Thursday, February 14, 2013

LENNON'S JINX BLOG TOUR ~ REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 
 
Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Lennon's Jinx Blog Tour! The tour is hosted by AToMR Tours; you can find the entire schedule here. My stop includes a review and giveaway.
 
Series: Stand alone
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: 1/15/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review 
Lennon's JinxSometimes, we don’t get to choose who we fall for.

Lennon spends most of his time raising his little sister Currie while trying to skate through his senior year of high school. He prefers groupies with no-strings attached but finds himself strangely attracted to Jinx, the straight-A student in his choir. Lennon’s curiosity overrules his good sense as he tries to peel away the layers to discover the reason for Jinx’s skittishness.

Jinx conceals the black truth about herself from her friends. She won’t admit to them that she screwed up big time, losing her first love and what she once held most precious.

When Lennon’s band holds auditions to replace their keyboard player, Jinx comes to tryout and almost leaves after seeing Lennon. Despite the fact she despises him, she joins the band to nurture her love of music that will hopefully ease the guilt gnawing away at her.

Like the rest of his band mates, Jinx soon witnesses Lennon battling his infamous father for the custody of Currie. While confronting his pent-up anger at his dad, Lennon exposes vulnerabilities he had no intention of letting any girl ever see, especially Jinx. Their reckless pasts may bring them together or further complicate their already messy lives.

Wow. I really don't know what to say about Lennon's Jinx. This story was what I hoped for, based on the synopsis, but also so much more. I'm notorious for my love of stories about musicians, which is what drew me to Lennon's Jinx. But there's really more at play than a guy, a girl, and the music. This is a story of two kids, one with one of the most dysfunctional childhoods I'd ever read about, the other with a dark secret, and the strength and friendship they find in each other.

Based on the cover, you might think Lennon's Jinx is a book about a girl who joins a band, led by a hot, promiscuous bad boy who has "Trouble" written all over him. And it is, but its just as much Lennon Tyler's book, if not more. I loved Lennon so much, and I wish he was on the cover, too. What made Lennon so remarkable, in my eyes, was that he's layered. Most know him as a notorious womanizer, son of a rock star and an actress, he is also a big brother who has given up so much to take care of his little sister. He's gotten busy with models, actresses, socialites, and classmates, but he goes home to his little sister, alone, every night. The same boy who gets caught with his pants down, literally, would also give up everything for his sister. Due to his parents volatile relationship, excessive drug use, and horrible lack of parenting, he raised himself, and hasn't come away unscathed. He may be a "slut puppy" but he's also a terrific friend. Lennon is complex as honest as they come, and I appreciate author Chris Myers for not trying to tone him down, she made me love him, flaws and all.

Jinx (what an awesome name!) was a character that I became quickly and firmly attached to as well. Jinx didn't start out with the level of family dysfunction as Lennon, but her life has been awful since her dad died. We quickly learn that Jinx underwent a traumatic experience a few years prior, but not just how much danger she's truly in. Jinx was a layered character as well. She comes across as a no-nonsense girl, especially when it comes to Lennon. She gets great grades, has a group of close friends. But Jinx isn't the perfect girl. She likes to party, gets herself into less than healthy situations, and is hung up on her ex-boyfriend even though they've been broken up for two years.

At the beginning of Lennon's Jinx, Lennon and Jinx aren't friends by any stretch of the imagination. She can't stand him, even though he's the hottest guy in school. Jinx hates that Lennon gets around so much. Lennon just can't figure Jinx out. Why does she dislike him so much? But once the two become involved as bandmates, Jinx quickly gets pulled into all aspects of Lennon's life, particularly when it comes to his sister, Currie. Currie was an awesome kid, precocious and bossy. Lennon's world revolved around Currie and her best friend Zoe. And ohmygosh! The story about the two little girls broke my poor heart. Lennon and Currie's dad reenters their life, and wanting the best for his sister, Lennon must make some really hard choices, for himself and the band.

So can you tell that I adored Lennon's Jinx? The story was just soooo much more than I expected. Myers was brave in her portrayal of this sophisticated group of teens. These aren't small town kids with average lives. They go to clubs, they drink and party hard. They talk realistically about sex and relationships. There's no promise of a sweet, happy life. I really liked the ending, though it did feel a bit abrupt. BUT, it looks like there will be two more books. I can't wait to read them, but please, Chris Myers, don't make it too hard on Lennon and Jinx!


Favorite Quote:

  Being a girl sometimes sucks. Like now.
  The whole left side of my face aches. I just started my period and had to borrow firecrackers from Rena because the tampon dispenser jammed on my last quarter.  ~ eARC, 13%


  I glance at Lennon standing next to the red brick of the school. Though he is big, he fades into the walls at school, a flower wilting from lack of sunshine, water, love? It's hard to say. But who cares? He's probably slowly rotting to death from some new strain of STD.  ~ eARC, 15%


  By the time Tiny Dancer ends, most of the crowd is in tears and so is my dad. Jinx sits in the purple dress I bought her. She looks amazing. After all she's been through, she seems to be at peace now, and I may have played a small role in that. ~eARC,96%


Purchase Lennon's Jinx at:
Amazon  | 


About the author:

Chris  MyersChris Myers suffers from an overactive imagination. In second grade, Sister Bernice produced Chris's first play about pumpkins mauling and eating children. Apparently, the nuns didn’t catch the underlying meaning. This instantly raised Chris to stardom amongst her peers for the several days off from schoolwork while in production. She spent her high school years writing torch songs for fantasy guys then moved onto writing thrillers and young adult. Chris lives in Colorado with her daughter, her better half, and BeBe, a rambunctious Bichon.

Chris literally has very few photos of herself, even though photography put her through college. Here she is with her sisters and daughter. Chris is the one with the vino.

Chris started out as an art major, then moved to bio-chem, hoping to play Victor Frankenstein as a genetic engineer or messing with people's minds as a psychiatrist. Just as she was about to graduate, she decided being broke for another four to ten years wouldn't work out for her adventurous spirit and traveling. She ended up with an electrical engineering degree then a masters. As it turns out, she should've finished her first novel twenty-five years ago and stuck in the make-believe world where she is happiest.

Connect with Chris:

 
Giveaways
 
 
 
 
 
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19 comments:

  1. I'm really bummed that I passed on this tour now. I'll buy it and read it sometime. Glad you liked it babe!

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  2. It is so clear how much you really loved this book and that means I must check it out. Fantastic review!

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  3. Thank you so much for the review. I'm blushing. Working hard on the sequel, which will have several plot twists and turns. Totally agree with life's too short. I read every night and listen to book tapes driving to and from work. Can't seem to get my head out of the clouds. Thanks again.

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  4. Awesome giveaway!! Can't wait to read this!!

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  5. I'm glad that you really enjoyed this book. I really wanted to read it, but I have so many review books that I am really trying to not do too many tours. I already have them lined up into April lol!! I will have to get this book at some point though, it sounds really great, and if you loved it, I am sure I will!!

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  6. I think I really want to read this... The cover puts me off just a bit... And I'm not sure exactly WHY... I think it's the typography. O_o lol

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  7. Sounds like an awesome read. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  8. Thanks for the fantastic review! I'm definitely going to pick up this one! :)

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  9. Great review! The book sounds and looks interesting. I'm looking forward to reading it. Thank you =)

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  10. Lennon and his layers sound great. I like a complicated guy.
    And Jinx sounds like she has plenty to work through herself with home and past.
    Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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  11. A brother giving up so much to raise his younger sister is enough to have me adding this to my TBR. Add to that your enthusiasm over the story - which is contagious - and I can hardly wait to read this one! Awesome review! 'Slut puppy' made me LOL! ;)

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  12. This cover soo doesn't do it for me and I think that's why it never grabbed my attention. Now, that I read your you have me interested.

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  13. These characters sound so flawed and messed up. I'm a little hesitant to get into something that has such messy characters but you seemed to love it Andrea, so I may have to reconsider. Lovely review. :)

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  14. Oh man, this one sounds AMAZING! I read another review recently too and it definitely got my attention. I'm kind of dying to read it after reading your review though!

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  15. Such a fabulous read! Glad you loved it too.

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  16. both of the giveaways are very cool! i hope many people enter!

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  17. I have read nothing but good reviews on this book. I am going to have to check it out. Wonderful review!

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  18. Love the cover! Sounds interesting. Great review babe

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  19. I've seen some people chatting about this one on twitter, and your review is totally intriguing...it's definitely moving up on my to-read list!

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