Friday, June 30, 2017

Blog Tour: The Color Project by Sierra Abrams I Review




Summary: Bernice Aurora Wescott has one thing she doesn't want anyone to know: her name. That is, until Bee meets Levi, the local golden boy who runs a charity organization called The Color Project.

Levi is not at all shy about attempting to guess Bee’s real name; his persistence is one of the many reasons why Bee falls for him. But while Levi is everything she never knew she needed, giving up her name would feel like a stamp on forever. And that terrifies her.

When unexpected news of an illness in the family drains Bee's summer of everything bright, she is pushed to the breaking point. Losing herself in The Color Project—a world of weddings, funerals, cancer patients, and hopeful families that the charity funds—is no longer enough. Bee must hold up the weight of her family, but to do that, she needs Levi. She’ll have to give up her name and let him in completely or lose the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

For fans of Stephanie Perkins and Morgan Matson, THE COLOR PROJECT is a story about the three great loves of life—family, friendship, and romance—and the bonds that withstand tragedy.

Release Date: July 18th, 2017

Publisher: Gatekeeper Press









Rating: 5/5 Stars

The Color Project surpassed all of my expectations. It is not only my favorite book of the year, it is also my favorite debut novel. Sierra Abrams has made me a life-long fan after her spectacular debut. The Color Project was a true piece of art, it is busting at the seems with a vibrant and powerful story that will captivate anyone. The Color Project is for YA Contemporary lovers and haters alike. The Color Project features a raw and delectable story that is quickly devoured. I do not have enough words in my vocabulary to properly describe my love for The Color Project.

I could easily see myself interacting and befriending the characters of The Color Project. They were a spunky and lively group that anyone would be lucky to be a part of. Do not even get me started on Levi, he is too precious for our world and theirs. He is the perfect companion and if you do take my advice and read The Color Project, please remember that he is mine. But, more importantly, he is Bee's and their relationship is one of my absolute favorites. They have natural chemistry and their love for each other is one that I envy and hope to find one day. 

In addition to the bubbly characters and romance, the story also includes a family dynamic that is closely tied to the story. Although most teens have families and many are constantly surrounded and encouraged by them,  YA novels seem to forget that fact and the significant inclusion of a healthy family dynamic in The Color Project was a rarity for YA. The Wescott family was a close front that had me laughing and crying. Sierra Abrams has a gift when it comes to character development. I absolutely fell in love with the characters of The Color Project. I felt their love and happiness as well as their pain and sadness. I cried with them and laughed with them. I have never felt this emotionally exhausted after finishing a book since The Book Thief. I commend Sierra Abrams yet also want to ask her why she is a monster. 

Each chapter of the story begins with a particular song and throughout the story I listened to whatever song corresponded with the chapter I was reading. The songs added such depth to the book that I never knew was possible. While the story was compelling on it's own, the music heightened my emotions and made the story even more impactful. I highly recommend listening to the music as you read along. I cannot typically read with music or noises; however, The Color Project made me realize that music can add so much more to a story. It felt as though I was watching the story unfold on a TV or in a move theater. The novel also introduced me to new bands and music that I never would have heard of otherwise. I also appreciate the time Sierra put into choosing the music for the novel. It shows the dedication and love she put into the crafting of this novel. 

The narration Sierra brought to the story was relatable and captivating. I was able to easily identify with Bee's voice. Her humor and personality were very similar to mine. I could easily see myself thinking (or even saying) the same things as her. Her narration was funny and flowed seamlessly. It never felt forced. She was a fantastic narrator and I loved being in her head. I constantly found myself smiling and laughing along with her. However, I also found myself frowning and crying as well. Bee's story was painful at times, but life always is. There is always some bad with the good.

The Color Project is a true masterpiece. The story is truly unique and deserves to be in the hands of countless readers. I highly recommend preordering or purchasing your copy of The Color Project on July 18th. Sierra crafted a novel full of life, love, pain, disrepair, acceptance, and  moving-on that I never knew I needed. I cannot convey how much this story moved me and how deeply attached to it and it's characters I grew. The Color Project was an amazing book that that I could forever reread. I am excited to see what Sierra writes next and where her novels will take her, I can only imagine the success ahead of her.















At 7 years old, Sierra Abrams decided that one day she would publish a book. For over a decade, in between exploring other career options, she kept coming back to that very first dream.

Now her life consists of writing books of all kinds... Kissing books, angsty books, killing books, whimsical books, and sometimes books that are all of the above.

When she's not writing, you can find her reading, traveling, consuming sushi, or daydreaming about Henry Cavill.








Follow the Tour:
Monday June 19
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Interview - Brittany´sBookRambles
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST - Review - ReadsandThoughts
 
Tuesday June 20
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Excerpt of The Color Project - TheYABookTraveler
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST - Review - TheHermitLibrarian   

Wednesday June 21
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Review - YAandWine
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST -Guest Post - LimeLightLiterature
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Thursday June 22
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Review - AvdReader
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST - DIY: The Color Project Bookmarks - LoisReadsBooks


Friday June 23
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Excerpt of The Color Project - TheReader&The Chef
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST - Mini Review & Favorite Quotes - TheLifeOfABookNerdAddict

Saturday June 24
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Interview - CurlyHairBibliophile  
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST - Mood Board - WonderfullyBookish
Sunday June 25
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Review - MorrissaReads
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST - Guest Post - AThousandWordsAMillionBooks


Monday June 26
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Ways To Support Your Favorite Causes - TalesOfTheRavenousReader
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST - Review - InkDin

Tuesday June 27
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Review - ILoveBooksGirl
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST -  Interview - Brooke-Reports

Wednesday June 28
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Book Hangover  - FablesandFae
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST -  Guest Post - Tiffthebooknerd
Thursday June 29
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Review - BookWyrmingThoughts
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST - Excerpt - SimplyNicollette

Friday June 30
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Review - LittleRedsReviews
In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST -  Creative Post - LostInEverAfter

Saturday July 1st
In The Morning at 8:00 AM EST - Review - Biscottosbooks 

In The Afternoon at 1:00 PM EST -  Interview - ANewLookOnBooks






Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Release Day Launch: The Impossible Vastness of Us by Samantha Young

   

From New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young comes a story of friendship, identity, and acceptance that will break your heart—and make it whole again. Grab your copy of THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US today!


“I know how to watch my back. I’m the only one that ever has.”

India Maxwell hasn’t just moved across the country—she’s plummeted to the bottom rung of the social ladder. It’s taken years to cover the mess of her home life with a veneer of popularity. Now she’s living in one of Boston’s wealthiest neighborhoods with her mom’s fiancé and his daughter, Eloise. Thanks to her soon-to-be stepsister’s clique of friends, including Eloise’s gorgeous, arrogant boyfriend Finn, India feels like the one thing she hoped never to be seen as again: trash.

But India’s not alone in struggling to control the secrets of her past. Eloise and Finn, the school’s golden couple, aren’t all they seem to be. In fact, everyone’s life is infinitely more complex than it first appears. And as India grows closer to Finn and befriends Eloise, threatening the facades that hold them together, what’s left are truths that are brutal, beautiful, and big enough to change them forever…
   


Amazon US Hardcover | Amazon US eBook | Barnes & Noble | iBooks US


Amazon UK | Kobo UK | GooglePlay | iBooks UK | Kobo US

   

Add to your Goodreads







“India, I’m not using her. I mean, I am, but it’s not like that. Eloise is getting what she wants out of this relationship, as well.”

“Like what?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“You are using her.”

“I’m not.” His chair screeched as he pulled it closer so our knees touched. His dark eyes moved over my face and I sucked in my breath at the open appreciation I saw there. “I’m not using her…but we are in a relationship together. I guess it just never occurred to me that I might actually meet someone in high school. Someone I…”

That feeling in my chest, that thick, hot feeling, threatened to overwhelm me at all the things he wasn’t saying. “Finn, Eloise is going to be my family.”

He looked so forlorn it took everything within me not to reach for him.

“What is it you’re hiding?”

“I can’t tell you. Please, just trust me.”

Hurt and frustration swept through me in equal measure but I tamped it down. It wasn’t my place to demand his secrets.

My frustration was suddenly mirrored in his eyes as he looked up at me. “I wish things were different.”

But they weren’t different. And yet they were the same, history repeating itself. I cared about someone and they didn’t care enough about me back to be honest about what was really going on.

I didn’t know if I was angry at Finn or just angry that nothing ever seemed to be easy for me. Everything was always a fight.

It felt like I lived in a constant clusterfuck.

I gave a huff of laughter. “Story of my life.” I shook my head, grabbed up my bag and, unable to look at him, said, “Thank you for your help tonight.”

“You’re not leaving without me.”

His protectiveness confused and pissed me off even more. “I’m not? Funny, it looks like that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

His familiar scowl was back in place at my sarcasm. “You’re also not going home alone after what happened here. I’ll give you a ride.”

“Finn.” I slumped, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Sadness flittered through his eyes before he managed a carefully blank expression. “I think I can handle driving you home.”

Still a trembling mess after everything that had happened, I gave in and followed Finn out to his car.

The tension that we’d shared before was nothing compared to how it was now. Now that Finn had in a roundabout way admitted he liked me and I’d realized that what I was feeling for him was attraction, the tension could not be mistaken for anything else but sexual.

I’d never felt anything like it before—it was the most frustrating, scary and exhilarating feeling in the world.

When we eventually pulled up outside the house, the guilt washed over me. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about Eloise’s boyfriend and he certainly shouldn’t be feeling this way about me.

I felt like we were to blame for the whole thing but I didn’t know why.

I hadn’t asked the universe to make Finn like me.

And I had definitely not intended to like him in return.

“India,” he said just as I moved to get out of his car. “I’ve never really cared what anybody thought of me before…but I really don’t want you to think I’m a bad person.”

I stared into his beautiful eyes. “I can’t imagine ever thinking you’re a bad person. I meant it earlier…thank you for coming for me tonight. I’ll never forget it.”

“This feels weirdly like a goodbye,” he said with a bitter twist to his gorgeous lips.

“Maybe it is. I guess we’re both just a complication the other doesn’t need.”

Slowly, so slowly my heart had time to increase in hard, steady thumps, Finn slid his hand over the center console between us and stroked his thumb along the side of my hand. I felt that simple touch in every nerve, my body reacting to it in a way it never had to the touches and deep kisses that had come before it.

I stared at our hands for a moment, wondering how different my life could be if Finn wasn’t Eloise’s boyfriend, if we’d just met as strangers at school, felt the inexplicable bond between us and were free to do something about it.

Suddenly very aware of how long I’d been sitting outside the house in his car, I fumbled for the door handle. “See you around, Finn.”    


*   *   *













Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows. Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us will be published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook& hardback June 2017.

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015. Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.   


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