BOOK REVIEW: NOWHERE BUT HERE by Renée Carlino

Title: NOWHERE BUT HERE

Author: Renée Carlino (Website | Twitter) 

Publisher: Atria Books 

Publication Date: May 5, 2014 

SYNOPSIS

A Chicago reporter in her mid-twenties unexpectedly finds love in Napa Valley when she’s assigned to spend a week with a famously reclusive genius.

Kate Corbin has lost her spark. From the outside, her life seems charmed. She has a handsome, long-term boyfriend and a budding journalism career at a popular Chicago newspaper. But in reality, her relationship is going nowhere, and she’s quickly losing motivation for what she once believed was her dream job. When her boyfriend dumps her unceremoniously, Kate loses all hope of finding love.

With no living family and few friends, Kate confides in her boss. Trusting that the hungry, ace reporter is buried somewhere deep inside, he gives Kate the opportunity to jumpstart her career. The assignment: to interview the famously reclusive R.J. Lawson, a wealthy tech genius who disappeared years ago but recently reemerged as a Napa Valley vintner. The week takes an unexpected turn, however, when Lawson refuses to divulge any information. Desperate for a lead, Kate turns to Jamie, a vineyard hand who shows her the romance of wine country—and stirs her aching heart. But his connection to Lawson is ambiguous, and when Jamie disappears before the end of the week, Kate is left to investigate another story: the truth behind the man who stole her heart.

USA TODAY bestselling author Renée Carlino explored love and heartbreak in her beautifully written debut Sweet Thing, and her newest novel does not disappoint. For fans of Colleen Hoover, K.A. Tucker, and Katja Millay, Nowhere But Here is a stirring and satisfying romance that you won’t want to put down. 

Ramblings. I know, I know. I’ve been gone from Goodreads and the reviewing scene for several weeks already (or is it way past a month already?). Sorry, I’ve just been VERY busy with real life and loads of other stuff on the side. The one that I recently did involves a TV series marathon of Game of Thrones and yes, I did a marathon starting from Season 1 til Season 3. So yeah, for almost 30 hours I was just glued to my laptop trying to catch up with everything for me to be able to watch the new episodes from Season 4. I know that I’m so late with this thing but OH MY GOODNESS, Game of Thrones was sooo good! I love the world building, the story and the characters. But dagnabit if you’re like me who’ll just be catching up with the TV series, please make sure that you don’t get too attached with these characters because … I don’t even know. Phew! ANYWAYS … Let’s get started with this comeback review post!

*INSERT* I need to insert this here because I just find it so funny and omfg the universe is just conspiring with everything right now! Because as soon as I got started typing in this portion of my review … my mp3 player began playing this song called God Damn You’re Beautiful by Chester See. Listening to lyrics of the song, I think it kind of captured some moments/vibe of the book. It’s really fitting for me to be listening to it while doing this!

Immediate thought after reading this book. Dude, this book is such a roller coaster ride and just filled with loads of goings-on! It has a bit of everything – about life, love, relationships, finding your person and on top of that is being able to find yourself all throughout those experiences. I laughed, “awwwed”, swooned because of Jamie, pulled some of my hair out because of Kate and even cringed in some parts of the book because of too much sweetness.

COVER REVEAL: CHANGING FOREVER (Rain #2) by Lisa De Jong

Title: CHANGING FOREVER (Rain #2)

Author: Lisa De Jong (Website | Twitter) 

Expected Publication Date: Jun 24, 2014

SYNOPSIS:

I’ve always let my past dictate my future, letting it paint a picture of exactly what I don’t want to be. Where I don’t want to end up.

Drake Chambers is as arrogant as I am stubborn. A college quarterback, a national star. I thought he was just another one of those guys … the type every girl should stay away from, but he’s carrying more than the weight of the football team on his shoulders.

He unravels the feelings and beliefs I’ve held onto for so long. 

I thought we had it all figured out. Two people who’d finally found their happily ever after, but the past always has a way of sneaking into the present.

With one decision, everything changes … forever.

Mark and add this book in your "to read" list on Goodreads, here. 

Photo Credit: Lisa De Jong's blog

Waiting on Wednesday: TAKE ME ON (Pushing the Limits #4) by Katie McGarry

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that I or us, readers are eagerly anticipating. Here's my pick this week ...

Title: TAKE ME ON

Author: Katie McGarry (Website | Twitter)

Publisher: Harlequinn TEEN

Expected Publication Date: May 27, 2014

SYNOPSIS

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

Mark and add this book in your "to read" list on Goodreads, here.

THE CHOCOLATE BOOK TAG

This is the first ever book tag that I've participated in and I'm really excited to share my answers with you, guys. But I wouldn't know about this without Ads of Bookabulary TAGGING ME ! So, THANK YOU SO MUCH for the tag and showing me another side of the book blogging world where TAGS and TAGGING PEOPLE exists. Ha! Let's get this started with ... 



1. Dark chocolate: a book that covers a dark topic.

Forbidden. The title itself suggests already that it will tackle a DARK TOPIC and in this case, it's INCEST. A brother-sister relationship to be specific. This book completely broke me and made my head go spinning for days because I was just reeling into everything that had happened in this book and with the characters involved. Up to this date, I haven't managed yet to come up with a review for this book because I just end up staring at my laptop for hours, not being able to type anything and leaves me with a heavy heart.  

INCEST is a taboo and is just suuuuper wrong for me and I think for all of us, right? But oh dear, the way Tabitha Suzuma wrote this book and the situations Lochan and Maya where in were just heart-wrenching and totally blurred the lines of the real relationship between Lochan and Maya. Curious and brave enough to know how the lines went all blurry and what happened to them and to their family? Then you should probably give this book a try and read it.

Even one of my favorite authors, Marie Lu said on her review in Goodreads for this book: "I've never seen such a taboo topic like sibling incest handled in such a poignant and heartwrenching way. It's a testament to Ms. Suzuma's skill that I found myself desperately wishing for Maya and Lochan to be together. Simply amazing."

Summary for FORBIDDEN: 

She is pretty and talented - sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But... they are brother and sister.

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending. 

2. White chocolate: your favorite light hearted/humorous read.

Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, will MAKE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD, BURST INTO GIGGLES, JUMP UP AND DOWN, SQUIRM IN YOUR SEATS, ROLL ON YOUR BEDS, TUG AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT WILL  MAKE YOUR FANGIRL HEART SWELL! I'm forever in love with this book and I wouldn't ever get tired of rereading it!  

Summary for ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS: 

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming,beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

To read my review for this book, you can use this link.  

QUOTE-TASTIC MONDAY (1): MAYBE SOMEDAY by Colleen Hoover

QUOTE-TASTIC is hosted by Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup. 

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that’s grabbed ya for one reason or another.

Everyone’s welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier!

Just grab the button and toss up your post :) 

Don’t have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section. 

I just NEED to feature this quote here on my blog because I'm utterly in love with it ever since I read it from the book ... Here's my pick for this week: 

I took this quote from Colleen Hoover's recently released book, Maybe Someday. Maybe Someday is one of those books that is filled with so many beautifully written sentences which will make us realize something about ourselves and our lives as a whole. Just like this one that I posted above. :) 

If you personally know me or have been following Fandomly Bookish for quite some time now, I'm sure you know that I'M A HUGE FAN OF THIS BOOK, OF COLLEEN HOOVER AND HER OTHER WORKS! I think, I gave all of her books a 5 out of 5 stars rating in Goodreads! Her works are THAT AWESOME AND LOVELY! If you're interested in reading the book review that I wrote for Maybe Someday, here are the links for it: Goodreads | Blog! And oh you should definitely follow the PH account for Colleen Hoover, @colleehooverPH! Woot woot! :)

RAMBLINGS: HarperCollins & ARCs ...

It's been a long time coming ... These are the ARCs that HarperCollins Publishers sent me!!! :)

I WAS UTTERLY SURPRISED when a package was dropped off of our house last Friday, May 2! I totally wasn't expecting it because in the previous email HC sent me, Ms. Megan (Hi!!!) said that she would be emailing us first if the ARCs are already in the mail. And I didn't have any clue if my request for the ARCs would be granted ASAP or not because THIS was my first time to be included in their list of bloggers that they would make an offer for ARCs. So, I'm such a clueless gal. 

Anyways, enough with that. I just want to THANK HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS AND MS. MEGAN again for being so accommodating from the very beginning and for giving me this opportunity of reading and writing reviews for these books way before it's publication dates. This is a really huge deal for me, guys. I cry. After 12374748949383 years (LMAO!), I finally feel that I've accomplished something for my blog. :) 

Here are the titles of the books that they've generously sent me together with their corresponding book covers and synopsis: 

Title: NASH (Marked Men #4) 

Author: Jay Crownover (Website | Twitter)

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: April 29, 2014 

SYNOPSIS 

Will their past determine their future?

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down... and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?

Add Nash on your "to read" list in Goodreads, using this link. 

BOOK COVER: UGLY LOVE by Colleen Hoover [I'M. IN. LOVE.]

Title: UGLY LOVE 

Author: Colleen Hoover (Website | Twitter)

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: August 5, 2014 

SYNOPSIS

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

Never ask about the past.

Don’t expect a future.

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

Hearts get infiltrated.

Promises get broken.

Rules get shattered.

Love gets ugly.

Mark and add Ugly Love on your "to read" list in Goodreads, using this link. 

I'M DYING TO HAVE UGLY LOVE IN MY HANDS ALREADY! MY GOODNESS! THE COVER'S SOOOO PRETTY AND THE BLURB FOR THIS BOOK JUST SCREAMS "DAGNABIT! PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR ANOTHER COLLEEN HOOVER ROLLER COASTER RIDE AND HOARD LOADS OF BOXES OF TISSUES STARTING NOW!!!". I can already feel it that I'll be having a mega book hangover after reading this book! AAAAH Now now, if only I can win one of those ARCs from Colleen's giveaways... :) 

Source for Ugly Love's cover.

[Book to Movie] CHECK OUT 'FALLEN' MOVIE'S FIRST PHOTO OF CAM, LUCINDA AND DANIEL!

L to R: Cam (Harrison Gilberton, Lucinda (Addison Timlin) and Daniel (Jeremy Irvine)

Source