Release Day Review: This Song Will Save Your Life

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales



Age Range: 12 and up


Hardcover: 288 pages


Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (September 17, 2013)


Genre: Young Adult contemporary


Source: Publisher via NetGalley (thank you!)


Rating: 3 of 5 stars

About the Book:

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All
throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider
in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise
nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she
meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet
mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most
importantly, a love for DJing.


Told in a refreshingly genuine and
laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an
exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to
bring people together.

About the Author:

Leila Sales grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 2006. Now she lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works in the mostly glamorous world of children's book publishing. Leila spends most of her time thinking about sleeping, kittens, dance parties, and stories that she wants to write.



Website

My Thoughts:

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


This is a tough review for me to write. First, let me say what I loved about the book.  It was well written, interesting, and addictive. I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Elise and her story and I just had to see how things turned out for her. I felt like she was a very believable character and I became very invested in her.  I loved, loved, loved her interest in DJing and the way it affected her emotionally and socially.

I really enjoyed the way she tries to make herself over to fit in with everyone else, only to have it backfire.  Then she remakes herself over again, but the time, as herself. She discovers who she is and realizes that she's known it all along.  The writing, the plot, and the characters are all fantastic. 

I love the cover. Brilliant, gorgeous cover. I want to make a poster out of it and hang it on my wall so I can look at it every day.

So why 3 stars? Language.  I was shocked at how many F-words (among other words) were in these pages.  I kept thinking, good grief, this is a teen novel?  The other reason was the sexual content.  It's not overly detailed, and "it" doesn't technically happen, but I don't have a better word for what does happen.  I think that sometimes authors forget how young their audience really is.

While I loved this book for many reasons, I still have to say that it contains too much adult content for me to recommend it to a teen audience.  I would have doled out a whole-hearted 5 star rating if it hadn't been for the language and sexual content.

Content: graphic language and sexual situations.  

Amazon | Goodreads

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Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality - Review

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

Age Range: 12 and up

Grade Level: 7 and up

Hardcover: 272 pages

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc (March 1, 2013)

Series: None

Genre: Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

About the Book:

A hilarious new novel from Elizabeth Eulberg about taking the wall out of the wallflower so she can bloom.

Don't mess with a girl with a Great Personality.

Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).

Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.

The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it.

Amazon | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to college at Syracuse University and making a career in the New York City book biz. Now a full-time writer, she is the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, and Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick.

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

My Thoughts:

I thought this book was going to be funny, so I picked it up while I was in the mood for something humorous. Initially I was disappointed that it wasn't a laugh out loud type of book, especially since the blurb claims it is "hilarious", but it was still very entertaining.

Lexi is a sweet girl with a great personality, but she is tired of being stuck in the friend zone. Eventually, she accepts a friend's challenge to put more effort into her appearance. She then has to start navigating the tricky world of boys, jealous baby sisters, and insecure popular girls. The story itself is interesting, and the inclusion of beauty pageants and the behind-the-scenes look at the pageant families adds something fresh to an otherwise formulaic plot.

My biggest gripe with the story is Logan. This is a bit of a spoiler, so don't read this if you don't want to know anything. All through the book, Logan comes across as sweet, caring, and sincere. He is desperately clinging on to the last shreds of his relationship with his girlfriend, and he is super nice to Lexi. As soon as he and Lexi go out, he suddenly turns into a jerk. I just didn't find the way that whole thing played out to be very believable. I did love Taylor and I thought he was a great addition to the story. He was a good example of how a boy should treat a girl. I am interested to see if this will turn into a series.

3 STARS

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Geek Girl by Holly Smale


Age Range: 12 and up

Genre: Contemporary

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Paperback: 378 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books (February 28th 2013)

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (thank you!)

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars!

 

 

About the Book:

“My name is Harriet Manners, and I am a geek.”

Harriet Manners knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a “jiffy”
lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per
day. She knows that bats always turn left when exiting a cave and that
peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.



But she doesn’t know why nobody at school seems to like her.



So when Harriet is spotted by a top model agent, she grabs the chance to
reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her best friend's dream,
incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating
herself in front of impossibly handsome model Nick. Even if it means
lying to the people she loves.


Veering from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly
enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, Harriet begins to realize that the world of fashion doesn't seem to like her any more than
the real world did.


As her old life starts to fall apart, will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything? 

Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook

About the Author:

Holly fell in love with writing at five years old, when she realized that books didn't grow on trees like apples. A passion for travel, adventure and wearing no shoes
has since led her all over the world: she has visited 20 countries, spent two years working as an English teacher in Japan, volunteered in Nepal, been bartered for in Jamaica and had a number of ear-plugs stolen in Australia, Indonesia and India.

As a teenager, she also did a little modelling in the hope that eventually she would be sent somewhere exciting.


She wasn't.


Holly has a BA in English Literature, an MA in Shakespeare, and currently lives either in London or @holsmale.


Website | Twitter

My Thoughts:

This is what a young adult novel should be. It's laugh out loud funny
with a quirky, totally adorable and geeky heroine that sees the world
differently.  Oh my goodness, I just love this book!


Harriet is a wonderful character to read about and she has some
fantastic light-bulb moments throughout the course of the story. She
learns to accept and love herself the way she is, no excuses and no
apologies.  The other characters are fun and quirky in their own way and
add to the humor and insight of the book.


There are a couple of mild expletives, but everything else is very
clean. If you like clean young adult humor, then this is a good choice.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

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Review: Fallen Angel by Molly Snow

Fallen Angel by Molly Snow

Age Range: 12 and up

Publisher: Breezy Reads (May 17, 2013)

Publisher Website: http://www.breezyreads.com/

Genre: Young Adult romance

Source: Copy from author for review

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

About the Book:

Teen angel, Persephone, is the only one in all of Heaven who can’t sing. In fact, her name literally means “Voice of Destruction.” So diving down one of Heaven’s portals, straight into singer Taylor Hamilton’s bedroom, seems like a good idea at the time. Maybe, just maybe, he can help. Plus, he is sooo cute!

While it can be fun swooning over a mortal, it can also be frustrating. Angels aren’t supposed to fall for mortals. Then there’s Taylor’s guardian angel, who is ready to sabotage the budding romance at every turn. Will Persephone learn to sing before Heaven calls her back? And, most importantly, can love prevail for an angel who has fallen head-over-wings for a mortal?

About Molly Snow:

Molly Snow is a Top 10 Idaho Fiction Author, awarded by The Idaho Book Extravaganza. Her works include quirky teen romances BeSwitched and Fallen Angel. Also a speaker on writing, her school assemblies have been featured in The Contra Costa Times and The Brentwood Press. Snow is married to her high school crush, has a set of silly twin boys and a bobtail cat named Meow-Meow.

Blog

My Thoughts:

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is precisely what it looks like. It is a light, clean romance about a teenage angel falling to earth to be with a mortal boy.  The romance is sweet and perfectly clean.  There are a couple of very chaste kisses that happen. The characters are a bit shallow, but generally likeable.  The plot is predictable yet still enjoyable.

I would have liked to see the writing and the characters a little more developed.  While the feel of the book was very light and breezy, it almost felt under-developed.  Almost.  I still enjoyed the story quite a bit and I plan on reading more of Molly's work.

If you are looking for something light, clean, and fun, this is a good choice. This is a good book to read on an afternoon when you just want a feel-good story.   This book will appeal to tween and teen readers.

Content: clean.

The Cover: So adorable! I love the colors and the placement of the girl. The title design is perfect for the book, too.

Amazon | Goodreads

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Blog Tour and Giveaway! The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, by Sariah Wilson

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, by Sariah Wilson

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

Print Length: 194 pages
Publisher: Fire & Ice Books (August 15, 2012)

*Purchase*

Amazon

My Review:
This book is hilarious.  It is a contemporary teen romance told from the viewpoint of the "ugly" stepsister. 

Mattie is your very not-so-typical teenage heroine.  She wears heavy black eye makeup, has fuchsia hair, and likes to draw manga.  She is surly, irritable, and has a long List of Grievances against her oh-so-perfect stepsister, Ella.  Mattie's voice is very fun to read.  She is full of wit and sarcasm that will make you laugh.

One of the things that I like the most about this book is that even though she has self esteem issues, Mattie won't allow Jake to use her.  She refuses to lie for him, even though he makes her knees buckle.  She doesn't let him get away with skipping out on detention or not doing their project, even when he flashes his dazzling smile at her.  I love the way she sticks to her guns and does what she knows is right even if it means she loses her chance with the boy she adores.

I love the way her relationship with Ella evolves over the course of the story.  She starts off being bitter and jealous of her perfect stepsister to being appreciative and understanding.  The charactes are all well developed with strengths and weaknesses that make them believable and fun to read about.

Given the title, I had expected this to be a modern fairy tale, but there is no magic in this book (other than flying sparks and a few makeup brushes).  It is an adorable and humorous story of two stepsisters trying to figure out their place in the world.  And it is a love story.  A very funny and sweet love story.


Tens List:
What are ten things your readers probably don't know about you?

10.  That until recently I was really into World of Warcraft and was a raid tank.

9.  I watch a lot of television.  A Lot.  My DVR is my friend.

8.  My husband is the first guy I Seriously Kissed (which means not a spin-the-bottle type way).  What?  I was picky.

7.  I used to write fanfic.

6.  I skipped first grade, which meant I was always the youngest person in my class.

5.  Until a couple of years ago, I had never gone out of the country.

4.  I met Stephenie Meyer in person once and took a picture of her with my plastic frog, who was my blog mascot at the time.

3.  I am deathly afraid of eels and crocodiles.  They freak me the freak out.

2.  That my favorite actor of all time once called me on the phone and we had an actual conversation until my husband picked up the extension and ruined the whole thing.  I’m still a little bitter over that one.

1.  That I am the most introverted introvert who ever introverted, but I love giving speeches and talks and teaching class.  Yes, I am aware of how weird this is. 

Praise
“My top pick of 2012 YA… This book is just. plain. fun.”

~Jordan McCollum, author of Saints & Spies and I, Spy

“Sariah Wilson's new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in.  The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing.  I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”

~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair

“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I've read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn't put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle's battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you'd think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”

~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing

“Sariah Wilson writes like the best of/most popular YA teen fiction/teen romance authors - Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Susanne Collins, Cassandra Clare.  She sucks you in and never lets you go.  I finished the ~194 novel in one night because I just couldn't go to sleep without knowing the ending!  I hope that Sariah comes out with more novels, I know I'll be re-reading this one all the time!  She's extremely talented and needs to be talked about.  I highly recommend The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back! to anyone (over the age of 12) who wants a YA novel that's a real modern-day fairy tale.”

~Hilary at Novel d’Tales

“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn't have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It's a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”

~Andrea of Literary Time Out

The book is wonderful.  It’s quirky and fun.  The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book.  It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love.  And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true.  Pick up this book.”

~Ana of The Book Hookup

Author Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/10/13


Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Book Review: Winter White (Belles #2), by Jen Calonita

Winter White (Belles #2), by Jen Calonita
Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are still reeling from the revelation that they share more than just the roof over their heads. The media has pounced on their story and the girls are caught up in a flurry of talk-show appearances and newspaper interviews. They've put on a happy public face, but someone is leaking their true feelings to the press, and while it seems like the world is watching their every move, at least they have each other.
 
But with cotillion season right around the corner, Izzie and Mira have barely had time to process their newfound sisterhood. Mira has dreamed of making her debut in a gorgeous white gown forever-now, if only she could find an escort. Izzie, meanwhile, is still struggling to find her place in Emerald Cove and it's seeming ever more impossible with EC mean-girls, young and old, doing their best to keep her down. As cotillion preparations heat up, though, there are dance steps to learn, manners to perfect... and secret initiations to complete? As if sophomore year wasn't hard enough!
 
It's time for the gowns to go on and the gloves to come off. 

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Poppy; 1 edition (October 9, 2012)

My Review:
Secrets.

Scandal.

Sisterhood.

I absolutely love this series.  I can't wait for the next book to come out. If you are a fan of Pretty Little Liars, you will probably like the Belles series as well.  Calonita writes a delicious drama full of betrayal, lies, and loyalty.

Izzie and Mira are back in this charming southern drama series.  The scandal from the first book has made the girls put aside their differences and seek comfort in their new found camaraderie.  I love the relationship between the two girls, and the way they balance each other out.  They need each other to weather the storms that this book holds!

There is a little bit of romance in these books, but only a tiny bit and it is very clean.  The cotillion initiation and the ups and downs that come with it are fantastic fun.  The books are mostly about the two girls and their relationships with each other and the people around them.  High society is always fun to read about, especially when one of the main characters is a newbie to that life.

This is a sweet, contemporary coming of age story.

Amazon | Goodreads | Author Website

About the Author:

Jen Calonita has always loved writing. Her first published piece was in the sixth grade newspaper where she wrote about an attack snake who bothered her canoe on a class field trip. These days she writes about teen drama, relationships and romance.

An entertainment journalist for ten years, Jen interviewed everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Zac Efron. It was her work in the entertainment world that inspired her first series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life. The six-book series is about a teen starlet named Kaitlin Burke who grows weary of the fame game, but loves being an actress. The series has been published in Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Japan and Russia.

Jen has also published two stand-alone novels. Booklist called Sleepaway Girls: "The picture-perfect setting, the sweet little kids, the seductive freedom from parents, and the lure of adult-like responsibility make this the perfect read-alike to suggest to fans of Ann Brashares' Traveling Pants series."
Reality Check is about best friends who get their own reality TV show. Booklist said: "Fans of Meg Cabot's Airhead series and Calonita's Secrets of My Hollywood Life will eat this fun, timely, cautionary tale right up."

Her latest series is Belles. The series is about two Southern girls and one life-changing secret. The second book in the series, Winter White, will be out in October 2012.

When the self-professed entertainment junkie is not working, she can be found doing one of three things: scrapbooking, watching Glee, or going to the movies. Jen resides in Merrick, New York with her husband Mike, sons Tyler and Dylan, and their Chihuahua, Captain Jack Sparrow.

For more about Jen, check out her website: www.jencalonitaonline.com, follow her on Twitter at: www.twitter.com as JenCalonita, Pinterest as Jen Calonita or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/jen.calonita Pin It

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Texting Tyler, by Rebecca Rembish

Synopsis:
In a time where people rely on their cell phones for everything, a romance like this was bound to happen.

Christopher Clarke is the nicest guy Amy Fallon has ever met. He is sixteen, handsome, smart, funny…an all-around great guy. Tyler Clarke is hot. So why is Amy, one of the smartest girls in school, so clueless when it comes to realizing who she is truly falling in love with? Or better yet, who’s falling in love with her.

Amy is forced to spend the week at her grandmother’s house in Arizona. She returns home to New York with a closer bond to her grandmother, a best friend she adores, and a boyfriend she believes is everything she has ever dreamed of.

After months of sporadic long distance texting, Amy’s infatuation with Tyler continues growing. She shares evening video chats with Chris, while convincing herself Tyler is the brother she truly cares for. Things finally seem to be falling in to place for Amy…that is, until she starts to realize whom her heart is truly longing for.

When she returns to Arizona almost a year later, things don’t go quite as planned. Amy is blindsided not only by the death of her grandmother, but she learns the truth behind the text messages from Tyler.

***

This book was super cute.  I love contemporary romance and this one was right up my alley.  It was a light read about a teen girl in a long distance relationship(s).  Rembish was brilliant at including texts as part of the story and helping it move forward.  

While the story is mostly told from Amy's perspective, it does flip over to Chris every now and then to give his view.  I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.  It was fun to see how both characters were dealing with the relationship and how the other was reacting.

I really liked Amy.  She is a very believable teenage girl.  She is pretty, smart, insecure, and a little clueless.  She falls for a lousy guy just because he showed interest in her, all while developing real feelings for his brother.  The way their relationship plays out was entertaining and kept me interested the entire time.  I felt like this book wasn't as predictable as most YA books, so I didn't ever reach a point where I got bored.

I fell head over heels for Chris.  Sometimes I thought that maybe he was a little too perfect, but he was an awesome guy and just right for Amy.  

My one and only complaint about the book is the language that is used.  There is a lot of cursing, and some of it is really strong.  I am a firm advocate for clean teen reads, and while this one was perfectly clean romantically, the use of foul language really threw me for a loop.  I realize that most teens probably use that type of language, but I really wish the author had chosen to leave it out of the story.

Interview:

1. What inspired you to write Texting Tyler? 
I read an article on how texting was taking away some of the romance in YA books. I thought it would be funny to write a whole book based on texting. The first two words I typed were…Texting Tyler.

2. Will there be a sequel? 
YES! I am so excited. It’s in the review process and will be released in December 2012.

3. What do you enjoy most about writing Young Adult novels? 
I love ANGST!! I love DRAMA!! And being able to create it (without having to actually live it) is so much FUN!

4. Are you working on anything new? 
I am currently working on another technology driven romance. Here’s a glimpse…butt dialing. LOL!

5. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? 
Make sure you have a tough skin! And if you figure out how to do that, let me know. I’m still working on getting one.

Excerpt:

“I can’t wait.” Amy was genuinely excited.

They walked out to the parking lot and said their goodbyes.

“See ya tomorrow!” Dana shouted to them as they were walking away. 

“Okay!” Amy yelled back. They had just left and she already couldn’t wait to see them again the next day.

“They’re cool, right?” Chris asked. 

“Very,” Amy answered right away. 

Chris puffed his chest out. “I knew you’d like them. I could tell they really liked you too.” 

They waited by the car for Tyler, who took his time walking over to join them. He moved slowly, clicking the doors open with his key chain. They were all about to get in the car when Tyler turned to Chris. 

“Hey man chuck this for me.” Tyler held out the soda cup he was slurping on during the movie.

“Chuck it yourself,” Chris said.

“Then walk home,” Tyler said matter-of-factly.  

“Just give it to me.” Chris huffed as he took the soda cup from his brother and walked over to the trashcan. 

Amy and Tyler got in to the car shutting the doors. She heard a click and looked over at Tyler who was laughing. “Watch this,” he said to her.

A moment later Chris came back and opened the door to the car. Clunk, it wouldn’t open. 

“Unlock the door,” Chris said through the window. 

Tyler ignored him.

“Open the door,” Chris said impatiently.

Tyler clicked the button back and forth quickly. Chris went to open the door. Clunk, it wouldn’t open. 

Amy shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Tyler looked over at her and lifted his eyebrows at her as he continued to laugh. 

“Tyler, I swear to God man. Why you doing this?” Chris asked shaking his head. 

Amy felt bad for him. Tyler continued to ignore him and started the car. Amy looked out the window at Chris giving him a sympathetic look. Tyler put the car in drive and drove forward a few feet. Chris walked forward a few feet and knocked on the window. 

“Come on man please,” Chris begged. 

Tyler clicked the door and this time Chris was able to get in. “You’re such a puss Chris. I shoulda made you walk home.” Tyler laughed at him before turning the volume of the music up high so that no one was able to talk the entire ride home. 

Amy felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she slid the phone out to see a text from Chris. 

 

Giveaway!

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Cinderella Project, by Stan Crowe

From Goodreads:
Committed to saving his marriage before it starts, doctoral student Nick Cairn embarks on a project aimed at finding the secrets of everlasting love. But when Moire DeLanthe, a smart and sassy research assistant, enters the picture, his Happily Ever After is put to the ultimate test.

***

This was a quick, light read.  I really enjoyed the story.  It is told from the viewpoint of a man, which I really liked because it isn't very common for a romance novel.  Nick, the main character is the perfect guy that any girl would love to have.  He is kind, honest, and sincere.  He wants to have a fairytale marriage where he and his wife love each other unconditionally for the rest of their lives.  

It quickly becomes obvious that Nick's fiancee does not share his dedication and commitment, but Nick is stubborn and refuses to give up on his marriage before it even starts.  The plot was predictable, but it contained enough humor and character development to keep me interested.  There were a few places where the dialogue got a little long, and I wish there had been something to break it up a bit.  
  
There were quite a few editing errors, and I am a huge stickler on those kinds of things.  Typos, words that were left out completely, using a character's name before they are introduced - the kinds of mistakes that should have been fixed.  There was a final edit done in between the time I read it and when it was released, so I imagine that most of those have been caught.

Other than my hang up about the typos, I really liked this book.  It was a very clean romance, and I love not having to worry about something questionable popping up in a book.  I would gladly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys light, clean romance novels.  

The Cover:  I'm not really fond of the cover.  While the model looks like Nick, the main character, I don't think that the cover represents the story very well.  It almost looks like a non-fiction/self-help type of book.  In this case, the story is definitely better than the cover.   

Paperback, 250 pages

Expected publication: August 30th 2012 by Breezy Reads 

Goodreads
Amazon

Giveaway: 

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