April 30, 2014

My Guilty Pleasures

I have the flu for five days now and on top of that I also have sinusitis, thus no concentration to really read and review anything. Since I still want to post something, I thought: why not write about reading guilty pleasures?

1. Fan Fiction

Even though I have so much to read already, I tend to get distracted by fan fiction. Usually, it's quite awful, but there are some really great writers in the fan fiction community. Some writer of who I believe could be amazing published writers. Nowadays I only really read Teen Wolf fan fiction. I am completely in love with Stiles and Derek, because their dynamics is great. I always am amazed what writers can do with these characters, especially in AU (alternate universe) settings. So yeah, I love me some fan fiction.

2. Famous Characters

I regularly get let down by famous characters, but I can never help it: I just love them. (Maybe because one day I would like to run into one of my idols, fall in love and live happily ever after). But one thing I like even more, if one of the main characters actually hates the famous character before meeting. I love me some enemies to lovers fiction (which actually might be a guilty pleasure on its own). An example of one of the 'Famous Characters' books that I actually like is Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin, though it's been a while back and I should really re-read it (and the others in the series).

3. Bad Boys

Ah, who doesn't love a bad boy. A tattooed guy with a scruff and someone you know is bad for you, but you love him anyway... This really is a major guilty pleasure of mine. And I think I can list many books with a bad boy character that I liked. What I especially love is when you have a guy that has a bad boy exterior, but is just this geeky guy on the inside. Those are actually the best. I also think that the bad boy tend to go hand in hand with the famous characters. Well, at least for me that is. But in all honesty: give me a bad boy and I am happy.


4. Guys With Kids

Who doesn't love sweet and caring guy? You know which guys usually are the sweetest and most caring? Guys with kids! (okay, no always true, but most of the time, yes). I just has something that I love. Especially the bad boys (there I go again, always mixing the guilty pleasures) who then turn out to be great and loving dads. Oh, my heart already hurts just thinking about it. I really want to read something now, even though my head can't take it!

What are your guilty pleasures? Do you have similar ones or do you have completely different guilty pleasures? Please let me know!

April 24, 2014

LGBT Month: Letting Go by Jeanette Grey (review)



WARNING: EXPLICIT SEX SCENES BETWEEN TWO MALES
Title: Letting Go
Author: Jeanette Grey
Release date: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC
Genre: LGBT / M/M romance, Short stories (68 pages)
Buy On: Amazon | Dreamspinner Press
Goodreads 
Between taking care of his dying father and putting himself through college, David Mackenzie is approaching his breaking point. A twenty-year-old virgin, he doesn’t have the time or energy to date or socialize. When his father agrees to try medicinal marijuana as a treatment option, David meets an attractive, outgoing young man named Zev, who becomes the friend David never realized he needed. David’s father is nearing the end of his life, and Zev is becoming far more than a shoulder to lean on — he might be David’s first opportunity to embrace life and let go.

April 21, 2014

Cover reveal & giveaway: He + She by Michelle Warren





HE is trying to piece together his broken life.

SHE is running away from her wedding day.

TOGETHER, their world is a beautiful lie.

APART, their world is a perfect mess.

He + She is a free-spirited romance about soul-awakening second chances, heartbreak, and hopeful beginnings.




April 16, 2014

I'm in tears! (If I Stay trailer)


One of my favorite all time books is If I Stay. I told lots of my friends to read it (of which a couple did and loved it as much as I did).

I just watched the trailer and I am in tears. I can't wait till August to see it. And from what I've seen so far I think Adam is cast very well. Mia isn't what I imagined her to be though, so I'll have to wait to see the end product to get a final opinion on her.

AHHHHHHH! I'm so happy and excited!

LGBT Month: The Next Competitor by K.P. Kincaid (review)



Title: The Next Competitor
Author: K.P. Kincaid
Release date: January 13, 2010
Publisher: Prizm
Genre: YA romance, LGBT, Sports
Buy On: Amazon | Book Depository | B&N | Prizm
Goodreads
It's the all-important Olympic season and eighteen-year-old American figure skater Alex Grady is discovering that there are many obstacles along the way on his quest to win a gold medal. For starters, he has to get through endless hours of practice under the watchful eye of his stern and slightly terrifying Russian coach. Then he has to contend with his all-American rival, Tanner Nielsen. Tanner has the talent, looks, poise and picture-perfect girlfriend that make him the ideal poster boy for United States figure skating.

Alex has the talent and his looks aren't bad, but the filter between his brain and his mouth is missing, and he definitely doesn't have a girlfriend. He doesn't have a boyfriend either, although he finds himself thinking far too much about pairs skater Matt Savelli, which is ridiculous, since goody two-shoes Matt is totally not his type. Besides, Alex doesn't have time to worry about dating, not with the Olympics looming, right? Can he find a way to go for the gold and still remain true to himself?

April 13, 2014

Being Hartley by Allison Rushby (ARC review)

Title: Being Hartley
Author: Allison Rushby
Release date: November 1, 2013
Publisher: Patchwork Press
Genre: YA contemporary, Romance
Buy on: Amazon |
Goodreads

Fifteen-year-old Thea Wallis was born to entertain. Her mother, Oscar winning actress Cassie Hartley, thinks differently and has kept her daughter out of the spotlight since day one. Coming from showbiz royalty, it hasn't been easy to go unnoticed, but mismatched surnames, a family home in Tasmania and a low-key scriptwriter father has made this possible.

Just like her cousin Rory on the hugely popular TV show Saturday Morning Dance, Thea loves to dance. She learns the show's routines off by heart each week, despite her mother's attempts to convince her that dentistry would be a far more fulfilling career choice.

However, when Rory goes off the rails in LA, Thea's mother is suddenly left with no choice at all – Rory needs them and to LA they must go. Within forty-eight hours, Thea finds herself a long way from Tasmania and living her dream – on the road to Las Vegas with the Saturday Morning Dance team.

It doesn't take long before Thea's talents are discovered and she's offered everything she's ever wanted on a plate, including the dance partner she's had a crush on forever. But, as her mother has always told her, Hollywood dreams come at a price. Thea soon realizes she will have to work out just how much she's willing to pay. And, ultimately, discover her own way to be Hartley.

April 09, 2014

Thank you, Elise Himes! (The Trans-Fer Student)

I won a giveaway and got send the ebook version of The Trans-Fer Student by Elise Himes. However, she also send me a signed paperback version which I think is great considering I live in the Netherlands. I'm really happy with it and can't wait to read it!


Title: The Trans-Fer Student
Author: Elise Himes
Release date: January 1, 2014
Genre: YA contemporary, LGBT
Buy On: Amazon 
Rachael is just like any other girl… except she was born a boy.

When her family is forced to move due to bullying, she is accepted into a privileged girls’ school. Her fantasy quickly becomes a nightmare as rumors spread about one of the new students being transgender. Paranoia, deceit, and backstabbing rule the day as their “witch” will be found, no matter who suffers.
 Part of LGBT April

April 04, 2014

Alice in Tumblr-Land by Tim Manley (review)

16+ DUE TO LANGUAGE
Title: Alice in Tumblr-Land
Author: Tim Manley
Release date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Humor, Fairy Tales, Graphic Novel
Buy on: Amazon | Book Depository | B&N
Goodreads


Disney meets Lena Dunham in this illustrated humor book featuring your favorite fairy-tale characters dating and finding their way in 21st-century America.

The Ugly Duckling still feels gross compared to everyone else, but now she’s got Instagram, and there’s this one filter that makes her look awesome. Cinderella swaps her glass slippers for Crocs. The Tortoise and the Hare Facebook stalk each other. Goldilocks goes gluten free. And Peter Pan finally has to grow up and get a job, or at least start paying rent.

Here are more than one hundred fairy tales, illustrated and re-imagined for today. Instead of fairy godmothers, there’s Siri. And rather than big bad wolves, there are creepy dudes on OkCupid. In our brave new world of social networking, YouTube, and texting, fairy tales can once again lead us to “happily ever after”—and have us laughing all the way.

April 02, 2014

LGBT Month: Marionette by T.B. Markinson (ARC review)



WARNING: DUE TO SUBJECT MATTER SUCH AS SUICIDE IT CAN BE A HEAVY READ
Title: Marionette
Author: T.B. Markinson
Release date: November 7, 2013
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: YA contemporary, LGBT
Buy on: Amazon
Goodreads

Paige Alexander is seventeen and has her whole life in front of her. One day her girlfriend comes home to discover that Paige has slit her wrists. Paige isn't insane, but she acts like she is. Why?

After the incident, Paige agrees to go to therapy to appease her girlfriend, Jess. However, Paige doesn't believe that therapy will help her. She believes she’s beyond help. Paige doesn't want to find herself and she doesn't want to relive her painful past in order to come to terms with it. What Paige wants is control over her life, which she hasn't had since her birth.

During her childhood, Paige is blamed for a family tragedy, when in fact, her twin sister, Abbie was responsible. Abbie doesn't come forward and Paige becomes the pariah of the family.

To add to Paige’s woes, while attending a college in a small town in Colorado, the residents are in the midst of debating whether or not gays and lesbians should have equal rights. Tension is high and there’s a threat of violence. She isn't out of the closet and pretends to be straight at school since she fears what will happen if her parents find out she’s a lesbian. Will she end up dead like her best friend, Alex?

 

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