Thursday, June 20, 2013

Charcoal and Hot Chocolate by Irene Rose: A Review


Buy from Amazon or one of the places listed Here.



I picked up Charcoal and Hot Chocolate hoping for a good read, but got an amazing one instead. How Irene wrote Ellie and River's story is spot on and felt more like I was reading a real love story instead of a fictional one. 

Ellie's a shy art student with strict parents that she chooses to get away from by going to school far away from them. She's content with her life and art, but then here comes River who I love so freakin much! His awkwardness mixed with her shyness sucked me in. I like characters who aren't just beautiful people with no issues to dirty their perfectness. Maybe it's because of this trait Irene gave him that made River so understanding as Ellie blossomed into the girl she is in the end of the book. Honestly, I think I love this book so much more because of River than Ellie and I really do like her a ton. She's a wonderful MC and one that I generally identify with.

And that's why I really held on for the ride. Ellie. How Irene wrote her in a way that made me feel like we could be friends. She felt real and I like that. It's that realness that made her journey with River one that I was willing to invest in. 

All-in-all, Charcoal and Hot Chocolate is a NA book that I highly recommend. It's a read you won't regret and I promise that! I'm giving it a solid A+!

Until next time, happy reading and writing everyone!

Monday, June 10, 2013

CP and Beta Reader Meetup Party!



Today's post is more like a party for authors to meet other authors or people who just love to read. So if you're looking for a critique partner or two and maybe a few beta readers, then this is the party for you! If you'd like to be a beta reader, then this meetup is also perfect for you!

Here's how it's going to go. In the comments, answer a few short questions that I will list below and tell a little about yourself. If you see someone you'd like to have as a CP or beta, contact them and let the author/reader love grow!

THE QUESTIONS:
1. Name:
2. What do you write?
3. What are you looking for?
4. Anything you'd like to share about yourself?
5. What kind of feedback are you looking for?
6. Contact info:

EXAMPLE:

1. Name: Jamie Corrigan
2. What do you write? Mostly YA, but I've also written some adult and NA. I write fantasy and contemporary at the moment, but that might change in the future.
3. What are you looking for? A teen beta reader or readers.
4. Anything you'd like to share about yourself? I'm not afraid of steam. So if you write adult don't be afraid if there's steam, I'll happily read it!
5. What kind of feedback are you looking for? Be tough. While being kind is always nice, let me know if you see a problem so I can fix it. That is the only way I can make the story be the best it can possibly be!
6. Contact info: Here or on twitter @saphirablue84

And that's it! If both people feel they are a match, then yay! If you don't feel like you'd be a good fit if you're contacted, then please feel free to turn down the offer. This party isn't for you to feel pressured into accepting someone as a CP or beta if you honestly don't feel like you'll work well together. This party is for you to have fun and find someone or multiple someones you can click with! So, have fun in the comments and may you all find what you are looking for!!

Until next time, happy reading and writing everyone!

NOTE: If captcha's on it's because I'm getting a lot of spam and I don't want everyone to be bogged down having to read through them to find the people who are looking for CP's and betas. Have fun!!