Month: April 2016

April Book Haul

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aprilbookhaul1

Another month is over, so it’s time to show you what I hauled during the month of April. Be warned… there are a LOT of ebooks…

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A lot of deals this month… I blame Cátia @The Girl Who Read Too Much for the quantity of ebooks I bought… granted, most of them were free, but I still should have had some self control.

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I think I reigned myself in this month, and managed to get only 10 review copies. Hurray!

Tone Deaf (Olivia Rivers)

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tonedeaf

Ali Collins was a child prodigy destined to become one of the greatest musicians of the twenty-first century — until she was diagnosed with a life-changing brain tumor. Now, at seventeen, Ali lives in a soundless world where she gets by with American Sign Language and lip-reading. She’s a constant disappointment to her father, a retired cop fighting his own demons, and the bruises are getting harder to hide.

When Ali accidentally wins a backstage tour with the chart-topping band Tone Deaf, she’s swept back into the world of music. Jace Beckett, the nineteen-year-old lead singer of the band, has a reputation. He’s a jerk and a player, and Ali wants nothing to do with him. But there’s more to Jace than the tabloids let on. When Jace notices Ali’s bruises and offers to help her escape to New York, Ali can’t turn down the chance at freedom and a fresh start. Soon she’s traveling cross-country, hidden away in Jace’s RV as the band finishes their nationwide tour. With the help of Jace, Ali sets out to reboot her life and rediscover the music she once loved.

Going into this book I was fairly certain that I would enjoy it, because Kat @Life and Other DIsasters did, and I trust her opinion. You can check her take on this book here.

I LOVED IT! In my head this book is kind of like a mix between The Mortal Instruments and Everything Everything, but the plot has nothing to do with either one of those stories, lol, it’s just the vibe… is it weird?!

The writing is wonderful. I never read a book about a deaf MC, and I was curious to see how that would be incorporated to the story and I was pleasantly surprised by the result. Not only was ASL well explained and included, but each reference to vibrations and what Ali felt when someone was talking, walking, moving, felt real.

I loved all the main characters of this book. Ali was an amazing protagonist, she was so damn strong! I really liked how she hadn’t lost hope at a better life, even after everything she endured. I also liked Jace a lot, yes, he’s a much darker character, because there’s so much in his past, and he thinks he’ll stay like that forever, but still, even being down, pessimistic, he still cares and hopes, and he’s just great. The rest of the band is bonkers and amazing! I loved Killer most of all – bonus points for him for liking Doctor Who and David Tennant – , and I loved that all the band supported Jace, even when they didn’t agree with him completely.

Also, Jace, Arrow and Killer reminded me so much of TMI! Jace because of the name and attitude, Arrow just reminded me of Alec, always making sure his family is ok, fiercely protective, and Killer read like a mix of Magnus, Isabelle and Simon!

The romance was so sweet. I really liked how it evolved, how they became close, and shared parts of themselves with each other, understood each other, before anything else happened. And Jace with Ali was the sweetest thing. The way he touched her, and cared for her, was a huge contrast to the persona he showed the world, and that was amazing.

This book also highlights a huge problem in our system: how easy it is to hide that a child is victim of abuse at home. It will definitly make you think about it.

To sum it up, I LOVED THIS BOOK. If you like YA contemporary romance, with a touch of dark subjects, give this book a shot. You won’t regret it. 😀

Waking Olivia (Elizabeth O’Roark)

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wakingolivia

“That girl isn’t just trouble of the not-a-team-player, not-a-reliable-runner variety. She’s trouble of the devious, manipulative, too-f***ing-hot-for-her-own good variety. She’s the kind of girl who causes trouble merely by existing, and then makes sure to cause more. And the last thing I need right now is more trouble.”

A failing farm.
His father’s debt.
And a struggling college track team.
Will Langstrom has too many responsibilities, and the last thing he needs is Olivia Finnegan, a beautiful but troubled new transfer student.

A smart mouth.
A strong right hook.
And a secret that could destroy her.
Olivia is her own worst enemy, with a past she can’t seem to escape, and the last person she wants help from is a cocky track coach she can never seem to please.
Refusing to be pushed away, Will is determined to save her.
And determined to resist an attraction that could destroy them both.

HOLY S**T!!! This book is good! I don’t know what I was expecting going into it, but not what I got, that’s for sure. Also, it shouldn’t come as a surprise by now, I read this book with Cátia @The Girl Who Read Too Much, so check out her blog for her take on this book.

This book is intense! The writing is simple, but beautiful, and it fits so well with the personality of both MCs. And sometimes it’s just so dark… it gives you a clear picture, without any hint of what’s behind it, and it leaves you on the edge of your seat, anxious to find out more.

I really liked both main characters, they fit each other so well! I know that some of you will think this is a student/teacher kind of romance, and you won’t like it, but it honestly is nothing like that. Sure, Will is Olivia’s coach, but he’s much more than that, and the age difference between the two of them is minimal. Also, I think Olivia holds all the power in their dynamic.

Olivia is such a complex character, and it took me a little while to love her completely, because she doesn’t love herself… heck, she thinks no one can love her, but when you start to know what’s behind her story and abrasive persona, you can’t help but feel for this girl. Will is much of the same, he’s not perfect, he’s a hothead, who thinks he needs to prove something and give up his dreams, but he’s loyal to a fault and he does the best he can – even if he has some serious jealousy problems… lol.

The plot is so dark, twisted and complex! OMG! So good! This story sure does have some dark spots in it, and the romance isn’t easy at all. There are a lot of things working against them, most of all themselves, but it’s so worth it. Also… so freaking HOT!

I really loved this story and would highly recommend it. But be prepared for some serious feels… 

3 Days, 3 Quotes Challenge (8): Day 3

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3days3quotes

Hello! I was tagged, for the 8th time to to the 3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge, this tag was ages ago – October I think – but hey, I’m here now… Thanks to Deanna @A Novel Glimpse for tagging me, you guys can see her post here.

THE RULES:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you.
  2. Post a quote for 3 consecutive days (1 quote for each day).
  3. Nominate three new bloggers each day. (consider yourself tagged!)

On the first day I shared a quote from The Girl From Everywhere, and yesterday I shared a beautiful quote from #Rev. Today I needed to share this Lady Midnight quote… I just had to! It’s beautiful, just like the person who said it… *sigh*
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3 Days, 3 Quotes Challenge (8): Day 2

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3days3quotes

Hello! I was tagged, for the 8th time to to the 3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge, this tag was ages ago – October I think – but hey, I’m here now… Thanks to Deanna @A Novel Glimpse for tagging me, you guys can see her post here.

THE RULES:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you.
  2. Post a quote for 3 consecutive days (1 quote for each day).
  3. Nominate three new bloggers each day. (consider yourself tagged!)

Yesterday I posted a quote from The Girl From Everywhere, and you can check it out here. Today I’m posting a quote from the book I’ve just finished reading yesterday… #Rev by Cambria Hebert.

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Book Traveling Thursdays: A Favorite Bookish Pet

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Hello, welcome back to another Book Traveling 168709Thursdays, which a weekly meme created by Cátia @The Girl Who Read Too Much and Danielle @Danielle’s Book Blog. The goal is to share the covers of a book related to that week’s theme, which you can see at the Goodreads group, indicating the original cover, the one of your country, your favorite and least favorite.

This week’s theme is “Everyone needs a companion. Choose your favorite bookish pet“. This one is easy. I have to choose Clive from Wallbanger by Alice Clayton… I just HAVE TO! Clive is freaking amazing and fun and he’s the best cat EVER!!!

Original COver:

This one is the original US cover and I can’t believe I’m saying this… but this cover kind of grew on me…

COVER FROM MY COUNTRY (PORTUGAL) & COVER FROM THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN (SPAIN):

No cover for Portugal, but the book did come out in Spain, and they went for the original cover. I have to say that I like this edition, I like the pink letters better and I like the size and placing of the author’s name.

Favorite COVER(s):

                                            

I’m not in love with any of the covers for this book, but the Spanish and the Brazilian editions are probably my favorites. By the way, the brazilian title “Subindo pelas Paredes” literally means “climbing walls“, and it’s an expression of need… deep deep need.

LEAST FAVORITE COVER(s):

                                              

These 2 covers, the Italian and Indonesian editions, are pretty bad, right? Especially the last one…

3 Days, 3 Quotes Challenge (8): Day 1

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3days3quotes

Hello! I was tagged, for the 8th time to to the 3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge, this tag was ages ago – October I think – but hey, I’m here now… Thanks to Deanna @A Novel Glimpse for tagging me, you guys can see her post here.

THE RULES:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you.
  2. Post a quote for 3 consecutive days (1 quote for each day).
  3. Nominate three new bloggers each day. (consider yourself tagged!)

Today I’m posting a quote from a book I read earlier this month and really enjoyed, The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig. You can check out my review of the book here.

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Love on the Ledge (Zoraida Córdova)

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loveontheledge

Sky Lopez thought she had it all—the perfect job, the perfect relationship, the perfect life…until she discovers her not-so-perfect boyfriend has been cheating on her. So when her uncle asks her to help plan his Hamptons wedding, Sky jumps at the chance, leaving all of her “perfect” future plans in the rearview mirror. 

The wedding doesn’t prove as good a distraction as she’d hoped, because when her relatives and friends find out she’s single, they put Sky in their match-making sights. Never mind that she’s only twenty four. Never mind that she doesn’t want to settle for anyone other than Mr. Right. Seemingly everyone in Sky’s life wants her to get married and have babies. Like, yesterday.

So when Hayden — a sweet, sexy roofer — plummets through the ceiling and practically falls into her lap, she can’t help but think that maybe nice guys do just fall from the sky. 

Soon Sky finds herself juggling crumbling wedding plans, the cheating ex who’s trying to win her back, the cute plastic surgeon her family thinks is perfect for her, and the hot roofer she can’t seem to get off her mind. 

As the wedding date draws closer, Sky will need to choose one — or none — to keep herself from falling off the ledge, and maybe into love.

This was my first book of this series, but I had heard Sara @Freadom Library recommend the series, so when I saw an opportunity on Goodreads to review this book, I got in line.

I liked the writing, the book was fun and light, even as it dealt with some deeper issues as family expectations, sense of duty, doing what you want vs. what’s expected of you, cheating, and some seriously clueless and stupid dude.

I really liked both main characters. Sky’s growth was great, I loved that she started out a bit broken, but learned to accept herself and what SHE wanted more and more. Hayden was just overall perfect! I really liked how he truly saw Sky and respected her just like she deserved.

The plot was so much fun. I think that anything that revolves around wedding plans has the potential to be great. But Sky’s family was a bit exasperating, especially her mom – I wanted to shake her sometimes! Xandro really got on my nerves, even more so than her cheating ex boyfriend. Sky’s group of friends was interesting, and I’m tempted to read the rest of this series because of that.

All and all, really good NA romance book, and I would highly recommend it.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Delights

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top 10 tuesday

Hello, welcome back to another Tuesday. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is:

Top Ten Bookworm Delights

1. Just Read

This one seems pretty lame, but is there anything better than just have time to read? No people. No interruptions. Just you, your book, your bed/chair/sofa/whatever?

2. Rearranging my bookshelves

I love organizing my books, it gives me such a sense of peace and accomplishment (which is kind of silly really).

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3. Buddy Reads and Bookish Talks

I love love love it. For me it’s one of the greatest things that came from owning a blog. I love to discuss the books I’m currently reading, as I read them, it’s just awesome.

4. Finding New OTPs

It’s one of my favorite things while reading… finding a couple that just makes so much sense that I can’t help but ship them like crazy!

5. Binge Reading

I’m all for binge watching and binge reading. I love it when I start a series that is already all out, and I can binge it like crazy.

6. Lazy Mornings

I’ve said reading already, but lazy mornings are the best! I usually read more at night, but sometimes, when I can, I love waking up without an alarm, while all the room is pitch dark, grab my phone and just read for a few hours… *sigh*

7. Kindle Deals

Getting the daily email from bookbub with the daily kindle deals it’s one of the highlights of my day! Nine times out of ten it will have nothing that good, but then one really good deal comes along and it’s freaking amazing.

8. Getting Physical

Going to bookstores and browsing the physical books is freaking amazing! There’s one english bookstore here in Barcelona which I love…

9. Appreciation by the author

This one might seem a little weird, idk… but when I write a review and the author reads it, and thanks me, or answers a question or point I made? It feels freaking amazing!

10. Recommendations

This one works both ways. It’s amazing when I recommend a book to a fellow bookworm and they love it, but it’s also great to be recommended books that I love in return.

Musical Mondays: Just Breathe by Pearl Jam

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musicalmondays

You know when you associate a certain music to a person or situation? I will always associate this one to a sad event in my life, but I absolutely love it.

Yes I understand
That every life must end
As we sit alone
I know someday we must go

Yeah I’m a lucky man
To count on both hands
The ones I love
Some folks just have one
Yeah others they got none

Stay with me
Let’s just breathe

Practised on our sins
Never gonna let me win
Under everything
Just another human being

I don’t want to hurt
There’s so much in this world
To make me believe

Stay with me
All I see

Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
What if I did and I’m a fool you see
No one knows this more than me
‘Cause I come clean

I wonder everyday
As I look upon your face
Everything you gave
And nothing you would take
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave

Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
What if I did and I’m a fool you see
No one knows this more than me
I come clean 

Nothing you would take
Everything you gave
Hold me ’till I die
Meet you on the other side