Tag: bookreviewer

Blog Tour – The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon

karenjo462 Comments

Copy of Facebook Cover – Untitled Design

Good Morning Loves! I have the perfect book to share with you this Valentine’s Day, so welcome to my Blog Tour Stop for The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon hosted by Entangled Crush. This was a lighthearted, adorable, and funny YA Romance that had me laughing and swooning the entire time.

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4.5 ★ – SWOONTASTIC AND CHARMING
PUBLISHED BY ENTANGLED TEEN CRUSH FEBRUARY 5, 2018
GENRE(S): YOUNG ADULT, CONTEMPORARY, ROMANCE
PAGES: KINDLE 242

Purchase Links: Entangled Publishing

Add on Goodreads

synopsispic

Nina Barnes thinks Valentine’s Day should be optional. That way single people like her wouldn’t be subjected to kissy Cupids all over the place. That is, until her mom moves them next door to the brooding hottie of Greenbrier High, West Smith. He’s funny, looks amazing in a black leather jacket, and he’s fluent in Harry Potter, but she’s not sure he’s boyfriend material. 

West isn’t sure what to make of Nina. She’s cute and loves to read as much as he does, but she seems to need to debate everything and she has a pathological insistence on telling the truth. And West doesn’t exactly know how to handle that, since his entire life is a carefully constructed secret. Dating the girl next door could be a ton of fun, but only if Nina never finds out the truth about his home life. It’s one secret that could bring them together or rip them apart. 

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book is not for anyone who has to get in the last word, but it is for all book nerds, especially those who live next door to so called unapproachable gorgeous guys. There’s no debating the chemistry. 

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excerpt

“So, this whole dance thing?” West picked up a fork, took a bite of rice, and stared at me like he was waiting for me to give him an easy out. Not going to happen. Mess with a smart girl and suffer the consequences.
“You started it,” was the most amusing response I could come up with.
“No.” He shook his head as if trying to emphasize his response. “You started it when you invited me in for dinner.”
“Why? Because I knew you’d rather eat dirt than join us for rice? That’s your fault for being a suck-up and carrying my mom’s food.”

“I was being nice,” he shot back.

“No good deed goes unpunished.” I batted my eyelashes at him. “Besides, I was going to help her before you rushed over.”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “So I shouldn’t have helped your mom, but it’s okay for you to shove Cole off on Vicky.”
“Please. He’s a nice guy. She’ll fall for him…maybe because he’s the total opposite of you.”
He pointed his fork at me. “Where do you get off judging me?”
“I’m not judging you. I meant you’re all black-leather- jacket-brooding loner guy, and he’s Mr.-Happy-Sunshine- everyone-is-my-friend.”
“Fine. Mr. Sunshine is out of the way now, so there’s no need for us to go to the dance.”
“Nice try,” I said. “We’re going to the dance.”

“Why?”

“Because you said we were,” I said. “And lying is never acceptable. Don’t stress about this. I’m not proposing we run off to Mexico and get matching his-and-her tattoos. We’ll just go to the dance together. No big deal.”
“Right. Nothing is ever that simple.”

review

I’ve read and swooned over plenty of Entangled Crush books and I honestly don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. They’re light, a bit silly, but incredibly fun to read. I also really love that they’re feel good books that never fail to put a smile on my face. The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon is no exception and I loved it so much I finished it in less than 24 hours.

At first, I wasn’t sure I would love this book. I read The Boomerang Boyfriend by Chris Cannon a few months ago (Review), and while I did enjoy the story, I wasn’t completely in love with it. BUT… the premise for this book immediately intrigued me and the cover was so adorable that I just couldn’t resist. Well, I’ll have you know that this book had me undeniably hooked from beginning to end. The Dating Debate was so swoony and entertaining that I was smiling throughout the entire time I was reading.  Nina and West were so cute and hilarious together. The plot was interesting and so fun! I liked that I never knew which way the story was going to go and that made it more exciting and enjoyable to read.

Nina and West were great characters and I absolutely adored them. Their chemistry was amazing and I enjoyed all their playful bantering. They’re both witty, stubborn, quirky, and so darn lovable. Nina and West had so many debates about everything, which may be annoying to some readers, but I thought it was so amusing. Loved that there was never a dull moment between them. They were imperfectly perfect together and I couldn’t help but root for them. While I don’t really have a problem with insta-love romances, I did enjoy how their relationship gradually progressed into something more.  Nina and West had plenty of swoony and sweet moments that made me smile over and over again and I could not get enough. Sometimes a slow-burn romance is more effective and works wonderfully.

I also really enjoyed getting to know all the side characters. I thought they were charming and funny. They made the story more interesting and I’m hoping one of them will get their own books. The parents added to the conflict of the story and how Nina and West acted. I don’t want to say too much, but their family situations did break my heart. I felt for the both of them and wanted to hug away their pain and anger. Nevertheless, there were some great friendships and family relationships that were positively heartwarming that made me all warm and fuzzy.

The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon is a pleasant, sweet, and cute story. With plenty of hugs, hilarious conversations, flirty moments, and lovable characters, there’s no debate that this is a fantastic YA Contemporary Romance. If you’re looking for something light, fun, and swoony, then I highly suggest this book.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher Entangled Teen via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

abouttheauthor

0765 300 ChrisCannonpubphotoChris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Going Down In Flames series and the Boyfriend Chronicles. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts.

She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies. You can find her online at www.chriscannonauthor.com.

 

Follow and Connect with Chris Cannon 

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Thanks for stopping by and reading my review. Have you read this book? What did you think? Don’t forget to leave your comments down below!

sincerelykarenjo2

Review – Pumpkin Spice Secrets

karenjo466 Comments

Pumpkin Spice Secrets

(Swirl #1)

Hillary Homzie

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3.75 round to 4 ★ – LIGHTHEARTED, CHARMING AND DELICIOUSLY FUN
PUBLISHED BY SKY PONY PRESS SEPT. 12, 2017
GENRE(S): MIDDLE GRADE, FICTION, ROMANCE

Purchase Links:  Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Kobo

Add on Goodreads

synopsispic

Just as Maddie picks up her favorite pumpkin spice drink from the coffee shop counter, she spills it all over the cute guy standing behind her! Luckily, her embarrassment evaporates into a crush when she starts chatting with him — his name is Jacob, and he’s just starting in her grade at her middle school.

But before Maddie can tell her best friend Jana about him at lunch the next day, Jana announces her huge new crush — on the same guy! Maddie doesn’t want to cause trouble, so she keeps her feelings hidden. Jana will get over her crush soon, right?

Add major school stress to Maddie’s secret, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Can she keep her cool and work things out with both Jacob and Jana before it all turns into a total mess?

review

Pumpkin Spice Secrets by Hillary Homzie is a deliciously fun middle grade story about first crushes, friendship and self-discovery.

At first, I had a difficult time getting into this book. I would read a few chapters and take days/weeks of break before I pick it up again. (I started reading October of last year and finished Jan 9) It wasn’t terrible or anything. Actually, the story was paced well, easy to read and charming in its own way. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for a middle grade book or something. But when I finished this a few days ago… I surprisingly had a change of heart and ended up really liking it. It’s light, fun, and incredibly cute. If I had been a tween reading this book, there’s no doubt in my mind that I would fall head over heels in love.

The characters were great and delightful. I really liked Maddie and thought she was just the kindest and sweetest girl. Tween me definitely could relate to her public speaking anxiety and boy dilemma. The friendships between the girls and the boys too were absolutely heartwarming. Maddie and Jana’s bond was amazing and that scene between them in the end just made my heart melt. The characters were just all so adorable and fun. And Maddie and Jacob – definitely shippable! I can just picture them together in their late teens being all lovey dovey and that would certainly make me swoon!

While I initially had a difficult time getting into this book, I definitely think it’s an amazing and cheerful read with many sweet moments that will make you smile and your heart happy. Pumpkin Spice Secrets is a fun, lighthearted, and lovely story with a sprinkle of tween drama – a sure hit for middle grade readers (and even adults) looking for something adorable and entertaining.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

abouttheauthor

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Hillary is the author of the tween novels, The Hot List (Simon & Schuster/M!X)
and Things Are Gonna Get Ugly (Simon & Schuster/M!X), as well as the
humorous chapter book series, Alien Clones From Outer Space (Simon &
Schuster/Aladdin), a Children’s Book-of-the-Month selection and listed as one of
the 30 recommended funny books for kids in The Children’s Literature Lover’s
Book of Lists by Joanna Sullivan Ed.D. Suppertime Entertainment (the creators
of the twice Emmy-nominated Todd World) and Telescreen (Lizzie McGuire)
developed the books to become an animated television series. Hillary created the
bible for the show, and helped develop the pilot with a creative team including
animation veteran Chris Henderson (Disney’s Return to Neverland, Clifford’s
Really Big Movie) and director Terry Lennon (Lion King 11/2) and art director
Alan Bodner (The Iron Giant, Kim Possible). She is a creative consultant for
clones, which has been purchased by several networks, including ABC Australia.
Hillary’s young adult fiction has been published in Teen Magazine and
anthologized (Muddville Diaries, Avon Books), and she has sold non-fiction and
fiction projects to Klutz Press/Scholastic Books, The Learning Company and
John Muir Books.
Hillary found her start in comedy performing sketch Off-Broadway (Playwrights
Horizons, Synchronicity Space, 55 Grove Street, Manhattan Punchline, The
Boston Comedy Club and Schecky’s Big Fat Cantina with Sarah Silverman) with
HA! Comedy Duo and Rubber Feet, and was a Heideman Playwrighting Award
Finalist for play, The Juice of It. She has also written for many publications,
including Dance Magazine, New York Newsday and Parent’s Express, and has
reviewed books for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Children’s Literature.

Hillary holds a master’s degree in education from Temple University and a
master’s of arts degree from Hollins University in children’s literature and writing.
Currently, she’s an associate visiting professor of creative writing at Hollins
University Graduate Program in Children’s Literature, and has lectured on
comedy and children’s writing at conferences and schools across the United
States. She has also been privately coaching both published authors and
aspiring authors for nine years, several of whom have achieved publishing
success with major national accolades She loves to speak at schools and
literature festivals. Visit her on the web at http://www.hillaryhomzie.com and follow her
on twitter @HillaryHomzie.

(Photo Credit – Suzanne Bronk)

Follow and Connect with Hillary Homzie

Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads

Thanks for reading my review. Have you read this book or any others in the series? Let me know what you think in the comments. As always, have a lovely day!

sincerelykarenjo2