Lessons in Falling by Diana Gallagher

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Spencer Hill Press for the opportunity to read and review Lessons in Falling by Diana Gallagher! A wonderful story of finding what you are capable of and figuring out what you truly want in life AND giving everything you have to accomplish both. Savannah is recovering from a gymnastic injury and trying to figure out how to deal with life without gymnastics. Her life gets fuller and she has to decide on her priorities compared to the people around her. The surrounding characters grew on me and the author’s writing made them feel realistic and the struggles of these characters were dimensional, just like real life. I love this book; 5 stars for a must read realistic fiction!

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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The second book in the Ruby Red trilogy by Kerstin Gier, Sapphire Blue, begins where Ruby Red left off. Gwyneth is forced to learn eighteenth century history, politics, behavior and culture for time travel. She’s also unsure of who to trust, Gideon or any other time travelers or guardians. She meets her grandfather when he’s a young man and before he was married. The intrigue, mystery and espionage increase in this installment of the trilogy. Gwyneth is a lovable teenager who has been thrown into a world that she never wanted to belong to. Romantic gestures from Gideon and trying to figure out who is trustworthy keeps Gwyneth on her toes. More twists and turns happen at the end of the book making me anxious to read Emerald Green, the next and last book in the Ruby Red trilogy. 4 stars for suspenseful intrigue!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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I have finally gotten around to reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This book is monumental and legendary in how it faces life head on. The story contains everything from adolescence that defines us – teen angst, popularity or lack thereof, family struggles, dysfunctional families and the relationships that we form during this impressionable time that will help shape our futures. Empowering and overwhelming, this contemporary classic bears its soul for the world to see, learn from and to grow with- 5 stars!

But Then I Came Back by Estelle Laure

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to read and review But Then I Came Back by Estelle Laure! Edna Jones almost drowned and was in a coma for over a month. Now she’s trying to regroup, regain strength and weight and get rid of the confusion that surrounds her. When Edna is released from the hospital, she doesn’t feel like she belongs back in reality and she’s completely exhausted. Joe brings flowers to Edna’s house and she feels the first sparkling of life again. Joe’s friend, Jasmine, is in a coma after a motorcycle accident and he’s her closest friend. So close that she made Joe her legal next of kin. Now, it’s on his shoulders to decide whether to keep Jasmine on life support or not. For some reason, Edna is still connected to the limbo she was in during her coma and supposedly that’s where Jasmine currently is. Joe is hoping Edna can talk to Jasmine and wake her up. A mix of strong personalities, a bit of psychic help, supernatural mystery and some romance brings the story together and I feel that I have learned from and have been inspired by this realistic fiction book. I rate But Then I Came Back 5 stars because I didn’t want the story to end!

Frost by Kaitlyn Davis

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to YA Bound Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review Frost by Kaitlyn Davis! Pandora chose being a vampire instead of a Titan that protects humans from supernatural beings. Titans have all the strengths of paranormal creatures without all the bad that goes along with it. Flowing storytelling and concise, but beautifully written, background building pulled me into the story and the mystery, romance and suspense kept me there. Jax and Penelope have a past relationship that either they have to put their all into or completely give up on; all or nothing. The main characters are strong willed and I was rooting for both Penelope and Jax. Even more comes to light and the ending left me wanting to know more about Penelope’s story and the prophecy- 5 stars for this very enjoyable supernatural read!

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski begins with Kestrel enjoying the city with her appointed escort and they are both doing things that they know are not allowed for them, such as gambling with the locals. They wander into the slave auction and a slave with blacksmith skills and singing talent comes up for bid. The slave is told to sing for the audience, but he refuses. Kestrel admires him for his pride and bids on him. She outbids everyone else at the steep price of fifty keystones and she’s told this is the Winner’s Curse. Kestrel spends time with Arin, her slave, and she’s not sure what to think about him or his background because he is strong like a slave with manners and knowledge like an aristocrat. Strange events began to happen and Kestrel is trying to figure out why. This story has espionage, intrigue and suspense and the romance is kind of a mystery all its own. The Winner’s Curse is an enjoyable read and it left me anxious to read the sequel – 4 stars!

Salt by Danielle Ellison

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Salt by Danielle Ellison. Penelope, a young woman, lives with her sister and grandparents since their parents are deceased. The family members have magic, except for Penelope who lost her magic when her parents died. She’s testing to become an enforcer but she needs her sister close by so she can use her sister’s magic to help pass the tests. She meets Carter on the day she was struggling to kill a demon. Carter starts out as a mysterious stranger and becomes everything to Penelope as they work together to discover the truths about their backgrounds and family history. I rate this book 4 stars for suspense, action and dynamic characters!

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley, Disney Book Group and Marvel Press for the opportunity to read and review Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl. This first book in the Black Widow series by Margaret Stohl brings to light Natasha Romanoff’s background, which was a lot darker than I would have guessed. Many surprises await as the story unfolds with heroines and heroes. I enjoyed the Russian dialogue and translations, as well as the humor that goes along with Marvel Avengers. A fun read for anyone wanting adventure with a touch of super hero added – 4 stars!

Pushing the Boundaries by Stacey Trombley

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Pushing the Boundaries by Stacey Trombley! Myra travels to a health clinic in Haiti with her mother and a group of Americans. Myra is of Pakistani heritage and her mother is a doctor. Her mother expects Myra to become a doctor also, but she wants to be a photographer instead. Myra’s looking for the perfect photo to submit to a scholarship contest. With the help of the Haitian translator, Elias, Myra discovers the beauty of Haiti and learns more about herself and her mother than she could have ever realized on her own. The author’s personal connections with the Haiti setting and the Haitian culture and language make the story an interesting and unique realistic fiction – 4 stars!

What Light by Jay Asher

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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What Light by Jay Asher is a clean, young adult romance that takes place during the Christmas season. This setting makes What Light perfect for a warm, cozy, winter read! Sierra and her family leave their Oregon tree farm and head to their California tree lot each year around Thanksgiving until Christmas. This might be their last year doing this, so Sierra wants to make it memorable. Her friends in Oregon miss her during this time, while her friend in California, Heather, loves Sierra being near. Heather wants to double date and is trying to find someone for Sierra, but Sierra takes care of that on her own when she meets and gets to know Caleb. There is a bad rumor going around about Caleb and something he did in the past. My curiosity kept me reading and I enjoyed the whole Christmas theme. The realistic kindness warmed my heart. Caleb introduces Sierra to his mom and sister in an awkward moment. The relationship between Caleb and Sierra struggles because of gossip, parents and the long distance between their homes and they have to learn how to handle all of these problems if they want to make their relationship work. A touching romance that’s perfect for the holiday season or anytime you want to feel warm and cozy – 4.5 stars!