If it wasn't for the blog, I wouldn't have read...by Lorix ....also GIVEAWAY!

Back in the Autumn of 2013 one of the unicorns - and I'd be hard pushed to say who - came up with the idea of starting a blog to let the world know which books we loved. I don't know about the others, but it certainly hadn't occurred to me that we would be getting authors contacting us with arcs, but this is definitely one of my favourite blogging 'side-effects'. The joy of reading, and loving, authors I would otherwise perhaps not have is wonderful. As part of our one year celebrations some of us are writing about just those books. Here are mine.

Firstly I would have to go with Here's To You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst. This review was posted virtually a year ago, which surprised me when I looked, and I remember just falling for Johanna's writing style immediately. As well as Zeb Pike, I also read and reviewed Every Inferno by the same author. Johanna writes fantastic characters - some of the best I've read. I do love me a  fully rounded character, something I often find I get more in YA books which is certainly the case with this author. I love how the focus of these books, though quite angsty, is not just the MC's sexuality. It is always a part of the story, but not the whole of the story and, just as in real life, these teens have other issues to deal with. I always feel so invested in this author's stories, so in love with the characters that I can really lose myself in the book. I would absolutely highly recommend this author to anyone looking for some good YA to read. Or even just a good book to read, don't be pigeon-holed, try something new! I dare you!

My second choice is, maybe not surprisingly, another YA book, Arrival by Chris O'Guinn. Though I do like YA, this is sci-fi-ish and it is certainly not a book I would have read without the blog. Chris O'Guinn contacted us with this book for review after I'd reviewed Fearless, a book I loved, but I remember the contact came with the caveat that it wasn't a love story (though I beg to differ) so it may not be what we are looking for on the blog. The thing is, we really don't have boundaries, if we love the book or story, we'll review it. We've reviewed fan fic from unknown authors, to full length novels by highly popular authors and, as I knew I already liked Chris O'Guinn's writing, I was more than a little intrigued. I think the reply was something like I'll give it a go and see how I get on with it. And how I got on with it was like a house on fire. Refreshingly different with a great story and again, so important to me, fabulous characters. Characters who won my heart. Between disappointment, betrayal and heartbreak the MC's in this story fought for what they believed was right, even if it wasn't the easy option. The love story stemmed into loyalty and belief in others. It really was a fab story. It is again a book and author I would highly recommend, especially if you're tired of the same old, same old!

Here's what Chris O'Guinn had to say:
Thanks so much to Lori and BoyMeetsBoy Reviews for the awesome support of Hybrids: Arrival. Part sci-fi adventure, part superhero origin, part growing-up drama, Arrival sets the stage for my humans vs. aliens saga. I'm really proud of this one. It's a fun action story that just happens to star Mexican American teens, two of whom are gay. And yes, there is some interstellar romance happening. Hope people come and check it out.

My final choice is KC, at Bat by Tom Medicino. This one caught my attention because it doesn't wrap everything up in a HEA bubble - it shows a slice of the MC's life, warts and all. It reminded me of an Indy film in amongst Hollywood blockbusters and I thoroughly enjoyed that. This book covered the events of a summer, with a little bit afterwards. The events were hard to read sometimes and fun others - it was just a real slice of life caught in the pages of a book. I appreciated the different style, the risk it takes not to write a formulaic ABC novel. It is still the only book I've read by this author, though I feel the urge to check out his other stuff since I've reminded myself of the enjoyment I got when reading this. Again, I'd recommend it to those looking for something a little bit off the beaten path.

Here's what Tom Medicino had to say:
The most satisfying words a writer can hear are “What happens next?” and "I hope there will be a sequel!”   On behalf of KC and Charlie, thanks to all of you who asked.   And, yes, two more novellas in the KC, AT BAT trilogy, “Travelin’ Man” and “Lonesome Town,” will be released by eKensington in Summer 2015.  And look for my next full-length  novel THE BOYS FROM EIGHTH AND CARPENTER (Kensington) next September! 

And now to the giveaway - I would like to offer one lucky blog reader the chance to win one of each of these books (ebook format only), kindly gifted by each of the authors. Comment below, telling me about an unexpected treasure you've found, reading wise that is. What book took you by surprise and became a favourite? Don't forget to leave a way to contact you (email, social media etc) and one winner will be chosen at random. You have one week to enter and all winners will be contacted by Dec 6th at the latest. Thanks for stopping by - here's to the next twelve months. :)

Review: KC, at Bat. A Novel by Tom Mendicino

Charlie Beresford would rather be doing anything this summer than hauling furniture for a moving company. Come September, he’ll be leaving for college, away from the awkwardness of Augustinian Academy, away from his father’s constant hints about prospective girlfriends. Then Kevin Conroy—the Mighty KC—joins the moving crew. A star baseball player bound for the big leagues, Charlie is shocked when cool, confident KC suggests hanging out, especially when KC asks him to stay over—and the happiness their connection brings Charlie.

But the summer is changing Charlie—putting muscles on his skinny frame, compelling him to face hard truths, showing him how it feels not just to lose your heart but to break someone else’s. Funny, sweet, and moving, Tom Mendicino’s insightful coming-of-age story perfectly evokes that moment when you stop living life from the safety of the bleachers—and finally step up to home plate.

KC, at Bat is a snapshot into the life of Charlie Beresford over one summer (mostly). The strange thing about this book is that I came to appreciate it more once I'd finished it than I did as I was reading it. Honestly, while I was reading it I kept waiting for the storyline to kick in - I mean it was there really, there was plenty of story, but I felt like I was being told something that would then kick start the story of the book, rather than the actual story itself. Confused? Yeah me too. Okay, you know that Indy film you watched last week/month/year, the one without the traditional Hollywood beginning, middle and end - that is this book, a fact that I fully appreciated once I'd finished it.

We see the events of Charlie's last summer before college. He was supposed to be a camp counsellor with his best friend (and experimental boyfriend) Larry. However his mum was in the middle of cancer treatment so instead he stayed home to help out and his dad's friend offered him a job with his removal firm. It is at this removal firm Charlie meets the legendary (at least in their school) KC. Sporty and an excellent baseball player KC is the stuff Charlie's dreams are made of, so he can hardly believe it when KC invites him back to his for the evening. An evening that turns into all night - a pattern that is repeated weekly and ends up as full weekends together.

I liked the relationship between Charlie and KC. We saw Charlie's insecurities but we also saw KC's too, as Charlie himself came to recognise them. It was true to life, that feeling of someone popular not having any problems or difficulties and the slow realisation that maybe their life is just as complicated and confusing. This isn't a book that you see a relationship develop from mumbled beginnings to an HEA. It is, as I said, a snapshot into Charlie's life. The choices he makes, good and bad, the reasons behind those choices, selfish and considerate, Charlie isn't a polished Hollywood version of a person, he is very real and this is evident in his decisions and actions.

Parts of this book made me sad, some bits made me angry. KC's coach - well that story line was horrible. The boys reactions to what happened made me want to throw my reader across the room, then I realised the sad truth was they acted in the way a lot of people do. It might not be the way we'd want them to act, certainly not the way things would happen in an ideal world, but it is a real reaction, for many, many people. An uneasy reminder of how life is.

Though the story didn't have a fairy tale ending, it was honest. Tom Mendicino could have written this differently, it could all have worked out in a happy little bubble but in a way I'm glad it didn't. It showed this portion of Charlie's life as it happened, warts and all. Was it a perfect book - no, but I'm glad I read it. It seemed to me its aim wasn't to be perfect but to be real and that, I think, it achieved.

 This copy was provided by the author for a fair and honest review