Blog Tour (Review): Freedom Road by T.M Souders

Freedom Road by T.M Souders, Kindle edition book cover

Freedom Road

T.M Souders

Genre: YA, contemporary

Editions available: Paperback, Kindle, ebook

Date published: September 17, 2012

Publisher: T.M Souders

Source: BB Book Tours/author

Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
* Book Depository * Indiebound

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

Since the tender age of eight, music served as Samantha Becker’s source of solace against her father’s tyranny and her mother’s alcoholism. Now at eighteen, her only dream is to study classical guitar at Juilliard. But when her father’s careless actions lead to an “accident,” which threatens her ability to play the guitar, Sam becomes despondent. Losing all confidence in her future, Sam hides behind the emotional barriers that have protected her for years.

Just when Sam has given up, two unexpected people enter her life, giving her the confidence she needs, and forcing her to evaluate all she’s ever known. Battling her father’s plans for her future, band mates using her for personal gain, and a permanent injury, the odds are stacked against her. With auditions approaching and time running out, Sam must relearn to play the guitar, or be destined to give up her dreams forever.



My Thoughts:

To where and whom would you hold on to when you felt like your world has lost it all? Family, dreams, peers. None.

Samantha, the female protagonist, felt like she has lost it all. There's a point when I was reading this book that I thank God for I am not her. How unfortunate she was. And you--anyone--would say that it's not the end of the world, that there are other wonderful things in life and that there are other people had the worst problems. I also told Samantha that, while reading. I wish she could hear me.

One thing I liked about her was that she didn't shut the world out, she even gained real friends. Another thing was that she kept going, dreaming, and have that perseverance to reach her dreams.

I also enjoyed it because it's a music novel and I understand how important music is in her life. Especially it it's the one you've known and been for the most part of your life. The love story in it was also an added flavor for the book's very nice outcome. I loved that it made me felt real. 

Freedom Road is a book about like Samantha is, to keep going even if the ground is crumbling just to reach the dreams you're aiming for. It is an easy read and I think a lot of people will learn, if not relate, from this book. 

Recommendations:

This must be YA novel, but anyone can enjoy and learn from this one.

Book cover comment/s:

I really liked it. I love how she looks at you and you feel like you're seeing through her and she to you.

***


Author Bio:
T.M. Souders was born in Johnstown, PA and grew up in the suburbs outside of Pittsburgh. She graduated in 2004, from Youngstown State University, with a degree in Psychology and minor in Women’s Studies. She is the author of bestselling women’s fiction novel, Waiting on Hope, as well as the novelette Dashing Through The Snow. Her young adult crossover novel, Freedom Road, is due to be released later this year. She currently lives in rural Ohio with her husband and children.

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Book Review: Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Slammed by Colleen Hoover, ebook edition book cover

Slammed

by Colleen Hoover

Series: Slammed #1

Genre: YA/new adult, contemporary, romance

Editions available: Paperback, ebook, Kindle

Date published: January 4, 2012

Publisher: Colleen Hoover/Atria Books/Simon & Schuster UK

Source: Netgalley

Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

* Book Depository * Indiebound

Rating: 

Summary (Goodreads):

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

My Thoughts:

When you see a book listed together with Fifty Shades, Beautiful Disaster, Bared to You, etc with the title Intense and "Angsty" Romance in Goodreads...it makes you wanna stay away from that book especially when all you want is a clean, but really good romance book. But something about this book makes me don't wanna miss it. Especially with consistent high reviews and ratings.

Saw it on Netgalley. Requested. Got approved. And here I am.

I never expected I'd like this but... I. Love. This. Book! Awesome. Awesome. Awesome!

It's seems like a love at first sight for Will, and Layken was just being friendly since she just moved in. Usually, this kind of sequence would irritate me, but no. Never this time. Coz after this cliché intro, I was pretty hooked up with the story and characters. 

I loved how Colleen Hoover created Will, as the swoon-worthy male leading character without describing how hot he is in over-exaggerating adjective words. He is adorable because he's being a real and lovable person. He's being real through poetry. Layken confuses me sometimes, though. One time, she's being adorable, one time she's being like a spoiled child. The story wasn't clearly I expected. It contains a powerful romance, and holds a dilemma neither I can't help but think of ways how to fix it. I also loved the Slammed in the book and poetry (you'll see what I meant when you read it).

Slammed is a book about love. Love for your family, parents, sibling, job, your life...and that special person. Reading this book made me realized that my heart was never torn since Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (which was a million years reads ago), or be into a whirlwind of emotions. I was never prepared for any of it. It is also a book that talks about the reality of our life. It is true, it is honest. Any reader would learn a lesson and fall in love from this book. Everything about this book is lovable.

I'm about to request Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) now... ;)

And oh, have I told you that is a clean contemporary romance?

Recommendation:

For everyone who wants a good very good love story. Teens and above of age.

Book cover comment/s:

A stage and a spotlight. It represents Slammed (not the book--but the Slammed that is in the book). But whoever who's gonna came across this book for the first time, seeing the cover alone won't appreciate it right away, I'm afraid.

Alternate cover:

Slammed doesn't really have an alternate cover with different picture, like other books does. But I would like to show you the updated cover (published by Atria Books) with a praise on it and the "New York Times Bestseller" tag. It deserves to have one and lot more--because it really is good.

Check out my review of Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) here.

Book Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Speechless by Hannah Harrington, paperback edition book cover

Speechless

by Hannah Harrington

Genre: YA, contemporary

Date published: August 28, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Source: Netgalley

Buy: Amazon

* Barnes & Noble
 * Book Depository * Indiebound

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret.

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.



My Thoughts:

Everyone makes mistakes. We are not perfect, after all. But when you do, do you really know you're doing it? Do consequences--positive or negative--cross your mind before doing it?

Chelsea Knot tells everyone every thing she finds out. She doesn't care what might it cause as long as it won't bother her. Until she realized she crossed the line. Speechless started showing how (sorry for the word) b*tch Chelsea can be. I admit that it bothered me and I hated her instantly that I almost thought of not continuing it. But I'm just too curious to do so.

Obviously, with the rating of 5 hearts, I loved it. Yes, it started bitchy, but of course the story became better and there's a lot a reader can learn from it, as Chelsea does. This book talks about reality. It is never nice to bully anyone, talk behind their back, use them for your own entertainment or spread rumors about them. Chelsea may have done it before, but thankfully, she woke up and see the reality that her best friend wasn't her worth at all. It's just the same with not knowing what you really are doing: does the person you're treating best friend right now is trustworthy? Doesn't use you? This book has the reality some of us must wake up to see, as well. I hope that every person reads this would learn a lesson. I hope that every one would read this. Once you can see your life clearly, you'll definitely see the person you never noticed before..the one you never knew would change your life, like Chelsea does.

Recommendations:

YA contemp readers. For all teens and teen at heart! ;)

Book cover comment/s:

I think it's really nice and I like it..though I found another book called Speechless also and with the same cover idea. ..

Book Review: What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor, ebook edition book cover

What I Didn't Say

by Keary Taylor

Genre: YA, contemporary

Editions available: Paperback, Kindle, ebook

Publisher: Createspace / Keary Taylor

Date published: May 6, 2012

Source: Netgalley (approved by the author;

THANK YOU SO MUCH!)

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat. 


His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.


When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.







My Thoughts:


I've missed reading contemporary that's why I had my full concentration and excitement with this one. What I Didn't Say was told by Jake Hayes'--male protagonist--POV--another reason why I'm psyched to read this. I have read books with a guy's POV (alternate with the girl's) but this is the first novel with a guy's POV for the entire book I've read. And it's really cool.


I love the way I'm into a guy's mind, for a change, but sometimes it's kinda weird to think of a girl to adore. LOL. I LOVE Jake. He's this rare stick-to-one guy (especially in high school) and easy to like. What happened to him was unimaginable and heartbreaking. Although it really helped him change for the better and the people around him.


There's a lot to love about this book. First, the characters. I told you already that Jake is hard not to (especially what he's done after the after the accident). Samantha is another main character to love. She's independent and hard-working; a definite role model. I also love Jake's family Taylor created. They are helpful, kind and loving.


Another to love--I loved--about this is the story. It's not your average YA contemporary. What I Didn't Say is a story about standing up again from a fall and mistake, loving and appreciating the people around you--especially your family--and every single blessing that you are receiving everyday, believing in yourself and having the guts to say what you're wanted dying to say.


I'm so lucky to get approved of this book, read and share it to all of you. I really enjoyed it and loved every single of it. I loved the combination of teen romance and the meaningful messages of this book to the readers, young or not. And this book made me want more from Keary Taylor.


Recommendations:


This is YA contemporary with romance, real-life issues and moral lesson that I sure know readers or not of the genre will love. To all of you!


Book cover comment/s:


Couldn't they be more sweeter? Awww.

Book Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally, ebook edition book cover

Catching Jordan

by Miranda Kenneally

Genre: YA, contemporary

Editions available: Paperback, ebook, Kindle

Source: own

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

My Thoughts:

I'm not a sporty type of person. In fact, I don't like sports or do any. I know what is football, but doesn't know the game/rules. But even if, I enjoyed and loved reading Catching Jordan.

Jordan Woods--the female protagonist--was like, one of the coolest characters I read (contemporary). She's the captain and the quarterback of their football team. She never had a boyfriend even though she's surrounded by a bunch of guys in her team and she never cares what she looked in front of them--or any other men. Until there's Ty. Ty's so hot that Jordan, the best quarterback, began to *unconsciously drop her jaw. She then started to think of ways on how to get noticed and wear fitted tee (for her, fitted tee is dressing up).


Eventually, Jordan and Ty started dating. It was fun for Jordan and new, but there's something missing. It's like, she's still looking for that someone.


(I don't want to spill some more beans, but it's hard to tell what I really liked about this if I'm not gonna include it. So.. let me continue.)


Usually, I wouldn't like books like this--the turn of events--but in Catching Jordan, I loved every word of it. Ty is really great but there's some attitude he got. Sam Henry or Henry, meanwhile, was the best friend. The cool best friend Jordan got. He didn't got my attention right away because all I thought was that he's only the 'best friend of the protagonist'. But I started to notice and like him on times that he's being a cool and at the same time, great friend to Jordan, he's also funny like, when they were going to sleep on opposite direction and he would shove his foot on Jordan's face. Funny and sweet. He's so sweet that made me develop my suspicion..


Anyway, I love this book! So fun to read, with swoon-worthy scenes. It made me fall in love and smile, and even after reading this, it makes me smile whenever I remember this book. I would definitely read more books from Miranda Kenneally!



Recommendations:


YA, YA romance readers. Seeking for something light and romantic. One of my great reads of YA contemporary, so if you're a fan of Anna & The French Kiss, read this!


Book cover comment/s:


Sweeeet. :)