Blog Tour - TALKING AS FAST AS I CAN by Lauren Graham

Hi everyone, Rinny here. OMG I have been waiting for today for so long! I cannot even describe or more like I do not want to admit to my reaction when a few weeks ago, I came across the email in our inbox inviting us to take part in this tour from the lovely Grace at Little, Brown Book Group. I have an awful feeling I was more excited about this opportunity than anything else in my life. ( apologies to my family and friends lol). Since I was in my late teens the tv show Gilmore Girls has been a huge part of my life and joint number one of two different shows as my ultimate best tv show. I drive my family crazy still rewatching this show at least 2 times a year (maybe more). I had an awful but awesome realisation last night that I have rewatched this show so much that my husband who has no interest in it probably could ace any Gilmore Girls question he was faced with lol. My daughter now presumes that it is Gilmore girls I am watching.   

It is my go to show when my health issues or life are getting me down or when I am busy and need something on that will distract me as I cannot stand silence. It makes me smile, laugh, cry and even angry at points regardless of how many times I have watched it, I just adore it. It is just so different to what many tv shows in the past few years have brought us. There is just something heartwarming and comfortable about the show and I find as i grow older I always come away with a different view, a different character I relate too, a new appreciation for a side character or two and some new pieces that I am sure I have missed in the last 100 rewatches lol. The wit, pop culture references and not to mention the sheer amount of books referenced in the show is incredible. The recent surge in new generations of fans discovering the show just proves how awesome, relatable and timeless it is.  Anyway, I have kind of rambled off from my purpose. Naturally, I am a huge Lauren Graham fan so I could not refuse the opportunity to help promote her new book. I wish you the best Lauren Graham and hope both the revival and your new book's release do great 😊. 

Blurb

From the star of the much-loved television shows Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, and the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Someday, Someday, Maybe, comes a collection of candid and hilarious essays.

In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, “Did you, um, make it?” She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood (“Strangers were worried about me; that’s how long I was single!”), the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge on Project Runway (“It’s like I had a fashion-induced blackout.”).

In “What It Was Like, Part One,” for the first time Graham settles in for an epic Gilmore Girls marathon and reflects on being cast as the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore. The essay “What It Was Like, Part Two” reveals how it felt to pick up the role again nine years later, and what doing so meant to her.

Some more things you will learn about Lauren: She once tried to go vegan just to bond with Ellen DeGeneres, she’s aware that meeting guys at awards shows has its pitfalls (“If you’re meeting someone for the first time after three hours of hair, makeup, and styling, you’ve already set the bar too high.”), and she’s a card-carrying REI shopper (“My bungee cords now earn points!).

         

Complete with black-and-white photos and excerpts from the diary Graham kept during the filming of the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, this book is like a cozy night in, catching up with your best friend, laughing and swapping stories, and—of course—talking as fast as you can.

Book Links

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Amazon UK

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Book Depository

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RandomHouseBooks

LittleBrownBookGroup

(Review coming soon!)

A different kind of Blog Tour

Apart from just being excited about Gilmore Girls in general, the revival and the fact that I get to help promote Lauren's book on my blog! This tour is a little different instead of reviews and excerpts which could contain spoilers for A year in a life, everyone taking part will be sharing their fave Loralie moment or moments from the original 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls. Why not join in the fun and comment below with yours? Just please keep it spoiler-free about the revival, tho I would be happy to chat wth you on the opinionated cupcakes FB page about the revival. I sat all day and watched them all so many feels and tears. I require a rewatch already to try and process what I feel lol. Feel free to try and guess my fave moment from the revival on our twitter or FB (not in the comments here). A small hint it is in the Fall, not the end and prob not what you are thinking lol.

Anyway, back to the blog tour, I tried so very hard to pick my faveourite moment it didn't work, so i tried to pick just a couple of moments....... it didn't work. So I have decided to pick one moment (a super hard near impossible task) from each of the original series. Let's begin.....

Season 1 - Episode 2

This might seem like an unusual moment to pick but hands downI love this moment and is one of my fave's from this season. Just because the more I rewatched it made me realize this is one of my that's so Loralie moments. The moment being after sleeping in and leaving all her 'good' clothes at the cleaners Loralie reveals begrudgingly to not only Rory's new headmaster but her mum Emily that under her coat she is wearing a tiny tie-dyed top, Daisy Mae shorts, and cowboy boots not ideal at all on Rory's first day at Chilton. Even though embarrassed she handles it with her usual wit and I just love her for it.

Loralie: "......laundry day"

Loralie "....no, because that would be embarrassing."

Season 2 -  Episode 16

There s s many possible moments to choose from season 2 seeing Loralie graduate and her parents so proud, her 'picnic' with Luke, helping Richard set up his new business's office. My fave moment, however, is when Emily and Loralie are at the spa as reluctant as Loralie is to be 'stuck' with Emily, the two may have their ups and downs whilst there but they bond a little and I love that. Especially the scene where Loralie gets Emily to try  the 'Vicious Trollop' lipstick just found it so funny.

Season 3 - Episode 22

One of my fave episodes in the whole of the Gilmore Girls saga but my one moment is where Loralie holds up the paper having written on it so Rory can see that Loralie and Sookie had got the inn! Just a perfect moment amongst a lot of great moments. Both our girls accomplishing their goals at the time. Loved it! This moment made me get teary all over again having finally stopped crying over Rory's speech.

Season 4 - Episode 22

The Dragonfly inn opening and Luke and Loralie's kiss FINALLY! I loved that kiss! and this episode 

Season 5 - Episode 3

Every time I rewatch this episode I just love the moment it is revealed to Loralie that Luke has kept the Horoscope she gave him when they first met on which she had written  'today a crazy woman will come in, give her coffee and she will go away.'

Season 6 - Episode 9

How can  pick any other moment except when Rory returns home? I can't, the moment as Loralie is talking to her on the phone and looks out the window to see her pulling up and still talking on the phone goes out to greet her just makes me smile and tugs my heart strings so hard. 

Season 7 - Episode 11 + 12

We come to the end of our journey (well, it was that way for years not anymore yay!) I found this season tough to pick just one moment we have the moment where Luke and Loralie kiss at the Bon Voyage party, Loralie mediating between Lane and Mrs Kim and plenty more. I am kinda cheating as my moment is really a series of moments all involving Loralie's character reference letter about Luke. Her why can't I write this letter is legendary to somehow manage to get to "Monkey, monkey pants" beats any rant i have heard lol. In Episode 12 where we have the judge and Christopher reading the letter at the same time, so many emotions and a beautiful letter that only Loralie could have written about Luke. This moment in particular always makes me so emotional. Tor between feeling sorry for Christoper being blindsided by the letter and caught up in the words of the letter, the sense they make as Luke really is a good guy and my own personal feelings being on ship #TeamLuke.


Wow, that was hard (I honestly think I could spend a week just writing about moments I love and not be done) but loved reliving my fave moments in my head and yet again I am rewatching seasons 1 -7  (on 4. If you have never watched this show give it a try and if you have give it a try again lol. So I am away now to work on the plan to live in a town just like Stars Hollow.

About the Author 

Lauren Graham is an actress best known for her roles on the critically acclaimed series Gilmore Girls and Parenthood. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Someday, Someday, Maybe. Graham has performed on Broadway and appeared in such films as Bad Santa, Evan Almighty, and Because I Said So. She holds a BA in English from Barnard College and an MFA in acting from Southern Methodist University. She lives in New York and Los Angeles.

Author Links 

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Teaser Tuesday: Mistletoe on 34th Street By Lisa Dickenson

Welcome to this week's Teaser Tuesday! 

Hey Everyone :)

 Hope you are having a nice day? Here's this week's Teaser Tuesday. I have been giving an arc of this book to review beginning, of November by the Little Brown Book Group. (Thank you).

Here's how it works you randomly open your book/scroll to a page (ebook) and pick a line or two off the page to tease/tempt everyone else with. So i wonder if these random sentences are enough to tempt you into buying this book upon it's release.

 

Mistletoe on 34th Street By Lisa Dickenson 

This title will be released on November 3, 2016. 

Goodreads

Amazon UK

Lisa Dickenson FB page

First pick - Page 79 : 'I took a Tamagotchi with me for company. And t wasn't even the nineties; it was like, five years ago.'
    'What's a Tamagotchi?'

Second pick - Page 158 : 'One day you can spend Christmas with me and I'll show you.' He smiled.

Third pick - Page 219 : 'Of course. I haven't heard you this excited about a man since that Draco Malfoy lookalike in that club last year.'

What are you currently reading? tease us back in the comments.
If you have a Teaser Tuesday post link below.

Rinny Reviews : The Stall of Second Chances By Dana Bate

Synopsis

Not just with eating it - though she loves that too - but with writing about it as an aspiring cookery reporter. But food journalism jobs are more coveted than cupcakes, and so Sydney is stuck working for one of TV's biggest egomaniacs - until she's left scrambling for shifts at the local farmers' market.

Selling muffins at the Wild Yeast Bakery is hardly going to make her the next Nigella. But soon Sydney is writing the market's weekly newsletter, and her quirky stories gain attention from a prominent food columnist. After years of being left on the shelf, she's even dating again. And then Sydney gets a shot at the story, one that could either make her career or burn it to a cinder - along with her relationship and her reputation. 

Goodreads

Amazon

Review

***DISCLAIMER*** I WAS PROVIDED A COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM THE LOVELY GRACE AT LITTLE BROWN BOOK GROUP FOR FREE, FOR IN RETURN AN HONEST REVIEW.

When I saw the chance to review this book in our email. I was so excited I love books written around food. I do not get to read them as often as I like. I have not read any books by Dana Bate before and I was not disappointed  I hope to read more from her in the future. One last thing before i get started with my review. How cute is the cover? The answer is too cute, anyone who can resist this cover alongside the synopsis, is a stronger person than me lol. I could not put this book down not even to eat it went everywhere with me open in my hand. I'm surprised I did not smash myself into objects all over the house lol.

I fell in love not only with this book from the very beginning but with Sydney our leading lady. She is relatable in so many ways, as you follow her on her journey from being in a good job that she doesn't really care for too being at her lowest point. We are with her side by side as she tries to overcome issues from her past, re discovering her love for blogging about food, forming new relationships and fixing old relationships, all while trying to get into her dream job. She is self doubting, witty, funny, intelligent, caring and has a tongue as sharp as a sword even when it comes to herself in her own head.  

We meet a variety of colourful and varied characters throughout the book. From gruff Market stall owner Rick, ex-boyfriend Zach, handsome Jeremy who she has a lot in common with her too her self-obsessed little sister. Some have bigger parts in the book than others but all leave a noticeable stamp in the book especially Jeremy who as one of the main characters in the book we actually do not see a lot of but we feel as if we know him as much as Sydney.

This book is a roller-coaster, ups and downs, twists and turns with secrets a plenty. This book will make you laugh out loud, make you cry, make you angry and disappointed at times. However by the end you will have been so hungry you have ate all the food in the house and still be starving but happy.

The writer has a gift for describing food, all my important senses were awoken it felt like i could see, smell and taste the foods I was reading about. I was so hungry all the way through this book. Luckily for us the author has kindly put a whole bunch of recipes at the back of the book for foods in the book. Yum Yum!!

This book is a cute, charming, enjoyable read that will leave you warm, fuzzy and hungry for more. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good foodie read or looking for a quick easy cozy read. In particular fans of Jenny Colgan or Abby Clements.

My Rating: 

To Buy Links

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Author Bio

Dana Bate graduated from Yale University with a degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry, she then became a broadcast journalist for the PBS Nightly Business Report, where she won the Gerald Loeb Award. Her writings have appeared in numerous outlets, including McSweeney’s, Culinate and Smithsonian.com. Dana gave it all up to write romantic comedies in 2009, beginning with The Secret Supper Club. This is her second novel.

                                   

Website

Twitter - @danabate

Instagram - authordanabate 

***Rinny Reviews*** On strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts

*** Disclaimer *** - I received a free copy from the lovely Clara at Little, Brown Book Group in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis

At Christmas time, it seems as though a woman's work is never done. Trimming the tree, mailing the cards, schlepping to the mall, the endless wrapping - bah humbug! So this year, Joy and Laura and the rest of their knitting group decide to go on strike. If their husbands and families want a nice holiday filled with parties, decorations, and presents - well, they'll just have to do it themselves.

The boycott soon takes on a life of its own when a reporter picks up the story and more women join in. But as Christmas Day approaches, Joy, Laura, and their husbands confront larger issues in their marriages and discover that a little holiday magic is exactly what they need to come together.

Goodreads

Published December 2nd 2014 by Piatkus (first published October 30th 2007)

Review

When Clara offered me the chance to read one of Sheila Robert's three Christmas books being released today, I jumped at the chance I love Christmas reads but do not often get to fit them in around all the craziness of the season. It was tough choosing one but On strike for Christmas sounded perfect, who does not or has not ever felt like packing it in and going on strike for Christmas I know I have. (I will include the synopsis of the other two books after my review, I hope to read these through the rest of December, fingers crossed!) 

As soon as i started reading this book, I was captivated. I did not put it down except too put tea in the oven. The only thing missing was a roaring coal fire! Unfortunately our electric one doesn't quite give the feeling the same. This book is a heart warming, fun, cozy read, at times i was laughing out loud, others i was fighting tears. It is a perfect Christmas read. In fact so much it has lifted my christmas spirit so much i plan to tackle some more Christmas shopping i have put off the past week.

The book follows an array of different characters from a small town and their Christmas stories. They all are in different situations and are all so relatable. Even the poor men that get the Christmas duties dumped on them, Even if I am more like Bob when it comes to socializing I also have alot of Joy in me. You can see where both sides are coming from in all of the different characters stories. I like the fact that we are following the strike from lots of POV'S, not only are they relatable all of the characters are realistic and by the end you feel like you know all of them so well and they all grow throughout the book, learning invaluable lessons. Its rare when you just cannot pick a favourite character from a book  but this is one of those times. It is also so hard to pick a favourite moment as there is just too many situations they all find themselves in that are simply priceless. Glen LOL the stuff he gets himself into still makes me chuckle. He reminds me so much of my husband.

The book is an easy, enjoyable read full of wit and paced perfectly. It has the right mix of fun and seriousness in.  I loved the terminology the characters used and the playfulness in the author's writing. I think not only the Grinch's out there but the Yulezilla's would all enjoy and get something out of this charming festive read.

I'm so glad my husband is a big kid at Christmas and does help out or I might have just joined in the strike this year. I think that as you read not only do the characters learn and grow but for Christmas stress heads like me or those less inclined to help out their other half's learn too. Christmas does not have to be perfect or a one person job. Having a perfect Christmas would not be perfect without the people who mean the most around you. Appreciate everyone in your life and all the things they do do for you or with you. Even if you are otherwise inclined.

My Rating : 

To Buy Links

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Sheila's other Christmas releases today

When Kiley Gray discovers an enchanting snow globe in an antique shop, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. For years, the snow globe has passed from generation to generation, somehow always landing in the hands of a person in special need of a Christmas miracle.

Kiley could use a miracle herself. This year, all she wants for Christmas is someone to love. A hopeful shake leads her on an adventure that makes a believer out of her. When Kiley shares the story of the snow globe with her best friends-two women with problems of their own-they don't believe it. But they're about to discover that at Christmastime, sometimes the impossible becomes possible and miracles really do come true.

Goodreads

When a guy is in trouble, he starts making deals with his Creator . . . and Ambrose the cat is no exception. In danger of losing his ninth and final life, Ambrose makes a desperate plea to the universe. He'll do anything if he can just survive and enjoy a nice long, final life. His prayer is answered when a stranger comes along and saves him-and now it looks like he has to hold up his end of the bargain.

The stranger turns out to be a firefighter named Zach, who's in need of some serious romantic help. If Ambrose can just bring Zach together with Merilee, the nice lady who works at Pet Palace, it's bound to earn him a healthy ninth life. Unfortunately for Ambrose, his mission is a lot harder than he ever thought. Merriliee is way too shy to make the first move on a ladies man like Zach, and Zach thinks he's all wrong for a nice girl like Merrilee. Now it's going to take all of Ambrose's feline wiles-and maybe even a good old fashioned Christmas miracle-to make them both realize that what they're looking for is right in front of their eyes.

Goodreads

Author Links

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** Rinny Reviews ** Dead over heels By Alison Kemper

Disclaimer : I was Provided a free copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Title: Dead Over Heels

Author: Alison Kemper

                    Publish Date: September 29th 2014

            Published by: Entangled Teen

Genre: YA Horror

Goodreads 

Synopsis

The end of the world just might be their perfect beginning…

Glenview, North Carolina. Also known―at least to sixteen-year-old Ava Pegg as the Land of Incredibly Boring Vacations. What exactly were her parents thinking when they bought a summer home here? Then the cute-but-really-annoying boy next door shows up at her place in a panic…hollering something about flesh-eating zombies attacking the town.

At first, Ava’s certain that Cole spent a little too much time with his head in the moonshine barrel. But when someone―or something―rotted and terrifying emerges from behind the woodpile, Ava realizes this is no hooch hallucination. The undead are walking in Glenview, and they are hungry. Panicked, Ava and Cole flee into the national forest. No supplies, no weapons. Just two teenagers who don’t even like each other fighting for their lives. But that’s the funny thing about the Zombpocalypse. You never know when you’ll meet your undead end. Or when you’ll fall dead over heels for a boy…

Review

I was not sure what to expect going in to this book as I had never read any YA horror before and had not read a zombie book in years. After reading the synopsis on Netgalley. I knew I just had to request it. I also went in blind to the author as I had not read her previous novel (which I now plan on reading when I get the chance). The first time I sat down to read I got to 23% before my battery died. I was disappointed as I did not want to put it down. I was just getting into the story and liking it. By 26% I was fully invested and knew that this book was going to be good. My heart was pounding because it felt like I was there alongside Ava and Cole trying to survive, no doubt about it I was hooked.

Our heroine is Ava and our hero Cole they are the main two characters in the book. I found them both likeable, genuine, endearing and think they complimented each other perfectly. They both had their own strengths and weaknesses which for their age, situation and different upbringings I thought was also perfect and realistic. With the two of them being so opposite and smart, they learned from each other's differences and qualities which is realistic. It is also why I think I found them so reliable and genuine as our storytellers. They both developed well throughout the book and grew together not just as themselves but as a duo too. There was no instant love which I like a lot. Instant love is so overdone I feel these days. I loved the banter not just between them but in their thoughts about one another too. They played well of each other so witty, sassy and funny. Thoroughly entertaining.

Of course we also have some secondary characters. We encounter some of them more than others. Our secondary characters are Bethany, Mr Beaver, Ava's parents, Jay (Cole's brother) and Cole's dad.

The main two out of the secondary characters that we encounter are Bethany and Mr Beaver. I felt that the development of the secondary characters was appropriate for what they gave to the story. Bethany boy does she give me chills, wouldn't want to mess with her she is an awesome "villain". I would definitely love to read a short novella about her and her story that would run alongside Cole and Ava's. It's going to sound so strange but I honestly cannot pick a favourite character. However crossbow to my head, I'd have to pick Mr Beaver, he is also my favourite part(s) of the whole book, I like to keep my reviews spoiler free so all I will say is even though he is only a secondary character he is awesome sauce #ReeRawr lol.

The book is written from duel POV Cole and Ava's. I enjoyed the different POV's, they were both as I said before reliable and genuine. I prefer duel POV's where its possible I like getting inside everyone's heads. They were both entertaining, fun and witty in their own right. I think if the book had been written from any other kind of POV it would have been disappointing. You gain so much insight into the duo and see their romance blossom from mild disdain. It also helped seeing certain situations from both point points of view. My favourite quote in the book is a thought Cole had “Is she kidding? Zombies on our tail and she’s freaking over spiders?”  because that is so me I am petrified of spiders.

I enjoyed the authors writing style and thought it worked well. It was playful, cute and different to the usual style of writing I read. I also think that for being YA the horror element and gore was just right. The world building made sense and her writing is detailed enough without being too over descriptive. I felt like I was there beside the characters, fighting for my survival. She explained situations well. The plot was interesting and something different for me. The story is action packed and fast paced. I was worried for a little while that the ending perhaps would not tie up as tidy as I like. However that did not happen the ending was a solid good ending, perhaps slightly predictable but not disappointingly so. The book did have predictable moments but they could not be helped and did not detract for me and there was a twist earlyish on I did not see coming.

The only thing that really bothered me about the plot was a couple of things to do with the zombies. If you look at the zombies as a twist on the *norm* and do not think into it to them too much. I do not think it would be a issue. However as someone who is married to a horror fanatic and regularly gets made to watch zombie movies. I was left a little confused (don't see some things as possible) on a couple of points to do with them and as I keep my review spoiler free to the best of my abilities I can't really say any more. So if you are a zombie lover just keep your mind open like I said above.

I honestly did really enjoy this book. It was a easy, fun, action packed, fast paced, funny enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this book to YA readers of all ages and anyone who likes zombies with a hint of romance. I have even considered buying a copy for my step daughter who is a bit of a chicken. She likes the idea of horror movies etc and can't wait to be old enough to watch them with her dad. I think this might be the perfect stepping stone for her.

My Rating :

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