Book Review: Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse

The Vise Library received a copy of Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse.  This book is one of our most anticipated books of the year and we were thrilled to receive a copy of this book (thanks to The Novl)!  See our review and thoughts below!

About the book:

Anna and the French Kiss meets Before Sunrise in this smart and swoony debut.

Sophia has seven days left in Tokyo before she moves back to the States. Seven Days to say good-bye to the electric city, her wild best friend, and the boy she's harbored a semi-secret crush on for years. Seven perfect days....Until Jamie Foster-Collins moves back to Japan and ruins everything.

Jamie and Sophia have a history of heartbreak, and the last thing Sophia wants is for him to steal her leaving thunder with his stupid arriving thunder. Yet as the week counts down, the relationships she thought were stable begin to explode around her. And Jamie is the one who helps her pick up the pieces. Sophia is forced to admit she may have misjudged Jamie, but can their seven short days of Tokyo adventures end in anything but good-bye?

Sophia is getting ready to move back to New Jersey after spending several years in Tokyo with her closest friends.  She has seven days left until she moves, but her world is turned upside down when her friend/non-friend Jamie moves back to Tokyo the week before she moves.  Jamie and Sophia had a huge falling out before he left Tokyo the first time and have not spoken in 3 years.  Meanwhile, Sophia's friends have been keeping something from her and she has a hard time letting go of the betrayal she feels.  Sophia also has the chance to live with her estranged father and has to decide if that is the place she feels most at home.  

Things with Jamie really take a turn when they both address their disagreement from the past.  They start to spend more time together (in the short time that they have!) and realize there could be a lot of unresolved feelings, maybe some of the "more than friends" variety.  However, Sophia has a lot of fear since her time in Tokyo is coming to a close.  Can Sophia take a chance and live in the moment or will all her insecurities hold her back from living her life?

This book did such a great job of putting the reader in the world of the main character.  I loved how the author made me feel like I was there in Tokyo and seeing the sights and sounds.  The teenage angst was perfect and I felt like the problems and insecurities of being a teenager were legitimate.  This book makes you feel hopeful for the future and possibilities that are in front of us all on a day to day basis.  I loved this book and can't wait for more from this author!!

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

About the author:

I'm Cecilia Vinesse, and I wrote a book about saying good-bye to high school friends and staying out all night and the dizziness of falling in love and the deliciousness of ramen.

I was born in France but then moved to Japan. And then to the States. And then back to Japan. And then back to the States. When I was 18, I moved to New York where I was homesick for nearly seven years. After that, I got a job in a cold, snowy city in northern Japan and, from there, I headed to Scotland where I got my master's in creative writing and lived off tea, writer tears, and Hobnobs.

I still live in the U.K. and spend most of my time writing, reading, baking, and getting emotional over Tori Amos albums. Hobbies include pretending Buffy the Vampire Slayer is real, collecting a lipstick to match every Skittle flavor, and listening to a thousand podcasts a day.

A pup named Malfi and a Renaissancist named Rachel are my favorite things in the world. That, and books. I should probably mention the books again. 

Connect with the author:

Website | Twitter

#WRC2017: Sweet Southern Hearts by Susan Schild

This fall, members of the Vise Library are participating in the Booksparks Winter Reading Challenge! We have received copies of several books from publishers for honest reviews. We hope that you enjoy these reviews (and books)!

About the book:

When it comes to marriage, third time’s the charm for Linny Taylor. She’s thrilled to be on her honeymoon with Jack Avery, Willow Hill’s handsome veterinarian. But just like the hair-raising white water rafting trip Jack persuades her to take, newlywed life has plenty of dips and bumps.

Jack’s twelve-year-old son is resisting all Linny’s efforts to be the perfect stepmother, while her own mother, Dottie, begs her to tag along on the first week of a free-wheeling RV adventure. Who knew women “of a certain age” could drum up so much trouble? No sooner is Linny sighing with relief at being back home than she’s helping her frazzled sister with a new baby…and dealing with an unexpected legacy from her late ex. Life is fuller—and richer—than she ever imagined, but if there’s one thing Linny’s learned by now, it’s that there’s always room for another sweet surprise…

Linny has had very bad luck when it comes to love.  She has been a widow twice and is trying her third time at happily ever after.  However, there are a ton of obstacles in the way of marriage bliss.  For one, her husband Jack has a teenage son that doesn't seem to care about Linny and is making things very difficult.  Linny's sister is also about to have a new baby and her mother is about to go on a huge trip with several of her friends.  Linny's new in-laws make it hard for Linny to feel welcome since they really adored Jack's ex (who tries to stay in the picture).  Since Linny worries about all of this, she has a hard time concentrating on her own marriage.

This book starts with Linny and Jack's honeymoon that is a white water rafting trip.  Even though Linny does not enjoy this type of thing, she agrees to go because she knows this will make Jack happy.  Unfortunately, the two have to cut their honeymoon short when Jack's son is super upset about some drama with Jack's ex and needs them to come home early.  This sets the path for their first year of marriage together.  Linny must find her strength to be able to speak her mind and to put her needs and the well-being of her marriage above all else.  

This story felt very real and shows that sometimes we lose sight of things that are important while focusing on the other things around us.  Linny just wants to be happy and she hopes that she found that with Jack.  You will have to read to find out if that happens and how everything else plays out!
  

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

About the author:

Susan Schild writes wholesome and sunny Southern fiction. She likes stories about charming men, missing money, adventuresome women, sweet dogs, and happily ever afters at any age. 

Susan is a wife and a stepmother. She enjoys rummaging through thrift store for treasures like four dollar cashmere sweaters and amateur watercolor paintings. She likes taking walks with her Lab mix, Tucker, and his buddies. She and her family live in North Carolina.

Susan has used her professional background as a psychotherapist and a management consultant to add authenticity to her characters.

SWEET CAROLINA MORNING, the sequel to LINNY'S SWEET DREAM LIST, was released August 2nd, 2016. 

SWEET SOUTHERN HEARTS, the final book in the Willow Hill series, will be released on January 10th of 2017 and is available for pre-order now. Readers can look forward to more adventures, new beaus, sinister ministers, lovebirds over fifty, a road trip for Mama and her pals, and maybe even an I DO...or two.

Connect with the author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Book Review: Torn Between Two by Mia Kayla

Torn Between Two (Torn Duet #1) by Mia Kayla

Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creative Covers

Release Date: January 23, 2017

 

Synopsis

I believe in fairy tales — the kind where a knight in shining armor sweeps me off my feet. Coming from a broken home, fairy tales housed the hope I clung to. Never in my life did I imagine two knights coming into my life— two knights that wore very different armor.   A rockstar versus a lawyer. Fast and furious versus deliberate and calculated. Intense and passionate versus strong and devoted. Chaos versus stability.   I fell in love with one in the craziness of a concert. I fell in love with the other in the silence of his compassion.   And now I am Torn Between Two.  

Review:

I feel like this book is different from any Mia Kayla book that I have read in the past. This book centers around Sam and the two men in her life. She has recently moved to Chicago to work toward her dream of attending Le Cordon Bleu and to start her life over after such a painful past. One night with her friend, she meets, Hawke, her rock-star crush. They hit if off and have a lot of chemistry and Sam can't help but fall for him. However, Hawke, or course, travels a lot and is not very good at keeping in touch with Sam. He contacts her every so often in order to get his Same fix. Hawke has a lot of inner demons to fight himself. Sam meets Josh one day while shopping and they keep running into each other. He is a lawyer that has his own demons (mainly his family) to deal with. He and Sam become really close friends and he wants more from her. Sam still wants Hawke, even though the contact with him is sporadic. She has a hard time choosing what she wants, not just in men, but also going after her dreams.

This book is the first book of a Duet. It ends on a major cliffhanger with more questions than answers. I am anxious to read the second book in this series in order to see which way Sam goes, especially with what happens at the end of this first book! 

Buy the Book:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2j2cEfz

iBooks: http://apple.co/2iS05s3

B&N: http://bit.ly/2k5bfqj  

Kobo: Coming Soon

Google Play: Coming Soon    

Goodreads

   

   

Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cba4250423/?

   

Coming Soon

Choosing Forever (Torn Duet #2) by Mia Kayla

Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creative Covers

Release Date: February 12, 2017

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2jLpEaM

 

Synopsis

Life is made up of choices. Single choices like bricks laid out in a path. A path that leads to your future. At twenty four years old, I would have never guessed I would be stuck between two men—two men from opposite spectrums of the universe. Their lives, their worlds, their demeanor is as different as the darkest of nights and the lightest of days. I love them both, but I have to choose. There is only one choice I can make. And I choose forever.  

   

About the Author

Mia Kayla is a New Adult/Contemporary Romance writer who lives in Illinois. Most of the time, she can be caught on the train with her nose in a book sporting a cheeky grin because the main characters finally get their happily-ever-after at the end. She loves reading about happy endings but has more fun writing them.  

Connect with Mia

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/b91btT

Website: http://bit.ly/2jnGgFA

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2a1nfnv

Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2alzxsN

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Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jAfXuV

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2jIbURw

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2iopiIt

BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2jbzV2l

Book Review: The Rule Maker by Jennifer Blackwood

Cover Design : L.J. Anderson / Mayhem Designs

Model: Kamil Nizinski

Release Date: January 16, 2017

 

Synopsis

Ten Steps to Surviving a New Job:   1. Don’t sleep with the client. It’ll get you fired. (Sounds easy enough.)   2. Don’t blink when new client turns out to be former one-night stand.   3. Don’t call same client a jerk for never texting you back.   4. Don’t believe client when he says he really, really wanted to call.   5. Remember, the client is always right—so you can’t junk punch him when he demands new design after new design.   6. Ignore accelerated heartbeat every time sexy client walks into room.   7. Definitely ignore client’s large hands. They just mean he wears big gloves.   8. Don’t let client’s charm wear you down. Be strong.   9. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the client. You’ll lose more than your job—maybe even your heart.   10. If all else fails, see rule number one again.

Review:

Zoey is not having a good day, not at all. She nearly dies choking on on a piece of candy while reading an email that will change her life. She is an interior designer and has been asked to do an overhaul for the brother of the guy (Ryder) that never called her after hitting it off so well four months before. What Zoey doesn't know is that her day is about to get a lot worse when looking at the job site she gets stuck in a window. To make matters worse, Ryder shows up to the site while she's in a very embarrassing position. Zoey and Ryder are forced to work together on this project since Ryder's brother was involved in an accident. Zoey is afraid working with Ryder will jeopardize her chances of getting the promotion she has been working so hard for. Meanwhile, Ryder is in a transition period with his life as a professional snowboarder after breaking his leg. He has trouble understanding what else he has in his life other than snowboarding. He is also trying to help his brother after the accident and struggles with keeping his distance from Zoey. Zoey is afraid for her job and for her heart once Ryder completely recovers. Will Ryder go away never to be heard from again after his leg heals? These two each have obstacles to overcome and understand what they want out of their life. This book was as enjoyable as the first and had a lot of great dialogue that made me laugh out loud. You will also see glimpses of past characters from the previous book, which is always a lot of fun! Make sure to give this book a try and you won't regret it!

   

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ http://amzn.to/2ixx4Qn

Barnes & Noble ~ http://bit.ly/2jw6WUv

iBooks ~ http://apple.co/2jK8p92

Kobo ~ http://bit.ly/2iUCsuI

Goodreads

   

   

Giveaway

$50 Sephora Gift Card

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cba4250416/?

   

   

About the Author

Jennifer Blackwood is an English teacher and contemporary romance author. She lives in Oregon with her husband, son, and poorly behaved black lab puppy. When she isn't writing or teaching, she's binging on Veronica Mars episodes and white cheddar popcorn.

 

Connect with Jennifer

Newsletter: http://jenniferblackwood.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4a45cb91f52cd5f90e2162e5d&id=f6c3a79cd3

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferBlackwood

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1541291366201625/

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8532549.Jennifer_Blackwood?from_search=true

Goodreads Reader Group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/186113-jennifer-blackwood-books

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jen_blackwood

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenblackwoodauthor/?hl=en

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Blackwood/e/B00OPXL0VG/ref=la_B00OPXL0VG_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1481596906&sr=1-2

 

Book Review: Ever Over After

Ever Over After (The Over Duet #2)

Cover Design: DCP Designs

Release Date: January 9, 2017

 

Synopsis

Marlo … wild-eyed, untamed, and every single thing I’ve ever wanted from this life. I wasn’t ready for her back then. I was a stupid boy with adult feelings and no idea what to do with them. I squandered away every chance she gave me. Yes, love like ours either burns white hot or crumbles under the pressure. And now I’m back to sift through the rubble. Questions and excuses are two things I have in spades. What I need now are answers. Answers and Low. Always Low. My name is Ever Montgomery, and this is my story of love resurrected.  

Review

This is everything I wanted out of the sequel for Low and Ever! This book was done perfectly and I wouldn't change a thing. We begin with where the first book left off (and with Ever trying to contact Low). Low and Ever cross paths after 8 hard years apart. Low is, obviously, reluctant to give Ever a chance again after how everything ended the last time.  I wish I could dive into the story, but I am afraid to give anything away. Just know that pasts are brought up and that people are connected more than you realize! Ever realizes that he is not completely done with facing his past and neither is Low.  Both of them have to let go in some way in order to move forward, but can they do that?  I loved every minute of this story. It was a beautiful story and I hate that I can't dive into these two characters again!

P.S. We were lucky to enough to review the first book in the series, Low Over High, before it was released.  You can see that review here.

Goodreads

   

 

Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cba4250410/?

   

Now Available

Low Over High (The Over Duet #1)

ON SALE FOR 99¢!

 

Purchase Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2i7ck1T

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2iRTUkc

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2irBw0P

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2jqVSeN

       

About the Author

J.A. DeRouen lives in South Louisiana with her husband, son (aptly named "The Professor), and her furry friend, Scout. She holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and nursing.

When she's not writing or inhaling romance novels by the stack, she works as a women's health nurse. She's been an avid reader and daydreamer since childhood, and she's never stopped turning the page to get to the next happily ever after.

 

Connect with J.A.

Website: http://www.jaderouen.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2dFHwzC

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2c3Y2O0

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2eFOJ6m

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Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2dFnN8b

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2e78EZu

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2eNra9f

BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2eNrncx