Book Review: Obsessed

Katie June 20, 2014 0 Comments

Obsessed is 2 books in one – The Crush and The Crush II.  I believe they were originally written in 1994 (based on the copyright) which for the most part didn’t really seem to matter – but at one point they were all pretty impressed about a car phone and I think if everyone had cell phones in their pockets with cameras this story wouldn’t have played out quite like it did. Oh and there is some mention of cassettes as well! 😉  The book actually reminded me a bit of Pretty Little Liars which is just the type of suspense novel that I love so I got right into this story as soon as it started.  (The book blurb that was provided is also incorrect as Michael’s last name is Warden not Barton, so perhaps it has been updated slightly for its release as an ebook?)

I am going to try really hard to go about this without giving away major plot points.  But the book takes place at a teen nightclub called “Covers” where they perform, work in the kitchen, run the “bar” (no alcohol!), etc.  One of the guys who performs is Michael and he has recently broken up with his girlfriend and seems to be down.  The girls make a contest to see who can date him the longest.  Whoever can date him for 2 weeks wins.  Pretty much all the girls that work there are in on this contest and ready to compete.  Except that all the girls that he is dating seem to be killed off, one by one. (And he quickly moves on to another which I tried to not dwell on too much!)

At the end of the first book/part we think that everything is solved.  The suspect is dead and while Michael is considered a suspect on and off throughout the investigation, he seems to be in the clear.

When the next book starts up I wasn’t sure we actually needed a second part.  Although after having read it I have to disagree with my early thoughts. We absolutely needed this second book!  Everyone is trying to move on now that it seems that the “Cupid Killer” is gone out of everyone’s lives.  Michael was in the psych hospital but has gotten out and is now doing much better.  But then more of the girl’s Michael is with begin turning up dead.  So of course, Michael seems to be the prime suspect once again.

Then you start to wonder – is everything that I thought was true in the first book totally a lie? Was it Michael? Was it someone else entirely and the first “killer” just took the blame to put it all to an end?

I won’t say much more than that – but if you are into the Pretty Little Liars series, I think you will really enjoy Obsessed, as I know that I did!

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

About the Book

From master of suspense Jo Gibson comes two heart-stopping novels of romantic obsession–where the love never dies. It kills. . .

The Crush

Michael Barton is smart, sweet, gorgeous–the total package. Which is why some of the girls have decided to have a little contest. Whoever hooks up with Michael first will be the winner. There’s just one problem. One of the girls has been harboring a secret crush on Michael for years. She’ll do anything to be his girlfriend. She’ll play the game. She’ll win his heart. She’ll beat the competition. . .to death.

The Crush II

Michael Barton has experienced the dark side of love. He has survived the advances of a psychotic stalker. He has endured her deadly game of obsession. And now he is free from her web of lust and lies. But Michael has a surprise waiting for him. His secret admirer is still out there. Watching. Waiting. Plotting her next move. And if Michael thinks he can escape her this time, he’s wrong. . .dead wrong.

Book Review: Reasons My Kid is Crying

Katie June 18, 2014 0 Comments

You may be familiar with the tumblr “Reasons My Kid is Crying” where one man posted pics of his kids and the ridiculous reasons (to us adults, anyway) that they are crying and then other parents started joining in and sending why their kids were crying as well. This site has given me hours of entertainment so I was really looking forward to checking out the book as well.

It’s mainly a picture book, very little text for each section of the book and then of course the captions on all the photos as to why the kid is crying. Some of them made me laugh out loud and I am sure you will get a kick out of them too. Whether or not you have a child you’ll find this book entertaining – but maybe moreso if you do have kids and have often had to deal with such meltdowns yourself.

Some of the reasons include – you wouldn’t let your kid continue licking their shoe, trying to eat poo or maybe sand or dirt. Or maybe you made them eat their favorite meal – or maybe it was their least favorite meal that triggered the melt down. With these kids you never know – it could be anything at any time – even a high five!

I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

A glimpse into the tribulations of parenting that is part documentary, part therapy, and completely hilarious.
 
It all started when busy father Greg Pembroke posted a few pictures online of his three-year-old son, mid-tantrum, alongside the reason his son was crying: He had broken his bit of cheese in half. InReasons My Kid is Crying, Greg collects together photos sent from parents around the world, documenting the many, completely logical reasons why small children cry.  Among them: “I let him play on the grass” . . . “He ran out of toys to throw into his pool” . . . “The neighbor’s dog isn’t outside”.  The result is both an affectionate portrait of the universal, baffling logic of toddlers—and a reminder for burned-out parents everywhere that they are not alone.

Book Review: Amplified (#GGrocknovel)

Katie June 16, 2014 0 Comments

Amplified was The Good Groupie‘s pick for the Spring 2014 Rock Novel Reading Club.  The main character is Jasmine Kiss, who is kicked out of her house after graduating high school because she told her father that she doesn’t want to go to college and has deferred her freshman year.  She is now “on the run” and tries to find a band to join to pursue her dreams of becoming a musician – even though she hasn’t played in front of anyone other than her best friend in his garage.  Upon her arrival, her car breaks down and she meets a jerky guy who informs her that she broke down just outside a body shop.  The money she had saved was supposed to be for rent in her own place, not to fix her car!  She starts to look for housing and ends up finding an ad that a band is looking for a guitarist and it comes with a room – although it says that they are looking for a guy to join the band.

Jasmine figures that she doesn’t have anything to lose and tries out for the band.  It comes down to her and another guy, Dave.  I think you can figure out pretty quickly who they end up picking  – I mean, I guess there would still be a story if they didn’t pick Jasmine… but to me it seemed kind of silly they were even doing the auditions when I knew how it was going to end up anyway!  She tells the band that she has performed on stage before even though she is bluffing.  She hopes that she can somehow make it work during their first show, but ends up bombing.

I don’t want to give up too much of the rest of the book because then there would be no point in you reading it. I really enjoyed the characters in this book, the band was full of all sorts of different personalities which helped cause for some drama within the book and the band.

I purchased this book in order to participate in The Good Groupie’s rock novel reading club. I am only posting this review as it is something that I think my readers may enjoy. I was not asked to write this review nor was I compensated for writing this review.

About the Book

When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she’s the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn’t think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it. . . 

In this fresh new novel by critically acclaimed author Tara Kelly, Jasmine finds out what happens when her life gets Amplified.

Book Review: Crave

Katie June 13, 2014 0 Comments

Crave is about a reporter, Harper, who is trying to figure out where a local girl disappeared to.  She is a workaholic and doesn’t even have time to grocery shop.  While she is trying to figure out what happened to the missing girl, she is asked by a friend at work to cover a local band’s concert. The band is called Crave. When she sees a news story on the TV that the missing girl may have been on her way to their concert before her disappearance, she thinks that the band may have some sort of insight as to why she disappeared.

The lead singer seems to have some attraction to Harper, and Harper seems to be attracted to him.  But weird things are happening – when she goes to leave the show and go back to her car, she is attacked by what appears to be wolves. The lead singer, Cass, has eyes that turn red when he confronts them.  While Harper has thought she has seen it all – this is certainly something new to her.  Just what is she getting herself in to?

I have to say that I liked the paranormal aspect to this book – although almost right away when she heard the growling I had a feeling I knew what we were in to.  This story was short and I really like that – if I can read it in a couple of hours that’s awesome.  I wasn’t particularly a fan of the ending at first – if the book ended just maybe a couple of paragraphs sooner, I’d have liked that much better.  However, after doing a bit of research it appears that there will be an additional book coming out relating to this first book – so now it makes sense, it was setting everything up for the sequel.  And of course I loved the fact that the whole story revolved around a band!

About the Book

As a reporter for the Wakefield Post, Harper Erkstine has seen everything. From murders to robberies, all of her recent stories have ended with tragic consequences so great, that she began to question if she made the right career choice for herself.

While all of her friends were dating, or going to clubs, she was winning journalism awards for covering the latest drive-by shooting or a home invasion that cost someone she knew, their lives.

She loved her job, it was rewarding to be a crime solver and get to the truth of the matter. As much as she loved her job, but the hours of a Metro beat reporter began to descend her into burn out mode.

She craved balance. A break, a welcome distraction every now and then. She forgot what it was like to have fun, to take a breath, smell the roses.

Was it wrong to want a great career and to have some kind of a personal life? She couldn’t remember the last time she had a date or danced with someone from the opposite sex.

In the middle of working on a missing person’s story that has rocked her town to the core, Harper decides as a favor to her friend and colleague to do a feature on local an up and coming rock band, called ‘Crave.’

It was a break from her routine, but Harper soon discovers that this band may have ties to the missing person, not only does she question why, but she also finds there is more to this band than just their music?

Book Review: How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You

Katie June 13, 2014 1 Comments

How To Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You is about Oliver Holmes, a high school student who is a bit different than everyone else.  He likes to make lists – all kinds of lists.  But the most important list currently is the one that he made called “How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You”.  Each item on his list is a chapter, which explains what he needs to do and how he tries to do it.  He has a process for his lists – which so far have worked.  He’s got his eye on the prize – Ainsley – and isn’t going to let anything stop him with reaching his goal.

The character of Oliver reminded me a lot of myself back when I was in high school – minus the whole lists thing. (Although I make lists now!) He is determined to win her over with a great birthday present. Throughout the book he tries to find out more about her and get closer with her so that he can find out what the perfect gift is.  Of course, Ainsley also has a boyfriend that makes things difficult as well!

The story is very cute and a quick and easy read.  I won’t let you know if Oliver’s process ends up working on this particular list or not – because you’ll need to read it for yourself to find out!

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

About the Book

1. Join the Drama Club

2. Do Your Research

3. Provide Something She Needs

4. Make Her Feel Secure and Important

5. Pay Attention!

6. Be a Good Friend

7. Be More Attractive

8. Be Complimentary, But Not Obsequious

9. Establish Rapport

10. Be Encouraging and Supportive

11. Give Her Space

12. Admit When You’re Wrong and Apologize

13. Find the Perfect Birthday Gift

14. Tell Her How You Feel

Seventeen-year-old Oliver Wendell Holmes (Yes, his parents are just that peculiar, but his brother’s name is Sherlock, so it could have been worse) knows that he’s different. He’s quirky, awkward, and he’s okay with that. Oliver also likes making lists—meticulous procedures for achieving his goals, step-by-step. Whether it’s “How to Get an A in Chemistry” or “How to Get Accepted to MIT,” he has a process, and it’s worked for him so far. He doesn’t even care that the popular kids mock him. Oliver’s got his eye on the prize.

So when he decides it’s time to declare his feelings for Ainsley Bishop, the girl of his dreams, it’s only natural for him to make a list—a point-by-point strategy to win her heart. He knows it will take a grand gesture for her to see all he has to offer, and her approaching birthday provides the ideal opportunity for Oliver to put his plan into action.

Finding the perfect gift is a challenge Oliver meets with his usual dogged determination. He’ll need to watch her carefully for clues to pinpoint exactly what he should give her. And along the way, he might just learn that what Ainsley really needs is not quite what he expected.

Book Review: Heated

Katie June 13, 2014 0 Comments

Heated is the 2nd book in the Most Wanted series of novels, the first was Wanted which I reviewed back in January!  This book features a different one of “The Knights”, Tyler. (Book 1 was about Evan.)  I have to say, I preferred the first book.

In Heated – we meet a cop named Sloane.  She doesn’t trust anyone, yet somehow when she meets Tyler, she trusts him and isn’t sure that she should.  Tyler and his pals may be involved in some shady business but Tyler ends up winning Sloane over.  Things end up getting hot and heavy with them (it is a romance book, after all) and it seems like things may end up working out with them – but then there is a trust issue that pops up with one of the subplots that is going on.

As far as the romance aspect of the book goes – it certainly was heated, but I found the storyline lacking a bit. I couldn’t get into it as much as the first book and maybe I shouldn’t really be comparing the two as much as I am and did, but when it is somewhat a continuation of one story to another you kind of can’t help yourself.

Overall not a terrible book, but not one of my favorites due to the storyline.

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

About the Book

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Bared to You, and Release Me comes an all-new erotic series of three enigmatic and powerful men, and the striking women who can bring them to their knees.

I knew better than to risk my heart.
But fierce passion comes at a high price.

I grew up believing in right and wrong, good and evil, black and white. I knew better than to trust. And then I met Tyler Sharp.

Bold, charming, and dangerously sexy, Tyler always gets what he wants. But his smile can be deceiving, his dealings sordid, his ambitions ruthless. I thought I was the one woman strong enough to resist him, but our need for each other was too urgent to deny.

One look and I was in trouble. One touch and I was hooked. One night and I became his.

And now that I’ve fallen, there’s no going back.

Heated is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Book Review: The Handmade Marketplace

Katie June 13, 2014 0 Comments

If you are a crafter and are thinking about selling your items whether it be online or offline, then you definitely need to check out The Handmade Marketplace.  Personally, I have not thought about creating craft to sell – but I have been considering opening an Etsy store (or rather, re-opening) to sell some of my extra supplies that I get when I buy “scrap bags” or kits.

But it’s always been in the back of my mind that hey, sometimes I make some cool shapes on my cutter and maybe I can start selling them because other people will want to use them too?

The book has a lot of great tips on getting websites (good for anyone who wants a website, not just craft related!) and picking business names. (again, good for anyone who has a business not just craft related ones!)

There is also tons and tons of advice from other successful craft store owners and you know I loved the fact that each person had their own handwriting font to go along with their advice 🙂

The book certainly gave me a lot of good things to think about if I do decide to start trying to sell some of my creations.  A must read for any crafter looking to make some money from their creations and share their art 🙂

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

About the Book

Since its original publication in 2010, Kari Chapin’s The Handmade Marketplace has inspired thousands of crafters around the world to find the courage and know-how they need to make money — and even to make a full-time living — from doing what they love best. Now, this best-selling guide has been completely revised and updated to include solid information on the latest on-line and social media opportunities for sales and marketing, as well as fresh advice and invaluable tips from successful crafters and artists. With Kari Chapin at your side, you can live a more creative life and enjoy a lucrative career at the same time.

Book Review: Brunette Ambition

Katie June 12, 2014 0 Comments

Brunette Ambition is by Glee star, Lea Michelle.  I wasn’t sure what to expect from the hard cover book that arrived at my house from Blogging for Books, but I dove right in and have to say this is an autobiography but at the same time it is also a recipe book, an exercise book and a beauty tip book.  The book is full of photos from Lea’s career – starting with her as a baby and then moving on to her Broadway career.  She talks a bit about each of the shows she has been in and what she learned from each of them.  There are recipes for her favorite things to eat and an indepth look at her beauty regime. (She’ll put on makeup before heading to the airport in case she bumps into paparazzi, but will take it off as soon as she gets on the plane to let her skin breathe and puts on moisturizer again)

Many who criticize Lea have been saying that she has been using Cory’s death to further her career – there is barely a mention of him in this book.  She started it before his death as she mentions in the beginning that he had already read most of it – but there was no last minute addition of anything about him, so suck it, haters!

Overall this was probably one of the most fun autobiographies I read – I liked that there were recipes and other information throughout the book that made it stand out a bit from your typical I was born, I was on Broadway, now I’m on TV type of biographies that are out there.  I also loved all the photos included – from Lea with friends, to dressed for roles, to showing her exercise routines!

I received a free copy of this book from the Blogging for Books program in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

The star of the hit show Glee shares her experiences and insider tips on beauty, fashion, inner strength, and more in an illustrated book that’s part memoir, part how-to, and part style guide.
 
Lea Michele is one of the hardest working performers in show business.  Whether she’s starring as Rachel Berry on Glee, rocking a glamorous look on the red carpet, recording her solo album, or acting as the spokesperson for L’Oreal, Lea is the ultimate multi-tasker.  She knows better than anyone that it is difficult to be your best self and keep things in perspective when your to-do list is overflowing and you are faced with challenges, so she’s developed a foolproof system for remaining healthy and centered.  In Brunette Ambition, she reveals the lessons and advice that have worked for her–from beauty and fashion secrets to fitness tips, and career insights.  Supplemented with never-before-seen photos and revealing anecdotes, it’s the book Lea wishes she’d had in her teens and early twenties: A practical and inspirational guide to harnessing tenacity and passion and living the fullest life, no matter what obstacles life puts in your way.

Book Review: The Todd Glass Situation

Katie June 6, 2014 0 Comments

Some of my favorite autobiographies are by comedians. Because even though they may have had a rough life they somehow are always able to spin things to have you laugh, for a least part of the story.  Todd Glass is a comedian I was first introduced to on Last Comic Standing I don’t even know how many years ago. I don’t remember if I thought he was funny then and I don’t remember much else about his acts but I remembered his name (mostly because it reminded me of George Glass from the Brady Bunch) and decided to give his book a look.

The book tells about his life growing up, how his family moved a lot and he didn’t do well in school. He mastered a thoughtful look so his teachers thought he was paying attention.  Eventually they discovered he had dyslexia and he spent his time in separate classes.  As he got older, he discovered comedy and at first didn’t realize it was something you could do for a job – but obviously eventually figured that out and pursued it.  Todd is also gay. A lot of the book deals with him hiding it and how he dealt with it and tried to keep it secret from everyone, despite having a boyfriend.

Just the right amount of funny mixed with serious and a great read whether you are familiar with Todd and his work or not!

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

About the Book

A hilarious, poignant memoir from comedian Todd Glass about his decision at age forty-eight to finally live openly as a gay man—and the reactions and support from his comedy pals, from Louis CK to Sarah Silverman.

Growing up in a Philadelphia suburb in the 1970s was an easy life. Well, easy as long as you didn’t have dyslexia or ADD, or were a Jew. And once you added gay into the mix, life became more difficult. So Todd Glass decided to hide the gay part, no matter how comic, tragic, or comically tragic the results.

It might have been a lot easier had he chosen a profession other than stand-up comedy. By age eighteen, Todd was opening for big musical acts like George Jones and Patti LaBelle. His career carried him through the Los Angeles comedy heyday in the 1980s, its decline in the 1990s, and its rebirth via the alternative comedy scene and the explosion in podcasting. But the harder he worked at his craft, the more difficult it became to manage his “situation.” There were the years of abstinence and half-hearted attempts to “cure” himself. The fake girlfriends so that he could tell relationship jokes onstage. The staged sexual encounters to burnish his reputation offstage. It took a brush with death to cause him to rethink the way he was living his life; a rash of suicides among gay teens to convince him that it was finally time to come out to the world.

Now, Todd has written an open, honest, and hilarious memoir in an effort to help everyone—young and old, gay and straight—breathe a little more freely. Peppered with anecdotes from his life among comedy’s greatest headliners and tales of the occasionally insane lengths Todd went through to keep a secret that—let’s face it—he probably didn’t have to keep for as long as he did, The Todd Glass Situation is a front-row seat to the last thirty plus years of comedy history and a deeply personal story about one man’s search for acceptance.

Book Review: The Best Seat in Baseball, But You Have to Stand!

Katie June 6, 2014 0 Comments

The Best Seat in Baseball, But You Have to Stand! is a book about The Game as Umpires See It.    Not that I’ve been reading baseball books for all that long – but I’ve never really seen a book from the umpires point of view.  Maybe its because a lot of baseball fans can consider the umpires to be the enemy since they can be responsible for blown calls that can alter the course of the game.  Either way, I was definitely interested in checking out this book to see what could be said about the umpires and the game of baseball.

This book was written in the 1970s, so it mentions a lot of the older players (Tom Seaver, for instance) though I’m not sure that their jobs have changed much or that they’re looked upon any nicer lately so the problems they are faced with are probably very similar from the 70s to now. (With the exception perhaps of the new “challenge” that is in place new this season.) It follows a crew throughout several games in the season and their thoughts on the teams and the game and the players. How they handle criticism and injury.

Certainly still an interesting read even if it was written before my time. 😉

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

About the Book

A fascinating and revealing look inside the lives of umpires, from the godfather of creative nonfiction

In 1974, Lee Gutkind walked into Shea Stadium, then home of the New York Mets, with an unusual proposal. He wanted to chronicle one of the least celebrated cadres in professional baseball: the umpires. Gutkind spent one exhilarating season traveling with the officiating crew he found that day—Doug Harvey, Nick Colosi, Harry Wendelstedt, and Art Williams, the first African American umpire in National League history. Gutkind’s narrative reveals much about the peculiarities of the men charged with the “thankless and impossible task of invoking order”—their work ethic, fallibility, and perhaps most strikingly, their pride.

As resonant today as when it was first published, The Best Seat in Baseball, But You Have to Stand! is an engrossing story of the men who work on one of the nation’s biggest stages, their victories and their failures, and their inner worlds that are rarely—if ever—explored.