REVIEW: Gone by Anna Bloom

Gone by Anna Bloom

Expected Publishing Date: 28th July 2014
Genre: NA Contemporary
Format: Kindle (ARC)
Overall:
goodreads | barnes & noble

Rebecca Walters harbours a dark secret, and as the fifty-three bangles she wears on her wrists as a self-imposed sentence of guilt remind her, she can’t even begin to consider moving on. Not after what happened on that night six months ago… a night which she can’t remember and yet managed to change her life forever.

When Rebecca comes across Joshua Adams, man equally haunted by past tragedies, on a moonlit beach, both of their lives are destined to change forever, and when the girl made out of the sun meets the boy made out of the moon and sea, anything can happen… but will the knowledge of their murky pasts bring them together or drive them apart?
Will Rebecca finally be able to claim her freedom? Will she stay and fight to be the girl she found on the sandy beaches of Cornwall or is she destined to keep running and hiding from a past that won’t stay Gone? One thing’s for certain: either way, nothing will ever be the same again.

When this book was recommended to me, I read the synopsis and decided to hop on the blog tour. I definitely don't regret it. This book was a great read.

There were times I felt like it was very slow paced and I would feel like I should be further along than I really was. But I didn't completely hate the slow pace; we got to spend time with Rebecca--or Bex as only those closest to her call her--and Joshua.

They were adorable together and I loved that I could hear their voices and their accents as I read the book. There seemed to be this extreme spark and pull  between the characters that never really was defined in the book, but I believe that was supposed to be the point. That sometimes you find someone and you can't explain how, when, where, or even why... but you just need them in your lives. And I loved that aspect too.
I felt like the author had quite an artists mind as she wrote this. That everything she wanted to say, she was almost painting the scene, the words and everything that happened.

I did feel like all their secrets and the dark cloud that hung over both of their heads was a bit too much and pulled a lot of the reality out of the story for me. I understand that not everyone is happy (boy do I understand) but I don't think one person has so much pain and finds someone else with pain that has an almost identical cause and they just happen to work. It felt a bit forced.
When I'd ignore that part or when it wasn't the center of the book, which was rare, I loved them together. They truly were amazing together.

This is the kind of book I'd like to see turned into a movie.
However, I'm not a fan of dreads, so I'd prefer if Josh's hair accidentally gets chopped early.

Because I truly do enjoy Ms Bloom's writing style, as if she is painting with words, I will delve into her other books as well! Check this one out!


Plot:
Characters: ½
Ending:
Writing: ½
Cover: (although her hair is a bit too perfect, and not red enough for Bex)

K-Drama Review: A Witch's Romance

A Witch's Romance
Korean Title: 마녀의 연애
Genre: Romance, comedy, drama.
Number of Episodes: 16
Watch on: Viki
Starring: Uhm Jung Hwa, Park Seo Joon, Han Jae Suk, Jung Yun Joo, Yoon Hyun Min
Rating: ½

Synopsis:It’s understandable to lose your faith in love after being stood up on your wedding day. Ban Ji Yeon (Uhm Jung Hwa) was devastated and then believed that marriage wasn’t for her. The 39-year-old has focused on her career as a reporter, so seriously that her colleagues refer her to as a witch, and put her romantic life on the back burner. But when Ji Yeon meets Yoon Dong Ha (Park Seo Joon), the 25-year-old owner of a small errand center, she finds herself in an unexpected December-June relationship that could thaw her hardened heart. But will her life become further complicated by the return of her former fiancé, No Shi Hoon (Han Jae Suk)? “A Witch’s Romance,” also known as "A Witch's Love" and “My Queen,” is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by Lee Jeong Hyo. It is a remake of the hit Taiwanese drama “My Queen.”

Thoughts:
I remember scrolling through Viki, and saw this and clicked on it and--five episodes later--I wasn't sure where I was or how it happened. I quickly learned that this is a remake of the Taiwanese drama, My Queen, that I have yet to see and am not sure if I want to watch now. Even though I love the lead, Ethan Ruan.

This is one of those dramas that doesn't have too much depth and I like that about it. Sometimes I'd rather not see any of the characters crying, whining, or complaining every other episode. Or pushing away the person they want most for stupid reasons. Now there was a few times there was some resistance, mainly from Ban Ji Yeon, but it wasn't with lack of comedy.

I loved how lovey-dovey (T-Ara anyone?) the characters were with each other and other people in their personal lives. There is so much great chemistry in this casting. Though this is my first time seeing Uhm Jung Hwa in a drama, I have seen her in the Korean movie, Seducing Mr. Perfect with Daniel Henney. And the lead male, Park Seo Joon, I've seen in Dream High 2 but he's always played a second lead and I hope after this he'll only play the lead in dramas!

The relationship between Yong Soo Chul and Yoon Dong Ha is how I feel I would want all of my friendships to be. Ridiculous, over the top, and purely adorable. I found myself doing the "fangirl" squeal and flailing about when they were together. No... there's no OTP here. Just adoration for how perfect these BFFs are!

When Dong Ha and Ji Yeon were together, there was chemistry, but like most typical Korean dramas there just wasn't enough. It felt like they were not aloud to get closer or something. As if their relationship and need to do simple touching wasn't allowed. Which, I guess in Ji Yeon's mind it wasn't. But when Dong Ha would do his sneaky kisses, their hugs, the time they spent together alone, the dates, it was all adorable and kind of made up for the lack of "skinship."

Overall, this was a drama I tripped over and didn't allow myself to be picked up. I loved being pulled under. I wanted more and more. I laughed. I squealed. I loved. I hated. I just completely adored this drama!!
I may still watch the original Taiwanese version, My Queen, eventually, but right now I'm still getting over this gem.

Have you watched this drama yet? Or even the original? Anything you felt I should have talked about?

Let me know, below!

BOOK REVIEW: How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Published: 7th May 2013 | Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Format: Kindle

Overall: ½

goodreads | amazon | barnes & noble

Summary: First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she’s on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel’s packed with drama and romance!
Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.
To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

Review: I have been avoiding a lot of YA lately as I've fallen (very deeply) into the genre that is NA. But books about summer road trips are by far my favorite genre (yes, I think it's its own genre. Deal.); so I knew I had to pick this book up. Knowing that I wasn't very into the YA scene I was weary of what I'd read. I figured there'd be a lot of juvenile dialogue and shenanigans....but this ended up being a fun and funny book from start to finish. I never found myself bored. In fact, there were times I could not bring myself to stop reading even when it was 4am! I haven't read a book like that in a very long time.

Rosie has the inability to think before she speaks or acts--she's impulsive--and because of that comedy ensues, as well as igniting her boyfriends car. Then she's forced (but really, who wouldn't want to go on a road trip 'cross country?) to take a road trip with her reliable neighbor, and best friend, Matty and his two nerdy (or not really?) comrades, until her TRO (temporary restraining order) court date. Along the way she learns to let go of the past and find a future that looks a little brighter as well as meeting a few people along the way that give her a new way to look at life.

I loved each character throughout the book and I was probably the minority in saying that Matty wasn't my favorite character. In fact I think he was last. It was that "friend forever I think I like you" character that I was over. Spencer and Logan were my favorite of the bunch. Though at times Logan's weirdness was a bit too much, and it is justified, throughout, why he seems so stiff.
The adventure across the country had me yearning to go on a trip myself. And then they make it to Arizona. Now, I've never been there myself, but I've always had this weird secret fascination with it. The desert like state, the colors the idea of Native American culture still living freely there... I want to go, and after reading of their time I now know that I need to go!

This book isn't heavy in the romance department, which I am just fine with, but you do get lovey dovey times and cute boys. And honestly, what more could you ask for? Road trip? Sure. A douchey ex-boyfriend who gets what he deserves? Check. Fun times with a possible bucket list started by the time you're done? Double check. Comedy that comes out of no where and causes you to snort like a pig? Why not.
So, why didn't I give it a full five stars? The ending... It was too abrupt and didn't feel like an ending at all. I wanted more. At least another paragraph. Anything.
I cannot wait to read her second book, Famous Last Words. A great great debut from Ms Doktorski!


Plot:
Characters: ½
Ending:
Writing:
Cover: