Book Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Author: Gillian Flynn
Release Date: June 10th 2010
Publisher: Phoenix
Pages: 424
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Waterstones, Barnes and Noble
Add to: Goodreads, Leafmarks

Rating: 5 stars

Libby Day was just seven years old when her evidence put her fifteen-year-old brother behind bars.

Since then, she had been drifting. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced of Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask questions she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard her brother's? Ben was a misfit in their small town, but was he capable of murder? Are there secrets to uncover at the family farm or is Libby deluding herself because she wants her brother back?

She begins to realise that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. Now, twenty-four years later, the truth is going to be even harder to find.

Who did massacre the Day family? 

My Thoughts:

Dark Places is one of those books that linger in your brain for a while. You keep thinking about it again and again until your brain bleeds from the feeling of: That was fucking amazing.

I think this is my favorite book of the year, highly disturbing and dark with a pitch of macabre and thrilling detailing of the most chilling events.

It all starts with Libby Day a survivor from the Day family massacre back in the 80's. All these year she lived off the money people donated to her because they felt sorry for her, but money run out and she is in need of those, although, not too willing to either hear her lawyer or do something about the situation.

One day she is being contacted by a guy who participates in the Kill Club. A group of people who research various murders throughout time and they believe that her brother – who is in jail for her family's murder – is innocent. At first, Libby seems reluctant enough to go there and see what all this is about, because she is sure that her brother did it but soon enough those people will make interested because they are willing to pay for any information she can provide -and she needs the money- and also because they have some interesting theories about the real killer. And that's where the awesome story takes starts.

I was thrown in a world so complex and twisted and macabre that I could not believe what I was reading. Everyone seemed like the perfect killer. The story was told in alternative points of view, from present day Libby to deceased mother and brother back in the 80's before the murders. What unraveled in front of me was a mystery so mesmerizing that had me turning the pages like crazy.

The book covers everything from Satanism and sacrifices to drugs, to child molestation, to teenage pregnancy. It covers the theme of abuse and how a troubled teen can hide so much rage inside of him but at the same time be the most quiet and shy child out there. How someone can be completely paralyzed from fear that cannot even defend his own self and can easily be manipulated to do things he doesn't want to do or seem right to him. I love the fact that people who are afraid, are not actually afraid to point fingers to people they consider to be somehow weird and turn someone innocent into a murderer, a child molester etc etc, I like how the book shows you that nothing is what it seems to be and judging by fear is the worst one can do.

The characters are all really complex even the supportive ones play a role in the story and while reading this book you need to be really careful of details because they play a huge role in the development of the story. Libby was unique to me. The complexity and development of her character was truly fascinating and the same applies to her brother Ben. I felt like the characters reached their goal in the end and found peace.

The writing was magnificent. I could not put the book down, I felt every agony, every fear and every confusion in this book because every scene was so vivid, like I was in the book. You wont see the ending coming thats for sure, it was so unpredictable and jaw dropping that I was asking where it was coming from and did not see it. It gave a great closure to the book.

If you love mysteries and suspense then Gillian Flynn is the author for you and its sure my new favorite author.

ARC Book Review: How We Deal With Gravity by Ginger Scott

Author: Ginger Scott
Release Date: July 6th 2014
Publisher: self published
Pages: 244
Buy on Amazon
Add to Goodreads and Leafmarks

Rating 4 stars

When her son Max was diagnosed with autism, Avery Abbot’s life changed forever. Her husband left, and her own dreams became a distant fantasy—always second to fighting never-ending battles to make sure Max was given opportunity, love and respect. Finding someone to fight along her side wasn’t even on her list, and she’d come to terms with the fact that she could never be her own priority again. 

But a familiar face walking into her life in the form of 25-year-old Mason Street had Avery’s heart waging a war within. Mason was a failure. When he left his hometown five years ago, he was never coming back—it was only a matter of time before his records hit the billboard charts. Women, booze and rock-n-roll—that was it for him. But it seemed fate had a different plan in mind, and with a dropped record contract, little money and nowhere to go, Mason turned to the only family that ever made him feel home—the Abbots. 

Avery loved Mason silently for years—until he broke her heart…completely. But time and life have a funny way of changing people, and sometimes second chances are there for a reason. Could this one save them both?

My Thoughts:

This ARC was kindly provided from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heart breaking story of Avery, a single mother who struggles everyday to raise her autistic son Max. Her entire life is layed out in a checklist that she has to follow to the T for her son to be comfortable and not act out as she described. The opening scene of the so soft spoken and heartbreaking that it had me absorbed into the book immediately.

Meet Mason street, a rock band singer whose dream ended stortly after it began. In an attempt to piece his broken pieces and lick his wounds, Mason returns back home, at the house he spent most of his childhood. Ray Abbot's home, Avery's father. Everyone is pretty happy to see him there except Avery who still remembers the time he broke her heart.

As the story progresses the characters change a lot and develop into something beautiful and real, I liked that they achieved what they wanted from all along and that they did not lose their track with the pages. I came to love Mason, because he became a sweet man, that actually cared about the people around him and he is not scared to show it. As for Avery, she learned how to live her life and little more and started believing in second chances, and that the world doesnt always circle a checklist.What I appreciated about Avery even more was the fact that although she crazy in love with Mason, she did not lose focus on Max and his constant needs.

Max, was always in the background BUT the author did a great job of somehow centering him. Everything involved around him no matter he wasnt talking a lot, or was just playing on his ipad, I got to give her credit for this. It was just amazing, and something not all author can actually work around.

The writing was brilliant, with a double POV, I felt like I knew everything that was going inside Avery's and Mason's head, the feelings where strong and the ride was hard. The plot is really down to earth, dealing with real life issues, autism, acceptance and second chances.

I gave How We Deal With Gravity four stars because I would like to read a little bit more of Max since he was the center of attention of everyone.

Book Review: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Author: Alice Clayton
Release Date:  November 27th 2012
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Series: Cocktail
Pages: 384
Buy on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads, Leafmarks

Rating: 4 stars

The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly...

In a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight...

My Thoughts:

This book is hilarious...the most extremely amazingly funny book ever. Every sentence was packed with funny lines and sarcasm and a lot of innuendos that ad me laughing my ass off.

It all starts with Caroline a twenty something successful interior designer and her anguish over her long lost O -as in Orgasm. Caroline, is not your usual character. She is driven, focused, sweet and serious, with a great sense of humor. She moves into her new apartment, arranges all her clothes and things and when she is completely satisfied with the deco of her apartment she goes to bed. And she wakes up a few hours later to the sounds of meowing and a bed banging on the wall. That goes for some time and we get to know the meow, the spanx and giggles, oh and of course all mighty of them all Mr. Wallbanger himself.

Meet Mr. Wallbanger or Simon, a promiscuous guy, promising nights of lust and incredible sex but with a sweet personality that no one saw coming. He is sweet and caring and although initially he gives a bad boy vibe, he is anything but. He is a photographer that travels and a lot and he values his work but he is a down to earth guy.

Caroline and Simon as neighbors built a relationship both sweet and lusty, sometime around the ride dinners, movies, sleep overs and nooking jump in along the way and tha made the entire ''friendship'' a lot more enjoyable that from what we are used to. The author did a really good job with the writing and the development of the characters but I felt that something was missing. I did not cry over them in anguish, to get together or move their relationship to the next level. And a book like that should actually have that something.

That aside, it was a really enjoyable book, with protagonists that came to be, a plot that had a purpose and a great sense of humor. Just, a small note: Wallbanger,although it revolves around sex it hardly contains any, so it is not your usual NA or Erotica story and for that only I suggest you read it.

Book Review: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris [Review by Sharon]

Author:  Rachel Harris
Series: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
Number: 1
Number of pages: 260
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Date published: 18 September 2012
Buy on: Amazon, Amazon UK

Rating: 4 stars

"On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?"

Review:

I have to admit I was surprised by this one. I was so sure it will be just another easy fluffy read and instead I discovered yet another author to love. 

This story deals with issues like; speaking your mind, accepting yourself, accepting that sometimes things change. 

There is cute romance here and friendship. 

I think what I loved most was the fact that it never got dark even when it dealt with some serious subjects, It was so matter-of-factly I liked that. 

While reading the book I kept on thinking "This is the kind of book I'd like my daughters to read (when I'll have kids). It will give them a positive message and will show them that it's allright to be yourself."

It has been months since I read the book so I can't write an article any more. However, I still remember the feeling I had- and that was a fantastic one!

Book Review: Promise Me This by Christina Lee

Author: Christina Lee
Release Date: October 7th 2014
Publisher: InterMix
Series: Between Breaths #4
Pages: 300
Rating: 3 stars
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Add to: Goodreads, Leafmarks

A new love will test the boundaries of passion between a privileged boy next door and the tattooed, blue-haired girl who helps him embrace his wild side... 

Nate has developed quite a playboy reputation around campus. It's not that he doesn't respect or trust women; he doesn't trust himself. The men in Nate’s family are prone to abusive behavior—a dirty secret that Nate’s been running from his entire life—so Nate doesn't do relationships. But he can’t help himself around one girl…

Jessie is strong, independent, and works at a tattoo parlor. Nate can’t resist getting close to her, even if it’s strictly a friendship. But it doesn't take long for Nate to admit that what he wants with Jessie is more than just friendly.

With Jessie, he can be himself and explore what he’s always felt was a terrifying darkness inside him. Even when Nate begins to crave her in a way that both shocks and horrifies him, Jessie still wants to know every part of him. Testing their boundaries together will take a trust that could render them inseparable… or tear them apart.

My Thoughts

I received this eARC from Penguin Group Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Although,it took me some time to get into the story and it was kind of predictable, I enjoyed Promise Me This. The writing is really nice and it made the characters more real and more likable. The story is being told by two POV;s and I always love that in a book, it just makes it much more interesting. I loved Jessie and her awesome character. The fact that she was off the wall and so much different than other heroines of similar books was pretty awesome.

In comparison to other NA books, this one was kind of original when it came to the main characters and they relationship they developed. Yes,like other stories these two are attracted to each other without giving anything away. Jessie seems to be the bad girl from the good family with the dark side on sex and Nate is the good guy from the broken family with a shy and more closed and restricted personality when it comes to sex because of his past.

The relationship between those two does not have any ups and downs and tough break ups like in other books of this genre. Everything seem smooth and Jessies helps Nate a lot when it comes to finding his personality,trust himself and realize that he is not danger to anyone.

At some points the feelings were flat and did some scenes lacked that anticipation. The conversations were okay,some seemed forced and others were extremely good while others lacked something, as for the humor better not to discuss it. It was bad. 

This is part of a series that I think it helps if you read the first three books in the series but you can also read it as a standalone.

Book Review: Patch Up by Stephanie Witter

Author: Stephanie Witter
Release Date: September 11th 2013
Publisher: Anchor Group Publishing
Series: Patch Up #1
Pages: 296
Rating: 4 stars
Buy on: Amazon
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* Due to some shocking scenes, this novel is for readers of 18 and up.

Skye followed her long time boyfriend to Seattle for their first year of college, but he dumped her after only a week. The relationship brought only pain and destruction in Skye's life, and yet, she can't bring herself to open up and live her life.

"What if I am already broken into pieces?"

She hates to be touched, hiding under her oversized shirts and behind her wild frizzy hair. Even her bubbly roommate can't reach her. And yet ...

"I'm the guy who knows how you can hurt so much that your insides feel like they're cut and bleeding."

The tall, handsome, and tattooed TA in her psychology class changes everything when he literally collides with her and confronts her. For the first time in a long time, she wants to try and open up to this guy whose dark, intense eyes can't hide his own pain despite his dazzling smile getting to her.

However, just when she's starting to live again, her ex-boyfriend comes back, breaking her time and time again, making it all the more complicated.

She wants to fight for herself and for this building thing with the TA, even when he pushes her away, but can two broken people patch each other up?

"I never thought colliding with someone could change lives, but it is possible."
 

My Thoughts:
 

This ARC was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although the story started immediately, really I am not kiding, its one of those books that cut to the chase and I just loved it, but the sentences were too short, the emotions too shallow and even from the first few pages I found myself contemplating my next read BUT I was so wrong. I am so glad I gave it a chance because by chapter three the book transformed like a phoenix to something so deep, complicated and painful that I couldn;t believe what I was reading.

Stephanie Witter is my new favorite author. In the steps of Jessica Sorensen she delivers a book so emotional and deep, so real that I found myself tearing up in some scenes. Skye was such a complicated woman. Dealing with her depression and an abusive relationship under her belt that made her doubt herself and stomp on her self appreciation, hiding from everyone and from everything she comes face to face with her TA, Duke.

Duke is one of the most heart broken characters I have ever read, dealing with his own depression and loss, he founds refuge in the complicated life of Skye. Their friendship is just mesmerizing. Two broken people find solace on each other by helping each other face his/her fears and demons. By accepting who they are, how things were and how they can have a bright future ahead of them . The past is the past.

“I’m the guy who knows how you can hurt so much that your insides feel like they’re cut and bleeding.”

I liked the fact that we get all of their background information as the story progresses, as they get to know each other more and more.

There were times that I wanted to throw my kindle on the wall because Skye was being really annoying and she was full with contradictions. She wanted something and then she changed her mind again in order to change her mind again later. That was crazy. Some situations kept repeating until it became predictable and annoying and felt like the book went in a circle for a while.

Still, the feels were just over the top. I just couldnt believe it, and the worst part was that they came in powerful waves that you could nothing to stop them but just drown in them. Desperations, pain, humiliation, sadness, embarrassment and happiness, from love and affection we fly over to the land of guilt and remorse. It was just astounding.

The writing captivated me completely and I finished this book within a few hours and right now I just cant find the second part to be released.

This is a story that deals with tough situations,abuse depression, the power of finding yourself again and take control of who you are and facing your fears. There were a few disturbing scenes that made the book even better – from an emotional point of few always- and had me aching for both Skye and Duke.

I totally recommend this book.

Efterpi

Book Review: Catch Me by Claire Contreras

Author: Claire Contreras
Release Date: November 17th 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Pages: 390
Rating: 2.5 stars
Buy on: Amazon
Add to Goodreads

In the past, I've always been given everything I've wanted, but nothing that I truly needed. I've experienced a lot of things in my twenty-five years, everything except the one thing I want. It's the one thing that can't be bought. It can't even be taken, it has to be given. And nobody has ever given it to me, not really anyway. Not until him. Music is the center of both our lives, but as he found his place in it, I lost my way. He soared, while I spiraled down a destructive path. I lost myself in more ways than I can count. The ironic thing is that I didn't realize how lost I was until he found me. And now that he has, I have to wonder if he'll stay around long enough to catch me.

My Thoughts:

Warning...extreme nagging.

Meet Brooklyn. Ex- drug addict, depressed, daughter of a multi millionaire, traumatized by her selfish mother, traumatized by the death of her best friend and a girl that blames everything on other people but somehow manages to land the perfect boyfriend.

This was the most dragged out story I ever read. But let me start from scratch.

Brooklyn, although she was damaged goods had a likable character and although the story was hard to get into , I liked her from page one. I like that Ms Contreras gave us a lot of background story on Brooklyn in order to make it easier for the reader to understand the present. The story is being told by Brooklyn's pov and sometimes we get to see a chapter dedicated to a past situation or we get memories that shaped her and eventually made her to what she is today.

What I hated about the book was that there were important incidents, situations and stuff going on that eventually the author ignored all together and that was a bummer. Since you introduce something that has the main character crying and breaking up inside and put us, the readers, through hell and back with the emotional roller coaster, make us a favor and give us the story. Describe, dont just refer to it in one sentence and done with it. That made me feel like the book didnt have a point, at all.

Meet Nick, the perfect (as humanly possible) music producer and eventually Brooklyn's boyfriend that had the most misleading description ever. I expected an Alpha male. A guy that was rough and rude and a bad boy from the image that he was promoting but instead we get a sweet, cute, love talking man that (I dont complain I liked him a lot) was what I wasnt expecting. Misleading much? Yeah.

There are a lot of hair pulling situations in this book but I felt like the emotions sometimes were flat and not enough for what was going on. I felt more for Nick than I did for Brooklyn. Oh, and the love triangle wasnt as intense as I was expecting it to be. Another turn off was the kind of instalove-ish thing that was going on. There was time for the characters to meet and although there was a pull that they both felt still the insta-love was there ready to consume us all.

To be honest this was an A-Ok book but I dont think it worths your time...

 Efterpi

Mini Review Monday: The Ghost Bride, The Lake, The 10th Circle

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
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3 Stars

I was so excited about this book. I couldnt wait to read it, and I was let down...epicly.
It starts great. The description of the houses, places, smells, food, people, city, landscape is so well crafted that it will leave you breathless. I smelled the food that was beign described to me. The story started off so good that I instantly loved the book, until I hated it a few chapters later. The main characters were amazingly human, mysterious, enjoyable to read about. Until everything changed. There is a lot of mystery and sub plots in The Ghost Bride, and when I say a lot, I mean a lot. Initially, we have to deal with a couple ones but later on we found ourselves between the underworld and the living world and so many mysteries in both of those worlds, that it was hard to keep track of what was happening. It was confusing and awkward and I soon found myself being bored and eventually gave it up without completing it.
I am not saying that the books sucked completely because the characters alone were great and the way the story is being told but it is much too crowded with information that it gives you a headache.

The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto
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3.5 Stars 

I don;t know what to say about this book. I dont know what I was expecting when I picked it up but definitely not what I read. The books narration is pretty simple and to the point but the characters themselves are so so so so so complex. We get to see the Japanese culture and how two completely different people find each other, first from apathy and then grow closer because of love. It was a weird trip to the mysterious and yet fascinating Japan. Confusing, interesting and so much different from what I read before.

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
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3.5 stars
 

I've seen the movie years before I read the book and I was not really disappointed by either. The movie was really close to the book, so it felt like I was revising some things haha. Although, I didn;t finish the book, The 10th Circle was well written, the plot well layed out and the characters were ok. A lot of drama and some hair pulling -seriously?- moments but other than that on ok book. It's all about realizing that one tiny white lie or misunderstanding can cause so much trouble and sadness to everyone around you and what a great damage you can make to yourself above all.

Efterpi