Blog tour (review): Catching Tatum by Lucy H. Delaney

ABOUT Catching Tatum

When high school heartthrob and star athlete Cole Jackson breaks Tatum’s heart, she makes a pact with herself to never be hurt again. She turns love into a game modeled after her family’s favorite pastime: baseball. Anyone brave enough to date her must step up to plate and get to each base by following her rules - or they're out.

Years later Cole, as handsome and charming as ever, makes an unexpected reappearance in her life with promises he’s a changed man. He’s got the story to prove it and says he’s willing to follow all of her rules just to have a second chance.

Complicating matters is the strong and steady Airman, Justin Parker, with a heartbreak story of his own. His friendship challenges all she ever knew of loving and being loved.

Will Tatum’s rules help her navigate two very different men, or will she strike out at her own game?

 

Here's my review:

NOTE: I received this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

To start this off, I want to say that this book was a surprise from the very first chapter. I didn't expect it to begin as it did (but I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it for you), or to develop how it did. What I can say is that I enjoyed the story, the characters, the truth of coming-of-age and how difficult it could be.

Most importantly though, this story doesn't feel like fiction, but like something you'd experience in real life. That's what really captivated me and drew me in.

About the characters... I can say that both Tatum and Cole started out as kids, but grew up as life moved on around them. There were moments when I didn't like how they acted, didn't approve of what they did, but like I said previously, that's why this felt like a real life story.

I really recommend this book to people who love reading new adult lit, but do keep in mind that you're in for something fresh. 

ABOUT Lucy H. Delaney

Lucy H. Delaney lives in the Pacific Northwest town of Leavenworth, Washington, nestled at the feet of the Cascade Mountains. When not tucked away in her writing room making up stories or standing in her cubicle in one of the offices of corporate America, Lucy spends her time with her family, former students, and friends.

Lucy loves to be in nature: She can often be found on her homemade backyard swing, curled up with a good book, hiking the surrounding mountains, or running country roads and game trails.

 

Connect with Lucy online

Twitter: @lucyhdelaney

Facebook: Lucy H. Delaney

www.lucyhdelaney.com

Add Catching Tatum to Goodreads

Book Review: The Third Rule of Ten by Gay Hendricks & Tinker Lindsay

Synopsis:


Keep current with the truth: we’re only as weak as our secrets—especially the ones we keep from ourselves.
That’s the Third Rule of Ten
As the go-to private detective for a bevy of high-profile clients, our beloved ex–Buddhist monk, ex–LAPD officer, Tenzing “Ten” Norbu, has finally found his stride. With his beautiful pathologist girlfriend, a healthy bank account, and a steady stream of clients, courtesy of middle-aged movie star Mac Gannon and rising political star Bets McMurtry, Ten’s life is bursting with activity. But it’s not all joy and happiness. The death of his father and a growing abundance of secrets—both personal and professional—leave Ten feeling an unexpected depth of sorrow and confusion.
Even with the emotional turmoil, nothing can stop Ten from taking the case when McMurtry’s housekeeper goes missing. The investigation leads him down a dangerous path littered with bodies, untraceable prescription drugs, and human organ trafficking. But nothing is as shocking as the realization that the mastermind behind it all is in fact a criminal who has slipped through Ten’s fingers once before.
The Third Rule of Ten will have you on the edge of your seat, as you learn, along with Ten, that there is a fine line between healthy privacy and unhealthy secrecy. Knowing the difference may just determine whether Ten will stop his archenemy or lose himself.

NOTE: I received this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not sure what I was hoping for with this novel, but I certainly got some thrill out of it. It was like watching CSI or Monk or Bones, but with a notch up on the action factor. I was very pleased that Ten didn't fail to deliver.
I can't say there was much mystery to it, but this wasn't the kind of book to expect it from anyway.

Writing style:
Quite good. Enticing with thrill and action.

Story line:
The Third Rule of Ten was the typical thriller/action/PI novel. There was a situation, a missing person case, that lead to death threats, some confrontation with drug lords & the FBI. It was really a journey that I usually only watch on TV shows, so it was nice to actually read it for a change.

Themes:
- Finding yourself can take awhile
- the PI's job can sometime be quite dangerous

Characters:
- Tenzing Norbu (Ten), a buddhist priest turned police officer turned PI has put himself in a situation he doesn't even know about. Right smack in the middle of organized crime of all possible kinds. Of course, with death threats and such he had little to no time to deal with his romantic and personal issues. After all, staying alive was turning to be a priority.
He was a fun character. Not quite quick of wit, but he wasn't stupid either. He liked to count on himself, and only rarely use his contacts.

- Heather was Ten's girlfriend. I'm not sure how she and Ten came to be together, but there was something missing from their relationship. Like love, maybe?

- Bill was Ten's ex-partner in the PD. Even though he tried to pretend he didn't care about Ten's affairs, he still helped the PI however he could. A fine man.

- The bad guy, a.k.a. drug lord, had two sides, which made him look realistic. On one side he was the ruthless killer who didn't care about anyone's life. On the other, he was a loving husband and father.

In conclusion:
If you're looking for a nice crime thriller, this should definitely be something to consider.

My rating is:

Book review: Accidents & Incidents by Riley Graham

Summary from Goodreads:

 

Sometimes finding love means taking the scenic route ... Living with her faultfinding mother has taught Leslie not to ask for much. Just watch your step, stay on the sidelines, and take what you can get. But she wants a mom who thanks her for cleaning the kitchen instead of yelling at her for missing a spot, and a boyfriend who does more than score her a seat at the popular table-someone who actually notices her sitting there. So when Cain, the school heartbreaker, turns his Carolina blue eyes her way, Leslie can't help but be tempted, even if he's her boyfriend's best friend. Things get even more complicated when Leslie strikes up unlikely friendships with Meredith, Cain's girlfriend, and Dennis, a boy addicted to cigarettes and solitude. Despite his tough exterior, Dennis seems to understand Leslie in a way that no one ever has, and to need her as much as she needs him. For the first time in her life, Leslie feels like she could belong. She's just not sure where.

 

NOTE: I received this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not sure I expected anything at all from this novel. I wanted it to be good, of course, but I didn't start up with any inner feeling in mind. I'm glad it was so, because at least I wasn't disappointed.

I didn't see how the title had anything to do with this no-action story. It implied that something was to happen, but well... nothing did and that - combined with the slow development of events - completely lost my interest. It's actually a miracle I didn't put it down half-way through.

Writing style:
It was pretty fluent and clean and I could tell the author was well versed.

Story line:
In my opinion, that's where the major weakness was. Several times I felt compelled to just not finish because it really lead nowhere. It was excruciatingly slow to develop and quite painful to follow. No twists and turns, no action, no sweet romance. It was just some story.

Themes:
-parental neglect in different stages
-dealing with loss
-teenage romance - fleeting or true?

Characters:
Dennis was the new guy with the secrets, who never ever took the initiative to show his 'obvious' feelings to Leslie. To be honest, I'm not sure why anyone thought Dennis even had any feelings for her. He merely swapped a couple of sentences with her every now and then.

Keith was a non-consequential character. Leslie's ex-boyfriend, who kind of cheated on her. I'm not sure why so much attention was paid to him or why Leslie was with him to begin with. The only thing they did was fight.

Cain was the resident flirt. Bad boy to the core, it was outside of my understanding why all the girls wanted to be in a relationship with him when it was obvious he was not going to be faithful.

Leslie was the most insecure character I've ever met. She could never ask for something she wanted, but then she was always complaining how things didn't work out the way she wanted. Well, grow a backbone and start doing your own thing, geez!

Meredith was one more girl who didn't give herself enough credit. Being Cain's girlfriend must've been tough. Yet she endured, for whatever reason. I didn't understand why she'd make herself miserable like that. Perhaps she liked being hurt?

In Conclusion:
I don't know who to recommend this book to since I didn't enjoy it at all. Perhaps readers who don't crave for action and twists? I don't know. 

 

My rating is:

 

 

Book review: The Midnight Side by Natasha Mostert

A phone call from the dead. Lucid dreaming. A ghost manipulating the London stock exchange. And a truly frightening story of love gone wrong.

THE MIDNIGHT SIDE is a chilling tale of a seductive woman who, even from the grave, is able to manipulate events to her satisfaction. A haunting story of obsession and revenge, Natasha Mostert’s novel is an intricate psychological thriller with an ending that will leave you breathless.

Note: I received this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

All in all, it was an entertaining, creepy mystery with a great dose of thrill. However, the case of Alette’s death wasn’t all that difficult to solve. It had been quite easy to figure out who killed her and how manipulative she turned out to be, even dead. I did feel sad for poor Jason though.

I don’t like meddling with ghosts and after life stuff in real life, but reading about it in fiction books is actually entertaining. The Midnight Side provided a great journey that I found enjoyable.

Writing style:

The novel is written in a 3^rd person POV, and has an omnipresent narrator. From experience I know that the 3^rd person POV in a contemporary book is difficult to pull off, but Natasha Mostert turned out to be a fully capable writer, who makes the reader immerse in her stories.

Story line:

Isabel lives in South Africa, miles away from her cousin, Alette, who resides in the UK. So when Isa receives a phone call from Alette, it’s nothing unusual to her. Then she receives a different call, informing her of Alette’s death, from two days earlier. With Isa’s travel to the UK begins this mystery of murder, manipulation and ghostly ambitions.

Themes:

-Lucid dreaming as the string connecting the living with the recently deceased

-Obsession with someone is dangerous and usually tragic

-manipulation as a means to succeed in accomplishing one’s plans

Characters:

Isabel (Isa) – not surprisingly, she was portrayed to be the dependent cousin. When they were younger, Isa couldn’t spend a day without getting Alette’s approval. She could never deny Alette’s games of dare.

When Isa decided it was time to stand up for herself, although a bit late, she proved that she had a backbone when one was needed.

Jason, Alette’s ex-husband, who couldn’t escape his late wife even after she was dead, had to deal with a deathly obsessed person who just wouldn’t let go. Fending off a ghost seemed to be a difficult task.

Michael was another obsessed  character. He was quite obvious with his affection for Alette and I knew all troubles that seemed to haunt Isa came from him.

Alette – a ghost who just wouldn’t find peace until she brought revenge to the people she thought had forgotten her. She didn’t care how much pain she caused or who she caused it to. As long as she had the upper hand, everything was fine with her. Apart from her being dead, that is.

In conclusion:

Creepy from the very beginning, The Midnight Side kept giving me the chills to the very end.

My rating is:

 

Blog Tour(review): The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing by C.K.Kelly Martin

 

Book details:

The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing by C.K. Kelly Martin
Publication date: September 1st 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Losing weight over the summer gains Serena some popularity, but it also means discovering first-hand the pains of being a fifteen-year-old girl in a world that both sexualizes and shames young women. After narrowly avoiding exploitation in a shortlived relationship, Serena aligns with a new friend who was the victim of an explicit image that was shared at school. When Serena finds herself in a relationship with a new guy, she is surprised to find a different set of expectations. But have her previous experiences damaged her too much to make it work? As Serena struggles to find who she is as opposed to who she is expected to be, she begins sighting Devin – her older brother who disappeared months earlier.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22135341-the-sweetest-thing-you-can-sing?ac=1

Purchase:

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Sweetest-Thing-You-Sing/dp/1770864113/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405621934&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Sweetest+Thing+You+Can+Sing

--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sweetest-thing-you-can-sing-ck-kelly-martin/1119684532?ean=9781770864115

My review:

NOTE: I received the eARC of this book as a part of the blog tour organized by Xpresso Book Tours. My review is honest.

To be honest, when I requested this book, I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into. I thought that this would be just another YA novel with typical themes and characters. I was very surprised when things didn't turn out all that typical - surprised in a positive way that is.

Writing style:
The story was told in first person POV, with Serena being the POV character. There was need for some polishing of the manuscript, so a good editor is in order.

Story line:
Like I mentioned above, this isn't the usual contemporary teen romance, where everything is quite obvious right away. Things happen out of the blue in the most realistic of ways that I felt like I was invited to share the deepest feelings, expectations and hopes of the characters. Also, I liked the growth of each character and the development of each relationship - slow, steady, believable.

Themes:
- sibling love is important, can be character-building and certainly can be a support
- parental expectations can be overwhelming
- drug addiction(and any other addiction, really) and how it changes people
- romantic relationships - the importance of being honest, of being careful, of being responsible

Characters:
Serena, being the POV character, is the one I got to know the best. I liked what I saw in her. I liked how much she grew in the span of this novel. She used to be a girl in rage, a hurt girl who didn't want to trust anyone, who felt disregarded and an outsider in a family of special people. By the end, she learned that she was just as special, but in different aspects. I really liked her reaction toward Gage - from beginning to end, except when she lied to him and when she tried to jump him. That was just weird, but I still totally understood her. What came after that was very thought-provoking and I enjoyed reading about her.

Gage, a random guy with a complicated life seemed to be just what Serena needed. Of course, since I didn't see all that much of him, and wasn't privy to his thoughts, I only had Serena's view of events. Gage was responsible, thoughtful and knew exactly what he wanted out of life. He hadn't been that way though, and the results are obvious. But I really liked how he got to handle things in the end. Very mature, even if a bit late.

Morgan, Serena's famous brother, seemed to be way out there in the beginning, but the more I saw of him, the more I realized that Serena may have filtered Morgan's real personality through a weird prism that only showed certain traits and held in others. Morgan was very open, sociable and likeable. But more important - he loved his family and did whatever he could think of to keep it together.

Devin, Serena's other brother, who was a drug addict some months ago, caused a lot of trouble in the family. The mom seemed to totally loose it after Devin left school and house and disappeared from the map. I think that he was a bit too selfish, running away like that and making everyone terrified that something horrible might've happened to him. Of course, I'm aware that drug addicts (or any addicts really) don't think very clearly, so Devin didn't really act any differently than expected. What was selfish of him was that even when he got clean he never thought to call home and tell his family that he's okay.

The mom was totally out there, addicted to Swarovski figurines and completely loosing if anything happened to those super precious crystals. She was messed up bad, but I don't think that Devin's disappearance act caused it. It may have intensified it though.

The dad seemed to be completely out of control. He was there but did nothing to help his wife get better.

Nicole and Genevieve, the two friends Serena acquired after a run-in with with some stupid boys (among them her boyfriend) were sworn off boys because they'd suffered humiliation on more than one occasion. They liked to play tough, but inwardly they were just hurt and needed reassurance and love.

In conclusion:
The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing isn't a fast-pace read, but it leaves you thinking in the end.

My rating is 4.5 stars

AUTHOR BIO

C.K. KELLY MARTIN’s bestselling debut novel, I Know It’s Over, was published in 2008. It was followed by One Lonely Degree, The Lighter Side of Life and Death, My Beating Teenage Heart and the sci-fi thriller, Yesterday. A graduate of the Film Studies program at York University, Martin loves good books, movies, music, web design, and Ireland. She currently resides in Oakville, Ontario.


Author Links:
http://www.ckkellymartin.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3015727.C_K_Kelly_Martin

https://www.facebook.com/ckkellymartin

https://twitter.com/CKKellyMartin

Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

• A selection of YA fiction from Dancing Cat Books' fall releases (4 books including a print copy of The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing)

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