Let me start by saying–
It was so courageous of YOU to write about the most difficult times of YOUR life and YOUR ongoing battles. Battle seems like a small word, maybe war is what it is. I’m so proud of each one of YOU who contributed, and those of YOU who will read this book and realize – YOU are not alone. These are gut-wrenching letters written by people who are suffering from various mental disorders, some of which include body dysmorphic disorder, bulimia, trichotillomania, OCD, anxiety and depression, self-harm, epilepsy, amnesia, social anxiety, anorexia, anger issues, bipolar disorder, fear of abandonment, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia, just to name a few. Through a beautiful medium of Hello Me, It’s You, each one of YOU expressed what it feels like to be in YOUR shoes. I could feel it to my bones and even beyond. There is nothing flowery about Hello Me, It’s You. The truth is bare, naked and vulnerable. It was like I was getting a glimpse of YOUR soul and what YOU are/were going through. It’s a constant war-zone if YOU’D ask me and YOU are so brave. I can’t call Hello Me, It’s You a self-help book because it is not. And I recommend you don’t look at it or categorize it as one. It’s a mirror for each one of those who are experiencing mental health issues, are struggling to cope up with one, and are scared to tell someone about your struggles and to be judged. This is one book which will give you the courage to open up. It is also a reflective book for those who are so quick to judge all the YOU’s in the world, who are in a constant war-zone. Again, YOU are so brave. I highly recommend it to readers of all ages. A special thank-you to Hannah Todd for taking the first steps to bring such an excellent, real and much-needed book for all generations. Order or gift a copy from Amazon.com
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something as dominant as The Masterminds comes along the way, I believe I’m converted; and I haven’t even read the first book, yet.
The Masterminds is told from the perspective of Brook and Josh. Josh is trying to nail the Discoli family down which leads him to Brook, who fronts as a judge of a famous competition while behind the scenes, he is doing things he’s not supposed to. Both of them are trying to save who they love the most. Ivy and Aster, the twins from the first novel are tangled in this mess and the story moves forward with a pace that had me biting my nails till I didn't have any left. Olivia Wildenstein is a fine craftswoman of words. She weaved a story so gripping and profoundly moving, giving each and every character a powerful motive to make The Mastermindswhole. What surprised me even more is how she didn’t usedetailed sex scenes as a common literary device I’ve come across these days that many authors use to shove the plot forward and stretch the words count to a painful extent. She knows which genre she’s writing for and how to present it well. Her writing is simple because the complexities lie in her characters and the dense plot. She is a true mastermind in devising crisp sentences that don’t come across robotic. In addition to this, I liked that Olivia Wildenstein didn’t overdo the descriptions of settings and places because I tend to skip those paragraphs altogether. I hate reading about the color of the drapes and the cracks on the wall unless it's coming from Agatha Christie. Do you catch my drift? Descriptions can be poetic, but can also ruin the story if the writing is sloppy. That's where some readers like me struggle to connect with the characters. I agree, some of the readers might disagree with me on this. But, give The Masterminds a chance and see for yourself how clever Olivia Wildenstein’s writing actually is. Even without the flowery descriptions, I could relate to the characters, their stories, fears and insecurities. I also appreciate her writing more because every time I tried guessing the mystery of the missing diamonds, I was proved wrong. I loved the fact how Olivia Wildenstein didn’t describe Diana’s physical attributes at first when she talks to Brook and carefully unwraps her in another scene in the future when I kept racking my head wondering who is the woman Josh is describing, using her physical attributes. The way this author created doubt in my mind in every chapter and scene was spectacular. The ending was gut-wrenching and I did not see that coming. Olivia Wildenstein, you knocked the wind out of me using a sledgehammer. How could you? Although, I do believe it was not easy for you to write it as well. Maybe that’s why the chapter was short and a tough one. I went back to reading it twice before I could grasp what happened and what I read was actually what it meant. Before I forget, here are my favorite quotes from the book: Unfortunately, I’ve learned that sometimes you’ll love people who won’t love you back, and there’s nothing you can do about it. & My other half. My sweeter half. My shattered half. & one more…. To me, Ivy and Aster are two parts of the same person. In the womb, a person’s right arm doesn’t grow sooner than the left. I’m a fan and am looking forward to read more of Olivia Wildenstein’s works of art. Order your copy for Kindle and Paperback.
The story generally focuses on Iris Jaxson, the dying girl with a final wish to fulfill. Alec Sage is her best-friend in-denial and Arthur Quinn, the boy who has been in love with her ever since she walked into the place where he worked.
A twisted tale in which time has the ability to rob your loved ones away from you and you can't do anything about it. At times, I hated Alec but also understood what he must be going through, just imagining what his life would be without Iris. They're soul mate, best-friends, but not lovers. Surprise, surprise! Arthur Quinn was a revelation. You get to know all the characters in this book on a deep, moving level and can understand where they are coming from. I loved how everyone around Iris transformed and she is a bad-ass throughout this book to be honest. Nothing has stopped her from achieving whatever she wanted from her life. The mesmerizing details revolving around Iris, Alec and Arthur make you feel like you are right in the middle of this story. The narration was beautiful and deep. Unfinished is a story I'd remember for a long time. Order your copy from: Amazon.com E-book in various versions available on: Smashwords.com
Here is the reason why.
Pretty Wicked is a well-researched novel. The workings of a psychopath is detailed and through Ryann, I could acknowledge how she worked and justified her actions. For the world, she is perfect example of a good girl and ticks all boxes of social acceptance. But, underneath all that lies another layer of her personality. A personality that is intelligent, dark, egotistic, liar and a prime manipulator. She has everyone eating from her hands, except for Estevez, her father’s partner. I admired the graphical and sensory representation of each and every killing that Ryann undertakes. It made me feel like I was sitting in the front row to watch her work. No matter how she picks up her victims or the various ways she kills them, the clues add up and make her the focal point. I can only blame her fifteen-year-old age and the immaturity it entails. I enjoyed how the novel was written from the perspective of a psychopath and not from the viewpoint of the same-old-detective. I was thrilled, scared, happy and even sad withRyann and her experiences. When another psychopath came into the plot, I really hoped they’d work together. You must think I’m twisted, but I can’t help it. I was looking forward to it. I’d guessed who the other psychopath was because I seriously paid attention to the clues neatly placed in the writing. But, again, Kelly Charron threw my expectations out of the window with a major plot twist in the end. Kelly Charron’s writing is beautiful and I admire the way her simple way of writing actually made me excited. Pretty Wicked is a page-turner and a must read. Get your copy from: Amazon.com
just fall for the male protagonist, which in this case is Cooper MacKenzie, but you also go head-over-heels crazy for a female lead like Imogene Walsh.
Imogene is observant and cynical only because she’s been burnt quite a couple of times through failed relationships. She is extremely confident and does not comes across as a snob throughout the story. She knows what she wants from life. Her colorful language and spark was what kept me turning page after page and laughing till my cheeks hurt because she is one of the most fascinating female leads I’ve read this year! Cooper = THOR. Yes, he looks like the Norse God, THOR but is a man with a heart of gold. I swooned whenever he responded to Imogene’s jibes with equal, quirky comebacks and those killer, secretive smiles. He is stunning and the wayImogene’s brain misfires in some of the really awkward moments took their chemistry to the whole new level. I can’t even begin to talk about biology here. Imogene is size 10 people and she loves her curves. I loved this girl because she didn’t fret about being curvy. She loves her body and knows make-up is her arsenal! Plus, her insecurities are more intimate and as a reader, I could relate to them. There were countless moments in Faithful that made me laugh out loud till I had tears rolling down my face; I’m not exaggerating. S. A. Wolfe’s writing is effortless, deep, comical and witty which makes the story of Imogene and Cooper a memorable read for me. Her writing is flawless and it does not deviate to superficial grounds where the characters generally begin to lose their charm. I’m saying this because I didn’t skip reading a single line and the plot did not slow down. I felt like I was sitting right in the middle of action. My favorite quotes from Faithful are: It’s frightening because love is unpredictable, emotionally unstable, and uncontainable. & …real love leads to unintentional pain and loss. The story is about second chances with a twang of sarcasm; that is spot on and not overly done. Faithful is a story I’d press up on the world to read! Get your copy now from: Amazon.com
characters who I fell in love with. It was also because of the kick-ass narrator. Mila Rossi, I never thought I’d read something so exciting in this form of narrative. The narrator wins you right from the first page.
Although, I wanted to know more about Trent and Samantha, I understand it’s a novella and what a treat it was. Their conversations and jibes were so entertaining that makes the whole novel phenomenal. I couldn’t put it down. The books I’ve read generally feature guys as strong, badass characters. But, in Going the Distance , Samantha is one strong woman, mentally and physically. I really loved knowing her. Her words and thoughts made sense. She was a well-balance girl who knew what she wanted and where to put her feet down. The way she treated Trent, right from the beginning (I must add), was spectacular. Nowhere did the story drag on or become boring. I can’t wait to read the other two upcoming novellas because Mila Rossi has got me hooked.ARC received in exchange for an honest review. Buy your copy from: Amazon.com Release date: February 7, 2017
My gut twisted with the fact that her father was not an alcoholic or a drug abuser. I expected him to be the usual going-on-a-bender type. But, no, it was his daughter risking her life just for the sake of keeping up with the bills.
Noooooo, she doesn’t turn into a prostitute either. She uses her brain! Accept my apologies, if you’re disappointed! Chelsea is intelligent and finds a way to make some risky money. She is practical and the complete opposite of her laid back father. She knows her problems won’t go away unless she does something about it. She is not expecting anyone to take care of them and finds a way (dangerous way) to make sure her bills are getting paid. Chelsea is a normal teenager risking her life for something as basic as food. She also does commit silly mistakes that validates her as being a human being and acting her age. She is intelligent and witty. She doesn’t have answers to all her problems, but she sure is persistent to find the solutions. I really like that about her! Chelsea is not the generic teary-eyed teenager crying over a boy. However, there are still some slips she makes because of her young age that makes her even more appealing. Her motivation is practical and it broke my heart on countless occasions. Not once does Chelsea blame her father for not keeping up with the expenses (except in the final chapters). Through her, I could see what a normal teenager would hope her life to be and when it is not, how does the society look at her as well. I was on an emotional trip with her. Honestly, the narrative was so captivating that even if Nate, the probable love interest in Chelsea’s life didn’t make an appearance, I sure as hell would’ve finished reading her story anyway. She is that powerful. I love it when such strong female characters are written and I thank Julie Dill for developing Chelsea’s character so well. Chelsea also strikes an unlikely friendship with Miss Stella and it is beautiful. Both are missing something important in their lives and are filling it up by each other’s company. “Girl Power” for sure! The last page threw me off completely because I didn’t see it coming. Damn it! I have so many questions. Most important of all: Will there be a sequel? There has to be…..I hope….Dear, God! Pre-order your copy of from: Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble Release date: January 10, 2017
What could have made the good professor snap and kill his entire family? Thomas Houston had everything that DeMarco didn’t - a happy, cheerful family with a loving wife and beautiful children. However, throughout the investigation, Ryan DeMarco finds that there is not much difference between him and Thomas Houston. I found their similarities oddly satisfying and the overall book to be a great read.
This is the first book that I’ve come across where the protagonist is a writer, and how the author focused on the lives of a writer is true to some extent. It is solitary life, to be precise. Randall Silvis, the author is a spectacular storyteller. I could remember every character by their metaphorical and unique references he has placed carefully for the reader to remember them. In addition to this, the literary references made throughout the book were from some of my favorite authors and poets which made Two Days Gone even more special. Randall Silvis is a mind-blowing observer and at times I wondered if I’d ever get a chance to sit with him somewhere, in a crowded place and do nothing but observe the people around us. There were small bouts of well-timed humor that added spark to the prose. Believe me, the narration and the small ticks in each and every character were memorable. I admired how every scene had a profound sensory experience. Throughout the book, I could smell, sense, taste and feel things. Like I was right there in the middle of things. Very few authors get it right and when such exemplary sensory experience gets combined with a brooding plot, everything becomes exciting. I want to go on and on about Two Days Gone, but that would only mean revealing the spoilers - which I don’t want to. You need to read and find it out yourself if you want to know what I'm talking about. Pre-order your copy of from: Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble |
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