Tag: book blogger

Book Review of Dreaming of Antigone by Robin Bridges

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Dreaming of Antigone by Robin Bridges

Publication Date: March 29, 2016.

Publisher: Kensington Books.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, and Romance.

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Selling points: Deals with heavy topics such as addiction and abuse. It is a story about forgiveness and love, and it is magically written.

Purchase here: Amazon | The Book Depository

Synopsis: Every star has its own path…

“I can’t ever be the blazing star that Iris was. I’m still just a cold, dark satellite orbiting a star that went super nova.”

Andria’s twin sister, Iris, had adoring friends, a cool boyfriend, a wicked car, and a shelf full of soccer trophies. She had everything, in fact—including a drug problem. Six months after Iris’s death, Andria is trying to keep her grades, her friends, and her family from falling apart. But stargazing and books aren’t enough to ward off her guilt that she—the freak with the scary illness and all-black wardrobe—is still here when Iris isn’t. And then there’s Alex Hammond. The boy Andria blames for Iris’s death. The boy she’s unwittingly started swapping lines of poetry and secrets with, even as she tries to keep hating him.

Heartwrenching, smart, and bold, Dreaming of Antigone is a story about the jagged pieces that lie beneath the surface of the most seemingly perfect life…and how they can fit together to make something wholly unexpected.

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Thank you Kensington Books for my eARC of Dreaming of Antigone. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review; this does not affect my opinion. Any quotes mentioned below are taken from the ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Be aware that this story deals with topics such as suicide, abuse, and addiction.

Dreaming of Antigone is a tragic story about a family surrounded by loss, heartbreak, and secrets with Andria and her twin sister Iris at the center of it all. Iris died of a drug overdose six months ago, something Andria, her family and their friends are still struggling with. Andria is now trying to continue her life through her grief, in a world where she’ll discover that not everything is as it once seemed.

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Book Review of Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember

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UnicornTracks cover

Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember

Publication Date: April 21, 2016.

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, and LGBT.

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Selling points: Magical creatures such as unicorns and mermaids, girls loving other girls and girls saving the day.

Purchase here: Amazon | The Book Depository

Synopsis: After a savage attack drives her from her home, sixteen-year-old Mnemba finds a place in her cousin Tumelo’s successful safari business, where she quickly excels as a guide. Surrounding herself with nature and the mystical animals inhabiting the savannah not only allows Mnemba’s tracking skills to shine, it helps her to hide from the terrible memories that haunt her.

Mnemba is employed to guide Mr. Harving and his daughter, Kara, through the wilderness as they study unicorns. The young women are drawn to each other, despite that fact that Kara is betrothed. During their research, they discover a conspiracy by a group of poachers to capture the Unicorns and exploit their supernatural strength to build a railway. Together, they must find a way to protect the creatures Kara adores while resisting the love they know they can never indulge.

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Thank you Julia Ember for my review copy of Unicorn Tracks. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review; this does not affect my opinion. Any quotes mentioned below are taken from the ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember, I mean what do I even say? I’m absolutely in love with this piece of literature. It is a story rich in culture, magical creatures and girls. There is so much to appreciate and love about Unicorn Tracks, but most of all I love how it is a story about two girls who come from two very different places in the world with very different experiences. We have the main character Mnemba, a girl who has been through so much and who has so much depth. She is an amazing person with a huge heart. Then we have Kara Harving, a girl with a sparkling personality and wonder in her eyes.

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Book Blitz: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

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I am so excited to help spread the word that THE SECRETS WE KEEP by Trisha Leaver is now out in paperback!

If you haven’t yet added this awesome book to your shelf, now’s the perfect time. Just scroll down to learn more about the book and author, to read an excerpt, and to enter the giveaway for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

About the Book

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Title: The Secrets We Keep

Author: Trisha Leaver

Paperback release date: April 26, 2016

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) | Square Fish

Pages: 304

Formats: Paperback 978-1250073624), hardcover (978-0374300463), audio (978-1501212222), eBook (ASIN: B00OFKKFFQ)

Genre: YA Contemporary

Ages: 12 and up

Description: Twin sisters. A fatal accident. A devastating lie. Which girl survived?

“A girl takes over her twin sister’s identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.”

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy’s shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she’s chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy’s world.

When–after a heated argument–Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves Maddy dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy’s death and everyone’s grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. And everyone believes her. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options–confess her deception and risk devastating those who loved Maddy, or give up her own dreams and live her sister’s life.

Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | IndieBound | Goodreads

Praise For The Book

*“Leaver’s story is certainly entertaining and intriguing. VERDICT This should be a primary purchase for any library with patrons who love melodramatic mysteries and romance.” SLJ, STARRED AUDIO REVIEW

Named one of the best YA Novels for Summer by Teen Vogue (2015)

“Watching Ella grapple with questions about life, death, and love makes for rewarding reading.” ~Publishers Weekly

“Leaver’s masterful skill of storytelling and portrayal of sisterly love makes THE SECRETS WE KEEP a lit- erary beauty.” ~Teenreads

“Haunting and beautiful, THE SECRETS WE KEEP, is a gripping, evocative examination of siblings’ complex relationships. It compels us to question what we know, or think we know, about our loved ones and–most of all–ourselves.” ~Karen Rock, Award-winning YA author and co-writer of the bestselling CAMP BOYFRIEND series

Quotes From The Book

“I’d make this up to her, to my parents, to Alex. I’d bury myself and give Maddy my life in return.”

“There was a fear behind his words, a fear that I would change my mind and reveal a secret I didn’t even know.”

“But if you ever want to talk about her…remember who she was and what I loved about her, don’t go to Alex. You come find me.”

Excerpt From The Book

I don’t remember her room being so cold. Even snuggled into her sweater the chill seeps in, settling into my bones like a whisper from beyond. That’s where I will sleep tonight…in Maddy’s bed, surround by her scent. Mom wants to change the sheets, but I won’t let her. The hint of vanilla mingled with Alex’s dark cologne brings a little piece of my sister back to me each night.

The only thing I have left of my old life is a few sketches and a poor replica of the friendship bracelet Josh gave me. It took me days to re-create, to weave the strings into the right pattern. It’s not perfect, but it goes with me everywhere, a tiny reminder of who I once was and what Josh still means to me. The real bracelet is gone, cut off and tossed aside just like my life.

I want to make peace with my choice, but Maddy’s secret haunts me. The dark pieces of her life are hid- den in the back of her closet for no one but me to see. She’s not who I thought she was, but that doesn’t matter. Maddy was my sister, my twin sister, and I’ll do anything for her, including losing myself.

About The Author

TrishaLeaverTrisha Leaver lives on Cape Cod with her husband, three children, and one rather disobedient black lab. She is a chronic daydreamer who prefers the cozy confines of her own imagination to the mundane routine of everyday life. She writes Young Adult Contemporary Fiction, His- torical Fiction, Psychological Horror and Science Fiction and is pub- lished with FSG/ Macmillan, Flux/Llewellyn and Merit Press. Her YA Contemporary, THE SECRETS WE KEEP, was named one of the best YA novels for summer (2015) by Teen Vogue and received starred reviews from VOYA Magazine and School Library Journal (audio). For more details, check out her website at http://www.trishaleaver.com

Find her: Website | Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway

There is a blitz-wide giveaway, courtesy of the author, for:

  • ONE (1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card

***Giveaway is open to anyone 13 or older who can accept an Amazon Gift Card***

The Giveaway Rafflecopter

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ARC Review of Claire by Abigail Strom

Olivia ChanelLeave a comment
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Claire by Abigail Strom

Publication Date: April 26, 2016.

Publisher: Smashwords Edition.

Genres: New Adult, College, and Romance.

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Selling points: Character growth, amazing romance, and the best friendships.

Purchase here: Amazon

Synopsis: It’s sophomore year, and Claire Stone has sworn off romance. She’s just gone through a breakup and she wants some time to find out who she is on her own. The only flaw in her plan is her friend (and hot quarterback) Will McKenna, who’s a walking temptation to forget all about her singlehood pledge.

Will has had a thing for Claire since freshman year. Now that they’re both single, he wants more from her than friendship. But Claire doesn’t want to be anyone’s girlfriend right now, and with football season underway, Will’s got issues of his own to deal with.

When an injury on the field changes everything, Will and Claire are driven apart. But when the two of them end up trapped together in a snowstorm, they’re forced to deal with each other again. Can they confront their feelings without ruining their friendship? Or will their friendship turn into something more?

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Thank you Abigail Strom for my eARC of Claire. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review; this does not affect my opinion. Any quotes mentioned below are taken from the ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Claire by Abigail Strom is a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It was sweet, it was honest and it was more than just a plain and simple college romance. Why you may ask? Because the focus of this story isn’t romance, even if it is a love story. The story is about friendship and knowing who you are without having a guy (and a relationship) define you. It’s such a strong and powerful message. Yes, we feel lust, attraction, and love. However, we are so much more than that, women shouldn’t be defined by their men and I think it’s so great that Strom really puts this in the center of her story.

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Book Blitz: Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember

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Unicorn Tracks blitz banner.jpg

Hi guys! Today on this lovely Thursday Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember comes out and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s about unicorns, girls and other exciting things. Down below you can read an exclusive excerpt, see beautiful art and find all the links you could want. Are you as excited as I am for this book?

About The Book

UnicornTracks cover
Unicorn Tracks

by Julia Ember
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 21st 2016
Harmony Ink Press

Summary from Goodreads:

After a savage attack drives her from her home, sixteen-year-old Mnemba finds a place in her cousin Tumelo’s successful safari business, where she quickly excels as a guide. Surrounding herself with nature and the mystical animals inhabiting the savannah not only allows Mnemba’s tracking skills to shine, it helps her to hide from the terrible memories that haunt her.

Mnemba is employed to guide Mr. Harving and his daughter, Kara, through the wilderness as they study unicorns. The young women are drawn to each other, despite that fact that Kara is betrothed. During their research, they discover a conspiracy by a group of poachers to capture the Unicorns and exploit their supernatural strength to build a railway. Together, they must find a way to protect the creatures Kara adores while resisting the love they know they can never indulge.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon│Harmony Ink Press

Art

Excerpt From The Book

When he reached the baobab tree, the unicorn looked around in confusion. The trance of the moonstone seemed to break with the humans closing in on him. He sniffed the horns around him, squealing and pawing the ground in distress. Three of the riders threw their ropes, catching him around the neck. As he struggled to back away, others advanced. Men taunted the stallion with their whips, making him kick and try to rear. When his feet lifted, they threw more ropes, circling the nooses around his powerful feet. As a group, they wrestled the unicorn to the ground, throwing themselves on top of him the moment his knees touched the grass.

Even with the weight of six on his back, and men all around holding ropes anchoring him to the ground, the stallion kept fighting. His eyes rolled back in his head, his legs thrashed and I could hear his screams from the cliff. I’d never heard a unicorn make a sound before, and hearing it now sent a chill through my entire body. His screams were different than a horse, higher in pitch, with a vibrating tremor that made him sound almost like a singer at the crescendo of a performance.

The leader of the group advanced on the now subdued unicorn, holding what looked like a handsaw. The stallion tried frantically to spear the man with his horn, but three of the followers held the animal’s head in place. Still he tried, snorting and staring his captor in the eye, silver-tipped horn poised like a sword toward the leader’s heart.

Kill him, I found myself praying. Fight them. Kill him and this will all be over.

 The saw began to tremble in the man’s hand as he swiped again and again across the base of the stallion’s horn. Fragments the size of fingernail clippings covered the earth like snow. Beside me, I felt Kara start to shake. Her whole frame quivered with silent sobs. The horn fell to the ground and all at once, the stallion quit struggling. The men climbed off him and loosened their hold on the ropes that bound him.

The group’s leader reached for one of the ropes around the unicorn’s neck. He turned and the stallion followed him, meek as an old broodmare. His eyes seemed to blink back a heavy sadness, the only echo of his proud battle song.

About The Author

julia ember

Originally from Chicago, Julia Ember now resides in Sunny Scotland where she learned to enjoy both haggis and black pudding. She spends her days working as a professional Book Nerd for a large book wholesaler, and her nights writing YA Romantic Fantasy novels.  She also spends an inordinate amount of time managing her growing city-based menagerie of pets with Harry Potter themed names.

A world traveller since childhood, Julia has now visited over 60 countries. Her travels inspire the fictional worlds she writes about and she populates those worlds with magic and monsters.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Giveaway

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Book Blitz Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

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On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

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wednesdayswewearpink

Hey guys, I hope you’re having a fetch Wednesday today!

The sun is currently shining here, which can be rare in Sweden, so I’m in a great mood. I’m currently reading an amazing book that I’ll review later this week and I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it. If you’ve seen Mean Girls (I’m almost certain you have and if you haven’t then go do it) then you know that the phrase “On Wednesdays We Wear Pink” means that Wednesdays are reserved for pink. That is why I’ve decided to recommend you books I’ve read or am dying to read all with pink covers. Amazing right? I have 6 pink books that you absolutely have to read!

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Here Are My On Wednesdays We Read Pink Books Recommendations

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A French Girl in New York by Anna Adams

Add it on Goodreads.

Buy it on Amazon and The Book Depository.

A French Girl in New York and Shut Out are both young adult books. A French Girl in New York is about a girl that travels to New York where she discovers music, love, family and the truth about her past.wednesdaypinkq3wednesdaypink1

 

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Add it on Goodreads.

Buy it on Amazon and The Book Depository.

Shut Out is about a high school rivalry between the soccer and football team and the girls that decide to go on a hookup strike because of it. Unexpected tensions arise.

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Sweet Addiction by J. Daniels

Add it on Goodreads.

Buy it on Amazon and The Book Depository.

Sweet Addiction and Batter Up are two adult books that are funny, sexy and got that perfect touch of sparkle to them. Sweet Addiction is about a woman who struggles with keeping things casual whereas the man never wants to let her go.wednesdaypinkq2wednesdaypink3

Batter Up by Robyn Neeley

Add it on Goodreads.

Buy it on Amazon.

Batter Up is about a woman who can predict love with a batter and the man who wants to expose her as a fraud, however before he knows it, he is head over heels for her.

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Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan

Add it on Goodreads.

Buy it on Amazon and The Book Depository.

Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel is a young adult with girls crushing on girls. It’s about a persian girl that starts taking more risks when a new girl starts in school, but things aren’t as they seem and what she soon learns is that people are often more than what first meets the eye.wednesdaypinkq1

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Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour

Add it on Goodreads.

Buy it on Amazon and The Book Depository.

Everything Leads To You is also a young adult about girls falling in love. It is a book about a girl that’s a film buff and a romantic and a mysterious letter that leads her to a girl unlike anyone she has ever met. She will come to expand her understanding of love, family and acceptance.

There you have it, 6 books that are pink and about girls, romance, food, sexy tension and everything else that you could possibly imagine!

Let me know if you get any of these or if you’ve read them before.

ARC Review of Catch You by M. H. Soars

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catch you mh soars

Catch You by M. H. Soars

Publication Date: April 12, 2016.

Publisher: Infinite Sky Publishing.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, and Contemporary.

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Selling points: Quality banter, amazing romance and crime solving.

Purchase here: Amazon

Synopsis: Pride and Prejudice meets Veronica Mars in this new Love Me, I’m Famous novella.

Kimberly
I had always thought Owen Whitfield fit the mold of the brainless jock perfectly. Group of idiot friends? Check. Vapid girlfriend? Check. Ego bigger than the moon? Check. As long as he stayed out of my way, coexisting with his kind was doable. Until one day our worlds collided, changing everything. He pissed me off so badly that I had no choice but to give him a taste of his own medicine. Little did I know that my act of revenge would come back to bite me in the ass. How was I supposed to know Owen would turn out to be the best partner in crime I could hope for?

Owen
I never paid much attention to Kimberly Dawson, but I knew who she was. Ice Queen was what we called her. She was gorgeous, no one could deny that. But she was also a condescending bitch which was enough reason for me to stay the hell away from her. She thought I was a dumb jock and that was okay until she came crashing into my life. Against my better judgment, I let her embroil me in her shenanigans, forcing us to spend too much time together. It was my doom. She got under my skin, she was all I could think about. I never thought I would be the knight in shining armor to anyone, not until she came along.

Author’s Note: Due to mature content, this novella is recommended to readers 18+.

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Thank you Infinite Sky Publishing for my eARC of Catch You. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review; this does not affect my opinion. Any quotes mentioned below are taken from the ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Catch You by M. H. Soars reminded me of why I love to read books. I’m sure people have a thousand different reasons but one of the things I value the most is when a book makes me feel something. A good plot and well-built characters are of course also very important to me but often these come hand in hand. Catch You made me laugh, squeal and truly enjoy myself. There might even have come a moment where I was literally screaming at the book because of some very exciting scenes. It was just that good.

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Book Review of More Than Fashion by Elizabeth Briggs

Olivia Chanel2 Comments
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More Than Fashion by Elizabeth Briggs

Publication Date: July 30, 2015.

Publisher: Elizabeth Briggs Books.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, and Contemporary.

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Selling points: A reality show like Project Runway, super steamy romance, witty and strong main character.

Purchase here: Amazon | The Book Depository

Synopsis: They’re enemies who will do anything to win…including each other.

When Julie Hong wins a spot on a fashion design reality TV show, she celebrates by picking up a hot English guy in a hotel bar. But too many drinks leads to a night of embarrassment and a major hangover, and wow is she glad she’ll never see him again. Until the show starts, and he’s on it too.

Julie quickly realizes she’s out of her league among the other designers, and Gavin Bennett, with his cocky grin and sexy accent, is her biggest competition. Julie can’t decide if she wants to kiss him or kill him. Or both.

After she’s almost kicked off, Julie convinces Gavin to pretend they’re sleeping together for the camera. The ploy works, but as they get closer to the show’s finale their fake relationship starts to become too real. But only one of them can win the show—and they might both end up heartbroken.

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Thank you Victory Editing for my review copy of More Than Fashion. I received this review copy in exchange for an honest review; this does not affect my opinion.

“Even though they were my competition, I felt a kinship with them. We were creators chasing after a shared dream. We all wanted the same thing: to win.”

More Than Fashion is a fun, light and entertaining new adult book. The book is a reality show in the form of a contest between a bunch of people who all want to be a successful fashion designer. The construction of the show is very much like Project Runway, and I absolutely love this concept. I personally love fashion, even if I’m not very good at it, so imagining the dresses and outfits was really an extra bonus for me as to why I enjoyed More Than Fashion so much. What I also really liked was how the main character, Julie, was somehow a part of this show even if she had a lot of stuff working against her and how this contest gave her a real chance to fulfill her dream. If only she can win.

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The Fast & The Furious Book Edition

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thefastandthefuriousbookedition1I don’t know about you guys but I’m a huge The Fast & The Furious fan. I’ve watched all of the movies several times (yes seriously) and I’m currently craving another movie marathon of them (if only life allowed this). However, the other day when I was purchasing ebooks I came across a couple of books with the same themes as these movies and decided I have to recommend them to you all.

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Here Are Books Centered Around Cars, Family and Romance

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Introductions

Olivia Chanel2 Comments

Hey fellow reader, writer and friend, welcome to my blog!

My name is Olivia Chanel, and since this blog is new and you might not know me I’m here to let you know I’m deeply passionate about books. I’ve had other blogs before, one about books and one not so much, but recently I have found myself missing a place where I can post my reviews and share my love for books with other kindred spirits that feel the same way. I’ll keep this introduction rather short, more can be read about me on my About page, but since I know you probably want an idea of who I am as a person without doing that I’ll give you a few quick facts.

I am, for better and for worse, a:

  • Scorpio
  • INFP
  • Ravenclaw
  • Green eyed brunette
  • University student
  • Swedish resident
  • Summer person

I hope you feel like you know me a little bit better now. On this blog I will post book reviews, discussions, book recommendations and a little bit about my writing journey. If this interests you, don’t hesitate to follow me by entering your email on the side bar to the right (that is right, right? Sorry another fact I should have mentioned is that I suck at telling left from right. Weird, I know!).

Anyway, I hope you’re currently reading a good book!

Best wishes,

Olivia Chanel