{Guest Review from Jenna Anderson} Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

5 Stars

Today I am happy to introduce a fellow twitter friend and blogger, @JAScribbles, who has an awesome guest review for us!  

Thank you for having on your blog, Melissa! I’m so happy to be here. 

Title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
Authors: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Genrea: Humor, Contemporary, YA
Publisher: Ember
Publication Date: October 11, 2011
From Goodreads:

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

 So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors ofNick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

 Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

(Guest review by Jenna Anderson)

I stumbled across this title while cruising NetGalley. The cover grabbed my attention. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares is a fun read that brings readers around NYC during Christmastime. The holiday aspects are light, but enough to make the book that much more enjoyable.

(I received this ebook as a free review copy from NetGalley and the publisher.)

Since this book was written by two people it is no surprise that the characters are unique and vivid. Each chapter alternates between the two. I can just image how much fun these authors had writing this story. 

Dash is charming, very intelligent and home alone. His parents don’t pay much attention to him. He acts like he doesn’t care but we all know better. I loved his dry sense of humor and flippant attitude.

Lily is a bubbly gal who is overly emotional and loves to wears odd clothing. She gives cookies to strangers and is trying hard to create a festive holiday event with her family. They are less than interested. She’s a complete mismatch for Dash… but I soon found myself wishing for them to become friends. 

This is a quick, easy read - a feel good story that will leave you with a smile. I didn't want to leave these people. I wish the story had continued for 300 more pages and in my world, that deserves five stars.

David Levithan has coauthored a number of titles – one recently with John Green, Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Have you read it? 

Thanks again for having me, Melissa! 

 Thanks for stopping by today with a great guest review!  Will you be adding it to your goodreads TBR list?  I know I will!

{Review} Nobody's Damsel by: E.M. Tippetts

5 Stars


Title: Nobody's Damsel
Author: E. M. Tippetts
Number of Pgs. 
Publication date: January 5, 2013
Genre: New Adult (yay!!)
How I got the copy: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.


From Goodreads:

Chloe has finished her masters degree and taken a job as a forensic scientist back in her home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, only the press will not leave her alone. They follow her to crime scenes and report on her every move, eager to show that her marriage to Hollywood A-lister, Jason Vanderholt, is on the brink of collapse. Millions of fans who dream of their own celebrity romance with him want this more than anything. This scrutiny comes at a particularly bad time as Chloe's first case is a crime against a child roughly the same age that Chloe was when she survived a homicide attempt.

Now that she sees the case from an adult's perspective, she realizes it's much harder than she ever dreamed. It's even worse for Jason, who is two steps removed from the crime. He must watch and try to support his wife as she battles with past demons and tries to keep up with a nameless suspect who evades identification and capture. Never has Jason been more frustrated with his job, its frivolities, and its lack of connection to the real world. When he storms off the set of his latest movie, the press goes wild with conjecture. While he says he wants to work on a project that means something, his agent and manager fear this may be the end of his time in the spotlight. Perhaps he never was anything more than a pretty face after all.

Together, Chloe and Jason must find their way past all the popping flashbulbs and through the dark maze of the criminal investigation to discover whether they can balance their professional goals with the demands of a celebrity marriage. The odds are entirely against them.


I've been using a new way of reviewing that I saw over at Making the Grade.  It breaks the book down and makes it easier to rate.  The way it works is each category gets a score out of ten points.  Then you add them all up + 50 (50% automatically for each book) and that's your score out of 100.

Plot 8/10: I was expecting another fun romcom (romantic comedy) type book since the first in the series Someone Else's Fairytale was very much like that.  But while the first book touched more on the romance and less on the tough topics (like child abuse), this one took the main character's dark past and used it to enhance the plot in so many ways.  I LOVE crime shows like Law and Order. And chloe kind of reminded me of Olivia!  I also felt that this book took the reader beyond the glam of crime shows and behind the scenes to what the people working on the cases feel while trying to solve them.  At times I teared up.  Especially in light of the shooting that just occurred since both involved young children.  It's just not fair that children can't stay innocent anymore these days with all the cruelty that occurs and the author portrayed that perfectly. 

Characters 9/10: I've always loved Chloe and Jason's characters.  Chloe's easy to relate to because she's just an average girl who is vulnerable, but also really strong and independent.   And I loooove that when she meets the guy of her dreams she doesn't become all needy and dependent like lots of girls in books.  I relate to her because while I pride myself on being independent, sometimes in relationships that can backfire as we see with Chloe and Jason in this book.  After learning to look out for herself she doesn't trust easily and she isn't afraid to confront people to keep her heart safe before it gets broken.  Also, I like that being with someone famous doesn't change her into a bratty/entitled woman.  Jason's adorable as usual even when he's being shady.  I wish he was in it a little more as this was more about Chloe's time at her new job and less of a love story.  I liked the minor characters too.  Somehow E. M. T. was able to give them lots of character development too even if they weren't in many scenes.

Setting 8/10: When I think of New Mexico I often think of High School Musical.  I know, that's very weird since I'm 23, but I watched it all the time back in the day.  Anyways, I think it's a unique setting since most books take place in popular states like New York or Cali.  I liked how the author also incorporated parts of New Mexico's history with the elders and their customs.

Pacing 8/10: The pacing was great and flowed  nice and smooth.  However, at the beginning of some chapters there was a screenplay of sorts that really confused me.  I didn't realize until the last chapter what it was.  And for me it actually made me forget where I had left off with Chloe's story if I wasn't reading it all in one sitting.  Maybe I'm just stupid who knows.

Style 10/10: I love this author's writing and will continue to read anything she writes.  It's raw and emotional, yet light and fluffy.  Any author that can put those two styles in one book is awesome in my opinion.

Total: 93/100 

Final thoughts: If you like any type of crime scene show you should try this book. 
 

Want to take a look at the first book in this series?
       
Or Add it on Goodreads
  
   
Emily Mah Tippetts


Waiting on Wednesday #15

Waiting on Wednesday




Bloggers feature books that they are eagerly anticipating to be published.






Goodreads Summary 

A reckless wish taken from the darkest desires of the heart…

A bloody razor engraved with the names of the girls who turned to dust…

An endless cycle that feeds of loneliness and craves destruction…

Together, these pieces form a twisted puzzle that Annaliese Rose Gordon has to solve. Trapped in a body that isn’t hers—with no memory of how she got there—she must unlock the secrets of her past in order to escape the horrors of her future.



Release date:  June 11, 2013

Why I am excited:  
I love soliving mystrys and this sounds so original.  Why is she trapped in someone's body?  The cover has a creepy font with a girl in a pretty dress so I'm intrigued.  That outfit looks like something I'd pin on Pinterest lol.  I also like how the summary is written.  

While you're here why don't you check out my review of

Top Ten Tuesday #18

Top Ten Tuesday
 
Brokeandbookish provides a topic each week and bloggers list their top ten within that category.





December 18: Top Ten Books I Read In 2012
(Click on title for goodreads pg)


The Perks of Being A Wallflower: Oh man.  Why did I wait so long to read this?!  It was so good and really made me think about life, love, frienship, everything!  And I loved the movie too.



Obsidian/Onyx: I can't stop talking about these books.  I've been pushing them on anyone who will listen to me.  I can't wait for the third book which just came out Dec 11.  Now I just need to go buy it!



 Sweet Evil:  I don't know why I loved this one so much, but I kinda want to read it again!


 Wanderlove: This book made me want to travel so bad.  It was one of those books you just lose yourself in.  I'll probably reread it every summer because it was so light and fun.

Of Poseidon: This book kept me laughing.  I loved the main character's voice.  It was also my first mermaid book so it must have been pretty great for me to keep wanting to read this genre in the future.



Pushing the Limits: I was so excited when I got this one on Netgalley.  I think I read it in like a day.  It was so raw and so emotional.  Loved it!


 Insurgent: Duh!

The Immortal Rules: I usually don't like dark creepy covers, but this one intrigued me and I'm glad I picked it up.  I loved it!

The Syndicate: I love The Bourne Supremecy and this book was kind of like those movies.


Under the Never Sky: This book is on so many of my lists, but I just loved it.

And a bonus #11 & 12: 
Self published books:
(click pictures for goodreads)
What were your favorite reads of 2012?

Stacking the Shelves/Sunday Post #19

Stacking the Shelves




STSmall_thumb[2]
 The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by  Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.  Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  Both are a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and talk about what is coming up for the week on our blog. Link up each week.  I will be doing Weekly Recap, What books I got that week, and a sneak peek of what to expect for the next week on my blog.

Last week

I haven't posted anything in awhile.  To be honest, I hadn't even read anything in awhile.  But I recently got back into reading (just in time to accomplish my 2012 Goodreads Goal!).  Unfortunately, it's because I'm sick...again.  This time it's pretty bad, but I'm trying to stay hopeful and look at the positives.  I can read a lot now since all I've been doing is resting.  I managed to finish these books in the past week or so.

                       

Between the Lines series was really good, but I didn't end up getting the third book.  Kind of had enough after the first two.  Where I belong and Tempting The Best Man were kind of a disappointment.  Easy was an amazing New Adult book.  Loved Catching Jordan.  I also Looooved Hush Hush...even if it did remind me of Twilight a lot.  Here's where I need your help.

Should I continue the Hush Hush series?  I have a giftcard so I could go get an ecopy of Crescendo right now.  For those of you who have read the series...is it worth the $7.99?  Or should I wait and get it in walmart for $5 like I did with the first book.

 NEXT WEEK

I just got a review copy of Nobody's Damsel (sequel to Somebody Else's Fairytale).  I'm really excited to read this.  Going to start it tonight and will probably be done with it tomorrow.  A big thank you to the author Emily for giving me a chance to review it!

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