Black Friday Book Bonanza Giveaway Hop!

Avoid the crowds and get your book-ish shopping done from the comfort of your own home during the 5th Annual Black Friday Book Bonanza Hop  - hosted by BookShelfery & Caffeinated Book Reviewer

***

The winner can select any one book (up to $15 value)

International entries welcome as long as The Book Depository ships to your country.

To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

Winner will be  contacted via email and announced on this form on December 1st

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

Happy Thanksgiving!

I always take this time to thank the bloggers and followers who I’m so thankful to have in my life.

I’ve really struggled to hang in there with this blogging thing the past few years so I have a few special bloggers I want to thank for helping me stick it out and remember why this community is so special.

 The Geeky Blogger – I consider Felicia my blogging role model. She has FUN  with her blog. She takes breaks when she needs to. She spotlights authors,  narrators, bloggers, libraries - not just whatever is trendy. She co-hosts  #fitreaders which keeps me moving and motivated. She has such a healthy  attitude about the whole thing and whenever I start to feel overwhelmed I look  to her to center myself and to remind me why I blog.

 Books for Life – Blodeudd is my unofficial (she doesn’t even know it)        blogging assistant. Because of our time difference she comments on my posts  in the middle of the night (my time) so I wake up to an email from her almost  every morning. It’s the first thing I read everyday. She’s the first to alert me  about a formatting problem or– if I don’t get an email – I know that blogger  didn’t post as scheduled. It's happened a lot! lol And she writes hilariously  honest reviews.

 One Curvy Blogger – One of the saddest things over the past few years, is  how many of my favorite bloggers have quit. It’s been difficult to find newer  blogs that are honest, review a variety of genres and that are hosted by people  that actually want to connect with readers – not just get hits or fangirl. I  discovered One Curvy Blogger a few months ago (she’s been blogging for 1  yr - but seems much older and wiser) and she has restored my faith. It’s all  the things I love in a blog – fun posts, variety, interaction and through Sarah I  have found several other new blogs to follow.




 YA Romantics – I’ve been lucky enough to meet Jen in *real life* and  consider her a good friend. I honestly don’t think I would have hung in there  without her. She’s supportive, a great sounding board for those times I've  needed to vent and there isn’t anyone I trust more for sound advice or a  book  recommendation. She’s been around for all the big blogger kerfuffles  over  the years and has a way of bringing me down off the drama llama cliff.




Offbeat YA – Roberta and I don't have much in common when in comes to reading genres but she’s become a good blogger friend. She’s a dedicated supporter of overlooked YA and her fellow bloggers and it’s that enthusiasm that makes her one of the people I’m most thankful for this year. She’s like my own personal cheering squad on the days I need it most. {hugs}

My 5 Monkeys – Julie is one of the bloggers who quit this year. It was sad because she’s been there since the beginning with me but I also get why she needed to. The reason I’m including her in this list anyway is because even though she isn’t blogging anymore it hasn’t changed our friendship one bit. You can make lifelong and real friendships through blogging.

And I want that message to get out there. People have been looking negatively on the book blogging community recently. I can’t even say there isn't good reason because there have been quite a few incidents that have shaken my own resolve, BUT if you seek out the bloggers that fit in with your mindset – they're out there – then this is a hobby that has more rewards than negatives.

And of course that’s not everyone I adore and I don’t want to leave anyone out – so here’s my list of my must visit blogs.

Talk Supe | Herding Cats & Burning Soup | Du Livre | Books and Things | Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf | Shooting Stars Mag | Pen and Paper | Brandi Breathes Books | Boricuan Bookworms | Caffeinated Book Reviewer | Addicted to Romance | It Starts at Midnight | Keionda Hearts Books | Night Owl Book Café | In the Hammock Blog | Fictitious Delicious | Brooke Reports | The Book Swarm | Addicted to Novels

And thank you to @luarroyave for *all the things*! & @LRAtRandom for the zombie/bad movie talk

DNF Review: Steal Me (New York’s Finest #2) by Lauren Layne

IN HOT PURSUIT
Being a cop might be in Anthony Moretti's blood, but protecting and serving the city of New York has always been more than just the family business. If that means his love life stays locked up, well then that's just another sacrifice made in the line of duty. That is, until he sets eyes on the gorgeous new waitress at The Darby Diner and suddenly Anthony's morning coffee is leaving him a whole lot more hot and bothered than usual.

Though waitressing at The Darby isn't exactly Maggie Walker's dream job, it pays the bills and gives her time to work on her novel. Now if only she could stop fantasizing about gorgeous Anthony Moretti every time he sits down at her table, she'd really be in great shape. But when he needs her help identifying a criminal threatening The Darby—and Maggie recognizes her ex-husband—she fears her fresh start might be a pipe dream. Faster than a New York minute, Maggie and Anthony find themselves in one perilous pursuit that only gets hotter with each and every rule-breaking kiss. ~ Goodreads


Source: e-arc provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: Lauren Layne is an author that several of my followers recommended to me so I snapped up this book when it became available for review.

I barely made it it to the 100 page mark though, so this is a DNF review, based only on what I read & why I didn’t finish - not the book in it’s entirety.

We’re introduced to the hero, Anthony, while he’s having dinner with his family at a local diner. He is supposed to be gruff and under stress from his job as a cop but he was such an asshat – especially to the heroine - that I disliked him instantly.

Anthony comes off as a throwback to the Neanderthal hero type from older romances and Maggie is the sweet heroine who is a clumsy waitress, spilling things all over Anthony because he’s…good looking? I don’t really know because otherwise he’s such a jerk. He’s super mean to her but then of course the clumsy waitress says something plucky and then BING! he wants her!

I do understand that there is a character arc. The hero is a Mr. Grumpy pants and the love of the heroine softens him. He'll end up nice. It takes a little time for all of that to play out and usually I’m patient but I just couldn't connect to either of these two.

During the scene at the diner with Anthony and his family, I found ALL of his siblings more interesting than either Maggie or Anthony so I wouldn’t mind trying a different book by the author with a different couple. Maybe this just wasn’t the one for me.

If you’re a fan of Layne, feel free to recommend your favorites to me in the comments.

* One of my fave bloggers Anna, at Herding Cats & Burning Soup loved it so check out her Quote-tastic review before deciding to read/pass.

Review: How We Began Anthology–various authors, edited by Edie Danford

How does love begin?

A glance, a gesture, an unexpected offer of help from a stranger…or from a good friend. A smile across a counter at a coffee shop or video store. A secret revealed in a song from another place and time. Or in a love ballad crooned at a high school dance.

In this anthology of never-before-published sweet LGBTQ+ stories, six authors explore the beginnings of love between young and new adult couples. All proceeds will support The Trevor Project's work with crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. ~ Goodreads


Source: Purchased

Review:

Overview of the anthology as a whole: This was one of the better anthologies I’ve read. There isn’t a bad story in the group and I was pleasantly surprised at the variety in both genre - sci-fi-ish future, dragons!, contemporary, YA, NA - and with the LGBTQ spectrum. This isn’t just M/M. There are Transgender, Lesbian, Bi, Gay and even Autism Spectrum stories and characters. I do hope we see more of this.

Most of the stories are YA, while a few take place in college or just heading to college but the heat level is low – steamy kisses at the most. There are no HEA’s or even HFN – this is “how they began”, not the full story - but all end happy with a future left wide open with potential.

Now on to each individual story:

TruNorth by Alexis Hall

He’s the nice one. Everybody’s third or fourth favourite. His name is Noah and his job is to be young and free, wild but not too wild, exciting but safe. He has everything he’s ever wanted, and he’s beginning to think it sucks.

When TruNorth play New Berlin, he follows his bandmate Callum (the quiet one, the one the shy girls go for) into the old city. To a club where everything is possible and everything is true.

My thoughts: As a member of the boy band TruNorth, Noah should be living the dream. Rich and famous yet every move is monitored to maintain each members carefully choreographed media image. Think One Direction in a slightly sci-fi near future.

Noah is collapsing under the weight of not being able to be his true self and finds surprising freedom and solace after following his band mate, Callum, to a club one night while touring in New Berlin. Noah’s reality is turned upside down and set free that night in this sweet romance that dares the boys to break free and be true to themselves.

Unexpected Dragons by Delphine Dryden

If Zev could wish his way into his dragon form, he would already be flying with the rest of his training group. But now it's high summer, and fear is taking over. If he hasn't made the change by now...maybe he'll never be a dragon.

Zev doesn't want to leave the village on the crag, leave his family and the rest of the dragon kin. He doesn't want to go down to the grasslands where the non-kin live—flat landers, earthbound. He worries his friend Rook may be headed that way. So how can Rook seem so calm about it?

But once Zev does change, a new dilemma greets him. Even staying in the village may mean a life he didn't bargain for. If only he could borrow a little of Rook's patient wisdom--reach out and take it from his slender hands, his petal-soft lips. If only Zev could unfurl his new wings and follow Rook up and up and up, into the blinding brilliance of a summer sky.

My thoughts: Um….dragons. Need I say more? This would make an awesome series! It also does a great job of exploring themes of gender stereotypes and expectations.

A Song for Sweater-boy by Vanessa North

Ash Cooper has made a mess—an angry prank turned into a criminal mischief charge and now he’s on probation. Jamie Allen has a talent for pattern recognition, but he’s not so great with people—how can someone as well-liked as Ash Cooper not have all the answers? An unlikely friendship springs up between them as they navigate senior year, a probation sentence, and—oh

My thoughts: This was my favorite of the group. It had a very Simon vs. the Homo Saipan Agenda vibe. Ash and Jamie were so damn sweet I thought I might die of cuteness overload. Not to say there weren’t complications or that it wasn’t a bumpy road but…omgthecuteness

North is a new author to me, I had read several of the others before, but I will be checking out her books immediately!

The Taste of Coffee and Cream by Amy Jo Cousins

Jude lives for Saturdays, when she can hop a bus and escape to wander the streets of a town where no one knows her, reveling in the freedom to be her true self. She isn’t interested in making friends, but some people become friends whether you invite them to or not.

Owen works the counter at the coffee shop where Jude changes clothes and she thinks maybe he knows things she usually keeps hidden. When he reveals her secret to someone else, Jude will have to decide if she can hang onto enough trust to let her take the biggest risk of all…

My thoughts: This was the most intense story of the anthology. It was told in 3rd person so I felt a little removed from Jude at first but then you fall into and realize it’s perfect for her story. Jude’s life is sad and fraught with danger but then she’s given a lifeline and hope from people who care enough to make the effort. Beautiful ending.

First in Line by Annabeth Albert

When new Cathia College freshman, Ethaniel Rhodes arrives on campus, he’s determined to finally be true to himself, but getting the courage to follow through with his plan proves harder than he thought. Unexpected allies, new friends, and an intriguing upperclassman all complicate his first days on campus. Ultimately, however, only Ethaniel can decide whether the time is right to take a leap of faith.

My thoughts: Another nice romance from Albert – a favorite M/M author of mine. I felt like I’ve read this particular type of story before but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.

Extinction Level Events by Geonn Cannon

Recent high-school graduate Cassandra Keane is leaving the town she's known her whole life and heading to college. Before she goes, she has a list of things she has to do that includes a difficult conversation with her best friend. As her time runs out, Cassandra learns there are some things you can't plan, and other things you can miss even if they're right under your nose.

My thoughts: This one started a little ho hum for me – I thought it was going to go in a particular way but then the author threw in a nice twist that made the story so much more real. Nicely done!

*As mentioned in the summary – All proceeds go to The Trevor Project – the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.

Mini reviews…First & Then by Emma Mills, A Step Towards Falling by Cammie McGovern

Both First & Then and A Step towards Falling have a Pride & Prejudice, football theme.

Both do a great job at exploring the difficult time of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. They both also explore difficult topics with a lighter touch – which didn’t quite work for me. They seemed more intent on squeezing their romance into the Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth/Darcy mold rather than addressing some of the weightier issues they brought up.

But here are my quick thoughts and you decide for yourself if they might work better for you…


Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself. ~ Goodreads


Source: ARC provided by publisher via BEA15

My thoughts: First & Then was a book I devoured in three hours. It was a light, fluffy read that brought back a lot of those awkward teenage feelings from high school. Devon is average – no great skills, or interests (other than reading and comparing her life to P&P) and that’s something I could really relate to. She’s juggling an unrequited crush on her best friend, a cousin who she feels protective over, even though he puts her firmly in the uncool camp because of his childlike enthusiasm, and decisions about her future.

There’s no big dramatic story arc and the side characters are never developed enough for you to feel overly invested in the outcome despite the heavier topics it skirts around- and Foster pretty much steals the show - but I liked First & Then despite the flaws.

***  

In A Step Toward Falling, Cammie McGovern tells a poignant, compelling story of not judging people on appearances and knowing how to fix the things you've broken.

Emily has always been the kind of girl who tries to do the right thing - until one night when she does the worst thing possible. She sees Belinda, a classmate with developmental disabilities, being attacked. Inexplicably, she does nothing at all.

Belinda, however, manages to save herself. When their high school finds out what happened, Emily and Lucas, a football player who was also there that night, are required to perform community service at a center for disabled people. Soon, Lucas and Emily begin to feel like maybe they're starting to make a real difference. Like they would be able to do the right thing if they could do that night all over again. But can they do anything that will actually help the one person they hurt the most? ~ Goodreads


Source: ARC provided by the publisher via BEA15

My thoughts: This was another good book that explored the responsibilities and decisions that mark the transition into adulthood. I also love how McGovern writes people with disabilities as fully fleshed out characters with hopes, dreams and sexuality. (As she also did in her debut novel, Say What You Will). If A Step Towards Falling was just about that it would have worked better for me.

Emily and Lucas are assigned to community service at a center for people with disabilities after witnessing and attack on a girl with developmental disabilities that they did nothing to stop. The story is told from both Emily (one of the witnesses) and Belinda (the girl who was attacked).

As much as I may have liked the individual storylines - like the romance, the volunteering - I had a problem with turning something as serious as rape, into a lighter story so that the leads could find romance! and put on a play! It’s not that any of that is wrong or even unrealistic but it was so weird to just gloss over something like that and then think a rousing rendition of Pride and Prejudice will be just the thing to put things right.

Review: Rebound Remedy by Christine d'Abo

The last thing Cole expects to get for the holidays is dumped. But there he is, in the airport on his way to Banff for a romantic getaway, helplessly watching as his boyfriend’s ex declares undying love, proposes—and is accepted. With a few weeks to go until Christmas, Cole’s mood dives from jolly to jaded. But instead of sitting at home alone and feeling sorry for himself, he goes to his favorite bar, McGregor’s, for a pint and some company.

The moment Owen McGregor sets eyes on Cole, he knows there’s something wrong. So he takes it upon himself to ensure that Cole has a happy holiday: twelve outings for the twelve days before Christmas. Even if he can’t quite think up twelve activities that don’t involve getting the forlorn hunk into his bed.

With each outing they take together, Cole realizes that the love he thought he’d shared with his ex was less than perfect. And that Owen might prove to be more than just his rebound remedy. ~ Goodreads
-----------------------
Twenty percent of the proceeds from this title will be donated to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) National Help Center.

Source: e-arc provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rebound Remedy is a really sweet holiday romance novella. I didn't think the author could pull off a believable HEA in such a short story but she did.

Although Cole is initially the one with the issues – he gets dumped by his boyfriend right before the holidays - Owen's fears come out of nowhere and take center stage towards the end and weakened the story IMO.

Other than that I would still highly recommend this one for a quick holiday read with engaging characters that will get you into the romantic/holiday spirit in no time.

Music: Brick + Mortar - TRAIN

Today’s music is Train by Brick + Mortar

website

The video is an homage to iconic romantic movie moments. Enjoy!

Review: Operation Foreplay by Christine Hughes

SLOWING DOWN THE SEX-CELERATOR . . .Melody Ashford hates waiting for anything-especially sex. But after a disastrous affair and a one-nighter with Mr. Micropenis, Mel realizes she's suffering from some bad bedroom juju. And no amount of hot, casual, or friends-with-benefits hookups is going to fix it. Instead, Mel's decided to resist the demands of her ladyparts.

Saying no might have been no problem . . . except that her temporary roommate, Jared Myers, is all kinds of hot male sex on a stick. Now Mel is consumed by all manner of dirty thoughts, and remembering why she decided to "go slow" is getting harder and harder. ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Review:

First let me start out by saying how much I loved the sex positive characters in this book. Everyone has a healthy libido and there’s zero slut shaming. There were some truth bombs dropped from friends but those came from a place of love not shame. But…

I get it – you all have sex, love sex, do kinky things and like to talk about it with each other. Incessantly. I think this book crossed the line from fun and sassy to cloying after a while.

The book starts with Melody having an affair with her married boss. I tamped down my judgment because I understood that this was going to be about Melody’s growth and eventual hook up with another guy. But…

There are more hot scenes with the married boss (& as far as I could tell – unprotected sex) than Jared and Melody is just filled with contradictions. She loves sex, has lots of hot sex with different men (pre-Jared) but then complains no one ever turns her on but her boss. She longs for him to leave his wife but then talks about not wanting a serious relationship. It’s not major but I kept saying huh? Who are you Melody?

But the most annoying thing of all was the repetitive use of the phrases “lady boner” and “I’m going to blow a load” by Melody and Jared.

Once she starts dating Jared, they agree to a no sex rule so that they can base their relationship on something more - which is admirable.

The lack of sex (no sex – including no  masturbation) should have led to a lot of sexual tension but after a while they just sounded like two annoying teenagers who make each other horny and then the end was so abrupt I was like – that’s it – it’s over???

If you like bawdy stories and friends with no filter. Melody shows a lot of growth without changing her personality and there are a lot of laughs. Like I said – it’s very sex positive and Jared is relentlessly sexy in his pursuit of Melody. This just wasn't the book for me.

November TBR pile…

November is a ridiculously easy *required* reading month for me.

I finally worked my way through the BEA15 pile – which was my goal for 2015. I get really disappointed in myself when I don’t finish those books. I STILL have BEA books unread from 2011 so I was determined to read everything I picked up this year.

So here is the November reading TBR! totally doable and the lightest TBR pile I’ve had in a while. Click on the covers to see the Goodreads page.

---

I only have one BEA15 ARC left – Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin.

Three review books:

 

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart is the book I'm MOST looking forward to reading!

For fun reads:

Magic Shifts is my reward for finishing the BEA books! Curran!!!!!

I loved the novella from this series and Talk Supe was nice enough to send me this book!

What is on your November TBR pile?

Sign up for the 2016 Blogger Shame Review Challenge!

I have mentioned in the past that I am challenge challenged. Other than the Goodreads Reading Challenge I don’t bother joining any these days. It becomes an epic fail and feel like a loser.

Basically, if I’m reading 100’s of dystopian/YA/Debut Authors etc a year and I join a challenge for those books I then have ZERO desire to read them anymore.

But two things changed my mind about joining the 2016 Blogger Shame Review Challenge, hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup and Addicted to Happily Ever After.

1.) I had already had the goal of reading the older, neglected books on my shelf in 2016. But as we established above that’s not enough incentive – in fact joining the challenge to read my old books would make me NOT want to read my old books! Yikes– I’m so complicated! lol

Which leads me to…

2.) The challenge button. This is my incentive. I ADORE this button and I want to use it as many times as possible.

See! Look a the cuteness!!

Here are the general details (check out Anna’s post for full deets – link above)

Challenge begins Jan 1, 2016 and ends Dec 31, 2016

All review books that have been on your review list for 6+ months count.

Any book format counts.

Crossovers with other challenges are okay.

You pick the number of books for your individual challenge.

Once a quarter there will be a wrap up post to show off progress!

(sign up post--now through jan or whenever you join)

quarter 1 post--end of March
quarter 2 post--end of June
quarter 3 post--end of September
quarter 4 post--end of Dec wrap up post

And incentives (which I don’t need because I just want the button lol)

There will be four giveaways. One each quarter.

Each review you complete during that quarter and link up will enter you into a gift card giveaway!

---

Here are the books I hope to read for the challenge.

I’m using a two tiered system so I don’t get overwhelmed and freak out.

The first pic are the books I really want to read but just haven’t gotten to yet - and to me – would complete the challenge.
 



The second pic is of books I would like to read but no pressure…


 
Wish this challenge challenged blogger luck!

Guest Post: Ella Martin – Things I Wish I’d Known…

  

Click on the covers to go to the books Goodreads page

I loved Martin’s first book in her Westgate Prep series, Will the Real Prince Charming Please Stand Up?, for the way it dealt with a troubling trend in YA – the possessive boyfriend – I highly recommend this book and series for younger teens especially and parents looking for flawed, realistic, yet positive YA.

I’m thrilled to welcome Westgate Prep series author Ella Martin to the blog today to talk about her own experience attending a prep school. There’s a lot of wisdom in this list and I wish I could go back and read it to teen me.

~ My review for Book #1 Will the Real Prince Charming Please Stand Up? and I’ll be reading/reviewing book #2, I Love Him, I Love Him Not soon!

---

About a year before my last high school reunion, I was talking with some friends about our high school experience and marveled at how much we had in common regardless of where we ended up professionally or geographically. It was then that I started calling myself a prep school survivor. As I’ve revisited my prep school days writing the Westgate Prep series, I’ve come up with the following list of
things I wish I’d known.

1. Everyone’s life has static. Some people are just better than hiding it than others.

2. There’s always someone smarter than you are. Or prettier. Or more athletic. Or…or…or… They may not necessarily go to your school, but they’re out there. Somewhere. (Also, see #1. Their lives aren’t perfect, either.)

3. The people who cut you down are the most insecure. That’s because they see you as better than them in some respect.

4. The homecoming queen is probably lonelier than you think. Same for the student council
president, the captain of the football team, the yearbook editor, and everyone else. (Again, see
#1.)

5. Most romantic relationships that happen in high school are Happily For Now stories. Forever is a long way away.

6. It’s okay to have a life away from your friends—especially your significant other. It’s expected.
It’s even encouraged. (See #5.)

7. People in your close-knit circle of friends have secrets they’re afraid to share. Some are so well-
hidden, it will take years of therapy to come out. But even the people you think you really know
may be hiding something. (That’s #1 again.)

8. Not everyone is having sex. Or drinking. Or doing drugs. Or…or…or… And some of the people
you think are doing [insert thing here] aren’t. (See #7.)

9. No one cares where you went to high school once you’re in college. And if you go to school
outside your home state, there’s a good chance no one has even heard of your prep school.
(Also, see #2.)

10. Surviving prep school isn’t that different from surviving any other kind of high school—or life in
general. Some things are pretty universal.

The truly amazing thing about this list is how it applies to adulthood, too.

Find Ella! Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

---

Will the Real Prince Charming Please Stand Up? (Westgate Prep #1)

Bianca is the Westgate Prep quarterback’s sister—and that’s her only claim to fame. When her friends’ social experiment turns her into the It Girl of the Sopho-more class and she captures the attention of the most popular guy in her grade, though, she’s ecstatic to introduce the world to her first boyfriend. But no one’s ever told her what to do when her friends hate her boyfriend and Prince Charming starts acting like a control-freaky nightmare. It doesn’t help that being around her broth-er’s best friend is making her head all fuzzy, either. ~ Goodreads

I Love Him, I Love Him Not (Westgate Prep #2)

Talia Nicoletti’s life has been turned upside down–and that’s probably an understatement. Her mother goes off on a business trip… and comes back married! Her estranged father wants to be less estranged. And her best friend Jake DeSantos suddenly has a new confidante who Talia doesn’t want to like but kind of does anyway.

Talia has to unravel her tangled up emotions to figure out what she really wants. Does she want to accept her father back in her life? Can she trust her new-stepfather? There’s too much hitting her at once, and she’s not ready to deal with any of it. The one person she can always turn to is Jake, and he’s being secretive and isn’t exactly available. And that hurts her more than she thought possible. Talia prides herself on keeping her emotions in check and hates that she’s jealous of the new girl in Jake’s life, especially since she can’t decide if she loves him … or if she loves him not. ~ Goodreads

Music: High Dive – Andrew McMahon in the WIlderness

It think this one sounds like Death Cab for Cutie at first. And it's a little happier and bouncier than my usual picks lol

Review: White Collar Girl by Renee Rosen

The latest novel from the bestselling author of Dollface and What the Lady Wants takes us deep into the tumultuous world of 1950s Chicago where a female journalist struggles with the heavy price of ambition...

Every second of every day, something is happening. There’s a story out there buried in the muck, and Jordan Walsh, coming from a family of esteemed reporters, wants to be the one to dig it up. But it’s 1955, and the men who dominate the city room of the Chicago Tribune have no interest in making room for a female cub reporter. Instead Jordan is relegated to society news, reporting on Marilyn Monroe sightings at the Pump Room and interviewing secretaries for the White Collar Girl column.

Even with her journalistic legacy and connections to luminaries like Mike Royko, Nelson Algren, and Ernest Hemingway, Jordan struggles to be taken seriously. Of course, that all changes the moment she establishes a secret source inside Mayor Daley’s office and gets her hands on some confidential information. Now careers and lives are hanging on Jordan’s every word. But if she succeeds in landing her stories on the front page, there’s no guarantee she’ll remain above the fold. ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Review:
I've been wanting to read outside my comfort zone (typically I read YA, Adult romance) recently so I gave White Collar Girl a try, which is more literary, historical fiction with a touch of romance(s).

White Collar Girl started out strong. Rosen paints a very vivid picture of a 50's era newsroom. I could almost hear the typewriter keys clacking, phones ringing, papers shuffling and smell the smoky air.

Jordan is a fascinating character. She's a woman with the brains and ambition to be a hard news reporter. She comes from a family of respected writers and reporters. While she's not looking to use those connections to get ahead, she thought it would lend her an air of credibility in the male dominated news rooms. Instead she's assigned to the society pages to cover weddings and the like.

She encounters sexism, backstabbing and jealousies along the way all while staying determined to find the story that will help her break out and be taken seriously.

I think once I got past the initial introduction to the newsroom and characters the book falters a bit as Jordan starts finding stories to investigate. This should be the most interesting part. Instead I never found Jordan's adventures all that compelling. She just moves from story to story without much fanfare. They may start out with a hint of danger but nothing really comes of it.

As much as I loved Jordan's determination, she ultimately falls flat as a character. Her family has suffered a horrible loss and they deal with it by not speaking about it. She's been taught by her family to keep her feelings locked up tight. And while I could empathize with her - it doesn't make for all that interesting reading when she just walks walks away whenever a conversation or her relationships get tough.

There is a lot of famous name dropping - Ernest Hemingway, Eppie Lederer, Marilyn Monroe to name a few. Some of it works and adds authenticity to the era but most of the time it felt awkward and forced. Add in several unnecessary scenes that drag the story to a complete halt - bowling night, drinks after work, co-workers side projects and personal lives - and the second half meandered too much.

If Jordan had worked a few bigger stories rather than so many smaller ones the tension could have been ratcheted up and this would have been a real page turner.

This could have been a case of White Collar Girl not being the right fit for me. I'm the first to admit this is not my typical read.

I think if you're a fan of Mad Men, Chicago history/politics and definitely if you like a complex female lead struggling through being a career woman in the 50's, both personally and professionally - this might be the book for you.

October wrap-up!

Let’s announce a few winners first!

The October Pick Your Book winner is:

Jacklin B.

Congratulations Jacklin!

***

Thank you to Judith Graves for hosting the week long Crossroads Blog Tour and to all the participating authors. Hopefully you discovered a few new authors and spooky reads.
The winner of the Grand Prize $50 Amazon Gift Card was Birgit L. You can check out the Crossroads Blog Tour Facebook page for details and links to all the posts. 

---

For my November Giveaway – I’m going to do something a little different. I signed up for the 5th Annual Black Friday Book Bonanza Hop, hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer & Book Shelfery. I’m not sure what my prize will be yet but I can promise it will be book-ish and be international. So check back her on the 27th!

Then for December it’s my FIFTH year Blogoversary!!! I can’t believe I made it (well I’m not quite there yet but I think I’ll make it lol). I’m thinking up ideas for a fun giveaway so keep that in mind for Dec.

---

October reading:


Reading started off sloooow but I seemed to get a second wind and it picked up the last two weeks for a total of 20 books read. From my October TBR pile, I passed on two books – Storm, These Shallow Graves, read 5 – Vengeance Road, Signs Point to Yes, this Ordinary Life, The Rest of Us Just Live Here, Food Whore, I’m reading First & Then right now (cute), and still need to read Wolf by Wolf, Rescue Road and A Step Towards Falling. Not bad. And of course I went of course and read other books too….

Full list of October reads: (I added links if I reviewed it)

M/M

LOVED Real World, and Waiting for Clark (freebie) and Status Update. Falling for His Roommate was baaaaad

Halloween freebie:

Quick, light and freebie

YA Contemp:

This Ordinary Life and Signs Point to Yes were just meh but I loved The Rest of Us Just Live Here

YA historical/western

Meh…

Adult contemp:

Meh…

Historical:

Star Dust was Historical Romance set in the 60’s – loved it! White Collar Girl is more literary fiction and was meh

NA:

Interesting novella about grief and love with a touch of the supernatural

Contemp romance:

Still trying to work out my feelings on this one. It was funny at times but I disliked almost every character…

---

For those who celebrate – did you have a fun Halloween? We had SOOOO many Trick or Treaters that I ran out of candy at 90 kids…

I posted this on Twitter so most of you have probably seen it already but here are my kids dressed up over the years. I swear that they enjoy it. They kids in the neighborhood loved it so they would go trick or Treating once the kids got home from school

The weird one with the box (top pic on the left below the pirates) is Plant vs. Zombies. that’s a little obscure if you don’t know about the game. lol