#BookReview The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay by Kelly Harms

The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay
by Kelly Harms

Genre: Adult, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Romance, Women's Fiction
Publication:  August 9th, 2016 by Thomas Dunne Book
Format: ebooks
Source: Author, Publisher, NetGalley
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

A young painter, Lily has reached a crossroads in her life. Her career hasn't taken off, her best friend may no longer be the trusted friend she thought, her boyfriend is a disappointment, and now she can't keep up with the rising cost of living in the city. With no one to turn to, Lily is forced to move from her beloved apartment, but while packing she comes across a piece of mail that had slipped to the back of her junk drawer: a letter detailing further action needed to finalize the annulment of a quickie Vegas wedding. Ten years ago!

Lily decides it's time to turn over a new leaf and the first item on her list of things to fix is getting the annulment... but you can't just send a reply ten years later, "Hey by the way we are still married." This is something that must be addressed in person. Lily takes to the road to track down her husband - the charming, fun, and sexy man she connected with all those years ago - Ben Hutchinson.

Ben Hutchinson left a wealthy dot-com lifestyle behind to return home to his family and the small town he loves, Minnow Bay. He's been living off the grid and the last thing he expects is a wife he didn't know he had to show up on his doorstep.

By chance, Lily arrives at the magical Minnow Bay Inn, and there she will discover not just a place to lay her head, but new friends, a thriving art community, and maybe even the love of her life.

Lily's life isn't going as well as she wants. Her love life and her career as a painter are going nowhere. Now, Lily is forced to move out from her apartment. While packing to leave, she discovers a mail that reminds her to finalize the annulment of her Vegas wedding ten years ago.

The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay is a fun, light romance read. It isn't hard to get into the book. The author has a really nice writing style that I like and the characters are loveable. Lily is an air head, but it was fun to see how she is going to survive her new life. She went to Minnow Bay looking for her husband and expects him to be the charming, fun man she knew years ago, except that, he changed. A lot. I love the interaction between Lily and Ben right from the beginning. They are great together despite their misunderstanding and all that. The supporting characters in the book, Colleen and Jenny especially are making the story livelier. I absolutely enjoy the setup! If you're looking for a light, fun book, this is the book for you.

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my review.

#BookReview Single by Christmas by Rosa Temple

Single by Christmas
by Rosa Temple

Genre: Chick Lit, Romance, Friendship, Christmas
Publication: October 3rd, 2016
Format: ebooks, ARC
Source: Author, Publisher
Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

You’ve heard the saying, ‘opposites attract’ haven’t you? Well meet 27 year old Alex Marshall, a party girl with a penchant for free flowing Prosecco, and her devilishly handsome scientist boyfriend, Charlie, who loves jazz and dinner for two.

Alex and Charlie are together for 11 blissful months until Alex goes out of town and does something she will later regret. Was she drunk? You bet. Does she want Charlie to know? Well what do you think?

With the couple about to spend their first Christmas together will Charlie be the forgiving kind or will Alex be Single by Christmas?

This is a feel good, Christmas novel with very few mince pies, not much snow and absolutely no mistletoe – just a couple of best friends, a sociopathic nemesis and a lot of drinking.

Alex had a good life. She had her friends and a wonderful boyfriend. Alex and her boyfriend, Charlie may have different personalities and they have been together for a while. They were happy, but, their relationship is slowly slipping with Alex's priorities sets on something else.

I love this book. I admit that I wasn't a big fan of Alex. She loves partying and was a bit of an airhead. She may not be a good girlfriend, but she is definitely a good friend. Alex would always try to be there with her friends whenever they had issues. I love Charlie. He's really nice and patient to Alex. There have been a few times when I thought that he may be too good for Alex. But I'm really happy with how the story wrapped up too.

I love Rosa Temple's writing style. It was really easy to get into. The plot is straightforward but enjoyable. I love Alex's interaction with the people around her. And I definitely enjoy watching how Alex grew up in this book.  

The book didn't have a lot of Christmassy feeling to it, but still, if you're looking for a light romance, I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for my review.

#BookReview Sula's Voyage by Catherine Torres

Sula's Voyage
by Catherine Torres

Genre: Adventure, Contemporary, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication:  May 2016 by Scholastic
Format: Paperback, 226 pages
Source: Author, Publisher
Connect: Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Fifteen-year-old Sula has always known she is different. Even though her parents have shown her nothing but love and acceptance, she sees her dark skin as a reminder of how she doesn’t fit in with the rest of her family.

What’s worse is she also feels that her parents are hiding something from her. After getting expelled from school, Sula reluctantly goes to stay with her mother’s friends. There she unexpectedly finds herself on a journey of self-discovery — a journey that keeps drawing her to the sea. Sula must not only figure our her parents’ secret, but also just how different, and possibly magical, she really is.

Sula has always been different than her parents. She often wondered why her skins are darker than her family. Because of her difference, it was hard for her to fit in with her schoolmates and the rest of her family. When Sula's father went away to further his career, Sula and her mother headed to Puerto Galera and stayed with her mother's friend. There, Sula began to learn about herself. What makes her different and special.

I enjoyed the book. The story flowed really well. I love the elements of fantasy and mystery in the book. I love Sula. She's one of the girls who always got bullied at school, and that made her stronger. I love the way Sula and her parent's dealt with the school. The side characters were really great and memorable. I especially love Pablo and Mira.

Sula's Voyage is definitely a page turner. I enjoyed reading about Philipines and its culture. The truth about Sula and her family was what I have expected, but still, I truly enjoyed Sula's adventure to self-discovery. 

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for my review.

BookReview: The Goat Children by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek

The Goat Children
by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication:  March 23rd, 2016 by CHBB Publishing
Format: ebooks
Source: ARC
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

When Keziah’s grandmother, Oma, is diagnosed with dementia, Keziah faces two choices: leave her family and move to New Winchester to care for Oma, or stay in New York City and allow her grandmother to live in a nursing home miles away.

The dementia causes Oma to be rude and paranoid, nothing like the woman Keziah remembers. Each day becomes a greater weight and love a harsher burden. Keziah must keep Oma from wandering off or falling, and try to convince her grandmother to see a doctor as her eyesight and hearing fail, but Oma refuses to believe anything is wrong. Resentful of her hardships in New Winchester, Keziah finds herself drawn to Oma’s ramblings about the Goat Children, a mythical warrior class. These fighters ride winged horses, locating people in need while attempting to destroy evil in the world. Oma sees the Goat Children everywhere, and as Keziah reads the stories Oma wrote about them, she begins to question if they really exist.

I have previously read a few fantasy works from the author and I absolutely love them. I was a bit worried when I pick up this book because the story is a bit different than the author's other work, but I have to say that I'm glad this book didn't disappoint me. 

Keziah volunteered to look after her Oma who was diagnosed with dementia. It was hard for Keziah to look after Oma, especially since dementia caused Oma to be paranoid about things around her. When her Oma was in a better mood, she would tell Keziah about Goat Children, the mystical creatures.

Keziah loved her Oma and choose to stay with her Oma even though Oma treated her badly because of dementia. Keziah is a growing up teenager who should be experiencing a normal life with school, friends, and romance. But instead, she had to look after her Oma. I've never had to deal with anyone with dementia before, so I didn't know how it would be. But I sympathized with what Keziah had to go through. But still, it was nice to see how Keziah love her Oma. I love reading the memories Keziah had with her Oma back from when she was little.

The author did a great job in writing The Goat Children. The story is a bit slow at certain parts, but I love the pace. What I like about The Goat Children by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek is that there are bits of fantasy. The world of the Goat Children fascinates me. It sounds magical what with the wing horses and the fight to destroy evil. I think I wouldn't mind reading a book about the Goal Children if the author decided to write about them.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.

#BookReview Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale by David Kudler

Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale 
(Seasons of the Sword #1)
by David Kudler

Genre: Historical, Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication:  June 15th, 2016 by Stillpoint
Format: ebooks
Source: NetGalley, Stillpoint Digital Press
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Can One Girl Win A War?

Though Japan has been devastated by a century of civil war, Risuko just wants to climb trees. Growing up far from the battlefields and court intrigues, the fatherless girl finds herself pulled into a plot that may reunite Japan -- or may destroy it. She is torn from her home and what is left of her family, but finds new friends at a school that may not be what it seems.

Magical but historical, Risuko follows her along the first dangerous steps to discovering who she truly is.

Kano Murasaki, called Risuko (Squirrel) is a young, fatherless girl, more comfortable climbing trees than down on the ground. Yet she finds herself enmeshed in a game where the board is the whole nation of Japan, where the pieces are armies, moved by scheming lords, and a single girl couldn't possibly have the power to change the outcome. Or could she?

I wasn't expecting much when I first read the book. I was afraid that it was going to be a letdown. But after reading Risuko, I have to say that I'm impressed with this book. I think the author did a very good job in writing the book with a strong heroine and magical world of the Kunoichi. 

Kano Murasaki or Risuko was a child who grew up without her father. She was taken away from her family and was brought to a school. She was a likable character. She's strong and curious. She sounded a bit like a child now, but I have no doubt that she was going to grow up fine. The secondary characters made the story much more interesting. I love her friends and will be happy to see more of them. I'm excited to see Risuko and her friend grew as Kunoichi.

I was intrigued with the book after the first few chapters, although it slowed down a bit in the middle. It wasn't draggy, but slow. Soon, the story picked up its pace with a whole lot of action, mystery, secrets, and twists. The book was lacking in romance, but I'm fine with that because I truly enjoyed Risuko's growth within the story. I'm glad that there was going to be a continuation from this book. Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale is definitely a one of the best historical fantasy book I've read.

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for my review.

#BookReview All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

All the Missing Girls
by Megan Miranda

Genre: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Adult
Publication: 28 Jun 2016 by Simon & Schuster
Format: ebooks
Source: NetGalley, Simon & Schuster
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

It’s been ten years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge without a trace. Back again to tie up loose ends and care for her ailing father, Nic is soon plunged into a shocking drama that reawakens Corinne’s case and breaks open old wounds long since stitched.

The decade-old investigation focused on Nic, her brother Daniel, boyfriend Tyler, and Corinne’s boyfriend Jackson. Since then, only Nic has left Cooley Ridge. Daniel and his wife, Laura, are expecting a baby; Jackson works at the town bar; and Tyler is dating Annaleise Carter, Nic’s younger neighbor and the group’s alibi the night Corinne disappeared. Then, within days of Nic’s return, Annaleise goes missing.

Told backwards—Day 15 to Day 1—from the time Annaleise goes missing, Nic works to unravel the truth about her younger neighbor’s disappearance, revealing shocking truths about her friends, her family, and what really happened to Corinne that night ten years ago.

I was intrigued after reading the description. It was interesting to see how the story was going to be told backward, from the time Nicolette (Nic) Farrell returned home. All the Missing Girls tells the story of the disappearance of two missing girls, Corinne, Nic's best friend who disappeared years ago, and Annaleise, who went missing shortly after Nic's return to Cooley Ridge.

Cooley Ridge holds a few secrets with Corinne disappeared. When Annaleise too, went missing, shocking truths about Nic's family and friends resurfaced.

I was a bit worried about the story at first with how the story was told. I was afraid that it wouldn't make sense, but surprisingly, the story worked better with how it was told. I admit that the story was a bit confusing at the beginning. But after reading the book, I think the author did a great job with the storytelling. It was clever to write the story backward with each secret unraveled slowly as the story goes. In the end, I feel like I wanted to reread the story again - from the way it was written and from the correct chronology.

All the Missing Girls is definitely a great crime thriller read. The writing was brilliant. There's a lot of twists that I didn't see or expect. I just didn't know who to trust in the book. It was shocking to find out the truth about the missing girls. I will definitely look forward to the author's other books.

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley & Simon & Schuster in exchange for my review.

#BookReview Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass 
(Throne of Glass #1)
by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Mystery, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: August 2nd, 2012 by Bloomsbury
Format: ebooks
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

I decided to start the Throne of Glass series after Sarah J. Maas won in Goodreads Choice Award last year. Frankly, I don't think I'm the only one who think that Throne of Glass is somewhat similar to Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study. The beginning of Throne of Glass reminded me of Snyder's book. But that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this book. I did. So much that I purchased the second book right after I finished this.

The author did a really great job creating wonderful characters in Throne of Glass. Calaena had a strong personality. She's a trained assassin. She's smart. I loved her right from the beginning. She's clever, a survivor and she loves books! She may be a badass, but she got her sensitive side too. There are times when I thought that she was a bit childish. I liked the friendship between Calaena and Princess Nehemia and the chemistry between Calaena and the two other characters, Chaol, and Prince Dorian. And those two men are definitely swoon-worthy. 

I really enjoyed the book. The characters development was great. The plot was amazing. It was packed with action. I enjoyed reading the tournament part and I absolutely love the bit of mystery surrounding the castle. There are bits of romance building in the story. A possible love triangle. But I was quite disappointed with how the possible romance died before it even started.

Overall, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a wonderful read. I thoroughly enjoy this one and am looking forward to reading the next book! If you're a fan of fantasy with a kick-ass heroine, you should definitely read this book.

#BookReview Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins, Leigh Bardugo, Jon Skovron , Jennifer E. Smith, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Veronica Roth

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories

by Stephanie Perkins, Leigh Bardugo, Jon Skovron , Jennifer E. Smith, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Veronica Roth

Genre: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publication: May 17th, 2016
Format: ebooks
Source: NetGalley, St. Martin's Press

Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom.

Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

The thing I like about an anthology is that I get to experience a lot of stories. And there are twelve love stories by twelve awesome young adult writers in Summer Days and Summer Nights, Each story has their own adventure and romance, all happen during summer. But not all stories have a happy ending.

There are stories for everyone: fantasy, sci-fi, horror. Each story is entertaining in their own way. What I really like about this anthology is the diversity of characters and romances. The pairings are interesting. There are also LGBT pairing in the book. 

The thing I didn't like about an anthology is that there are some stories that I really like, stories that I thought was okay, and stories that I didn't understand at all. And each time I finished a story, I have to put down the book to let the story sit in for a while before I pick it up again.

My favorite stories are:

Head, Scales, Tongue, Tale by Leigh Bardugo 

A really good start. There are something magical about this story and I love that bits of twist at the ending.

Brand New Attraction by Cassandra Clare

I love the setting! It was set up in a dark carnival powered by demon magic. Kind of reminds me to The Night Circus. This story has a really good plot and development.

A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong by Jennifer E. Smith

I absolutely love the characters. It was hard to not fall in love with everyone. The romance was really sweet and super cute.

My least favorite stories are:

Sick Pleasures: For A and U by Francesca Lia Block

It was hard to connect with the characters because they didn't have names. They are all referred by letters. And I'm not really sure what happen in the story.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman

I absolutely love the idea of the book. But I just thought that the pairing didn't really click. The romance was too quick and a bit cheesy. It could be good if it was a bit longer.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed the stories. A perfect read for summer! There are lots of stories that I really like as compared to that I didn't like,  The stories are light and short. If you're looking for a quick read, this is the book for you.

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley & St. Martin's Press in exchange for my review.

#BookReview Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery
(Little Beach Street Bakery #2)
by Jenny Colgan

Genre: Chick Lit, Romance, Women's Fiction
Publication: March 22nd, 2016
Format: ebooks
Source: Author, Publisher
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn't be happier. Because Polly is in love: she's in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she's in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she's in love with her boyfriend, Huckle.

And yet there's something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that's floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend's fragile recovery. Responsibilities that Huckle thought he'd left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?

I always wanted to read Jenny Colgan's books. The cover looks lovely and the title sounds delicious. I'm just happy that I finally read this book. Jenny Colgan's writing is easy to get into. Summer in Little Beach Street Bakery is the second book from Little Beach Street Bakery series. I haven't read the first book yet, but this book can be read as a standalone.

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery centers around Polly's life on Mount Polbearne. Polly is a baker. She's happy with her boyfriend, Huckle and her bird, Neil. Then, Selina, recently widowed, move to Mount Polbearne. Suddenly, everything is about to change for Polly.

I didn't expect that I would enjoy this book so much. The beginning was a bit slow for me. But once I keep going, I was hooked. The story showed how Polly deal with the changes around her—with her friends, bakery, and romance life. I love reading about how Polly bakes bread. Jenny Colgan had a wonderful way of describing each baked goods. I could almost imagine the smell of bread and yeast. It was interesting to know how Polly lives in a lighthouse. And I had the pleasure to get to know the people from Mount Polbearne. Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery is a great, light, chick lit read featuring two of my favorite things—beach and bakery. There were just enough amount of romance, friendship, drama and humor.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

#BookReview Once Upon A [Stolen] Time by Samreen Ahsan

Once Upon A [Stolen] Time
by Samreen Ahsan

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel, Historical
Publication: February 29th, 2016
Format: ARC, 411 pages
Source: Author
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

2015…

All her life, Myra Farrow has been obsessed with medieval castles—and the kings and princes who once inhabited them. Now, wealthy videogame designer Steve Bernard wants her to model for a princess character in his new game. Myra can’t resist his offer, especially when she learns that Steve plans to film inside the mysterious Hue Castle—a cursed, barren, colorless place forbidden to visitors for centuries. But unknown to Myra, her soul is bound to Hue Castle by blood and sorcery. When she enters its doors, she awakens dark powers that will reach through time—stealing her past, torturing her present, and rewriting her future.

1415…

Edward Hue, the last of the Hue royal bloodline, has never stood in the sunshine or held a living flower. Cursed from birth to live in darkness and bring death to all he touches, he is at the mercy of his cruel, tyrannical father, who will not rest until he shatters Edward’s soul and makes his son into a diabolical copy of himself. Edward’s one hope is the mysterious woman who haunts his dreams—who will either break his curse and bring him out of the darkness, or destroy him utterly.

I wasn't expecting that I was going to enjoy this book so much, especially if I were to judge the book by the first few chapters. But the story pulled me in. I was interested to know how Myra and Edward were going to meet since they both live in two different worlds and eras.

Myra, the heroine of the story had an obsession with castles. To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of Myra at the beginning. She's an alright character, but I didn't see anything special about her. I was a bit thrown off with how Myra and Steve got together. But slowly, Myra grew on me and I started to like her. She can be romantic and brave. I love how she won't give up until she finds out the truth about Hue Castle. Edward Hue was a tormented soul. He was destined to rule the kingdom, but he absolutely didn't want to turn into someone like his father. His part of the story was much darker. I love his sister and niece and hope to see his niece again soon. And then, there was Steve, the video game designer who played an important role in the story. 

I enjoyed the author's writing. It was very easy to get into. I thought the pace of the story was great. I wasn't too keen with how it all began, but the story gets interesting once Myra and the others set their foot in Hue Castle. I love how the author described the castle. Hue Castle sounded mysterious and a bit scary. I love how the author combined medieval and time-traveling together in the book. It was brilliant. Once Upon a [Stolen] Time was full of intrigue, mystery and romance. I was frustrated when I reached the last page. I didn't want the story to end and I didn't realize that there will be another book after this. Now I really need the sequel.I want to find out what will happen to Myra, Edward, and Steve. This is a surprisingly great adult fantasy read! I'll definitely keep an eye on the author's work.

I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

#BookReview Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya

Marry Your Billionaire
by C.J. Anaya

Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary, Romance, Women's Fiction
Publication: March 7th, 2016 by C.J. Anaya Publishing LLC
Format: ARC, 411 pages
Source: eBooks for Review
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Six years ago, Midge Knightly walked away from her trust fund, her Hollywood producer father, and the expectation that she would join the family business. Avoiding handsome playboys with hidden agendas was just an added bonus. Now one semester shy of graduation, she is shocked to discover her scholarship has lost its funding.

Her estranged father is having problems of his own. A contestant on his latest reality TV series has cancelled two months before shooting.

His solution?

Midge gets her trust fund back if she stands in as a potential marriage candidate for the dating series Marry Your Billionaire. Twenty women competing for one arrogant guy. Not Midge's cup of tea. Agreeing to this proposition sucks her back into the world she happily broke ties from, but no trust fund equals no college degree.

Brody Prescott, CEO and owner of an online dating company, has recently been pegged as a heartless playboy-among other things-by a disgruntled female after a disappointing date.

His solution?

Become the first bachelor on Marry Your Billionaire and hope that one of the contestants holds some potential. So what is he supposed to do when the woman who intrigues him the most wants to be eliminated?

Marry Your Billionaire is a fun, romantic romp set against the backdrop of reality TV. Throw on your PJ's, grab some chocolate and popcorn, and settle in for an entertaining love story.

I've read a few stories with the reality show, The Bachelor, story-line as the setting, but I'm still not tired of the setting yet. Of course, I do have a certain expectation on this book for the plot and settings. And I'm glad that Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya didn't disappoint me.

What I really love about Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya is the characters. I like Midge right from the start. She's courageous, independent, smart, and can be a bit stubborn at times. And Brody. He may sound like an arrogant jerk at first, but he can be very loving. I love how he pursue Midge and he won't stop even with Midge's tricks to get herself eliminated. The other characters made the book more fun and interesting. I especially love Midge's father and Lisa, her friend/housemate. I kinda wish that there were a lot more moments with Lisa in the book.

I enjoyed the author's writing style. It was easy to get into the book. I like the pacing. And the setting with the reality show was great. I was hoping to see more scenes of the characters and the other contestant as well, A bit more catfight between the characters, maybe? I absolutely love the chemistry between Midge and Brody. They're cute together. I enjoyed their cat and mouse game. Their scenes can be breathtakingly romantic and humorous at times.

If you're looking for a light, humorous read with a happy ending, C.J. Anaya's Marry Your Billionaire is perfect for you. I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to read more work from the author.

I received a copy of this book from the author/ebooks for review in exchange for my review.

#BookReview The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

The Geography of You and Me
by Jennifer E. Smith 

Genre: Chick-Lit, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: March 3rd, 2015 by Poppy
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they’re rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen’s relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and—finally—a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith’s new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

The Geography of You and Me is such a cute read. Lucy and Owen live in the same building. Lucy is living in the penthouse, and Owen is the building manager's son. They met on an elevator during a citywide blackout and decided to spend the night together, wandering in the street. Soon, they both finds out that they both have to move away. Lucy, to Edinburgh with her parents, and Owen, with his father.

Jennifer E Smith is definitely one of my favourite YA romance writers. I love Jennifer E. Smith's book since I first read The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. I'm comfortable with her style and I love her characters, both the mains and the minor. I love reading about both Lucy and Owen's family as much as I love reading about them. 

The Geography of You and Me is sweet, light and heartwarming read. I can't stop reading this book and find out what will happen to Lucy and Owen next. I have to admit that the romance is a bit slow. But somehow, it works for Lucy and Owen. I enjoyed how the author builds the romance between the characters. It was interesting to see how Lucy and Owen try to stay in touch through postcards and occasional e-mails. Now, I simply cannot wait to get my hands on other books by Jennifer E. Smith.

Review: My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

My Best Friend's Exorcism
by Grady Hendrix

Genre: Horror, Young Adult
Expected publication: May 17th, 2016 by Quirk Books
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley, Quirk Books
Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fifth grade, when they bonded over a shared love of E.T., roller-skating parties, and scratch-and-sniff stickers. But when they arrive at high school, things change. Gretchen begins to act . . . different. And as the strange coincidences and bizarre behavior start to pile up, Abby realizes there's only one possible explanation: Gretchen, her favorite person in the world, has a demon living inside her. And Abby is not about to let anyone or anything come between her and her best friend. With help from some unlikely allies, Abby embarks on a quest to save Gretchen. But is their friendship powerful enough to beat the devil?

I was hesitant to read this book at first because of the genre. I don't read a lot of horror book. I'm not a big fan of the horror genre. The last time my friend took me to watch 'The Conjuring', I couldn't sleep for a week. But I decided to give My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix a try anyway. I couldn't resist the pretty cover and the blurbs sounded great.

The book was set up in the 80's, so, I didn't get some of the references, but still, I thoroughly enjoy reading this. It wasn't as scary as I had feared, which was a good thing. I love reading about Abby and Gretchen's friendship—how Abby tried to save her best friend when she suspected that Gretchen was probably possessed by something evil.

The plot building was interesting. There were a few dramas between Abby, Gretchen and their two other friends—Glee and Margaret—which reminded me a bit of the movie, 'Mean Girls'. There are some scary and disgusting moments that made me cringed. I thought that the exorcism scene in the book was going to be something really horrifying, but the author made it a bit humorous with Abby questioning the exorcist's method to cure Gretchen. In the end, I have to say that I absolutely admire Abby and Gretchen's friendship.

I would recommend this book. If you're looking for a fun, horror, YA book, then, this is the book for you.

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley & Quirk Books in exchange for my review.

Review: The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

The Passenger
by Lisa Lutz

Genre: Adult, Crime & Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Publication: March 1st, 2016 by Simon & Schuster
Format: ebooks
Source: Netgalley, ARC
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it...

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time.

She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive’s eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy―and dangerous―alliance is born.

It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret…can she outrun her past?

I can't stop thinking about this book. It was different than Lisa Lutz's Spellman Series, which happen to be my all time favorite. It was more mysterious and well, a bit more confusing.

The beginning starts with Tanya leaving her husband's body at the base of the stairs. She gets some money, a new name, changes her identity and skips town. Tanya, now Amelia, meets Blue, a bartender who knows exactly who she is and offers her a place to stay. 

'Passanger' has this mysterious thing going on all over the book. A few times, I have to close the book because things are getting confusing.  But I have to pick up the book again to find out to all the answers to my questions—who exactly is Tanya? What is she running away from? And Why?

I guess, Tanya, Amelia, or whoever she is starts to grow on me. She has to change her name and identity for many times to be safe. She has gone through so much while she's on the run and I couldn't help but to feel sorry for her. She finds someone who she might like on her run, and runs again once she found out that he's a cop! And I found Blue an interesting character. She helped Amelia with questioning motives, and in the end, I wish I could hear what is her story.

Lisa Lutz is excellent at building the story with good plots and twists that keeps me going as the mystery behind Tanya-Amelia-Debra unfolds. I definitely enjoy reading this book and would recommend this to fans of crime fans.

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley & Simon & Schuster in exchange for my review.

Review: Murder on a Silver Platter by Shawn Reilly Simmons

Murder on a Silver Platter
by Shawn Reilly Simmons

Genre: Crime, Cozy Mystery, Romance
Publication: February 23rd, 2016 by Henery Press
Format: Kindle Edition, 276 pages
Source: Netgalley, ARC
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Penelope Sutherland and her Red Carpet Catering company just got their big break as the on-set caterer for an upcoming blockbuster. But when she discovers a dead body outside her house, Penelope finds herself in hot water. Things start to boil over when serious accidents threaten the lives of the cast and crew. And when the film’s star, who happens to be Penelope’s best friend, is poisoned, the entire production is nearly shut down.

Threats and accusations send Penelope out of the frying pan and into the fire as she struggles to keep her company afloat. Before Penelope can dish up dessert, she must find the killer or she’ll be the one served up on a silver platter.

I love books with a hint of mystery and food. Naturally, I have to read 'Murder on a Silver Platter' by Shawn Reilly Simmons. And I am very glad that I picked up this book. 

Murder on a Silver Platter starts immediately when Penelope and her friend, Arlena found a dead body outside her house while searching for their dog, Zazoo. Penelope is a very likeable character. She's smart, independent and loyal. She was always looking after Arlena, which was how she got into investigating a murder and accidents that happened around Arlena. The supporting characters made the story much more lively and interesting. I enjoyed getting to know them all, especially Arlena's father, Randall.

The author's writing style was easy to get into. I can't put down the book. Shawn Reilly Simmons writes a really good mystery with good characters and twists that you wouldn't see it coming. I know I didn't. I was hooked to read until the end to find out who did what and why. There was a hint of romance between Penelope and a cop, who was also her childhood friend. I would definitely recommend 'Murder on a Silver Platter' to cozy mystery fans.

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley & Henery Press in exchange for my review.

Review: Missing Dad: Wanted by J. Ryan

Missing Dad: Wanted
by J. Ryan

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: November 5th, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition, 133 pages
Source: Netgalley, ARC
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Missing Dad – Wanted is the first in a new series featuring the gutsy Joe St Aubin, the teenage son of a secret agent who has disappeared while working undercover.

Sixteen year old Joe and his girlfriend Becks Bowman must learn the hard way how to deal with the criminal underworld after his father, secret agent Commander Julius Grayling, disappears. Desperately missing his father and failing at school, Joe is in deep trouble for driving underage, and suspected of a hit and run. In a chance encounter with the real culprit, a drug runner, Joe attracts the attention of billionaire drugs baron Alfredo Bertolini, who is hell bent on revenge.

Joe is offered a glamorous job as chauffeur to the charismatic Monsieur Le Directeur of L’Ētoile Fine Wines, but his world implodes when he realises that he has been set up as a drug runner, in a Bentley loaded with cocaine and men with guns behind him. In the most terrifying drive of his life, Joe has to resort to some unusual tactics to deal with his unwelcome company.

But even more danger awaits Joe and Becks when they confront Monsieur Le Directeur. The price of discovering whether he is friend or foe to Joe’s father turns into a nightmare of darkness, fire and water that drives the teenagers to the edge of despair.

This series draws its appeal from Joe’s desperate search and love for his father and features compelling characters, fast cars and heart-stopping action.

Missing Dad: Wanted is the first book by J. Ryan. Joe St. Aubin is the  son of a secret agent who has disappeared while working undercover. He got into trouble for driving underage, and suspected of a hit and run. Joe soon encountered the real culprit and upsetting the billionaire drug. 

This book was really exciting, fast-paced and thrilling. Joe was a teenage boy who missed his dad and would sometimes get into trouble. I like Joe and his characters. But, I find it was a bit hard to believe how Joe got the job with his age. The story was really thrilling. I especially enjoyed the driving and the car chasing. The author's description of the fast-driving scene was exciting. It was like watching a movie. I bet the car chasing scene would look really good in a movie. There was also a bit of mystery surrounding Joe's father. Turns out that Joe found out a bit about his father while working for L’Ētoile Fine Wines.

I would totally recommend this thrilling young adult books to crime lover. There are just enough suspense, mystery and romance in the book. I was a bit disappointed that Joe hadn't learnt a lot more about his father in this book, but I hope to see more Joe and his adventure to find out what happen to his father in the next book.

Review: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Landline
by Rainbow Rowell

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Fantasy
Publication: March 12th, 2015 by Orion
Format: Paperback, 356 pages
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

So far, I've enjoyed Rainbow Rowell's books, both her adults and young adult books. Landline did not disappoint me. I really, really love this book. There was something romantic and magical about this book. I love watching how Georgie tried to mend her marriage to Neal. She did a little bit of time travelling through the yellow landline by calling and talking to young Neal. The Neal, who hasn't even proposed to her yet.

Georgie wasn't a perfect character. She was not a really romantic person. She had flaws, and she may moan a bit too much about her relationship with Neal, when she was supposed to work on her show. But I feel like I understood that. She can't really focus on her work while her marriage might be in trouble. I'm not married yet, but, I do enjoy her thoughts on marriage and commitment. There was this conversation between Georgie and her sister, about 'the one' that I really love.

“It's more like you meet someone, and you fall in love, and you hope that that person is the one—and then at some point, you have to put down your chips. You just have to make a commitment and hope that you're right.” 

Rainbow Rowell is an amazing author, and if you're looking for an adult romance book, I would totally recommend Landline. It's a bittersweet romance about second chances with a sweet, happy ending.

Review: You'll Be Thinking of Me by Densie Webb

You'll Be Thinking of Me
by Densie Webb

Genre: Romance, Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Publication:  January 12th 2015 by Soul Mate Publishing
Format: kindle
Source: ARC
Connect: Goodreads

A chance encounter with a celebrity, an impromptu video, and a shiny new espresso machine. It all added up to a juicy tale for 24-year-old Rachael Allen to share with friends. But when her best friend posts the video online, bizarre threats, home break-ins, and deadly gifts from an obsessed fan follow close behind. Mick Sullivan, the star in her video, offers to help and in the process, Rachael discovers that despite his reputation as a player of Olympian caliber, he’s down-to-earth—and emotionally damaged. He has secrets; some he’s shared only with his pseudo best friend. Others he's shared with no one. But there's one secret he’s hidden from himself, washed away by too many beers. Despite wildly divergent life paths, their shared southern upbringing (and a passion for good music) creates a common thread that draws them together.

As the threats escalate, and their relationship deepens, Rachael struggles to accept Mick’s past—and his present. And she is forced to confront her own obsessive love to ultimately decide if being with Mick Sullivan is worth the collateral damage.

YOU'LL BE THINKING OF ME is the story of Rachael's serendipitous encounter with a celebrity, her brush with obsessive love, and the bittersweet gift left behind by the very person fixated on destroying her life.

When Rachel Allen shared a video of her meeting with a celebrity, Mick Sullivan with her friend, she didn't expect that her friend would post the video online. Since then, Rachel has gotten threats, and few other 'gifts' from Mick's obsessed fan. Mick persuaded Rachel to move into his home until they caught the stalker, but the stalker's threat gotten more serious, and their lives were in danger.

Wow. This book isn't what I've expected. I really enjoyed this book right from the start. Rachel and Mick were two likable characters, and I really enjoyed their interactions and chemistry. The other characters made the story much more interesting too. Although, I couldn't say that I like Rachel's best friend. There's a little bit of crime, suspense and romance that makes me want to continue reading until the end. I really like Densie Webb's style and how she built the story in You'll Be Thinking of Me. The tension building with the sick stalker was really good. There was a little bit of twists towards the end that I didn't expect. 

I absolutely recommend You'll Be Thinking of Me to those who enjoy reading a bit of  mystery and thrill. I know that I'll be looking forward to Densie Webb's other work after this.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.

Review: Heart Conditions by Phoebe Fox

Heart Conditions (The Breakup Doctor #3)
by Phoebe Fox

Genre: Romance, Chick Lit, Humor
Publication: February 9th, 2016 by Henery Press
Format: ebook
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Breakup Doctor Brook Ogden has spent the last year sifting through the fallout from the disastrous decision that led to her unconscious uncoupling with boyfriend Ben Garrett. Despite advising her clients you can’t be friends with an ex, she and Ben have somehow begun to stitch together a friendship—one Brook hopes is slowly turning into more. That is, until Ben introduces his new girlfriend, Perfect Pamela, a paragon of womanly virtues who is everything Brook is not.

While Brook navigates her newly volatile emotional life, an unwelcome surprise shows up on her doorstep: the ex-fiancé who broke her heart two years ago—one month before their wedding. Between her ex’s desire to rekindle their attachment, her best friend Sasha’s unexpected crisis, and her own unsquelchable feelings for Ben, Brook finds herself questioning the personal progress she’s made in the last two years—and threatened with the highest-stakes Breakup Doctor failures she’s ever faced.

Breakup Doctor, Brook Ogden is back with another story after her disastrous relationship in the previous book. Brook and Ben are no longer together after what happened between them, but that didn't stop them from being friends. Only that, Brook was hoping for something more, until Ben introduced her to his new girlfriend, Pamela, who seems so perfect. Brook received another surprise when her ex-fiance, the one who broke her heart years ago, just one month before their wedding, showed up in her life. 

Wow! I have to say that I like the series a bit more. The Breakup Doctor series is getting better and better after each book. The story is growing up on me, and so did Brook. I really enjoyed watching the character development in the book. Brook is certainly more matured. I'm really happy that Brook's ex made an appearance in this book. It's nice to see how they resolved whatever it was between them. And I'm glad that this time, I didn't have much urge to strangle Brook for whatever she always do to her relationship. I love the bits of romance in the book, both with the main and supporting characters. They were really nice and sweet. And I love how the story ended in this book.

Heart Condition is definitely a fun and entertaining read. I definitely enjoyed this thoroughly. If you have read the previous two books from the series, you wouldn't want to miss this one.

I received a copy of this book from the author/NetGalley to provide an honest review.