6 Heart Review: The Last Time I Saw You by Eleanor Moran + Giveaway! (US only)

The Last Time I Saw You
Eleanor Moran

Page Count: 504
Release Date: April 22nd 2014 (second edition)
Publisher: Quercus
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Wunderkind!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

When Olivia Berrington gets the call to tell her that her best friend from university has been killed in a car crash in New York, her life is turned upside down. Her relationship with Sally was an exhilarating roller coaster, until a shocking betrayal drove them apart. But if Sally really had turned her back, why is her little girl named after Olivia?

As questions mount about the fatal accident, Olivia is forced to go back and unravel their tangled history. But as Sally’s secrets start to spill out, Olivia’s left asking herself if the past is best kept buried.

Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | iTunes | Kobo | Publisher

Review

"Yeah, it [looks amazing]," I said, dropping my bag and drinking [the flat] in ... "But how are we going to afford–"
[Sally] waved an airy hand.
"Don't worry about it, you can pay me back. Now get some glasses my friend, Mr. Bubbles is in the fridge."
And there you had it: whichever way you looked at it, she owned me. Perhaps it was the way I liked it.

Languidly passing through her thirties, Livvy Berrington thinks her life is pretty ordinary with a job she hates, a best friend/flatmate she's desperately, one-sidedly smitten with, and absolutely no love prospects—until she receives a call that her former best friend, Sally Atkins, has been killed.

Sally's death is at first shocking, then increasingly somber as Livvy reveals—through a series of extended flashbacks that lead up to the explosive cause to the end of the brightly burning friendship—just what kind of relationship the two girls had in college. As Livvy learns to cope with losing her best friend she hasn't spoken to in decades, she becomes entangled in an unexpected, unfathomable relationship that arises from the ashes tragedy. Her grief is intertwined with  intense, wild stories from her university years, the years that have caused her so much regret, loss, and heartbreak.

While Livvy's reflections of her early twenties are evocative and induce school-age nostalgia, the story itself is banal and way too linear. I found the book unnecessarily wordy at a whopping 504 pages; it contains lots of pointless action and inner dialogue the story could have done without. The lack of structure and actual point to the story made it a bit difficult to read, and the painfully predictable climax and conclusion did nothing to impress me either.

Livvy is a fickle character, and although it's easy to sympathize with her, it's also very easy to find her very pathetic. There were just some moments I wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. While her first-person narration is stylistically rather elementary, Livvy does have her moments of beautiful, introspective reflection. The only reason I enjoyed her perspective is because of her contemplative thoughts on human connections and coping.

Pros

Easy to read // Reflects on the meaning of friendship // Wonderfully nostalgic // Olivia is a deep, observant thinker

Cons

Slowly and irregularly paced // Messy, unmemorable plot // Most characters are insignificant and dislikable (I only really liked Jules, Olivia's sister) // Livvy is a weak character and narrator // Seems to drag on forever

Love

Do the people we love always remain part of us, even when they've absented themselves from our lives? I like to think that they do—that anyone we truly love changes some part of us forever, like waves pounding against a cliff until its shape is indelibly altered. Or is that no more than wishful thinking, a futile attempt to dodge the reality that however much you love a person, you can never guarantee they won't get ripped away from you? There are only two letters separating love from loss—the first always contains the threat of the second.

Verdict

Eleanor Moran's most recent novel didn't sweep me away, but it was still an enjoyable story about the value of girl friends and the magic of hope-filled youth. I was mostly disappointed that the big mystery enshrouding Sally's "dark" secrets was calculable and unoriginal, but did appreciate how The Last Time I Saw You probingly explores the tendency we humans have for forever remembering those we have once loved 

6 hearts: Decent for a first read, but I'm not going back; this book is decidedly average (whatever that means!) (x)

Giveaway!

Books à la Mode is giving away one finished print copy of The Last Time I Saw You—woohoo! To enter, all you have to do is tell me:

When's the last time you saw a best friend? What did you guys do together? It doesn't  necessarily have to be your current best best friend; maybe instead a best friend from work or a best friend from the past, like in Olivia's case.

Please make your comment MEANINGFUL. Comments solely consisting of stock responses or irrelevant fluff like "Thanks for the giveaway!" will not be considered for entry. I really want to hear your thoughts! :)

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!

Sponsored wholly by the publicist—a huge thank you to Wunderkind!
Giveaway ends June 16th at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US residents only. Sorry, rest of the world! Please check my sidebar for a list of currently-running giveaways that are open internationally.
Void where prohibited.

Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their winnings will be forfeited.
Although I do randomly select winners, I am in no way responsible for prizes, nor for shipping and handling.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤

Good luck!

6 Heart Review: UNi Moroccan Argan Oil Review

Disclosure: I received a free sample of this product as part of an advertorial.

Ingredients: 100% Organic and Natural Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil
Price: $35.99 (currently $14.95 + shipping on Amazon)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

UNi Argan Oil is 100% pure organic made from Moroccan Argan Trees. This naturally light scented oil helps protect, hydrate, and restore elasticity to all hair types.

The high concentration of fatty acids and antioxidants helps restore the appearance of dull skin, hair, body, scalp and hands, and also reduces and removes frizzy and damaged hair.

The oil is excellent for cuticles—it helps prevent cracking and peeling of nails—and can treat all skin types as well.

• Our fast-absorbing lightweight oil is smooth, and NON greasy compared to other brands.

• Highest quality of oil production, it is cold pressed and unroasted. Comes rich in Vitamin E (Tocopherols) and Omega 6 (Linolenic Acids).

• NO strong odors. Our 100% organic Argan oil has a light nutty smell and is fragrance free.

• USDA and ECOCERT certification means high purity and authentic.

• Can be used on sensitive and non-sensitive skin to reduce age spots and boost skin tones.

• Manufactured in the Kingdom of Morocco and Packaged in the USA.

• UNi Argan Oil comes in a beautiful smooth dark glass bottle with easy access dropper.

• UNi Argan Oil are manufactured and bottled throughout the year to ensure freshness and quality.

• Manufactured date is printed on every bottle with a shelf-life of 36 months.

Review

I've tried different products that contain Argan oil for my hair before, but this was the first time I'd gotten the chance to use pure Moroccan Argan oil.

The oil itself is completely liquid and very lightweight—not as thick or dense as olive or canola oil, but still heavier than water. It's a pure brownish-amber color like the color of the bottle. One of the first things I noticed was the terrible scent. Maybe it's because it's an unprocessed oil without any added fragrances, but the smell was NOT pleasant and nutty, but rather pretty strong, with a hint of motor oil smell. I didn't like it at all, nor did I like the idea of applying it on my body and hair, but had to for review purposes.

After showering, I used the glass dropper to put a few drops in my palms and rubbed the oil between my hands as instructed, then smoothed it through my wet, combed hair. It went on smoothly like a detangling product. I kept it in rather than washing it out to use it as a leave-in conditioner and was pleasantly surprised. When my hair dried, it was sleek and shiny like when I use other pricey leave-in treatments (such as John Frieda's). I would much rather use this all-natural oil than be putting processed products in my hair.

Apparently you can apply this oil to your face as a moisturizer, but because I have pretty sensitive and acne-prone skin, I didn't want to risk it. There is no indication of the comedogenic ranking of Argan oil on the UNi bottle's description, but either way, it's an oil so you can never be sure.

Instead, I rubbed this into my legs right after shaving and showering. Just a few drops go a looong way for your entire body. It absorbed right away and didn't leave a greasy residue like coconut oil does. However, because it didn't smell that good, I wouldn't use it regularly on my body; the scent seeped into my skin and I smelled like mild gasoline the entire day, yeeuch.

Pros

Absorbs quickly // Light oil, not heavy like olive oil // Makes hair really smooth and manageable // Great for dry skin, especially on hands

Cons

Really weird, gasoline-like smell that doesn't go away even after oil is absorbed // Dropper bottle is easy to use, but could be potentially unsanitary or prone to spillage

Verdict

UNi's 100% Pure Moroccan Argan oil is a great all-natural alternative for leave-in hair treatments and conditioners, as well as a great body and potentially facial moisturizer. If it weren't for the unpleasant smell, I would definitely add it to my regular beauty arsenal 

6 hearts: Decent to try, but I'm not going back; this product is decidedly average (whatever that means!) (x)

Tell me:

Have you used Argan oil for your hair, body, or face, before? What was your experience like?

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary sample of UNi Argan Oil in exchange for an honest and unbiased review via Tomoson.com. I was not paid or sponsored to write this review—positive or otherwise—and all thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

6 Heart Review: Sugar and Spice by Kimberly Kincaid and Giveaway!

Sugar and Spice (The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap anthology #3)
Kimberly Kincaid

Page Count: 123
Release Date: 24 September 2013
Publisher: Kensington
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher, via tour publicist, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Kensington and Tasty Book Tours!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Christmas cookies come once a year, but true love is forever...

For friends Clara, Abby and Lily, only one thing is more delicious than the Pine Mountain holiday cookie exchange—finding the right man before they ring in the New Year!

When caterer Lily Callahan goes up against hotshot pastry chef Pete Mancuso in the bake-off of the season, the stakes are high—and scandalously passionate. Will the gorgeous gourmand steal Lily's heart—and the top prize in the Christmas cookie competition?

Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Sony eStore | Kobo | Publisher

Review

Lily might not have gone to a fancy culinary school in Philadelphia, but she'd still been around enough chefs to know Pete's suave, I-know-best type. She hadn't spent the last month refining her skills and perfecting countless cookie recipes just to be upended by an overly confident pretty face.
Even if Pete's smile had threatened to knock her knees out from under her.

Lily sticks to the rules. That's just her thing; whether it be a recipe or a "type," she adheres to her own restrictions, and seldom strays very far. Pete, rebellious and charming, is the exact opposite. The fun-loving chef takes tremendous risks both in and out of the kitchen, which is why when he and Lily come face to face in a cutthroat Christmas cookie competition, something's going to simmer... if not explode.

Sugar and Spice is the last of the three stories in The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap. It's short and sweet, exactly the kind of Christmas romance quickie you want to read when you're in between holiday festivities and can't sit down and concentrate on something heavy. Kimberly Kincaid's voice is frank, but she manages to make her characters sentimental. I love the honesty and realness she breathes into Lily as a character. Even though there isn't much character development and obviously with such short length, there isn't much complexity or texture either, Lily is easy to sympathize with and love, which is why readers will relate to her frustration upon meeting Pete, who's trouble from the moment she sets eye on him. Not only does he happen to have the most bone-melting smile she's ever seen, but he'll also be her competition... but then again, who said there's anything wrong with sleeping with the enemy?

Pete's daredevil personality is matched with an equally troubled past, and as Lily is the first and only girl to ever coax him to comfort, both realize there's something there. The concept is cute, but it's inevitable that a Christmas romance would be tacky. The entire story is unrealistic (they just happen to run into each other, they just happen to be partners, the media just happens to love them on TV, resulting in even more duo time... blech) and extremely predictable but I'm not too disappointed by that. After all, this is a cute, cheerful holiday read, one meant to lift your spirits and indulge you in a sugary, spicy, contemporary Christmas fantasy.

While I didn't read the other two stories in the anthology, I did peruse the prologue and epilogue; love how the three best friends' stories all come together! Sugar and Spice was a decent read, but I didn't like it enough to go back and read the other stories; the epilogue, as hurried as it was, was more than enough of an indicator of each of the women's fate: a far-fetched, optimistic happily-ever-after.

Pros

Very quick read // Light tone // Fun, festive, and spirited // Warm and cozy—a feel-good story for a feel-good season! // Likable characters // Each romance story is integrated into the others, and the characters all involve each other

Cons

Way too predictable // "Happily ever after" is really cheesy // Ending is rushed and unrealistic // Not much chemistry because short stories leave little room for relationship development

Verdict

The warm, heartfelt romance that blossoms in the midst of a tense, frenetic Christmas baking contest in Sugar and Spice makes for both a merry, diverting holiday quickie that'll make you smile, and a sizzling, intense affair that will make you blush. I liked how the preceding stories in the anthology are all incorporated into Kincaid's contribution to the collection because it draws three otherwise disengaged women together, but the story itself isn't anything noteworthy. As light contemporary romances go, it's quick, unmemorable, and has both its hot moments, as well as its dull—I enjoyed myself keeping the holiday spirit in mind, but otherwise, I wasn't that impressed 

6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back (x)

Giveaway!

Two lucky readers will get the chance to read the entire The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap anthology, themselves—we have two finished digital copies up for grabs! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for the chance to win. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!

This is a tour-wide giveaway and is neither sponsored nor hosted by Books à la Mode. I am merely participating in the promotional tour.
Giveaway ends October 5th at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open internationally—that means anyone in the world can enter. Woohoo!
Void where prohibited.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤

Good luck!

6 Heart Review: Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

Fifty Shades Freed
EL James

Page Count: 532
Release Date: 17 April 2012 (new edition)
Publisher: Vintage Books (Random House)
Source: Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees.

Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.

Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

Review

[NOTE #1]: Read my review of Fifty Shades of Grey, the book that started it all, by clicking here!

[NOTE #2]: Read my review of the second book in the series, Fifty Shades Darker (which, in my opinion, was much MUCH better), by clicking here.

Mr. Grey has finally settled. He's still possessive—still a control freak—but his coming-to-terms with Anastasia—to take care of each other, to love each other, for better or worse—inspires a different sort of dynamic between the two returning characters. Their relationship isn't intense, it's just bipolar; this is best displayed in this last installment of the Fifty Shades of Grey series.

I was highly annoyed by Anastasia's weird internal conflict; she wants her kinky ways with Christian, trying to adjust to his lifestyle, but breaks down every time he obliges—crying it's too much and it's too painful. Make up your mind, woman! Everything is repetitive as always. It's like EL James copy-and-pasted her sex scenes into each other because most of them have the exact same wording and structure, but different venues, e.g. bed, table, aircraft, toilet (yes, she went there... kinky!).

Ana and Christian's roller-coaster ride of a relationship isn't even dramatic or heartfelt anymore; it's just exasperating. I'm also not sure how the fuck they are so deeply committed and in lurve after having known each other for only two months. Two. Months. Anastasia doesn't even know what Christian does for a living, for crying out loud! All she knows is that he's some hoity-toity entrepreneur. I have suspicions he's an underground slave auctioneer but sadly, this tidbit isn't actually revealed in the book.

SPOILER START [[drag your mouse across the blackened text to read]] And they don't get a prenup??/ He's a BILLIONAIRE and they don't get a prenup because he trusts her so much. Just let that sink in for about fifteen seconds. This series should be relabeled as fantasy, not romance. SPOILER END

The ending... ugh. Grossly idealized, but I one thing I liked is how the book concludes exposing Christian's full story. Getting to know him so deeply was probably the best part of the novel. His love for Ana is clouded with overprotectiveness and insecurity, but it's still deep nonetheless. The heart of the dilemma is his need for control and his need for Anastasia. She believes the two aren't mutually exclusive, but even so, they just might be his ruin. These emotions are brutal, and they're actually sweet—knowing where they come from, but really: that's the only thing that kept me reading.

Stylistically, you guessed it! Pretentious big words thrown around carelessly, but otherwise very basic, very weak. It's a shame to erotica writers that James identifies herself as one of them.

Pros

Great character-building // Christian's past

Cons

Let's put it like this: Book 1 should never have happened, Book 2 is dumb, and Book 3 is dumber. That's all you have to know.

Love

Real quotes from the book that I needed to share with you: 

He looks so sexy and genial.

What?

He's so adroit.

What?

I'm so aroused.

I would be, too, if I orgasmed at the slightest breeze.

Two reasons to shoot me now:

Mr. Orgasmic was using his fine-motor sexing skills on me.

Why are his feet so hot? 

Accurately displaying the length of Anastasia's attention span (or lack thereof):

I will never understand this man. Hmm—this crème brulée is delicious.

I glance at my watch: 2:15 p.m. He should be here soon. My tea is cold... Ugh!

Neanderthalic urges:

"I want in your mouth now." 

Verdict

Don't bother reading the actual book, because I can summarize the entire thing up for you here: sex; fight; makeup sex; fight; makeup sex; fight; fight fight; flight; yell; pregnancy scare; panic; OMG; major fight; weep; "hi," I breathed, "hi," he whispered back; makeup sex; happily every after. I really had high hopes for Fifty Shades Freed after liking the second book in the series so much, but alas, EL James disappoints 

6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back (x)

6 Heart Review: In Her Sights by Robin Perini + Giveaway!

In Her Sights (Montgomery Justice #1)
Robin Perini

Page Count: 236
Release Date: 29 November 2011
Publisher: Montlake Romance (Amazon)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by author, via Book Monster Promotions, as part of the Behind the Lies virtual book tour
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Jasmine "Jazz" Parker, Jefferson County SWAT's only female sniper, can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. But she carries with her a secret from her past that she thought she buried for good at the age of fifteen. Two years ago she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to keep her past hidden. But now, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the governor's daughter, Jazz's world begins to crumble around her.

When Luke splashes her face and name across the front page of the newspaper, a vicious enemy from her past returns seeking vengeance without compromise. Jazz is forced to turn to the one man she can never have before she and everyone she cares about pays the ultimate price. Full of explosive action and almost unbearable suspense, In Her Sights is a relentless, steamy thriller surprisingly infused with soul and poignancy.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Review

This first installment of the Montgomery Justice series follows the reunion of Luke, the second-to-youngest Montgomery brother, with his long-lost lover, Jazz. Luke has always known Jazz to be distant, to always push people away, but only when she reenters his life, does he begin to discover the darkest crevices of a secret she's kept hidden since age 15, when it resurfaces to haunt her 12 years later.

In Her Sights didn't feel any different from your regular Harlequin Intrigue with its forced plot, predictable villain, and at least one character with a "haunting past"... in other words, pretty unmemorable. Then I looked the author up and saw she was a Harlequin Intrigue regular. How's that for sniper-like intuition?

The relationship is painfully unrealistic. The wistfulness of an old flame is portrayed well, but the fact that they still have feelings for each other and then go about pursuing a relationship is too predictable, too trite. However, the love scenes are sizzling! Perini knows how to write steamy in the bedroom (and out).

I liked Luke as an alpha hero, but there isn't much about him that made me want to fall in love with him. He's strong, handsome, caring... but isn't every ex-military romance hero these days? His "deep dark secret" is supposed to be touching, but just seems overused. I wanted to like him, but he's just too poorly developed of a character. As for Jasmine, I was able to relate to her pain and her fears, and do admire her; she's a mature woman who's tough to break, always with a barrier of protection she wears like a veil. She knows her life isn't made of happy endings, but as much as I respected her poise and courage, she's quite dislikable. She doesn't seem particularly nice or welcoming, and is rather bitchy and has a big head because she is the only female SWAT member and all. The author overall just did a poor job at portraying her personality.

Jasmine's whole life has been carefully calculated and painstakingly hidden, but this façade falls apart when her identity and her career careen out of her sights. Her faith has the chance of being restored when the only man who's believed in her unconditionally gives her hope, strength, and most of all, belonging. But there's a personal vendetta out to get her, that might not be so gracious as to let that happen.

While the sabotage and Jazz's past is frightening, the plot's lack of structure is awful. The characters are tolerable, but the plot just... the villain's identity and the mystery of it all just pop out of nowhere! There's no connection, no foreshadowing, no suspense or element of surprise... it's just a random person connected to a vaguely mentioned secondary character, which made the story overall terribly anticlimactic.

There are also very subtle, but rather misplaced Christian sentiments; instead of a strong, continuous undertone, the characters randomly burst into prayer in times of danger—a fair warning for those of you who can't stand that.

[UPDATE]: Click here to read my review of Behind the Lies, the second book in the Montgomery Justice series. I liked it significantly better, just saying ;)

Pros

Intricate plot // HOT chemistry between Jazz and Luke // The Montgomery brothers—I could get used to them! // Articulate, intelligent style // Emotional pain seems very real // Likable (but not lovable) characters

Cons

Forgettable, forced plot; your typical Harlequin // Mystery seems random // Characters are tolerable, but underdeveloped and not at all affecting // Not exactly a Christian novel, but still has haphazard Christian references // Anticlimactic and not suspenseful // Unrealistic relationship

Love

"There is no light, Jasmine. Not unless you count the moon."

Luke's velvet baritone sent shivers through her. She hadn't forgotten what his whisper sounded like in the dark. She wished to God she had.

Verdict

Robin Perini spins a decent romantic suspense about reignited fires, bitter secrets of the past, and hearts that wander back to true loves in the first of her Montgomery Justice series. I liked In Her Sights enough—the swirling unknown, precise SWAT details, and Luke and Jazz's scorching encounters make for a great story—but overall was not impressed, due to the anticlimax, random mystery, and stilted relationship. I wouldn't separate this book out as extraordinary because it's not particularly gripping or dangerous—just another series romance, more than anything  

6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back (x)

Giveaway!

Thanks to Book Monster Promotions and the author, we have one copy of In Her Sights to give away! The winner gets to choose print or eBook, and if you've already read this one, Robin is happy to provide the second book, Behind the Lies, as a substitute. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what you think about my review and the book to win. Be sure to include your email address!

Remember to make your words meaningful. One-worded comments and solely "thanks for the giveaway" will not be eligible for entry!

Rules and Disclosure:

Giveaway ends May 2nd at 11.59 (your time).

Open to internationally! Woohoo!
Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Although I do select winners, I am in no way responsible for the prizes, nor for shipping and handling.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤

Good luck!

6 Heart Review: Izzy's Pop Star Plan by Alex Marestaing

Izzy's Pop Star Plan
Alex Marestaing

Page Count: 229
Release Date: 29 December 2010 (first edition)
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (MacMillan)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Izzy Baxter has big plans—popstar plans.

Ever since she was six, she's dreamed of becoming the world's next singing sensation. Now sixteen, her singing career is on the rise, and she's been selected to compete on the hit TV show "International Popstar Challenge." As Izzy performs in far off locations such as Tokyo and Paris, it seems as if her plans are coming off without a hitch. But God has plans of His own, and Izzy will soon discover that living for Him is "way cooler" than megastar fame.

Presented like a daily blog, set up like a devotional, and read like a novel; this book will be an instant hit with tween girls. This cutting edge new product will meet girls where they are, and girls will love following Izzy on her incredible adventure. Plus, they'll get daily spiritual food to equip them on their own incredible adventure with God.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Christian Book | Sony eStore | Kobo

Review

Hollywood native Izzy Baxter has come far with her pop star dream. As a contestant of "International Pop Star Challenge," she travels to Harajuku, Paris, Buenos Aires, and New York to finally make that dream come true, but she's going to have to overcome life's obstacles before she gets there. Izzy's Pop Star Plan is a 90-day devotional with strong Christian approaches on dealing with jealousy, anger, grief, sadness, moving on, helping others, disappointment, intimidation, good tidings, displaying faith, companionship, abandonment, staying true to yourself and your faith, dating, teenage rebellion, heartbreak, standing out, and worship and praise.

The story isn't that exciting; I wasn't exactly excited to see what happened next. It just describes day-to-day things, and I definitely saw the "happily ever after" coming, but the few dramatic twists and turns in the middle are worthwhile. Izzy's discoveries and personal dilemmas are well-portrayed and the way she faces her fears and makes tough decisions is moving and affecting.

Izzy as a narrator is likable enough, but the main problem I had is how UNCHARACTERISTICALLY she acts for a 16-year-old. She's way too mature and her thinking process is literally that of an adult's; I don't care how "Christian" she is... teenagers just don't act that way. On the other hand, sometimes she acts like a baby, crying every time her father leaves the house, refusing to date guys because her dad told her not to (hello???), and being too dependent on other people. And yet she discovers, on her own, God's messages? The character is just unrealistic and contradictory to me. She doesn't act like an adolescent; she acts either childishly and immaturely, or like a boring adult, so I couldn't quite place her as a real person. However, I was proud of her because she overcomes her homesickness and the challenges thrown her way, in order to pursue her lifelong aspirations; she's a dynamic character and Marestaing did a great job demonstrating her growth through gospel.

Overall, her, her family, and her friends are living in a naïve, blind Christian world that doesn't realistically depict real life, but then again this is a juvenile novel so I guess Marestaing was aiming for the grossly oversimplified and positive outlook.

Izzy's Pop Star Plan is a Christian-tinted self-improvement devo set to an agreeable tune. As a devotional, this book is very heavy on God-this and God-that—way too preachy for me—but as a debut novel, it's sentimental and promising.

Pros

Blog format with comments—felt like a real online journal // Evocative of countries Izzy travels to // Solid Christian approaches to everyday human emotions and difficulties // Lots of character growth

Cons

Not very exciting or fun // Very predictable // Izzy doesn't act like a 16-year-old... she acts like she's 30 one day, and 3 on another. There's sadly no in-between // Competition results are way too idealized; nothing disappointing ever happens to her career // Preachy

Verdict

Touching and full of the honest emotion only found in a teenager's diary, Alex Marestaing's first novel is an entertaining daily devotional about finding yourself through friends, family, new experiences, new people, good music, and of course, God. Izzy takes readers with her on her adventures around the world, giving fascinating glimpses of the reality show industry, pop star fame, and Christian lifestyle. I personally didn't enjoy the cheery storyline that seemed to always be favorable to the main character, but I do think middle-grade girls (ages 9-12) will like it 

6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back (x)

6 Heart Review: And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry

And Then I Found You
Patti Callahan Henry

Page Count: 261
Release Date: 9 April 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (MacMillan)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by Wunderkind PR in exchange for an honest and unbiased review, for the Itching for Books blog tour
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Kate Vaughan is no stranger to tough choices. She’s made them before. Now it’s time to do it again. 

Kate has a secret, something tucked away in her past. And she’s getting on with her life. Her business is thriving. She has a strong relationship with her family, and a devoted boyfriend whom she wants to love with all her heart. If Kate had ever made a list, Rowan would fill the imagined boxes of a perfect mate. But she wants more than the perfect on paper relationship; she wants a real and imperfect love. That's why, when Kate discovers the small velvet box hidden in Rowan's drawer, she panics.

It always happens this way. Just when Kate thinks she can love, just when she believes she can conquer the fear, she’s filled with dread. And she wants more than anything to make this feeling go away. But how?

When the mistakes have been made and the running is over, it’s time to face the truth. Kate knows this. She understands that a woman can never undo what can never be undone. Yet, for the first time in her life she also knows that she won’t fully love until she confronts those from her past. It’s time to act.

Can she do it? Can she travel to the place where it all began, to the one who shares her secret? Can the lost ever become found?

And Then I Found You gives new life to the phrase “inspired by a true story.” By travelling back to a painful time in her own family’s history, Patti Callahan Henry explores the limits of courage, and the price of a selfless act.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Kobo

Review

Springtime in Bluffton, South Carolina heralds thirty-five-year-old Kate Vaughan's annual tradition of trying New Things. This spring, her past—which she's tried so hard to keep in place over the past decade—will come marvelously apart; her New Things will make everything change, and everything begin.

Composed of flashbacks of only the component parts of Kate's childhood and early adulthood that have led up to the present moment, And Then I Found You details the most determined, devastating decision a mother should ever have to make. These brief evocations slowly clarify her past, and are intermingled with her current conflicts with Rowan—the perfect boyfriend whom she still isn't completely satisfied with—and with her inability to let go of what's already happened.

Without giving too much away, I will say I was awed by the plot, especially because it actually happened in the author's life, but was very disappointed by the story itself. Don't get me wrong; Henry's prose is elegant and coherent, but I just feel the book as a whole is kind of boring. Everything that happens isn't exciting—at least not as exciting as the author tries to convey it as. She flits across the complexity of human emotion but doesn't exactly capture it, which is why I couldn't connect with this book, either.

My biggest issue however, is Kate. She's just really, really snobby and difficult to understand, or respect, for that matter. I adore all the characters around her, from her sisters to her best friends to her lovers—they are really well created—but she herself is really dislikable. Her mindset is incredibly selfish and stuck up; her mantra is "you don't know what I've experienced so get away from me and stop trying to sympathize with me." I know Henry was trying to convey the difficult emotional burden upon a mother who is forced to part with her child out of "selflessness," but she sacrificed Kate's character to do so. My detachment from and dislike of the protagonist soured the entire mood and perspective of the story.

I was proud at Kate's growth, though; throughout the book, she learns she needs to love herself before loving anyone else, and this is something to which all readers will be able to relate. Compassion, even through wistfulness, matters; you just have to be willing to freely give it.

Pros

Henry is an accomplished storyteller // Secondary characters are lovable // Fascinating premise // Kate's character development is clear

Cons

Highly dislikable protagonist // Style is decent, but really mediocre... very forgettable // Not that resonating // Predictable, unsatisfying ending // Rather dull and not suspenseful throughout

Love

People talked about heartbreak, but in Kate's opinion, hearts don't break, they merely ache and throb until you learn to ignore that same heart all together.

Verdict

And Then I Found You wasn't as I good as I thought it would be. The plot revolving around a mother reuniting with her long-lost daughter seemed touching, but in the book, it just isn't portrayed very movingly. However, I am impressed with Patricia Callahan Henry's ability to craft a beautiful, feel-good story about self-actualization and self-discovery. The overarching message is quite affecting as well; this is a book about loss, and about finding—both those you love, and yourself 

6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back (x)

6 Heart Review: The Elephant of Surprise by Brent Hartinger

The Elephant of Surprise (Russel Middlebrook #4)
Brent Hartinger

Page Count: 219
Release Date: 30 March 2013
Publisher: Buddha Kitty Books (self-published)
Source: Complimentary ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

People aren't always what they seem to be. Sometimes we even surprise ourselves.

So discovers seventeen-year-old Russel Middlebrook in The Elephant of Surprise, a stand-alone sequel to Brent Hartinger's landmark 2003 gay young adult novel Geography Club.

In this latest book, Russel and his friends Min and Gunnar are laughing about something they call the Elephant of Surprise—the tendency for life to never turn out as expected. Sure enough, Russel soon happens upon a hot but mysterious homeless activist named Wade, even as he's drawn back to an old flame named Kevin. Meanwhile, Min is learning surprising things about her girlfriend Leah, and Gunnar just wants to be left alone to pursue his latest technology obsession.

But the elephant is definitely on the move in all three of their lives. Just who is Wade and what are he and his friends planning? What is Leah hiding? And why is Gunnar taking naked pictures of Kevin in the shower?

The Elephant of Surprise includes Hartinger's trademark combination of humor and romance, angst and optimism. Before the story is over, Russel and his friends will learn that the Elephant of Surprise really does appear when you least expect him—and that when he stomps on you, it really, really hurts.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Kobo | Smashwords

Review

Click here to read my review for Geography Club, the first book in the series

The Elephant of Surprise picks up about a year after where Geography Club left off, this time, introducing Russel and his crew to a strange, intriguing cult of freegans, who are principled selectivists who ONLY use what they need in life—or in other words, the unhygienic variation of vegans. 

I do have to say I was a bit disappointed by this sequel, probably because of how much I loved the first book in the series. The Elephant of Surprise is fine as a stand-alone novel—I didn't have to read books #2 and #3 to comprehend it—but I think a bit of Russel's original voice and humor was lost somewhere in between those books and those several years. He's definitely no longer as naïve; if Geography Club was a coming-of-age story, consider The Elephant of Surprise an after-age novel. It was great to see how he's doing after having discovered himself, and to visit the more mature, more grown-up version of the same character I adored in the first book. He's a little less silly and a little less foolish, which I didn't like... I miss silly, cute Russel. His jokes often aren't as funny in this one, as if he's trying to hard to make them. However, there was still enough sass coming from him to keep the narrative fresh. I'm glad Hartinger didn't completely do away with that aspect.

While I don't think the characters, as in Russel and his friends, were as developed in this installment of the Russel Middlebrook series, I do appreciate how well Russel's conflicting feelings are conveyed—they're probably the most realistic, most tender part of this novel. He's supposed to be wiser, and yet there's this undertone of dramatic irony because he still lets his romantic hopes affect his head and his heart. The familiarity of a lingering first love and, in contrast, the scintillation surrounding a new, mysterious older guy bring life to this story.

The romance depicted isn't particularly sexual or exciting, but it is, at its core, heartwarming and nerve-wracking in the way young love tends to be. Geography Club is heavy on issues regarding identity and teenage sexuality, but this one is pretty skimpy on the issues of gay adolescence. The topic on comes up with Russel's continued and newfound love interests, but it isn't as redolent or as powerful as I expected it to be. Hartinger's voice is sharp and clear, but again, it falls flat in comparison to that in Geography Club.

The tension in this book is thick and the plot exciting, but it gets boring at times. I appreciate Russel's self-discovery in this book, though: how he never really knows when the Elephant of Surprise may show up, nor of the great impacts it'll make for better, or for worse. Sometimes, it isn't even the Elephant of Surprise... sometimes, it's just the Elephant of Fuck With Your Mind; join Russel in his mishaps and misadventures as he figures this out.

Pros

A new story, rather than a continuation off of Geography Club // Same delightful characters // Easily readable and comprehendible style // It's great to return to the same cast from the series // Shows the importance of having and considering all perspectives before forming judgment

Cons

Not as good as the first book // Voice is a bit stiff // Frequent unsuccessful attempts at humor // Focuses too much on freeganism, rather than the new connections that bloom from it // Drags out in some places

Love

"Russel," [Min] said to me, "you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Well, except maybe those pants.

Verdict

Brent Hartinger's newest addition to the Russel Middlebrook series sadly doesn't live up to its poignant, entertaining originator. True to its title, there are many unexpected twists and turns in The Elephant of Surprise that'll leave readers reeling and even a little unnerved, although I did feel it drags on at times. For the most part, it's too detailed on freeganism and the worldly outlooks Russel encounters from it, rather than looking at the whole picture. The story flows well and if you fell in love with the characters in Geography Club, you'll have fun revisiting them here, but if you're new to the series, I'd rather you just read the first book. Overall, I enjoyed this one, but wasn't that engaged 

6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back (x)