*Grabby Hands* Release & Review - All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: All Your Perfects
Author: Colleen Hover
Age Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: July 17th, 2018
Publisher: Atria Books

Colleen Hoover delivers a tour de force novel about a troubled marriage and the one old forgotten promise that might be able to save it.

Quinn and Graham’s perfect love is threatened by their imperfect marriage. The memories, mistakes, and secrets that they have built up over the years are now tearing them apart. The one thing that could save them might also be the very thing that pushes their marriage beyond the point of repair.

All Your Perfects is a profound novel about a damaged couple whose potential future hinges on promises made in the past. This is a heartbreaking page-turner that asks: Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people?

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

4 “No Black & White + Marriage” Stars

CoHo writes complex characters. I guess most people who are familiar with her books (or at least the ones I read) would agree that there are a lot of grey areas in her stories; meaning, the characters do shitty things and the situations they have to face are shitty, but you still feel for them because they’re only humans. That’s one of the things I love most about CoHo’s writing: she makes her characters flawed and humans. That makes it easier for me to relate to them and their stories.

It happened again with All Your Perfects, a book I’d been anxiously expecting for what felt like forever, but was actually less than six months.

Anyway… CoHo tackles another extremely important theme in this novel and it focuses on a (gasp!) married couple. I can’t remember the last time I read a love story between two people that have been married for a while, still love each other, but have been facing major problems.

For me, this was definitely a new and exciting reading experience. I loved how, even though Quinn and Graham have been married for 7 years, we still get chapters showing us how they fell in love, so we get to fall in love with them as they do for each other.

We also get to watch countless heartbreaking moments as these two struggle with something that is beyond their control (such an important topic and it was handled beautifully, in my opinion). It was impossible not to feel for Quinn and Graham, because they were dealing with the same problem but moving apart instead of coming together, which is what happens a lot of times in marriages.

Some might say, well, they could’ve talked about it, but a lot of times talking doesn’t come easy because the other person feels like what they have to say is too ugly/heavy, or they can’t even handle thinking about it, let alone speaking it out loud. I felt like some of that was what happened with Quinn, at least.

It was hard watching a couple that clearly loved each other deeply slowly fall apart because they were holding on to an ideal that wasn’t possible any longer. Sometimes we get so lost in what we want life to be that we forget to appreciate how it is. That’s a lesson Quinn and Graham had to learn the hard way.

And I’ll tell you, there was a moment there when I thought their relationship was unfixable. I’m keeping this review spoiler free, so I won’t get into details, but I was disappointed that CoHo chose to add that to the storyline. There was enough drama already, and this felt unnecessary and out of character. I’m trying to pretend it didn’t happen so it doesn’t ruin what was a beautiful, touching and important narrative.

Like all CoHo’s books I’ve read so far, All Your Perfects was feels upon feels upon feels, lots of angst, characters making good and bad choices, and me rooting for them to find their happy ending.

 

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Release Blitz & Review - Tiebreaker by P. Dangelico

Title: Tiebreaker
Author: P. Dangelico
Age Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: July 25th, 2018

All is fair in love and second chances.

Professional tennis star and everybody’s darling, Maren Murphy is going home. Unfortunately, going home is the last thing she wants to do. She doesn’t know what’s worse, being named the executor of her grandfather’s estate, or having to deal with her grandfather’s business partner, Noah Callahan. That devil’s spawn may have broken her young, tender heart, but this time it’s advantage Murphy. If anyone’s calling game, set, and match, it’ll be Maren.

Re-match on.

Noah Callahan is a screw up. Well…he used to be a screw up. Bad boy reputations, however, are not easily shed. He’s been a successful business owner for over a decade. You would think the people in his hometown would’ve forgiven and forgotten already, but alas no. Until his one shot at redemption walks into his office. Maren Murphy is the only woman he ever loved––and the one he purposely drove away.

She’s vowed to hate him for all eternity. He’s vowed to love her forever. Can a second chance be the tiebreaker.

Read Today! 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2LCe0zV 

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2A7Dq3X 

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

3.5 “Tennis and Second Chances” Stars

ARC provided by the author

Thank you!

First, let me make it clear that I will read anything P. Dangelico writes because she created Ethan freaking Vaughn and she’s up there with Mariana Zapatta as slow-burn queens for me. So there’s that.

I didn’t know about this book until I got an email about an ARC tour and I immediately clicked the PLEASE, I NEED AN ARC button. As soon as I got it, I started reading. That’s what happens when I get my hands on stories by my favorite authors.

First page and once again I’m hit by that feeling of “I’m going to love this”, because all the right elements are there: voice, great writing, humor.  Mid chapter 2 and I’m already madly in love with the entire thing and with Maren, the main character. She’s super funny, relatable and has such a strong personality.

I’m normally slow to warm up to second chance romance, but this had a childhood friends that were lovers and now hate each other theme, so it was much easier to get into it.

Another thing I’m usually not a fan of but ended loving here were the flashback chapters. Maren and Noah had some pretty adorable moments as kids, like this:

“Will you marry me when we get old? I promise I won’t fight with you.

It sounded like a good plan at the time. She liked sports, jumping off cliffs, and video games.

Something else I loved about this was Maren’s relationship with her family. There were some heartbreaking moments, but mostly they were adorable and fun together. Her sister, Annabelle, is already my favorite person and I can’t wait for her book.

So, about Noah…He didn’t narrate as many chapters as Maren’s, but I got to know him a little bit more through his POV. I still wish there had been more Noah in this book (especially more Noah working hard to earn Maren’s forgiveness). Sometimes it felt like Maren and everything else in her life had more space in the narrative than the romance between Maren and Noah; and I missed more scenes with them in between the reveal and the happy ever after.

It was pretty clear from early one what the reveal would be about. It’s something that usually makes me dislike the book, but I still wanted to give it a chance because of my love for this author’s previous work. Well, the reveal turned out to be what I expected, and the reasons for the character’s behavior was there. There were a lot of extenuating circumstances surrounding the whole thing. I’m just not sure if they made it better or worse for me.

In the end, this book wouldn’t have worked had it been written by a less talented author with a less relatable main character. Since those two elements were present, it made for a fun read, with a lot of great moments.

Dangelico loves romance in all forms, cuddly creatures (four legged and two), really bloody sexy pulp, the NY Jets (although she’s reconsidering after this season), and to while away the day at the barn (apparently she does her best thinking shoveling horse crap). What she’s not enamored with is referring to herself in the third person and social media so don’t expect her to get on Twitter anytime soon. Oh, and although she was born in Italy, she’s been Jersey Strong since she turned six.

Connect with P. Dangelico:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p.dangelico/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PDanAuthor 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdangelicoauthor/ 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2C91Fv7 

Website: http://www.pdangelico.com/ 

Stay up to date with all things P. Dangelico. Join her mailing list, today: https://www.pdangelico.com/contact

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

*Grabby Hands* Review - Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Sometimes I Lie
Author: Alice Feeney
Publication Date: March 23rd, 2017

Publisher: Flatiron Books
Category/Genre: Adult Psychological Thriller

My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me: 
1. I’m in a coma. 
2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. 
3. Sometimes I lie. 

Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, this brilliant psychological thriller asks: Is something really a lie if you believe it's the truth?

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

4.5 "Twisted like a Pretzel" Stars

 

Three things you need to know about Sometimes I Lie:

 

1. Don’t look at spoilers before or while you’re reading

2. You probably won’t guess all the twists and turns and that’ll make the experience even better

3. It’s as good as everyone else is saying

 

Sometimes I Lie has been on my TBR for a while, but the library waiting list was LONG, so I had to sit and wait. I did, and I was rewarded with a great reading experience.

 

I can’t go into too many details (read #1 above), but I have to say it’s been a long, long time since I read a book that kept me guessing. The last psychological thrillers I read were good, but the surprise elements fell short because I guessed them pretty early on. This didn’t happen this time. I had a bunch of theories about the accident, the diary, the people involved in all of it, like I normally do, and but while I guessed some of the small twists, the major ones caught me by surprise.

 

The whole thing was so well-planned that, every time a twist was revealed, I had to stop, go back and reread some scenes just to make sure they fit the narrative. I’m glad to say most of them did.

 

The characters were another great surprise. I wasn’t sure how to feel about Amber, but she turned out to be smarter and stronger than I expected. I almost threw my Kindle across the room when the last chapter started (that’s how mad I was at what I thought was her “decision”), but then, once again, BOOM!

 

 

Again, reviewing this book and keeping it spoiler free is almost impossible, so I’ll stop talking. All you need to know is that the book is well worth the read, even if the twist at the end was confusing and unnecessary, in my opinion.

 

Grab your copy, get ready to for all the twists and reveals and enjoy the ride.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

*Grabby Hands* Release & Review - Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Baby Teeth
Author: Zoje Stage

Age Category/Genre: Adult Psychological Thriller

Publication Date: July 17th, 2018
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Sweetness can be deceptive. 

Meet Hanna.

She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.

Meet Suzette.

She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

4.0 “Creepy Child” Star

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press.

This book made me question wanting children. That’s how scary Hanna was.

The blurb says: “Meet Hanna.” After reading this, I say, “Hm, no, thank you.” You can keep that girl away from me. There’ll be no complaints.

Told in dual POV, Baby Teeth is the kind of creepy story that is fun to read. At least it was for me. I practically read it in one sitting, and the story held my attention from start to finish. I blame that on the great writing style (even though I’m not the biggest fan of third person, this one was well-written and engaging) and on the intriguing characters.

I had doubts about Hanna’s POV at first, but it surprisingly didn’t annoy me. I couldn’t imagine being inside the head of a kid could be so entertainingly creepy. Her thoughts were logical and nonsensical at the same time. Sure I felt she was a little too smart for someone her age every now and then, but it could be explained by her psychopathic tendencies, if I can call it that.

I won’t call Hanna a psychopath, because I believe that’s not a diagnosis you can have until a person’s brain is fully developed, but that’s an idea of what you can expect from Hanna. She’s manipulative, violent, intelligent, shows a lack of empathy and attachment to anyone else but her father, and she’s scary AF.

Imagine being her mom and having to live with a kid who not only shows those traits, but wants you dead. That’s Suzatte’s life. Poor woman went through a lot in this story.

Unlike Hanna, I found Suzette to be an extremely likable character. There were times I wanted to shake her because she gave her scary daughter too much power, but I couldn’t imagine being in her shoes, so I tried to cut her some slack. I loved that, despite everything going on, she still tried to be a good mother. She could’ve easily tried to be as awful as her daughter, but even when she tried to fight back, I felt it was more out of self-preservation and worry than being mean-spirited. In all honesty, she had more patience than I expected myself to in a situation like that.

The plot wasn’t perfect--some of the conflicts could’ve been avoided had Suzette acted like a person with full access to technology a little more--but it sure was engaging. I was eager to learn what awful thing Hanna would do next, and I was cheering for Suzette the entire time.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending, but I didn’t hate it, either. I guess it fit well the creepy factor present throughout the book.

Overall, this was a highly entertaining read from a debut author that shows promise.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.