Review: Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

Release date: August 8th 2017
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository {Affiliate Link}

Synopsis via Goodreads:

From the bestselling author of All Is Not Forgotten comes a thriller about two missing sisters, a twisted family, and what happens when one girl comes back...

One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: 

fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. 

Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy Walker impressed me with her debut novel and so I was looking forward to where she'd go next because of her great writing and ability to twist things. And While Emma in the Night certainly had an intense and stirring vibe, it didn't quite deliver the punch I was seeking from the author. 

My issues began instantly with my inability to connect with Cass or Abby. The intriguing doctor aside, I never trusted Cass from the moment she returned home. Also, I feel like the story would have impacted me more if I could have experienced some of the things while they were happening, instead of just taking Cass' word for it as she's recollecting the horror of her mother and the kind of house she and her sister were growing up in. I know that might have extended the story somewhat, but I would have liked a little more of "in the moment" emotions from the sisters.

Also, it wasn't too hard to detect what was really going on. Cass was giving these precise details about the island and about her sister that had me suspecting her from the beginning, especially when it came to tales about Emma. As a matter of fact, I wish Cass had taken a different route so that the mother would have received what she truly deserved. But I guess we wouldn't have found out about Emma and I understand to an extent why she did what she had to do. 

Back to Dr. Abby Winter. It was clear that the forensic psychiatrist had dealt with her own horrors and could relate to Cass in regards to having a narcissistic parent. Throughout the story, she was quick to make connections to certain behavior and I found it interesting that Cass had easily detected the similarity between them, hoping that Abby would not only believe in her but would figure things out. That aspect of the story was quite interesting to read. 

There's not much else I can write without giving away the whole story, but I do want to mention that when disheartening details about the family was being revealed by Cass, I realized that dysfunctional didn't quite sum it up. The mother was...I don't even have the right word to describe her. She definitely had problems and required serious professional help, but the girls' father was just as bad. The only genuine and stable person in the sisters' lives was their older brother, Witt. While I doubted the intentions of every other character in the story, his kind nature was the most convincing and it's a relief that at least Cass had his love and support to move forward. 

To conclude, Emma in the Night has good writing and an overall premise that may shake you. But as I've mentioned before, I would have loved to be in the scenes as certain events were taking place, just to feel the emotions of the characters, instead of being told about what happened over and over. Still, it's an interesting psychological novel.

About the Author
Wendy Walker is a former family law attorney in Fairfield County, Connecticut who began writing while at home raising her three sons. She published two novels with St. Martin’s Press and edited multiple compilations for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series before writing her debut psychological thriller, All is Not Forgotten. Wendy is currently writing her third thriller while managing a busy household.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Review & Giveaway: Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino

Release date: August 9th 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis via Goodreads:

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?

*Publisher provided ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Renee Carlino is one of my favs and this book is a reminder why: she's a wonderful writer that always delivers gripping, emotional stories and vibrant characters. 

From the very first page I was pulled in and wanted to know more about Emiline. She seemed to have a nice boyfriend and supportive best friend, but something was off about her. She was guarded, harboring something in her heart. Then she starts reading J. Colby's book and that tightly sealed damn literally erupted. 

I found it interesting that while Emiline was reading Jase's book and having her bottled up emotions pour out, my heart was being tugged at along with hers. Her childhood story, even though some parts were changed by Jase, was so heart-wrenching. It was no wonder she tried so hard to lock it a way, no matter how her current boyfriend, Trevor would want her to open up. And I could understand her initial anger over Jase writing about her story. They hadn't spoken in years and she felt neglected by her first, and most intense, love, especially after what happened the last time they were together as teens.

At first Emi believed Jase was writing about her from her perspective, and he certainly seemed to have it locked down when it came to describing her emotions in various parts. But once she got to the made up scenes and finally met him again after so long, Jase tried to get her to understand that the book was "for" her and not "about" her. Like Emi, I didn't really comprehend what Jase's intentions were. But over time, Emiline finally got it in her head that the book was meant to help her heal, because after all those years she still had all that pent up hurt and wasn't letting it go. And it was nice to see that Jase's book encouraged her to return to her childhood town, not to mention she decided to reconnect with one of the people who hurt her badly. Yeah, Emi's dad was quite the monster and not many would want to reach out to such a person after what he did to his daughter. But I understood why Emi met up with him again as an adult. She needed closure in order to move forward, not for him but for herself. Her mother was totally the opposite. I honestly didn't know what to expect from Emi's mom, but damn, what a piece of work.

There's a lot I could write in my review to show how much I loved this story. I mean, it had messages throughout that I could take and apply to my own life, even if I hadn't experienced a past like Emiline's or Jason's. Their history together was just intense. In spite of all the pain they had endured, they managed to find this beautiful thing called love and it got them through. Emiline often doubted her strength and self-worth, and that was understandable, but Jason was there to love and support her even when he wasn't physically by her side. And although they got separated as teens and Emiline tried to block it out and pretend her way through life, the love they had was too real to continue denying. It was a sure thing that they would eventually meet again, no matter if it took a book for that to happen.  

Again, beautiful writing, engrossing story, and authentic characters. What more could I ask for? Swear on This Life served up a great mix and left me emotionally messed up. Thank you, Ms. Carlino, I'm still recovering from your previous and now I have to add this to it. But no matter what, I'm always looking forward to your next :)

About the Author

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of romantic women's novels and new adult fiction. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.

www.reneecarlino.com

facebook.com/AuthorReneeCarlino

twitter.com/renayz

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Review: Frayed by Kara Terzis

Release date: June 7th 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Dear Kesley, 

My therapist tells me I should write you a letter. Like flushing all my thoughts and feelings out of my system and onto paper. I tell her it's a stupid idea.

But here I am, writing a letter to a dead girl. Where do I start? Where did our story begin? From the moment you were born...or died? 

I'll start with the moment I found out the truth about you. Your lies and my pain. Because it always begins and ends with you.

And that end began when Rafe Lawrence came back to town...

Ava Hale will do anything to find her sister's killer...although she'll wish she hadn't. Because the harder Ava looks, the more secrets she uncovers about Kesley, and the more she begins to think that the girl she called sister was a liar. A sneak. A stranger.

And Kesley's murderer could be much closer than she thought...

A debut novel from Wattpad award-winner Kara Terzis, Frayed is a psychological whodunit that will keep you guessing!

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued in the beginning, especially since Ava was writing to her dead sister and was clearly on a mission to find out who killed her. I'm a huge fan of mystery so I thought this book was right up my alley. And while Frayed had those dark elements, I felt like the story was a bit too rushed for me. Like there were parts that I wanted things to slow down so I could understand the character more. As a result, I couldn't connect with her and it was hard for me to feel for her pain of loss and dealing with insecurities due to her face being scarred. Another thing that happened too fast to me was the way how her relationship turned out, along with what happened between her and her best friend. I mean, there were hints about the friend's attitude at times, but I just wanted more from these characters. 

Speaking of hints, the one thing I liked most about the story is that you couldn't really figure out who killed Kelsey. At one point I thought it was the mom, her friend Lia, then the bad girls from school, and like Ava I even thought Rafe was involved somehow. I didn't realize that those subtle scenes having to do with Ava's behavior was a sign. So the ending came as a surprise and I liked it a lot. I rarely read books about such things so that was an interesting way to solve the mystery of Kelsey's murder. 

Overall, an interesting and dark story with great potential. I just wanted more from Ava. Still a good read if you're looking for something quick and mysterious. 

About the Author

Kara Terzis was twelve when she wrote her first novel, and hasn’t stopped writing since. Later she started publishing her work on Wattpad, where in 2013 she won the Sourcebooks Story Development Prize, leading to the publication of her debut novel, Frayed. She adores fairy tales, photography, rainy days, and film soundtracks. When she’s not writing, you can find her buried in a good book and daydreaming. She lives with her family in Sydney, Australia.

diaryofateenwriter.wordpress.com

twitter.com/kara_terzis

Review: The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker

Release date: March 1st 2016
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

His obsession. Her fall.

Zephyr Doyle is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and attending her dream school, Boston College.

But love has a way of changing things.

Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.

Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and…

Terrifying?

But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.

So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life.

If she waits any longer, it may be too late.

*Received a physical copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl Who Fell is an interesting story with a plot that many can relate to. Zephyr is like any other teenager who had everything planned out; from where she wanted to go to college to what she wanted to do there. She seemed pretty level-headed and just overall a smart girl. So when things started with Alec and he had her changing herself and re-arranging plans to make him happy, many would want to call her foolish but if you analyze her situation and the issues she had with her father's sudden departure, then maybe you could understand her. I did, so I couldn't really be mad at her for wanting to do everything to make Alec happy, even consider giving up her dream for him. That is certainly realistic and in a situation like that, many girls do such a thing. 

From the moment he came into the picture, Alec have me suspicious. There was something about him that didn't seem right, and the fact that he had her pushing her friends away to please him was just terrible. Zephyr hadn't experienced a serious relationship before, so that sort of caused her to not see how wrong Alec was for her in so many ways. There were little signs here and there, but her infatuation (because what she felt was too soon and just wasn't love) blinded her. The problem with her father may have played a part in her staying with Alec too. But I was happy that she finally came to her senses (even though it took her too long) and that she was able to see that she deserved better. Her friends were awesome in the way that they held on to their friendship and tried to help Zephyr. So happy she found happiness in the end after all.

I felt like Zephyr's character was a great depiction of many in real life. The author did a good job in the way she started their relationship to the way it ended. The writing is fluid and the overall intense feeling of the story was chilling. My issue is that it kinda dragged out a bit and what happened in the end was sort of abrupt. But still, a good story that many may relate to, and probably might save themselves from the same horror before it's too late. 

About the Author

Shannon Parker lives on the Atlantic coast in a house full of boys. She’s traveled to over three dozen countries and has a few dozen more to go. She works in education and can usually be found rescuing dogs, chickens, old houses and wooden boats. Shannon has a weakness for chocolate chip cookies and ridiculous laughter—ideally, at the same time. The Girl Who Fell is her first novel. 

Find her at www.shannonmparker.com

Review: Finding Hope by Colleen Nelson

Release date: April 12th 2016
Publisher: Dundurn
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Hope leaves her small town for a fresh start, but her plans are derailed by an online romance and the appearance of her brother.

Hope lives in a small town with nothing to do and nowhere to go. With a drug addict for a brother, she focuses on the only thing that keeps her sane, writing poetry. To escape, she jumps at the chance to attend Ravenhurst Academy as a boarding student. She’ll even put up with the clique-ish Ravens if it means making a fresh start.

At first, Ravenhurst is better than Hope could have dreamed. She has a boyfriend and a cool roommate, and she might finally have found a place she can fit in. But can she trust her online boyfriend? And what can she do after her brother shows up at the school gates, desperate for help, and the Ravens turn on her? Trapped and unsure, Hope realizes that if she wants to save her brother, she has to save herself first.

*Publisher approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Finding Hope seriously had my emotions all over the place. When I started the book, I noticed it was somewhat short and I was worried it wouldn't make an impact on me if the story wasn't fully fleshed out. Well, I was wrong, and am honestly impressed with the way the author delivered the intensity of abuse and how it affects the user, as well as the lives of everyone around that person. 

I liked that the story was told in two POVs, taking us inside the heads of both siblings. It was obvious from the beginning that Eric was on drugs, but it was also obvious something terrible had happened, leading him down that painful path. Not many would have turned to meth as a way to escape what he'd been through, and at times I found myself angry at Eric for going that route while that bastard continued to live his life, but at the same time I understood and sympathized. He needed a way to cope with his demons and meth gave him the ability to numb that hurt. It was horrible, the way he lived and what he had to do for his next high, but I found this depiction rather realistic to that of drug abusers in society. 

Now in Hope's case, she was an enabler. Big time. Their Dad had done the tough love thing and the Mom was trying to do that as well, but Hope would leave things like food, clothes, and money for Eric in a secret spot. I kept rolling my eyes at her because, duh, clearly he would use the money for drugs and would sell the stuff she gave him for money to buy drugs. But again, I understood her character. She was his sister, and she felt like she had to look out for her brother because she was afraid he'd end up dead if she turned him away. Hope had some issues of her own too. While she may not have been on drugs like her brother, the effect of his abuse on her became more obvious when she went off to the all girls boarding school. 

Hope seemed desperate for a life where she could feel like she mattered too. A life that wasn't all about Eric. She needed to feel accepted. And it was hard for her to find friends at Ravenhurst. That is where some issues with her character started for me. I thought that maybe she could have looked for friends in her class, instead of trying to fit in with Lizzie and her followers. Also, her roommate was off-putting. She could have been nicer but hey, there really are people like her out there. And Hope was just too gullible. So quick to believe the nonsense spewed by that cruel clique, and often times her brother. Even worse, she believed that crap about the online guy who liked her. I just couldn't believe she'd fall for someone she hadn't met in real life and who never even called her on the phone. It was always through text or email, so it baffled me that she'd fall for that BS and send off that kind of picture. All in the name of trying to hold on to something that didn't drain her as much as Eric, and made her feel wanted. 

While Hope was beyond stupid in doing that, I found her naivety somewhat realistic because there are girls who really do that. It happens on social media constantly. But I also blamed her mother. I felt like if she had paid more attention to her daughter and made her understand her value then Hope probably wouldn't be seeking it from anywhere else. Also, the Dad wasn't very present in the story. It would have been good to have him be more involved. Just so I could understand his character more. Regardless, it was still a good story. Wonderful writing. Very realistic when it came to drug abuse. And even though there were times I didn't quite get Hope's poetry, I still liked it and found it rather deep and intriguing. I highly recommend giving this one a read if you're looking for a story that's not too draggy while on the more serious side. 

About the Author

Colleen Nelson is the author of YA fiction books Finding Hope (2016), 250 Hours (2015), The Fall (2013) and Tori by Design (2011). 'The Fall' and 'Tori by Design' both won the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award. 'The Fall' was also nominated for the White Pine Award. Currently living in Winnipeg with her husband, two young sons and three grown step-children, Colleen manages to eke out time to write everyday, but usually in the early morning after a strong cup of coffee. A junior high school teacher for ten years before having children, Colleen is familiar and comfortable with the tricky phase of life called 'adolescence'. Now a Teacher-Librarian in Winnipeg, Canada, Colleen is constantly on the look-out for books that will catch the attention of her reading-reluctant sons.

www.colleennelsonauthor.com | twitter.com/colleennelson14

Review: The Secret to Letting Go by Katherine Fleet

Release date: February 1st 2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.

Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret to Letting Go was quite an interesting story. Initially, I thought Clover was from a cult and had escaped, with the way she was so naive, wasn't aware of certain things and didn't understand a lot. She also portrayed the behavior of someone who lived in fear of authority figures and seemed as if she was in hiding, so that was another sign, to me, that she had run away from captivity. Well, in a way she had. Her situation might not have been the same as those from cults, but she was restricted from living a more freer life and she had to endure emotional torment and witness physical abuse by people who were supposed to love and protect her. 

I liked that Clover finally left it behind in hopes of finding something better, but it frustrated me with how long it took for her to come clean about what happened and why she was like that. She was also a frustrating character in the sense that she was so needy and couldn't just be strong on her own, but in a way that's understandable because of what she'd been through and before Daniel, she had only one other person in her life that cared for her. So after losing that intense bond, she wanted to cling to the next person who made her feel that way.

Daniel had gone through his own emotional torment when he'd lost his girlfriend. He held a lot of guilt over her death and when Clover came into the picture, he couldn't help having the need to make sure she was okay and wouldn't end up in that same predicament. Their relationship quickly turned into something that seemed a tad unhealthy, because it was as if Daniel had to be around Clover for her to be alright, and she just couldn't stop clinging on to him. I liked Daniel and connected a lot with him during his narration. His thoughts were realistic and I understood everything he felt and had the same questions as he did. However, I didn't care for the romance part of the story and like Daniel, I also thought Clover only believed she loved him because she liked the idea of feeling so safe. So the best thing Daniel did was break things off before going to college. The separation was good for the two, but I wasn't a fan of the ending. 

In conclusion, the story was intriguing from start to finish. A little draggy on the mystery of Clover's character but I liked that it turned out to not be what I thought had happened in Virginia. The writing's good too; fast and fluid. And I loved the way the author pulled me into every scene. I could smell the salty sea and felt like I was in Florida. This is definitely a great debut and I look forward to reading more from Katherine.

About the Author

Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Katherine Fleet moved with her family to the Caribbean island of Curaçao in 2007. The slower pace of island life gave her time to pursue a long-time goal - becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her wonderful friends. She is a member of RWA™ and several of its chapters. She also loves NaNoWriMo and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel.

www.katherinefleet.com | facebook.com/AuthorKatherineFleet

Behind the Pages #22: Christa Desir on Other Broken Things and Dark Contemporary

I liked Christa Desir's writing in her debut novel. And I found the story to be quite compelling and realistic. Her books are certainly thought-provoking, so when I saw that she had another release out that dealt with yet a serious issue, I reached out to the talented author in hopes of featuring her in the next Behind the Pages. Christa was kind enough to take some time to not only grant an interview, but she's also contributing a signed copy of her latest novel, Other Broken Things. Check out the interview below and enter for the chance to win.

Where are you from and when did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’m from Chicago and I guess I’ve been dabbling in writing in one way or another since I was five years old. I didn’t start trying to write novels until about five and a half years ago, but prior to that I’ve written poems, zines, essays, short stories, ad copy, etc. 

Who are some of your biggest influences in Literature?

I deeply admire Margaret Atwood, Roxane Gay, Toni Morrison, Sylvia Plath, and Dorothy Allison. And because I was a theatre person, I also love Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neil, Shakespeare, John Patrick Shanley, and Sam Shephard.

Tell us about your latest, Other Broken Things. What inspired the story?

One of my best friends from college OD’d a few years ago and I became very depressed and disheartened about addiction. I started thinking about how that can influence and destroy lives of so many people. So that was really the beginning of that story, though it took a much more circuitous route than that.

How challenging was it to write about someone like Natalie, in regards to making her issues realistic and relatable?

The challenge when it came to Natalie was much more about figuring out what she wanted and why she worked the way she did. It was delving into dysfunctional family systems of alcoholics and doing a lot of research about AA and twelve-step programs. I knew her voice almost immediately, but the rest of it was slower to come. I didn’t add the boxing element, for example, until I was about 50 pages in and then understood a part of her motivation. She was a slow reveal that way. 

Your novels are mostly dark contemporary. Have you ever considered writing lighter stories, like romantic comedy? 

Yes, I have endeavored to do this, but I have this tendency to ruin these stories. I try to lighten things up, but then I keep coming back to the wrecking ball mentality inspired by my own teen years. My life at that time was not a romantic comedy or even a contemporary romance, it was difficult and painful and so my writing roots seem to always want to go there.

What do you do to unwind after finishing a story?

I read voraciously. I tend to only read YA when I’m not writing so my off times in writing is when I devour all the YA I haven’t read during drafting/editing. When I draft, I tend to read literary fiction or romance (for my day job) or nonfiction.

You'll be releasing a novel with Jolene Perry. Could you share a bit about Love Blind? 

We first drafted that story five years ago. We were such baby writers then. We ended up having to rewrite most of it when it got around to editing because we’ve gotten better and so much had changed about those characters and what our editor wanted for them. I loved the collaboration process and Jolene is an excellent person and friend. The book itself is about a very shy and anxious boy who develops a friendship with a girl with degenerative blindness through the conquering of a fear list. It’s one of my more “quiet” books, though after reading it, you might still think it’s a bit darker. The whole process of this one has been an invaluable learning experience for me as a writer.

Thank you for taking the time, Christa. Where can your readers meet you next, and please leave any tips for aspiring writers.

Readers who want to meet me in real life probably need to come to Chicago’s YA Book Fest on April 23rd. I also will be at SCBWI in LA in August. My advice for aspiring writers is probably don’t listen to advice, but if you want something more specific, I would say that the only difference between a success and a failure is that the success got up from being knocked down one extra time.

Christa Desir writes contemporary fiction for young adults. She’s an avid reader, roller derby enthusiast, Sunday school teacher, romance editor, and podcaster. She lives with her husband, three children, and overly enthusiastic dog outside of Chicago. She has volunteered as a rape victim activist for more than ten years, including providing direct service as an advocate in hospital ERs. She is a founding member of the Voices and Faces Project, a nonprofit organization for rape survivors that conducts an international survivor-based testimonial writing workshop.

www.christadesir.com | facebook.com/ChristaDesirAuthor | twitter.com/ChristaDesir

Release date: January 12th 2016
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Indie Bound

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Review: Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskame

Series: The DIMILY Trilogy #1
Release date: December 1st 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

When sixteen-year-old Eden Munro agrees to spend the summer with her estranged father in the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. Eden's parents are divorced and have gone their separate ways, and now her father has a brand new family. For Eden, this means she's about to meet three new step-brothers. The eldest of the three is Tyler Bruce, a troubled teenager with a short temper and a huge ego. Complete polar opposites, Eden quickly finds herself thrust into a world full of new experiences as Tyler's group of friends take her under their wing. But the one thing she just can't understand is Tyler, and the more she presses to figure out the truth about him, the more she finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn't – her step-brother.

Throw in Tyler's clingy girlfriend and a guy who has his eyes set on Eden, and there's secrets, lies and a whole lot of drama. But how can Eden keep her feelings under control? And can she ever work out the truth about Tyler? 

Did I Mention I Love You is the first book in the phenomenal DIMILY trilogy, following the lives of Eden Munro and Tyler Bruce as they try to find their way in an increasingly confusing world.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the blurb, I knew going into the story there would be romantic feelings between the step-siblings, I just wasn't expecting it to be so intense and that I wouldn't be uncomfortable at all. In fact, I rooted for Tyler and Eden in spite of the situation, and I think that has a lot to do with their characters and how much they pulled me in. The author created these two teenagers with their own individual issues, on top of being drawn into a new family structure they didn't want to deal with.

Eden came to Santa Monica for the summer after her father's "invite", but really she just wanted to escape her life in Portland for a while, no matter if she hadn't forgiven her father for walking out on her mother. There was a lot of tension and awkwardness that Eden's father wouldn't address, instead he did his best to sweep his past issues under the rug and pretend like everything was all merry, but he was all too high and mighty when it came to handling Tyler. I didn't like him at all, and it got worse when it turned out who really wanted Eden to visit Santa Monica. 

Eden felt like her father traded her in for his new family, only she came to realize that his new family had problems of their own. One step-brother in particular kept stirring up trouble: Tyler.

At first she was put off by Tyler and his rebellious behavior. She all but written him off as a lost cause until she discovered that his issues were deeper than she thought. Tyler's activities began to worry Eden, and no matter how hard he tried to put up a facade and pushed her concerns away, Eden continued trying to help Tyler. For reasons beyond her understanding, she found herself wanting to understand him and the pain he was suppressing with those terrible methods. 

In no time both discovered their intense feelings for each other and things became even more complicated. They tried real hard to put an end to it but their hearts just wouldn't comply. And what I liked a lot about the story was that while their feelings were growing, there were other things going on. Like the way both characters were unraveling and I was learning a lot more about them as the story moved along. There were things addressed towards the end that answered questions I had, and of course, Tyler's lunatic girlfriend kept things exciting on the crazy side when some parts were getting too serious for me. 

To conclude, it was an intriguing story with likable characters. The writing's great and I loved the summery setting. I could feel the warmth seeping from the pages. No lie. Santa Monica is now on my bucket list as one of the places I want to visit. 

However, in regards to the supporting characters, I would have liked to get to know the other friend more, Meghan. Was that her name? She often seemed distracted with her crush but it would have been nice to have her spend more time with Eden without Rachel or Tiffany. I wish I could have felt the presence of Tyler's little brothers more as well. But those things didn't really take away from me enjoying the story anyway, because my focus was mainly on how Eden and Tyler's relationship would play out. 

I must say, Did I Mention I Love You? turned out to be quite an interesting surprise. To be honest, at first I really didn't think I'd like it so much because the opening was a little off for me, but as it progressed these characters had me seriously seeing things from their perspective and it made me wonder what I would have done if I were in the same situation. I look forward to reading the next book and I cannot wait to see how Eden and Tyler cope while being alone in the big apple. 

About the Author

Estelle Maskame is a novelist from Peterhead in Scotland. After gaining universal acclaim online during her teenage years, she signed a print contract with the Edinburgh-based publisher Black & White Publishing at the age of seventeen. She left school and now writes full-time from the comfort of her bed. Did I Mention I Love You? is her first novel.

www.estellemaskame.com

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Review: All the Major Constellations by Pratima Cranse

Release date: November 10th 2015
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Laura Lettel is the most beautiful girl in the world. . . and Andrew’s not-so-secret infatuation.

Now he’s leaving high school behind and looking ahead to a fresh start at college and distance from his obsessive crush. But when a terrible accident leaves him without the companionship of his two best friends, Andrew is cast adrift and alone—until Laura unexpectedly offers him comfort, friendship, and the support of a youth group of true believers, fundamentalist Christians with problems and secrets of their own. Andrew is curiously drawn to their consuming beliefs, but why? Is it only to get closer to Laura? And is Laura genuinely interested in Andrew, or is she just trying to convert him?

This provocative and compelling debut novel will resonate deeply with readers as it explores questions of identity, sexuality, and spirituality.

*Received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The story started out intriguing. I was curious about this Laura and why Andrew was so fascinated with her. I wanted to understand her religion as well and see what her faith was really like, especially since the blurb indicated they had issues of their own. 

First of all, there was a lot going on in this story. From Andrew's tumultuous family, to him figuring out what to do with his feelings for Laura and what to do with his life. But most of all, that terrible event that led to one of his best friends, Sara, being in a coma. It was quite sad what happened her, and I wish the author had allowed us more time in getting to know her. As for Marcia, she seemed so much more mature than Andrew, and I commend her for stepping up the way she did to lend a hand to Sara's mom. That's some friendship. 

Now in the case of Andrew, I didn't connect with his character and was often displeased with the way he was. I could understand his situation, in that he was mistreated at home and one of the two people in his life who had always been there for him was on the verge of leaving him forever. But often time it was as if he didn't consider what his friends were going through, he mostly just thought about his own issues and his crush on Laura. And things started to complicate for him even more after receiving an invite, so to speak, from Laura and he got involved in her group for the wrong reasons. I liked that he sort of developed a slightly different perspective about faith, and also about each person in Laura's circle, but he still came off a tad immature toward the end of the story and I wasn't a fan of his actions with Karen and John. There were certain things that weren't necessary and I felt confused about them, but no more confused than Andrew, it seemed, and John. Poor John. I wish we'd gotten more in regards to what he was going through and how his situation turned out in the end. 

In spite of a few issues here and there, including me not connecting so much with the characters, it still was an interesting story. I did like the writing style and the book was a quick read. Just that it didn't deliver a certain depth that I wanted, and it certainly had the potential to do that. Still, not a bad story. 

About the Author

Pratima Cranse was born and raised in Vermont. She now lives in New Hampshire with her husband, daughter, and their two magnificent cats. When she’s not writing, Pratima enjoys jogging very slowly (some might call it shuffling) and spending time with her family.

www.pratimacranse.com | FACEBOOK