Eisenberg Originals: The Golden Years of Fashion, Jewelry, and Fragrance, 1920s-1950s, from Sharon Schwartz & Laura Sutton

Good afternoon, beauties! Today, I’m going to dig things up and show you a side of this panda that you haven’t seen in a GOOD while: non-fiction panda! =D Yes, you read it correctly. In March, I did my official debut on Edelweiss and I fell in love with the books of Schiffer Publishing. Most of their catalogue at Edelweiss is ready to read and they specialize in non-fiction. As a lover of Fashion, Arts and such, I devoured book after book and now I’m here to start talking about them 😉 My first one was Eisenberg Originals: The Golden Years of Fashion, Jewelry, and Fragrance, 1920s-1950s, from Sharon Schwartz & Laura Sutton.

I received my copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review and this is the time. Here we go!

Eisenberg was one of the first American design houses, and the jewelry that bears its mark is among the finest costume pieces ever created. Yet there is surprisingly little written about the company, and almost nothing about the other products it marketed. In more than 400 photographs, this book chronicles Eisenberg’s beginnings in clothing fashion and follows the trajectory of its revered jewelry line, as well as documenting its often overlooked fragrances and cosmetics. With stories of the people and companies that were integral to this label’s success, this book shows that, in its golden years, the company’s creations deserved the place they held in only the finest stores.

Me after finishing this book:

Single Malt, from Layla Reyne (Agents Irish and Whiskey #1)

Hello, world! Today we’ll talk about the most perfect gay romance of the year – and, as always, the competition is heavy, so this is a huge compliment, haha! I’m talking about Single Malt, from Layla Rene! This book is the first in which promises to be one of the best gay romance thriller series I’ve ever heard of, Agents Irish and Whiskey! I have received my review copy from Barclay Publicity in exchange for an honest review. THANKS SO MUCH, GUYS!

The heart’s a resilient beast

Eight months after the car crash that changed everything, FBI agent Aidan Talley is back at work. New department, new case and a new partner. Smart, athletic and handsome, Jameson Walker is twelve years his junior. Even if Aidan was ready to move on—and he’s not—Jamie is off-limits.

Jamie’s lusted after Aidan for three years, and the chance to work with San Francisco’s top agent directly is too good to pass up. Aidan is prickly—to put it mildly—but a growing cyber threat soon proves Jamie’s skills invaluable.

Jamie’s talents paint a target on his back, and Aidan is determined to protect him. But with hack after hack threatening a high-security biocontainment facility, time is running out to thwart a deadly terrorist attack. They’ll have to filter out distractions, on the case and in their partnership, to identify the real enemy, solve the case and save thousands of lives, including their own.

Me after finishing the book:

Future Leaders of Nowhere, from Emily O’Beirne

Good day, dearies! Welcome to my review for Future Leaders of Nowhere, from Emily O’Beirne ❤ One of my reading challenges for this year was reading more lesbian themed books, as everyone on all galaxies knows how I love me some gay romance and I’m so happy to be finding good romances in the field *–*

I received my review copy from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review and here we go!

“Finn’s solid. Not in body, but in being. She’s gravity and kindness and all those good things that anchor.”

“Willa’s confusing. Sometimes she’s this sweet, sensitive soul. Other times she’s like a flaming arrow you hope isn’t coming for you.”

Finn and Willa have been picked as team leaders in the future leader camp game. The usually-confident Finn doesn’t know what’s thrown her more, the fact she’s found herself leading a team of highly unenthusiastic over-achievers, or coming up against fierce, competitive Willa. And Willa doesn’t know which is harder, leaving her responsibilities behind to pursue her goals, or opening up to someone.

Soon they both realise that the hardest thing of all is balancing their clashing ideals with their unexpected connection. And finding a way to win, of course.

Future Leaders of Nowhere is a contemporary LGBT YA story for older readers about what happens when two natural leaders are pitted against each other in a leadership game while on camp in the Australian bush. Future Leaders is about friendship and romance, and about learning when to take charge and when to let go.

Me after finishing this book:

The Wolf Mirror, from Caroline Healy

Hello, lovelies! Good morning and nice Monday if possible to you all! Welcome to my review for The Wolf Mirror, from Caroline Healy =D I’ve received this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review and this is the moment! Thank you guys! (shout out to Giselle, as usual! You roooock, girl! ❤ )

Changing places doesn’t always help you see things differently.

Cassie throws the first punch in a brawl at Winchester Abbey Girl’s School. Her subsequent suspension is a glitch in Cassie’s master plan; Finish School/Get Job/Leave Home (and never come back). As punishment her mother banishes her to Ludlow Park, their creepy ancestral home. In the dark of a stormy night Cassie finds herself transported to 1714, the beginning of the Georgian period.

With the help of a lady’s maid and an obnoxious gentleman, Mr Charles Stafford, Cassie must unravel the mysterious illness afflicting Lord Miller. If Lord Miller kicks the bucket the house goes to Reginald Huxley, the brainless cousin from London.

Cassie’s task is to figure out who is poisoning the Lord of Ludlow without exposing herself to the ridicule of her peers, getting herself committed to the asylum or worse, married off to the first man who will have her.

Cassie must learn to hold her tongue, keep her pride in check and reign in her rebellious nature – because the fate of her entire family, for generations, rests on her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Lady Cassandra Miller frantically searches for her smelling salts or her trusted governess Miss. Blythe, whose soothing advice she would dearly love. Instead Cassandra finds some woman and a boy squatting in the Ludlow mansion; her father, her lady’s maid and all the servants have magically disappeared.

Tell-a-vision, the In-her-net, horseless carriages and women wearing pantaloons; Cassandra is afraid that she might have inhaled fowl air causing her to temporarily lose her senses.

Only when both girls can get over their pride, societal prejudices and self-importance will they be able to return to their rightful century. Until then, they are free to wreak maximum damage on their respective centuries.

Me after finishing this book:

The Bone Witch, by Rin Chupeco (The Bone Witch #1)

Hi, guys! Hope you are all prepared to talk about one of the most expected books for March: The Bone Witch, by Rin Chupeco! ❤ Since I first glimpsed this book, I just knew I HAD to read it and I did, which means time for a review!

I received my review copy from the publisher through The Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review during FFBC’s tour for this book. Thank you all once again!!

The beast raged; it punctured the air with its spite. But the girl was fiercer. 

Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living—and of the human.

Great power comes at a price, forcing Tea to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch. There, Tea puts all of her energy into becoming an asha, learning to control her elemental magic and those beasts who will submit by no other force. And Tea must be strong—stronger than she even believes possible. Because war is brewing in the eight kingdoms, war that will threaten the sovereignty of her homeland…and threaten the very survival of those she loves.

Me after finishing this book:

In a Gilded Cage, from Mia Kerick

Good morning, beauties! Welcome to my review for In a Gilded Cage, a lovely Rapunzel M/M retelling from Mia Kerick *–* I received my copy from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review to be posted during their book tour for this title. Thank you so much, guys! It was an amazing experience =D

Prin is a boy with a mission: to succeed in life. After a childhood with barely enough food to eat, Prin is ready to the next step of life: college, working, getting famous and getting rich. Not necessarily in that order, as he really needs the money as soon as possible.

To make sure he’ll have the necessary funds to move to Boston once he graduates and that he won’t be a burden to his awesome loving parents, Prin arranges a job as the gardener of Damien Gothan’s ridiculously large Estate. With soccer practice, his college classes and assignments and a world of lawn to mow, one would expect Prin to have his head completely focused on his life goals.

Well, Prin had managed to accomplish that until he lays eyes on Lucci, Damien’s heavily guarded son. What began with a giggling and playful race across Gothan’s gardens soon becomes an obsession to Prin. Who is Lucci and why no one seems to know him? Why does Damien guard him so fiercely?

More importantly: How will Prin manage to see Lucci again?

Me after finishing this book:

Junior Jolt, from Elaine Ashford (Straight College Guys #3)

(Alternative title: Oh boy, how do I love fake relationships!!)

Hello, my precious people! Just like the goddess Kelly Clarkson, piece by piece I’m slowly getting back to a nice posting pace =) I know you are all too proud of me, but please, hold your horses. I’ll accept the congratulations and all when we go back to 1-3 posts per day, haha!

We’re here gathered today to witness my first book review for one of Elaine Ashford’s romances after months of blind fangirling! A big moment, my people! As I told you yesterday on the biggest bookish news post of my history as a blogger, I ended up on Elaine’s ARC mailing list somehow and received a copy of the third book in the Straight College Guys series, released on this Monday, Nov. 21th, in exchange for an honest review: Junior Jolt! Thanks so much once again to Elaine and her team for selecting mee!! I still don’t understand why it happened, but OMG THANK YOU! I don’t need to understand, I’ll settle for just being insanely happy, haha!

Parker Gagner is one of those guys who knows exactly what he wants and where he’s going. As the captain of the college’s Hockey team, Parker knows his priorities and lives by the code of honor inside and out of the ice rings. That’s why he steps up in the middle of Eli’s fight with his ex-lover and promptly sends the guy off by telling him that Parker and Eli are together. Not because Parker can’t stop thinking about Eli those last weeks and how good a kisser he might be. Nope, definitely not – after all, Parker is straight… Isn’t he?

Eli Martin still doesn’t understand what’s happening on his life. Since Parker meddled on his fight with his ex, the Hockey captain came in crashing Eli’s world. How can it be so easy to pretend to date a man with so many responsibilities and so incredibly popular with pretty much everyone? And how can a fake boyfriend put up such an effort to make Eli feel cherished when none of his real previous dates did so?

On one thing, Parker and Eli can agree on: their lives won’t ever be the same.

Me after finishing the book

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂

THIS WAS EVERYTHING I’VE BEEN HOPING FOR ON AN ELAINE ASHFORD’S BOOK AND MORE! #discretion #youwontfindhere This book was really short, with only 23k words, but I made a point of taking my time reading it, to savor all the cuteness, the romance and the really funny quotes. It was exactly what my heart called for and it would have made to the big five stars if Elaine hadn’t used the oh-so-famous-line “I released a breath that I didn’t even realize I was holding” not once, but twice (with slightly different wording, but still sounding too similar to the deal-breaker for my tastes). All in all, four beautiful stars ❤

The narrative was first person styled, with switching points of views between Parker and Eli. If you have been around for a review or two and, as I’m really discreet about my tastes, it just may ring you a bell when I say I first person isn’t my usual go-to kind of narrative – you know, it leaves too much space for hate for the characters on my head, haha! Junior Jolt was another delicious exception for this concept of mine and I loved getting inside Parker and Eli’s heads. I admit, Eli and I had our tough moments, as the guy screws up a little on some part during the story I’m so precise, I know, but nothing too serious for me to roll up my eyes and hate him ❤ Also, the fact that this is a short book helped as well. I would have loved to see more of Eli and Parker’s world, but the story had the perfect size, truly.

I have to say that I fell in love with the lightness and cuteness that flows through Ashford’s writing style. She managed to build real, strong and funny characters without needing many pages and deep intense thoughts on their parts – come on, that’s just fabulous. And I didn’t even get to tell you yet about all the pop culture references inside the book!!

The plot was simple and fluffy, with all the cuteness my heart had been craving from my latest gay reads. Don’t get me wrong, I love deep and complex stories (I actually have an offline friend that likes to say I “breathe complexity”, haha!), but sometimes I miss the harmony between sad/tense/intense/rough moments with fluffy/cute/funny/light moments. After all, isn’t this what makes a real relationship? Ups and downs? A rollercoaster that never allows you to get down and vomit in peace? #what #gross

Sorry, that metaphor didn’t quite go as expected, haha! My point is, despite the lack of real depth in Junior Jolt, I do prefer reading them to the completely dramatic ones. Offline life itself is already full of drama, so I don’t feel like absorbing a hit to my guts that was meant for someone fictional that I really care about. I need to stay strong for my friends, for my family, but books are supposed to be strong for me. Otherwise, how am I going to keep sane?

However, of course, I stray from my original path. Nothing new, but I’m sorry nevertheless! Let’s discuss our characters, right? 🙂 As this is the third book of the series, despite the tranquility of reading it as a standalone, I don’t feel safe to say much about sidekicks, sorry! This time, exceptionally, I’ll just talk about the main couple.

Parker is your dream gentleman hidden beneath his hockey player captain status. He always puts his friends and the people he cares about before himself and go really out of his way to make them happy. I loved how he protected and wooed Eli without Eli even realizing it all before it was too late, haha! I really loved that Ashford was able to build such a male and gentle guy at the same time, burling the stereotypes like a boss ❤

Regardless of my feelings for Eli’s life decisions or panics, he was also very well constructed. He was funny and charismatic without pulling the effort and charmed his way into any social group, which is mildly fantastic! Especially if you, like me, prefer to walk always with the same people, haha! (Don’t get me wrong, I swear I have plenty of friends, but my coolest parties are always with the same girls, oops! I’d totally include Eli on my parties from now on, tho!)

Also, I feel like is my duty to inform this book has steamy hot scenes and it’s not for those faint of heart. Parker and Eli go good at each other and I really like their chemistry pretty much all the time, haha!

Now, how about some quotes? Of course we have cool quotes! How else would I woo you guys into fangirling about it with me?? =O Here we go!!

“I’m a fucking catch, thank you very much. Except I remember that Parker just insinuated he’s my boyfriend, and wait, what?” – Eli’s thoughts

~*~

“It takes a little while for my brain to get back online, distracted by Parker’s…everything.” – Eli’s thoughts

~*~

“I’m full of excellent decisions, what can I say?” – Eli’s thoughts

~*~

“Opening the door, I motion for him [Eli] to go in first. He fake curtsies, and I laugh. Just force of habit, I guess – I open the doors for everyone, male or female.” – Parker’s thoughts

~*~

“You just said you needed a diagram to fully explain it. That sounds pretty complicated, Parker.” – Eli

~*~

“I still don’t know what I’m doing, but a little bravery never hurt anyone, right?” – Parker’s thoughts

~*~

To wrap things up: if you are a gay romance lover, a fake relationships lover, a fluffly books lover and you’re ready for that quick and delicious read to relax you all over, you MUST read Junior Jolt ❤

Thank you for reaching the bottom of this review! It always means a lot to me to know you came all the way down ❤ Also, thanks so much again to Elaine Ashford and to her team for selecting me for this ARC, I was made a very happy and satisfied girl!

Love you all and see you around!

The Dream Protocol: Descent from Adara Quick

(Alternative title: the day in which I fell in love with a dystopian book)

It’s a bird, it’s a plane – no, it’s a review! =D Hello, hello! Nice Friday to you all. Mine was really exhausting, but at least I got to relax now during the night. Hope you all are relaxing ❤ But enough with the babbling, right? Right. Let’s talk about today’s book: The Dream Protocol: Descent, from Adara Quick! I had added my name to the Xpresso Book Tours Blog Tour before my break down and I can’t tell how happy I am for being able to read, finish and review the book on time ❤ Okay, almost, as this post was supposed to go live this morning.

ANYWAY, I received the book in exchange for an honest review and I thank you Xpresso Book Tours forever for this ❤ Thanks, guys! Let’s talk about this dystopian adventure that stole my heart =D

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T GET OLD.

In fiery young Deirdre Callaghan’s home of Skellig City, no one has dreamt their own dream in over a thousand years. Dreams are produced by the Dream Makers and sold by the Ministry, the tyrannical rulers of the city. In Skellig City, years of life are awarded equally and the ruined are cast away beneath the city on their 35th birthday.

Unbeknownst to the Ministry, Deirdre’s handsome friend Flynn Brennan is afflicted with a terrible disease – a disease that accelerates the aging process. Knowing his fate if the Ministry should ever discover his illness, Flynn has lived his whole life hiding from their watchful eyes. When Flynn’s secret is finally discovered, Deirdre is determined to free him from the Ministry’s grasp. But to save him, she will have to reveal herself to a shadowy enemy…one that none of them even knew existed.

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂

I need to start by making a confession: dystopian is not my thing. I tried a lot, but I never encountered that one book that made me stop the eye rolls at the genre. Well, until The Dream Protocol, that is. This book surprised me in every aspect and made me ache to keep reading it, to know what came next. It was a fast and fluid read, just what I needed to fall in love with the genre. It has some small problems that bothered me nevertheless, so four stars 🙂

The narrative was third person with that kind of narrator that floats from character to character, the traditional guide of the story. Despite third person being my favorite type, this time, I admit that I got really confused in several parts during the beginning. There was nothing indicating that the point of view had changed, so I didn’t know who was thinking what. Eventually, this problem was one of the things that made this book lose a star. What I really like is how Quick’s writing makes us fly through the pages, how she slowly introduces us to this alternative reality sometime in the future. She never dumps tons of information at her reader and then move on. There is always a new details here and there, something that you sense more than learn. Honestly, this woman is a genius.

The plot also was awesome. So many twists without the obvious outcomes! =O Every time I thought I had catch how Quick worked [haha], she metaphorically winked at me and called me loser, HAHAHA! The Dream Protocol was one of the few books in which every prediction that I made was wrong and it drove me nuts, hahaha! Annelise, darling, you get upset when you can guess things and when you can’t? Get a grip and make a decision, please!

I know, I’m weird. I can’t explain, but I always feel ridiculously happy and disappointed at the same time when books hit my theories with a shovel and laugh at my face. You know, metaphorically. I never heard of anyone getting a shovel in the face from a book. Oh, well, I’m babbling, sorry. Back to business!

In case you didn’t guess, Quick’s society is built on dreams, quite literally, and that’s what drove me to this book. I was a bit taken aback at first thanks to my previous experience with The Dreamer (review here – not dystopian, but fantasy with dreams), but it is a pleasure to inform that Quick delivers everything a reader could ask for in matters of world building and scenery. Besides, a big plus is that the story is on Ireland ❤

Now, characters. This is the other place in which the book failed me a little. I didn’t understand where does Deirdre’s rebellion comes from. She has a good social position on her society, she has loving parents, a sister to fight with and friends. She is rebel simply to be and I found this shallow. She doesn’t have solid reasons to be against the society. I know her parents produce the dreams and that’s how she knows that the things that she dreams about are real, but she doesn’t have a strong case to be so hostile. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Deirdre because she isn’t your standard YA female heroine, but she has a weak construction. Funny enough, all the other people around her seem to have strong motives to be as they are, haha! Oh, well.

To wrap things up, I must warn that this book ends on a MAJOR cliff hanger and I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK OMG! *–* If you like YA, dystopian and almost unpredictable books, just stop wasting time on my babbling and GO READ THE DREAM PROTOCOL!! ❤

Thanks for choosing to spend your Friday night here with me, I do appreciate the company, and hope you liked this review! Once again, thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for my review copy 🙂 If you guys want to learn more info on the author, the book or see where you can purchase it, visit this link.

Love you all and see you again soon,

The Merchant and the Clergyman, from Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon

(Alternative title: ALL THE FEELS FOR 184 PAGES IN A ROLLERCOASTER)

Hello, there! In case you haven’t notice before my break and still didn’t get it after my break, I’ll just go and say it: gay romance is my to-go genre when I want to get over any reading slumps or life problems. As I was facing both, you’ll realize that 80% of my read books on this weird period are gay romances. Today’s book is no exception.

The Merchant and the Clergyman, from Bonnie Dee & Summer Dee, was a book that I was crazy to read. They were awesome enough to send me a copy of the book as a gift, as I helped promoting their entry on Kindle Scout, but life happened and it slipped my mind.

SHAME. ON. ME

Then there I was on the bus on Tuesday, going to work, thinking about which book I should start and BAM: The Merchant and the Clergyman, OF COURSE! =O Needless to say that I finished it as soon as I got back home, right? Hahaha! Such a delightful read, it was physically painful to tear myself away and actually work. To be honest, I didn’t expect any less from my divas Bonnie and Summer ❤

But enough blah blah blah. Let’s go to this review! Once again, thanks to Bonnie and Summer for sending me this book ❤ Now you got an honest review in return, haha!

James Fletcher hasn’t many reasons to complain; fate was good to him. After finishing school, he was able to go back to his hometown, living along with the people that saw him growing up and his family. As a curate, it’s his job to bring spiritual peace and help people to find their own harmony. His only problem is that the God that he so lovingly serves also condemns his most secret wishes. James refuses to fall for sin again and swore he would keep the pervert part of himself locked and buried. Not even the hot and shady stranger that barged into his house would make him change his mind. Declan Shaw would have to seduce some other man into his delicious games.

Declan Shaw hasn’t many reasons to complain; fate also was goo to him. As the most successful member of his family, it’s his job to travel all the world, supervising their business and straightening the wrongs and living adventures. His only problem is the loneliness. As a man who prefers other men, Declan can’t build a life and his own family. He had made peace with this limitation long ago, but laying eyes on the angelic and adorable curate of his cousin’s small town made him questioning everything he thought he knew about himself. Suddenly, all he can think of is how James would taste and feel with his body on his. Declan is sure that if he sets his mind into the matter, he can come up with a satisfactory solution for this impasse. The real question is: will James be willing to go along with Declan’s plans?

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂

OMG THE FEELS. Seriously, this book made me react so much that made me keep my fame as the crazy girl from the 15^th floor, haha! I wanted to read it all the time. If you are looking for a book to read in one sitting, this is your chosen one. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN ON YOUR OWN! James was adorable and the way that Declan sincerely tried to be better to feel more worthy of James was SOOOO CUTE! *–* Seriously, 5 stars without blinking. Oh, but don’t misunderstand me. This is no sugar tale. Dee and Devon are always very realistic on her romances and life for a gay couple on 19^th century was hell. I honestly never know if they will end well until they do – nothing compared to the easiness of an Ava March romance, for example 🙂

me when the subject is Ava, Bonnie, Summer or Langley

The narrative was third person styled, with switching points of view between James and Declan. Risking sounding like a broken record, this is my favorite kind, so I was easily absorbed by both men’s consciousness. As in all the other romances that I read from this awesome girls, the guys are opposites on personality and that was explicit on their narrative skills. James was the naïve and good hearted one, always trying to believe that the world can be a better place, regardless of his love for God. Declan is the skeptical one, always sarcastic and intimidating people around, more worried about having his way and doing justice than with other people’s feelings. The only thing I have to admit it wasn’t that great was some of the metaphors used on the book on the romantic scenes. I unfortunately didn’t had the mind to take notes, but there were some passages that seriously bordered cheesy and in a really bad way 😦 It was kind of a mood breaker almost every time, oops!

The plot is simple with a touch of mystery. Besides the obvious romance between the guys, Declan also needs to find out what is happening to his dear aunt, who appears to be sick and not in a natural way. I left this part out of my own made blurb because it’s a weak mystery. Culprits and methods are clear enough, leaving the reader only wondering about the motives, as nothing is clear until the end due to simple lack of information, haha! Even so, I’m not complaining. This is a romance, not a mystery. Consider it a bonus and an excuse for Declan to stick around for so long 🙂 I also wasn’t impressed with the last two chapters, as I felt they were kind of random. I mean, I understand why they are there, but I don’t know. I think I’m spoiled by the other books from those brilliant ladies, oops!

Hmm, I kind of already babbled a bit about characters, so I’ll just say that I love how complex and developed all characters were. So may personality layers, so many small signs. I really love Dee and Devon ❤ ❤ The couple is another one that will be branded on my heart!

Despite not highlighting any bad moments, I did take the opportunity to highlight the best moments of this book and here are some of them:

~*~

James: I didn’t hit Kip, I, ah, struck him with my knee.

Declan: That’s some muscular Christianity you have there, Mr. Fletcher.

~*~

“Invite me in. You might as well. I’m going to come in, and your invitation will make the situation more civilized.” – Declan

~*~

Oh, what polite gentlemen the pair of them were when the gloves were put back on. – Declan’s thoughts

~*~

Twilight was the most melancholy time of the day, (…) when one questioned if his existence really mattered to the world. – James’ thoughts

~*~

James: I was wrong earlier. You are not a good person.

Declan: No matter. You are good enough for the both of us.

Declan: always smooth as f*

~*~

Declan squared his shoulders in what James had begun to think of as his “roll up sleeves and get job done” posture.

~*~

And wasn’t that a wonderful though – years of James giving him pained and chiding looks.

~*~

Loving could not be a mistake, even when it ended. – James’ thoughts

~*~

ALL. THE. FEELS.

So, if you like heartwarming characters, gay romance, historical books, refined humor and light BSDM, this is the book of your life ❤ Once again, thanks to Bonnie and Summer for my copy and sorry it took me so long to read it!

Okay, I guess that’s it for now. Hope you all are having a great week! Thanks for reading this review and tell me what have you been up to so far in your month reading =D

Love you all and be back soon,

The Dreamer, from E.J. Mellow (Dreamland #1)

(Alternative title: The book that I was dying to read since I entered bookstagram on 2015 and disappointed me more than the new chicken sandwich at McDonald’s)

Hi, there! I knooow, twice in the same week? It must be a miracle! HAHAHA

Anyway, hope you all are doing ok! Today I’ll talk about one of the books that Jess, from the Mud and Stars, and I read on our book club: The Dreamer, first book in the Dreamland series, from E. J. Mellow! Jess posted her review up here and, while I know I won’t do such a good job, I wanted to share my opinions on it as well 🙂

Oh, and I received my copy of the book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I can’t even begin to apologize to them for the delay in reviewing it, but better late than never, right??

Anyway, let’s talk about The Dreamer 🙂

Molly hasn’t slept well since the night of her twenty-fourth birthday. Being struck by lightning might have something to do with it, but then again, her chicken did look a little undercooked at dinner. Whatever the culprit, her life quickly catapults from mundane to insane as, night after night, Molly is transported through her once dreamless sleep to a mysterious land illuminated by shooting stars.

There she meets the captivating but frustrating Dev, and together they discover Molly possesses a power coveted by his people—the ability to conjure almost anything she desires into existence. Seduced by the possibilities of this gift, Molly shifts her attention from waking life toward the man, the magic, and the world found in her dreams.

But Molly must ask herself—does something truly exist if you only see it when you close your eyes?

Faced with the threat of losing everything—her job, best friend, boyfriend, and most importantly, that little thing called her sanity—Molly will learn just how far she’ll go to uncover what is real and what is merely a figment of her imagination.

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂

As I mentioned above, I was dying to read this book since the moment I entered bookstagram, in 2015. When I had the opportunity to do so, I actually giggled in joy and high-fived the universe. Everybody said such good things about it! The concept was amazing – I mean, who never wanted to consciously be able to go somewhere else when sleeping? – and the mystery sounded delicious. It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that I was a victim of foul marketing. The reading experience of this book for me was very bad. I only ended up rating it 3 stars because the concept was so amazing and I have to keep recognizing that. I just wished the execution was better. Oh well. Now let’s get even more ranty, shall we?

The narrative was one of the few things that pleased me. The pace was good – not too fast, not too slow – and we are introduced to Molly’s reality and dreams on a sane level. I mean, don’t expect a hundred pages explaining why things are happening and revealing it all right before the end. I liked to be slowly presented to the reality of things 🙂 Also, Mellow’s writing is very good and she has good humor catches. You have to take the hat off to her!

BUT we have a first person narrator – Molly – and if you used to hang around here much before my crisis, you know how I have a… Difficult?… Relationship with first person narrators. I usually love or hate them and the hate usually surpasses the love. And oh God, how I hated Molly. It wasn’t unusual for me to start conversations with Jess by saying “OMG JESS I HATE HER SO MUCH”. I know, poor Jess! Hahaha!

Now, as I’m talking about Molly, let me just skip over to the characters. I didn’t like a single character on this book. I know I am a bore and have really high expectations, but no one in this book has a hobby. Molly and her bff only talk about boys, her life is her work and her boyfriend, her boyfriend’s hobby seems to be hang out with Molly, the people on her dreams only seemed to be around doing nothing, even when they were on their break from their “work”. I can’t relate to this. Even workaholics have a hobby: THEIR JOB! Not Molly’s case, I assure you.

To be honest, I could have overlooked all of this if it wasn’t for this really tiny detail: INSTALOVE.

And not only that. Instalove + amorous triangle + a forceful male + the chosen one. I can’t respect a girl that allows a guy to try to hurt her just to make a point, sorry. This was so not sexy! But again, everything about Dev just made me mad. If you are thinking me a heartless bitch just by reading this review, imagine what Jess had to go through during the month of this reading, haha! Just go there and offer a virtual hug, she deserves it!

Okay, now the plot. As I said, I really like this concept and I think Mellow had a wonderful idea. Another land reachable only through dreams? A girl hit by a lightening? The border between dreams and reality? PERFECTION!

Oh, also! Can we just take a moment to forget all my ranting and just appreciate the MARVELOUS cover of this book? I wish I had a poster of it! SOOO PRETTY *–* I’d totally buy it just for display purposes as I’m sure as hell I won’t be reading it again.

I do apologize to Mellow, as I don’t want to be mean, but I felt like she said “great, I have a million dollar idea. Now let me just add here every cliché that I know of”. My other bff friend, @thepagemistress (if you are on Instagram, you just have to follow her!), taught me to flip a switch in my head every time I read the line: “I released the breath I didn’t realize I was holding” and all its adaptations. She really hates it, as she claims it is overused (and she is so right!), so I ended up always noticing when this is used and Mellow uses it SO MUCH! Honestly, it was a deal breaker for me. I don’t have many problems in seeing it being used at some point of the book, but more than once? Come ooooon!

I wanted to wrap it up by saying that, while I won’t keep reading this series, I wanted for you all to understand that if I am laying such heavy critics on something, it was because I cared about what I was reading. When I don’t, I simply say the book wasn’t for me (it has already happened). But I cared about The Dreamer. I think this book was meant for me, but for my 12-year-old self. Sometimes, it sucks to be a journalist and seeing all that could have been instead of what it really is, haha!

Wow, that was a heavy and boring review! What are you guys still doing here? HAHA! Thanks for reaching the bottom of this post and thanks once again to Xpresso Book Tours for my review copy 🙂 I hope you guys aren’t feeling discouraged to read this book – I mean, have you seen the amount of 5 stars reviews it has? I mean, what do I know about life? I’m just a vampire with the 16 face and the 86 mind. I’m sure that, if you like fantasy and Red Queen, you’ll love this one. Actually, I’m glad to see an indie author to gather so much attention, so keep reading E. J. Mellow’s books, guys! And tell me bellow what you thought of them, please, haha! 🙂

Love you all and see you another time,