The First Kiss Hypothesis by Christina Mandelski Review + BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY

The First Kiss Hypothesis by Christina Mandelski

Welcome to my stop on the First Kiss Hypothesis by Christina Mandelski blog tour! Thank you so much to Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for including me in the tour, as well as providing me with a free copy for review! Nora and Eli are absolutely so cute as best friends in the beginning of the book, and you ca definitely see the tension between them the instant we get a glimpse into Eli's perspective in the second chapter. When Nora is being taught how to drive by Eli, their relationship is so sweet and precious, I absolutely could not wait to see how their relationship would unfold as the book went on, and I was not disappointed. The scene when Nora and Eli go tot he beach party is so cute - you can definitely see Eli getting a little jealous over a certain Texan who is trying to get Nora's attention. After a certain event leaves Eli broken over the rest of his lacrosse season, we can see the tensions rising amongst him and the situation that is occurring with our friendly neighborhood Tex. The entire book flowed so well, and was written in a way that makes their reader feel as if you were sitting next to Nora and Eli for their entire journey. I really loved the way that the author was able to challenge Nora and Eli's relationship through sports, injuries, colleges, and other potential boys that Nora could have chosen throughout the book. Eli's mindset throughout the novel was also very interesting to see, as we see him transform from best friend to something more, but not before he makes a mistake that could cost him everything that he has been working for in the end. If you're looking for a quick read that is easy to love and hard to put down, this is definitely the book for you! I highly recommend this book to fans of Operation Prom Date and It Had to be You, both novels published by Entangled Teen Crush.

Title: The First Kiss Hypothesis

Author: Christina Mandelski

Publication Date: November 6, 2017

Publisher: Entangled Teen Crush

Nora Reid believes scientific laws control everything, even love. With her grandparents’ epic first kiss story cemented in her brain, Nora develops a hypothesis she’s determined to prove:for each person in the world, there is exactly one other person, and at first kiss, they’ll experience an immediate and intense reaction.

But after four years of zero-reaction kisses, she comes up with a new theory: maybe that pesky crush on her stunningly hot best friend Eli Costas is skewing her results.

She needs to get rid of him, and fast.

Eli Costas is an injury-prone lacrosse star with a problem—the one chance he had at winning over the girl next door resulted in the most epically sucktastic first kiss ever. And now she’s…trying to get rid of him? Hell no. It’s time to

disprove her theory and show her exactly what she’s missing.

Game. On.

Disclaimer: This book contains a stunningly hot lacrosse player who isn’t above playing dirty to win over the stubborn girl-next-door of his dreams.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Amazon Australia | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Christina Mandelski was born in South Florida, where her love of reading was cultivated in a house full of books. Stories like The Little House series, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Island of the Blue Dolphins and The Secret Garden, filled her imagination and fueled her dreams to be a writer. That dream came true when her first young adult novel, THE SWEETEST THING, was published in 2011, and she’s beyond thrilled about her upcoming series for Entangled Crush. Chris lives in Houston with one handsome husband, two beautiful daughters, and two freakshow cats. She has a

fondness for the beach, her family and friends, and she still loves to read (especially curled up with a good cup of coffee!) She also enjoys shopping, traveling and eating, especially cake. Always cake. When she’s not doing these things, you can find her holed in a cozy spot with her laptop, writing. Visit her at www.christinamandelski.com.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details (US):

The giveaway is for: The First Kiss Hypothesis Prize Pack, including: 

* A Mug

* A blueberry pie scented candle

* 2 lacrosse-themed hair ties

* An assortment of book related stickers (Silver Springs, Emory, chemistry pun, LAX, etc) from Redbubble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Art of Rebellion by Brenda Joyce Leahy Review + BLOG TOUR

The Art of Rebellion by Brenda Joyce Leahy Review

I would first like to thank Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review and including me in the blog tour for this novel! This novel takes place in Paris, 1900 and follows the story of a young girl named Gabrielle as she takes her life into her own hands and makes a name for herself in the City of Lights. I would have to say that this is not the regular type of novel that I read, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the tale of Gabrielle and the people that she encountered. The writing is absolutely beautiful, Brenda does such an amazing job creating this historical world that we are exposed to throughout the novel. The French phrases and words that are thrown into the dialogue and descriptions really allowed myself as a reader to immerse myself into the story and understand the time that the novel took place. As a person who truly appreciates the French culture and language, it really struck a place in my heart as well as in my brain. There were so many interesting people that our main character was introduced to as we dove further into the story, and I began to enjoy their presence the more that they were written into Gabrielle's life. I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction novels as well as any type of literature that focuses around Paris and the Parisian lifestyle in the 1900s.

The Art of Rebellion by Brenda Joyce Leahy

Publication Date: June 15, 2016

Publisher: Rebelight Publishing

Art is Gabrielle's passion, but her parents have other plans for her future-marriage to a man three times her age who holds nothing but disdain for art. Gabrielle is determined to escape life as the baron's trophy wife and the confinement of traditional roles. She flees her privileged home in the French countryside for Paris and the grandmother who understands her passion. When she cannot locate her grandmother, Gabrielle is left on her own in the City of Lights. The art world of Paris, 1900, brims with excitement, opportunity, and risk. Should Gabrielle trust her new friends, or will they take advantage of her hopes and dreams?

Link to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30764899-the- art-of- rebellion

Brenda Joyce Leahy has travelled to France five times but finds there’s always more explorations awaiting her. She loves historical fiction and thinks she was born a century too late but can’t imagine her life without computers or cell phones. So, perhaps, she arrived in the world at just the right moment to tell this story.

She grew up on a farm near Taber, Alberta but now lives with her family near the Rocky Mountains in Calgary, Alberta. After over 20 years practicing law, she has returned to her first love of writing fiction. She is a member of several writing organizations, including the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI): her profile there is http://www.scbwi.org/members-public/brenda- johnson-2. The Art of Rebellion is also profiled on the Humber School of Writers’ website at http://creativearts.humber.ca/programs/school-writers/published- books. Brenda is also a member of the Historical Novel Society: http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org, and leads a YA/MG writers’ critique group in Calgary.

The Art of Rebellion is her first Young Adult novel, published by Rebelight Publishing, spring 2016.

Website | Twitter

Giveaway Information: Contest ends September 30, 2016

 Two (2) winners will received a physical copy of The Art of Rebellion by Brenda Joyce Leahy (US/Canada)

 Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of The Art of Rebellion by Brenda Joyce Leahy (INT)

Link to Rafflecopter Giveaway: 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c08c9e8e588/?

Caraval by Stephanie Garber ARC Review

Caraval By Stephanie Garber

Wow. This is definitely one of the best if not the best book that I have read in 2016. I honestly am at a loss for words after finishing this novel. I received an ARC copy of Caraval from BEA this year, and I finally decided to sit down and read it, and I am so glad that I made that decision. I managed to fly threw this enticing novel in just two days, and I could not put it down. The writing was absolutely exquisite, it pulls the reader in as the words are woven into an elegant story full of risks and romance. The world of Caraval is something that you won't find anywhere else in the YA genre - the constant struggle to determine what is true and what is an illusion causes the reader to solve the puzzle alongside the characters that we come to adore and root for. Our main characters are thrown into each others lives and have to band together in order to survive Caraval and win the game before time runs out and what Scarlett wants the most is taken from her without wasting a moment. I absolutely fell in love with the characters in this novel, they were so different than any other character that I have been exposed to, and they each were their own person that had their own goals, and didn't always depend on the other in order to accomplish the goals that they were trying to achieve throughout the story. The twists and turns that are present in the novel are even more full of illusions that I had ever expected, and I was completely mesmerized by how the author was able to weave this world so delicately that everything fell into place just as it should have. This novel is truly made of something that can not be found anywhere else, and I highly recommend it to fans of The Wrath and The Dawn by Renée Ahdieh and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. Caraval will be available for purchase on January 31, 2017 and will be available for pre-order as well.

Oh, and just one more thing...

The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker Review

The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker Review

I wish I could give this book 100 stars, it was just such an amazing ending to a duology and I am so satisfied with the ending that the author wrote :) I was so happy to be back in the world of Elizabeth, John, Fifer, and everyone else, and it was such a well written novel as well. It picks right back up after the ending to The Witch Hunter, and dives back into the situation that we were last left off with handling. The book ran very smoothly, and was at such a nice pace that I was able to nearly finish the entire book in a day; the pace really helped the motions of the book flow as well, and added the extra action that the book needed. Virginia Boecker did an amazing job writing the characters and their developments throughout The Witch Hunter, and she definitely did not disappoint in this installment. You are able to feel connected to the characters and understand why they do the things that they do, and get into their thought processes as well. Elizabeth is such an interesting character to read about because she starts off in the series as one of the most hated types of people in the land - a witch hunter - and then slowly is able to change her ways and become one with the people of the city. Each character has their flaws, and they make them who they are and influence how they act in certain situations. I absolutely loved this book, and can probably say that it is one of my favorite reads of 2016, and one of my favorite series that I have read. I highly recommend this series to fans of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige. Both books involve young girls who are fighting to take over the existing ruling power, and are done so beautifully. “I understand the need for deception. I should; I live a life of it. Distasteful, perhaps. But necessary.”  ― Virginia Boecker, The Witch Hunter

COVER REVEAL: The Promise by C.E. Wilson

   

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

The Promise by C.E. Wilson!

 

What does it mean to be a human?

Lily Larkin is about to find out when on what should have been a day of great happiness, she is diagnosed with a rare and unbelievable disease. She is shrinking, possibly without limit. As her life starts to spin out of control and the world starts to grow around her at an uncontrollable rate she is forced to confront her greatest fear - losing the man whom she loved from the moment she saw him. Can they stay together even though she feels her humanity slipping away? Can she trust him with her secret and, as her disease progresses, her safety and even her life? Can she trust herself? A bittersweet story of love and loss, The Promise is a YA Paranormal Fantasy that will have you questioning the meaning of your own humanity and the weighing of trust against love. What will Lily choose? What would you choose?

The Promise by C.E. Wilson Publication Date: November 16, 2013

Available for Purchase:

Amazon

 

 

C.E. Wilson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, grew up in Millersville, Pennsylvania, and has been living in Pittsburgh since 2009. For the first few years living in Pittsburgh, she was an English teacher. Her first book, "Oath of Servitude," was published in 2012. In 2013, she quit teaching to be a full time author and hasn't looked back since. She loves spending time with her daughter and husband.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell Review

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I was so excited to finally get my hands on this book, and had such high expectations for it. I had already read Landline by her, and thought that I should finally give Fangirl a try. As soon as I started the novel, I instantly connected with Cath, the main character. I too am a twin and love to read, so it made relating with the character very easy for me. The storyline did not go where I thought it was going to go, but maybe that was because I didn’t know much about the novel when I first received a copy. The only real problems I had with this novel was the fact that there was a decent about of cursing, but what else could you expect from college students. There were some characters that I couldn’t really picture in my head from their descriptions, but that didn’t affect the way that I read or interpreted the novel. I suggest that when considering reading this novel, be considerate of your age - anyone who is below the age of 16/17 should be warned that the language and situations may be a little mature for you. The overall impression that I got from this novel that it was a fun, quick read that anyone who is planning to go to college, is in college, or wants a cute read will enjoy this story. Fans of contemporary novels should definitely check this book out as well, it’ll fit right into that classic contemporary feel.

“To really be a nerd, she'd decided, you had to prefer fictional worlds to the real one.” 
― Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Review

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

 I absolutely adored this book! Jane Austen was able to create characters that draw you into their lives and make the reader committed to their every move. The plot never dropped - I was always turning the pages and only set it down when I had to. The writing was beautiful, even though it’s been said that this style of writing is hard to understand, I understood every word and was completely immersed into the story. You’ll fall in love with the relationships between the characters and root for their success and cringe in their downfall. I laughed, I cried. People who are already fans of Austen’s work will thoroughly enjoy this story, and will definitely appreciate the novel. These are some of my favorite characters in the literature world, and hold a dear place in my heart. The romance is not overplayed, and isn’t the center of the entire novel, which is refreshing to see. I only had a few problems while reading it, which were that only at one point that the story seemed to drag out a bit, and that it seemed that Elizabeth was allowing people to control her life and what she did. Overall, this book left a huge impression on me, and I highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants to start reading classic novels that are full of intrigue and choices.

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” 
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick Review

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

This book had a very interesting premise, and I have to say that Matthew Quick did a very good job displaying the main character’s inner thoughts and feelings throughout the book. The concept of having the footnotes really intrigued me and I have to say that at times, while they did get excessive at points, were very insightful to the plot. However, I felt that the main character was worked up over small things that normally wouldn’t bother anyone. While I understand why he was upset throughout the book, it felt as if he directed all of his rage on one single thought that didn’t hold as much significance in his life. I completely understand why Leonard was angry at Asher and his mother, and feel for him. Though at some points, it felt as if he was rambling on about useless things in life, which caused me to have to make myself read through long passages of him talking about random topics. I really wanted to love this book, but it had those little things that did not meet my expectations. I do, however, look forward to reading more of his novels, and see how they flow as well.

“You're different. And I'm different too. Different is good. But different is hard. Believe me, I know.” 
― Matthew Quick, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardguo Review

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This. Was. Amazing. There was action and adventure, with just a twinge of romance that didn’t take over the entire plot line, which was refreshing to see. The characters were each their entirely own person and proceeded throughout the story as individuals who were joined together in this miraculous group of thieves. As usual, Leigh Bardugo’s writing was flawless, and captured the image of the story so beautifully through words and the vocabulary from the world of the Grisha. The story moved with such rhythm that it was so easy to read large portions in a single sitting, and with the world being so captivating, it was easy to get lost into the story. There were only a few times that I felt that the story began to slow down and that I had to make myself continue on, but they picked up after a few pages and carried on with the fantastic tale that our thieves were living. I highly recommend reading the Grisha Trilogy before reading Six of Crows, for that way the reader will have background in the world and understand what events took place before Six of Crows begins, however, it is not necessary to read the trilogy in order to understand the world of this novel. These characters are lovable, even though at sometimes you don’t understand why they do the things they do, they just always bring humor and sass into the storyline. The twists and turns throughout the novel made it even more intriguing than it is made out to be. I can’t wait until Crooked Kingdom, the final installment in this series, comes out!

“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for 'good luck.” 

― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

The Good Girls by Sara Shepard Review

The Good Girls by Sara Shepard

HOLY. MOLY. THE TWISTS. THE TURNS. This book went above and beyond my expectations for the conclusion of The Perfectionists series, and I can honestly say that this book deserves the five star rating that I gave it. The character development was flawless, each time the book changed POV, I felt as if I was truly in the mind of each different character, and they each had their own voice and attitude to contribute to the story. Sara Shepard has been a long time favorite author of mine, every since six years ago when I picked up Pretty Little Liars when I heard there was going to be a show based on the book. The writing in this book made it truly feel as if a teenager was telling a story, and the plot line flowed very well, there was no choppiness to the story or how it progressed, and I was on the edge of my seat during the second half of the book, dying to know who the killer was. Speaking of - THAT PLOT TWIST - I never, in a million years, expected the reveal of a killer to be done so in this fashion, and I must say - it was fantastic. I loved this book so much and I absolutely will continue reading Sara’s books, and highly recommend this series, and any of Sara’s series, to anyone who loves a good mystery. I’m still in shock after finishing this book, and that hasn’t happened to me in a long time :)

“You want to throw your life away for some stupid conversation we had? Like we're the first people ever who talk about people we want dead.” 
― Sara Shepard, The Good Girls

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick Review

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick

I would first like to thank Little Brown for sending me an ARC of this novel along with three other novels by Matthew Quick. This book was so inspiring and eye-opening to me in retrospect to how people feel when they think that no one cares and how sometimes families and people appear to be something when they’re really not. This was my first Matthew Quick novel, and it’s safe to say that I will definitely be reading more of his work very soon. The characters in Every Exquisite Thing are relatable to a wide spectrum of readers and develop beautifully into people who are aware of what they what from the world and what they want from themselves. I loved how we are immersed into Nanette’s life and her mind. This really allowed me as a reader to understand Nanette and her feelings throughout the novel and help me form an idea of who she was in my head. I highly recommend this novel to fans of All The Bright Places, it truly captures the same feel and essence that All The Bright Places brings to the table and goes even further than I imagined. This novel will truly change your perspective on life and how you will see the world.

"And then one day you will look for you in the mirror and you’ll no longer be able to identify yourself - you’ll only see everyone else. You’ll know that you did what they wanted you to do. You will have assimilated. And you will hate yourself for it, because it will be too late."

- Matthew Quick, Every Exquisite Thing

I, Ripper by Stephen Hunter Review

I, Ripper by Stephen Hunter

This book had me pulled in as soon as I read the summary, but did not live up to the expectations that I had for it, which is unfortunate. I really wanted to enjoy this book from cover to cover, but there were parts of the story that slowed down so much that I had to push myself to continue reading. However, that was only two or three times, and the rest of the novel rolled through smoothly and had me sitting on the edge of my seat, awaiting the characters to find clues about Jack the Ripper. Speaking of our dear antagonist, the reveal of the killer was not what I had expected, and I hate to say that I was not as surprised as I had hoped I would’ve been, and had predicted who it was chapters before we were told. The character development throughout the novel flowed very nicely, and the writing was amazing, it truly draws the reader into the storyline. It had an elegance that is hard to find in books these days, and allows the reader to create the scenes of the book inside their minds very vividly. If you’re a fan of anything about Jack the Ripper or are looking for a good mystery, I would definitely recommend reading this novel :)

“I’m far too intelligent to be brave, thank you very much.” 
― Stephen Hunter, I, Ripper: A Novel

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker Review

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

This book was absolutely amazing. The story was rich with character development and a plot line that never ceased to become anything less that fantastic. I started reading this novel, and then almost 5 hours later I was finished and wanting more. The main characters never become tiresome to read about and have emotions that are easy to understand and do not cause the reader any confusion or have them asking why the character feels a certain way without probable cause. I loved the plot line, especially since I went into this novel not knowing much about it other than the blurb on the back of my ARC copy that I received last year. I’m so glad that I finally got around to reading The Witch Hunter in time for The King Slayer to be released in the next few months, giving me time to bask in the glory that is Virginia Boecker’s writing. This is definitely a book that I would recommend for fans of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. The Witch Hunter is full of suspense, action, and of course - romance. However, the romance involved is very well thought out and does not become obvious to you once the novel introduces the potential bachelors for our main protagonist, Elizabeth Grey. The romance is slowly integrated into the novel as their relationship progresses, making it all the more believable for the reader as well as in the story. There isn’t one bad thing I can say about this novel, only that I wish it was longer! The next installment seems so far away, but it is only a few short months until we can travel along side Elizabeth and her newfound gang of friends and companions that she meets along the way.

“I understand the need for deception. I should; I live a life of it. Distasteful, perhaps. But necessary.” 

― Virginia Boecker, The Witch Hunter