The Color of Water by James McBride

The Color of Water tells the remarkable story of Ruth McBride Jordan, the two good men she married, and the 12 good children she raised. Jordan, born Rachel Shilsky, a Polish Jew, immigrated to America soon after birth; as an adult she moved to New York City, leaving her family and faith behind in Virginia. Jordan met and married a black man, making her isolation even more profound. 

The book is a success story, a testament to one woman's true heart, solid values, and indomitable will. Ruth Jordan battled not only racism but also poverty to raise her children and, despite being sorely tested, never wavered. In telling her story--along with her son's--The Color of Water addresses racial identity with compassion, insight, and realism. It is, in a word, inspiring, and you will finish it with unalloyed admiration for a flawed but remarkable individual. And, perhaps, a little more faith in us all.

This was another school read, but I must say that I enjoyed it. I liked how each chapter switched between James’s story and his mother’s story. Often the chapters were related and it was interesting to see how his mother’s experiences compared and shaped James’s experiences. At its heart, this memoir is about finding your own identity. The struggle for identity has always fascinated me. On one hand, we all seek out labels which give meaning to our lives - mother, father, sister, brother, friend, spouse - but at the same time, we often find ourselves limited by these same labels. Too often, we try to fit ourselves into a mold, ignoring our own uniqueness. Sometimes our search for identity is further hindered by a lack of understanding or denial, as is the case it this memoir. The memoir is honest, at times funny, and well worth the read.

Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5) & Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Book #2.5: Fracture Me
4 Stars
This short novella is told from Adam’s POV and sets the stage for the final installment in the series, Ignite Me. Adam is reeling - Omega Point is preparing to launch an attack on the Reestablishment, Juliette has broken his heart, Kenji has been injured, and he is desperate to keep James safe.

When the battle alarm sounds, Adam and his fellow rebels face a decisive battle that will forever change the course of the revolution. While being in Adam’s headspace does a good job of setting the tone of the third book in the series, it is not an essential read. You can skip it and still understand what’s happening in Ignite Me. If you are a fan of the series, then I think it’s worth your time.

Book #3: Ignite Me
3 Stars

Ignite Me is the third and final installment in the Shatter Me Series. After the destruction of Omega Point, Juliette is determined to fight back and bring down the Reestablishment. In her quest to fulfill this goal, Juliette finds herself teaming up with Warner. This partnership will put many of Juliette’s relationships to the test, sowing conflict in relationships that she thought were unshakable, and forcing her to question and redefine what she thought was true. Juliette will be forced to face her own insecurities and decide once and for all who she is. With everyone looking to Juliette to lead, the fate of their world hinges on Juliette’s choice to embrace her true power and fight back.

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I have really mixed feelings about this book and the end of this series. I really wanted to love this book, but I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed by it. It just didn't hold my attention in the same way that the previous two books did, and I found myself struggling to get through it at times, for reasons that I will elaborate on in a moment.

Overall, I think this series is definitely worth the read. Tahereh is a fantastic writer and has created an imaginative world that, while similar to other dystopian novels, is also unique. Over the course of the series, I grew to love the characters she created. I cried, laughed, and cheered right alongside of them. Tahereh has a unique writing style that makes for an interesting reading experience. I appreciate her ability to submerse her reader’s fully into the mind’s of her characters, both in the novels and the novellas. It is the perfect blend of dystopian and paranormal.

The thing that I appreciated the most about the series, especially the third book, was the empowerment of Juliette. While stories with strong female characters do exist, they are still more of an exception to the rule. It is refreshing to watch a female character grow into herself and lead. I think it is important for young women to have these examples to look up to.

Okay, stop reading now if you haven’t read the book yet. The rest of this review contains some spoilers.

Rush Too Far (Too Far #1.1, Rosemary Beach #1.1) by Abbi Glines

Rush! Rush! Rush! Rush! That’s all I really have to say about this book. I swear, Abbi Glines is a literary master. I would gladly pre-order, count down the days to, and devour a phone book if she wrote one. Rush Finlay is definitely in my top five book boyfriends and I love all the books in the Rosemary Beach series. If you haven’t read this series (shame on you!) then you need to get yourself to a bookstore ASAP.

If you were anything like me, then the whole time you were reading (and rereading) Fallen Too Far, you were dying to know what was going through Rush’s mind. What did he really think when he met Blaire for the first time? What drew him to her? What were the thoughts going through his mind during the infamous “peanut butter” scene? How did he reconcile his feelings for Blaire and his feelings of responsibility to his (still horrible) sister, Nan? So many questions! Abbi answers them all with Rush Too Far, which retells Fallen Too Far from Rush’s POV. 

This book is fantastic from start to finish, and I loved being inside of Rush’s head. I enjoyed seeing my favorite scenes from his POV, but what I loved more was getting to experience the conflict in his head as he fell for Blaire. While Rush comes off as a playboy, he is also incredibly loyal and protective of the things he loves. I found myself on an emotional roller coaster as Rush tried to come to terms with his feelings for Blaire, knowing full well that the secret he kept could destroy her world. It was just as heart wrenching as before, maybe even more so, because of Rush's internal conflict.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this book, other than the ending is just as torturous as the first time. After finishing, I had to reread Never Too Far and Forever Too Far just to remind myself that the story has a happy ending. Rush Too Far left me with an even bigger Rush Crush and has secured his spot at the top of my book boyfriend list. Fans of the series will not be disappointed. I know I wasn't :)

Breakable (Contours of the Heart #2) by Tammara Webber

Easy is one of my favorite NA novels, and Lucas is my favorite book boyfriend, second only to Mr. Darcy (and that’s saying something!). He is everything that you could ask for in a book boyfriend: intelligent, kind, protective, artistic, passionate, with just a little bit of bad boy mixed in (motorcycle, tattoos, lip ring, long hair...what’s not to love???). He’s also just a little bit damaged. I loved watching him and Jacqueline fall in love and find their happy ending, but I was dying to know more about the mysterious guy who captured her heart (and mine).

I was so excited when I heard that Tammara was releasing Breakable, that I might have broken out into an excited happy dance, not going to lie. I counted down the days, growing more and more impatient as the release date got closer and closer. I even had to pull Easy off the shelf to read again (no arm twisting required) the week before Breakable came out to tide myself over. The best part? My pre-ordered copy showed up a day early! Needless to say, I got nothing accomplished that evening. I think I may have even ordered pizza, so I didn’t have to waste precious reading time cooking myself something to eat. I know all you book nerds out there will understand! ;)

There is always a pang of worry when I open a much anticipated book, but Tammara did not disappoint. Breakable is not just a straight retelling of Easy from Lucas’s perspective, however. We also get a lot more insight into Lucas’s life in high school after tragedy strikes his family and changes his life forever. I loved how she divided the book chapters, using “Landon” and “Lucas” to distinguish between the present and past.

I came away from this book loving Lucas even more (didn’t think that was possible!). My heart ached for him as I read about his high school years and it this book really flushes out and adds to his character. I read this book in one sitting and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. It made his happy ending that much sweeter. Breakable definitely got a big book hug at the end and left me with a book hangover, probably because I forsook sleep in order to finish it.

This series is so worth your time. I would recommend reading Easy first, and I promise that you will not be disappointed. The series does deal with some heavy stuff, but in the end, I found the story to be uplifting and it left me with a smile on my face. This is a series that I know I will come back to again and again. Five GIANT stars!

Nash (Marked Men #4) by Jay Crownover

Nash Donovan’s world has been knocked on its side. As the man whom Nash has known as “uncle” lies in a hospital bed facing a grim prognosis, Nash learns a family secret that has him questioning everything. The only bright spot in the whole situation is Saint Ford, the pretty nurse that Nash can’t seem to ignore. The only problem is, Saint hates Nash.

After high school, Saint left Denver determined to get away from her mean peers and the boy with the startling eye color, whose rejection and dismissal forever left a stain on her heart. Returning to Denver after her father’s infidelity leads to her parents’ separation, Saint has learned that men cannot be trusted. Nevertheless, Saint has fulfilled her dream of becoming a nurse, and has little room in her life for love. Even though she cannot forgive him for the past, Saint cannot ignore the feelings that Nash stirs in her.

Nash is determined to hold on to the one good thing in his life and prove to Saint that he isn’t the guy she seems to think that he is, and the more Saint gets to know him, the more she finds herself questioning the past. As her own insecurities threaten to keep her and Nash apart, Saint will have to decide whether or not she is willing to risk it all for love. 

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Jay Crownover delivers another amazing installment in the must read Marked Men series. I LOVE this series, and the books keep getting better and better. What makes this series so amazing is the characters that Jay has created. On the surface they are the outcasts, the ones who are easily judged and dismissed by their appearances, but underneath the surface they are real, unique, and give credence to the old saying that, "your friends are the family you choose." Every time I pick up one of these books, I can't help but think that I would love to be apart of this crazy family. The loyalty and love all of these characters have for each other is just heartwarming. Probably not a word you expect to hear when reviewing a series about tattooed and pierced guys, but it's what makes this series special. It's about so much more than just hot guys (not that I don't love each and every one of them!!)

Fans of the previous books will not be disappointed. Nash (and that dragon tattoo!! OMG!!) has joined the ranks of my book boyfriends, and Saint could definitely be one of my homegirls. There are plenty of steamy scenes, but this book also has a lot of heart. It is an emotional book with a lot of heartbreak, but it is also a book about family and love, not just for others, but for yourself as well. I cannot say enough good things about this book and the series. It deserves 5 giant and colorful stars.

The best part is, we can expect two more books in the series. Up next is Rowdy's story, which I have a feeling will be quiet entertaining. We get to meet the girl that will hopefully rock his world, Salem, at the end of Nash's book. Looks like we can expect that one sometime in October of this year (just in time for my birthday!!). Also in the works is a book for Asa. Personally, I'm hoping that he might end up with Saint's cop friend, Royal. Something tells me that would make for a VERY interesting story, but I guess we will just have to wait and see. Expected publication date TBA.

I am also super excited for Jay's new series, Welcome to the Point. The first book, Better When He's Bad, featuring a sexy, dark, bad boy named Bax will be released in June. I already have mine pre-ordered, and I have a feeling that I am going to love this new series just as much as the Marked Men series. 

Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Falling to Pieces (Pieces #1) by Jamie Canosa

Introducing Falling to Pieces by Jamie Canosa

Suffering the bitter tongues of her alcoholic mother and cruel boyfriend, Jade struggles just to look at herself in the mirror. She hates her life, her insecurities, her ineptitudes, but most of all . . . Jade hates herself. She wants nothing more than to disappear, and everyone seems happy to let her. Until Kiernan Parks moves back into town.

Jade’s been crushing on him ever since kindergarten, when his family moved away. But now he’s back, and looking better than ever.

Hiding is a way of life for Jade, but Kiernan insists on uncovering the real girl he’s sees trapped inside her. On drawing her out of her shell, and showing her that she is someone worthy of love. 

Together, they fight back the darkness she’s living in. But when they finally step into the light, will the secret Kiernan’s been trying to keep buried destroy Jade, once and for all? 

For some people, happy endings are a fairytale.

Get your copy here:

ONLY 99 CENTS for a LIMITED TIME!!!
Amazon
GoodReads 

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My Two Cents...

I am always excited when Jamie releases a new book, and I was even more excited when she approached me about being apart of the blog tour for Falling to Pieces. Once again, Jamie hits it out of the park. She has the amazing ability to create characters that you can't help but fall head over heals for. From the very first page, I was hooked. I instantly felt for Jade and loved the idea of Kiernan being her knight in shining armor. I flew through this book, unable to put it down, spending my valuable planning time at work, "reading one more chapter." I loved watching their story unfold. But be forewarned, this story doesn't have a happy ending. In fact, this ending left me a crying mess. It was excruciatingly beautiful, and left me with a book hangover. After I finished it, I found myself unable to think of anything else but this story, picking up my Kindle, again and again, to re-read my favorite parts. 

For those of you who have read my other reviews, you know that I love nothing more than to be emotionally wrecked after reading a good love story, and this book definitely left me emotionally destroyed. It is a bit of a departure for Jamie, and definitely more mature than her previous novels. It carries the NA label, but it does not fit the mold of what I have come to expect when I see the NA label attached to a book. If you are picking it up expecting tons of hot and steamy scenes, you will be disappointed. However, there is a maturity about this story that prevents it from being a YA novel. At it's core, it is an honest-to-goodness LOVE story. The love between Jade and Kiernan is the type of love that we all secretly pray to experience at least once before we die. The only thing that I would have wished for, is a happier ending.

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Up Next in the Pieces Series...

We can expect a novella, entitled Angel, featuring Kiernan's brother, Cal (release date TBA), as well as the continuation of Jade's story in book two (title/release date TBA). I know where I would like to see the story go, but I guess I will just have to see if my predictions come true. I'm really just hoping for a happier ending.

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Meet the Author

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA/NA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Upstate NY with her husband, and their three crazy kids . . . plus the cat, the bird, and the rabbit.

Author Links:

FB- https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamieCanosa

Blog- http://jamiecanosa.wix.com/author

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And Now for a Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette's brilliant and charismatic father captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want the responsibility of raising a family.

The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.

The Glass Castle is truly astonishing--a memoir permeated by the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family.

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It's true what they say: "Childhood is what we spend the rest of our lives trying to get over." Or at least it's partially true. I found myself questioning time and again how anyone who grew up like Jeannette could turn into a functioning, productive adult. The narrative is well written, humorous, and heartbreaking at times. It speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, and the inevitable heartbreak when you finally realize you can't help someone who doesn't want help, no matter how much you love them. It also serves as further evidence that none of us escape our childhoods unscathed. But just like Jeannette, I'm not sure I would give up those scars even if I could. For it is those scars that shape us into the people that we become, for better or for worse. Although, I'd like to think the "better" outweighs the "worst."