Tag: books

This Chick Read: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

This book has been on my radar for a couple of years. I have a sweet tooth and the cover spoke to me and I’ll admit to purchasing her Luck, Love and Lemon Pie book for the same reason. What can I say, coconut cake and lemon pie are two of my favorites!

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake was aptly named as our heroine, Lou, is the chef/owner of restaurant Luella’s in Milwaukee. She has just baked the titled coconut cake to deliver to her fiancee’s house for his birthday. As she was walking to his house, she run’s into our British hero, Al, on the street. He is struck by her smell of vanilla and coconut, and fondly remembers her as he goes about his every day. Lou doesn’t have quite as good a day because she delivers the cake to her fiancee who is caught with a co-worker in their underwear. Dropping the cake, she rushes back to her restaurant and has the absolute worst day of cooking/service ever. Of course, this is the day that Al, the food critic for the local paper, chooses Luella’s to critique. Needless to say, he was pretty brutal. Drowning in her sorrows at the neighborhood pub that night, tipsy Lou, meets charmed Al, not knowing he was “the” food critic and offers to show him around Milwaukee.

This is the set-up for this love story. Through showing Al what the locals love about Milwaukee, she rejuvenates her restaurants vision and also opens Al’s eyes to the charm of this city. The reader is in on who Al truly is, while the two of them are completely ignorant of the fact she is the owner/chef and he the critic that has tanked her restaurant. These two characters were completely likable, the setting original, and the food explored really yummy making this a really light, enjoyable weekend read. A perfect vacation book!

The food references in this book just about killed my resolve. Sweets and cheese being two of my absolute favorites. The city of Milwaukee also needs to put this book in all of the hotels as a guide for what to do and where to eat. Assuming they are all real events and places, I may have to plan a trip to Milwaukee myself. The city was as charming a character as Al and Lou.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Coconut

Click this link to purchase! The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved.

I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small stipend if you purchase through the above link.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Uppercase Box Reveal July ’18

Design

HI!  Yep, it’s that time of the month again…. NO, not THAT time, it’s time for our Uppercase Box reveal! Sheesh! As if I’d go down that road. This month when the package arrived I knew we had a big book or a ton of gifts. The package was pretty big and very heavy.

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I immediately noticed the change in bag design. Very clever! It looks like an envelope and the color scheme pops a little bit more than in the past. I like it!

On to the first bit of book swag. It’s a Reading is Magical unicorn key chain. Hmmm, I’m not really into key chains, so I’m sure I’ll pass this one off to one of my fellow bloggers who may like it better. The other item looks to be a little coin with a tree on it. Could this be a hint on which book arrived???

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The next bookish item in the bag was one that I really liked! It’s a cute book bag that says Adventure Starts Here. I have a ton of these bags and enjoy their catchy little sayings. I use them for work, take them to festivals, use them for shopping. They are multi purpose and also deliver a message about how wonderful reading a book can be. Adventure awaits!

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I was really excited to see which book came in the Uppercase Box this month. It had been on my radar and I’ve read a few good reviews about it.

SPINNING SILVER by Naomi Novik

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Synopsis:

A fresh and imaginative retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale from the bestselling author of Uprooted, which was hailed as “a very enjoyable fantasy with the air of a modern classic” by The New York Times Book Review.

With the Nebula Award–winning Uprooted, Naomi Novik opened a brilliant new chapter in an already acclaimed career, delving into the magic of fairy tales to craft a love story that was both timeless and utterly of the now. Spinning Silver draws readers deeper into this glittering realm of fantasy, where the boundary between wonder and terror is thinner than a breath, and safety can be stolen as quickly as a kiss.

Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty—until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold.

When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk—grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh—Miryem’s fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar.

But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.

Channeling the vibrant heart of myth and fairy tale, Spinning Silver weaves a multilayered, magical tapestry that readers will want to return to again and again.

For me, Fairy tale retellings are hit or miss, but this one looks really good and I can’t wait to read it! I will, of course, review it here on The Reading Chick!

Thanks for tuning in for my Uppercase Box reveal!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads3 Comments

Blogger to Blogger Series: An Interview with Holly from Nut Free Nerd

 

I have always enjoyed Holly’s book reviews, they are insightful, fun and make great points about the books she’s reviewing, but I really became a fan of Holly when she went to school overseas and started writing her Holly Goes Abroad posts. There’s nothing like seeing and experiencing different cultures through another persons eyes. It’s why we read books, isn’t it? If you haven’t checked out Holly’s blog Nut Free Nerd, please click on the link below and check it out. She is worth your time, I promise!

Holly @ Nut Free Nerd

Nut Free Logo

Here are Holly’s answers to my 10 questions.

Blogging is universal and even though we inhabit the same community, we don’t always live in the same country. What country do you live in? 
I live in New England in the United States. I love where I live–it’s woodsy and pretty, yet close enough to cities, the beach, and the mountains. What more could you want?
What is the view outside your front door? 

The first thing I see when I look out my front door is my mom’s lovely garden. She’s been maintaining this garden since we first moved in nearly twenty years ago, so at this point it’s bursting with a plethora of pretty flowers in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Most blogs have a quirky name and a fun story of origin. Please share the story behind your blog’s name? 
My blog’s name is Nut Free Nerd, which accurately describes me in two ways: 1) I’m nerdy and 2) I’m severely allergic to nuts. I also adore alliteration (see what I did there?!) so when I first thought of this name years ago I was immediately hooked. It has stuck with me ever since!
Describe where you write your blog. 
When I’m home for summer or winter break, I usually write my blog posts at my dining room table. If I’m at college, then I most often write them at the desk in my room while eating breakfast in the morning. Blogging is definitely one of my favorite breakfast activities!
Most of us have a stack of books sitting next to our couch or bed waiting to be read. What books are in your stack? 
The current stack next to my bed is made entirely of library books that I recently checked out: Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. “My poor boy, he was too good for this earth,” the president says at the time. “God has called him home.” Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returns, alone, to the crypt several times to hold his boy’s body.

From that seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of its realistic, historical framework into a supernatural realm both hilarious and terrifying. Willie Lincoln finds himself in a strange purgatory where ghosts mingle, gripe, commiserate, quarrel, and enact bizarre acts of penance. Within this transitional state—called, in the Tibetan tradition, the bardo—a monumental struggle erupts over young Willie’s soul.

Lincoln in the Bardo is an astonishing feat of imagination and a bold step forward from one of the most important and influential writers of his generation. Formally daring, generous in spirit, deeply concerned with matters of the heart, it is a testament to fiction’s ability to speak honestly and powerfully to the things that really matter to us. Saunders has invented a thrilling new form that deploys a kaleidoscopic, theatrical panorama of voices to ask a timeless, profound question: How do we live and love when we know that everything we love must end?

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

DAY ONE: THE NAME OF THE WIND

My name is Kvothe.
 
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
 
You may have heard of me.

So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature—the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man’s search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

In his journal, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck called East of Eden “the first book,” and indeed it has the primordial power and simplicity of myth. Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.

The masterpiece of Steinbeck’s later years, East of Eden is a work in which Steinbeck created his most mesmerizing characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity, the inexplicability of love, and the murderous consequences of love’s absence. Adapted for the 1955 film directed by Elia Kazan introducing James Dean, and read by thousands as the book that brought Oprah’s Book Club back, East of Eden has remained vitally present in American culture for over half a century.

If you have had a bad day and want to spend an hour reading a book, what is your go to genre or favorite book that will lift your mood? 
My go-to book for any problem (homesickness, stress, heartache, etc.) is always The Hobbit or part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. These books always remind me of when I first read them in middle school, making them the perfect pieces of nostalgia to cheer me up when I most need it.
 
When you aren’t blogging, how do you spend your time? Work, play, school? 
During the summer months I work at a local non-profit writing grant applications, which I love. The rest of the year you can usually find me writing essays and reading articles at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, where I attend university as an English major/Spanish minor. In my free time I love to write, knit, tap dance, and watch old Star Trek reruns.
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What is your favorite blog post you’ve ever written? 

Oooh, such a difficult question! I think I’m going to cheat and say that my favorite KIND of post I’ve ever written are my Classic Couple posts, where I pair up classic and contemporary novels. It sparks such great discussions! Post:

 
Have you ever met one of your favorite authors? If so, what did you say to them? Looking back, what do you wish you had said instead? 
Yes! When I was in high school my best friend and I met Michael Grant, author of the Gone series. I asked him if he knew how he was going to finish the series, and he replied something like, “Not like how Lost ends.” I wouldn’t change anything about my question because I love his answer; not only is it cleverly vague, but it also involves one of my favorite TV series.
If you could sit down with an author for a slice of cake and a question, who is the author, what kind of cake would you serve, and what is the first question you’d ask? 
 
So many amazing authors to choose from! I think my answer to this is going to have to be William Faulkner because I feel as though I have an endless stream of questions for him. I would hand him a slice of cheese cake and ask, “What is the point of ABSALOM, ABSALOM!?”
Thanks so much Holly! I myself was an English major and a lot of what you said brings back memories. I also had to read Absalom, Absalom and I remember scratching my head over that one! LOL.
I hope you all enjoyed learning a little bit more about Holly, and more importantly will go check out her blog if you haven’t already.
Thanks for reading Blogger to Blogger!
Deb
On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

Friday YA: The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

As the daughter of a Raja, Maya should’ve had a life of privilege and love. She did live in the lap of luxury within the harem where she was born, but because of her horoscope she has always been hated and feared. When her father arranges a political marriage, she must choose a husband who will help save her kingdom from war. She does not choose a husband from the suitor’s her father put in front of her and instead chooses Amar. a masked stranger, who sweeps her off to his kingdom.

This novel deserves to be set to music, it’s words are like lyrics, but despite the pretty prose, the first half of the novel seemed a little slow. However, when Amar arrived on scene the pace of the novel picked up and my interest peaked. Who was this masked man and why wasn’t he scared of her horoscope of death and destruction? You knew there was more to his story than a handsome prince rescuing her from the brink of war and an unhappy marriage. When they arrive in his kingdom, Maya finds his kingdom was a land of mystery, loneliness and darkness and she starts to doubt her decision. Fear not, fair readers, there is a happy ending, but just like all great fairy tales there are roads that must be traveled and hearts to mend before our King and Queen find their HEA.

I love traveling to different countries and exploring a culture that might be very different from my own. The Star Touched Queen was an adventure into Indian folklore and it made me want to explore. I’ll admit that my knowledge of India is limited to their food and Bollywood movies and has always been painted in a faded shade of romance, but The Star Touched Queen with it’s fairy tale like pace and language made those romantic colors more rich and bright. It made me itch to explore more mythology from this fascinating country and see what else I can learn.

If you are like me and love to travel to new places within your imagination, then you need to read The Star Touched Queen. This novel will take you places you’ve never seen and expand your horizon.

Star Touched

Click this link to purchase! The Star-Touched Queen

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

On a side note. I met Roshani Chokshi at a book signing a year or so ago. I couldn’t help picturing her face when I read about Maya. They were both so lovely. (She is the lady on the left)

Roshani

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads4 Comments

This Chick Read: Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant #1) by Ilona Andrews

A couple years ago Ilona Andrews published a blog post saying that they were writing a novel about Hugh D’Ambray, the ultimate evil character in their Kate Daniels series. They received a ton of comments from readers who were so excited to see how they would turn the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Roland’s right hand into a character sympathetic enough to capture readers hearts.

April Fools! they said. Well, that April Fools joke has turned into a reality.

Iron and Magic is the first in a new series set in the same world as their Kate Daniels series. Hugh D’Ambray has been thrown aside by Roland and is floating adrift in an alcoholic stupor when his Iron Dogs, men on his warrior crew, sober him up by saying Roland is killing them all one by one. They need Hugh to stand with them and be their leader. Hugh may not be a very nice guy, (in fact we have seen him torture and kill some of our favorite characters!) but he is very loyal to this group of men and would do most anything to help them survive. Including marry.

Elara Harper is the leader of her own crew, The Departed. She is known as the White Lady and in some eyes she is an abomination. That is all we know about her when Hugh arrives at her castle. His men need a place to defend and food to eat, and her castle needs defending. Not really a match made in heaven but they do both get something out of it. Elara’s people are fiercely loyal to her and as the story unravels we see why. She is strong, loyal, and will sacrifice her own needs for the survival of her people. Hmm, sounds a little similar to someone else we know, right?

Hugh has always been a rough bastard, and he does not change in this novel. He’s still a bad ass. However, Ilona Andrews has made him human and that humanity gives him a new emotion, regret. Once you start to regret things your heart and mind are open to other new emotions. Now, don’t get me wrong, Hugh is still one bad hombre, but he’s now a bad hombre with a conscience. A conscience that makes him hesitate slightly before he makes the decision to maim or kill. He and Elara do not get along, but their bickering provides humor and also adds to Hugh’s humanity. He has always had wit, but has never had a female sparring partner who would see the charm beneath the one liners. Elara is fierce, and like Kate that is very attractive to Hugh. He doesn’t want to like her but can’t seem to help himself. Their relationship is as fascinating to watch unfold as is the story of their fight against a common enemy which is an amazing read.

This novel was everything I never knew I wanted and I can’t wait to read it again. If you have not read the Kate Daniels series, I think this would stand well on its own. BUY IT!

Iron and Magic

Click this link to purchase*! Iron and Magic: (The Iron Covenant Book 1) (Volume 1)

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

Blogger to Blogger Series: An Interview with ZeZee from ZeZee With Books

I have been following ZeZee’s blog for a while now and what keeps me coming back is the look, content, and her insightful reviews.  I have in fact bought a couple of books featured on ZeZee’s blog, which is the greatest compliment one blogger can give to another. If you haven’t checked out her blog, well what are you waiting for!!

ZeZee With Books

How did she answer my questions? Let’s find out!

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Blogging is universal and even though we inhabit the same community, we don’t always live in the same country. What country do you live in?

I’m in the U.S. Right now, it’s my favorite season – summer – but not my favorite weather – hot, very humid, and sticky.

What is the view outside your front door?

Wide-sweeping manicured green lawns bordered by a bounty of blossoming flowers that lead up to brick-front, colonial-style houses that line streets of my neighborhood. It’s a beautiful scene to look at in the spring and autumn when the leaves start to change. Other than the nature outside my front door, it’s a pretty boring area ‘cause it’s the ‘burbs.

Most blogs have a quirky name and a fun story of origin. Please share the story behind your blogs name?

Erm…(a pause while I look at the blog posts where I talk about my blog’s name because I forgot why I named it so).

So…I don’t why I called myself Zezee. It’s not my real name. When I started blogging, I named my blog Zezee’s Link because I didn’t know then what my blog would be about. I just wanted to join the blogging community and share my thoughts on stuff. When I realized that my posts mostly focus on book-related topics, I decided to change my blog name to Zezee with Books.

…yeeaahh…still don’t know why I call myself Zezee on here other than I think the name sounds cool. It makes me think of zing-zing and zip and zoom-zoom!

Describe where you write your blog. 

I write in the most comfortable place — my bed. I wish I had a writing desk so I could write there. I think it would give me more structure and help me to focus better. I daydream a lot when writing in bed and easily get distracted by things – Facebook, Instagram, the funny patterns on my sheets.

Yup! I shall include a pic for this one. It’s the head of my bedstead that I lean against as I write. I use my pillows as back cushions.

ZeZee's bed

Most of us have a stack of books sitting next to our couch or bed waiting to be read. What books are in your stack?

Well, I would have taken a pic but we recently completed a home-improvement project – changed carpets – so my room is a mess at the moment and my nightstand looks alien to me at the moment for all the random shit that’s on it, so instead here’s a pic of books I’m currently/recently completed and would have placed on my nightstand if I had access to it. That’s:

The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus

Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

ZeZee's books

The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro

It is 1962, and Elisa Esposito—mute her whole life, orphaned as a child—is struggling with her humdrum existence as a janitor working the graveyard shift at Baltimore’s Occam Aerospace Research Center. Were it not for Zelda, a protective coworker, and Giles, her loving neighbor, she doesn’t know how she’d make it through the day.

Then, one fateful night, she sees something she was never meant to see, the Center’s most sensitive asset ever: an amphibious man, captured in the Amazon, to be studied for Cold War advancements. The creature is terrifying but also magnificent, capable of language and of understanding emotions…and Elisa can’t keep away. Using sign language, the two learn to communicate. Soon, affection turns into love, and the creature becomes Elisa’s sole reason to live.

But outside forces are pressing in. Richard Strickland, the obsessed soldier who tracked the asset through the Amazon, wants nothing more than to dissect it before the Russians get a chance to steal it. Elisa has no choice but to risk everything to save her beloved. With the help of Zelda and Giles, Elisa hatches a plan to break out the creature. But Strickland is on to them. And the Russians are, indeed, coming.

Developed from the ground up as a bold two-tiered release—one story interpreted by two artists in the independent mediums of literature and film—The Shape of Water is unlike anything you’ve ever read or seen.

Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb

FitzChivalry Farseer has become firmly ensconced in the queen’s court. Along with his mentor, Chade, and the simpleminded yet strongly Skilled Thick, Fitz strives to aid Prince Dutiful on a quest that could secure peace with the Outislands—and win Dutiful the hand of the Narcheska Elliania.

The Narcheska has set the prince an unfathomable task: to behead a dragon trapped in ice on the isle of Aslevjal. Yet not all the clans of the Outislands support their effort. Are there darker forces at work behind Elliania’s demand? Knowing that the Fool has foretold he will die on the island of ice, Fitz plots to leave his dearest friend behind. But fate cannot so easily be defied.

The City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn’t exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill’s personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.

With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller.

If you have had a bad day and want to spend an hour reading a book, what is your go-to genre or favorite book that will lift your mood?

Fantasy and most likely I’d reread a Harry Potter book. Fantasy provides a distraction from whatever is stressing me out and Harry Potter books always perk me up (the first to the fourth books).

When you aren’t blogging, how do you spend your time? Work, Play, School?

I’m either working or watching TV or at the movies or hanging out with family and friends or walking around the city checking out art museums or architecture or some random artsy event or, sometimes, a party.

My favorite blog post banner

What is your favorite blog post you’ve ever written? 

Oh, wow! Well. That’s a hard question that made my mind immediately go blank. Umm…well, my favorite posts are usually my Weekend Reads posts, which are discussion posts that include the books I’m currently reading. So of the Weekend Reads posts, I think my favorite is… “On Writing,” which is about my struggle to write, and (I couldn’t choose just one now that my brain has started working) “Hooked on Comics,” where I discuss my love of comics.

Have you ever met one of your favorite authors? If so, what did you say to them? Looking back, what do you wish you had said instead?

Well, I’m not one to try to meet authors because I’m a bit shy and don’t know what I’d say to my favorite author and am scared that I might embarrass myself by saying something rude, but I did meet Marlon James once and was over the moon that I got to meet him and get my book, A Brief History of Seven Killings signed (haven’t read it yet).

What did I say to him? Umm… I think it was “MARLON! Mi love yuh Book of Night Women and mi mek mi madda read it and she did love it too, but she tink it too violent and it mek her cry!” Then he said something along the lines of “ Well, she probably shouldn’t read this one.”

Marlon James is a Jamaican author. He won the 2015 Man Booker Prize with A Brief History of Seven Killings which is a fictional account of the attempt to assassinate Bob Marley.

A Brief

 If you could sit down with an author for a slice of cake and a question, who is the author, what kind of cake would you serve, and what is the first question you’d ask?

At this exact the moment, the author I most want to sit down with is Robin Hobb. We will eat whatever cake she likes and I would ask her a bunch of questions about Fitz and the Fool and the world her Realm of the Elderlings series is set in and cross my fingers that she will answer them all. I’m totally hooked on her fantasy novels at the moment.

Oh my gosh ZeZee your answer on the question about meeting an author in person was hysterical! Then I got to what the book was about and I felt horrible for laughing! That does sound a bit serious… You and I share a love for Fantasy novels! I have not read Robin Hobb, but I think I may need to go on that fantasy journey!

I really enjoyed reading her answers, didn’t you? Which was your favorite?

Have you read any of these books? I’d love to know your opinion!

Thanks for reading Blogger to Blogger!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads5 Comments

Friday YA: Blog Tour! Watching You by Shannon Greenland

WatchingYouTourBanner

Book details:
Watching You
by Shannon Greenland
Published by: Entangled Publishing
Publication date: July 2nd 2018
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Viola’s always been that girl from thatfamily, so a scholarship to a prestigious private school in Florida was supposed to be her ticket out of poverty and into a brand-new life. But Viola’s secrets have followed her. Her relationship with the intelligent and gorgeous Riel should have been the salvation she needed—he understands her troubled past better than anyone. But then weird things start to happen.
Frightening messages.
Missing personal items.
The unsettling feeling that she’s being watched.
Viola’s never been one to give her trust easily, but she’ll need to trust in Riel if she’s going to survive her stalker. Because she’s not fighting for a new life anymore—she’s fighting to stay alive.

WC Teaser 4

REVIEW:

Viola was such a sympathetic character. She comes from a tough neighborhood, yet excels at school and has huge goals for herself. She wants to go to this exclusive private school and get into MIT so she can better herself and help her family. When the novel starts, we realize that even though she did get the scholarship that allowed her to get into private school, she may have not been quite as truthful as she should have to do it.

We meet her love interest Riel almost immediately. When Viola realizes that he was the previous scholarship recipient we know that their future relationship may have a big conflict to overcome. Before we even have to worry about that though, strange and scary things start to happen to Viola. Is it her past catching up to her? Or is this a new threat?

I thought the mystery was just as solid as the romance. I liked Riel a LOT. I wasn’t sure how they were going to overcome the whole I stole your scholarship plot line, but it definitely kept me reading. When it was apparent Viola had a stalker, I was totally surprised by who it was at the end. My only criticism was when the perspective changed at the beginning of each chapter to the stalker’s thoughts. It was cheesy and a little too dramatic? I think the book would’ve been just as good without those intro’s. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review and I was honest!

WY

GIVEAWAY!

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AUTHOR BIO:
Shannon Greenland is the award winning author of several novels including the teen spy series, THE SPECIALISTS, and the YA romances, THE SUMMER MY LIFE BEGAN and SHADOW OF A GIRL. She also writes thrillers under S. E. Green and lives off the coast of Florida with her very grouchy dog.
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On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

This Chick Read: Becoming a Vincent (The Wild Ones #1) by C.M. Owens

Tomahawk, from it’s description, is a rather simple town. People are just folks, cousins are kin, and hi-tech means you drive a speedboat instead of a fishing boat. Lilah and her two brothers are Wild Ones. There are four families of Wild Ones on each corner of the lake in Tomahawk. The Wild Ones are exactly like their moniker, pretty dang wild. They are not allowed at the same party unless it’s a wedding or a funeral of one of the wild ones. Truly, I can’t remember all the rules, but if there are two families at the same party there’s either a fight or something blows up.

For the past nine years, all of the men of Tomahawk have been bearded  because of a bet and all of the ladies are just grossed out. You’d think if you weren’t getting any action because your beard got in the way I wouldn’t think a bet would be a strong enough reason to keep it, but these men are stubborn! Lila’s best friend Benson (also bearded) has been a constant for the last three years. Even though on drunken nights he gets kind of handsy, they never cross that line. When the beard rule gets broken and Benson trims down, Lilah is wishing for that line to be crossed, and soon!

This novel was absolutely hysterical! It had such a fun sense of humor and plenty of tension between Lilah and Benson. I loved how he was just hers, and she was his, even though they had never crossed that friendly line. He was just waiting for his chance. If you are looking for a kind of crazy, fun romance buy this book. I bought it awhile ago on my sister’s recommendation but sat on it. I wish I hadn’t! It’s the perfect pick me up for a down day, a great summer vacation novel, and really just the right book for any mood you may be in. I’ve already purchased the second… ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Becoming a Vincent

Click this link to purchase! Becoming A Vincent (The Wild Ones) (Volume 1)

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

One Lovely Blog Award!

HI everyone! I am on vacation this weekend and am working ahead and decided to schedule a Tag for my Sunday post. Thanks so much to Brittany @Perfectly Tolerable for nominating me. If you haven’t checked out her blog you should! Lately she’s had quite a few Harry Potter posts which are fun to  read and bring back memories. I need to re-read those books! She also has some great topics up for discussion and would probably enjoy it if you jumped in with your opinion.

RULES:

  1. Share the link of the blogger who has shown love to you by nominating you
  2. Answer the 11 questions asked
  3. Nominate 11 bloggers for the same award in the spirit of sharing love and solidarity with our blogging family.
  4. Ask them 11 questions that you are dying to answer!

Brittany’s Questions

  1. What is something that everyone looks stupid doing?

Wow, ummm eating with chopsticks? I know I look really stupid while I’m eating with chopsticks anyway. I probably hold them wrong and constantly drop my sushi into the soy sauce and splatter it everywhere. I hope everyone else looks as dumb as I do?
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2. What would be the absolute worst name you could give your child?

Bilbo Baggins. Might be a cute dog name but definitely not a child. Poor Bilbo! He must have been teased a lot? I love The Lord of the Rings but really no kid should be named after any of the characters in that book/movie. Well, maybe Legolas. Hmmm.

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3. If you had to name your child after a character from your favorite book, what would be their name?

Nevada from Ilona Andrews Hidden Legacy series. Her last name is Baylor which would also be a really cute first name.

4. What was the strangest gift you’ve ever received?

A long fake fur coat. It was truly horrible, and so not me.

fur coat Mildred Pierce Joan Crawford

5. Would you rather be able to control fire or water?

I would so like to control water! You could create mist and rainbows. How gorgeous is that?rainbow

6. What was the last gift you gave someone?

A basket of chocolates for my mom on Mother’s Day. She was so lucky I didn’t break into it!

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7. What’s the last thing you watched on TV?

World of Dance. I’m watching it right now while I’m typing this! I love watching things I absolutely can’t do… except eating sushi with chopsticks.

world of dance

8. Can you name three consecutive days without the words Wednesday, Friday or Saturday?

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.  Ummm, that was kind of weird. LOL.

9. Describe the color yellow to someone who is blind.

I would put their hand onto the windowsill so the sun was heating their skin and tell them that yellow looks like how their hand feels in that moment.

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10. Are you superstitious?

No. I have a black cat named Sam, I step on cracks, and wash my underwear after winning a game. Just kidding, I hop the cracks.

11. Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Scooby Doo? Who doesn’t like Scooby? He is sweet, loves Shaggy, is kind of a scaredy cat and is all about those Scooby Snacks!

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I’m not going to nominate any one as it’s time to pack and hit the road! However, if you feel like doing this tag, then I nominate all of you!!

I am taking a slightly different slant on these questions, so if you choose to do this let’s rename this the Super Hero Book Blogger Tag. Here are your 10 questions.

1.  What Super hero would you be?

2. What color is your Super Hero outfit?

3. Who would you want beside you to fight crimes?

4. Would you have a secret identity or walk around in your Super Hero outfit all the time?

5. Who is your side kick? Name and Super power please!

6. What city does your super hero fight crime in?

7. Who is your arch enemy?

8. If you have to go to the bathroom while in your Super Hero costume, do you have to strip naked? Does it have a zipper? snaps?

9. What does your Super Hero do for a day job?

10. When your Super Hero retires, what hobby will you pick up to fill your time?

I think we have enough info to write a novel now, maybe Renegades 2? LOL

Thanks for reading!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads9 Comments

Blogger to Blogger Series: An Interview with Jenn, Caitlynn, and Eden from Thrice Read

You know when you read a good book and you just want to discuss it with your friends? When these ladies from Thrice Read dish on a book, they rarely have the same reaction to it. I love that! Their opinions vary and are very interesting to read and really does feel like you are at a book club, without the wine. Although truthfully maybe there’s a little virtual wine drinking behind the scenes of their blog. These ladies don’t just post reviews, but also discussions, tags and other bookish posts. If you haven’t checked out their blog, I would highly recommend it!

Click this link to check out Thrice Read!

They very kindly agreed to take part in my Blogger to Blogger (or in this case Bloggers) post answering my ten questions.

Blogging is universal and even though we inhabit the same community, we don’t always live in the same country. What country do you live in?

J: We live in the United States.

What is the view outside your front door?  

C: It is summertime here in Florida, so everything is super green and super hot!

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E: It’s very, very hot right now. So hot that I’ve been avoiding going outside at all.

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J: Just like Eden and Caitlynn I live in Florida and it is already way too hot out.

Thrice 3Most blogs have a quirky name and a fun story of origin. Please share the story behind your blogs name?

E: When we were coming up with blog names we had several in mind, however, we wanted them to incorporate the three of us. Thrice Read was thrown out as a suggestion (I actually think it may have been a joke at first), but we couldn’t stop coming back to it. Jenn sent me an emblem she’d made for it just to see it and from there we decided that was what our name would be.

Describe where you write your blog. 

C: I usually write my blog in my living room or at my dining room table. It kind of just depends!

J: Typically I write my posts on my desk (when it’s cleaned off) or in my bedroom.

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E: I write anywhere and everywhere. I wrote a post on my phone a few days ago while on the road to St. Petersburg. If I’m at home I’ll write it on my computer but it doesn’t really matter where I am.

Most of us have a stack of books sitting next to our couch or bed waiting to be read. What books are in your stack? (Include a photo if you’d like!)

J: The books I have that are waiting to be read are currently sitting on my bookshelf out of alignment with the rest of the books. I used to have them on a bookshelf beside my bed but they kind of took over.

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E: My stack has actually just recently been put away. They’d turned into a tower next to my bed. Right now though there is one book that has made it back to the stack and that’s The Crown’s Game.

C: I just cleaned off my nightstand, but right before I cleaned it I had The Upside of Unrequited, An Enchantment of Ravens, Without Merit, and Dear Martin all on it

RESTORE ME by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette and Warner’s story continues in the electrifying fourth installment of Tahereh Mafi’s New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series.

Juliette Ferrars thought she’d won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander of North America, and now has Warner by her side. But when tragedy strikes, she must confront the darkness that dwells both around and inside her.

Who will she become in the face of adversity? Will she be able to control the power she wields, and use it for good?

THE CROWN’S GAME by Evelyn Skye

Perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and Red Queen, The Crown’s Game is a thrilling and atmospheric historical fantasy set in Imperial Russia about two teenagers who must compete for the right to become the Imperial Enchanter—or die in the process—from debut author Evelyn Skye.

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know.  The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

WITHOUT MERIT By Colleen Hoover

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines, when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

Poignant and powerful, Without Merit explores the layers of lies that tie a family together and the power of love and truth.

If you have had a bad day and want to spend an hour reading a book, what is your go to genre or favorite book that will lift your mood?

C: My go-to genre is YA fantasy or contemporary. A book that will always lift my mood is A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.

J: I would have to say that contemporary would be my go to read for a bad mood. They are typically short and simple reads. I don’t want to have to think through and entire political system when I’m having a rough day.

E: It used to be that my goto genre was fantasy, but in the last year I’ve learned that the best genre for me when I just need to read and stop thinking is contemporary. It allows me to stop thinking about the world and just lets me read without having to process a million different things.

When you aren’t blogging, how do you spend your time? Work, Play, School?

C: Definitely working if school is in session, if not you will most likely find me hanging out with Eden and Jenn.

J: Caitlyn, Eden, and I are all teachers. So, that’s where most of our focus goes. However, outside of that you will find me hanging out with Eden and Caitlynn or at a theme park. I am a huge fan of theme parks. Especially Disney parks.

E: Like Caitlynn and Jenn said, I work constantly. Whether I’m actually at work or planning for work, my life is a bit consumed with it. However, when I’m not working I’m usually watching tv or reading. I actually watch a lot of tv.

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What is your favorite blog post you’ve ever written? 

C: I think one of my favorite blog posts that I have done was my TBR Of Shame post (The 2017 TBR Shame Book Tag )it was super cool getting an inventory of all of my books and seeing that list grow and shrink throughout the year.

J: I would probably have to say my Thursday Thoughts on Reading Pressure and Trends. I liked switching up the format for my posts and it was my original Thursday Thoughts post. (Thursday Thoughts Reading Pressure and Trends)

E: My favorite post is my book review on The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia. I really enjoyed this post because I thought the writing was pretty decent. Also, Kami Garcia also loved it. During YALLfest she actually told me about how her and Tahereh Mafi talked about how accurate a description it was. I was, of course, on cloud nine. (The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia-Spoiler Free Book Review)

Have you ever met one of your favorite authors? If so, what did you say to them? Looking back, what do you wish you had said instead?

C: We met Susan Dennard and that was an amazing experience! We got to talk about Truthwitch and I don’t think there is anything about that experience that I would change.

J: We met Stephanie Garber last year at YALLFest. It was a very quick and chaotic meeting, but she was wonderful. I would love to be able to pick her brain a little bit more about the world she created in Caraval.

E: I met V.E. Schwab about two years ago. I was so excited to meet her and so overwhelmed by everything around me that I struggled to speak to her. I remember saying something to the effect of, “I also have a tattoo on my wrist!” and then having a conversation with her about it. I wish though that I would have told her that it was her books that really made me understand how much of writing was an art.

If you could sit down with an author for a slice of cake and a question,  who is the author, what kind of cake would you serve, and what is the first question you’d ask?

 

C: Sarah J. Maas, definitely chocolate cake with buttercream icing and I would 100% be asking her for more details about her new adult series she is currently working on!

J: Leigh Bardugo and I would serve red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. I would ask her to recommend her favorite music, books, and movies. I feel as though I would get some great recommendations from her.

E: Susan Dennard. I’d probably serve white cake with buttercream frosting. The first question I’d ask is if she’d be my friend because every time I’ve seen her speak she’s just so funny and welcoming. Also, I believe friends get the perks of reading books first.

 

I like Thrice Reads posts because their book club posts sound like they’ve had fun discussing the book, which translates into making me want to read it as well and join the discussion. they are also very well spoken and their individual posts are really well written, they have great taste in cake (!), and they all love fantasy and contemporary novels, which as you know are my favorites as well.

I hope you all enjoyed learning more about these talented ladies! Do you have one of the books they’ve mentioned on your own nightstand?

Thanks for reading!

Deb

 

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads