Review + Excerpt: Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell (Blog Tour Stop)

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell
Publisher: Amulet (Abrams and Chronicle Book)
First published: May 1st, 2012
Source: Received from publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 299

Goodreads Summary:

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

With pretty vintage shoes and the inclination to talk a little bit more than necessary, Chloe Camden won my heart and made it impossible for me set her story aside. It's a story of finding out who you really are, what you want and that sometimes the people surrounding you are more important. After initial difficulties I fell in love with Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe and cannot wait to read more books by Shelley Coriell.

More detailed:

When I read the first chapters of Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe I had a few problems getting into the story. While it might have been enjoyable, it wasn't love at first sight and I had trouble connecting with Chloe, who's completely different from most of the usual YA heroines. But in the end, this fact was what made me love the book so much.

Despite her life being an absolute mess, Chloe picks herself up and doesn't stop trying to have fun even during the most depressing situations. Laughter is her medicine and she rarely fails to make others smile - especially me as a reader. While her attitude seems to be too carefree in the beginning, she develops a lot throughout the story and realizes that there are moments when she has to think of how others want, or even need, her to react.

The other characters we encounter in Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe are colorful and add different flavours to the story. We get mean girls, who aren't necessarily mean but just insecure. We get the cute guy, who has the weight of the world on his shoulders because he cares too much and serious communication issues. We get the most hilarious grandmother, whom I just wanted to hug all the time. To put it briefly, the secondary characters are awesome.

Why didn't I rate it even higher then? Sadly, I'm not really sure and I'm very sorry about that. I think this is one of the books that are easy and very enjoyable to read and that you'd recommend without hesitating, but at the same time it's easy to put behind and pick up the next book afterwards.

Nonetheless Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe is a fantastic YA contemporary. If you're having a bad day and are looking for a pick-me-up to make you smile again, this should be one of your first choices. Even though it deals with some serious topics, it never loses its lightheartedness and will make sure that you're going to have fun reading Chloe's story.

Challenge(s):

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012

Debut Author Challenge 2012

Excerpt

The following excerpt is from Chapter 2. You can read the first chapter here.

Excerpt + Giveaway: The Grey Wolves series by Quinn Loftis (Blog Tour Stop)

Prince of Wolves | Blood Rites | Just One Drop

Blog Tour hosted by Bree from These Paper Worlds Book Tours.

Summary of the first book, Prince of Wolves:

Jaque Pierce was just an ordinary 17 year old girl getting ready to start her senior year in high school in Coldspring, Texas. When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in across the street, Jacque and her two best friends, Sally and Jen, don't realize the last two weeks of their summer was going to get a lot more interesting. From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels an instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame. Little does she know that the flame she is drawn to is actually a Canis Lupus, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate; the other half of his soul. The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring, Texas. Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps out to try and claim Jacque as his mate. Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha. Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy, will Jacque accept that she is Fane's mate and complete the bond between them?

Excerpt from Prince of Wolves:

  "Alright, then. I guess that's settled," Lilly said, then turned to Fane, "Lay a paw on my little girl and you will be a three legged Lassie, got it?"

  Fane winced, and asked, "You both do realize I'm a wolf and not a dog, right?"

Excerpt from Blood Rites:

  "If I did, it's only because half my body has been deep friend and I feel like someone beat me with a sledgehammer. So, that said, I am allowed some dumb ass remarks. Lay off, Polly Perfect, or I'll have M&M's personalized with your phone number on one side, and 'for a good time' on the other," Jen threatened irritably.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

If you liked what you read above, you now have the chance to enter a giveaway to win eBooks of the first two books: Prince of Wolves and Blood Rites. All you have to do, is fill in the form below. This giveaway is international and closes on April 27th, 2012 midnight, which is also the last tour date.

Cover Reveal: My Super Sweet 16th Century

Today I'm very excited to be part of the cover reveal for a book that I've been wanting to read ever since I've first read its summary: My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris. Also make sure to read the excerpt at the end of the post that made me want to read this novel even more!

Summary:

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

This available for pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

Find Rachel Harris online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Excerpt:

Alessandra jerks back like I just suggested she prance around the square naked or something. “No! I believe I understand your meaning, and Lorenzo is certainly not my suitor. He is like a brother to me—the three of us grew up together.”

She resumes walking and I fall in step beside her, understanding there has to be more to the story. And as we near the end of the row, I finally ask, “If you’re not into the guy, then what’s the problem?”

At that same moment, a rich, deep chuckle hits my ears. My stomach involuntarily clenches and my gaze sharpens on the back of this mysterious Lorenzo.

Alessandra sighs. “That is the problem.” She places her hand on my arm and solemnly looks me in the eyes. “You must be careful. Lorenzo is beautiful, and it is not uncommon for a girl to walk away from meeting him with a piece of her heart left behind. But he is just eighteen, and not yet ready for marriage.”

I roll my eyes and laugh, then realize she’s serious. “Yeah, I assure you, there’s no danger on my end. I’m not exactly looking for marriage myself.” Because that would be crazy-town.

Alessandra wrinkles her nose as if she doesn’t believe me, but she removes her hand. We close the distance and Cipriano flashes me an open, honest to goodness, lighthearted smile.

“Lorenzo, this is the cousin I was telling you about.”

Slowly the guy turns and I fall head first into the richest chocolate-brown eyes I’ve ever seen. He blinks and long, luscious lashes feather across his bronzed cheeks. I can feel myself gawking, but I physically can’t drag my eyes away. Lorenzo doesn’t smirk or act all conceited, either. He simply stares back, his eyes casually skimming over me, causing my skin to warm and break out in a whole body tingle.

Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful.

And he’s looking at me.

What do you think? Awesome, isn't it?
Carina