Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike Review

Title: Life After Theft
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Received From: Bought

Synopsis: Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series, shines in this stand-alone novel that offers a humorous twist on ghosts and is perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Rachel Hawkins, and Kiersten White.
Kimberlee Schaffer may be drop-dead gorgeous . . . but she also dropped dead last year. Now she needs Jeff's help with her unfinished business, and she's not taking no for an answer. When she was alive, Kimberlee wasn't just a mean girl; she was also a complete kleptomaniac. So if Jeff wants to avoid being haunted until graduation, he'll have to help her return all of the stolen items. But Jeff soon discovers that it's much easier to steal something than it is to bring it back.
Paying for your mistakes takes on a whole new meaning in this hauntingly clever twist on The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Review: This was a very interesting book. As a whole I don't read very many books with male main characters. Not because I don't like them or think they are somehow lesser; I just connect better with female main characters.

That being said when I see a book with a very interesting premise I am going to pick it up regardless.  That is what happened with Life After Theft.

Life After Theft is a fun take on the classic klepto story. This is because the aforementioned klepto just so happens to be dead. And so our main character Jeff has to return all of Kimberlee's stolen goods so she can hopefully move on and leave him in peace.

There are quite a few bumps and bruises that Jeff experiences while returning the stuff. Including but not limited to being arrested. 

But even though this is a fun and sometimes harrowing story about returning stolen goods and actually feeling bad for taking the stuff. It is mostly a story about forgiving when someone messes up, as well as not holding someone's past against them.

Life After Theft has amazing character development. All of the major characters grew leaps and bounds and became completely different in a believable way.

I enjoyed the book, it was fun and different and I enjoyed how the romance was incorporated.  That being said I found a little of the pacing a little off. But besides that I really enjoyed it.

Playing With Her Heart Character Interview: Jill

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Jill one of the main characters from Playing with Her Heart by Lauren Blakely!

What made you want to be an actor?

Because I can't imagine doing anything else. This is my passion, this is my love, this feeds my soul.


What is your favorite part of playing someone else?

I love letting go of who I am, forgetting the day, forgetting my world and becoming someone else wholly. It's a chance to live many lives too, to experience what it's like - for a couple hours at least -- of living another kind of life.

I hear that you like to run. How is running similar to acting?

I love to run!! Running clears my head, and I can just focus on the adrenaline and the action of putting one foot in front of the other! It also requires a lot of focus, a sort of single-minded focus, to be able to run for long distances, and that kind of clearing your head is the same thing you need to do when you're stepping into a role.


Being around so many attractive actors must be fun. But how do you stay separated and focused enough that you can do your job?

It's definitely easy to get swept up and caught up! Especially since you have to turn on and turn off emotions, and I do think that's why so many actors and actresses fall for each other and for co-stars. But I try to think of it as a job, and because it is easy to turn off emotions, that's what I aim to do when I walk off stage so that I don't get swept up in anything more!


If you could only sing or act for the rest of your life which would you choose?

No fair!!! How can I choose between my two great loves??? If you force me though...acting.


What are you the most excited about the prospect of working with Davis Milo?

He's so talented, and has such an amazing reputation for bringing out the absolute best in his cast. I know he can be tough, but he's tough for a reason - because he helps you succeed on stage!

What does it feel like when you get the call? Is it all excitement or is there also some trepidation? 

Getting the call is one of the most thrilling parts of working in the performing arts! Well, besides the reaction from audiences! But getting the call that you've been cast often a moment of true ecstatic joy. In my case, I didn't get the call - I found out when I bumped into my director on the street, so it was even better!

Thank you so much Jill!!

To find out more about Jill and to see how her story ends be sure to check out Playing With Her Heart

Here is a synopsis to get you started!

Twenty-three year old rising theatre star Jill McCormick has built a life out of pretending. Pretending she's happy, pretending she's not haunted by the dark secret that shattered her world six years ago. But then she comes face to face with her new director -- sexy, sophisticated, jealous, all-alpha, dirty-talking Davis Milo. He tries to resist the actress he's cast, but the attraction between them is too powerful, and soon their private rehearsals spiral into new, forbidden territory. The connection, the chemistry is undeniable, and it hits them anywhere, and everywhere -- in the theater, on the piano, in the limo, in the restaurant...But the tragedy in Jill's past stands between them. Davis has walls too, so they can either face their fears together, or risk the most intense love, sex and passion either has ever felt...

Join the Agenda with Gennifer Albin author of Crewel #JointheAgenda

I don't know if you guys have heard of the book Crewel by Gennifer Albin but she is doing an awesome promotion where you will have the chance to win one of three scholarships!

One cool thing is that no one is too old or too young to win! Though those under 18 will have to receive parental permission. More info about the scholarship contests will be announced this Friday so get ready!

In the meantime check out the recruitment video and #JointheAgenda



If after watching the video you are ready to #JointheAgenda go to Gennifer Abin's website to sign up! 

Also be sure to check out my review of Crewel to get ready for Altered coming in October!

#JointheAgenda

The Look of Love by Bella Andre

Title: The Look of Love (The Sullivan's #1)
Author: Bella Andre
Release Date: January 1, 2011
Received From: Library

Synopsis: With THE LOOK OF LOVE, bestselling author Bella Andre introduces you the Sullivan family. In this fun and emotional contemporary romance series, when a Sullivan bad boy falls...he falls hard. And it's forever.

Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he?

As a successful photographer who frequently travels around the world, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women, and whenever he’s home in San Francisco, one of his seven siblings is usually up for causing a little fun trouble. Chase thinks his life is great just as it is—until the night he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley. Not only has he never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes she has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love—and protect—her, but will she let him?

Chloe vows never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase gives her—and every sinfully sweet caress—as the attraction between them sparks and sizzles, she can’t help but wonder if she’s met the only exception. And although Chase didn’t realize his life was going to change forever in an instant, amazingly, he isn’t the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he’s gearing up for a different fight altogether…for Chloe’s heart.

Review:
I received a copy of the fourth book in The Sullivan's Series from ALA and fell in love (review coming soon.) Because of this I knew I had to go back to the beginning and read the rest of them.

Each story in the Sullivan's series is the story of one of the eight Sullivan kids The Look of Love is Chase's story. I knew what happened to him and Chloe because I read I Only Have Eyes For You but I was still super excited to see how their relationship grew and came to be.

With each one of these books I read I fall more in love with the Sullivan family. Yes they have rocky relationships but they all care so much for each other and want the best for them even if that person may not agree. Chase and Chloe really only come into contact with Marcus, the oldest Sullivan and the subject of the second book. I loved seeing how open Marcus was with Chloe even though it would be completely weird to have your brother bring some random girl to your house.

Most of The Look of Love takes place in Marcus' vineyard. It was so gorgeous sounding and Bella Andre made me want to be there. It was also the perfect place for a romance novel to be set. Chase was shooting at the vineyard and I loved watching Chloe become more comfortable with both Chase and his team.

I don't think I could be as brave as Chloe was, I mean getting into a car with a perfect stranger in the middle of the night. Not that she really had many more options. I really felt for Chloe, she had gone though so much that I could completely understand her trepidation.

The Look of Love like all of Bella Andre's books is very sexy, but I love how all of the Sullivan men care about their women. It makes it seem like less of an overtaking and domineering relationship. Especially since that is what Chloe needed.

Basically you should read this series so we can squee about them together! And even if you have only read historical romance like I had you will still like it!

Neptune's Tears by Susan Waggoner

Title: Neptune's Tears
Author: Susan Waggoner
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Received From: Publisher in return for honest review

Synopsis: London, 2218 A.D. Seventeen-year-old Zee is an intern empath. She’s focused on her job, poised for a great career—until one day an attractive patient undoes her hard-earned calm. As an empath, she cannot afford such distractions, but neither can she stay away from David, even when she discovers he’s one of a mysterious alien race. As London comes under attack by anarchist bombings, and as Zee struggles to get a handle on her unusually strong psychic abilities, David starts pulling away. Although Zee’s sure he’s attracted to her, David has secrets he cannot share. But it’s too late for Zee. She’s losing her heart to the gray-eyed alien boy, and she’s determined to follow him—no matter how far it may take her.

 Review: I was really intrigued by the premise of Neptune's Tears but once I started reading it I realized that the story was even more than I had imagined.

As a science major I really connected with Zee. And I think many people can connect with her drive to keep her job/schooling at the forefront of her life. Beyond that I really liked Zee, she was a strong character and knew what she wanted.

I also really enjoyed the world building in Neptune's Tears. I felt like it was fully fleshed out and very vivid. Also the story about the aliens coming and everyone embracing them seemed like something that could really happen.

There was a major twist at the end and while I knew something was up I was not expecting that at all! But there was also a heart-breaking part that made me want to cry.

David and Zee's relationship was very natural. It was not fake feeling and even though they had some istant chemistry I felt like it progressed from there in a more accurate way than many other books. It also did not feel forced like in some other stories I have read. Their connection was vivid.

There is a whole plot line about Neptune's Tears which are some very important diamonds. But I never really understood what they had to do with anything besides the old woman who Zee treats. I hope it is more elaborated on in the next books. I was just surprised that they were not a bigger deal considering that's the name of the book.

Besides that I really enjoyed it and think it is a great new sci-fi series.