Spookathon TBR

Review: All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

Published: August 9, 2016

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Format: via audiobook

Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis

As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible "adult" around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.

My Thoughts

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is the heartbreaking tale of Wavy who for all her life has had it rough. Her mother has mental issues and her father sells drugs, so when one of her father's associates takes an interest in her who would've thought it would have taken the turn that it did.

Kellen is an ex-con who isn't at all what he looks like. He is a big guy but he is nice and kind when he wants and he feels bad for Wavy, so he takes it upon himself to care for her and be there for her since no one else does. He makes sure she goes to school and that she has what she needs but slowly over the years he falls in love with her and this is where things get...uncomfortable. Especially since he’s known Wavy since she was young and he is older than her. Kellen’s intentions were never to fall in love with Wavy like that but over time his feelings for her become real. 

This is where things get iffy in this book. I see how people can be uncomfortable with this book since they met when Wavy is a child, but in my mind, I never got the feeling that Kellen went into this situation having any ill intentions with Wavy. I honestly felt he felt sorry for her and felt like someone had to look out for this kid and someone had to be there for her since no one was there for him. He saw her life and how it could end up and he didn't want that for her. While I know some see their relationship later seemed icky I didn't see it as him being a pervert from the start.

This novel can be controversial without a doubt but I really did enjoy this storyline. I see two lost people who are brought together for a reason. While this relationship is the main focus of the book I also enjoyed the storyline with Wavy’s aunt and cousin and how they all have issues in the family that they dealing with. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is a great novel with a storyline that might make you uncomfortable but one that will have you thinking about this novel way after the last page is turned.

Monthly TBR: October

Monthly Wrap Up: September

I’m still here waiting for Fall to hit Texas but in the meantime, it was another slow reading month for me. I went into September determined to complete my Goodreads challenge but I fell short. My reads were average this month with the exception of a one really good read. Here’s to hoping next month will be way better, here’s how my month went reading-wise.

Books Read

45. Stolen Things by R.H. Herron

46. Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi

47. All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

Reading Stats

5 Stars - 0

4 Stars - 1

3 Stars - 2

2 Stars - 0

1 Stars - 0

Genres

Fiction - 1

Thrillers - 1

YA - 1

Pages Read - 1,114

Books via Publisher

The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes

Invisible as Air by Zoe Fishman

Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle

Let it Snow by Nancy Thayer

ARC’s via NetGalley/Edelweiss

You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer

That’s it for my September Wrap Up please feel free to share your wrap up I love to check out all things bookish!!

Blog Tour: An Alaskan Christmas by Jennifer Snow

Today we have the blog tour for Jennifer Snow’s An Alaskan Christmas! 

Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

An Alaskan Christmas by Jennifer Snow

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About An Alaskan Christmas

In Alaska, it’s always a white Christmas—but the sparks flying between two reunited friends could turn it red-hot…   If there’s one gift Erika Sheraton does not want for Christmas, it’s a vacation. Ordered to take time off, the workaholic surgeon reluctantly trades in her scrubs for a ski suit and heads to Wild River, Alaska. Her friend Cassie owns a tour company that offers adventures to fit every visitor. But nothing compares to the adrenaline rush Erika feels on being reunited with Cassie’s brother, Reed Reynolds.   Gone is the buttoned-up girl Reed remembers. His sister’s best friend has blossomed into a strong, skilled, confident woman. She’s exactly what his search-and-rescue team needs—and everything he didn’t know he craved. The gulf between his life in Wild River and her big-city career is wide. But it’s no match for a desire powerful enough to melt two stubborn hearts…

Advance Praise for An Alaskan Christmas

"An Alaskan Christmas is heartwarming, romantic, and utterly enjoyable."—New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster   "Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged! Pure Christmas delight."—New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde   "Readers will enjoy the mix of sexy love scenes, tense missions, and amiable banter. This entertaining introduction to Wild River will encourage fans of small-town contemporaries to follow the series."—Publishers Weekly   "An exciting contemporary series debut with a wildly unique Alaskan setting."—Kirkus

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EXCERPT

The girl who’d crossed [Reed’s] mind just the night before was walking toward him with his sister. Unfortunately, she was hardly a girl anymore. Dressed in a red-and-black checked cashmere coat, cinched at her tiny waist with a leather belt, a red hat covering her mocha-colored hair and three-inch, impractical yet sexy leather boots, she was definitely not a little girl anymore.

What the hell was she doing here?

Tyler and Wade gave up their barstools to the women, waving as they headed toward a booth.

“See ya, guys,” he said. Then turning to his sister, “Hey, Cass, who’s your friend?” He wiped the bar in front of them and set down two new coasters.

His sister shot him a look that resembled a plea for help…or for something strong. Obviously this visit was as much of a surprise to her. He reached for the top-shelf premium vodka and held up the bottle.

She nodded, removing her scarf and coat. “Make it a double. This is Erika… You remember her, don’t you?” She placed her coat over the stool before climbing up.

Erika was still scanning the bar as though she hadn’t decided yet if she was going to stay.

“Um… Erika.” He pretended to think. “Right, yes, I remember—how’ve you been?”

She finally looked at him, her eyebrows furrowed. “We’ve met?”

Unbelievable. He’d only held her in the woods overnight so she didn’t have a panic attack.

“You have to remember my brother, Reed,” Cassie said, motioning for him to be quicker with her drink.

Erika’s mouth gaped slightly.

There you go. He knew he’d changed over the years. In high school, he’d been tall and lanky…skinny was a better term. Food wasn’t always plentiful at home and being active in every sport that he could play for free had him burning energy faster than his body could keep up. Luckily, he’d discovered weight training. “Hard to believe this hunk is the same guy, huh?” he asked when she continued to stare.

Her look of disbelief was quickly replaced with a disapproving, incredulous one. “Do you own this place?”

“Nope. I’m just here to encourage copious amounts of alcohol and misbehaving,” he said, his jaw tight. Within seconds, she had him feeling like the teenage kid who wasn’t sure he’d ever amount to anything. Over the years, his confidence had grown along with the size of his biceps. Very little shook him, so how this woman he hadn’t seen in years had him agitated, he didn’t know. No doubt, their history was part of it.

“He makes the best cranberry martinis in Wild River. Have a seat,” Cassie said, gesturing to the barstool next to her.

“Or don’t.” Reed shrugged when Erika hesitated.

She ignored him as she examined the barstool. Picking up a napkin, she wiped the seat before removing her coat and sitting, folding the coat over her legs. Ready for a quick exit if needed.

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About Jennifer Snow

 

Jennifer Snow lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and four-year-old son. She is a member of the RWA, the Alberta Writers Guild, Canadian Authors Association and SheWrites.org. Her first Brookhollow book was a finalist in the Heart of Denver Aspen Gold contest and the Golden Quill Award. More information can be found at www.jennifersnowauthor.com

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Book Blitz: Chasing Beverly by Ashlynn Cubbison

Chasing Beverly by Ashlynn Cubbison 
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: September 29, 2019
Genres: Romance, Sports, Young Adult

Two people. One chance to let it all go.
Seeking redemption, Beverly Morgan has spent the last three years building an empire that was someone else’s dream. Devoted to her work, a handful of friends, and an array of charities, she’s been able to lock away her heart and convince herself it’s dead. After an unthinkable tragedy, Beverly should know by now that a single day can change everything.
She can’t run from love forever.
Gavin has it all, a thriving business, phenomenal family, supportive friends, but an hour with Beverly Morgan makes him question his entire life and his own happiness.
She could be exactly what he needs, if she’s brave enough to open up again.

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EXCERPT

I’m four days shy of my eighteenth birthday, sandwiched between two Olympic gold medalists, and preparing to race for a spot in the 2016 Summer Olympics for the 400-meter event.
How did I even make it to the finals?
Hot bile floods my throat. As sweat drips from my brow, I hear a crazy woman shouting over the crowd.
“Breathe, baby! Breathe!”
Peeking over at the gate to the right of me, our eyes connect. I realize she’s my crazy woman. With her huge smile and eyes blazing with pride, my mom always brings me comfort. My gaze slides from her encouraging face and lands on that of my boyfriend. Patrick’s crooked smile has been the same since we were kids.
Just the sight of them, here by my side, reassures me. I gulp in a deep, cleansing breath and bow my head. This silences the deafening noise, and it helps me to forget my shortcomings.
“On your marks!” a stern voice—the voice I’ve been listening for—bellows over the loudspeaker.
I step in front of my tightly spaced starting blocks, jumping one last time into the air to activate my muscles. Then I crawl backwards into the blocks, my left foot positioned in the back. As I slide my feet in, a smirk creeps across my lips. I picture Coach Schwarz in the stands, scolding me like he does before every race.
“Morgan, switch your damn feet, and space out your blocks more!”
My left knee digs into the rubbery Tartan Track. I focus on the connection of my damp skin against the hot track below. I say a silent prayer, thanking it for supporting my feet and body race after race.
Then, one last breath. I position my fingers behind the white line and await my next command.
“Set!” booms the Starter’s robotic voice over the loudspeaker.
My hips shoot straight up. Fire replaces my blood, surging through my veins.
BANG!
The starting gun reverberates through me.
I push out of the blocks, careful not to go out too hard in the first 200 meters. Keeping my eyes glued straight ahead, I don’t allow my opponents to bait me. Instead, I wait for my time. I stick close to the pack until I see my sweet spot ahead.
“Kick. Kick. Kick.” The words play like a mantra in my head as I round the second curve of the track. My body is weightless. My brain needs no prompting as it propels my legs forward. My feet become lighter, and my spikes barely touch the track before shooting forward for my next stride.
My arms pump harder as I enter my part of the race. The part in which I shine, the part I relish. The finish line is just ahead. Movement on my right enters my peripheral vision. I feel Sammy closing in. She’s right on my tail.

Author Bio

Ashlynn Cubbison is a goal-oriented, driven woman, who owns and operates four companies with her husband. They have two beautiful sons together, and although her life is chaotic, fun, full of love and never the same each day, somehow she finds room for writing as well.
Growing up Ashlynn struggled with reading. Then, in her sophomore year of high school, a small seed was planted. After acing a literary test, her teacher looked her square in the eye and said “you’ve been selling yourself short all year. I wonder what you could achieve with some effort.” After delving deeper into books, she discovered Pride and Prejudice, and has been an obsessive reader ever since.
Eventually her love of books translated into writing. She hopes to inspire others, especially children, to find their passion as she did.

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Release Blitz: Wrapped Up in You by Jill Shalvis

Wrapped Up in You by Jill Shalvis

Heartbreaker Bay – Book 8

Avon Books – September 24, 2019

Blurb

It’s love. Trust me.
After a lifetime on the move, Ivy Snow is an expert in all things temporary—schools, friends, and way too many Mr. Wrongs. Now that she owns a successful taco truck in San Francisco and an apartment to call home, Ivy’s reinvented life is on solid ground. And she’s guarded against anything that can rock it. Like the realities of a past she’s worked hard to cover up. And especially Kel O’Donnell. Too hot not to set off alarms, he screams temporary. If only his whispers weren’t so delightfully naughty and irresistible.

Kel, an Idaho sheriff and ranch owner, is on vacay, but Ivy’s a spicy reason to give his short-terms plans a second thought. Best of all, she’s a tonic for his untrusting heart, burned once and still in repair. But when Ivy’s past intrudes on a perfect romance, Kel fears that everything she’s told him has been a perfect lie. Now, if only Ivy’s willing to share, Kel will fight for a true love story.

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Buy Links

Kindle / Apple / Nook / KOBO / GPlay / Paperback / Audible

Series Buy

Author Info

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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Giveaway 

Feel free to offer up TWO digital copies of SWEET LITTLE LIES (Heartbreaker Bay) by Jill Shalvis. You can host on social or on your blog and pick winners from comments and they can claim using this form: https://forms.gle/KmccnNNFqmfJTgNm7

Excerpt 

*Read the First Chapter, https://www.jillshalvis.com/excerpts/wrapped-up-in-you