Teaser Tuesday[144]: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: 2012

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak.

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

Excerpt:

“‘Oh, just come,’ I said. ‘I’ll keep the dog away from you. I promise.’” (Paperback, pg. 207)

What are you reading right now?

Manga Review: Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 1, by Aya Kanno

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: March 10, 2015

Volumes: 3+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, believes he is cursed, damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? Based on an early draft of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

Richard’s father, the patriarch of the House of York, is poised to become king of medieval England during the bloody Wars of the Roses. But just as success is imminent, he is abruptly cut down. Plunged into despair, Richard acts out in revenge and must face a powerful and beautiful new enemy.

Review:

I’m a little unsure what to say about this book, honestly. Mostly because I’m a little confused.

I guess for disclaimers sake, I should say that I’ve always had a hard time with Shakespeare. His plays have always been confusing and hard to understand for me. Plus, I haven’t even read or seen the play this book is based off of. And this book seems to play in the same realm of writing, at least some of the time, with those books.

Now, this book is by the author of Otomen, so of course I was going to pick it up, either way. No doubt about that. And I intend to read more, hope it grows on me. And the artwork is so very pretty, too. When drawing anything, really, I love it; but for example, Richards expressions and his one eye showing is very impressionable.

The story line has me a little confused, but also a little curious. I think it’s the Shakespeare influence that I’m having a hard time with, but I kind of want to compare it to Kaori Yuki. Yuki’s series are always gorgeous and addicting, but also somewhat confusing at times. I got enough though to want to see what happens next.

Despite my hardship with this volume, I did somewhat enjoy it, and fully intend to pick up the next one. I’m interested to see what happens next. And more Aya Kanno is never a bad thing.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media. Thank you so, so much!

Novel Review: The Look of Love (The Sullivans, #1) by Bella Andre

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Mira

Release Date: 2011

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Expanded Edition! More Story! More Sullivans!

Fans of Bella Andre's Sullivan Series will love this long-awaited print edition of THE LOOK OF LOVE. It features a longer, more-detailed story with all the emotion and sensuality that readers love. Not to be missed!

Sometimes one look is all it takes

Chloe Peterson has vowed never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Her reasons are as vivid as the bruises on her cheek. So when her car skids off a wet country road straight into a ditch, she's convinced the gorgeous guy who rescues her must be too good to be true.

As a successful international photographer, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women. He's satisfied with his life—until he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley.

With every loving look—and every sinfully sweet caress—the attraction between them sizzles, and Chloe can't help but wonder if she's met the man who may be the exception to her rule….

The Cover:

I don't mind this cover. I think it's pretty, and it works for the book. I think the colors and the couple work for the book as well.

Review:

I have definitely read this series in the wrong order, but I don’t care. They can be read easily as stand-alones, thankfully. But I do love seeing the couples as they grow later in the series.

This is Chloe and Chase’s story. Chloe has been on her own for a while now after separating from her abusive ex-husband, when she runs into Chase. She’s not ready for a new relationship yet, because she doesn’t quite feel ready with herself. But the chemistry between them is immediate, and it’s hot.

Chase is a sweetheart, so very gentle and slow when she needs it. But there was also some fun kinks thrown in between the two, as Chloe wants to find out what she likes, without shame. I loved that aspect. But Chase is also just what Chloe needs; she needs someone who can take things slow, give space, but be there when she needs him, and accept her. 

I do kind of think that the scene between her and her ex at the end was added just to add tension/excitement, but I do also kind of think it was fitting. Something needed to happen there, and that definitely added to her character and showed her a different side of Chase. And I don't think her ex needed to be given more attention, really. Him as a person wasn't important. What he did was.

I’ve already discovered that I love Bella Andre at this point. These books are fun, fast, and sexy. I love the humor, the back-and-forth that Chase and Chloe had. But the sexy stuff was super fun, as well. I’m just in love with this series at this point, and can’t wait to get my hands on more.