#bookaddict

Spoiler Free Review of

Four Letter Word, Hit the Spot and Bad For You by J. Daniels

I received the book Down Too Deep, Book 4 in this series, for review through Hachette Canada. On the last page of that book, it’s mentioned that it’s part of a series. I immediately went online and looked it up and proceeded to order books 1-3 and now here we are with another review. Lol. I love these types of series, where the author builds a world of characters and each book is dedicated to either an individual character or in this case a couple. That way throughout each book, you’re still living within the same world and you’re getting updates on the lives of all the other characters you’ve invested in. I think this explains my lifelong need to constantly have an epilogue in all things fictional.

I flew through these books, staying up far too late and basically only work and walking my dog were things that made me put them down. The yawning and sandpaper eyes were totally worth it and I would do it again in a minute.

Four Letter Word is Book 1 and Brian and Sydney’s story. Sydney calls up her friends recent Ex to give him all kinds of drama, only to call the wrong number by 1, can you guess who was on the otherside of that call? You guessed it, Brian is the lucky recipient of the crap pile Sydney throws down … and the meet cute has begun. Out of all four of these books, this one was my least favourite. Some of the secrets, the drama, just wasn’t something I connected on as much as in the other books. It was also the introduction to all of the characters, so it maybe started a little slower then I’d like. Brian and Sydney are both dragging some heavy baggage, will they survive together? Or end up apart? I give this book 3 ½ stars ⭐️

Hit the Spot, book 2, is Jamie and Tori’s story. Now this one is more of the classic type romance that I really enjoy. Guy sees girl, guy likes girl, guy pisses girl off but continues to pursue slowly and subtly anyways. I’m not sure why the love/hate romances always end up being some of my favourites? My first thought is those characters tend to have more sarcasm, more sass and a stronger attitude generally in life. I like a character that can make me both laugh and cry in a book, Tori, our female lead, she gives that and more in this one. Tori, is Sydney’s BFF with the Ex in book one. I give this book 4 stars ⭐️

Bad for you, book 3, in this book you’re going to be all about Shayla and Sean, or Stitch as he’s known throughout the series. Another classic type of romance story, I mean you even see hints of it in Beauty and the Beast, it’s the one where the guy doesn’t feel like he’s good enough for the girl. Our Sean has made some mistakes you see, has quite the past he’s trying to move on from, and he doesn’t think his dark has any right to touch Shaylas light. Sean has squashed down any possibilities that he and Shayla had, at least until Shayla ends up in tears in her car. All of the sudden Sean has offered to help and the will they won’t they is back on the table. Out of all 4, this one was my favourite. I give this book 4 ½ stars ⭐️

I really loved this series. I’m incredibly glad to have added it to my shelf and I’m sure I will be going back to reread more then once in the future. Im grateful to Hachette for the opportunity to review Down Too Deep, cause who knows if I would’ve ever found this series otherwise. I give this series overall 4 stars ⭐️

No resistance for book sales in this house

Spoiler Free Review of

Homework by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton

I very rarely pick up biographies, memoirs or anything of that sort, I have to be intrigued enough by the person to really put the time in. I generally find them to be dense with information and not something I can sit with for long.

However, I do love Julie Andrews. Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music are two movies that have been with me since childhood, so reading all the behind the scenes stuff was very interesting to me. All the tidbits about Walt Disney, the way they added the animation back then to working with that many kids in The Sound of Music had me very interested.

I also had no idea about the amount of stage work she had done throughout the years, starting at such a young age and being put into the role of supporting her family. I can’t imagine living with that kind of pressure when I was a young child. The things she survived throughout her life could’ve taken her down a far less impressive path, yet she still managed to become the beautiful person she is today. As I was reading this book I feel like I learned 1000 new things about Julie Andrews and maybe 1 or 2 about myself as well.

Memoirs still aren’t my favourite genre of book, but I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for Julie Andrews. I give this book 4 stars ⭐️

Spoiler Free Review of

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

Companion book to Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Straight into this story we are introduced to the Kyrr people, and one of our dual perspectives Tova. The Kyrr people lead their lives based on their beliefs in the fates and their ability to throw and read the ruin stones. Tova has a fate that brings her people and family much pain, yet their faith in the Fates leads on. Our other POV is Halvard, who was also a character in Sky in the Deep. Halvard is part of the Nadhir people, a combination of the Aska and Riki clans from years before. He is the first generation to really live after a blood feud that lasted decades and he’s inline to be the next chieftain of his people.

What Halvard and the Nadhir people don’t realize is that another people, the Svell people, are watching and preparing for war. When news of a devastating blow to the Nadhir people comes to light, Tova and Halvard are thrust into the path the Fates have in store for them no matter the outcome. Tova is trying to make the best of a bad situation, stuck with people that are ready to kill her at every turn, she throws the ruin stones and heads down the path to where Halvard and her collide.

I struggled a tiny bit at the beginning of this book with the onslaught of information. Between names, places and the people, you can get a little lost in trying to get it all straight. However I really liked the Viking vibes and the simple life that Adrienne has in both of her books. Like in Sky in the Deep, Adrienne also has no problem getting the ladies out on the battlefield and not just in front of the fire. The Girl The Sea Gave Back is full of life lessons about fearing the unknown, betrayal, family and how horrible war can be. You’ll be crying, angry and fighting side by side on the battlefield with two great characters who are just trying to do the best they can.

I give this book 4 stars ⭐️

Thank you Candlewick Press for some of the prettiest bookmail.

Thank you Candlewick Press for this gorgeous copy of

What Makes Us by Rafi Mittlefehldt

A book haul to brighten a rainy weekend.

While I had my issues with the first one, I’m still eager to get into book two.

The essence of bed time procrastination lies within this book.

All Hail Queen Meryl.

When a gorgeous Christmas book shows up in your mailbox, you share it despite the fact that it’s still only August.

There’s nothing like a fresh Abbi Gaines book to finish off the summer right.

Thank you Harper Collins for the chance to read Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy early. The bookmail made my morning.

I sense the end of my horrid book slump approaching. Thank you to Hachette Canada for the fresh read. Working on Homework by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton.

Finally a day off. Catching up on my book The Tiger at Midnight is my first priority of the day.

Blue spines on books just make me a little extra happy.

I don’t collect books for fun, I collect books for life.

Me

Spoiler Free Review of

Again, but Better by Christine Riccio

I went into this book extremely sceptical, I’ve been burned by booktuber books in the past and I was wary to say the least. I’m pleased to say I was pleasantly surprised by the author skills Christine brought to the table in this book.

Overall I got some vague Anna and the French Kiss vibes, but Christine really brought a lot of original thoughts to her story. Her main character Shane is extremely relatable to, well at least everyone I was friends with in high school and my early 20’s, so I’m going to imagine a large part of the general female population as well. Shane is awkward, shy at first and generally stumbles through life trying to please her parents first and her second. I’ve read other reviews that talk about the “instant” love on Shane’s part with the main guy Pilot, and I don’t agree … as a girl with little to no experience with guys, I don’t think it’s that she’s in love with him straight off the meeting, I think she’s excited about the idea of the possibility. She wants the whole deal, the holding hands, the spending time together, and Pilot was the crush that led the way down that road.

This book gives you an overall good feeling while reading and I’m happy to have added it to my shelf. There aren’t a million things I could say about this book with out giving everything away … however … this is a great contemporary read that leads you on a roller coaster of emotions, there’s a fun fantasy twist in the middle that left me feeling slightly off beat and behind, but who couldn’t use the chance to start over again.

The one thing that bothers me about this book is all the unanswered questions. Questions come up about her family life and how she grew up, there is a fantasy element to the book that isn’t explained and overall you’re left with some loose ends by the time the story is over. For a debut book by a young author, I give her props on a job well done. Like a quote from the book “ With five out of five, there’s no room to grow! Maybe next time will be five stars” Christine had a good first start, left room to grow and I know her next book will be just that little bit better.

I give this book 4 stars ⭐️ I’ll happily give anything else she comes out with a reading chance. Hope you will too.

Spoiler Free Review of

With the Fireon High by Elizabeth Acevedo

I’m a cook by trade, so I immediately connected with our main character Emoni in that aspect of her life. Cooking can feed your soul as well as your belly. I loved the recipes the author added within the story and have plans to try of few myself. Not everyone can understand how much food can be a part of who were are and who are families are, learning this part of the Peurto Rician culture was a great addition to the story. I thought the point that no matter how good you are at something, there’s always something to learn was incredibly valid these days and more people need to remember it going forward.

Emoni is also a mom, an incredibly young teenage mom, in the book you learn she had the baby when she was only 14. Here in the story she’s 17 and her baby girl Emma is 3, I appreciate the author for telling the other side of the pregnancy a little bit. So often in YA these days it’s the “Oops” moment. Where the 16 year old girl discovered she’s pregnant and the resulting chaos. Being a mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world when you’re an adult, never mind when you’re just a kid yourself. I hope someone out there takes a lesson from a few of the realities Elizabeth brings out during the story.

Favourite Quotes

“The world is a turntable that never stops spinning; as humans we merely choose the tracks we want to sit out and the ones that inspire us to dance.”

“Doesnt she know I still need her? That I still wish someone would look at the pieces of my life and tell me how to make sure they all fit back together?”

There’s was another one, but my little sticky came loose and I lost it. It had to do with the first time she had sex, and with it being more about being chosen then it was about wanting. Damn. I wish I could find it. I flipped through the whole book again and had no luck. Hopefully you’ll read this book, find the quote and know which one I meant.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, full of teenage angst with all kinds of passion thrown in. Passion for family, culture and of course food.

I give this book 4 stars ⭐️

Indigo upped my points last weekend so you can bet I decided to Treat my self.