Rating: ☆☆☆☆ Audience: Young adult contemporary romance Length: 209 pages Author: Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks Publisher: First Second Release Date: August 27th, 2019 Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.
Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.
But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.
Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .
What if their last shift was an adventure?
SHORT AND SWEET.
This was my very first graphic novel! I lucked out with a great choice and it was really easy to read on my Kindle Fire. I had borrowed it from my library and love the way it worked digitally.
I thought this story was super cute. I flew through it in truly less than an hour (definitely a downfall of graphic novels). I wish it was so much longer!
For the length I thought the development of characters and plot were pretty solid. I was immediately caught into their world and following them around the pumpkin patch. It was easy to be immersed in all things fall.
The plot is really simple and I think it’s a great starting point for anyone interested in trying out a graphic novel. The romance was precious and I was waiting for them to get together. It was also about finding who you want to be and about the power of a good friendship.
The illustrations were beautiful and the colors brought everything to life. It’s a warm, feel-good story that made me happy to read.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆ Audience: YA Sci-fi Length: 461 pages Author: Brandon Sanderson Publisher: Delacorte Press Release Date: November 26th, 2019 Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Reckoners series, Words of Radiance, the Mistborn trilogy, and the Stormlight Archive comes the second book in an epic series about a girl with a secret in a dangerous world at war for humanity’s future.
All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she’s a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. The rumors of his cowardice are true–he deserted his flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them.
Spensa is sure there’s more to the story. And she’s sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars–and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.
But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself–and she’ll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.
ANYONE ELSE FREAKED OUT BY SPACE YET?
But really. The whole concept of not really knowing what’s out there makes my head hurt. And reading an authors rendition of a world he’s built along the same concept is mind shattering too.
I am making my way through all things Sanderson and was anxiously awaiting for this book to make it do my doorstop. It did not disappoint! Okay, well to be honest, a tiny bit, but I’ll explain.
This was clearly, a middle book. This series is now four books and we have a two year til the next one. Spensa spent most of her time on another planet without her comrades AND I MISSED THEM SO MUCH. That was my biggest issue. I had to learn to love other characters and follow a espionage type story and I wanted my whole crew together.
Though, it looks like my ship is going to set sail by the end of this series. AND I AM SO HERE FOR IT. I love Jorgen and Spensa so much. And it also drove me crazy I didn’t get enough of them. I like where Jorgen’s story line is going so I’m curious how that will tie back into Spensa.
I love learning even more about this world. It goes to show how large of worlds Sanderson creates. There were so many different types of aliens with unique cultures and it was inventive to have them all in one local place for Spensa to mix and mingle with. It gave her a chance to see outside her own world and gave her another layer to her character arc.
Finally learning how a hyperdrive works about blew my mind. Talk about a, WAIT WHAT moment. I have so many more questions about how all of this works (in a good way). I can’t wait to see how this all works together too. They’re many building blocks that I can see that are standard in Sanderson’s work. He’s only going to take us on an even wilder ride.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ Audience: Contemporary Romance Length: 400 pages Author: K.A. Tucker Publisher: Self-published Release Date: February 18th, 2020 Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
From the internationally best-selling author of The Simple Wild comes the continuation of a woman’s journey to Alaska and a life she never imagined for herself.
Calla Fletcher returns to Toronto a different person, struggling to find direction and still very much in love with the rugged bush pilot she left behind. When Jonah arrives on her doorstep with a proposition she can’t dismiss, she takes the leap and rushes back to Alaska to begin their exciting future together.
But Calla soon learns that even the best intentions can lead to broken promises, and that compromise comes with a hefty price—a log cabin in interior rural Alaska that feels as isolating as the western tundra.
With Jonah gone more than he’s home, one neighbor who insists on transforming her into a true Alaskan, and another who seems more likely to shoot her than come to her aid, Calla grapples with forging her own path. In a world with roaming wildlife that has her constantly watching over her shoulder and harsh conditions that stretch far beyond the cold, dark, winter months, just stepping outside her front door can be daunting.
This is not the future Calla had in mind, leaving her to fear that perhaps she is doomed to follow in her mother’s fleeing footsteps after all.
Thank you to the author and Social Butterfly PR for an eARC. All opinions are my own!
MY HEART.
I stayed up way too late to finish this book because I was on cloud nine that I received an ARC for this book. One of my most highly anticipated books of 2020 and it did not disappoint.
I know some people won’t love this second book because it’s not the angst filled romance that The Simple Wild was. This is what made me love this book in its own way. Watching Calla and Jonah having to work together and actually get a chance to be a couple. I was waiting for this book to destroy me and I had my throat in my heart so many times as I read this.
Calla was still a great character. I loved her arc from book one and really loved this one too. She had a lot to go through moving to Alaska and being by herself (yes, Jonah is there, but it’s still far away from family/friends) for the first time. I really felt and understood her emotions. Jonah was still my favorite gruff bush pilot. Yet I got to see a whole new side of him. He was much more open and had more emotions on the surface that I was SO HERE FOR. I love both of them opening up about their struggles of figuring out life in the wilderness together.
There’s not the romance in this book that you’re expecting. Don’t worry. There’s plenty of steamy moments, but it’s one of a couple expressing love to each other and holding on to the connection they know they share. What I love about them though is that there was actual COMMUNICATION between them. They both would hold on to emotions and thoughts too long (as we all do), and after an outburst would actually have a constructive conversation about what was happening. I desperately was holding onto the fact that I knew there must be a happy ending by the last page. I wanted more Calla and Jonah throughout the book. The lack of Jonah at times made the conflict resolution that much more satisfying.
The Roy story line seemed a bit random at first to me. I didn’t know quite where it fit into everything else until close to the end as I got to know the entirety of the background behind him. I can’t help but love grumpy old men who are softened by something. Calla was that something. Her tenacity to just be there for him made their tentative friendship something strong.
I am obsessed with the writing about Alaska. To me, it really is a mythical place and somewhere I had never considered visiting. The description and love of their home that is depicted through all of the characters makes me want to visit someday (though I can’t say I would ever get into one of those tiny planes, NOPE). The flow of the story kept a steady pace. I liked that it would move through months at a faster pace yet the chapters never seemed rushed.
That ending was everything I didn’t think I needed. I love the sweet tenderness between Jonah and Calla. Love that Calla had really given Alaska a chance and were becoming a true part of the community. I felt wholly satisfied with the conclusion and am so thrilled we got this sequel.
Overall audience notes:
Contemporary romance
Language: some strong throughout
Romance: everything from kisses to love scenes; scenes being fade to black to mildly explicit
Trigger warnings: plane crash, mentions of domestic abuse (a side character referring to their past)
Author Bio:
K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.
She is the USA Today bestselling author of 17 books, including the Causal Enchantment, Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, and The Simple Wild. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, First for Women, and Publisher’s Weekly. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for TEN TINY BREATHS and Best Romance 2018 for THE SIMPLE WILD. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages.
K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her family.
Had to think about this one a bit. It’s like the book hangover happens, then I find another book and keep going. I ended up scrolling through my reads from most recently til about last summer and found a great list of books that definitely gave me a book hangover.
I will recommend these books up and down all day. If you haven’t read them, YOU SHOULD.
A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas
This may be the…fifth? time I’ve read this book since its release and still every dang time, I get a book hangover. I love it so much and I know I subconsciously compare fantasy romance books to it because Rhys and Feyre are forever favorites.
The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski
I recently re-read these in just the last month and book two WILL ALWAYS BRING A HANGOVER. One so bad that I feel the immediate necessity to read book three and I know exactly what happens. That’s an amazing series.
Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Shepherd
Review to come in March!
BEST CHRISTMAS READ EVER. I have plans to read it again in December because I loved it so. An indie author that deserves all the praise. This enemies to lovers book is just that fantastic.
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. It is one of the best YA Contemporaries I have ever read. I love the character arc, the sweet romance and the real feel of high school. It has all the things.
Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin
Top debut of 2019. Yup, I said it. THIS WAS AMAZING. I love a good forced marriage plot line. And the romance is MMM SO GOOD YES. Book two is sure to be one of my favorites of 2020.
The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
Were you waiting for this one? I have made my love for this book KNOWN. I’m even listening to it for a third time in preparation for the sequel. And I’m getting giddy all over again!
Ooooo yes. I read this book in one sitting. ONE SITTING. And an actual I started it in the evening and didn’t go to bed until I had my ending. I loooooved this second chance romance. It left me dazed in the best way.
I also have a very clear obsession for this series. I binged this all within two months because I couldn’t get enough. Fire Falling probably gave me the worst hangover. The entire series itself was such a masterpiece.
Hoover’s ability to take real and utterly raw emotions of the human condition and make them a beautiful romance that makes you want to cry and cheer all in the same breath is unbelievable on it’s own. And that very long sentence is all this book needs for me to hopefully convince you to read it.
