The Left-Handed Book Lover: flashback Friday

Showing posts with label flashback Friday. Show all posts

Friday, September 9, 2016

Flashback Friday #6: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (with giveaway)

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Left-Handed Book Lover's Flashback Friday. I'm not sure if this feature has been done on other blogs. I haven't seen it, but if it has been, let me know so I can give some credit!

FF is a feature here where I talk about books I read a while ago but still want to give major love to. This feature is designed to give some exposure to books that may have been forgotten about or that some people haven't heard of, even though they're really great! And I've decided to add a giveaway to the Flashback Friday series because what better way to get people reading a book than actually giving a copy out?

This week's FF goes to...

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

(Pushing the Limits #1)

Published: June 1, 2012 by Harlequin Teen

Genre: YA Contemporary

Summary from Goodreads:
So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again..

WHEN DID I READ THIS?

I read this as an eARC over a month before it was released. I knew that was a little early to read it, but I just knew this book was going to be perfect for me, so I was too pumped to wait to read it. I read the whole thing in a day. I've also really been wanting to re-read it lately.

WHY DID I PICK THIS BOOK?

I've been obsessed with this book since the second I finished it. I've been shoving it into my in-real-life friends' hands ever since. I know it's a bit more on the popular side, but I don't want people to forget about this book or this incredible author!!

THREE REASONS YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK:

1. NOAH - lkdngoerkngopedf I love Noah so much. He's one of those misunderstood bad boys with a heart of gold. I love him so much. He treats Echo incredibly well, and is so dedicated to the people he cares about. He'd sacrifice his own happiness if it meant helping out a loved one.

2. Hate-to-love relationship - Idk about you, but that is one of my favorite types of romances.

3. Secrets - Aside from the sizzlin' romance, my favorite part of this novel was that McGarry just kep revealing secret after secret. There's always so much more to uncover, and rather than being melodramatic or frustrating, all these secrets help the book be more unpredictable and addicting!

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

GIVEAWAY

The winner will receive a paperback copy of Pushing the Limits from the Book Depository. This giveaway is open internationally, as long as the book depository ships to you. Entries from giveaway accounts will not be accepted. Believe me, I will check.

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Friday, June 10, 2016

Flashback Friday #5: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

This week's FF goes to...

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Published: February 14, 2012 by Walker Childrens
Genre: YA historical fiction/re-telling

Summary from Goodreads:
Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets - skills that are in high demand in Robin Hood's band of thieves, who protect the people of Nottingham from the evil sheriff. Scarlet's biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know...that she is posing as a thief; that the slip of a boy who is fast with sharp knives is really a girl.

The terrible events in her past that led Scarlet to hide her real identity are in danger of being exposed when the thief taker Lord Gisbourne arrives in town to rid Nottingham of the Hood and his men once and for all. As Gisbourne closes in a put innocent lives at risk, Scarlet must decide how much the people of Nottingham mean to her, especially John Little, a flirtatious fellow outlaw, and Robin, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. There is real honor among these thieves and so much more - making this a fight worth dying for.

WHEN DID I READ THIS

I got an eARC of this novel, but I don't think I read this until a little bit after it was published. I was actually really reluctant to request this book, and even more reluctant to start reading it. I wasn't sure if this was my cup of coffee or not. Then, once I picked it up, I put it down after reading a few pages. After I pushed through those first few pages, I FELL IN LOVE and became addicted. I stayed up all night reading it.

WHY DID I PICK THIS BOOK

People seemed to really love this book when it was released, but I haven't seen anyone talk about it in a while. I know that Gaughen decided to add books to the series, and I haven't read any of them yet, but I realllly want to. Anyway, this is a Robin Hood re-telling with a twist, and Robin Hood's tale does not receive a lot of attention in YA lit (as far as I know) in comparison to Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella. The best part is, you don't really have to know much about Robin Hood to get this book--trust me, when I read this, I didn't know ANYTHING about Robin Hood. The narration is a little off-putting at first, but once you adjust, it's actually a ton of fun!

THREE REASONS YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

Kickassery - Trust me. Scarlet, the protagonist who most people believe is a boy, can not only take men down in hand-to-hand combat, but, if I remember correctly, she is also really good at throwing knives (which, fun fact, is one of my life goals).
Robin Hood swoons - He's PERFECT! He's really hard on himself, but he's such a good guy, and he is willing to do anything for the people he cares about.
Slow-burn romance - I literally just wanted to push Rob and Scarlet's heads together like dolls to make them kiss. Their relationship is so authentic and their feelings for each other jump off the freaking page throughout every interaction, even though they refuse to admit it for the longest time. It's torture, I tell ya. The best kind of torture.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

AUTHOR INFO

A. C. GAUGHEN is the author of Scarlet, Lady Thief and Lion Heart. She serves on the board for the non-profit Boston GLOW, creating opportunities to encourage and engage teen girls in the Greater Boston area. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from St. Andrews University in Scotland and a Masters in Education from Harvard University.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

GIVEAWAY

Yes, yes, yes. I've decided to add a giveaway to the Flashback Friday series because what better way to get people reading a book than actually giving a copy out?

This giveaway is open internationally, as long as the book depository ships to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, May 13, 2016

Flashback Friday: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
(standalone)
Published: October 18, 2011 by Simon Pulse
Genre: YA contemporary

Summary from Goodreads:
Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....

WHEN DID I READ THIS?

I read this novel on Pulseit in early 2012. I was going through a pretty bad reading slump, and this novel kicked me out of it.

WHY DID I PICK THIS BOOK?

Point-blank: This novel is wonderful. It received quite a bit of positive feedback when it was released, but it has long since fallen off the radar. It deals with anxiety, drug use, music, competitiveness, and figuring out what you really want for your future rather than what others want for you. Not to mention, there is good writing, and entertaining banter between Carmen (the protagonist) and her best friend.

Here are three reasons you should read this novel:

There is a complicated, yet enticing, romance. Carmen and Jeremy, the couple in question, should be enemies. They should hate each other. And yet...they are drawn to each other. But their lives do not always allow for love to come first.
Family dynamics. Carmen's relationship with her mother is very tense. Her mother has a very short leash on her, and Carmen has to learn how to extend the leash and become more independent.
The musical aspect. Maybe it's just me because I am a music nerd, but I love novels that deal with music and performing, and this book certainly fits into that category, this time in the form of violins.

AUTHOR INFO

I was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. As a child I played the violin, read books, and climbed trees incessantly. I went on to study English and music at Brigham Young University, and since then I’ve been an English teacher, a symphony violinist, and a mother. I currently live in Orlando, Florida with my husband and three children.

My young adult novels are Virtuosity, The Space Between Us, The Vow, and Kiss Kill Vanish. I’m represented by Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary Agency.
| website | twitter |

Friday, January 15, 2016

Flashback Friday #3: The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace

The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
(standalone)
Published: September 1, 2013 by Flux
Genre: YA contemporary

Summary from Goodreads:
Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things.

Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she's so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennett. He's cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she's endured - and missed out on - in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she's falling in love.

There's only one problem. Bennett is Madelyn's college professor, and he thinks she's eighteen - because she hasn't told him the truth.

The story of their forbidden romance is told in letters that Madelyn writes to Bennett - both a heart-searing ode to their ill-fated love and an apology.

WHEN DID I READ THIS

I read an eARC of this before it was released in 2013. I remember reading the entire novel in one sitting, just devouring every single word.

WHY DID I PICK THIS BOOK

I'm not going to lie, there have been some mixed reviews for this novel, but I personally adored it. It is one of those novels that you kind of know what is going to happen but you just read on hoping it won't. For whatever reason, I love books like that. Maybe I'm just weird? There were parts when my heart was thumping so hard because it was so tense and I was just waiting for everything to hit the fan. Everything about this book was intense and held me captive the entire time I was reading. I got emotionally attached to the characters (extremely) and the writing flowed so well! If you're into contemporary books, this is a fantastic read!

Here are three reasons you should read this book:

1) It was very emotional! I was actually sobbing as I read it.

2) It's told in second person, through letters, which was actually really cool. You'd think second person would take you out of the story a little bit, but it really doesn't.

3) There's a taboo student-teacher relationship. I have a weird thing about reading taboo relationships. They are my absolute favorite. Maybe you're the kind of person who isn't into that thing? Then this book probably isn't for you. But I personally found it so incredibly interesting to read about.

AUTHOR INFO

Amanda Grace is a pen name for Young Adult author Mandy Hubbard (PRADA AND PREJUDICE, YOU WISH). She lives near Seattle, Washington, with her husband and young daughter.

Other books by this author: But I Love Him
In Too Deep
No One Needs To Know

Friday, December 11, 2015

Flashback Friday #2: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

FF is a feature here where I talk about books I read a while ago but still want to give major love to. This feature is designed to give some exposure to books that may have been forgotten about or that some people haven't heard of, even though they're really great!

This week's FF goes to.,.

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
(standalone)
Published: February 14, 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:
Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

When did I read this?

I read this in 2012, when the U.S. version was released. I'm pretty sure I got it as an eARC. I stayed up until 4:30 AM reading it.

Why did I pick this book?

Y'all don't understand. I love love love contemporary books, but that has not always been the case. I was like a die-hard paranormal fan, and this is one of the first contemporary books I ever fell in love with. It's this beautiful adventure of a book. I takes place in only one night, but it is a night full of growth, flashbacks, and feelings beyond belief. I feel like it was pretty popular in the blogosphere when it was released, but I haven't heard mention of it in way too long.

It is a dual narrative novel, and both the narrators are a delight! They're flawed and so honestly written. Sometimes in between chapters there would be a poem that actually enhanced the story a lot, so that was really cool. There is a gorgeous, genuine romance, brimming with chemistry. I promise you, you will ship so hard in this novel. You will feel the kisses in your bones. You will feel this entire novel in your bones. The writing is stunning.

Bonus: This novel has an art focus, if you're into that sort of thing. There's painting and glass blowing and pottery. It's really cool even if you're not into that sort of thing.

Bonus part 2: It takes place in Australia. I was obsessed with Australia in 2012, so that was like amazing to me. It's still pretty cool, because the point of books is to take you to far-off places.

Now that all my love for this book is resurfacing, I'm probably going to go order it and re-read it. You should order it and read it, too. You will not regret it.

Other info--

Author info:

Cath Crowley is an award-winning author of young adult novels, The Gracie Faltrain series, Chasing Charlie Duskin and Graffiti Moon. She lives, writes, and teaches creative writing in Melbourne. Her next book, The Howling Boy, will be out in 2016.

visit her website ~ give her a tweet

Friday, December 4, 2015

Flashback Friday #1: Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Left-Handed Book Lover's first Flashback Friday. I'm not sure if this feature has been done on other blogs. I haven't seen it, but if it has been, let me know so I can give some credit!

This week's FF goes to...

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

(Hex Hall #1)

Published: March 2, 2010 by Hyperion

Summary from Goodreads:
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

When did I read this?

I'm pretty sure I read the first book in this series in ninth grade, which was probably about 2010. It's crazy that I read this five years ago, but I still remember sitting on the couch reading it, still remember specific phrases that stuck out to me while I was reading. There are three books, and I am not sure when I finished the series, but I'd guess around 2013.

Why did I pick this book?

This book is so much fun! It's got a magical boarding school, demons, romance, and sarcasm everywhere! And honestly, the books get better as the trilogy progresses. The characters in this series are fantastic. A feisty protagonist, a lesbian vampire best friend. a talking mirror, and cute boys that will both steal your heart. It's an awesome combination. Add to that some pretty good worldbuilding and you've got yourself a zinger of a series.

This used to be pretty popular, but as the third book came out in 2012, it has kind of fallen off the radar and that is a damn shame. Reading this series was truly an adventure, and I can remember that adventure, and think fondly on it, even years later.

There is also a spin-off book that I am absolutely crazy about!

I'm telling you, this series is so worth a shot. I know it's just another one of those paranormal books that was released during the paranormal craze, but it really is tons of fun and addicting. Honestly, writing this post has made me want to go re-read the entire series because it's so fracking goooood!

Also, look how cool the covers are!

READ ITTTTT!

Other info--

Books in the series:

Hex Hall (#1)

Demonglass (#2)

Spell Bound (#3)

School Spirits (spin-off)

Author info:

Rachel Hawkins was born in Virginia and raised in Alabama. This means she uses words like "y'all" and "fixin'" a lot, and considers anything under 60 degrees to be borderline Arctic. Before deciding to write books about kissing and fire (and sometimes kissing while on fire), Rachel taught high school English for 3 years, and is still capable of teaching you The Canterbury Tales if you're into that kind of thing.

She is married to a geologist, which means that they have incredibly strange dinner conversations ("So today at work, I wrote a chapter where killer fog, like, ATE PEOPLE." "Huh. Well, I was chased by an angry reindeer while trying to map parts of Norway." "Um...okay.")

Rachel also has a little boy whose main hobbies are playing video games, running around in circles, and plotting his Future Intergalactic Take-Over.

When not writing books, Rachel enjoys reading, travelling, and knitting (very terribly.)

~ follow her on the twitter ~