Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: To Be Honest

To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin (Aug. 21, 2018)
Length: 304 pages
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: I received a free copy as part of the Xpresso Book Tours. This did NOT affect my honest review. Thanks!
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | iBooks
My Rating:

Synopsis: Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her sister goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn’t count on is that her mother’s obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy’s mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats. Between her mom’s diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.

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My Review

To Be Honest in Three Words: Adorable. Strong. Honest.

Okay, I freaking adore this book! To Be Honest is the most honest young adult contemporary novel I have read in a while.

Savannah is bold. Savannah is amazing. Savannah is stubborn. Savannah is strong. Savannah is real. I wish I would have been as awesome as Savannah when I was a teenager. She is much more confident in her own skin than I was at her age, and that was a nice message to read.

Not only did I very much love Savannah, but I enjoyed reading about Savannah's relationships with her mom, sister, dad, her crush George, and best friend Grace. Her mom is struggling with her own body image, her sister is reliable and kind, Grace is sweet and fun, and George is nerdy and adorable. Each character impacts Savannah's life in a different way, and I loved reading about all of these different relationship dynamics.

I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. However, I do wish the book would have been a little longer so we could have had more focus on some of the interesting and fun subplots that were going on. That is my only complaint.

The Bottom Line: To be honest, this book is worth every penny. Get yourself a copy sooner rather than later.

The Author

Maggie Ann Martin hails from Iowa City, Iowa but moonlights as a New Yorker. She has a shiny new BA in English and Journalism from the University of Iowa, the most welcoming literary community in the world. When she is not writing, you can find her binge watching TV shows or passionately fangirling over fictional characters on the Internet. The Big F is her debut novel.

WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER

The Giveaway

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Review & Giveaway: Airports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over

Aiports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over by Shani Petroff (May 15, 2018)

Length: 224 pages

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Source: I received a free copy for this blog tour. Thank you Xpresso Book Tours!

Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | iBooks | Kobo

My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: A bad storm, two canceled flights, stuck in an airport with a hot stranger and the guy who broke her heart... what could go wrong? After Sari caught her boyfriend Zev cheating on her, their romantic Florida vacation was ruined. She can't get back to NYC soon enough. Unfortunately, mother nature may have different plans. A huge storm is brewing in the Northeast, and flights all over the country are getting canceled—including Sari's. She winds up stuck at the airport for hours. With Zev! When another stranded passenger (a hot NYU guy) suggests a connecting flight to Boston, Sari jumps at the chance. But when her mom freaks out about her traveling alone, she has no choice—she has to include Zev, and somehow survive being trapped with the guy who broke her heart!

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My Review

Airports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over in Three Words: Musical. Stressful. Entertaining.

What I Liked

• I was a big fan of the overall plot of Sari trying to deal with her feelings about her boyfriend's cheating when she just can't seem to get away from him! Her Florida vacation turns into a nightmare as she struggles to get back home before a big storm hits. I loved this story line.
• Sari's best friend is pretty awesome, but I do wish she was in the book more.
• Sari's parents are present and aren't just in the background! Their worry for her seemed realistic.
• Fitz and Zev are both fun and sweet characters. 
• I was really transported into the various settings. Whether Sari was stuck in the cramped airport or in squeezed in the backseat of a car in the middle of a storm, the descriptions were spot on.
• The beautiful cover!

What I Didn't Like

• It was too short! I wasn't able to really connect or get to know Sari or her boyfriend as much as I would have liked, which is kind of a bummer.
• All the miscommunication. It is one of my least favorite romance tropes. This is a personal preference.
• Although the drama did remind me of my teenage years, it was a little too annoying to read as an adult.

The Verdict: I think teens will enjoy the entertaining plot, be able to relate to having overly worrying (and sometimes embarrassing) parents, enjoy Sari's passion for music, and like the cute romance.

The Author

Shani Petroff is a writer living in New York City. She’s the author of the “Bedeviled” series, which includes Daddy’s Little Angel, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Dress, Careful What You Wish For, and Love Struck, and is the co-author of the “Destined” series which includes Ash and Ultraviolet. She also writes for television news programs and several other venues. When she’s not locked in her apartment typing away, she spends a whole lot of time on books, boys, TV, daydreaming, and shopping online.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

The Giveaway

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Let's Chat: I Swoon Over Swoon Reads

Have you ever heard of Swoon Reads? It's a publisher that has published some really great books that were chosen by the help of readers! Also, if you are an aspiring young adult author with a manuscript, you can submit it on their website for consideration. I am working on my own and am determined to submit sometime in 2018. Although Swoon Reads originally only published romance books, but they now accept manuscripts from all genres even if there is no romance! Their blog also offers writing tips, an inside look at publishing, cover voting, and all kinds of fun and informational posts. Check out their website HERE. 

Why am I bringing this to your attention? I believe some of these Swoon Reads titles pass under the radar. They deserve more attention! I hope that after reading this post you will find your TBR pile to have grown some. Swoon Reads is a unique publisher that you should check out!

Swoon Reads Titles I Have Read

Spoiler: I have enjoyed every single title on this list! All titles are linked to my reviews or Goodreads.

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

Velvet by Temple West

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

Love, Lies, and Spies by Cindy Anstey

You Don't Know My Name by Kristen Orlando

All the Feels by Danika Stone

The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen

Traveler by L.E. Delano

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

Duels & Deception by Cindy Anstey

These Ruthless Deeds by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

Sequels to my Favorites That Can't Come Soon Enough

These Vengeful Souls by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

Dreamer by L.E. Delano

You Won't Know I'm Gone by Kristen Orlando

Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

More Swoon Reads Titles on My TBR Pile

Bound to You by Alyssa Brandon

Finding You by Lydia Albano

Wesley James Ruined My Life by Jennifer Honeybourn

Love Me, Love Me Not by S.M. Koz

Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley

The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo

Internet Famous by Danika Stone

The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas

Airports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over by Shani Petroff

The Boyfriend Bracket by Kate Evangelista

The Struggle is Real by Maggie Ann Martin

Have you read any of these Swoon Reads titles?

Waiting on Wednesday #13

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Because.... This Author

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
Release Date: Sept. 5, 2017
Goodreads

Goodreads Summary: The story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge. Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat. Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete. An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two. A bad romance, or maybe three. Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains. A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her. A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

Because... It Sounds Too Good to Pass Up

Finding You by Lydia Albano
Release Date: Sept. 19, 2017
Goodreads

Goodreads Summary: Isla is kidnapped from a train platform in broad daylight, and thrust into a nightmare when she is sold to a sadistic aristocrat. Locked in a dungeon with a dozen other girls, her only comfort is a locket and the memory of the boy she loves. But as the days pass and more girls disappear, she realizes that help is not coming, and if they’re going to survive, they’ll have to escape on their own.

What are you waiting on?

Short & Sweet Review: You Don't Know My Name

You Don't Know My Name by Kristen Orlando
Length: 288 pages
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Genre: Young Adult/Action/Spy
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Fighter. Faker. Student. Spy. Seventeen-year-old Reagan Elizabeth Hillis is used to changing identities overnight, lying to every friend she’s ever had, and pushing away anyone who gets too close. Trained in mortal combat and weaponry her entire life, Reagan is expected to follow in her parents’ footsteps and join the ranks of the most powerful top-secret agency in the world, the Black Angels. Falling in love with the boy next door was never part of the plan. Now Reagan must decide: Will she use her incredible talents and lead the dangerous life she was born into, or throw it all away to follow her heart and embrace the normal life she’s always wanted? And does she even have a choice?

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My Review

You Don't Know My Name was an enjoyable, and at times intense, spy novel.

Reagan doesn't just have your run of the mill teenager problems, she also has parents that are spies. She is a complex character who is destined to be a spy, but she isn't sure if that is what she wants.

This novel focuses less on the romance and more on the spies, family, and friendship. I didn't mind one bit.

I think you should give You Don't Know My Name a try. You may find it intriguing.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: All the Feels by Danika Stone

All the Feels by Danika Stone (June 7, 2016)

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Source:  I received a copy of this book for a tour through Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Dankia Stone and Xpresso!

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Rating:

Synopsis: College freshman Liv is more than just a fangirl: The Starveil movies are her life… So, when her favorite character, Captain Matt Spartan, is killed off at the end of the last movie, Liv Just. Can’t. Deal.

Tired of sitting in her room sobbing, Liv decides to launch an online campaign to bring her beloved hero back to life. With the help of her best friend, Xander, actor and steampunk cosplayer extraordinaire, she creates #SpartanSurvived, a campaign to ignite the fandom. But as her online life succeeds beyond her wildest dreams, Liv is forced to balance that with the pressures of school, her mother’s disapproval, and her (mostly nonexistent and entirely traumatic) romantic life. A trip to DragonCon with Xander might be exactly what she needs to figure out what she really wants.

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 My Review

I felt like All the Feels was written specifically for me. I loved it! 

Are you a part of a fandom? Do you consider yourself a fangirl of some degree? Do you have that tv show that you just can't stop watching? Do you feel intense feels when reading your favorite book or watching your favorite movie? If you answered yes to any of those questions then this book is for you! The chapter titles are even quotes from all of your favorite fandoms! 

Liv is part of the Starveil fandom. It is her passion. It is her inspiration. It is also what got her in trouble with her mother when her grades suffered because of it. Liv is a wonderful relatable character. She is sweet and shy and passionate. Her best friend, really only friend IRL, Xander, is very unique. He is always dressed in cosplay and the sweetest gentleman a girl could ask for, not to mention cute and so much fun! Everyone will want to meet these two characters.

The plot of All the Feels, although predictable for me, was a wonderful adventure. We get to see Liv grow as a person and we get to read about someone's first time at a big con. It was wonderful. It was almost like the feelings and things that happened to Liv were somehow magically transported from my mind into the book. I feel like the author really captured the spirit of fandom.

All the Feels is adorable and fun. It would make a wonderful summer read. Don't miss out!

The Author

Danika Stone is an author, artist, and educator who discovered a passion for writing fiction while in the throes of her Masters thesis. A self-declared bibliophile, Danika now writes novels for both adults (The Intaglio Series and Ctrl Z) and teens (Icarus and All the Feels). When not writing, Danika can be found hiking in the Rockies, planning grand adventures, and spending far too much time online. She lives with her husband, three sons, and a houseful of imaginary characters in a windy corner of Alberta, Canada.

The first book in Danika’s upcoming Tathagata series (Edge of Wild) was selected as a quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel of the Year Award (2013). Edge of Wild (Stonehouse CA) will be released March 2016. Danika’s YA novel, All the Feels (Macmillan US), will be released June 2016.

Ms. Stone is represented by Morty Mint of Mint Literary Agency.

WEBSITE | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Giveaway

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ARC Review: The Way to Game the Walk of Shame

The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen (June 7, 2016)
336 pages
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: I received a free ARC from the publisher. This did not affect my honest review.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard.

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My Review

I am a big fan of just about everything Swoon Reads publishes, and The Way to Game the Walk of Shame lived up to its predecessors. 

If you are looking for a sweet story and cute characters then this book is for you. The Way to Game the Walk of Shame may be a little cliched at times but most romance novels are, and it is a wonderful story nonetheless. This book is a great reading choice if you are in the mood for a few laughs, a little snark, adorableness, friendship, swoony moments, and an opposites attract type of romance.

Taylor is an ambitious young lady who won't settle for anything less than perfect. Evan is a little rough around the edges but sweet and lovable. Both bring out the best in each other. Evan helps Taylor have a little fun and Taylor helps Evan be serious when needed, like with school. These two will make you smile. I love the idea of a romance blossoming from a previous agreement between the two that claim they are only going to fake being together and not fall in love. Like I said, this one may be a little cliched, but it has its unique moments so don't let that keep you from reading this book. It has a perfect balance between the two. It's just what I wanted in a young adult romance novel.

This book was fun to read. I felt the swoony tingles while reading and look forward to seeing what this author writes in the future. I hope you give this book a chance. It would make a great beach read!

Review: These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

These Vicious Masks (#1) by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas
320 pages
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction/Supernatural
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: I bought this one! It's only $8 at Target!
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Jane Austen meets X-­Men in this gripping and adventure-­filled paranormal romance set in Victorian London.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they’re not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared.

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My Review

Swoon Reads has published yet another fun and cute novel! I had an absolute blast reading These Vicious Masks.

Evelyn is snarky, brave, and sometimes foolish. When her sister goes missing she does everything in her power to find her and bring her home. It's hard to do this as a woman in 1882 who is supposed to care about her reputation in society and who has very few rights. She gets the help from Mr. Kent and Mr. Braddock, two handsome and sometimes devilish men who on occasion try to hold her back, yet she always refuses to do so. Evelyn may need help, but she doesn't need some gentleman hero. All three characters charmed me. I only wish there were more kisses and swoony moments, but there was some good sexual tension going on.

These Vicious Masks is a very entertaining read that managed to win my high praises. It would be hard not to enjoy a novel full of adventure, intrigue, and laughs. I actually felt like I was transported back in time while reading. This book may be these two author's first one, but it didn't feel like it. The ending was rather frustrating though, but mostly just because I have to wait for the next book!

I recommend that you give These Vicious Masks a try. It won't take up a lot of your time and it is such a delightful book, with some darker elements to it as well. 

The Bookish Report

Here are all of the top bookish stories, blog posts, pictures, and videos I found this past week. I put this post up every Sunday so come back again next week for more bookish awesomeness. Click away and enjoy your Sunday!

The last time I had one of these posts on the blog was last November! Can you believe it? I have been so crazy busy this year I haven't been blogging nearly as much as I usually do, but that is all going to change. I am finally getting a nice routine down with my two jobs and new puppy. I have been brainstorming and will be working on some new posts and such for the blog in the near future. Until then, enjoy some of my old features that I am bringing back.

Bookish News

I can't help but swoon over Book Riot's Book Fetish posts. I NEED all the bookish things! I also can never get enough pictures of cute animals reading. 

Harper Lee passed away a little over a week ago. She will always be remembered. In honor of her here is a list of 12 times Harper Lee's words stopped us in our tracks.

I am obsessed with everything Swoon Reads lately! You should take their quiz to see which Jane Austen inspired super power you would have! I got Matchmaker. No regrets.

For all the HP fans out there, a roundup of the latest news and tweets from J.K. Rowling. 

Ummmm..... Heck yes! Literary Mashups: When 'Dexter' meets 'Jane Eyre'

Who doesn't love looking at some of the most amazing bookstores from around the world?

Did any of you reading this participate in the Traveling ARC Tour of After the Woods? How cool is this?!

Here is some new Ready Player One movie news.

Guess what?! The cover of Crooked Kingdom has been revealed!!!!!

Notable Book Blogger Posts

Caffeinated Book Reviewer | Waiting for the next book... Nonlinear time?

Writer of Wrongs | These are a Few of My Favorite Tropes

My Novel Opinion | Do I need a blogging niche?

Alexa Loves Books | Tunes & Tales: Grease Live!

Book's Buzz | Make a Harry Potter Sorting Hat

Bookmark Lit | Taking the Guesswork out of My Ratings

The Novel Hermit | The Beauty of Endpapers: Yay or Nay? (Obvious Yay!)

Comic of the Week

Source: Sarah's Scribbles

I Feel Like Gabbing Today - Swoon Reads Edition

 ** Welcome! This is a completely random discussion post feature where I will share with you the very random thoughts that pop into my head and chat with you about them. Many are bookish thoughts and many are not. I feel like I don't have enough discussion type posts on the blog so I am giving this a whirl. Some days I will talk about a specific topic and sometimes I will just throw some random thoughts at you. So please sit back, relax, and take a second to chat with me today.

The Swoon Reads Tour

I was lucky enough to have the Swoon Reads Summer of Swoon Tour (The Authors: Sandy Hall, Temple West, Kimberly Karilus, and Katie Van Ark) make a stop only about 40 minutes away from where I live on May 12! So I obviously had to go. I even switched my work schedule around so I could make it so. I am so glad I did. I dragged my friends from the library who I forced to read A Little Something Different with me. (Please note that they did come willingly because they loved the book I threw at them.) We all had so much fun!

The event was at a nice bookstore (filled with a lot of books and an awesome staff) called The Book Stall. Stacey of the Pageturners blog was the mediator and she did a nice job. There may have been only about 13 people there, but the smaller setting made it less formal, which we ended up really appreciating. I do want to apologize in advance for not taking a lot of pictures. The whole place was super cute looking. I swear.

The Books: I LOVE A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall. It's uniqueness and cuteness made me swoon. Here is my review of that book here. I also LOVE Velvet by Temple West. I am a sucker for vampires and she made a funny and unique vampire story. My review for Velvet is here. I also got to meet Kimberly Karilus of Love Fortunes and Other Disasters and Katie Van Ark of The Boy Next Door. I have a copy of both of these books now and plan to read them soon.

The Books!

So what went down at the event? We created 10 word love stories. We ate cupcakes. We listened to the authors talk about everything from writing, to getting published with Swoon Reads, to their current reads, and more. They had us laughing, smiling, and nodding along in agreement. My friend even won a giveaway of books! The best part... meeting the authors! Every single one of these ladies was brilliant during the discussion panel. They were very down to earth, funny, and very sweet. Getting to talk to Temple West and Sandy Hall one on one was my favorite! 

From Left to Right: Deanna, Sandy Hall!!, Alanna, and Me!

****On June 6th when my blog turns 3 I will be having two giveaways and one will feature a signed ARC of Velvet! So come back to the blog to enter to win!

Have you read these books? What did you think? Did you make it to one of the Swoon Reads tour stops?