TEA-RRIFIC MONTH: AUGUST 2014

Well, hello to my first ever monthly recap! I haven't posted much lately. I've been busy doing some freelance stuff and looking for my first job. And just last week, I was hired and I knew then that I will be busier this time around. My job requires me to work 10 hours per day at the office, and I spend another 4 hours at home for research. I need to learn new stuff for work and I admit it's not easy. I try to read as much as I can before going to sleep and during my way to the office. And I plan to use my weekend for my social and blogging life.

Books read:

  

Reviews: When I Break by Kendall Ryan | No One's Hero by Kelly Walker
Waiting On Wednesday: The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows | Queen of Someday by Sherry Ficklin
Book Tours: Vortex by S.J. Sincaid | Fan Art by Sarah Tregay
Release Day: Begin With Love by Kelly Walker

Book Signing Event: I met one of the most bubbly and inspiring authors, Alex London! He's so funny and energetic and inspiring! His experience with the book The Little Prince brought me tears! It's one of the most inspiring stories I've heard this year!

I had a blast this month! Hoping for more bookish adventures next month!

{Blog Tour} Excerpt + Giveaway: PROXY by Alex London

Proxy
by Alex London
Series: Proxy #1
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia, LGBT
Published May 1st 2014 by Speak (first published June 18th 2013 by Philomel)

Syd’s life is not his own. As a proxy he must to pay for someone else's crimes. When his patron Knox crashes a car and kills someone, Syd is branded and sentenced to death. The boys realize the only way to beat the system is to save each other so they flee. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test the boys' resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay.

This fast-paced thrill ride of a novel is full of breakneck action, shocking twists and heart-hammering suspense that will have readers gasping until the very last page.

EXCERPT

The girl’s family must have some cred. You couldn’t get into their high school without paying for it, no outside sponsors allowed. And you couldn’t get eyes like hers without some serious biotech. They practically glowed purple. Her dark hair also had a hint of purple, probably designed to match. The DNA install for that kind of work must have been a nightmare for the coders who wrote it. Very lux.

Knox eased on the straightaway. He was way above the suggested maximum speed, and he was way below the suggested minimum age. He’d stolen company property from his father’s private lot; he’d violated the restricted speedway, violated driving regulations. He planned to do some more violating before the night was over. In the end, someone would have to pay for it.

Everything costs.

But really, who would set the access code to a brand new CX-30 Roadster as 1-2-3-4-5 and not expect his son to take it for spin? If anyone was to blame, it was his father. Knox was sixteen. He was just doing what came naturally.

Like the polar bears.

And look where that got them.

“What’s so funny?” the girl asked, seeing Knox chuckle.

“Just thinking about polar bears,” he said and he reached over to squeeze her thigh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex London

Alex London writes books for adults (One Day The Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War), children (Dog Tags series; An Accidental Adventure series) and teens (Proxy). At one time a journalist reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, he is now a full time novelist living in Brooklyn, NY, where he can be found wandering the streets talking to his dog, who is the real brains of the operation.

GIVEAWAY (PH Only)

Win a SIGNED copy of Proxy! (PH Only)

Review: ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss
by Stephanie Perkins
Anna and the French Kiss #1
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Published July 16th 2013 by Speak
Format Acquired: Paperback
Source: Purchased from National Book Store
Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / National Book Store / Fullybooked

Can Anna find love in the City of Light?

Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's less than thrilled when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year. But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new people, including the handsome Étienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken —and Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's waiting for?

MY REVIEW

I admit to having a hard time writing a review for this books. This is one hell of an amazing read! It makes me want to learn French language! Stephanie Perkins is the Queen of Contemporary! I actually don't know who to focus on this book -- Anna or Etienne. This SHOULD be about Anna but as a girl, I can't help but make this book all about Etienne. Anna is such a lucky girl, living in a city of romance, meeting such a handsome British guy who is also fluent at French. Now, isn't that the perfect life?

I like Anna's character. The way she loves watching films and being always organized. Plus, the way readers like me can relate to her emotions and feelings. Especially when she met Etienne St. Clair! Oh my Etienne... He's such a hot and handsome guy (not the bad boy type though) in his own special way. He might be described as short, but who cares?! Everyone needs a friend like him, or more like a lover like him. I love how their friendship bloomed into something deeper and more beautiful kind of relationship. I love how they became honest to their feelings. I love everything in this book!

Just look at my reading progress. Oh, look at those ALL CAPS STATUSES. I think it'll sum up how much I love and squeal for this book while reading it.

Oh, and sorry for the spoilers on the pages above. ;)

MY RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie Perkins

Hi, there! I'm Steph, and I wrote ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR, and ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. I also edited (and contributed a short story to) a romantic holiday anthology called MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME. My next YA novel will be horror—a teen slasher published by Dutton.

I don't check blog comments here on Goodreads, so if you want to make sure that I receive your message, please click over to my actual blog and leave it there: http://naturalartificial.blogspot.com

Review: RED AT NIGHT by Katie McGarry

Red At Night
by Katie McGarry
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Published April 1st 2014 by Harlequin Special Releases
Format Acquired: Kindle Edition
Source: Purchased from Amazon Kindle
Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo

In Red at Night, Stella and Jonah are total opposites. She's the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He's a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella's favorite refuge…the local cemetery.

Stella knows she should keep her distance—after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah's friends. Once he's sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won't have time for her anymore. Too bad she's already fallen for him.

MY REVIEW

I was so lucky to get a chance to have this while it was free on amazon. I love Katie McGarry's works (even though I haven't reviewed one, yet) so I didn't hesitate to one-click this.

Stella's favorite hangout place is the local cemetery. It might be spooky but it's where she finds peace and silence. And this is where she met Jonah, who happened to be friends with the kids who bullied her before, and well, Jonah didn't recognize her at first. That's when they started to hang out at the cemetery and they became like "secret" friends since Jonah doesn't mind his best friend, Cooper, to make fun of Stella in front of her. Whereas Jonah has his personal issues, a tragic experience that he can't move on, Stella was there for him.

Later on, they developed feeling for each other. This time, Jonah's no longer cool about Cooper making fun of Stella. But Stella was worried about how deep her feelings might be if they don't stop. She's got no plans on going to college and work instead.

Red At Night is full of feeling and emotions, if you might ask. This is a beautiful story but I it felt incomplete. There were times where my feelings were left hanging. Although this is an 84 pages novella, I think the author can still pull it off. I KNOW she can do better. I just hope she did. Anyway, I know other Katie McGarry fans will enjoy this!

MY RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katie McGarry

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

Author Links:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads