The Art Of French Kissing by Brianna R Shrum

The Art Of French Kissing by Brianna R Shrum
Release Date - June 5, 2018
Publisher Website - Sky Pony Press

Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  256 pages
My Rating - 3/5
**received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Carter Lane has wanted to be a chef since she was old enough to ignore her mom's warnings to stay away from the hot stove. And now she has the chance of a lifetime: a prestigious scholarship competition in Savannah, where students compete all summer in Chopped style challenges for a full-ride to one of the best culinary schools in the country. The only impossible challenge ingredient in her basket: Reid Yamada.

After Reid, her cute but unbearably cocky opponent, goes out of his way to screw her over on day one, Carter vows revenge, and soon they're involved in a full-fledged culinary war. Just as the tension between them reaches its boiling point, Carter and Reid are forced to work together if they want to win, and Carter begins to wonder if Reid's constant presence in her brain is about more than rivalry. And if maybe her desire to smack his mouth doesn't necessarily cancel out her desire to kiss it.

Enemies to lovers is a favourite trope of mine. When it works it is pretty much irresistible. It is also really hard to execute well. The Art of French Kissing has some elements that really worked for me, and other that just didn't quite hit the mark for me. It does, however, offer up an enjoyable romance read with a unique setting.

Foodies will rejoice that there are plenty of delicious sounding descriptions of food within these pages. The descriptions are mouth watering and I will pretty much guarantee that this book will make you hungry at some point while reading it. The cooking competition is also well written. The stakes are perfect for a young adult setting and it has just the right amount of tension woven throughout the competition. I think people who especially like the food competition angle will enjoy this book.

Carter is a headstrong girl who can often be insecure. The feeling of not belong or being looked upon as not worthy of something is something that her character grapples with. It reaches out into all of the other elements of that plot that worked for me. The decisions she made are not always the same ones that I would have made, but I can respect that they felt within character for her to do so.

I had two slight issues that kept me from loving this novel. The first is the 'culinary war' that is mentioned in the synopsis. I was expecting more mild high jinks than meanness. It gets nasty at some points and I found it hard to ship them together at times because of it. I appreciated it more when it was more reigned in and fun. There are moments where it really works though and those shining moments are great. The other is that there isn't a lot of transition time. The competition isn't that long and their progression from enemies to lovers is more rapid than I expected, particularly when you factor in how cutthroat it gets at some points. There are some things that counter act this and the author is good at giving the characters scenes where we see that they are bonding, but it felt a little rushed to me.

The romance did have it's good points. Brianna Shrum can capture the feeling anticipation so accurately. Her make out scenes are really more about the anticipation and that feeling that you get as a reader right before the couple is about to kiss. That moment where the character is clearly displaying how much they want to kiss the other person, if done right, can be really powerful and Brianna gets that. It's one of the strongest elements of the book and the romantic relationship within it.

The ending was another strong point for me. There were a couple of ways in which the plot went into different directions that I expected it to. The relationship aspect of the novel, in particular, ends on a rather realistic note. I felt more realistic overall with just enough wish fulfillment thrown in for good measure.

I recommend this one for those who love competition shows that feature cooking, some great banter and make out scenes. While there are a few little issues I had with the book, I mostly enjoyed it overall. I liked the romance scenes and for those alone I would read another romance written by the same author. 

Brianna Shrum's NEVER NEVER Dream Cast

If you read my review of Brianna Shrum's NEVER NEVER you know that I enjoyed this dark twist on the Peter Pan tale. Today, I am very excited to get to share with you Brianna's dream cast list! Lots of interesting choices (and her James Hook selection is pure perfection).

Here is a little about NEVER NEVER before we get to the dream casting!

Title: Never Never
Author: Brianna Shrum
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Synopsis: James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.
When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.
But grow up he does.                     
And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.
This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.
Except one.

Be sure to check out my review and add it to your Goodreads as well! It's a must read for Peter Pan fans!

COME ON, PINTEREST. This is what we’ve been TRAINING FOR!

PETER PAN

So the fact that I’m going with Jack Gleeson, -aka- Joffrey Baratheon, possibly the most hated character in TV history….like ALL of TV history should give you some indication as to how I feel about Peter. ;D But this is always how I picture him: innocent-looking, a beautiful boy really, but sinisterrrrrr.

TIGER LILY

For real. Could Q’orianka Kilcher actually BE any more gorgeous? (The answer is no. No she could not.) She just looks *exactly* the way I picture Tiger Lily to look in my head. Strong and beautiful and amazing. I found a picture of her and I couldn’t BELIEVE how perfect she was.

BILL JUKES

“…and Bill Jukes, every inch of him tattooed…” –J. M. Barrie

Hafthor Bjornsson could not BE more Bill Jukes if he tried. He’s this mountain of a man (snicker, snicker. Cause you know, he’s The Mountain on Game of Thrones. Snicker, snicker) and those tats! But, like, apart from when he’s crushing people’s face and stuff, in REAL life he actually seems kind of adorable and gentle. Which is totally Bill.

STARKEY

Starkey is James’ tough, weathered, no-nonsense right-hand man. I actually had such a specific picture in my mind for Starkey that I thought it would be impossible to dreamcast him. And thennnnn I saw Outlander, and Murtagh. And BOOM. Duncan Lacroix.

Annnnnnd…..*drum rollllll*

THE HONORABLE CAPTAIN JAMES HOOK

He has gone through several incarnations in my head. I flirted with the idea of Tom Hiddleston. Because HELLO.

And I considered Ian Somerhalder for a while. SMOLDER, SIR. YOU JUST SMOLDER ONNNN.

But right now, the James Hook in my head is Cillin Murphy. That growly, gorgeous accent, and his utter elegance, and he’s just so darn sexy. But in this understated way. AND THOSE CORNFLOWER BLUE EYES THOUGH. (I’ll just keep Cillian-ing forever if you let me so I should stop now.) CAPTAIN JAMES, BABY.

I CAN’T.

A huge thank you to Brianna Shrum for taking the time to share her dream cast with us. Now if you excuse me, I am going to go stare at Cillian Murphy photos. For research. 

You can purchase NEVER NEVER from your fave local bookstore or any of the following links

Amazon // Barnes and Noble // Book Depository // Indiebound // Kobo //

You can find out more about NEVER NEVER and Brianna herself by visiting her at these links

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Brianna Shrum lives in Colorado with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband, two boys, and two big, floppy hound dogs. She thinks chai tea is proof of magic in the world, and loves all things kissy, magical, and strange. She'd totally love to connect with you. You can find her saying ridiculous things on Twitter @briannashrum

Never Never by Brianna R Shrum

Never Never by Brianna R Shrum
Release Date - September 22, 2015
Publisher Website - Spencer  Hill Press
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 368 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received for honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.

But grow up he does.

And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.

This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.

Except one.

Origin stories when well crafted can be immensely satisfying. Brianna Shrum weaves a story of the beginnings of James Hook in her début novel that is both satisfying and entertaining. Both a prequel, and a darkly twisted reimaging, this Peter Pan retelling celebrates the magic of Neverland, and makes you look at the villainous Captain James Hook in a completely new and usual light.

The world building and set up of this novel is a testament to Brianna's talent. She captures Neverland and all it's magical charms easily within these pages with her writing that is ready made for fairytales. There is an obvious love held for both the story and the characters (even if her love for Peter himself is debatable) and this shines through in her attention to detail and careful plotting. She honours the original story while creating something all her own, which is the mark of any excellent retelling.

Brianna Shrum darkly twists Peter into a quick tempered, insolent child with a violent streak. She creates shivers with the inclusion of "The Thinning", an event meant to thin out Lost Boys who have gotten too old. Perhaps the most impressive thing, however, is even with this twist to his character she keeps the core Peter Pan intact. The Peter you remember is there, he's just also something more and something much more sinister. While villainizing Peter may be the current hot fairytale twist du jour, Brianna keeps her Peter grounded in cannon by using a specific line from the classic as a jumping point. This attention to detail made the character twist feel authentic.

While this may be Captain Hook's chance at the spotlight, he is by no means purified or stripped of his defining characteristics. Hook is still deeply flawed. He grows into a troubled, obsessed man who allows himself to put his version of revenge above everything else. His hatred of Peter eats away at him, and while this version showcases why that hatred exists, it never shies away from the fact that he becomes the man he does as a result. We follow him down the spiraling path to madness and villainy even as you view him differently. The Hook from the original tale is still there, but like Peter, he's twisted into something more. There is an understanding, if not sympathy, attached to him now. He is someone shaped by his experiences, and moulded into the man he becomes. It's a unique look at an iconic character and one that adds extra depth and layers.

The romance included is bittersweet and fraught with betrayal, and angst. This novel veers into higher YA territory with some of these steamy scenes. Brianna even manages to tie the romance into an iconic scene associated with the Peter Pan tale that added a must more heart wrenching layer to everything. The romance was one of my favourite elements of this story simply because it added more to the characters motivations.

A love letter to both Neverland and Captain Hook, Brianna  has crafted a twist on the classic tale. Invoking the feeling of reading a fairytale with her prose, this one will appeal to fans of Peter Pan, and fairytale retelling fanatics in general. It's a story that examines what happens when the boy who wouldn't grow up meets the only boy who wants nothing more. 

Waiting On Wednesday ........ Never Never

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is Never Never by Brianna Shrum

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.

But grow up he does. 

And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.

This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.

Except one. 

It's not a secret that I love all things Peter Pan and Neverland. The quickest way to have me add a book to my wishlist is to tell me it's a Peter Pan retelling. This one offers up a unique twists in that it's Hook's perspective from the sounds of it, and there is the tease that perhaps Peter Pan is the evil one!

Luckily I don't have long to wait (especially since I have an ARC teasing me from my bookshelf) as this one is released next month.

Expected release date - September 22, 2015

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Extremely small Weekly Obsessions post this week.

BOOKS

Cover of Brianna Shrum's Never, Never (Goodreads)

This.Is.Perfect. PERFECT. If you are a Peter Pan fangirl, this is going to make you want to immediately pick up this book. The skull and crossbones, the bloody feather, and the iconic ship all come together to create a nod to the class tale while reminding you this is not your usual Peter Pan.

I Was Here by Gayle Forman (Goodreads)

This book was EVERYTHING I hope it would be. It was filled with emotion, romance and that characterization that Gayle Forman does so well. Be sure to check out my review if you missed it and pick up a copy on Tuesday when it's released.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Cover Reveal ....................... Never, Never by Brianna Shrum

Today, I am thrilled to help reveal the cover for one of my most anticipated novels of 2015. Brianna Shrum's Never, Never sounds like a twisted take on the Peter Pan story!

Before I reveal the AMAZING cover, here is a little about the novel itself...

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.

But grow up he does.

And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.

This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.

Except one.

Sounds a little dark, and amazing right? I am definitely intrigued that this Peter Pan sounds like he is going to be more than a little evil.

Now....feast your eyes on this STUNNING cover. 

Perfect right? This Peter Pan fangirl is more than happy to all the nods to the classic tale. The ominous skull and crossbones in the sky, the bloody feather, and the iconic pirate ship all have my flailing in fangirl joy.

Never, Never is released in September of 2015 (exact date to be determined) In the meantime you can add this book to your Goodreads.

Here is a little bit more about Brianna Shrum. Be sure to follow her on Twitter (she's lovely).

Be sure to check out my Q and A with Brianna if you want a little more inside scoop on this must read title.

Brianna Shrum lives in Colorado with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband, two boys, and two big, floppy hound dogs. She thinks chai tea is proof of magic in the world, and loves all things kissy, magical, and strange. She'd totally love to connect with you. You can find her saying ridiculous things on Twitter @briannashrum

2015 Most Anticipated ....... Never, Never

The next selection for my 2015 Most Anticipated Event is going to surprise nobody. Featuring a boy who wouldn't grow up, and a certain Captain, this novel was an easy addition to my list.

Read this brief synopsis and you'll be just as intrigued as I am, particularly if you're a huge Peter Pan fanatic.

Brianna Shrum's NEVER NEVER, a retelling that starts when James Hook, the boy who only wanted to grow up, meets Peter Pan, the only boy who didn't, and follows their journey from innocent friends to the fiercest rivals in all of Neverland.

Brianna took the time to answer some questions for me. She's made some amazing sounding ice cream (and that name!!) and tantalizingly teased a darker, more sinister Peter for her story.

1 Describe Never, Never in three words or less.

Three words. Oh man….I’m tempted to just panic and pull a Dumbledore and shout out “Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!” But I won’t. Three words: Dark. Romantic. HOOK.

2 If someone were to make an ice cream flavour for your book, what might be included?

That’s an awesome question. Let’s see. Rum, it would definitely include rum. And probably some sort of multi-flavored stripe of berries running through it (it’s about the only thing kids can eat in Neverland when they’re with Peter). Add in a ribbon of extra, extra dark chocolate, and a smattering of pixie dust. ;) Pixie Rumberry.

3 Can you share a secret about your book (either its world, its characters, or something that helped inspire the story)?

Hmmmm, a secret about a character: So I’ve written 5 manuscripts, 1 before Never, Never, and 3 since. Lots of baddies. But Peter Pan in Never, Never is the character I hate the most, unequivocally. More than ANY other character I’ve ever written or probably will ever write.

And a nice one about the book itself: A portion of my earnings on this book are going to the Greater Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, which is the exact hospital that J.M. Barrie left all his earnings from the original to after he died. So, kind of a fist-bump to Barrie :)

4 Your book draws inspiration from Peter Pan. Can you tell me something that particularly inspired you from the classic tale?

The thing that inspired me the most was definitely this line from J.M. Barrie’s original: “When they [the Lost Boys] seem to be growing up, which is against the rules, Peter thins them out…” I’ve always been fascinated with good and evil and the myriad of shades in between, and when I read that line, I thought, “Holy what? Did Barrie just say…Peter legit MURDERS Lost Boys?” Pan is supposed to be this guy everyone loves, everyone roots for, but in that line, I think Barrie is letting us know that this kid is not all he seems to be. What if someone *cough* James Hook *cough* was drawn into this world of Neverland, and then realized it was not at ALL what he'd expected it to be, but there was nothing he could do about it? And my mind just kind of twisted everything out from there, to create this evil vs. evil world where, yes, Hook is wicked, but Pan brings a new meaning to the word.

5 If you could travel to anywhere, in any time period, when and where would you want travel? 

This question would be more difficult if I wasn’t SUPER into Outlander right now. So I’m gonna go 1700’s Scotland. But I require a Jamie to be there. Can I have a Jamie? (Or at LEAST someone similarly kilted and Scottish accented and swoon-worthy.)

6 What three things do you need while revising?

Arizona Diet Green Tea. (I’m as addicted to it as Hook is to rum.) Some awesome movie soundtrack, preferably without any words (Revised this one to the 2003 Peter Pan soundtrack, Braveheart, and Gladiator.) And Pop Secret homestyle popcorn, baby.

7 If possible, please share the first line of Never, Never. (only answer if not too spoilery).

All children, except one, wish to stay young. James Hook, however, wanted to grow up.

I want to thank Brianna for taking time to answer these. Bonus points for using a Harry Potter reference, and teasing my (not so) inner Peter Pan fangirl to insanity. I cannot wait to get my hands on this. A dark Peter is super intriguing and that first line brings to mind the classic story all too perfectly.

A special mention of the fact that a portion of the sales will go to a children's hospital in honour of J.M. Barrie! That is amazing!

Oh, and I would very much like for PixieRumberry to be a thing, please.

Never, Never is set to be released Fall 2015 and no pre-order links are available yet but do keep an eye out for it!

Be sure to check back later on during the event for a chance to win a copy of Never, Never (or any one of my featured titles!).

You can follow Brianna Shrum on Twitter, visit her official website, and learn more about the book from the publisher website.

Are you a huge Peter Pan fan? If not do you love retellings? Let me know in the comments.