Book Shelf: Wish You Were Italian (If Only . . . #2) by Kristin Rae

The summer before senior year of high school. It’s supposed to be one of the biggest summers of her life, but Pippa is headed to an art program she has no interest in. The one saving grace is it’s in Italy. And when the opportunity strikes, she decides to ditch the program and travel Italy accomplishing her own list of goals. Things like swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, eating a whole pizza in one sitting…and falling in love with an Italian boy!

As she explores the famous cities of Rome and Pompeii, Pippa finds herself falling for two boys: a local guy she knows is nothing but trouble and a cute American archaeology student who keeps disappearing and reappearing at the strangest moments. Will Pippa find her true love before her parents find out the truth about her summer program?  

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Wish You Were Italian is the second book in the If Only series, this time written by author Kristin Rae and can easily be read as a stand alone novel. A fun, enticing read full of culture, friendship and romance, Wish You Were Italian will make you long for an adventure of your own!

Following seventeen year old Pippa who has been sent to Italy by her parents to study art for the summer at an art school in Florence, Wish You Were Italian sees Pippa throw caution to the wind when she decides to skip out on the art program, choosing instead to explore Italy on her own. Armed with some cash from her father, a journal full of activities from her best friend back home and a wish list of things she wants to do before she leaves, one of which is to fall in love with an Italian, Pippa begins exploring Italy. Only not everything goes as planned as an American boy with a great nature and stunning curls starts to make Pippa's heart race, a beautiful family with a sexy son and a girl who becomes an amazing friend make Pippa long to put down roots and a surprising development has Pippa questioning just what is important.

Wish You Were Italian was a really great book to read. As her debut novel, Kristin Rae manages to hit the nail on the head with this Italian adventure. I was impressed with the culture Rae weaves together with romance, humor and friendship. Seeing the main character visit the Trevi Fountain, explore Pompeii, the Coliseum and coastal villages of Italy makes you long to see them yourself, even as you're living vicariously through Pippa.

Pippa is a smart, sweet and strong young woman. She's down to earth and extremely likable and it's impossible not to enjoy following her. I loved seeing her fall for Darren, even though he wasn't what she thought she wanted and I enjoyed seeing her experience so much authentic Italy. Pippa made choices and decisions and I was right there alongside her, happy with practically every one.

Kristin Rae fills Wish You Were Italian with plenty of wonderfully colorful individuals Pippa meets during her time in Italy who you just can't help but fall in love with. From the charismatic and adorable Darren, to the amazing Chiara who becomes a true friend to Pippa to Chiara's extended family who welcome Pippa into their home and Darrens travelling companions--you can't help but appreciate each and every one of them for what they bring to the story.

Rich in culture, romance and addictive situations, Wish You Were Italian is a fantastic summer read you won't want to miss!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Bloomsbury Australia (Thank you Sonia!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: If you're a contemporary fan and are looking for something fun, you'll not want to miss this.
Cover: So very colorful and cute!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes

Blog Tour: Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes- Excerpt & Giveaway

Today I'm participating in the Blog Tour for Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes thanks to YA Bound Book Tours! Yesterday I posted my 4 star review of Paper or Plastic and having had the pleasure of reading Paper or Plastic I'm happy to share an excerpt from the book today as well as a giveaway :)

____________________________________

Welcome to SmartMart, where crime pays minimum wage...

Busted. Alexis Dubois just got caught shoplifting a cheap tube of lipstick at the local SmartMart. She doesn’t know what’s worse—disappointing her overbearing beauty-pageant-obsessed mother for the zillionth time…or her punishment. Because Lex is forced to spend her summer working at the store, where the only things stranger than the staff are the customers.

Now Lex is stuck in the bizarro world of big-box retail. Coupon cutters, jerk customers, and learning exactly what a “Code B” really is (ew). And for added awkwardness, her new supervisor is the totally cute—and adorably geeky—Noah Grayson. Trying to balance her out-of-control mother, her pitching position on the softball team, and her secret crush on the school geek makes for one crazy summer. But ultimately, could the worst job in the world be the best thing that ever happened to her?

Add on Goodreads or check out my review!

Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

 

From Paper or Plastic....

(In PAPER OR PLASTIC, Lex’s rocky friendship with Noah grows more solid as she gets to know him, then gradually turns into love. In my opinion, there’s nothing more thrilling than the moment you realize you’re falling for "him." This scene takes place after Noah and Lex bump into each other outside of SmartMart (in the most unlikely of places—a dress shop). They decide to escape from their families and head to a nearby café.)

"So why are you so in love with SmartMart?" I asked.

"I never said I was in love with it." He took a sip of his coffee. "I like working there because I have a better chance at getting experience that most places don’t offer to people our age."

"Yeah, but why do you care? I mean, are you planning to stay at SmartMart forever? Or do you want to be a grocery store manager when you graduate?"

His eyebrows pinched as if he thought I was making fun of him, but I wasn’t. I really wanted to know.

"No," he said finally. "I’m working to get money for college. But I was serious about the experience. It’s good that Mr. Hanson’s letting me learn management—it might come in handy someday. At the very least, it’ll look good on a résumé."

I stirred my tea. "What do you want to do? I mean, when you go to college?"

He smiled, a nice, faraway kind of smile. "Architecture. I love drawing, outlining plans for buildings. Sketching." He was silent for a moment, his gaze drifting to the small black and white pictures on the wall of various landmarks. "There’s something to be said for structural lines, the way they converge. Beautiful."

His eyes were soft as they moved over the images. For the first time, I saw him as someone more than the shy SmartMart manager who tolerated me, more than the reclusive kid at school whose gaze never lifted above the ground or the guy who’d snitched on Bryce. Noah seemed so much older than his age. As he talked about his passion for architecture, something deep inside me stirred—a complicated, twisting knot that I had a feeling was going to unfurl painfully, frustratingly slowly.

Want more? And trust me you do--be sure to snag your copy today!

 

Vivi Barnes is the author of Olivia Twisted and the upcoming release, Paper or Plastic. She was raised on a farm in East Texas where her theater-loving mom and cowboy dad gave her a unique perspective on life. Now living in the magic and sunshine of Orlando, Florida, she divides her time writing, working, goofing off with her husband and three kids, and avoiding dirty dishes

Visit Vivi:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

 

 

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Book Shelf: Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes

Welcome to SmartMart, where crime pays minimum wage...

Busted. Alexis Dubois just got caught shoplifting a cheap tube of lipstick at the local SmartMart. She doesn’t know what’s worse—disappointing her overbearing beauty-pageant-obsessed mother for the zillionth time…or her punishment. Because Lex is forced to spend her summer working at the store, where the only things stranger than the staff are the customers.

Now Lex is stuck in the bizarro world of big-box retail. Coupon cutters, jerk customers, and learning exactly what a “Code B” really is (ew). And for added awkwardness, her new supervisor is the totally cute—and adorably geeky—Noah Grayson. Trying to balance her out-of-control mother, her pitching position on the softball team, and her secret crush on the school geek makes for one crazy summer. But ultimately, could the worst job in the world be the best thing that ever happened to her?

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes is a delightfully fun contemporary romance that is an easy read with an addictive and sweet romance you’ll just devour whole!

Pretty, popular and athletic Alexis Dubois finds her summer plans taking a drastic turn when she is caught shoplifting a tube of lipstick from Smartmart, a convenience store that sells everything and anything. Rather than face charges that will remain on her permanent record she is given the opportunity to work there for the summer instead. As it seems like she is out of options, Lex resigns herself for a summer of boring shifts with a bunch of awkward people but soon discovers that Smartmart isn’t the hellish place she first thought. Plus the last thing Lex expected was to be attracted to her nerdy, loner manager Noah Grayson and fellow student at her high school; someone whose history with her friends would not make for an easy relationship. Their chemistry can't be denied and soon Lex and Noah find themselves on a whirlwind romance that is not without it's issues....

Paper or Plastic was a really fun book to read. It was sweet and charming, and a great way to spend an afternoon. I was very won over by the characters, romance and the storyline—I pretty much wished I could be working at Smartmart alongside Alexis. Though the concept is simple, the execution complimented the story so well and managed to showcase a great main character who undertook growth, a sizzling romance and plenty of quirky side characters who brought such life to Smartmart.

Alexis was a passionate and popular young woman who found her wants and desires change after working at Smartmart. Though she is popular, I loved that she came to care about the other Smartmart employees and that she enjoyed parts of her time at Smartmart. I think Alexis undertook enough personal growth to compliment her character while still managing to retain the essence of who she already was. 

Personally I really loved the chemistry between Lex and Noah. Noah is a bit geeky and by the book, but he also has another side that I found really appealing in Paper or Plastic. There’s something very sexy about a man who loves his family and does right by them, something Noah does in spades in this book. He’s a generally good guy who is very intelligent and has ambition. Noah knows when to be cheeky or serious, and has an endearing shyness to him at times that you can’t help but adore!

Fun, fresh and a great summer read, Paper or Plastic truly did win me over from the opening chapter. Personally I'd love a second novel although I know that's a pipe dream; I'd love to see Lex and Noah take their summer romance back to school and see how things change. I found I loved the storyline and characters within Paper or Plastic and definitely urge those who love contemporary reads to check this out. 

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by YA Bound Book Tours and the author (Thanks ladies!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Recommendation: This is such a fun contemporary read!
Cover: This cover is so cute and I seriously love it!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: I hope to read more by this author in the future......

Waiting on Wednesday #83

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

The Leveller by Julia Durango
Releases on: June 23rd 2015
Add on Goodreads!

Nixy Bauer is a self-made Leveller. Her job? Dragging kids out of virtual reality and back to their parents in the real world. It’s normally easy cash, but Nixy’s latest mission is fraught with real danger, intrigue, and romance.

Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she’s a bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world. Kids in the MEEP, as they call it, play entirely with their minds, while their bodies languish in a sleeplike state on the couch. Irritated parents, looking to wrench their kids back to reality, hire Nixy to jump into the game and retrieve them.

But when the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding—he’s being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?

Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?
Gamers and action fans of all types will dive straight into the MEEP, thanks to Julia Durango’s cinematic storytelling. A touch of romance adds some heart to Nixy’s vivid, multidimensional journey through Wyn’s tricked-out virtual city, and constant twists keep readers flying through to the breathtaking end.

Thoughts:
I'm a big fan of these kinds of novels and there's something about The Leveller that has my attention sitting up and taking notice. The main character looks kick-ass and romance always manages to snag me. Defintely looking forward to this one!

What do you think of The Leveller? Is it something you might read?
And what are you waiting for this week?

 

Book Shelf: Incubus (Daughters of Lilith #2) by Jennifer Quintenz

Braedyn Murphy used to think nothing important ever happened in her sleepy town of Puerto Escondido. But that was before she learned she was a descendent of Lilith, the mother of all demons. Now Braedyn fights to protect humanity from the Lilitu - the beautiful, souls-stealing daughters of Lilith.

As she fights the Lilitu, Braedyn must also fight her growing love for her boyfriend Lucas - because even a simple kiss could end his life. Their only ray of hope is an angel’s offer to make Braedyn human, but it’s an offer she can’t accept until the world is safe from the Lilitu.

Braedyn knows she’s a key player in this ancient war... but she’s not ready to believe she just might be humanity’s best hope of surviving the final battle for Earth.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Incubus is the second book in Jennifer Quintenz’s Daughters of Lilith series and is quite possibly even better than the first book! The stakes are higher and there’s a new danger to face as Braedyn and the Guard continue their fight against the Lillith in another exciting read by Quintenz!

I have to say I really enjoyed Incubus; possibly even more than the first book! With Quintenz’s world already established and the characters well known by now, I was thrilled with how the story is progressing and the developments that have come to light in this book. Sometimes sequels don’t live up to their predecessors; however Incubus manages to stand exceptionally well on its own two feet with its own individual story that still manages to feature an ongoing storyline from the previous book.

As with the previous book in this series, Incubus was very well written and author Jennifer Quintenz manages to pack a lot of action and surprises into the story. The tale is well written and the characters compliment each other beautifully. The introduction of some new characters to that story shake the foundation, but Quintenz explores them expertly; managing to include many unexpected developments.

Braedyn continues to grow and strengthen in her fight against the Lilitu, making some bad choices along the way that may affect not only those around her, but possibly the whole world. Personally I like Braedyn and I like seeing her face things head on. Admittedly she makes some tough choices in this book, some of which have horrendous results, but she’s learning and you can’t fault her desire to do the right thing.

Braedyn’s relationship with Lucas continues to be a focal point within the story considering they are still unable to act on their feeling without Lucas being tremendously hurt, or worse, killed. Quintenz continues to showcase a great relationship between Braedyn and her father Murphy and I’m even quite a fan of the unexpected friendship/alliance Braedyn has formed with Karayan—this was not something expected after her actions in the previous book, but Quintenz is beginning to depict a different side to Karayan that makes me wonder just how evil she really is.

Shocking betrayals and unexpected revelations see Incubus end with an unforeseen cliff-hanger that readers will simply not expect but will leave them raring to dive into the third instalment as soon as they’re physically able!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Jennifer!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Recommendation: This is a great YA series that is definitely worth a read!
Cover: I think it's wonderful
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes!

Owl Post #50

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

Hello my lovelies!

 

No review books for me last week, but I couldn't help but purchase a couple. As usual ;)

  I Bought:

  - The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury I featured this one as a WOW a few weeks ago and I'm SUPER excited to read it--hope to squeeze it into my reading schedule sometime in the near future!   - All Fall Down by Ally Carter This was one by I couldn't help but purchase--a hardback copy for only $14.99--I'm a sucker cos it looked so pretty. Hope it's as good as it sounds!   And that's me!
What did you receive this week?  

 

Free Ebooks

Hi guys and happy Sunday!

It's that time again :) I've got some great freebies to share today--enjoy.

 

Hope you snagged something new!