Review: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: January 6th, 2016

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student's calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

My Thoughts: 

"Everyone has a reason to fear the boy with the gun". That tagline got me right away and desperately made me want to read this one. Also, a couple of years ago I read Dave Cullen's Columbine, an incredibly detailed and thought out nonfiction book about the 1999 school shootings at Columbine high school. After reading that book, I have been increasingly interested about the way school shootings are covered in media (I am a film and media student), especially in United States.

Marieke Nijkamp's This Is Where It Ends takes the perspective of the students and focuses on a time period of 54 minutes within a school day. It is the first morning of a new semester, and after a welcoming assembly, things take a horrible turn. Most of the students are locked inside the auditorium. And then someone starts shooting.

When Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris opened fire at Columbine on April 20, 1999, killing 12 students and one teacher, I was 8 years old and on second grade of the Finnish schooling system. Back then, I probably had no idea what had happened. I really became aware of school shootings on a larger scale when the Virginia Tech shootings took place in 2007. Later in 2007, while I was living in United States, I got the news - there has been a school shooting in Finland. A phenomenon that I thought to be mostly American (how silly I was), had spread to Finland. Suddenly, schools started to feel very unsafe.

Though school shootings, unfortunately, take place all around the world, United States is the country with highest number of school-related shootings. I won't go into why that is (gun laws etc), but rather provide you with a hard fact: in 2014, there were about 40 school related shootings in United States. Though the horror and the panic of such situation is very difficult to grasp into without experiencing it first hand, I think Marieke Nijkamp does a good job in capturing the thoughts and feelings of the student inside and outside of the school that in such seconds changes from a haven of new learning to a war zone. Very quickly, all the students inside that auditorium know that though they will never be okay again, they still might have a possibility to survive and to keep living.

This Is Where It Ends alternates between different point of views. For example, there's Claire, a senior and a track runner, who ends up being outside the auditorium when the fire is opened. Then there's Matt, Claire's younger brother, who needs crutches to move around and who finds himself from the auditorium when the fire opens. Then there's Autumn, a girl who dreams of going to Julliard despite the fact that neither her father or her brother want her to leave town. Through these characters in addition to a few other students, Nijkamp narrates a very thorough account of the events that take place within those 54 minutes, allowing the reader to see the widespread terror of the situation. Also, there's a wide array of diversity in this one; PoC characters, disabled characters and LGBT characters. So if you are looking for diverse YA, look no further.

Nijkamp digs well into the small town mentality of the novel - Opportunity is a small community and things like school shootings are not meant to happen there. Nothing usually happens there. I especially liked the way Nijkamp incorporated into the story the question of whether this shooting, this completely random and horrible event, will define the town for a long time to come. Inevitably, yes. We know the Columbine shooting from the fact that the name of the school was Columbine High, not because it happened in Columbine, Colorado. Events such like these start to define places - one action can change everything. I think incorporating this to the story shows that Nijkamp really has attempted to insert herself to the mind of a student experiencing all of this horror.

I know I have mentioned Columbine several times, but I do have to mention it once more while discussing the way Nijkamp describes the shooter. After Columbine, when you see a school shooter in a film, he (most often it is a he) looks and acts a lot like Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. What makes Columbine so important in relation to school shootings and the way they are described is the fact that it was so largely covered in the media that it worked as a catalyst for stereotypes: school shooters are loners, school shooters are megalomaniacs, school shooters listen to Marilyn Manson and wear long coats. Nijkamp does not fall to the Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold description, at least not too much. This shows research - she does not take the "easy" way out or go with the stereotypical description. Instead, she creates a character who inevitably shares something with the real school shooters, but who is also his own person with his own "reasons" for what he is doing.

I know this review ended up being much more fact-heavy than my other reviews. It is very difficult for me to write about this book without spoiling it for you, but this way I was able to do it. Also, I think going into this book with a little bit of background on the actual facts opens it up in a whole new way and makes the story seem even more harrowing. I cannot really say that I "enjoyed" this book because how can you enjoy a story like this? But I did find it intriguing, well-written and executed novel about an issue that we all should educate ourselves about. This novel will arguably be very controversial and there might be readers who think it is too detailed and too raw - this definitely isn't for everyone. But nevertheless, it is such an important book and one that you should keep in mind.

If you are interested about the way school shootings are portrayed in the media or just want to extent o the topic, I definitely recommend Dave Cullen's Columbine and Michael Moore's documentary Bowling for Columbine.

5 Snowflakes

Spotlight: The Esacpe by Hannah Jayne

The Escape by Hannah Jayne

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: July 7th, 2015

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Books a million / iBooks / Indigo / IndieBound

Not everyone who goes into the woods comes out…

It was supposed to be a short hike, a way for Fletcher and Adam to kill time one boring afternoon. But when day turns into night and neither boy returns home, their town is thrown into turmoil.

Search teams comb through the forest. Then Avery, the police chief’s daughter, stumbles on a body. It’s Fletcher- disoriented, beaten, and covered in blood. He has no memory of the incident, and worse yet, he has no idea what happened to the still missing Adam…

As danger and suspicion grow, one thing becomes very clear. No one can escape the truth.

About the Author:

Hannah Jayne is possibly the only person living in Silicon Valley who has never worked in high tech. When she’s not writing, she’s obsessively watching HGTV or shopping at Target…also obsessively. Find out more about Hannah’s urban fantasy, young adult thrillers, and latest obsessions at hannah-jayne.com.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Excerpt from THE ESCAPE by Hannah Jayne:

“Hello?” she called out. “This is Avery Templeton with Search Team Five. Hello?”

The silence was complete, except for the steady thump of Avery’s heart. She took a step forward and slid on the loose earth, tumbling forward onto her hands and knees. Rocks tore skin and the knees of her jeans as she slid. When she stopped- eight, ten feet at the most- she was breathing heavily, her mind reeling. She did a quick assessment for damage. Other than the sting on her palms, nothing hurt.

So why was there blood on her hands?

She brought her hands towards her face and grimaced as the streaks of rust-colored blood-congealed, dirt stained-that covered her palms.

She wasn’t bleeding.

This wasn’t her blood.

It was then that she heard the slow gurgle, the sparse intake of breath followed by a low, throaty whisper. “Avery, you have to help me.”

Avery stared at the figure lying in front of her, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dim light.

“Please.”

The word came out in a desperate hiss, and he clasped a muddy, blood-caked hand around her wrist, his grip limp, his fingers trembling.

She gasped. “Fletcher?”

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Review: Spelled by Betsy Schow

Spelled by Betsy Schow
Publisher- Sourcebooks Fire
Released- June 2nd 2015
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day.Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the brooding prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.Talk about unhappily ever after.
Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called "Kansas." Now it's up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse...before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.

My Thoughts:

I've read my fair share of fairytale retelling but I don't  think I've read anything that came close to making me laugh.out.loud the way this book did. The sheer wit, banter, sarcasm and humor bouncing off these pages was so enjoyable and compelling I just couldn't seem to get enough. But it's not just the laughs that won me over, this book is chalked full of fast paced action and non-stop adventure. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to see what wickedly strange thing would happen next. So much fun!

My gawd, I'm so in love with Betsy Schow writing! It's smart, cunning and incredible from a line-up of mixed fairytale characters, to the outrageous setting and a wonderful twist on words and objects laced throughout the book, every little thing was so well crafted, rich and vividly detailed making this escape so impressive, absorbing and unique. Even the chapter title names and the little quip-tips at each chapter gave it the perfect little touch to make this such a joy to experience.

I really loved all these characters, they are all so animated and amazing, but it's the three leads that made this book shine.

I really loved Dorthea, she has such a spark in her attitude that I found fierce and infectious. At first she's painted as the spoiled and shallow princess that cares about nothing but her clothes, shoes and jewellery. But really, what else is a girl suppose to do for the last 17 years since she isn't allowed in the real world due to the curse that plagued her family for generations. I think this was a wonderful self discovery story as we see Dorthea grow from spoiled to spectacular. From the moment she wished on the wrong star and every rule in fairy went crazy, Dorthea really owned up to her mistakes and does everything in her power to make it right again. I think she's always been this capable and strong girl inside, she just needed the opportunity to prove it to herself.

Rexi is another great character but she wasn't always easy to love. She's a negative and bitter little thing that tends to be a little to honest from time to time, but I don't think I'd have her any other way. This little klepto has a great personality and I loved her quick wit comebacks.

And as for Kato? I absolutely adored him. Given the two scenes he had as Prince Kato (human) left me infuriated but intrigued, I wasn't sure how to feel when Kato turned into a Chimera (who doesn't talk at first) but my doubts all but vanished within minutes. The way he was written into the story was absolutely brilliant. It was comical and adorable and probably my favorite part.

The romance is rather light in this one, but the moments we did get was very awe-worthy. I'm also thinking sequel which would be amazing since there is still a lot of mess that needs cleaning up and yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing more Dorthea and Kato love.

Bottom line, Spelled really surprised me in the best way possible. The writing is remarkable, the tone and flow of the story was always moving in wonderment and these characters are completely remarkable. Charming, imaginative and crazy fun from the first page till it's gripping conclusion. I can't wait for more!!!! An instant favorite!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Twitter                                   5 Snowflakes

Spotlight Spelled by Betsy Schow

 Spelled by Betsy Schow

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: June 2, 2015

 Amazon | B&N | BAM | !ndigo | IndieBound | Kindle | Nook

Talk about unhappily ever after. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.

Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving Dorthea with hair made up of emerald flames and the kingdom in chaos. Her parents and everyone she loves are stuck in some place called “Kansas.” Now it’s up to Dorthea and her pixed-off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse…before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.

Advance Praise for Spelled

“A cute adventure with romance set in a world full of fairy-tale mash-ups. Readers will love Dorthea’s evolution from spoiled princess to strong, confident heroine… For Oz fans, this work is a great clean-read alternative to Danielle Paige’s Dorothy Must Die.” -School Library Journal

“This wickedly funny, fast-paced adventure has it all: brains, courage, and heart. (Plus a kickin’ pair of heels.) .” --Jen Calonita, author of The Secrets of My Hollywood Life and Fairy Tale Reform School series

“Fairy tale survival rule #1, do NOT read this book late at night. You will wake up your entire family with loud laughter. Fairy tale survival rule #2, if you love the Wizard of Oz, clever fairy tale mash-ups, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen until the very end, you MUST read Spelled.” --J Scott Savage, award winning author of Farworld, Case File 13, and the Mysteries of Cove series.

“A hilarious and snarky reimagining of the world of Oz, along with many other fairy tales injected throughout, "Spelled" is one fabulous read…Kick off those silver slippers and tuck in with this wonderful tale!” —Senator Sipes, Lil Book Bug (Palmdale, CA)

About Betsy Schow:

Betsy Schow is the author of the memoir Finished Being Fat, and has been featured on The Today Show and in The Wall Street Journal. She lives in Utah, but travels the country with Color Me Rad 5k, and partners with nonprofits to teach kids creative thinking and how to reach their goals.

Website | Twitter

Excerpt from Spelled:

Most of the crowd had dispersed. The final few stragglers looked at me with the all­too-common look of fear mixed with trepidation. Pix ’em. They were just servants. It wasn’t like their opinion mattered.

Only one remained, watching me with open curiosity. He looked to be in his late teens or was magically enhanced to appear so. He could have been a hundred for all I knew. I’d never seen him before in my life. He was handsome enough, for a commoner, even in his worn leather pants and cracked work boots. A foreigner, his hair was unruly and dark auburn, which complemented his tanned but dirt-smudged complexion, though the tall, dark stranger vibe was ruined by his piercing pale blue eyes.

Well, I’d had enough of being a sideshow for the day. “If you’re the new gardener, the hedges are overgrown and in need of a trim.” I pointed in the direction of my father. “While you’re there, you can help the king with the wisps.”

The young man’s expression clouded over, but he didn’t move.

I stamped my foot and pointed more forcefully. “Off with you. Courtyard’s that way. Be sure to clean those awful boots before coming back in.”

“Someone told me I’d find a princess of great worth here. One with the strength to be the hero this realm needs.” He stared at me with those unsettling blue eyes. They were cold, like ice water—made me shiver from head to toe. Then his gaze seemed to search even deeper. Finally, he looked through me, like I was nothing.

In brisk steps, he strode across the marble to the courtyard. But before crossing the threshold, he turned back to glare at me with his lip curled ever so slightly. “It seems she was mistaken.”

Just like that, I had been sifted, weighed, and found wanting.

I felt my own lip curl in response. How rude! Who the Grimm was this peasant to judge me? I was wearing a Glenda original. Original! Not some fairy-godmother knockoff worn by those servant girls turned royal. I was a crown princess, for the love of fairy, and no one dismissed me.

Before I could put the boy in his place—down in the dirt, where he belonged—a clatter came from behind, making me nearly jump out of my shoes. I checked and was relieved that Sterling had simply dropped his sword. By the time I looked back, the gardener was gone.

After stowing his blade, Sterling held up his shield, not in defense of the entrance but so he could look at his reflection. “Clearly he’s blind and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

I didn’t ask for Sterling’s opinion, but it made me feel better.

Until he opened his mouth again.

“Worth, pffft. I mean, look around at all the jewels. Your palace has everything you could ever want. Honestly, I don’t know what you’re fussing about. Why would anyone want to leave?”

Because a cage is still a cage, no matter how big or glittering the bars are.

And I would find a way free, no matter the cost.

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Review: The Summer After Me and You by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Published May 1st 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire 

Sunbathing, surfing, eating funnel cake on the boardwalk - Lucy loves living on the Jersey Shore. For her, it's not just the perfect summer escape, it is home. And as a local girl, she knows not to get attached to the tourists. They breeze in over Memorial Day weekend, crowding the shore and stealing moonlit kisses, only to pack up their beach umbrellas and empty promises on Labor Day. Lucy wants more from love than a fleeting romance, even if that means keeping her distance from her summertime neighbor and crush, Connor. Then Superstorm Sandy tears apart her barrier island, briefly bringing together a local girl like herself and a vacationer like Connor. Except nothing is the same in the wake of the storm. And day after day, week after week, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and broken home. Now with Memorial Day approaching and Connor returning, will it be a summer of fresh starts or second chances?

My Thoughts 

This book, you guys this book!! I am not the biggest fan on contemp romance stories. There has to be some really good stuff for it to impress me. I myab be a bit biased since I am a Jersey girl and spent all summer at the Jersey Shore my entire life BUT there was so much more a connection. Yes I totally fangirled over all the locations I knew, especially at the mention of the Barnegat Lighthouse, which I dutifully trekked to the top of each and every summer. Here is a pic of ol' Barney from last year.

The devastation that Super Storm Sandy reeked upon the Eastern coast was horrific. The summer home I had spent my childhood in was washed away. We sold it a few year back but it still hurt to know if was no longer around. I live and hour inland in south Jersey and during the storm we lost power for a full 7  days. It was pretty scary for us so I can't begin to imagine what the shore dwellers must have felt. The sense of nostalgia that rolled through me during this whole book was indescribable.

Lucy is trying to pick up the pieces of her normal summer routine now that summer is about to kick off. There was a ton of things left hanging by the storm including a brief romantic encounter with her gorgeous neighbor Connor. They have barely spoken since the storm rolled through there lives and now Lucy has moved on and is in a serious relationship with her best friend turned boyfriend, Andrew. The only problem is she can't get Connor out of her mind and it seems she isn't the only one with the preoccupation. I know what it sounds like but before you start rolling your eyes at the implied triangle SLOW DOWN! It's not that bad I promise. This is one of those instances where it is done quite well and it spurs the story on. It is quite obvious that i have a soft spot for the setting but the thing that hooked me was the characterizations. Doktorski (also a fellow Jersey girl) was able to infuse her characters with such subtle nuances that became multidimensional very quickly. There is so much good stuff between Lucy's family. They have been hit hard by this disaster and while it is painful to see how they must pick up the pieces, it is also very realistic. There interactions were very sweet at times as well. Lucy wa a fabulous m.c. because not only is she smart but she doesn't take any bull form anyone, no matter who they are. I was cheering out loud for her quite a few times. It's so great to see a girl with a head on her shoulders.

The fact that i adored this contemp should be enough to make you want to read it on it's own. Just in case it isn't, you can definitely rely on The Summer After you and Me to be the perfect beach read. You can read about the beach while on the beach! What could be better?!?!

BLIZZARD READ

Spotlight: The Truth About Us by Janet Gurtler

The Truth About Us by Janey Gurtler
Published on April 7th, 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire

Flynn’s from the wrong side of the tracks, but he may be just right for Jess…

The truth is that Jess knows she’s screwed up. She’s made mistakes, even betrayed her best friend, and now she’s paying for it. Her dad is making her spend the whole summer volunteering at the local soup kitchen.

The truth is that she wishes she was the carefree party girl everyone thinks she is. She pretends it’s all fine. That her “perfect” family is fine. But it’s not. And no one notices the lie…until she meets Flynn. He’s the only one who really sees her. The only one who really listens.

The truth is that Jess is falling apart, and no one seems to care. But Flynn is the definition of “the wrong side of the tracks.” When Jess’s parents look at him, they only see their differences, not how much she and Flynn need each other. They don’t get that the person who shouldn’t fit into your world might just be the one who makes you feel like you belong.

Amazon | Apple | B&N | BAM |!ndigo| IndieBound | Kindle

JANET GURTLER:

RITA Award finalist Janet Gurtler’s young adult books have been chosen for the Junior Library Guild Selection and as Best Books For Teens from the Canadian Children’s Book Center. She has had her writing compared to Judy Blume and Jodi Picoult and that makes her happy. She has volunteered at a few soup kitchens and hopes to do more. Giving back is so important. Janet lives in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son, and a chubby black Chihuahua named Bruce.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Praise for Janet Gurtler:

“Just right for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jodi Picoult.” –Booklist

“Powerful…a gripping read.” VOYA

Excerpt:

The greenhouse is sort of shaped like an old barn. It’s opaque with plastic and steel siding. The door is open, and I follow Wilf inside and pause and then breathe it in. The smell nourishes me. Moist air fills my lungs. I’ve forgotten how much the scents of greenery soothe me. It reminds me of different times. Simpler times.

“Nice,” I tell him, looking around at rows of plants on tabletops and plants stacked on the floor. I realize I’ve missed the satisfaction of nurturing plants.

There’s a man on a ladder in the middle of the greenhouse, fixing a shelf, with his back to us. A little boy stands at the bottom of the ladder, watching. Wilf walks over and pats his head and kneels down to his level. “How are ya, big guy?”

The little boy stands taller and giggles and holds out his hand. He’s got it wrapped tightly around a plastic blue train.

The man on the ladder turns and looks down at me. My heart stops.

It’s not a man at all. It’s him.

Flynn.

My face burns.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

Wilf frowns and then looks at me. “What’s up with you kids these days? In my time, we treated nice--looking young ladies with respect,” he says to Flynn gruffly. “Flynn, this is Jess. She volunteers here.”

I say a silent thank--you to him for calling me nice--looking and glance back at Flynn.

“Since when?” he asks.

“Since now. How about, ‘hello, nice to meet you’?” Wilf says to prompt both of us. “Is that so hard?”

“We’ve already met,” Flynn says.

My cheeks stay on fire as he climbs down the ladder.

“The shelf is fixed,” he says to Wilf. “Slumming?” he adds to me as he jumps to the floor. He folds up the ladder and then leans it against a counter lined with plants.

The little boy stares back and forth.

I try to think of something light and witty to save the moment, but my mind is blank. Instead, I panic. “What’d you do to get stuck working at this place?” I say, channeling my inner Nance.

“What’d I do?” He stares at me and then his lips turn up. “I didn’t have the right daddy, I guess. I’m here to have lunch. With my little brother. I’m not a volunteer.”

My stomach drops. Fail. Epic fail.

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Arc Giveaway & Review: Magnolia by Kristi Cook & Breath, Annie, Breath by Miranda Kenneally

Magnolia by Kristi Cook

Publisher-  Simon & Schuster

Released - Aug 5th 2014

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived. Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

My Thoughts: 

Already being a huge fan of Kristi Cook's Winterhaven series, I really couldn't wait to see what her next project would bring. I was excited to learn we were getting a YA contemporary, but I never thought I would have loved it this much. 

Magnolia was like a breath of fresh air!

My favorite kind of romance has always been childhood friends-turned more, but flared from rage-to-romance climbs right on up there as well. Told in a Romeo & Juliet themed-switch, this book was a lot of fun and a completely swoon-worthy escape. Ryder and Jemma have a complicated kind of history. Their families have been  BFF's since the civil war days and have been waiting for a link to bring there families closer then just friendship. Enter Ryder and Jemma. Only six weeks apart and the perfect opportunity to bring the Marsden and Cafferty together in one big happy family. Only problem is, Ryder and Jemma hate each other, or well, at least they think they do....

I only have the warmest feelings to describe how I feel about Ryder and Jemma. They have the kind of chemistry you can cut with a knife. They're both stubborn and feisty and full of old determined pride, but they are both so utterly adorable. Even when they argue the tension still crackles with electricity between their undeniable attraction and the obstacles and misunderstandings only fuels the fires making them even more irresistible, charming and so dame sweet. They completely owned this book and I cheered at the thought that in the end, they wanted to do this on their own terms and not letting the pressures of their overly eager hopeful families come between their ultimate decision. I also enjoyed all the secondary characters, they all seemed to compliment this in their own charming ways. However, I do have mixed feeling about Patrick. I'm not sure if that extra drama was needed or necessary to impact the story further and only gave it that convenient-effect then anything else. Still, it didn't take anything away from my overall experience. 

Bottom line, I loved this book. Magnolia is a lovely and darling kind of escape that puts a fun spin on romance. It's the kind of read that made me feel all warm and gushy and plastered one of those stupid smiles on my face the entire time. It's the stuff that makes love worth fighting and waiting for. The perfect summertime escape when your in the mood for a feel good good-time read! Loved!!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                 5 Snowflakes

Looking for another summertime read? Breath, Annie, Breath, is the 5th book in the Hundred Oaks series by Miranda Kenneally that tells the story of Annie, who after the death of her boyfriend is training to run the marathon in his name and memory. This was more of an emotional and intense addition compared to the other books in this series, but it's also filled with flesh and blood characters that I was proud of and tugged at my heart strings, never letting go. A touching, sexy swoon-worthy read!

Win ARC copies of both Magnolia by Kristi Cook & Breath and Annie, Breath by Miranda Kenneally!!

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Review: My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

Today WinterHaven Books is participating in the blog tour for My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak hosted by Sourcebooks Fire!

My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
Publisher- Sourcebooks Fire
Released- March 1st 2014
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Sixteen-year-old Jackie Howard is devastated when her parents are killed in a car accident. She has no one to turn to except for her mom's best friend Katherine Walter. Jackie quickly discovers that Katherine is no stranger to being a mom-she's got twelve boys! And every single one is a handful...Adjusting to life with the Walter boys is not going to be easy, especially when two of them start to show an interest that definitely goes beyond brotherly.

My Thoughts:

After the horrific car accident that killed Jackie’s family and leaving her orphaned, Jackie doesn't have much of a choice but to leave all the comforts of her New York home and move to Colorado with Katherine Walter, her mothers oldest friend and Jackie’s new Guardian. But leaving home to move to a horse ranch is one thing; living with 12 other Walter kids is an entirely new story. One, Jackie isn't sure she’s cut out to handle.

Ha, this was fun! I really enjoyed the concept for My Life with the Walter Boys.  I come from a large family (just not this large) so I understand what its like is when you’re surrounded by chaos, maddening noise and bodies everywhere you turn. So it was really quite amusing seeing how Jackie handles living with 12 boys (well, ones a tom-boy) that range from 5-21 years of age. This was also pretty laid back given the circumstances as to why Jackie had to move in with the Walters in the first place, which was surprising. This still had its heavier moments, but all in all it was a pretty light read filled with lots of drama, some angst and a good old fashion love triangle. But what I loved the most was when the whole family was together. Everyone was such a handful and it was fun trying to see disorganized chaos at its best. Some of the older Walter boys are also pretty intimidating, gorgeous and unpredictable and most of them didn't exactly give Jackie a warm welcome, and proceeded with the practical jokes, snide remarks, bets, rude gestures and even some light sexual comments, but eventually the boys came around causing Jackie to slowly come out of her shell and loosen up enough and start living.

I didn't really have any problems with any of the characters. They all have their own unique personalities, maybe not always likable, but still good people.

My heart really goes out to Jackie. She lost her entire family and feels guilty for being alive when they aren't. She’s come from very prestigious lifestyles, so she’s a rather prim and proper little thing, something that isn't going to work out to well being on a horse ranch with 12 other Walter boys. But what I liked the most about her was that even though the boys might have put her through some hell, she’s a fighter and I liked the sass and fire that came out when provoked. She’s been through a lot but still takes on any challenge, I liked that she’s a survivor and doesn't let anyone walk all over her..or her heart.

I liked all the Boys and Parker. Will, Nathan and Danny were the cool ones, very kind, understanding and supportive. Isaac and Lee were harder to like since they didn't like Jackie very much at first and didn't have a problem showing it.

As for Alex and Cole, well, this is where our lovely love triangle starts. Cole is your typical player. He rules the school. Every guy wants to be him and every girl wants to date him. He’s done a lot of ass-moves in this book which makes him look like a total jerk about ninety percent of the time, but Cole can be smooth and even charming and still has his moments where you can start to see the act slipping and see the real him.

Alex is a cutie-pie, I really liked him and Jackie together. He has a natural goodness to him and I thought it was cute that he geeks out on video games and Star Wars. He has a lot of unresolved issues with Cole given some of their history, but I grew too really like Alex and thought he was a good friend when Jackie needed it the most.

The whole tug-of-war competition between Cole, Alex and Jackie was a little bit ridiculous and immature at times but I have to admit it was still addicting and intriguing to see how it would all play out.

The only really part I didn't care for was the high school gossip blah blah. Every girl at school was either swooning or jealous of Jackie for living with the Walter boys and it didn't take long before I was annoyed at all the eye-rolling drama.

All in all, this turned out to be a decent read. The writing is strong, the story line was a little overwhelming at times but it’s the characters that kept me invested and turning the pages till it’s all said and done. This was an amusing entertaining YA contemporary about family, lost and finding strength in numbers. Surviving means living and it was good to see Jackie with a new family to do just that. Well done, I’m looking forward to reading the sequel. 

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                               4 Snowflakes

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Dream Boy by Mary Crockett and Madelyn Rosenburg

Today on WinterHaven Books we are excited to participate in the cover reveal for Dream Boy by Mary Crockett & Madelyn Rosenburg!  I absolutely love this cover!  It is so stunning and beautiful!  Take a look!

Dream Boy by Mary Crockett & Madelyn Rosenburg

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: July 1, 2014

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Annabelle Manning feels like she’s doing time at her high school in Chilton, Virginia. She has her friends at her lunchtime table of nobodies. What she doesn’t have are possibilities. Or a date for Homecoming. Things get more interesting at night, when she spends time with the boy of her dreams. But the blue-eyed boy with the fairytale smile is just that—a dream. Until the Friday afternoon he walks into her chemistry class.

One of friends suspects he’s an alien. Another is pretty sure it’s all one big case of deja vu. While Annabelle doesn’t know what to think, she’s willing to believe that the charming Martin Zirkle may just be her dream come true. But as Annabelle discovers the truth behind dreams—where they come from and what they mean—she is forced to face a dark reality she had not expected. More than just Martin has arrived in Chilton. As Annabelle learns, if dreams can come true, so can nightmares

A little bit from the authors:

Like the small southern town where it's set, Dream Boy is edged by wilderness, mysticism and mystery. The bottle tree on the cover perfectly captures the novel's mix of dream and nightmare.
So what is a bottle tree?
Simply put, it's an ancient folk-magic practice intended to capture evil spirits. Southerners adapted the tradition—outfitting tree limbs with colored bottles.
In Dream Boy, the bottle tree creates a connection point between the real world and what lies beyond.
“We were beyond excited with how the cover turned out,” says Mary Crockett. “It was a serious thrill to see something from our imaginations become real. And not only real, but gorgeous.”
Madelyn Rosenberg agrees, “We're lucky we had such excellent people working on it—with designer Eileen Carey and Sourcebooks creative services manager Adrienne Krogh at the top of the list.”

About the Authors:

Mary Crockett is author of several award-winning books of poetry and co-author of a history of Salem, Virginia, her hometown. Mary taught writing at Roanoke College and served as director of the Salem Museum. She now lives with her family in an old house along Virginia's Wilderness Road.

Madelyn Rosenberg grew up 32 miles away in Blacksburg, Va. She spent a decade as a newspaper reporter before she began writing fiction. Her books include The Schmutzy Family and Canary in the Coal Mine. She lives with her family in Arlington.

Mary and Madelyn first met about 15 years ago co-teaching a creative writing class for teens.

Follow Madeyln Rosenberg and Mary Crockett on Twitter!

@madrosenberg @MaryLovesBooks

Thanks to the wonderful people at Sourcebooks Fire we are able to give one lucky reader a Sourcebooks Fire Prize Pack!
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Review: Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Publisher- Sourcebooks Fire

Released- Sept 3rd 2013

Purchase- Amazon / B & N / Chapters

TrinityDon’t leave me here... It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn't be a big surprise—her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it...ConnorHe’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.CalebHe’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.
Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon that won’t be tamed.

My Thoughts:

To save the Fantastical Fossil museum from the overwhelming bills, Trinity Foxx's grandfather hopes that his latest discovery is just the ticket that will bring in an audience from around the world. Found trapped in a glacier in Antarctica, a golden egg was found. The last Dragon egg. Trinity, being a 16 year old teenager and the responsible one of the two, is skeptical of this new discover but when a voice inside Trinity's head seems to be linked to the egg, Trinity is intrigued but frightened that she could be losing her mind, just like her mother did. Connor and Caleb are estranged twin brothers who are from 200 years into the future. One brother is sent to ensure the safety of both Trinity and the Dragon egg and the other was sent to destroy them.

Wow, what a fun read! I really loved the concept to this one. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Scorched, all I knew is that it combines some of my favorite genre's, dragon-fantasy and sci-fi, so it was an even greater surprise that I ended up really loving this one. Mancusi's writing is exceptionally strong, I've only read a couple of her other books before, and while I thought they were decent,  I didn't quite connect with them like I did this one. The pace and flow is beautifully developed. At first it can be a little confusing since everything seems to be happening at once, but when the story gets going and we learn the facts with Trinity it becomes a steady stream of intrigue and wonder. It was like unwrapping a layered gift, with each new rip my anticipation and curiosity grew and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. 

There is only so much I want to say about this plot-wise since I think readers will have a greater time discovering all the wonderful revelations for themselves. So, with that said, the story line does have a Terminator-feel to it, but I still found this to be a unique and fun spin on dragon lore and time travel. I loved the idea of the two brothers who were brought into the past to ensure or stop future events from taking place, with a girl who has no idea of the catastrophic events that are about to enfold. It's exciting to learn the brothers true intentions, what the Dracken organization is and get a glimpse of what Trinity and her dragon, Emberlyn  (Emmy) means to the future, both the good and the bad. It's a solid concept and completely entertaining from start to finish.

I really enjoyed all the characters. They are all wonderfully developed and easy to connect with.

~Trinity is a responsible head strong girl who is determined, brave and caring. Her life suddenly became something out of her favorite video game, Fields of Fantasy, the minute her grandfather showed her the golden egg uncased in glass. I loved how she processed everything from disbelieve to awe-struck. It's a lot to take in knowing that your the Fire Kissed and that your responsible for both destroying the entire world and saving the race of a mythical creature in the same heart beat.

~I don't want to say to much about Connor and Caleb. They mystery around them was one of the funnest part of the book to discover. They each have their own stories so it's hard to tell which of the brothers we can really trust. They have a lingering cloud of doubt that surrounds them till we know for sure what their true purpose is. But, I will say that I loved both brothers equally. Connor is a hunter hero in his time, dedicated to avenge his father death. He's kind and patient and a natural leader. Caleb is more harsh, cool, collected and confident. They do however share a passion and obsession when it comes to their missions and what it will ultimately mean for the entire world.

The dragon, Emmy, was surprisingly amazing to see. Dragons have always been such a fascinating creature with so much potential to create. I really loved the way Mancusi portrayed them as both dazzling and deadly. 

At this point the romance is very light, but well on it's way into shaping into a love triangle between Trinity and the brothers. Since I like them both I don't have a team-flag to wave just yet, but I am curious to see how things develop in future books.

All in all, I kinda loved this one. The concept is smart and fresh, the story is action packed and exciting, the writing has an all consuming flavor and these characters will have you invested at minute one till it's heart-pounding conclusion. For fans who want some heat and heart with their fantasy escape, this one goes out to you. I can't wait to see where Mancusi takes this next! A great read!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                               4 Snowflakes

Review: Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
Publisher-Sourcebooks Fire
Release- March 1st 2013
Purchase- Amazon/ B & N/ Chapters

Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.
Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt--with her.Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

My Thoughts:
I've been a really big fan of Miranda Kenneally ever since her debut novel, Catching Jordan. I love the way she empowers intelligent and capable women in sports as well as combining heartfelt issues, comical humor and sweet and sexy romance that leaves us feeling content and satisfied, making these books a contemporary fan favorite.

This summer, Kate is working as a counselor at Cumblerland Creek church camp, but she still can't forget what she was apart of and she's drowning in shame and guilt. But, Matt her childhood friend and the first boy she ever kissed is also back at camp and Kate has a hard time resisting his charm. 

This summer Kate will see that even though you believe in something strongly doesn't mean you have to forget how to live and love.

Things I Can't Forget is the third novel in the Hundred Oaks series, but this one felt very different compared to the other two books. The entire tone felt...off. I was expecting some kind of sports related theme like Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker, but instead we're at a church camp. But if I'm being honest here, that wasn't the real issue I had with this book. It's actually about the fact that this book came off a bit to preachy and religious and I had a difficult time being able to sink into the story since it made the entire experience uncomfortable. I'm a religious person, but it's not an element I like in my reading escape. There was some religion that was lightly touched on in Stealing Parker, but unlike that book, this one made it hard to ignore the big catholic elephant in the room. It was just a little to much for my taste.

With that said, there were still a lot of moments I did enjoy. The writing is as clever and fun as ever. I love the way Kenneally explores tough issues for these characters to deal with but still gives them enough quick wit and humor to keep the story light. Each of these books are a companion with it's own story-line and characters, but it was still really amazing to see some of our favorite couples from past books. Fans of Stealing Parker will be happy to know that Will and Parker are very much a part of the story, taking a back seat from main-to-secondary characters but still in the center of it all. I loved seeing how their relationship developed. Such an adorable couple. Jordan and Henry also make an appearance, it's only a little one, but still enough to make me smile. 

Even though I had a few issues with Kate, I still liked her character. She's a confused girl and my heart really goes out to her for having to deal with the grief and guilt of helping out a friend in a compromising position that ended up questioning her own mortals and religious views. She's a good girl but I think she's a little too good. She really does come off (unintentionally) judgmental and prudish and goes on about the right and wrongs and the do's and don'ts of everyone's bad habits and promiscuity. Now, don't get me wrong here, there is nothing wrong with believing in waiting before marriage and I commend Kate's iron will and her strong dedication to her faith and morals, but for awhile there I had a hard time being able to connect with her the way I instantly connected with Jordan and Parker. 

~Now, my favorite part of all Kenneally's books is the absolutely irresistible love story that she gives each of her couples and even though Kate is a little more challenging, I still loved the sinfully adorable romance between her and Matt. It was the only time that Kate's guard felt down and her character relaxed enough to enjoy being young, alive and finding that special someone to make you feel happy, safe and wanted. 

I love the way Matt accepts and respects Kate for who she is and doesn't try to pressure or change her. He truly belongs up there with Henry and Will, he's a pleasant addition to the Hundred Oaks boys that will melt your heart and make your pulse race. 

All in all, I many not have love this the way I wanted to, but this is just my own issues and not necessarily the book. I still found this to be a charming and sweet read with touching and real moments and issues that readers will connect with on a deeper level. I also still adore Kenneally's writing and playful dialog and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series, Racing Savannah!

Find the author
Goodreads / Website
                                                                    3.5 Snowflakes