Review: November 9 by Colleen Hoover

November 9 by Colleen Hoover

Publisher-  Atria Books

Released- Nov 10th 2015

Purchase- Amazon / B & N / Chapters

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

My Thoughts:

I just realized something I do, or rather, say to myself ever time I read a Colleen Hoover book, and only when I read a Colleen Hoover book. It always starts the same way, I'll read the first page and be instantly absorbed seconds in, then I'll hit a line that I found clever, a piece of dialogue that was witty or a whole passage that's thoughtful and meaningful and then there is that moment when the plot twist comes into play, and it's then that I breath out the words; Dame, she's good! My favorite part of reading Hoover's books is that I never quite know what kind of feels I'm going to experience and that's something I'll never get tired of. That's really saying something since I'm not a big contemporary romance fan to begin with, so to always expect and look forward to originality and unpredictability for this genre is rather rare for me and yet, I do every single time I reach for Hoover's latest release. 

November 9, is a brilliant, funny and touching story that I couldn't help fall instantly in love with. Ben and Fallon's story is a very unique one. They met when they were 18 years old at a very unusually circumstance, but after they spent the entire day together they realized that they made an undeniable connection that they didn't want to lose despite Fallon leaving for NY that very night. So, they made a pact to see each other every year on November 9th for 5 years, till the age of 23. But they have absolutely no contact with one another during the year. No social media and no exchanged phone numbers. Just a promise that they will live their lives and meet again. But they never realized that night that even though this may have started out as pretend, it became the most real that either of them have ever experienced.

Dame, I cant get over this book! Colleen Hoover has written some great books and they have all touched me in different ways, but for some reason this one really took a piece of my heart. I think I loved how realistic it felt but in such an unrealistic concept. I mean, who really does this? Meet a guy or girl and make a connection so hugely that they are willing to meet year after year with no contact? But that is what's so amazing about this. It feels like it could happen. Y'all can say what you want about insta-love, you either hate it or love it, but for me? In this book? I think we could all use more of this kind of insta-love in our lives. It was quite precious.

Ben and Fallon are such perfectly flawed characters that made so many stupid and wonderful mistakes and decisions down the long road of November 9th. But I loved them both and wanted to shake them both throughout the entire length of their story.

Ben is absolutely amazing. Seriously, I loved this guy. He's funny and impulsive and he can be such a guy in that teenage immature but still charming way. But what I loved about him the most was how he saw Fallon and how devoted he was to her. My heart bleed for all of his scars, even if the reader didn't know they were there till much later. Fallon was also an amazing character, but I have to admit I think I wanted to shake her straight the most. She's had to endure some horrible things in her past but I was proud of her for believing in herself and not giving up on her dreams. I loved the version she became when she was with Ben. She felt so alive and free and infectiously happy but I hated that she kept walking away. I hated that she let her old doubts and insecurities break her with out even hearing an explanation.

Bottom line, this book was so beautiful, I loved every single line, every single moment and every single feels it placed in my heart. I also have to say that I had the biggest dame grin when I saw that one of my favorite couples from one of Hoover's books made a small cameo appearance. It made my heart so flippin' happy!! Hoover has done it again and I can't wait for her next book and to expect the unexpected all over again. Well done!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                 5 Snowflakes

Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

Confess by Colleen Hoover 

Published: March 10, 2015

Publisher: Atria Books

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.


Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin… 

My Thoughts

“There are people you meet that you get to know and then there are people you meet that you already know.”
Emotional and full of heart! A Hoover book that reminds me why I fell in love with her writing so long ago.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Colleen Hoover that shot straight to my heart. I remain an avid fan of Slammed and Point of Retreat because those books were pure magic. As I’ve witnessed Hoover become a seasoned writer with a crazy avid fan following, I’ve waiting patiently for her next book to move me like her debut novels.

Thankfully, after a few years of waiting, I can sigh with relief in knowing that she hasn’t lost her touch when it comes to crafting characters that slip into my heart and affect my psyche. I finished this book a few days ago, and I’m still thinking about Auburn and Owen. I’m glad I waited a few days to let this experience process because where I might have given this book four stars and just moved on, forcing myself to wait, process her story and then review and rate it proved to me that Confess was more than just a story. It was an experience in and of itself.

Confess is told in two different perspectives, which I believe is a style of writing Hoover excels at. She starts off with Auburn Mason Reed sharing her experience with a tragic loss that happened at the age of fifteen.

Forward five years later and Auburn finds herself back in Texas on a quest to right some wrongs. In need of money and stumbling upon a “Help Wanted” ad she lands a job at an art gallery of sorts where she helps Owen Mason Gentry (yes, cute initials that were well played in the book – OMG), the artist, sell his confession paintings. These paintings are inspired by peoples’ confessions and every first Thursday of the month he opens his gallery for the public to come and purchase his artwork.

As Owen and Auburn realize the undeniable attraction between each other, they are faced with obstacles that keep them apart.

I’m going to stop there for fear that I’ll give something away. This story had a series of delayed revelations that unfolded in the later chapters, and as each twist revealed itself, it added to the depth of the novel. How the small details of the story came together at the end reminded me how clever Colleen Hoover can be in her story-telling.

Overall, I enjoyed just about everything in this book. Auburn and Owen commanded the stage with their voices. I loved the red-hot chemistry between these two, and I appreciated the deliberate care they took in fostering their relationship. Owen was sheer perfection. I think Will from Slammed has a little bit of competition! ☺

Confess is unique in its own right and amazing by default. A novel I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. Loved it!

5 Snowflakes

Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Published August 5, 2014
Publisher: Atria Books

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

My Thoughts
“Love isn’t always pretty…Sometimes you spend all of your time hoping it’ll eventually be something different. Something better. Then, before you know it, you’re back to square one, and you lost your heart somewhere along the way.”

First off, let me start off by sharing that I’m a HUGE fan of Colleen Hoover. I was fortunate enough to stumble upon her debut novels Slammed and Point of Retreat before the fandom gained any momentum. Top that amazing fictional journey with a personal experience of having the author contact me to express her gratitude and sending me a personalized copy of each book. I swear I immediately fell in love with this lady. Truly amazing.

To this day, those two novels hold a special spot in my heart because of it being my first experience with New Adult and my exposure to a genuinely nice author. So to continue to see the success she’s realized with her other novels is complete bliss. At the same time, it makes it difficult to review her newest book without a touch of bias towards her that has me convincing myself before I even turn a page and meet her characters that I’m in love with anything she writes. That’s I think the biggest struggle I’ve had with the last couple of Hoover books, so it saddens me that I didn’t quite feel the excitement, bliss, and adoration for the story and the characters of Ugly Love.

Were it another author, one that I didn’t have a past love affair with her writing, I think I’d have one of my rare moments of ranting about my feelings. However, in this case I’m going to take a gentler approach because I’m still battling with my feelings about Ugly Love and a huge part of me is disappointed that I’m not experiencing a squee-moment with Miles and Tate.

So let me piece this out...

In Ugly Love, we got to meet Tate, who’s studying nursing and working in a hospital as she finishes up her Masters. She’s hardworking, driven and pretty much the type of character I find it hard not to like. When she moves into her brother Corbin’s apartment, she literally stumbles upon a passed-out drunk Miles who is blocking her entrance into her apartment. They later have a less inebriated introduction and soon decide to enter into a “friends with benefits” type relationship...minus the friends aspect you could say. However, where Miles pulls out all of the stops to keep the relationship strictly physical and non-emotional, Tate starts to fall for this quiet, broken and distant character.

So here goes… I kept wondering why this novel was titled Ugly Love and my first conclusion was that it wasn’t Miles who experienced an Ugly Love in my opinion. When we witness his “six years earlier” experience that molded who he was at present time, what he experienced wasn’t ugly at all. It was nourishing, deep yet tragic. Not ugly…

However, Tate’s experience with Miles was truly, in all sense of the word, UGLY. The way she was treated by Miles felt so wrong and I struggled with that because I immediately came to like Tate, so I felt resentment, disappointment and at times disgust toward Miles. As a result, every time we switched to Miles “six years earlier” I couldn’t muster an ounce of sentiment for his situation and ultimate breaking point… No surprise… I didn’t cry. Even more disappointing was that as Tate continued to allow Miles to treat her in such a degrading way (view spoiler), I started to lose respect for a character I had initially liked.

I wanted to give Tate the gift of goodbye. I wanted her to leave Miles and not look back. I wanted her to preserve some self-respect. I wanted her to find someone else that was worthy of her. That was truly an emotional roll-a-coaster!

At the end of the novel, I felt myself lose a connection with both Miles and Tate, which was disappointing because I wanted to enjoy their hard-earned ending, but by that point I truly had no vested interest in their conclusion.

Okay, in the spirit of trying to salvage something good from this experience, I do have to commend Tate for never groveling. She never begged Miles to love her back, but at the same time she allowed him to treat her so poorly time after time. What I also liked about Tate was how self-aware and honest she was about herself and situation, I just wish she would have acted on some of her common sense realizations.

As for Miles, I can’t ignore the fact that it never felt like he tried to be a jerk. I don’t think he meant to be mean, callous and hurtful, and I have to acknowledge that he experienced something tragic in his past that made him who he was. However, that was no excuse for his actions. He was just wrong. I struggled with his realization that came toward the end of the novel, and after he witnessed a reason to move on. By then, a part of me felt he was beyond redemption. I have more to say about that… but I’ll stop.

Now that’s I’ve outlined my thoughts, I feel I can still justify a 3 star rating. Why? Because I’ve been thinking about this novel for a few days now, and if I take away my sentiment for the characters and their actions, I have to admit it was well written, captivating and engaging… I just didn’t like the emotions it evoked from me. Tate and Miles won't make my favorite fictional couple list, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they caught my attention and made me feel some pretty heavy emotions.

3 Snowflakes

Song Choice

Not Broken Anymore by Blue October

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Waiting on Wednesday, #58

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week...

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Expected publication: August 5, 2014

Publisher: Atria Books

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

No secret that I'm a huge fan of Colleen Hoover, so I'm counting down the days, hours minutes, seconds for the release of her newest novel Ugly Love. With her incredible writing style, I'm sure I'll fall in love with her new story and cast. Oh and I just have to say... look at this alternate cover! LOVE!!

 Sooo, what book are you waiting on???

Review: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Publisher- Atria Books
Released- July 8th 2013
Purchase- Amazon/ B & N/ Kobo
(paperback copy will be available Oct 15/2013)

In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

My Thoughts:
I have to give credit where credit is do. Colleen Hoover has an incredible way of re-creating a story that she has already written but in a different point of view. You can really feel her breathing new life into this companion instead of just giving us the exact same book with different eyes. Hopeless is Sky's story. It's one of those rare and raw books that's so completely unforgettable, it lives deep within us. It's horrifically heartbreaking but it's also the most breathtaking love story I've ever read. Hoover has once again captured the beauty, depth and the pain in Losing Hope. This is Dean Holder's story.

Once again, I feel like a lost babbling idiot when it comes time to write a review for this stunning and shocking novel. I have so much I want to say, but when I try to get it down it just doesn't feel big enough or even close enough to do this book the justice it truly deserves. Colleen Hoover is such an amazing talent. I can't even begin to express the range of emotions I went through when I read Hopeless and then again in Losing Hope. Sky and Holder have been through so much pain and so much anguish it really tears your entire insides up. But then we get to see a side to them that is filled with real passion it's almost magical to watch. It's the kind of love that has endured through time and lost and pain and comes out stronger because of it. There really is no words to express it. It's just pure emotions and moments that will make you laugh, cry and smile.

Fans who's already read Hopeless may think they know the whole story, but they don't.
This is Holder's story. What it was like to lose his best friend, Hope, when he was just a little boy and what it was like to lose his other half, his sister, Lesslie. 
To be inside this mans head was the most difficult and amazing experience. I never wanted to reach into a book so badly and just hold on to him with everything I have. Holder is hands down one of my all time favorite characters. I'm madly in love with the way he loves.
The letters to Les was noting short of brilliance on Hoovers part. What amazing and insightful way of giving the readers the understanding of what was happening to and around Holder, but doing it in a way that is entirely new and making this re-creation refreshing and unique. We also learn some new revelations that may shock you, but I for one loved what it added to this already beloved story, giving it that complete and satisfying ending that fans of these characters will want to hold on to long after the story is done.

All in all, Losing Hope is another instant favorite and a memorable masterpiece. I couldn't love a book more. Colleen Hover is an inspiring and emotional storyteller that will break your beating heart into a million pieces and glue each and every piece back with a love that will last a life time with a new found hope to guide them. Beautifully beautifully done!!!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website
                                                                       5 Snowflakes

Be sure to follow us on Bloglovin!!

Review & Signed Book Giveaway: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Publication Date: December 19, 2012

Purchase Links: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

My Thoughts
Hopelessly Beautiful!
"I’m the only one that can be held accountable for the way my life turns out."

"And once again in my new world full of heartache and lies, this hopeless boy somehow finds a way to make me smile."

Being a huge fan of Colleen Hoover, I can’t express how exciting it was to hear she was coming out with her newest novel Hopeless. Slammed and Point of Retreat have and will remain on my favorites shelf for quite some time. So I was truly eager to dive into this book, so I could meet her two new characters Sky and Holder. That was until, I heard about the subject matter that surrounds this novel. ~cringes~ It was then, that I quietly and gracefully shelved the book for a couple of months until I could work up the nerve to handle the journey Hoover had in store for me.

See, reading stories where there’s violence toward children is one of the biggest detractors in subject matter for me. For the most part, that hasn’t stopped me from reading powerful novels such as Living Dead Girl, Split, and If You Find Me to name a few. But it does take a ton of resolve and mental preparation for me to dive in because I don’t take these subjects lightly… of course. They truly affect my mood, break my heart, and leave me spent. Not the experience I tend to seek when hoping for an fictional escape. I feel it takes a talented author who can grapple with these subject matters and deliver something poignant and hopeful. So take your bow Colleen Hoover… you proved the power in your pen. You shared your story and took care of your readers along the way. ~applauds with admiration~

So about this book… In Hopeless, I had the pleasure of meeting Sky who has lived a socially void life being home schooled by her foster mom and sheltered from the influence of television, the internet and mobile devices. When she finally convinces her foster mom to allow her to enroll in school for her senior year, in the hopes of building her scholastic resume as leverage into a good college, what she realizes is the pain and disillusionment from the bullying she experiences. In addition to the difficulty she experiences in acclimating to her new life, she meets Holder, a very moody yet attractive guy that approaches her unexpectedly. Without spoiling the novel, these two begin to fall for one another and together they ignite the catalyst that exposes past secrets Sky is forced to face.

There were so many themes that Hoover meticulously weaved into her novel and all of them were handled with finesse. She was able to show the realities of bullying, the pain of deceit, the hope of forgiveness and the power of friendship and love. Where it came to the topic of kidnapping and sexual abuse, I have to say Hoover really thought this through. She offered just the right about of detail to give you a sense of what happened, but not too much as to leave you crawling into yourself and coming undone. The balance she provided was handled with realism yet sensitivity.

As for Sky and Holder, I can’t end this review without expressing how much I adored these two characters. They were a perfect pair, flaws and all. I really enjoyed the banter between the both of them. His non-positive affirmations were extremely endearing, if that makes any sense. Their backstory was heartbreaking but their future felt hopeful. Loved these two!!

As I’ve expressed before about this amazing author, I’m convinced Colleen Hoover has magic flowing from her pen. I love her writing. I adore her character development. And, after reading her newest novel Hopeless, I can add to my list by saying, I admire her way of handling sensitive subjects with such finesse and care. Well done Hoover! Well done!

4 Snowflakes

And now for the exciting part!! I had the pleasure of recently meeting Colleen Hoover at a Los Angeles Author signing event, where I obtained an extra copy of this wonderful book. So if you'd like a chance to win this SIGNED copy of Hopeless by Colleen Hoover, be sure to fill out the rafflecopter below. Open internationally. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday, #22

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Published January 12, 2012

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

My Teasers are from ebook pages 80 & 122

"Lyken!" he yells just as I'm about to walk back inside my house. I turn back toward him and he's standing in his driveway. "May the force be with you!" He laughs and hops into his car as I stand there, staring down at the Darth Vader house shoes I'm sporting. Classic.

He takes a step toward me and softly cups my chin with his free hand. I'm shocked that I allowed it. He studies my face for a few seconds as my heart races within my chest. I think he's about to kiss me."

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Waiting on Wednesday, #35

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week... 

This Girl (Slammed #3) by Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: April 30, 2013

Pre-Order: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBookstore

Slammed from Will's Point of View!!

Today Colleen Hoover revealed the cover for the third installment in the Slammed Series. This Girl is the highly anticipated book that is told in Will's Point of View!! Excitement!! I've been a HUGE fan of Hoover's and I absolutely adored Slammed and Point of Retreat. Waiting for This Girl is absolute torture because I just know, Will's POV is going to be powerful. 

Colleen Hoover is offering a lucky winner a set of signed books for this series. So, be sure to go HERE to find out how you can enter to win these amazing books. Good luck!

Sooo, what book are you waiting on?

Cupid Cloud Hop: Book Boyfriend Spotlight- Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Today I’m excited to host a Book Boyfriend Spotlight for WinterHaven's Cupid Cloud Hop. This week WinterHaven and a great group of Cupid Cloud Hop bloggers are posting their 

Book Boyfriend and Sweetheart Couple Spotlights. 

My Book Boyfriend Spotlight is dedicated to Dean Holder from Hopeless by Colleen Hover.

I am in love with the way this man loves!!!

 "Everything about him, from his tousled dark hair, to his stark blue eyes, to that...dimple, to his thick arms that I just want to reach out and touch"

Since I can’t post a  pictures of Holder, please refer to this board on Pinterest that is captured by many fans perfectly. But my ideal  Holder would be the very gorgeous, Drew Van Acker:)

                                                                Dean Holder

                                                             Favorite Quotes      

~“You don't deserve words, Sky. You deserve actions.” 

~“I’ve been looking for you my whole damn life.” 

~"I swear I will spend every last breath thanking you for allowing yourself to love me.”

~“You just have to choose which wrong choice feels the least wrong.” 

~“The moment my lips touch yours, it will be your first kiss. Because if you've never felt anything when someone's kissed you, then no one's ever really kissed you. Not the way I plan on kissing you.” 

~“Fu*k all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.” 

~"I live you, Sky," he says against my lips. "I live you so much.” 

~“When I touch you, I’m touching you because I want to make you happy. When I kiss you, I’m kissing you because you have the most incredible mouth I’ve ever seen and you know I can’t not kiss it. And when I make love to you—I’m doing exactly that. I’m making love to you because I’m in love with you.” 

~“I fucking loved that girl, Sky. I need to believe that what she did was the only answer she had left, because if I don’t, then I’ll never forgive myself for not helping her find a different one.” 

~“Just because you blocked the memory of me out of your mind doesn't mean you blocked the memory of me out of your heart” 

~“Not everyone gets a happily every after. Life is real and sometimes it's ugly and you just have to learn how to cope.” 

~“That's all I need," I say. "Well...I need the lamp. And the astray. And the remote control. And the paddleball game. And you, Dean Holder. But that's all I need” 

~"Will you promise me that when he makes you sad, you'll think of the sky?"
"The sky is always beautiful. Even when it's dark or rainy or cloudy, it's still beautiful to look at."
"I promise," I whisper.
"Good." he says. He reaches his hand out and wraps his pinky around mine.

My Thoughts:
Gorgeous!
Once in awhile a book comes along that is so powerful and emotional every single cell in your body screams with tears and laughter and happiness. Hopeless was that book for me.
In all honesty I don't even know what to say about this book. It was one of the most riveting and heart breaking stories ever told. Sky is the kind of character that knows that she's not all there, but doesn't understand why, that is till she meets Dean Holder and all the pieces of her dreams and nightmares come tumbling down.
Colleen Hoover is such an amazing writer! She takes words and turns them into pure magic. I held on to ever sentence that was written and even re-read some scenes over and over again till those moment were memorized. And Sky and Holder own every single one of those moments. While this may have been one of the hardest stories to endure, due to it's very horrific issue, it's also by far one of the most beautiful love story that I've ever read. I'm absolutely in love with the way Holder loves. He's passionate and emotional and scared and fearless and everything you need a love interest to be. He melted my heart into putty.

I simply couldn't love a story more. It's beautiful and terrible and an absolute must read for every single soul!

                                                                    5 Snowflakes

WinterHaven Books is hosting a giveaway for 3 YA Contemporary Books as part of the Cupid Cloud Hop festivities. Be sure to fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday, #25

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week... 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Expected publication: December 31st 2012
Early Release on Amazon!!
Also available at iBookstore!!

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

Having fallen hopelessly in love with Colleen Hoover's first two books Slammed and Point of Retreat, I was all sorts of excited to hear she had a new release coming out!! I'm a hopeless fan of this author. I love her writing, characters and storytelling to hopeless pieces... Okay enough of that... =} I think you got my point that I simply can't wait to get my hands on this book. AND a little birdy told me Amazon released it early!! So click on the Amazon or iBookstore linky above, download your book of Hopeless and come back to tell me how absolutely fantastic it is! This author is AWESOME!!

Soooo, what book are you waiting on???

Slammed & Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover Optioned for a Movie!!

Well it’s a happy week for Will and Lake fans because we recently found out that Slammed and Point of Retreat have been optioned for a movie. How awesome is that??!! If you’ve had the pleasure of reading these great books, you’ll probably agree with me that seeing the stories come to life on the big screen will be pure bliss!

If you haven’t read them yet, Atria Books is having a sale on the eBooks in celebration for the film rights being optioned. You can get them for only $3.99!! So grab them now before it’s too late!

Purchase links:

SLAMMED eBook:
Apple iBookstore
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
S&S

POINT OF RETREAT eBook:
Apple iBookstore
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
S&S

  

To celebrate this fantastic book news, WinterHaven Books had the opportunity to interview Colleen Hoover about the movie option, her reaction, and all sorts of other cool stuff. Check it out!!

Interview with Colleen Hoover:
First off, congratulations on your movie deal! We are so excited to see Slammed come to life! So give us fans a blow by blow recount of your reaction when you got the news? Where were you and what went through your head?

My agent actually called when I was on my way to the airport to visit some author friends in Minnesota. I had to pull over I was so excited. That was weeks ago and I've had to keep it all in until it was ready to be announced.

What scene from the book are you most looking forward to seeing on the big screen?

Oh, the hallway scene when they find out the first big secret. And of course the slams! They would be awesome to be seen live.

If you had your choice, who would you cast as Lake and Will?

Oh, I have NO CLUE! People keep asking. I have a huge crush on Diego Boneta and I think Jane Levy is adorable, but I don't know how I'd feel about them together. 

Will Slammed and Point of Retreat be combined as one film, or is it a two film deal?

I'm not sure. I think they would try for one screenplay, but it's far off before that happens.

Any tentative release dates?

Oh, not at all. Film options are just the first of many, many steps. It's a long process and there are a lot steps that sometimes never get completed. But the fact that we took the first big step is huge!

Do you think you’ll have a cameo? If they offer will you do it? SAY YES! :D

Oh, heck no. I would ruin the film!

Any favorite music choices for your soundtrack?

I think that's obvious. It would be so cool if they could line up the songs before each chapter.

Lastly, off the movie subject… when is the next book coming out? Direct, much? :)

I have NO CLUE! lol. I've got three in the works right now. I wish I was the type of author who could just sit and finish one for the sake of deadlines, but it's more about what I'm "feeling" at the time.

Well thank you Colleen Hoover for being the awesome author that you are and graciously answering our questions!!

 Now for more exciting news!!

Colleen Hoover has graciously offered to send one lucky WinterHaven follower a SIGNED copy of Slammed! Be sure to fill out the rafflecopter link below and share your thoughts on this fabulous author, the books or the movie option!

International Book Giveaway

Signed copy of SLAMMED

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Spotlight: Colleen Hoover - Slammed & Point of Retreat Book Give-away (Signed by the Author)



Well many of you know by now what a huge fan I am of Colleen Hoover. I read her books Slammed and Point of Retreat last April 2012, and they just blew me away! LOVED. THEM. TO. PIECES!!

It’s been awesome to witness Ms. Hoover’s books gather momentum and traction from fellow YA readers because frankly, they shouldn’t be overlooked. Well, I’m excited to get a chance to chat with her to learn more about the author behind these fantastic books.

So Colleen, tell me how you got into writing? Has this always been a passion of yours?
I have always loved to write. I’ve never tried writing a book before. Usually I would just write short stories for friends that were always sarcastic and funny. Slammed was my first attempt at writing a novel, and definitely my first attempt at writing something emotional or romantic.

What inspired you to write Slammed and the sequel Point of Retreat?

My 8-year-old wanted to audition for a local play at the community theater. When he got the part, I would get off work every night and take him to practice for three hours. I had a lot of downtime at the theater so I would read books or browse youtube on my ipad. After watching a few youtube videos of Slam Poetry, I thought it would be cool to read a book where one of the characters Slammed. After searching the internet and coming up empty, I decided I would just try to write one. I’d always wanted to write a book and it would give me something to do the following month during play rehearsals. Once I started writing it, I couldn’t stop. I wrote every second I wasn’t sleeping or working until it was finished.

It was great to read Layken’s story in Slammed and an even bigger treat to experience Will’s perspective in Point of Retreat. How difficult was it to switch narratives from Layken to Will and write an entire story in a guy’s POV? Which perspective felt most comfortable to you?

I actually began Point of Retreat from Layken’s perspective, but it wasn’t flowing like it should. Once I made some chapter notes, I realized it wasn’t flowing because she wasn’t supposed to be the one telling the story this time around. When I got re-started it from Will’s perspective, it just fit. I would have to say I found it easier to write from his perspective because I wasn’t putting myself in his shoes. During Slammed, I would catch myself writing Layken’s reactions in a way that I would react, not how an eighteen year old would react. I kept having to remind myself that what I would do and what Lake would do were two different things, and I would have to re-write the scene. Being in a guy’s head was sort of fun.

There seems to be a ton of Will fans out there that would love to hear more through his narrative. Surprised? :)  Do you have any plans to continue with Will’s story or has he shared all he cares to share with his fans for the moment?I honestly didn’t intend to write Will’s Story. I know a lot of fans want more of them, but they’ve been through enough. To me, the best part of love stories are when they fall in love. After a couple gets married, it isn’t that interesting to read about their day to day lives, so I was really hesitant about doing a third book. However, once I started getting requests from readers to hear Will’s side of the story in Slammed, I thought it was a good idea. I already had a lot of the scenes written, so it helped. I’m halfway finished and hope to have his story out in the next few months. I’ve got a lot more going on now than I did when I wrote Slammed and Point of Retreat, so I think the days of completing novels in 30 days is over. But I’m trying my best! 

I have to point out… what a great response your books have gotten from fellow readers. The ratings and reactions are consistently glowing and rightly so. What has been the biggest surprise to you since these books have been made available to the public? Do you have more on the horizon?
I think the biggest surprise is that people are actually reading them. I started Slammed because I was bored and it would make for a good Christmas present for my mother. I had no intentions of trying to actually have the book published and made available to the public. Once my friends and family started to read it, I looked into getting it onto Amazon and using my free days so more people I knew could read them. I had no idea what marketing machines my sisters were!!! They pimped the books hard and the first month I ended up selling about 200 copies and getting great reviews. I was floored! I couldn’t believe people I didn’t know were even reading them. Things really picked up by April thanks to word of mouth, and every day since has been surreal. I wake up every day thinking it’s all going to stop any second, but it just keeps getting better. I was able to switch careers in June and become a full-time writer. I think that has been the biggest change, actually getting to do what I love and make a living off of it.

And yes, I’m currently trying to finish up Will’s Story so that I can start on my fourth book, Fall Together. I’m really excited about that one, but I can’t say much since I haven’t written it yet. But as long as people keep reading, I’ll keep writing. Heck…even if people stop reading, I’ll keep writing. It’s what I love to do.

Well thank you for taking the time to chat with WinterHaven Books. We can’t wait to experience the next adventure you have in store for us. Keep it coming!
Follow Colleen Hoover:
Goodreads      Blog        Twitter

Title: Slammed
Author: Colleen Hoover
Release Date: January 1, 2012
Publisher: Atria Books
Link to Purchase: Amazon

Top Rank for my 2012 Favorite
 Push your boundaries…that’s what they’re there for.

There’s no way you can convince me that Slammed is Colleen Hoover’s debut novel. Impossible! This book is amazing, incredible and just dripping with emotional power that a rookie author launching this as her first novel is absolutely awe-inspiring. It’s no secret, with the exception of a select few books, I’m slipping away from mainstream fiction. Looking for something creative, unique and different just doesn’t seem likely with the hugely hyped releases out there as of late. So I’ve resorted to self-published, not so widely known releases to get my fix and Slammed is a perfect reason why.

In this captivating novel, we meet Layken who is forced to move cross country after the death of her dad, so her mom can find some way to survive in the aftermath of his absence. Lake meets Will and these two form a strong connection. They have a few things in common, but most of all they just get each other in all the right ways. Just when the move begins to prove a possibility of new and exciting beginnings, Layken soon finds out that what she hoped for most is the one thing she has the least possibility of obtaining. What ensues is a constant emotional pull in just about every direction imaginable.

I loved.loved.loved Hoover’s writing! I mean to the level where I think I might have a crush on this book. I never thought poetry and heartbreak could be so perfectly blended to send me on an emotional ride that left me absolutely worthless for the hours this book held me captive. I read it from eCover to eCover and was pretty much entranced until I finished this story. Why this book wasn’t picked up by a well known publisher? I have no clue, but I’m glad it’s picking up traction from readers that know gems are among the self-published crowd. Great story!

So keep your ocean. I’ll take the Lake…
5 Stars

Title: Point of Retreat (Slammed #2)
Author: Colleen Hoover
Release Date: February 25, 2012
Publisher: Atria Books
Link to Purchase: Amazon

BUTTERFLYINGLY BEMAZING!

And all around my memories, you dance...

Colleen Hoover has done it again. She’s managed to steal my concentration captive and render me worthless until I read her story of Layken and Will in Point of Retreat from eCover to eCover. This book was the perfect sequel to Slammed that left me in that contemplative zone just thinking about the story and the characters and finding myself unwilling to let go. Doesn’t happen often, but it surely happened here. Loved this book!

These next chapters in Will and Layken’s life are told from the perspective of Will, and I just have to say, what a treat! It was like book candy that sent me on a sugar high. I’ve experienced this a select few times in stories like Where She Went and The Piper's Son, where the guy takes the stage and gives us his POV about the girl he loves. I really enjoyed getting into his mind and journeying with Will as he struggles to prove that their love goes beyond the common bond of tragedy that brought them together.

Point of Retreat continues to carry the concept of Slamming and never have I ever thought I would love poetry as much as I did - actually probably even more than I did in the first book. In fact, I have a few of them highlighted in my eReader for future reference because it’s truly a thing of beauty. Just like lyrics to music those phrases that represent your soul are sometimes best expressed in few words. Powerful!

There was a perfect character addition in this book that really stole the show, and I enjoyed every single one of her appearances. Kirsten was such a breath of fresh air to this cast with her surprisingly insightful wit and intuition. I loved her! Even more so, I came to adore how Caulder and Kel protect this little spit fire from some of the hurt she experienced as the new kid in school. Hoover carefully appended the concept of bullying with such a subtle sleight of hand to create an additional layer of depth to this story. About Kiersten’s slam at the end… well done sweetheart!

As with the first book, Will is just too good to be true. I like coming across male characters similar to him every now and again because of their ability to express their emotions so honestly and deeply. How far he was willing to go to prove to Layken that their relationship was deeper than the hardships they’ve had to overcome at such a young age tossed my emotional compass all over the map. Kisses on the forehead will never be the same… thank you very much.

Overall, this book is filled to the brim with humor and heart. A sure fire combination to win me over. I can’t wait to see what Hoover shares with us next. I’m a fan… that I am…

Points are not the point; the point is poetry.

5 Stars

Slammed & Point of Retreat Book Give-away - Signed by the Author!!

Colleen Hoover has graciously offered to autograph and send a copy of her two books Slammed and Point of Retreat to one lucky winner. All entries must be posted before August 4, 2012. The winner will be notified immediately and be asked to respond within 72 hours with a mailing address before a subsequent winner is selected. Good luck!

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