Review: Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

Emmy & Oliver
by Robin Benway
Release Date: June 23rd 2015
2015 HarperTeen
Ebook Edition; 352 Pages
ISBN: 978-0062330598
ASIN: B00O11DMOU
Genre: Fiction / YA / Contemporary
Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
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?

My Thoughts
Emmy & Oliver is a book that I really enjoyed. It was meaningful, with thoughtful characters, and situations that didn't scream 'drama' at you all of the time.  I really felt like I understood the problems and the situations these characters were faced with on a regular basis, and emphasized with their many trials and their daily ups and downs.  

First of all, let me say right off the bat that I have no experience whatsoever with anyone having been kidnapped, although I have had experience dealing with situations where children have been taken from their parents for various reasons, or there are court orders against one parent or other family member for whatever reason.  This is the place where I put myself while I was reading this novel and trying to understand Oliver's emotional state upon his return to his mom and discovering he has a step-dad and half-sisters, as well as discovering his whole life had been a lie.   This is where I really feel Oliver's point of view may have enriched the story quite a bit as we had no idea what he was really thinking or feeling most of the time and I would have liked to have known.  I just can't imagine the struggle he was going through trying to make sense of it all.

What I really liked about this novel is how normal everything felt: the characters did normal things like sneak out to parties and drink, hang out at the beach, worry about SATs and college applications, nag each other about their social lives, text all day long and get into trouble over it, break curfew and get grounded, eat burritos, and so on.  Everything felt so grounded, so normal.  Even the dialogue was interesting as the characters teased each other, without using big words the general population has to look up in a dictionary.  I just thought it capture the ambiance of the world in such a way that it made everyone seem so normal, and when the drama did appear, it was just typical teenager stuff that wasn't overly dramatic.

There were several themes however, that did run through this novel and were quite deceptive in their simplicity.  Family, friendship, honesty, growing up, and fear, although I was the most interested in the fear aspect and how it could really affect parents and the relationship parents develop with their children.  Having a seven-year-old disappear is bound to affect everyone in a town, but to those who were especially close to Oliver, it certainly reverberated through the years with tighter control over the children and very strict curfews.  Emmy especially felt bound by rules she began to think were strangling her as she was finishing her last year of high school, and as a result, began doing things secretly behind her parents' backs, causing her to lie and cheat.  While I liked the result that happened, I thought the denouement behind it was too neatly wrapped up after years of strict control and I couldn't see it happening so quickly or so easily.  

Verdict
Emmy & Oliver is a great read for those looking for something contemporary without a lot of drama, but with a lot of heart and emotion. It's a very duplicitous novel as there are many layers within it, and many themes are explored.  I adored the romance as there is no insta-love in this one, but develops slowly and romantically, with both of them supporting each other as they go through their various 'bumps' in the road.  The writing style is very lyrical and interesting, and draws you right into the events and into the lives of the characters.  I recommend this one to anyone who likes contemporary fiction that is not heavy on drama, but adores a happy ending for all.

Guest Post: The Race Aspect of Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr

Stone Rider
by David Hofmeyr
Release Date: July 14th 2015
2015 Delacorte Press
Harcopy Edition: 336 Pages
ISBN: 978-0385744737
ASIN: B00ONUVQRY
Genre: Fiction / YA / Action

Summary
Adam Stone wants freedom and peace. He wants a chance to escape Blackwater, the dust-bowl desert town he grew up in. Most of all, he wants the beautiful Sadie Blood. Alongside Sadie and the dangerous outsider Kane, Adam will ride the Blackwater Trail in a brutal race that will test them all, body and soul. Only the strongest will survive.

The prize? A one-way ticket to Sky-Base and unimaginable luxury.

And for a chance at this new life, Adam will risk everything.

THE RACE ASPECT OF STONE RIDER

David Hofmeyr

Stone Rider – my debut novel – is a gritty coming-of-age story in which a boy who has lost everything joins a brutal race to win the chance to escape his dying world. The story begins in the wind-swept dustbowl town of Blackwater, where rival Tribes of teenagers ride semi-sentient mechanical bykes and when they join the Blackwater Trail they are thrown out into a bleak and savage wilderness.

The Race aspect is vital to the story. It gives the lead character, 15-year-old Adam Stone, a distinct outer goal: to earn a ticket to Sky-Base, an Ark in Space where the horrors of this cataclysmic Earth can be left behind. Of course, this runs in tangent to his inner need: for revenge, redemption and to become a man.

In a way, the Race is a metaphor. The story is about how we maintain humanity in bleak and trying circumstances. It’s about endurance and willpower and the strength that some people have to continue, to press forward, to stand up and fight. The Race also allows me to put a time lock on the story. To build tension up to the start of the event and to drive the story forward once the Riders have cleared the start line. And it’s a long distance course, which permits moments of quiet, solitude and introspection interspersed between high-octane adrenalin madness.

Inspiration for the Race came from many different sources, literary and cinematic.

The first scene of the book came to me in a dream, but it reflects the opening scene of Clint Eastwood’s PALE RIDER. I saw three Riders coming across a broken landscape like horsemen of the apocalypse, but instead of riding horses they were riding otherworldly bykes. There are also many cues to scenes from Sergio Leone westerns. I wanted the Race to breathe. I wanted fear, blood and dust. I force the Riders through claustrophobic spaces like canyons and then explode them out onto wide plains. I write third person close up, so we see the action from the perspective of the Rider, but I can pull back and give the reader a cinematic feel of the landscape of the Race.

The story pays homage to the peerless Stephen King and his terrifying short story from The Bachman Books, THE LONG WALK. There are also nods to the film HIDALGO. But I drew inspiration from so many sources in my life. Even a cycling book called THE RIDER, by Tim Krabbe, which I loved.

The amazing thing about a Race – and any kind of sporting event – is the unpredictability. There are always stories within the story. There’s the underdog. There’s the odds-on favourite. There are the saboteurs and the cheats. All these elements come into play when you write about a sporting event and they add vitality and complexity to the story and to the characters that populate the world. And of course, the lead character has to draw on the inner strength to overcome the trials and tribulations of the Race. In effect, this metaphor for life shows us the courage and the endurance of people. It reflects a spirit of humanity.

Book Two in the series, Blood Rider, takes the Race idea further. Winter arrives and the characters find themselves caught in even more dire circumstances. The stakes are raised. And, as always, they will have to compete to win, or be left behind.

It’s a race into the heart of darkness. It’s ride or die. 

New book trailer for THE SLEEPING KING by Cindy Dees

Check out the new book trailer for a new series I am highly anticipating, The Sleeping King by Cindy Dees and Bill Flippin (founder of Dragon Crest).  It is to be released September 8th.

The planet Urth was once a green and verdant paradise. Powerful elemental beings with deep magic were stewards to this wonder, but not all could agree on its destiny. When gods war, it is the small who always suffer, and the First Great Age ended with a battle that nearly destroyed all life. To end the conflict, an Accord was put in place to preserve the balance, and the elementals withdrew their influence to allow new, less powerful races to grow and thrive in the world.

The delicate peace was destroyed, however, when a race of near immortals called the Kothites came to Urth. In the ensuing centuries, they have wreaked havoc on the planet, and the mortal races of men, elves, and other creatures are seeking a way to break free of the Kothite menace. Rumors of a Sleeping King, a powerful elvish elemental trapped in a spell, who may bring Urth back to health, abound, and many are seeking this treature— including a young girl who wants to thwart prophecy to save her own future and a young woodsman out to discover his lost past. Only time will tell if they can work together to save the beloved Urth they call home.

THE SLEEPING KING is the first in an epic fantasy series, featuring the best of the genre: near immortal imperial overlords, a prophecy of a sleeping elven king who’s said to be the savior of the races… and two young people who are set on a path to save the day. 

Tor Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-7653-3514-2
480p

Review: Overcoming Anxiety: Self-Help Anxiety Relief by David Berndt, PhD

Overcoming Anxiety: Self-Help Anxiety Relief
by David Berndt, PhD
Release Date: July 27th 2015
2015 David Berndt PhD
Ebook Edition; 121 Pages
ISBN: 978-1514327241
ASIN: B00YEV4J30
Genre: Non-fiction / Self-Help
Source: Review copy from Pump Up Your Book

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
The good news is that anxiety can be overcome without relying on medication. Psychologist David Berndt, Ph.D., in Overcoming Anxiety outlines several self-help methods for relief of anxiety and worry. In clear simple language and a conversational style. Dr. Berndt shares with the reader powerful step by step proven techniques for anxiety management.
You will learn:
• A Self-hypnosis grounding technique in the Ericksonian tradition.
• Box Breathing, Seven Eleven and similar breathing techniques for anxiety relief.
• How to stop or interrupt toxic thoughts that keep you locked in anxiety.
• How to harness and utilize your worries, so they work for you.
• Relief from anxiety through desensitization and exposure therapy.
Designed to be used alone as self-help or in conjunction with professional treatment Dr. Berndt draws upon his experience as a clinician and academic researcher to give accessible help to the reader who wants to understand and manage their anxiety.

My Thoughts
Overcoming Anxiety is a great book for those who are beginning their search into the anxiety world.  Because there are so many books written on the subject, it can be somewhat overwhelming for people who are just beginning to research anxiety and are looking to ease their way into the subject.  

Overcoming Anxiety is written in quite simple terms and lays it right on the line.  Introducing such concepts as the 5 4 3 2 1 strategy, anyone can use these in their daily lives in order to help them with their anxiety or panic attacks.  I even tried it myself and found it quite relaxing and grounding.  The basic idea behind it is to focus on three senses such as hearing, seeing, and feeling and then use those senses to find five things to see, five things to hear, and five things to touch.  Then you work your work down, using the same categories until you get to one. I found it actually worked quite well and I could even do it while working at my computer desk for long hours when I was feeling overwhelmed and I wasn't accomplishing as much as I hoped.  I even did it while painting, which took longer than I anticipated.   

The book was quite short and the chapters were easy to read; each topic followed a logical pattern and flowed quite well.  The first chapter started with the 5 4 3 2 1 strategy, which had the most impact on me as I had never heard of it before, but the other chapters did talk about deep breathing, thought stopping, physiological responses (which does get more technical), and exposure therapy.  I was also happy to note that the author was quite vocal in emphasizing that these techniques would not work on the more serious issues regarding anxiety, depression, and other clinical issues, and that therapy would be essential for these issues.  

Summary
Overcoming Anxiety is a great book for someone looking for a way to deal with anxiety or happens to be an excessive worrier.  Because it is written in easy-to-understand chapters, the reader can get information without slogging through a lot of physiological information first.  However, for someone who has a lot of experience with anxiety, and who has read a lot of material on it, such as I have, and might be looking for something more, while it was an interesting read, and there is definitely some application merit behind it, it won't necessarily give you that deeper insight that a more experienced reader might need from such literature.  The author has alluded to publishing another book that delves more deeply into other topics such as hair-pulling and cutting, so I am looking forward to what he has to say with regards to that when it is released as it has a lot of relevance to my job.  Can't wait!!

Book Spotlight: Incurable by E.C. Moore

 

Incurable by E.C. Moore

Publication Date: July 6, 2015
BookTrope Publishing
eBook; 360 Pages
Genre: Historical Suspense/Literary

     

Her menacing past was loose and in close pursuit. The fear of the thing lived in her eyes, and trepidation sounded with each step her heels made as she fled… Los Angeles 1956—Marilyn Palmer is a beauty with a deep dark secret. After a threatening note from a blackmailer arrives she hires a private eye to help keep her unsavory past under wraps. Incurable is a story wrought with impetuous and regrettable decisions made by a desperate young woman. Barely eighteen years old, and a gifted seamstress, she makes the ill-fated decision to run away from her Detroit home with a wily friend. Bound for Hollywood, and seeking stardom, the girls set out on an incredible journey. This splendidly imagined debut explores the tumultuous life and times of a woman who suffered the ultimate betrayal as a child during the Great Depression. A story of survival set against the backdrop of early Hollywood, misery on Hotel Street in Honolulu before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and heartbreak in Los Angeles during WWII, Incurable delivers an emotional intensity rarely found.

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CAN | AMAZON AUS

PRAISE

"Incurable will have you flipping through its word-painted images, and thinking about its characters long after you've read the last line." - Anita Kovacevic

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When E.C. Moore’s not writing feverishly, you will find her out walking or sightseeing. She’s wild about coffee, books, cooking, good wine, cairn terriers, miniature ponies, historical houses, and witty people. She resides in a fifties bungalow in Southern California, with her creative-director husband, a yappy blonde dog, and one feisty Chihuahua. For more information visit E.C. Moore's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Amazon, Google+, and Goodreads.


EXCERPT

Her eyes were green and definitely her best feature. He had to admit those gorgeous emerald pools held a huge claim to fame, because they were in competition with flawless skin, a perfect nose, and full lips, all framed with long silky auburn hair begging to be touched. Never had he laid eyes on such a lovely head so up close and personal. Reg did his best not to let his hungry eyes travel south. He recognized what was happening. He felt like a breathing cliché, a private eye in a seedy office facing a beautiful dame in need of his know-how.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, August 10 Review at Book Nerd
Tuesday, August 11 Review at A Fold in the Spine Spotlight & Excerpt at Curling Up By the Fire
Wednesday, August 12 Guest Post & Giveaway at Unshelfish  
Thursday, August 13 Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book Spotlight & Excerpt at A Literary Vacation Spotlight & Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Sunday, August 16 Review at History From a Woman's Perspective Spotlight & Excerpt at Please Pass the Books  
Monday, August 17 Guest Post at Passages to the Past  
Thursday, August 20 Review at Bookramblings Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More  
Friday, August 21 Tour Wrap-Up & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Spotlight: Imagine by Jenna Greene

Imagine

Jenna Greene

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Champagne Books

Date of Publication: August 3, 2015

ISBN: 987-1-77155-120-5

Number of pages: 338

Word Count: 112 586

Cover Artist: Trisha FitzGerald

Book Description:

A fierce wind and a blast of green light during a strange storm causes everything to change for Katharine Bowers and Becky Thatcher. The girls wake up in Oren, an entirely different realm than their earthly city. They meet Enalie, a fading magical presence who sets an incredible destiny before them… then simply disappears. Left alone to fend off creatures that hunt them in the night, they must relay a magical heritage that doesn’t make sense, and – if possible – save a world that they know nothing about.

Available at Champagne Books

Cover Reveal The Svatura Series by Abigail Owen

The Svatura Series

Abigail Owen

Genre: paranormal romance

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor

Series Description:

Meet the ladies of the Svatura series: Ellie, Selene, Lila, and Adelaide.

One will come out of hiding to protect others from the fate she suffered. One will lead her people after being released from a hellish nightmare. One will try to start a new life only to discover that her path lies where it always has. And one will experience a loss so terrible that only oblivion can stop the pain.

Individually they are strong. But together these sisters of the heart are a force before whom even their most powerful enemies will tremble. However, that may not be enough. Is the key to their salvation power…or love?

Book One Blue Violet:

When fairy tales turn into nightmares…

Ellie Aubrey has spent most of her unnaturally long life hiding her extraordinary abilities from the world. On the run from the shapeshifting wolves who murdered her family, she risks discovery in order to secretly watch over another group of similarly gifted people, determined they won’t suffer the same fate.

Alex Jenner has come home to protect his family from an unknown danger lurking in the woods. Suspicious of the new girl in town, he challenges Ellie in ways that will spark one of two possible outcomes: they’ll spontaneously combust, or she’ll lose control of the one power she’s fought so hard to contain.

In this fairy tale, the dragon the prince must slay is also the princess who holds his heart.

Book Blast & Giveaway: Enchantress of Paris by Marci Jefferson

Enchantress of Paris: A Novel of the Sun King's Court by Marci Jefferson

Publication Date: August 4, 2015 Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press Hardcover & eBook; 336 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction
READ AN EXCERPT.

Fraught with conspiracy and passion, the Sun King's opulent court is brought to vivid life in this captivating tale about a woman whose love was more powerful than magic. The alignment of the stars at Marie Mancini's birth warned that although she would be gifted at divination, she was destined to disgrace her family. Ignoring the dark warnings of his sister and astrologers, Cardinal Mazarin brings his niece to the French court, where the forbidden occult arts thrive in secret. In France, Marie learns her uncle has become the power behind the throne by using her sister Olympia to hold the Sun King, Louis XIV, in thrall. Desperate to avoid her mother's dying wish that she spend her life in a convent, Marie burns her grimoire, trading Italian superstitions for polite sophistication. But as her star rises, King Louis becomes enchanted by Marie's charm. Sensing a chance to grasp even greater glory, Cardinal Mazarin pits the sisters against each other, showering Marie with diamonds and silks in exchange for bending King Louis to his will. Disgusted by Mazarin's ruthlessness, Marie rebels. She sacrifices everything, but exposing Mazarin's deepest secret threatens to tear France apart. When even King Louis's love fails to protect Marie, she must summon her forbidden powers of divination to shield her family, protect France, and help the Sun King fulfill his destiny.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKS-A-MILLION | INDIEBOUND | MACMILLAN