The Secrets Between You and Me by Shana Norris

The Secrets Between You and Me by Shana Norris
Release Date - February 10, 2015
Publisher Website - The Studio, A Paper Lantern Lit imprint
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 247 pages
My Rating - 4/5
Companion Novel To - The Boyfriend Thief 
**received in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

4 wheels on a rusty truck * 2 gray eyes * 1 secret that could ruin everything...

All Hannah wanted was a summer break from being “perfect Hannah Cohen” and a chance to forget about the devastating family secret that could ruin her seemingly perfect life. So when she takes off for her eccentric aunt’s house in the mountains of North Carolina and everyone makes one big (wrong) assumption about her past, Hannah figures that it’s easier to live a lie than have to face the truth.

She never expected to make any real friends, like the hilarious and spontaneous Kate and Ashton, who drag her to late night bonfires and ice cream marathons. And she especially never counted on meeting Jude Westmore, the brooding bad boy next door with gray eyes and permanent oil smudges on his fingers, or that he would ever take an interest in her.

Between moonlit movie nights in the bed of Jude’s truck and nearly romantic Ferris Wheel rides, Hannah’s old life seems father away then ever, but can she keep her secret, or is the truth worth the risk of losing everything, including Jude?

The Secrets Between You and Me is a companion novel to The Boyfriend Thief and the second book in Shana Norris’s Stolen Kiss series 

A girl running from the truth. A summer to find her way. A romance that was unexpected. Shana Norris' takes a character that I didn't think had a story to tell, and delights in this feel good, sweet summer-y read.

This book, and it's writing, bring to mind lazy summer days. Ones filled with ice cream, sand, and campfires. You'll immediately want to be curled up with someone watching fireworks as heat from the day slowly cools. It's a tranquil setting that serves the story, and it's characters well. It's the place Hannah needs and that is captured through the writing.

The pressure to be perfect, and need to be who everyone else thinks you should be, haunts Hannah. She's weighed down, exhausted, by the stress and constant struggle. Her life is not perfect, and the more she tries to fake it, the more cracks begin to show. Her life is a set of rigidly controlled rules, and Hannah is frozen, unable to break free. I think everyone, at some point, has felt this way. As you grow into the person you are, you may feel you're letting people down. Choices you make may not be the choices others hoped you would make, and you may be led down a different path than expected. Hannah's growing pains is something that everyone struggles with overcoming and that makes it instantly recognizable.

The bonds that Hannah makes with Jude, Kate and Ashton are refreshing. She feels like they know her for herself and that she doesn't have to pretend all the time. These relationships give her the strength and courage to start making choices for herself, rather than having them made for her. It's her growth that surprised me. It may not be a new story, but it's one that never stops being relevant and Shana puts on her twist on it, to make sure the impact is felt. It's really her character's journey that does this, as you do grow to care about them.

My favourite types of romances are ones where the people involve help to better the other. I am not talking about the notion of 'fixing' someone. I am talking about providing emotional support and being there for someone though a change. Being someone they can depend on during unstable times. Hannah and Jude are this for each other. Each of them have issues to work through, and together they push support and listen to each other. Combine this with some fun banter and swoon worthy scenes and I was easily swept up in their romance.

A novel that I enjoyed even more than the first one in this companion series. Hannah's character growth made her easy to root for. A sweet romance that makes for an enjoyable, light read and will leave you smiling.

Be sure to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win one of three iBook copies of The Secrets Between You and Me. These copies are meant to be read on Mac, iPhones, or iPads.

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Heartbreakers Tour - Day Three

Another day of the Heartbreakers tour for 2015! It's a week filled with Valentine's Day goodness from some amazing authors! Visit each stop as each of the bloggers will be highlighting different authors and asking different questions! Also be sure to enter the giveaway that will be located at the bottom of each tour stop.

Today, I have Judith Tewes and D.G. Driver visiting the blog and answering some very important Valentine Day themed questions!

Judith is spotlighting her novel My Soon - To - Be Sex Life

A novel that sounds like it's going to be funny and touching at the same time. Check out the Goodreads synopsis

Charlie is down to her absolute. Total. Last. Resort.

Despite a thoroughly comprehensive list of potential cherry poppers, er…suitors, and careful plotting, Charlie is three weeks into her devirginization campaign, still untouched, and getting desperate. In the movie of her life, this aspiring screenwriter
is giving herself a PG, for please, get some.

Her project goes into freeze frame when her mom checks herself into rehab and packs Charlie off to live with her estranged, or just plain strange, grandfather, Monty. How is she supposed to get a date when she has to go pick up his Depends?

Enter Eric, a hot rehab grad on the road to redemption, and the only one who can make Charlie rethink her strategy. The more she gets to know him, the more convinced she becomes that is the one, and not just another to add to the list of people who will abandon her.

In this hilarious and heartbreaking story of one girl’s detoured road to womanhood, Charlie’s list develops a life of its own – right when she realizes there’s so much more to lose.. 

Who doesn't love a bad bad on the road to redemption? Yes, please!

Judith was kind enough to answer some questions for me! Catherine and Heathcliff are iconic and extremely twisted (aka the best kind of love story).

1. What do you think is the best way to get over a heartbreak?

Throwing yourself into something new and challenging, and / or throwing yourself into a vat of warm chocolate.

2. What literary couple is your favourite?

I’ve always adored the messed up, twisted, haunting relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights.

Judith Tewes resides in Northern Alberta where she: writes, sings, plays bass guitar,walks her three crazy labs, and suspects she’s living the life of a superhero’s alias.

Blog: http://judithteweswrites.blogspot.ca/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudithTewes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judithteweswrites

Next up, as part of the tour, I have D.G. Driver sharing details about her novel!

D.G. Driver's novel sound quite mysterious....

You can check out this Goodreads synopsis

Mark has finally gotten the attention of the girl of his dreams. Only, his lame attempts at romance through texts and emails seem to be turning her off. When he gets put in the back of the room in an over-full class at school, he begins to discover old notes giving advice about how to write a great love letter. At first he thinks he’s stumbled on some long-forgotten notes passed in class ages ago, but every time he reads them they seem directed specifically to him. They also appear at the perfect moment each time he needs more advice. It’s like someone is haunting him. How dothe notes keep appearing? Who’s writing them? Why?

And if Mark follows the ghostly writer’s advice, will he win Bethany’s love?

Mysterious notes, and romance. What's not to be excited about?!

D.G. also answers my questions and Elizabeth and Mr Darcy may just be my favourite as well!

1. What do you think is the best way to get over a heartbreak?

Ice cream first. Rocky Road. A couple sad movies to get all the tears out. Then, most importantly, getting busy with a project to keep my mind off of it. It is not, and I repeat NOT, a good idea to start dating someone new.

2. What literary couple is your favourite?

This is so hard to answer. Of all books I’ve ever read? I’m going to say Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. Of YA books? My current favorite (as it is always changing) is Bodee and Lexi from Faking Normal.

Notes is D. G. Driver’s second book published by Fire and Ice. Her fantasy novel Cry of the Sea was released in 2014. She has published several award-winning, critically acclaimed non-fiction books as Donna Getzinger. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit her web site to learn more about her, and follow her to keep up with future projects.

www.dgdriver.com
www.facebook.com/donnagdriver
@DGDriverAuthor


Thank you to both of them for stopping by. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the next day of the tour.

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Heartbreakers Tour - Day Two

Today continues the Heartbreakers tour for 2015! It's a week filled with Valentine's Day goodness from some amazing authors! Visit each stop as each of the bloggers will be highlighting different authors and asking different questions! Also be sure to enter the giveaway that will be located at the bottom of each tour stop.

Today I have Janet Gurtler and Shari Green visiting the blog and dishing on their new titles!

Janet is spotlighting her new novel The Truth About Us!

A novel that promises romance and heart! Check out the Goodreads synopsis

The truth is that Jess knows she screwed up.
She's made mistakes, betrayed her best friend, and now she's paying for it. Her dad is making her spend the whole summer volunteering at the local soup kitchen.

The truth is she wishes she was the care-free party-girl everyone thinks she is.
She pretends it's all fine. That her "perfect" family is fine. But it's not. And no one notices the lie...until she meets Flynn. He's the only one who really sees her. The only one who listens.

The truth is that Jess is falling apart – and no one seems to care.
But Flynn is the definition of "the wrong side of the tracks." When Jess's parents look at him they only see the differences-not how much they need each other. They don't get that the person who shouldn't fit in your world... might just be the one to
make you feel like you belong.  

A contemporary that has definitely already caught my eye!

Janet also answered my Valentine's Day themed questions. Totally agree with her way to get over a heartbreak.

1. What do you think is the best way to get over a heartbreak?

Alcohol if you’re old enough to drink, ice cream if you’re not.

2. What literary couple is your favourite?

Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie in Sloppy Firsts by MeganMcCafferty

A Rita Award Finalist and Crystal Kite Award Finalist, Janet Gurtler's young adult books have been chosen for the JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION and as BEST BOOKS FOR TEENS from the Canadian Children’s Book Center. Janet lives in Okotoks Alberta, Canada with her husband, son, and a chubby black Chihuahua named Bruce.

Next up, as part of the tour, I have Shari Green dishing details about her novel!

Shari Green's novel, Following Chelsea,  sounds like it's going to be a real heartbreaker!

You can check out this Goodreads synopsis

Walking in the footsteps of a dead girl isn’t easy.

After her social life flatlines, seventeen-year-old Anna Richards wants nothing more than to lie low at her new school. But it seems Anna looks an awful lot like Chelsea, the sweet and popular girl who recently died, and Anna finds herself stepping into the void created by Chelsea’s absence.

Anna is determined to make the awkward situation work in her favor, because Chelsea didn’t just leave a spot open with the in-crowd; she also left a gorgeous—and now available—boyfriend. But it turns out that following Chelsea might be a lot more complicated than Anna expected.

Love the sounds of this one. A girl who resembles a dead girl, and settling into the void her passing left behind is sure to create lots of heartbreak and drama.

Shari also answers my questions and her idea of walking somewhere beautiful may just be one I incorporate into my next break up.

1. What do you think is the best way to get over a heartbreak?

Weep and eat chocolate for 24 hours straight, then go out to the woods or the beach and walk until the world begins to look a little brighter.

2. What literary couple is your favourite?

Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe, because there’s something “incalculably precious” between them.

Shari Green writes Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction and occasionally masquerades as a poet. When she’s not glued to her laptop, she can often be found wandering in a blissful daze on the beach near her home on Vancouver Island, BC. Visit her online at www.sharigreen.com.





Thank you to both of them for stopping by. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the next day of the tour!

Be sure to enter the giveaway below for an e-reader and gift card if you haven't already.

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Heartbreakers Tour - Day One

Today kicks off the Heartbreakers tour for 2015! It's a week filled with Valentine's Day goodness from some amazing authors! Visit each stop as each of the bloggers will be highlighting different authors and asking different questions! Also be sure to enter the giveaway that will be located at the bottom of each tour stop.

First up I have Vanessa Barneveld and Denise Jaden visiting the blog and answering some very important Valentine Day themed quetions!

Vanessa is spotlighting her novel This Is Your Afterlife!

A novel that promises romance and thrills, check out this Goodreads synopsis

When the one boy you crushed on in life can't seem to stay away in death, it's hard to be a normal teen when you're a teen paranormal.

Sixteen-year-old Keira Nolan has finally got what she wanted—the captain of the football team in her bedroom. Problem is he’s not in the flesh. He’s a ghost and she’s the only one who can see him.

Keira's determined to do anything to find Jimmy's killer. Even it if means teaming up with his prickly-yet-dangerously-attractive brother, Dan, also Keira's ex-best-friend. Keira finds that her childish crush is fading, but her feelings for Dan are just starting to heat up, and as the story of Jimmy’s murder unfolds, anyone could be a suspect.

This thrilling debut from Vanessa Barneveld crosses over from our world to thenext, and brings a whole delightful new meaning to "teen spirit". 

A murder mystery and a paranormal romance? Yes, please!

Vanessa also answered some questions for me! Totally agree with Etienne and Anna! They are adorable.

1. What do you think is the best way to get over a heartbreak?

Chocolate. And wine. And guacamole. And a good book with some commiseration heartbreak.

2. What literary couple is your favourite?

Anna and Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins



Vanessa Barneveld lives in Australia. She has one husband, two cats, and three Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® nominations. When she’s not writing, devouring chocolate, or dreaming of intergalactic travel, Vanessa works as a closedcaptioner for the deaf and audio describer for the blind. You can follow her Twitter, Facebook, and visit her official website.

Next up, as part of the tour, I have Denise Jaden sharing details about her novel!

Denise Jaden's novel Foreign Exchange sounds like it's going to be filled with twists and turns!

You can check out this Goodreads synopsis

Jamie Monroe has always played it safe. That is, until her live-for-themoment best friend, Tristan, jets off to Italy on a student exchange program. Left alone with her part-time mother and her disabled brother, Jamie discovers that she is quite capable of taking her own risks, starting with her best friend’s hotter-thanhot older brother, Sawyer. Sawyer and Tristan have been neighbors for years, but as Jamie grows closer to the family she thought she knew, she discovers some pretty big secrets. As she sinks deeper into their web of pretense, she suspects that her best friend may not be on a safe exchange program at all. Jamie sets off to Europe on a class trip with plans to meet up with Tristan, but when Tristan stops all communication, suddenly no one seems trustworthy, least of all the one person she was starting to trust—Sawyer.

Intriguing, right? I certainly think so.

Denise also answers my love themed questions and Westley and Buttercup are a favourite of mine too!

1. What do you think is the best way to get over a heartbreak?

Cry into the pages of a good book and keep chocolate within arm’s reach until the heartbreak subsides. Sappy songs help, too!

2. What literary couple is your favourite?

Westley and Buttercup from The Princess Bride. Not even the Cliffs of Insanity could keep them apart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urhw_kPDkoo


Denise Jaden’s novels have been shortlisted or received awards through the Romance Writers of America, Inspy, and SCBWI. The first draft of her debut novel, Losing Faith (Simon & Schuster), was written in 21 days during NaNoWriMo and she loves talking with writers and students about her fast-drafting process. Jaden’s other young adult novels include Never Enough (Simon & Schuster) and Foreign Exchange (an Editor’s Pick from Evernight Teen). Her non-fiction books for writers include, Writing with a Heavy Heart and Fast Fiction. Find out more at Denisejaden.com.



Thank you to both of them for stopping by. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the second stop on the tour.

Be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win an e-reader and gift card!

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New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

Two amazing books made their way into my inbox this week!

First up is an eARC I received

A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab (Goodreads)

A huge thank you to Raincoast Books for the chance to read this. I am really excited.

Next up is one that I purchased a copy of because I LOVED it.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (Goodreads)

The hardcover is incredibly stunning. The picture cannot and does not do it justice.

What books made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

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 A Madness So Discreet by Mind McGinnis

WHOA, right? Visually captivating and stunning. So much going on at once and it makes me want to read it immediate. The synopsis sounds amazing too and the cover just *fits*. It all works to create a pretty, if terrifying, package for what is hopefully a spine chilling read.

Cover of P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

I love everything. Her outfit is adorable. The setting is adorable. The model is adorable. It is going to look fantastic next the first book on shelves. I am excited to find out the next chapter in Lara Jean and Peter's story.

Red Queen book trailer

You may have heard me fangirl about this one....just a little bit. The EPIC book trailer was just released and it certainly won't make the wait for Tuesday any easier.

MOVIE/TV

Magic Mike XXL trailer

Damn, Channing. I knew you could dance, but THAT was amazing. The beginning? So hot. He's super talented. This looks like a lot of fun, but I hope it keeps the darker, gritter aspect that the first one had too. That balance made me really enjoy the first movie. I already have a night out with the girls planned for this movie!

50 Shades of Grey Advance Screening

I was recently given advance passes to go see 50 Shades Of Grey this coming Wednesday. I am looking forward to see what Jamie Dornan does with this role. I've heard good things from people who've already seen it, but do not have overly high expectations. I've never read the books (and probably never will) but am curious about the movie.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Fairest by Marissa Meyer
Release Date - February 3, 2015
Publisher Website - Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 222 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

Before Levana was Queen, she was just a young girl. A girl whose layers are peeled back in Fairest. There are plenty of surprises in story during her story, but perhaps the biggest surprise of all is how you'll view Levana when all is said a done.

The most striking part of Levana's story is how sad it is. As I read the desire to scream at her to make different choices and go down a different path was all encompassing. Each decision and choice she makes directly leads to the woman she is when we first meet her in Cinder. You see how she denied herself the chance at happiness because of her actions. I wouldn't say you fee sympathy for her, but there is a slight twinge of heart pulling that her path didn't end differently. She had plenty of chances to take a different path which is all the more heartbreaking. She wasn't always the ruthless woman we know and love to hate.

The heart of this story is a love story. An unrequited love story. One that absolutely broke my heart for everyone involved. The way Marissa has woven in the Snow White tale was delicately and wonderfully done. I left me breathless with anticipating to see what she'll do with it in Winter. I have long held the suspicion that it would end up being my favourite, and this proved that my instinct may just be correct.

Perhaps the most delicious part of this novella is the chance to see our beloved characters as children. We get glimpses of many of the characters, and there are connections revealed that were intriguing. Cinder (Princess Selene), in particular, had a huge impact on the story and plenty of intriguing things were revealed about that chapter of Levana's story.

This is more character driven than plot. This is a study into what makes a villain. Marissa gives us the chance to get inside the head and heart of the woman who would eventually become Queen Levana. We see how evil is perhaps crafted over time, and that it's our choices that ultimately define who we are. Fans of the previous novels will delight in the chance to fill in some of the back story. It's truly a gift for the fans of the previous novels and one that I am most thankful for.

A story of unrequited love, ambition, and longing. A story of a women who would sacrifice anything for what she feels is right. Levana's story is all the more heartbreaking because, in hindsight, things could have been entirely different. Fans of the series will not want to miss this one as it sheds new light on our favourite villainess and the story in general.