Showing posts with label If Only series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label If Only series. Show all posts

Book Review: What You Always Wanted by Kristin Rae



What You Always Wanted
If Only... #8
Author: Kristin Rae
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: March 29th 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

 
If Only . . . he was the boy she's been dreaming of. The If Only line continues in this fun high school theater-themed romance!

Drama girl Maddie Brooks has always had high standards for guys. But she has yet to find one who can live up to the romantic, classic Hollywood heartthrobs, especially the dreamy song-and-dance man Gene Kelly. When Maddie begins to carpool with Jesse Morales, her new neighbor and star pitcher of the baseball team, she's struck by his wit, good looks, and love for his family--but a guy so into sports is definitely not her style. Then Maddie discovers that Jesse was raised as a dancer and still practices in the community theater dance studio to keep in shape. Perhaps her perfect dream guy exists after all! But when it becomes clear that baseball--not dance--is Jessie's passion, can Maddie find a way to let her dream guy go and appreciate the charms of the amazing guy in front of her?


I love when a book makes you smile from beginning to end. Specially, when it's a book that you were not expecting to swoon over. Maddie is a funny character and had me laughing throughout this story. I loved how this story took me by surprise.

I went through a period in which I wanted to watch all 80s movies. It's a great way to expand your knowledge in something that you love. This is what I loved most about Maddie. I love her enthusiasm for movies and her knowledge in great cinema. Although there are titles mentioned that I need to watch. See, reading is fundamental. Not only is she into movies but Maddie is respectful and doesn't whine like teens her age. She's mature at her age in some levels.

Making a move from a big city to a small town, can be difficult for kids, but Maddie took the news like a champ. One of the things I admired is the fact that she was trying to find the perfect boyfriend. Didn't we all go through that phase? We all wanted to be perfect and to have the perfect boyfriend. And once she realized Jesse knows how to dance, she was making the effort to make him the perfect guy. Until she comes in conclusion there is no such thing as being a perfect boyfriend.

What You Always Wanted is an adorable, cute and swoony story. It's a story of a girl finding out that sometimes what you always wanted is not actually what you need. Life is a puzzle and mystery and we are here just to live it and make the best out of it. I liked Jesse and Maddie together. They're a pair that bring each other's best. Maddie learns life is full of mess and "perfection" is overrated. As for Jessie, he learns to follow his heart. This is a story worth learning.

Blog Tour: What If | A.J. Pine | Review | Giveaway


Welcome to our stop on the What If tour for AJ Pine. This tour is hosted by Good Choice Reading {Blog Tours}.
Today we share our 5 star review plus much more.


What If
If Only #2
Author: A.J. Pine
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: December 8, 2014
Review Source: Blog Tour | Entangled Embrace


Sometimes it takes letting go of the past to find out who you want to be.

During his semester abroad, Griffin Reed almost gave his heart to a girl who loved someone else. Lesson learned. Now he’s home, where following in his father’s footsteps may not be what he wants, but it’s what his parents expect. It might be taking the easy road, but he doesn’t see a way out.

Something that could have killed Maggie Kendall took away the person she used to be instead. Her condition makes her dependent on sticky notes, photos, and medication just to get through each day. The last thing she needs is a distraction—or someone new to disappoint.

What they refuse to see is they are perfect for each other. Maggie makes Griffin want to be a better man, and he makes her believe a future is possible. But these two have to find a way to share the secrets ripping them apart, if they’re ever going to have a chance at happiness.


What If takes you through Maggie and Griffin's journey of finding love when neither of them wants it. They are both rejecting any sort of relationship, due to the complications they each have in their own lives, but when they meet for the first time there's a pull that can't be ignored.

I asked myself several questions while reading this book. One being "Where can I find my own Griffin, who goes to bed shirtless, in flannel bottoms with cute glasses and a book?" And, another being "Can I unread this book just to read it all over again?" What If by AJ Pine is a book that will stay with me forever. For instance, I won't be able to play "UNO" without thinking of Maggie and Griffin. (And I LOVE to play UNO quite often!).

Pine is a brilliant writer that knows how to tug at your heartstrings! Pick up your copy of What If, right now! And, escape into Maggie and Griffin's world where you'll fall in love with the story, the characters, and love itself!




AJ Pine writes stories to break readers’ hearts, but don’t worry—she’ll mend them with a happily ever after. As an English teacher and a librarian, AJ has always surrounded herself with books. All her favorites have one big commonality–romance. Naturally, her books have the same. When she’s not writing, she’s of course reading. Then there’s online shopping (everything from groceries to shoes) and, of course, a tiny bit of TV where she nourishes her undying love of vampires, from Eric Northman to the Salvatore brothers. And in the midst of all of this, you’ll also find her hanging with her family in the Chicago burbs.

AJ's debut New Adult novel, IF ONLY, is out now with Entangled's Embrace line. The companion novel, WHAT IF, releases December 8th. Next year look for her new duo of New Adult books, ONE NIGHT and ONE LIFE with Penguin/Intermix.




Blog Tour: Not in the Script | Amy Finnegan | Review | Excerpt | Giveaway



Welcome to our stop on Not In The Script tour for Amy Finnegan. This tour is hosted by Jean Book Nerd Blog Tours.


Not in the Script
If Only #3
Author: Amy Finnegan
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Romance | Realistic Fiction
Released: October 7th 2014
Review Source: Bloomsbury Children's

Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss—a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending nearly all of her teen years performing on cue, Emma wonders if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her relationships.

Jake Elliott’s face is on magazine ads around the world, but his lucrative modeling deals were a poor substitute for what he had to leave behind. Now acting is offering Jake everything he wants: close proximity to home; an opportunity to finally start school; and plenty of time with the smart and irresistible Emma Taylor . . . if she would just give him a chance.

When Jake takes Emma behind the scenes of his real life, she begins to see how genuine he is, but on-set relationships always end badly. Don’t they? Toss in Hollywood’s most notorious heartthrob and a resident diva who may or may not be as evil as she seems, and the production of Coyote Hills heats up in unexpected—and romantic—ways.

This novel in the deliciously fun If Only romance line proves that the best kinds of love stories don’t follow a script.


I want to scream at the top of my lungs and tell everybody that this book was really really good. The best book of this month that I have read. Even thought it's a Young Adult book I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to everybody. When you were reading the book it left you feeling so warm and fuzzy inside and you were cheering on the characters. It was like you were standing next to them in the story and living what they were going through.

The main characters of the book that you will hear a lot about it Emma, Jake, Kimmi, Rachel, and Brett. You will meet a girl that everybody knows because she is a famous actress named Emma. Her best friend Rachel wants Emma life because she should of had that life but didn't make it through the auditons because she was sick. So Rachel is loving Emma life because she can go to all the premires and the after parties. She gets to meet all these famous actresses and actors. Well a new tv show is coming up and Emma finds out her biggest crush Brett will be one of the main characters. Her mother which is her manager tells her to not get involved with anymore actors because they never work out. When she gets to the set she finds out that Brett isn't really that great. Until Jake walks in. She starts laughing because her best friend Rachel loves him in his modeling ads. Well she tells Rachel and she wants Emma to get to know him and try to set her up with him. Until Emma starts hanging out with him and she realizes that she really likes him. But they can't see each other because it would complicate things plus her best friend likes him a lot.

I don't want to tell you anymore because it will give things away. It really is a great book that is a page turner and you will love it so much. I would recommend it to my daughters to read. I read the book in a day or so. I couldnt' put it down.



Excerpt #1 - NOT IN THE SCRIPT

From Jake’s point of view, page 156:

Studying a script for at least an hour every night doesn’t fit well with my regular workout schedule, so now I do my core work while memorizing lines—which is why I’m in the middle of crunches, and only wearing gym shorts, when Emma shows up on my porch Tuesday night.
“Um . . . hello,” she says, her wide blue eyes finally darting from my bare chest to my face. “I saw a sign today that sort of worries me. That river behind us is called Rattlesnake Creek, so does that mean . . . ?”
“Didn’t we already have this talk about Arizona?” I ask.
“Yes, but I didn’t expect snakes to be . . . you know, waiting outside my kitchen door. Like stray cats.”
“Well, if you’re worried about them going hungry, you could always toss them a few raw eggs,” I say, not sure if I should invite her in or not. After thinking about her and Brett all day, I’m leaning toward not. But I also can’t stop thinking about the way Troy must’ve treated her. “Other than that, you just have to be careful. Stay on the path, watch where you step.”
Emma shivers. “Holy. Freaking. Crap.”
I shrug. “I guess, if it would make you feel better, I could try to . . . I don’t know, herd them back into the mountains? I might’ve done a merit badge for that in Scouts.”
Emma laughs and she has me, right there. I can’t stay away from her.



Amy Finnegan writes her own stories because she enjoys falling in love over and over again, and thinks everyone deserves a happy ending. She likes to travel the world—usually to locations where her favorite books take place—and owes her unquenchable thirst for reading to Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling. Her debut novel, NOT IN THE SCRIPT (Bloomsbury, Oct 2014), came about after hearing several years of behind-the-scenes stories from her industry veteran brother. She’s also been lucky enough to visit dozens of film sets and sit in on major productions such as Parks and Recreation, and Parenthood.



Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

1 Winner will receive a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card.
3 Winners will receive a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.


Book Review: Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae





Wish You Were Italian
If Only #2
Author: Kristin Rae
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: May 6th 2014
Review Source: Bloomsbury | NetGalley

Pippa is in Italy for the summer and, despite her parents’ wishes, she has no intention of just studying the local art! She has a list of things of her own to do: from swimming in the Mediterranean Sea to getting a makeover – and falling for an Italian boy! As Pippa explores the dramatic ruins of Rome and Pompeii, she is swept into her own drama with two guys: an irresistible local she knows is nothing but trouble and a cute American archaeology student . . . Will she find her true love?

The perfect reckless romance to enjoy whether you are home or abroad.


At a Glance:
Mentioned in many of Waiting on Wednesday memes, this book looked promising and fun. And I just couldn’t wait to get an approval from NetGalley.

Cover:
The cover is very and cute, with a background of one of Rome’s most famous attraction site – the Colosseum. If this cover doesn’t catch your attention… just WOW.

Action:
The set is in Italy, may sound like fun but in reality it wasn’t for me. Sure you read about gelato and somewhat get some great description of Italy… but I am not sure, this wasn't it for me. This little adventure was shattered with all the drama, drama, and drama.

Romance:
The romance was not well form for me. Pippa was confused most of the time. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted. Switching from an in Italian to an American, seriously… this had me going crazy. And one of the boys was such an unlikeable character.

Something I loved:
When in Rome… eat a gelato first. Set in Italy, we get some descriptions of some of the most famous landscape of this beautiful and rich country. Since this is one of the countries I did not get to go on my trip to Europe, it was fun reading about it.

Cliffhanger:
No, this is a standalone, thank God for that!

Would I recommend it?:
Honestly, I did not enjoy this book enough. I love to travel, this is pretty much one of my hobbies. I was expecting so much of this book and I couldn’t wait to start. But unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations.  I was annoyed for the most parts. I didn’t connect with Pippa, at all. She was somewhat all over the place. Sure she took some chances, but most of them were irrational.

Some of the descriptions of this book were fun to read. I tried picturing the settings and location but I guess I was caught up with all the drama, that I really didn’t enjoy this “escape” to Italy.


Book Review: Fool Me Twice by Mandy Hubbard



Fool Me Twice
If Only...#1
Author: Mandy Hubbard
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: May 6th 2014
Review Source: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Mackenzie and Landon were the perfect couple . . . until he dumped her and broke her heart. Fast-forward a year and they're back where they first met—Serenity Ranch and Spa, where they are once again working together for the summer. Talk about awkward.

Then, Landon takes a nasty fall and gets amnesia. Suddenly, he’s stuck in the past—literally. His most recent memory is of last summer, when he and Mack were still together, so now he’s calling her pet names and hanging all over her. It's the perfect chance for revenge. The plan is simple: keep Landon at arm’s length, manipulate him so he’s the one falling love, and then BAM, dump him. There’s just one problem: Mack can’t fall for Landon all over again.

The If Only romance line is all about wanting what you can't have, and Mandy Hubbard's hilarious break-up/love story is sure to captivate anyone who has ever wished for a second shot at love.


Although I had a hard time getting into this story, since this is a bit predictable... at the end, I found it as a fun, cute, and fluffy romance story.

Fool Me Twice is such a cute teenage love story about something I think every girl has gone through . . . fall for her ex a second time.  How many times would we have all liked the chance to have a do-over?  The circumstance is a bit far fetched, and my adult side was screaming for someone to take Landon to a hospital rather than spend a summer plotting revenge, but hat aside, I did enjoy it.  The characters and the pranks were pretty funny, and I like that we got to know Landon better.

All in all, a nice light read. Great for those seeking a fun read -  especially for summer.

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