The Never List

 

By: Koethi Zan

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

For years, best friends Sarah and Jennifer kept what they called the “Never List”: a list of actions to be avoided, for safety’s sake, at all costs. But one night, against their best instincts, they accept a cab ride with grave, everlasting consequences. For the next three years, they are held captive with two other girls in a dungeon-like cellar by a connoisseur of sadism.

Ten years later, at thirty-one, Sarah is still struggling to resume a normal life, living as a virtual recluse under a new name, unable to come to grips with the fact that Jennifer didn’t make it out of that cellar. Now, her abductor is up for parole and Sarah can no longer ignore the twisted letters he sends from jail.

Finally, Sarah decides to confront her phobias and the other survivors—who hold their own deep grudges against her. When she goes on a cross-country chase that takes her into the perverse world of BDSM, secret cults, and the arcane study of torture, she begins unraveling a mystery more horrifying than even she could have imagined.

 

Review:

The one rule my parents taught me when I was younger was ‘Don’t get into a strangers car’, and I feel this book paints a pretty good picture of what could happen. Mysterious, dark, and terrible are words that come to mind when I reflect on this book. But that did not stop me from continuing. I am, almost, to a point where I am speechless. There are so many things to say about this book, yet I am not sure where to begin. Sarah, the main character, is now thirty one and it has been about ten years since she was captured, and tortured. Struggling to live a normal life, she decides to confront her past, enough to solve some mysteries regarding her friend, Jennifer.

Chilling and believable. For anyone who has seen the Hostel movies, this book is the equivalent. It never failed to keep me on the edge of my seat. With every page, I felt drawn to it. I could not put it down. As the writers first book, and being a thriller, I feel the author did a very good job.

Rating: 4/5

Twigs

 

By: Alison Ashley Formento

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Merit Press

 

One pint-sized girl. Ten supersized crises. And it’s high noon.

They call her “Twigs,” because she’ll never hit five feet tall. Although she was born early, and a stiff breeze could knock her over, Twigs has a mighty spirit. She needs it, as life throws a whole bucket of rotten luck at her: Dad’s an absentee drunk; Mom’s obsessed with her new deaf boyfriend (and Twigs can’t tell what they’re saying to each other). Little sister Marlee is trying to date her way through the entire high school; Twigs’ true love may be a long-distance loser after a single week away at college, and suddenly, older brother Matt is missing in Iraq. It all comes together when a couple of thugs in a drugstore aisle lash out, and Twigs must fight to save the life of the father who denied her.

 

Review:

Right off the bat, I felt bad for Twigs. I, immediately, wanted to help her out. There were a few rude references to disabilities and, personally, I did not think that was right.  The only part that was believable in this entire book was her finding out her father was not her biological father and the girl going after her boyfriend.

Reading this book, I could not relate to her. She had a distant mother, a father who left, a brother in Iraq, and a boyfriend at college. There was just too much to work with and I do not feel it was executed well. I had a very hard time getting through the book, but I felt I just needed to push through it, hoping it would get better in the end. Unfortunately, it did not. In the end, it was just too much for the book to handle. Personally, this book did nothing for me.

Rating: 2/5

Confessions of a Chalet Girl

 

By: Lorraine Wilson

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperCollins UK, HarperImpulse

 

Verbier. Exclusive Swiss ski resort and the winter playground of the rich and famous = every chalet girl’s dream!

Good for:

Maximum time on the ski slopes – and in the bars at night!

Looking for flings – or looking for rings!

Super hot snowboarders such as Luxury Chalet Experiences owner Scott Hamilton…

But not for Holly Buchanan. This accidental chalet girl won’t drink, can’t ski – and isn’t there to hook up with any man who’s only interested in making her another notch on his ski pole. Or so she thinks!

Scott’s living life to full, both on and off the piste, and Holly can’t help but find his attitude just a little bit infectious… And the hook up? Well,she’s going to have to confess that one night with her boss just won’t be enough!

So pack your salopettes and pour another shot of Jägermeister, it’s time to hit the slopes.

 

 

Review:

First off, What a charming read! I loved everything about it. It was short and to the point. As well as incredibly delightful. I would have liked it to be longer and a bit more detailed, but it was written beautifully. Holly is relatable and is a great main character. I really do not have much criticism to say. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer!!

Rating: 5/5

Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen)- Adult

By: Lisa Renee Jones

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Julie Patra Publishing

Book 1 of THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN Series

ESCAPING REALITY

Infinite possibilities….
Infinite passion…..
Infinite danger….
His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn’t trust him. I shouldn’t tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.
At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loved to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she’s finally dared to believe she is forgotten-even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets her guard down, the ghosts of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.

On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take “no” as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes?

Review:

I absolutely loved this book and the title is what caught my eye. The characters were beautifully built and relatable, which was a treasure in itself. Amy Bensen is someone people could relate to. Because who wouldn’t want to run away and hide sometimes. But the catch here is, what is she running from? This book left me with so many unanswered questions but that only means the sequel is near and I cannot wait. This book was so compelling that I did not put it down once.

Who wouldn’t want to escape reality sometimes?

Rating: 5/5

Sundays At Tiffany’s

By: James Patterson

Anne Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewellery at Tiffany’s. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He’s the perfect man in every way. Unfortunately, only Anne can see him. 

But Michael can’t stay forever. 

On Jane’s ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she’ll soon forget him. Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets someone; a handsome, comforting, funny man. He’s the perfect man all over again.

Review:

When I picked up this book, I thought I was going to hate it.  It seemed way too cheesy for my liking. However, after a friend recommended it to me, I was forced to read it.  Come to find out, it was quite a charming read.  I will have to admit it was a bit childish and predictable, but adorable, nonetheless. It was a very lighthearted read with beautiful characters.

Having read quite a few of Patterson’s books, this one was a bit of a change from the usual. But a very pleasant change.  It was quick and to the point. I couldn’t put it down. After I finished the book, I almost wanted to put it away in a corner and never look at it again. I wanted to roll my eyes, but the book, itself, was so delightful that it earned its place on my bookshelf.

 

Rating:  3.5/5

The Debutante

By: Kathleen Tessaro

Can the secrets of one woman’s past change another woman’s future?

A gifted artist, Cate has come to London from New York to escape her recent past. Working for her aunt’s auction house, she is sent down to Devon to value the contents of Endsleigh House, the once gracious but now crumbling estate of a former socialite. There, hidden in the back of a dusty bookshelf, Cate discovers an old shoebox. Inside is a strange assortment of objects: an exquisite pair of dancing shoes circa 1930; a diamond brooch; a photograph of a young sailor; a dance card; and a pearl and emerald Tiffanys bracelet.

Intrigued by her find, Cate sets out to solve the mystery of the box, becoming immersed in the story of its owner, Baby Blythe. Bright, beautiful, and reckless, Baby was the most famous debutante of her generation . . . and the most dangerous. As the clues begin to reveal a shocking tale of destructive, addictive love, Cate finds herself being drawn deeper into Baby’s tragic life story–a story that will force Cate to face some dark truths about her own.

 

Review:

I must begin by saying how I was extremely disappointed by this book.  I was very excited since I love alternating sub-stories within the actual story but was not developed enough. The book showed glimpses of great character and story development. However, it was extremely hard to get into. The story, I felt, went nowhere and went nowhere very fast.  The idea was great. But,  was not executed well.  At points, I felt like I had to push myself to even finish it. The mystery surrounding the sisters was great, but where is the rest of ,what could be, great story?  Do not get me wrong, it was a charming read. But, I am not sure if I would recommend it.

 

Rating: 2/5

Adulting

By: Kelly Williams Brown

‘If you graduated from college but still feel like a student . . . if you wear a business suit to job interviews but pajamas to the grocery store . . . if you have your own apartment but no idea how to cook or clean . . . it’s OK. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Just because you don’t feel like an adult doesn’t mean you can’t act like one. And it all begins with this funny, wise, and useful book. Based on Kelly Williams Brown’s popular blog, ADULTING makes the scary, confusing “real world” approachable, manageable-and even conquerable. This guide will help you to navigate the stormy Sea of Adulthood so that you may find safe harbor in Not Running Out of Toilet Paper Bay, and along the way you will learn:

What to check for when renting a new apartment-Not just the nearby bars, but the faucets and stove, among other things.
When a busy person can find time to learn more about the world- It involves the intersection of NPR and hair-straightening.
How to avoid hooking up with anyone in your office — Imagine your coworkers having plastic, featureless doll crotches. It helps.
The secret to finding a mechanic you love-Or, more realistically, one that will not rob you blind.
From breaking up with frenemies to fixing your toilet, this way fun comprehensive handbook is the answer for aspiring grown-ups of all ages. ‘

(Used from Goodreads)

Review:

My mom had recently given me this book to read in order to help me get my life together a bit as I transition into a full adult. Getting my first apartment, paying bills, credit cards, cleaning, and how to treat family and friends. It covers all areas. Even the sticky stuff like relationships and love. But it definitely shed some new light on certain areas that I was unclear about, or just needed to hear/read somewhere else.

I absolutely adored this book.  Being a twenty-something myself, it gave some insight on some things that I had never thought of.  Most of the ‘steps’ I did know, however, the author adds some humor and hilarity to them.  Not only did I enjoy reading this book, but I recommended it to all of my friends. If your looking for a book to help you with the small stuff while being in your twenties, this is it. The author definitely delivered.

Rate:  5/5

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)

By: George R.R. Martin

“Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.

Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.”

(Source: Barnes and Noble)

Review:

Starting this book, I was a bit confused. There was so much detail to take in and handle and at some point I lost track of characters. So many that I began to count and in a matter of the first twenty-five pages, there were almost double that amount in new characters being introduced. However, as I kept reading, I found it a lot easier to keep up with. I found that a little bit more detail has its perks like being able to truly picture the authors image of the scenery or characters. And I, personally, loved that.

Reading other reviews before I read the books, I was shocked to see how many people were not satisfied. But where there are people who hated them, there were an equally large amount who loved them. By the end of them, I will have to admit I had a love/hate relationship with the books. But in a good way. They never failed to keep you on your toes and it was very unpredictable.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a bit lengthy but worth every second.

Rating: 4/5

Memoirs of a Geisha

By: Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha is the story of Sayuri, one of the most celebrated geishas in Gion, Kyoto. At nine years old she is sold to a geisha house and most intrigued by her blue eyes, they send her to become geisha. This story is about her life after she is sold.  As a young girl, she meets the Chairman. Who she instantly falls in love with and as she gets older, she devotes all that she does, to him. In hope that she sees him again. Learning the ways of geisha, she works to pay off her purchase price. When war hits Gion, the pleasure district in Kyoto, she is forced to leave her teacher, rival, and life behind. Hoping she will one day reunite with her Chairman.

My Thoughts:

When I was about eleven years old, my mom had taken me to see this movie. I remember enjoying it, but being the age I was, I had no idea what was going on and did not understand it. But earlier this year, I finally decided to sit down and read the book. (Then later on, finish with watching the movie). I, now, could honestly say it is one of my favorites. However, knowing how Americanized the story/movie is, I went into it having the worst expectations. The only downside I have is that it really does not capture the life and culture of a Geisha. And I could not even imagine what there lives were actually like.

Though I liked this book so much, it does not even begin to capture the real life of a geisha. However, this is an enchanting read about a young girl thrown into a life unknown and in the end, a cinderella story.

Rating: 4/5