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Review: Changing Forever, by Lisa De Jong

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“They say you should dream like you’ll live forever, and live like you’ll die tomorrow.”

If you read When It Rains, you’ll understand why I was very nervous going into this book. VERY nervous. When It Rains was one of the most tear spilling books I’ve ever read. But thankfully this one wasn’t like that. I doubt my heart could take any more. Lisa said that this one was, “the creme in the oreo…it’s the sweet spot before you get to the other chocolate cookie(Living With Regret).” Good for this one, bad for the next. But we have time to prepare. While this is the second in the series, it can be a standalone.

Synopsis
I’ve always let my past dictate my future, letting it paint a picture of exactly what I don’t want to be. Where I don’t want to end up.

Drake Chambers is as arrogant as I am stubborn. A college quarterback, a national star. I thought he was just another one of those guys … the type every girl should stay away from, but he’s carrying more than the weight of the football team on his shoulders.

He unravels the feelings and beliefs I’ve held onto for so long.

I thought we had it all figured out. Two people who’d finally found their happily ever after, but the past always has a way of sneaking into the present.

With one decision, everything changes … forever.

Emery had her whole life mapped out. She knew what she wanted to be and she knew how to get it. So she wasn’t in the mood to deal with a super cocky football player, no matter what he looks like. He may be her partner in class, but that’s all. She has no time for distractions.

Drake Chambers, was a super hot jock, that everyone though had life in the palm of his hand. He seemed to work hard and play harder. But no one know what’s really happening with him. His life isn’t nearly as perfect as everyone thinks. So when he’s paired up with a cute girl from speech, he finds himself trying to distance himself from her. He has no time for distractions.

But soon life seems to push these two together and they can’t seem to stop the momentum, no matter how hard they try.

He’s nitrate, and I’m acid. We’re testing the limits, waiting for the explosion, but neither of us can stop.

But eventually it all comes crashing down and them and this is where the angst comes in. And I do mean ANGST! A plot twist that gutted me. And of course, the groveling wasn’t nearly enough, in my eyes. But I just had to hold on and hope these two get it straightened out. Even if I wanted to reach in and smack them both upside their heads. But nooooo, we had to suffer right along with them.

“There are two versions of forever: the one I dreamed of every day as a kid, and the one I made my own after the old dreams faded away. The old dreams weren’t meant to be, but this one is. You’re my forever. I just had to take a few wrong turns to find you, and now that I have, I never want to live with out you.”

~Melpomene

Buy Changing Forever (Rains Standalone Book 2)

Buy When It Rains

Preview: Flat-Out Celeste, by Jessica Park

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“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Synopsis
Whether you were charmed by Celeste in Flat-Out Love or are meeting her for the first time, this book is a joyous celebration of differences, about battling private wars that rage in our heads and in our hearts, and—very much so— this is a story about first love.

For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery. And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she’s too smart, her speech too affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice but to retreat into isolation.

But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a lifeline, then maybe, just maybe.

Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her—that is, if she’ll let him.

Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together they may also save another couple—two people Celeste knows are absolutely, positively flat-out in love.

I loved Flat-Out Love and Flat-Out Matt. Heck, I even cried when reading those! But nothing prepared me for what this book would do to me. Nothing prepared me for the heartbreaking feelings of loneliness, Celeste would show us. The feelings of trying to fit the mold that world has put on us, was almost more than I could handle. The feelings of wanting to find that perfect person, who will accept you, warts and all, and love you for them.

Celeste know she’s different. She tries to blend in and go unnoticed. She wishes she had friends, but thinks she’s too different and people won’t “get her”. Getting through high school is just the next step in her life. She’ll go to college, because that’s just what comes next. But what she wasn’t planning on, was Justin Milano. Meeting him throws a wrench in her plan and makes her start to think about other things besides school.

Justin is just the best. When we first meet him, I thought he was perfect. Outgoing. Crazy. Silly. But under that silliness was a boy made just for Celeste.

“You’re in a war.”

It was a painfully accurate way to describe her state. “I am.”

“I understand that. There are battles, some greater than others. But they are worth getting through.”He held her tighter. “This is the fight, Celeste. You’re in the middle of it. I feel that.”

“Because you have endured your own?”

Yes. I got through mine, and you will get though yours.”

For some people, this is a romance. It’s about a young quirky girl who meets a young quirky boy and live happily ever after. But this story was so much more. It’s about being yourself. It’s about letting people in, even though you’re scared. It’s about never giving up on yourself. It’s about letting go and seeing where the wind may take you. And, of course, it has a bit of love.

There are no words to explain how I felt when I finished reading this book. To say I loved it, doesn’t even come close. I am sitting here sobbing and can’t stop. When I thought Jessica’s, Left Drowning, gripped me, that was nothing compared to this. NOTHING.

“I found my hinge, Matty.”

On a personal note, I love someone who could easily be Justin or Celeste. Heck, in high school, either one of them could’ve been me. So as I was reading my heart was shattering. The feelings of helplessness and longing were almost too much to bare. I know my loved one has felt this way. The feelings of trying to change, as to appear “normal”, and it making no difference, almost crippled me. I felt horrible!! Because in fact, I actually encouraged the “acting normal” a few times. Now I realize this is fiction, but this gave me a glimpse into the workings of my loved one. Never again will I be like that. People should be able to be themselves, no matter what others think. High school sucks. Truly, it does.

This book also gave me hope that there is the perfect mate for my loved one. The perfect person to hold them together when the world tears them apart. The perfect person to calm and focus them, when things get out of control. The perfect person to love them, when they feel no one ever could.

I received this ARC, for an honest opinion. So again I’ll say, my honest opinion is, that this was way more than a NA romance book to me, it was life changing.

~Melpomene

Buy Flat-Out Celeste (Flat-Out Love)

Buy Flat-Out Love

Buy Flat-Out Matt (Flat-Out Love)

Cover Reveal for Flat-Out Celeste, by Jessica Park

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I can’t tell you how excited I am to see this. I absolutely loved Flat-Out Love and Flat-Out Matt. In fact I’m listening to FOL right now. Makes me love it even more. And don’t get me started on Jessica’s book Left Drowning. That book KILLED me. So when I heard she was writing Celeste’s book, I was overjoyed. It should be released sometime near the end of May. I can’t wait!! And this cover!!! It is just plain gorgeous!!! I mean, I plan buying the kindle version and the paperback. I need this cover on my shelf.

FLC
Whether you were charmed by Celeste in Flat-Out Love or are meeting her for
the first time, this book is a joyous celebration of differences, about battling private wars that rage in our heads and in our hearts, and—very much so—
this is a story about first love..

For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery.
And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she’s too smart, her speech too
affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice
but to retreat into isolation.

But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling
senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a
lifeline, then maybe, just maybe.
Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that
person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her—that is, if she’ll let
him.

Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together
they may also save another couple—two people Celeste knows are absolutely,
positively flat-out in love.

Excerpt
There was a knock at the door and Matt leaned in, swinging a brown paper bag
in her direction. “I heard Mom made stuffed peppers tonight. Last time she
made those, I nearly died from flatulence. I assume she stuffed them with her
usual repulsive ground chicken, quinoa, Brussels sprouts, and pomegranate
seed mix?”

Just the sound of Matt’s voice made Celeste relax. She smiled at him. “Based
on the smell, I believe you’re right.”

“So you didn’t eat then? I was right!” Matt flopped onto her bed and lay down,
his long body scrunching up the neat white comforter that she spent ten minutes
arranging before she’d gone to school this morning. “I thought I’d take a break
from studying and bring you something edible.”

“It smells like a burger from Mr. Bartley’s,” she said as she got up and took a
seat next to Matt. “Hand it over, thoughtful brother.”
He tightened a hand around the top of the bag. “You have to guess which kind I
brought you first.”

“How am I supposed to know?”

“Close your eyes.”

She did as instructed and felt him move the bag under her nose. Sweet, spicy…
a bit garlicky. “Aha! Boursin cheese and bacon! The Mark Zuckerberg burger!”

“And sweet potato fries and a bottle of iced tea, but you win. A burger named
after ‘the richest geek in America,’ as the restaurant calls him.”

“You will be the richest geek in America after you finish your Ph.D. Program,”
Celeste said through a mouthful of fries.

“If M.I.T. doesn’t land me in a psych unit first.”

“You only have this year left to endure. And you will hardly find yourself in
need of psychiatric care, Matthew. You are doing stupendously.”

“I’m scraping by.” Matt reached into the bag and grabbed a handful of fries and
opened her iced tea.

“You are not ‘scraping by.’ You are assistant teaching classes, excelling in your
own, and in all ways performing to standards that exceed even the high ones
our mother set for you.” She frowned as he chewed on the fries. “Did you not
eat?”

“I did. A Big Papi burger and a Fiscal Cliff. But you can never have enough
sweet potato fries.”

“I have a finite amount of my own from which you are stealing. But I shall not
complain because this was very kind of you.”

Matt chewed and studied her. “Are you okay?”

“Why do you ask?”

“No contractions. When you’re stressed out, they disappear.”

“I know. But most days I do not care to use them. If it is an effort, then I do not
push.”

“Okay. I get it.” He chewed for a minute. “I heard your presentation went well.
Did your friends like it?”

“It went marvelously. My friend Dallas took me aside to share quite the flow of
compliments.”

“That’s great, Celeste.” He was downing half her iced tea.

“And then I bitch slapped her.”

Matt choked on the drink and desperately tried to clear his airway. “I’m sorry.
You did what?”

She cocked her head. “I bitch slapped her.”

“That… that can’t be right,” he sputtered. “I mean, I hope it’s not.”

“I slapped my hand against her hand. Up in the air.” She looked at Matt
blankly. “Is that not the right term?”

“Thank God, no, it’s not. I think you mean a high-five.”

“If you say so. Well, either way, it happened. You know I have trouble with
colloquialisms, so I resent your shocked reaction.”

“I do know that about you, and I apologize.”

“Since we are on the subject, there is something else I would like for you to
clarify.”

“Shoot.”

“What is meant by ‘nut bag’? Is that a testicular reference or merely the
identification of a satchel of cashews or pecans?”

Matt groaned. “This conversation has gotten really weird. Could we just talk
about— Wait a minute. Why are you asking me this? Did someone say that to
you?” He looked angry.
Celeste picked at her fry. “No. Certainly not. I heard the term and had a natural
curiosity.”

“Okay then…” Her brother crumpled up the paper bag and then smoothed it out
in his hands. Then crumpled it again. “It’s the same as ‘nuts.’ You know,
crazy.”

“Thank you for the definition.” She took the last bite of her burger and wiped
her hands on one of the paper napkins. It shouldn’t matter what her classmates
thought of her. Celeste would just be strong about this. She would move on.

It’s going to be flat out wonderful!!!

~Melpomene

Buy Flat-Out Love

Buy Flat-Out Matt (Flat-Out Love)

jessicapark
Jessica is the author of LEFT DROWNING, the New York Times bestselling
FLAT-OUT LOVE (and the companion piece FLAT-OUT MATT), and
RELATIVELY FAMOUS. She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an
obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex
caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations. On the rare occasions that she is
able to focus on other things, she writes.

Please visit her at jessicapark.me and on Facebook
at https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicapark and Twitter @JessicaPark24

Happenstance is LIVE!!!

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Have I mentioned how much I love Jamie McGuire’s books!! Of course I have!! Beautiful Disaster is my all time favorite book. So when she said she was writing another book, I was thrilled!!

Teaser2

#1 New York Times Bestseller Jamie McGuire returns to self-publishing with this page-turning YA account of Erin Easter, one of three Erins in the small senior class of rural Blackwell High School who not only share a first name, but also their birthday. Easter, raised by a neglectful single mom, keeps to herself and admires Weston Gates from afar. The other Erins, Erin “Alder” Alderman and Erin “Sonny” Masterson are the darlings of the community: daughters of the two wealthiest families in town, best friends, cheerleaders, and everything Easter isn’t–and they never let her forget it. Alder has even claimed Weston since the 8th grade.
Weston is a well-liked star athlete, and the son of two prominent attorneys. He struggles daily with the pressures of living up to his family name and secretly empathizes with Easter’s feeling that she belongs somewhere else; in a different life. Not until he begins sneaking nights out with Easter does he gain the courage to buck expectations and acknowledge his feelings … both for his future, and for her.
A shocking tragedy rocks the tiny town, and Easter’s life is turned upside down in the best way possible. But when the truth is revealed and everything she thinks she wanted falls into her lap, life only becomes more complicated.

My Review

Well, I LOVED this!!!! This was the perfect action packed story. So much happened and I was left fully satisfied. It was nice to have a shorter book to read, instead of another epic. With Beautiful Oblivion coming out in a few months, this was a nice little taste of Jamie’s awesomeness.

Erin Easter has a rough life. Bullying, and absent dad, and an there but not there mom, are the gist of her life. She is just trying to hold it together until she graduates, then she is out of this town. She used to love it here, with the other Erins, but at some point, it all changed for the worse.

But one day, her life seemed to change for the better. Weston actually talked to her. Soon he was sneaking out to see her and showing her that she is worth more than what these people of her.

I totally loved Weston!! He was so kind, when he finally decided to be. I loved how protective he was of her, even to his own girlfriend. I love the way he slowly began to grow a backbone and stood up for things that were wrong. When he started to care more for Erin, the words he would speak, totally made me smile. He was so very sweet.

“I can’t give up on you now. When we spend time together, I feel this peace that I don’t get when you’re not around. It’s kind of like when you’re a kid and you put on fresh PJs after a bath and get into a made bed with clean sheets straight out of the dryer. That’s what being with you feels like.”

The strength that grew from them being together, was totally needed when the tragedy of the story happened. Which then leads to the shocker of the story, which rattles the entire town. They must lean on each other, in order to get through this next phase of their lives.

I can’t wait to read the next in the series. I am dying to know what happens in their relationship and where they’re headed after they graduate.

A bonus in the book is the first chapter of Beautiful Oblivion. But I can’t read it. I need to be shocked and surprised. I never read teasers. So this is taunting me. That sneaky Jamie McGuire. 🙂

Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

~Melpomene

Buy
On Amazon Happenstance: A Novella

On BN Happenstance: A Novella

Review: Mud Vein, by Tarryn Fisher

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“It’s your darkness that pulls me in. Your mud vein. But sometimes having a mud vein will kill you.”

This is not a book I can put in just one category. It’s not a mere thriller, mystery or suspense, or even a romance. This story can’t be simplified into any of those. It is an experience that will leave you speechless.

I am having a hard time putting into words all these crazy feelings that are running through me. Very few books have left me with this feeling of sadness, over the ending. But sadness isn’t the correct word. I’m not sad. I may be crying, but I’m not really sad. I’m more numb, than anything. See?? I need someone to reach down and pull the correct words out of my head and through them down here. I’m all a wreck.

If I could just write a review saying “Go and read it.” I totally would. Tarryn Fisher has a very unique writing style and it sucks you right in. This review will NOT do it justice. I’ll tell you that right now. You might as well just click on the buy link, at the bottom, and get started on reading it.

Senna wakes up in a cabin, in the middle of nowhere, and the only way out is to take good hard look at her past. But looking at her past may very well destroy her future. She must try and put the pieces together, or her life might not be the only one in danger.

Her past has completely shaped her. She is a broken soul with no way to be fixed. Or maybe, she doesn’t have the will to be fixed. She broke my heart. I was drawn into her and could totally feel everything she felt. I was breathless at a few parts. How one person could experience so much, was beyond me. I could feel her brokenness through these pages.

Isaac, was her savior, but she never really noticed that. He was there when she was at her worst, and he helped her when no one else did. He saved her from herself. He kept her alive. He was also with her in the cabin.

“Maybe lifting someone else’s weight makes yours a little more bearable.”

Every time I saw a glimpse of Isaac, from her past, I fell more in love with him. He never left her, when he thought she needed him. And she most definitely needed him, way more than she thought. He cared for her and never backed down no matter how hard she pushed. And boy did she push.

“Why are you here?”
“Because you are.”

But this wasn’t a love story really. It was a story about people and their darkness, and how even those with darkness in them they can still be loved. But it really wasn’t about love!! I still can’t put my finger on it.

My heart was racing almost this entire book. Watching Isaac and Senna try and put the pieces together, had my heart racing. It was a matter of their life or death. This is definitely not my usual type of story. I’m a fluff reader. Happy happy joy joy, with occasional heartbreak mixed in. This book terrified me, made me nervous, and of course, still broke my heart. The love shone, throughout this story, was beautiful, if not devastating. To have love like that would make anyone deliriously happy, but to Senna, it was unfathomable, until the very end.

“What you wrap around your soul determines your outcome.”

Tie yourself to those you truly love you.

~Melpomene

Buy Mud Vein

Review: Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse

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aaaThis book was a fast suspenseful read. It takes place in England and has links to the East Coast in The States as well. After a short romance Hannah Reilly and Mark Reilly marry. Hannah has always had trust issues, but Mark sweeps her off her feet and soon she has left The States to live her happily ever after with Mark in London. Everything seems to be going well. Hannah believes she has found true happiness and is learning how to lean on someone else and trust them to provide for her. However, all of that changes when Mark misses a flight home from New York. Hannah means to surprise him at the airport but he never shows up. Once she hears from Mark, her unease starts to ease up….but left alone, Hannah starts to question what she has been told….after talking to others, things start to really have her questioning Mark and her entire relationship. Just how well does she know the man she loves and married? One question leads to another…and Hannah is forced to question her own feelings and psyche! Is she looking for things that don’t exist? Is she letting her past insecurities question her current relationship?

Whitehouse does a brilliant job not only making Hannah question herself, but also having the reader question themselves. As a reader, I felt I had it figured out…I knew who the bad guy was…but Whitehouse puts just enough of twisted characters in the story that you often find yourself changing your mind as to whom you should trust….At points, you wanted to scream at Hannah for being so trusting…and at other times you wanted to scream at her to let go of her trust issues from the past….I found myself standing up for Mark and trying to justify his actions, every bit as much as Hannah did in the story….I almost felt like Hannah and I were volleying back and forth…She would find a reason not to trust Mark and I would justify his actions in my mind….she would justify his actions and find a valid excuse and I would point out why he could not be trusted…

This is a quick easy read that is sure to have readers wanting to discuss it with others….

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Until next time….

Urania xx

Buy it now Before We Met