than ideal. When things threaten to get violent in their new home, Kacey makes the decision to run away with her sister to start a new life. But the thing is, Kacey is broken. She is hurting and therefore is completely self destructive. Then she meets Trent and everything changes for her.

The thing I liked the most about Ten Tiny Breaths was was KA Tucker's ability to tell the story in a way that made your heart hurt. It was almost impossible to not feel for Kacey and her situation. I am pretty hard to please and when things get overly dramatic I find that I end up rolling my eyes and not taking the story seriously. I never got the feeling while reading this book. Kacey is legitimately sad and the way that her sorrow is expressed is heart breaking. She is a very hard and guarded character, which came off as being sarcastic and tough. But in reality she was pretty vulnerable. Livie, on the other hand was pretty tough- for fifteen years old she was a well adjusted kid. I really liked her. The relationship between the two sisters was amazing. Their need for one another in order to survive was mutual.

Then Kacey Meets Trent- I liked Trent, I liked his attitude, I liked the way he handled Kacey- he took what she gave, and he gave it right back. Their love story is boarder line insta-love. Almost, but not quite. Trent knows what Kacey needs to live again, and he wants to give it to her. However, like I mentioned earlier, Trent has a secret, and it's a biggie.

It was easy for me to guess what was going on with Trent early on. I don't know if that means that it was really obvious or that I can just figure twists out before they happen. So when the big reveal came. It was no surprise to me. But I think it might be for some. I thought it was brilliant- what came after may have been a little hokey but what can you do?

What really made this story though was the secondary characters- specifically Storm, Kacey and Livie's new neighbour. She was a riot and really forced Kacey out of her shell. I absolutely loved her. I wanted her to be my best friend. Her kid was also something great.

Overall, Ten Tiny Breaths was a good way to begin New Adult, and I was glad that it did not take pace in a college. I enjoyed what KA Tucker did with the story and I am excited to read it's sequel One Tiny Lie.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday- My Fall TBR

It's that time of the year- The Fall TBR. I have done both the Spring TBR and the Summer TBR and have found that I have been pretty successful in finishing books on both lists. Go me! SO here we go. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish.

My list is a bit crazy and I don't anticipate getting trough more than half of the books mentioned. School in the fall (up until Christmas) get a little crazy. So yeah...

Top Ten Books On My Fall 2013 TBR List (you could do top ten fall releases you plan on reading or just your planned reading list

1) Crash Into You by Katie McGarry- I absolutely loved Pushing the Limits, I thought Dare You To was okay, I really enjoyed the novella Crossing the Line. So, for the most part, I have really enjoyed McGarry's writing and I am REALLY looking forward to Isaiah's story in Crash Into You.

2) Pretty Girl-13 By Liz Coley- A few months ago I read a number of really great reviews for this book and I have been pretty intrigued about it. I need the answers. I have requested it form the library and I am hoping to have it in my hands soon.




3) Six Months Later by Natalie Richards- I got this one for review and I am pretty excited to read it. It sounds interesting and I like interesting. I think this is going to be my next read.

4) The Archive by Visctoria Schwab- I have heard SO many amazing things about this book. I absolutely need to read it. I also would like to read her adult debut- Vicious. But we'll see.

5) The Descent by Alma Katsu- This one doesn't come out until January, however I am hoping that an ARC will find it's way to me and I can devour it. I am SO excited about the end of this series. There are so many things that could happen. I'm anxious.

6) All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry- This sounds SO good. Spooky kinda. I am in the mood for a creepy read.

7) Me Before You by Jojo Moyes- I tweeted the other say that I was looking for a "gut wrenching, break my heart, ugly cry kind of book" and three different people told me to read this book. Since reading The Fault in Our Starts, I have been in search of a book that would touch my heart in the way that one did, and I have heard this is similar. I thought about maybe waiting and reading it with book club, but I don't think that I want to.

8) The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey- This is not my kind of book. Not at all. But The 5th Wave has gotten SO many amazing reviews that I absolutely have to experience it for myself.



9) Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta- I have owned this book for ages. I have even started reading it at one point (but I just wasn't in the mood). I am hoping to find some time to get to it in the next few months.

10) Tear You Apart by Megan Hart- I have been a big fan of Megan's for a good long time and I want to very much read her newest book. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I need to change that.





Well, that is my very ambitious fall TBR list. We shall see how close I get to completing it.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

**Review copy received from publisher

First I am going to put something out there that some of your are not going to be happy to hear! I didn't really like Eleanor and Park all that much! I mean, I liked it, But I didn't love it, and I didn't think it was this epic love story that brought me back to my teenage years- not at all. In saying that, I was maybe a little nervous going into Rainbow Rowell's newest novel, Fangirl. I honestly thought that it would take me forever to get into and that I would again be disappointed with what I got. However, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thought Fangirl was absolutely fantastic and I loved every minute of it. This book was SO much fun to read and it left me feeling happy once I had finished it. Fangirl for the most part fits into the New Adult category and Rowell's take on the genre was original and unique, incredibly realistic and relateable (to some extent at least). Fangirl is what New Adult should be. Just saying.

The story surrounds Cather (Cath) as she enters her first year of University (or College). She had initially though that she would be sharing a room with her twin sister Wren. However, last minute Wren decided that sharing a room with Cath wasn't something that she wanted. Therefore Cath was stuck sharing a room with stranger and losing touch with her sister. This is something that Cath really struggles with as she is incredibly anti-social and is often anxious is new situations. Cath is basically a wreck her first few weeks of college and the distance she is feeling from her sister is not helping. One thing that Cath can and does get comfort from is the fanfiction she writes.

I don't know how many good things I can say about this book. It was brilliant. Cath was not a perfect character. She was flawed and kind of strange and sometimes a bit extreme. But she was genuine and real. I could easily relate to her and the anxiety she felt being away from home and being unsure if she was in the right place. Cath's insecurities regarding making new friends and her ability to succeed academically were also things that I remembered feeling. Cath was an authentic representation of most people leaving home for the first time.

What's funny about Fangirl is that a good chunk of this novel surrounds Cath's career as a fanfiction writer. This was not something I could relate to. Believe it or not I was never a fanfiction reader. It honestly never entered my mind to search up some good ole' HP fanfic. There were a number of chunks in this novel that were dedicated to the telling of the Simon Snow story, and honestly I either skimmed over these pieces or skipped them totally. I felt like I was okay doing that. I don't think I missed anything important in the story by doing this. But that's me.

Overall, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell has everything you could ask for in a book. A fantasticly complex story, and slow burn romance and friendships that start off rocky but develop into something special. I loved every minute of this book and I am excited for you all to read it.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday:

I haven't been super consistent when it comes to posting Top Ten Tuesday lists. I have been all over the place when it comes to blogging, but this week I am very excited about the topic and I knew I had to participate. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

Top Ten Books I Would Love To See As A Movie/TV Show 

(set in a perfect world...in which movies don't butcher the books we love)

1) The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward- I want HBO to produce it and I want it to be perfect. I love these books- they are gritty, sexy and full of f bombs and sh*t kickers. And I think the stories would transfer well onto TV.  Maybe now that True Blood has only one season left HBO will be looking to fill it's vampire hole.

2) The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano- I think this series would make an interesting trio of films. For this to work they would need a stellar screen play and the casting would be important. 

3) The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han- I kind of would like to see this as a TV series. I feel like it would resonate well with teens these days. In saying that I would rather not see the CW pick it up. I am not a fan of the way they do contemporary stories. They over dramatise them. 

4) Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor- This would make a fantastic set of movies. But it would need to be done right. The books (well, the two that are out) are so beautifully written and are so magical, and I would hope that any on screen production of them would be able to express that. 

5) Pivot Point by Kasie West- This would make a really fun movie (it would actually probably do well as a tv series as well). The concept of two realities is always a fun one and seeing it on screen would be entertaining. 

6) Altered by Jennifer Rush- I just want to see who they would cast as the boys. The book has four very attractive men as the leads, just think about all the eye candy. the story also has a number of plot twists and action to make a good television series. But at the same time, they could also make it really corny. But this list is a fairy tale world where that wouldn't happen. 

7) Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys- This would make a fantastic movie. New Orleans in the 1920s. Not just that, the bookstore setting and the brothel. So much fun. 

8) The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer- Again, if done right, this series would be great movies. Cinder was fantastic book and Scarlet was even better. I think that sci-fi is becoming more popular these days and this would tip the scale. 

9) Bumped and Thumped by Megan McCafferty- These two books had such a weird plot and I think that would make a great TV show. Imagine a society were girls were trying to get pregnant in high school cause that's when they were the most fertile. A society that encouraged it. It'd be cool to see. 

10) The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts- This is a set of four books and they are so extremely romantic and feel good, that I am sure they would be great on screen. I would think more as a TV show versus four separate movies though.

Honourable Mentions:

1) The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo- It would be awesome to see these in movie form.
2) Across the Universe Trilogy by Beth Revis- Need I say more? Sci Fi futuristic themes are all the rage right now.
3) Dreamland by Sarah Dessen- This is a major issues novel and I think there are some great books out there that explore these situations and I think they should be considered for movies as well. Dreamland is just one of many that I think would be good to make. 

My Thoughts: The Truth About You & Me by Amanda Grace

Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things.

Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she's so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennett. He's cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she's endured - and missed out on - in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she's falling in love.

There's only one problem. Bennett is Madelyn's college professor, and he thinks she's eighteen - because she hasn't told him the truth.

**ARC received from Publisher for review**

There is something oddly fascinating about a forbidden relationship- specifically one between a student and a teacher. Maybe it's because 99.9 % of the time the relationship is doomed and I don't understand how anyone involved would think otherwise. So when I read the blurb for Amanda Grace's newest novel The Truth About You & Me I knew right away that I had to read it. This was even after I read Grace's novel, But I Love Him, and was not impressed with the way she approached such a sensitive subject. So I wasn't sure what I was going to get from The Truth About You & Me but I was curious enough to read it. For the most part I enjoyed this novel, however, a few weeks after reading it I am a little hazy as to why. This may be an indicator as to how unmemorable the story was. And funnily enough I remember thinking that as I read the book. Nothing really amazing happened that stayed with me, that made me go 'woah!"

The story begins with Madelyn our protagonist taking college classes as part of a program her highschool is offering. It is here that she meets Bennett, her biology professor. They are instantly attracted to one another and slowly begin this affair that is doomed from the start. However, Bennett doesn't know that. He has no idea that Madelyn is only sixteen years old.

The book is told through a letter from Madelyn to Bennett after their relationship is discovered. The purpose of this was to express Madelyn's reasons for keeping her age a secret from Bennett, and what their relationship gave her.  I actually really liked this part of the book. I have read a few reviews in which a number of people didn't appreciate that letter component. But it worked for me. What I found really interesting about this idea, was how readers were meant to sympathize with Madelyn and understand her need to be independent and break away from her family's high expectations of her. This was maybe her way of rebelling, but it was not a concious act. However for me, I found Madelyn a little selfish and not very mature. Knowingly keeping secrets (like huge make or break secrets) from someone you claim to love and you are fully aware that it's wrong is not a mature thing to do. In the end, I think you wind up more concerned/rooting for the teacher, rather than Madelyn herself.

In saying all this, while I enjoyed the novel while reading it I did find that it was a very surface level read. The story had no depth and it fell very flat for me. Grace did a lot of telling instead of showing. Maybe that's what you get with this style of story telling, but I don't know if I believe that. The characters were okay, but like I said earlier Madelyn's decision making skills needed work.

Overall, The Truth Between You & Me was enjoyable while reading it and was dramatic enough to keep me reading. But after I put the book down it was hard to remember what I liked about it.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

August Wrap Up

Well hello there,

It's the end of August already is it? That is craziness! I can't believe that the summer is already over and real life starts again soon. Well real life for me. I am back to school next week and that means I won't have as much time to read as I would like. But anywho more on that later.

I read eight books in August, which for me is absolutely epic. I am pretty proud of myself for that one. But in turn I only reviewed ONE (1) book! Who am I? Anywho here's goes.

Books Read:

Asunder by Jodi Meadows (Finally)
The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
The Edge of Never by JA Redmerski
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (for bookclub)
Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
The Boy Who Sneaks Into My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley
Arranged by Cahterine Mckenzie

Books Reviewed:

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tcholke (My Thoughts)

Random:

-I took part in the Bout of Books Read-A-Thon this month. I did okay during the week and completely lost it on the weekend. But what can you do. I really participating in the read-a-thon.

-I also posted the A to Z survey that Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner/ Broke and Bookish came up with. It was fun thinking up the answers to that one.

-I saw The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie last week. I really liked it and will maybe talk about why little in the month.

Challenges:

Debut Author Challenge: 9/20 I barely read any YA in August never mind a debut. We'll see how goes with this one.

YA Audiobook Challenge: 5/12 I have a review coming soon. I still don't think that I am going to get 7 more YA audio books "read" and reviewed this year.

2013 Reading Challenge: 57/75 I am currently eight books ahead, that is 10% and I am feeling pretty stoked about that. I can DO this!

Little Announcements:

I am back at school this week and as it is right now I am registered for five classes (this is A LOT). At this point I am trying to figure out some kind of blogging/commenting schedule. I would like to post one (1) review a week and perhaps some other post- like Top Ten Tuesday, or some other discussion post thing. We shall see. I would also like to take the time get the whole comment pact thing going again, with commenting on ten posts a day. I think this is achievable. However, there may be weeks where I will disappear into the abyss of academia. We shall see though.

Anywho, that's it for me this month. I hope you enjoy.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

A to Z Survey

So by now you all have seen this little survey going around. It was created by Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner as a way to stave off blogger/blogging bordem. I think it's a brilliant idea and so today, may I present to you my A to Z survey.

Author you’ve read the most books from:

Nora Roberts- This is a little embarrassing- I haven't read a novel by Nora Roberts in a few years and still according to Goodreads she's who've I've a lot by. Megan Hart comes in second though and I'm okay with that.

Best Sequel Ever:

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer- I liked Cinder (a lot), but I really liked Scarlet. I think it took the story to a whole new level. 

Currently Reading:

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Tea! I am a BIG tea drinker! It makes me happy. My favourites are Red Rose (Orange Pekoe) and Celestial Seasons Madagascar Vanilla (Rooibos). 

E-reader or Physical Book?

I absolutely prefer physical books. But since I got my new Kobo Aura I have found that I have been using it more often. But I like the way books look on my shelf.  

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Hmm- Probably Conrad from The Summer I Turned Pretty. I had the biggest crush on all the older boys when I was in HS. They all seemed so mature and mysterious to me. 

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley 

Hidden Gem Book:

45 Pounds (More of Less) by KA Barson

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

The moment my grandmother went through her book boxes with me and showed me how to read the genre tags on the spines of books. It was than that I could finally tell the difference between her "fiction" "suspense" and "romance novels. 

Just Finished:

The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I don't know that there are any books that I won't try. I am not a huge fan of non-fiction. I generally only read them for school. 

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling (870 pages). 

Whoop whoop! I knew Harry Potter would find itself onto my list. 

Major book hangover because of:

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. 

I devoured this book. I read it the first week it came out and it took me two days. While working eight hours a day on both days. This may be why I have only read it once. 

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Two- But it certainly isn't enough. I also have a dresser in which I use the drawers to house my books. 

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

The Hunter's Moon by OR Melling- I read this for the first time when I was in the fourth grade and have reread it a number of times since then. It's one of my favourites. 

Preferred Place To Read:

My chair in my room. It's big and cozy. I can easily snuggle up into it and read for hours. 

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

"I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labour has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This book did something to me when I read it. I can't pinpoint what it is. But it was something. I actually have this passage as the screen saver for me phone. 

Reading Regret:

I think my biggest reading regret is getting caught up in the hype of a novel. And feeling like I ABSOLUTELY need to read it right away because it seems like EVERYONE is reading it and loving it. In my experience when a book is overly talked about I kind of don't like it. This is not the rule, but it happens to me more often than not. Make sense? 

Series You Started And Need To Finish (all books are out in series):

1) Across the Universe (I've only read the first one)

2) The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (I've read the first two)

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

1) Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta 

2) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 

3) Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult 

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Megan Hart- The first book I ever read by her- Dirty- was amazing. It is absolutely up there in my top five favourite books. I think she's a brilliant writer and if you want to try something that is out of your comfort zone, check her out. 

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

I get a little over excited at the prospect of a new Black Dagger Brotherhood novel. But coming in March of 2014 is The King which is a different spin on the series. I am very excited about it. 

Worst Bookish Habit:

I don't think that I have bad bookish habits. But you know. While I do make it a habit of using a bookmark if I can't find one I just break the spine of my book and lay it flat. Doesn't matter if it's a paperback or hard cover. This is usually why I break the spines of my books (oh yeah, I do that too).

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Your latest book purchase:

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Boundless by Cynthia Hand- I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen and I lost HOURS of sleep.

Thanks so much to Jamie for coming up with this fun survey. You can find the original post here. 

~Happy Reading Everyone!