The Birthday Girl by Melissa De La Cruz – a Review

The Birthday Girl by Melissa De La Cruz – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / iTunes / Google Play / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Ellie de Florent-Stinson is celebrating her fortieth birthday with a grand celebration in her fabulous house in Palm Springs.

At forty, it appears Ellie has everything she ever wanted: a handsome husband; an accomplished, college-age stepdaughter; a beautiful ten-year-old girl; two adorable and rambunctious six-year-old twin boys; lush, well-appointed homes in Los Angeles, Park City, and Palm Springs; a thriving career as a well-known fashion designer of casual women’s wear; and a glamorous circle of friends.

Except everything is not quite as perfect as it looks on the outside—Ellie is keeping many secrets. This isn’t the first of her birthday parties that hasn’t gone as planned. Something happened on the night of her sweet sixteenth. Something she’s tried hard to forget.

But hiding the skeletons of her past comes at a cost, and all of Ellie’s secrets come to light on the night of her fabulous birthday party in the desert—where everyone who matters in her life shows up, invited or not. Old and new, friends and frenemies, stepdaughters and business partners, ex-wives and ex-husbands congregate, and the glittering facade of her life crumbles in one eventful night.

 

 

Review:

The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz is a standalone suspense novel revolving around a woman celebrating her 40’th birthday, and another birthday celebration when she was 16 years old.  This is a story of secrets that come back to haunt her, as her life in the present slowly begins to crumble.

Ellie de Florent-Stinson, our heroine, is celebrating her fortieth birthday with an exclusive birthday party in her new house in Palm Springs.  Ellie invites everyone who is anyone to her party and is determined to make it perfect.  She seems to have it all, money, successful business, happy marriage, famous friends, glitzy life, but not is all as it seems. Things continually go wrong, such as the flowers wilting, her suspicion that her husband is having an affair, her step daughter has a secret and a major business deal could cause bankruptcy, etc.  Ellie also receives a text from someone in her past, which worries her, as this person says they will come to her party, and she does not recognize the number. Who is it?

We follow the two POV’s that continuously go back and forth between the present day birthday party and the same day (24 years ago) birthday celebration when she was a teenager.  In the past, the story revolves around two best friends, Leo and Mish, who not only are close, but have the same negative issues with their parent, especially the fathers.  Mish takes Leo out to meet friends to celebrate her birthday, and along the way they get drunk, try drugs, and crash another party.  All does not end well on this birthday party fun.  I will not give spoilers, so you will need to read this book to understand what happens on that day years before.  This is part of the surprise twist at the end, both in the past and present.

The Birthday Girl was well written by Melissa de la Cruz, but I did have some mixed feelings.  It was interesting, and kept my attention; but I frankly did not care for Ellie.  I found her to be not really likeable, self-centered and superficial. As for Leo and Mish, I did like their friendship, until jealousy changed everything.  The ending came out of nowhere, as well as a total surprise. Overall, The Birthday Girl was a good story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Stolen by Melissa De La Cruz/Michael Johnston – Review & Catching Up Interview

Stolen by Melissa De La Cruz/Michael Johnston – Review, Interview & Giveaway

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Stolen
Heart of Dread series – Book #2
by Melissa De La Cruz & Michael Johnston
Release Date: November 18, 2014

StolenAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
Who is Eliza Wesson?

Months after Nat and Wes said good-bye on the shores of the Blue, Nat is learning how to control and use her new power. She and her drakon are the last of their kind—and she’s risked her life for their reunion. When she receives a mysterious distress call, she races to help, soliciting the guidance of her new friend, the beautiful and aloof Faix Lazaved of the Blue.

Still heartbroken over losing Nat, Wes is racing cars on a New Vegas racetrack while his team is scattered and lost. When he finds out that his sister, Eliza, is being held in the golden domes of El Dorado, he does what he’s best at—running to her side—and gambles on luck to see him through one more time.

Magic, romance, and danger collide as Nat and Wes become entangled in a dark new adventure that leads right to the heart of the mystery of their frozen, broken world. They soon discover that the answer to both their quests lies in the same question: Who is Eliza Wesson—what is she capable of, and why was she stolen from her family so long ago?

 

 

Review:
Stolen by Melissa Dela Cruz & Michael Johnston is the 2nd book in their Heart of Dread series. This is a YA Paranormal/Fantasy Dystopian storyline, with two wonderful leading characters in Nat & Wes. When Frozen, the first book in this series left off, they finally had found the promised land, Blue. Nat discovers she is the last Draykonrydder, with her own Drakon. She was where she belonged, to help protect Blue.   Wes, with the promise that he would come back, walked away to return with his friends to live life on the edge; stealing to survive, and make ends meet. Wes does have a reason, as he has been looking for his long lost sister, Eliza, who was kidnapped 12 years ago.

The story picks up with Nat and Mainas, her Drakon battling the evil RSA, as they have done since they became a team. Only this time, her Drakon is hurt, and must go underground to heal, leaving Nat completely alone. She meets up with her trainer, Faix to guide her how to use her powers. During the difficult training on using her mental awareness to be able to do almost anything, she receives a telepathic call for help. Together, her and Faix leave Blue to try and find Liannan, a sylph and one of Wes’s team.

While they race to find Liannan, Wes and two of his friends are captured while looking for Eliza. It is here that Wes and Nat find each other again. The romance between the two of them lights up the pages, as we know how they feel about each other. Since this is YA, there are no sex scenes, but Dela Cruz and Johnston do a wonderful job showing their love. Will that be enough to keep them together?

The action is non stop, intense and very exciting. There are so many twists, betrayals, constant danger, and to tell you much more would be spoilers. The adventure revolves around Wes, Nat, Faix and the boys to find Liannan, and Eliza with all the enemies surrounding them. Expect the unexpected, when they reach their goal and all hell breaks loose. There a major game changer at the end, which is a cliffhanger that will keep us holding our breath until the next book. If you like adventure, fantasy, a magnificent story, and two great heroes, then Heart of Dread series is a must read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publicist

 

Interview beige 2

Melissa_de_la_Cruz_credit_Denise_Bovee
The Reading Cafe is thrilled to welcome back the wonderful Melissa De La Cruz. Today Melissa will be discussing her new release, Stolen, which she co-wrote with her husband Michael JohnstonStolen  is the 2nd book in their Heart of Dread series.

Let’s catch up with Melissa.

 

 

 

Hi Melissa. Thank you for taking the time to visit us again at The Reading Cafe, and to give an update as to what you have upcoming in 2014/2015.   

TRC: For those who may not have read the first book, can you give a brief description of the premise of your Heart of Dread series?  

Melissa: The Heart of Dread series is about a girl named Nat with a dangerous secret and a boy named Wes who helps get her to safety. Set one hundred years in the post-apocalypse New Vegas, the story melds fantasy and science fiction tropes to create a fast-paced and gritty story about two young people tossed together in a great adventure. In the first book, Wes helps Nat on her journey and in book two, Stolen, we find out more about their background and how the world was destroyed.  

Mel and Mike pic, credit Wendy Werris
TRC:
The Heart of Dread series is written by you and your husband, Michael Johnston. Can you please tell us your process in writing the book together?

 

Melissa: We talk a lot. Talk, talk, talk, talk. Then one of us will write something down and give it to the other to develop then we trade it between us until the book is done. Mike usually does a lot of the work in the beginning and I do a lot of work at the end.

 

Stolen
TRC:
Stolen is the 2nd book in this series, being released tomorrow. Can you please give us a brief description of Stolen?

Melissa: Stolen picks up a few months where Frozen left off, Nat is learning to use her power and Wes is reduced to driving in the death races in Vegas. Wes gets a tip about his missing sister and races to her, only to find himself in the same place as Nat. They uncover more terrible secrets of in both the fantastic world of Vallonis and the gritty world of the RSA.  

 

TRC: You write a number of genres. Do you find it difficult to switch between genres? 

Melissa: No. I love it. Keeping my work different is what keeps me going. 

witches-east-end-season-2-spoilers


TRC:
Your Witches of East End series is now in its second year on television (Lifetime).   You have a wonderful cast on the show. I love Jenna DewanTatum & Daniel Di Tomasso together. How does it feel to see your characters come to life? Also, how do you feel the television series is portraying your storyline in comparison to the book?  

 

Melissa: It’s awesome. Just a joy to see my characters on screen. Pure joy. The TV show has a different story, but it kept the heart of the book – the love triangles, the family dynamics, the small town, the mythology. I love it, I’m a huge fan. I’m devastated at its cancellation but I have other projects I’m working on that will hopefully be on television soon. 

The Ring and the Crown
TRC:
You have a new series, The Ring and the Crown. Can you please give us a brief description of this series, and how many books are you planning? 

Melissa: The Ring and The Crown is an alternate historical fantasy set in the early 20th century where France and Britain have combined into one kingdom and Merlin has been alive a thousand years. It is about princesses, love, magic, betrayal, romance and sisterhood. I am unsure yet of how many books, at least three, maybe more, but that all depends on sales. Publishers want to see series selling or they cancel them too.  

TRC: Would you like to share with us anything else that you may have upcoming in 2015? 

Melissa: My big Disney Middle grade book is Isle of the Lost: a Descendants prequel – Descendants is the new Disney Channel Original Movie that comes out in August 2015. My book comes out in May.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else? 

Melissa: We’re also currently developing The Ring and The Crown as a television show, so hopefully that will get picked up. We can only hope! 

TRC: Thank you, Melissa for giving us an update on what we can look forward to in 2015, and we wish you the best of luck with Stolen.

If you want to learn more about Melissa, you can find her at the following links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Tumblr

Giveaway beigeMelissa’s publisher is offering a hard-copy of STOLEN to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1.If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE Melissa De La Cruz on FACEBOOK.

7. Giveaway is U.S. only

8. Giveaway runs from November 17- 20, 2014

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An Interview with Melissa De La Cruz

An Interview with Melissa De La Cruz

Melissa_de_la_Cruz_credit_Denise_Bovee
The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Melissa De La Cruz as our guest today.

Melissa is here to discuss her book, Frozen, which she co-authored with Michael JohnstonFrozen was released today, and is the first book in their new Heart of Dread series.

Our review of Frozen is below this post.

Let’s meet Melissa.


Interview orange:black

Hi Melissa.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book, and it is a pleasure to have you here at The Reading Café.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Melissa: I am the author of many series including Blue Bloods, Witches of East End and the co-author of Frozen, the first book in the Heart of Dread series I am writing with my husband.

TRC: When and how did you become interested in writing?  Have you always liked to write?

Melissa: Ever since I was eleven years old, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I grew up reading the Sweet Valley High series, and when I found out the writers of that series were girls in their 20s, I thought, that could be me when I grew up!

TRC: How did you come up with the idea of your new Heart of Dread series?  Can you please tell our readers the premise of this series?

Melissa: It came from wanting to write a "cool" epic fantascy, that had all the grit and military action of our favorite Ridley Scott movies, like Aliens, as well as wanting to write a "futuristic" Generation Kill meets Lord of the Rings. It's a tribute to all the classic sci-fi and fantasy we loved as teenagers – a nod to Dune, Lord of the Rings and Piers Anthony's Xanth.

TRC: How many books are you planning for Heart of Dread?

Melissa: Right now I think we are planning three or four books. Not quite sure how the arcs will play out although we know all the big scenes and our big ending.

Frozen
TRC: 
Frozen is the 1st book in your Heart of Dread series.  Can you give us a brief description of the book?

Melissa: It's a post-apocalyptic tale about Nat Kestal,  a 16 year old blackjack dealer in New Vegas who is looking to find the mythical land of the Blue. The world is a frozen wasteland, science and technology have broken down, and something new is coming from the ice. It has romance, magic, adventure, survival, devastation and hope.

 

Links to order Frozen: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

 

winds of salem
T
RC: 
Winds of Salem, which is the 3rd book in your Witches of East End was just released last month.  Can you please tell us the premise of this series, for those who may not have started this series?

Melissa: It is about a family of witches in Long Island who are also immortal Norse gods. It's about mothers and sisters, brothers, lost fathers, lost loves, curses and dark and light magic.

Links to order Winds of Salem:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

 

Witches of East End TV
TRC:
  Witches of East End is slated to be on television.  Can you give us a little more information as to when, and where we can watch this?  Is this a TV movie or a series?

Melissa: It is a series that will premiere on Lifetime on October 6th. Julia Ormond, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Rachel Boston, Madchen Amick, Daniel diTomasso and Eric Winter star in it.

It is one of the most wonderful and surreal experiences I've ever had in my life, I'm incredibly excited and proud of the TV show and all the people who have worked so hard to make it. I couldn't be happier or prouder of the show. I'm the fairy godmother of the show and I love it.

TRC:  A wonderful cast. 🙂  Look forward to watching it.

TRC:  You recently ended your Blue Bloods series, but you have a special 4 e-book spinoff from that series.  Can you please tell us about this?

Melissa: Wolf Pact is about Bliss’s journey with the hellhounds.

TRC: What are you working on now?

Melissa: I have a new series, my royal soap opera called THE RING AND THE CROWN coming out in April from Disney Hyperion. Mike and I are working on the second book in the Heart of Dreads series, STOLEN, and I also am working on the spinoff to Blue Bloods called THE VAMPIRES OF MANHATTAN.

We have a bunch more book projects in the works, we're always working on many projects at once.

TRC:  You write a few genres.  Do you have a favorite?

Melissa: I enjoy writing for young adults, whether in contemporary or paranormal or fantasy. I love writing for teenagers.

TRC: What is your writing process? Do you have a favorite spot or time? Do you like to outline your stories or just go with the flow?

Melissa: We outline our stories, we have very detailed outlines that we flesh out. We have an office at home and an office in a building down the street. I also like to go to writer friends' houses and write with them. I can write anywhere, really. I don't have a favorite spot. I often have to write on tour and during book festivals so I have to adapt.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Melissa: Looking forward to seeing our readers on our Frozen tour! Please come and see us!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Filipino

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate anything

Favorite Movie: Moulin Rouge

Favorite TV Show: Breaking Bad / Game of Thrones / Walking Dead

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Milk

Favorite character (male & female) not written by you: Aragorn from LOTR

Thank you, Melissa for answering our questions. We look forward to continuing to read your books, and to work with you in the future.  Good luck with Frozen.

 

About the Author Black and Orange

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

Melissa lives in Los Angeles and Palm Springs with her family.

 

blueandwhitegiveawayMelissa has graciously offered to give One member of The Reading Café a hard copy of her new release, Frozen.

1.  Please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open US only.

4.  Contests runs from September 17 to September 21, 2013

 

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Cover Reveals-May 6, 2013

Cover Reveals-May 6, 2013

The Deepest Night Aug 13

 

TITLE: The Deepest Night

AUTHOR: Shana Abe

SERIES:  The Sweetest Dark

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

the hunter June 2013

 

TITLE: The Hunter

AUTHOR: Monica McCarty

SERIES:  Highland Guard

RELEASE DATE: June 2013

 

 

 

Uninvited Mar 2014

 

TITLE:  Uninvited

AUTHOR:  Sophie Jordan

SERIES:  Uninvited #1

RELEASE DATE:  March 2014

 

 

 

Storm Warrior Aug 2013

 

TITLE: Storm Warrior

AUTHOR: Dani Harper

SERIES: The Grim Series

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Destiny May 2013

 

TITLE: Destiny

AUTHOR: Maggie Shayne

SERIES:  The Immortal Witches

RELEASE DATE: May 2013

 

 

 

Wild Darkness Nov 2013

 

TITLE: Wild Darkness

AUTHOR: Lauren Dane

SERIES:  Bound by Magick

RELEASE DATE: November 2013

 

 

 

Winds of Salem Aug 13 YA

 

TITLE: Winds of Salem (YA)

AUTHOR: Melissa De La Cruz

SERIES: Witches of East End

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Hostage July 13

 

TITLE: Hostage

AUTHOR: Kay Hooper

SERIES: Bishop Special Crimes Unit

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

Unscripted Aug 2013

 

TITLE: Unscripted

AUTHOR:  Jayne Denker

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

Endless Octo 2013

 

TITLE: Endless (re-release)

AUTHOR: Jessica Shirvington

SERIES: Violet Eden

RELEASE DATE: October 2013

 

 

 

Deadshifted-Dec 13jpg

 

TITLE: Deadshifted

AUTHOR: Cassie Alexander

SERIES:  Edie Spence

RELEASE DATE: December 2013

 

 

 

Up From the Grave 2014

 

 

TITLE: Up From The Grave

AUTHOR: Jeaniene Frost

SERIES: Night Huntress

RELEASE DATE: 2014

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Cover Reveals-April 12, 2013

Cover Reveals April 12, 2013

Return of the Legend


TITLE: Return of the Legend

AUTHOR: M.A.Abraham

SERIES: The Elven Chronicles

RELEASE DATE: February 2014

 

 

 

Lifemate to a King

 

TITLE: Lifemate To a King

AUTHOR: M.A.Abraham

SERIES: The Elven Chronicles

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

Breath of Iron Aug 2013

 

TITLE: Breath of iron

AUTHOR: Kate Cross

SERIES: Clockwork Agents

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Grave Visions Aug 2013

 

TITLE: Grave Visions

AUTHOR: Kalayna Price

SERIES: Alex Craft

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Winds of Salem Aug 2013

 

TITLE: Winds of Salem

AUTHOR: Melissa De La Cruz

SERIES: Witches of Cast End

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Crown of Midnight Aug 2013

 

TITLE: Crown of Midnight

AUTHOR: Sarah J. Maas

SERIES: Throne of Glass

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Written in My Dec 2013

 

TITLE: Written In My Own Blood’s Heart

AUTHOR: Diana Gabaldon

SERIES: Outlander

RELEASE DATE: December 2013

 

 

 

Milayna

 

TITLE: Milayna

AUTHOR: Michelle Pickett

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: April 2013

 

Sentinel

 

TITLE: Sentinel

AUTHOR: Jennifer Armentrout

SERIES: Covenant

RELEASE DATE: December 2013

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