Kick Push / Coast by Jay McLean

It's impossible to tell how much I love skate boarding books. Too bad that I don't know how to skate at all. 

I have read few books by Jay McLean before. I think that almost everyone has read More Than This and if they haven't they totally should. Just make sure you've tissues nearby. Someone recommended Kick Push and Coast to me, when I stated how much I loved skate boarding. 

Sometimes you have this tiny problem with sports romance books. The book states that the hero plays some sport, but the book doesn't actually show the hero doing anything related to that said sport. The guy plays ice hockey and goes to practice, but we don't get to see what happens there. Do you know what I mean? 

In this duet we got to see what it was to actually skate whether it was for a fun or something you got paid for. That's a huge plus! Well done Jay McLean!

There is Josh (my favorite male name ever, btw 😍), who became a single father at the age of 17. Quite young, right? He has so many good qualities. He's a loving father, who would do anything for his son. He's loyal, funny, good looking (yep, how would I know? Because his good human and that makes him stunning), hard working. It's hard for him to ask help and he rarely does so. 

Then there is Becca. She has most beautiful eyes that Josh has ever seen. Becca doesn't let people in, she has her reasons. She likes to photograph and sees the world in a different perspective thanks to the lens of her camera. 

Becca and Josh meet when Tommy, Josh's son, is 3 years old. They became friends and there is something more swirling under the surface. Something that they finally start to explore. The summer is a short time to get to know to each other and when the summer turns to fall their paths diverge. 

So much more happens, but I won't even talk about it. You have to read the books to find out. These books are a statement of how you can really connect with other person even if you're a young and others say that it isn't real to feel so much towards someone else. These books are about love, about understanding and giving space. These books are about family; kids, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. But above else, these books tell you a story of friendship. How the friendships changes during the years. 

There were so many good moments in these books.  I am still amazed how Jay McLean can write books that are so depressing and joyful at the same time. She breaks your heart, but fills the pieces with happiness. She's a very talented author. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kick Push by Jay McLean

2015

Coast by Jay McLean

2016

The Girl In The Love Song by Emma Scott

Thank you for Emma Scott and Valentine PR for this ARC. 

I started reading this book as soon as it came to my Kindle. Sadly I had to work and had some health issues to deal with so I couldn't read the book right away. I was only able to read for few chapters. But now I'm done. I finished the whole book. 

It was so good. I don't even know if it's possible for Emma Scott to write a bad book. Maybe not. 

The Girl In The Love Song is the first book in Lost Boys -series. I think this was a bit more YA than other books by Emma Scott that I've read. But it still works for me. I would love to read the next books of the series, too. 

The book is divided in four sections and it's written in dual POV, which I absolutely love. I love the male POV and it was really cool that we had a lot of Miller's POV in this book. The book starts when the main characters, Miller and Violet, are 13 years old. 

Violet describes herself as a nerdy girl who has a crush for a quarterback. Violet has set her goal in med-school, she works hard to get in. Miller is something else. He's a loner with only few friends, but he's loyal to those he cares about. 

I don't even know what I can tell you about this book without spoiling. I loved how the characters were unsure about their behavior, but really sure about their feelings. I loved how they made bad decisions and good decisions. They struggled, but still went on with living. Because we all know that it's not easy task to grow up. 

Miller is a musician. I loved how Emma Scott has put on links to actual songs that Miller wrote to Violet. We have a chance to listen those songs while reading the book. LOVE IT! And I absolutely loved the songs, especially Wait For Me. Those lyrics will hound me for weeks. 

Violet wants to take care of people, especially Miller. She wants to be a doctor. She takes a good care of Miller. She wants him to be happy. 

I think that this is one of the best coming of age -books I've read for a while. Growing up is messy. This book shows you how messy it can really be. You struggle with your emotions and your relationship with your parents and friends. One day you're over the moon happy and next day you're feeling really low. That's growing up and it's supposed to be hard. But after all what matters the most is the love and hope. The people around you, they matter, too. You matter and your feelings matter. 

If you want to read the blurb, you can do it in here. But once again I urge you to go in blind.

I had all the feelings while reading. Emma Scott knows how to write an emotional book. She can make you cry and laugh, sometimes at the same time, too. This book shows you the ugly side of the humanity, but it also shows you all the good things that people are capable of doing. It shows you that love can hurt even when it's the right kind of love. Life is messy and wonderful, because "life's a journey, not a destination".

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

The Girl In The Love Song by Emma Scott

2020

Cheesy On The Eyes by Teagan Hunter

At first I want to say thank you to Teagan Hunter and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for giving me an ARC to review. Thank you!

Now I need to admit that I had forgotten how funny Teagan's characters are. I have read Texting-series, but I haven't read any book of this series. I might need to change that. 

You know that I don't like blurbs so I won't put the blurb in here, but you can check it out here if you want to. I once again started reading without knowing anything. 

In this book we have Thea and Sullivan. Don't you love those names? I sure do! Thea is so funny, she isn't afraid of what others might think about her (we all should be like that, right?) and she speaks what ever she wants. She's never left speechless. She knows what she likes and works towards getting it. She is young and working in industry that is considered for men. We get to meet Thea's family, too. 

Sullivan is the quiet one. He doesn't like to share his secrets, not even with his friends. He seems pretty wise and he can really read people. His past is left little mysterious, but we get to know his best friends. And let me tell you, they are a bunch of wild boys, who have hearts of gold.

Thea and Sullivan make a deal. Everything is sunshine and butterflies until one of them breaks the rules. 

This book just screams summer read. You want to read this book on the beach. Or in a pizza place. Whatever works for you. I prefer the beach. This is a happy read. I laughed out loud so many times while reading. 

You can read this as a standalone, because there's a different couple in every book of the series, but it kind of spoils what happens to some people of the previous books. I don't mind, I'll read the previous books of the series.

I don't like pizza, but I really liked this book! 

Because this whole Blogger has changed it's demeanor, I can't find my stars anymore. It sucks. Someone help me find my stars, please!

But this book gets FOUR STARS! 

Usually I post my favorite sentence from the book, but now I can't, because it would spoil the whole book. You just need to read the book!

FOUR STARS

Cheesy On The Eyes by Teagan Hunter

2020

edit. Ha, I found my stars. So, here I'll do it correctly.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cheesy On The Eyes by Teagan Hunter

2020

A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott

I kind of lied in my last post. 

Remember when I said that I'll start reading with A Five-Minute Life? I had already started. Sorry! But on my defense, I started the book this morning and had only read something like 70 pages. I just finished the book.

I love Emma Scott! Her books always makes me cry. Her books melt my heart. She has this amazing talent to make readers feel the same things her characters feel. I know that I've said this before, but it's still true. I was going to say that I've read every book that she has ever written, but then I checked Goodreads and noticed that there's a few I still need to read. I have no idea how I have missed these books. I feel ashamed. 

I bought this book last year after the author stated that she'll release a book with a new cover. I knew this book, but haven't thought about getting a paperback, because shipping from US to here costs a lot. But I fell in love with the cover and had to have the original version. I did not read the blurb then and I did not read the blurb this morning, because I have a distinct memory of someone saying that it's best to go in blind. And as many of you know, I'll try to do that as often as I can. 

So, this book sat in my shelf for almost a year. From time to time I had a thought about reading it. Now after reading it, I really don't know why I waited for so long to read this amazing story. I feel like I need to say I'm sorry for not reading this sooner. 

Like I said, I love Emma Scott. She writes amazing books and gives these stories to us to read. She is really active with her readers. I really hope that someday I'll get a chance to meet her and get my copy of the book signed. 

I actually read the blurb just now. It's as amazing as the whole book. 

Thea lives her life in five minutes at time. She's trapped in her own mind without a way to escape. Jim is living his life in autopilot. He has learned to keep his head down and keep going, not to get too attached people around him. Thea and Jim meet. They get to know each other as much as it's possible inside the walls of Blue Ridge Sanitarium. 

Life isn't easy or fair. I think we all know it, some better than others, but still we all know it. Jim knows it better than anyone else. He's still this man who does everything in his power for others. He didn't let his messy childhood to dictate whether he has a good life or not. Jim is a caring man. 

Thea is trapped inside of her own mind. At the first part of the book we don't get to see much inside of her head. But what we see is amazing. She's a funny girl with amazing talent. In the second and the third part of the book we get to see more of her thoughts. She seems to be very independent and has a strong will. 

Even when everything is good, nothing is promised to us. Everything good can be taken from us in a matter of seconds. This book shows you this, but it also shows you so much more. This books shows you how it's to care about someone, who isn't always in here, content with this life as we know it. This book shows you how important it's to keep your promises or what's more important being right or being fair.  

I honestly don't know what I can write about. I am afraid that I'll spoil this book. I cried at the end of the book. All those feelings the characters felt... I cried so much that my kid threatened to hide my book. This book shows you that when you find love you hold on. 

My favorite quote from the whole book was "The past was done, and the future wasn't created yet. All we had is now." Because it's so true. Truest words I've read for a while, because in the end we don't have anything else than this moment here. Nothing more is promised to us. Please, stay safe.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott

Independently Published

2019

My book shelf

I have always had a book shelf. Sometimes bigger one, sometimes smaller one.

Every time I move I give away a lot of books. Last time we moved (a year ago) my goal was to fit all my books in one book shelf. And I did it! I was super proud. I suck at selling my books. I like to give them to others and always ask people to give book to someone else. 

I still have books to read. I can't say that I've enough books, because one can never have enough books, right? 😎  You just don't have enough space for your books.

There are very different kind of books on my shelf. There are books from teen years, there are books from the time I only read crime books and there are tons of YA and NA -books. There are dystopian books and romance reads. 

I just counted all the books from my shelf that I've not read yet. I have bought a lot of books, because I've wanted to read them. From some reason I haven't read those books. Every book is something I want to read. 

There are 85 books I haven't read on my shelf. Yep, that's right. 85 books to be read. Maybe I'll need to start reading those books sooner rather than later. 

This self quarantine might just be the thing I need to read all those books. But I am not in quarantine, I am still working. But I have much more free time now, because kids doesn't have practices or games at this time.

But I have to admit that I have much more than 85 books in my Kindle to be read. I am a bit ashamed for that. All that one-clicking I've recently done haven't been helping. 

Now I promise to myself (and you) that I'll start reading books from my shelf. I'll start with A Five Minute Life by Emma Scott. I'll post a review when I've finished the book. 

Too much books

Too many books and too little time to read.

As many of you know this current situation where we're living in is something really strange. Many of us is staying home all time. You would think that being at home all the time you have time to read. But that's not true, at least it isn't true to me.

I still work, because my work is something that needs to be done. After work I try to home school my older kids. So, no time for books.

I have tons of books in my Kindle. I have "bought" tons of free books on Amazon. I am not lying, I got 30 new books in a day. 😁 Too bad that I don't have time to read them. I don't have time to update my blog either, sorry!

But let's admit that this whole  Covid-19 affects my reading mojo. I can't concentrate. I start a book and stop reading after few chapters. Honestly, it sucks. I want to be able to read. I want to travel to different worlds and stay away from this real one from time to time.

Stay home and be safe ♡

Favorites: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros, Wilder by Rebecca Yarros

I haven't done a favorite post for a while, but now it's time for that and we get to look at two of my all time favorites. 

I had a privilege to meet amazing Rebecca Yarros in London last September. She was one of the authors I really wanted to see at Rare19 London. I had a hard time with my thoughts. My mind was foggy and struggled with words (because English isn't my first language). She was so patient with me. I am eternally grateful for her ❣ I got both of my books signed. And those are the books we're talking about today. This is going to be a long post, so bear with me.

I absolutely love the way she interacts with her readers. I love how content she is with herself. She is so real. I like how she talks about her family, it really shows that she loves her family really much. I hope that one day I could be as good mom as she is. She knows what she's writing. Her style to write is awesome. I can't wait to read Great and Precious Things. It's her latest release, but I haven't read it yet, because I couldn't afford it. But some day 😊

The Last Letter was one of my top reads last year. I didn't read the blurb, so I started crying at the very beginning of the book. If I had read the blurb I wouldn't have cried so much while reading. Right after reading I posted my review on Goodreads with words "I've no idea how to rate this book." And it still fits.  I am tempted to give only one star, because this book broke my heart in a million pieces. But I think that it's also a sign of a great book. If you don't feel anything while reading, is the book worthy enough of your time? So five stars it is. 

I am not kidding when I say I cried all the time while reading. I can not tell anything about the book. I am afraid that I'll spoil it. The book is about Ella and Beckett. At first they write letters to each other then the situations change and they spent time together. This book is a roller coaster of emotions. This book is about love, friendship, family. This book gives you an explanation to words like courage, honor, duty. If you didn't understand the meanings behind these words before, you sure do after reading this book. This book is about to keep going even when times are though. The most important message this book gives you is that you're enough. You can crumble. You're allowed to break down. Just get up and keep going. You're worthy. Never doubt that. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

Entangled: Amara

2019

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first book I ever read by Rebecca Yarros was Wilder. I love a good college romance and this is one the best ones I've read, even if it's not a traditional one. I don't know if there really is this kind of Study at the Sea -program. But if I were young and in college, I would definitely apply on that program.

The thing is that Leah is a tutor to this student called Wilder. They are in this Study at the Sea - program together. For months to sail international waters, study and see places you wouldn't normally see. Leah has some emotional package with her, she's so damn brave. I don't think that she sees it, but she really is. Wilder on the other hand. He's a star. He's this total adrenaline junkie. He has X Games medals, he has a wild streak. He does all these crazy stunts with his crew. His crew, Renegades, are making a movie at the same time as they're trying to study. There are all this cool stunts and I could see all those stunts. They were written so well that it was easy to image how they ride bikes, go parasailing, jump of cliffs and so on. All those stunts made me want to try something so cool. 

There are a lot of going under the surface. Wilder isn't always as happy as he seems. He has his own demons to battle with. He has been living this life for so long that it tooks Leah to show him that some moments can stay between few people are not meant for the whole word to see. It isn't always easy, sometimes life is hard.

I really love this book. This book is about people you have in your life, whether they are your friends or family. There are times when your closest friends are your family. I love this books honesty. These characters are honest, loyal and passionate about what they are doing. This book is the reason why I finally had the courage to sky dive. (It was freaking awesome, btw. Will do it again!) Wilder states that "Life starts at the edge of fear" and I think it's true. If you do something that scares the sh** out of you; you're twice more proud of yourself after doing the thing that scared you. So do the things that scare you, because it's rewarding. Be brave.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wilder by Rebecca Yarros

Entangled: Embrace

2016