Wrecking Balls - J. Giambrone

Synopsis:

Charleston and Gary are on the verge of comic greatness: broke, wasted, and floundering through life. As Charleston turns 30 he faces an existential crisis. His comedy career in the gutter, he considers leaving the life. That is until Gary pilfers one of his joke ideas. Then it's comedy Jihad to the death, and there can be only one.


Review:

This book was a book of which I had alot of expectations for, mostly down to hoping the jokes within were going to have an affect on me.

So Gary and Charleston have shared the same dream since they were kids growing up together, to become top notch comedians with fans and the spotlight on them. They tumble through life doing gigs here and there as many as they can, finding nothing much like the success that they want. Out of the blue Gary steals one of Charlestons jokes from his line up so naturally they both having a fall out which consists of jokes gone awry and vengeful videos online, each of them trying to outdo the other and let me say its crazy.

The stand up parts of this book were actually funny, so much so I had a good hearty laugh even though they push the limits of being acceptable. Through the stand up parts of the book Giambrone highlights how sensitive America is, and not essentially just America but almost every other place on the earth. With each stand up moment there is also a great insight of how the whole thing actually works which makes it even more enjoyable to read. 

I have to be honest when I'm writing these reviews, I don't like to write of negative things but this one isn't negative as such, it was more of a complication I faced. When I first begun reading the book it took me a couple of chapters to really get into the book as I found it hard to gain some sort of understanding of what was going on but I was able to catch on not too late into the book. I really loved Gary and Charleston, I think they would look great on stage in a small run down bar.

I love how Giambrone was able to write 3 different comedians in this book and managed to give each of them all their own different audience and view on the world and the issues going on. They all stood out as individuals on the stage, and I feel like  making that happen is hard to do. I was really impressed by Giambrone' ability to do so much with 3 completely different characters within a story. Some of the jokes throughout the book had me laughing hard, it was quite nice to be able to laugh at certain of the jokes. I'm giving it a 4/ 5 , that's really not the books fault really because I didn't laugh at all of the jokes and I felt if I did I'd have given it a 5/5 but I wasn't laughing all the way through even though I thoroughly enjoyed the whole story and some of the jokes. If you're into comedy then this is definitely a book for you.

Juniper Limits (The Juniper Series, #2) - Lora Richardson

Synopsis:

Celia has spent her life waiting for the next crisis. When the tension at home begins to ease, she wonders if she’ll finally be able to relax. Her father has stopped drinking, her cousin Fay has moved back to Juniper, and it seems like Paul might really care about her. But trust is an uphill battle for Celia, fighting against doubt the whole way.

Paul has been drawn to Celia for as long as he can remember, and she is finally giving him a chance to show her how he feels. But when Celia can’t stop worrying everything will fall apart, and when things in Paul’s own life take a turn for the worse, can they learn to rely on each other?

Review:

Having read and reviewed Lora's work which is the first book of The Junpier Series called The Edge Of Junpier and fell in love I was more than happy and honoured to read Junpier Limits. This time we follow Paul and Celia throughout the book, watching their friendship strengthen and blossom.

I was so happy to be back in Juniper and seeing who felt like old friends, this story takes place so close to where The Edge Of Junpier ended and it all fitted so well. Celia's father Tedd is staying sober after being within the hold of alcohol for so long which we got to see in the previous book. it was ice to finally have faith in Tedd and wish he would follow the sobriety all the way through. At the end of the previous book we find out that after leaving Junpier, Fay is moving back and the trio she left behind are excited for her to return. All the while Paul is trying hard to show Celia how much he cares for her and he means it all but Celia doubts him all the way having struggled with trust for a long time.

It's beautiful to watch them both blossom with each other, I knew in the previous book that Paul cared and he was being true. Paul is a breath of fresh air. He isn't a bad boy, just a funny and cheery guy who is persistent in his pursuit of the only girl he's set on getting, but much like Celia his life isn't perfect and my heart really goes out to him, he's caring and sympathetic and yet he's strong and way beyond his years.

What struck me (yet again) about Juniper Limits is how realistic it feels. The dialogue and humor shared between Celia and Paul was so true and relalistic. When it came to how Celia dealt with the stress at home, her reactions felt so believable. Between the sadly true to life situations Celia and Paul were dealing with, Celia's reluctance to trust not only Paul but anyone, and Paul's conflicted feelings about his mother, there was a feeling of authenticity that ran throughout the book. Richardson perfectly captured Celia's tough outer shell, her constant worry, her fear to hope for better, and the shred of hope she allowed herself to feel anyway.

I don't think I can score any lower than 5/5 here, Lora has blown me away again and it was incredible to be able to see their faces and Juniper once again. I went through so many emotions whilst reading this book, all of them with the characters and that just shows you how great Lora writes. It was sad to have to leave them behind when I closed the eBook but I hope ill be seeing them again sometime.

I Know Where She Is - SB Caves Book Spotlight/Mini Review

Title: I Know Where She Is

Author Name: S.B. Caves

Previous Books (if applicable): N/A

Genre: Thriller

Release Date: 14th August 2017

Publisher: Canelo

Synopsis:

An explosive, gripping thriller for fans of Karin Slaughter, Linwood Barclay and Karen Dionne, don’t miss this heart-stopping debut.

On the tenth anniversary of her daughter Autumn's abduction, Francine receives an anonymous note containing just five words: I KNOW WHERE SHE IS

When a young woman approaches her the next day claiming to have sent the letter Francine wants to dismiss it as a cruel, twisted joke.

But the stranger knows things that only Autumn would know.

It soon becomes clear that Francine must go to dark places in order to learn the truth about her child’s kidnapping.

She will discover that danger comes from unexpected sources. She will do things she never imagined herself capable of.

But will Francine get her daughter back – or is it too late? 


Mini Review:

So I went into this book really uncertain of what to expect, whatever it was I ended up blown away anyway. I'm going to try and keep this mini review, well mini but there will be a full review on the 26th of this month so keep an eye out for that.

Francine who is visibly struggling with the anniversary of her daughters abduction, its been nearly 10 years but then one night she gets a note under her door and at first she think it's an incredibly sick joke  being played on her because her name isn't listed anywhere, neither is her number, she's basically incognito so things like this don't happen. The following day whilst at work she notices someone lingering by her car and she confront them, only to find out her name is Lena, she sent the note and she knows where Autumn is.

It's a beautiful book, its shows the determination of a mother to find and protect her daughter even though she believes she failed years ago when her daughter was taken from her. Its a book showing strength and resilience but also corruption and depiction of sick unhuman acts on innocent people. I love the book from start to finish but t find out all my thoughts and my book rating keep an eye out for my full review.


Links To Book:

Amazon UK

Kobo UK

Google Books UK

Apple Books UK

Goodreads

Netgalley

Author Bio:

S.B. Caves was born and raised in North London. He loves crime and thriller novels, classic horror movies, Korean/Japanese thriller films and true crime documentaries. He is also a huge boxing fan.

The Fourth Monkey - J.D. Barker EBOOK Deal (US ONLY)

Synopsis:

The most anticipated thriller of the year - Optioned for both film and television

Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs in this dark and twisting novel from the author Jeffery Deaver called, “A talented writer with a delightfully devious mind.”

For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.

As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.

With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.

So just a short post to let you know that The Fourth Monkey eBook is only $1.99 in the U.S. through until August 31st  so grab it whilst this offer lasts.

If you purchase this book please don't forget to share your thoughts on Goodreads. 

To read more about this book look here:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31125554-the-fourth-monkey?ac=1&from_search=true 

My Review: https://abookseternalglory.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/the-fourth-monkey-killer-jd-barker.html?m=1 

Style (The OTP Series) - Chelsea M. Cameron

Synopsis:

Kyle Blake likes plans. So far, they’re pretty simple: Finish her senior year of high school, head off to a good college, find a cute boyfriend, graduate, get a good job, get married, the whole heterosexual shebang. Nothing is going to stand in the way of that plan. Not even Stella Lewis.

Stella Lewis also has a plan: Finish her senior year as cheer captain, go to college, finally let herself flirt with (and maybe even date) a girl for the first time and go from there.

Fate has other plans for Kyle and Stella when they’re paired up in their AP English class and something between them ignites. It’s confusing and overwhelming and neither of them know what to do about it. One thing they do know is that their connection can’t be ignored. The timing just isn’t right.

But is there ever a good time for falling in love?

Review:

So a little while ago Chelsea was looking for people to review this lovely book and I just couldn't say no. Although I wont be releasing what she was looking for specifically as I don't feel its very important, I am releasing that I have no regrets enquiring about getting a copy of the book.

We follow 2 beautiful characters, both very different but extraordinary to me. Kyle is all about getting through high school and heading off to a good college where she'll date boys and then graduate, get a job, get married and all of the heterosexual stereotyped things, she loves hr plans so when Stella Lewis comes into the picture starting to rip up Kyles plans she has no idea what to do or how to act. Stella is the cheer captain and she cant wait to finish high school and head off to college where she can finally be herself and date a girl and go on from there. These characters are truly beautiful, very different from each other but the forces just pull them together.

The plot is as amazing as the characters alone, it develops at such a perfect rate I couldn't put it down, page after page I'm begging for the characters to just get together and as a reader you're begging for it to just happen and get it over with and I'm just internally screaming throughout because the characters are perfect for each other, meant for each other I just couldn't cope. I'm sucker for love like this when its so accurately portrayed like it was, the love didn't suddenly happen or instantaneous love it was developed from 2 people just not wanting to be around each other to them never wanting to be apart from one another.

Throughout the story we get to see all sides of the characters, there are no secrets or information we don't know about them it's just a fully open and well portrayed tale of 2 girls discovering themselves and falling in love. It's all so realistic and true that I can't cope, people don't tend to understand that in a same sex relationship or discovering yourself and coming to terms with what you find out that its not as simple as it sounds, its nerve wrecking and confusing but its beautiful and a weight off of your shoulders.

As a whole this book blew me away, I was so happy and full of joy when the end of the book came, I'd love to see more of both of these characters because of just how great and real they were. It's LGBTQ+ and it's completely beautiful, its a 5/5 from me and although there's a lot of swearing within the book and there is some sexual content it still makes for a great read and is quite easy to get through in a single day if you have the time. I recommend this book for literally anyone who feels as though they are alone in trying to figure themselves out and literally everyone else.

Something Beautiful - Amanda Gernentz Hanson

Synopsis:

Cordelia and Declan have been best friends since they were three years old. By the time they hit middle school, Cordelia—Cord, to Declan—is already feeling the blackness in her life as depression takes hold. Their mutual attraction to each other leads to a serious high school relationship, one with their foundation of friendship at the forefront. Cordelia seems to have her mental health under control. All appears to be well.

However, when Declan starts to accept his own fluid sexuality, it sets something in motion in their lives that is both beautiful and tragic as they learn to love each other for who they are.

Review:

I received this book as an e arc from Insta freebies, the synopsis just made me want to read it so I couldn't resist getting a copy.

In the book we follow Cordelia and Declan who have been friends since they were 3 years old and they are the best of friends, sticking with each other through thick and thin through the hard times and the good. You can easily see that their bond is unbreakable. I fell in love with both character instantly and so easily, they were innocent and adorable and its beyond adorable.

We follow the couple through time switching from the present to the past to present and so on until we reach the future. It's a perfect mix of past and present which helps you as a reader understand the characters and their lives and actions. We see Cordelia through breaking her arm, moving to England for months leaving Declan behind, then coming back and rekindling her friendship with him and then fall in love, there are so many more moments we witness all of which are beautiful. It was hard to stay dry eyed throughout this book it just poked so many times at my heart I could just about manage it.

The plot is beautiful, showing how fluid love and acceptance can truly be. Everything was incredibly hard to see coming, I was so emotionally attached to the characters I just wanted everything to be okay in the end. The plot was well thought out and written, the switches between times helped you as a reader understand what was happening at the present time and it was just a perfect read. I guarantee you as a reader will not be able to stay calm or dry eyed throughout the story, even as I finished I had burst into tears and just had to lie down for 5 minutes to collect myself.

I can't give this book anything less that 5/5 it was just perfect in everyway and a true representation of so many things. I recommend this book to anyone who can handle it, any YA lovers, anyone who wants a LGBTQ+ to read and pretty much anyone else. You experience happiness, love, acceptance and tragedy and to put it simply this book is exactly what the title says, Something Beautiful.