Practically Imperfect by Mary Frame Reviewed

Title: Practically Imperfect
Author: Mary Frame
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Publication Date: April 15, 2016

Gemma McDougall is certain about three things: One, she’s never going to lose her Latina ass. Two, her career is more important than the crappy (and nonexistent) relationships she’s had to endure her entire adult life. Three, she’s going to get the next promotion to detective if it kills her. But then her job literally almost kills her, and she’s forced into unwanted medical leave.

Sam London is certain about three things: One, he has no idea how to have a normal adult relationship and will likely die cold and alone, ravaged by wild dogs. Two, playing a game of Drinking Jenga, while fun, also leads to late nights sneaking into the neighbor’s yard and getting held at gunpoint by the neighbor’s daughter. Three, he has no idea what kind of trouble Gemma McDougall has gotten herself into, but he’s going to be a part of it, no matter what.

What I love most about this series is how the heroines are not very typical. Lucy, Freya, and now Gemma, all of them have exceeded my expectations on main female characters. They are such bad ***es in their own unique way and most definitely, they are no damsel in distress.

Gemma, was a very strong woman and I like how she stands for her principle and beliefs and does her job well. I like Sam for not stereotyping  when it comes to women like Gemma.And the way he cared for Gemma was absolutely a plus. The two of them together is so hilarious to watch I enjoyed every bit of their moment together.

And since this is sort of a romance-comedy-mystery/suspense novel, it also had me on edge when the suspense bit played into the picture. Add Lucy, Freya and their other friend whose name I can’t remember, I’m telling you, you’ll have a hard time putting this book down.

And Lucy ‘showing’ how much she loves her brother while in a wedding dress is definitely my favorite scene.

If you want a bit of suspense, laughter, drama and love, this one is highly recommended

BOOK LINKS: Amazon | B&N | Google Play | Kobo

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Just Like Me by Nancy J. Cavanaugh Reviewed

Title: Just Like Me
Author: Nancy J. Cavanaugh
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Expected publication: April 5th 2016

Who eats Cheetos with chopsticks?! Avery and Becca, my “Chinese Sisters,” that’s who. We’re not really sisters—we were just adopted from the same orphanage. And we’re nothing alike. They sing Chinese love songs on the bus to summer camp, and I pretend like I don’t know them.

To make everything worse, we have to journal about our time at camp so the adoption agency can do some kind of “where are they now” newsletter. I’ll tell you where I am: At Camp Little Big Woods in a cabin with five other girls who aren’t getting along, competing for a campout and losing (badly), wondering how I got here…and where I belong.

You know that feeling of having this first impression on someone then later on you realized how wrong you were about that impression? That’s exactly how I was with the main character in this book, Julia.

After a few pages reading everything Julia was saying, I was convince I wouldn’t like this book. Because I don’t like her. I felt like she’s being too shallow and insecure. How wrong I was. It turned out she’s just being herself, a kid with worries bigger than her or her age and add the fact that she was adopted and she’s being forced to be in this camp and get along with her ‘Chinese Sisters’.

As she pondered along getting to know herself, I felt like I was getting reacquainted with myself too. Rarely a book make me emotional, but somewhere near the end, this one did. I found myself loving Julia as I get to know her and even felt proud of her in the end. Actually, not just her but every one in the White Oaks cabin.

This is another middle grade book. And I think it will be a good eyeopener and a way to know or evaluate one’s self for someone in Julia’s age. This book turned out to be a surprise because I really enjoyed it. I’m surely reading another book by this author.

Favorite Quotes:
“Sometimes people don’t want to look back because they are afraid of facing the truth. But sometimes, facing the truth we’re afraid of is what makes us who we’re really suppose to be.”

“And as it turns, there’s a lot of peace in the truth one you learn how to accept it. And once you accept it, that peace becomes part of you.”

“So does it ever bother you that Vannesa’s so mean? I asked Gina. ‘Yeah,’ Gina said. ‘But I try to remember she’s mean because of her, not because of me.'”

“The peace of a cabin is like an invisible tightrope stretch across a canyon.I wonder if White Oak will ever be able to cross that canyon without falling into it.”

(Buy links not available yet)

Nancy J. Cavanaugh spends her winters in Florida enjoying the Gulf Coast and her summers eating pizza in her former hometown of Chicago. She loves reading middle grade novels. Her secret? She hasn’t read an adult book in years.

Like her main character, Ratchet, Nancy is pretty handy with a ratchet and is able to take apart a small engine and put it back together.

Like her main character, Abigail, Nancy often struggled while growing up to find the courage to do the right thing. She also fell in a HUGE puddle, just like Abigail did.

Nancy has been an elementary and middle school teacher as well as a library media specialist. One of her favorite parts of writing for children is being able to say “I’m working” when reading middle grade novels.

Taken Home by Ruth Cardello Reviewed

 

Title: Taken Home (Lone Star Burn Series #3)
Author: Ruth Cardello
Publication Date:
April 05, 2016 Genre: Romance

Playboy Mason Thorne is nothing short of complicated. Though he was a movie star at a young age, his life took a downward spiral when he turned to drugs after losing his mother. He cleaned up his act and became a senator but still keeps his distance from most everyone—including his own father. There are plenty of women around, but most are gone by morning.

Twenty-five-year-old Chelle Landon thinks she must be the last virgin in Texas. She’s worried if she doesn’t remedy it soon, she’ll stay one forever. She attends yet another small-town wedding where the last single man her age is officially off the market, until sexy politician Mason Thorne appears. He’s the answer to her prayers, if one can pray for something that decadent.

He needs a cover story, not another lover. Chelle’s on a mission to lose her virginity, no matter what. Will he break her heart or will she heal his?

 

I’m lucky enough to get a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Ever since I started reading this series, I’ve been curious about Mason and Dean’s characters the most. That’s why I was excited when I learned that the 3rd book is Mason’s story. And all those anticipation and excitement didn’t go to waste because this book didn’t disappoint.

Even though Mason and Chelle’s first meeting was almost like a cliche, for me it felt like it was meant for them to meet that way. How opposite their characters well was pretty evident form the onset of events until the last page but those differences made their story even much more interesting and enjoyable.

I love how this characters developed throughout the story and a how they worked their way to loving each other. Mason really is my favorite character in this series and this story made him even more endearing to me. He’s very much flawed but I liked how he tried to be better. Chelle and her family was adorable too.

And once again, this is not just a story of love but of friends and family and how important they are. It’s very much a Ruth Cardello story but a little sexier than her other novels and series.

BUY ON AMAZON

Dechiper (Declan Reede: The Untold Story) by Michelle Irwin Reviewed

Brake hard, jostle for position, and watch for the blind corner.

In a swirl of controversy, Declan Reede lost everything important to him. Now old temptations resurface, old battles reignite, and he has nothing left in reserve.

When a glimmer of hope is offered, Declan has to stand and fight for what he wants or he might just lose it all forever.

How can he decipher the clues and get revenge on those who want to see him burn?

I’m so bad. I thought I have reviewed this already but I was wrong. I wrote the review but have forgotten to post it. Anyways, I was lucky enough to be given an advance copy of this so I could read it early. Here’s my review:

The scene where it ended in the previous book, I was thinking so hard of what was really there and what really happened with Alyssa. For the first time ever, I’m happy that I predicted it right. Because I can’t imagine things going even more south with Declan. He at least deserves some happiness… okay a lot of happiness even if at times I badly want to give him a punch right in his face.

This book is a little happier than the previous one which makes me nervous for the next one. I know Michelle still has that twist waiting for all of us.

What I love most about this book is how you can see the characters growing and evolving to better persons. Reading this series made me feel like hearing about people I personally know. I love every bit of character in this series whether they played the good or bad role because they all made this series even more interesting.

At this point, I’d say I’m totally hooked with Michelle’s writing I’ll definitely read anything she writes.

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