{Audiobook} {New Adult} Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Title: Easy
Author: Tammara Webber
Narrator:  Tara Sands
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: May 25, 2012
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night - but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

My friend Jenn Renee kept telling me how awesome the audio for Easy was, and since I hadn't been able to make time for the ebook I purchased earlier last year, I decided that it was probably the only way I'd ever get to it.  Audiobook purchased, I was well on my way to seeing what all the fuss was over this book when it first released last year.

When I first started listening, I wasn't sure that I was going to like Tara Sands as the narrator.  There was a hard edge to her voice and she sounded a bit more mature than I pictured the main character.  However,  after listening for awhile and especially when it came to dialogue, it was a completely different story.  Her voice was that of a college sophomore, reliving the worst moments of her life for an audience of one.  I was as transfixed by her narration as I was by the story.

“As for being somewhere you're not supposed to be--maybe you're here for a reason, or there is no reason.”

This novel deals with some tough subject matter, and it left me feeling squicky at times.  It is an earnest depiction of a traumatic event and it might be too much for some.  It was for my sister, who attempted to listen along with me but gave up after the attack, which happens very early on in the story.  She likes gritty stories, but when it comes to trauma of a sexual nature, she draws the line.  In the past, I might have given up on this novel, as well, but time has taught me that sometimes you have to dust off the dirt to get to the beauty beneath.  The same is true of this book.  Get beyond the gritty, distressing events and you'll find a beautiful story at the heart of it.

Easy is a new adult romance novel.  Aside from the aforementioned traumatic events, the romantic entanglements are the focus of the story.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Lucas/Landon storyline, though I think it would be obvious to anyone with a pulse how it's going to play out.  Even Jacqueline reprimands herself for being so oblivious.  Still, it made for an entertaining story.

“I wanted to tell you that I just--I miss you. And maybe that sounds ridiculous--like we barely know each other, but between the emails and texts and... everything else, I felt like we did. Like we do. And I miss--I don't know how else to say it--I miss both of you.”

I may be late to the Easy bandwagon, but I'm glad I finally gave the book a chance.  I left my comfort-zone for this book, and it was well worth it.  I've heard great things about Tammara Webber's Between the Lines series, as well, and I hope to give those books a fair chance in the near future.  As luck would have it, those novels are available in audio, too, so maybe their chance will come sooner rather than later.


Rating:  

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, easy, indies, new adult, penguin, reviews, tammara webber, tough subject

{Short Story Sunday} Review: Undone by Elizabeth Norris

image source

Short stories are awesome.  They give us in-depth insight into characters, providing anecdotal proof of why some characters are they way they are.  They entertain by creating a certain mood or focusing on a singular effect...some instance in a previous body of work (or one to follow) that might have been glossed over or ignored completely in a longer novel. 

And so, every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I would like to highlight short stories and novellas set in worlds I've already come to love and learn a little more about some of the secondary characters in my favorite novels.  I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects of these short works of fiction, in addition to offering up a mini review of each work.

This week I'm featuring a novella from the Unraveling world:

Title: Undone
Author: Elizabeth Norris
Series: Unraveling, book #1.5
Publisher: HarperTeen Impulse
Publication Date: March 5, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Before the accident. Before their universes collided. Before they fell in love.

Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner’s life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.

Through three stories told from Ben’s point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion to Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable.

I loved Unraveling when I listened to the audiobook a couple of weeks ago.  It was intense and fast-paced and had everything I'm looking for in a good sci-fi novel:  a take-charge heroine, a compelling storyline, and a secondary cast of characters that deserve a storyline of their own.  And with Elizabeth Norris' Undone, we get just that.

Ben was an awesome love interest for the seemingly fearless Janelle in the first book in this series.  And that's no less true with this novella.  But I knew there was more to Ben than just the borderline-stalker-turned-boyfriend we saw in Unraveling.  This  novella is broken into three sections:  Before She Knew Me, When I Saved Her, and After I Left Her.  With each segment, we learn a little bit more about Ben as we see the events in Unraveling from his perspective.  And then there's what happens after Unraveling.  I've not yet read Unbreakable, but I have an idea what to expect thanks to this novella.  I don't think it will spoil the story for you, but it will ramp up your anticipation for Unbreakable, which releases in another month.  (Psst.  There's also a sneak peek of the sequel at the end of Undone!)

Undone was exactly what I was hoping for:  a little more of the world from Unraveling from a fresh point-of-view.  Admittedly, I like Janelle's voice better, as far as the story-telling goes because she is far more sarcastic and witty, but Ben's narrative was a welcome alternative.  I'm kind of hoping we'll get a dual narrative from these two in the sequel.  Only one more month till we find out!  And now that I know what's coming, it's going to be an even more agonizing wait.

Rating:  

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Labels: elizabeth norris, favorites, harper-collins, novellas, reviews, sci-fi, short story sunday, unraveling

In My Mailbox #74

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.

How is it that on the first official day of spring, the weather decided to take a nose-dive?  Now it's yucky and gross and cold again (well, for Texas).  Guess you know what I'll be doing all weekend!  Especially with all these new goodies!  =)

physical copies - look at all the shiny!

Look at all of those awesome covers!!!!


For Review:

Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting - look for my review & a giveway as part of the Dead Silence Blog Tour on April 4th!
Loki's Wolves by Kelly Armstrong & Melissa Marr - sounds like a fun middle-grade novel, plus Norse mythology, yay!
Thin Space by Jody Casella - righting the wrongs of the living...and the dead...color me intrigued
The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson - this should need no explanation as it is one of my favorite fantasy series ever.  HECTOR!!!
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis - this one sounds eerie but also a bit like times before the country was settled & I'm really looking forward to it, plus the cover gave me a Wizard of Oz vibe, so you know I'm all over that.  :)
The Burning Sky by Shelly Thomas - MAGIC!!!  Yes, please!
The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White - I have been suckered by the cover.  This is White's last chance to impress me.  Shouldn't be too hard with Egyptian mythology, but that's what I thought about sister assassins, too.
Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton - such a pretty cover and emotions manifested as people?  Sounds awesome!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster, Little, Brown, HarperCollins, Flux, Edelweiss & Netgalley for the review copies!

Purchased:

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - audio & hardcover -- WHAT?  I needed to see that family tree for myself!  But I just couldn't wait to start so I got the audio, too.  :P
Requiem by Lauren Oliver - Now I can read that Alex chapter!!!
With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent - Time to say goodbye to yet another group of characters I've grown to love over the years.  Even Sabine and Sophie.  =)


So, that's my haul.  What did you get this week?

The Week in Review:

Reviews:  Flirting With Maybe, Also Known As, Impostor & That Time I Joined the Circus

Current Giveaways:  A is for Audiobook & Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

Blog Tours/Promotions:  cover re-reveal for the Night Creatures series


The Week Ahead:

Reviews of Easy (audio), Clockwork Princess, With All My Soul, Going Vintage & Undone (SSS)

I'll be seeing The Host with my sister on Friday before I head out of town to see the other sister in Austin, so look for my review of the movie soon.  I loved Saoirse in Hanna, so I have some pretty high expectations for this adaptation.  ;0)

I'm also participating in the Fool for Books Giveaway Hop, so stay tuned for that.

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Labels: in my mailbox (imm)

Review: That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard

Title: That Time I Joined the Circus
Author: J.J. Howard
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Point
Publication Date: April 1, 2013
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lexi Ryan just ran away to join the circus, but not on purpose.

A music-obsessed, slightly snarky New York City girl, Lexi is on her own. After making a huge mistake--and facing a terrible tragedy--Lexi has no choice but to track down her long-absent mother. Rumor has it that Lexi's mom is somewhere in Florida with a traveling circus.

When Lexi arrives at her new, three-ring reality, her mom isn't there . . . but her destiny might be. Surrounded by tigers, elephants, and trapeze artists, Lexi finds some surprising friends and an even more surprising chance at true love. She even lucks into a spot as the circus's fortune teller, reading tarot cards and making predictions.

But then Lexi's ex-best friend from home shows up, and suddenly it's Lexi's own future that's thrown into question.

With humor, wisdom, and a dazzlingly fresh voice, this debut reminds us of the magic of circus tents, city lights, first kisses, and the importance of an excellent playlist.

If the beautiful and unique cover weren't enough to pique my interest in this novel, that clever title surely was.  Truth be told, in all my thirty years, I've never actually been to the circus.  Even as a kid, I just never really had the desire to do so.  It seems that Lexi, our main character, feels the same way.  Except now she's got no other choice.  She has to find her mom, and since her estranged mother was last known to be performing with a traveling circus, that's where Lexi is headed.

Lexi had been through quite the ordeal prior to her excursion via Greyhound bus to Florida.  Everything that happened during the week or so leading up to her departure from New York is actually the reason for her trip, the reason she needs to find her mother.  But as the reader, you don't know what all she's endured, at least not from the start.  Lexi's story alternates between the past and the present, with each chapter heading informing you as to what time period she is in her life.  Some of the story flashes back months prior to the "incident" to give the reader a better background on her relationships and her state of mind at the time.  Other chapters reflect on how she's surviving after fleeing to the circus.  Focusing on the story from the past and present angles really brought the novel full-circle and provided a more in-depth view into Lexi's world as opposed to just having her dredge up a couple memories.

Once Lexi arrives at the circus, she realizes her mother is no longer there and that she is well and truly alone. To survive on her own, Lexi performs a number of odd jobs for the ringmaster of the circus, who has reluctantly taken the poor kid under his wing.  My first glimpse of Louie had me worried, with his gruffness and lack of sympathy, but like everyone else in the circus family, he grew on me.  Everyone eventually warmed up to Lexi and she even made some new friends, friendships that seemed unattainable when she first showed up.  For awhile there, it even seemed like she'd forgotten about her search completely.

And then someone from her past shows up to wreck everything.  Lexi has got some seriously confusing and complicated relationships going on.  She kisses no less than three boys in this book, which nearly results in her losing one of the new friends she's made at the circus and could cost Lexi the ex-best friend she thought she'd lost for good.  Watching Lexi navigate all of her friendships and relationships took some compassion but it also ended up being a lot of fun once she moved passed the heartache.

What started out as a rather discouraging story ended up being really cute and hopeful.  I reveled in the importance placed on music throughout the book, as it is a constant source of comfort for me, as well.  This novel contains lessons about love and loss and everything in between, but it isn't preachy or emotionally-fraught by any means.  It's just about a girl, triumphing over a rough patch in her life and trying to get back to normal.  And the circus is just one brief stop along the path.


Rating:  

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Labels: contemporary, dac 2013, j.j. howard, reviews, scholastic, tarot, that time i joined the circus

Judging a Book By Its Cover #19: A Kid's Perspective on Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Okay, so I totally stole this idea from Sara at Forever 17 Books, who got the idea from an article on Babble called Judging a Book by Its Cover: A 6-year-old Guesses What Classic Novels Are All About.  I just discovered her lovely segment, and I immediately requested forced my own four-year-old daughter Katie to provide me with some of her own cover art artwork and then asked her what she thought the book was about.



This week, Katie gave me her take on the following book:

"I think it's about [Mommy's] wine glass spilling 'cause I can see a little red dripping down there."

Cover Art

Every Other Day as envisioned by Katiebug

Um, well, then.  I'm going to blame that explanation on the fact that she was ready to get back to Carrie Underwood karaoke at Club Katiebug.  =)  Same for her hurried drawing.  :P  Guess this is what I get for picking the book this week.

I've actually read this book, and funny as it might be, I can tell you that Katie's thoughts on the book in no way reflect the actual premise of the book.  I liked this one quite a bit, and I can't wait to read more from this author.  I actually have a couple of her other books on my shelf, including a copy of Nobody.

Have you read this book or do you plan to?  What do you think of Katie's guess at the premise?  

Did your little darling create a work of art based on a book this week? If so, be sure to link up with Sara over at Forever 17 Books.

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Labels: cover art, every other day, fun, jennifer lynn barnes, judging a book by its cover, katiebug