The Talking Bookworm

Today I have a very special guest on my blog, Ms. Jamie Baywood. She recently published a memoir of her recent travels to New Zealand. If you would like to know more about her and her memoir, don’t hesitate to read her own words below.

It was always my dream to live abroad when I was growing up in California. I had bad dating experiences in California and read in a New Zealand tour book that the country’s population at 100,000 fewer men than women. I wanted to have some me time and an adventure. New Zealand seemed like a good place to do so. Although I intended to have a solo adventure I ended up meeting my husband a Scottish man in New Zealand.

I consider myself an accidental author. I didn’t go to New Zealand with the intentions of writing a book about my experiences there. I had funny experiences that I had trouble believing were true. I wrote the stories down to stay sane. I wrote situations down that were happening around me and shared them with friends. The stories made people laugh so I decided to organize the stories into a book and publish in the hopes to make others laugh too.

One of the first people I meet was Colin Mathura-Jeffree from New Zealand’s Next Top Model. I had no idea who he was or that he was on TV when I meet him. He is friends with my former flatmate. We had a steep staircase that I kept falling down. Colin taught me to walk like a model so I wouldn’t fall down the stairs.

In New Zealand, I had a lot of culture shock. One of the most memorable moments was learning the meaning of the Kiwi slang word “rooted.” One night I was brushing my teeth with my flatmate and I said, ‘I’m really excited to live in this house because I have been travelling a lot and I just need to settle down, stop traveling and get rooted’. He was choking on his toothbrush and asked me if I knew what that meant because it had a completely different meaning New Zealand than it does in the States.

I had the opportunity to write and perform for Thomas Sainsbury the most prolific playwright in New Zealand. I performed a monologue about my jobs in the Basement Theatre in Auckland. The funny thing about that experience was Tom kept me separated from the other performers until it was time to perform. I was under the impression that all the performers were foreigners giving their experiences in New Zealand. All of the other performers were professional actors telling stories that weren’t their own. At first I was mortified, but the audience seemed to enjoy my “performance,” laughing their way through my monologue. After the shows we would go out and mingle with the audience. People would ask me how long I had been acting. I would tell them, “I wasn’t acting; I have to go to work tomorrow and sit next to the girl wearing her dead dog’s collar around her neck.”

I love making people laugh more than anything else. I feel very grateful when readers understand my sense of humor. I plan to divide my books by the countries I’ve lived in. My next book will be about attempting to settle in Scotland.

About the book Getting Rooted in New Zealand:

Craving change and lacking logic, at 26, Jamie, a cute and quirky Californian, impulsively moves to New Zealand to avoid dating after reading that the country’s population has 100,000 fewer men. In her journal, she captures a hysterically honest look at herself, her past and her new wonderfully weird world filled with curious characters and slapstick situations in unbelievably bizarre jobs. It takes a zany jaunt to the end of the Earth and a serendipitous meeting with a fellow traveler before Jamie learns what it really means to get rooted.

About the author Jamie Baywood:

Jamie Baywood grew up in Petaluma, California. In 2010, she made the most impulsive decision of her life by moving to New Zealand. Getting Rooted in New Zealand is her first book about her experiences living there. Jamie is now married and living happily ever after in the United Kingdom. She is working on her second book.

Getting Rooted in New Zealand is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1482601907

Jamie Baywood can be followed on the following sites:

Facebook.com/jamiebaywood
Twitter.com/jamiebaywood
Pinterest.com/jamiebaywood
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7069448.Jamie_Baywood
amazon.com/author/jamiebaywood

Reviews, YA Dystopian

Book Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

January 7, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

My Initial Thoughts:

I went into this book blindly. It was on the Kindle Daily Deals and I decided… why not? So I bought it for a couple bucks and decided to read it. I love it when blind purchases turn out great!

Review:

Oh My Gosh. This book was absolutely amazing. Some people hate that it is marketed as the next Hunger Games, but honestly, I don’t care. In my head it’s the love child of Divergent and The Hunger Games. Just think Dauntless, Erudite, and the actual Hunger Games. Crazy right?

We start of with Cia on her graduation day where she goes from being labeled a child into actual adulthood and she can be a candidate for The Testing. The government chooses the candidates for The Testing, and only the brightest are chosen. The Testing is a test which determines if you are able to go to University and therefore become a future leader of the United Commonwealth.

After Cia’s graduation everything unravels and her world is turned upside down. The Testing is not what she thought it was. Her father who is a alumnus of the University advices her not to trust anyone and to try to survive the tests.

The rest of the book has you on the edge of your seat. Who is a friend and who is a foe? Who can be trusted and who is a Judas? The author did a very good job at weaving the story and creating it in a way that we aren’t bored. It may be dystopian and we may have seen some of the plot before but the way it was written, she made the plot look fresh, new, and that is what good writing is all about.

I recommend this book and advice you to read it!

The sequel, Independent Study, comes out today, January 7, 2013. Go to your local bookstore and grab the first two books. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Rating: 5/5

Special Review, ya contemporary

ARC Book Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

January 6, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Thank you to Balzer + Bray for proving me a arc copy through Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review

Goodreads Summary:

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who’s always done what she’s supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

Review:

The beginning of the novel is hilarious. It sets the tone for the rest novel, although there are some parts in the book that weren’t my favorite, hence the 3.5 out of 5 rating.

The chemistry between Wren and Grayson is phenomenal. They are the reason I pushed myself to finish this book. The writing was good. In its entirety, The Promise of Amazing is not a bad book, but like I said, it fell short.

I really did not get the whole Amsterdam trip and the importance of it to Luke. Seriously. Every time Luke or Grayson’s other buddies appear, I would cringe and speed read the following pages where they were involved. I wish we would have seen more the backstory of Grayson’s parent divorce and the importance of The Camelot to Wren’s family. This novel had so much promise, but it fell short from being amazing.

I still suggest you guys read the book. It’s not a bad book. There were several parts a throughly enjoyed and Wren and Grayson totally make up for it. 🙂

Also, I just loved Wren’s friends. I just wish we got to know them more. They were a hoot when they were on the page.

Rating: 3.5/5

Special Review, YA Thriller

Book Review: The Twisted Window by Lois Duncan

January 5, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

I received a ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review

Goodreads Summary:

The new guy at Tracy’s school is handsome, intense, and desperately needs her help—but there’s something about him that isn’t quite right

High school junior Tracy Lloyd is unsure about the new guy in school. Brad Johnson is attractive, smart, and polite, but Tracy can’t help but feel he watches her too closely. Then one day Brad confides in Tracy a horrible secret: His little sister Mindy has been kidnapped by his stepfather, and he needs Tracy’s help to get her back. But even as Tracy commits to a plan to help her vulnerable new friend, details emerge that suggest nothing is what it seems.
The Twisted Window is a zigzagging thriller that keeps readers guessing up until the final page. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Duncan including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection

Review:

When I saw this book on NetGalley I was super excited because I remember reading books by Lois Duncan in middle school and high school. I had even read this book about 8 years ago, and I remember loving it. I decided to take this opportunity and re-read it. Boy, was I in for some blasts from the past.

The re-marketing of this book was to make it more relevant to present times, which is why we have a cover change, and a few lines were added to the book to make it more in with nowadays. First thing I will be commenting on are the few cellphone references that appeared here and there, which overall made the novel feel weird. The novel was like a blast from the 80s from the way they talked, the way teenagers acted, and references that were mentioned through the novel, and those additional cellphone references were out of place. They didn’t belong in the story.

Now, onto the plt. I was actually a little disappointed in myself. I remember loving this novel when I was so young but now… it didn’t have the same appeal and made me second guess my love not only for this novel, but other Lois Duncan novels too. The suspense was ok, but I was so preoccupied with how Tracy was behaving and her logic behind things that I was just baffled by it all.

Overall, the novel is creepy, but not something I would read anymore. It isn’t the worse novel I’ve read, but it also isn’t the best.

Rating : 3/5

Other

16 Blogging Days of Winter – Day 16

January 5, 2014 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Today is the last day of this 16 day blogging journey and I’m sad. I had so much fun doing this. At first I thought to myself “what did I do?!” when I had signed up, but now I wish it was longer.

Now, onto today’s topic. I’m pretty sure we all have many books in our 2014 TBR list, but these are the books that I’m super excited about.

What are some of the books you just can’t wait to get your hands on in 2014?

Other

16 Blogging Days of Winter – Day 15

January 4, 2014January 5, 2014 Veronica Porras (TTB)

I’m writing this post on my iPhone so I apologize for the lack of pictures.

There is always talk about the best book to movie adaptations and opinions vary. These are my favorite book to movie adaptations as of now.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
If you start to think about it, the movie made the book better (and was better. The movie had that spark that the book was missing.)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
I’ve seen this movie twice already and both times I thought it was flawless. One of the best adaptations yet.

One I hope will be good adaptation is
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
It comes it February 14, 2014.

Other

16 Blogging Days of Winter – Day 14

January 3, 2014January 4, 2014 Veronica Porras (TTB)

I don’t own a lot of bookish things. I don’t collect journals, necklaces, posters, scarf, etc. There is one bookish thing that I do fall for and buy when I see them. That would be bookish mugs. So far I only have 3… well 2 if I was super picky, but one of the mugs I did buy at Barnes and Noble. Here is my collection of bookish mugs! (If you are curious as to wear you can buy these, leave me a comment and I’ll let you know where you can!)

Other

16 Blogging Days of Winter – Day 13

January 2, 2014January 2, 2014 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Today I show you my life outside books. The biggest “thing” in my life for the past four years was College. I went to Biola University and obtained a BA in Communication Studies and got a minor in Theology/Bible Studies. I graduated May of 2013. Now, 6 months after graduation, I’ve interned at a Movie Marketing Company and I’ve worked at a Finance Institution. Don’t know what the future holds for me, but that’s a little glimpse into my complete world.

Oh and in the picture below, the girls with the black hair and the red sash on the screen… THAT’S ME!

May 2013 - Biola University Graduation — May 2013 – Biola University Graduation

Other

16 Blogging Days of Winter – Day 12

January 1, 2014 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Resolutions.

I’m not really a resolution type of person. I never really do resolutions. For the sake of this post and for my reading I will give myself a reading goal. My goal is to read 50 books in 2014. We all know I can read way more, but I don’t want to pressure myself. I like doable goals. One’s that can make me feel accomplished and at the same time, push me to do more.

What are your 2014 resolutions?

Reviews, ya contemporary

Book Review: Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

December 31, 2013July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

My Initial Thoughts:

I loved Catching Jordan, I hated Stealing Parker, and I liked Things We Can’t Forget. In my head, I didn’t know if I would love this book or hate it. What did perk me up was the whole ranching side and racing horses aspect of the story. That intrigued me, but apart from that, I really didn’t know what my reaction to this book would be.

Review:

I am going to be absolutely honest with you… I LOVED THIS BOOK. I fangirled throughout the whole entire book. I love the way Miranda Kenneally develops her characters, how we can see them grow. I love that this book takes place several years after the first book, Catching Jordan, and we are able to see what has happened to our favorite characters in the past 4 years.

The romance in this novel is believable. Jack, that lovable bastard, is it just me or did he remind you of Adrian Ivashkov a little? Anyone? Maybe just me, but man I loved him as a character. He has his faults, several at the beginning, but he sees his wrongs and changes. That’s why I love him.

Savannah was also a character I enjoyed because she didn’t let a guy define her. She one knew her worth and did not lower herself to please a guy in a way that degrades her. We need more girl characters in YA that know their self-worth and fight for their life instead of letting a guy fix all of their problems.

Overall, I recommend this book. It is a quick read that will have you gushing and screaming of joy. I can’t wait for Breathe, Annie, Breathe which is Ms. Kenneally’s next novel.