How One Attempts to Chase Gravity

Book Review

Title: How One Attempts to Chase Gravity

Author: Nicole Campbell

Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: 

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Buy the Book: Amazon, B&N, iBooks

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Synopsis:

Ethan Fisher is college bound- surprising, even to him. Ethan knows he will run into Courtney eventually, and he is determined to have another chance to be the man she thought he was. If it is even possible for her to speak to him without throwing her coffee in his face. He’s willing to take his chances in hopes that the infatuation of their summer love can hold up in the real world. 

Courtney Ross feels like she just stepped out of a time machine. She thought going away to college involved some sort of "growing up," so why is she now being thrown into last year? She really doesn't know if she's ready to forgive and forget.

In this sequel- equally delicious as its predecessor- learn how this winding tale of love and heartbreak unfolds.

My Thoughts:

I was sent a novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

If you read my review for the first novel in this series you know that I absolutely loved it, and was completely devastated with the ending, but I forgave the author because I had the sequel; which I was able to start Immediately.  Just when I thought I couldn’t love Ethan any more I get the sequel written in his perspective and I fall for him even harder; his character growth was immense in this book and I loved every single second of it and the way he treats Courtney had me in the clouds! I loved Courtney so much, she has come a long way her character growth is the most noticeable; even though at some points in the books I did want to tell her to relax a bit and deal with things as they came, but that just wouldn’t be like Courtney.

I loved how the author made this novel show the real struggles that all couples have and showed us that both characters had flaws they had to work on, and how their love for each other was so great that they learned to see past their flaws and love each other more because of them. I have really come to love these characters, I don’t think I have ever read a book where I can relate with the characters so much or where I can see myself meeting them in real life and becoming best friends with them. The ending for this novel could not have been more perfect! I was in tears and just wanted to pull out all the characters and give them the biggest group hug.  Another thing that I love about these novels is that in the beginning of every chapter there is a song title and the author has made a playlist you can listen to as you read, it just takes the reading experience to a whole new level, it makes you feel closer to the story and the characters.

If you haven’t picked these novels up, I highly recommend them! I devoured both book in less than a week. It is the perfect summer read or if you are looking for a good contemporary read.

SandraTheBookWorm

My Dream Reading Space & Library

While I was scrolling through  Arhaus a couple of days ago, I was inspired to write a post describing my dream reading space! I don't know why it didn't come to me sooner! I think all bookworms occasionally imagine the perfect reading space, so I'm so excited to share mine with you all!

I've always told my husband that when we finally get our home, it must have an extra room which will be our reading space and library! I can't tell you how many times I've looked for the perfect sofa, lighting and the most important item to any bookworm’s space bookshelves! I have fell in and out of love with so many, but enough babbling and let’s get to it. 

My reading room must have a large window, where light can shine in through the day. So, I can read without artificial light when it is sunny, and watch the rain when storms roll in! I just love rainy days, and think they are perfect for reading; love to see and hear the rain as I read. The picture below is exactly what I am talking about. Picture found on google!

As a Beauty and the Beast fanatic and a bookworm, one of my all-time favorite scenes is when Beast shows and gifts Belle his library! I've always wanted one of those beautiful classic shelves that have the ladder, just in case you can't reach those top shelves. I found the perfect one on the Arhaus website! This shelf would look beautiful!!! There is one that takes up the whole wall and it is perfection! I could not find a picture, but click here and it will take you right to it! 

Now on to the sofa that I would put in front or near to window! There is so many sofas, but for me it would just have to be comfy, somewhere I could sit for hours, and not have to be changing positions. It would also have to match my theme or it would drive me nuts!!! I found the perfect sectional sofa on the Arhaus website, they had so many, but this one was my favorite! you can check out their sectional collection here to pick one you would like!  There is just so many ways one can sit on a sectional and get lost in a book, it also does not hurt that is gorgeous! 

Lighting is something essential for a library! I know that the large window will provide light during the day, but we will still need light for those late nights, when we can't put that book down, or those gorgeous rainy days! Guys, I am drooling over these lights they are gorgeous! picture was found on pinterest! 

A room is nor complete without a rug, where I can lay just in case I am not feeling the couch! This rug caught my eye first and I feel like it brings my room together! It’s so beautiful! you can find it here.

This was so much fun!!!! I really enjoyed sharing my dream reading space with everyone! Looking at furniture was also fun! I would love to read what you would add in your room or how it will look. Let me know on the comment section! Doing these made me excited for when I get to shop for my reading space! 

SandraTheBookWorm

Interview with Author Tiffany McDaniel

Tiffany McDaniel

Author of

The Summer that Melted Everything!

1)      Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m an Ohio poet and novelist.  Other than writing, I love plants and gardening.  I also love art, and dapple in everything from charcoal to watercolors. 

2) In your own words, please describe the book.

The Summer that Melted Everything is about a man who one day puts an invitation in the newspaper, inviting the devil to town.  A boy, claiming to be the devil, answers the invitation, only this boy is not your stereotypical devil of red flesh and horns.  This so-called devil’s arrival coincides with the start of a heat-wave that threatens to destroy the town’s very sanity.  As the summer unfolds, the boy’s presence has tragic consequences on the town and everyone in it.  Who is the real devil?  That is a question The Summer that Melted Everything sets out to answer.

3) What was your inspiration behind your book?

I always say what inspires me are the characters.  I’m inspired by them to write their story and truth to the best of my ability. 

4) How did you come up with this title?

It was one of those hot Ohio summers that I felt like I was melting.  Out of true heat, the title was born.  I usually start writing a new novel with two things: the title and the first line.  These two things really lead the entire rest of the story.   

5) When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid.  Writing is the first thing I remember doing as a child without being told to do so.  There was an innate desire to write down what was in my head.  I’ve always written short stories and poetry.  When I was eighteen was when I wrote my first novel. 

6)Is there any author or book that influenced you in anyway either growing up or as an adult?

I came late to reading the authors who I consider to be among my favorites now.  I’ve always written more than I’ve read.  For some authors, they read more than they write.   Some of my favorite authors are Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, and Donna Tartt.  There is also the poet James Wright, who is from my land of Ohio.  I can’t say these authors have inspired me, because by the time I came upon them I already had a few novels written, but they are authors who I rank among my favorites thus far and authors I recommend everyone check out. 

7)How long does it take you to finish a novel?

On average it takes me about a month to write a novel.  When I say it’s a quick process to lay the bones down, you have to understand writing a book is like building a body.  You lay your bones down, and then you began to build up the layers of tissue, muscle, and skin in your drafting stages.  Then you add the cosmetic features, like freckles and moles, fingernails, and all those particular swirls of fingerprints.  These other layers can take longer as you’re drafting through.  In addition, the quality control comes during the cosmetic stages when you read the novel a million times to make sure everything is as it should be. 

8)  So far, what has been the greatest moment in your writing career?

 For me, getting published has been an uphill battle, so I'd say one of the greatest moments has been seeing one of my books on the shelf.    

9) Have you written a book that you love, but you have not been able to publish?

I have eight completed novels.  One day I hope to see all of these stories and characters out in the world.

10) What Advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Never give up.  While The Summer that Melted Everything is my first published novel, it’s actually my fifth or sixth novel written.  I wrote my first novel when I was eighteen, and wouldn’t get a publishing contract until I was twenty-nine for The Summer that Melted Everything.  It was a long eleven-year journey to publication, full of rejection and perseverance.  My writing is dark, and I was often told I was risky to publish.  If I had given up, I wouldn’t be where I am today, with a book on the shelf.  So to all the writers out there on the journey to publication, I say, don’t let rejection destroy you.  Let rejection empower you. 

  

FUN QUESTIONS!

1) If you had to describe yourself in three words, it would be….

I think the true test of our character is how others describe us.  But I know the things I would like to be thought of as being, which is kind, creative,and thoughtful.   

  

2) If you could be a character in any novel you’ve ever read, who would you be and why?

There are a few characters I’d like to step into the shoes of, so perhaps this is why my answer changes every time I’m asked this.  Today I’d say Hercule Poirot.  I love Agatha Christie and her detective is one character I always love to spend time with, so to actually be him solving these murders would be a pretty wonderful way to spend the day.

3)What’s your favorite movie?

I have a hard time pinning down my absolute favorite because I love film, but some of my favorite movies are Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, Little Shop of Horrors, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.

4) If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say?

I’ve always wanted wings and to fly, so perhaps one day a headline will read: “Writer sprouts wings and flies away”

5) If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be and why?

There are lots of people I’d love to meet.  Today I’ll say I would like to meet Howard Carter.  But more than meet him, I would have liked to have been there when the tomb of Tutankhamun was unearthed.  I love archaeology so it would be pretty incredible to be present in a moment when one of the most astounding archaeological finds was discovered.  

What Comes of Eating Doughnuts With a Boy Who Plays Guitar

Book Review!

Title: What Comes of Eating Doughnuts with a Boy Who Plays Guitar

Author: Nicole Campbell

Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: June 17, 2015

Genre: Contemporary

Follow the Author: Website, Instagram, FB, Twitter

Buy Book: Amazon, iBooks, B&N, Kobo

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Synopsis:

Courtney Ross has lived her whole life doing everything by the book. That’s gotten her good grades, the title of captain of her team, and the gift of being a nervous wreck most of the time. She will be spending the summer before her senior year with her best friend, Vanessa, in her tiny hometown of Gem City, Ohio. Courtney’s hoping for a chance to breathe and maybe to get a tan. What she doesn’t expect is Ethan Fisher and his guitar. She must answer the age old question, what does come of eating doughnuts with a boy who plays guitar? 

In her touching debut novel, Nicole Campbell delivers a perfect summer read. Readers will re-live their first relationships (the good, the bad, and the overwhelming), or imagine the spark of what the future might hold in this story full of the type of intensity only found in young love.

My Thoughts:

I was sent a copy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is the perfect summer contemporary! It had me hooked from page one and I could not put it down! I fell in love with every single character, they became my friends and the love interest had me head over heels. The author took me back to my high school summer days, when I would go out with all my friend and falling in love for the first time oh, those were the days. I loved the authors writing, especially when it comes to character development.

Courtney has always been one to follow the rules, she’s top of her class and captain of her cheer-leading squad, but this summer she is going to be spending it with her best friend Vanessa in her hometown Gem City and Vanessa loves to push Courtney out of her comfort zone. I absolutely loved Courtney, she was such a relatable character and I just saw so much of myself in her. I was always the shy friend who had to be pushed to do fun things, still to this day I overthink everything. Courtney’s development throughout the book is phenomenal! She stops holding back, overthinking and decided to just have fun this summer. Ethan is our love interest and gosh, do I love this man! He was sooo swoon worthy, but of course like any real guy, he has his flaws and I loved that about him; it made him feel real! I fell in love with all the characters including Vanessa and her boyfriend, Luke! I cannot wait to read more about those two.

The ending broke me! I was sobbing so much I had to stop and take a breather, I was so happy I had the next book! The authors writing flows so well and she hooks you from the first chapter! This novel made me laugh, cry and reminisce about my old summer days; I can’t wait to devour more of her novels. I also absolutely loved how in the header of each chapter there is a song title. I decided halfway through the book to look up the playlist the author has for her novel and gosh, I was so happy I decided to listen it to it while I read! It was such a whole new experience, and took the book to a whole new level for me. This novel also helped me get over a horrible reading slump, after trying several other books I might add.  I recommend this to anyone looking for a summer contemporary! 

SandraTheBookWorm

Spinning Time

Book Review

Title: Spinning Time

Author: D.F. Jones

Rating: ★★★★

Date Published: May 2, 2017

Publisher: Jones Media

Genre: Romance/ Sci-Fi

Page Count: 303

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Buy Novel: Amazon

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Synopsis:

Spinning Time, a time travel romance by D. F. Jones 

1948, Burkett Falls 
Southern debutante, Julia Boatwright has everything a twenty-one-year-old desires, a wealthy family, close friends, and a handsome fiancé until she plunges into the deep pools of Burkett Falls trapped in a natural time portal that propels her seventy years into the future. 

Will Julia find a way home before it's too late? 

My Thoughts:

I was sent an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

D.F. Jones has become one of my favorite authors her novels are always so different and enjoyable.  I’m not a big fan of sci-fi, but I’m a sucker for romance so I thought I would give it a shot and I found myself not being able to put it down. Spinning time takes place in 1948 Burkett Falls and it follows Julia Boatwright! I found Julia to be a very likable character her bubbly attitude always made me smile and the fact that she was a feisty little thing when need be (she would probably have my head for calling her little) was just a plus! I always love a character that’s a sweetheart but has an attitude when needed. Julia’s love interest Phillip is so swoon worthy! The way he treats her and looks for her when she disappears is the kind of man I would want to be by my side.

Julia disappeared in the falls of Burkett after she accidentally slipped and a current took her. She ends up in some sort of time portal that takes her to present time Burkett Falls, to her luck she is found by Andy, Phillips grandson. While all this is occurring, we are also introduced to Ruben who is a time traveler that lives in Lunar City; his mission is to protect Julia! I really Liked Ruben, he was such a strong character and despite his feelings he always did what was in Julia’s best interested without thinking about himself. I think Jones did an amazing job writing this book the characters were complex and the way she described the time traveling machines and portals was phenomenal. It also showed how much research and time was put into the novel, but with that said I did feel a little lost once in a while when it involved teach talk. The way both of Julia’s worlds intertwine and come together was so well done! Jones wrote the perfect amount of romance mixed with sci-fi elements and a bit of action, she also threw some surprises my way that had me at the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and absolutely loved the ending! I can’t wait to read more from Jones. If you have yet to pick up her novels what are you waiting for.

SandraTheBookWorm

To Nurture & Kill

Book Review

Title: To Nurture & Kill

Author: E.M. Markoff

Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: April 22, 2017

Publisher: Tomes & Coffee Press

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy

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Buy the Novel: Amazon

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Synopsis:

A promise imprisoned him. Betrayal will set him free. 

Eutau Vidal owed nothing to anyone and lived his life as he wanted. But then his sister died, leaving her newborn son Kira in his care, and everything changed. The Purging sweeps on, spreading misery across the Land of Moenda as the Ascendancy wages its war of extermination against the Deadbringers. Now, torn between a promise to his dying sister and the desire to regain his freedom, Eutau struggles to care for his young nephew even as the babe begins to manifest dark powers of the most dangerous kind. 

To Nurture & Kill is a tale of love and loss, the story of one man’s search for meaning amid the ashes of war. It is a standalone prequel to The Deadbringer, the first book in The Ellderet Series.



My Thoughts:

I was sent an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always enjoyed reading novellas about a character’s past, it just makes me feel so much more connected to them and usually answers some of the questions that I have about them. I loved reading about Eutau and how he came to be the guardian of Kira! I really enjoyed how I could read about Kira as an infant, toddler and young child. Reading of how Kira struggled for being different really brought me to tears, it just broke me! But at the same time, I loved that Markoff wrote about it because it teaches us that being different is okay and that we are loved by many just the way we are! The character growth of Eutau in this novella was phenomenal! At one point, I did become very angry at him for leaving, but as I kept on reading, I began to understand that it was something that he needed to do so he could understand how much HE needs Kira in his life; maybe even a little more than Kira needs him. Like I said above I really enjoyed this book and it has made me even more excited for the rest of the series, if you have read The Deadbringer I highly recommend you read this novella! It brings the characters into a whole new perspective and baby/toddler Kira is super adorable! And if you have not read The Deadbringer what are you waiting for?!? It is such a good and different book! 

SandraTheBookWorm

The Destined

Book Review

Title: The Destined

Author: E.J. Mellow

Rating: ★★★★★

Release Date: October 17, 2016 

Publisher: Four Eyed Owl

Genre: NA Fantasy

Page Count: 421

Stalk the Author: FB, Website, Twitter, Instagram

Buy a Copy: Amazon, Book Depository

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Synopsis:

I searched for you in the stars tonight.
But I found none
that burned as bright as you.

—Part of a letter from Dev to Molly

With the loss of Terra’s greatest weapon, the war against darkness escalates rapidly, and time is on no one’s side. While Dev struggles to keep his home and hope alive, Molly and Rae find themselves forced to confront a desperately kept secret and quickly learn that a life-altering sacrifice is the asking price to restore order. 

Nightmares, betrayal, the fate of two worlds, and one man’s hunger for vengeance lead Molly down a twisted and dark path she fears she might never come back from. Cornered into making a heart-wrenching decision, Molly teeters between deliverance and damnation. Who is worth saving most—a nation or the one she loves?

My Thoughts:

I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t believe this is the last book in this series! I’m going to miss all these characters so much!! The book hangover with The Destined was so real, it took me a while to pick up another book and get over everything that happened.

I could not be more satisfied with the way things ended so as much as I’m going to miss the beautiful world and amazing characters that have made their way into my heart, I will say E.J. concluded this novel beautifully. Molly and Dev are such amazing characters and I will always love them, but there is one character that stole my heart and his name is Rae! Gosh, he may not be one of our main characters, but he sure made an impression on me; I love how selfless and just overall amazing he is and the fact that he is such an adorable dork makes me love him even more. The way E.J. Mellow made me fall in love with the secondary characters speaks volumes of her writing! I’ve read so many novels where the secondary characters just blend and become background noise, but not hers. This novel had me at the edge of my seat! I just could not put it down! Mellow put my babies through so much, but I forgive her hahaha.

Molly is such a bad ass character and her growth in this novel is amazing, she goes from a broken, shy girl to someone who won’t take shit from any one and will let her power known! Dev, what can I say about him?! He is just amazing and the way he loves Molly makes my heartache! He also goes through tremendous growth himself and learns that sometimes it is okay to trust others. Mellow made me an emotional wreck towards the end, but I would not change one single thing about this novel or series. Thank you so much E.J. for introducing me to these amazing characters and to taking me to the beautiful world of Terra! I’m sure I will be revisiting it soon on my spare time. And if you have not picked this series up please, please do I promise you will not regret, I mean come on Dev haha! But in all seriousness, I highly recommend this series is one of my favorites. 

SandraTheBookWorm