Tahleen reviews: "Rush Me" by Allison Parr

Title: Rush Me
Author: Allison Parr
Publisher: Carina Press (e-book only), 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Rachael Hamilton is struggling to make a living in New York City, working as an intern (for free) at a major publisher with hopes of eventually landing her dream job, and temping to pay the bills. One night while out with her roommate at a party with theater friends, Rachael gets lost and finds herself in the wrong party. With the New York Leopards, the city's major football team. After an awkward and tense first encounter with the quarterback, Ryan Carter, she leaves in a hurry with a few angry, choice words—only to realize the next morning she forgot her scarf. Of course she goes back for it, only to be pulled into a poker game with some of the other Leopards, to Ryan's chagrin. Thus begins Rachael's unlikely friendship with a bunch of professional football players, and the slow-burn romance that eventually develops between her and the least likely of the Leopards, Mr. Carter himself.

So I really, really liked this book for the most part. It's what you expect with the "New Adult" genre (which I still maintain is adult fiction with Millenial main characters); young 20-something in the city, trying to find her way in the world, finds a hot and sexy romantic lead. But this book is flipping funny. I loved Rachael (though it took her WAY too long to get over her weird hatred of jocks in my opinion), and Ryan is great too. The secondary characters are all wonderful too; I loved how Rachael just falls in with these guys, who become very brotherly toward her. This was like my dream in college. It's a lot of fun to read.

The dialogue is sparkling and witty, and the situations are occasionally laugh-out-loud. This is a rom-com of the highest order. It was also refreshing that Rachael is Jewish, even though she says she's more Jewish in theory than in practice. Abe, however, seems to be a fairly devout Jew, which is nice to see.

I remember there being a few awkward moment while I was reading where I cringed at a word choice, I think maybe it was the use of a mental disorder as an adjective to describe someone or something that was clearly not suffering from said mental disorder, but other than that my only problem was waiting for the characters just get over themselves, already. I was really rooting for Rachael and Ryan to get together, and stay together, in the end.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham, so long as they like more sex and steaminess in their fiction. Because there's that, too. I'm happy to say I've already got the two sequels, Running Back and Imaginary Lines, waiting on my nook.

I do have to say, I know the author personally (worked with her in high school and went to college with her!), but this in no way had any effect on what I thought of this book. Honestly, I'm relieved I liked it so much! Well, maybe I could hear her saying some of the things Rachael says and that made me like it even more, but it's still all good and I recommend it to you anyway. Great job, Allison!

Disclaimer: I bought this e-book with my own money. Even if I also bought it to support my friend. :) It's a bargain, anyway!

My Last Kiss Blog Tour!

Hey everyone! Today we welcome everyone from the My Last Kiss Blog tour. To help celebrate the release of My Last Kiss on June 10th, the author Bethany Neal is here to give us her top seven ghost stories!

Top 7 Ghost Stories

I made this list a top seven instead of top ten because you’re going to need the lucky number’s help to make it through watching/reading these terrifying—and sometimes heart wrenching—afterlife tales. 

1. Ghost (1990 movie version)
Patrick Swayze plays a man just starting his life with his 90s hot girlfriend Demi Moore when he’s tragically murdered for reasons that only Whoopi Goldberg and the power of love can help him reveal. Get ready to put pottery wheel lessons on your to-do list!



2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
This is one of maybe three novels that I’ve walked away from, but couldn’t resist going back to finish. The reason was not at all because it was bad, but because it was so good it hurt to read it. Get the Kleenex ready and visit Susie Salmon in the In Between.

3. The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
This one’s an I don’t know I’m a ghost ghost story. It’s lighter than the rest of the list (Casper excluded), but the love story sneaks up on you and tugs on your heart strings from high up above the Golden Gate bridge (which is sorta kinda Heaven in this San Francisco-based tale).



4. The Sixth Sense (movie)
Get ready to sleep with the lights on for a week after you watch this movie so chocked full of ghosts walking among us that you will never again ask someone what they’re looking at when they seemingly stare off into space. With a catch phrase like ‘I see dead people,’ it’s seminal M. Night Shyamalan before his ah-ha! twist endings passed on into the gimmicky realm.




5. Casper (1995 movie version)
On the surface Casper McFadden is a lonely, playful ghost-boy with three crazy ghost-uncles (that make you wonder if “unfinished business” doesn’t run in the genes) who just wants a friend. But underneath the silly walk-through-walls premise is a soul that died before he got a chance to really live and longs to be real if only for ten minutes—granted by Christina Ricci’s dead mom—so he can get his first kiss. See, everything always goes back to a kiss!



6. The Ring (2002 movie version)
This is another one that will keep you up at night and glad that nobody owns a VCR anymore. There’s nothing creepier than a creepy little kid. Especially when she crawls out of your staticy TV screen and glowers behind a long, straggly mess of hair to tell you you only have seven days to live.

7. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
They made a movie out of this called The Haunting with Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones, but do yourself a favor and read the book instead. If you’ve read other interviews I’ve done, you may know that Shirley Jackson’s novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle is one of my all time favorite books. She is the queen of subtle creep factor. Penguin actually just reissued her entire collection of novels and short stories, including Hill House. I suggest reading each and every one of them outside. The house is usually half the problem for her characters.

A big thanks to the awesome top 7 list! 

My Last Kiss by Bethany Neal comes out June 10th. 

Summary: 

Cassidy Haines remembers her first kiss vividly. It was on the old covered bridge the summer before her freshman year with her boyfriend of three years, Ethan Keys. But her last kiss--the one she shared with someone at her seventeenth birthday party the night she died--is a blur. Cassidy is trapped in the living world, not only mourning the loss of her human body, but left with the grim suspicion that her untimely death wasn't a suicide as everyone assumes. She can't remember anything from the weeks leading up to her birthday and she's worried that she may have betrayed her boyfriend. 

If Cassidy is to uncover the truth about that fateful night and make amends with the only boy she'll ever love, she must face her past and all the decisions she made--good and bad--that led to her last kiss.

A Cocktail and Conversation--Book Hype

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail & Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.


Name a case in which a book's hype ruined your reading experience.

Julia:  I don't think I have ever had a book ruined for me because of hype, but I have put off reading books because of the hype and high expectations (Divergent being the most recent example). I have had books that have a hell of a lot of hype surrounding them, like Outlander or Gone Girl for instance, that I read and disliked, but the hype really didn't cause me to dislike it. It just caused me to think what the hell everyone else was seeing but me.

Jen:  Harry Potter - I resisted for years!! But finally gave in and read the entire series last summer. So many people reference the books and talk about the characters that I felt left out! I'm glad I read the series! I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. The hype around the book definitely deterred me from reading it as the books (and movies) were being released. 

Kimberly:  The 5th Wave.  I swear, EVERYONE was talking about this book. I was reading raving reviews weeks before it even published. I was so excited to get my hands on it when it finally released. I don't think I have ever been more disappointed. I finished the book, but it took months. I kept waiting for it to get better. I think I only gave it two stars. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. I think if I hadn't been so excited and hadn't read so many reviews praising it, I wouldn't have been as annoyed.

Lori:  So many books!  I've bought so many books because of the hype (the first, I remember, was Edgar Sawtelle) and then realized that the book just wasn't me.  Usually in these cases, I don't wind up reading the book at all and just discreetly donate it or let it sit on my shelves forever (where it points and laughs and mocks me), but sometimes I read quite a bit of the book before realizing I'm just not that into it.  I think it's mostly a case of me not looking very closely at the blurb or knee-jerk buying a book; if I had looked into things before buying, I probably would have saved my money.

What about y'all?  Have you ever been let down or led astray by a book's hype?

Julia Reviews Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines

Title/Author: Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines

Publisher/Year Published:  Aug 2012 by DAW

How I got this book: My sister owns the book, so I borrowed it

Why I read this book: How freaking cool of a concept is this?

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary:

Isaac Vainio is a Libriomancer, a member of the secret organization founded five centuries ago by Johannes Gutenberg. Libriomancers are gifted with the ability to magically reach into books and draw forth objects. When Isaac is attacked by vampires that leaked from the pages of books into our world, he barely manages to escape. To his horror he discovers that vampires have been attacking other magic-users as well, and Gutenberg has been kidnapped.With the help of a motorcycle-riding dryad who packs a pair of oak cudgels, Isaac finds himself hunting the unknown dark power that has been manipulating humans and vampires alike. And his search will uncover dangerous secrets about Libriomancy, Gutenberg, and the history of magic. . . .

I am really amazingly in love with this concept. From the first moment I read the summary I started day-dreaming about what I would pull from my favorite series. Libriomancer is the story about a man thrown into a mystery war like thing that threatens his whole way of life. Isaac was thrown out of field work before even getting the chance to start, so having vampires come after him and claim it was because the Porters (the name of the Libriomancer group founded by Gutenberg)  started it, startles him into a high-stakes adventure. Soon Lena Greenwood shows up to help, and they are off trying to find out what the hell is going on.

The story itself is entertaining and page-turny. There are a lot of twists and turns and everything in the plot makes sense in the world that was created. But the best part for me is the world building. I find myself still getting lost in the concept of actually being a Libriomancer more than the actual story. Isaac and Lena and all the secondary characters are interesting and all that, but I just cant get past the idea of being able to physically connect with a story. I did really love some of the twists and called one of them to an extent. I was so proud I texted my sister. I loved how they talked about different species of vampires that came from different book series, so they have different properties. It is clearly a well defined cannon.

There were some things though that took me out of the story. The one that sticks out is the ending and certain things about certain characters. I was just thrown off I guess. Another thing that through me off, and this is very much a me thing, was I could not visualize the main character. I either kept picturing the author because I am aware of what he looks like from his cover posing series, or I was trying to picture the cover guy. But the cover guy never really stuck because, and this is horrible to say, the characterization of the main character is smart and resilient not athletic and traditional hero-y. My brain for some reason can't jive that this attractive man on the cover, this traditional badass hero, is the same guy I am reading about. It makes no damn sense.

Anyway everything was entertaining and I gobbled the book up. It wasn't a really heavy fantasy series, but that doesn't mean things were not fleshed out. The fantasy in this book is probably of the type that is most accessible to me. I can't wait to continue the series, though I think the next book will differ greatly from this one based on where the last ended.

So if the synopsis sounds good to you and you like fantasy, give this one a go. It's totally worth the time.

Top Ten Tuesday Freebie: Top Series I Need to Finish

To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday or see the list of future topics click here.

Top Ten Tuesday Freebie Week

Top Series I Need to Finish/Catch-up With

1. The Pennyroyal Green Series by Julie Anne Long

I swear I have been catching up to this series for two years now. I've always been books and books behind, but now I am only one off the latest release. So this one is doable!

2. The Darkest London Series by Kristen Callihan

I love this series and it is almost unheard of that I have not read the most recent in the series. In fact I may even be two books behind! I am not entirely sure, which makes it worse.

3. The Iron Seas Series by Meljean Brook

I read the first book in this series probably three years ago. I liked it enough, but never was able to get my hands on the second one. Now I have been told that the third or forth is the best one, but I am so far behind I feel like I will never get to it. This series is one of my goals this year... that so far I have not even touched yet. Sigh.

4. The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger

This series is finished and have been finished for at least a year. I am still either one book three or book four. I really want to delve into this and read the whole thing in a glomp. I think that would work out the best.

5. The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

I've heard so many things (in a general sense not a spoiler sense) about the last book in this series. I want to get to it so bad so I can go back and read all the kerfuffle that happened when it came out. I just recently read Divergent so I don't know when I will get to the other two. Hopefully soon so I wont forget all the main points of the plot.

6. The Spymaster Series by Joanna Bourne
This is another one of those series where I read the first book, loved it, and then never picked up the second. I need to get on that!

7. The Gentleman of Scottland Yard Series by Jillian Stone
I read the first book in this series a long time ago and praised it for its ingenuity in a historical romance genre of sameness. I love reading stories set in something that is not uppercrust Regency England, so I really must continue this series.

8. The Brothers Sinister Series by Courtney Milan
Courtney Milan is a hit and miss author for me, but I loved both the novella that started this series and book one proper. The second and third books are out and I have them on my computer. I just need to carve some time for them.

9. The Beyond Series by Kit Rocha
I dont read a lot of erotic romance, but book one in this series, Beyond Shame, was really good. I loved the world in which it was set, and the romance wasn't half bad either. I know at least two more books have been published, but again I am behind the times.

10. The Veiled Seduction Trilogy by Heather Snow
I won the first book in a giveaway a while back and thought that the heroine was super interesting. She was a lady scientist in a historical settings, and I believe the other two books are of a similar vein. So I of course need to read these ones as well.

So what about you guys? What is your pick for this weeks topic? There are sure to be some creative links in this one, so hop around and get some ideas!

Daisy's Mini-Review of Unleashing Mr Darcy by Teri Wilson

Title/Author: Unleashing Mr Darcy by Teri Wilson
Publisher/Date published: MIRA, April 1st 2014
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley

So I can't resist a book inspired by Pride and Prejudice and Mr Darcy and Elizabeth as dog enthusiasts? Not reading this was obviously not an option. If you're like me, here's why you need to pick this up:

-It has really cute dogs and dog-people in it.

-There are sparks between Elizabeth and Donovan ALL over the place.

-Elizabeth moves from the US to England to get paid to sit/groom dogs, which is awesome.

-I loved that Elizabeth had a crazy family and one of her sister's was just wonderful, the way a sister should be.

-While some of the plot was slightly ridiculous and at times they seemed to be making problems for no other reason than to NOT end up together at 100 pages, it was really entertaining.

This was light and fluffy just when I needed it and I really enjoyed reading it!

My rating: 4 stars

Broke and Bookish Book Haul for 5/11 - 5/24

Daisy's Book Haul

Bought:
-It Takes a Scandal by Caroline Linden: I really like Caroline Linden's writing, so I had to order this one!
-The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle: I LOVED When You Were Mine and this sounds like it has heartbreaking potential.
-Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton: I've been eyeing this ever since it came out, so I decided to finally order it.
-The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans: it has a female dressmaker in Victorian London and romance and intrigue and YES PLEASE!
-Pegasus by Robin McKinley: I've been eyeing this for a LONG time as well and it's Robin McKinley, I don't really need another reason.
-Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg: this sounds really cute and I forever be drawn to Pride and Prejudice retellings!
-One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: so I admit that my buying this was triggered by the author's recent passing, but I really loved Love In the Time of Cholera. Also, the cashier totally fangirled over it at the check-out, which was kinda awesome :) I love seeing fellow book-people work in bookstores!
-The Unexpected Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell: I LOVE Jill Mansell so when I saw this at the local bookstore I just HAD to buy it. Obviously.
-Nowhere But Home by Liza Palmer: I spotted this on someone's TTT comparing it to Hart of Dixie and as I'm having major Zade-withdrawal, I'm gonna use this to try and make the wait a little less excruciating. And also I'm gonna marathon watch the show again.
-Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson: I keep hearing all these amazing things about her writing and decided I needed in on it.

Egalley for Review:
-The Stepsister's Tale by Tracy Barrett: I love stories from a different POV, so Cinderella from the POV of the 'evil' stepsister sounds right up my alley!
-Awkwardly Ever After by Marni Bates: I really like the 2 books in this series I've read so far.
-Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld: a book in a book! Sounds awesome!
-Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis: Snow White retelling! YES!
-The Agincourt Bride
and The Tudor Bride by Joanna Hickson: the story of Catherine de Valois, I've never read much about her before, so this is perfect!
-Winning Miss Wakefield by Vivienne Lorret: this will be perfect when I need to get my romance on :)
-The Fall of Grace by Julia London: I love this plot thing when two people who are already married fall in love.
-Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini: I am beyond excited because OMG I LOVED her Unearthly series and I cannot wait to read this new series!