Stacking the Shelves (7)

Stacking the Shelves is a new meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what they got throughout the week! 

From the publisher/author

Don't these look great?? I can't wait to crack into them! 

From the store

I also picked up some goodies from the bookstore. I'm trying to grow my nice classics library, so Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre are two more I was able to add this week! I love how they look! And I already read the Mediator books by Meg Cabot and they were only 50 cents from Half Price Books, so I decided to pick them up! 

And that's all I added to my shelves this week! What about you all? What did you add? Please share, I would love to hear! 

Follow My Book Blog Friday (43)

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

Question: Happy Father's Day! Who's your favorite dad character in a book and why? 

Answer: 

I would definitely have to say Mr. Weasley. He's just so quirky and awesome. And he really cares about everyone, so he's a total sweetheart. So I'd say he's one of my favorite Dad characters in any book I've read! 

Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection

By Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Source: Library

Summary: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review: I was super hesitant going into this book because of all of the drama on goodreads. I know some people really did not like this while others did, so I decided to go into this one with an open mind. And you know what? It was pretty awesome!

Though I'm not a big fan of the name America, her character was really great to read about! She didn't want fame and fortune, but instead she only wanted what was best for her family, even if it meant sacrificing herself. She kind of has Katniss qualities in her because no matter how bad she doesn't want to enter the selection to marry the prince, she has to in order for her family to survive. But unlike Katniss, America had a little someone she was leaving behind who she really liked (yeah, Katniss had Gale but he didn't really stand a chance...).

The whole caste system of the new society America lived in was so interesting and really unfair to live in. America is a five, on a scale from 1 to 8, one being royalty and eight being the homeless and most poor. Girls from all over the country enter the selection for a chance to be one of 35 chosen to compete to be brought up to one status as the prince's wife. America knows she can never love the prince, but she slowly realizes he's really not that bad, which makes her life even more confusing.

Sometimes the book became kind of cheesy and cliche, but hey, that's just how I like them (considering the Bachelor is one of my favorite shows...and this is A LOT like that show) :) America got kind of annoying with her whole "I'm not pretty so why does everyone keep saying how gorgeous I am?" kind of act, but other than that I liked her story. Her relationship with her family is really sweet and her dedication to them was great. But the character I really liked was Maxon. He was so caring and learned to put his guard down with America. Even though he's this rich, high and mighty prince, he still cared about the girls' feelings and finding love.

So overall this was a fantastic book that took you on a great journey through a dystopian bachelor-esque storyline. I hated putting it down and seriously can't wait for the next one to come out! And when this becomes a TV show, I'm definitely tuning in for the first episode! So I recommend you check this book out now!

Waiting On Wednesday (46)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

Over You

By Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Summary: After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.

Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even.

I read Dedication by these authors and really enjoyed it, so when I saw they had a new book coming out I got really excited! And this one is a young adult one! Yay! And then I saw that this one brings "Humor to trials and tribulations of the lovestruck" and I knew I was going to enjoy this one. The cover is so fun and the story sounds so good! Can't wait until this one comes out :)

Author Interview: Hilary Graham

Do you guys know what today is?? Well, I'll tell you! It's the release date for Reunited by Hilary Graham! And what better way to celebrate the fact than to have Hilary herself here for an interview on Peace Love Books? Aren't you guys excited? I know I am! So here's Hilary Graham to share more about her debut novel that's out today!

     In three words, how would you describe Reunited?

Concert. Road-trip. Friends.

Where did you get the idea to write about three ex-best friends reuniting after graduation for a concert?

The idea for REUNITED actually came from my editor at Simon & Schuster who had a two-sentence concept about ex-best friends getting together to see a band they once loved.  Since I’d experienced a friendship break-up of my own freshman year of high school, I really connected with those feelings, even though my story is very different than Alice, Summer, and Tiernan’s.  For most 14-year-old girls, their best friends are the most meaningful relationship they’ve had at that point in their lives, apart from their family, so I thought the idea of ex-best friends reuniting at the end of high school, when they’re older and wiser, would make for an interesting story.  And I always love a good road trip!

If you could be anyone from Reunited, who would you be and why? 

I think Alice, Summer, & Tiernan all have parts of me in them, but if I had to choose which one I’d be, it’d be Alice.

How do you feel about your debut novel being released? 

So exciting! And thanks to the many photographs people have shared with me, I’m experiencing the thrill of seeing REUNITED pop up in stores all over the country.

What do you do when you're not writing?

Are you kidding?  I’m ALWAYS writing.  ;) But on the rare occasions when I do walk away from the computer, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, traveling, doing yoga, reading, going hiking and camping, singing hopelessly out-of-tune karaoke, eating soft serve vanilla ice cream, watching Breaking Bad and Project Runway, and engaging in general silliness. 

What inspires you when you're writing? What do you do if you ever get stuck?

Life inspires me.  I know this sounds vague, but I’m constantly inspired by the places I go and people I meet.  I don’t typically get stuck when I’m writing, but if I do, I usually just keep plowing forward until I come up with something good.  When that fails, I go for a walk or hit the elliptical to get the endorphins going.

What's your favorite book?

It’s so hard to choose, but one of my favorite books ever is TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee.

What your favorite color?

Pea Pod green.  For those who haven’t read REUNITED, the Pea Pod is the 1976 V.W. camper bus the girls drive cross-country.

What's next?

Right now I’m finishing up a book proposal for a new YA novel and I’m writing a movie for The Disney Channel.  There’s no guarantee it’ll end up on TV, but if it does, I’ll be sure to let you know.

About the Author

Hilary Weisman Graham is an award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and novelist.  She lives in rural New Hampshire with her husband and son, roughly thirty minutes away from the nearest grocery store. 


For more about Hilary Graham, check out these sites: 


Website // Blog // Facebook // Twitter // Author Page

Reunited

By Hilary Graham

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Summary: 1 Concert
2000 Miles
3 Ex-Best Friends

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van known as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

For more about Reunited, check out these sites: 

Goodreads // Barnes and Noble // Amazon // Indie Bound // Book Trailer

I want to thank Hilary SO much for being a guest here on Peace Love Books! It's so exciting for her debut novel to be released today! So if you haven't already, check out Reunited and run to your nearest bookstore and snag a copy! Because it sounds great and I know I absolutely can't wait to read it :)

Book Review: In the Bag by Kate Klise

In the Bag

By Kate Klise

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Source: Publisher

Summary: A successful chef and single mother, Daisy Sprinkle, is on vacation with her teenage daughter, Coco, who picks up the wrong duffle bag at the airport. That situation is not improved by the note Daisy finds tucked into her carry-on, apparently from the man in 13-C. Daisy is in no mood for secret admirer notes or dinner dates. Or even men, for that matter.

Andrew doesn’t know what possessed him to do something like that. Hitting on strange women on airplanes is definitely not his typical style. But there was something about the woman in 6-B that could not be ignored. Of course, now he has no time to think about her, since his son Webb seems to have made off with a budding fashionista’s luggage.

Determined to make the best of a bad situation, Daisy cooks up a plan to calm her daughter’s panic over the lost bag with a week of fabulous food, shopping, and museum hopping. Andrew is busy woking on his latest project and hoping Webb finds enough to entertain himself. Little do they know the teens are making their own plan. . . one that will ultimately reunite Ms. 6-B and Mr. 13-C.

Review: The main reason I wanted to read this book was the cover. I feel like I'm always saying this, but it's so true! If a book looks good, I'm bound to pick it up, often without even reading the back cover. But once I read the back cover, I knew I was going to love this book! So I sent a request to the publisher and was ecstatic to get a review copy! 

This book is about a father and son who travel to Spain and a mother and daughter who travel to France. They're on the same flight when the son and daughter's bags get switched. Their bags, however, are more than they have in common. Both families have strained relationships and everyone feels as if they'll never find the one in their lives. Many emails and phone calls later, they all end up meeting at some point or anther. 

First off, I was so jealous of their adventures. I would love to be able to travel all over Europe like these characters, so this was just perfect for a summer read! Then, as you all know I'm a sucker for a romance, so the relationships that develop in here are so gosh darn cute! Webb and Coco (the kids) connect through email while the parents slowly grow closer (though they have no idea anyone knows each other). There's A TON of miscommunication and misinterpreting feelings that it is so true to life. Nothing is perfect in that they instantly fall in love and can't keep their hands off each other. These relationships develop, go through a lot of hesitation and doubt, and are far from perfect. But I think that's what made them so lovable! 

The writing style of this book really made it a great read too. Each chapter switched from the four characters, either focusing on Webb and Coco's relationship or on the parents' relationship. It was fun to see how everyone thought about what took place and how the parents were completely misinterpreting how their kids were feeling. And the ending was great! I loved what happened, but I'll just leave it at that so you guys can read and see for yourselves! 

So if you're looking for a light, summer read that's bound to put you in a good mood, pick In the Bag up! It'll have you hopping on the next flight to Europe to see if you can find your very own unexpected romance :)

Stacking the Shelves (6)

Stacking the Shelves is a new meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what they got throughout the week! 

From the Publisher/Author

 

I am SO excited for these two books I got in the mail!! I'm currently reading the first one and it's so good! The second one looks amazing I seriously can't wait to get into it!

From the library

 

I picked up WAY too many books from the library again this week, but they all just looked so good!!! I love Kathy Love's books, so when I saw she had a new one out I didn't hesitate to pick it up! And my sister finished The Selection and said it was really good, so I'm really excited to read that. The rest have been on my TBR list for a while and I'm finally getting around to getting them from the library. Hopefully I have time to read all these! 

And that's all that's new to my mailbox this week! What did you all add? Please share!!