Pivot Book Reviews

REVIEW - Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Monday, October 13, 2014 2

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally Published by: Sourcebooks Fire on July 15th, 2014 Series: (Hundred Oaks) Pages: 306 Format: Hardcover Genre: Contemporary Source: Purchased Rating: 4/5 BUY THE BOOK or ADD IT TO GOODREADS!
FROM GOODREADS: Annie hates running. No matter how far she jobs, she can't escape the guilt that if she hand't broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.
But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she's at war with her body, her mind -- and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms... and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge that crossing the finish line.
MY THOUGHTS:
Dearest Breathe, Annie, Breathe,
I didn't realize you were part of a series when I read you, and for that, I apologize. Luckily, you're more like a companion that an actual 'series' so no biggie. Although, I will be reading the other books in the Hundred Oaks series soon, because you rocked. I was craving a contemporary that I would compare to the likes of Stephanie Perkins and Kasie West, and you satisfied that craving beautifully! THANK YOU!
You follow the story of Annie, who much like me, can't run to save her life, but when her boyfriend passes away, Annie blames herself and decides to run the marathon that he was planning to run in his honor. But Annie's marathon training is a lot more than she bargained for, and she wasn't planning on falling for her coach's brother, either. Will Annie be able to cross that finish line and ever open herself up for love again?
Seriously, I flailed so hard over you, BAB (Breathe, Annie, Breathe). I love love loved Annie, and really felt a connection with her because I've had an ex-boyfriend of mine pass away since high school. Of course, it was a bit different for me, because we weren't dating anymore when it happened, and we were never that serious, but he was still a very close friend of mine. I understood Annie's feelings completely. And then, there's Jeremiah. Oh dear lord. Jeremiah. *FEELS* *FLAILS* *FAINTS* I loved Jeremiah, especially because he has faults of his own. Even your secondary characters had their own faults, and they just felt so realistic. Your author, Miranda Kenneally, definitely knows how to bring her characters to life.
Annie's journey was tough, but she was one hell of a character. She fought for every mile, and it was just overwhelming, and engrossing. I couldn't read you fast enough, BAB. I want more of Annie and Jeremiah so much. I'm desperately hoping to see more of them in another Hundred Oaks companion. (HINT HINT MIRANDA!) I hope to get to the previous books very very soon, because if they are just like you, I'm sure to gobble them up just as fast. You were one hell of a read, and one that will stick close to my heart in the days to come. FABULOUS! Four hearts to you, Breathe, Annie, Breathe.
Considering taking up running now,
Becca

Let's discuss!

Have you read anything by Miranda Kenneally?

Have you read Breathe, Annie, Breathe?

What did you think?

Stacking the Shelves (23)

Sunday, October 12, 2014 12

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where bloggers share their weekly book hauls! I absolutely love showcasing what I received over the week, and seeing what goodies everyone else got as well!!!

PURCHASED:

Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Sanctum by Sarah Fine

In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

WON:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas *SIGNED*

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas *SIGNED*

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas *SIGNED*

(These were from Dixie being a winning entry into the fan art book trailer for Heir of Fire!)

FOR REVIEW:

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Skandal by Lindsay Smith

The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark

HUGE THANKS to Bloomsbury, Macmillan, and Harlequin Teen!!! <3

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BECCA LAND?

Well, as you all know, I met Gena Showalter for the second time last Friday, and it was awesome, and then I met a fellow blogger Amanda before that for coffee. IT WAS MAGICAL! For reals, guys, this girl and I just clicked, and I think we are going to be the greatest of friends. There was definitely tons of flailing of Sarah J. Maas in our conversation. I cannot wait to do it again...SOON! Let's see, after that, I was painting like crazy to get everyone's tote orders out, and then I painted a Snow Like Ashes tote just for the fun of it. GUYS. Sara Raasch bought my SLA tote. WHAAAAT. I was freaking out that she bought it. It was pretty great. I got everything mailed off, and on Wednesday, my mom and I drove down to Irving, Texas, which is roughly a 3 1/2 hour drive from where I live, to go to the Fierce Reads tour. I will have a post later this week talking about all the shenanigans that went on, but let me just say, it was one of the best trips of my entire life, and I will cherish it forever!!! I got to meet Mary, and all the authors, and it was just the absolute best! Other than that, I've been working like usual, and trying to read as much as possible, because holy crap! They need to rename October....Booktober because so many good books are coming out! So many books, so little time...am I right? I'm currently reading Stone Cold Touch, and hoping to finish so I can start The Young Elites. What are you all reading??

BLOG POSTS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

ARC Review - Lailah by Nikki Kelly
Tote(ally) Tuesday (5)
Waiting on Wednesday (34)
ARC Review - Compulsion by Martina Boone

POSTS AROUND THE BLOG-O-SPHERE:

Guest Review - Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer & Giveaway
Book Blogger Round-up Question of the Month & Giveaway

That's it for me!

Did you get anything amazeballs this week?

Link me up so I can come see! :)

ARC Review: Compulsion by Martina Boone

Friday, October 10, 2014 3

Compulsion by Martina Boone Published by: Simon Pulse on October 28th, 2014 Series: The Heirs of Watson Island #1 Pages: 448 Format: ARC - paperback Genre: Paranormal, Gothic Source: For review Rating: 5/5 BUY THE BOOK or ADD IT TO GOODREADS!
FROM GOODREADS: Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.
All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt's South Carolina plantation instead -- a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that become compulsions.
Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn't what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.
MY THOUGHTS:
Dearest Compulsion,
Oh, how I loved you. You were everything I hoped you would be and more!!! Plus, dat cover. So beautiful! (PSST PLEASE DONT CHANGE IT SIMON TEEN!!!) Seriously your cover is one of the most gorgeous covers I've seen this year, and that's saying something because there has been quite a few this year, Compulsion! I was a little nervous when I opened you, because I was scared I wouldn't like you, and I wanted to love you oh so much. Thank the lord I didn't have to worry too long. I was sucked into your southern charm right from the start!
Barrie, your MC, is quite the character. I adored her! She was so headstrong, and reminded me of myself with her stubbornness. (I am quite stubborn, btw) But she also had me giggling up a storm with her antics! I felt bad for how shitty her life seemed to be, but she just kept trucking on with her head held high, and soldiered through the heartache. I commend her strength. I'm not sure how well I would hold up going through losing my mother, and my best friend, and moving to a new very unusual place. Not to mention having a compulsion, seeing ghosts, and then this super swoony boy named Eight Beaufort popping into my life. Oh Eight. *le sigh* Such a southern gentleman! Truly fell for him right alongside Barrie. Some have said you have a tiny bit of insta-love in you, but I say, fear not, dear readers! It is not insta-love, but merely Barrie and Eight being drawn to each other because of their cursed ancestry, and come on, Barrie fights her feelings for the majority of your chapters, and in my opinion, that just doesn't add up with insta-love with me.
Okay. So not only did I love your two main characters, Compulsion. I also loved your secondary characters. Aunt Pru and Mark felt like people I've known my entire life. Your author, Martina, has a way with not only words, but bringing each and every character to life- despite whether they are a main character or not. There were so many times I felt like I was in the room with Aunt Pru, Mark, Barrie, Eight...All of them. You were just real to me in so many ways, Compulsion.
Your setting was down-home southern gothic, which I loved, and don't see much of in the YA atmosphere anymore. I'm glad you were around to fill the void, because you did it beautifully. Not only your setting, but also page-turning suspense. I couldn't read you fast enough, because of all the mysteriousness and the need to know WTH was going on! Oh, and those ghosts? Brilliant.
I may or may not have a compulsion for reading you. (Psst I do) Now I have that "I Put a Spell on You" song stuck in my head, but seriously, you put a spell on me, Compulsion, and I'm dying to know what is next!!!! I mean, honestly. I shall be telling anyone and everyone about you, because you are a must-read of the year, Compulsion. You are the southern gothic that everyone has been pleading and waiting for. Filled with love, loss, revenge, secrets, spirits, curses, and more importantly, Eight Beaufort, what more could anyone want? You nailed it.
Feeling compelled to count down the hours until Persuasion (your sis/bro) releases,
Becca

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

Wednesday, October 8, 2014 3

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, where you can spotlight an upcoming release you're eagerly anticipating!

This week I'm waiting on:

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Releases on: June 16th, 2015 ADD IT TO GOODREADS!!

FROM GOODREADS: Happiness shouldn't be this hard...

When it first gets announced, the Leteo Institute's memory-alteration procedure seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto -- miracle cure-alls don't tend to pop up in the Bronx projects. Aaron can't forget how he's grown up poor, how his friends all seem to shrug him off, and how his father committed suicide in their one bedroom apartment. He has the support of his patient girlfriend, if not necessarily his distant brother and overworked mother, but it's not enough.

Then Thomas shows up. He doesn't mind Aaron's obsession over the Scorpius Hawthorne books and has a sweet movie set-up on his roof. There are nicknames. Aaron's not only able to be himself, but happiness feels easy with Thomas. The love Aaron discovers may cost him what's left of his life, but since Aaron can't suddenly stop being gay Leteo may be the only way out...

Why I'm Waiting:

1. Dat cover.

2. It was pitched as a YA Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

3. Memory alteration sounds crazy. Color me curious!

What do you think of my WoW?

What is your WoW for this week?

Let me know in the comments, and be sure to leave me a link so I can come back and leave you some comment love!

Thanks for stopping by Pivot Book Reviews!