The Spring Fierce Reads Tour Stop at The Vero Beach Book Center/Book Review for Katie Finn's Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend

After all of the excitement from the Fierce Reads tour stop at The Vero Beach Book Center last night, I'm sad (and pleased at the same time) to say, "I don't know where to begin!" Shall I start with my mind-blowing experience at the ever-so-lovely Vero Beach Book Center? Shall I start with how charming and personable each and every Fierce Reads author was? Or should I start with a book review, so you all can get a good taste of how wonderful these authors' books really are?

It's a tough choice, but I think I'll start with Katie Finn's Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend.

  Well, well, well! Did this book give me a book hangover. Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend has to be one of the craziest, most chaotic, and most head-smacking books I've ever read. I've read about revenge, and I've read about back-stabbing, but nothing compares to our main character, Gemma's, secret. 

  We start off this book with some pretty disappointing news. Gemma's boyfriend thinks it's time for them to move on from each other. Gemma is heartbroken, and she doesn't understand why this is happening JUST as summer's starting, but...life must go on. 

  After a mishap on a train to the Hamptons to visit her father, Gemma has now taken the identity of her best friend, Sophie, and makes her way to the beach, hoping to start again with a clean slate. 

  But of course, Gemma is long overdue for a clean slate after what she did to her former best friend, Hallie. 

  Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend has so many secrets, I could not put the darn book down in fear of them telling themselves without me there to witness it. 

  Then...once I got far enough into the story for things to start unfolding...my heart started to beat out of my chest. I gripped the pages tightly (so tightly I almost, ALMOST bent the cover...but I love my books too much to damage them), my palms got sweaty, and I chewed my bottom lip to bits. 

  Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend is not for the faint of heart when it comes to drama. 

  Katie Finn is a genius! I loved, loved, loved her story and writing! In fact, I loved it so much that I will now read anything and everything by her (and Morgan Matson, since they are the same person). She rocks! 

  Also, the entire way through the book, I kept telling myself, "I'll probably rate it four stars. It's really good!" Oh, no way. This baby deserves five! 

  I cannot wait for Katie's second chaotic book in this series; wait for it...Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold. 

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Now on to some Fierce business!

So, not only did I have the incredible experience of reading Ms Finn's book, Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend, I got to meet her at the Vero Beach Book Center on the last stop of the spring Fierce Reads tour last night along with Anna Banks, Lindsay Smith, and Marie Rutkoski.

I arrived early in the day to help out with some Fierce planning (making sandwiches, setting up questions for the Q&A portion of the event, buying books- of course- etc.), and after a few hours of some hard work, it was almost time for the four authors to arrive!

I had my books all ready! (Thank you, Tiffanie from the Vero Beach Book Center, for helping me organize my book explosion!)

So, with my books all ready, my speech printed out (although not needed because I kind of free-styled once I realized I was in front of a LOT of people), my questions all written down for the authors to answer, and four empty seats at the front soon to be filled, it was time!

(From left to right, Katie Finn, Anna Banks, and Lindsay Smith)

(Katie Finn, Anna Banks, Lindsay Smith, and Marie Rutkoski)

(Anna Banks, Lindsay Smith, and Marie Rutkoski)

(Katie Finn)

(Katie Finn, Anna Banks, Lindsay Smith, and Marie Rutkoski)

Once I was done fangirling (yes, I fangirl), I had the opportunity to sit down and look at the beauties these incredible authors, Fierce Reads, and the ever amazing Vero Beach Book Center had bestowed upon me...

The Fierce Reads stop at the Vero Beach Book Center with Katie Finn, Anna Banks, Lindsay Smith, and Marie Rutkoski was beyond extraordinary. I had the time of my life, and this event absolutely, without a doubt places in my top three favorite days of all time. I had the honor of meeting these incredible authors, introducing them, asking them questions in front of a plethora of fans, and having them sign some of my favorite books. 

This was a once in a lifetime experience, and I could not be more grateful for this memory.

I want to thank Fierce Reads for running this whole tour, and for putting together such a wonderful event. Fierce Reads is the bomb!

I want to thank the four authors who could make this crazy busy tour, Katie (also known as Morgan Matson), Anna, Lindsay, and Marie. Thank you, ladies, for writing such wonderful books, for coming out and meeting devoted fans, and for always being so sweet and personable. You've made so many bookworms' (and my) dreams come true! Thank you.

And last, but definitely not least, I want to thank the Vero Beach Book Center. Thank you to everyone who works, helps to run, and helps manage to the bookstore. You all are rock stars! You make every event special, you make every experience memorable, and you create memories that will last forever. You are the best. You amaze me every time I stop in, and you are- above all- my favorite place to come shopping. I love you all so much!

This concludes my retelling of the Fierce Reads event last night. I hope you all enjoyed my blog post about the book tour! It was so much fun, I am still grinning from ear to ear.

If you're interested in any of the Fierce books, check them out below:

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves  that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.

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Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn

In Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn, Gemma had her summer all planned out, but it takes sharp turn when she gets dumped and finds herself back in the Hamptons after a five-year absence. 

Being there puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friend (that is, before Gemma ruined her life). But people don’t hold grudges forever. Do they? 

Gemma intends on making amends, but a small case of mistaken identity causes the people she knew years ago—including Hallie and her dreamy brother Josh—to believe she’s someone else. As though the summer wasn’t complicated enough already. 

Can Gemma keep up the charade? Or will she be found out by the very people she’s been hiding from?

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Sekret by Lindsay Smith

An empty mind is a safe mind.

Yulia’s father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she’s captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she’s thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one—not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention—and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

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The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

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