The Last Thing Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

 

The Last Thing

Release Date: September 2nd

Designer: Cover it designs

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Synopsis

Plagued by past mistakes in both love and life, Quinn Bardot is in a bad place. With nowhere else to turn, she escapes to LA clinging to the promise of a fresh start. 

Chase Crowley is known for being selfish and unbelievably persistent. All he's ever wanted is to become a successful actor. But now that he is about to have it all, he finds that something is still missing. Money and fame isn't what he expected.

Suddenly the two of them are thrown into a situation that neither is prepared for. Can Quinn extinguish her fears and let Chase in? Can Chase learn to put someone else's needs before his own?

The Last Thing is a novel all about love, Hollywood, and accepting what life throws at you even if it is the last thing you want. 

(This is a New Adult Romance novel & contains language & adult situations. Not recommended for readers younger than 17)

***The Last Thing is a stand alone book with NO cliff hanger ending. It is book one in the Hollywood Timelines series.***

ADVANCED PRAISE ON GOODREADS

"The Last Thing is a story about love and loss, rediscovery of ones self, and self determination to find a way to continue on...I would suggest this book to lovers of the ten tiny breaths series and of the many Abbi Glines book lovers out there. Briana Gaitan has a knack for true descriptive writing as you feel yourself submerging into the story while falling in love with the characters."

"Quinn moves to LA to live with her soap star cousin Ginger, and meets the gorgeous rising star Chase at a party. They have amazing chemistry, but have a bit of a rocky road as Quinn has to overcome with her past and they both have to deal with the consequences of their actions in the present...Also Chase is just amazing, possibly the perfect book boyfriend"

"Great book with sadness, humor, compassion, love, and awesome characters."

About the Author

Briana Gaitan grew up in the South, but calls herself a geek at heart. She is a blogger,author,and fangirl who loves Star Wars, Star Trek, and Jewelry (bet you never thought you'd hear those three things in a sentence together) For fun, she loves watching any show on the SyFy channel, relaxing with her family, reading, and listening to indie music (sometimes all at the same time). Briana loves to write stories where there are no limits to the imagination. She is also the co-author of the fantasy Ethereal Underground series.

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Book Review: The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

Amazon  Goodreads

Goodreads Blurb:

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life -- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him...and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

Review:

This is actually a 3.5 in my book. I'm seriously torn between a 3 and a 4 star on this one. I'm breaking my own rule and basing it almost entirely on my 6th sense opinion on the book. It was good, but not great or amazing.

What I can say is that this book had me breaking down in tears by the 3/4 mark. I actually had to set down the book for a minute because I couldn't read the words! This is a story of love, perseverance, joy, and sorrow. It made me sob, scream, yell, laugh, and so much more. A very emotional book to say the least. And yet, even with all that, it's still a 3.5 for me.

There was one thing that confused me in this entire book. The title is The Choice indicating there's a choice that will change everything. The first part of the book is all about which guy the main character will choose. She makes her choice about halfway through the book. Then part 2 starts and is set... goodness... a lot of years later. At first I was beyond bored because I thought the choice was already made and now it would just be a story of their lives. Yeah, that choice wasn't the actual one. I think. There's another decision to be made. This time it's made by the guy she ends up with. So I guess they both have a choice? That threw me through a loop. I lost interest the 20 pages after part 2 started but then perked back up as the dilemma was slowly revealed. A nasty one at that.

Overall, 3.5 stars. Both for emotion and confusion.

Have you ever read this book or any of Nicholas Sparks' books?  Did you enjoy them?

Memorable Quotes:

“How far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?” 

“There are moments when mental overload can render words impossible.” 

“He often felt that too many people lived their lives acting and pretending,wearing masks and losing themselves in the process.” 

“Staring at the stars was like staring backward in time, since some stars are so far away that their light takes millions of years just to reach us. That we see stars not as they look now, but as they were when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The whole concept just struck me as…amazing somehow.” 

“I love you, Gabby, more than you'll ever know. You're everything I've ever wanted in a wife. You're every hope and every dream I've ever had, and you've made me happier than any man could possibly be. I don't ever want to give that up. I can't.” 

“You gotta know when to be lazy. Done correctly, it's an art form that benefits everyone.”

“Love is a wonderful thing. It makes life worthwhile. I love being in love.” 

What I'm Excited for in July!

So just like in the beginning of June, this is what movies and books I'm excited for in July!  They're not necessarily in order... Oops?

Amazon  IMDB

Release Date: July 11, 2014

This is the second movie, the first being Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  I have yet to see the older versions of these films as well.  I saw the first one while it was in theaters and I can't wait to see this one as well!

Amazon  Goodreads

Release Date: July 1, 2014

This one came out today!  I don't know if I'll buy it yet... I have a lot of other books to read so I may wait until the price goes down a bit.  I've heard amazing things about this one though!

Amazon  Goodreads

Release Date: July 8, 2014

Some people have already read this one (ARC's, BEA, that sort of thing) and they've all loved it (that I've heard of course!).  Also, I really like Rainbow Rowell's writing style so I can't wait to read this one!

Amazon  Goodreads

Release Date: July 29, 2014

I can't even form a coherent sentence about how excited I am for this book.  The last book (The Fiery Heart) ended with such a cliffhanger for me!  It was just... UGH!  Ok so yes, this may be the book I'm most excited for this month.  I might even preorder it - and I NEVER do that!  Well... mostly never.

Amazon  Goodreads

Release Date: July 1, 2014

This one also came out today.  I think I'll buy this one as well...  It's a prequel novella to the Courier's Daughter series by C. J. Redwine.  I just adore this series!  The last book in the trilogy (Deliverance) is coming out on August 26th!  YAYYYYY!!!!  My life is complete.

Amazon  Goodreads

Release Date: July 8, 2014

This is a collection of the Four stories from the Divergent series.  I thought about buying them all (there are four - fitting isn't it?) individually but eventually nixed it and decided to wait until the collection came out.  I love the Divergent series and yes, I do have a love-hate relationship with Allegiant.

That about wraps it up!  Oh and I'm taking a break from my scheduled stuff this week and just posting reviews to get at least semi-caught up.  Coming up tomorrow (or tonight depending) will be my review on The Choice by Nicholas Sparks.  Then during the week I'll try and get The Book Thief, Hush,hush, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, The Fiery Heart, and Killer Frost all reviewed!  I've read more than that but I have to limit myself!

Currently, I'm reading Dare You To, Liquid Diet, and When Angels Fail.

That's all from me!  What are you excited for in July?

Liebster Award!

OH.  MY.  GOODNESS.  I've been nominated for the Liebster Award!  Thank you so much Jamie from I'm a fangirl, hear me roar!  I've been blogging for a reaaaally short time (say... I don't know... like 3 months!) and honestly didn't expect anyone to read stuff that came from my strange mind.  So thank you to all of my followers who read my posts!  You're awesome!

Here are the rules for this award:
You need to:
1.  List 11 facts about yourself.
2.  Answer the 11 questions that the person who nominated you asked.
3.  Nominate 9 bloggers with less than 300 followers and leave them a comment letting them know they've been nominated.
4.  Ask 11 new questions for your nominees.
5.  No renominating the blog that nominated you!
(For a more extensive explanation click HERE)

So let's get started shall we?

The 11 facts about me:
1.  Reading is basically my only hobby.
2.  I am a total chocoholic, shoeaholic, bookaholic, and appleholic.
3.  I have two kitties, Tiger and Smokey, who are sisters.  And yes, they are adorable :)
4.  I've been to 4 countries (counting the one I live in - the US).
5.  I have a weird obsession with pens.
6.  I always end up putting too many books on hold at the library and they appear by the stack.  Sometimes I have to give them back before I've read them because there just wasn't any time!
7.  My TBR list is 2,526 books long.
8.  I have an extremely eclectic taste in music - ranging from heavy metal and Volbeat to country and Taylor Swift with everything in between.
9.  I love love love singing.
10.  I'm aspiring to be a writer.
11.  I adore all Marvel movies.

The answers to the questions:
1.  If you could go anywhere, where and why?
~ I'd love to go to Paris, France.  It's always been a dream vacation of mine.  I love the French cuisine and all the sights must be amazing!  I may just move there someday!

2.  Would you be A.) A fulltime Fangirl/Fanboy or B.) Die a horrible death?
~  I pretty much am already a fulltime Fangirl so I guess that.  I don't really want to die a horrible death - who does? *shudders*

3.  Did you really hate my last question?
~  YOU HAVE TO ASK?!?!?!  In case you didn't grasp my subtly, that was a yes, thank you very much.

4.  If you could take credit for writing any book, which would you choose?
~  I hope you mean which book I wish I had written... I'm not really the kind of person that steals other people's thunder...  I wish I would have written the Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi.  Why you ask?  Weeeeell... I guess I just love the story and it's on the same wavelength as my own thoughts/daydreams (and NOW you know what goes on in my head). 

5.  Which celebrity would you like to drop kick in the face?
~  Justin Beiber!  UGH!!  I realize that he's growing up in front of the whole world and such but really?

6.  I know you're really not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but if/when you did what book had any amazing cover and turned out to be a great book?
~  The Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi has beautiful covers (I know my grammer is terrible, no need to rub it in now.  But it's late and I'm tired.  What do you expect?).  I also love the covers for the Graceling trilogy by Kristin Cashore, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, and Finding What Is by Tabitha Vohn.  They're all such good books - I'd recommend them to most anyone :)

7.  What's your biggest pet peeve?
~  When I'm nice and polite to someone and they just can't return the favor.

8.  Which faction would you be put into?  Notice I said faction not if you're divergent or not.
~  Yes I did notice!  I think I'd be Erudite mostly because I love learning.  Knowledge can lead to so many doors and is so helpful.  I always strive to learn as much as possible.  A really close second is Dauntless.  I really didn't know which to choose... 

9.  What's your favorite blog to read?
~  I follow and love so many!  I enjoy watching Saloni's videos though at My Fantabulous Bookshelf.

10.  Did you hear they're making a High School Musical 4?!?!?!?! (P.S.  a random post on Tumblr said this, so may or may not be true, but in case it is I'll make you excited for it)
~  Yes!  I actually saw a couple tweets about it a couple hours ago!  I've only seen the first though so I'll have to watch the rest.  I thought the first one was just ok so we shall see.

11.  Which book character do you most relate to?
~  I hate it when people ask me this question!  I've read about so many characters!  I can relate to almost all (unless they're really wise or old because I haven't reached that point of my life yet) because of my overactive imagination.  I can slip into any character's world quite easily which makes reading a thrill :)  So I really don't know I guess!

My nominee's:
The Last Page At Midnight
Tanya at A Book Paradise
The Bookwhore Diaries
Beatrice at Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic
Kirsty at Studio Reads
Rochella at iamaloserkid reads and reviews
Trinity at The Midnight Princess
The Misses at Fangirling misses
Blaze at Shadowhunters' Library

Questions for my nominee's:
1.  What are your favorite genre's?
2.  What is one food you absolutely hate and will never willingly eat it again in your life?
3.  Has an amazing book been ruined for you just because of a bad ending?
4.  What book/series are you most ashamed that you haven't read yet?
5.  Have you ever solved a Rubik's cube?
6.  What is the craziest food you have ever eaten?
7.  Which do you like better?  Warm or cold weather?
8.  If you had to choose between being forever blind or forever deaf, which would you choose?
9.  Paperback, hardcover, or ebook?
10.  What is the last song you've had on repeat you loved it so much?
11.  Have you ever read a book that is widely hated but you loved it or vice versa?  If so, what book?



Also, I'm sorry for going dark on all of you lovely people but for the past week, I was on vacation!  I had so much fun :)  It's good to be back though.  I'll probably be posting a book review later tonight or early tomorrow morning.  I really need to catch up on my reviewing!

Top Ten Tuesday #2

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish.  Every week, The Broke and Bookish post a new topic that that week's top ten lists are based on!  This week's topic is Top Ten Books on Your TBR List!

I'm really not that organized so I don't have a specific TBR list but some books I've been wanting to read are as follows:

Amazon  Goodreads

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Amazon  Goodreads

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Amazon  Goodreads

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Amazon  Goodreads

Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Amazon  Goodreads

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Amazon  Goodreads

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Amazon  Goodreads

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Amazon  Goodreads

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Amazon  Goodreads

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Amazon  Goodreads

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

There are of course, a LOT more on my list.  With a TBR list 2,452 books long, I have quite a few books to read!  I may have a itsy bitsy book problem...

What are your TBR books for summer?

Book Review Sunday: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Amazon  Goodreads

Goodreads Blurb:

"Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't."

Some spoilers ahead!

Going with Goodreads rating scale, this is actually a 3.5 to me.

I really did love this book. I don't usually read books from this time period and it's really cool to have a glimpse into the lives of these people. I find it horrendous, the opinions people had back then. But I also find it fascinating how they could possibly reason that African Americans were less than them. It completely baffles me. Which is exactly the reason why I liked it so much. It portrayed the lives of these women and what they had to submit to everyday because that was simply their life.

When the 'book' came out in the book and all the ladies read it, I could barely hold back my laughter. I know it's wrong but I couldn't help but be amused by the fact that these 'fine Southern ladies' had their actions thrown in their face and they were completely confuzzled and outraged.

One of the things I didn't like about it was that it ended rather abruptly. Yes, Miss Skeeter went up north to a new job and the book made a difference. And then it ends. There isn't much closure for the rest of the maids besides the fact that Minnie is free from her husband and such. I wish there would have been some sort of epilogue or something. But nope.

Also, it just wasn't one of my favorite stories. It was really good, but it didn't strike a chord with me. We're like this *holds two fingers together* but not like this *crosses fingers*.

So 3.5 stars!

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” 

“Ever morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision. You gone have to ask yourself, "Am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?” 

“All I'm saying is, kindness don't have no boundaries.” 

“Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought.” 

“Ugly live up on the inside. Ugly be a hurtful, mean person.” 

“Once upon a time they was two girls," I say. "one girl had black skin, one girl had white."
Mae Mobley look up at me. She listening.
"Little colored girl say to little white girl, 'How come your skin be so pale?' White girl say, 'I don't know. How come your skin be so black? What you think that mean?'
"But neither one a them little girls knew. So little white girl say, 'Well, let's see. You got hair, I got hair.'"I gives Mae Mobley a little tousle on her head.
"Little colored girl say 'I got a nose, you got a nose.'"I gives her little snout a tweak. She got to reach up and do the same to me.
"Little white girl say, 'I got toes, you got toes.' And I do the little thing with her toes, but she can't get to mine cause I got my white work shoes on.
"'So we's the same. Just a different color', say that little colored girl. The little white girl she agreed and they was friends. The End."
Baby Girl just look at me. Law, that was a sorry story if I ever heard one. Wasn't even no plot to it. But Mae Mobley, she smile and say, "Tell it again.” 

“I always order the banned books from a black market dealer in California, figuring if the State of Mississippi banned them, they must be good.” 

“Sorry is the fool who ever underestimates my mother.” 

"All my life I'd been told what to believe about politics, coloreds, being a girl. But with Constantine's thumb pressed in my hand, I realized I actually had a choice in what I could believe.”

Stacking the Shelves #2

First of all, I know, I know, I neglected my newly made schedule in which I specifically said that I would post reviews on Sunday's and Thursday's.  And I missed Thursday.  Sorry about that... yeah I had final exams... not fun.  I'll be better! :D

Now onto the Stacking the Shelves post!  Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  It features books you've recently added to your shelves, be it from the library, bookstore, or ebooks.

I just have one book this week that came to me via the ebook library!

Amazon  Goodreads

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

I've read Julie Kagawa's other series (The Iron Fey series) and am in the middle of reading The Iron Fey's companion series The Call of the Forgotten.  Seeing that she had written another series, I just had to read it!

What have you added to your shelves this week?