Release Day Review: ROTTEN FRUIT by D.W. Cole

 

ROTTEN FRUIT by D.W. Cole

Publication Date: November 27, 2023

Pages: 119

Source: Author | Purchased

Add to Goodreads

RATING

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

What do you get when you have a fragile psyche, a knack for self-sabotage, and a slew of mommy issues? Killer instincts.

The battle of the mind can rage the most extensive war. That’s what Rue’s therapist always told her, and she was desperate to end the never-ending rug from being pulled from underneath her.

Determined to leave her troubled history behind, she relocates to Virginia for a fresh start. After significant strides to heal her wounds, Rue falls in love with Wyant Minnick, a seemingly perfect man with few flaws. After almost two years together, she believes she has finally found the love and stability she has craved since childhood. However, her fragile psyche starts to shatter when she discovers a lie that Wyant has been harboring. This devastating revelation sets off a chain of events that could have disastrous consequences for both.

Caught in an internal battle of self-sabotage, Rue transforms into an anti-hero, torn between her desire for a new life and the darkness within her. As the story unfolds, the lines between right and wrong blur, and Rue's secrets come to light. With each page, the suspense intensifies as Rue navigates the intricate web of her mind and grapples with her demons while struggling to come to terms with Wyant's potential betrayal.

In this gripping psychological thriller, delve into the complex world of Rue, a woman seeking solace from a haunting past. This captivating tale will have you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning the pages to unravel the mystery that will keep your mind guessing until the end.

MY THOUGHTS

Who do you become when you're created out of spite, treated as though your existence is wrong, and convinced you're nothing but a burden? How do you find the light when all you have been shown is darkness? Author D.W. Cole shows readers exactly who in her debut novella ROTTEN FRUIT.

Written in a beautiful mix of poetry and prose, D.W. Cole has a style uniquely her own. ROTTEN FRUIT will have readers both mesmerized and intentionally unsettled. Readers will root for Rue to find the love she deserves, and be fearful of the wrath she can inflict. 

ROTTEN FRUIT is the jolt to your TBR that you need and D.W. Cole is an author to watch out for. I cannot wait to have this beautiful book in my hands!

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book for review consideration. I've purchased a final version of the book for my personal library. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review and Giveaway: KISSING MAX HOLDEN by Katy Upperman

KISSING MAX HOLDEN

by Katy Upperman

Publication Date: August 1, 2017

Published by Swoon Reads

Pages: 304

Source: XPresso Book Tours | Netgalley

Add to Goodreads

Purchase  Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Synopsis

Kissing Max Holden was a terrible idea…

After his father has a life-altering stroke, Max Holden isn’t himself. As his long-time friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help him, but she doesn’t know how. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows that she shouldn’t let him kiss her. But she can’t resist, and when they’re caught in the act by her dad, Jill swears it’ll never happen again. Because kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea.

With a new baby sibling on the way, her parents fighting all the time, and her dream of culinary school up in the air, Jill starts spending more and more time with Max. And even though her father disapproves and Max still has a girlfriend, not kissing Max is easier said than done. Will Jill follow her heart and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all?

My Thoughts

I wanted to read KISSING MAX HOLDEN because I knew there would be a lot of kissing. I mean, kissing is in the title. I'm not at all ashamed to admit that. Plus, I love the friends-to-more trope. It is one of my favorites, and I liked the idea that there was something forbidden about the relationship. 

KISSING MAX HOLDEN is more that just kissing. Much more. It's about friendships, loyalty, family, betrayals, and baking. A lot of baking. I liked the passion that Jillian has for baking and how it as big part of how she relates to situations as well as the role it has in her future. 

I loved reading about Max and Jillian's history as childhood friends and how their families were connected and seeing just how much they relied on each other. Their lives are so intertwined that situations and circumstances continue to bring them together. 

It's important to understand that Jillian isn't the perfect character. She is kissing a guy who has a girlfriend. (Not a spoiler - it's in the synopsis) This may turn off some readers, but it wasn't an issue for me. Instead it raised the questions: How does she deal with that choice? What are her inner struggles? How do her choices affect her friendship with Max?   


What I liked:

• The friends-to-more trope
• Coffee-shop wisdom
• Teenagers making bad choices, messing up, growing up
• The relationship between Jillian and her step-mother 
• All of the sweet-tender moments, the "glances with meaning" between Max and Jillian (it's not just about the kissing)
• And, of course, all of the kissing

Favorite Quotes:

The corners of his mouth lift in a smug smile. And then he levels me with the most awkward question ever: “You’re thinking about last night, aren’t you?”

I don’t want to be jealous of something I don’t understand. 

***spoiler-ish***  
"It pisses me off that I’ve wasted time I could’ve spent with you, so God, don’t make me worry that the future’s not a sure thing. If you’re not serious, tell me now, before I get in any deeper.”

I loved reading KISSING MAX HOLDEN for the story, the character growth, the friendships, and yes, for all of the swoon-worthy yummy kisses. 

Disclaimer:  I received this e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. I've also purchased a final copy for my personal library. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

AUTHOR BIO:

Katy Upperman is a graduate of Washington State University, a former elementary school teacher, and an insatiable reader. When not writing for young adults, Katy can be found whipping up batches of chocolate chip cookies, or exploring the country with her husband and daughter. Kissing Max Holden is her debut novel.

Author links:

https://katyupperman.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14776974.Katy_Upperman

https://www.facebook.com/katyuppermanwriter/

https://twitter.com/katyupperman

July 31st

–underneath the covers >> Excerpt

–Book briefs >> Review

–YA and Wine >> Review

–Tales of the Ravenous Reader >> Guest post

August 1st

–Swoonworthybooks >> Review

–My Fangirl Chronicles >> Review

–Movies, Shows, & Books >> Guest post

–Whoo Gives A Hoot >> Review

August 2nd

–The Avid Reader >> Interview

–Novels & Necklaces >> Review

–The Heart of a Book Blogger >> Review

–Actin’ Up with Books >> Review

–Padme’s Library >> Interview

August 3rd

–Just Us Book Blog >> Excerpt

–Dani Reviews Things >> Review

–Freeing Fantasy >> Review

–Wonder Struck >> Review

–Lisa Loves Literature >> Interview

–Smada’s Book Smack >> Review

August 4th

–Girl Plus Books >> Review

–The Readers Den >> Review

–Ali’s Bookshelf >> Excerpt

–CBY Book Club >> Review

Giveaway
Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: My Last Kiss by Bethany Neal

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

My Last Kiss
by Bethany Neal
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Expected Publication Date:  June 10, 2014
Add to Goodreads

from Goodreads

What if your last kiss was with the wrong boy?

Cassidy Haines remembers her first kiss vividly. It was on the old covered bridge the summer before her freshman year with her boyfriend of three years, Ethan Keys. But her last kiss—the one she shared with someone at her seventeenth birthday party the night she died—is a blur. Cassidy is trapped in the living world, not only mourning the loss of her human body, but left with the grim suspicion that her untimely death wasn’t a suicide as everyone assumes. She can’t remember anything from the weeks leading up to her birthday and she’s worried that she may have betrayed her boyfriend.

If Cassidy is to uncover the truth about that fateful night and make amends with the only boy she’ll ever love, she must face her past and all the decisions she made—good and bad—that led to her last kiss.

Why I'm Waiting

• This sounds a little reminiscent of Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, which I liked, so why not give this one a shot
• A mystery to be solved - what happened in the weeks leading up to Cassidy's death
• This is a debut novel for Bethany Neal, I'm always on the lookout for new authors

2013 Debut Author Giveaway Hop

This year brought us a lot of amazing debut authors. There were a few that I had a chance to read and quite  a few that I wanted to read. For my giveaway, you can choose a book by a debut author that I've reviewed during the year.

Prize:

Choice of ONE of these books

(links to my reviews)

Camp Boyfriend by J.K. Rock 

 Blaze (or, Love in the Time of Supervillains) by Laurie Boyle Crompton
The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf 

 Little Fish by Ramsey Beyer

 Being Henry David by Cal Armistead 

 Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Giveaway Details:

Enter by Rafflecopter below 

entries using multiple email accounts will be voided
U.S. addresses only
must be 16 or older to enter
one winner will be selected and announced via Rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-->

Review: Blaze (Or Love in the Time of Supervillains) by Laurie Boyle Crompton

Blaze (Or Love in the Time of Supervillains)
by Laurie Boyle Crompton
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: February 1, 2013
Pages: 309
Source: ARC provided by Author and 
           Purchased Copy







(from Goodreads)

Blaze is tired of spending her life on the sidelines, drawing comics and feeling invisible. She's desperate for soccer star Mark to notice her. And when her BFF texts Mark a photo of Blaze in sexy lingerie, it definitely gets his attention. After a hot date in the back of her minivan, Blaze is flying high, but suddenly Mark's feelings seem to have been blasted by a freeze-ray gun, and he dumps her. Blaze gets her revenge by posting a comic strip featuring uber-villain Mark the Shark. Mark then retaliates by posting her "sext" photo, and, overnight, Blaze goes from Super Virgin Girl to Super Slut. That life on the sidelines is looking pretty good right about now...

My Thoughts

I've been excited about reading this book since I first found out about in February 2012 when it was originally titled Fangirl. I had to wait almost a year for it, but it was definitely worth the wait and totally met and exceeded any expectations that I had. I am a complete and total fangirl of Blaze the book and Blaze the character, pun intended!

Blaze is the seemingly average girl who spends her days toting around her younger brother, playing soccer mom, wishing she spent more time with her friends, and trying to catch the eye of her latest crush. She has a passion for comics and drawing - creating her own superheroes with powers.  

What I love most about Blaze is how funny and sarcastic she is. She gives her younger brother and his friends a run for their money. The scenes of her driving them around in the minivan, not so lovingly nicknamed Superturd, are some of the most hilarious, laugh-out-loud moments of the book. 

Blaze does eventually catch the eye of her crush, Mark, and then things go farther than she ever imagined. In the middle of their make-out session, Mark asks her if she wants to stop and she says no. Blaze thinks to herself,

"Except that I don't think I entirely understand what answering no means. Or, more to the point, I don't know what I've said yes to . . ." (pg. 132)

I thought it was pretty realistic how Crompton dealt with Blaze's first sexual experience - sometimes it sort of does just happen. It wasn't unwanted or aggressive, instead just rushed, and awkward, and not what she imagined it was supposed to be like.

When Mark isn't the dream boy who Blaze thought he was and finds out that she is just one of the many girls in a long line of love-them and leave-them, she gets revenge in the best way she knows how - through comics. She creates her own comic - The Blazing Goddess vs. Mark the Shark which she posts online. While this seems like a great idea because she's telling her story and getting her aggression out, you just know it's going to end badly. As I read it, I kept thinking -have you forgotten about the half-naked photo Mark has if you?! It's moments like this - when I am talking to the characters - that made me love this story and the character so much.

I cannot praise this book enough. It was fun and entertaining and while Crompton does address issues like gossip and bullying and the repercussions of "harmless" (as if there is such a thing) sexting, she doesn't beat you over the head with it. She weaves her ideas into a character you want to cheer for and gives us a story of how that character deals with it, learns from it, grows from it, and moves on. I can already tell this is a book that I will be recommending for some time, will read again and again, and share from my bookshelves as often as possible. I LOVED IT!!!!!

OH AND THE ART WORK - how could I forget to mention it?! Throughout the book, you get to see what Blaze is drawing and can see her story of The Blazing Goddess getting the best of Mark the Shark. The artwork wasn't included in the ARC, so I went and purchased a finished copy the weekend that it came out. It is FANTASTIC!!!!!
  
Disclaimer:  I received this ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the book provided. Quotes were taken from the Advanced Reading Copy and may differ from the final published version. Thoughts and opinions are my own.