Book Review: A Walk in the Sun by Michelle Zink

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A Walk in the Sun
Author: Michelle Zink
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: May 3rd 2016
Review Source: HarperTeen

Rose Darrow never wanted to spend her life working on her family’s farm. But when her family is rocked by an unexpected tragedy she has no choice but to put her plans for the future—and dreams of escaping her small town—on hold.

Bodhi Lowell left home as a kid and hasn’t looked back. Years of working farm jobs has given him the one thing he wants most: freedom to travel without answering to anyone. He’s already looking past his job at Darrow Farm and plans on leaving in September—until he meets Rose.

Neither Rose nor Bodhi can deny the sparks flying between them, but with the end of summer looming, they must decide if it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all....

A Walk in the Sun was the perfect contemporary novel all rolled into one. Rose and Bodhi are forced together when Rose’s aunt hires Bodhi to help on their family farm. Rose is close to graduating high school but her hopeful plans for travel after graduation are put on hold after the death of her mother that has left her father in a deep depression and Rose feels responsible for taking care of the family farm. Cue Rose’s aunt hiring on Bodhi for the summer. While Rose is dealing with heavy grief, Bodhi is dealing with his own different grief. They're both reserved and standoffish towards each other for a good time but that helps make the relationship feel organic once it starts. A lot of contemporary novels rush into the romance part of the story since there’s not a lot of time to work with and Zink built a friendship for our characters first, and then their feelings bloomed into more.

This was the perfect summer contemporary read. I've read Michelle Zink’s Lies I Told series and fell for her storytelling then and couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. And with no surprise it captured me right away and I couldn't wait to hear both Rose and Bodhi’s story.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

 Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

Book Review: Promises I Made by Michelle Zink

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Promises I Made
Lies I Told #2
Author: Michelle Zink
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: November 24th 2015
Review Source: HarperTeen

In the thrilling sequel to Lies I Told, Grace learns that the most difficult thing about pulling off the perfect crime is living with the consequences.

Grace Fontaine was trained to carry out perfect crimes. But when a mistake was made the night her family tried to execute their biggest heist yet, her world fell apart. Now her brother is in jail, her mother has disappeared with the entire stolen fortune, and her father is determined to find a new mark, no matter the cost.

Haunted by the way she betrayed her friends—and Logan, the only boy she’s ever loved—as well as the role she played in her brother’s arrest, Grace decides she must return to the place every thief knows you should avoid: the scene of the crime.

Returning to Playa Hermosa as a wanted criminal is dangerous. But Grace has only one chance to make things right. To do it, she has to use everything she’s been taught about the art of the con to hunt down the very people who trained her: the only family she’s ever known. Perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Cecily von Ziegesar, and Gail Carriger, this thrilling, high-stakes novel deftly explores the roles of identity and loyalty while offering a window into the world of the rich and fabulous.

I FINALLY got my greedy little paws all over this book. Earlier this year I read Lies I Told and could NOT wait to get Promises I Made, to finally get all the questions answered. So quick story short, Grace and her family rip off rich families, stealing their wealth and leaving as if nothing ever happened. While in Playa Hermosa their latest grift goes a wry and Parker ends up in jail, Cormac and Grace run away to Seattle, and Renee runs away with all stolen gold.

 Promises I Made is all centered around Grace getting justice for Parker, either getting him out of prison or lower his sentencing, something neither of their “parents” are trying to do. Grace leaves Seattle in the middle of another heist and returns to the scene of the crime to try anything she can to help Parker. While she stole the rest of Cormac’s money from the one gold bar Renee left them, it wasn’t much, not enough to last her if she’s planning on living in and out of hotels. On a whim Grace tries to enlist the help of Selena, her best friend from Playa Hermosa, who was hurt pretty badly after the theft. After some nice and not so nice words were exchanged Grace has a new place to stay and a foot in the door to getting her best friend back. Grace hadn’t been able to do much towards helping Parker when a new ally approaches her. The new ally was once burned by Cormac and would love to see him pay for it and if they find Cormac that helps Parker and his case.

As I stated before, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book, but I think I was living in a delusional world with what I was hoping some of the outcomes would be (cause looking back on it now, I should’ve known). Obviously I am not going into much detail about those since, you know, spoilers and all. I was more enthralled with Lies I Told, it felt more face paced, and I was curious to see what Grace would and would not go through with. But that is not to say I wasn’t just as curious with what has going to happen to Grace and Parker and to see if Renee or Cormac would actually get caught. But overall I loved this duology, a little bit of romance, suspense, friendships, broken hearts, and redemption.

Lies I Told Review

Blog Tour: Lies I Told by Michelle Zink + Fill-In Questionnaire

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Lies I Told
Lies I Told #1
Author: Michelle Zink
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: April 7th 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen

What if, after spending a lifetime deceiving everyone around you, you discovered the biggest lies were the ones you've told yourself?

Grace Fontaine has everything: beauty, money, confidence, and the perfect family.

But it’s all a lie.

Grace has been adopted into a family of thieves who con affluent people out of money, jewelry, art, and anything else of value. Grace has never had any difficulty pulling off a job, but when things start to go wrong on the Fontaines' biggest heist yet, Grace finds herself breaking more and more of the rules designed to keep her from getting caught...including the most important one of all: never fall for your mark.

Perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Cecily von Ziegesar, and Gail Carriger, this thrilling, high-stakes novel deftly explores the roles of identity and loyalty while offering a window into the world of the rich and fabulous.

Fill-In Questionnaire

Something you might not know about me is:

My first series, Prophecy of the Sisters, was published in over twenty countries. 

The best surprise ever would be:

To have someone take me out to a nice meal (when you’re a single mom who has sworn off dating for the time being, that doesn’t happen very often).

The best part of my day is: 

Anytime I get to see my kids. 

Something I am willing to fight for is:

My family and the life I want for them (and for me). 

Some wise words I love are: 

“The phoenix must burn to emerge.” - Janet Fitch, White Oleander

Best cure for a bad day is:

A cup of tea, an awesome snack (I’m not a saint!), my favorite blanket, and a book or a movie.

Happy ever after is:

Having the freedom to do the things you want to do with the people you love. 

I hope to: 

Travel extensively after my kids are grown. 

I dream of: 

A little beach house in Maine. I love Maine. 

I am passionate about: 

Life. Love. Family. Loyalty. Children. Art. Everything. 

I think everyone should: 

Meditate. 

Right now I am super into: 

Whole30/Paleo. It’s a huge departure from my former vegetarian lifestyle, but I feel so much better! 

A world without books is:

A world diminished in empathy, thought, and imagination.

The most beautiful thing I've ever seen was:

Everyday people doing their best to find joy and spread love against all odds. 

Check out Shannon's review! 

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Michelle Zink lives in New York in an old converted barn on four acres. Her first book, Prophecy of the Sisters, was one of Booklist’s Top Ten Debut novels, and her work as been included in the Lonestar List, Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best, and New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age. Michelle’s work has been published in over twenty countries. LIES I TOLD is her sixth book.

Book Review: Lies I Told by Michelle Zink

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Lies I Told
Lies I Told #1
Author: Michelle Zink
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: April 7th 2015
Review Source: HarperTeen

What if, after spending a lifetime deceiving everyone around you, you discovered the biggest lies were the ones you've told yourself?

Grace Fontaine has everything: beauty, money, confidence, and the perfect family.

But it’s all a lie.

Grace has been adopted into a family of thieves who con affluent people out of money, jewelry, art, and anything else of value. Grace has never had any difficulty pulling off a job, but when things start to go wrong on the Fontaines' biggest heist yet, Grace finds herself breaking more and more of the rules designed to keep her from getting caught...including the most important one of all: never fall for your mark.

Perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Cecily von Ziegesar, and Gail Carriger, this thrilling, high-stakes novel deftly explores the roles of identity and loyalty while offering a window into the world of the rich and fabulous.

This book, this book right here had me enticed from the very first page! Within the first chapter I was completely sold, I needed to know how this was going to play out and what’s to become of this family in the end.

Grace Fontaine may look like your average teenager from the outside to the strangers looking in, but in reality Grace is just an actress moving town to town ripping off the rich and leaving as if nothing ever happened. Grace was adopted by Cormac and Renee along with another foster child, Parker, and then their family was perfect to set up to move around integrating themselves in the lives of the rich, just long enough to learn their life and how to rip them off successfully.

When Grace and her family move to Playa Hermosa and everything is slightly off its axis, things are slipping, people are perceptive, and true feelings start evolving making choices harder. Along with everything going on Grace’s brother wants out of the con life and needs Grace to be there with him, then Grace falls hard for Logan and wants to stay put, and then the inner war of between love and safety or to be faithful to the only family she’s ever known.

Lies I Told had a voice that just drew you in, a story that was suspenseful, and a first love that made everything seem okay, this is definitely one you’ll want to pick up. Plus while I was writing up my post for this I found out that there’s going to be a sequel which totally makes me excited because I was disappointed in the ending, thinking all my questions went unanswered.