7 Heart Review: Lavishy Garden Flower eReader Sleeve + Giveaway! (US/Can only)

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

Lavishy's Garden Flower eReader Sleeve is compatible with 6" Kindle, Nook, and Kobo eReader devices.

With inner core foam padding for safely carrying your beloved eReader as your travel companion, and made with certified non-toxic and eco-friendly durable vegan leather, this sleeve features beautiful embroidery on both sides.

• Zipper around closure to ensure things inside are safely kept
• Size: 20 x 14 x 2 cm / 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.8 in
• Available Colors: Red, Black
• Retail Price: $19.99

Being a frequent traveler and the kind of traveler that always totes a book around at that, it's no wonder a eReader sleeve like Lavishy's would come in handy. I always have to put my Kindle at the top of my bag because I'm worried it'll get crushed by all my books and miscellaneous stuff, but now I can just slide it in between my books because of the padded protection this sleeve provides.

This sleeve is definitely sturdy; the vegan leather cover seems tough and while I don't want to wrongly vouch for it being waterproof, it's definitely scratch-resistant and does a good job protecting my device from other materials (sand, dirt, etc.).

The biggest drawback is that there aren't any little pockets or compartments for my charger or any other little accessories. I docked a few more points for the design as well; it's a little tacky and not exactly "me" but would be perfect for preteen girls or for people who like the embroidered flower look.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

7 hearts: Not perfect, but overall a good product; borrow, don't buy! (x)

Giveaway!

The folks over at Lavishy have been generous enough to offer two Garden Flower eReader Sleeves to Books à la Mode readers—that's two winners total! To enter, all you have to do is tell me:

Which eReader do you own and would you recommend others buy it too, or are you not that much of a fan? I've been thinking of getting a new eReader and would love to have YOUR input on the pros and cons of different devices based off your own experience!

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!

Sponsored wholly by the publicist and retailer—a huge thank you to Tomoson and Lavishy!
Giveaway ends June 2nd at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US/Canada 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!

FTC Disclosure: I received one Lavishy Garden Flower eReader Sleeve in Black using Tomoson.com in order to write an honest and unbiased review. I was not paid or sponsored to write this review—positive or otherwise—and all thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

7 Heart Review: Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols + Giveaway! (US only)

Brought to you by the fabulous Itching for Books Book Tours...

Biggest Flirts (Superlatives #1)
Jennifer Echols

Page Count: 336
Release Date: May 20th 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Simon & Schuster and Itching for Books!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

The yearbook votes have been cast.

Senior year is about to get interesting.

Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laid-back swagger.

As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal... until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated...

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

Review

I didn't understand Will, but I knew enough that I didn't want to. He was so hot, and kissed so well, and that earring! He was the type of guy I could get really attached to if I wasn't careful. And though I might not seem like the most conscientious person most of the time, I was always careful about boys.

Having witnessed all of her older sisters fall in love and fall apart, the last thing Tia Cruz wants is a boyfriend, but senior year, when Will Matthews arrives at her school—the undeniably cool kid from the Midwest, and possible the cutest boy she has ever seen—her determination begins to falter. Will Matthews is the kind of boy who could make her forget.

Tia and Will's playful relationship is definitely fun to follow, especially watching both characters grow as they discover themselves within each other. I also love the portrayal of high school casual relationships—better known as "friends with benefits"—which seems like a racy topic for YA fiction, but is actually prevalent among teenagers, and thus, entirely relevant; Echols brings the experience to life maturely and memorably. What bothered me, however, was the progression of the relationship. The breakup, makeup, breakup-again sequence was too formulaic, too predictable. Given the synopsis of the book, there's nothing I couldn't have seen coming. Nothing about Tia and Will as a couple particularly surprised, devastated, or delighted me; it was nothing we've never seen before in YA romance. Once the two are paired as the school's Biggest Flirts (since when is that even a superlative?), the rest of the story just went along as expected.

I loved Tia as a character; she's unconventional, and not your typical bashful, romantic heroine. She's strong, but also has a thousand insecurities; brilliant, but intentionally an underachiever. I think she's a hit-or-miss character, though; I can definitely see some readers not liking her recklessness or her brash tone. Her chemistry with Will is spot-on, and the sexual tension and energy the two create will have your heart thumping and you remembering what teenage romance feels like again.

The secondary characters are both a strength and a weakness of Biggest Flirts. Most of them make very minor but very frequent appearances that I found sort of pointless, other than to keep confusing me with all the different names. Tia's best friends rarely show their faces, which made me feel like they aren't her friends at all. Will is a beautifully written character (Jennifer Echols creates another heartbreaker—surprise!) but I absolutely loved Sawyer, Tia's on-again-off-again "boyfriend," and can't wait for Book #3, because it's his story. Won't give too much away, but if you like tragic teen boys, be prepared to swoon!

Pros

Tia is an imperfect, but genuine character with lots of attitude! // Family backstory is important, not just the romance // Portrays the mindset of casual, rather than dating, relationships well // Hot hookups! (Nothing wildly explicit, but still for an older YA crowd) // Will and Sawyer ♥

Cons

Plot is predictably structured // The only real characters are Tia and Will, the rest seem to have come from YA character moulds // Flows well, but style is not remarkable

Love

"I would really like to get in trouble for touching you right now."

Verdict

Sexy and smart, Biggest Flirts is a thrilling escape of a contemporary young adult novel that captures the spirit and squalor of high school colorfully and entertainingly. I didn't find Tia and Will's relationship that special, and stylistically, it's not particularly clever, but Jennifer Echols's newest book is fun, flirty, and full of impressionable characters and a convincing romantic undertone 

7 hearts: Not perfect, but overall enjoyable; borrow, don't buy! (x)

Giveaway!

We are giving away three print copies of Biggest Flirts and one grand prize of print copies of Such a Rush, Dirty Little Secret, and The Only One That I Want as part of the virtual tour hosted by Itching for Books—that's four winners tour-wide. Yay!!

To enter, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As a reminder, this is a generic tour-wide giveaway so I do not choose winners or prizes, and am merely a part of the promotional efforts.

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!

Sponsored wholly by the tour publicist and publisher—a huge thank you to Itching for Books and Simon Pulse!
Giveaway ends May 19th 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 worldwide.
Void where prohibited.

As this is a tour-wide giveaway, I have no say in the selected winners and 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!

7 Heart Beauty Review: Simply Beautiful Tangle Teaser Brush

The Tangle Teaser Brush, currently available through Second Glance Beauty via Amazon in five vibrant colors, is excellent for detangling both wet and dry hair—use firm pressure to get painless detangling! A godsend for unruly curly hair, a must for extension-wearers, and gentle enough for children, Simply Beautiful's Tangle Tease Brush detangles effortlessly.

I've always had thick, frizzy hair that's hard to manage straight out of the shower, so I was really excited to get to try this detangling brush.

The body of the brush is made out of a lightweight plastic. It isn't as dense as the plastic in most hair styling tools, so it does feel a little insubstantial, but I had no problems with it cracking or snapping or anything, so all good on that front. The plastic is smooth but rather slippery, and paired with the odd curve of the handle (it tapers, but isn't curved to the shape of a hand's grip—rather not very ergonomic, if you ask me), it makes it rather uncomfortable to hold. Not a massive issue, you just have to hold it a little firmer than you would a straight-handled brush.

The bristles themselves only have one component: a very flexible plastic, which makes brushing a bit frustrating, but it gets the job done. Because of the flimsiness of the bristles, they sometimes bend too much when running them through very tangled hair, but the point of the brush is that the bristles mold to the tangles, which causes painless detangling. I like this idea, and I can definitely say that when brushing out my wet hair, I didn't have as many snags or pulling as I typically do.

Apparently this product is a knockoff of the wildly popular Tangle Teezer hairbrush, which has rave reviews. The original Tangle Teezer is much pricer than the Tangle Teaser, though (don't get the names confused!). I appreciate affordability, but also imagine the quality of the plastic and coating used for this brush falls proportionately, as I wasn't completely wowed by it.

Overall, Simply Beautiful's Tangle Teaser Brush delivers what it promises: it detangles wet and dry hair gently and fuss-free. I personally wasn't completely impressed by the weak bristles and awkward handle, and also don't see how this is too different from just brushing your wet hair out with your fingers. However, since I don't have extremely curly, knotty hair—my hair is probably just a 4 on a 1-to-10 scale of unmanageability—I can't say this won't work wonders for people who have more trouble untangling their hair, especially after showering.

Tell me:

Do you have hard-to-tame or curly hair? What products or styling tools do you use to manage it?

FTC Disclosure: Second Glance Beauty provided me with a complimentary sample of the Tangle Tease Brush in Green for me to write an honest and unbiased review. I was not paid or sponsored to write a positive review and all content is mine and mine alone.

7 Heart Review: Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge

Love Water Memory
Jennie Shortridge
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Follow the Tour!

Page Count: 326
Release Date: January 14th 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Gallery Books and Literati Author Services!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

If you could do it all over again, would you still choose him?

At age thirty-nine, Lucie Walker has no choice but to start her life over when she comes to, up to her knees in the chilly San Francisco Bay, with no idea how she got there or who she is. Her memory loss is caused by an emotional trauma she knows nothing about, and only when handsome, quiet Grady Goodall arrives at the hospital does she learn she has a home, a career, and a wedding just two months away. What went wrong? Grady seems to care for her, but Lucie is no more sure of him than she is of anything. As she collects the clues of her past self, she unlocks the mystery of what happened to her. The painful secrets she uncovers could hold the key to her future—if she trusts her heart enough to guide her.

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

Review

"I'm not unhappy. I'm... I don't know what I am. I don't even know that." [Lucie] lowered the napkin. This was all coming out wrong. "Who am I, Grady? What makes me me? Why am I here with you?"

Lucie Walker used to be the kind of Type-A woman who meticulously planned everything: what she did at her day job, what she ate for breakfast, what she would wear to her wedding. Losing her memory two months before her 40th birthday was not on the agenda. After she is found knees-deep in the water hundreds of miles from home, she is sent to the hospital, where she is greeted by a handsome man who pulls her into a painfully unfamiliar lover's embrace. She finally realizes she is Lucie Walker, the Lucie Walker who planned everything and has a caring fiancé; the Lucie Walker whom she does not remember. Now, in the world her previous self left behind, Lucie is alone, without even her own memory to keep her company... and in this world, she needs to trust someone since she can no longer trust herself.

The entire process of Grady and Lucie reacquainting—finding love and companionship in each other all over again—was clever, well-paced, and inevitably romantic. Grady's pain of missing the old Lucie—his meticulous, aloof Lucie—but struggle over falling for the new one—the warm, sweet Lucie—is relatable and raw, while Lucie's inability to remember everything about the man she's supposed to love, equally difficult. Shortridge accurately portrays the helplessness that the couple fall into during this tragedy, which, as Lucie discovers as she slowly recovers her memory through various environmental triggers, occurred in the wake of different kind of tragedy that Grady is reluctant to bring up.

Grady is plagued by the guilt of what happened at home that caused Lucie to flee in the first place, but he can't bring it up with the new Lucie—not when he's feeling first-time butterflies all over again, not when, this time around, he actually may have a shot to make her happy. Grady is a flawed, but in essence, perfect hero; he is a man to fall in love with. I love how he is sensitive and thoughtful, and sometimes recedes into his own thoughts. He is a beta hero who, although shy and rather fragile, listens to his gut, thinks too deeply, and always acts with passion.

We get both new Lucie's and Grady's perspectives in the third person, so it was difficult to really sympathize with either character intimately. I felt bad for the characters because of the frustration and impossibility of renewing their original relationship, but I couldn't really side with either of them, especially Lucie. Because she pretty much doesn't have an identity throughout the novel (although it does slowly build up as she learns more and more about her repressed past), her perspective is like that of an infant's; she continuously discovers people, places, and things around her, but not very deeply. However, this curiosity leads her to reconnecting with a part of her family that she strictly kept silent about before her amnesic episode. Old Lucie was the kind of woman who was so damaged by childhood that she couldn't even speak of it, but now that she's not only willing to talk to Grady about whatever "it" is, but also actively trying to find out why she might have entered dissociative fugue, the hideous, inconceivable demons of her past begin to surface.

This is the part I really couldn't get into. The loss in Lucie's teenage years is terrible, yes, and the trigger that caused her to completely blank out, even more traumatic, but there is no twist or no heart-pounding discovery. Small snippets of old Lucie's life flicker in her now empty mind alluding some sort of ghastly experience, but when readers are finally enlightened, it's a bit of a letdown. The climax is predictable, and I'll admit it's not like it's no big deal, but it was just poorly executed. Afterwards, the closing action just drooped... nothing is really resolved, and the ending doesn't offer much either.

While the book is wholly about Lucie's dissociative fugue, it does very little to entertain the subject of mental illness. It's an obvious fact that trauma and repression can lead to memory loss; Shortridge does not elaborate upon this. In fact, Lucie does not even visit a psychiatrist, so if you're thinking about trying this one solely because you like stories about mental disorders, this isn't really the best book to pick up.

I was also not a huge fan of the writing. Shortridge can tell a damn good story with a fresh voice—very readable, very modern—but her style just isn't eloquent. The subject matter is fascinating, and the story illuminates upon how obstacles can be overcome by the power of love, but the writing just seemed very clumsy to me. There is nothing poetic or expressive in Shortridge's hand; I was anticipating it to be gorgeous, sentimental, and detailed, but instead found it to be rather mediocre.

Pros

Characters are vividly formed; seem so human // Gradual mystery // Complex family dynamics portrayed // Very easy to read; kept me on edge and wanting to read more // Complicated emotions regarding identity // Strong message on the power of love

Cons

Writing isn't that substantial // While the subject matter is grave, Lucie's path to discovery is nothing profound // Difficult to sympathize with situation and characters // Mental illness is not deeply portrayed

Love

[Grady] reached for her hands, held them inside his. "I want to know," he said. These were the details he'd yearned for when they first met, the ones he'd pressed too hard to get. And now that she was going to tell him, finally—now that she could tell him—he felt something inside crumbling. He held her hands to keep her as close as possible as she revealed what she'd learned... the ugly, the poignant, the mundane... He could handle these truths, he realized, because the sum of them was Lucie.

Verdict

Thoroughly moving and provocative, Love Water Memory examines the effects of trauma, the principles and necessity of family, and the miraculous gift of second chances. Although I was not impressed by the unembellished writing style and the fact that mental health isn't significantly addressed, I did enjoy this luminescent novel of the certain magic of love—the magic that, for Lucie and Grady, separates a brand new start from the misfortune of reliving the same pain. The emotions are heavy, while the carefully hidden, agonizingly uncovered secrets, extremely grave in Jennie Shortridge's newest; this is a tender, serious story about being stronger than the sum of your weaknesses, and the opportunity to reconcile after inevitably hurting the ones you love 

7 hearts: Not perfect, but overall enjoyable; borrow, don't buy! (x)

7 Heart Review: 21-Day Tummy by Liz Vaccariello

21-Day Tummy
Liz Vaccariello with Kate Scarlata, RD

Page Count: 302
Release Date: December 26th 2013
Publisher: Reader's Digest
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, FSB Media!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Based on the latest science, the 21-Day Tummy diet targets excess weight and belly fat while addressing the most common digestive disorders.

We love to eat but that doesn't mean our stomachs always enjoy digesting what we put in them. Add to this the fact that our nation is heavier than it's ever been, and it's clear that our tummies don't just need to function better, they need to be smaller. In general, smaller stomachs digest food more effectively, and that's why dropping the pounds isn't just a matter of vanity but of health.

Featuring carb-light, anti-inflammatory foods, the 21-Day Tummy eating plan slashes inches from your belly (up to 4 ½ inches!) while banishing gas and bloating, heartburn and acid relux, constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In addition, 21-Day Tummy includes:

• 50 scrumptious recipes such as Tomato-Ginger Flank Steak and Almost Pumpkin Mini Pies.
• a Digestion Quiz to help you measure your overall digestive health tips on how to combat the Four S's—Supersizing, Sitting, Stress, and Sleep Deprivation.
• inspirational stories and advice from our successful test panelists. Our top tester dropped 19 pounds in 21 days and completely stopped taking medications for acid reflux.
• an optional equipment-free workout plan that helps to both sculpt and soothe your belly with a mix of core strengthening, walking, and yoga.
• guidelines on how to incorporate potentially problematic foods back into your life so you are never deprived of your favorite foods.

21-Day Tummy is a fun, easy guide to healthy eating that will have a smaller, healthier you feeling better than, well, possibly ever!

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

Review

What I love about 21-Day Tummy is that it isn't just a book on weight loss and diet management; it's unique in that it also places importance on the digestive tract. Many of the recipes and theories revolve around the bodily chemistry regarding certain foods and exercises, so this diet plan is one that targets both shedding pounds and metabolizing your digestive system.

If you suffer from weight gain due to digestive slowdown, this is the perfect book for you. It is well backed and well explained, so anyone can follow and understand the logistics of the diet—even if you have minimal experience with dieting. That's what I love about Vaccariello's diet guides; they're so accessible!

The recipes, as expected, are amazing. Just looking at the photographs makes my mouth water, and I love how each ingredient is elaborated upon. There are helpful lists of digestive do's and don't's throughout the book, which are entertaining and useful for the kitchen. Other helpful tools include measurement conversion charts, grocery shopping lists, green lights and red lights of foods (regarding how they'll treat your stomach), and myths about certain foods busted or confirmed.

I find it really helpful that the regimen's goal is to not only flatten tummies, but also regulate the inner workings of the body. It takes the focus off the scale and tape measures, and places it onto feeling and being HEALTHY.

Pros

Methodical, biologically sound approaches to dieting and improving the digestive system // Lots of tried-and-true recipes that are worth testing // Real-life testimonies and weight loss plans and interviews of successful dieters included

Cons

Some recipes don't include pictures and are difficult to follow // I'm skeptical of the timeline. Although the book doesn't necessarily claim to change lives drastically in 21 days, it keeps dieters on a schedule that seems a bit too rigid

Love

Creative healthy recipes for foods I'd actually WANT to eat such as Salmon with Preserved Lemon Topping:

And Cheesy Scrambled Egg "Quesadillas":

Verdict

I personally was not really able to follow this diet book because it deals a lot with digestive issues rather than just wholesome, healthy eating, but I appreciate how specific the regimen is. It isn't something I could actually stick with—in fact, it doesn't seem very lenient—but I recommend Vaccariello's newest diet book for those who struggle with acid reflux and eating the right way due digestive problems. With the perfect amount of motivation and realistic, delicious-looking recipes, 21-Day Tummy helps you look and feel your best by using a targeted approach of not only eating well, but also taking care of what's on the inside 

7 hearts: Not perfect, but overall enjoyable; borrow, don't buy! (x)

7 Heart Review: Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally and Giveaway!

Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4)
Miranda Kenneally
Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Follow the Tour!

Page Count: 304
Release Date: December 3rd 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (Sourcebooks)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by author via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Miranda and Xpresso!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

They're from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

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

Review

High-school senior Savannah Barrow has never had much in her life; her paycheck-to-paycheck life almost crumbled when her mom passed away, and it's only now starting to look up because her dad has secured a job at the Goodwin stables—the only way they can afford housing and the new baby his very-pregnant girlfriend is expecting. Never having had much privilege, her options for the future are pretty limited. If she can just get her dream job of jockeying—which isn't unheard of for girls, but certainly uncommon, and not to mention extremely dangerous—she can at least make a living, and her future baby sister won't have to suffer through her childhood like she did. College is obviously out of the question—she couldn't even dream of affording it—and there isn't anything in the world she's rather do than spend time with horses, anyway.

But then she meets one mischievous, gorgeous boy with stunning blue eyes, and her whole world is turned upside-down—not because of the whirlwind of a romance he consumes her in, but because he shows her what she's really worth... and for the first time, she discovers what she can do beyond her lowly roots if only she believes in herself.

Jack Goodwin is trouble from the start; with his irresistible smile and a cocky attitude, he's a gentleman and a heartbreaker... a deadly combination for Savannah. Despite being firm in not falling for the boss in the beginning, she swoons over him BAD, which I found a little unrealistic. She seems like a strong, solid girl otherwise—one who doesn't go googly-eyed over pretty boys—but the way she admitted her desires to get to know Jack on an intimate level, and then continuously resists these urges, made her a really conflicting character.

Savannah and Jack are both generally unimpressive characters. There are qualities in them that I really liked—feisty, selfless strength, and Southern romantic charm, respectively—but overall they are weakly developed and nothing about either of them stand out to me. Savannah in particular is not that deep of a narrator; readers do get personal glimpses of her past and her deepest desires, but she is neither clever nor adventurous in style. This may sound weird, but in my head, her first-person perspective just droned on in monotone. It was never beautiful or tragic or heartbreaking... it just was—in the most basic, unfulfilling sense. It's not that I dislike her, because all in all she is a very admirable character; I just wish she'd been portrayed a bit more complexly, more entertainingly.

The flirtation that blooms between her and Jack will make your pulse race—Kenneally captures young love, secret love, our-parents-can't-find-out-about-us love expertly—but again, I feel like it just didn't have a good foundation. It seems very forced and unrealistic, with very little interaction between the two characters before Savannah's already swearing she's in love. While the boss/worker forbidden romance cliché is unstimulating, I absolutely love how Kenneally explores class difference in the form of an off-limits relationship. This is the first YA novel (in my working memory) I've read that presents the taboo of dating outside your own socioeconomic status—Savannah being a working-class citizen and Jack being a disgustingly rich and privileged estate heir—and it's interesting and relevant because it's a divide that exists in our time and age, whether we want to admit it or not.

Kenneally vividly probes the jockey life and the world of horse racing, as well. Racing Savannah's biggest strength lies in its setting and world-building; you can practically smell the dirt on the racetracks, feel the dankness of the hot stables, and visualize the green pastures of the Goodwin estates. I was pleased to gain an insider's look of equestrianism as well; horse training and racing are fascinating, and Kenneally definitely portrays them well.

Pros

Smooth, readable; appropriate tone for younger readers // Class barriers successfully depicted, which is an uncommon and difficult issue to tackle in YA fiction // Vibrant setting // Cute banter between Jack and Savannah // Very detailed, personal account of the connection between horses and humans and the world of racing // Makes me anxious to get to know other characters, whose stories are told in previous books in the series

Cons

Mild, indistinct characters // Savannah isn't that exciting or compelling of a narrator // No climax // Unconvincing romance // Predictable, flat, unrealistic

Love

I love fireworks. You never know what's going to happen when they explode in the dark sky. Will it be a giant burst of light, or just a dud? Will sparks rain down like glitter?

Jack touching me just now was like fireworks exploding right in my face. It was so, so dangerous.

But the colors were so real.

Verdict

Readers are reminded of the excitement and turbulence of teenage romance in the latest book of the popular Hundred Oaks series. Savannah's struggle to keep her feelings for Jack hidden because going public with him would embarrass both families, as well as sabotage her own family's work—work they can't afford to lose—and to discover her true potential will strike a chord with young adult readers (ages 12-16). The uncertainty of heartbreak, the freedom from social constraints, and the loyalty of friends and family make Racing Savannah an emotional, eventful addition to YA sports fiction and contemporary romance. Although I found the relationship to be unrealistic and the characters bland, Kenneally's newest novel progresses effortlessly and is a stormy, but satisfying ride 

7 hearts: Not perfect, but overall enjoyable; borrow, don't buy! (x)

Giveaway!

There is an AWESOME tour-wide giveaway for these gorgeous Ralph Lauren riding boots:

To enter, fill out this Rafflecopter form:

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 December 20th at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US and Canada residents only. Sorry, rest of the world! Please check my sidebar at the top for a list of giveaways that are running internationally :)
Void where prohibited.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤ Plus you get extra entries! ;)

Good luck!

7 Heart Review: Martin Boots from EverBuying.com

The lovely people at EverBuying.com allowed me to review one of the hottest products from their fall/winter women's fashion line, Suede Lace-Up Martin Boots! These are so popular that they are constantly selling out. Right now, they are only available in black, but I was lucky enough to snag a pair of brown ones before they sold out for the holidays:

Now, I've braved New England winters so I feel like I'm bragging when I say this, but here in California, it's STILL warm, even in December. The sun shines loyally everyday, which I'm obviously thankful for; we're still in the 50s and 60s on average *sly grin*

So accordingly, I paired these boots up with long charcoal socks and a pair of white shorts. It simply was not pants-and-boots weather.

However, if you live somewhere chillier, these would look more than swanky with a pair of skinny jeans or leggings. 

This review will only show off my shorts and the sunny warm weather, however ;-)

As you can see, these Martin Boots have a substantial wedge heel to them. It's a little under four inches including the platform, but I would hardly even call it a platform. There's still a steep nearly-four-inch incline to the soles, so it's like wearing a pair of regular high-heel boots, rather than wedges.

That speaks for how comfortable they were—or rather, how uncomfortable. They fit perfectly—the round toe design shapes my feet nicely and the inner material is thick and plushy—but after a few hours of walking in them, my feet felt like HELL. As if I'd been strutting around campus in pumps, which, I essentially had been.

See how narrow the wedge is? These were not made for comfort, my dears.

I had blisters at the balls of my feet by the end of the day... nothing I haven't encountered with heels before, but nonetheless disheartening. I was hoping these could be an everyday-wear type of shoe.

In retrospect, I should have looked at the above picture and rationalized what effect they'd have on my feet; I have enough high-heel experience and should have known better.

But alas, they were too stinkin' cute, so I guess I wasn't thinking properly!

Excuse the horrid mess in the background and my subpar photography. I'm a fashion addict, not an artist.

I pride myself in keeping all these pictures unretouched and unedited, but then I look at the quality of them... and am embarrassed to think they need to be retouched and need to be edited. I should invest in a new camera, huh? And maybe even a boutique photographer?

Alternatively, Martin Boots can be worn folded down, like shown in the catalog picture.

Pros

Gorgeous! // Versatile—can be worn with pants, leggings, shorts, skirts, dresses! The possibilities are endless // High heel provides a nice height boost // Fuzzy, warm inner lining // Laces and rivets are cute

Cons

Feel like walking in regular high heels—not for walking around a lot in! // Gave me blisters :( // Suede looks like it would stain easily, since it isn't genuine leather

Verdict

I can safely say these boots make up one of my favorite fall looks. They're extremely versatile; acceptable for not-so-cold weather in Cali, as well as for harsher winter weather up north. They look good with anything! In my opinion, heeled boots like these are a closet staple, even if you can't wear them too often. They make a wardrobe really pop! However, because of the issue of discomfort, I can't say these boots are for everyone. They're adorable and work well for occasional autumn outfits, but if you're looking for a casual, everyday boot, these are not the best option 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

7 hearts: Not perfect, but overall worth it (x)

And I leave you with my awkward crouch photos that I don't really know how to explain:

So I just won't explain them. 

What do you guys think about these boots?

What kind of boots do you like best? Browse around EverBuying.com and find a pair you adore, or tell me about your favorite go-to boots!

7 Heart Review: Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

Foreplay (Ivy Chronicles #1)
Sophie Jordan
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Page Count: 320
Release Date: November 5th 2013
Publisher: William Morrow Books (Harper Collins)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Harper Collins and TLC!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs. 

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real...

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Review

Pepper—perpetually dubbed a "nice girl"—knows exactly what she wants. She wants a place to call home, a stable marriage, two-point-five children, and a white picket fence. Intelligent, kind, and newly single Hunter, whom she's loved from afar ever since her adolescence, can provide all these things—if she can even get him to notice her. But that's the thing with nice girls... they typically go unnoticed, especially the plain-Jane wallflower V-I-R-G-I-N-S like her. To get Hunter to fall for her, she needs a game plan: she needs to tease out her inner bombshell. But in order to do that, she'll need experience, and at her level of desperation, she'll look anywhere to get it.

Pepper's search for a purely physical relationship, particularly with her lack of experience and sexual maturity, in order to achieve the idealistically domestic life she's always wanted, creates a complicated jumble of a romance story—a not-quite love triangle, with a few fatefully belated realizations tangled in. This is an entertaining twist on the typical We Agreed to be Fuck Buddies But Ended Up Falling In Love and the Honey, It Was You All Along! plots, but you can't really expect it to knock anyone's socks off.

The biggest thing that contributed to my enjoyment of this novel was the emotional depth within both Pepper and Reece. I'm not talking about the troubled pasts trope here, because I really felt it wasn't necessary to the development of the book, but rather, the reluctance and self-control both characters are forced to demonstrate when thrown into their sticky situation. Reece's mysterious, bad-boy-with-exceptional-morals vibe will make you want to probe him and get to know him, and Pepper's insistence on having Hunter while simultaneously falling for Reece, is a painful and conflicting issue.

Jordan's characters are intricate and very lifelike—that, I can't complain about—but Pepper as a whole, I had a problem with. As kind-hearted and easy to sympathize with as she is, for her age and circumstance, she seems like a loser—and not the adorable, klutzy kind of loser either, but a complete and utter square. I know that makes me sound like a turbobitch, but her lack of social awareness (about everything and anything, not just with sex!) and very not-cute naïveté are so exasperating. She's a genuine, determined person, I'll give her that, but she's the kind of girl who doesn't understand sarcasm and innuendos, or is deluded enough to actually believe that one guy will give her everything she's ever wanted but never had (happiness, a perfect family, a large house, etc.). AND she's foolish enough to refuse Reece, who's right there in front of her practically ripping his heart open for her to use, because she's so fixated on this dream she's had. I accepted her as the narrator, but really had trouble liking or even relating to her.

Reece, as with most NA heroes, is absolutely delicious—the kind of guy girls lose their heads over. Despite the fact that he seems perfect (has icy blue eyes and a flawless body; is a soccer-player-turned-bartender, as well as sex god), what readers learn of him beneath the surface is what will really made me swoon. Tall, dark, and troubled fans, you will go wild with this bad boy—such a catch!

Pros

REECE! Holy fuck // Pepper's initial mortification with Reece is hilarious // All the characters are well written; I'm intrigued by Pepper's friends because they seem so two-dimensional, but I'm sure they each have their own stories (possible future books in the series??) // Great writing that flows smoothly and steadily // Easy, mindless read // Pepper and Reece make an unexpectedly good pair // Contemporary college setting

Cons

Predictable // Unimaginative storyline: "Average girl and super hunk fall in love in an initially no-strings-attached relationship"—doesn't this scream contemporary romance? // Pepper is a consistent narrator, but an aggravating character // Hunter didn't seem that great to begin with; Pepper's "love" for him is unconvincing

Verdict

While the familiar synopsis of Sophie Jordan's debut contemporary romance didn't get my hopes up for a completely exceptional or mind-blowing read to begin with, I couldn't help but be charmed by her effortless, intriguing execution of the overrated plot. The cast of lively characters, steamy chemistry, and entertaining, endearingly awkward relationship that only comes with the college experience—or rather, college inexperience—make Foreplay a breezy, party-like new adult novel, but Pepper's encounters with intimacy of an unwarranted connection, as well as release from repression to confront true desires, both add depth and complexity. I wouldn't call this an urgent must-read, but it's definitely a promising start to an exciting new university-set romance series 

7 hearts: Not perfect, but overall enjoyable; borrow, don't buy! (x)