Book Review with Author Interview – Until You by Bridie Blake

November 27, 2018November 27, 2018 karenjo46Leave a comment

bookreview

divider3

Hello Fellow Swoontastic Booklovers! Today, I’m sharing my review for Until You by Bridie Blake. I also have some of my favorite quotes and a fun interview with the author so don’t forget to stay until the end and check those out too.

I was contacted by the author months ago and when I read the premise, I was super excited to read it. I meant to get to it this sooner, but as many of you know I had to take a personal break. Anyway, this book was really swoony, hilarious and wonderfully heartwarming. It’s such a cute celebrity romance you can curl up with this winter/holiday break, so I hope after you read my review, you’ll add Until You on your TBR! Happy reading loves! divider4

UNTIL YOU

untilyou

aboutbook

Publication Date: May 26th 2017

Publisher: Evernight Teen

Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Celebrity

Pages: Kindle Edition, 355 pages

divider4 synopsis

Ellie Foster lives and breathes normal. She’s the responsible one, the girl everyone depends on.

Jason Holden doesn’t know the word normal. Star of the hit Planet Gazers films, his every move is watched by millions.

A chance encounter between the pair leads to a deal that will change their lives.

Ellie needs money for her family. Jason needs a girlfriend for the world tour of the final Planet Gazers movie. It’s a match made in Hollywood heaven.

But what happens when the lines between their act and reality become blurred? Can they figure out what is real and what’s fake?

divider4

mythoughts

Adorably Funny, Delightfully Entertaining and Sweetly Romantic

4halfhearts

Until You by Bridie Blake was a fantastic read from start to finish! I swooned like crazy, laughed like a dork, and tried to hold back my tears a few times.

I’ve always liked celebrity romance stories. You know the ones where the more than meets the eye irresistibly hot and somewhat arrogant/misunderstood, but actually really kind and sweet actor falls hopelessly in love with the average and simple small town, but incredibly fascinating and inspiring girl or vice versa or some version similar to that. Whoa that was a mouthful… sorry about that loves…but you know what I mean right? They’re also quite predictable and usually have cheesy HEAs, but they’re just so much fun to read! Add the fake dating/relationship trope into the picture and you get something crazy, messy, and full of drama, but with the absolute best kind of FEELS. And this book… it had those FEELS and SWOONS and so much more than I expected.

I liked the writing style a lot and thought both the POVs were really great. Usually, I tend to like one more than the other, but with this book, I enjoyed both Ellie and Jason’s POV. I also thought the plot was well-developed, interesting, and had its own uniqueness. Some parts were predictable in the sense that the things I expected to happen did happen, but there was also depth to the story. There’s a bit of everything which I really liked — gossip, drama, heartbreak, friendship, loyalty, family, forgiveness, love and of course self-discovery. I don’t want to give too much away, but even though I knew how the story would eventually end (you get this feeling when you read way too many romance novels), there were still some nice surprises and twists. The romance was slow burn and I have to admit that I got a little impatient at some point, but my oh my… I am not kidding when I say that when I got there, it was deliciously satisfying. I got the butterflies and those warm fuzzies and I just wanted to hug and squish something so hard because Ellie and Jason were just too cute and swoony together. The ending was super adorable and heartwarming and left me smiling and just you know.. really happy with how everything wrapped up.

Character wise, I thought they were all pretty great. Ellie’s got spunk and I enjoyed her sense of humor. She’s also very likable and relatable. Jason was impossible not to like. You just know there was something more about him and he’s not the irresponsible playboy he pretends to be. I enjoyed his softer side and how protective he was with the people he loved. I also really liked Annaliese and Georgia, and I absolutely adored Jason’s grandfather (Oh and Jason’s relationship with his grandparents will definitely make you love him more). But Rebecca, Ellie’s best friend, was definitely the scene-stealer and my favorite character! She’s funny, caring, and such a firecracker! She actually reminds me a lot of my best friend. She’s blunt, but honest, feisty, loyal, supportive and just a really awesome friend.

Overall, I really had a blast reading Until You. It was adorably funny, delightfully entertaining and sweetly romantic. I loved the sweet moments that tugged at my heartstrings and made me aww. I loved the serious and emotional scenes that had me tearing up and holding back tears. And I really loved how the relationships between the characters felt realistic and relatable. Really excited to check out more books by B. Blake and I think you should definitely add her to your to-be-read authors.

If you’re looking for a fun swoontabulous YA contemporary romance full of heart, laughs, and swoons to keep you company this winter, then grab a copy of this book.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and fair review. All thoughts, feels, swoons and opinions are my own.

divider4

favoritequotes

Spoiler Alert: May give clues on how the story plays out so read at your own risk!

Because the butterflies fade and when they do, there needs to be something stronger that remains.

It had coursed through my body, weaving and spreading over me until there was nothing else. No one else. He’d successfully ruined me for any other guy.

I would do anything for her. Give anything for her. That realization should’ve unsettled me because I’d never felt that before. Never known what it felt like to be with someone who wanted me for me. Not the movie star. And now that I knew how amazing it felt to have something real, I didn’t ever want to lose it.

It wouldn’t be easy, but nothing worth having was.

divider4

authorinterview

Hugs and Lots of Love ♥ to Bridie Blake for taking the time to do this interview.

What was your inspiration for Until You?

The idea for Until You originally came from season 1 of Nashville and the episode where Hayden Panettiere’s character gets set up on a date to improve her image. It made me wonder how often in Hollywood that happens, and what would happen if one of the people in the “relationship” wasn’t a Hollywood type. The story just grew from there!

Describe this book in 3 words?

Jet-setting celebrity romance

What is your favorite part about being a writer?

I love that I get to immerse myself into the worlds of my characters. I have a very active imagination and I’m a self-proclaimed daydreamer, so being able to lose myself in characters and places that I’ve conjured up in my head is a dream come true. I’ve always been a story-teller and find something so fulfilling about sharing my stories and having people resonate with them.

Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?

My pets My dog is my faithful companion when I write and will sit with me for hours as I type away. My cat isn’t as faithful and will come and go from the study throughout the day. I also need to be wearing the comfiest clothes I own, and while they may be comfy they are by no means fashionable so privacy is a must have! And my Spotify playlists are a definite must have.

Does any of your personality ever go into any of your characters?

Yes! I won’t say what parts of my personality creep into my characters but there is definitely a piece of me in each of my main characters. It might just be a mannerism or a thought I’ve had over the years, but there’s definitely always a piece of me there.

Which author(s) have inspired your writing?

In terms of genre and style I would have to say Melina Marchetta and Tamora Pierce. Tamora Pierce’s Alanna series made me want to write Fantasy novels and the emotion that Melina Marchetta can evoke in her books is something I aspire to. An author who can make you laugh and cry all within a matter of pages is a true master of their craft.

Favorite snack while writing.

It’s usually something savoury, like popcorn. I tend to snack when I get stuck so at least with popcorn it’s a somewhat healthy option… but I always keep biscuits or chocolate on hand for those moments when I’m truly stuck and it feels like the end of the world and I need some comfort food

If there was a zombie apocalypse and you can choose 3 of your favorite books, which ones would you take with you?

That’s such a hard question!! Hmm, if I absolutely had to choose it’d be On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling.

What advice do you have for writers in terms of dealing with favourable and/or unfavourable reviews of their published work?

I’ve read so many times that authors should never read reviews of their books. Now, I’d love to talk to an author who abides by that because I sure can’t! One of the reasons we write is to share our stories with people and we love to hear what they think about them. Well, I do. But I think one thing to keep in mind when reading reviews of your work, is that everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone has their own taste. There have been some books that people have raved about and I haven’t loved them. And vice versa.

So, what I will say is that if you read a favourable review of your book take a moment to enjoy it. Pat yourself on the back and take it as a sign that you’ve done well.

If you read an unfavourable review, and trust me you will at some point in your career, let yourself have that moment of disappointment and then move on. As I said, everyone’s entitled to their opinion and while they may not have enjoyed your book, others have. A bad review isn’t the end of the world. Do not dwell on it.

What shows are you currently watching/binging?

This Is Us and Manifest are my favourites at the moment. I did just finish binging Nikita, which had been on my ‘must watch’ list for a while now, and I loved that! I love anything with a kick-ass female in the lead role!

divider4

abouttheauthor

Bridie Blake lives, daydreams and writes in Melbourne, Australia. She’s happiest at her computer, coffee in hand, Tim Tams on standby and her furry companions Poppy and Mac at her feet. When not writing she’s usually found with a book in her hand or playing with her tribe of nieces and nephews.

Bridie is the author of the YA Fantasy novel, THE JEWEL OF KAMARA, and YA contemporary novels A DISTANT VOICE and UNTIL YOU.

authorlinks

WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – INSTAGRAM – GOODREADS

divider3

I hope you enjoyed reading my review.

Have you read this book? Let me know in the comments below.

Release Day with Excerpt Reveal- Rend by Roan Parrish

November 27, 2018 karenjo46Leave a comment

aboutbook

Publication Date: November 27th 2018

Publisher: Loveswept

Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, LGBT

Pages: Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 303 pages

Amazon | Kobo | Google

divider4 synopsis

After a whirlwind romance, a man with a painful past learns to trust the musician who makes him believe in happy endings.

Matt Argento knows what it feels like to be alone. After a childhood of abandonment, he never imagined someone might love him—much less someone like Rhys Nyland, who has the voice of an angel, the looks of a god, and the worship of his fans.

Matt and Rhys come from different worlds, but when they meet, their chemistry is incendiary. Their romance is unexpected, intense, and forever—at least, that’s what their vows promise. Suddenly, Matt finds himself living a life he never thought possible: safe and secure in the arms of a man who feels like home. But when Rhys leaves to go on tour for his new album, Matt finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his past.

When Rhys returns, he finds Matt twisted by doubt. But Rhys loves Matt fiercely, and he’ll go to hell and back to triumph over Matt’s fears. After secrets are revealed and desires are confessed, Rhys and Matt must learn to trust each other if they’re going to make it. That means they have to fall in love all over again—and this time, it really will be forever.

readanexcerpt2

We talked for hours. The food went cold but we kept picking at it so we had an excuse to keep talking. I’d never talked to anyone as much as I talked to Rhys. He asked question after question, told story after story. And by the end of the night—the morning, really, by that time—I felt like I knew him. I felt like he wanted to know me.

When we were both yawning and my voice was raw from talking, we finally gathered our coats and walked outside. It had begun snowing, lazy, fat flakes drifting to the ground like they could almost resist gravity. They kissed my upturned face, and the whole world felt vertiginous.

The sun was rising, painting the eastern tips of the buildings and making the air around the snowflakes glow with the promise of a new day. The promise of something magical.

I was clumsy with exhaustion now, but my mind was racing. Things felt momentous somehow, like I was standing on the edge of something more.

Was it possible for everything to change in one night? For my life to transform into something as familiar yet unrecognizable as one of Rhys’s songs?

“Matt.” Rhys said my name softly, but his expression spoke volumes. After so many hours we were vibrating at the same frequency. He took a step toward me and I leaned back against the window of the diner. When his lips touched mine, something unspooled throughout my whole body. A bright, sweet pulse of something like possibility. Like the sun rising and driving away the shadows of night.

My hands were in his hair and his arms were around me and we were kissing, kissing like we’d never have to breathe again.

I whimpered into his mouth, thinking that finally, this was it. Everything in me cried out for him.

Then he pulled away with a groan and dropped his forehead to mine.

“Matt,” he murmured again, teeth clenching as he pulled away. He held my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, then stepped back. “Can I have your phone number?”

“My— What the hell. Are you leaving? Are we not . . . ?”

He tugged me back to him and kissed me again, softer this time.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he said. “Please give me your phone number.”

I shook my head, nonplussed. “Yeah, okay.”

When he entered my number in his phone, he insisted that I tell him my last name, and when he texted me so I’d have his, he wrote, This is Rhys Nyland. We ate the whole diner together. I hope you’ll hang out with me again, Matt Argento. You’re a delight, and three smiley faces.

I looked up at him from the screen.

“You’re . . .” I was on track to say strange. But it wasn’t what I meant, really. He looked like a Viking and moved like a rock star. He kissed like he wanted to fuck me through the wall of the diner and touched me like he wanted to wrap me up in a bear hug. And all of it just made me want more. “Sweet,” I finished. “You’re really sweet, huh?”

“Sometimes,” he said. Then he slid a hand to my lower back and pulled me flush against him. “I contain multitudes, Matt.”

The tension between us was undeniable. His large, muscular body was kicking off heat even in the falling snow, and his eyes bored into mine like he could see everything I was thinking. My breath caught, and I got half hard just standing close to him. Then he winked, breaking the tension, and took a step back.

“I’m gonna text you,” he said, brandishing his phone. I nodded, trying to get myself back under control. “You gonna answer?” And damn, there it was. That shade of vulnerability—of such explicit desire for my company—that offset what would otherwise have been arrogance.

I nodded, and his grin was brighter than the rising sun.

Several times that day and the next, Rhys texted to tell me random things he saw or thought. To ask me questions about what I was doing. Not often enough to be annoying, just often enough to make it clear that he was interested. And I . . . I couldn’t believe he cared.

A few days later, he asked me out. Did I want to take a walk with him, from the Brooklyn Bridge subway station to a pizza place he liked? It was specific enough that all I had to do was say yes or no. And of course I said yes. How could I say anything except yes to this man?

As we walked he asked me about what it had been like in foster care, and I told him about St. Jerome’s. I told him about hearing people at school complain about their parents—how strict they were, or how clueless, or how cheap. How their parents hovered over them and bugged them about their homework. About hearing the annual September conversations full of family vacations and summer activities. I told him how it had felt like they were living in a different world.

He told me about his own family, and how he guessed he would’ve been one of those kids talking about vacations at the beginning of the school year. He looked a little guilty, but there was something more than guilt. That shadow was back—the one I’d seen in the diner.

A few days after that, he asked me out again.

Will you go with me to buy a new sweater? he texted. You clearly have great taste and I really need your opinion.

I’ve never worn a sweater in my life, I replied.

He responded with a GIF of a dog poking its head through a Christmas sweater and the message, That’s okay, it’s for me 😉

Rhys must’ve tried on fifty sweaters. They all looked great on him, so after a while it was clearly a pretense to spend time with me. I started picking uglier and uglier ones and taking pictures of him posing in them. But with his broad shoulders, beefy arms, and snapping blue eyes, he looked frustratingly good even in the ugly ones.

Finally I picked a fuzzy, baby pink one from the women’s section. It looked like it had glittery thread woven into it. He pulled it over his head and leered at me, but for some reason it looked great.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked.

“Hey, nothing wrong with a little glitter,” he said.

“No, not that. It looks great on you. You’re all . . . blond and ski lodge–y.”

He grinned, eyes going hot. But I felt strange. Overly warm and shaky at the same time. Picking out clothes with him felt intimate, and the idea that he’d put on something just to make me happy? I swallowed around the lump that had formed in my throat.

To distract myself, I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of him, turning it to show him. In the picture, you couldn’t see the glitter, just his blond hair, blue eyes, and the sharp planes of his face set off against a pink so pale it made his skin glow. Rhys raised an eyebrow at me and stripped the sweater off. But that night, I set it as his photo in my contact info. I must have looked at it a hundred times.

roanparrish Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

authorlinks