The Fault In Our Stars : My Review

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green has been a big deal in the bookworld for quite some time now.  I had hoped to get it read a lot bit sooner than this, but alas- my To-Read List is a mile long!  (And I have that terrible habit of rereading my favorites over and over again... Oh, and that whole "being a Mom-thing" that makes reading time somewhat limited!)

But wow!  Now that I've finally read it, I can say: WHAT A BOOK!

The protagonist, Hazel is a 17 year old girl who is suffering from a rare and chronic form of lung cancer.  The readers are made aware very quickly that Hazel will not live very long.  She refers to herself as a "grenade" and it tears at your soul.  On the first page of the book, Hazel begins her story by explaining to us that,

"Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death.
Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer.  But, in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer.  Depression is a side effect of dying." 

Due to her "depression" her mother has her attend group therapy for cancer survivors.  It is there that she meets the other major player, Augustus Waters.  He has been in remission for a little over a year.  He speaks in mostly metaphors and suffers from a hero-complex, in the most endearing way possible.

I don't want to give away any spoilers- but I was *not* expecting the ending.  (I definitely shed a tear.)  Books that can pull emotion like that out of you are hard to find.  I now understand what everyone was making such a big deal about when they talked about the awesomeness of this book.

My favorite thing about this book (and coincidentally, my only critique- but we'll get to that a bit later) is how it was written.  There were so many times I had to stop mid paragraph and go, 'Wow!  That was _________!' (beautiful, insightful, brilliant, stunning).


I realized that this was a book I was going to mark up with pens and highlighters because there were just too many good lines that stayed with you.  They deserved to be remembered.

"Are you crying, Hazel Grace?"
"Kind of?"
"Why?" he asked.
"Cause, I'm just--I want to go to Amsterdam, and I want him to tell me what happens after the book is over, and I just don't want my particular life, and also, the sky is depressing me, and there is this old swing set out here that my dad made for me when I was a kid."
"I must see this old swing set of tears immediately," he said, "I'll be over in twenty minutes."

"Keep your shit together," I whispered to my lungs.

"You're arguing that the fragile, rare thing is beautiful simply because it is fragile and rare.  But's a lie, and you know it."

"You say you're not special because the world doesn't know about you, but that's an insult to me. I know about you."

"Even cancer isn't a bad guy really: Cancer just wants to be alive."

Can you kind of get an idea of what an amazing book John Green penned?  I love that despite being teenagers, the characters were intelligent.  They were not shallow.  They read and they care and they spend time thinking about the deep aspects of life.  I would hate to imagine that this is only possible because they face their mortality, but I have yet to read a book about teenagers that portrays teenagers in such an insightful way.  It was refreshing to say the least.

Ironically, one of my only issues with this book is that the way it is written makes every.single.character.talk.the.same.  There is nothing different about Hazel's dialogue v. Augustus's dialogue v. Hazel's Mom v. Hazel's Dad v. Issac etc. etc.  They all speak exactly the same and it's that very thing that will keep me from rating this book 5 stars.  But, gah, it pains me!  Because it really is an incredible book.  But, the lack of variation in voices is noticeable and at times distracting.  They were all a bit too similar that it made it hard fall completely into the book and visualize it all as "real."  Though I did read the book in one day, so it must not have been too hard.

If you weren't aware, the powers at be have made this book into a movie and I'm excited to see these characters brought to life.  I believe hope that the issue of all characters having essentially "the same" voice will be a non-issue in the movie adaptation because of the different actors portraying each character.  Check out the trailer here:

Who has read this book?  What did you think?  If you haven't read it, is it on your to-read list?  Who plans on seeing the movie?

COVER REVEAL - Melissa Maygrove : Come Back

One of the writing communities favorite bloggers, Melissa Maygrove's novel is coming out in May! Last week readers got to hop along and view different "teasers" of the cover.  (It was brilliant and oh so suspenseful!)  But, alas!  The day has finally come when the world can lay its precious peepers on the beautiful cover for Melissa's Western Historical Romance, COME BACK.  Take a look!

Cover design by Carrie Butler/Forward Authority Design Services

Left behind by everyone she loves...Rebecca Garvey had the promise of a California future dreams are made of, until the wagon train her family was traveling with left her behind. Now she’s slowly dying in the wilderness, abandoned and stripped of her self­worth. Once the shock of her desertion turns to embittered despair, she doesn't want to be found. Then a handsome stranger challenges her convictions and changes her mind.
Headed for Texas, chased by the demons of his past...Seth Emerson knows exactly what he wants. Working to save for a cattle ranch of his own keeps him busy and keeps his pain buried. Rescuing a stubborn woman from the hills of New Mexico Territory isn’t part of his plan—but she’s exactly what he needs.
Making greater sacrifices than either of them could foresee...Seth and Rebecca set off on a risky journey and a quest for truth, each healing the other’s love­ starved soul along the way. Will they give in to their growing attraction?  Or will they honor their commitments when Seth returns Rebecca to civilization... and her betrothed?

Sometimes a single choice alters the course of a person's life forever. 

Isn't in shiny and awesome?  And doesn't the story draw you in?  I can't wait to read it myself!  The best news?  You can get your hands on a copy of Melissa's book on May 12, 2014!  So- head over and add COME BACK to your Goodreads to-read list and show COME BACK some L-O-V-E.

And now a bit about the awesome woman that is Melissa Maygrove:

Native Texan Melissa Maygrove is a wife, mother, nurse, freelance editor, and romance writer. When she's not busy caring for her tiny nursery patients or shuttling teenagers back and forth to after-school activities, she's hunched over her laptop, complicating the lives of her imaginary friends and playing matchmaker. Melissa loves books with unpretentious characters and unforgettable romance, and she strives to create those same kinds of stories for her readers.

Get Connected with Melissa:

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+ / Goodreads Author Page

Cassie Mae:COVER REVEAL: How to Seduce a Band Geek & How to Hook a Bookworm

Today I am proud to share with you Cassie Mae's two forthcoming book babies from Swoon Romance: COVER REVEAL for HOW TO SEDUCE A BAND GEEK (June 2014) & HOW TO HOOK A BOOKWORM (Summer 2015).

 I am currently reading Cassie's HOW TO DATE A NERD (the first in the 'How To' series - you can find it on Goodreads here) and it has been quite the treat.  Cassie has a unique style that personifies her characters and plops you right into their world.  Traveling back to high school can be a daunting prospect for some, but Cassie makes it enjoyable and real- down to every awkward moment.  Be sure to check out her work!

And now for the AWESOME covers:

Add Band Geek on Goodreads

Sierra Livingston’s got it bad for her sister’s best friend, Levi Mason—the boy who carries his drumsticks in his pocket, marches with the school’s band, and taps his feet to whatever beat runs through his head. Sierra racks her brain for ways to impress the sexy drummer, but the short skirts and bursting cleavage don’t seem to cut it.

When Sierra gets paired with Levi’s sister, Brea, for a mentorship program, they strike a deal. In exchange for Sierra keeping her mouth shut about Brea ditching the program, Brea lets Sierra dig for more info on Levi to help get the guy of her dreams.

But when Sierra discovers Levi no longer plays the drums, his family has moved into a trailer, and he’s traded in his Range Rover for a baby blue moped, Sierra’s not sure if she can go through with violating his privacy. She’ll have to find the courage to ask him straight out—if he’s willing to let her in—and explore other ways to seduce the school’s band geek.

Add Bookworm on Goodreads

It’s Brea Mason’s sixteenth birthday, and she has three wishes. 1. Be magically eighteen like the rest of her friends. 2. Grow a money tree for her family whose financial problems are well known about town.  3. Overcome her test anxiety before she flunks out of every class. 

But one day later, she's still sixteen, her family's money worries abound, and she's no closer to passing than she was the day before!

Then a very sexy transfer student—with gobs of cash—shows up. Brea figures she has a better chance of burping up glitter than attracting the new guy, but he seems extremely interested in her. 

Just when Brea thinks things are looking up, her report card arrives marked with four giant F’s. Enter resident bookworm and Brea's loyal friend, Adam Silver. If he can't help Brea pass, no one can. 

Even with Adam's help, Brea can't handle the mounting pressure, and finds an escape with the new student who knows little about her problems. 

But spending oodles of time with her boyfriend strains the friendship with Adam she relies so heavily on. Faced with losing the only real comfort and support she has ever had, Brea starts to wonder if she can hook a bookworm before it's too late. 

About Cassie Mae:

Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. She’s the author of the Amazon Bestsellers REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND and HOW TO DATE A NERD, and is the debut author for the Random House FLIRT line with her New Adult novels FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI and SWITCHED. She spends time with her angel children and perfect husband who fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

Website / Goodreads / Blog / Facebook / Twitter





The Book of Shade

I can't stop talking/thinking/recommending The Book of Shade by K.C. Finn.  I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy on Sunday evening.  I started the book that night and had finished it by Monday night.  I can't remember the last time I just devoured a story like that.  I normally read pretty fast as it is, but I rarely devote all of my time to a novel these days just because you know, the whole Mom-thing.  But, I abandoned most of my cleaning duties for the day, and during nap times, down-time (I definitely threw in a movie at one point), I read-read-read!  And then, after the kids went to bed, I stayed up to just before midnight and finished the book.

The Book of Shade is an urban fantasy, paranormal NA- basically any of my friends that read and loved The Hunger Games, Divergent, Harry Potter, (insert big deal YA book here)-- I text them instantly telling them to buy this book.  One of my new Cedar Falls book worm friends downloaded an ecopy off of Amazon.com and has already finished (and loved) it.

Lily Coltrane is the protagonist and the novel is written in first person from her perspective.  She is off to her first year at Uni (this book takes place in a small English town called Piketon) and is very concerned about doing well in her classes.  She hits it off right away with her roommate, Jazzy, and all seems to be going well.  Here's the book synopsis:

Lily Coltrane’s to-do list for starting university life is pretty simple:
1. Make friends
2. Meet a cute guy
3. Survive her first year in Modern History
In the little English town of Piketon this seems more than achievable, so much so that Lily even joins The Illustrious Minds Literary Society, an extra-curricular club that promises a truly unique social experience. What Lily doesn’t bank on are the Society’s monthly visits to the mysterious Theatre Imaginique at the edge of town, a dark venue that houses the most obscure cavalcade of carnival performers she has ever laid eyes on.
Stranger still is the emergence of the theatre’s enigmatic proprietor Lemarick Novel, a stupendous showman with a frosty wit who never seems to smile, and who raises a plethora of questions in Lily’s fearful mind. How does he levitate with no sign of wires or mirrors? How do the lightning bolts that shoot from his hands look so real? And why, of all the people in the theatre, do his pale eyes keep locking on hers?
The answers to this and more lie buried in heritage and blood. The Book of Shade is opening, and Lily Coltrane will read it, whether she wants to or not

 I don't want to give anything about this novel away-- but it is good.  I am on my toes waiting for the next installment.  You can read my review on Goodreads here.  I cannot recommend this book to those who love this genre more.  READ IT!  It's the best thing you will do for yourself this cold winter.


And guess what?  The eBook is available on Amazon for .99 cents until January 18th!  (freaking steal!)  There are also paperback copies available on Amazon as well.

How to Date a Nerd : BLOG HOP

To celebrate the release of her book, HOW TO DATE A NERD -- author, Cassie Mae decided to host a BLOG HOP and she's asking her readers to reveal the nerdiest thing about themselves! Since I'm a sucker for things like this and super excited to read her book, I had to join in on the fun!  (Not to mention, a lucky participant wins a Nerdy Swag Pack!)

You can find Cassie Mae's book, How to Date a Nerd on Goodreads!

So, what is the nerdiest thing about me?  I'm sure you'd get a better answer from my husband or my daughter, since it's easier (I think) for someone to point out the weird/nerdy things you do because most of the time, you don't realize that the things you're doing are nerdy.  HOLY RUN ON SENTENCE, BATMAN!

But, a few of the main things that come to mind is the t-shirt obsession I've had since middle school: if I'm in love with something: I need to get a t-shirt honoring that fact.  Multiple t-shirts are welcome.  (I have more Harry Potter shirts than I have fingers, for instance.)  Unfortunately though, now that I'm getting a bit older, I am trying to blend in a bit with the Mom's at Kindergarten pick up.  That means I don't wear them in public as often anymore, but I still go gaga for t-shirts.  (I just realized that I'm selling out!  NO!!!  But, Moms can be so judgey-- it's a scary world out there.)

But, if I'm honest, the nerdiest thing about me is my bad habit of breaking into song and dance quite often about any and every little thing.  Luckily, my husband also does this.  We are quite the pair.  A few weeks ago we were having lunch with friends, who recently started watching New Girl (thanks to Netflix)-- they said when they watched the following scene, they thought of my husband and I instantly:



This is the kind of stuff my husband and I do.  Oh, our poor children, think of the years of embarrassment that lay ahead for them!  MUAHAHAHA!