Friday, 17 May 2019

Standing Sideways by J. Lynn Bailey #bookreview

Standing Sideways

by
When Livia Stone suddenly loses her twin brother, Jasper, she must learn to navigate her new life alone. As she faces tragedy and starts down a road toward
self-destruction, Daniel enters Livia’s life—at a moment when she needs it most.

Standing Sideways is a poignant, relevant, and touching story of survival, courage, and compassion that will have readers crying, laughing, and most of all, debating the issues affecting the lives of parents and teens alike on a journey of hope and forgiveness.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36636598-standing-sideways?ac=1&from_search=true




Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Xpresso Book Tours
Genre: NA contemporary Romance
Standalone


My Standing Sideways Review . . .

" . . . But this is out of your control.  You won't feel less abandoned by seeking acceptance through another's affection." 

This book took me quite a bit to get into.  At first I thought it was the writing as Liv always talked about her parents by their given name instead of mom and dad, which threw me quite a bit.  But once Daniel makes an appearance in the book it slowly started to grow on me.

"I've never witness a heart break with my eyes, but I have now.  I want to put the pieces of you back together.  Build a mold around your heart.  Made of titanium and all matter indestructible, so it never gets broken again."

I thought the concept of addiction was well represented and so many youths don't realize they have a problem.  I thought this gave a good insight into it.  After losing her twin Livia (Liv) is BROKEN and the only relief she got was pills or alcohol.

Alcoholism is a disease of perception. 

Thankfully her best friend Cao was amazing.  We all need friends like that whom support and love us no matter what.

"And just because you've lost your way doesn't mean I won't help you find it because you don't give up on others.  It might be that you can't see the light right now, Liv, but I do.  I'll be your eyes until you can see the same person I see sitting in front of me." 

I liked the quirkiness of Liv and Daniel.  I was confused a bit about her behaviour with Simon (Jasper's best friend) but that all came out with the addiction and also with Jasper and Simon's secret. 

But, if we don't have forgiveness in our heart, the pain will take front seat, and it will eat us alive from the inside out. 
"You are worth fighting for, Livia, today and all the tomorrows.  I'm the man who is supposed to be your person until the rest of the tomorrows run out."

There were a few things that confused me like when did her parents get back together?  That felt out of no where.  Also what was said in the letter she received.  It felt like a big thing then there wasn't any references to it after.

All in all it was good but it was slow going for me.  However, it was a good topic of loss and addiction and I thought those two were captured well.  


3 Sideways thumbs up!

thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up

Lauren














Wednesday, 24 April 2019

CRUEL FORTUNE by K.A. Linde - Review Blitz #bookreview #teasers #crueltrilogy

 


Lose yourself to the dark and glamorous underbelly of the Upper East Side in the second book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde's new billionaire romance Cruel Trilogy.

I finally have everything I ever wanted--fame and fortune and literary success.

Only one problem: I lost my muse.

He was tall, dark, and handsome. Broody, enigmatic, alluring, and right for me in every way.

Until he wasn't. Until I lost everything.

And I can't lose it all again. I'll do anything to keep it.

Even seeing him again...



AVAILABLE NOW

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | AMAZON CA | B&N

| APPLE BOOKS | KOBO












Lose yourself to the dark and glamorous underbelly of the Upper East Side in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde's new billionaire romance Cruel Trilogy.

She was supposed to be a one night stand.

A way to sate my sexual appetite.

I let her glimpse the man I am. The face that I hide behind my carefully cultivated life.

But she ripped open that divide--and there's no going back.

Now, she's here. In my city.

I don't care that I'm Manhattan royalty and she's the help.

Only that she's living in my summer home. With me.

And I want more.

AVAILABLE NOW

✦ Amazon US ✦ iBooks ✦ B&N ✦ Kobo ✦ Google Play ✦ Paperback



K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42069143-cruel-fortune?ac=1&from_search=true


Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author & Wildlife Marketing Solutions
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Part 2 of 3


My Cruel Fortune Review . . . 

In Cruel Money it took me a bit to get into but I was hooked at the end and was waiting to what will happen with Penn and Nat.  And I have to admit, K.A. Linde threw me for a loop with the direction the story went.  I didn't see that coming at all.  I had imagined it going in such a different direction.

This big turn helped me stay intrigued with its unpredictability.   However, at times Nat drove me crazy but sometimes we have to keep repeating the same thing until we learn the lessen.  Hopefully this time it will stick.

I also hadn't put Katherine together with David's sister from the Wright Love duet.   And I remember her being a bit cruel but not this bad.  She's absolutely vicious.  And I hope Nat has enough gumption to fight Katherine.

Even though I did like Penn in Cruel Money we see how when things get tough he doesn't know how to proceed in this uncharted territory

"I tried that once.  Didn't exactly go as planned, did it?"

"Boohoo, you tried once.  The only time you've had to try for anything in your whole life.  Guess that's over. ..."

Thanks goodness for Lark to help Penn get his head out of his ass.  Once Penn figured he has to work for things and try more than once,  the race turned to the one who can play the dirtiest to get what they want.   And what a war it is with Nat in the middle.  This series is growing on me more and more.  We once again are left with a cliff hanger and now I can not wait for what Nat will do.

3.5 Cruel Thumbs up!

thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up

Lauren













Thursday, 18 April 2019

Cover Reveal A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott #coverreveal

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A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: May 16, 2019
Cover Designer: Melissa Panio-Petersen

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Thea Hughes has five minutes to live.
A car accident stole her parents and left her with the second-worst documented case of amnesia in the world. She now has only minutes of experiences, of consciousness, of life…before her memory is wiped clean. The once effervescent artist with a promising future is reduced to scribbling with pens and paper, living an empty, quiet life, three hundred seconds at a time.
Jim Whelan is on autopilot.
A foster kid shuffled around the system since birth, he’s lived his entire life without knowing love…and it’s taken its toll—until he learned to fight back, carry his armor, and keep his head down.
Working as an orderly in the Blue Ridge Sanitarium, deep in Virginia countryside, Jim looked up…and found Thea.
When Thea has the chance to break free of her five-minute prison with a risky, experimental surgery, it could lead them both to an epic love they never thought possible… or one that could require the ultimate sacrifice.


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Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2DlYSRY

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About Emma: Emma Scott is a bestselling author of emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy her novels. 

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