The Low Notes by Kate Roth

You know the best thing about not knowing anything about a book before you actually start reading it? The utter joy when it’s not what you thought it would be because it’s so much better.

When Kevin and Nina first meet, I was reminded of when Allie and Noah first met in The Notebook. I know it’s a pretty bold statement, but it’s the way it came across to me. It might have been Nina’s original nonchalant demeanor, or Kevin’s eager text message, but something about these two characters together had me holding out hope for a great love story.

Fast-forward a couple of chapters, and I was knocked down a few pegs because as their circumstances unfold, I realized that this book had serious potential to bruise my HEA-seeking heart.

What made this book really (REALLY!) good for me was the sheer desperation of Nina and Kevin wanting to be together. Their reality was the constant obstacle, but the intensity of what they felt for each other never seemed to waver. Even in those moments where I thought ‘this is it – they’re done’, I could literally feel their heartbreak as they tried to put some distance between themselves.

I think that some readers might initially be skittish about this type of ‘forbidden’ romance and the subsequent age gap. But I found that Nina was written more like an ‘old soul’, so any grimacing moments I thought I might have never materialized. Had she been nonsensical and flippant, I would have despised this story.

Though I love a happily-ever-after like it’s no one’s business, I don’t like it when it comes on a silver platter. Having had the ending draw out the way it did just solidified to me that what Kevin and Nina had was not a ‘you want it because you can’t have it’ type of affair. It was grounded in something deeper that, even with a valiant effort on both parts, neither could live without.

The beginning captured me, the middle gutted me, and the end mended my heart. This is one of those stories that I need in paperback. And if you know anything about me, you know that’s saying a lot.

Strings by Kendall Grey

I’m going to be completely honest and say that the only thing I heard about this book was that the author’s facetious comments offended some people. I read the explanation after the revolt, but I honestly didn’t care. Personally, I didn’t take what the author wrote to heart, and in truth, it should have no bearing on how good (or horrible) a book is. If anything, the ‘negative’ press made me want to read this book just that much more.

I guess there was also a warning at the beginning of this book which I totally by-passed in eagerness to start reading this story. Having read the entire thing, I would seriously suggest to anyone contemplating starting this book that they not follow my lead. Luckily, I didn’t fall into any of the categories, but if you happen to, you should not proceed to Chapter 1.

Letty is honest. She isn’t searching for THE happy ending in her relationships, just A happy ending (!). Then she meets Shades. Hilarity ensues, with a whole lot of raunchy sex. There is one scene that really makes you scratch your head and wonder if the guys from MythBusters can validate any of it to see if it can really be done.

This book is descriptive to say the least, and in no way will appeal to anyone who giggles at the sight of a naked ass on TV. It’s in-your-face sex, a fair dose of humour thrown in, and major a dash of supreme rocker-hotness. All the warnings that the author was considerate enough to provide hold true, and are in there for a reason. Just when you think that there are no more ways to describe anatomic female/male parts, the author unleashes a new ingenious vocabulary.

I think it would surprise many on how funny and clever this story really is. To those who enjoyed the book but not what the author said/meant, get off your high horse and give credit where credit is due. Because this author does know how to write a good book.

The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher

Let’s see.

I started and finished this book while on a Caribbean island. Though it was a nice vacation, I don’t recommend reading this book while ‘trapped’ by water and with no one to talk to about the book.

The Opportunist has been on my TBR list for quite some time, but I never managed to get to it. At the constant urging of two book-junkies (you know who you are!), I finally decided that this was going to be one of my vacation reads.

First of all, I love the authors writing style. I think that alone kept me with the book in the beginning, because it sure wasn’t the warm and fuzzies towards the dysfunctional characters. From the very beginning, I got the sense that this author was less about the beautiful packaging, and more about the realness of people. And I think that’s what my issue was. Having read books where the main ‘heroine’ will always prevail because of her pretty eyes, killer figure, and meticulous hair had distorted my view on what life is really like. This book brought it all back to me. In spades.

Through a set of circumstances, Olivia finds herself at the precipice of a soul-altering decision. Someone with scruples might have made a different choice then what Olivia went with, but love can make you do crazy things - especially when it means a second chance.

Up until the boardroom where the lawyers meet Olivia’s new client, I had been feeling sorry for Caleb. In that split second, I saw him as conniving and manipulative. And then I realized that Olivia and Caleb were perfect for each other. It’s entirely possible to absolutely love two characters because of how much you want to lock them in padded cells.

And then our heroine got on a plane and went to Italy. Holy mother-F***! During that sincere conversation with a fellow passenger, I was silently praying ‘please for the love of books Ms. Fisher, don’t do this to me!’. I saw the possibility of that new ‘relationship’ unfolding and it absolutely broke my heart.

Of course if that didn’t seem to do me in, Olivia’s declaration to Caleb, and his subsequent confession gutted me. But the book wasn’t done, and there was no way I was going to be left with THAT.

Time elapses and the doors opened. And I started screaming. Cursing the book-junkies that told me to read this. Throwing expletives towards the author for making something so un-pretty, but perfect at the same time. And admonishing myself for having waited this long to fall in love with imperfect characters that are so easy to hate.

WINNERS of THE EASIEST GIVEAWAY EVER!

I can blame the sun. I can blame the very small amount of Pina Colada I had. I can blame it on the deliriously    blissful feeling of not being at work. But in all honesty....

...there is just no way I can deny someone a book.

The goal of this giveaway was to have more people read these amazing books by +Jenn Cooksey , +Katja Millay, and Priscilla Glenn.

So if you named a book, you get that book. If you named a book and 'shared', you get all 5 (unless you've read one of them, in which case let me know which ones you still need). If you didn't name a book but 'shared', you get all 5.

If your name is on this list, please email me at liis.mckinstry@hotmail.com and let me know which format you would like, and which of the 5 books you would like (only for those who specifically mentioned a book AND 'shared'). I'm on vacation right now, but I will get you your prizes as soon as I get your info.

• i*Heart*BigBooks - The Sea of Tranquility + The Other Fish in the Sea - KINDLE or KOBO (need email)
• Vanessa - All 5 KINDLE or KOBO (PG's only on KINDLE) (need email)
• Jennifer Kilner - The Sea of Tranquility - KINDLE or KOBO  (need email)
• Kimberly Perry - The Sea of Tranquility - KINDLE or KOBO  (need email)
• teena3940 - Back to You - KINDLE (need email)
• Jenny Dauksa Scheber - Emanciating Andie - KINDLE
• Lagina Reese - Back to You - KINDLE 
• OpinonatedReader - Shark Bait - KINDLE or KOBO (need email)
• Jenny @ Book Sojourner - The Other Fish in the Sea - KINDLE or KOBO  (need email)
• HMitch76 - The Other Fish in the Sea - KINDLE
• Gudelia - Emanciapting Andie - KINDLE
• Cristina A - Back to You -KINDLE (need email)
• Zitarva - Back to You - KINDLE (need email)
• Zombie Runner - The Sea of Tranquility - KINDLE or KOBO  (need email)
• Stefany T - Shark Bait (need email) BUT SHARED
• misshalim - The Sea of Tranquility  - KINDLE
• Lei - The Sea of Tranquility - KINDLE (need email)
• Nic - Emancipating Andie - KINDLE (need email)
• Triin - Emancipating Andie - KINDLE (need email)
• Olga - All 5 - KINDLE (need email)
• Jenn F. - All 5 - KINDLE or KOBO  (need email)
• Karen Hambly - The Sea of Tranquility -  KINDLE or KOBO (need email)

THE EASIEST GIVEAWAY EVER (I promise)!



These are some of my favourite books, and quite honestly, I don't think enough people have read them. So in hopes of making this world a better place and sharing the awesomeness that is these 3 authors, I'm giving away their books.

Winners will be picked at random on May 29th, so spread the word and good luck to everyone!

Up for Grabs:
3 ebook copies of Shark Bait (GYP #1) on either Kindle or Kobo
3 ebook copies of The Other Fish in the Sea (GYP #2) on either Kindle or Kobo
3 ebook copies of The Sea of Tranquility on either Kindle or Kobo
3 ebook copies of Back to You on Kindle
3 ebook copies of Emancipating Andie on Kindle
1 complete set of all 5 books

What you have to do:
- for a chance to win 1 of 3 copies of any of the above, just leave a comment with which book you'd like to have
- for a chance to win 1 set of all 5 books, just 'share' this GIVEAWAY on either Twitter or Facebook

The Other Fish in the Sea by Jenn Cooksey

Trying to write out cohesive thoughts about this book on a Saturday morning at 6:45am without coffee might be dicey. But it’s the book’s fault I’m not firing on all cylinders because I was up all night thinking about it.

It might be because Crazy Stupid Love is playing in the background, but the only thing I can really say that might give you an indication of how great this book is would be to compare it to falling in love (corny yes, but hear my argument before *ewwing* it).

If you read this book, you know it’s the follow-up to Shark Bait. That book was like love at first sight; one of those spectacular, yet rare things that people always talk about, but few actually experience. It's the moment when something so consuming takes your breath away and knocks you on your ass. You’re not the same after it and pray to the heavens that your soul doesn’t get crushed in the aftermath.

The Other Fish in the Sea is like discovering all the reasons that actually caused you to fall in love, and realizing that though not everything is rainbows and lollipops, what you left in that first instance is wholly substantiated.

I was so consumed by the stories of all the individual characters. Some of what I read only confirmed my earlier suspicions, while other parts made me want to shake some sense into a few kids.

As I was nearing the end, the stars weren’t lining up for me. It felt like a bomb had gone off and my entire reading world was in disarray. Staring at the second-last page on my ereader, I let out a long string of expletives, hoping they’d make their way to California.

You’re one French fry short of a Happy Meal if you don’t read this book! And two short of a Happy Meal if you don’t like it (I can’t take all the credit for this last part – I only built on the existing words of a genius).

 

I wrote this on Saturday morning without caffeine. I'm only posting it now because 1. I needed to read it with coffee pumping through my system and 2. I enjoyed the long-weekend (Victoria Day in Canada).

Unbeautifully by Madeline Sheehan

I started Unbeautifully while on a train to the city. At the end of Chapter One, I felt compelled to ask the author if her intention was to give people heart attacks. She LOL’d me. That’s the author for you, and in all honesty, I wouldn’t want it any differently.

I finally finished the book on Monday morning, and was left reeling for the rest of the day. Thank god for Canadian long-weekends, because I was not composed enough to deal with the after-effects of this book at work.

And here’s a spoiler...

Even though I was very happy with how the story concluded, getting there did a number on my psyche. There were many moments of ‘you have got to be shitting me!’ followed by tears. I also screamed ‘agh’ a lot. At one point my 4-year old asked me if he needed to go and get daddy.

Even though Frankie was no longer alive, his ghost continued to torment the people who were directly affected by all of his craziness. Ripper (both figuratively and literally) lost a part himself at the hands of the psycho, and Danny was living in the chaos between Deuce and Eva as a result of Frankie’s brutality.

This was not an easy book to read. It was absolutely raw with emotion, and even though there were some easy-going moments, the roller coaster ride that the book took me on was exhausting. I felt such sadness for everyone as they were coming to terms with what happened and how to keep going. Even though it ended the way it ended, the constant recollections of what a real bastard Frankie was drained me.

I decided that a good way to get my mind back to a happy place would be to watch an honest-to-goodness chick-flick. I was content watching my go-to movie when all of a sudden a song starts to play and WHAM! I’m back to being emotionally unstable. It took me a moment to realize that it was the song that was causing this madness.

If you’ve ever listened to Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars and have coincidentally read this book, I hope you understand me when I say that song is Ripper and Danny. Hell, it could even be Eva and Deuce. The sheer agony that translated through the eerie harmonies and the desolation of the lyrics are so beautiful that I actually pictured this as the anthem to the entire book series.

True to the author’s word, this was not just the story of Ripper and Danny. +Madeline Sheehan weaved the main characters from Undeniable into this story with such utter perfection, while still giving Ripper and Danny their own moment under the sun. I’m not sure that those two would have gotten together had all that was Undeniable not happened. There are several silver linings to the horror that everyone endured, and I think Ripper and Danny together is one of them.

This book (or Undeniable for that matter) is not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s not cute little fuzzy kittens and it sure as shit isn’t sugar and spice and everything nice. It’s gut-wrenchingly honest, and all-consuming. There isn’t anything ‘un’ about how beautiful this story is.