As some of you know, I've been using Blogging for Books for a couple months now. I absolutely love reading, so it's nice to get a free book every once in a while :)

Over the course of the last few months, I've had an interesting experience to say the least. I mostly joined because I wanted to get a copy of one of Mindy Kaling's books, but there weren't any available by the time that I signed up.

Nevertheless, I looked around the available books and picked a couple out! Since then, I've reviewed The Little Paris Bookshop, Approval Junkie, and June. The first one I loved, but I can't truly say the same about the others. That was until, I got my hands on a copy of The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon!

After having another great experience with Blogging for Books, I decided to take a look at what they had to offer and that's how I ended up with Open When: Letters to Lift Your Spirits by Karen Salmansohn! I had always been intrigued by the "open when" letters on Pinterest, so I thought I might like this one too!

Synopsis:

As I mentioned in my book review of Burned by Ellen Hopkins, I have recently started writing a free verse novel. So, I've been picking up novels that are written in a similar style from my middle school days, in hopes that they will help me get my format in order.

After a few months, I took a break from said novel and I started my reading research again. Shortly after, I decided to start a second free verse novel, this time with a male lead. Of course, being a female, I needed help finding my male voice. That's where Jay's Journal comes in!

Synopsis:

Jay was a sweet, bright high school student who cared about his grades and his friends. He had ambitions. He was happy. And he thought he could handle anything.

A couple years ago, when I was a Resident Assistant at my University, one of my residents and I got on the topic of books. Excitedly, she suggested that I read The Girl on the Train. I scribbled it down in my notebook and continued on with our conversation, eventually forgetting about the book all together.

Then earlier this year, I was browsing through Amazon and I happened upon the title again. I reread the synopsis and added the book to my cart. It was already quite full, but I figured, what's one more book?! Eventually, that's how my book hauls got started!

Synopsis:

EVERY DAY THE SAME

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

UNTIL TODAY

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

As some of you know, I've been using Blogging for Books for a couple months now. I absolutely love reading, so it's nice to get a free book every once in a while :)

Over the course of the last few months, I've had an interesting experience to say the least. I mostly joined because I wanted to get a copy of one of Mindy Kaling's books, but there weren't any available by the time that I signed up.

Nevertheless, I looked around the available books and picked a couple out! Since then, I've reviewed The Little Paris Bookshop, Approval Junkie, and June. The first one I loved, but I can't truly say the same about the others.

Of course, I still wanted to continue on with the partnership and by the time that I was allowed to pick another book, I was quite happy with my options! I had seen The Sun Is Also a Star on some of my favorite bookstagram accounts and I just knew that I had to get it! So, I immediately signed into my account and requested a copy! The rest is history :)

Synopsis:

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

When I was offered the chance to apply for a spot on Tim Tebow's book launch team, I stopped everything I was doing and applied right then and there! I know I've had authors send me books before, but this was something different! I actually had the opportunity to review a book by a celebrity and not only that, but I'd also be a part of my first book launch team!

To me, I didn't even care if I ended up meeting Tim or talk to him at all during the process. For me, this was all about the learning experience. So while I was beyond excited to get an advanced copy of this book, I was over the moon knowing that being a part of this team could possibly help me in the future when I release my own novels.

Nevertheless, I couldn't wait to get approved and get the book in my hands! Tim Tebow is an amazing human being and I can't help but admire the way he shares his love for God with the rest of the world!

Synopsis:

Who are you when life is steady? 

Who are you when storms come?

Most of us have been on the receiving end of rejection, a broken dream, or heartbreak. And while this is not an easy space to go through, when we are grounded in the truth, we can endure the tough times.

In this powerful book, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow passionately shares glimpses of his journey staying grounded in the face of disappointment, criticism, and intense media scrutiny. Following an exceptional college football career with the Florida Gators and a promising playoff run with the Denver Broncos, Tebow was traded to the New York Jets. He was released after one season. 

In Shaken, Tebow talks about what he’s learned along the way, building confidence in his identity in God, not the world. This moving book also features practical wisdom from Scripture and insights gained from others who have impacted Tebow in life-changing ways. 

Though traveling hard roads is not easy, it’s always worth it!

And that's exactly what I did! I quickly realized that the book selection wasn't my usual picks, but I wanted to give it a shot anyways. The first book I received was The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. Honestly, I loved it and you can read all about it in my review of the book here. After getting so lucky with this one, I decided to try it again.

Next up, I requested a copy of Approval Junkie by Sallie Faith. However, I didn't love it as much as I loved The Little Paris Bookshop and you can read why here. Of course, still interested in their services, I decided to go back for a third book: June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore.

Thanks to this blog, and a bunch of wonderful blogging networks, I've had the opportunity to collaborate with some truly awesome authors and Jennifer Acres is no different!

I can't exactly remember how we met, but I'm sure social media was involved; and honestly, I'm so glad that we did! She is a total sweetheart :)

When I heard what her book was about, I just knew that I had to read it! I felt far too connected with the story and her characters not to reach out to Jennifer, and I'm honored to have received an advanced copy of On the Way to Simple!

Synopsis:

Dakota Ames had everything under control, or so she thought.

A couple weeks ago, I collaborated with Cassandra Larsen to review her book Deceitful Circle. She was even generous enough to give away 10 copies and I've got to say, that was a pretty great giveaway! 

Cassandra was then kind enough to send me a paperback copy of her most recent novella, Gray's Dilemma! And since I was still reeling from her last book, I knew I needed to read it right away!

Now, for those of you that are interested in reading the series, please don't read this book before reading Silent Circle and Deceitful Circle!

Synopsis:

Pack life can be harsh. The price for disobedience is swift and severe. Gray knows this. As the Alpha’s son, he’s even had to mete out a few punishments himself. But when a close friend of his lands on the wrong side of pack law, Gray must choose between loyalty to his friend and loyalty to his pack. And this time, a wrong decision could cost a lot more than a beating… Gray’s Dilemma is a novella from The Witches Circle series, told from Gray’s perspective. It covers events in the Silver Ridge Pack that take place at the same time as the first book in the series, Silent Circle.

I feel a little silly publishing a book review on a book I first read in middle school, but I'm going to do it anyways!

A couple weeks ago, I starting working on a second novel. It was completely unplanned and unlike anything I've ever written before. I'm not sure why, but this one was coming to life in the form of poetry. So, I decided that I was going to turn it into a free verse narrative.

Unfortunately, I have had ZERO experience writing a poetry novel before, so I knew I needed to do some research. And who best to turn to other than the wonderful Ellen Hopkins! But the question was, which Ellen Hopkins book?

Part of me wanted to go with a new book, so at least I was reading something new, but the other part of me wanted one of her old books. I needed to have one of the one's that made me fall in love with her writing in the first place. So, I decided to order Burned.

Synopsis:

Pattyn Von Stratten is searching for the love she isn’t getting from God or her family in this novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins.

It all started with a dream. Just a typical fantasy, but for a girl raised in a religious—and abusive—family, a simple dream could be the first step toward eternal damnation. Now Pattyn Von Stratten has questions. Questions about God, and sex, and mostly love. Will she ever find it? Pattyn experiences the first stirrings of passion, but when her father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control.

Pattyn is sent to live with an aunt in the wilds of rural Nevada to find salvation and redemption. What she finds instead is love and acceptance, and for the first time she feels worthy of both—until she realizes that her old demons will not let her go. Those demons lead Pattyn down a path to hell—not to the place she learned about in sacrament meetings, but to an existence every bit as horrifying.

In this gripping and masterful novel told in verse, Ellen Hopkins embarks on an emotional journey that ebbs and flows. From the highs of true love to the lows of loss and despair, Pattyn’s story is utterly compelling. You won’t want this story to end—but when it does, you can find out what’s next for Pattyn in the sequel, Smoke.

If you read my review for Silent Circle, then you already know that I love Cassandra Larsen's Witches Circle series. So when she offered to send me the second book, I immediately said yes!

Unlike most series, I didn't actually have to wait for the second book to come out. This one was already finished and published, so all I had to do was get my hands on a copy!

Of course, I'm definitely going to have to wait for the third book. And guess what?! Cassandra told me there will be a fourth too! Isn't that exciting?

Synopsis:

Having recently decided to join Night’s Hollow, Emerson is disheartened to discover just how much training she still needs in order to catch up to the other witches. But when an impromptu road trip exposes her new coven to a pack of werewolves, Emerson’s unusual abilities may be the only thing that can save them.

As the coven prepares for battle, a mysterious new student shows up in town and sets his sights on Emerson. With danger surrounding her on all sides, Emerson continues to hunt for the truth about her mother’s death.

But some truths are better left buried…

Deceitful Circle is the second book in the young adult urban fantasy series, The Witches Circle. Don’t miss the first book in the series, Silent Circle.

Earlier this year, I stumbled across a blog post mentioning the Blogging for Books website. Since I was already reviewing my own books, I figured why not try and get a couple free books too!

And that's exactly what I did! I quickly realized that the book selection wasn't my usual picks, but I wanted to give it a shot anyways. The first book I received was The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. Honestly, I loved it and you can read all about it in my review of the book here. After getting so lucky with this one, I decided to try it again.

My to-be read list was getting pretty long, but I wanted to read something that I wouldn't normally pick out for myself. That's when I happened upon Faith Salie's book, Approval Junkie. It sounded like something I'd be interested in, even though it was considered a memoir. I'm more of a YA fiction girl, but Amy Poehler has swayed me. 

Honestly, I had never heard of Faith before, but she sounded very relatable in her synopsis. I, myself, have been an approval junkie for quite some time, so I thought it would be interesting reading about someone else's journey for approval. After making my decision, I quickly requested a copy and patiently awaited my shipping confirmation!

Synopsis:

On my journey to writing my first novel, I signed up to participate in the April session of Camp NaNoWriMo. That's where I met Cassandra Larsen, author of the Witches Circle series.

We got to talking in the group message and eventually switched over to email. She was working on the third installment of her current series and we discussed swapping chapters. Of course, I knew I needed to read the first two books in the series in order to get all caught up. Luckily, Cassandra was kind enough to offer a copy of each and sent them my way.

I've always been really interested in this specific genre--young adult + paranormal--even before the whole Twilight phenomenon. So I was more than interested in started Silent Circle. It had all of the elements that usually catch my attention, so it immediately went onto my "to be read" list. Unfortunately, that list was a little long and it took a while before I could get to it. However, that just motivated me to finish the other books as soon as I could!

Synopsis:

“Most teens get a car for their seventeenth birthday. Me? I get inducted into a freaky coven of witches.”

When Emerson wakes up on her seventeenth birthday, she has no idea that her life will change forever. After her mother’s inexplicable suicide three years ago, she’s gotten used to the scorn and sideways looks of her classmates. She knows that everyone believes her mother was crazy, and that it’s only a matter of time before Emerson cracks herself. So when Emerson starts seeing auras and hearing voices, she begins to think that the rest of the town may be right.

That is, until Caiden, an enigmatic boy from her class, tells her that she’s a witch, just like her mother. With the truth revealed, a whole new world opens up to Emerson, a world she soon discovers holds its own dangers.

Caiden agrees to help Emerson navigate this secret world, training her to control her newfound abilities. But Caiden isn’t the only witch in town. When a rival coven shows up to recruit Emerson, she has to decide whether to join Caiden’s coven, or risk facing these dangerous witches alone.

Silent Circle is the first novel in the young adult urban fantasy series, The Witches Circle.

A few months ago, Kira Lynne followed me on twitter. I checked out her account and was immediately impressed. She is a fellow spoonie and a published author, which is exactly what I want to be!

I, of course, gave her a follow and quickly sent her a message. We talked a little bit about her book and she graciously offered to send me a copy! Not only that, but she also offered to co-host a giveaway with me!

As a new member of the spoonie community, I haven't read many books on chronic pain. However, I knew that was about to change. Aches, Pains, and Love: A Guide to Dating and Relationships for Those with Chronic Pain and Illness caught my attention.

Some of you might be asking yourselves, "isn't Ivy married?" You're right, I am. But that doesn't mean that I can't read a book about the topic. I can still relate to what it was like dating with a chronic illness, and I might even learn a few tips on how to better manage my marriage and friendships.

The thing that intrigued me the most was a quote from Denise Stroude's review that reads, "Brilliant and long overdue. A must-read for anyone living with pain or chronic illness and for those who love them." Those words gave me hope that it wouldn't just be a beneficial read for me, but it might also be a good read to help those around me understand me a little bit better.

Synopsis:

Are you living with chronic pain or illness, or both? Have you given up on having an intimate, romantic relationship? Twenty years ago, a doctor told Kira Lynne that she would never be able to have an intimate relationship due to her chronic health conditions. Having proven that doctor wrong, Kira set out to write a book for people living with chronic pain and illness who believe the door has closed on their prospects for love and relationships. Living with chronic pain and illness can feel overwhelming, never mind adding intimacy into the mix. Yet, even though hundreds of thousands of people in North America alone suffer from such conditions, very little has been published on dating and relationships for people with chronic pain and illness. Aches, Pains, and Love addresses that need with wisdom, compassion, and humour. This is a book about hope, especially for those who feel that a loving relationship is beyond their reach due to their health conditions. You can have a loving, fulfilling partnership when you live with chronic pain and illness. It is possible to live joyfully in spite of illness and pain, to make new friends, deepen connections, and find lasting love and companionship in an intimate relationship. Both entertaining and practical, Aches, Pains, and Love provides a step-by-step guide to getting the love you want, regardless of your physical condition. From creating a strong personal foundation to finding prospective partners, to dating, to sex and beyond, Kira offers a host of real-life stories, frank practical observations, and specific tools that will help you decide what you really desire in a loving relationship and guide you toward achieving that happiness.

A couple months ago, I wrote a post titled "Guess What! ... I'm Writing a Book! + a Writing Challenge" In that post, I talked a little bit about Camp NaNoWriMo.

I can honestly say, I wasn't sure how the writing retreat was going to go but I'm so glad that I signed up! I met some wonderful ladies in my cabin and one of them even sent me her book!

Lucinda Blanchard and I exchanged a few messages in the group chat during our time at Camp NaNoWriMo, and those conversations eventually moved over to emails. Since I had never participated in the camp before, I wasn't really sure what would happen with our cabins after the camp session was over. Update: Cabins disappear! 

As Lucinda and I got to know each other, we shared writing tips and even swapped a few chapters. Joining Camp NaNoWriMo was probably the best decision I have ever made for my writing career! The other authors have been wonderful in helping me with my writing and they've even sent over their own books for review on my blog!

I knew I wanted to read Swaying as soon as Lucinda described her book to the group. I had never heard of anything like it before so, of course, it intrigued me!

Synopsis:

Charlotte has one desire in life - she wants a daughter. But you can't choose what you have... can you?

Desire soon turns to obsession as Charlotte embarks on a difficult and controversial journey to sway the odds to have a girl.

How far is she prepared to go, and at what cost?

Review:

I can't exactly pinpoint what exactly it was that intrigued me about Swaying, but I was intrigued nonetheless. If you've read any of my other book reviews, then you know that this isn't my usual genre. However, I really did want to read this book. Not only because it was written by an author I've now gotten to know, but also because it was on a topic that I'd never heard of.

To be honest, I had no idea that "swaying" was even a thing, or that there were people that genuinely dealt with gender disappointment. I think in that sense, this book was very well researched and educational.

I saw that some of the other readers thought that they would have trouble connecting with the characters, if they didn't have children themselves. However, that was not the case for me. I grew up wanting children, but I've learned with each diagnosis that it might just not be in the cards for me right now. I was able to connect with some of the characters in the form of emotions rather than actual circumstances.

I actually think that since I've begun coming to terms with the possibility of not having children, I was able to connect with Rose a lot too. I agreed with a lot of the points that she made throughout the book and I very much liked her character. I also envied her for the time she got to spend with her horses, I always wanted a horse...or twelve.

In the beginning of the book, I really didn't like Bella. I began leaning towards Ian's opinion of her, but then I didn't like him very much either. All of a sudden things reversed. I started understanding Bella more and liking Ian less. Although I haven't been through Bella's trials or agree with some of the decisions that she made, I understand the reasons she made them and the emotions behind them. I don't want to say any spoilers, but she and I struggled with similar things.

On the topic of the books beginning, I was very confused when I started reading the book. I don't know if it was from one of my previous conversations with Lucinda or something I read earlier, but I thought the book started later in the main characters life. I didn't think that it would span over the course of a few years. However, that could also be my preferred genre sneaking in. Most of the books that I read are turned into trilogies or even longer series. So just know that this book does span over a long length of time, of course it doesn't feel that way though!

If you didn't know, Lucinda lives in the United Kingdom. I didn't think that I would have any trouble reading this book as we speak the same language, but I did notice a lot of differences in our terms and style of writing. I actually have an iPhone screen page of words and phrases that we either don't use in the U.S. or they mean something else here. It was pretty easy to figure out what they meant with the help of context clues, but there were a couple that had me stuck!

As for the style differences, I think those are just the different ways that we use certain words in our sentence structure. I also noticed that Lucinda uses single quotation marks while most of the authors that I read use double quotation marks; and she chooses not to use serial commas. Of course, those are her style choices and they are 100% up to her. These style choices do not add or take away anything from the actual content of the book, but I like to review all aspects of each book :)

As I mentioned earlier, this book seemed to be very well researched. While I did not double check the proper procedures, it really did feel like you were along for the ride. You felt the emotions of the characters in the book and you experienced their highs and lows with them. There were a lot of doctors appointments and swaying tasks, but I never felt lost. This is particularly important since I don't have any children, nor have I ever been pregnant. Lucinda writes in a way that is both informative as well as easy to understand.

Usually when I pick up a book on a new topic, I have trouble reading it quickly. My brain has to process it as it would a text book; it needs to soak in the information slowly and let it marinate like a steak. However, that wasn't the case with Swaying. I actually finished this book in just four sittings, it was just a matter of finding the time to actually sit down and read the book. Lucinda has a great way with words and she really drew me in!

The only thing that I found a little bit disappointing with Swaying was a certain amount of predictability. I don't want to give away any big spoilers, but there were definitely a few pieces of the story that I saw coming. However, I'd also like to take a moment to point out that there were some interesting plot pieces that I didn't not see coming whatsoever!

Overall, Lucinda did a wonderful job with her debut novel. I would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in learning more about swaying or having children in general. I do recommend that you do not read this book if you find that you have a lot of emotional triggers. I know that there are a few controversial topics that could be upsetting to some readers. If you are interested in reading the book but want to double check if it's right for you, feel free to email me with any questions or concerns that you might have!

Have you read Swaying? I would love to hear what you thought about it in the comments!

* This book was provided by the author in exchange for a review. However, all opinions and comments in this review are 100% my own. *

* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive some type of commission. For more information, you can read our full disclosure here. *

During my last book haul, I picked up Marianne Curley's Old Magic. I was originally drawn to it by the price, but the front cover kept me intrigued. I've collected rocks and gemstones since I was a child and I loved the colors of the stones on the cover.

I knew I had to get it when I read the sentences under the title: "Extraordinary powers. A dangerous curse. An undeniable passion." I've always been a fan of books with an element of magic, so I knew I'd like this one.

I also recognized that it was a Simon Pulse novel and that increased my interest. I was the kid that used to get in trouble for reading in class. Nine times out of ten, I was reading a Simon Pulse book. They have never let me down. They have a great eye for authors and the type of fiction books that I like.

Reading the back cover just confirmed my decision to buy Old Magic. My favorite books involve magic, adventure, and romance and this book had all three! The synopsis completely sold me. Check it out below!

Synopsis:

     No one can fight fate alone.

     When Kate and Jarrod first lock eyes across the classroom, their connection is instantaneous. While everyone else shuns Jarrod as a freak, Kate's passionate belief in witchcraft helps her see him for what he truly is--someone with a powerful gift. She is fascinated by what he is capable of ... and undeniably attracted to him.

     When Jarrod's abilities appear to be linked to a centuries-old curse, Kate is the only one who can help him. Together, they embark on a journey that transcends time and place, and discover a magic that will bind them together forever.

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through my Bloglovin app and I came across a book review. Alexis from Chemistry Cachet posted, "Cookbook Review: Cravings by Chrissy Teigen." I had heard a lot of buzz about the book before so I thought I'd see what the review said. At the end of the book review I saw a disclaimer that stated, "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review, all opinions are mine." I had never heard of this site before, so I decided to check it out!

I've written a few book reviews on the blog already, but they are mostly of books I have purchased myself. However, a few of them have been provided by authors in exchange for reviews. I figured I'd try out this system as a way to read books that I wouldn't normally purchase on my own.

After making an account and selecting my preferences, I began looking through the available books. The site attempts to provide you a list of the ones you'd be most interested in. Moving back and forth between the different genres, I finally decided on The Little Paris Bookshop.

I simply selected the book through their website and requested a copy for review. I then received a confirmation email that it would arrive in 10-14 days. Even with the move, the book surprisingly arrived in that time frame.

Synopsis:

Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.

Internationally bestselling and filled with warmth and adventure, The Little Paris Bookshop is a love letter to books, meant for anyone who believes in the power of stories to shape people's lives.

Honestly, I didn't expect to take so much away from Yes Please. The biggest tip that I learned though, was "ask for what you want." It's easier said than done, but I've been trying more often to just bite the bullet and ask for what I want. Rejection can be scary, but hearing "no" won't crush me. 

I followed Poehler's advice and contacted Danielle Esplin about her debut novel. I still can't believe she sent me her manuscript for review! If you don't know what her book is about, just read the synopsis below!

Synopsis:

This novel follows three characters: Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella.

Lorraine:
Not long ago, Lorraine lost her husband to another woman. She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it’s just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare. 

Lexy:
Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn’t come for the child…she came for something else. 

Ella:
When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her. Frightened to see how much Lorraine has weakened since her diagnosis eight months ago, she packs a bag and heads to Seattle with a foreboding feeling that this might be the last time she sees Lorraine. 

But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine’s story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is. 

Soon Ella is entangled in a mysterious investigation, and more so, in the lives of everyone involved. She realizes not only that she won’t go home anytime soon but also that she’ll never look at others the same way she did before.