Two Points of Interest

Friday, May 21, 2021

Book Review - 10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston + Giveaway

It's Senior Party Week, the magical time between after classes has ended but before graduation. It's filled with get together, parties, and last - minute bonding. Olivia is excited to start her next steps at LSU and give her speech as the class salutatorian.

As Olivia begins to celebrate with her family, she receives an email about a missing P.E. form. If Olivia doesn't get the form signed in time, she won't graduate with the rest of her friends. She realizes she has only one week to set things straight without letting her family know. Olivia decides to volunteer at a local golf tournament to help get her needed credit. However, her phone is equipped with a tracking app so, her mom will know her every move. She realizes the only way she can pull it off if she asks for help from the Fab Four. Will Olivia be able to pull off her stunt before anyone else finds out?

I read the author's previous book, 10 Blind Dates and I liked it. This book had the same basic formula but, it failed to keep my attention. The book was very predictable and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I find it hard that a scholar who is dedicated to her schoolwork wouldn't put much thought into a course she took or even kept ditching the class. Olivia was constantly late and disappointing the coach even though she got a second chance. I also felt that it was unrealistic how much her mom texted her and kept tabs on her. Overall, this book seem had a lot of "fake drama" to create story.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.**

About the Book:

Title: 10 TRUTHS AND A DARE

Author: Ashley Elston

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

This companion to Ashley Elston's beloved 10 Blind Dates follows Sophie's high-achieving cousin Olivia as she juggles last-minute P.E. credit, end-of-year parties, and a secret new romance in the chaotic week before graduation.

It's Senior Party Week, that magical in-between time after classes have ended but before graduation, chock-full of gimmicky theme parties, last-minute bonding, and family traditions. Olivia couldn't be more ready. Class salutatorian and confident in her future at LSU, she's poised to sail through to the next phase of her life.

But when the tiny hiccup of an unsigned off-campus P.E. form puts Olivia in danger of not graduating at all, she has one week to set things straight without tipping off her very big and very nosy extended family. Volunteering to help at a local golf tournament should do it, but since Olivia's mom equipped her phone with a tracking app, there'll be no hiding the fact that she's at the golf course instead of all the graduation parties happening at the same time. Unless, that is, she can convince the Fab Four--her ride-or-die cousins and best friends Sophie, Charlie, and Wes--to trade phones with her as they go through the motions of playing Olivia for the week.

Praise for 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston:
2020 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Top Ten Title

2020 Florida Teens Read Book List

"POSITIVELY DELIGHTFUL—all caps—from beginning to end."—NPR

"This piece-by-piece romance doesn't need its Christmas theme to sell, but it makes it glitter all the more."—Booklist

"A fun story of finding love, getting to know yourself, and getting to know your family."—Kirkus Reviews

"In a funny holiday romance that has Sophie dog-sitting in a hockey rink, watching porn at a drive-in theater, and playing the Virgin Mary in a middle school Nativity, Elston cleverly reflects the family members' personalities through their choices of dates for Sophie."—Publishers Weekly

Grab 10 BLIND DATES now!

About Ashley:

Ashley Elston is the author of several novels including: 10 Blind Dates (a Top Ten ALA Quick Pick and the companion to this book), The Rules for Disappearing (a finalist in the Best Young Adult Novel category of the International Thriller Writers Thriller Awards), This Is Our Story, and The Lying Woods. She has a liberal arts degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. Ashley lives in Shreveport with her husband and three sons. For more information about Ashley and her books, please visit www.ashleyelston.com.

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of 10 TRUTHS AND A DARE, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2021

The Book View

Review

Week Two:

5/2/2021	What A Nerd Girl Says	Excerpt
5/3/2021	YA Books Central	Excerpt
5/4/2021	Fire and Ice	Review
5/5/2021	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
5/6/2021	YA Book Nerd	Review
5/7/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
5/8/2021	Moonlight Rendezvous	Review

Week Three:

5/9/2021	Jenguerdy	Review
5/10/2021	Ficticiouswonderland	Review
5/11/2021	Book-Keeping	Review
5/12/2021	Amani’s Reviews	Review
5/13/2021	booksaremagictoo	Review
5/14/2021	Eli to the nth	Review
5/15/2021	Emelie's Books	Review

Week Four:

5/16/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
5/17/2021	Zainey Laney	Review
5/18/2021	onemused	Review
5/19/2021	Midnightbooklover	Review
5/20/2021	amandainpa	Review
5/21/2021	Geauxgetlit	Review
5/22/2021	two points of interest	Review

Week Five:

5/23/2021	Book Briefs	Review
5/24/2021	Momfluenster	Review
5/25/2021	Star-Crossed Book Blog	Review
5/26/2021	michellemengsbookblog	Review
5/27/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
5/28/2021	Do You Dog-ear?	Review
5/29/2021	Books and Zebras	Review

Week Six:

5/30/2021	My Fictional Oasis	Review
5/31/2021	Popthebutterfly	Review

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Book Review - High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Road Trip by Melissa de la Cruz + Giveaway

On the night of their successful performance, the team learns that there is a High School Musical convention in the next state over. The convention has something for everyone and the cast members will be making special appearances.

They are ready to hit the road and they can't wait to make plans for their weekend together. Nini wants to use this weekend to show how much she cares for Ricky since, they just got back together. Kourtney wants to sign up for a signing workshop and maybe audition for the next show. Gina and Ashlyn is using the weekend as a trial run for living together. Carlos is excited to help Miss Jenn realize her dreams and prep for the spring musical.

I recall seeing this movie and remember how much interest it garnered when I was younger. Honestly, I didn't even realize that the movie was still a hit. This was my first book of the series and I realized towards the middle of the book, that the books needed to be read in order. It does seem like the book can be read as a standalone but, there were several previous story references that were lost to me. I also had a hard time following along with the characters and after awhile, all the characters were starting merging together. If you are a fan of the series, I would recommend this book. Otherwise, I would say to skip it.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.**

About the Book:

Title: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE ROAD TRIP

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 272

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

An original novel inspired by the hit Disney+ television series HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL, by the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Descendants series, Melissa de la Cruz.

Join everyone's favorite Wildcats from the Disney+ smash hit original series High school Musical: The Musical: The Series in this novel by New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

On the heels of their wildly successful run of High School Musical, the gang learns of a can't-miss opportunity—a High School Musical convention in the next state. There's something for everyone: panels about mounting your next hit show, cafeteria-tray-dance workshops, Wildcat cosplay, and even a special appearance from the pooch who played Sharpay's dog (well, one of her puppies, that is).

Ready to hit the road, the crew immediately begins making plans. Nini can't wait to use the weekend to show how much she cares for Ricky (especially since they just got back together). Kourtney debates signing up for a singing workshop (especially if she's maybe, just maybe, considering auditioning for the next show), and Gina and Ashlyn decide it'll be the perfect trial run for living together (especially because Gina has never actually had a friendship last this long). Carlos can't wait to help Miss Jenn prep for the spring musical, even if Seb has to stay behind to help with the family farm. But car breakdowns, late starts, and a lost E.J. throw a wrench in their plans.

Will the East Highers get the weekend getaway of their dreams? Or will the bumps on the road get the better of them?

Praise For HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE ROAD TRIP:

A breezy and fun read, the book contains chapters that offer pithy first-person accounts from each character, including quirky Miss Jenn; Carlos and his boyfriend, Seb; recently reunited couple Nini and Ricky and their BFFs, Kourtney and Big Red; popular senior E.J. and his songwriter cousin, Ashlyn; and talented triple threat Gina. The plot includes references to the series and themes straight from the musical: nurturing your talent, showing others how much they matter, and acknowledging the importance of teamwork. Although race isn’t mentioned overtly, the characters are cued as racially diverse, following the casting of the TV show. Fans will appreciate the inside jokes, but explanations in the text make it accessible even to those unfamiliar with the program.

A lighthearted and charming read.—Kirkus Reviews.

About Melissa:

Melissa de la Cruz (www.melissa-delacruz.com) is the author of the #1 New York Times best-selling Descendants series, as well as many other best-selling novels, including all the books in the Blue Bloods series: Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, The Van Alen Legacy, Keys to the Repository, Misguided Angel, Bloody Valentine, Lost in Time, and Gates of Paradise. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and daughter.