Jen, Moriah, and Ambur's Excellent Read-a-long Adventures: THE ROSE & THE DAGGER - Review & Playlist!

Hello, hello! 

Sooo....I've been a pretty bad blogger lately, and I haven't been posting at all this summer, but today I have an extra awesome post to share!! Jen, Moriah, and I have continued our read-a-long adventures with the sequel to The Wrath & the Dawn, THE ROSE & THE DAGGER! We decided that for this one we would share our reviews and also our own fanmade playlists with however many songs we wanted that reminded us of THE ROSE & THE DAGGER!

So...let's get straight to it! 

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THE ROSE & THE DAGGER
(The Wrath & The Dawn #2)
by Renée Ahdieh

Source: Borrowed from the library.
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Number of Pages: 416 (Hardcover)


Description from Goodreads:

The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

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MY REVIEW

I absolutely LOVED the first book in this duology, THE WRATH & THE DAWN, so I was extremely eager to pick up THE ROSE & THE DAGGER! I was hoping for vibrant prose, excellent characterization, and some seriously high-stake situations similar to the first book and Renée Ahdieh didn't disappoint!

THE ROSE & THE DAGGER was just as magical, and amazing as the first book⎯I really didn't want it to end! It was exactly what I could have hoped for, but I definitely wouldn't have minded if it were longer. I don't think I can ever get enough of Shazi, Khalid, Jalal, and Despina! As soon as I started reading, I didn't want to put it down and I was so glad to be back in the wonderful world that Renée Ahdieh created!

This book begins just slightly after THE WRATH & THE DAWN left off, and the rapid pace Ahdieh established in the first book just keeps going! I loved seeing both Shazi and Khalid grow in their own parts of the story, but I loved when they worked together even more. I ship those two so much! AS always, I love how feisty and strong Shazi is. She never faiths to make me grin like a madwoman with her witty and quick remarks...and I really loved seeing Khalid come into his role! I also loved seeing him interact with more of the characters. While the first book is pretty much confined to the palace in Rey, THE ROSE & THE DAGGER expands over a much larger area. Jalal and Despina are still my favourite secondary characters in this duology, but I also really loved getting to see Shazi's sister, Irsa, in THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER! She didn't have much of a role in the first book, but in this one, she really comes into her own!

Sequels are always a bit tough to review because I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm being rather vague, but just know that I loved this book! I loved the characters, the story, the magical elements, the little tie-ins with One Thousand and One Nights, and the writing itself! I absolutely adore Renée Ahdieh's writing style, and her characterization is wonderfully dynamic⎯even amidst her minor characters, there isn't a flat character in the whole bunch!

Overall, I absolutely loved both THE WRATH & THE DAWN, and THE ROSE & THE DAGGER! This is one duology where both books equally pack an absolutely epic punch, and the ending will leave you satisfied...but possibly also eager for more, just like me!

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MY PLAYLIST

1. "A Whole New World" - Aladdin Soundtrack (Disney)

I just simply couldn't resist putting this song on my playlist...it's ridiculous yes, but I honestly kept singing it in my head throughout several parts of the book. Once you read it, I'm sure you'll know the parts I mean. hahah

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2. "Icarus" - Bastille (from All This Bad Blood)

I'm a HUGE Bastille fan, so I pretty much adore all of their songs. "Icarus" is a particular fave of mine, and it definitely reminded me of one of Shazi's stories, so when I was thinking of a playlist for THE ROSE & THE DAGGER, this song immediately came to mind.

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3. "Demons" - Imagine Dragons (from Night Visions - Deluxe Edition)

Imagine Dragons is another of my favourite artists, and I think "Demons" is pretty much the PERFECT song to describe Khalid and the complexities in his past which have led him to the path that he's been on before he met Shazi. Want to know more about those demons? Well, my lips are sealed, you'll have to read the books to find out. ;) haha

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4."Treacherous" - Taylor Swift (from Red - Deluxe Edition)

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a big Taylor Swift fangirl, too. haha Anytime I think of romance in books, I tend to think of T-Swift songs, but I think this song is extremely fitting for Shazi and Khalid. Their love really is treacherous...and I love that. Take out the modernizations in this song, and this song is even more perfect! :D

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5."All of the Stars" - Ed Sheeran (from x - Deluxe Edition)

Ah, Ed Sheeran. I really just CANNOT make a playlist without an Ed song, and I think that this song is another one that fits well with Shazi and Khalid.

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6. "Strange Magic" - Darren Hayes (from Ella Enchanted Soundtrack)

This is another one of my silly picks for my playlist. There's a bit of magic going on in this duology, and I thought that "Strange Magic" added a nice levity to those scenes.

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7. "Haven't Met You Yet" - Michael Bublé (from Crazy Love)

 This song totally reminds me of Jalal and Despina....I can totally picture Jalal singing this song before he met her, and after I think he would change the words to "Hadn't met you yet"...he's such a charmer that I just know he'd totally pull something like that. ;D

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8.  "Let Her Go" - Passenger (from All the Little Lights)

 Another song that reminds me of Jalal. That's all I'll say because I don't want to give away any spoilers. ;)

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9. "She Is" - The Fray (from How to Save a Life)

I feel like this song completely embodies how Khalid feels about Shazi...and just listening to this song with them in mind gives me ALL the feels!!!

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10. "Teardrop" - Newton Faulkner (from Hand Built by Robots)

This happens to be one of my absolute favourite songs about love. It's a song with simple lyrics, but it never fails to make me smile and to move me, so I'd just apply this song to all of the couples in this books, but it definitely reminds me of Irsa's storyline the most. :)

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11. "Brave" - Tawgs Salter (from The Vampire Diaries soundtrack)

This is also one of those songs that I just love so freaking much, so I pretty much think of it whenever I want to make a playlist, so I may be biased, but I think it fits, too. Again, this one is perfect for Irsa⎯it's all about being brave, especially in love.

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12. "Heart Like Yours" - Willamette Stone (from If I Stay Soundtrack)

First, I really wish Willamette Stone was a real band...their songs are my favourites on the If I Stay soundtrack, and second, this song is PERFECT for Khalid! I think it really embodies his feelings for Shazi. :)

Listen to my playlist on 8tracks, here: http://bit.ly/2aHCAKm

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Don't forget to check out Jen's (The Book-Nook) and Moriah's (Feel Your Books) posts, too! 

What do you think?
Have you read THE WRATH & THE DAWN and THE ROSE & THE DAGGER yet?
If not, do you want to?

And what did you think of my playlist?
Do you have any songs that you'd add to a playlist for either/both books in THE WRATH & THE DAWN duology?

Jen, Moriah, and Ambur's Excellent Read-a-long Adventures: THE WRATH & THE DAWN!

Hi everyone! 

Welcome to the first installment of Jen, Moriah, and Ambur's Excellent Read-a-long Adventures!! This post is all about THE WRATH & THE DAWN!

Last week, Jen from The Book-Nook, Moriah from Feel Your Books, and I all posted our reviews for THE WRATH & THE DAWN by Renée Adhieh after we buddy read it together. 

You can find our reviews here: Jen | Moriah | Ambur

This week, we all came up with a question related to the book and we're posting our answers today!

We're planning to read the sequel, The Rose & The Dagger, together too, and we'll be doing another special "Read-a-long Adventure" type post for that one, too!!! For each buddy read we're going to mix up what type of post it is though. This time it's questions, but the possibilities are absolutely endless. ;)

Now...onto the questions!

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Jen's Question: You're stranded on an island for one month. One of these characters can be your partner and help you find food/water/resources. Who do you pick?

Image from http://leonmarinus.com.

As much as I would LOVE to spend some up-close and personal time with Khalid, I'd pick Shazi! She's smart, and I think the two of us could totally come up with a fantastic survival...and rescue plan! I can totally picture us creating a shelter, hunting/foraging for some food...taking some time to relax on the beach, and then plotting our way off the island. We'd also take turns to tell each other stories at night. She'd be a much better companion that Tom Hanks had in Castaway...sorry Wilson. :P

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Moriah's Question: What would a dish named after a character from this book look, taste, and smell like? Be as detailed as you wish.

I'm going to create a dish for Khalid...and rather than a main dish, I'm totally going with dessert. :P haha

I was originally going to name it something super elaborate because he has almost as long of a title as Daenerys Targaryen, but I decided to go with something short and sweet instead. Khalid's dish would be called "Tiger Eyes" (for his own eyes if it isn't super obvious :P haha), and it would be spicy with a hidden burst of sweetness in the centre. I don't think it would be something that they would eat in the book, but I know I'd love to eat it! I'd make it a cupcake with a chai-like flavour full of cinnamon and nutmeg, and it would have quince chutney in the centre. The combination of the colours of the cupcake and the quince chutney would also be designed to look like tiger strips, and it would smell similar to a delicious chai tea! I think the combo of spicy with a dash of sweet also represents how Khalid's character is revealed in the story...plus, Shazi lovessss quince chutney! ;)

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My Question: If the characters of THE WRATH AND THE DAWN went to Hogwarts, which houses do you think they'd be sorted into? Sort as many characters as you like, but Khalid and Shahrzad are a must! ;)

If you've followed my blog for a while, you might notice that I tend to want to sort everyone from absolutely every book into Hogwarts houses, so I'm sure this question doesn't surprise you. :P haha

Now, onto the sorting!!!

SHAHRZAD

Shazi is one of those characters that could end up in multiple houses, but I think she's best suited for Ravenclaw or Slytherin. I think her strongest power is her mind, and since both of these houses are perfect for people who have cunning, are good at strategy, and are intelligent, I think she'd fit in well with either! Her motives at the beginning of the book are driven by grief and she's longing for revenge...but she isn't stuck on the one path. I think if I have to pick one, I'm going with RAVENCLAW though because above everything, when pressed, Shazi goes with the solution that will logically give her the best outcome every time.

KHALID

Oooh, Khalid is tough!! He's a bit hard to peg, but I think I'd put him in GRYFFINDOR. I think he's incredibly brave, and he's sacrificed a lot for his kingdom. Even though his people may not understand what he does and they definitely resent him, Khalid has always done what was in their best interest...despite how it makes him look. So, I would define him by his bravery, and when I think brave, I always think Gryffindor!

DESPINA

Well...you meet Despina pretty early in the story, and I think her upfront nature, clear sense of cunning, and drive make her extremely well-suited for SLYTHERIN! It also doesn't hurt that she's pretty secretive, yet very upfront about spying. :P I think she'd be Slytherin and she'd wear the Slytherin colours with an immense amount of pride!

JALAL

Now, this choice is going to make it seem like I just wanted a character to fit in each house, and maybe subconsciously I did...but I also think it's the best fit for him! I think Jalal fits in HUFFLEPUFF! His light-hearted nature, ever-present smile, and desire to help Khalid find happiness make him well suited for my house. He's incredibly loyal, and he always has the best interests of others at heart.

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BONUS: If THE WRATH & DAWN was adapted into a movie, who would you cast as Shahrzad and Khalid?

I love the idea of dream casts...but I must admit, I'm not very good at them. I feel like The Wrath & The Dawn could be an AMAZING film, but I'd like it to be authentic and to use actors that actually fit the ethnicity of the characters. It would be amazing to start seeing some of these incredible books coming out of the diverse YA movement become movies where they stick true to the characters. I've chosen two actors that I found by searching through Bollywood actors. They're a little older than the characters, but they fit how I picture them for the most part!

SHAHRZAD

Image from http://photogallery.navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/.

PUJA GUPTA

She's 31 now, so I don't think she'd be playing Shazi if they really did make a movie, but I think she looks so much like how I picture her. She has such a lively spirit that comes through even in photos, and I think that's exactly what Shazi has. She's beautiful, vibrant, full-of-life, and the kind of person that you just can't take your eyes off of...just like Shazi!

KHALID

Image from http://www.dnaindia.com.

ARJUN KAPOOR

Again, Arjun is probably too old to play Khalid if they did make a movie since he's also 31, but he definitely captures the look that I was trying to find for Khalid. He's not overly buff, but he's lean. He also has fantastic hair, a great broody face, and a hidden smile that lights up his whole face. I think he's also handsome enough that you couldn't blame Shazi for feeling attracted to him even before she gets to know him. :P

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Wow! I had a lot of fun coming up with my answers for this post, and I hope you enjoyed reading my answers. Make sure to let me know your reaction in the comment or if you have suggestion for future read-a-long posts, I'd love to hear them!

 Don't forget to check out Jen's and Moriah's Buddy Read/Read-a-long posts, too! 
 
So, what did you think?
Did you enjoy the first installment of our read-a-long adventures?
Agree/Disagree with my answers?
Do you have your own dream cast for a movie of THE WRATH & THE DAWN?

Review: The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1) by Renée Ahdieh

Source: Purchased an ebook for myself.
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Number of Pages: 404 (Hardcover)


Description from Goodreads:

One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.

Wow.

I haven't felt this way about a book in a while. I've definitely loved a lot of books in the last little bit, but this book stunned me. I was actually sad when I finished it...not because of the story (although, I was a little emotional from the story itself :P), but because it was over. I just didn't want it to end. I mulled over it for an entire day after I finished, and I still felt that way. I loved the characters and the world-building was breathtaking!!! In fact, the entire book blew me away.

My immediate reaction to THE WRATH & THE DAWN, was a vicious NEED to get my hands on the sequel. This is the kind of book that you finish, and become desperate for more. Part of me is sad that I've taken so long to finally read it, but most of me is actually ecstatic because it means that I didn't have to spend months and months, agonizing and waiting for the sequel, THE ROSE & THE DAGGER.

So, I just spent the past couple of paragraphs raving over this book, and now you're probably wondering what was so great about it. Well, I'll tell you. Most importantly, the characters were AMAZING! I absolutely adored Shazi (Shahrzad). She was fierce, proud, feisty, confident, and always spoke her mind! She's the kind of butt-kicking heroine that might not be extremely physically strong, but is incredibly smart, and knows exactly where her strengths lie. She was admirably honest, and despite her pride, she was willing to change and to admit when she was wrong. Along with Shazi, there was Khalid. While he may have had the whole stereotypical broody character trait that's common among YA leads, he was so much more than that. I'm not going to go into too much detail about Khalid because I don't want to spoil anything, but I loved his character. He's complex, and underneath the harsh facade is a gentle soul and it becomes clearer and clearer to Shazi that there's a lot to Khalid's story that both she and his kingdom don't know. Along with Shazi and Khalid, there are also quite a few fabulous secondary characters...I especially loved Despina! :)

Along with some absolutely AMAZING characters, THE WRATH & THE DAWN is packed full of luxurious descriptions and vibrant world-building. The outfits, the buildings, the settings...everything is described in dynamic and colourful ways and the imagery jumps right off the page! The lush descriptions fascinated me, and kept me completely glued to the page. The story itself was mysterious, and had a bit of anticipation always stirring beneath the surface. The multiple POVs create a sense of foreboding and anticipation, but enough is kept from the reader to keep it all a mystery, which I absolutely loved!! It added an urgency to the story that I really enjoyed.

My fangirling has been out-of-control in this review, so to recap: I loved the characters, the world-building, the underlying mystery, and the pace! I also loved how various stories from A Thousand and One Nights worked their way into the story. And the romance in THE WRATH & THE DAWN absolutely rocked my world!!! I ship Shazi and Khalid so freaking much...and I totally turned into a giggling, blushing fangirl whenever the two of them were alone. ;P

Overall, I thought THE WRATH & THE DAWN was absolutely amazing! The characters and descriptions were wonderful⎯they left me absolutely desperate for more! And the romance! I freaking LOVED the romance! I can't wait to read the sequel, THE ROSE & THE DAGGER.

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 I read THE WRATH AND THE DAWN with Jen from The Book Nook, and Moriah from Feel Your Books. They're also posting their reviews today, so make sure to go see what they have to say about THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, too! And, stay tuned! We're also planning to share a read-a-long related post where we each think of a question about the book that we all get to answer...I'm super excited to share that with you all!

Have you read THE WRATH & THE DAWN?

If you have, what did you think?

If you haven't, does it sound like a book you'd enjoy?

Interview with Renee Ahdieh (Author of Fanfare)

Ambur: Hey Renee! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Renee: Thanks so much for having me!


Why don’t you tell us all a little bit about yourself?
Well, I’m a bit of a mess right now! Trying to share my debut novel with anyone even remotely interested can be a bit chaotic, but I love it! Normally, I’m a pretty average, book-loving, twenty-something woman. I mostly love to read fiction, but I will read the occasional true crime novel, when the spirit moves me. I live in North Carolina with my husband Victor and our dog Mushu. Outside of reading and writing, I love to cook and travel. I’m a right-brained person, and I spend entirely too much time indulging the creative side of my psyche! My life is filled with friends, family, food, and fiction, and I feel so grateful for it all.

And now that we know more about you, why don’t you tell us a little bit about your new book, Fanfare?
It’s first and foremost a love story. When I began writing it, I knew I wanted to do something that resembled a modernization of Jane Austen – a story focused on characterization and grounded in witty dialogue. Creating a main character with a diverse background was also incredibly important to me. I know that this kind of love story has definitely been “done” before, but Cris’ attitude and perspective are unique, and the story contains a lot of inspiration from pop culture. I think it’s the type of book that a mother can read with her teenaged daughter, and I love that.

Was there anything in particular that inspired you to write Fanfare?
I love this question! I’ve taken many facets of the story from my life and the experiences of my closest friends and family. Alas, I do not know any famous actors, but I was incredibly intrigued by the cult-following of current heartthrobs like Justin Bieber and Robert Pattinson. You can absolutely see the influence of the latter in the character of Tom. It made me think about the fact that so many people would love the chance to date someone famous, but I don’t know if they’ve actually thought about the practicality of such a situation. As you can see in FANFARE, it’s definitely not as wonderful as it sounds!

Have you always wanted to be an author or was it something that you didn’t realize you loved until you started doing it?
I always loved to write, but I don’t think I realized that I was meant to do it until I began seriously writing. I lost myself in it, and I never felt as though it was work or tedious. I feel so lucky and grateful for the opportunity to make a career out of it.

What advice do you have for other aspiring authors out there?
If you love something with pure conviction, it should not matter if anyone else likes it. Critics are everywhere. An artist is unique.

I read on your blog that you’ve written Fanfiction, did you find writing Fanfic to be a helpful experience when it came to writing your original work? Was it pretty much just practice, or were the two processes completely different?
I’d say the processes were very different, but writing fanfiction was excellent practice for me. I don’t think I had the confidence necessary to complete an original work, but writing fanfic helped me organize myself and create a system that made it much easier to write my own work.

I also just have to comment and say, that I’m a big fan of Fanfiction myself, and I even went and read your story, An Untitled Continuation of the Twilight Saga, after I read about it on your blog. That Fanfic was rather intricate, and I imagine it involved a lot of research. So I was wondering how did researching for Fanfare differ from researching for the Fanfic you wrote?
Well, my fanfiction was in the paranormal genre, so it was really fun doing the research about vampires, werewolves, etc. With the paranormal genre, you’re not confined to reality, and that can be a blessing and curse. In FANFARE, there are many references to different cultures and different locations. The research was a bit more technical and it had to be accurate.

Music and the phenomenon of celebrities both played huge roles in Fanfare. During your writing process, did you use music and celebrities for inspiration? Do you have any playlists or songs that you’d love to share?
Music is a huge part of my writing process. I wrote FANFARE almost exclusively to the album The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place by Explosions in the Sky. If you’ve never checked them out, you are missing out! Of course, my main character’s love interest was inspired largely by Robert Pattinson, but mostly just on the surface, as I don’t know him at all and could never presume to create a personality from a few pictures and interviews. Right now, the book I’m currently working on is about a pop star, and I’m taking a lot of inspiration from Britney Spears and her contemporaries.



You’ve told me you’re a Glee fan, so I thought now would be the time to ask you a couple of Glee-related questions. So...who’s your favourite Glee character, and if you could only listen to one song that has been performed on the show for the rest of all time, which one would it be?
My favorite Glee character? Oh, no! I think I love Sue the most just because she is so loveably horrible. Her one-liners just kill me. My favorite song on Glee would probably be a tie for Defying Gravity and the Poker Face duet. I just loved those so much.

Any other comments that you’d like to share, Renee?
If you enjoy reading about celebrities and you’re a sap for a good love story with humor, depth, and great characters, you would really love FANFARE! ;-)


Thank you so much for doing this interview Renee! It’s been great having you here! :D
Thank YOU, Ambur! You’ve been amazing!

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Renee is awesome! I've had the pleasure of talking to her several times, and she's just fantastic! :D 

If you want to know more about her, or about her book, FANFARE, I've provided you with several links to check out. :D

Where you can find Renee

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads Author Page

More about FANFARE and where you can get your copy

Goodreads Page

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

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Happy Reading!!!

♪♫ Ambur

Review Only Blog Tour : Fanfare by Renee Ahdieh

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 Source: Received ebook for an honest review for blog tour.

Publisher: Revolution Publishing

Release Date: May 31, 2011

 (Goodreads Link.)

Fanfare is not a fairy tale. It's a story about a strong woman who ultimately decides that she's the one in control of her own life, and that if she wants to be happy she can be. Cris was such a strong character, and she was super feisty. She was one of those characters that I couldn't help but love. Even though I loved her, there were a couple of times I just wanted to shake her. The biggest thing that was keeping her from being happy was herself. It was one of those times where a person just brings this huge train-wreck that tears through their life on themselves.

That being said, I really liked this story. For most of the story I was impressed by Cris, and when I wasn't, I understood where she was coming from, even if I wouldn't have done the same things myself. She had a killer sense of humour, and she spoke her mind when she believed in something. I really respect her as a character, and by the end of Fanfare I was proud of her too. She stepped up and finally overcame her fears. It takes a strong person to fight for their beliefs and stand up for themselves, but it takes an even stronger person to admit they were wrong and to take risks to try and fix the things they've broken. Throughout Fanfare, Cris expressed both types of strength, and for that I greatly admired her.

Now, as you might have guessed, there is most certainly a boy in this story. This boy happens to be a celebrity, one who bears a striking resemblance to one that I'm sure pretty everyone in the world is aware of nowadays, he's been in some popular movies about a vampire and a regular teenage girl who fall in love...and if you can't guess who I mean by that hint then I'm not quite sure where you've been hiding for the last couple of years. :P Anyways, the actor's name is Thomas Abramson, or Tom, and I thought his relationship with Cris was just plain ole adorable. They complimented each other very well, and while they tended to get each other into situations that probably could have been avoided, their chemistry was palpable and their banter was entertaining and fantastic. I loved the jokes between Tom and Cris, and their email exchanges were hilarious too! :D

Along with Tom and Cris, were their fantastic friends. Cris' friends, Gita and Hana were just awesome! They're the type of friends we all wish we had, or if we are lucky enough to have them, we hold onto them for dear life. :P And Tom's friends in London were hilarious! I especially loved the scene where Cris, Tom, and Tom's friends, Ben and Philip, all played Guitar Hero World Tour together...so funny! :D There was one character that I wasn't a fan of, but to be honest, I'm pretty sure he was designed to be that character everybody loves to hate, so Renee definitely succeeded there. Cris' ex-fiancee, Ryan, who Gita called "Sergeant Killjoy" was the one who cause Cris to be so deluded when it came to love and I believe he was the main source of her problems. I'll admit, I really didn't like him, or how Cris seemed to be so weak around him, but her reactions to him were definitely understandable. I really wish I could have just punched him in the face to make him leave her alone at parts in the book, he just didn't seem to like that she was happy without out him, and the name Sergeant Killjoy did indeed suit him well. :P

 I absolutely loved the whole celebrity aspect of Fanfare, and I'll admit, that I've gone through the whole celebrity obsession myself, so it was interesting to read a story where the character got to experience being with someone who was famous, especially since she was the type of person who prefers to stay away from all of the celebrity gossip...although she did admit that it was more because she knew that she's get addicted to it, like Farmtown on Facebook (been there done that too :P haha).

I thought that Fanfare was a funny story with amazing characters, and underneath all of the laughter the message that Cris learned about controlling your own happiness and letting yourself be happy was a strong one. One that I was more than happy to learn. :)

I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to read Fanfare. Renee has a wonderful writing style and this is a fantastic debut. :)

Get yourself a copy from: Amazon Kindle Store, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble/Nook.

So...celebrities, love em or hate em? 

Are you obsessed, are you altogether anti-celebrity, or are you somewhere in the middle?

What are your thoughts on Fanfare, do you think you'd like it?

Happy Reading!!!

♪♫ Ambur