Review: Ballpark Eats by Katrina Jorgensen

Title: Ballpark Eats
Author: Katrina Jorgensen
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: February 1st 2016
Source: Netgalley/Capstone Young Readers


Book Description:

Forget peanuts and Cracker Jacks! America’s Ballparks now offer a dizzying array of edible options. These make-like stadium recipes give young chefs and sports fans a culinary road trip at home. From the famous fish tacos at the Giants’s AT&T Park in San Francisco to the mouthwatering Cuban sandwich at the Tampa Bay Rays’s Tropicana Field, these diamond dishes are perfect for any seventh-inning stretch.

Review:

★★★★

Batter up! I love baseball. You almost have to when you're from Chicago, since there's two teams, and a whole lotta history and rivalry. So, I knew I'd enjoy this one. Overall, it was a pretty good cookbook, but there were a few issues.

First, holy curve balls Batman, there is a LOT of information here. There's information about all of the baseball stadiums. There's park information like why/how/when it was built, nicknames, how many people it seats. There's information and background story for the recipes included, like how they came to be and where they're popular.

The recipes are divided by division, which makes it easy to navigate. There's also a glossary and a map in the back, and there's even fun facts and quizzes sprinkled throughout.

As this book is written with kids in mind, this is a super approachable book. The recipes are all pretty idiot proof, and it's great for people who aren't big cooks. There's easy to follow, step by step instructions.

Some of the recipes are even too simple. For example, adding onion to a hot dog or putting garlic salt on popcorn. Not really a recipe so much as "yeah, that's a thing..."

Other than that, there's a pretty good blend of drinks, snacks, meals, and desserts. And, there's plenty of pictures.

And then we come to the bones I have to pick with Ballpark Eats- on behalf of Chicago. Not all of the information is accurate. At the time of printing, the home of the Chicago White Sox was US Cellular Field (at this point in time in 2017, it's Guaranteed Rate Field, so it's already outdated). Anyway, the book says that its nickname is "The New Comiskey". Which...no. It's either called The Cell, US Cellular Field, or Comiksey Park out of stubbornness, the way we still call it the Sears Tower (because what the hell is a Willis Tower?).

There's also an issue regarding the "Chicago Style Hot Dog". It's what we do, what we love, and there is a very specific ingredient list that makes it so, and the book misses the target. They're missing celery salt. It also says "jarred hot peppers"- but it's specifically sport peppers. And a poppy seed bun. And if we're being super nit picky, neon relish. It's really weird, because it says in the facts that these are the ingredients, but then they're omitted in the actual recipe. Maybe it's meant to be substitutions for things not sold outside of Chicago? Not sure, but it's pretty annoying. Also, their recipe for elotes is just frozen corn and cheddar cheese. Which is weird, because elotes has not just cheese (cojita) but also butter, lime, cayenne, and mayo. And... Frozen corn? Blech.


US Cellular- i have never heard it called "the new comiskey" we just, out of stubbornness still call it comiskey, same as sears tower.

Chicago style hot dog- not right. missing celery salt. has "jarred hot peppers" - it should specifically be sport peppers. relish should also be neon, but i get where that's picky. also poppy seed buns. don't call it something it's not. says right in the facts it should have sport peppers and salt and poppy seed bun, but doesn't have it in the recipe- weird. also, corn is just frozen corn with cheddar cheese, whereas elotes is mayo, cayenne, lime, butter, and cotija cheese.

Anyway, I'm done picking the Chicago section apart.

The recipes (with the above exceptions) sound pretty delicious. The three that I think sound the yummiest are Poutine with Apple Blondies with Maple Glaze (Toronto Blue Jays), BBQ Ribs with Homemade Pickles and Cornbread Muffins (Kansas City Royals), and Cheddar Bacon Stuffed Burgers with Apple Pie on a Stick (Minnesota Twins).

All in all I think this is a fun book for a sports fan, whether that's a tailgating adult or a little leaguer child. The recipes are easy, and it's fairly educational on top of it. Though now, it's a little out dated.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Goodnight Hockey by Michael Dahl!

Title: Goodnight Hockey
Author: Michael Dahl
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: August 1st 2015
Source: Picture Window Books


Book Description:

From the first puck drop to the final buzzer, Goodnight Hockey will have every hockey fan cheering. Rhyming text and energetic art perfectly capture the excitement and thrill of a hockey game. Goodnight Hockey is the perfect bedtime story for your young sports fan.

For ages 4-7. From the Sports Illustrated Kids Bedtime Books series.

Review:

★★★★★

I love hockey. I mean, being from Chicago you pretty much have to. (Go Blackhawks!) I had to give this picture book a read- it looked too adorable to pass up. I'm really glad I did. This book is absolutely perfect for little sports fans everywhere.

First, I have to say that this book is just cute. From cover to cover and everything in between, this book is just adorable. This book tells the story of a little hockey fan enjoying a hockey game and all the hype and excitement of a home team victory.

The illustrations are really well done and detailed, with bright colors. They go well with the story that's being told, and do well to keep your attention on the story. Also, and this was a pleasant surprise, it rhymes. That made me really happy, and added another level cute to the whole reading experience.

It has come to my attention that this book is a part of the Sports Illustrated Kids Bedtime Book series. I haven't read any of the other ones, but having read Goodnight, Hockey, I know that will definitely change in the future. As the publishers agree, I'd recommend this for younger sports fans, aged roughly 4-7.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Wonder Horse by Anita Daher!

Title: Wonder Horse

Author: Anita Daher

Release date: 05/08/2015

Publisher: Rebelight Publishing

About the Book:

Fitting into a new school in a new city isn’t easy, but dreams come true for Sera with a gift from her parents: a gorgeous and spirited American Paint horse. Sera’s bubble bursts when a mean girl, Brittany, tells her that neither she nor her less than well-trained horse belong with the rest of the “reiners” in their riding class. As Sera sets out to prove Brittany wrong, she risks losing her passion for training and the friendship of Dev, another girl who truly understands her.

An earlier version of this story was originally published by Stabenfeldt (Stavanger, Norway) in 2011 as Wager the Wonder Horse and distributed in six languages: Norwegian, Hungarian, Czech, German, Finnish and Swedish.

Review:

★★★


I'll be the first to admit, I never really had a pony phase growing up. Maybe it was because I was a city-raised kid, but I didn't know anyone who had a horse, or who could afford one. We wished for Barbie Jeeps instead. However, my girlfriend loved horses growing up, and was even a rider. She's told me stories about horses that have made me regret not getting into them when I was younger, save for a ride or two at a carnival (which I know is totally not the same). She's kindled an appreciation of horses from me, which is why I wanted to read Wonder Horse.

Overall, I have to say this is a pretty heartwarming and cute read. It's a book about friendship and passions and setting goals and achieving them too, with an added dash of mean girls for good measure. Sera, the main character, struggles with finding who she really is and what she wants to do, which I think is something that we all question at some point in our youth.

I didn't really connect to Sera as much as I would have liked to. Like I mentioned a bit above, I think part of it was simply the fact that I'm an outsider looking in at horse riding culture. But I also didn't always appreciate Sera's tone, she was a bit whiny in places, and I thought the way she referred to her classmates was a bit snobby.

Other than these weak moments from Sera, I rather enjoyed this book. I think it's something a lot of younger girls (and boys too) will be able to connect to more easily than I did. This is a really short read at about 90 pages, so I recommend it to readers who are hesitant or don't necessarily enjoy reading yet. I'd also recommend it to the younger end of the YA spectrum, and to any kid who has the pony love that so many share.

I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Get it Here:

Amazon | BN

About the Author:

Anita Daher has been entrenched in the publishing industry since 1995, and is (thus far) author of fourteen books for children and teens. Aside from short stints as grave-plot seller, tour guide, and children’s party clown, she’s worked in aviation, publishing and broadcasting. When not word wrangling, she enjoys inhabiting characters on stage and screen.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook

Follow the rest of the tour here!

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Center Ice by Cate Cameron!

Title: Center Ice

Series: Corrigan Falls Raiders #1

Author: Cate Cameron

Release date: 5/19/15

Publisher: Entangled Crush

Summary from Goodreads:

The hometown hockey hero won’t know what hit him…

Karen Webber is in small-town hell. After her mother’s death, she moved to Corrigan Falls to live with strangers—her dad and his perfect, shiny new family—and there doesn’t seem to be room for a city girl with a chip on her shoulder. The only person who makes her feel like a real human being is Tyler MacDonald.

But Karen isn’t interested in starting something with a player. And that’s all she keeps hearing about Tyler.

Corrigan Falls is a hockey town, and Tyler’s the star player. But the viselike pressure from his father and his agent are sending him dangerously close to the edge. All people see is hockey—except Karen. Now they’ve managed to find something in each other that they both desperately need. And for the first time, Tyler is playing for keeps…

Get it Here:

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iBooks

Review:

★★★★

This book has so many things that I love, all rolled into one little book. Contemporary romance? Check. Young adult? Check. Hockey? Triple check. I knew I had to read this one the moment I saw the cover (I know, I know). I'm glad that the story inside is just as cute as the cover represents it to be.

Center Ice is a really sweet book. We meet Karen and Tyler, who tell their story from both sides, as the book flips between each of their points of view. They're absolutely adorable together, and I enjoyed every minute of watching them fall deeper in love. Tyler is a hockey player with NHL goals in mind, and I loved him. Karen, well, I didn't like her much as her own character. She did a lot of things that made me sigh, and I found it hard to connect with her. That said, I liked her with Tyler as a couple, so I wasn't horridly put off by it while reading. I appreciated the overall depth of the characters- this book is more than just a sweet romance. There's a lot of other issues working here such as reputations, family struggles, and pressures for perfection. This made the book a lot more realistic for me, and I appreciated it.

I absolutely adore hockey (Go Blackhawks!) so I really liked that it was a focal point of this book. I don't just mean that in regards to Tyler being a stellar, NHL bound player in the plot of the book. The author seems really well researched on the sport, it sounded like it was written by someone familiar with hockey, not someone just using it as a plot device. There was slang and details that I really enjoyed.

I think that this is a really good romance for fans of hockey or sports themed romances, as well as contemporary romance. I'd place it somewhere between YA and NA for age range. I'm told that this is the first book in a series, and though I had some issues with Center Ice I would definitely continue on with the next book in the series.

I received my copy in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author:

Cate Cameron grew up in the city but moved to the country in her mid-twenties and isn't looking back. Most of her writing deals with people living and loving in small towns or right out in the sticks - when there aren't entertainment options on every corner, other people get a lot more interesting!

She likes to write stories about real people struggling with real issues. YA, NA, or contemporary romance, her books are connected by their emphasis on subtle humor and characters who are trying to do the right thing, even when it would be a lot easier to do something wrong.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook

Follow the rest of the tour here!

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

Review & Sneak Peek: Rachel's Day in the Garden by Giselle Shardlow!

Title: Rachel's Day in the Garden (A Kids Yoga Spring Colors Book)

Author: Giselle Shardlow

Illustrator: Hazel Quintanilla

Format: Paperback, 34 pages

Pub. Date: December 23, 2014

Publisher: Kids Yoga Stories

Recommended Age: 3 to 6 years

Source: Mother & Daughter Book Reviews

About the Book:

Experience the benefits of yoga while learning about the signs of spring!
Join Rachel as she and her adorable puppy look for signs of spring in the garden. Crawl like a caterpillar, buzz like a bee, and flutter like a butterfly. Discover spring, explore movement, and learn the colors of the rainbow.

The storybook includes a list of kids yoga poses and a parent-teacher guide.

Kids Yoga Stories introduce you to engaging characters who will get your child laughing, moving, and creating. Reading is good for the mind AND body! The story links several yoga poses in a specific sequence to create a coherent and meaningful story.

This spring yoga story for ages 3 to 6 is more than a storybook, but it’s also a unique experience for children. Rachel's Day in the Garden is the first book in a seasonal yoga book series. The summer yoga book is also now available: Ella's Summer Fun. The fall and winter ones are in production, coming soon!

Sneak Peek!:

Get it here!:

Amazon | Book Website

About the Author:

Giselle Shardlow is the author of Kids Yoga Stories. Her yoga stories for kids get children learning, moving, and having fun. Giselle draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, yogi, and mom to write the stories. She can be found at the Kids Yoga Stories website or her Amazon author page.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Review:

★★★★★

First of all, I have to say how much I absolutely love this idea. I'm a big fan of yoga myself and I think it's great that there exists a picture book series for young kids (and adults too!) to get started practicing it at a young age while maintaining a fun and safe atmosphere. This isn't a book I'd ever noticed missing in my life, but I can say that now that I know it exists, it's one that I'd definitely recommend to my parent friends and relatives who have small children.

Let's start with the fundamentals: this is a practical but easy to use book from an adult standpoint. At the end of the book, there's a little guide that goes into a bit more depth about how each of the poses demonstrated throughout the story should be done, as well as tips for staying safe while doing them, breathing control, and communication with the kids.

Now for the story part of the book. What's most striking to me about this book is the illustrations. They are simply stunning. They have bright, vivid colors that are perfect for springtime, and have this cool textured/layered look to them that I really enjoy. The illustrations of Rachel serve duel purposes. First, they highlight the story of Rachel's lovely spring day in the garden with her dog. Also, each time that Rachel is on the page, she is in a new yoga position. On each of these new pages, there is a bubble with the name of the pose as well as a highlighted word in the sentence of the story that best represents that pose. That key word is also correspondent to a color (like the yellow sun). It's a really simple book on the surface, but it teaches so much in a small space. It encourages fitness, imagination, and relaxation while simultaneously teaching the child about yoga and colors while also entertaining them with a story about a bright spring day. It's a pretty neat idea that is really well done, in my opinion.

This is a book that I think any yogi, fitness fan, or even parent of a young child would definitely benefit from reading. This is, from my gathered knowledge, the first book of a series with each book representing a different season. I would definitely read more from Giselle Shardlow and can't wait to see the illustrations and poses in the next book.

A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Joy of Ballpark Food by Bennett & Deborah L. Jacobstein

Title:The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine
Author: Bennett Jacobstein, Deborah L. Jacobstein
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 11th 2015
Source: Ballpark Food Publications


Book Description via Goodreads:

Baseball is a game that is identified with food. We even sing about it at every ballpark during the seventh inning stretch: "….buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack..." The famous song was written by Jack Norworth in 1908. From the early part of the twentieth century until the 1980s, classic baseball fare consisted mostly of hot dogs, ice cream, peanuts, and Cracker Jack. Then ballparks slowly began to sell new items. A proliferation of new food offerings during the 1990s was fueled by the opening of twelve new major league ballparks. Now, teams around the country sell a variety of exotic food as well as wide variety of hot dogs. The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine begins with the history of the first hot dog at a ball game and concludes with a culinary tour of all 30 major league ballparks. 100% of royalties from the sales of this book are donated directly to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties of California.

Review:

★★★★

People are often surprised to learn that I adore baseball. I grew up with my dad taking me to White Sox games in Chicago, so for me baseball is something that's nostalgic and synonymous with summer vacations. There's nothing like the smell of popcorn, the buzz of the crowd, and the fireworks in the night sky after a victory. On top of that, my dad is a chef, so food has always a prominent role in my life. When I found a book that combined the two- baseball and food, I had to have it. And I'm glad I gave it a go!

This book is chock full of information. The beginning of the book acts as a history of baseball food and hot dogs, including how they became important, how they changed, and who's who when it comes to baseball cuisine. There's a lot of cool pictures and scans of old timey programs and stuff that give the book a cool, retro, scrapbook type feeling to it. The second half of the book is dedicated to a culinary tour of all of the baseball parks in America.

The first half is full of fascinating facts that I didn't know, and that I've stored away for future reference in conversation. This book is good because though there's a lot of history and information, there's no "info dumping". It doesn't read like a text book, but more like a casual and entertaining story that happens to be informative. There's a resource guide at the end of the book, but I do wish that there were some citations or footnotes in the book. More than just hot dogs, this section also highlights a Kosher history and the evolution of healthy food too.

The second half, as mentioned earlier, is a food map of the parks in the USA. Each stadium is listed, and for each stadium there's a featured hot dog or sausage, and then there are informative little snippets and offerings from other stalls and vendors that can be found at each park. I appreciated these short backstories because it's cool to see people's stories, and I was surprised to learn how many stalls are owned or were started by baseball players themselves. What I learned most from this is where I need to see a game so that I can eat well! From the Jack Daniels Triple Crown Sandwich in Baltimore to beer ice creams in Atlanta to conch fritters and ceviche in Miama, please take me out to the ball game!

I couldn't help but to feel a bit of hometown pride when getting to the Chicago stadiums. I've been to both, though I'm definitely not a Cubs fan. That said, I have had a lot of the restaurants/foods mentioned in this book. Bobak's Polish sausages are the best. Beggar's Pizza is amazing, and comes with a deliciously unholy amount of cheese (I mean, their motto is "We lay it on thick). Wow Bao has some of the best steamed dumplings in Chicago. One thing I didn't know before reading this, though, is that the Cell (that is, US Cellular Field) is the only stadium in the states with a Hooters in it. The more you know.

I also got really excited because my girlfriend lives near Milwaukee, where they stuff their brats with hot dogs and then top it with beer and cheese curds. She's already promised to take me (thanks, authors!)

This back section got a bit more "yelp review"-ish, and started to have more of the author's personal opinions. This wasn't a bad thing, but it did shift the tone of the book. There were also a few times where it got snarky like "I'm sure it tastes better than it looks" that I thought were unnecessary. The pictures looked delicious, but unprofessional.

Despite that last remark, it's clear that this is a book of passion. The author obviously loves food and baseball, and it's awesome that he made a book that represents them both. On top of that, the proceeds of this book go to an organization that helps to feed the hungry, which is a really cool idea. I think this book is a fun read that acts as both a history book and a guide to where to eat and what to enjoy while you're at a baseball game. Foodies, sport lovers, and those interested in US history and Americana would all benefit from reading it, in my opinion. It's a book I'd definitely buy for when I'm traveling around in the summer.

I recieved a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Rough Rider by Victoria Vane!

Title: Rough Rider

Series: Hot Cowboy Nights #2

Author: Victoria Vane

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Release Date: February 3, 2015

ISBN: 9781492601159

About the Book:

Two wary hearts …

Janice Combes has two loves, bucking bulls and Dirk Knowlton. But Dirk only has eyes for a dazzling rodeo queen. How can Janice ever compete while mired ankle-deep in manure? Exchanging playful banter with Dirk is all Janice can expect—until the stormy night he knocks on her door dripping wet and needing a place to crash.



Different Dreams…

Dirk Knowlton is living the cowboy dream. Life should be good—roping, branding, backing broncs, riding bulls, but there's a void he can't seem to fill. After getting hung up by a bull, he wonders if this is really the life he wants. Restless and rebellious, he bolts…but there’s a certain cowgirl he can’t forget.



When a battle-scarred Dirk returns to his Montana ranch he's determined to hang on at any cost. Janice has come back home to lick her own wounds. When old dreams turn to dust, can two wary hearts take another chance on love?

Get It Here:

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | BAM | Indigo | IndieBound | Kobo

Trailer:

Praise:

“A “red-hot cowboy tale...their sexual chemistry crackles. Well-paced, scorching scenes and witty banter move the story along while setting the stage for Wade’s war-hero brother to find his own true love in the next installment.” – Publishers Weekly

“SLOW HAND by Victoria Vane is delightful, funny, page turning steamy sexy… I'm beginning to think Victoria could write a phone book and make it sexy.” – Unwrapping Romance

“PULL THE FIRE ALARM & STOCK UP ON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR THIS STEAMY ROMANCE!” – Avon Romance

Review:

★★★★

What can I say? I love me a good cowboy romance.

What really made this book for me was the main cowboy himself, Dirk. He's everything I want in a cowboy- broody, dark, and fiercely protective. I couldn't get enough of him, and I wanted him to be happy, which shows Vane's strength at writing characters since I am very much aware of the fact that he is in fact fictional. I liked Janice well enough, but my attention and focus was on Dirk. This book offers both perspectives, and while both are necessary to convey a deeper picture of what was happening, I felt more connected to Dirk's than to Janice's.

That said, I cheered them on together as a couple and hoped that they would work out all their demons and baggage and be together. And together, they were. Look no further for well written, hot romance scenes than Rough Rider, because there are plenty to satiate your appetite. More than just sex though, there's a bigger and more intricate plot that I followed up until the end, including twists that I didn't (but probably should have) see coming that made me make inhuman noises of feelings in my dorm room.

I really like, just as with Slow Hand how smart these novels come across. I don't know anything about cowboys or ranching or rodeos, being from Chicago myself. But Vane's writing feels like it's "letting you in on a secret" so to speak, with the terminology and slang and inside look at how the industry works. I was never left confused about meanings or operations, that's for sure.

There were a few places where I was thrown off by the pacing and had to reread a bit, because I didn't realize that the timeline had jumped years ahead. It wasn't enough to throw me off completely, but did slow me down at parts. I would also recommend reading book one first. You can read this as a stand alone, but I read Slow Hand just a few months ago and even I was trying to figure out some names and connections.

All in all, I think this is an enjoyable cowboy romance. If Wade was too straight laced for you, than you ought to try Dirk on for size. An ex-marine rodeo star with skeletons in his closet makes for a helluva whirlwind of emotions and relationships. I'd like to see more of him in the future.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author:

Victoria Vane is a multiple award-winning romance novelist and history junkie whose collective works of fiction range from wildly comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Victoria also writes historical fiction as Emery Lee and is the founder of Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers and the Romantic Historical Lovers book review blog.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Audiobook Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway- Crossing the Ice by Jennifer Comeaux!

Title: Crossing the Ice
Series: Ice #1
Author: Jennifer Comeaux
Narrated by: Emily Stokes
Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
Release date: 08/03/14


Book Description via Goodreads:

Falling hard never felt so good.

Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though...

The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?

Excerpt:

Buy it here: Amazon | Audible | BN | Kobo | iBooks

About the Author:

Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is travelling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. Jennifer loves to hear from readers! Visit jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com for contact information and to learn more about her books.
Facebook | Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Review:

★★★★

I should go on the record- I'm not a big user of audiobooks. That being said, I made an exception when I came across Crossing the Ice. I helped take part in a book blitz for the book awhile back, and was eagerly awaiting the chance to read (or listen to) it. For reason unbeknownst to me, I absolutely adore books with sports themes. Ice skating falls snugly right into that category. This is my first reading experience from Jennifer Comeaux, but I hope it won't be the last. This hit the spot.

I feel like this book is really well informed. I have not ever been involved with ice skating more than a just-for-fun skate at a rink set up here in Chicago for the Christmas season. That said, I'm relatively unversed in the topic, save for what I have picked up from watching the Olympics over the years. But I was never confused throughout this story set in the competitive skating world, and honestly I probably walked away learning a thing or two about it. It's clear to me that the author knows way more about it than I do, and did her research, which makes for a better setting and deeper story.

I also really liked the characters. You feel for them, whether you love or hate them (and you will hate some). I liked that Courtney stood her ground and went after what she wanted, both on and off the ice. I also loved Josh. He's so sweet and coy and I would like to just carry him around in my pocket with me. ....And then there's Stephanie. -glare- That's all I'll say about that for fear of giving away spoilers.

As for the audiobook itself, it had its ups and downs. I think the narrator's voice was pleasant enough, and it held my attention throughout most of the story. However, there were a few times where it was awkwardly paused or stumbled over, I felt. Over all it was easy to listen to, but it wasn't anything to necessarily write home about either.

I'd recommend this to anyone in the mood for a new adult romantic comedy or anyone who has an interest or affinity for ice skating or competition. Thanks so much to YA Bound Book Tours and Jennifer Comeaux who provided me with an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Follow the rest of the tour here!

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

Review: Scars & Stripes: The Culture of Modern Roller Derby!

Title: Scars & Stripes: The Culture of Modern Roller Derby
Authors:Andréanna Seymore, Timothy Travaglini
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 10th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Schiffer Publishing


Book Description via Goodreads:

Join photographer and skater Andreanna Seymore on her fearless journey through the world of roller derby, beginning with her serendipitous introduction to the sport in 2008. Modern roller derby is a vibrant, empowering, and revolutionary movement transitioning from obscure subculture to mainstream pastime on both a national, as well as global, stage. Action-packed and emotionally provocative photographs taken over a five-year period reveal the joy, pain, and dedication of these athletes on and off the track. Enriched by riveting and often touching commentary from nearly one hundred skaters, coaches, fans, and referees, this book captures the daring, entrepreneurial spirit of the participants, the extraordinary bonds that form, and the invigorating and infectious fanaticism that characterizes every bout. An increasing number of male, co-ed, and junior leagues all share a strong, do-it-yourself ethic that combines fierce athleticism with elements from punk, camp, and third-wave feminist aesthetics. In part because of this non-discriminatory nature, roller derby is currently the fastest growing sport in America.

Review:

★★★★★

I've always had a fascination with roller derby. Maybe it's because it's a sport where girls are encouraged to be strong and bad ass. Maybe it's because I have a preference for fashion that involves fishnets and bright makeup. Or maybe it's got to do with my love of names that involve a sharp pun. Regardless, I've always been interested in derby culture. In fact, once my local team hosts "fresh meat" auditions, I have every intention of going and getting involved. When Scars and Stripes came onto my radar, I knew I needed it ASAP. I'm glad it lived up to my hopes.

This book gives a great, uncommon insight into the derby world, glimpses that most "outsiders" don't get a chance to see. It includes behind the scenes stories and photographs of both male and female derby skaters. From icing bruises, to Jell-o wrestling, to national championship victories and drinks with the team, this gives an honest and heartfelt look at one of the most underrated (in my humble opinion) sports around today. I really loved hearing what all the skaters had to share. They have great memories and fierce loyalty and dedication. It was so cool to read about. I liked that a lot of ages, teams, genders, and stories were represented in this book, giving the book a well-rounded feel.

And then of course there's the photography, which is absolutely phenomenal. The colors, the shots, the stories the photographer is able to tell with her pictures is amazing. They gave great insight and illustrated the skaters' stories well. It made this book the kind of book that I would come back and flip through over and over again. In addition to being a great story told about the life of roller derby skaters, it's also a work of art. I was blown away.

If you're interested in roller derby, involved in it, or just want to look at some stunning photography, Stars and Stripes is the book for you. Thanks to Netgalley & Schiffer Publishing for my copy in exchange for my honest review.