Use the hashtag #tbr2020
to join the conversation online
and post your progress throughout the year.
And tag @williammorrowbooks
Showing posts with label William Morrow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William Morrow. Show all posts
Audiobook Review: Riveted by Jay Crownover
RivetedSaints of Denver #3
Author: Jay Crownover
Narrator: Stephanie Wyles and Sean Bassett
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Romance
Released: February 14th 2017
Review Source: HarperAudio
Everyone else in Dixie Carmichael's life has made falling in love look easy, and now she is ready for her own chance at some of that happily ever after. Which means she’s done pining for the moody, silent former soldier who works with her at the bar that's become her home away from home. Nope. No more chasing the hot as heck thundercloud of a man and no more waiting for Mr. Right to find her; she's going hunting for him...even if she knows her heart is stuck on its stupid infatuation with Dash Churchill.
Denver has always been just a pit stop for Church on his way back to rural Mississippi. It was supposed to be simple, uneventful, but nothing could have prepared him for the bubbly, bouncy redhead with doe eyes and endless curves. Now he knows it's time to get out of Denver, fast. For a man used to living in the shadows, the idea of spending his days in the sun is nothing short of terrifying.
When Dixie and Church find themselves caught up in a homecoming overshadowed with lies and danger, Dixie realizes that while falling in love is easy, loving takes a whole lot more work…especially when Mr. Right thinks he's all wrong for you.
Since I have started working overnights audiobooks have become my saving grace. Last year I binged all of Jay Crownover;s books and couldn’t wait to get my hands or ears on Riveted. We are finally getting Dixie and Church's story! Dixie, a glass is always half full type of gal, and then Church a brooding soldier, but something drew Dixie to him and she knows he’s the one, but will he ever realize it or just get better at running?
Denver isn’t home for Church, he’s been avoiding something back home but when his father calls with some news Church knows it’s time to come home. Church may or may not have used the excuse of a girl keeping him in Denver, so he must bring the “lucky girl” home. He knows how much Dixie loves to help, so he shows up at her doorstep at way too early o’clock, and begs for a favor. Dixie of course can’t say no to helping him and hops on the back of his bike for a road trip to Mississippi.
Now let me also comment on Church’s narrator because holy shi*t he was amazing. They found the perfect slow sexy southern drawl. It made the audiobook. Now I don’t know if I got real attached to Church and his drawl during this book or what, but his story definitely had me shedding tears every so often. This sexy drawl telling you his sad story just breaks you in a million pieces.
Obviously, I love Jay Crownover’s books, I also absolutely love them in audiobook form and nothing is different with Riveted. While Crownover can turn up the steam and swoon, and she can also give you a character's back story that breaks you and builds you back up. Her characters and real and authentic and so goddamn swoonworthy.
Audiobook Review: Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Pretty GirlsAuthor: Karin Slaughter
Narrator: Kathleen Early
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Thriller
Released: September 29th 2015
Review Source: Library
#1 internationally bestselling author Karin Slaughter returns with a sophisticated and chilling psychological thriller of dangerous secrets, cold vengeance, and unexpected absolution, in which two estranged sisters must come together to find truth about two harrowing tragedies, twenty years apart, that devastate their lives.
Sisters. Strangers. Survivors.
More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia's teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that's cruelly ripped open when Claire's husband is killed.
The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.
Powerful, poignant, and utterly gripping, packed with indelible characters and unforgettable twists, Pretty Girls is a masterful thriller from one of the finest suspense writers working today.
Can we take a moment and appreciate this story? HOLY SH*T! This book is intense! I was curious why my library was recommending this audiobook and BOY was I blown away! Without a doubt Pretty Girls is the true definition of a thriller story. So if you want to read or listen to a very intense story, then look no further.
This is a story of three sisters. One disappear and the other one falls into drug abuse and addition, while the other falls in love with a man. It's been over twenty years since Lydia and Claire's older sister, Julia, disappeared. No one knows what happened to her. Lydia and Claire went their separate ways but as Claire's husband, Paul, is killed, the two reconnect. And little by little Claire and Lydia will learn the truth about Paul and the disappearance of Julia.
This is not an easy read nor is it soft to the ears, but the moment I started listening to the story.... boy, was I sucked in. As we leap into each character's story, information are given and if you're like me, that likes to put information together, then you will eventually see the big picture. Nonetheless, once you discover the truth, you will find it terrifying. The twist and turns will make you fall off your chair.
Pretty Girls is dark, full of violence but full of shocking moments and the story will make your hair neck stand of fear. Some parts are very disturbing. With this said, if you want something new or something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then you should give this a go.
Catch #HiddenFigures this Christmas Day in Select Theaters!
This Christmas day, after you are done opening presents with the family, head out to a select theaters to see Hidden Figures!
Hidden Figures will open in select theaters on December 25, and nationwide on January 6, 2017.
Director: Theodore Melfi
Screenplay by: Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi (writing credits not final), based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly
Producers: Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams, Theodore Melfi
Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell & Kimberly Quinn.
HIDDEN FIGURES is the incredible untold story of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.
You can also read the book that inspired the film before you see it in theaters:
Book Review: The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillian
Author: Gilly MacMillian
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genres: Mystery | Thriller | Suspense
Release Date: September 6th 2016
Review Source: William Morrow | Edelweiss
Zoe Maisey is a seventeen-year-old musical prodigy with a genius IQ. Three years ago, she was involved in a tragic incident that left three classmates dead. She served her time, and now her mother, Maria, is resolved to keep that devastating fact tucked far away from their new beginning, hiding the past even from her new husband and demanding Zoe do the same.
Tonight Zoe is giving a recital that Maria has been planning for months. It needs to be the performance of her life. But instead, by the end of the evening, Maria is dead.
In the aftermath, everyone—police, family, Zoe’s former solicitor, and Zoe herself—tries to piece together what happened. But as Zoe knows all too well, the truth is rarely straightforward, and the closer we are to someone, the less we may see.
The Story: You are following several point of views throughout the book, but the main character is Zoe. Zoe bacilli had to change her life as she knew it die to a fatal accident that she was charged for. But when the past becomes present again, Zoe's mother winds up dead. Did Zoe do it?
The Likes: I enjoyed the suspenseful part of the book, which pick up more towards the end. And in general the last few chapters were what really pique my interest.
The Dislikes: Here I have a few, I would have preferred the story to be told in maybe just one or two point of views, the multiple ones had me lost or just wanting to almost skip over that specific character or scene. I didn't like that it took almost reading the whole book to reach the exciting parts that actually did keep me on the edge of my seat. And some characters, probably could have been left out.
The Rating: So with all that I said, even though the story finally did pick up towards the end, it still wasn't enough of a boost to get a higher rating. Would I still recommend, sure.
Mini Review: Everything She Forgot by Lisa Ballantyne
Everything She Forgot Author: Lisa Ballantyne
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Released: October 6th 2015
Review Source: William Morrow Paperbacks
Lisa Ballantyne, international bestselling author of The Guilty One, delivers a compelling domestic thriller with impeccably observed characters and masterful edge-of-your-seat storytelling in a novel that leaps between past and present with page-turning finesse
They’re calling it the worst pile-up in London history. Driving home, Margaret Holloway has her mind elsewhere—on a troubled student, her daughter’s acting class, the next day’s meeting—when she’s rear-ended and trapped in the wreckage. Just as she begins to panic, a disfigured stranger pulls her from the car just seconds before it’s engulfed in flames. Then he simply disappears.
Though she escapes with minor injuries, Margaret feels that something’s wrong. She’s having trouble concentrating. Her emotions are running wild. More than that, flashbacks to the crash are also dredging up lost associations from her childhood, fragments of events that were wiped from her memory. Whatever happened, she didn’t merely forget—she chose to forget. And somehow, Margaret knows deep down that it’s got something to do with the man who saved her life.
As Margaret uncovers a mystery with chilling implications for her family and her very identity, Everything She Forgot winds through a riveting dual narrative and asks the question: How far would you go to hide the truth—from yourself…?
Although the book started a bit slow for my taste, after couple of chapters, this book became a page turner. Once I became invested in the story, I really enjoyed the multiple narratives, characters and the plot. Even though the outcome was not a shocker, I tend to always start my theories, it was enjoyable.
This story is not only thriller but it contains more than puzzles to piece. It is more about family, self-discovery, and consequences. Overall making this story enjoyable to read. So if you want to be entertained for couple of hours, this is a good read for the holidays.
Molly McAdams' Shares An Excerpt from To The Stars!
We are so excited to bring you the Excerpt Reveal for Molly McAdams' TO THE STARS! TO THE STARS is a contemporary romance novel being published on February 9th by HarperCollins’ William Morrow Impulse imprint and is the second novel in Molly’s Thatch Series! Pre-order this awesome book today!
Pre-Order Your Copy Today!
About TO THE STARS: In the second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they’re meant to be together. He promised to wait for her. She told him he was wasting his time. Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life. When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was two and a half years away, and Harlow couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life—whether she liked it or not—but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else. Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart…?And don’t miss the first book in the Thatch Series…
LETTING GO
Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes ** Kobo ** GooglePlay ** Audio
Excerpt:
About Molly McAdams:
Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. When she's not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm ... or under one in a bathtub if there are tornadoes. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.
Website ** Tumblr ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Google+
TO THE STARS Goodreads ** Molly McAdams Goodreads
Book Review: Undaunted by Ronnie Douglas
UndauntedAuthor: Ronnie Douglas
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Romance
Released: September 15th 2015
Review Source: William Morrow
Being fearless has never looked so good . . Aubrey Evans needs to get her life back on track after her father is indicted for embezzlement. All she has to do to hightail it out of small-town Tennessee is save up money for college tuition and steer clear of hard-muscled boys on motorcycles. Yet there's no ignoring someone like Zion. A knight in black leather, Zion looks like every bad idea she's been told to avoid, but she can't resist him. Whenever she's in trouble, he's there. Appealing as his rough exterior may be, it's the protective, principled man beneath who tempts her like crazy. Zion knows Aubrey doesn't intend to stick around. She claims to want only friendship, but he senses there's a naughty girl hiding on the inside—one whose intense desires match his own. For now, he'll be patient and play by her rules. But he knows it's just a matter of time before he weakens her resolve. As they join forces to figure out who's behind a local crime spree, it's clear that the danger goes deeper than Aubrey guessed. And when she needs someone tall, dark, and undaunted to keep her safe, Zion intends to be there—now and always.
Undaunted had the potential to be an amazing book, but it just fell flat for me. IT might have to do with the fact that I’m currently binge watching Sons of Anarchy. Yes, I know I’m super late. Let me be lol!
So let’s rewind and tell you guys what I gathered: Audrey’s new in town, but all of a sudden she has all three of the hottest guys in town after her. Believable? Far from it. Oh did I forget to mention she doesn’t really date. Ever. I just feel like Audrey could never decide what it was that she wanted so I just kept going back and forth between wanting to throw the book or keep reading to find out what actually becomes of these characters. I couldn’t connect with Aubrey with many issues, but I guess my biggest thing was that she came out looking like the poor girl who lost everything, yet when she moved in with her grandmother she decided to “make a plan” and stick to it. I’m all about making plans, but when your life is going good why change it?
I actually enjoyed a lot of the side characters more than the main two. Even though I wasn’t exactly crazy about Undaunted I would pick up the next in the series if Douglas decided to tell Dash & Ellen story. From the short encounters we did get from them I’d be excited to see how she would develop their story.
Undaunted can be read as a stand along and it wraps everything up nicely at the end. While it wasn’t for me, that shouldn’t discourage you from picking it up. I passed on my copy to my cousin and she absolutely loved it! Just depends on what taste you have and where your mindset is at. Since I’m currently neck deep in the SoA world I feel like it fell short in the actual motorcycle club aspect.
Blog Tour: Bounce by Noelle August + Giveaway
BounceBoomerang #3
Author: Noelle August
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Romance
Released: August 25th 2015
Review Source: William Morrow Paperbacks
Playing the occasional club gig just isn’t cutting it for twenty-two-year-old cellist Skyler Canby, who’s trying to support herself and her mother back home in Kentucky. Persuaded by her best friend Beth to accompany her on an audition for the first feature film launched by Blackwood Entertainment, she figures why not? Beth’s a shoe-in for the lead, but maybe Skyler’s newly dyed pink hair will help her stand out enough to score a small speaking part.
Never in her wildest dreams does Skyler imagine she’ll land the lead role or that she’ll have her shoes knocked off her feet by the kiss her audition partner, Grey Blackwood, plants on her—a kiss that feels very real and not at all “acted. ”
After throwing a party that causes thousands of dollars of damage to his older brother’s home, reckless musician Grey Blackwood gets roped into working off his debt on the set of his CEO brother’s newest project. Grey spends his days fetching coffee and doing odd jobs around the studio, but he lives for nights when he performs with his band. He knows if he can stay focused, success as a singer is just around the corner. But that’s tough with a distracting pink-haired girl occupying his every waking thought.
Skyler and Grey have every reason to resist each other. But, like a song neither of them can get out of their minds, they have no choice but to go where the music takes them.
I am so sad to have to say goodbye to the Boomerang Series, I have loved every page of it! In the series conclusion we have Grey, Adam’s younger brother, and Skyler, one of Mia’s roommates forging their path to a happily ever after. Grey has definitely been down on his luck and especially down when his brother comes home to a very, very, trashed home. With the amount of damage done to Adam’s place he employs Grey at Boomerang until he can pay off the cleaning bill. Which lands him right in the Boomerang studios having to read lines with actresses auditioning for a leading role. This then brings us to Skyler, who is finally putting her acting classes to use and trying out for the leading role in the movie to help support herself and her family back home. Skyler has a big heart and a tendency to put others before herself.
I’m not going to lie to you, even though I loved this book, Grey and Skyler both, it was definitely the most frustrating of the three. There was a friendship that was built between Grey and Skyler first, even though their chemistry was seeping off the pages from the moment they met. Skyler had her reservations about Grey, he was young, a musician, and clearly not responsible if he was having to work off a cleaning bill. And you know… fighting your feelings only makes them more intense, and your readers more frustrated, I need the kisses and the fights, actually not the fights, let’s skip those and just do the kisses. Then we had my favorite person ever introduced, the leading man to the movie, Garrett. I’m pretty sure this shouldn’t be the last book, and Garrett should get one, great sidekick for Grey. Both of our characters go through some pretty heavy stuff in this book, it helps us see their soul, their determination, and how much they needed to go through some of this stuff to become the person they needed to be. You have to go through some bad to truly appreciate the good.
So even though I had my frustrating moments, I wouldn’t take back a single second reading this series. I’m sad it’s the end, and hope for more, and if you haven’t read The Boomerang series and love New Adult, something is wrong with you. That might’ve been harsh, but do yourself a favor and pick these up! Boomerang, Rebound, and Bounce are books you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
About the Authors:
Question: What do you get when friends pen a story with heart, plenty of laughs, and toe-curling kissing scenes? Answer: Noelle August, the pseudonym for renowned editor and award-winning writer Lorin Oberweger and New York Times bestselling YA author Veronica Rossi, the masterminds behind the Boomerang series. You can visit them at NoelleAugust.com, @Noelle_August, and facebook.com/NoelleAugustBooks.
Don't miss the first two in the series! Boomerang and Rebound.
Book Review: Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade
Orphan #8Author: Kim van Alkemade
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Released: August 4th 2015
Review Source: William Morrow Paperbacks
A stunning debut novel of historical fiction set in the forgotten world of New York City's Jewish orphanages
In 1919, four-year-old Rachel Rabinowitz is placed in the Hebrew Infant Home where Dr. Mildred Solomon is conducting medical research on the children. Dr. Solomon subjects Rachel to an experimental course of X-ray treatments that establish the doctor's reputation while risking the little girl's health. Now it's 1954, and Rachel is a nurse in the hospice wing of the Old Hebrews Home when elderly Dr. Solomon becomes her patient. Realizing the power she holds over the helpless doctor, Rachel embarks on a dangerous experiment of her own design. Before the night shift ends, Rachel will be forced to choose between forgiveness and revenge.
Inspired by true events, Orphan #8 is a powerful novel about the human capacity to harm—and to love.
If you want a good cry while being inspired by a true events story, then Orphan #8 is the book for you. This book had me “bawling” my eyes out. The horror of experiments performed to Rachel were heart wrenching! What in the world were these doctors thinking?? Performing experiments to poor children! Poor four year old Rachel!
Game of Thrones walk of shame is much needed.
Orphan #8 is the story of Rachel. She is a nurse at the Old Hebrew Home. While at work, Rachel recognizes one of her patients. This person brings her terrible nightmares. These were of experiments that were done to her by this patient. This is such an ethical dilemma. What would you do in Rachel’s shoe? Take revenge with this opportunity? Or would you be able to forgive a person that has caused you pain at a young age?
The chapters alternate between Rachel’s present and past. You get to feel her pain. The flashbacks to the experiments, her brother’s betrayal, the lack of trust… The reason why she shy away from the world. These are only few reasons that shows her suffering at the hands of these cruel doctors.
This is a beautiful story. The conflict of seeking retribution or offer forgiveness toward a person is something not easy. A inner dilemma that will not let go until it is dealt with.
I really enjoyed Orphan #8 and I am glad I gave this story an opportunity. Just be warned, this is not an easy read. Yet, a story I highly recommend to everyone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
