Book Review: Aura by Kylie Malchus

Goodreads Description:

Kira's life is gray. A drab cubicle, a less-than-caring boyfriend, and a sick mother occupy her thoughts. Her life is a fairy tale and her prince is Jesse Conley, the sweet and slightly awkward boy of her dreams. At least, that's what her magical paintings tell her. The only problem: Jesse is an unreachable world-famous pop icon. After suffering heartbreak, can Kira learn to see the colors again? 

Have you ever had an experience where you're driving, you look down to change the station on the radio, to check your phone, or to take a sip of that enticing diet Dr. Pepper, and in the second your eyes fall back on the road, a 40-ton, eighteen-wheeler semi truck hits you head-on? Kira Weston hasn't either.

But it's a pretty similar experience when, at sixteen years old, her young life is turned upside-down, around, inside out, and kneaded until chewy. She's whisked away by the voice of a world-famous singer, expected to be disappointed and less than disappointed when it comes unexpectedly, through the brightest reds of true love and, as naivety withers, through the darkest grays of family illness, merciless call-center work, and her boyfriend's emotional abuse. She follows the colors, wide-eyed and faithful, clinging to magic. Disappointment arrives at last; Jesse Conley, the humble, stuttering musician and Kira's sworn future love, makes a public announcement that shatters her life's course.

The unexpected would be understandable--plans changing--if Kira couldn't literally paint the future, a future that clearly disagrees with the present. She's a freakin' wizard, in a freakin' fairy tale, going to freakin' magical places a socially-awkward, aspiring artist never would have dreamt of going. Gray streaks the pages of her story, but following the colors is what her canvas tells her is fate. Kira has two choices: fighting the dragon, believing in magic, and seeking her stuttering prince, or drowning in the pessimism society tells her is grown-up.

Why her? She doesn't even like diet Dr. Pepper.

Title: Aura
Author: Kylie Malchus
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Fantasy, YA
Format: ebook

Pages: 394 pages
Publisher: Createspace
Source: Purchaesd on Smashworld though it was free over the Christmas holidays

From the prologue I knew I was gonna like the book cause the main character is a freaking fangirl who falls for a freaking pop star with a freaking amazing voice and songs... yah story of my life...

Aura is a great modern day Fairy tale with a twist and coming of age story about fangirl, family, following your dreams, painting your future and having faith!

We follow Kira as the story jumps back and forth for the span of 6 years of her life. She loves art and Jesse Conley's music and one day while painting a picture she somehow manages to paint his future. Eventually she manages to meet Jesse and they formed a unique friendship.

Kira is like any fangirl out there hoping to be 'THE ONE' for her Idol. But then life and reality takes a toll making it full of hurdles to be with him. Humble, selfless, putting her family needs before hers, she is also sarcastic, strong and logical. Her character is likable, relatable and realistic. Though her character tends to make some decisions that are "practical, in her case practicality didn't exactly work well for her life making her miserable. She's not loving her job, life and the relationship she's in but eventually she learns to take the risk and follow her heart and passion. Overall she was a great character to follow and is someone I want to be friends and probably fangirl buddies with.

I love how family oriented this book was and was entertained with her interaction with her family, Its obvious they are very close. Her mum Ellie, is great and supportive and younger sister Aurie is freaking awesome! Wiser beyond her years and a great voice of reason to Kira, I always look forward to reading the scenes with Aurie.

Then there is Milo, Kira's best friend. Both on the same path of of not sure what they want to do after High School they got a job at a local call center. I liked Milo and was kinda shipping him and Kira at times. Even so their 'bromance' was great to read about and I love how he's on a similar page to Kira.

Best for last we have Jesse aka the Popstar. Adorable, awkward, sweet and down to earth with a hint of mysteriousness, I love the guy to bits! The more I read about Jesse the more I think the fact he's like a hybrid of two of my favorite singers, David Archuleta and Harrison Craig!

'Musical' themed books are usually a hit or a miss for me as I sometimes tend to find authors not so great song writers. However I did like the musical element of the book was played out and was not cheesy or overly done.

The relationship between Kira and Jesse is a crazy rollercoaster! One moment I'm giggling and loving the cuteness of their interaction but the next... I think I heard my heart shattering for a second there... *cries*! Their friendship and romance was well paced out and adorable to read!

Plot wise was fast pace and engaging. I didn't want to put the book down! I love how it bounce back and forth trough time without confusing the plot. The final act of the book was my most favorite as I was on the edge of my seat and though this book sounds like a 'rom-com drama' story, there was some great action sequence in that last act! Also the plot twist was freaking good! Like I never picture the book to go to that direction good!

As for the ending, I kinda have mix feeling about one thing... but other than it was super sweet and I had a huge smile on my face reading the final pages.

Definitely check out Aura by Kylie Malchus



Also I found out about the author a while ago when she made the artwork for a music video called 'Don't run away by David Archuleta' which is my favorite David Archuleta music video to date! Check out the video and the song!

Since I'm in a David Archuleta fangirl mode (I love him and his song like the Directioners love their One Direction since I was 15 when I first watch him on American Idol) here are some Archu song recommendations for those of you who have never heard of him:

1) Crush aka the David Archuleta Classic

2) The entire The Other Side Of Down Album

I love the entire album and to me its his best album to date with its happy-go-lucky positive theme.
Though if I were to choose my top picks will have to be the title track The Other Side of Down, Elevator, Falling stars and my all time favorite Parachutes and Airplanes.


 3) Rainbow from the OPM album

A while ago he did a TV show called Nandito Ako in the Philippines and released a 'soundtrack' called Forevermore where he covers Original Pinoy music. Of all the songs in the album this is my favorite especially the remix edition. Also the music video = me swooning at his cuteness!

Alright hopefully I didn't overly ramble my Archu fangirl heart but anyways Check him out and also check out this book!

Book Review : That Boy (That Boy #1) by Jillian Dodd

Goodreads Description :

That Boy is a contemporary romance about falling in love with the boys next door.

You know, being friends with two cute boys does have its benefits.

There's Danny. Danny is a golden boy in every way. He has dreamy blue eyes and blonde hair that always looks perfect, even when it’s windblown or been stuck under a football helmet. He’s the boy every girl crushes on. The boy I get into trouble with, the boy I fight with, the hot quarterback no girl can resist, not even me. Being with Danny is like being on an adventure. He has a bright, contagious smile and abs to die for. He’s pretty much irresistible.

Equally crush worthy is Phillip. Adorable, sweet Phillip, who I have known since birth.  Phillip has dark hair, a perfect smile, brown eyes, and the sexiest voice I have ever heard. He’s the boy I talk to every night before I go to sleep. The boy who rescues me, the boy who can read my mind, the boy who is always there for me, the boy who tries to keep me out of trouble, the boy who irritatingly keeps getting hotter, and whose strong arms always seem to find their way around me.  And when he gives me that grin, I can never say no.

One boy will give me my very first kiss.
One boy will teach me to make out.
One boy will take me to prom.
And finally, one boy will ask me to marry him.
They will both be my best friends.
But only one of them will be the boy I fall in love with.
Only one of them is That Boy.

Title: That Boy (That Boy #1)
Author: Jillian Dodd
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, NA , Mature YA
Mature YAFormat: eBook
Pages:-
Source: Free off iBooks

Where do I begin.... ?!?!

Okay so I'm a fan of Jillian Dodd's The Keatyn Chronicles which I've read all the books that are so far publish so when I saw 'That Boy' on iBooks for free I had to download it!

The book is written in a diary style with cute doodles/illustrarion following JJ (Jadyn James) Reynolds from childhood till early adulthood along with her two best friend Phillip and Danny, both described as the "hot boys next door". 

We follow JJ's life is filled with fun happy times that brings a smile to your face as well as sad tragic times which could literally pull your heart strings. I like reading her monologue which is  a bit dramatic its mostly laugh out loud funny and at times adorable!

I love the characters especially our main trio. JJ's strong, tough, sarcastic, happy-go-lucky, competitive, down-to-earth and witty characteristic made me love her from page one. Yes she tends to not make some bad choices trough the book but she eventually resolves them. I also love how she has many characteristics! One moment she is just one of the guys playing football (or should I say strip football *wink *wink) and the next she's just one of the girls though she hates shopping and at times need's a girlfriends advice on what to wear for a date. I could relate with her in a lot of aspect and at the end of the book I literally want to jump into the book to ask her to be my best friend!

Phillip and Danny are total opposite guys but are equally swoon worthy! Heck even I had a tough time choosing which guy is THAT BOY!

Danny's the golden boy, quarterback on the football team, the jock that all the girls swoon over! He's fun-loving. loyal, freaking hilarious, flirty, sexy and gahhhhh just freaking amazing! Though he has the playboy sorta lifestyle he treats girls with respect (which he better since JJ did teach him a painful lesson about girls when they were kids). Although they didn't click well when they first meet, its nice to see them grow closer trough as they grow older and that they are both really similar.

Phillip is just down right preciously adorable and a freaking sweet heart!!! where can I get one??? 

Though he can be a 'bit' bossy, strict, conservative, and uptight. he's freaking sweet, sensible, always-there-for-you Prince Charming, who knows and understand JJ better than anyone since they have been friends since birth! He's been there trough every moment of JJ's life and is there to rescue, help, support, protect and be there for JJ no matter what. I literally melt the more I read about him as even as friends he is super protective on JJ and they just have this bond that they can't see but others can! 

The friendship between the trio is realistic and its heart warming watching them grow from childhood till adult hood. Also the parents and friends in the book were amazing to read as well! My favorite supporting characters are JJ's Dad which some of the more tender moments are between JJ and her Dad, Lori who is JJ's sorority sister and best friend from college as well as Phillips  mum!

The story got me hook from page one as I want to know who is 'That Boy'! Trough the book you'll go trough a roller coaster of snap shots of JJ's life of first dates, a heart wrenching tragedy, kissing 101, college life, friendship and most importantly finding 'That Boy'.

This book is ridiculously sweet and adorable and though there were times I was grinning like crazy there were some times where I felt overwhelming feels thanks to a freaking plot twist that I seriously didn't see coming! Also this book may have a 'love triangle' element but its love triangle in a diffrent way which is nice and refreshing and most importantly NOT ANNOYING! As for the romance aspect of finding out who is 'That Boy' when you do you'll be one of those who jumps in the air and screams FINAL-FLIPPING-LY and promise you that you'll be satisfied with 'THAT BOY'. 

Also the line 'That Boy' is mentioned quiet a number of times and while reading I highlighted ever single time the word 'That Boy' was mentioned and there is a variety of ways its mention (just checked iBook search and found its mentioned atleast 36 times :P) like 'I give that boy a mad face', 'I hate that boy' and my personal favorite ' WHERE THE *&%# IS THAT BOY?' which literlly made me laugh for a good 10 minute straight!

Gosh I say 'THAT BOY" so much in this post that if Riley from the Keatyn Chronicles was here I would have taking shots every time i see the word 'That Boy' trough out the book! lolz:P

 I can't believe this was Jillian Dodd's debut novel! I always thought it was the Keatyn Chronicles that came first. Anyways I love this book to pieces and was super happy and satisfied with the ending! Happy, fun, emotional goodreads with an amazing cast of characters that I grew to love and care for and a realistic storyline! Definitely give this book a go if you like contemporary romance/ chick lit and also check out Jillian Dodd's other series Keatyn Chronicles.

Also check out the author's website

I just finish the sequel 'The Wedding' which a review should be up really soon. Till then SOMEONE HAND ME THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES!!!

  

Which team are you on? Team Danny or Team Phillip?

*Team Phillip ALL THE WAY!!! (But I also like Danny ;P)

Book Review : A French Girl in New York (The French Girl series #1) by Anna Adams

Goodreads Description:

Maude Laurent is a spirited sixteen-year-old orphan who grew up in a small, provincial town in the north of France with a passion for piano and a beautiful voice. One day in Paris, she is discovered by an American music producer who takes her to New York to live with him and his close-knit family while producing her first album, with help from teen pop star, Matt. Maude will dive into a new fascinating world discovering New York City, music, family, love and the truth about her past.

Title: A French Girl in New York (The French Girl series #1)
Author: Anna Adams
Genre: Contemporary, YA, Romance, Chick Lit
Format: eBook, Wattpad Book
Pages: -
Source: Read from Wattpad, Free on iBooks.

So I found this randomly on Wattpad which started my addiction to 'The French Girl Series' by Anna Adams. 

Maude, a talented pianist who dreams to be an opera singer lives in rural France with her terrible foster family where they mistreat her, forcing her to work from dusk to dawn like a slave. One day while out on a school excursion in Paris, she stumble upon a cafe where she plays a couple of songs and gets discovered by James Baldwin, music mogul and owner of Soulville Records who gives her a chance to escape France to go to New York to make a record.

I had a couple of issue with the book:

Firstly the narrative was not what I expect since its from first person point of view as I felt like the book would have been better if it was from Maude's POV.

Also the song lyrics... usually in books where the author 'compose' song lyrics are a hit or a miss. This case it is a miss as I found it really cheesy... like overly cheesy...

Maude's character and personality got me hooked from page one! Talented, hard working,Sassy, strong, caring, determine driven and passionate made her a really likeable character. She makes you want to cheer for her to succeed and have a happy ending. Yes like all characters she does some flaws

thanks to her innocent/naive she tend to not make wise decisions at times and sometimes a bit too stubborn for her own good. Her character development in the book is a good setting stone for the idk how many books the author plans to write in the series (she just announced the forth book a few days ago) but seeing her grow personally and professionally is what's gonna make me want to continue reading the series.

Matt. a pop heartthrob who happens to be Maude's song writing mentor is super cocky, witty and most importantly Maude's love interest. While his first meeting with Maude didn't exactly hit off well (literally one of the best moments in the book!), his character grew from the egoistic pop star to a likable, cute, dorky guy that you just can't help but love! 

Ms Tragent, Maude's singing coach is one of those mentors who pushes her to bring out the best in Maude. She reminded me of my piano teacher who was super freaking strict but for a good reason that made me thankful for later. 

 

The Baldwin family who took Maude in with open arms were all amazing! James is a great mentor and 'father figure' for Maude where luck and faith was with him when he discovered Maude. Jasmine who is the same age as Maude but with an opposite personality to her which balance out their friendship. Her confident, enthusiastic personal made her stand out! Also Cynthia, the oldest sister surprise me with her law skills at one point of the book (btw I have a decent background knowledge of law so for me it was a breeze to follow not to mention another favorite part of the book)! I also love the Baldwin's family tradition that incorporate music. 

Overall, the storyline while predicable was a page turner where you want to know what happens to Maude in the end. There were some cliche elements but was nicely balance out with the struggles, love hate relationship between Matt and Maude, the family dynamic with the Baldwin as well as the freaking 'I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING' plot twist really made the book or me!

Also check it out if you are a music lover and is a fan of 'musical' theme books since the story incorporate classical music and pop music well as the fact that the main character plays the piano which for me motivated me to play the piano more when I was reading this.

  

 A great addictive read that got me hooked onto my ipad/iphone when reading it! A Modern Cinderella retelling with its own unique spin. Great starter to a series! Best part? Its free on iTunes,Amazon, Smaswords and Wattpad so if you want to test out the series definitely pick this up!

Check out the author on her blog Strolling in Storyland for more info in The French Girl series.