Review: All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places

by Jennifer Niven

January 6, 2015

378 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.
 

Stacking the Shelves #134

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

 

I won a giveaway from the ladies at Books Are My Fandom, thank you! Along with the signed book Stephanie Kate Strohm also sent along some chocolate and nail polish! Thanks so much!

 

 I wasn't sure if I was getting Freeks so thank you SMP for the surprise copy!

 

 Thank you HCCFrenzy for these two beauty~ I'm so excited to dig in!

 

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Review: Undeclared (Burnham College #2) by Julianna Keyes

Undeclared
(Burnham College #2)

by Julianna Keyes
February 27, 2017

276 pages

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Kellan McVey is Burnham College’s most prolific athlete, partier, and ladies’ man—and that’s just how he likes it. Returning to reign for his third year, he wants nothing to change. Then Andrea Walsh shows up.

It wasn’t too long ago that Andi and Kellan were lifelong friends, mortal enemies, and, for one hot summer, more. Then Kellan left and Andi stayed behind.

Kellan thought he’d moved past that last summer’s heartbreak, but with Andi sitting next to him in class, befriending his friends, and battling for the same once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity, he’s starting to remember why he hated her…and why he loved her.

Kellan has a long list of reasons that falling for Andi again is a terrible idea, though every new moment together challenges that theory. But Andi’s all too familiar with Kellan’s love ’em and leave ’em approach—and she’s found someone else to get serious about.

Burnham’s campus king has never had to fight for a girl, but if he wants Andi to give him another chance, he’ll have to do the one thing he’s never had the nerve to do: admit it.

WoW #137: Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 

Once and for All

by Sarah Dessen

June 6, 2017
400 pages

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen's thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that's why she's cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm's length. But Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged, now that he's met the one girl he really wants.

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.
 

Sarah Dessen is a must and that synopsis sounds so swoon-worthy~

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Review: Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told by Deirdre Riordan Hall

Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told

by Deirdre Riordan Hall

January 17, 2017

364 pages

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Let go from her job and feeling lost, Navy Carrington takes a position as coffee-girl at a publicity firm. Their newest client is Carrick Kennely, the former love of her life and her fiercest adversary. She thought she'd let go of the past by playing it safe with book boyfriends—and avoiding frustratingly sexy guys like Carrick.

When Navy's roommate finds the Boyfriend Book, a silly relic leftover from Navy's teens, it prompts a dare; Navy is to go on five dates and pick one to be her Valentine. Despite her reservations, she can't say no, especially if it means proving to herself and Carrick that she can move on.

Navy chronicles her brief romantic entanglements with the Hottie in 7G, the Man-Bun-Barista, the Gym Stud, and the Book Boyfriend who turns out to be a toad—not the kind that when kissed turns into a prince—, on The Boyfriend Book Blog. She doesn't want to let her readers or herself down, but as Valentine's Day nears, none of the guys comes close to being her one true love.

Except Carrick. He’s infuriating, attractive, confusing, catnip…and it turns out he has a secret.

With a love letter and a plane ticket in hand, Navy leaves her baggage behind and must decide between love, hate, and the lies she told to protect her fragile heart.

Told with humor and heart, Love, Hate, and Other Lies We Told may appeal to readers who enjoy Alice Clayton, Sally Thorne, and Emily Giffin's work.

2017 Love-a-Thon - Mini-challenge #8: On the Road (Trip)!

 

Pick 3-4 bookish people you'd take on a road trip- describe the trip and your destination!

 

 

This is such a fun idea! I am going to pick all book characters for this one because it's not everyday (more like never) that I'd get to see my favourite fictional characters let alone go on a trip with them so I'm going to dream a little ;)

 

Lila from V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series was the first person to come to my mind when I saw road trip. She'd be such fun company. I have a feeling I'll probably be nonstop laughing at her snark. We will be joined by Will Herondale from Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices! Another character that will bring lots of sarcasm and laughs to our group. Ismae from Robin LaFevers's His Fair Assassin series will be the level-headed person in the car. She's resourceful and calm and will get us out of any unfavourable situation that we just might find ourselves in (Lila and Will are bound to do something silly and get us in trouble right?). Last person in the car will be Cath from Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. She's a girl after my own heart so we'll be shyly fangirl-ing and gawking at the other characters. We made an amusing bunch haha...

 

     

 

And our destination is: Universal Studios Orlando! More specifically we'd be going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Before we left, we'd all have gotten sorted into our Houses so once we've arrived, we'd all change into our House robes. Then we'd wander around the theme park drinking frozen butterbeer and eating chocolate frogs~ I imagine Cath would be longing for Simon and Baz but that's okay because I'd pull her back in and we'd have an amazing time seeing the looks on Lila, Will and Ismae's faces~ The magic of Harry Potter for all! *wink* :D

 

Also, I'd never want this trip to end lol...

2017 Love-a-Thon - Mini-challenge #3: Book Spine Poetry

Use book spines to make poetry!

I love making book spine poetry~ I hope you guys enjoy this one :)

2017 Love-a-Thon - Mini-challenge #2: Mix + Match

 

For the Mix and Match Challenge, we're suppose to mash-up a non-bookish hobby/passion/talent/fandom with our bookish life.

 

 

This isn't exactly a hobby but I enjoy taking pictures of my cats with my books. Bonus that they sometimes have just the perfect facial expressions! ;) These are a few I shared on my Instagram!

  

*stab stab stab*

 

*pie face*
 

It's Sherlock time!

 

In all honesty, I am really just a crazy cat lady... XD But I hope these photos make you laugh <3

2017 Love-a-Thon - Mini-challenge #1: Mad Libs: Fairytale Edition

 

An original Mad Lib story created by the Love-a-thon ladies!

 

Big thanks to the Love-a-thon ladies for coming up with this wonderful story! I tried to be quirky coming up with the words and here's the turnout ;)

 

Once upon a time, in a far away London Institute, there lived a smart thief. She lived alone in a grocery store, where she had grown up with the deceased owner. She had beautiful fingers, and was known for her shiny red stamp, the only thing she had left of her parents. 

Alas, the Knight of the country became jealous and wanted to own this stamp. So, she became a wanted person and had to flee into the forest to find a place to hide. After kissing around for hours, hungry and tired, she stumbled upon a/an cave. An old lady appeared, offering her shelter from the bitter cold. She looked at her with frustration and said: "I will protect you, but I need your help first. Years ago I lost something precious and I want it back. You need to climb into the sky and get my triangle back. Here is a magical calamari, throw it into the earth, sprinkle with water and it will sprout a beanstalk. You have five days to return before the stalk withers."

She followed the instructions given to her, and lo and behold, a beanstalk grew and grew and grew all the way up to the clouds. After an exhausting climb, she saw a huge bungalow. She walked to the door and knocked. A shrill voice said: 'Fee-fi-fo-fum, who dares to come and enter my house?" She was not afraid and said: "My name is Jamie and I've come to collect an item."  

The door made a whining sound when it opened and revealed a large kitchen filled with golden scissors. She stepped inside and walked towards the spiraling staircase, where a figure moved, cloaked in darkness. 

"Who are you? Step in to the light, so I can see your face." The beast growled angry. "Why did you come here? I just want to be left alone." Still, she moved and stood in front of it. There were three horns on his head, and hair all over his face and his mouth was filled with large teeth. He wore a pressed shirt and stained jeans. 

"What happened to you?" She reached out to touch one of the horns, but the beast flinched. "Many years ago I was cursed by a witch. I have one year left hopping so I can break the spell, but I'm not brave enough."

"If you give me the triangle, I will help you." 

In keeping her promise, the beast and she worked for a few hours and that afternoon, the beast transformed into an ordinary older guy. "I can't wait to return to my job as police officer in the normal world. Can I come with you?" Together they climbed down the beanstalk, carrying the instrument for the old lady. The moment she saw the guy and her beloved instrument, she started to weep. 

"My husband, you have returned!" They hugged and looked at her. 

"We have to tell you something," the old lady said. "You are our child. We were separated after the curse, but now we are reunited!" From that day, the three of them lived together in the forest, happily ever after.

I had fun reading the final product so I hope you all had fun reading it too :)

 

2017 Love-a-Thon Kick-Off Questionnaire

 

What’s your name? Where in the world are you blogging from?

Hi everyone! My name is Eileen and I'm from Vancouver, Canada.

 

How did you get involved in the online book community?

The short answer is Twitter. It brought me into contact with other book people. Everyone's amazing and it's just been such a pleasure getting to know book bloggers, authors and publishers!

 

How did you come up with your blog name?

This is a question  I always enjoy answering. So my blog name is not Book Captain misspelled though in hindsight, I should've seen that coming... Anyways so before I started my blog, I knew I wanted to incorporate my cats. Instead of being a bookworm, I thought, why not be a bookcat! The "Pin" at the end is my nickname and I added it for a bit of a personal touch. And that's how BookCatPin came about :)

 

What book genres do you talk about most?

Honestly I read everything. From contemporary to sci-fi to thrillers, I gobble them all up. My favourite would definitely be fantasy though. I read mostly Young Adult and the occasional New Adult and Adult books.

Favourite colour?

Pink, in case you couldn't tell ;)

 

Favourite things to do apart from reading?

Does waiting for bookmail count? XD I love the feeling of holding bookmail in my hands so I'm always stalking my mailbox lol... I also really enjoy cuddling in front of the tv with my kitties~

 

Favourite movies?

The Harry Potter movies and The Lord of the Ring trilogy. I rewatch them every year and sometimes I marathon them with my sister <3

Favourite books read in the last five years?

I have so many but here are a few:

 

   

   

  

  

 

Oops that was way more than a few but I swear they're all excellent reads!!

 

Books you want to read in 2017?

I'm missing a bunch but here are some I'm super looking forward to getting my hands on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm absolutely dying for ACOL and ACOWAR!!! 

 

Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Review: Good Girl (Love Unexpectedly #2) by Lauren Layne

Good Girl

(Love Unexpectedly #2)

by Lauren Layne

May 17, 2016

220 pages

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Lauren Layne brings all the unpredictable heat of her USA Today bestseller Blurred Lines to an all-new cast of characters! Country music’s favorite good girl is hiding away from the world—only to find herself bunking with a guy who makes her want to be a little bad.

Jenny Dawson moved to Nashville to write music, not get famous. But when her latest record goes double platinum, Jenny’s suddenly one of the town’s biggest stars—and the center of a tabloid scandal connecting her with a pop star she’s barely even met. With paparazzi tracking her every move, Jenny flees to a remote mansion in Louisiana to write her next album. The only hiccup is the unexpected presence of a brooding young caretaker named Noah, whose foul mouth and snap judgments lead to constant bickering—and serious heat.

Noah really should tell Jenny that he’s Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, the owner of the estate where the feisty country singer has made her spoiled self at home. But the charade gives Noah a much-needed break from his own troubles, and before long, their verbal sparring is indistinguishable from foreplay. But as sizzling nights give way to quiet pillow talk, Noah begins to realize that Jenny’s almost as complicated as he is. To fit into each other’s lives, they’ll need the courage to face their problems together—before the outside world catches up to them.
 

WoW #136: Things I Should Have Known by Claire LaZebnik

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 

Things I Should Have Known

by Claire LaZebnik

March 28, 2017
320 pages

Goodreads  Indigo
 

Goodreads Summary:

From the author of Epic Fail comes the story of Chloe Mitchell, a Los Angeles girl on a quest to find love for her autistic sister, Ivy.

Ethan, from Ivy’s class, seems like the perfect match. It’s unfortunate that his older brother, David, is one of Chloe’s least favorite people, but Chloe can deal, especially when she realizes that David is just as devoted to Ethan as she is to Ivy.

Uncommonly honest and refreshingly funny, this is a story about sisterhood, autism, and first love. Chloe, Ivy, David, and Ethan, who form a quirky and lovable circle, will steal readers’ hearts and remind us all that it’s okay to be a different kind of normal.
 

I love books about siblings and this one sounds perfect.

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Release Day Blitz - Excerpt & Giveaway: Love Story (Love Unexpectedly #3) by Lauren Layne

Love Story
(Love Unexpectedly #3)

by Lauren Layne
February 14, 2017

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Over the course of one wild road trip, feuding childhood sweethearts get a second chance at love in this charming rom-com—a standalone novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Blurred Lines and Good Girl.

When Lucy Hawkins receives a job offer in San Francisco, she can’t wait to spread her wings and leave her small Virginia hometown behind. Her close-knit family supports her as best they can, by handing over the keys to a station wagon that’s seen better days. The catch? The cross-country trip comes with a traveling companion: her older brother’s best friend, aka the guy who took Lucy’s virginity hours before breaking her heart.

After spending the past four years and every last dime caring for his sick father, Reece Sullivan will do just about anything to break free of the painful memories—even if it means a two-week road trip with the one girl who’s ever made it past his carefully guarded exterior. But after long days of bickering in the car turn into steamy nights in secluded motel rooms, Reece learns that, when it comes to Lucy, their story is far from over. And this time, they just might have a shot at a happy ending.

Review: Romeo and What's Her Name by Shani Petroff

Romeo and What's Her Name

by Shani Petroff

February 7, 2017
224 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Understudies never get to perform

. . . which is why being Juliet's understudy in the school's yearly "Evening with Shakespeare" is the perfect role for Emily. She can earn some much-needed extra credit while pursuing her main goal of spending time with Wes, aka Romeo, aka the hottest, nicest guy in school (in her completely unbiased opinion). And she meant to learn her lines, really, it's just:
a) Shakespeare is HARD,
b) Amanda, aka the "real" Juliet, makes her run errands instead of lines, and
c) there's no point because Amanda would never miss the chance to be the star of the show.

Then, Amanda ends up in the hospital and Emily, as the (completely unprepared!) understudy, has to star opposite the guy of her dreams. Oops?

Stacking the Shelves #133

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

 

Many thanks to Thomas Allen & Son for these two books! 

 

What did you add to your shelves this week?