Book Review: Big Fat Disaster by Beth Fehlbaum

At First Sight: Colby is the odd girl out in her family, she's overweight and, unlike her sisters, she takes after her father (a former football player) rather than her mother (a former Miss Texas). Yet, Colby is often pushed into the spotlight as part of her father's senatorial camping - which is running on a family values platform. 

Until the day Colby finds out a big secret about her father -that he's having an affair with another woman - and the Feds come knocking around, inquiring about where the money for the campaign is actually coming from. 

In one day, Colby's life is turned upside down with her father leaving and her mother deciding to move them to a small town, where they are taken in by Colby's Aunt and her son Ryan - who really doesn't want them there. 

There, Colby's size swells even more, along with her mother's contempt for her. She gets blamed for everything: the changes in their situation, going from a mansion to a trailer, the lack of money and her father's indifference. And even when Ryan makes a cruel video of Colby struggling to get dressed and said video ends up online, she gets blamed for that too. 

Second Glance: Big Fat Disaster is a mess. 

The tone of the book is all over the place, at first I thought it was going to be about a fat chick getting her groove back and finding her self respect (It wasn't), then I thought it was about Colby finally being accepted by her mother and sisters (Not It), then I thought it was going to be about Colby finding her self and her inner strength in Pine Creek with the help of her cool Bakery owner aunt, and her cousin Ryan -This calls for a Hell to the No! - then it turned dark - bullying, suicides and death, oh my! - and then it was just meh. 

Not a single person in this book was likable or even two dimensional, everyone came off as cruel, annoying, bitter or just stupid. Colby didn't fare any better even though this story was from her perspective. We were supposed to care she had an eating disorder (Binge Eating) and feel for her because her mom was a psycho, but really... she was just as annoying as the rest of them. 

Yet, the worse thing about this book is that EVERYONE FREAKING GETS AWAY WITH IT!

After all the stuff that goes down, things pretty much end where they started, Colby is supposed to be getting some help by then but that was TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, everyone is still sticking to the status quo, and the main relationship dynamics haven't changed one bit - Colby's mom still hates her, her sisters still think she's a waste of space and Colby still cares that they think that. 

Bottom Line: There was one way for this book to work out: For Colby to come out of it triumphantly, or at least with a bit of strength or hope, but this just doesn't happen - I'm not convinced she's going to be OK by the end, either. I don't mean question or demean the author's intent or her experiences -from the author's note I gather some of the stuff (or at least the inspiration for the book) came from real-life events - but her execution does more harm than good. 

No Stars for this one. 

Book Review: The Bride Says No by Cathy Maxwell

The Deal:  Lady Aileen once left for London with stars in her eyes and dreams of falling in love, even though it hurt her to leave her ten 12-year-old sister Tara behind in Scotland. Nine years later, with a disastrous marriage and an scandalous divorce in her past, Aline is just glad she was allowed to stay at her family's estate and that most of the town still likes her, scandal and all.

She is full of regrets though, regrets that she was so naive, that she caused such a scandal, and that her once close relationship with Tara is now practically non-existent, she's not even invited to Tara's wedding.

But when Tara arrives suddenly at the estate, dressed in boys clothes and having ran off on her fiancé days before the wedding, things start to take wild turns. Tara is a bit spoiled and selfish and hasn't forgiven aline for living her behind all those years ago.

And then Blake Stephens, Tara's fiancés show up. The acknowledged bastard son of a Duke, Blake has worked hard for everything he has and has become very wealthy in his own right. He doesn't have any great feelings for Tara but he'll be dammed if he'll be jilted.

Until he meets Aileen...

My Thoughts: Cathy Maxwell is one of those authors I quietly love, I don't follow all of her releases and but I have read most of her books and I generally enjoy them.

So, when I heard of her new series The Brides of Wishmore, I decided to give it a try as it sounded interesting and I do love me a good forbidden lovers romance - I think that it's one of the best plots if the author has the chops to pull it off - and I'm happy to say that The Bride Says No didn't disappoint.

It wasn't exactly like I thought it would be but I didn't mind, I still liked Aileen and Blake a lot - I found them quite honest given the circumstances - and the whole story had an over-all lighthearted feeling.

Tara was really hard to like, she is very childish and selfish, but I'm totally willing to give it a try to her book The Bride Says Maybe.

All in all, I do recommend this read if you're looking for some fluff with a bit of angst thrown in.

End of the Year Survey

 (Courtesy of The Perpetual Page Turner)

So, after I saw this @Addicted to Romance, I decided to join in the fun as I have been meaning to put up my list of favorite books I read this year but I didn't get around to it before and this sounded fun. This list covers books that I read for the first time in 2013, regardless of when they were first published.

And here it goes:

1. Best Book You Read in 2013?

Middle Grade: Pandora the Curious by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

YA: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Contemporary Romance: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Historical Romance: The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan

Best Over All: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going to Love More But Didn't?

Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle - don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it tons and it was super fun and I love Frederick, Duncan and Snow (and even Briar Rose) but Liam was a douche through out most of it and it killed my buzz a little. 

3.  Most Surprising (in a Good Way) book of 2013?

Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty - I loved this book so, so much. The writing was beautiful and it twisted and tore at my heart.

4. Best Book you read in 2013 and that you recommended to people the most in 2013

Probably it was Rainbow Rowell's books, each time I read a new one I would rave about it and recommend it. Also, Paper Chains and If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

5. Best Series You Discovered in 2013

MG: Confectionately Yours by Lisa Papademetriou 

Romance: Anchor Island by Terri Osburn

YA: I don't think I started any YA series this year, actually. 

6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2013

Rainbow Rowell, hands down. 

7. Best Book that was out of your Comfort Zone or was a new genre for you?

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch - I go out of my way to avoid books that I know will have a very dark subject matter, I couldn't avoid this. Read it all in one night, and it broke my heart. 

Special Mention to Superman: Birthright, because I so don't like comics, but this one was pretty good

8. Most Thrilling Un-putable-down book in 2013?

Courtney Milan's the Countess Conspiracy and Crash Into You by Katie McGarry. 

9. Book You read in 2013 that you're most likely to re-read Next Year.

Take a Bow, My Life Next Door, Fangirl and The Bride Wore Size 12

10. Favorite Cover of a book you read in 2013?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

11. Most Memorable Character of 2013

Everyone but Liam from Hero's Guide to Storming The Castle and George from My Life Next Door

12. Most Beautifully Written book you read in 2013.

Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty and Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

13. Book that had the Greatest Impact on you in 2013

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

14. Book You Can't Believe You waited until 2013 to finally read.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell and Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

15. Favorite Passage or Quote of a Book You Read in 2013

"When facing unbeatable odds, just think of yourself as unbeatable odd." - Duncan (Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle)

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2013

Shortest: My Everything by Heidi McLaughlin

Longest: Quintana of Charyn 

17. Book that Had a Scene in it that had You reeling and dying to talk to someone about it?

Fangirl

18. Favorite Relationship from a Book You Read in 2013:

Friendship: Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

Romantic: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell.

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 from an Author You had Read Before?

Take a Vow by Elizabeth Eulberg and Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

20. Best Book You read in 2013 basely solely on the recommendation of someone else

How to Marry a Highlander by Katherine Ashe (recommended by Daisy@Between the Pages)

21. Genre You read the most in 2013?

Contemporary Romance, apparently. 

22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2013

Sebastian Malheur from the Countess Conspiracy, and Jase from My Life Next Door 

23. Best 2013 debut you read in 2013?

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider and Riding on Air by Melissa Gilbert

24. Most vivid World/Imagery of a book you read in 2013?

Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2013. 

Hero's Guide to Saving Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy

26. Book that Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2013?

The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan, Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty and If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

27. Book You Read in 2013 that you think got Overlooked in 2013 (Or when it came out)

Two of a Kind by Yona Zelda McDonough

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014? 

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kuger, I've had it on my TBR pile for ages, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)? 

Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy

Brown Eyed Girl by Lisa Kleypas.

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I don't really follow debuts that closely, more like I find out about them as they are published. 

4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014? 

Stephanie Perkins's Anna-Lola-Isla. I've been waiting for so long for Isla and the Happily Ever After that it's probably  not going to meet my expectations, but I just want it to be over already.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014? I

I hope to read more fun stuff, to plain just read more. As for blogging, I hope I get into some sort of schedule that allows me to post regularly.


Well, that's me!!
Happy New Year everyone!! May this one be full of awesome.

Book Review: The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan

At First Sight: Sebastian Malheur is a private man who has a way with the ladies and loves making people smile. He also happens to be one of the leading experts on evolution, inheritance and reproduction, something none of his friends would have ever pegged him for growing up, but which has made him both revered and vilified through out England for the past five years.

But there is a small problem though, all those theories and papers he reads aren't really his, they belong to his best friend Violet Waterfield, dowager Countess of Cambury. Violet and Sebastian grew up together and as adults they have kept each other pretty close, even through Violet's marriage to another man.

For her, Sebastian would do anything, even play the part of a progressive scientist.

Violet's theories and experiments gave her strength at points of her life where nothing else would, same as Sebastian, who was always around and never asked questions, just tried to make her smile. Having seen what the public has done to Sebastian - how he's called a rake and a degenerate - she's terrified of what'll happen if it's ever found that she's the one behind all the scandalous discoveries.

More over, since she was a child, Violet was taught to fear scandal and to keep all her emotions reigned in, so nothing and no one could even come close to the secrets and scandals her family keeps locked tight.

Second Glance: Okay, so The Countess Conspiracy is the third full - length book in the Brother Sinister's series and so far my favorite. During The Duchess Wars and The Heiress Effect, Sebastian and Violet have been in the background, and we have known little of them other than they are very loyal to the other Brothers Sinister and that they are usually in each other's company.

This time they are front and center, and from the very start their story grabbed me. Violet is prickly and so introverted that she even made Me feel outgoing. She doesn't like to be touched and works very hard at concealing everything that makes her who she is deep inside. Yet, I never felt like Sebastian was too good for her, of that he deserved better. I just rooted for Sebastian to crack her shell because she needed him so much.

Violet's story is really sad and I felt sorry for her, and I cried, but I never felt like she was a weak, she was awesome and though I not always liked her, I always found her lovable, even when she couldn't see it herself.

Sebastian was amazing. It had been a while since I had read a hero so decent and so nice, yet he's not a push over (except with Violet sometimes, but he's determined not to let her cheat herself out of the good things she deserves).

There were some scenes with him that just made me swoon. And I loved how much he cared for Violet as a friend, and how much he wanted his brother to be proud of him. There was so much about him I hadn't guessed at from the previous books, but that I was happy to discover.

Also, Violet's mom? yeah, just keep her in mind. 

Bottom Line: I think the Countess Conspiracy was my favorite historical romance I read this year. It was so good, and it made me cry but also made me very happy. Totally recommend.  

 

ListManiac: Top 5 Favorite Movies of 2013

Yes, I forgot I had a graphic for these things. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! Also, as promised, here I bring you another list about my favorite movies of the year!!

#5: Thor: The Dark World.

I saw the first Thor movie and I thought it was okay, I hadn't bothered myself much with the Marvel universe before The Avengers to be honest, but post Avengers you get I went to see Thor. And I loved it, it was fast paced, fun and it had Loki - Enough said!

#4: Monsters University

I was never a fan of Monsters Inc - until Planes, I thought it was the worse movie Pixar had ever put out, but I really likes MU, it was basically a college comedy without the lewdness and all that stuff I don't like about college humor. I loved seeing Mike and Sully as teenagers. And you have to admit that that kindergarden-aged Mike W was one of the cutest things ever. 

#3 Elysium

I wasn't interested in Elysium when I first saw the trailers, not at all, but when I heard it was by the same director as District 9 I knew I had to see it. It was smart, action packed movie with a message to deliver and a story to tell. Definitely recommend this one. I think it said more about immigration reform than any politician this year, and it did it better. 

#2 Frozen

And yes, I mean the original version with the voices of Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell. I usually prefer the dubbed to Spanish versions (because our voice actors are wicked funny) but this time there was nothing that could match the original songs or the powerful vocal performance by everyone in the cast. Loved the songs, loved Olaf, loved Sven and I have a bit of a crush on Kristoff. Best part though? that this was a princess fairy tale that I can totally get behind, about the different strengths that two sisters have, and the love they have for each other. 

#1 Pacific Rim

I totally raved about this movie and I pimped out whenever I could. I just loved it that much. It was funny and fast paced and basically just robots punching monsters in the face. And it was Awesome. I don't generally like Del Toro's movies, but Pacific Rim is one that I'm going to keep watching for a long, long time. 

So, that's my top 5, what about yours?

Next up: Favorite books of 2013.

Added later: I totally forgot to mention 3 movies that I really liked but I didn't see in theaters.
First, the best documentary I saw this year, Blackfish - which uses the tale of Tilikum, one of the orcas being kept by SeaWord, to make an industry-wide commentary on why keeping orcas and other sea mammals as amusement park attractions is not good, yet is not preachy, just states the facts as it knows them.

And Second, What Maisie Knew - this has to be my favorite remake/adaptation of a book I saw this year. Maisie is a five year old caught in the middle of her parents' divorce - who use her as a bargaining  chip though they love her in their own selfish ways - and finds refuge and love in their respective new spouses.

Lastly, the best made for TV movie I saw this year goes to: How to Fall in Love. It actually came out last year, but I didn't see it until this one when I was binge watching tv movies. It's the story of a former nerd called Harold who ends up hiring the Annie, the girl he had a crush on in high school, as a dating coach. So fun, so sweet, probably the best romantic comedy I saw all year.

List Maniac: Favorite Obsessions of 2013

So, it's that time of the year when we all make our lists and I plan to make a series of them about the stuff I have loved - and hated - during this grueling year (well, it was grueling for me :P I hope it was good for everyone else, I really do).

So, without futher ado, here are my 

Top 5 Favorite Obsessions of 2013

# 5 - Kitchen Scramble.

Facebook and I have a very complicated relationship, sometimes I can get enough of it, sometimes I forget about it for weeks at a time. This year though? a little game called Kitchen Scramble showed up in the later part of the year and I became obsessed... like I play it all the time, and generally love it.

Plus, they put new levels every month.

#4 - Emma Approved

After last year's vlog of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I was super excited to see what they would tackle next. The answer? Emma. Now, I have a love-hate relationship with Emma. I love her, I love where she ends up, but sometimes the trip there can make me REALLY dislike her. So far, Bernie Su & Co have managed to capture what I love and what I don't like of Emma pretty perfectly, while updating her character a lot.

Plus, I love Mr. Knightley.

#3 - Cracked's After Hours.

Sometimes when life, and work, threaten to bring me down, I just spend hours upon hours on YouTube watching videos (mostly movie trailers. I find them soothing) and one day I stumbled into Cracked After Hours. The After Hours videos feature four friends talking movies at a dinner and exploring the weird and twisted messages in movies and games. I love it. They always make me laugh and they put up a new episode every month.

#2 - The DBSA Podcast

So, for the last couple of years Jane @ Dear Author and Sarah @SmartBitches have been putting out this podcast where they talk romance novels and books in general and are basically just a riot. I've been a long time fan but this year I was really obsessed with it. Mostly because I had to ride the subway often (which I SO DON'T LIKE), and to get myself pumped up to do it, I would reward myself with listening to the podcast afterward.

#1 - MovieBob's The Big Picture and Escape to the Movies.

MovieBob has these two video columns at The Escapist and I binge watch them like crazy whenever I'm feeling down, I think I've gone through the entire playlist twice (there are over 200 videos). 

On Escape to the Movies he reviews recent releases and in the Big Picture he talks more about pop and nerd culture in general - I really love when he talks about obscure cartoons because it turns out I've seen most of them and I just laugh, and I generally agree with his reviews, which almost never happens to me.  (I'm putting an example of one of my favorite vids bellow). 

Anyway, those are my obsessions of 2013. How about you guys?

Up next? Favorite Movies of 2013!

Two For One Review: Mistress of the Wind and His Convict Wife

Hello mah peeps! I'm doing a 2x1 review this time around because I kind of don't have much to say about either of these:

His Convict Wife by Lena Dowing 

The Deal: After seven years spent as a virtual slave in an Australian brothel, Irish convict Colleen Malone was sent back to jail when the brothel's owner realized she had gotten pregnant. Colleen is desperate to find a way to save herself, and her child, and she knows the only viable way is to find someone who would marry her. Women as scarce, after all, and marriage can very well get her out of the prison. 

Sam Briggs left London and moved to Australian - taking a job as an overseer in a large farm - and he does not want a wife, but he does need a housekeeper, and he lets himself be convinced to take one of the female inmates as such. He doesn't expect to have a woman, Colleen, beg him to help her or that the fact that she's such a low inmate make it necessary for them to marry, rather than her just getting a work permit. 

My Thoughts: Well, I hoped this story would be emotional and interesting and intriguing, but it never quite worked out. His Convict Wife is a very short story and things quite never develop, and everything feels a bit rushed from start to finish. Colleen and her cousin are in Australia, presumably, because Colleen's cousin got tangled with someone above her station; but we are never really told why. Sam is grieving and everything but I never felt like I got to know him or believed that he would fall in love with Colleen. 

It just wasn't a very romantic story and it definitely wasn't a romance novel, even though it's being marketed as one. Is not a bad read per se, but it would have benefited a lot from having more page time to develop.

Mistress of the Wind by Michelle Diener 

The Deal: Bjorn has been cursed into taking the shape of a great polar bear, and unless he can find the one girl he ever wanted to marry - which he met briefly when he was but a child - he shall remain in that shape forever. It has taken him almost his year-long grace period, but he has finally found her.

Astrid, said girl, is the youngest daughter of a woodcutter, whose whole family is in deep poverty and whom sometimes feel like the wind speaks to her. She's afraid of the bear that one day shows up at her house, offering her family gold in exchange for her willing coming with him as his companion. 

Astrid isn't sure but agrees for the sake of her family. Finding herself deep into Bjorn's world without really understanding what's going on. 

My Thoughts: East of the Sun, West of the Moon is one of my favorite fairy tales ever, so I always jump at the chance of reading retellings of it when they show up. Mistress of the Wind - while not bad - its not one of the better efforts. 

Again, things feel rushed all the time, and things progress at an odd pace. Astrid and Bjorn are thrown together, sure, but she kind of starts trusting him too quickly yet she doesn't really? It's hard to explain. Bjorn is stubborn, and that doesn't gel well with Astrid, she hates being in the dark about what's going on and rushes foolishly into danger. 

There are a few neat twists to the story here - like whom Astrid turns out to be - but all in all, it wasn't different enough and I never really connected with the characters either, so it was fun reading it but I would probably wouldn't do it again. 

1/2

Book Review: Ripped by Sarah Morgan

The Deal: Hayley isn't having a great day: she's at her ex's wedding, acting as a bridesmaid to a former friend - all to show that she's SO Over  the aforementioned Ex - and wearing the ugliest yellow dress in the history of Bridesmaid-hood. And Nico Rossi, the best man, is glaring at her from across the aisle with great disapproval.

Which doesn't improve once her too-tight dress splits, revealing that she wasn't wearing a bra and leaving her naked from the waist up. And forcing Nico to come to her rescue.

Nico and Hayley have never seen eye to eye... until they start making out out of the blue while he's helping her with her dress and chiding her for being at the wedding at all. 

My Thoughts: Ripped was a really fun holiday novella. What I described above was just the very beginning of the story - which culminates on New Years's Eve.

I really liked both of them, particularly when they were together: they were nice, successful - I loved that Hayley was an engineer and dreamed of working for NASA one day - and had a great relationship with their respective siblings.

It was just an all- around fun book, and there is plenty of Christmas/New Year cheer int it, without it being too much or too focused on the holiday spirit. I do wish the story was a bit longer, but that's mostly because I would have liked to spend more time with these two.

And I'm really looking forward to the next book on the series, about Hayley's sister Rosie. 

PS - Fair warning, though, the story is less than a 100 pages long (around 95)