Emmy And Oliver Review by Robin

Emmy & Oliver 

by

Robin Benway 

 I had an amazing time at the  Author Signing   in SanFran  I got to meet a lot of great authors. They let us ask questions and told us about there books. I knew after Benway explained her book I had to read it right a way and it didn't disappoint. 

Author Goodreads: Page

Amazon: Book link 

Summary:

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.

She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.

Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.

He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.

Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.

My Review:

     This book is the whole five stars. I loved every minute of it. There was enough emotion in the story it felt very real. I ached at the sad moments and laughed at the happy ones. I loved the characters. Very well relatable. You get the whole out look on teenage life and starting over. I loved the setting. I wanted to be in the book at the ocean with Emmy. 

                                                             Read it .

                                                                    *Spoiler* Cute swing set scene. 

Savory Saturday...

Savory Saturday ...

It's Saturday. I wanted to start something new. So I keep blogging. 

Savory Saturday. I want to share book news and recent reads this Saturday. Also I'm going to add the link to my recent Q&A with the lovely Shelly Manchester on the BooksHavePower Blog. We talked about writing tips and publishing.  -Link- 

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Book News.

Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway was published this week. 

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.

She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.

Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.

He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.

Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.  (goodreads)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Songs/music videos of the week.

Bad Blood - Taylor swift ft. Kendrick Lamar **Girl Power**

Shut Up And Dance - Walk The Moon 

I Want You To Know - Zedd Ft. Selena Gomez 

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Reads This Week.

Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han..

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simple a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.  ( Goodreads)... 5/5 stars

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han..

Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?

It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.
But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach. ( Goodreads) ... 5/5 stars. 

I need to read the third book. However I loved the first two. Great summer reads. Just what I needed. There fast and interesting reads. 

Without Me The Mind Breakers Accounts by Megan Dukes// Blog Tour ... Meet Avery Murphy.

Without Me

the mind 

Breakers accounts

MEGAN dUKES

Synopsis: VIA GOODREADS/

For 21-year-old Denni, there is no doubt in her mind that Amos is the one. That is until Jack manages to catch her attention. When she discovers it isn’t just a crush causing this stranger to intrude her thoughts, a secret world of mind control is unleashed around her. It is revealed that both Amos and Jack belong to a special breed of humans called Mind Breakers, and over time Denni learns that the last two years of her life have been controlled by their influence. Soon she realizes that the people she thought she knew, and the life she has most recently grown accustomed to, might not have ever been real in the first place. Her thoughts, emotions, and physical actions are all at stake.
So who can she trust?
This, of course, is Denni’s past. Now she is forced to retell her story from the beginning in hopes that the worst of it will never happen again.

mEET

aVERY mURPHY

Name: Charlotte Avery Murphy

Born: Belfast, Ireland

Hair: dark brown, short

Eyes: alice blue (very light)

Age: 22 

• Jack was her best friend growing up.
• He confided in her about his abilities and kept his secret
• (SPOILERS)
• She was the first to be changed by Cox as a test subject for the new drug.
• She can control objects and people, just like Denni.
• When Jack left to participate in MBGM, they had started something as a couple.
• He told her that what she felt wasn’t real, but she didn’t believe him. 
• She still has feelings for him, which causes tension between Jack and Denni.

MY CASTING FOR AVERY IS THE AUTHOR CASTING. I  THINK SHE IS PERFECT. 

Avery Murphy : Emily Browning. 

     

Authors characters sketch 

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Mini Q&A with author 

What was your inspiration for Avery?

Avery was a last minute addition to the story. I didn't plan for her to be involved. I knew she was going to be a major part of Jack's past, but I didn't think she would appear as a vital character. She more or less appeared on the page without me realizing it, and it just made sense. 

If you where do describe Avery in three words what would those three words be ? 

Pure. Shy. Loyal. 

If Avery were to be a super hero what super hero would she be?

I don't know about her name, but she'd definitely have the power of invisibility. She tends to fade into the background of most situations.

What was your favorite scene to write in Without Me ?

The fight between Amos and Jack was really intense for me to write. The story comes to a certain head at that point, so by the time they cross paths I was fully invested. It required a lot of emotion. Anger and betrayal. 

What songs Inspired Without Me?

Coffee Girl by Tragically Hip was a huge inspiration for Denni's character. As for the book, I listened to whatever fit the mood. I always post playlists on my website to share with readers, so I'll be doing that once the book is released! 

Which book is your favorite in the trilogy ?

Book 2 was my favorite for a long time, but now that I'm starting work on book 3 that is slowly becoming my new favorite. Probably whatever I'm working on at the time.

What helps you get out of a writing block?

I step away from it completely. I never force myself to write. If it's not flowing, I wait until inspiration strikes. That way I know what comes out will be worth it. Reading and listening to music helps me get creative too. I observe other people's work in order to get excited about my own.

Amos or Jack? 

I honestly love them both, for very different reasons. And I'm sure Denni does too. 

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Pick Without Me up you won't regret it. You will get sucked in and addicted to the book with the first few pages. The plot is intriquing and fast past. You will never get bored you will just want more. The characters are well developed , creative, and hott. (They need the double T). I loved the world that Megan Dukes created and I can't wait to read more of her work.  

Purchase book here.. 

-RELEASES MAY 19TH -

Here is my Without Me playlist via Spotify :
Link
URL

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Meet the author :

Megan Dukes

*Goodreads

*blog
*Instagram 

Hi, guys! My name is Megan! I write about teenagers doing inappropriate things and trying to find themselves. I believe that everyone deserves to be happy, no matter who you are or what you believe. My book, Small Circles, is available through most online distributors, including B&N.com, Amazon, iBooks, etc. am planning to re-release a brand new, freshly edited edition of my trilogy, The Mind Breaker Accounts, in 2015! TMBA is a New Adult series about a girl named Denni who's suddenly dropped into the middle of something out of her control. Literally. When she finds out that her boyfriend is part of a special breed of humans called Mind Breakers, she learns that the last few years of her life have been controlled by his influence. This isn't just any mind control, however. Her thoughts, emotions, and physical actions are all at stake. So who can she trust? 

Fish Out Of Water Review !!!!

Fish Out Of Water 

Mika Arlington's summer will be perfect, she's made sure of it. Interning with her parents at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Check. Sand sculpting at the beach with her best friend. Check. Eating delicious food until she can't walk straight. Check. But the arrival of her estranged grandmother and too cool Dylan are about to wash away her ideal plans. 

Mika’s grandmother has Alzheimer’s and demands care from the family she once shunned. Dylan, the brooding new employee at the pet shop where Mika works, may be hot but everything that comes out of his mouth is the exact opposite. She can’t stand either of them, and yet she’s expected to be their babysitter. Talk about worst summer ever. Until she learns that sometimes the best things can come completely unplanned.

goodreads link

My Review:

5/5 Stars 

Um.. WoW.. And then WoW again.. WoW one more time. 

I was hooked on the first page. 
I love and Cherish Natalie's witty and fun writing!! 
This book was fantastic and enjoyable. Fast paced , Witty , and Emotional all at once. I read it in two days. 
I hope she writes more Contemporary because I absolutely adored this book. 
To sum it up . Find the book Buy the book read the book then read it a million more times!!

Mika is not like any ordinary teen however are any teen's ordinary? She has a job at the pet store and when a new ( and hot) employee gets hired her life will get very complicated. A story of friendship, emotion, good food, and little romance. 

Whipple does an amazing job showing the difersity between cultures, and how real life situations can effect everybody.

Her characters are complex and amazing. You will fall in love with the book and not be able to find your way out. 

Ps. This book is set in Monetary California. Iv been there and it is amazing!!! 

* Pictures are from authors Pintrest 

authors blog link 

twitter 

    

Natalie Whipple, sadly, does not have any cool mutations like her characters. Unless you count the ability to watch anime and Korean dramas for hours on end. Or her uncanny knack for sushi consumption.

She grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Utah for high school, which was quite the culture shock for her anime-loving teen self. But the Rocky Mountains eventually won her over, and she stuck around to earn her degree in English linguistics at BYU. Natalie still lives in Utah with her husband and three kids, and keeps the local Asian market in business with all her attempts to cook Thai curry, Pho, and “real” ramen.



Q&A

Q: What is your favorite book genre?
Well of course YA! It's hard to say more specifically than that, because I love fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary, paranormal, historical...it's just all interesting to me. I have written in many of those genres. I don't intend to focus any time soon. I'm just not the kind of writer or reader who sticks with one thing.

 Q: If you where to describe Fish Out Of Water in three words what would those words be?
Pride, Prejudice, Guppies (This is on the back of the UK version, and I just adore that!)

Q: What was your favorite Part to write in Fish out Of Water?
I love a lot about FISH. Like, a lot. It's a very important book to me personally, about love and how blurry it can be in all types of relationships. So one of my favorite scenes is The Oatmeal Scene near the end. Mika, trying to avoid a certain person, has taken to staying home to perfect this oatmeal recipe her Alzheimer's-ridden grandmother has demanded she make. It goes really poorly, and Mika realizes she's not the person she thought she was.

Q: if you where to send any of you characters into to the hunger games who would you send?
Oh that's mean! I guess if we're keeping with the FISH characters, it'd have to be London or Olivia. London because I kinda hope she wouldn't make it out, and Olivia because I'm pretty sure she'd win.

Q: Who has been your favorite character to write about?
Probably Jo from HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW.

Q: Paperback, hardback , or Ebook?
Paperback

Q: What is the hardest struggle being a writer?
There are a lot of struggles...it's hard to pick one, but maybe the reality that you never have job security. You can sell one series and have it do well, and then the next one tanks. Or you could be super obscure for years, and then one book hits it big. But that could end in a few years when people forget about you again. You're entirely at the whim of the market, and you can't control it. You often feel helpless about that. 

Q: Whats your Favorite thing about being a writer?
Writing is how I make sense of the world, so I love it for that. My books usually come out of some problem I'm thinking about, either one from my own life or something I've seen just in the world at large. When I write those feelings out in a story, I understand things better. Or at least I feel like I do. Then I'm at peace with whatever that problem was.

Q: Is it easier to Write a Stand alone or a series?
I would say a standalone. Just because you only have to sustain the story and character arcs for one book. Building a series, making room for the characters to grow over that much story, is a tough thing to do. At least to me. Maybe it comes naturally to some. Ultimately, I think whatever the form the story is intended to be in is the easiest. Trying to cram a trilogy into two books is the worst, for example. Or trying to stretch a standalone into more often doesn't work.

Q: Will you write more Contemporary in the future?
I have written a few contemporaries, actually! They just aren't published. I love contemporary and hope to do more, but we'll see. It was pretty hard to sell FISH, so I have no idea if I would get lucky enough to sell another contemporary. I don't have a lot of money, but if by some miracle I had enough to indie publish my YA contemp SIDEKICK, I'd love to. That book just has a special place in my heart and I want to see it in print for myself. Fingers crossed, I guess.

Last Time We say Goodbye By Cynthia Hand Review

The last time we say goodbye by: Cynthia Hand

There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a gorgeous and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and letting go. 

My review:

5/5 STARS

The Last Time We Say Goodbye will rip your heart to shreds. 

I didn't know what I was getting into when I started this book. Let me say it was nothing like I expected. It was an emotional roller coaster the whole way through. Make sure you grab your tissues before sitting down to read. 

Cynthia Hand tells a  story is about a girl that loses her brother to suicided. This is a hard subject to read and write about. However the book felt genuine and really thought out the entire read. Also it didn't have a huge center romance. Some people love the book to be centered around a romance. I know I do but  in this case  I was happy it wasn't the center. The book was raw and real.  The characters are really well developed making the story more personal. 

So pick it up and read it . 

Goodreads

Blog 

Cynthia Hand is the New York Times bestselling author of the Unearthly series with HarperTeen: UNEARTHLY, HALLOWED, RADIANT (an enovella) and BOUNDLESS. Currently she lives in southern California with her husband and two small children. She teaches courses in creative writing at Pepperdine University. Her next book, THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, will be released in February 2015.