Thursday, September 14, 2017

Happy release: Perfectly You by Robin Daniels (with giveaway)

Perfectly You
by Robin Daniels
-Romance, YA
Release date: August 24, 2017
Amazon | Goodreads

The Perfect series:
Perfectly Oblivious
Perfectly You

Ivy Nixon is the student body Vice President at Franklin High School. Each year, the school holds a date auction to raise funds for the senior class graduation party, and this year, Ivy’s in charge. Planning the event is a huge task and Ivy is determined to prove she can get the job done right. Unfortunately, she’s still one participant short and her deadline is looming.

Andy Walker, her cute but socially reclusive art class table mate, is her last resort. He may not be popular, but he’s funny, talented, and full of surprises. With a makeover and some major social marketing, Ivy is sure he could fetch a decent price at the auction.

Andy reluctantly agrees to help, but the more time Ivy spends with him, the more her feelings shift from professional to romantic in nature. To top it off, she’s done her marketing so well, that other girls are starting to notice Andy too. Come auction time, will Ivy be able to let him go to the highest bidder? Or will she find a way to keep him for herself…

Content Description: This is a stand-alone YA contemporary romance with companion novels set at the same high school. It contains minor language, innuendo, and crude humor, some steamy kissing, a party scene where underage drinking is taking place, and a brief but tasteful conversation about sex. The author has attempted to write characters who make good choices in questionable situations, in effort to keep the content appropriate for teens. This book contains no sex, written or implied, and no explicit language. Recommended for ages 14 and up.


Excerpt:

"What about tonight?" Andy suggested.

"I suppose I could get away for a minute. What did you have in mind?"

"I'm not ready for another argument today...so, do you like cheesecake?"

"Um, hello? I am a girl..." I responded playfully.

"Of course." He laughed, smacking his forehead. "How could I forget?"

About the author:

Robin Daniels is a wife, mother of five and avid consumer of books. She loves reading SO much that she was actually grounded from it as a twelve year old. No Joking! Her mom caught her reading when she was supposed to be cleaning, which was a common occurrence. At that point mom took the books and instructed her to go watch TV or play outside like a normal kid.

Robin is a sucker for home design shows and magazines, watches way too much Netflix and has a very codependent relationship with with a certain diet soda who’s brand shall not be named. (Though anyone with a similar problem could probably guess which one.)

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Blog
Facebook

—~ Blog Tour Giveaway ~--

WIN $25 Amazon Gift Card or $25 in Paypal Cash

Ends 9/25/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


~*~

* More on the tour (here)

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

Home Fire
by Kamila Shamsie
narrated by Tania Rodrigues

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt
Twitter

Just released: August 15, 2017
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Genre: Literary, Audio
Hardback: 288
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
Isma was going to miss her flight. The ticket wouldn’t be refunded because the airline took no responsibility for passengers who arrived at the airport three hours ahead of the departure time and were escorted to an interrogation room.

Isma is free. After years of watching out for her younger siblings in the wake of their mother’s death, she’s accepted an invitation from a mentor in America that allows her to resume a dream long deferred. But she can’t stop worrying about Aneeka, her beautiful, headstrong sister back in London, or their brother, Parvaiz, who’s disappeared in pursuit of his own dream, to prove himself to the dark legacy of the jihadist father he never knew. When he resurfaces half a globe away, Isma’s worst fears are confirmed.

Then Eamonn enters the sisters’ lives. Son of a powerful political figure, he has his own birthright to live up to—or defy. Is he to be a chance at love? The means of Parvaiz’s salvation? Suddenly, two families’ fates are inextricably, devastatingly entwined, in this searing novel that asks: What sacrifices will we make in the name of love?


Audio excerpt:



My two-bits:

Issues of love and betrayal play out in this story with a Muslim experience mostly set in London.

Definitely a good read for the current times.

~*~

* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Man Booker Prize Reading Challenge (here)

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Lovely Books and Things - 9.9.17

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

Linking up with:
Stacking the Shelves (details)
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~

More movie watching this week as the reading is in the slump mode, hmmmm.

~*~

Bought:

The Jane Austen Project
by Kathleen A. Flynn
-SciFi, Historical, Jane Austen-related
Amazon | Goodreads

SIMPLY irresistible.

Home Fire
by Kamila Shamsie
-Literary, Audio
Amazon | Goodreads

WORKING on the Man Booker 2017 long list.


For Review:

Zenka
by Alison Brodie
-Thriller, Romance
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

I like Alison's writing style, so this should be a fun one.


OTHER things (kinda book-related):

Book Blogger Hop
features a book related question
Sponsored by The Coffee Addicted Writer (details)

This week's prompt: Have you ever bought a book because you liked its cover art?
(submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

YES, but rarely now. When I started blogging and visiting fellow bloggers years ago, I had many cover love moments which prompted some purchases. However, as the years passed I found those books end up in the tbr pile for quite awhile. So, I am being more mindful when it comes to the draw of the covers.

One book that I bought for the cover which has been sitting in the tbr pile since 2012...

Alien Tango
by Gini Koch
- romance, sciFi
Amazon | Goodreads

I have the first three books in a series that is reaching book 20 soon. Soooo behind.


AND watched: in theatre

Mrs.B., a North Korean Woman (2016)
Madame B., histoire d'une Nord-Coréenne (original title)
Director/Writer: Jero Yun
-Documentary, China, Korea | imdb | my rating: 5

Portrait of Mrs. B., a tough charismatic North Korean woman who smuggles between North Korea, China and South Korea. With the money she gets, she plans to reunite with her two North Korean sons after years of separation.

A peek into one side of human trafficking as well as a tale of the "grass is always greener".

Bakuman (2015)
Director: Hitoshi Ohne
Writers/manga: Tsugumi Ôba, Takeshi Obata
Starring: Takeru Satoh, Ryûnosuke Kamiki
-Comedy, Japan | imdb | my rating: 5

Moritaka Mashiro, a junior high student, forgets his notebook in class. His classmate Akito Takagi, notes Mashiro's drawings in it and asks him to become a manga artist to his stories. Mashiro declines. Takagi incites Mashiro to meet with Miho Azuki, Mashiro's crush, and tells her the two plan to become mangakas (manga artists). In response, Azuki reveals her plans to be a seiyuu (voice actress). Mashiro proposes to her that they should both marry when Azuki becomes a voice actress for the anime adaptation of their manga. The two then start creating their manga, under the pen name Muto Ashirogi, in hopes of getting serialized in Weekly Shounen Jump.

For Fall Film challenge: about hope.

Loved the scoop on manga artists. Great scenes with manga art. Friendship, Struggle, Triumph.


AND watched: on DVD

The Innocents (2016)
Les innocentes (original title)
Director: Anne Fontaine
Writer (scenario: Sabrina B. Karine, Alice Vial
Writer (adaptation): Anne Fontaine, Pascal Bonitzer
Based on an original concept created by: Philippe Maynial
Starring: Lou de Laâge, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza
-Drama, History, Poland, France | imdb | my rating: 5

In 1945 Poland, a young French Red Cross doctor who is sent to assist the survivors of the German camps discovers several nuns in advanced states of pregnancy during a visit to a nearby convent.

For Fall Film challenge: about temperance.

BASED on actual events. Struggles of temperance and faith with some ugly realities interplay here.

The Human Stain (2003)
Director: Robert Benton
Screenplay: Nicholas Meyer
Based on book by: Philip Roth
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris
-Drama, Romance, Thriller | imdb | my rating: 4

When a disgraced former college dean has a romance with a mysterious younger woman haunted by her dark, twisted past, he is forced to confront a shocking fact about his own life that he has kept secret for fifty years.

For Fall Film challenge: starring anthony hopkins

INTERESTING with different perspective on racism. Fun dancing scene with Gary Sinise.

Patriots Day (2016)
Director/screenplay: Peter Berg
Screenplay: Matt Cook, Joshua Zetumer
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Bacon
-Crime, Drama, History | imdb | my rating: 4

The story of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists responsible.

For Fall Film challenge: starring kevin bacon

SOME history on the event with a focus on how the investigation of finding the bombers. Great to see the team work.

~*~

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

:-)

Friday, September 8, 2017

A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck

A Short History of the Girl Next Door
by Jared Reck

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads -giveaway (ends Sep 12)
Website
Facebook
Twitter

Just released: September 26, 2017
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: Romance, Sports, YA
Hardback: 272
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
I know it’s over when Liam Branson’s black Accord pulls in front of Tabby’s house before school.

Matt Wainwright is constantly sabotaged by the overdramatic movie director in his head. He can’t tell his best friend, Tabby, how he really feels about her, he implodes on the JV basketball team, and the only place he feels normal is in Mr. Ellis’s English class, discussing the greatest fart scenes in literature and writing poems about pissed-off candy-cane lumberjacks.

If this were a movie, everything would work out perfectly. Tabby would discover that Matt’s madly in love with her, be overcome with emotion, and would fall into his arms. Maybe in the rain.

But that’s not how it works. Matt watches Tabby get swept away by senior basketball star and all-around great guy Liam Branson. Losing Tabby to Branson is bad enough, but screwing up and losing her as a friend is even worse.

After a tragic accident, Matt finds himself left on the sidelines, on the verge of spiraling out of control and losing everything that matters to him. From debut author Jared Reck comes a fiercely funny and heart-wrenching novel about love, longing, and what happens when life as you know it changes in an instant.


My two-bits:

A story of friendship and unrequited love (of a different sort) which left me with a sad sigh.

With the backdrop of high school, basketball and poetry also play parts in this story that shapes the main character.

Wisdom imparted from caring grownups help with the character's growth in a positive way.

~*~

* review copy courtesy of tour

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Lovely Books and Things - 9.2.17

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

Linking up with:
Stacking the Shelves (details)
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~

I had a slow reading week. While I am enjoying Stephen King's It, the reading is not going as fast. Going to do a big push to catching up with the read-along in time for the movie release. There are so many details of doings. It is amazing how Stephen King can churn out so many works - many of which are quite lengthy.

The seasonal weather changes and unusualness (currently feeling a heatwave in San Francisco) have affected me. Feeling out of sorts. I am feeling the need for change, but still want the comforts of stability.

~*~

Bought:


Green Apple Books on the Park hosted an evening with Gabriel Tallent with his debut novel, My Absolute Darley. He had some interesting comments on writing about courageous characters that touched me.

My Absolute Darling
by Gabriel Tallent
-Literary, Coming of Age
Amazon | Goodreads

I was attracted to the feisty main character mentioned and the story is set near my neck of the woods, Mendocino county, California.


For Review:

Happy Dreams
by Jia Pingwa
-Literary, China
courtesy of Wunderkind -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

From one of China’s foremost authors, Jia Pingwa’s Happy Dreams is a powerful depiction of life in industrializing contemporary China, in all its humor and pathos, as seen through the eyes of Happy Liu, a charming and clever rural laborer who leaves his home for the gritty, harsh streets of Xi’an in search of better life.

=====> GIVEAWAY
I got a second review copy. If you would be interested in it, let me know in comments with your email address. -offer ends 9/30/17

UNBOXING:

The Crowns of Croswald
by D.E. Night
-Fantasy, Middle Grade
courtesy of JKS Communications -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Cool delivery for an ARC.

This box includes:
-The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night (signed)
-Postcard of book theme
-Letter from author
-Glanagerie bottle (that glows)


OTHER things (kinda book-related):

The Fall Film Challenge
September 1 to November 30, 2017
hosted by Quirky Pickings (details) | my list

JOINED the Film Fall Challenge. Looking forward to getting to some films that have been wanting to watch.

AND watched: on DVD

Saving Mr. Wu (2015)
Jie jiu Wu xian sheng (original title)
Director/Writer: Ding Sheng
Script advisor: Alex Jia
Starring: Andy Lau, Ye Liu, Qianyuan Wang
-Action, Crime, Drama, China | imdb | my rating: 4

Mr. Wu (Andy Lau) is kidnapped in Beijing by Zhang Hua (Wang Qianyuan) and three accomplices, all disguised as cops and demanding a ransom of 3 million RMB. In the ensuing 20 hours, the Chinese detectives led by Chief Xing (Liu Ye) quickly form a task force and sweep the city. Time is of the essence as Mr. Wu is ordered to be killed at 9 PM regardless of whether the money is collected or not. The police eventually apprehend Hua alone. As the deadline approaches, the detectives and captors collide. -Written by UEP North America

For Fall Film challenge: about greed

BASED on a true event. Interactions and motivations play out with suspense.

The Intouchables (2011)
Director/Writer: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
Starring: François Cluzet, Omar Sy
-Biography, Comedy, Drama, France | imdb | my rating: 5

After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.

For Fall Film challenge: about charity: an organization, an individual, a cause, an act... interpret this as you will.

BASED on a true story. Heartwarming and hopeful despite circumstances.

AND watched: in theatre

Ingrid Goes West (2017)
Director: Matt Spicer
Writers: David Branson Smith, Matt Spicer
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen
-Comedy, Drama | imdb | my rating: 4

An unhinged social media stalker moves to LA and insinuates herself into the life of an Instagram star.

CYCLED through creepy, sad and then hopeful feelings.

AND watched:

Game of Thrones
Season 7
Creators: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
Based on book by: George R.R. Martin
-Fantasy | imdb | my rating: 5

Nine noble families fight for control over the mythical lands of Westeros, while a forgotten race returns after being dormant for thousands of years.

WINTER has arrived.

Lots of OMG moments with reveals and such as well as amusing dialogue which catered to fans. In general it felt rushed and a bit off in the storytelling - maybe because it was lacking George RR Martin's details.

Season 8 will most likely be released in 2019.


~*~

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

:-)
 
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