Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

 

Title; Attachments
Author; Rainbow Rowell
Source; Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format; Kindle
Publisher; Dutton Adult
Publication Date; April 14th 2011
Description; "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.


What would he say . . . ?

My Rating; 5*s

My Review: At first I wasn't so sure about this book. It sounded like a weird concept. Kind of creepy really. I mean, how would you feel if someone was reading your email? Even if you found them cute? But the way this book was written...it just worked.

Although you don't really meet half of the main characters much you really get to know them through the emails that you read and I really liked Jennifer and Beth. They both seemed so real. All the characters did. I just got so sucked into the story. It felt like a really short book, and I felt like I'd finished it super quickly. Part of me wants more, but if there was more it would probably ruin it.

You wouldn't think this would work. The storyline, when it's set, anything. But...I don't think I have loved a book like this, this much, for a long while. Nothing has sucked me in so completely in a long time.

Would I recommend it? You bet I would.

It was cute and original and just...everything I was looking for at the time of reading it.
I must also say that I love the title.

Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley (Chaos, #1)

Title; Own the Wind
Author; Kristen Ashley
Series; Chaos, book 1
Source; NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format; Kindle
Publisher; Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date; April 2nd 2013
Description; Too hot to handle...

Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos--the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos' leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby's thinking about much more than friendship...

Tabby is everything Shy's ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can't have. She's beautiful, smart, and as his friend's daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more--much more--he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn...

My Rating; 4.5 to 5*s
Goodreads Rating; 4.26*s

My Review; There's not a lot I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. Kristen Ashley is a well known, and mostly well loved author online. I can see where this love comes from, because I feel it too.

Own the Wind is the second novel that I have read by Kristen Ashley, the first being Rock Chick. Sometimes I find I get a little frustrated with the writing, and sometimes with the characters, but I just can't seem to stop reading and stop loving the books anyway.

I can't wait to read the second book in the series.

I find that I love the characters and the storylines and just...everything. Besides, who doesn't love a badass biker man?

I would definitely recommend this book. I would recommend Kristen Ashley.

The Messenger by Stephanie Pippin

Title; The Messenger
Author; Stephanie Pippin
Source; Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format; Kindle edition
Publisher; University of Iowa Press
Publication Date; April 1st 2013
Description; In thrilling poems of metamorphosis and birth, death and dissolution, Stephanie Pippin’s debut collection returns us to a world unshorn of wildness. Delivering accident and hunger, love and grief, nature in these poems is beautiful and brutal, “a hellish magnificence” that both invites and denies the meanings we project onto it. Refusing the domesticated comfort of our usual myths, Pippin reminds us of our place as creatures among others in a world where “what isn’t dead / is dying,” and where the thrill of predatory flight commingles with the desperation of the prey.


This mesmerizing and astonishingly assured collection offers a message as harrowing as it is essential. Faced with the hard master of necessity—“angel stinking of his own / excitement”—and bare before what Mallarmé called “the horror of the forest,” we are helpless, finally, to do anything to save what we love. Our sole task, these poems insist, is to look on while we can, and to love harder.

My Rating; 2*s
Goodreads Rating; 4.29*s

My Review; No matter how much I tried to get into these poems, to understand them for what they truly meant...I couldn't. I did not finish. I stopped reading at 33%.

It was all just a little too...morbid for me. It was as if every poem was about pain and death and I just...I don't really want to read on about that.

The poems are good, but...the subject matter and things...it's just not for me. Though I am sure someone will love it, I won't.

It was also quite difficult to read on the kindle as the words were a little all over the place.

Gold Rush by Jordan Lynde

Title; Gold Rush
Author; Jordan Lynde
Source; NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format; Kindle edition
Publisher; RHCP Digital
Publication Date; April 3rd 2014
Description; When hot, talented, uber-famous boy band Gold enroll at the prestigious Oakwood Academy, Iris is determined not to get distracted. She's class president and a scholarship student, and she can't let her grades drop. Besides, there are plenty of other girls who are desperate to get close to Gold - including Iris's best friend, Chloe.

But on their first day at Oakwood, Iris is asked to show Gold around - and finds out gorgeous lead singer Rian will be sharing her locker . . .

Surrounded by fans and paparazzi at every turn, Noah, Luke and Rian love that Iris treats them just like normal guys. But being friends with three of the most famous people in the world comes with its problems. And when Iris begins to realize she has feelings for one of them, things get even more complicated . . .

My Rating; 4*s
Goodreads Rating; 4.15*s

My Review: I was a big fan of Jordan Lynde when she was still writing stories on Wattpad. I'm still a fan now.

Gold Rush is not my favourite Jordan Lynde book, but I still found myself liking it and liking all of the characters. It was a fun, quite quick read. Even though there are a lot more pages than the word quick implies.

I found myself smiling and laughing with the characters and I found myself wanting to go to bed a little earlier to find out what would happen next.

I loved each character in their own way.

My only problem was that I was expecting something more. Something else to happen.

It is a book a would recommend, especially to those who know Jordan as XxSkater2Girl16xX on Wattpad.

Custom Confections by Jen Besel

Title; Custom Confections
Author; Jen Besel
Source; Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format; eBook
Publisher; Savvy
Publication Date; September 1st 2014
Description; Bake up surprises in cupcakes and cookies. Create custom desserts with ease. Or decorate all kinds of creative confections like a pro. Forty fun, simple recipes will have kids (and kids at heart) creating delicious desserts to decorate and devour! Step-by-step instructions and photos make red velvet cookies, black and white angel food cake, cheesecake stuffed strawberries, and more easy to achieve and tasty to eat. Sweetly simple, appetizingly fun!

My Rating; 5*s
Goodreads Rating; 4.75*s


My Review: Some of these recipes look really delicious and I will definitely be trying several of them out. Just looking at those pictures and reading the instructions has made me hungry.

From Stuffed Strawberries to PB&J Cheesecake Brownies this book has it all. And the thing that makes it all the better? Most of the recipes are super easy and it is easy to get a hold of most of the ingredients. It'd be easier for Americans, but it is still easy for us Brits to find substitutes. Plus there is a converter in the first pages of the book, making it easier for everyone.

This book has given me some ideas of my own too, some things I'd like to try out.

Whether baking for yourself or making gifts this book has perfect simple recipes for everyone. You could even get the kids involved.

Beautiful pictures, easy instructions for everyone, delicious recipes. A wonderfully sweet book for everyone.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Title; Beauty Queens

Author; Libba Bray

Series; None

Source; Amazon, Paid

Format; Paperback

Publisher; Scholastic Press 

Publication Date; May 24th 2011

Description; The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again

My Rating; 5/5*s

Goodreads Rating; 3.56/5*s

My Review: Though there are many mixed reviews for this book I went into expecting to like it. I was expecting something laugh out loud funny, and...just a bit silly really. What I got was so much better than just that. 

Beauty Queens is a little silly, and it is rather funny, but it is also full of so much else. I was expecting your usual cliched Beauty Queen, you know, dumbed down, all about beauty. Which is a totally crap cliche. 

There was some of that, but most of them were smart, they were all there for reasons other than "I just want the crown."

There were no holds barred here, Libba Bray called out on "The Corporation" many things that are wrong with today's society. 

The subject of feminism was in there. Two of the LBGTQIA letters were in the book.

There is just so much right with this book. It is one I could definitely reread. 

I found that I fell in love with every character. Even the ones I thought I would hate in the beginning. They became some of my favourite characters in the end. 

There were quite a few cliches to be found, but I found myself so absorbed in the story that I just did not care, at all. 

This book would make an excellent movie. 

My words, as always, cannot do this book justice. I completely recommend it. A book has never made me laugh so much, nor have a loved a book like this so much. I love its entire message. 

The Accidental Call Girl by Portia Da Costa

Title; The Accidental Call Girl
Author; Portia Da Costa
Source; NetGalley, via the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Format; Kindle
Publisher; Black Lace
Publication Date; February 14th 2013
Description; It’s the ultimate fantasy:
When Lizzie meets an attractive older man in the bar of a luxury hotel, he mistakes her for a high class call girl on the look-out for a wealthy client.

With a man she can’t resist...
Lizzie finds herself following him to his hotel room for an unforgettable night where she learns the pleasures of submitting to the hands of a master. But what will happen when John discovers that Lizzie is far more than she seems...?

A sexy, thrilling erotic romance for every woman who has ever had a “Pretty Woman” fantasy. Part One of the ‘Accidental’ Trilogy.

My Rating; 3*s

My Review: Okay, so this is probably going to come out as a load of gobbledy goop because I'm ill, but here goes nothing.

For the first half of this book...I didn't really want to put it down, but then, when I got beyond that...it got a little tedious. Like we were going around in circles.

I became a little bored with it, even considered giving up at a couple of points, but I powered through.

I will carry on with the rest of the series at some point. But it is now a lot lower on my list than it was before.

This book would not pass the Bechdel test.

Lizzie A.K.A. Bettie was an okay character at best, the same really goes for all of the characters. I found nothing that significant about them.

The sex scenes were hot. The writing was okay. Overall this whole book comes across as okay for me. I really don't think there's much else I can say about it. It just didn't feel like that could happen, especially considering the story, at first, is only about a week of meetings. But, as I said, I will continue with the series anyway.

I'm not sure I would recommend it, though some people will definitely love this book.