Book Review: Love, Always

Katie April 24, 2015 0 Comments

Love, Always is about Dee – 19 years old and pregnant.  When she tells her boyfriend, Josh, drummer for the band Wasted Circle – a band that is about to become HUGE – he proposes to her.  Except during their first big headlining show there is an accident and Dee is left alone.  Adam – Josh’s best friend and bandmate – steps in to care for Dee, saying he will be the baby’s father and make sure that she is alright.

The story alternates between Dee and Adam’s perspectives and also flash’s back to Adam’s past.  When he was 6 years old his mother was pregnant with his baby brother. Adam and his Dad went to a gas station to get her chocolate (and him gummy bears) but when Adam was walking to the front of the store he saw a man with a gun.  When he tried to walk back to his Dad he tripped over a box and made noise so the gunman knew he was there.  His Dad rushed to his rescue but was shot and killed. Adam’s Mom lost the baby and Adam has been blaming himself this whole time.  He is also blaming himself over Josh’s death.

After baby Josie’s birth, Dee checks herself into a psych ward – she has been depressed her whole life but the death of Josh and birth of their baby has made things worse. Adam is there for her every step of the way – but he wants more.  Except that he isn’t sure if that would be betraying his best friend.  Dee might be interested as well but seems to be holding back for some of the same reasons.

This book was a quick read and I enjoyed it. It was classified as romance – but there was certainly a lot more going on than romance – which I didn’t find to be a problem, I enjoy a good plot (and plot twist) from time to time! 😉

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write his review, I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

**This book is intended for a mature reading audience and isn’t suitable for readers under the age of 17.**

In love with a man on the brinks of greatness, Dee has her life figured out. The love they share is comparable only to the love they feel when they find out Dee is pregnant. Josh and Dee welcome their future together with eagerness as they plan a wedding, baby, and the upcoming tour for Josh’s band Wasted Circle. Big things are finally happening.

During Wasted Circle’s first big show, tragedy strikes leaving Dee alone. The life she and Josh planned for ends up being nothing but desolate promises. Unable to watch his best friend’s girlfriend drown under her own despair any longer, Adam steps in to help Dee cope with her loss and the upcoming birth of her baby. Adam is patient, kind and unrelenting. He stands by her side, never faltering despite his growing desire to be more than Dee’s supportive shoulder and the idea that he is betraying Josh. He refuses to give up on Dee and remains loyally by her side even when she admits herself into a psychiatric ward and he is left to father Josh and Dee’s baby.

But even sweet and sturdy Adam has his limits.

Book Review: One More Minute With You

Katie April 24, 2015 0 Comments

One More Minute With You is about Kenzie who has moved from Seattle to Nashville in hopes of finding a new life on her own as a musician. She is living in a cheap motel and working as a waitress in a diner by day and doing gigs by night. Then a guy, Remy,  keeps coming in to her diner to see her.  He overhears about her living condition and offers to let her live with him because his roommate is going on tour.

When they find that her hotel room has been robbed, she ends up taking Remy up on his offer to move in.  There is certainly an attraction between them, but Kenzie had a bad past relationship and doesn’t want to have anything to do with guys for a while.  Of course, when she and Remy touch she feels there’s a connection but keeps trying to push him away.

Meanwhile – Kenzie starts getting strange texts that seem threatening from a number she doesn’t recognize and Remy’s Dad – a famous musician – is in town and wants to see him.

I thought that the romance aspect of this was good – I mean, typical storyline but I enjoyed it. The extras seemed to be a bit too much. I think that it either should have been Remy’s Dad drama or Kenzie’s text drama and not both. (Or maybe save the other for a later book)  But overall it was a quick read and I did enjoy it.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Seattle is in the rearview mirror and Kenzie Daniels wants to start a new life to pursue her musical dreams in Nashville. But it’s harder than she thought trying to make it on her own with no one to rely on but herself. Until a handsome customer shows up at her table and changes the course of her future.

Remy Martins wasn’t looking for anything but a good time and a creative outlet when he stumbled upon Hank’s Diner and discovered his muse. The moment he laid eyes on Kenzie, the beautiful waitress with a chip on her shoulder, he knew his luck had turned around. He’d been in a writing slump for months and she was the spark he needed, breathing new life into his lyrics. Now Remy is determined to have Kenzie and keep her in his life.

When a chance run-in at one of his gigs has Kenzie leaning on him for support, Remy is given the opportunity to make her an offer she just can’t refuse.

Just as their relationship morphs into something more, fueling a deep physical need that neither of them can deny, Kenzie’s and Remy’s pasts collide – threatening to destroy their bond along the dreams they’d hoped to fulfill.

Can Kenzie rely on Remy to be there when she needs him the most? Will both their dark pasts ruin their chances at a bright future?

Book Review: Song of the Fool

Katie April 22, 2015 0 Comments

Song of the Fool was written by Hunter Sharpless, a college student who got to tour with Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers for 3 months in the fall of 2009.  I remember Hunter being on this tour and following him on twitter while the tour was going on.

The story is broken down into a chapter for each member of the band – Stephen “Skunk” Kellogg, Brian “Boots” Factor, Sam “Steamer” Getz, Kit “Goose” Karlson and the band’s manager Jessica “Cousin” Kellogg.  Due to this break down the chapters focus more on each band member in their own section so the stories are not always chronological.

As a fan of the band, I enjoyed the inside look at the “glamorous” life style on the road and how driving from show to show worked.  The band has just a van, not a bus, and they drive everywhere on their own in shifts.

If you want to know about life on the road for a great (now on hiatus) lesser known band – then this is the story for you – but if you’re looking for a sex, drugs and rock n roll expose like Almost Famous then this is certainly not the book for you.

I purchased this book and thought that it might be an interesting book to review for my readers. I was not asked to post this review, did not receive a free book nor was I otherwise compensated.

About the Book

When nineteen-year-old Hunter Sharpless e-mails roots rock band Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, he doesn’t expect a response. He wants to write a book about them. When his inbox chimes two hours later, telling him he has a chance to tour with the band for three full months, he dreams of groupies and Almost Famous. It doesn’t take long, though, for Hunter to discover that the road isn’t the electric collection of glories it’s often billed to be. He’s mistaken for a homeless person in Sacramento, thrust onstage in Iowa, and cradled against a toilet in New York. The road is hard. No cocaine, no backstage blowjobs, no sleek tour bus. But the Sixers see it differently. Stephen introduces Hunter to a more authentic perspective: behind the lights of the stage, after the glow of the performance, away from the noise of the amps. This is the world Song of the Fool begins to unravel.

“When considering this kid’s out-of-the-blue request to tour with his band, Stephen Kellogg asked Hunter Sharpless to explain ‘why it would be a good idea to bring an underage person

Book Review: Terry Treetop Saves the Dolphin

Katie April 19, 2015 0 Comments

Terry Treetop liked to watch the dolphins from the top of the tree, which is how is got his name.  He sees a baby dolphin playing with the other dolphins and names him Dido.  He wants to play with the dolphins, so he goes down to the dock and yells out to them.  The baby dolphin swims closer to him and gets caught in a net swimming to Terry.  Terry knows that he needs to get help to get the dolphin out of the net.  The ranger helps to free Dido and gives Terry an inner tube so that he can go in the water and swim with the dolphins.  This was a cute story to teach kids about the environment and how nets in the water can affect the dolphin’s lives.  It also has great illustrations!

About the Book

Want your kids to care about the environment?
Take them on an adventure in a marine nature reserve
This is the fourth book in the Terry Treetop best sellers series. In this book Terry Treetop went camping with his parents to a marine nature reserve. He saw a cheerful group of dolphins and wanted to play with the little dolphin, but something went wrong and the little dolphin was in danger.
Will Terry be able to save the little dolphin?
This beginner reader’s eBook will teach your child about marine mammals and their habitats, and will inspire your kids to be aware of the environment and the responsibility of humans towards animals in their care.
Your kids will enjoy full-color illustrations of Terry and the dolphins group.
Terry Treetop Saves The Dolphin is a sweet children’s book written especially for you and your kids ages 2- 8.
With simple text and 16 colorful illustrations.
The story is suitable as a read aloud book for preschoolers or a self-read book for beginner readers.

Book Review: ABIGAIL and the North Pole Adventure

Katie April 19, 2015 0 Comments

Abigail and the North Pole adventure is another great book about Abigail and her magic bike.  In this book, she gets the bike from her grandparents and decides to take a trip to the North Pole.  While there she sees some seals and meets Siku who lives in a snow house, which is called an igloo.  Siku gives abigail a coat because it is very cold at the North Pole.  The two go ice fishing and save a baby polar bear.  Abigail decides it is time to go home and comes back home still wearing gloves. Her grandmother thinks that she is just making up stories about visiting the North Pole – but Grandpa knows better!

A cute book with great illustrations to help teach your kids about the North Pole.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review.

About the book

Want your kids to be familiar with exotic locations?
Want them to meet cultures and widen their horizons?
This is a wonderful book about a girl named Abigail.
Abigail found a magical bicycle in her grandparents’ old house, and this bicycle takes her to the magnificent North Pole.
Who will she meet there? What will she discover?
This beginner reader’s eBook will inspire your kids to be open to new cultures, and be more curious and enthusiastic about exploring various places.
Your kids will enjoy full-color illustrations of Abigail and the North Pole life.
Your kids will be inspired to be:
1. Open to new people & cultures2. More curious3. Enthusiastic about exploring new thingsAbigail and the North Pole Adventure is a sweet children’s book written especially for you and your ages 2- 8 children.
With simple text and 15 colorful illustrations.
The story is suitable as a read aloud book for preschoolers or a self-read book for beginner readers.