Book Review: Season of Fire by Lisa T Bergren

Members of the Vise Library were selected to participate in a blog tour for Season of Fire.  We received a copy of Lisa T. Bergren's book for an honest review.

About the book:

After tackling her first mission and coming to terms with her power of empathy, Andriana discovers her first battles were only a taste of what is to come. She and her knight, Ronan, have admitted their feelings for each other, but their bonds are tested when Dri is captured by their mortal and spiritual enemy—Sethos—and his master, Keallach, emperor of Pacifica. Andriana is certain Keallach can be convinced to follow the Maker's plan and join the other Remnants … but in time, she must decide whether she really can pull him back to the Way, or if Sethos's web of darkness has slowly and thoroughly trapped them both … forever.

This book is the second book in the Remnants series by Lisa T. Bergren.  This book continues right where Season of Wonder left off.  In this book you get the view point of not only Andriana, but also the point of view of Ronan at times.  We are introduced to a lot of new characters (both good and bad) and learn that Dri and her group are helping bring awareness to their cause.  Once what was forbidden to speak of, is no longer the case.  The members start to find many people that are sympathetic to their plan.  However, because of this, the evil is trying to take over more than ever.  

The Ailith have many trials throughout this book.  Andriana (Dri) must learn to not give into the darkness of Sethos and members of his clan.  In this book Dri is held a prisoner of Keallach at one point and she wonders if he is as terrible as everyone thinks.  We also learn what his powers are and how powerful he really is.  Ronan and Dri also must deal with their feelings of each other and think of the journey their Maker has set for them.  There are many trials for Dri to go through.  She must learn patience, how to resist the Dark, keep faith and learn to stay true to herself.  There are a few twists of who is actually good and who is really bad.  There are two huge surprises near the end of this book for Dri.  She learns why Niero is the perfect leader for the group and she also is reunited with two people that she didn't think she would ever see again.  Anyone that enjoys dystopian books, will enjoy this book.  

Buy the book:

     Amazon

     Barnes and Noble

About the author:

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling author of over thirty novels, children's books, and nonfiction books. She's currently working on a teen time travel series called River of Time. Lisa and her husband Tim reside in Colorado with their three children.

Connect with the author:

   Facebook

   Twitter

   Website

   Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Love Abstract by B.L. Berry

Blurb
Things aren't always what they seem.
And in the light, Sleeping Shadows awaken and truths are exposed.
Love...
I love you.
Of all the lies he ever told me, that is my favorite.
Deceit...
Phoenix isn't who he thinks he is.
He is what he hides.
I know that now.
Lies...
His lies became so real he started to believe them,
deceiving even himself.
His silence lies, too.
The truth won't set you free. It will destroy you.
Love is deceptive like that.

Prologue

Phoenix

It all started with a little white lie.

A lie of omission, if you want to be technical.

But somewhere along the way, that little white lie turned into a massive, gaping black hole, mercilessly sucking in every facet of my life bit by fucking bit.

I’ve done everything I can to protect Ivy, to keep her out of my screw up. But one day she’s going to find out. And I know I need to tell her before someone else does. I need her to understand. I need her forgiveness. I need her to hear the sincerity in my words, my apology.

I can only hope that Ivy is open-minded and understanding enough to accept my past transgressions as she’s accepted her own. She has to accept me as I accepted her, fuck ups and all, right?

Ivy knows I’m not myself. I haven’t been myself in what feels like years. She can see the guilt of an unnamed crime written all over my face, but for whatever reason, she chooses not to say anything. Maybe she’s terrified of what the truth will bring?

She should be.

And frankly, so am I.

The demons of my past haunt me every fucking day. I wish things had unfolded differently. I never imagined that one decision could ever bite me in the ass like it has. But I can’t turn back time and rewrite the past without changing the course of my present … my future. The choices I made ultimately led me to her. And she is all that is good in my life …

The one thing going right.

And I won’t give that up without a fight.

The streetlight streaming in through the cracks in the blinds is just enough to illuminate our bedroom. I’ve been awake for hours; my mind racing to all the dark places I hate visiting.

I sit up, careful not to stir Ivy. Her hair cascades across her pillow. She looks so beautiful when she’s asleep. There’s no worry in her face, and she is just at peace with the world. Everything about this woman was created specifically for me. I can watch her for a single moment and easily find one thousand new things I love about her.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve perfected the fine art of quietly escaping our bedroom. I stealthily make my way to the door and slowly turn the handle. I look back over my shoulder and watch her sigh in her sleep. She’s snoring softly, and I just know.

I know that this is it.

She is it.

Most guys would never admit the moment they knew they wanted to marry the love of their life.

Then again, I’m not most guys.

I’m just an asshole. Quite possibly the luckiest asshole in the history of assholes.

And who knows how long my luck will last.

Because today is going to be the day I come clean and tell her what happened.

And this time I mean it.

Add you to your TBR

Love Nouveau on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22912916-love-nouveau

Love Abstract on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25243912-love-abstract

About B.L. Berry

B.L. Berry is many things. A New Adult author. A self-proclaimed music whore. A long-course triathlete. A marketing savant. And a full-time working mom. While there are never enough hours in the day, she does the best she can to get things done and hopes for technological advances in human cloning.
When she’s not hiding behind her computer writing, you can find her spending time with her family or catching up on her favorite TV shows. Rumor has it she’ll sleep when she’s dead.
She is Canadian by birth. Mexican by marriage. Chicagoan by heart. Kansan by choice. Jayhawk purely by common sense.
Residing outside of Kansas City, she lives with her husband, two children and black pug. Each day her family thanks the makers of e-Readers, because without which they would be living amongst stacks and stacks of romance novels. Conversely, each day B.L. Berry thanks the makers of e-Readers for hiding her book-hoarding tendencies.

Blog: http://blberrywrites.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/blberryauthor

Twitter: @BLBerryWrites

Instagram: @BLBerryWrites

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AuthorBLBerry

Review: Resident Advisors

As a college student, sometimes you just need to get away from all the stress that is college.  And what better way to take a break from studying (finals are soon.  EEEEKKK) than watching a funny TV show about the RA's in a new dorm?  This series is co-written by Taylor Jenkins Reid (she's an author and we reviewed her book last year) and is produced by Elizabeth Banks (who makes a funny appearance in the series!).  I decided to look into this series since I am familiar with both of their work and I also think it's pretty neat when authors do big things (well writing a book is pretty big all on its own!).  Plus, sometimes you just need a laugh.  

This series is set in a "typical" dorm in the Silicon Valley and features the resident advisors and the students that live there.  Somehow I started with the second episode first (without realizing it) and was a little confused.  Unfortunately I did not realize my mistake until after the fact.  Soooo, I had to watch the first episode after I watched the second and continue on with the rest.  This series offers a lot of laughs as the new director (who sometimes is just a glorified babysitter of adult children) of the dorm navigates through all the chaos of college life.  There are some funny jokes (my favorites are about Blink 182 & about the girl who lived in a polygamous compound that discovers Harry Potter) and funny characters to follow (the ex-gf that can't let go...8 years later, the squatter, a dog with a sausage strapped to its back & more!) If you need a new series to binge watch and to lighten the mood from end of the semester papers, studying and preparing for finals, hop on over to Hulu and check this series out.  There are 7 episodes available to view right now!  It's freeeeeeeeee TV people and we all love free right?  

If you want to check out the series just go to Hulu here.  Also, if you want to read about the series a little bit more make sure and read this article.  

 About Taylor Jenkins Reid: Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author, essayist, and TV writer originally from Acton, Massachusetts. She co-wrote Resident Advisors scheduled to premiere on Hulu April 2015. Her debut novel, Forever, Interrupted, was optioned with Dakota Johnson attached to star. Her second book, After I Do, was hailed as a best summer reads by Elle and Shape Magazines. Her third book, Maybe In Another Life, will be out in July 2015. In addition to her novels, Taylor's essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, xoJane, and a number of other blogs. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Rabbit.

Follow her on Twitter, because is is pretty hilarious!

Book Review: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Members of the Vise Library were selected to review Saint Anything.  We received a copy of Sarah Dessen's book for an honest review.

About the book:

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.

I have always been interested in reading books by Sarah Dessen, but for one reason or another have not found the time to read any of her books.  I am so glad I was given a review copy of her newest book.  It dealt with some heavy subject matter, but I didn't feel weighed down reading it.  I thought this showed what a great storyteller Dessen is.  

Sydney's family is shaken up by a terrible decision made by her brother.  One night he hits a teenager on a bike while driving drunk.  The young boy is paralyzed and will probably never walk again.  Sydney's family is dealing with the aftermath of her brother's poor decision and all of the heartache that comes with it . Sydney realizes that her parents may not be as financially stable after all of the legal fees and decides to alleviate a financial burden.  She decides to switch from her private school to a public school in order to get a fresh start.  She is tired of living under the dark cloud that her brother cast and wants to be seen in a different light.  At first the adjustment to the new school is difficult, but she is befriended by Layla and her brother, Mac.  Here she is able to be herself and have someone to talk to about the horrible thing her brother did and not be judged for it.  

Sydney's family, her mother in particular, is really having a hard time coming to grips with what has happened to their family.  Sydney's brother, Peyton, has been sentenced to jail and their mother is trying to control and coordinate Peyton's life in jail.  She is of course trying to protect her son, but she is not focusing on the wrong that he inflicted.  She is trying to make his life easier and putting all of her focus on him.  Sydney's mom does not appear to understand what Sydney needs and cannot even see that one of Peyton's friends is not a good guy.  This "friend" of Peyton, Ames, is constantly being pushed on Sydney, even though she is very uncomfortable around him.  Everyone outside of Sydney's family is able to label him as a "creeper" but Sydney's mom and dad cannot understand why she doesn't want to be around him.  I think this showed how focused the mother was making things comfortable for Peyton and eventually something awful happens to wake the family up.  

Sydney wants to be seen, but she also wants to understand why no one in her family is apologizing to the young boy that her brother hit.  It makes her mad at her mother and her brother that no one has apologized to the boy.  She feels the need to carry that burden and take it on herself.  Sydney eventually makes a mistake to lose her parent's trust and because of the path her brother went on they are super strict on her to make sure she does not end up in the same place as Peyton.  While her mistake was very small, there was something in the book that really struck me.  Sydney tries to argue that it was just one small mistake, but her mother says that Peyton made one mistake and look what happened.  

This book really pulls at your heartstrings.  Like I mentioned before, this book had some very heavy subject matter and Dessen navigates it wonderfully.  Even though Sydney has a lot of terrible things to deal with, I never thought she played the victim in this.  In fact I would say that Sydney is very sympathetic and sad about the situation.  What her brother did not only impacted his life or the boy he hit, but everyone who knew him.  Sydney is very strong and navigates it all very well.  She finds some true friends and a boy that truly sees her.  After I read this book I knew three things: 1) I wanted some Seaside pizza, 2) I wanted to know Layla and Mac's family and 3) that I don't want to put off reading anymore of Sarah Dessen's books.  They will be moving to the top of my list! :)

Our copy of Sarah Dessen's book will be added to our catalog very soon.  Make sure that you keep an eye out for it!

My favorite quote from the book: "That was just it.  You never knew what lay ahead; the future was one things that could never be broken, because it had not yet had the change to be anything."

Buy the book:

     Amazon

     Barnes and Noble

About the author:

I've been writing, in one way or another, for as long as I can remember. I was always a big reader, mostly because my parents were. I used to get frustrated with my mom because she bought me books for Christmas when what I really wanted were the gifts my friends got, things like sweaters and jewelry. But I did love to read. When I was eight or nine my parents gave me an old manual typewriter and a little desk in the corner of our den, and I'd sit there and type up my stories. I was the kind of kid that people always sighed over and said, "She has such a wild imagination," which usually meant "I wish Sarah would try to stick to the truth." I have a tendency to embellish: I think it's just a weakness of fiction writers. Once you learn how to make a story better, it's hard not to do it all the time."The books I read when I was teenager, the good ones anyway, have stuck more in my mind than anything since. I still love books, but while I couldn't tell you complete plots of novels I read even six months ago, I do remember even the smallest descriptive details from Lois Lowry's A Summer to Die or Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I think it was because back then books were still somewhat new to me, and when I found an author who seemed to say just what I was feeling, it really struck me and resonated. I hope that my books do that for the people who read them: I think it's the best thing to which any writer can aspire. "As far as my other life, my non-writing life, I live in the country with my husband, some lizards, and two dogs who are completely spoiled and rule me completely. I like to work in my garden---although I have not yet perfected the art of keeping everything alive----and, in my weaker moments, shop. I have a bit of an addiction to the Gap clearance rack, to be honest. I have this strange need to buy huge quantities of black pants. How many pairs of black pants does one person need? (Obviously for me, the answer is 11 and counting. But I digress.) What else can I tell you? I love Starbucks mochas but they make me way hyper. I subscribe to too many magazines. I make a mean bean salad. I could go on, but the truth is, my books are much more exciting than I am, and that's a good thing. It's always more fun to make stuff up anyway."

Connect with the author:

   Facebook

   Twitter

   Website

Blog Tour: Storm Fall by Tracy Banghart

Members of the Vise Library were selected to participate in a blog tour for Storm Fall.  We received a copy of Tracy Banghart's book for an honest review.

About the book:

In the action-packed sequel to Rebel Wing, Aris battles for life and love . . . and not everyone will survive. 

Aris Haan gave up everything to join the Atalantan Military: her family, her boyfriend, even her identity. In the end, though, it didn’t matter that she was a war hero. When the all-male Military discovered that she was actually a woman, she was sent home and erased from history. 

Now she has a chance to go back to the battlefield—as herself. But as hard as it was to be a soldier in disguise, it’s even more difficult now. The men in her unit undermine her at every turn. The Safaran army has spies everywhere, perhaps even on Aris’s stationpoint. And she’s falling for her mysterious superior officer, Milek. But their relationship is forbidden, just stolen moments between training sessions and missions. There’s no room for love in war. 

Then Aris discovers that Safara’s leaders have set their sights on her, Atalanta’s hero. And she must find them before they find her . . .

This book is the second book in the Rebel Wing series by Tracy Banghart.  The first book in the series is Rebel Wing.  The first book of this series was action packed and had a lot more background information to it.  In this book, there is even more action and you are really seeing what is happening with the War.  Aris, at the beginning of this book, is struggling being at home after her secret time in the military.  She doesn't feel like she quite fits in with her friends at home and has really lost part of her identity.  She also is struggling with nightmares of Elom and coming to terms with what she saw on her missions.  Milek finally comes to visit Aris after she rescued his mother.  He offers her a way back in to the military without having to hide her identity.  Eventually she agrees, but is unsure what Milek wants from her as a person.  The war is getting more dangerous everyday.  Everyone is trying to figure out where Elom is and what Ward Balias' end game really is.  Not only is Aris having to deal with that, but she is also not being respected at her job.  Even though women are allowed to serve in the military, it doesn't mean that they are very welcome by soldiers or people in general in the military.  There are sightings of Elom at different places and Aris is sent on a mission to scout out an area.  However, there is something faulty with her plane that eventually she is found out and shot down.  I won't give anything away after that point, but we get to see quite a few view points of the aftereffects of her crash.

This book has a lot to it.  It has great characters and a fun story to it.  There is still an air of mystery to it with what is happening with Ward Balias.  The female characters in this book are funny, strong and not afraid to be their true selves.  I admired Aris and Dysis for different reasons.  They are both strong in their own ways and I am a little jealous of that!  This book shows you in multiple ways to seize your happiness while you have the chance.  More than one character gets a shot of redemption through forgiveness that they never saw possible.  It was great to see so many of the small characters from the first book in this series.   I love the imagination of the structures of the territories and how some characters aren't exactly what they appear to be.  I enjoyed the military and spy angles as well.  I mean, who doesn't love spies????  All and all this is a great book in a great series and I am very anxious for the third book in order to find out to the answers to some very important questions!

Buy the book:

     Amazon

     

About the author:

Award-winning author, Army wife, and mom Tracy Banghart has an MA in Publishing and an unhealthy affection for cupcakes. Her quiet childhood led to a reading addiction, writing obsession, and several serious book boyfriends.

Connect with the author:

   Facebook

   Twitter

   Website

   Goodreads

New Display: Jazz Appreciation Month

The Vise Library currently has a new display above the reference section.  April is considered Jazz appreciation month so we decided to create a display to show our appreciation of the arts!

As you will see from the pictures in this post we have included several books, movies and CDs on jazz and jazz artists.  Jazz appreciation month was started in 2001 in hopes that it would promote and bring attention to jazz.  This appreciation was funded largely so that people would be made aware of jazz and its history as an American art form.  Free concerts are given throughout the country.  If you are interested in finding out more about Jazz Appreciation Month, then you find more information here.  Now that you are a little more informed about this special month, stop by the library to see some of the resources we have on display - or check out a few of them!

Resources used:

http://www.jazzapril.com/

http://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz/jazz-appreciation-month

Book Review: Making Your Mind Up by Jill Mansell

Members of the Vise Library were selected to review Making Your Mind Up.  We received a copy of Jill Mansell's book for an honest review.

About the book:

Lottie Carlyle is happy enough. Living in a beautiful cottage with her two adorable-sometimes-kids in an idyllic village, on good terms with her ex-husband, and with friends all around, everything is going just fine. But when she meets her new boss, her peaceful world is thrown into delightful, exciting, and frustrating chaos. Tyler is perfect for Lottie, but her kids do not agree. To make matters worse, the handsome and mysterious Seb appears on the scene, intriguing-and distracting-Lottie and charming her children, making it more and more difficult for her to make up her mind...

Lottie is enjoying her life until her boss, Freddie, delivers some earth-shattering news.  Freddie has decided to sell his business to an American named Tyler.  Tyler and Lottie hit it off right away, but there is one problem.  Well two actually, Lottie's children Nat and Ruby.  They can't stand Tyler.  He made a few mistakes around them and they won't forgive him.  Ruby and Nat don't want their mom seeing Tyler at all.  So for her children's well-being, Lottie and Tyler decide to just keep to their working relationship.  After that decision, in swoops Seb.  He is fun and Lottie's kids love him.  However, Lottie doesn't feel that spark with Seb as she does with Tyler.  Lottie decides to stay with Seb for the sake of her children.  Eventually something happens along the way to reveal people's true feelings and nothing is the same!

I always enjoy Jill Mansell's novels.  I love how she interweaves multiple story lines together and makes the whole book complex.  She always has enjoyable and funny characters (Mario, Amber, Tedd, Jojo, etc.).  That doesn't change in this novel.  Lottie is not perfect, but she is fun and loves her children.  There are other smaller plot lines that happen throughout the book.  There is quite a bit of sadness and righting wrongs from the past.  I think it's interesting to note that several characters needed a second look, because they weren't what they appeared to be in the beginning.  You will laugh at the dialogue of this book and at the same time feel for the heartache that happens.  All in all a very enjoyable and fun book to add to your summer beach book list ! 

Buy the book:

     Amazon

     Barnes and Noble

About the author:

Hi, I'm Jill Mansell and I live in Bristol in the UK with my family. I worked for many years in a neurological hospital but for the last two decades have been a full time novelist of happy, sad, funny, feel-good fiction. Sales of my books around the world now total nine million and I've only just realized as I'm typing this now that over the years I must have made an awful lot of people laugh and cry. Sorry!

Connect with the author:

   Facebook

   Twitter

   Website