Review: If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

Expected Publication: April 2, 2013
Format: ARC E-Copy provided by NetGalley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: 5/5

Summary via Goodreads

If he had been with me, he wouldn't have died.
Throughout their whole childhood, Finn and Autumn were inseparable—they finished each other's sentences, they knew just what to say when the other person was hurting. But one incident in middle school puts them in separate social worlds come high school, and Autumn has been happily dating James for the last 2 years. But she's always wondered what if...
The night she's about to get the answer is also one of terrible tragedy.

My Thoughts

Wonderful, beautifully written, haunting, heartbreaking and simply amazing! That’s just the tip of the iceberg when describing my opinion of If He Had Been with Me. Ahhhh…although no words can truly describe how much I loved this book!! Months ago I knew I wanted to read it but never could have imagined how great it would be.

It all starts with childhood best friends Autumn and Finn. Next door neighbors whose moms are best friends and whose birthdays are a week of each other how were they destined not to be in each other lives? Always together until, high school when they have totally different sets of friends. Each were in relationships when one day Autumn realizes that she’s in love with Finn. That is was, has and will always be Finn. She never acts on it because she doesn’t want to hurt her boyfriend’s feelings. Years go by and she discovers that her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend. Being in a funk after the breakup Finn is the only who can bring her out of it. After re-establishing their friendship she finds out that Finn also had feeling for her at one time. But does he still? What comes next is a series of secrets and revelations that changes the course of everyone’s lives.

I can honestly say this is already in my top ten reads of all time. I was sucked in from the first page and never wanted it to end. It’s a story of love, friendship and fate. It will have you thinking about the what ifs and make you think if life really has us here for a certain reason. An emotional read that makes you want more after the last page. It definitely has me thinking [and hoping!] if a sequel maybe possible. Pick up this read…NOW! Trust me you won’t regret it!

Review: Nowhere but Home by Liza Palmer

Nowhere But Home by Liza Palmer
Expected Publication: April 2, 2013
Publication: William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: ARC E-Copy provided by Edelweiss
Rating: 5/5

Summary via Goodreads

Queenie Wake, a country girl from North Star, Texas, has just been fired from her job as a chef for not allowing a customer to use ketchup. Again. Now the only place she has to go is home to North Star. She can hope, maybe things will be different. Maybe her family's reputation as those Wake women will have been forgotten. It's been years since her mother-notorious for stealing your man, your car, and your rent money-was killed. And her sister, who as a teenager was branded as a gold-digging harlot after having a baby with local golden boy Wes McKay, is now the mother of the captain of the high school football team. It can't be that bad…

Who knew that people in small town Texas had such long memories? And of course Queenie wishes that her memory were a little spottier when feelings for her high school love, Everett Coburn, resurface. He broke her heart and made her leave town-can she risk her heart again?

At least she has a new job-sure it's cooking last meals for death row inmates but at least they don't complain! But when secrets from the past emerge, will Queenie be able to stick by her family or will she leave home again? A fun-filled, touching story of food, football, and fooling around.

My Thoughts

I initially picked this out in an effort to read more adult fiction this year. I was glad I did because I truly enjoyed it. I must admit I was sort of worried reading a book with southern characters. I am from Texas so sometimes I get upset that in most books people tend to stereotype us. I am glad to report this isn’t one of them.

Nowhere but Home is the story of Queenie, a chef who is recently fired from her job and returns home to Texas. As in any small town there are subjects of rumors and Queenie’s family is at the top of that list. Her sister got pregnant young by the star football player. Her mom was killed by her best friend after having an affair with her husband. And Queenie has only loved one guy her entire life, her childhood sweetheart whose rich family kept them apart. When she returns home Queenie realizes things never chance in small town Texas. Her family is still regarded as trash and the rich people still run the town and will always look down on them.

She takes a job as chef in charge of cooking the last meals at the prison. In the process of finding her next out of state job she finally finds herself. Eventually all the town secrets come to light. She realizes that she needs to stop running and not let people define who she is.

This book rang so true to me. This is a wonderful book of family, football, love and accepting who you are and most importantly what you deserve. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a good, solid and enjoyable read. You won’t be disappointed at all. 

WoW [22]

Waiting on Wednesday [WoW] is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s WoW feature is:

Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

Expected Publication: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux [BYR]

Summary via Goodreads...

A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.

Alexandra Coutts's TUMBLE & FALL is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world.

Why I Can’t Wait....

Ok so I know ya’ll been seeing this a lot lately but…hello!! This book has EVERYTHING! Amazing cover and a storyline I can’t wait to read. I don’t know what sold me first…the cover or the story? Here’s to hoping it lives up to all the expectations in my head. Now if I only get my hands on a copy.

 That’s what I’m waiting for…please share yours.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Recommend the Most

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme from TheBrokeandTheBookish

This week’s topic:

Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most

These are some of my all-time faves. The bottom half are ones that are soon to be released that I’ve read. Ones I will be telling everyone about because they are simply amazing!

Love is a Mixtape by Rob Sheffield

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

Rhythms by Donna Hill

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

The Summer Fletcher Greel Loved Me by Suzanne Kingsbury

In The After by Ashley Mackler Paternostro

Do yourself a favor and pick up these AMAZING reads when they are released!

 

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

Feel free to share your Top Ten.

Blog Tour: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Expected Publication: March 26, 2013
Format: ARC provided by publisher
Bloomsbury
Rating: 4/5

 Summary

When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:

1. Run for pep club secretary

2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree

3. Sew a dress for Homecoming

4. Find a steady

5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

My Thoughts

I knew I would enjoy this books from the get go. Loved the cover and I’m a sucker for all things 60’s.  Breaking up after discovering her boyfriend cheated on her, Mallory decides to go tech free. She does this in a way to just having something to do to get her mind off her ex. When she finds an old list of things to do from her grandmas high school days she thinks she’s found the perfect way to make her life right. Little goes she realize that she is about to unlock a secret bigger than she would ever imagine. Not only does she help her grandma come to terms with past and choices but Mallory also finds herself.

This is a cute quick and wonderful read that will keep you entertained without a doubt. I loved the way Lindsey Leavitt wrote the various characters. While Mallory is the main character I must say her sister is my favorite. She really steals the scene. She’s funny and quick witted, makes you feel like you’ve known them people forever. I highly recommend this book.

Feature and Follow Friday

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community. If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

Here’s this week’s question:

What is your guilty pleasure as far as reading? Is it a genre, or is it a certain type of book?

I don’t really have a guilty pleasure as far as reading. I’m proud of my genre preferences. No shame in my reading game…lol.

So what’s your guilty pleasure? Please share.

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