Wednesday, November 26, 2014

When You're Ready - Review

wyrcover

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Author: J.L. Berg
Publication Date: July 18, 2013
Publisher: J.L. Berg, LLC
Series: The Ready Series
Genere: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 4 Stars

Book Description:

Years after suffering the tragic loss of her husband, Ethan, which left her alone to raise their young daughter, Clare Murray still holds the last letter he wrote with the words "When You're Ready" written in his familiar messy handwriting, unable to break its weathered seal. Ready for what? He was her entire world, and Clare had accepted a life without him, without love. Until years later, fate brings her to an emergency room, and face to face with a stormy-eyed doctor intent on changing her mind. Son of a billionaire, Logan Matthews has spent his life trying to make his absentee father proud. Without a family to depend on, all he's ever wanted is a place to call home. After a failed marriage, Logan believes he's unworthy of love...until he meets a woman who awakens his spirit and transforms his entire life in an instant. But how far are Clare and Logan willing to go for love? Can his love mend the pieces of her grieving heart? When their love is tested, is Clare ready to put her whole heart on the line again? Can Logan learn the true meaning of love, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness? When a second chance at love is given, Clare and Logan learn you are never truly ready until you're ready to risk it all.

My Review:

Are you looking for an emotional love story?  When You're Ready is a beautiful tale about finding love again after tragedy, learning that letting go of your past doesn't mean forgetting it, and that you have to take the future that you want into your hands and fight for it. 

Clare, is a beautiful soul who lost her husband Ethan, three years prior to when this story truly begins (Warning: be ready with your tissues for the prologue, it is sad and beautiful), is trying to raise their beautiful little girl Maddie, while barely living.  That is until a kind (and handsome, ahem) Dr. Logan Matthews steps into the room during a trip to the ER after Maddie takes a tumble. 

While Clare has lived a life full of love, (the love of her family, friends, and the love of Ethan) Logan Matthews' life was devoid of emotion.  Logan's mother leaves him as a boy with his wealthy and emotionally negligent father.  It looks from the outside that Logan has it all, name, fortune, good looks, but he is unable to find true happiness and love...Until Clare and Maddie stumble into his life. 

I loved the sweet feeling to this book.  While there are challenges, because truly, what love story doesn't have them, it is not a book full of angst and unbelievable situations.  Having it come from dual POV (Clare and Logan's) was perfect for this story, it makes every moment seem more real, it makes every character more cherished.  I even loved the oh so emotional moments when we hear Ethan's voice.  Although, I will warn you to make sure you top off your wine glass and have a few tissues handy. 

The ending is both heart wrenching and beautiful.  Some may say it is unnecessary, but I disagree.  This moment has to occur to prove to both Logan and Clare that their lives can move forward and that love is worth the fight.  Be ready to consider your own mortality, your own loves (the love of family, friends, significant others) and to think on how you would survive life after loss and if you could ever love again.  It is a beautiful story and I highly recommend it to any Contemporary Romance fans.

"IF love finds you again, don't fight it.  Don't let grief hold you back.  Love is a risk, there are no guarantees.  But, in the end, it is always worth it." -Ethan

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Also, Ready or Not, Book 4 in the the Ready Series will be releasing December 2nd, 2014.  If you loved When You're Ready trust me when I say you will be head over heels for Ready or Not ( Look for my review soon!)  Find the links to add it to your TBR on Goodreads and to Pre-order below as well as a chance to win a ten dollar Amazon giftcard!

RoN iBooks

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Goodreads

Book Description:

Born into wealth and privilege, free-spirited Liv Quinn left it all behind when she realized there was more to life than living off of trust funds and barely skating by. Since then, she’s worked and fought for everything she’s earned and never looked back at the world or the family she left behind.
Jackson Reid is starting over with a new job in a brand new city. A single father to his son Noah, he hopes the change will help strengthen the bond that has seemed to suffer since puberty reared its ugly head. What he hadn’t planned on was Liv—his exotic next-door neighbor who drives him insane with her wild, new age lifestyle, but still manages to leave him aching for more.
As challenges arise and feelings intensify, will these neighbors be able to look past their differences and find a middle ground? When love comes knocking, will they be ready, or not?



J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.



Forever Found - Cover Reveal

Today I am helping to reveal the cover for FOREVER FOUND by Nazarea Andrews. 

This is a novella that will be released on December 30th and is the stunning conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.

 

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00025]

~Goodreads~

 

Book Description:


Losing Gwen was one of the hardest things I've ever had to survive. I've never loved anyone the way I love her.

But finding her was never about that. And now that I have found her--now that she knows the truth about me and the Island, I have to trust her to believe. Because her leaving me didn't just destroy me--its killing Neverland.

I need her to love me. But we all need her to believe again.

Peter Pan has grown up and found the girl who left--but the stakes are higher than ever in this romantic conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.

 

Excerpt:

Gwen is leaning against the window. Every time I leave her, I forget. She’s not all gangly limbs and huge eyes and dirty hair hanging in her face, flinching at her own shadow. Not anymore. That Gwen still haunts my island, but this—this Gwen is breathtaking.

She thinks she’s broken. Fractured pieces of a broken mind, held together by medication and stubborn denial. But she doesn’t see herself, not the way I do.
Lane had that right. She’s breathtaking—even now, when I know she’s sad and broken. She stands straight, a pair of thin sleep pants curving around her ass before falling loose and free to the floor. Her shoulders are back, graceful and strong, under the thick sweater she’s wearing, her hair pulled into a messy knot at the top of her head.
She can see me, my reflection in the dark glass. And I see the tension in her tighten, drawing her up and sharp, until she’s almost vibrating with it. “Why are you here?” she asks, her voice low and hoarse.
She sounds like that when she’s been crying. I know—I’ve heard her so many times, heard her tears. Wiped them away. Whispered happy thoughts until I teased a smile from her.
“Peter,” she snaps, and I jerk, out of the memories and into the moment.
“You ran away.”
She gives an unladylike snort. “You decided you were a delusion of my past, and then you expected me to sit there and listen to your insane ramblings. Thanks, but no. I can’t do that. I’ve had enough crazy for one life.” She bites her lip, and then blurts, “You stole my file, didn’t you? That’s how you know about the Boy.”
“Do you remember the firefly meadow?”
She goes still, and I smile, gently. “You do.”
“That wasn’t real,” she whispers, and I feel the shudder.
“We’d hide there, from the lsot boys. And you’d fall asleep telling me your happy thoughts, and wake up to a galaxy of fireflies, and we’d chase them until you made yourself sick, laughing. And then I’d hold you and we’d stare at the stars, and you always said they were different. It smelled like jasmine and honey-“
“And wild woods and freedom,” she whispers, her blue eyes impossibly wide in her pretty face. I take a tentative step toward her, and touch her fingers.
Why are your stars different?
“It wasn’t a delusion, Gwendy. You know it wasn’t. Trust yourself.”
She shudders. “Can’t. My mind lies. It wasn’t—“
“Gwendy,” I say, desperately. Her eyes are filling with tears and I can feel the disbelief, the way it will tear apart the world I’ve known, and the girl I’ve loved, and I can’t. I move without thinking, catch her head and bring her lips to mine.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
 

NazareaAndrews

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

 AUTHOR LINKS:

WebSite ~ BlogTwitterFacebook ~ Street Team

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Monday, November 24, 2014

A Necessary Sin - Cover Reveal


Here comes a new series from Georgia Cates, the author of The Beauty Series! 

 I so Happy to be able to share with you the cover from the first book in this new series, A Necessary Sin- Book 1 of The Sin Trilogy

 A Necessary Sin is a Contemporary Romance and will release December 29, 2014! 
                                                
  

Book Description:


Bleu MacAllister is consumed. 
A horrific childhood incident has caused every decision in her life to revolve around bringing a monster to justice. With years spent studying The Fellowship, an organized crime brotherhood of liars, thieves, and killers, Bleu will rely on her skills as a special agent to cut Thane Breckenridge off at the knees. But walking hand in hand with retribution means risking collateral damage, in the form of Breckenridge’s son Sinclair—until Sin becomes so much more than Bleu bargained for. She’s always known this undertaking would place her life in danger—she never imagined her heart would be as well.


  
  
  
  GoodReads
  

  

  
  
You can also find the next two books of the series on Goodreads right now as well.  They will be coming out just over a month after each other. 

The second book in the trilogy is:
   
The Next Sin – Release Date – Feb 9th, 2015



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20623833-the-next-sin

 



 And the Final book is: 

 One Last Sin – Release Date – March 23, 2015
  
  
 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20623840-one-last-sin

  

  
If you would like to check out an exclusive excerpt to A Necessary Sin and the cover for book two, The Next Sin, hop on over to this link at USA Today's HEA Blog! 
  
Exclusive: Excerpt and Cover Reveal for Book Two
  
 
  
     
  
  
                                                About The Author:
  
Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful   husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.
When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When   she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

  


  Links to the Author
  
  

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Getting To Know You - Blog Hop




Alright, so this has been me since I said "Hey, a getting to know me blog hop!  That sounds like a fantastic idea, sign me up!"


I know you're thinking what the hell lady, how hard can it be to tell us a bit about you.  Well let me tell you, it has been agonizing for me.  I mean I question myself on what you would want to know, how would you want me to tell you about it, are they going to be horrified to learn that I am seriously just some boring ol woman from the East Coast?

So then I had a few beers


I may have whined on Facebook some


Asked my husband for help which got me responses like these two:

1. In your best Suessical voice tell them: "I do not like people who smack their food, so close your mouth, don't be rude.

or

2: When I mentioned a good blogger friend was doing a top ten list and I didn't want to do the same cause that would just be rude he said: " Do a top eleven list and then title it ' Mine go to eleven'



Then I thought, 'Oh what the hell, instead of just sitting here talking to everyone about it and working myself into another tick (seriously guys, my left eye has been twitching for weeks...weeeeeeks!), I am just going to lay it all out there.'  So here is the deal.  I am just me.  I am not anyone really exciting.

I love books, way too much for my own (or my children's) good.  Paranormal Romance is I think my favorite but like the blog says I Read All the Books.  Some of the books that have had the biggest impact on me though are:

The Borrowers, Mary Norton (The first book I read on my own)
The Horatio Hornblower Series, C.S. Forester (Simply Epic)
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen (Mr. Darcy...Ahem.)
The Bloody Jack Series, (another Epic tale, only about an amazing girl) L.A. Meyer
The Mortal Instruments, Cassandra Clare (The series that hooked me on Young Adult)
The Lords of the Underworld, Gena Showalter (The Series that hooked me on Paranormal Romance)
The Shatter Me Series, Tahereh Mafi (Because her writing is like poetry and Warner...Ahem)

I love to bake and spend a good portion of my time when I am not reading or homeschooling my two girls baking what I call Drunken Cupcakes.  They all have a beer based cake, usually a ganache or some type of center, and then a liquor based frosting.  Hmmm, let's see, one like this that I calll The Kraken (Hefeweizen yellow cake, a chocolate ganache center, and rum infused vanilla bean butter-cream frosting)


 Make sure to let me know if you will ever be at the same book event as me and I will make sure to bring you some.

I am a lapsed runner and Irish dancer:


Sadly I injured my leg a year ago and have struggled to come back, but I am fighting my way back and I signed up to run the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge in February....Ayyyy, I need to get my legs in gear fast!


I love going to Renfaire with my family and getting dressed up: (Oh, those were my running days, lol)


I listen to music almost non-stop ("Put it up to eleven."), and am particularly fond of Indie music, Carbon Leaf, Apache Relay, Dawes, etc.   Hozier is of course on rotation almost constantly right now, but my favorite band is Frightened Rabbit out of Scotland. I actually came across this band in Jeri-Smith Ready's YA series, the Shade Series and fell hard!  I even went out and got a tattoo of some of their lyrics (side note, I have 9 tattoos and new one, book related, planned, eep)


This is from one of the Frightened Rabbit concerts here in DC, I met lead singer Scott Hutchinson, squuueeee!


I met my husband in high school (I won't admit to you how long ago that was) and have been an Army wife for 17 years now, this is our 9th  PCS.  I can't tell you what my husband does for work (he used to fly Chinooks), no no, I wouldn't have to kill you...I honestly don't really know, because then I guess,  he'd have to kill me.  *wink*




I have two beautiful girls, who I home school and who can make me smile on the worst of days and growl on some of the best ones, haha.  They are my little miracles and even though they keep interrupting as I try and write this post I can't imagine life with out them. 

(Thank you to my friend Jennifer Pack for this fun picture.)

Two dogs, Fae an Argentine Dogo and Blue a Catahoula Leopard Dog, who have something against the UPS/Fedex trucks...not the drivers, just the trucks.  You can imagine how my book addiction makes things challenging for them.  It's a stressful life as you can see.




 I also have two hermit crabs, but we won't talk about them because I can't be sure that they are still with us right this moment.  Oldest seems to struggle remembering to water and feed them, yet she wants a snake or a bird, or an iguana, or a zoo. 

So in a nutshell, that's me and I will totally understand if you want to pretend like you don't know me anymore.




BUT before you go running away in embarrassment for me....Make sure you scroll on down and enter the give away for my favorite books and check out the other blogs on this hop.  I can't wait to learn a few things about everyone else and see just how much I embarrassed myself here, hahaha!   

Have fun hopping all!






 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Becoming Rain -Cover Reveal!

I am excited about this cover reveal for K.A. Tucker's BECOMING RAIN! 

BECOMING RAIN is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel, and the second novel in K.A. Tucker’s Burying Water Series, published by Atria Books an imprint of Simon & Schuster

BECOMING RAIN is set to be released March 3, 2015!

 

  Becoming Rain

US BUY LINKS:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-a-Million ~ IndieBound ~ Apple ~ Blio ~ Books-a-Million ~ Google

UK BUY LINKS

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple ~ Google ~ Waterstones ~ Foyles

Book Description:

Luke Boone doesn't know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he's finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set-one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it's not exactly legal, Luke's never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain. Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game-at only twenty-six years old, she's one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she's just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast's most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she'll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps. As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she'll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she'll even want to.  

And don't miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER...

Burying Water

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ IndieBound

Book Description:

The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away. Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him? Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried. The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.


Author Photo

   About K.A. Tucker: Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.        

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Novel Goodreads ~ Author Goodreads ~ YouTube ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Conner - Review



Author: Irish Winters
Publication Date: November 3, 2014
Publisher: Windy Days Press
Series: In the Company of Snipers book 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Military
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 4 Stars

Book Description:
Connor Maher is about to find out. As if dogging the brutal Sonoran Cartel through sun-baked Utah isn't tough enough, he's come face to face with his worst nightmare. Diminutive ex-Marine spitfire, Isabella Ramos, has just three words to say to him: I. Hate. You. Heartache hurts so much worse than gunshot…
How many times can a man say he’s sorry? Like he hasn’t heard that before.
Why was he the one who got to live?
Izza only accepted the Utah operation because he’d be there. It’s time Connor knows the truth, but how can she trust him with her life much less the secret she’s come to share? He's nothing but grief personified behind the guise of an blue-eyed, honorable man. Not until the cold-blooded SC dumps her and Connor in the farthest corner of the relentless Utah desert does she begin to realize….
There are worse things than death… 



My Review:

Can two heats torn apart by tragedy and grief reunite and find solace and love?  Not if Isabella (Izza) Ramos' words are any indication.

"I.  Hate.  You." -Izza

Does Izza even truly hate Conner or does she hate herself for the grief she carries and for keeping a secret that could change Conner's life forever?  How many times can a man say he is sorry, and does he even understand all that he should be sorry for?

Conner, Conner, Conner.  Dear sweet heart broken boy....I wanted to kick your butt through a good portion of this, but don't worry I wanted to kick Izza's a time or two as well.  *wink*

I have been anxious to read Conner's story since he was introduced to the series.  Here is this sweet Irish guy with a bit of a bossy side and a bunch of heart ache that he keeps locked away...I mean who doesn't want to snatch him up, drink a Guinness, rock out to some Drop Kick Murphy's then take him home to cuddle with him and mend his broken heart?  Izza, that's who or at least that is what she thinks.  An ex-Marine Sniper (same as Conner), who is a spitfire of a woman who isn't going to take any crap and is determined to prove she is as good if not better than the next guy. 

"The irony did not escape her that she, the only female agent present, was hands-down tougher than any of the guys she was traveling with. Meaner too." -Izza 

I had a tough time dealing with Conner in the beginning and have to admit he was really disappointing me in his interactions with Cassidy.  Everything between them, at least on Conner's side, seemed forced (Come on playboy, you know you don't really want her) to me and I just couldn't help but dislike her...she was like Laoghaire MacKenzie from Outlander, a girl I am just determined to hate.  Sorry Cassidy....Uhm, maybe your time will come, lol.  Thank goodness we had Izza to put a damper on that whole situation.  

Izza, wow...the anger radiates from the page straight to your heart with this girl.  I don't know how she held it together as well as she did.  Just another sign of how strong this woman truly is.  Her heartache was like a punch in the gut, I even wanted to say I am sorry a few times, it is painful even now to think about how much she was hurting and how even though Conner knew some of why how it seemed he truly couldn't see past the anger to the hurt and understand.  

This is what Irish Winter's does so beautifully though...she never fails to pull readers right into her stories, to place you in her character's hearts so you feel everything.  I am always guaranteed to fall for her characters.  They have unusual jobs and go through heart breaking, tear jerking, difficult, heroic situations but they are never made out to be more than what they are...regular people in unique situations. She doesn't gloss over their faults, or make them into super heroes.  They cry and laugh just like the rest of us. It's so easy for me to be drawn into their world, to tune everything else around me out, and page by page become a part of The TEAM.  

Once again Irish put it all out there, she doesn't shy away from the pain of war or from it's effects.  While this book was not as emotionally difficult for me to read as Harley was, it is still a book that doesn't romanticize war or the life of being a Soldier.  The majority of the character's from her series In the Company of Snipers are prior service and all show us the good and the bad, they allow us to see a small glimpse of military life and how it affects both the service members and those who love them.  These are gripping stories that you won't want to put down once you start.  

I loved this story of Conner and Izza, it is a romance full of second chances, of learning to forgive, to grieve, and to love.  If you are a fan of Military or Contemporary Romances this is a fantastic read for you.  While this book can be read as a stand alone like usual I suggest starting at the beginning of the series so you fully understand all the underlying pieces of the story.  I am also quite excited to get Rory's story after the little teaser she left us with at the end of the book. 





The wife of one handsome husband and the mother of three perfect sons, Irish divides her time between writing at home and travelling the country with her man while - writing. (Seriously, what else?) She believes in making every day count for something and follows the wise admonition of her mother to, "Look out the window and see something!" To learn more about Irish and her books, please visit www.IrishWinters.com.
Irish Winters is an award-winning author who dabbles in poetry, grandchildren, and rarely (as in extremely rarely) the kitchen. More prone to be outdoors than in, she grew up the quintessential tomboy on a farm in rural Wisconsin, spent her teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, but calls the Wasatch Mountains of Northern Utah home. For now.


November 10th ~Steve Sutherland – Review
November 10th ~ – Review
November 11thKristin Holt – Review
November 11th ~ – Review
November 12th ~Jen's Reading Obsession – Review 
November 12th ~My Secret Bookspot – Review
November 13th ~ – Review
November 13th ~A Book and a Cup of Coffee  – Review
November 13th ~Reads All The Books – Review
November 14thThe Pleasure of Reading Today – Review
November 14thAmazeballs Book Addicts – Review




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Friday, November 7, 2014

100 Sideways Miles - Review

 
Author: Andrew Smith
Publication Date: September 2, 20

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Age Recommendation: 16 and up (Strong Language and an abundance of talk about sex)

Rating: 5 stars


Book Description:
Finn Easton sees the world through miles instead of minutes. It’s how he makes sense of the world, and how he tries to convince himself that he’s a real boy and not just a character in his father’s bestselling cult-classic book. Finn has two things going for him: his best friend, the possibly-insane-but-definitely-excellent Cade Hernandez, and Julia Bishop, the first girl he’s ever loved. Then Julia moves away, and Finn is heartbroken. Feeling restless and trapped in the book, Finn embarks on a road trip with Cade to visit their college of choice in Oklahoma.  When an unexpected accident happens and the boys become unlikely heroes, they take an eye-opening detour away from everything they thought they had planned—and learn how to write their own destiny.

My Review: 

100 Sideways Miles is a quirky, weird, witty, strange, funny, unique, awesomely beautiful bookThis is one oc those books that will stick with you forever and leave you wondering what it is all about, it being life, the world, the universe...all of IT.

"When you think about it the universe is nothing but this vast knackery of churning black holes and exploding stars, constantly freeing atoms that collect together and become something else, and something else again."  -Finn

Finn Easton is 'fine now'.  At least that is what he wants you to believe.  He's lived billions of miles in his lifetime, perhaps a few billion more than other teenage boys.  He lost his mother and in many way himself when a dead horse on the way to a knackery fell from a bridge landing on top of he and his mother.  His mother dies, his back is broken, he becomes epileptic, and his father writes a weirdly fascinating book  that wasn't at all about Finn, but was.  

I thoroughly enjoyed Finn's character.  He's thoughtful (I don't mean in a kindness kind of way, in fact he can be down right surly at times), he's introverted, he's lost in the vastness of the universe simply trying to understand it all and find his own way.  He desperately wants to be a normal teenage guy, but what he can't see is that he is normal just with some extraordinary circumstances, because none of us are truly normal which makes us all normal in the end.  

I loved his relationship with his family, particularly his father.  It is refreshing to see a YA book where family relations are not filled with angst and hurt.  I cherish the idea that he and his father would sit out in the mornings having coffee just talking.

"Look:  Words did not frighten my father.  They scared the shit out of me.  I almost couldn't believe I'd worked up the guts to ask the question and not choke to death in the process.  But words were the atoms in my father's universe, and he was their destroyer and their creator." - Finn

They have the type of relationship I think we would all like to have with our children.  An honest, loving, disciplined, yet freeing relationship.  I think I will start implementing coffee (or hot chocolate for now) mornings with my daughters now. 

Now, Cade...Cade Hernandez.  Cade Hernandez, hmmmm.  I have to say as a 'grown-up' and a mother I just don't know what to do with this boy besides lock my two daughters away, shake my stick at him and ponder loudly about the fact that I am sure he is up to no good.  I truly wanted to dislike Cade Hernandez, I wanted to believe he was a bad guy, a bad friend.  What I ended up realizing is that for all his bravado he is simply as lost and confused as Finn, but no one sees the loneliness and fear through the personality he portrays.  In fact I think in the end I am frustrated more with Finn because I am not sure Finn sees it either.  I suppose that in the end though it doesn't matter what this forty year old mom of two girls thinks about Cade Hernandez because to teenage boys everywhere Cade Hernandez is a god.  

Although I don't want to believe that this is the way teenage boys are (goes to lock up my girls), I can't help but feel that Andrew Smith has written them precisely as they are.  There is not glossing over and making boys seem prettier than they really are, this is simply the nature of boydom.  With that I will say that this book will not be for everyone, although I think everyone should read it because underneath all the talk of  'boners' and foul language

"Now we were caught up in the Burnt Mill Creek High School mission to make us quit saying "fuck," which is more or less a comma -a punctuation mark- to most teenager when they speak.  The teachers and administrators at Burnt Mill Creek High School might just as well have focused their energies on getting tectonic plates to quite making so  many fucking earthquakes." - Finn 

is an amazing story about a boy simply trying to find his way.  To find that he's a normal as the next guy, that his life is his own.  I don't really even know how to explain the writing in this book (you will get past the repetition quickly and it will grow on you), it is poetic, it is beautiful, it is the kind of book that you'll read front to back in one sitting because it's mesmerizing.  It is the kind of book that you will want to pick back up as soon as you finished it and read it again because you've become addicted in about '20 miles per second'.

I feel as though this book should be required reading for every teenaged boy.  Andrew Smith simply put's it out there the way it is.  He does it with out sounding condescending to boydom, with an understanding that is hard to find in other books that revolve around being a teenager.  He lays it all out, the doubts, the struggles, the desire to both be 'normal' and an individual.  He shows us it is okay to be afraid, it is okay to not know where you are going, to be uncertain about how you got there.  He does this in a way that makes you laugh, cry, cringe, and hope.  He does it because we all feel this way, even this forty year old mom of two girls who are now banging on their bedroom door while I shout back at them...CADE HERNANDEZ!  

He does this all in 'twenty miles per second' and I feel like absolutely none of those miles were wasted in reading this book!   


Andrew Smith is the award-winning author of several Young Adult novels, including the critically acclaimed WINGER (Starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness—an Amazon “Best of the Year”) and THE MARBURY LENS (A YALSA BFYA, and Starred reviews and Best of the Year in both Publishers Weekly and Booklist).
He is a native-born Californian who spent most of his formative years traveling the world. His university studies focused on Political Science, Journalism, and Literature. He has published numerous short stories and articles.
 STAND OFF, the sequel to WINGER, coming in January 2015, is his ninth novel. Andrew lives in Southern California.

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