GUEST REVIEW: ALL MY RESTLESS LIFE TO LIVE by Dee DeTarsio

Title: All My Restless Life to Live

Author: Dee DeTarsio

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: April 29, 2013

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Reviewed by: Ellen Fritz

Source: From Author for Review

Ellen’s rating: 5/5

SUMMARY

Fans of Marian Keyes and Jennifer Weiner will delight in Dee DeTarsio’s sparkling prose and lively dialogue as she takes readers into the heart of women’s lives.

Life is a soap opera, especially for Elle Miller, who writes for one. (Ellen dropped the “n” in her name in hopes of finding a better ending for herself.) When her laptop crashes, she borrows her recently deceased dad’s computer and gets way more than she bargained for. 

Elle unravels mysterious communications from his computer, while her mom decides to give Internet dating a try. As Elle tries to save her career at I’d Rather Be Loved with a storyline featuring a trip through Atlantis, she takes a trip to the Emmys, and finds herself in the middle of a romance between a real doctor and a hunk who just plays one on TV. 

Friends, family, and clues from “the other side” all help Elle figure out the difference between living the good life and living a good life. 

Filled with friendship, love, loss, betrayal, and challenges that force her characters to find their place in the universe, Dee’s novels give us that hopefully-ever-after we're searching for.

Dee DeTarsio is a Winner of The 2013 San Diego Book Awards, Romance category, for Haole Wood, as well as a 2013 Next Generation Indie Awards Finalist.

REVIEW

It is guaranteed that I'll laugh and giggle myself through any book by Dee DeTarsio, and All My Restless Life to Live is no exception to this rule. When Elle Miller steals her deceased father's computer, it gets her in hospital to begin with and ends up boosting her career. What are the chances of it helping her find closure about her father's death and winning her the love of her life?

I simply couldn't put this book down once I started reading. Not only is it incredibly funny, it is also written in a captivating way that moves the story along all the time to the next bit of excitement. From her never-a-dull-moment life at work and being bitten by her aspiring boyfriend's niece, to a snake at an awards ceremony, Elle's life indeed seems to be full of said excitement.

The main character is fleshed out and realistic with hilarious thought patterns and tongue-in-cheek inner dialogue.

"I peered at him through my lashes because I had always wanted to do that on a date."

Elle's sharp sense of humor and her wickedly witty mouth makes for a totally unforgettable character.

"Let’s just hope he doesn’t get hurt patting himself on the back and covering his ass at the same time."

Apart from the humor this book also addresses the question of an afterlife, religion and reincarnation in a lighthearted way. Two kids, who had recently lost their parents, bring a touch of gentle seriousness to the story.

The reader gets a look at the behind the scenes life of creating a soap opera as well as at the anxious and funny moments on set.

There are several romantic scenes, be they acted, imagined or real, in this book. The author even includes some of the angst that often accompanies romance.

For an extremely entertaining read with some seriousness to ponder, I recommend All My Restless Life to Live as an absolute must read. Again Dee DeTarsio has convinced me that she is one of the sharpest, wittiest writers out there today.

PURCHASE LINKS

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

DEE DeTARSIO is a TV writer living in southern California. After growing up in Ennui, Ohio, and graduating from The Ohio State University she vowed never to be cold again (in a tantrum more worthy of Suellen than Scarlett) and ended up in Tucson, Arizona, producing the news for the CBS affiliate, oddly enough called KOLD-TV. She moved to San Diego where she worked in the SeaWorld entertainment department as a producer/writer. (Penguins are mean!) She then became a producer/writer for the NBC affiliate.

Dee is the author of hopefully-ever-after novels: HAOLE WOOD (Winner in The San Diego Book Awards, and Finalist in Next Generation Indie Book Awards), THE SCENT OF JADE, THE KITCHEN SHRINK (both finalists in The San Diego Book and Writing Awards),'TIL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, ROS, and ALL MY RESTLESS LIFE TO LIVE.

Though her mother never beat her (that hard) and her father is not a celebrity, she suspects one of her four sisters is a vampire.

(She only goes back to visit Ohio for two days in early October because she is equally scared of tornadoes and getting trapped in a snowstorm.) 

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REVIEW: ONCE EVERY NEVER (Never, #1) by Lesley Livingston

Title: Once Every Never

Series: Never, #1

Author: Lesley Livingston

Publisher: Penguin Canada

Publication Date: July 14, 2011

Genres: YA, Time-travel, Historical fiction

Reviewed by: Angie Edwards

My rating: 5/5

SUMMARY

Clarinet Reid is a pretty typical teenager. 

On the surface. 

She's smart, but a bit of a slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker, but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes. 

Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins.

Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there's still time, literally, maybe even get a date.

This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every, never.

REVIEW

If I had known earlier on what a magnificently scintillating joyride this book was going to be, I would’ve moved it right to the top of my to-read list MONTHS ago! Quite frankly, I’m flabbergasted that more people aren’t reading this book and raving about its awesomeness. So, okay, deep breath. This, my friends, is not just a simple must-read. It is a bucket list read. In fact, I forbid you from leaving this world before having read this book, understood? Yes? Good.

*rearranging facial features from do-my-bidding-or-suffer-my-wrath, to friendly, non-threatening smile”

You know those books where you’re almost halfway done with one but then life gets in the way and you have to wait until the next day to finish reading it, and you’re just dying with excitement because you can’t wait to read the rest of the book? Once Every Never is that book. When Clare (short for Clarinet...trust me, I kid you not) swoons over the first guy she comes across in the first few pages, I thought to myself, “Oh boy, insta love...please, someone slap me.” But, no. I was very, very wrong. This is definitely not that type of book, even if I thought so at the start. We’re talking a superbly plotted time-travel novel that will leave you breathless with laughter, sidesplittingly hilarious dialogue, lots and lots of action, an antagonist with the snarky wit of Klaus (from the tv series The Originals – fans of the tv series Vampire Diaries will understand the reference), a friendship that inspires envy, and two geeks who does that word proud. And all that? That is just the tip of the iceberg.

Interestingly, about a month ago I read another YA book with the Iceni warrior queen as the main topic in the story. So, when I came across this same story element in Once Every Never, I was already familiar with the background of this historical figure. What made the story about this queen who started a war with the Roman Empire entirely different from the one I read in Jordan Jacobs’s Samantha Sutton and the Winter of the Warrior Queen, is that it offers an entirely new perspective on the consequences of the decisions made by a heartbroken, vengeful, wife/mother. This novel also focuses on one of the warrior queen’s daughters and her love interest.

At first glance I was falsely under the impression that this was going to be a romance (I was misled with the blurb on the cover about a first kiss changing history, and all that), but I think hopeless romantics might be a little disappointed. The romance, thankfully, plays a small role at the conclusion. However, even though the romance only forms a tiny part of the plot, it was so utterly sweet and sincere, it actually brought tears to my eyes. Yes, folks, that’s what I said. I, anti-swoony-romance reader, begrudgingly admit that I unabashedly wiped away a few tears while I was getting caught up in the Disney-like love scene playing out near the end. I was so into it, I could swear I heard violins playing in the background during that specific scene.

So, what are you waiting for? Do you need more convincing? Fans of time-travel books, adrenaline-fueling adventure, historical fiction, and anyone with a sense of humor will be captivated by this tale of non-stop action, and the most unforgettable characters I’ve come across in...well, the past week or so. Another fantastic time-travel book with tons of romance you should check out (after you’ve read this one, of course) is Blue Bells of Scotland by Laura Vosika. Once Every Never is the first book I’ve read by this author, but certainly won’t be the last. So off I am to Goodreads to see what else Ms Livingston has written!

PURCHASE LINKS

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

Lesley is a writer and actor living in Toronto, Canada.  Captivated at a young age by stories of mythology and folk lore, past civilizations, and legendary heroes, she developed into a full-fledged Celtic Mythology Geek, steeped in stories of the Otherworld, Faeries and King Arthur. Lesley went on to earn a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Toronto specializing in Shakespeare and Arthurian literature.

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BOOKS ON MY WISHLIST FOR 2014!

Title: Tsarina

Authors: J. Nelle Patrick & Jackson Pearce

Expected Publication Date: February 27, 2014

Publisher: Razorbill

SUMMARY

Natalya knows a secret.
A magical Faberge egg glows within the walls of Russia's Winter Palace.
It holds a power rooted in the land and stolen from the mystics.
A power that promises a life of love for her and Alexei Romanov.
Power, that, in the right hands, can save her way of life.
But it's not in the right hands.

Title: The Winner’s Curse

Author: Marie Rutkoski

Expected Publication Date: March 4, 2014

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

SUMMARY

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Title: Don’t Look Back

Author: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication Date: April 15, 2014

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

SUMMARY

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. 

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash. 

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Title: Side Effects May Vary

Author: Julie Murphy

Expected Publication Date: March 18, 2014

Publisher: Harper Collins / Balzer & Bray

SUMMARY

What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you? 

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most? 

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MINI-REVIEW: ASYLUM (Asylum, #1) by Madeleine Roux

Title: Asylum

Series: Asylum, #1

Author: Madeleine Roux

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: August 20, 2013

Genres: YA, Psychological Thriller

Reviewed by: Angie Edwards

My rating: 3/5

SUMMARY

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.

REVIEW

I seem to be reading a lot of books lately that leaves me with mixed feelings. Sadly, Asylum ended up being one of those books that starts off intensely suspenseful, bringing on the chills in quick succession, but soon losing momentum.

The only elements driving this story, and which also kept me riveted, are the endless questions and guess work that goes into the who, what, where, and when. Is Dan crazy? Is it a long-forgotten escaped mental patient that wasn’t accounted for when Brookline was closed down who are committing all these shocking murders? Could it be a copycat murderer impersonating the serial killer known as The Sculptor? Or, is it just a matter of the evil mental institution warden reincarnated into the body of the mentally unstable protagonist who happens to be his namesake? You see? All of these questions are more than enough to keep you turning the pages to find out why Brookline was closed down in the late 1960s, what sort of grisly experiments were done on the mental patients, and why all these weird and unexplainable things are happening to Abby, Jordan, and Dan. And you know what else? I STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!!!

It all sounds interesting enough, but the big reveal (which went completely over my head) felt a little rushed and for me it wasn’t such a “wow” reveal at all. The issue I have with Asylum is that it builds up the reader’s expectation for a magnificent conclusion, but then it fails to deliver. I still had a multitude of questions that weren’t answered by the time I turned the final page. And I was also left with a sense of “what the heck just happened?”. Maybe I’m just a bit slow, but I was confused by most of what was happening throughout the book, yet still holding out hope that all will be explained at the end of the story.

But, Asylum does have a few good things going for it, which is why I’m giving it a solid three-star rating:

• A male protagonist (books in YA with a male voice are so few and far apart, it’s actually worth mentioning).
• The photos added to the sinister undertone of the story, and made it feel real.
• No love-triangle or romantic angst, but just a tiny hint of romance in the first half of the book. Nothing noteworthy though.

To sum it up: Asylum had a disappointing conclusion for me, but still it was an intriguing read as the author built up the suspense expertly. Maybe I just need to reread it again in case I missed that one clue that would help me understand the ending – or, in fact, the whole point of the story. The characters were rather bland, and I struggled to care about them. I did, however, enjoy that this is a psychological thriller for YA readers as there are so few books of this sort in this genre. Asylum is a book I’ll recommend to fans of Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood, though that was a way better book than this one, but the feel of this novel is the same as Anna’s. It started off as a promising read, but quickly slowed down and left me disappointed with the conclusion. The ending felt like drinking the last dregs of a cup of tea that had gone cold really quickly. The story had potential and I would of course want to read more books by this author, but sadly, I don’t think I’ll be recommending this one to any of my friends.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

MADELEINE ROUX received her BA in Creative Writing and Acting from Beloit College in 2008. In the spring of 2009, Madeleine completed an Honors Term at Beloit College, proposing, writing and presenting a full-length historical fiction novel. Shortly after, she began the experimental fiction blog Allison Hewitt Is Trapped. Allison Hewitt Is Trapped quickly spread throughout the blogosphere, bringing a unique serial fiction experience to readers.

Born in Minnesota, she now lives and works in Louisiana.

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REVIEW & GUEST POST: THE DIRT DIARY by Anna Staniszewski

Title: The Dirt Diary

Author: Anna Staniszewski

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Genres: MG, YA

Reviewed by: Angie Edwards

Source: From publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 3/5

SUMMARY

WANTED: Maid for the most popular kids in 8th grade.

Cleaning up after the in-crowd gets Rachel all the best dirt.

Rachel can't believe she has to give up her Saturdays to scrubbing other people's toilets. So. Gross. But she kinda, sorta stole $287.22 from her college fund that she's got to pay back ASAP or her mom will ground her for life. Which is even worse than working for her mother's new cleaning business. Maybe. After all, becoming a maid is definitely not going to help her already loserish reputation.

But Rachel picks up more than smelly socks on the job. As maid to some of the most popular kids in school, Rachel suddenly has all the dirt on the 8th grade in-crowd. Her formerly boring diary is now filled with juicy secrets. And when her crush offers to pay her to spy on his girlfriend, Rachel has to decide if she's willing to get her hands dirty...

REVIEW

At its core, The Dirt Diary isn’t so much about a girl collecting sensational dirt on her fellow students, but more a story about her coming to terms with her parents’ separation and finding herself. From the book summary I was expecting a novel filled with juicy secrets, scandalous discoveries, and humiliating revelations that would make it an intriguing story, but at the end of the day – even though it was a good read – it wasn’t nearly as exciting as it promised to be.

Nonetheless, I do feel that this is a terrific story for preteen readers as it deals with so many issues younger readers will be able to relate to. None of the characters are noteworthy, but I have to commend the antagonist in this story, Briana, for the creative ways in which she terrorized Rachel, although her shockingly cruel inventiveness is no laughing matter. 

The storyline is what redeems this book as it’s all about friendship, taking responsibility, being honest, and learning when to draw the line. It tugged at my heartstrings how Rachel, an extremely shy girl, tried to get her parents back together. Growing up as a child of divorced parents, I understood her need to want her parents to save their marriage. Whether she’s successful or not, you’ll just have to find out for yourself.  

This is a short read and one I think will be enjoyed by kids who find themselves in a similar social situation as Rachel. She’s being tormented by one of the popular girls at school, she only has one friend, and her parents are in the process of splitting up – so basically, her life sucks. And if that’s not bad enough, she suffers one embarrassment after the other. One of the things Rachel learns is that every bully has a weakness, and because I feel strongly about children being bullied at school, I appreciate the positive and enlightening message The Dirt Diary offers its readers about accepting the things you cannot change, and changing the things over which you have control.

Final verdict: well worth the read!

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

PURCHASE LINKS

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GUEST POST

What secrets would Anna's middle school diary have revealed?

It might not surprise you that the author of a book about a shy, awkward 8^th grade girl was once a shy, awkward 8^th grade girl. Unlike Rachel, I didn’t keep a diary full of secrets (mine and other people’s) but if I had, here are a few things that might have been in it.

1.     The nerdy secret. I owned a pair of enormous purple glasses which I refused to wear because they were hideous. (And enormous.) That means I spent most of my time squinting and tripping over things. Anything was better than donning those purple monstrosities!

2.     The embarrassing secret. Even though I was a self-proclaimed band and theater geek for most of middle and high school, I must admit that I often secretly wished I was one of the cheerleaders. They were pretty, popular, and seemed to have such easy lives. They definitely never had to worry about wearing ugly glasses!

3.     The swoony secret. I had a crush on the same guy all through middle school—and no, I will not tell you his name! Of course, he didn’t know I existed. He probably still doesn’t. Don’t worry. I’m over it. J

Okay, I’ve shared my middle school secrets. Now it’s your turn. What secrets would be in your middle school “dirt diary”?

ABOUT the AUTHOR

Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. She was named the 2006-2007 Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the 2009 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. Currently, Anna lives outside of Boston, Mass, with her husband and their adopted black Labrador, Emma. When she’s not writing, Anna spends her time teaching, reading, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch.

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GUEST REVIEW: NINE HOURS TILL SUNRISE by Better-Hero Army

Title: Nine Hours Till Sunrise

Author: Better-Hero Army

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: November 3, 2013

Genres: Horror, Zombies

Reviewed by: Ellen Fritz

Source: From author for review

Ellen’s rating: 4/5

SUMMARY

When six desperados hunting their ex-partner ride into what appears to be a ghost town at dusk, they must fight to survive the night with the town's only two survivors, a woman and her deaf daughter, while fending off the animated bodies of the victims of a mysterious gas leak in the nearby mines.

REVIEW

As most paranormal fiction usually takes place in the modern world, a post-apocalyptic world or another dimension, Nine Hours Till Sunrise is rather unique. Set in a mining town in the old West, this book tells the story of six desperados whose need for vengeance and a satchel full of rubies lead them into a death trap; literally.

This compact, suspenseful and action-packed adventure of Ben and his band of villains is a book one can finish in an evening. True to the nature of lawless men, jealousy, hatred and the desire to kill one another, are rife among the members of Ben's group. Despite the life threatening situation they find themselves in, every man is still focussed only on avenging himself on his old comrade, Pat Ormsby, getting the rubies and being the sole survivor to claim said rubies.

The action takes the reader onto the roofs of the buildings of an old Western town, through underground passages and into highly dangerous mine shafts. In the end the main character, Caroline, must make impossibly difficult decisions regarding the lives of one of the men and her deaf daughter, Suzanna.

For a book full of adventure, lots of bloodshed and gore, and an underlying, very touching bit of humanity and compassion, I highly recommend Nine Hours Till Sunrise.

PURCHASE LINKS

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