[Review] Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

Goodreads Description

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders .

Purchased for my Kindle

Let me tell you, if there is Royalty in a book, I’m on it! Sometimes I feel like an 8 year old trapped in a frumpy 33 year old body. I love princess’s, castles, princes, and happily ever afters. I eat that stuff up.

I’ve seen some buzz about Suddenly Royal going around, so when it came out and was put on sale for 99 cents, I could not resist. I started reading it that night.

I adored this book. I’ve seen so many other reviews mention how it’s the older more realistic version of Princess Diaries. I completely agree, I don’t take credit for that statement, but I would have come to the same conclusion myself had I not already read it. It’s a selling point too I guess. I loved the Princess Diaries. At least the movie that is, I haven’t read the books.

It’s a selling point, but it can also be a negative. It’s the only thing that will keep me from giving it a 5 star. While the characters, and back story were original in themselves, the basic story line is very similar.

Sam is so cute. I loved her. She’s snarky. I found myself laughing out loud numerous times at the things she would say. I breezed through this book. It was a quick fun read. It isn’t without feelings though. There are some real life situations and that just broke my heart. 

Prince Alex, he’s just dreamy. I think he’s possibly the most perfect prince ever. I want him. That is all. lol

I did feel like it wrapped up a bit fast. There are some (events) I would have loved to read more of. I’m not sure if this is a stand alone. It most certainly can be, because it’s does have closure. I wouldn’t be opposed to a companion book though. I was sad to put it down and leave this world.

Amazon / Barnes Noble

[Review + Sims Trailer!] Sins & Needles by Karina Halle (The Artist's Trilogy #1)

GoodReads Description

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.


***The Artists Trilogy is a dark and sexy contemporary ride about three flawed individuals caught in a world where it's so easy to justify the bad things we do. This is a pure adult read (Not YA or NA).

This is the 1st book in the trilogy. It is followed by the novella On Every Street (released in March 2013) and the sequel Shooting Scars (released in May 2013). The third and final book in the series will also be released in 2013.*** 

Oh, Sins and Needles. Can I just say, there is just something about Karina Halle’s books. They get me every time. I have read a little over half of her Experiment in Terror series and I love them. They aren’t books I would normally just pick up, so when I read Darkhouse while it was free on Amazon, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I really enjoyed a spooky story like that. Kinda the same thing with Sins & Needles. I read the description, it sounded good, but maybe a little darker than the stuff I’m usually into. So my bestie Jess lent it to me via kindle. I’m wary about buying books I’m unsure of but I shouldn’t have worried because I loved it. ( I own my own copy now)

How can I best describe S&N? I should hire someone to review for me, seriously. I guess I would say it reminded me most of an action film. Something that my husband would talk me into watching with him, that I end up really enjoying more than I thought I would.

Ahhhh flawed Characters. Halle did not let me down! Ellie and Camden have some issues, for real. Deep down issues, both of them. They are far from perfect and I loved that.

Ellie, I was constantly on the fence about her. At times I felt so sorry for her, and other moments I felt like she deserved every bad thing coming her way. Camden is awesome but he’s got his dark side too, and holy F is it sexy when you catch a glimpse of it.

I expected from the description that they would have their problems and all, but never did I imagine what kind of trouble they had gotten themselves in over the years. The past comes to haunt them both, and it’s intense. Like crazy intense and I loved every second of it!

Plus, there are some steamy ass scenes. So A+ to that!

I cannot wait to find out what happens, the next book cannot come soon enough. Sins and Needles really stuck with me the week after I read it, so I decided to occupy my time working on a Sims trailer.

These are my favorite Sim covers to date. I slapped on a blur and partial black and white to make them appear more realistic like the real covers. Sims is very cartoony and that just doesn't work for these books. 

I also had to download a ton of shit to do these trailer! Guns, gun poses, some new animations. Very fun! 

Meet the cast!!! 

Loved making this so much, and I hope you all love watching it.. Without any further waiting, here it is!!! 

[Review] On Every Street by Karina Halle (The Artist's Trilogy 0.5)

Goodreads Description

When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.
This 50K word (100+ pages) novella takes place six years before Sins & Needles. It can be read before or after Sins & Needles and may also be read as a standalone.

Oh Karina Halle. If she wasn’t engaged, I would ask her to marry my so I could lock her in my basement to write stories for me. I suppose just getting them through kindle will do.

On Every Street was awesome guys. Have you read Sins and Needles yet? If not, you should. On every street is the story of how Ellie became mixed up with Javier. This was not a fluffy novella. It gets down into the thick of thing.

Javier, omg, to love or to hate him, that’s the question. I will never find this answer, I’m convinced I will stay in limbo for ever. I’ll be honest, while reading Sins and Needles, I wondered how anyone could be stupid enough to get mixed up with this kind of man. I get it now though. I completely fell under just like Ellie. Or I should say Eden, her other name.

You not only find out about that spectrum, but you learn how and why Ellie decides to live the con artist life. On Every Street was just as interesting as Sins and Needles. I think it’s safe to say you can read them in any order. I don’t think one spoils for the other.

I’m glad I read S&N first though. It was heart breaking reaching that part that I already knew was going to happen.

I know people are taking teams, Javier or Camden, but I’m team Ellie all the way. 

Amazon 

[Review] The Host by Stephenie Meyer - (Book re-read + Movie) Spoilery

Goodreads Description

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.

I re-read a book for the first time!! My opinion on re-reading has always been, why? If you already know what’s going to happen, then why would you re-read something? What would keep you picking that book back up?

When The Host hit theaters, Amazon dropped the kindle price to $1.99. I do have the actual book, but I’m lazy and kindle reading is so much easier. So I snatched it up and decided since I was going to see the movie the following weekend, I would try and re-read it.

The Host was a great choice because I read it years ago, and there was so much in the beginning that I didn’t understand until the end. This re-read has changed my life. I loved The Host ten times more having re-read it. I no longer wonder why someone would be possessed to pick up a book again when there are so many out there that you haven’t read yet?

Believe it or not, I was glued to my kindle. I could not stop reading, even though I knew what was going to happen, I was still gripped. Maybe it’s just because I love this book so much?

This will be a SPOILER review. I will also discuss some movie spoilers at the end, but I will warn you first.

When I first read The Host years ago, I thought the beginning was slow. I was so wrong. It seemed slow, because I didn’t understand. You see, there is so much that happens, that is later explained. Which the first time around was awesome. I remember being close to the end and thinking, “Oh shit, that’s what that was all about”. Now my second time through, I sucked up every detail.

I had a full understanding of the Souls. How they live, where they are from. It made the beginning so fascinating for me. Especially knowing more about the seeker from the get go. I didn’t recognize the signs of her host internally fighting her the first time, because I didn’t know what to look for.

I remember when I asked a friend of mine if I should read The Host. I knew she had read it, and I was curious because I loved the twilight books. She told me, “It’s nothing like twilight, but it’s really good. A little slow, but once you get to the caves it picks up.”

I ended up loving it just as much if not more than the Twilight books. I’ve always had a love of sci fi elements. One of my favorite things about this book is Wanderer’s descriptions of the other planets she’s lived on. Oh and the caves, I could practically feel the red dust settling on my skin.

Most of all, I loved the will of survival. The length these characters go through to protect and hide themselves. Pure brilliance. From the caves to the flaps on the back of the trucks to cover their tracks. Even the map, which I found to be funny in the end when she realizes it never actually took her there. Jeb is the shit. He knew what he was doing when he found that place, and I adored him. First time, and Second.

Also, I loved that feeling of hope. One of my favorite scenes is when Wanda is out with everyone doing raids. They are in the hotel room and they see two Soul parents playing with their toddler, (still human). They hadn’t given the child up as a host yet. That scene still choked me up. It’s amazing you think, these souls have visited and taken so many planets, yet they are so naïve to human nature. They bit off more than they can chew, that’s for sure.

My other favorite scene is the end, when Ian says to Wanda that he held her in his hands and she was beautiful. Full out tears guys. Full out tears, because that is the sweetest, most loving thing ever. Poor Wanda always afraid it was Mel’s body that Ian was in love with. I just love this book so much. Everything about it.

Now that I have gushed about the book a bit, lets discuss my hatred for the movie.

MOVIE SPOILERS, turn back now!

So I hated it. I don’t even like saying that out loud. I feel dirty saying it after I have been pining to see it ever since its existence was announced. I wanted to love it, but I knew deep down that it wouldn’t end well. Some people really liked it. I’ll talk about what I liked first.

-         The mirrors being movable in the cave. I thought that was a nice addition. It was never really addressed in the book as to how helicopters couldn’t see the mirrors, so I’m glad that was covered.

-         I liked the souls. I liked how they were done. They were pretty and almost exactly how I pictured them to be.

That’s about it folks. lol, No, really!

-         The actors. Though I’ll admit they weren’t casted bad, but I fucking hate when the details are over looked. Like Ian and the seeker. They both have dark hair in the book. Not in the movie. Maybe they ran out of money for the budget and hair dye just wasn’t in the cards? Seriously, with all the cgi, you can’t change a person’s hair color?

-         That leads me to Wanda’s new body. She was a pretty tiny little blonde in the book, but dark hair in the movie. That’s not what urked me most about that though, the way she got that body pisses me off. In the book, they go out and hand pick her. Nope not in the movie.

-         The medicines. They go through all that trouble stealing all the different things. Heal, Clean, etc… But when they go to heal Jamie, they spray Heal on him and presto! All better. Seriously, he’s sick with infection. You need to clean it.

-         The insertion and removal of souls. There was no blood! Come on now. I get that you don’t want it to be too gory and all, but if you slice someone’s skin, they will at least bleed a little.
-     That scene I describe above that I loved so much, with the Soul parents and Human child. Cut!
-     The seekers be driving crazy ass fancy bullet cars.. This does not happen in the book. It's The Host, not the Fast and Furious, WTF.
-     That one scene with Ian and Wanda at the end. Where he says the most beautiful line ever delivered. Both times I have read that part, I have bawled like a baby. The best thing ever. CUT. 

Okay, so I could go on and on, and some may think I'm being nit picky, but ugh, it's one of my favorite books ever, so this movie was a huge disappointment. I never thought the twilight movies did the books any justice either, but I own them all. The Host though? Nope, I don't even want to rent it. I will just pick up the book again and save myself the tears of frustration.

Gardening with my Loves... #2

Hey everyone!! So last week I talked about last years garden and how we improved on our layout this year. Gardening with my Loves #1 I haven't come up with a picture or anything for this segment I'm doing, but I will! Soon. So those who may have missed my first post, I love gardening and I'm going to try to do an update every week on our progress. 

This is the second year we are doing it, and we have tons of veggies planned! Last week we were just getting the door put together. 

It's all put together, we just need hooks, but until we find the ones we want, we can just tie it shut. I also strung twine along the top. I'll be hanging noisy things on it so that when the deer touch the fence it will hopefully scare the fuckers away. #planteatingbastards

Aubrey helped us in the garden this past weekend. 

She really loves it. Probably more than she loved posing for these corny pictures. lol

You can see on the side I had started to make a tomato cage from stakes and twine. It was a total fail, so I scratched that and built different ones.   

Aubrey also picked out a cute wind chime to help scare the deer away. She was so proud of it. :o)

As you can see from this pic, her play set is pretty close to the garden so it was the perfect place to hang it! 

We built some trellis's!! They will hold the beans, and the really sturdy one will hold the cantaloupes. I picked up the seeds last weekend, I really want to try growing them and they vine. 

Here are my bitching tomato cages!! left over fence, Holla!! Screw going out and buying them.. these will hold up better and be easier for them to climb I think. I pounded the metal stake in between them so that I could tie them on for support. 

So far we started the Carrots, Onions, Lettuce and Brocolli! We have growth!!! They are tiny but we are thrilled! 

I hate how the compost soil we got has so much shit in it, little rocks, wood chips and such, but it's good for the plants. 

They are even bigger today, but we took these pics Monday. Next week I'll take some more pictures and we will be starting a few new things! 

That's all I have for this week! Yay plants!! :) 

[Review] The Boys of Summer (Summer #1) by C.J. Duggan

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION

It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.
Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.
How did she let her friends talk her into working?
After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.
All with the one boy she has never been able to forget. 
It will be a summer she will always remember. 
Warning: sexual references, and occasional coarse language.

I won The Boys of Summer off of my friend Andrea’s blog (The Bookish Babe) I was pretty excited because Autumn at (The Autumn Review) told me soon after that she had just read it and thought I would really enjoy it.

I really love books with a summer theme. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I live in the Northeast and Summer doesn’t last nearly as long as I would like it too. lol. Or maybe it’s just that sand and water feel you get.

Tess comes off as a little spoiled to me in the beginning. She doesn’t want a summertime job. I suppose I wouldn’t either, but she takes the whining to a whole new level. And then when something happen to muck up their summertime work plans, she whines some more.

But…yes there is a but. A good but, you see, she grows out of it. She grows up a lot over the summer, and I feel it was almost imperative that she be annoying the beginning so that the reader can appreciate how much she changes before the books comes to an end.

This is a great coming of age book I think. A lot of first for Tess here. I love her first day at her job, because we’ve all been there! It’s horrible. My first job was actually washing dishes in a bar/restaurant/inn, so I related to her with that.

The Onslow boys, who wouldn’t want a cute Onslow boy in their life? Toby is to die for, but not without faults. There is some drama up in here, and I may have chewed my nails a bit watching it unfold.

I will admit, I found myself confused at times. It takes place in Australia, so it took me a little bit to get used to some of the way things were said. But once I realized that, I was quick to figure out what she was referring to.

If you’re looking for a cute summer read, this is a good one!

Amazon / Barnes&Noble

Gardening with my Loves... #1

Last year my husband and I decided to try gardening. Now if there is one thing in life I'm passionate about, it's books. Gardening though? I wasn't to sure if it was for me, but it was! I love it. I mostly love it because it's something we can do together, since he's not much of a reader. It's like bringing babies into the world, but without the 18 year commitment. Hell yeah to that! 

This is how our babies started out last year. 

So cute. To be honest though, we were beginners and we would have done things so differently had we been more experienced. 

As you can see, the garden busting out of it's fence. lol. We had a bit of over crowding. But we got some great veggies out of it. Now we are smarter though, and we will plant a little differently this time around. 

There is just something so awesome about going out into the yard and picking a side to go with dinner. Fresh is the best. Unfortunately, The deer got to our tomatoes. Bastards. This year we aren't screwing around. We decided to triple the size of our garden so we could plant more and put up a fence around it. 

Talk about hard work. This is why I'm slacking lately with working on Trailers. Our weekends have been filled with working on this. They are raised beds, but we ripped up the grass and prepared the dirt underneath the soil we bought. Just finished the door to the fence after work this evening. Tomorrow we can start some planting. Some, not much because there are only a few things we have that are hardy. We may still get a frost here. 

We will be starting these!! I love that they are called Little Finger! #GameOfThronesLover! 

We also picked up some of these, they will be planted in the front of the house. Aubrey will love them! Here are some garden markers we made from stones. I saw the idea on Pinterest, and fell in love with it. 

As you can see, we will be planting a lot of yummy stuff this year! We started our Peppers, Tomatoes, and Eggplants indoors already. They will be transplanted probably near the end of the month!

 

So I know this is a book blog, but this is something that I'm very excited about, so I thought it would be fun to do a post every week keeping you all up to date on our gardens progress through the Summer. We are by no means experts at gardening, so I didn't want to start a blog just for that. I'm going to try to do a post every weekend, probably Sunday. Do any of you garden? If so, lets chat about plants!!