artsy musings of a bibliophile

Review: Fall For You by Cecilia Gray Blog Tour

July 20, 2012 by Sana

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Title: Fall For You (The Jane Austen Academy Series, #1)
Author: Cecilia Gray
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 10 February 2012
Pages: 70 (eARC)

Synopsis

To say Lizzie and Dante are polar opposites is the understatement of the century. He’s a snooty Exeter transfer with more money than Google. She’s a driven study-a-holic barely keeping up with tuition. It’s obvious that Dante thinks he’s way too good for Lizzie. And Lizzie knows Dante is a snob with a gift for pushing her buttons.

But things are changing fast this year at the Academy. And when Lizzie’s quest to stop those changes blows up in her face, taking her oldest friendship with it, she has nowhere else to turn but to Dante, with his killer blue eyes, his crazy-sexy smile, and his secrets… Secrets Lizzie can’t seem to leave alone, no matter how hard she tries…

My Rating

* * *

The Review

Fall For You is a quick read which offers just what it promises to the reader. The book opens in the middle of a crisis brewing. For Lizzie, that is. Everything she has known as home in Jasta (that would be her beloved Jane Austen Academy) is being wrenched away from her. But she might have a chance of saving Jasta from the indifference of the new owners and the cunningness of Headmistress Berg. And you can be sure she is going to take that chance.

Tired of her life in Chicago where her parents are always busy and the non-existent friends, Lizzie is more than glad to be back at Jasta for her junior year. But things have taken a turn for the worse unbeknownst to Lizzie.

Lizzie takes up the position of Gazette‘s managing director and becomes Anne’s (her nemesis) room mate in exchange for withdrawing her request for rooming with Ellie, her best friend. Lizzie actually wants to halt whatever improvements Headmistress Berg is preparing for. As if it wasn’t enough to admit boys in Jasta and to give up the privacy of their single rooms.

Now all Lizzie has to do is help Anne throw a fabulous Welcome Back dance and find out who the new owners of Jasta are at the cost of her friendship with Ellie whose finding a new close friend in Emma. Then Dante literally falls into her unwilling lap because she has to feature the children of the parents in the Trust. Can she trust him or he’s being helpful for his own selfish gain?

As Fall For You is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are reflected in Lizze and Dante. For Lizze, it is about being quick-witted and adept when it comes to news while for Dante, prejudices can often end up being well, not accurate.

The plot was a little unrelateable for my liking but Fall For You is fast-paced and the motivation of Lizzie in saving Jasta made me want to go on reading it to find out her next step. Fall For You is the first book in a six story series. I enjoyed reading it and it is definitely a new spin to the usual offered in stories set in high school.

Best Quote:

“She turned to leave, her heart pounding. But even as she felt the fear of what she’d done, it was eclipsed by the joy of being back on her own two feet, on her own terms again.”

About the Author

Cecilia Gray lives in Oakland where she reads, writes and breaks for food. She also pens her biographies in the third person. Like this. As if to trick you into thinking someone else wrote it because she is important. Alas, this is not the case.

Cecilia has been praised for “instilling a warmth and weight into her characters” (Romancing The Book Reviews) and her books have been praised for being “well-written, original, realistic and witty” (Quills & Zebras Reviews).

Several of her titles – including A Delightful Arrangement (The Gentlemen Next Door #1) and An Illicit Engagement (The Gentlemen Next Door #2) – have spent, in her view, a shocking amount of time on bestseller lists for romance, historical romance and regency romance in the US, UK, Italy and Spain.

She’s rather enamored of being contacted by readers and hopes you’ll oblige.

Cecilia Gray can be found at

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Thanks to Cecilia Gray and ATOMR for providing me a copy of Fall For You for review.

Review: Holding on to Zoe by George Ella Lyon

July 17, 2012 by Sana

Title: Holding on to Zoe

Author: George Ella Lyon

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic, Contemporary

Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux

Release Date: 17 July 2012

Pages: 166 (Paperback)

Synopsis

After sixteen-year-old Jules has her baby, Zoe, it doesn’t matter anymore that her mother thinks she’s a drama queen, or that her father left them years ago, or even that Zoe’s father is gone, too. She and her baby make a family now; she doesn’t need anyone else in the world except Zoe. Though it’s tough being a new mom, balancing Zoe’s needs with working at the Toyota factory and thinking about how to finish school, Jules is sure she’ll figure it out. Still, she wonders, why can’t anyone be happy for her and Zoe? And why does her mom refuse to believe that Zoe’s real?

My Rating

* * *

The Review

Sometimes people take extreme measures to live in denial and sometimes, just sometimes, a person is blissfully unaware of going to that extreme level. Life finally catches up with them and they end up getting out of it a better human being. So does that mean that the mind needs its own time to come to terms with their life to carry on? Maybe.

Jules is living a normal life, better than some. But she has lost one thing: a chance at having a normal family ever since her father skipped town when she was five and her mother went into an all-work-no-time-for-Jules mentality. She has her reasons though, to fulfil the expenses and everything. But is that enough of a reason to be ignorant of the emotional needs of your only daughter? Maybe so; if you’re born an unemotional, no touchy-feely type of a mother.

But Jules have Reba and then she gets pregnant. Having a baby will mean a family and so Jules go over the top when the doctor talks about getting rid of the baby which is easier now that Jules is having an ectopic pregnancy. That doesn’t sit well with Jules and she relents. Damon may have also chosen to skipped town, if forcefully by his mother, and ignore the existence of their baby even when he swore he never would. But for Jules, Zoe is a lifeline. So it’s only logical that Jules feels overprotective for Zoe when her mother tells her to drop the drama and Reba is all uncomfortable whenever she mentions Zoe. Only Dr. Douglas understands and Jules feels comfortable talking to her because she’s the first person to accept Zoe.

Holding on to Zoe is a gripping mystery of Jules life after she gets pregnant and the outcome of being 16-and-pregnant. It is a short book and I finished it in a few hours. The book left me thinking how people choose to cope with the difficulties in their lives.

The poem, Fire and Ice by Robert Frost, mentioned in Holding on to Zoe perfectly defines what Jules is going through. It is a beautiful way to describe the story: how hard the process of letting go and of acceptance is.

“Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.”

Best Quote(s):

“I just know when I quit looking to other people for directions, I found my own map.“

Thanks to MacMillan Books and Farra, Straus and Giroux Books for providing me a copy of Holding on to Zoe for review.

Review: The Dream Slayer by Jill Cooper Blog Tour + Giveaway

July 15, 2012 by Sana

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Title: The Dream Slayer (The Dreamer Slayer Series, #1)
Author: Jill Cooper
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 25 June 2012
Pages: 312 (eARC)

Synopsis

When your dreams come true, sometimes you get more than you bargained for…

Natalie Johnson has always dreamed she’s someone else; calm, beautiful, in control. A chosen warrior with a maniacal arch nemesis and a dreamy boyfriend, the type that can make your knees melt and your heart quiver.

Real life is much different. She’s tormented by a bully and endures the sharp tongue of her father, but finds solace in her dreams.

When her bully ends up dead, de ja vu from a dream hits her hard as everything around her begins to fall apart.

Whatever killed Sarah in her dreams is now in reality, hunting her from the shadows. And it wants her dead.

Somehow as the lines between reality and nightmare blur, Natalie must discover hidden strength to pull her friends and family back from the brink of madness.

My Rating

* * * *

The Review

Jill Cooper takes the paranormal genre to another level in The Dream Slayer. Natalie Johnson’s life sucks; bullied by Sarah the cheerleader, a parent who is always drunk and the other a bearer of the outcomes. It seems like apart from Tristan, the one BFF she hasn’t managed to lose to the social abyss that is high school (insert Michelle, captain of the cheerleading team), life is at its worst. The escape? Dreams. Only if that weren’t so complicated what with Natalie’s dreams now crossing over to the reality and the constant onslaught of déjà vus. What’s a girl to do?

Natalie is a loser and a scared little mouse, nobody pays her any attention except to laugh at her when she’s being bullied. She hates it, Tristan hates it; but she knows it will only get worse if she does anything to resist the bullying. Except it does in her dream because Sarah becomes possessed and throws herself over the window of the high school building. Talk about a dramatic death and on the night of the pep rally no less. Only Natalie has seen that already, in her dream.

It all really started when a portal opened and the Patricians escaped through it. It happened in her dream but the horror of it spilling over to the reality was only the beginning. It’s a good thing that Natalie’s alter ego is a kick-butt, strong, fearless demon slayer with a hot boyfriend, Damien. Mark is her custodian in dreams but in reality, it is Charles. Oh and the demon master, Morach is a big, fat nuisance to just everybody included.

As much as Natalie has to now embrace her fate of being a paladin, she needs all the strong-wiliness she can muster and she does. She rises above and beyond the pitiful feelings of being scared and pushed over all the time. She pulls out of it a stronger, kick-butt, magic-wielding heroine. How she does it is a sure treat to read and a very enjoyable and engrossing one at that.

The Dream Slayer is an action-packed, chock full of one hell of a great storyline debut by Jill Cooper. The cover is mesmerizing and the paranormal aspect of the story mixed with the dreams is like a breath of fresh air. For Natalie, it is somewhat of a coming of age story as well and it was a novel thing to see an average, fat girl with chunky fingers get transformed into a strong character in her dreams and then some. I will recommend The Dream Slayers to the lovers of the paranormal genre. This is a thrilling start to an awesome series.

Best Quote:

“The feeling of being more than human—more than Natalie—overtook her and replaced every feeling of self-loathing and doubt she’d ever had. Natalie felt awake for the first time. Every emotion was stronger and more vibrant than before. She never wanted to give this up. Never.”

About the Author

Jill Cooper loves tea more than coffee and is obsessed over finding that perfect recipe. She lives in Danvers, MA with two cats, a toddler, a husband, and a 1964 yellow taxi. Her life is chaotic, but fun.

She is currently working on a new Sci-fi thriller and the sequel to The Dream Slayer.

Jill Cooper can be found at

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The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of The Dream Slayer and the blog tour, Jill Cooper is going to wrap up all up with a grand finale Kindle Fire give away!

Enter to win, some entries are allowed more than once, just come back every day! The winner will be chosen by random at the end of the contest on August 1st.

Step 1 – Purchase The Dream Slayer for less than a cup of coffee.

Step 2 – Enter to win it.

Go here to enter via the Rafflecopter widget and earn up to 36 entries.

Thanks to Jill Cooper and Supa Gurl for providing me a copy of The Dream Slayer for review.

Cover Reveal: ReAwakened by Ada Adams + Giveaway

July 5, 2012 by Sana

I am super excited to be a part of the cover reveal for ReAwakened. I immensely enjoyed reading ReVamped, the first book in the Angel Creek series. So when I got to know that the cover of ReAwakened is being released, I just had to take part in it and I am so glad I did. The cover of ReVamped was purple which totally rocked. But the cover of ReAwakened is all red and what’s more, there’s Sebastian on it with his light gray eyes. There’s no official synopsis but the theme of ReAwakened is blood.

The cover designer for ReAwakened is Juliana Kolesova.

So without further ado…

THE GIVEAWAY

For a chance to be entered in a draw to win an ARC of ReAwakened, all you have to do is leave a meaningful comment on this post. One commentator will be picked up as a winner via Random.org from all the blogs participating in the cover reveal.

TWITTER CHAT

Today i.e. on 5 July at 5:00 PM EST, Ada Adams will be holding a Twitter chat with the hashtag #ReVampedChat. You can ask Ada about anything related to writing and the Angel Creek series. But of course, it all has be spoiler-free. If you’re unable to join, simply leave your question with the hashtag and Ada will get back to you with your answer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“Many people sing in the shower. I, on the other hand, write scenes in my head and act them out.”

At age five, Ada read her first chapter book – Pippi Longstocking. Ever since that moment, she developed an intense passion for the stories and characters found within the pages of literature. In her career as an actress and a writer, Ada currently spends most of her days immersed in imaginary worlds. Much like the characters she enjoys playing and writing about, Ada is a martial artist with a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. She is also a big proponent of lifelong learning, and has attained Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (it aids in creating characters with unique quirks!) as well as a Master’s of Science in Education. Ada strives to bring a fresh voice and perspective to fiction. She has been writing creatively for many years. “ReVamped” is her debut novel. She lives in Toronto, Canada, and enjoys adventurous nature hikes with her adorable puppies Cara and Oreo.

Ada Adams can be found at

Buy ReVamped (Angel Creek, #1)

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Review: Silent Song by Ron C. Nieto Blog Tour

July 2, 2012 by Sana

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Title: Silent Song
Author: Ron C. Nieto
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 1 July 2012
Pages: 290 (eARC)

Synopsis

The princess of the school, Alice, is keeping a secret that could strip her of her high school fame. She is obsessed with the school’s outcast, Keith, but not just him – his music.

Since the inspiration for the song hit, Keith can’t get it out of his mind. The song must be played; it demands to be played. He knows the music is changing him, but he is unable to stop it.

Music has the ability to move you, enlighten you, and take you to places you have never dreamed of. And this particular piece? It has a life of its own and makes you forget who you really are.

As Keith and Alice learn of one another to the notes of that one perfect tune, they can overlook their roles and discover who they could be together. But they also discover someone else is listening and intends on keeping Keith to herself, possibly for an eternity.

My Rating

* * * *

The Review

Some books are hard to review because they are too dull or drab while others because they are too bloody brilliant. Silent Song falls in the latter category. It made me feel a range of emotions strengthening my connection to the story. Silent Song made me smile in contentment, gulp in horror and it pricked my senses. A beautifully written book, I immensely enjoyed reading it from the get go.

Alice is the girl in high school, she’s in the popular crowd. In other words, a princess whose reputation will be tarnished if she so much as speaks with one of the outsiders. But she has a secret which might just ruin her reputation for good. She listens to his music as he plays his guitar crouching under his bedroom’s window. She used to know him, Keith, but he moved away and when he came back to town well, things were too different for them reconnect. So Alice ignored him and he became ‘Dracula in Drag’ with silver-streaked hair and black-painted nails.

Silent Song is all about music and I love books which focus on music all around. The way Ron described Keith’s compositions, the crescendos and decrescendos and most of all how Keith emotions lay bare for Alice. They could never be anything but Alice needs to listen to his music. However, things change when her Lit class veers into a totally different direction for the annual play. From playing Jane Austen’s Romeo and Juliet for the last couple of years, to the school board giving them the green light for Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan. A very unusual choice at the least.

The class decides to take it a step further and compose an original soundtrack for the play. Lena, another of the in crowd, suggests that they ask Keith to do that. Alice feels happy because now she gets to listen more of Keith’s songs. Keith composes a spectacular piece for the play which helps sets the ambiance for the emotions behind the story. As Lady Windermere, Alice gets to spend time with Keith and listen to his music to perform and give the best rendition of her life. She decides that she would like to befriend Keith which doesn’t sit well with her gang. Then The Incident happens which forces Alice, her BFF Anna and Dave to go their own way away from Lena and the others.

However, that is a minor glitch compared to what’s in store with Keith playing an almost unpleasant song and being unable to stop physically. As much as all of this is out of Alice’s league, she is falling for Keith and cannot see him break down like this over a song. They do some research and what they find is beyond the petty jealousy and hate Lena feels toward Alice.

Silent Song is a story that made me think long after I finished reading it. It is about breaking away from life as you know it so you can go on to grasp what you are really meant for. The feeling of rightness takes but a moment to surface. Silent Song was definitely an unpredictable read for me and I was almost of my chair thinking what would happen next. Beatrice is definitely a character I won’t be forgetting for a long time. Read Silent Song, it is a a very well-written debut by Ron C. Nieto.

Thank you, Ron for writing Silent Song and embracing what you’ve always wanted to be. I knew from the way you write your reviews that you would make one awesome author and Silent Song proves that. I am really proud of you. For my readers, knowing Ron as one of my best blogger friends have not affected my review of Silent Song at all.

Best Quote:

“After a while, the song didn’t end as any other song would. It exhausted its emotions and died out, like a candle without air, and became flat and unresponsive before it shifted, swelling and starting over again. This time it broadcast a mixture of tenderness, loneliness, and pain.”

About the Author

Ron C. Nieto is a fantasy and romance author who has been writing in her secluded fortress for the longest time. Recently, she had a talk with her cat and decided that she should share her creations, because it was selfish to hoard them all for herself.

If you would like to know more about her, please visit her website.

Ron C. Nieto can be found at

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