"Wide Awake" Review

"Wide Awake" Shelly Crane 

Source: Netgalley 

Stars: 4

Emma Walker has just woken up from a six month coma.

From what the strangers in her room tell her she barley survived being left on the side of the road for dead after a hit and run. As if it can't get any worse, the 'strangers' in her room are her parents, and the girl staring back at her in the mirror? The one she doesn't recognize? That's her. 

Everyone in Emma's life wants her to just pick up right where she left off, her parents want her back on the cheer-leading squad, her friends what their queen bee back and her boyfriend thinks that a quick make out session will cure her amnesia. 

However the more Emma learns about the 'old' her the more she pushes away those closest to her. She isn't that girl, not anymore. That girl died on the side of the road that night. And if the people in her life can't accept the new Emma than maybe they don't deserve to be apart of her new life. 

With the help of her former physical therapist and now current love interest, Mason, Emma begins picking up the pieces of her shattered life. Healing both herself and Mason in the process. 

I loved this book, I started it on a Sunday morning and was finished before dinner that night. I could not get myself to put it down. 

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, waiting to see if Emma's memory returned or if she and Mason made it to the ending together. 

I'm sure there are quite a few books out there with this subject, memory loss and finding out who you are and who you truly want to be, but this story and the way it is written is completely unique and one of a kind. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion. 

ARC Review of "Harp's Song"

"Harp's Song" By Cassie Shine 

Source: Netgalley

Stars: 4

Harp Evans is counting down the days until she turns 18, graduates highschool and is finally able to leave her abusive mother behind her. 

For as long as she can remember her mother has hated her. She has physically, emotionally and verbally assaulted her more times than Harp can count. Her Dad isn't in the picture and the only person that Harp can rely on is her best friend Conner. 

Harp spends half of her free time practicing the Cello in order to get a scholarship and move as far away from her home town as possible and the other half spending time with Conner who is the only person she can confide in when it comes to her mother.  

When old secrets are revealed and the lines between friends and something more start to blur Harp is forced to not only discover who she is and where she came from but where she'll go and who she will become because of it. 

I was happily surprised by this book, I read it in a matter of hours and although there were a couple of things that I wasn't a fan of the good truly outweighed the bad. 

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish where each week there is a new topic for a top ten list. 

This is my first week participating and I'm already hooked. 

Top Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From

1. James Patterson - Around 35 

I have almost every Alex Cross book (around 20) a couple of his Women's Murder Club and a couple stand alone novels.

2. L.J Smith - 13

Vampire Diaries, Stefan's Diaries, Nightworld, The Forbidden Game, Dark Visions.

3. Rachel Vincent - 9

Shifter Series and Unbound Series. 

4. Ann Brashares - 9 

Sisterhood Series, Last Summer, Here and Now, 3 Willows, My Name Is Memory. 

5. Amanda Hocking - 9

Trylle Series, My Blood Approves Series, Wake and Hollowland. 

6. Cassandra Clare - 8 

Mortal Instruments (Minus the last one) and Infernal Devices. 

7. Scott Westerfeld - 7 

The Uglies Series and The Midnighters Series. 

8. J.K Rowling - 7 

Harry Potter. 

9. Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia - 7

Beautiful Creatures, Icons, Idols and Unbreakable.

10. Kimberly Derting - 6

The Body Finders Series, The Pledge and The Taking.

And there you have it, hope you all enjoyed! 

"Dark Sacrifice" ARC Review

"Dark Sacrifice"  By Angie Sandro 

Release Date: August 5th 

Stars: 5 

"Dark Sacrifice" is the second book in the "Dark Paradise" series. 

*May contain spoilers from the first book.*

In the beginning of "Dark Sacrifice" Mala LaCroix finds herself locked in a mental institution. On the other side of town Landry Prince is staring out from behind the bars of his jail cell. Needless to say things have gone a little downhill since the previous book. 

Not only does Mala have to watch for vengeful spirits out to get her she now has to worry about the living as well. A cold blooded murderer will not rest until Mala and Landry are dead and in the ground. 

On top of all that Mala has no choice but to keep the deal she made with the devil and travel to New Orleans to be trained by her Aunt Magnolia. 

This book was just as good as the first one in my opinion. 

There was never a dull moment, from the first page to the last I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened. 

While this book is filled to the brim with witches, ghosts, curses and black magic galore Sandro's characters and their lives feel undeniably real and completely relatable.

I cannot wait until the next installment in this series. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

  

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion. 

"The Opposite Of Maybe" Review

"The Opposite Of Maybe" By Maddie Dawson 

Source: Edelweiss

Stars: 4

Rosie has spent the last 15 years of her life with her partner Jonathan, while her friends were off getting married and having babies her and Jonathan are merely ambling through life. Which up until now both of them seemed perfectly content doing. 

After a series of rather unfortunate events Rosie decides that her and Jonathan need a break, while he picks up and moves to California she moves in with her ailing grandmother (Soapie) who raised her and the younger man (Tony) who may or may not be there to rob Soapie blind. 

Discovering that at the age of 44 she is pregnant is just the cherry on top for Rosie. Now not only does she have to deal with finding a home for Soapie and keeping an eye on the mysterious and handsome Tony she also has to figure out if a baby with Jonathan is what she wants. 

I love the characters in this book and their unique personalities and takes on life. Soapie and George dancing around to Frank Sinatra, Tony and his windshield parenting, Rosie and her students. Hell I even liked Jonathan and his weird obsession with tea cups. 

All of them are at completely different points in their lives and yet Maddie Dawson intertwines them all in a seamless almost effortless way. 

 Maddie Dawson's "The Opposite of Maybe" teaches us that coming of age stories aren't just for those in their late teens or early twenty's. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion. 

ARC Review "What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan?"

"What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan?" 

By Jill Knapp 

Release Date July 24th 2014 

Source: Author 

Stars: 5

If you're like me and you've always wondered what it would be like to live in New York then this book is for you. 

Twenty three year old Amelia Hastings guides you through the ups and downs of living on the little island that never sleeps. 

Amelia thought she had it all, a boyfriend, best friends, an amazing apartment, an education. 

However after being dumped by her seemingly perfect boyfriend Nicholas, Amelia now finds herself day dreaming about her friend and classmate Michael. She has always had feelings for Michael but now that Nicholas is out of the picture will she finally take a shot and see where things lead? 

While juggling school, friends, heartbreak and love Amelia gives you an insight into the life of a true New Yorker. 

This book was like a breathe of fresh air. While the main characters life is far from perfect the writing never came off as overly dramatic or whiny. 

Too often I read a book and find that while the main character is amazing the sub characters seem to be nothing but 'fillers'. People to just get us from one page to the next. This book is filled with characters that, while didn't have a huge part, still caught my attention and kept it. They were interesting, engaging, unique and they came to life on the pages before my eyes. 

Jill Knapp description of city life and the people who dwell within it are exquisite. I felt like I was right there along side Amelia and her friends, walking to class, riding the subway, shopping and cramming for final exams while eating cold take out and drinking wine. 

I look forward to the next book in the series and I can't wait to see where Amelia's journey will take us next. 

Until next time, 

Ginger  

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion. 

"Anna and the French Kiss" Review

"Anna and the French Kiss" By Stephanie Perkins 

Stars: 5

Anna is excited to begin her senior year in Atlanta, she's looking forward to prom, hanging out with her best friend and seeing if there's a spark between her and her current crush. 

However those expectations are shattered when her father announces that instead of staying home with family and friends she is being shipped off to France for her senior year. 

Feeling alone and like an outsider Anna is less than thrilled and is intimidated by the city of lights. She doesn't speak the language and she is too scared to venture beyond the walls of her boarding school.

Cue Etienne St. Clair, he's charismatic, drop dead gorgeous and of course speaks fluent french. 

Anna is intrigued by him and what starts off as a friendship soon starts to cross over into a budding romance. 

That is until Anna learns of St. Clair's older, sophisticated, beautiful girlfriend. 

Struggling with trying to fit in both in France and in her new circle of friends Anna discovers that maybe it's not where you are, but who you're with that matters. 

I fell in love with this book instantly, from the first page I was head over heels, butterflies in the stomach, head in the clouds infatuated. 

I loved every detail. From the characters to the setting to the writing style. 

It felt to me like Sarah Dessen and Gayle Forman got together and wrote Anna's story. 

I'm now and will forever be a fan of Stephanie Perkins. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

"This Song Will Save Your Life" Review

"This Song Will Save Your Life" By Leila Sales 

Source: Audible 

Stars: 5 

 Elise Dembowski doesn't fit in, she isn't 'popular', she isn't 'cool' and her social life is none existent. But all that is all going to change. She decides the summer before freshman year to become someone entirely different. 

But it's not that easy. Changing yourself is, if not impossible, pretty near impossible. A new hair cut, some nail polish, a cute top and some lipgloss, sure you may look like a new person but look just a little closer, just under the surface and you see the same girl that was there all along. A shy, socially awkward, overachieving teenager who just doesn't fit in. 

After realizing that her summer was a complete bust and that no matter how hard she tries she will always be Elise Dembowski she decides she can't take it anymore. She goes home after the first day of school and tries to kill herself. 

Months later she is still under the watchful eyes of her divorced parents. However neither one seems to notice when she leaves the house late at night to walk. Just walk, no destination in mind. She walks and walks until she gets tired and then she turns around and goes home to sleep. 

Until one night when she stumbles across an underground club. Vicki, the lead singer of her own band and Pippa a snarky British girl both befriend Elise and instantly Elise has a purpose, a place to be, even if it's only for one night a week. She longs for those nights and life is so much better being able to look forward to spending her time there.

When Char the clubs DJ offers to let her guest DJ she throws herself into her new hobby, not only does she love it she's good at it. The crowd loves her and the music she plays. 

Each time she plays a Cure song or a song by The Smiths or Bruce Springsteen she comes one step closer to realizing that the Elise Dembowski she is is just the one she is meant to be. 

Not only does the music heal her it brings her new friends, a new found confidence and the self esteem she had in her all along. 

Change is inevitable, you meet new people, your discover new music, you get new scars. All of that changes you, but you're still you. You're still the person you were all along. And Elise discovers that maybe, just maybe, that's enough.  

I can't recommend this book enough, from the very first chapter I was hooked. To be truthful the title alone drew me in and I knew this would become an instant favorite of mine. 

I have never found the words to express how much music means to me, how one song, one strum of a guitar can instantly make my day better. 

There are certain bands I know will never let me down, bands that have been with me for most of my life, some people roll their eyes and just can't seem to understand why someone who is no longer a teenager still jumps up and down screaming when these bands release new songs or announce a tour. But I feel as though Leila Sales understands. 

One of my favorite quotes is by Alex Gaskarth, member of All Time Low, if, like me, this song rings true in your heart then I can guarantee you that this book is for you. 


“Never underestimate a girl’s love for her favorite band. Never think even for a minute, that she won’t defend them to her death. Because it’s not just the music that makes that band her favorite. It’s the guys, the gals. It’s the fans. People whom of which she has interacted with thanks to the band. That band might of saved her life, or just made her smile everyday. That band has never broke her heart and has yet to leave her. No wonder she finds such joy in her music.”

Just like the bands I keep in my heart this book now has a special place there that is all it's own.

"This Song Will Save Your Life" is for fans of music, heartbreak and rediscovering who you really are. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

"Only With You" ARC Review

"Only With You" By Lauren Layne 

Release Date: July 29th 2014 

Source: Netgalley 

Stars: 4 

Sophie Dalton may not have her life all figure out, sure she's a college graduate wasting her degree while working as a cocktail waitress and maybe she can't stay at one job for any length of time and perhaps her parents are slightly disappointed in her but being mistaken for a cheap hooker in a hotel elevator in Las Vegas while attending a bachelorette party is thee last straw! 

Once Sophie is back home she ditches her thigh high boots and quits her job as a waitress vowing to put the past, including the 'hooker incident', behind her. 

If only the past, i.e Grayson Wyatt, wasn't suddenly sitting across from her at a family dinner on the arm of her older sister. 

Suddenly Sophie finds herself working for Grayson as his personal assistant and although his brooding attitude, lack of humor and ever present frown is more than apparent Sophie can't help but wonder if the feelings she is starting to develop towards him could ever be returned. 

The term 'opposites attract' couldn't be more true in this book. 

Sophie is a  free spirited character who talks non stop and even when things got tough she always had a sense of humor about it. 

Grayson is the male equivalent of 'grumpy cat' and would rather stay home by himself than be forced to make seemingly meaningless small talk with people he doesn't know.

Can Sophie crack his hard exterior or will Grayson leave her with nothing but a broken heart and a pair of boots she'll never wear again?

I truly enjoyed this book, from the moment Sophie stepped out of that elevator I knew I wasn't going to be able to put it down. 

I can't wait to read the next installment in the series. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion. 

"Sinner" Review

"Sinner" By Maggie Stiefvater

Cole St. Clair is back and in the spot light (where he belongs) in this new stand alone companion novel to the Mercy Falls trilogy. 

Cole is picking up the pieces of his former life, attempting to start new, fresh, and hopefully with Isabel by his side. Drugs, alcohol and a different girls every night are now a thing of the past. Now he spends his days trying to win over Isabel, write songs and be somewhat entertaining for the TV crew that follows him around day and night.

When asked during an interview what scares Cole his answer is blunt and to the point: 'Nothing'. 

But with the possibility of shifting into a wolf hanging over his head and the thought of losing Isabel (for good this time) lurking in the back of his mind Cole knows he is only lying to himself and his fans by answering 'nothing'. 

Isabel is still trying to find a place to fit in since moving to L.A. Her family is as dysfunctional as ever and she spends her time either at work or school, dreading having to go 'home'. 

Isabel is known for her wit and snarky attitude. She never pulls punches and if you don't want to hear the truth then don't ask her for it. She has no problem telling Cole to leave her alone, but behind the wall she has meticulously built and maintained all these years Isabel is starting to wonder if living without Cole is even a possibility.   

I think one of the reasons I liked "Sinner" so much was that the two main characters were once sub characters vying for attention. 

The way that Maggie writes gives breath to each and every character whether they have a minor or major roll in the story. Which of course always leaves me wanted more.

"Sinner" reminds me of a quote from the movie "The Holiday" 

"You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life."

While Grace and Sam had their time and told their story (which I loved) I always wanted more from Isabel and Cole. 

I'm ecstatic that Isabel and Cole finally got their leading roles. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion. 

Cover Reveal and Excerpt for "Conspiracy Girl"

"Conspiracy Girl" By Sarah Alderson 

Summery from GoodReads

Everybody knows about the Cooper Killings – the Bel Air home invasion that rocked the nation.
There was only one survivor - a sixteen year-old girl.
And though the killers were caught they walked free.

Now eighteen, Nic Preston - the girl who survived - is trying hard to rebuild her life. She’s security conscious to the point of paranoia and her only friend is a French Mastiff bulldog, but she’s making progress. She’s started college in New York and has even begun dating.

But then one night her apartment is broken into and the life Nic’s worked so hard to create is shattered in an instant. 

Finn Carter - hacker, rule breaker, player – is the last person Nic ever wants to see again. He’s the reason her mother’s killers walked free from court. But as the people hunting her close in, Nic has to accept that her best and possibly only chance of staying alive is by keeping close to Finn and learning to trust the person she’s sworn to hate.

Fleeing across a snowbound New England, frantically trying to uncover the motive behind the murders, Nic and Finn come to realize the conspiracy is bigger than they could ever have suspected. But the closer they get to the truth and the closer they get to each other, the greater the danger becomes.

To survive she has to stay close to him.
To keep her safe he has to keep his distance.

Exclusive excerpt:

‘Finn works in internet security,’ Maggie cuts in.

I blink at Maggie. ‘I know. So what? What help is that going to be against whoever is coming after us? Is he going to password protect us?’ I almost laugh out loud but then I realise they’re not coming after her. They’re coming after me and I have no goddamn idea why and it takes every ounce of will power in my body not to slam my fists into the wall, because when will this nightmare ever end?

‘And he also has FBI experience.’

That pulls me up short. I dart another look at Finn. FBI? How is that even possible? He’s got to be twenty-two at the most. Do they recruit them straight out of kindergarten or something?

And for the big cover reveal...........

Don't forget to add "Conspiracy Girl" to your 'to-be-read' list. 

Release date is February 19th 2015 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

"Forever" Review

"Forever" By Maggie Steifvater 

I was so excited and yet so anxious to read "Forever". The 'last' book in a series always terrifies me. On one hand I don't want it to end and on the other I want every character and sub character to have their final words. I want all the loose ends wrapped up in a pretty little bow and I want to be able to close the book after reading the last page and breathe a sigh of relief. 

I want 'happily ever after'. 

Sadly we don't always get what we want. We get what we need. And "Forever" is exactly what the readers of The Wolves of Mercy Falls series needed, including myself. 

This is going to be a rather short review because I don't want to spoil the ending for the handful of people who have yet to read it. Yes I was a couple years behind in reading this series but I'm kind of glad I waited. Being able to read a series all the way through with no waiting period is ideal for me.

Now did I get the ending gift wrapped in shiny paper with a satin bow? No. Were all the loose ends taken care of? No. Did I get my happily ever after? Maybe. 

I say I want all of those things and when I get them I'm happy. I give it 5 stars and I'm on to the next book. But (and here I'm going to reference TFIOS, because, well, why not?) I'm very much like Hazel Grace, I want to know what happens 'after' I want to know that the characters still live on if only in the imagination of the author that created them. 

"Forever" gave me that sense that though the story was over for me, it was far from over for the characters. And that, in my opinion is the perfect way to end a series. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

"Linger" Review

"Linger" By Maggie Stiefvater 

*May contain spoilers from the first book*

In "Shiver" Grace and Sam found one another, in "Linger" they must decide if staying together is worth the fight. 

Grace is caught between being with Sam and obeying her parents and Sam is battling with inner demons of his own. Throw in the new wolf, Cole and you've got a recipe for disaster. 

Cole chose to be a wolf, running from memories that he can only quiet when he is in his wolf form. Unfortunately for him the warmer the weather gets the less peace and solitude he can obtain. 

Isabel, although not entirely grieving for her brother still carries with her the guilt of what happened the night that he died. 

Maggie pulled off yet another beautifully woven story of love, passion and heartbreak. 

Intertwining all the characters, both new and old, she made me care for all of them equally and I found myself emotionally invested in all of their lives, whether it be past present or future. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

"Shiver" Review

"Shiver" By Maggie Stiefvater 

For years and years Grace has watched the wolves who roam in the woods behind her house. She is fascinated by them but she is enchanted by one particular wolf- her wolf. She feels a connection with the yellow eyed creature, the same connection she now feels with the yellow eyed boy who bares a striking resemblance to her wolf.  

Sam is torn between the two lives he is forced to live. During the cold months he is a wolf in the frozen woods, wandering with his pack but still feeling alone in his small world. Amid the summer months Sam is able to take on his human form, however he has never had the courage to speak to Grace until now... 

Will their love for each other be enough to keep Sam from giving into the change that comes with the changing weather?  

Or will the cold months inevitably control Sam and his pack leaving Grace heartbroken and alone? 

As soon as I finished this book I started reprimanding myself. Why in the world did I take so long to read this?! I loved it from beginning to end and as soon as I finish this I'm off to start the second one. 

The way that Maggie weaves this beautiful story is spectacular. The haunting way she describes the image of a wolf in the snow, the way that Sam is always watching from a distance and the protectiveness that Grace feels towards the pack that once turned on her is captivating. 

Until next time, 
Ginger 

Stacking The Shelves (1)

Stacking The Shelves 

"We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in the physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! 

If you're anything like me, you are probably hoarding books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles."

These are all the books that I've added to my collection in June:

(I didn't add any of my review copies because truthfully I was too lazy, once I start doing weekly STS posts I will include those as well)

These three I got at Barnes and Noble

These I got with my Bookoutlet coupon

These I got at Kings English 

And lastly I won three of these and one was 

a gift. 

That's all, I'd say participating in this was a wake up call to my addiction but as I write this I'm currently browsing pages on Bookoutlet because they've sent me yet another coupon... 

Until next time, 
Ginger