Update on Life

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Alright, so it seems like a while since I've done one of these. Mostly because I find it can be awkward and I never know what to say. But I figured it would be a nice break from the reviews and tours.

Update on life in general. So school is done for another year, only one more until I get my undergraduate degree. I'm looking at graduate schools already and the possibility of doing a trip across Canada with a friend but things are crazy expensive! I also have been hired by Tara Oakes to be her PA, and that has been an experience. I'm back to work and getting awesome hours! Makes for a tired Aly but at least I'll have money for school. Also got all caught up on Once Upon A Time(I missed the last six episodes I think) and woah! Did not expect that and it was kind of scary!

Book wise I've got plenty of awesome reviews or tours coming up. I'm reading like a maniac when I'm not at work and enjoying the heck out of it. So, keep with me to hear about some new books!

I'm not really sure what else to say so I'm just gonna peace out! Later!

PS. If you're interested in becoming a reviewer on Reading Shy With Aly with the possibility of it turning into more responsibility then please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1VIfv7BdMXrfRCgvAlcgIH4U0JtLBKtcILvPs9yIHHuc/viewform?usp=send_form

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Escape Down Under by S.M. Phillips

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"Something is wrong and I'm really not sure if I want to hear what it is." -S.M. Phillips, Escape Down Under

WARNING: Not appropriate for younger audiences

Jess broke up with Josh several months ago...but he hasn't seemed to have gotten the message. Meanwhile she's thrown herself into work, determined to get past this. When an oppurtunity comes up to go and work in Australia, it takes very little convincing for her to decide to go. But when she runs into Max, she's less sure of her decision...mostly because she's afraid of crossing the professional boundary. But when the unthinkable happens, will Jess be able to keep herself from going into a tail spin? Find the official description on Goodreads.

The writing in Escape Down Under flowed really well and although it was a different spelling and slang, it wasn't hard to pick up on a lot of the tone behind the words(and if you've watched any amount of BBC, it wasn't hard at all). So that was something that was really well done. There was no confusion and it just all really flowed well.

There were also very good descriptions of incidents. You almost felt as if you were watching it happen in slow mo because you got that good of a description. 

While we get both character's perspectives, Escape Down Under is mostly done from Jessica's perspective which is good because it allows us to have a bit of mystery around Max's actions and thus leave us wondering. But when we did get chapters from Max's perspectives, which we did occasionally, I found myself really enjoying those chapters. Mostly because Max could be humorous but not actually meant to be humorous. So he'd be trying to talk himself out of something and we're like fat chance of that buddy. It was great.

And now I'm just going to mention the ending in general terms(don't want to spoil it for you). But this was actually really, really well done. There was a cliffhanger but at the same time the way the book ended that could have ended the series. Sure, I wouldn't have been happy because I would have wanted to see what happened otherwise but it just had that tone of finality to it. Which was really well done, and it just...yeah.

Escape Down Under was a great read and I strongly encourage you to read it before the sequel Fallen Down Under comes out. 

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No Weddings by Kat Bastion and Stone Bastion

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"Their world has never been the same." -Kat Bastion and Stone Bastion, No Weddings

Cade and his three sisters form an event-planning business. One major rule is brought into play; No mixing business with pleasure. But when Cade becomes point man in meeting with baker, Hannah, he finds that he will do anything to spend time with her. And girls no longer hold the same appeal. But Hannah's been burned before and she's leery of Cade, even as he tries to get beyond his own past. Can the two work things out? Find the official description on Goodreads.

I have to admit that I love Hannah's attitude and the fact that she can be icy but when she lets herself relax, she's very kindhearted and warm. Her attitude definitely added some spice and fun to the book and I enjoyed her character as a whole. 

Cade was the narrator of No Weddings and I found it a bit strange. Usually if the gentlemen are narrators it tends to be flipping between the main female character and the main male character so to have the narrator be Cade was unique and refreshing. It made No Weddings stand out in my mind.It was interesting to see how a male character works through things, not necessarily similarly to the females. 

Throughout the book, there kept being this mention of the Travesty and it roused my curiosity and definitely made things interesting, if they weren't already. But then when we find out the reasons behind both characters difficulties with relationships, it's easy to see they've had a difficult run of things. 

No Weddings is a unique and interesting read that will stand out in my mind. It was released September 8th, and I suggest you give it a chance.

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