Book Review: BLUE VALENTINES by Laura Moe

The long-awaited sequel to BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA has finally arrived! Scroll down for my complete review.

BLUE VALENTINES
by Laura Moe
July 9, 2019

Description from Publisher:
On the verge of graduating high school, with no solid plans for his future, Michael has two options. He can either remain in Rooster, Ohio and attend a local college, or accept a scholarship to a summer workshop in Seattle, where he has a chance to meet his biological father. Will he make the right choice? While he struggles with his options, Michael discovers the ties that bind him to his girlfriend Shelly may be slowly unraveling.

About the Author:
Laura Moe is a radio host and YA author. Her novel, BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA, is listed as NYPL's 50 Best Books for Teens in 2016.






My Review:

BLUE VALENTINES by Laura Moe is a captivating read from beginning to end.

The main characters from Moe's previous novel, BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA, are revisited in this newest novel. Michael and Shelly must navigate the waters of first love and the choices that must be made after high school. The characters explore new avenues that force them out of their comfort zones and discover who they want to become in the future. Change often is uncomfortable, but it also can be exciting. As one character explains to Michael, "Sometimes a man has to leave home to find himself. You're safe here. You know when you wake up today is going to be just like yesterday and tomorrow. But you don't truly value that security until you go away and face a little danger."

Michael takes the leap into the unknown, as he describes in the novel, "In the last twenty-four hours, I have contacted my unknown father, taken my first flight clear across the country, ridden a train in an enormous city, listened to poetry by a famous poet, smoked a joint with a stranger, and am about to sleep with my girlfriend in her ex-lover's bed. How messed up is my life now?"

While the novel totally captivated me from beginning to end, the lingering issue I had with the story was the amount of drinking and drugs. I thought the book could have been titled HEARTBREAK HANGOVERS. ;) But that's a personal issue of mine. Many readers could argue that experimenting with alcohol and drugs is simply a part of growing up. I disagree. I believe there are healthier and safer ways to transition into adulthood. 

Michael asks himself in the novel, "Am I the architect of my misfortune?"

One of my favorite lines from the book:
"Everything grows gray, as if Shelly snatched up all the colors and took them with her."

BLUE VALENTINES by Laura Moe is a terrific tale of teens exploring their options after high school and deciding what matters to them most: love, friendship, self-discovery, family, and more.


[I received a free early copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]

Review: PAPERLESS POST

As an avid scrapbooker, I was sad back in the day when scrapbooking went digital. I love touching paper! But now, many years later, I must admit, I've climbed on the digital scrapbooking wagon, and I'm not sure I'll ever go back to the old way . . . maybe . . . I still love touching paper!

I feel the same way about invitations, cards, and announcements. So when I was asked to review the site www.paperlesspost.com I was curious. Is it just another "e-vite" type of website? I am not a fan of digital invitations. I know nearly everyone uses them. (I do use Facebook events and Twitter announcements.) But are we losing touch with the fine art of a handwritten card or a snail-mailed announcement?


Well, after playing with and testing the Paperless Post website, I'm happy to share my review with you. 

The first thing I noticed about Paperless Post was that they utilize an interesting array of well-known designers for many of their collections - such as Anthropologie, kate spade, Liberty Fabrics, Paddington, Rifle Paper, Sesame Street, Vera Wang, and many more.

Here are the additional points I noticed about Paperless Post:

1. The website is user friendly, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. 

2. You can send a test card to yourself before paying for the final version to be sent out.

3. If you're interrupted, your project is automatically saved in your drafts folder.

4. Similar to E-Vite, your guests can RSVP to events and view the guest list online.

5. Paperless Post seems much classier to me than E-Vite, but that could simply be personal preference.

6. While it does cost money to use Paperless Post, their site is clean and free from third-party advertisers.

7. The cost per use is reasonable. You can purchase 25 "coins" for $10 or purchase in varying levels up to 1000 coins for $100, making it less expensive the more you purchase, and it costs about 4 coins to send a card. 

8. Paperless Post is a great investment for a business that wants to send out professional-looking cards on a regular basis or a socially-active individual who is looking for a fresh design.

9. With over a 100 million users already, Paperless Post is on its way to becoming a true force in the industry.

10. The more I used Paperless Post to send out interesting greeting cards to people, the more I wanted to use it! It's fun!


Concerns:

1. Your card recipient is added to the marketing email list of Paperless Post. Your contact will have to "unsubscribe" to get off the list.

2. As a user, you are added to their marketing email list. And they send out a LOT of emails. I thought there'd be a way to update the setting in my account, but I had to click at the bottom of a promotional email in order to update my preferences. I simply unsubscribed from the promotional emails. This has not deterred me from wanting to utilize the site more.


As you can see, the pros definitely outweigh the cons.


Paperless Post is a fun and classy way to send out cards, invites, and announcements to friends and business associates. I highly recommend their easy-to-use website.




[I received free coins on the Paperless Post website in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]

Book Review: STORM AND FURY by Jennifer L. Armentrout

When I was given the opportunity to read an early copy of STORM AND FURY by bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, I jumped at it! Scroll on down for my complete review.

STORM AND FURY
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
June 11, 2019 - Inkyard Press
ISBN: 978-1335218797

Description from the Publisher
Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

About the Author
# 1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn. Find her on Twitter @JLArmentrout or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.



My Review

In STORM AND FURY, Jennifer L. Armentrout has created dynamic characters, steamy romance scenes, and unexpected plot twists. 

Armentrout is a fabulous story teller, and I loved STORM AND FURY. I especially enjoyed the secondary characters - specifically Zayne. The main character, Trinity, seemed a bit scattered and inconsistent, but Zayne was well developed and fun to follow. This was the first book I've read by Armentrout, and I didn't realize beforehand that this was a spin-off from another series. Without having read any of her other books, I was still able to fully follow the plot and characters in this story. And now . . . I want to go and read the other series!

Additionally, even though STORM AND FURY is the first book in a new series, the plot was wrapped up beautifully, and I look forward to the next book. 

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

"I wasn't part-Warden, either, and they were like real-life superheroes, hunting down the bad guys, if superheroes were, well, gargoyles."

"Isn't that evil's greatest achievement? It often hides itself in innocence?"

"My iron blade clattered onto the driveway, settling in a pile of demon dust."



[I received a free advanced copy from the publisher via Net Galley, which in no way influenced my opinion.]

IWSG: What's Your Favorite Genre?

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

This month's question: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

My answer: I love writing edge-of-your-seat mysteries and thrillers. My goal as a writer is to have readers say, "I finished the book in one sitting." I want readers to feel so compelled to turn the page that they are unable to put the book down. And ... if they must put it down, because of work or school or other obligations, then I want the story to linger in their minds, pushing them to get back to the pages.

How about you? What's your favorite genre (to write and/or to read)?

Writer CEO One-Day Workshop in Boise, Idaho

When Colleen M. Story (Author, Speaker, Health & Wellness Writer) asked me to share information about her upcoming workshop - I said, "Of course!" Because if you've ever visited her site Writing and Wellness, you already know she shares a wealth of information!

Discover the Secrets of a Successful Author Business at the New Writer CEO One-Day Workshop!

Writer CEO, a website dedicated to working writers and authors, is holding a one-day writing workshop on September 14, 2019, in downtown Boise, Idaho.

In one action-packed day, writers will learn effective book-marketing strategies and author businesses branding techniques. They’ll also discover:

· tips for avoiding burnout and overwhelm

· new processes for determining when to take important business risks

· how to better manage cash flow

· strength-based approaches to building a thriving author platform

· mindsets necessary for a professional author

· how to stabilize your business in a fluctuating industry

The event will feature workshops, giveaways, and networking opportunities. Writers of all levels and genres are invited, though the workshop will be most useful for those interested in getting their work noticed, boosting sales, enhancing organization, improving self-management, and supercharging their results.

Instructors Colleen M. Story and Donna Cook are both professional writers who bring to the table decades of experience in writing and writing-related businesses. After overcoming their own challenges in publishing and marketing, they wanted to share what they’ve learned with other authors, in the hopes of making their journeys a little easier.

“I spent years floundering around unsure how to get my writing business off the ground,” Story said. “I was doing well writing for others, but I wanted to create a business with my own projects, and there was little information available to help me do that. In this workshop, Donna and I won’t be teaching writers how to write—we’ll be helping them get their writing noticed, improve their marketing, find more readers and/or clients, and become the true creative business owners they need to be to succeed in this industry.”

“All I ever wanted to do is write,” Cook added, “but I soon realized I needed to master the business side of what I was doing if I wanted my writing to sell. That meant learning how to market in a way that worked for me, setting up systems that would help me streamline the tasks associated with marketing and publishing, and discovering the mindsets I needed to improve my chances of success. I’m eager to share what I’ve learned with other writers, because I know they make a huge difference.”

The workshop takes place on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Boise, followed by an optional post-workshop gathering over cocktails. The cost is $75 per person. For more information or to sign up now, see the Writer CEO workshop page.