Books make great lovers!

I moved my blog

2012-02-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

I tried to come back to this blog but I just couldn't. My life is in a whole new place. My wedding is coming up so I have been busy. It's so different playing wife then teenage girl who reads non-stop. I will still be doing reviews just not as frequently. You can see my new blog at: http://theteenagewife.blogspot.com/. I hope you will follow me on this journey.

Thanks for 5 great years in the review community! Love you all!

All moved and back to reviewing

2011-11-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

I disappeared off the face of the earth for a bit. Sorry about that! I was living in my parents home (which they were trying to sell) and long story short it has become a nightmare. I now how my own place (with my fiance) for the first time! I'm super excited about that! I am also very excited to be back to reviewing.

There will be a few changes around here now that I am back. I got some emails from people with feedback and I am trying very hard to keep everyone as happy as I can. That being said, Hannah will no longer be doing any reviews. I will be the only one reviewing. I will also be updating my grading system and ratings. Please hang in there as these changes will not happen over night!

Thanks for all of the continued support!

Ashley

So Near (Liza Gyllenhaal)

2011-10-08T01:42:00.000-07:00

Summary:

In the aftermath of a devastating loss, Cal and Jenny Horigan's marriage is unraveling. Both are plagued by guilt, unable to seek comfort from one another. Burdened by remorse, they begin to lose sight of the love that once anchored them-together with their sense of right and wrong.

As the Horigans try different ways to deal with their pain, a new acquaintance seems to offer the support they desperately need-though at times they are unsure whether his guidance is leading them back to each other or further apart...

My Thoughts:
This was a book for mothers and daughters alike. After I read it I just HAD to pass it on to my mom. The story was thoughtful and engaging. The only negative was the beginning. I was not drawn in right away but I became attached as soon as I was. The characters were all so much like people you meet in your everyday life. They could have easily been your next door neighbor. Due to this I felt an intense connection to this book, way more so than any book has done to me lately.

The writing style was easy to read and not distracting. I would recommend this book to all women.

Scores:
I give this a A and an adult rating.

The Anti-Prom (Abby McDonald)

2011-10-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Three unlikely allies team up for a night of rebellion, romance, and revenge in a high-stakes dramedy from acclaimed young author Abby McDonald.

They’ve spent years at the same high school without speaking a word to one another, but that’s all about to change. Popular Bliss was having the perfect prom until she found her BFF and boyfriend making out in the back of a limo. Bad girl Jolene wouldn’t be caught dead at the prom, yet here she is, trussed up in pink ruffles, risking her reputation for some guy - some guy who is forty minutes late. And shy, studious, über-planner Meg never counted on her date’s standing her up and leaving her idling in the parking lot outside the prom. Get ready for The Anti-Prom, Abby McDonald’s hilarious, heart-tugging tale about three girls and one unforgettable prom night.

Review:

This book was entertaining enough to be good, but too predictable to be great. Everyone has heard and experienced their fair share of high school drama, and this book really isn’t anything extraordinary. It was very well written, lots of excitement and “oh no” moments, and a heart-warming happy ending for the main characters. I would advise readers of 14/ 15+ to read this, but don’t get any bright ideas ;)

18 Minutes (Peter Bregman)

2011-10-06T01:37:00.000-07:00

Summary:
Based upon his weekly Harvard Business Review columns (which is one of the most popular columns on HBR.com, receiving hundreds of thousands of unique page views a month), 18 MINUTES clearly shows how busy people can cut through all the daily clutter and distractions and find a way to focus on those key items which are truly the top priorities in our lives.

Bregman works from the premise that the best way to combat constant and distracting interruptions is to create productive distractions of one's own. Based upon a series of short bite-sized chapters, his approach allows us to safely navigate through the constant chatter of emails, text messages, phone calls, and endless meetings that prevent us from focusing our time on those things that are truly important to us.

Mixing first-person insights along with unique case studies, Bregman sprinkles his charming book with pathways which help guide us -- pathways that can get us on the right trail in 18 minutes or less.

My Thoughts:
I thought this was wonderful book and an asset to anyones nonfiction collection. We all have a hard time focusing and continue to procrastinate. I believe that this book can help you work through that. You will find yourself understanding why you have these issues and how to fix them upon completion of this book.

Scores:
I give this an A and an adult rating.

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-10-05T03:44:00.000-07:00

What?

Lexi's feeling a little holidazed this winter....

Lexi's been going out with Cameron for way too long. Sure, he's a nice guy, but there's a spark missing between them. So she comes up with the perfect plan: get him to fall for another girl so she'll be free — and guilt-free, too.

But when Lexi sees Cameron looking awfully cozy with Jaylene, her heart melts, especially when her budding psychologist best friend tells her that once a new couple has gone out a dozen times, their relationship is pretty much set. Cameron's twelfth date with Jaylene — the Christmas Ball — is coming up. Can Lexi find a way to rekindle her relationship with Cameron in the (saint) nick of time?

Why?
It's getting to be that time! Let the holiday's begin!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Michelle Hodkin)

2011-10-04T01:33:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Review:

YES! I enjoyed this book immensely! The way the author twisted this story and spun it up in just the right way to really make it unique, it was a stunning source of enjoyment. It’s absolutely topsy-turvy and demented and just incredible in every way. It gave me goose bumps and chills, and I have never read a book as excellently crafted as this one. I couldn’t put this book down, if I didn’t already own it I’d have it on pre-order! So followers, 14+ I hope you’ll enjoy this read as much as I did.

Must Monday

2011-10-03T03:32:00.000-07:00

What?
It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM. Josh is her best friend.

They power up and log on and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out

Why?
Two amazing authors. I loved meeting Jay, so any book he has a part in I will read!

When?
November 2011

Unforgettable

2011-10-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

I was luck enough to be a part of the blog tour for Loretta Ellsworth's newest book, Unforgettable. As my post I wanted to spotlight the many exciting things available to you involving this book.

First off, take a moment to see what this book is all about: http://www.lorettaellsworth.com/books/unforgettable1.html

You also have the oppurtunity to read some of the book online. You can do so here:

http://www.lorettaellsworth.com/pdf/Unforgettable_excerpt.pdf

Loretta has many visits planned. You can see those and the other blog tour stops:

http://www.lorettaellsworth.com/schedule/schedule1.html

Last but not least.... YOU have the chance to win a nook! That is a super fabulous prize! Look for the details in Loretta's journal:

http://www.lorettaellsworth.com/journal/

Look for a review of this book, this Friday.

Thanks to Loretta for the chance to participate in this blog tour!

The Lost Wife (Alyson Richman)

2011-10-02T01:49:00.000-07:00

Summary:

In pre-war Prague, the dreams of two young lovers are shattered when they are separated by the Nazi invasion. Then, decades later, thousands of miles away in New York, there's an inescapable glance of recognition between two strangers. Providence is giving Lenka and Josef one more chance. From the glamorous ease of life in Prague before the Occupation, to the horrors of Nazi Europe, The Lost Wife explores the power of first love, the resilience of the human spirit- and the strength of memory.

My thoughts:
This was a beautiful book. Everything from the cover to the romance was fantastic. The cover was what drew me in originally and made me have to read it. The romance is what kept me going. The blossom of love in such a hateful time was alluring.

I have always had an interest in the Nazi's. The way they treated people has always boggled my mind. This was a very unique venture into the war. It wasn't a documentation of the hatred, it was a representation of love and life beyond.

My only problem with this book was how slow it felt to me. It was not a quick paced book by any means. I would still recommend anyone with an interest in romances read it!

Scores:
I give this book a B and adult rating.

School Started

2011-10-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let y'all know I am back! I have a full course load this this term so I will be busy but I am back to reviewing. I just needed a week to get into the swing of things for school. So here come the reviews....

Circle Nine

2011-09-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Summary:

She knows only Sam, a mysterious teenage boy. He is her sole companion; her whole life. She was born, already a teenager, lying outside a burning building in soot-stained clothes, remembering nothing, not even her name. He showed her the necklace she had on, the one that named her: Abby. Sam brought her to live in his cave-palace, where he gives her everything she needs. He loves her. He protects her from the world outside, from everyone who wants to hurt them, like the denizens of Circle Nine, Dante’s deepest circle of hell. But even in a charmed, brand-new life like Abby’s, change will come. Sam falls ill. A new girl comes to stay, and Abby begins to question Sam’s devotion. With doubt comes emotional turmoil, changes in perception, and glimpses of her past identity. In this courageous psychological thriller, Abby tells the story of living her new life and discovering her old one, while grappling with an ever-changing reality.

Review:

My, oh my, where to begin? I was not very impressed with the format of this book, it was very hard to follow considering no quotation marks were ever used. The story was even more confusing, but I suppose that was fitting in regard to how jumbled up the main character was. I liked it, but it was really disappointing because of the misfortunate lack of quotation, that right there took so much away from the story that it kept this book from being quite good. That being said, I’ll cut to the chase: 14+ and either a paperback or a library book.

Never Have I Ever (Sara Shepard)

2011-09-22T00:24:00.000-07:00

Summary:

My perfect life was a lie.

Now I’d do anything to uncover the truth.

Not long ago, I had everything a girl could wish for: amazing friends, an adorable boyfriend, a loving family. But none of them know that I’m gone—that I’m dead. To solve my murder, my long-lost twin sister, Emma, has taken my place. She sleeps in my room, wears my clothes, and calls my parents Mom and Dad.

And my killer is watching her every move.

I remember little from my life, just flashes and flickers, so all I can do is follow along as Emma tries to solve the mystery of my disappearance. But the deeper she digs, the more suspects she uncovers. It turns out my friends and I played a lot of games—games that ruined people’s lives. Anyone could want revenge . . . anyone could want me—and now Emma—dead.

My Thoughts:

I will admit that The Lying Game is a very addicting series, as is Pretty Little Liars. They are just starting to bug me. The books are so similar (which I will discuss in paragraph two, so spoilers ahead). They also take half a book to get entertaining and then leave you where you want more. Then you buy the next book and don't get the same pace the last book ended at.

SPOILERS HERE: I do not like that both of Sara's "big" series have twins as a main plot point. That was bad enough. Then we are given plot point that revolves around a cliff in both of her most recent books. I feel like ideas are being recycled.

Maybe I have no room to judge. I am one of the crazy fan girls who will continue to buy her books and continue to be annoyed. They are just too addicting to stop.

I recommend you read one sereis or the other. Not both. I give this a letter C and a 14+ rating.

The Lady of the Butterflies

2011-09-20T02:52:00.000-07:00

Summary:

They say I'm mad and perhaps it's true.
It is well known that lust brings madness and desperation and ruin. But upon my oath, I never meant any harm. All I wanted was to be happy, to love and to be loved in return, and for my life to count for something.
That is not madness, is it?

So begins the story of Eleanor Glanville, the beautiful daughter of a seventeenth-century Puritan nobleman whose unconventional passions scandalized society. When butterflies were believed to be the souls of the dead, Eleanor's scientific study of them made her little better than a witch. But her life-set against a backdrop of war, betrayal, and sexual obsession-was that of a woman far ahead of her time.

Review:

This book absolutely and completely broke my heart. It starts off innocently enough, luring the reader just like a whimsical butterfly. A story so beautiful and happy, I could not resist falling in love with it. I felt, intimately, all the happiness and pain and unfathomable sorrow that Eleanor felt so that by the end of the book I was overwhelmed in tears at the heart wrenching truth that underlies and undermines the truest of loves and ultimately enough to destroy the heart of one’s soul. I love this book as passionately as I hate it because it is so base and raw that destroys the reader with the clarity that we all search for in life and that not many of us find. I will forever keep this book close to my heart as a reminder that you may never know the truth until it is upon you to drive you to madness.

I would rate this with my highest praises and an A+13/ A+14. I regard this book as my second favorite EVER.

Must Monday

2011-09-19T04:24:00.000-07:00

What?

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

When the family returns and Cricket - a gifted inventor and engineer - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Why?
Don't tell me you don't think this sounds adorable?

When?
This book will be released September 29, 2011

Back from Texas

2011-09-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

I am back from Texas today! Thanks to all who followed, emailed, or commented while I was away. I promise I will be getting back to you all as soon as possible!

Love you all! Thanks for all your support!

Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher)

2011-09-17T02:28:00.000-07:00

So happy Hannah got the chance to read one of my favorite books! Here is what she had to say:

Summary:

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Review

Well Jay Asher, you’ve certainly made my list. My top 10 list that is, for the best reads of summer and here are a few of the reasons why:

1. Your style is the most unique I’ve ever seen. It makes everything so crisply significant when the entire book is dialogue. And the way you slid between Hannah and Clay was brilliant.

2. The way you incorporated the character of Hannah right from the beginning of the first tape, introducing her spunk and sarcasm. It pulled me in that she was such a loud presence but was silent most of the time as the story went on.

3. Your wording, the way you made her speak, I felt all of the passion, the sorrow, the deep pain that is instilled in all of us at some point. You made her relatable, and in doing so you made her utterly unforgettable.

4. The hardest part of this book for me was Clay. His pain tore through me as he pleaded and talked to Hannah as he listened to the tapes. Not many of the authors I’ve read have come anywhere near this kind of reality, there’s always that one little un-namable obstruction keeping them from jumping into the next dimension and somehow in this book, there was nothing. You transcended the realm of “I just went there” and you owned it.

Readers, I could go on and on so let me put it to you this way: Why are you still on the computer? If you are 14+ you should be on your way to the book store. NOW.

The Near Witch (Victoria Schwab)

2011-09-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

Summary:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Review:

This book was fantastic! It was a really easy, very smooth read from beginning to finish. There really isn’t much I can criticize, just a lot of praise for this book. The characters were wonderfully created and the back stories were just long enough to give the reader what we needed. So all in all a great book and one I will be keeping on my shelf to read again and again. And to those who read my reviews I’d say go and get this book right now. There is some brief swearing but nothing more than kisses so 12/ 13+

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self (Danielle Evans)

2011-09-15T04:14:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self offers a bold new perspective on the experience of being young and African-American or mixed-race in modern-day America.

My Thoughts:
I had such high hopes for this book. I heard great things about it was excited to explore this new voice. It was not the book for me. I had a hard time connecting to it because of the language. It was not the way I speak, nor is it the way anyone around me speaks. This threw me off enough that the rest of the book became less enjoyable.

It was not a bad book and I do not wish for people to think that is what I am saying. The stories were very real and honest. I just had a hard time connecting with them. For that I would give it a letter B. I would also like to mention that this is an adult title, aimed at adults.

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-09-14T04:12:00.000-07:00

What?

Sara would be looking forward to her sixteenth birthday, but thanks to her mom's party planning business, she's way too wrapped up in someone else's: spoiled socialite Dakota London's. Sara would much rather spend her summer hanging out with Ian, an up-and-coming guitar player and her new crush. But Sara is so busy catering to Dakota's every wacky whim, she's got no time to spend with him.

And then, the icing on the cake: Dakota wants Ian to be her date for the big bash, and she wants Sara to play matchmaker! Sara's not sure she's game for this task, especially because she thinks she's falling for Ian. Will this birthday end up more bitter than sweet?

Why?
I love these romance books! They are funny and adorable!

unSweetined

2011-09-13T02:43:00.000-07:00

Today I leave for a week in Austin, Texas! I will reply to all emails when I return!

Summary:

Jodie Sweetin melted our hearts and made us laugh for eight years as cherub-faced, goody-two-shoes middle child Stephanie Tanner. Her ups and downs seemed not so different from our own, but more than a decade after the popular television show ended, the star publicly revealed her shocking recovery from methamphetamine addiction. Even then, she kept a painful secret—one that could not be solved in thirty minutes with a hug, a stern talking-to, or a bowl of ice cream around the family table. The harrowing battle she swore she had won was really just beginning. In this deeply personal, utterly raw, and ultimately inspiring memoir, Jodie comes clean about the double life she led—the crippling identity crisis, the hidden anguish of juggling a regular childhood with her Hollywood life, and the vicious cycle of abuse and recovery that led to a relapse even as she wrote this book. Finally, becoming a mother gave her the determination and the courage to get sober. With resilience, charm, and humor, she writes candidly about taking each day at a time. Hers is not a story of success or defeat, but of facing your demons, finding yourself, and telling the whole truth

My Thoughts:

I have recently enjoyed more biographies and autobiographies than ever before. This was by far the best one I have read. I grew up on Full House. I would come home from kindergarten and a rerun was on. I watched it every day! Now I’m not that little five year old (just like young Stephanie) so I can comprehend she was a real person outside of the Stephanie character. I enjoyed how open and real she was with her book.

This is a wonderful book for every 16+ to read. There is a lot of drug use, sex, and underage drinking. You will get a wonderful reminder that the actors we see on TV are people too. We have to give them space and let them grow. We tend to verbally bash them for every choice they make and it becomes unhealthy.

I give this an A+!

Must Monday

2011-09-12T02:25:00.000-07:00

What?

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge.
If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him.

When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the offense, her world begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.

Why?
This sounds like a really good book about siblings and the bonds they share.

When?
BUY IT TOMORROW!!!!

A Need So Beautiful (Suzanne Young)

2011-09-11T02:11:00.000-07:00

Summary:

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.

Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adore Suzanne, so I was super excited to read this book. It is not my typical book choice but I am so glad I read it. It was one of the best books I have read in a very long time (and I’m not saying that just because I dined with her after she signed my copy). The characters each had their own distinct personalities that they maintained through the whole book. The story was always throwing curveballs and kept me interested throughout.

I recommend starting this book when you have time to finish. You will not want to put it down! I give it a 14+ due to language and some implied sexual content. I also give this a big A+! Go buy a copy now!

Texas

2011-09-10T02:05:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely readers!

I just wanted to drop you a note saying I will be in Texas until the 18th of this month. The posts are set and will continue. Please feel free to comment and email me. I will respond to all emails as soon as possible. I get anywhere from 40-100 emails a day so please be patient with me.

Also, to the people who emailed saying they can't follow my blog. I don't know what is up but I am looking into it. I asked a couple friends and they said they can. I did recieve three emails about it though so it must be a problem sometimes. If this is happening to you, please let me know!

See you all when I return from getting my tan on and going to an A&M football game!

~Ashley~

Sharks and Boys (Kristen Tracy)

2011-09-09T05:05:00.000-07:00

Summary:

When 15-year-old Enid Calhoun follows her boyfriend Wick to Maryland for a party, fearful that he might be intending to cheat on her, she finds herself sneaking on board a houseboat where Wick and his friends plan to have a wild night. But before the boys discover their stowaway, a hurricane strikes, and the teenagers are carried miles from the shore and shipwrecked. What follows is a harrowing, yet heartwarming, story of survival, as the teens battle hypothermia, dehydration, man-eating sharks--and along the way, confront their own deepest secrets, including their catalytic roles in the disaster.

Review:

This book made me sick, I was completely distraught by the goings- on in the story and completely disgusted with her boyfriend and the very last bit of the ending. However, over all it was a pretty alright read, but I will never read this book ever again. I’d say probably a paperback copy and not for the faint of heart so probably a mature 12 or 13.

Dancing With Mrs. Dalloway (Celia Blue Johnson)

2011-09-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

Summary:

In Dancing with Mrs. Dalloway, you'll discover who Edgar Allan Poe's raven really belonged to, whether Jane Austen's heartthrob Mr. Darcy actually existed, who got into mischief with a young Mark Twain, and what the real Sherlock Holmes did for a living. These delightful stories reveal the often unknown reasons our literary heroes put quill to parchment, pen to paper, or finger to keyboard to write some of the world's best-loved books.

My Thoughts:
I am an over thinker, so this was the book for me! I have spent lots of time wondering where a book came from. This book helped me answer that question over and over. I loved the C.S. Lewis story and Winnie the Pooh! Those two books are dear to my heart.

I give this book a big A, and a 13+. Everyone needs a copy of this in their personal library!

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-09-07T02:40:00.000-07:00

What?

Lori lives for summertime on the lake. She spends all season wakeboarding, swimming, and hanging with her friends -- including the two hotties in the house next door. With the Vader brothers, Lori's always been one of the guys.

But while Lori and the "baby" brother, Adam, are inseparable friends, she can't deny a secret crush on Sean, the older Vader boy. This year Sean's been paying Lori a lot of attention, and not in a brotherly way.

But just as Lori decides to prove to Sean she's girlfriend material, she realizes that her role as girl friend to Adam may be even more important. And by trying so hard for the perfect summer romance, she could be going way overboard....

Why?
I adore these witty romances! They are a great reading refresher.

Cut

2011-09-06T02:27:00.000-07:00

Summary:

When she arrives at Sea Pines, Callie is self-destructive, unresponsive, and withdrawn. Her parents and doctor have placed her in the "residential treatment facility" after discovering that she cuts herself. Callie refuses to talk to anyone, including her psychiatrist. But slowly, through compelling first-person narrative, the event that traumatized her comes to light. Callie reveals that her brother Ben nearly died from liver failure while in her care. Her mother was unavailable and her father was at a bar. Although their absence is evidence of a deep family dysfunction, Callie blames herself for the crisis. When the threat of expulsion from Sea Pines precipitates a cutting incident that frightens her, Callie finally begins her healing process. She opens up to the girls around her and surrenders to her therapist the compass she's been using to cut herself. Through Callie's frank and realistic voice, first-time novelist Patty McCormick illuminates a subject that is rarely discussed. Her story of Callie's recovery will speak to the more than 1 million people - mainly girls and young women - who engage in acts of self-inflicted violence every year.

My Thoughts:

Right off the bat this book was not what I expected it to be. The main character was mute the first half of the book. That made it very different. I liked that we were able to dig deeper into who she was that way, but we missed out on who she was with other people. Around a third of the way through the story miraculously became better. I won’t say why and spoil it.

It was a short, quick, read. I would rate it 14+. The subject of cutting is a difficult subject. I would also give it a B. It was good but something kept it from being GREAT!

Must Monday

2011-09-05T02:14:00.000-07:00

What?
Tess and Lizzie are sisters, sisters as close as can be, who share a secret world filled with selkies, flying horses, and a girl who can transform into a wolf in the middle of the night. But when Lizzie is ready to grow up, Tess clings to their fantasies. As Tess sinks deeper and deeper into her delusions, she decides that she can’t live in the real world any longer and leaves Lizzie and her family forever. Now, years later, Lizzie is in high school and struggling to understand what happened to her sister. With the help of a school psychologist and Tess’s battered journal, Lizzie searches for a way to finally let Tess go.

Why?
This sounds so different from any book I have read! I want to give it a chance!

When?
October 11, 2011 Pre-order your copy on amazon now.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

2011-09-04T01:18:00.000-07:00

When Hannah asked to borrow this book I was ecstatic. This was my very first review, the review that made Book Diva's want to review for them, back in the day! See what Hannah has to say about this wonderful book!

Summary:

When Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she knows something exciting is going to happen. What Ginny doesn't know is that she will have the adventure of her life and it will change her in more ways than one. Life and love are waiting for her across the Atlantic, and the thirteen little blue envelopes are the key to finding them in this funny, romantic, heartbreaking novel.

Review:

One of my personal favorites that shot right to the top of my “best of summer” reading list, this book was fun, challenging, a little sad, a little crazy (and a little riskay if you know what I mean). I love the way the characters are portrayed and how everything falls together in the end after everything has fallen apart. I’d give this an A+13 and if you’re still reading this review you aren’t getting how good this book is :)

The Local News

2011-09-03T02:05:00.000-07:00

Summary:

When fifteen-year-old Lydia Pasternak’s popular older brother Danny disappears late one summer night, she unwillingly becomes a celebrity in her community and an afterthought to her bereaved parents. In Danny’s absence, Lydia blossoms from a bookish outcast to the center of attention, all while grappling with her grudging grief for a brother she never particularly liked. When an intriguing private investigator enters the picture, Lydia finds herself drawn into the search for clues to Danny’s whereabouts. The shocking end to that trail of clues—an end that Lydia never prepares for—will haunt her for the rest of her life.

My Thoughts:

This was a required book for my first college English class. I was ecstatic when I saw it, because it was already on my amazon wishlist. I found it to be enjoyable from the start. It got you right in to the story and you instantly developed relationships with characters. It continued at a wonderful pace until about halfway through. At the halfway mark the book became dry. I no longer felt the desire to dig into it, as I once had. This continued on until the very last section of the book. It skips quite a few years ahead and becomes a “where are they now” story. I actually enjoyed that part.

I would give this book a B, because of the dry center. I would also rate the 14+ because of language and underage drinking. The book revolves around a kidnapping so it is intense subject matter.

The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills

2011-09-02T02:15:00.000-07:00

Summary:

For anyone who's ever survived a rite of passage or performed a mating dance at Prom . . .

The Japanese hold a Mogi ceremony for young women coming of age. Latina teenagers get quinceaneras. And Janice Wills of Melva, NC ... has to compete in the Miss Livermush pageant.

Janice loves anthropology--the study of human cultures--and her observations help her identify useful rules in the chaotic world of high school. For instance: Dancing is an effective mating ritual--but only if you're good at it; Hot Theatre Guys will never speak to Unremarkable Smart Girls like Janice and her best friend, Margo; and a Beautiful Rich Girl will always win Melva's annual Miss Livermush pageant.

But when a Hot Theatre Guy named Jimmy Denton takes an interest in Janice, all her scientific certainties explode. For the first time, she has to be part of the culture that she's always observed; and all the charts in the world can't prove how tough--and how sweet--real participation and a real romance can be.

Funny, biting, and full of wisdom, this marks the debut of a writer to watch.

Review:

This book was an alright read, fairly quick, but not the most attention grabbing. In my opinion is was rather dry in places but others were very true in the style of American teenage habits. The format was strange, I felt that the graphs were thrown in somewhat randomly and that their placement could have been better chosen so as not to distract from the story. All in all I liked it, but I’m not sure I would read it again and again. That being said I would give this an A 12+/13+ and probably advise a library visit.

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-08-31T01:29:00.000-07:00

What?

When Ava gets dumped by her boyfriend, she's pretty upset. He wasn't the love of her life or anything, but with her sister's wedding - a.k.a. the social event of the season - just two weeks away, Ava's got to save face by finding someone cute and fun to bring as her date.

With the clock ticking and no dates in sight, Ava asks her best friend if she can "borrow" her boyfriend, Jason, for the night. Ava's never been a big Jason fan, but he'll look great in a tux, and at least she'll have someone to dance with. But it doesn't take long for Ava to realize she's got him all wrong...

What do you do when Mr. Right is wrapped up in a package that belongs to your best friend?

Why?
Wanting someones boyfriend is not original, but it still makes for a fantastic read!

The Man in the Rockefeller Suit

2011-08-30T01:14:00.000-07:00

Summary:

The story of Clark Rockefeller is a stranger-than-fiction twist on the classic American success story of the self-made man-because Clark Rockefeller was totally made up. The career con man who convincingly passed himself off as Rockefeller was born in a small village in Germany. At seventeen, obsessed with getting to America, he flew into the country on dubious student visa documents and his journey of deception began.

Over the next thirty years, boldly assuming a series of false identities, he moved up the social ladder through exclusive enclaves on both coasts-culminating in a stunning twelve-year marriage to a rising star businesswoman with a Harvard MBA who believed she'd wed a Rockefeller.

The imposter charmed his way into exclusive clubs and financial institutions-working on Wall Street, showing off an extraordinary art collection-until his marriage ended and he was arrested for kidnapping his daughter, which exposed his past of astounding deceptions as well as a connection to the bizarre disappearance of a California couple in the mid-1980s.

The story of The Man in the Rockefeller Suit is a probing and cinematic exploration of an audacious imposer-and a man determined to live the American dream by any means necessary.

Review:

This book was incredible, a story too good to be true, too fantastic to be real, and too twisted to put down. I’m not one for real stories, but this book certainly changed my mind on that point. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good puzzle and I would certainly say “go get it right now”. Heck I’d lend them my own copy because it’s too good to wait for. An absolute A+ if I ever saw one, but that A+ comes with a 12 attached so don’t be expecting any openly raunchy behavior ;)

Must Monday

2011-08-29T01:27:00.000-07:00

What?
Jamie Edwards has loved everything about growing up on a pumpkin patch, but ever since her cousin Milan Woods arrived, things have really stunk. Jamie can’t imagine it was easy for Milan to leave her life back in Los Angeles and move to Average, Illinois, population one thousand. But it’s kind of hard to feel sorry for her since (a) Milan’s drop-dead gorgeous; (b) she’s the daughter of two of Hollywood’s hottest film stars; (c) she’s captured the attention of everyone in town, including Danny, Jamie’s crush since forever; and (d) she’s about to steal the title of Pumpkin Princess right out from underneath Jamie!

Why?
The pumpkin princess plot sounds too adorable to miss!

When?
October 11th, 2011

Twisted

2011-08-27T01:02:00.000-07:00

Summary:

It’s been a year since the torturous notes from A stopped and the mystery of Alison DiLaurentis’s disappearance was finally put to rest. Now seniors in high school, Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily are older, but they’re not any wiser. The pretty little liars have more secrets than ever—twisted secrets that could destroy the perfect lives they’ve worked so hard to rebuild.

Aria’s jealous of her boyfriend’s new exchange student. Spencer’s getting a little too cozy with her soon-to-be-stepbrother. Hanna’s one scandalous photo away from ruining her dad’s Senate campaign. And Emily will do anything to get a swim scholarship.

Worst of all: Last spring break in Jamaica, they did something unforgivable. The girls are desperate to forget that fateful night, but they should know better than anyone that all secrets wash ashore . . . eventually.

My Thoughts:
I use to love this series. Friends and I would anxiously await the arrival of the next book. I remember finding the 4th book a week before it was supposed to come out and I was super excited. Now I find the series to be blah. It should of ended after four books, I was satisfied, as were all my friends. It became eight books. It really should have ended there. it all want downhill after book 5. Now There are to be 12 books and I am not excited! The series has become ruined for me. Yes, I will read them all but I won't be pounding down the bookstore for them. I don't like how repetitive and strange they have become. I also don't like all the game playing about the series being over.

That being said, this was an okay book. I still recommend the series to people. Many of my reading hating friends love this series. As long as people read, then wonderful. I would give this book a B, which might be too generous. I also rate it 15+, for extreme violence, and some implied sexual content.

Alice Bliss

2011-08-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

Summary:

"Outside the back window Alice can see the outlines of the garden, some of the furrows visible under the snow, stretching away in long thin rows. She can't imagine doing the garden without her dad. It's his thing; she's always thought of herself as his assistant at best. She can't imagine doing anything without her dad and she starts to feel like she can't breathe. And then she looks at him. Just looks at him as he watches the fire with muffin crumbs on his lap.
'I'll write to you.'
'I know, sweetheart.'
'Every day.'"
--From Alice Bliss

When Alice Bliss learns that her father, Matt, is being deployed to Iraq, she's heartbroken. Alice idolizes her father, loves working beside him in their garden, accompanying him on the occasional roofing job, playing baseball. When he ships out, Alice is faced with finding a way to fill the emptiness he has left behind.

Matt will miss seeing his daughter blossom from a tomboy into a full-blown teenager. Alice will learn to drive, join the track team, go to her first dance, and fall in love, all while trying to be strong for her mother, Angie, and take care of her precocious little sister, Ellie. But the smell of Matt is starting to fade from his blue shirt that Alice wears everyday, and the phone calls are never long enough.

Alice Bliss is a profoundly moving coming-of-age novel about love and its many variations--the support of a small town looking after its own; love between an absent father and his daughter; the complicated love between an adolescent girl and her mother; and an exploration of new love with the boy-next-door. These characters' struggles amidst uncertain times echo our own, lending the novel an immediacy and poignancy that is both relevant and real. At once universal and very personal, Alice Bliss is a transforming story about those who are left at home during wartime, and a teenage girl bravely facing the future.

Review:

To be honest, there is not much I can say about this novel other than it was profoundly painful for me to read this because it bears too close a resemblance of my own trials. My advice for the readers, if you’ve lost someone to the war in Iraq and you are finally able to sleep at night please don’t read this. If you’ve lost someone and you are still searching for understanding or to know that you aren’t the only one or even if you are trying to understand how or why you feel then you might find comfort in these pages. I personally have not slept for the past week since reading this story. So my advice for my readers is to read with caution at your own risk, and to never pick it up again if you need to put it down.

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-08-24T01:25:00.000-07:00

What?

Sometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the very beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.

My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything.

Why?
The summary gives me chills, in a very good way!

Must Monday

2011-08-22T01:22:00.000-07:00

What?
Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

Why?
A) ELIZABETH SCOTT!!!! B) Did you even read the summary? This sounds fabulous!

When?
September 15th, 2011

Should I Share My Ice Cream?

2011-08-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In Should I Share My Ice Cream? Gerald has a big decision to make. But will he make it in time?

My Thoughts:
My goodness, this was THE CUTEST children's book of all times. I read it over and over because I fell in love with it. I now plan to purchase all of these pig and elephant books. I believe they are a wonderful addition to any mothers library.

Passive Agressive Notes

2011-08-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Part voyeuristic entertainment, part group therapy, Passive Aggressive Notes offers a fascinating look at the all-too-familiar frustrations of embattled office drones, apartment dwellers, parents, and pet owners everywhere.

This curated collection combines dozens of outrageous, never-before-seen notes as well as favorites from Passiveaggressivenotes.coma 2008 Webby Award Winner and the official "Best Blog" of the South by Southwest Interactive festival.

My Thoughts:
This isn't a book you can review. I can't rate the plot or judge the writing. It was however a book I wanted to bring everyone's attention to. It was hilarious, I laughed out loud multiple times. I found myself reading parts to my mom and fiance over and over again.

I recommend everyone 14+ pick up a copy of this book. It's a keeper for sure.

Losing Faith

2011-08-20T00:43:00.000-07:00

Summary:

A terrible secret. A terrible fate.

When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don’t know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith’s final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.

My thoughts:
This book was good but not great. I went into it super excited and left feeling a bit disappointed. It felt slow. The flow just didn't move quick enough for me. It took me way longer to read than it should, I read two books while slowly reading this during the same time.

I felt it was a good book for younger teens. It had a feeling like it was aimed more at that audience. I would give it a 12+ rating.

Since it was so slow moving I will have to knock my grade down to a B. This is a book I look forward to giving to my little sister.

Eleventh Plague

2011-08-19T01:09:00.000-07:00

Summary:

The wars that followed The Collapse nearly destroyed civilization. Now, twenty years later, the world is faced with a choice—rebuild what was or make something new.

Stephen Quinn, a quiet and dutiful fifteen-year-old scavenger, travels Post-Collapse America with his Dad and stern ex-Marine Grandfather. They travel light. They keep to themselves. Nothing ever changes. But when his Grandfather passes suddenly and Stephen and his Dad decide to risk it all to save the lives of two strangers, Stephen's life is turned upside down. With his father terribly injured, Stephen is left alone to make his own choices for the first time.

Stephen’s choices lead him to Settler's Landing, a lost slice of the Pre-Collapse world where he encounters a seemingly benign world of barbecues, baseball games and days spent in a one-room schoolhouse. Distrustful of such tranquility, Stephen quickly falls in with Jenny Tan, the beautiful town outcast. As his relationship with Jenny grows it brings him into violent conflict with the leaders of Settler's Landing who are determined to remake the world they grew up in, no matter what the cost.

Review:

An excellent representation of a world we will no doubt know intimately one day in the future of our society. Honestly an excellent read smattered with life, death, and moving on to build a better tomorrow. I’d rate this as an A+12 and put it on my “best of summer” reading list.

Wiener Wolf

2011-08-18T04:46:00.000-07:00

Summary:
Weiner Dog's life of leisure has lost its bite. So when he hears the call of the wild one day, he answers! Thus Weiner Dog becomes...Weiner Wolf.

My Thoughts:
I recently decided I would accept picture books for review and have so far loved it. This was a very cute book. I nanny for two little boys so it is important to keep their attention during story time. They both adored this! It is one they want read over and over.

I recommend all the mom's of little boys go purchase this wonderfully written children's book.

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-08-17T04:40:00.000-07:00

What?
Gen's family is more comfortable spending time apart than together. Then Gen's mom signs them up for Camp Frontier—a vacation that promises the "thrill" of living like 1890s pioneers. Forced to give up all of her modern possessions, Gen nevertheless manages to email her friends back home about life at "Little Hell on the Prairie," as she's renamed the camp. It turns out frontier life isn't without its good points—like the cute boy who lives in the next clearing. And when her friends turn her emails into a blog, Gen is happily surprised by the fanbase that springs up. But just when it seems Gen and family might pull through the summer, disaster strikes as a TV crew descends on the camp, intent on discovering the girl behind the nationwide blogging sensation—and perhaps ruining the best vacation Gen has ever had.

Why?
I'm interested in how this family survives with this vacation! Sounds like a quirky book.

Does a Bear Sh*t in the Woods?

2011-08-16T04:33:00.000-07:00

Summary:
Serious answers to rhetorical questions--what's not to like?

For those of us who have long wondered where bears go to take care of their business, if the Pope is actually Catholic, or whether anyone is really made of money, Caroline Taggart provides the answers to these and a host of previously unanswerable questions.

From the most profound questions of philosophy to queries of geography and science, this deadpan book is full of hilarious information you never knew you needed including:

What's love got to do with it?
How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?
Where does the time go?
Can a leopard change his spots?

My Thoughts:
This was a fantastic book! I read it all in one sitting because I really got into it. The answers were very educational. I have found that since reading this book I laugh when I hear any of these common sayings.

I can say this book wasn't for everyone though. It was pretty dry at some points. The answers were the kind you look for when you are super bored and can't stop thinking.

I would recommend this book for drives and other time fillers. It was an easy read.

Out of commision

2011-08-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

I disappeared off the face of the earth. Sorry guys! I was busy moving and cramming for my finals. I'm back though and I didn't stop reading so I have lots of reviews headed your way! Stay tuned.

Run For Cover- Eva Gray

2011-08-05T03:30:00.000-07:00

Summary:
In a terrifying future world, four girls must depend on each other if they want to survive.
Now that best friends Louisa, Rosie, Evelyn, and Maddie know the truth -- or at least the danger they're in -- the girls have run away from their "safe" country retreat. But life is riskier than ever, and Rosie still doesn't know who she can trust.

Rosie's survival skills are top-notch. But how well can she keep her own secrets?

Review:
The second in the series and the fire is just heating up. I would definitely advise clearing 3 or 4 hours to take this beauty down because the fantastic writing really knocks this one out of the park. Both books in the series so far have put me in a trance where I honestly wish I had just the entire series on hand so I could read them one right after the other. I kid you not, these books are as easy to read as popcorn is easy to eat. They have the perfect blend of salty, savory, sassy crunch that I would implore my followers to sink their ocular teeth into. I ate them up and I loved them; I honestly can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Again an easy 12+ A

Coffeehouse Angel- Suzanne Selfors

2011-08-02T03:27:00.000-07:00

Summary:
When a random act of kindness involves Katrina with Malcolm, a handsome teenage guardian angel intent on fulfilling her greatest wish, fame and fortune seem like the most obvious requests. But after two botched wishes, Malcolm knows Katrina is hiding something from him. How can she tell him the truth, when her heart's desire has become Malcolm himself?

Review:
Sweeter than the perfect rhubarb pie (my personal favorite) this book literally brought me to tears. This book hits home in a lot of ways and I’m sure that others who have read this would agree. I am astounded by how many emotions and opportunities to gain wisdom are presented in this book. I’ve been left honestly speechless, all I can muster at this moment in regards to this book is that I am completely blown away and this has taken this number one spot on my list of “Best Reads”.

I would absolutely say 12+A. This is definitely a book I would recommend a copy to sit on every shelf of every home, and with that being said this book has taken my heart with its characters and its lovely story. My compliments to the author Suzanne Selfors, I can’t wait to read what you bring us next.

Pretty Little Liars interview

2011-07-31T03:38:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to an interview of Ian Harding (Ezra on the ABC Family show, Pretty Little Liars). I wanted to share some of what he had to say.

Moderator Why do you think people love Ezra and Aria’s relationship so much?

I. Harding I think because it’s so right, and like there’s a connection that is undeniable and kind of once in a lifetime. But I think the problem is the circumstances; it’s that kind of element of forbidden love that it needs to happen, but oh it can’t happen, and so it’s them trying to work it out and trying so hard to just make this love happen. I think people can really relate to that and really love that.

Moderator How do you view the current status of Ezra and Aria’s relationship?

I. Harding It’s always a fluctuating status. The moment that it starts to kind of hit a plateau of ease and of happiness somebody gets shaken up A, because it’s a TV show, but B, because their lives are very strenuous; just the student/teacher relationship, even though it’s changed a little bit. It can be difficult, on top of just Aria has stuff that she’s keeping from Ezra because it’s so crazy I think in some ways she doesn’t think he’ll believe it. So it’s always it’s a very material relationship, to say the least.

Moderator Could you speak a little bit about how things are different for you to shoot when you’re filming a scene with just you and Lucy versus you and the whole cast?

I. Harding Lucy and I have a comfort zone that’s otherworldly in the sense of like we had to take a photograph, I won’t say specifically for what, but there is something where we just had to be affectionate. And it’s gotten to the point where I remember when we first starting shooting if we were going to do a make out scene we were literally brushing our teeth beforehand and flossing and chewing all kinds of gum, and now we’re lucky if the other person has brushed their teeth at all prior to a make out scene. So there’s definitely a comfort level there that is pretty unique. When it’s the whole cast it’s just very professional when we’re actually shooting, but in between takes it’s pretty goofy.

Moderator What has been your favorite scene or episode to shoot and why?

I. Harding There was one episode recently that I can’t really talk about, because it does give it away just simply by explaining it, that’s probably my favorite just because it was so much fun to shoot. It was really loose on set and everybody was having a good time.

The last episode where I left Rosewood High School was a lot of fun to shoot because it was with all the girls and they would try and distract me. I would try and distract them, and it was just quite funny—because it was so like heartfelt and everything we made light of it in between takes by ridiculing each other.

Behind the Gates

2011-07-29T03:23:00.000-07:00

Summary:

In a terrifying future world, four girls must depend on each other if they want to survive.
Louisa is nervous about being sent away to a boarding school -- but she’s excited, too. And she has her best friend, Maddie, to keep her company. The girls have to pretend to be twin sisters, which Louisa thinks just adds to the adventure!

Country Manor School isn’t all excitement, though. Louisa isn’t sure how she feels about her new roommates: athletic but snobby Rosie and everything’s-a-conspiracy Evelyn. Even Maddie seems different away from home, quiet and worried all the time.

Still, Louisa loves CMS -- the survival skills classes, the fresh air. She doesn’t even miss not having a TV, or the internet, or any contact with home. It’s for their own safety, after all.
Or is it?

Review:
The first book in the series is the most important. This is the book that will either sell the rest, or flat line a brilliant idea. Hands down: AMAZING! I was fortunate enough to have the second in the series (Run For Cover) waiting on the sidelines just begging to be read. Behind the gates was a really quick, easy, exciting book to read, and the definition of characters was flawless.

Easily a 10+A

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-07-27T01:05:00.000-07:00

What?

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

Why?
It sounds like an out of the norm story.

Pretty Little Liars interview

2011-07-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to an interview of Troian Bellisario (Spencer on Pretty Little Liars). Here is some of what she had to share!

Moderator We’ve certainly seen a really great evolution for Spencer’s character since Season One. Not even just with her family, but of course through relationships with her friends, the Liars, and of course with Toby as well. I was wondering if you can talk a little bit about the evolution of Spencer through those three aspects?

T. Bellisario It’s funny, it’s actually kind of difficult for me to speak about her evolution just because I’m steeped in it and I just feel like there is so much more that she can do. I think Spencer’s biggest evolution has been being able to let go in terms of she’s learned through getting her friends back how to keep friends and how to be supportive. I think Spencer because of the family that she grew up with has a very strong and black and white sense of what is right and what is wrong and she sometimes thinks that she can control other people.

She’s learned to kind of just be supportive of her friends and not let that get in the way of their friendship. I still think she has a long way to go with that in terms of being judgmental of other people and I think her biggest lesson in that was her relationship with Toby. She really ran the gamut as far as thinking that he was the one who killed Alison; he was the one who might be involved with A, and he was their mortal enemy and now there is nobody she holds closer than her friends and Toby.

Moderator Do you think that Spencer tries to put herself away from the girls or tries to hide who she is a little?

T. Bellisario I don’t know, I guess I feel like their relationship is a myriad of different things. Of course, when you consider it from a bunch of different aspects, I think when you consider Spencer’s coolness factor in the group she’s probably a bit of a pariah. As I’m coming to realize throughout the script, Spencer is really the sort of Nancy Drew of the group.

She’s the one who’s always got a dedication to and she kind of plays that by default especially because of the things that are going on in her family with Melissa and Ian, but there is a lot of—with Aria and her relationship with her family, the family’s problems that are going on, but also her relationship with Ezra. Hanna is struggling with relationship issues and finding herself within the relationship with Caleb, and also the relationships with her mother and father. It’s the same thing with Emily.

Spencer definitely, I think, has these familial issues that there is something that she’s not willing to let go of in regard to Alison’s death. I think Spencer, because she’s a control freak, she’s the one who takes A the most harshly. She cannot stand having someone play her like a puppet. I think in that sense that’s where Spencer kind of fits in with the group, is that she’s always the one who’s willing to run out into the woods in the middle of the night if it means finding another clue. Where I think some of the other girls might just want to forget about it, leave it alone, let’s not play this game anymore and that she just can’t let that go.

Moderator How are you personally different than or similar to your character?

T. Bellisario Well, Spencer and I are very similar in that when I was Spencer’s age I was very studious. I was the valedictorian of my class; my academics meant everything to me and my family put a lot of pressure on me to do well, but it was also mostly coming from myself. I felt that I had to be the best and the brightest at everything otherwise I wasn’t worth anything.

I think Spencer definitely feels that and that’s something that I have grown out of. I’ve only grown out of it with age and by having life experiences and that’s more important to me. Spencer hasn’t had those life experiences yet. She’s truly steeped in the middle of trying to be perfect in every way. I would say that that’s the biggest similarity and difference between Spencer and I. I hope one day Spencer will get to go through the sort of life-rocking experiences that I have that make you re-evaluate what’s really important and get off your own back a little bit.

Moderator I have a question submitted on Facebook by a fan. They wanted to know if you knew who A is or is that being kept secret from the cast by the producers?

T. Bellisario Oh, my gosh, I feel like I could answer this question a million times and nobody would ever believe me. They will not tell us who it is. To be honest I don’t even think they know who it is. I don’t mean that they don’t have a few different choices, but every time I speak to them they are keeping their options as open as possible. I think that—maybe Marlene, our executive producer and our creator of the show has a hard fast choice and she’s now working towards that, but I remember there was a time in the writer’s room where they told me she has six different options for people that could be A.

Moderator Spencer has been in so many life-threatening experiences - how do you, as an actress, mentally prepare for these kinds of scarier scenes?

T. Bellisario It’s quite hard, because to be honest we’re always having our lives threatened. There is always something that if it were actually happening to you, if the things that were happening to the girls were happening to me I feel like I would just need a break and I would ask my parents to commit me to a mental institution and just leave me there for my own safety.

You can’t play that all the time. There are moments when A threatens the girls and it’s just a nuisance and there are moments when A threatens the girls and it throws Spencer into a rage. It’s like as human beings we don’t ever have one reaction so I think it’s determining where we are in the story, what was the last time A tried to get under our skin, what are the stakes at this present moment and really connecting to all of those things to determine is this truly a scary moment. Or is this a moment where I completely lose my self-composure or is this a moment where all four of us are in the jungle and we’re all being scared and if I go to pieces everybody else goes to pieces so Spencer has to be stronger.

That’s what gets you out of the moment of oh, my God, I just have to feel scared again because I might jump off a cliff if I thought that that was the only way that I was going to be doing this acting for however many seasons this show is going to be running. It’s not just about that, it’s about what are the circumstances? Am I completely alone? How much fear do you show when you’re alone? Is it more, is it less? It’s those things.

Moderator What do you do when you are not filming? I know that you spend a lot of time with the other girls and I was wondering if there was anything that you guys like to do when you have free time on the set?

T. Bellisario Oh free time on the set. For me personally, I try to sleep if there is any free time because we’re all really tired all the time pretty much so sleeping is a big thing. I also try to write and to just to work on other projects that I am trying to keep afloat while I’m doing this.

Moderator Spencer has a very defined sense of style - what’s an outfit we’ll never see her wear, something that you can think of that is just like not Spencer at all that you would think would be fun?

T. Bellisario Oh, that’s hard, maybe a giant clown suit. I feel Spencer can go so many different ways. I feel like Spencer could totally traipse into Aria’s closet and put something on and be a bad girl for a day. She could even go into Hanna’s closet, probably less into Hanna’s closet, but she can always—in some aspects she dresses down and she is a little bit more casual like Emily.

Spencer trades hats very easily. She can go very high-brow very prim and proper or she can just be wearing like literally sweats after field hockey and just be the same girl—that’s what’s kind of cool about Spencer is that it’s not really her style that defines her, Spencer defines her style all the time.

Must Monday

2011-07-25T00:51:00.000-07:00

What?
A modern retelling of the German fairytale "Tristan and Isolde", Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

Why?
I'm judging this baby by it's cover. It's beautiful!

When?
October 11th, 2011

Contest Winners!

2011-07-24T03:48:00.000-07:00

The Winners of For the King are Myra and Throughthehaze! Congrats guys! You will both recieve emails from me!

Suzanne Young Contest Winner and Interview

2011-07-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

First off, I would like to congratulate the two winners! Lindsay Writes and My Life With Books, you both will be getting an email from me!

After Suzanne's signing (where she provided all this awesome swag) I was able to interview her over dinner. I'm excited to share with you!

1) This book was very different from The Naughty List. Were you ready for a change?
The Naughty List was actually different from what I usually write. I had to tell the story of A Need So Beautiful.

2) Where did the idea for this story come from?
A stranger who helped me through a tough situation inspired the forgotten.

3) Did you do any research for this book?
I did some on angels to avoid too much religion.

4) If you could feel the need like Charlotte would you want to?
NO NEVER!!!!

5) Was there a character you loved to write?
I loved exploring the darker side with Onika.

6)Did you like writing The Naughty List or A Need So Beautiful more?
I liked the writing process of The Naughty List. A Need So Beautiful was like therapy for me.

7) What's next for you?
The sequel to A Need So Beautiful, called A Want So Wicked. It's more like a companion than an actual sequel. Also I have a book coming out called The Program.

Thank you, Suzanne!

Frost-

2011-07-22T03:18:00.000-07:00

Summary:
After the drama of discovering that she’s a member of the Storks, a mystical order of women endowed with powerful abilities, Katla Leblanc is finally settling into her life in chilly Minnesota. In fact, the ex-California girl even hopes for a white Christmas. But Katla’s wintry wish unexpectedly turns into the snowstorm of the century, drawing the attention of Brigid, a gorgeous environmental researcher with an amazing array of fur coats and an unusual interest in Katla’s boyfriend, Jack.

Review:
Enticing, Invigorating, Enthralling, Aggravating, and Explosive! This book is a great second course to a fantastic starter! The story really grabs you and draws you in, and like any great writing you invest yourself in you’re bound to find yourself taking sides and hoping your heroes find their way safely through the obstacles impeding them.

Probably, what I loved most about this book would be how it takes magical figures and embodies them in the normal lives of everyday people. And let’s get real here, who hasn’t honestly wished they were a little less than ordinary?

Overall, I’d rate this book a 12+A. Really great, quick read, and definitely one that you can cozy up to.

PRE-ORDER your copy now!

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-07-20T01:37:00.000-07:00

What?

Best friends Lani and Erin couldn't be more different. Lani's reserved and thoughtful; Erin's bubbly and outgoing. Lani likes to do her own thing; Erin prefers an entourage. There's no possible way they could be interested in the same guy.

So when Erin starts dating Jason, Lani can't believe she feels such a deep connection with him - and it may be mutual. The more Lani fights it, the more certain she feels that it's her fate to be with Jason. But what do you do when the love of your life is the one person you can't have?

Why?
The drama of this book is just too good to pass up.

Guest Post: Eileen Clymer Schwab

2011-07-19T03:23:00.000-07:00

One of the comments I frequently hear from readers is, “This isn’t the kind of book I usually buy, but once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down.” These are very kind and gratefully received words that exhilarate me as an author… yet cause me to fret as an historical novelist. Nothing pleases me more than having readers say that they stayed up past midnight or were late to work because they were swept away by the story, but realizing how close the same reader came to not picking up the book because of its genre worries me.

My current novel, SHADOW OF A QUARTER MOON, is set in the pre-Civil War South, therefore it is categorized as historical fiction. Does this mean that someone who prefers mystery and suspense, or romance, or contemporary novels will not enjoy the book? My answer is… a reader can love a book of any genre, because when all is said and done… it’s all about the story.

In truth, it’s about the characters too. I love writing about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances; particularly how friends, family, and inner conviction can change the course of our lives. Though the premise and setting of SHADOW OF A QUARTER MOON makes it “historical”, there are elements of suspense, intrigue, and romance in the layered plot and characters that appeal to a broad cross-section of readers. I think any good novel balances these elements to some degree, regardless of the genre, and while we as readers get comfortable in the feel and style of certain categories, we shouldn’t lose our sense of adventure. That’s the magic of reading! We spread our wings and are transported to places we’ve never been.

I must admit to you that I am a “happily ever after” kind of gal. So the fact that I’ve written two novels against the backdrop of slavery in the 1800s may seem like a highly unusual choice. After all, what good can be gained by stirring old ghosts? For this reason, there is not a lot of adult fiction written about this period. I suspect this is because it is not a time we are proud of or wish to reminisce over. Instead we hide it from sight like an ugly scar. Readers and writers alike often avoid revisiting these pre-Civil War years because of the horror and shame it stirs in our moral conscience.

However, in keeping the door closed on this time period, we miss the chance to recognize and celebrate the incredible acts of courage and daring deeds that were the genesis of social change in our country. In writing SHADOW OF A QUARTER MOON, I was honored to look back and give voice to a generation deserving of acknowledgement, tribute, and literary life.

Books are fabulous vehicles for discovery. They take us places, both real and imaginary, that we might not otherwise go. I love sitting in front of a keyboard, not knowing where the words will lead me. This sense of adventure is what bonds authors with readers. You share our sense of adventure, and willingly follow us, albeit from the comfort of a beach chair or on a bus to work. You invest your time and emotion into the journey and trust that your authors will make it worth your while. As an author, my hope is that the characters and story resonates with readers long after finishing the book, and they think, “Now that was a journey worth taking.”

Links:

http://www.ecschwab.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eileen-Clymer-Schwab/193999413946643

http://twitter.com/#!/EileenCSchwab

Must Monday

2011-07-18T01:25:00.000-07:00

For those of you new followers, this is a feature I do every Monday. I feature a book that has not yet been released that I am anxiously awaiting!

What?
Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.

Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never understand.

Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?

Why?
Impulse was a marvelous book and I expect this will be just as wonderful.

When?
September 2011

Contest Alert!!!!

2011-07-17T01:16:00.000-07:00

I have two swag gift packs to give away with some small trinkets from Suzanne Young's book signing.

The packs will be an assortment of bookmarks, stickers and pins. I will also be including some extra bookmarks from other places. I probably don't need the 100+ I have!

Same as always, you must be 13+ to enter or have a parent enter for you. US residents only.

To enter please leave an email. That alone is 1 entry.

To win another entry you can follow my blog.

I will announce the winner on the 23rd of this month.

The Lying Game

2011-07-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here is some exciting news about a series turned TV show.

"The Lying Game," a new one-hour scripted drama, follows Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who learns she has an identical twin sister, Sutton. Sutton, unlike Emma, was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on the mysterious identity of their birth mother.

After Sutton inexplicably fails to return to the girls' designated meeting place, Emma must decide whether to come clean about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister's whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place.

"The Lying Game" stars Alexandra Chando ("As The World Turns") as Emma/Sutton; Andy Buckley ("The Office") as Ted; Helen Slater ("Supergirl") as Kristin; Blair Redford ("90210") as Garrett; Sharon Pierre-Louis ("Lincoln Heights") as Nisha; Kirsten Prout ("Kyle XY") as Char; Alice Greczyn ("Lincoln Heights") as Mads; and Allie Gonino ("10 Things I Hate About You") as Laurel.

Charles Pratt, Jr. ("Ugly Betty," "Desperate Housewives," "All My Children," "Melrose Place") serves as executive producer and writer; Leslie Morgenstein ("Pretty Little Liars," "The Nine Lives of Chloe King," "Gossip Girl," "The Vampire Diaries") and Gina Girolamo will serve as executive producers. Produced by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television, the series is based on the novel by author Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars).

Steampunk

2011-07-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

Summary:
In the first major YA steampunk anthology, fourteen top storytellers push the genre’s mix of sci-fi, fantasy, history, and adventure in fascinating new directions.
Imagine an alternate universe where romance and technology reign. Where tinkerers and dreamers craft and re-craft a world of automatons, clockworks, calculating machines, and other marvels that never were. Where scientists and schoolgirls, fair folk and Romans, intergalactic bandits, utopian revolutionaries, and intrepid orphans solve crimes, escape from monstrous predicaments, consult oracles, and hover over volcanoes in steam-powered airships. Here, fourteen masters of speculative fiction, including two graphic storytellers, embrace the genre’s established themes and refashion them in surprising ways and settings as diverse as Appalachia, ancient Rome, future Australia, and alternate California. Visionaries Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant have invited all-new explorations and expansions, taking a genre already rich, strange, and inventive in the extreme and challenging contributors to remake it from the ground up. The result is an anthology that defies its genre even as it defines it.

Review:
I will say that of these short stories, many have great potential to become well-loved full length novels. I would also to love to see “Steam Girl” in comic book form, as well as in a full length edition. Of these stories, “Steam Girl” was undoubtedly my favorite. However other top ranking stories within this book would include:

• Some Fortunate Future Day
• Clockwork Fagin
• Hand in Glove
• Ghost of Cwmlech Manor
• Gethsemane
• The Summer People
• Everything Amiable and Obliging
• Oracle Engine

For overall purposes I would rate this a 12+B or a 12+C

My reasoning being that, yes there are many good short stories, but some people may not be inclined to read them over and over again.

Contest time!!!

2011-07-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

I have two copies of this lovely book to give away!

The rules are the same as always. You must be 13+ to enter. US residents only. NO PO boxes.

Leave an email in my comment box of this post to be entered. Link to a post about this contest and get +1 entry. Be a follower and tell me you are, +1 entry.

The winner will be announced the 24th.

When I Grow Up becomes an App

2011-07-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here is some exciting news I was asked to share with my readers!

WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC’S BESTSELLING PICTURE BOOK WHEN I GROW UP COMES

TO IPAD, IPHONE, AND IPOD TOUCH

New York, NY – June 16, 2011 – HarperCollins Children’s Books, Bean Creative, and “Weird Al” Yankovic, America’s leading satirist of popular music and culture, today announced that WHEN I GROW UP – an interactive app based on Yankovic’s bestselling children’s book – is available on the App Store for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

With virtuosic narration by Weird Al, fans of all ages can explore the story like never before as young Billy catalogs his wildly improbable career choices in an unbridled celebration of creativity and possibilities. With multiple interactions and animations on every screen, fun and challenging games based on the story, and the ability to personalize the app, users will eagerly consider what they want to be when they grow up.

"Ever since I was a small child, I dreamed of one day helping to produce a cross-platform app that would be sold in the iTunes Store. I was a very prescient kid,” says Yankovic.

Along with exclusive new art, the WHEN I GROW UP app contains all the dazzling wordplay, hilarious rhymes, and whimsical illustrations that readers have raved about since the book’s publication in February. Other fun and fabulous highlights from the app include:

EXCELLENT GAMES—3 interactive games give users the opportunity to try their hand at unusual career options from the story. Never shaved a tarantula before? Well, here’s your chance in the “Tarantula Shaver” game! Or test your job qualifications with “Extreme Snail Race” and “Gorilla Masseuse.”

EXTENSIVE INTERACTIONS—Tap, swipe, pinch, and tilt your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to interact with the characters and settings. Over 50 interactions engage users for hours on end.

PERSONALIZATION – Include your name in the app and see it carried through the entire story.

EXUBERANT NARRATION AND GREAT SOUND EFFECTS—Select “Read Myself” or check out the inspired “Read to Me” option performed by Weird Al himself.

The WHEN I GROW UP app is available for $2.99 from the App Store on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, or at www.iTunes.com/AppStore.

“Weird Al” Yankovic is a comedian, singer/songwriter, music producer, actor, director, and bestselling author. He has won three Grammy Awards and has sold more comedy recordings than anyone else in history. On June 21^st, Weird Al will release his long-awaited album, ALPOCALYPSE.

Bluefish

2011-07-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

Summary:
Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his well-meaning but alcoholic grandpa; a new school and the dreaded routine of passing when he’s called on to read out loud. But that’s before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn’t take “pass” for an answer-a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. And it’s before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. With sympathy, humor, and the disarming honesty, Pat Schmatz brings to life a cast of utterly believable characters-and captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference.

Review:
I am pleased to share with you all that I have found another book to add to my “best reads” list. Be sure to warn your significant others before reading this book because you are sure to fall in love with the witty, charming, and enchantingly inspirational characters that fill these pages with an enticing story that will leave your heart aching for more. Every once in a while you find a story that you don’t want to end and in my opinion this book needed to be much thicker. I hope there is a sequel in the works because I simply must find out what happens next.
I’d rate this a 12+A. Not a lot of swearing, but a lot of alcohol and some violent tendencies.

Harry Potter Weekend

2011-07-07T06:33:00.000-07:00

My friend over at ABC Family wanted me to let you know there is a major Harry Potter weekend, starting tonight. Here is some of what she had to say.

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With the epic battle between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort approaching, ABC Family gives fans a chance to experience the journey through the years of spells and secrets with a magical weekend full of “Harry Potter” films and an online sweepstakes that “Harry Potter” fans won’t want to miss. The “Harry Potter Weekend” event starts with “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” on Thursday, July 7^th and will include airings of each of the first five films through Monday, July 11^th, as well as exclusive never-before-seen footage of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2”, which opens in theaters on July 15, 2011.

The “Harry Potter” weekend schedule is as follows:

Thursday, July 7^th

7:30 PM – 11:00 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

Friday, July 8^th

3:30 PM – 7:00 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”

Saturday, July 9^th

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

12:30 PM – 4:30 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”

4:30 PM – 7:30 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

7:30 PM – 11:00 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

Sunday, July 10^th

7:00 AM – 10:30 AM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

10:30 AM – 2:30 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”

2:30 PM – 5:30 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

5:30 PM – 9:00 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

9:00 PM – 12:00 AM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”

Monday, July 11^th

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET/PT – “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”

For anyone who believes he or she is the ultimate “Harry Potter” fan, ABC Family has the online sweepstakes not to be missed. Fans can go to www.abcfamily.com/harrypottersweeps starting on Thursday, June 30^th through Sunday, July 10^th to enter their name for a chance to win the “Harry Potter Ultimate Fan Sweepstakes” grand prize. Fans 13 and older can enter once per day to increase their chances.

The grand prize package includes:

· “Ultimate Edition” DVDs or Blu-ray discs of the first six “Harry Potter” films

· “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 1” (three-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

· “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 & 2” video games by Electronic Arts

· Authentic Prop Replica Ten Wands & Wand Display Case

· Authentic Prop Replica Gryffindor House Sweater & Tie

· Authentic Prop Replica Gryffindor Robe

· Plus a copy of The Harry Potter Film Wizardry Book signed by Daniel Radcliffe and other cast members

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-07-06T04:13:00.000-07:00

What?
Two years ago, when Eliza Sellman was in ninth grade, her dad found out he was being transfered and the family was going to move. Having always been shy and not so confident about her body, Eliza took that opportunity to start a list in her private notebook of all the things she planned on doing when she moved but had always been afraid to--like wearing a miniskirt and asking guys to dance; singing karaoke in front of strangers; posting a photo of herself on her Facebook wall in a bikini...you get the idea. New town, new Eliza, right? Well, she'll never know because the transfer fell through and they didn't move. But Eliza kept adding her goals and secret fears to the list in the notebook. Now it's two years later, and in that time Eliza has had and lost her first boyfriend. But this was more than your average breakup...turns out the sweet and cute Cooper was only dating her as a hazing stunt by a secret society. Eliza got her revenge by posting some pretty nasty (and only sort-of true) stuff about Cooper online. That posting has had major consequences and now Cooper and his buddies have stolen her private notebook and won't give it back until she performs all the things on her list in one night. It's torture...until Eliza steals something from the boys she knows they'll want to trade her notebook for. What starts out as a night of humiliation turns into a night of revelations as Eliza learns what Cooper was really thinking when they dated, the real reason he's stolen her notebook, and how freeing--and life-changing--it can be to do the things you fear the most.

Why?
Super catty and dramatic! What a fun book!

Crazy Hot

2011-07-05T04:07:00.000-07:00

Summary:
This summer's not just hot...it's crazy hot.It's been a year since the hottest au pairs ever saw the Hamptons, and they're certainly older — though not necessarily wiser. Or drama-free.Eliza, Jacqui, and Mara thought they'd be spending the summer apart, but when Eliza's new stepmother finds herself in need of some nannying help around the megamansion with the step-monsters, Eliza makes a call...and Jacqui and Mara wind up with two first-class tickets to the Hamptons.After ruling her first year at Parsons, Eliza, the up-and-coming starlet-turned-designer, is opening her own boutique on super posh Main Street. But it's not just Eliza's career that's on the fast track — her relationship with Jeremy is too. Too bad he's moving too fast for Eliza to keep up.Brazilian beauty Jacqui is trying to be a good, responsible au pair. But it's tough when there's a hot British photographer following you around, telling you to quit your job and become an international supermodel. All she wants is to make enough money to pay for NYU...so what happens when she gets a much bigger offer?After getting fired from her travel-writing job and dumped at the airport by her journalist boyfriend, Mara settles for a summer chasing toddlers once again. There's one benefit to nannying: She'll have plenty of material for the novel she's writing about being an au pair — and an It Girl — in the Hamptons. Nothing's going to distract her from the task...

My thoughts:
I adore this series. They are very quick reads and a series you do not want to put down. I'm a nanny so maybe that makes them even better. This is the 4th and final au pair book. It was my least favorite of them all but it was still pretty good.

The girls of these books are fun and the kinds of girls I'd want to be friends with. The series is an A+ series. This book alone was a B. I'd rate these 15+, there is a lot of drinking and sexual behaviors.

Must Monday

2011-07-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

What:
On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction—and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

Why:
I'm judging this one by it's pretty cover!

When:
Buy it the 12th of this month!

168 Hours

2011-07-03T06:24:00.000-07:00

Summary:
There are 168 hours in a week. This book is about where the time really goes, and how we can all use it better. It's an unquestioned truth of modern life: we are starved for time. With the rise of two-income families, extreme jobs, and 24/7 connectivity, life is so frenzied we can barely find time to breathe. We tell ourselves we'd like to read more, get to the gym regularly, try new hobbies, and accomplish all kinds of goals. But then we give up because there just aren't enough hours to do it all. Or else, if we don't make excuses, we make sacrifices. To get ahead at work we spend less time with our spouses. To carve out more family time, we put off getting in shape. To train for a marathon, we cut back on sleep. There has to be a better way-and Laura Vanderkam has found one. After interviewing dozens of successful, happy people, she realized that they allocate their time differently than most of us. Instead of letting the daily grind crowd out the important stuff, they start by making sure there's time for the important stuff. They focus on what they do best and what only they can do. When plans go wrong and they run out of time, only their lesser priorities suffer. It's not always easy, but the payoff is enormous. Vanderkam shows that it really is possible to sleep eight hours a night, exercise five days a week, take piano lessons, and write a novel without giving up quality time for work, family, and other things that really matter.

My thoughts:
I think this could be a really useful book if you thought you needed it. I am super busy but I have my own system of keeping my time managed. I did not need the assistance so I was only able to look at it from the writing aspect. When it came to that it was a super book! I can think of people who can benefit from this sort of thing and I wish they would read this book. It really shows that "I'm too busy" is just a lame excuse for forgetting the people in your life and doing what you want to do.

What Comes After

2011-07-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

Summary:

After the death of her father, sixteen-year-old Iris Wight is uprooted from her hometown in Maine and sent to live on a farm in Craven County, North Carolina, with her hard-bitten aunt Sue and her hulking, monosyllabic cousin, Book. Almost immediately, Iris, a vegetarian and animal lover, clashes with Aunt Sue, who mistreats her livestock, fritters away Iris’s small inheritance, and thinks nothing of striking Iris for the smallest offense.

Grief-stricken and alone, Iris finds solace in her aunt’s willful but lovable herd of goats. But when Iris sets two of the young goats free to save them from slaughter, the tensions between her and Aunt Sue come to a frightening and violent head. Can Iris recover from tragedy for a second time and find a way to save not only her beloved goats but also herself?

My thoughts:
I had very high expectations for this book and they were not met. I had not seen anything about it but when I received it I was ecstatic. It sounded like the kind of book I would want to read through right then and there. I turned out to be wrong. I was uninterested and kept having to take breaks. That in itself was annoying.

The other thing that really bothered me was that I could tell it was written by a man. The main character was a girl and the author didn't seem to fully grasp how she would have been thinking.

I would give this book a "c". It was average.

The Limit

2011-07-01T01:49:00.000-07:00

Summary:
An eighth grade girl was taken today . . . With this first sentence, readers are immediately thrust into a fast-paced thriller that doesn't let up for a moment. In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the monthly debt limit imposed by the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he might be next, but quickly dismisses the thought. After all, his parents are financially responsible, unlike the parents of those other kids. As long as his parents remain within their limit, the government will be satisfied and leave them alone. But all it takes is one fatal visit to the store to push Matt’s family over their limit—and to change his reality forever.

Review:
Twisted, wacky, and a little disturbing, this tale a nightmare that everyone has reason to fear. It also contains a lot of truth about how many people are ignorant to the serious consequences of frivolous spending. I’d rate this a 10+A, it was thrilling and kept all its secrets until the end. And after a few dramatic twists, the resolution is one that leaves everything on the right path and no matter how many times you put this book down, the top floor will always be waiting for you.

Must Monday

2011-06-27T01:35:00.000-07:00

What?

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

Why?
I adore Lisa and this book looks like it will be even better then her others!

When?
Tomorrow!!!! Go buy it!

Q & A with Skyler Samuels

2011-06-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

Skyler Samuels plays Chloe King on ABC Families new show The Nine Lives of Chloe King. I recently had the chance to be in on an interview with her. Here is some of what she had to say!

Moderator Can you tell us what we can expect this season?

Skyler Well, this first season of The Nine Lives of Chloe King is filled with adventures, thrills, romance, comedy and drama, and a lot of heartfelt relationships. There is nothing predictable about this first season. It’s filled with a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and it will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Moderator How did you become involved in the project?

Skyler I had an audition for this show back in the fall of 2010, and I went in and I just fell in love. I loved the pilot before, and I was just, I was just in love with the script. Chloe and I have so much in common. I could hear my own voice in the things she said and did.

And a super-embarrassing story—when I walked in on the audition, I introduced myself as Chloe. I was totally embarrassed because I accidently said Chloe instead of my own name, but sure enough, they agreed, because here I am playing Chloe King, and I’m having the time of my life.

Moderator I’m curious if you read the books to sort of prepare for your role.

Skyler I have read the books. I read them before we started the pilot to get a little bit of a background about the show. But in all honesty, we’ve taken a lot of creative liberties with the books and our adaptations of the TV show. We kind of have a lot of the same basic ideas as the books—some of the mythology, a lot of the main characters are still the same. But we’ve taken a lot of liberties in making it more exciting, and more action-oriented, and really spicing it up. So I think that the fans of the book will really appreciate what we’ve done with the show.

Moderator Has it been a challenge for you playing sort of an element of the supernatural?

Skyler Playing a supernatural is more realistic than I thought it would be. It’s a lot of fun, absolutely, because having super hearing and super vision and super speed and all of the super things you can have is certainly not normal, and it’s a lot of fun. But on this show, it always comes back to something very realistic that I can relate to from my own life. So it’s been not as difficult as I thought it would be to play the supernatural. It’s been quite fun and easy.

Moderator Would you share with us your guilty pleasure TV show?

Skyler Oh, my goodness. My guilty pleasure TV show would have to be Glee. I’m weirdly addicted to the show, and I couldn’t explain it to you if I tried. I’ve never been a big musical buff, or anything, but I find myself week after week, no matter what, tuning into Glee. So that’s definitely my TV go-see pleasure.

Moderator Did you ever watch any supernatural/paranormal shows growing up?

Skyler Oh, there were supernatural movies, like the Hocus Pocus and Luck of Witches and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. So I had a little bit of supernatural influence when I was growing up and watching TV. But I never thought anything different of it, compared to the rest of the shows I might watch. The supernatural never struck me as something that I really wanted to do; I just kind of fell into it by accident.

Moderator Can you describe Chloe?

Skyler Sure. Well, Chloe is definitely more of a superhero than a supernatural creature. On her 16th birthday when she discovered that she’s got these heightened abilities—the super speed, super hearing, and these claws, and she’s got, you know, the ability to read peoples’ feelings. This incredible combination kind of leads Chloe to want to help people who are in trouble.

So even though Chloe finds herself running from bad guys and the ones who are trying to kill her because I’m this special girl who can die nine times and people are trying to see if it’s true, and they’re trying to get rid of me and the rest of our feline race, the Mai. Chloe still finds herself trying to help people and save peoples’ lives using her heightened abilities. So she’s constantly torn between the chase and having to save the day.

Moderator What character traits of Chloe King that mimics your own?

Skyler Chloe and I are both kind of quirky, odd balls out that don’t exactly go with the status quo. We’re both juniors in high school full time, and we’ve got quirky best friends and awesome relationships with our moms. But I think the biggest difference and the thing I admire most about Chloe is her willingness to just be adventurous, and take a risk, and do these incredible things. So, Chloe’s like Skyler, but amplified and I kind of love it.

Moderator Is there any characteristic of Chloe that is complex that you had to take time to adjust to it?

Skyler I think Chloe definitely has challenged me as far as the situations that she goes through. Chloe is always involved in situations where it’s life and death, and I think having to put myself in the fear factor mode is definitely a challenge. But it’s been really interesting trying to adapt to that and trying to get into Chloe’s head and be like, “What does it feel like to be in this life and death situation? What would I do? How would I handle it?” So that’s definitely been a challenge; but a fun one.

Moderator What would be kind of your ultimate dream role? Other than this show, if you could pick anything.

Skyler I think I would love to do a role where I completely transformed myself and I looked completely different, acted completely different, and I did some kind of crazy, cool, action drama where I was like undercover saving the world. I guess it’s got a hint of Chloe King, but maybe a little more spiced up.

Moderator If you had someone that doesn’t necessarily watch the supernatural, and doesn’t necessarily believe in it, or it’s not really their thing, how would you describe the show to get them to tune into it?

Skyler Well, I think that the really cool thing about The Nine Lives of Chloe King is that while it has a lot of supernatural elements and Chloe is kind of a superhero, herself, it is not all about the supernatural. I mean, this show, week-to-week, deals with the struggles of Chloe trying to manage her relationship with her mom. Her mom’s a single mom trying to raise a teenage girl, and so that presents a lot of difficulties, as in what that brings when her mom starts dating, and how does Chloe feel about getting a new dad, and how can she maintain relationships with her friends in high school as they go through all these changes?

And how can you maintain a relationship with a boy you really like if you can’t really be with him. There’s a lot of realistic, really grounded, heartfelt relationships and dynamics on this show to the point where the supernatural elements don’t even strike you. It’s like it all just seems to blend in and make sense.

Moderator What was it about Chloe that when you first read the script or got the sides for her that really made you want to play her?

Skyler When I read the pilot I sat down and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything so fast in my entire life. I was completely just eyes glued to the page, and I just kept turning and turning, and it got more and more exciting. When I finished it, all I could think was, Chloe King is the girl I would fantasize about and I would dream to be. She’s fearless, she’s fun, she’s funny, and she’s quirky, and she’s honest, and she’s cool.

Just everything about her I was like, I want to look up to her and she’s totally a role model in my mind. I’ve got to be this girl, you know, she’s incredible. I’m a lot more cautious than Chloe is, and Chloe’s kind of taught me how it can be fun to take a risk. The things I’ve done playing Chloe King have been some of the most incredible experiences of my entire life. So I’m just so thrilled to be Chloe.

Moderator What’s been your favorite either moment, or favorite scene you filmed?

Skyler Well, there’s been a lot of really cool favorite moments, but I think one of the most incredible scenes that we’ve done was in our third episode we shot underwater, and I was chained up underwater for part of the episode. That was probably the most exciting and frightening thing I’ve ever done, but it was absolutely incredible.

Every week we’ve got all these big fight sequences, and that one happened to involve an underwater element, which I thought was so fun. And it was absolutely incredible to film.

Moderator So Chloe King debuts with Pretty Little Liars next week. How do you feel that the show sort of fits in to the ABC Family Network?

Skyler Well, ABC Family has an absolutely incredible job in producing these hit shows. The ABC Family is where the good stuff’s at. I’m so excited to be a part of this network because they’ve really done a great job introducing shows that are heartfelt, that are exciting, that are kind of everything you’d want; everyday there’s something new and there’s something great to watch.

But being paired with Pretty Little Liars is a high honor, in my opinion. I’m so excited, and I think it’s going to be really great, because I feel like the ABC Family audience, while they’ve gotten a lot of really great shows like Pretty Little Liars and now Switched at Birth, they’ve never had a genre show before. They’ve never had action in the way that Chloe King has action, and excitement, and thrills. So I think Chloe King will only add to the excitement of being great shows on ABC Family.

Moderator What have you learned about yourself from this experience so far?

Skyler That’s such a wonderful and complex question. Being a part of The Nine Lives of Chloe King has absolutely changed my life. In so many ways, Chloe has really opened up this new courageous, brave side of me that I didn’t know I was capable of.

I couldn’t say that I had a fear of heights, because never before was I running on top of buildings and doing the things that Chloe does. But sure enough, being there, sometimes I would think, “Gee, I’m 15 stories above ground level, and now I’m going to jump across a roof. This is a little frightening.”

But every episode I do it, and to think that I’ve been able to accomplish all of these magnificent things is really incredible. But Chloe, also, throughout her emotional transformation on the show; the things she has gone through and experienced, she’s just kind of taught me a lot about myself and life, and to enjoy and take risks. I mean, Chloe teaches me things every day. It’s a never-ending list.

Moderator Now that you’ve only done part of the season so far, what’s something that they haven’t done yet on the show that maybe you would really like to see happen to your character?

Skyler It’s hard to say. Chloe is definitely becoming a very interesting and complex young lady throughout this transformation. But I would be very curious to see if maybe Chloe falls into a bit more trouble in Season 2. Maybe Chloe will kind of team up with a villain, or goes undercover, or does something maybe a little grittier than her daily routine.

Moderator How many episodes are there for this season?

Skyler We have ten for this season—nine additional to the pilot.

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-06-22T01:32:00.000-07:00

What?
This moment changes everything.

Becca has been head-over-heels for Alec from the instant they met. He’s a brainy jock with a poet’s heart—in other words, perfect for her.

Camille is careful with her words and protective of her heart, especially since Chicago. Then a new boy in her new town catches her off guard with a surprise kiss.

Too bad that new boy is Becca’s boyfriend, Alec.

Camille and Becca have never met, but their lives will unravel and intertwine in surprising ways as they deal with what happens after the kiss.

Why?
Sounds like a deliciously deceptive romance! Can't wait to devour this one!

Dead Rules

2011-06-21T03:37:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Till death

Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were in love. They were destined to be together forever.

But Jana's destiny was fatally flawed. And now she's in Dead School, where Mars Dreamcote lurks in the back of the classroom, with his beguiling blue eyes, mysterious smile, and irresistibly warm touch.

Michael and Jana were incomplete without each other. There was no room for Mars in Jana's life—or death—story. Jana was sure Michael would rush to her side soon.

Part

But things aren't going according to Jana's plan. So Jana decides to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true—no matter what rules she has to break.

Review:

Best book of the summer so far! This delightfully twisted Romeo and Juliet story has jumped straight to the top of my “MUST READ” list. A definite 12+A due to the humorous nudity and shockingly witty speech used to described the characters’ life/death stories. Believe me, and clear your day planner because this is a book you won’t want to put down even after you’ve reached the end!

Must Monday

2011-06-20T01:28:00.000-07:00

What?
Sarah Weaver wasn't looking forward to starting at an all-girls school. But that was before she met Maddy. Maddy and her best friend, Agnes, are fun and rich and interesting-and for some reason, they seem to really like Sarah. Before long, Maddy and Agnes have moved Sarah into a big house off campus, where they cook together, buy each other presents, and share each other's secrets. So why does Sarah feel like something's bizarrely wrong? As more and more cracks start to show in Maddy's and Agnes's perfect veneers, Sarah notices some strange and disturbing things: Maddy's compulsive lying, Agnes's obsession with Maddy, and the deterioration of their friendship. And just when Sarah begins to question her own sanity, things turns deadly. Fans of Pretty Little Liars will devour this juicy debut novel.

Why?
It says fans of the PLL series.... THAT'S ME! Plus it just sounds amazing!

When?
Tomorrow!!!!

What's So Funny About Getting Old

2011-06-19T03:59:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a moment to again point out a super awesome gift idea for parents and grandparents. This book had me laughing out loud!

Do Not Open

2011-06-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

Summary:
In the groundbreaking tradition of DK's New York Times bestseller Pick Me Up, this book uses the same irreverent style to explore all the things THEY don't want you know about. From the Mona Lisa's hidden past to the history of Area 51, Do Not Open explores lost worlds, unravels secret codes, and lets readers step through the looking glass to see if they can handle the truth!

My thoughts:
To be honest this book was not all it was hyped up to be. Half of it was great. The other half failed to be interesting and lacked the spark that made me want to read. So much of it was common knowledge. I was expecting so much new information from this book and that did not occur. I'd give this book a "c" grade because it was pretty average.

Rival

2011-06-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Summary:

What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Review:

I give my regards and respect to miss Sara Bennett Wealer for her wonderful story that truly captures the essence of high school girls in today’s society. It was rather vague in the beginning and slow to reveal the truth of the conflict. The ending was also rather abrupt in my opinion. I was honestly disgusted at how these girls treated each other which shows the author’s skill at rousing a reaction from her readers as well as the distinctive characters and personalities she’s created.

Overall I would honestly have to rate this under the category of 12+B. I liked it but it didn’t leave me feeling that “wow” that I get from other books like this one. There is not much swearing , but there is plenty of scheming and back stabbing.

I look forward to the next book by miss Sara Bennett Wealer and hope that all of you who read enjoy.

Twilight Guide

2011-06-16T03:04:00.000-07:00

Summary:
This must-have hardcover edition--the only official guide--is the definitive encyclopedic reference to the Twilight Saga and provides readers with everything they need to further explore the unforgettable world Stephenie Meyer created in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. This comprehensive handbook–essential for every Twilight Saga fan–is full-color throughout with nearly 100 gorgeous illustrations and photographs and with exclusive new material, character profiles, genealogical charts, maps, extensive cross-references, and much more.

My thoughts:
I loved reading this awesome guide. It gave me so much more to go on then what had been given in the novels. It was great being able to piece each character a little more. It made me want to go back and read the books again. I think we would get so much more from the books with this back history.

Harry Potter Movie Magic

2011-06-14T02:29:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Take a behind-the-scenes peek at all the magic of the Harry Potter movie saga!

Ever wonder how they made Harry fly on his broomstick? Or Hermione transfigure a teacup? Find the answers to those questions and much more about life on the set of the Harry Potter movies in this handbook! It takes a peek back with the cast and crew to explore just what it took to make the Harry Potter films happen.

My thoughts:

I have been a huge fan of Harry Potter since I was read the first book by my second grade teacher. This was just before the first movie came out. Since then I have devoured each and every novel and movie. This book gave me a chance to see deep into the movie. I loved knowing some of the little known facts and secrets. The pictures were beautiful and the bits of information delectable.

Must Monday

2011-06-13T02:24:00.000-07:00

What?

Cara has never been one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and always ready with the perfect thing to say. A girl at the very top of the popularity tower. One of the Populazzi.

Now, junior year could change everything. Cara’s moving to a new school, and her best friend urges her to seize the moment—with the help of the Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms into the perfect girlfriend for guys ever-higher on the tower, she’ll reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi.

The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment, a straight climb up, but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.

Why?
This sounds like the perfect mix of humor and drama! Bring it on :)

When?
August 2011

You're No Spring Chicken

2011-06-12T02:20:00.000-07:00

Today I would just love to bring attention to a lovely book I found. It is hilarious. It can be bought used on Barnes and Noble. I found You're No Spring Chicken when helping my grandparents move. It was an adorable and the perfect gift for any grandparent. It's a book full of jokes that the elderly can especially relate to. I recommend it 100% as a gift!

Random book wanderings (2)

2011-06-11T01:43:00.000-07:00

Today I went on another search for 2 books I had heard little about. Here is what I found.

When November Nelson loses her boyfriend, Josh, to a pledge stunt gone horribly wrong, she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse. But Josh left something behind that will change November's life forever, and now she's faced with the biggest decision she could ever imagine. How in the world will she tell her mom? And how will Josh's parents take the news? She's never needed a friend more.

Jericho Prescott lost his best friend when he lost his cousin, Josh, and the pain is almost more than he can bear. His world becomes divided into "before" and "after" Josh's death. He finds the only way he can escape the emptiness he feels is to quit doing the things that made him happy when his cousin was alive, such as playing his beloved trumpet, and take up football, where he hopes the physical pain will suppress the emotional. But will hiding behind shoulder pads really help? And will his gridiron obsession prevent him from being there for his cousin's girlfriend when she needs him most?

This sequel to The Battle of Jericho is a no-holds-barred look at what happens when life doesn't go as planned, by the acclaimed author of the 2007 Coretta Scott King Award winner Copper Sun.

Willa and Louie could not be more different. Louie wants to be a lawyer and is an outstanding student. Willa lives in a pub and just wants to get through the year so she can graduate and become a chef. But they are completely attracted to one another when they first meet at a fast-food restaurant. Soon they fall in love fast and furiously, and everything the girls are sure of—their plans, their faith, their families, their identities -– is called into question...

Through Her Eyes- Jennifer Archer

2011-06-10T01:46:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Every ghost has a story to tell.

The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.

Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever.

Review:

If you’re someone who’s ever wondered what it would be like to live someone else’s life, this is definitely a book you should make time for. The descriptions and scenery of this excellently worded masterpiece literally give you the insight of looking through the main character’s mind and thoughts. If there were and more detail in this book, it’d be a very high brow pop-up picture book. This is something I’d love to see done as a movie, which is something I’ve never said about a book before.

Seeing as how it involves alcohol and smoking as well some intermittent “snogging” and “shite” like that, I’d rate this as a 12+/ 13+ A

Consumed- Kate Cann

2011-06-09T01:33:00.000-07:00

Summary:

The thrilling sequel to POSSESSED finds 16-year-old Rayne still entwined in the creepy history of Morton's Keep -- and about to discover that she's the only one who can stop the evil lurking there.

Rayne's countryside escape has proven to be anything but -- the remote mansion house where she lives and works holds terrible secrets, and she feels trapped there. And when a new manager shows up, things take an even more sinister turn.

Rayne doesn't know who to trust -- even the ghosts of Morton's Keep seem to be warning her. It's up to Rayne to overcome the ancient evil lurking here -- but how?

My thoughts:

I adored Possessed so when this came in the mail I was ecstatic. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. The first book had me enthralled from the word go. I was devouring the book faster than almost any other book. I did not expect anything but the best from this book.

I started this book the moment I got it. I gave it so many chances to pull me in and make me love it. It never did. I was disinterested the whole way through. The story took a long time to start. When it finally started I was already very iffy on the book.

I think the main problem with this book was how satisfied I was with book number one. I believe she should have ended it there. I would give this book a letter "c" and a 15+ rating.

Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume

2011-06-07T02:58:00.000-07:00

Summary:

Whether laughing to tears reading Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great or clamoring for more unmistakable "me too!" moments in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, girls all over the world have been touched by Judy Blume's poignant coming-of-age stories. Now, in this anthology of essays, twenty-four notable female authors write straight from the heart about the unforgettable novels that left an indelible mark on their childhoods and still influence them today. After growing up from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing into Smart Women, these writers pay tribute, through their reflections and most cherished memories, to one of the most beloved authors of all time.

My Thoughts:
This was an adorable book. I love Judy Blume and have always been a huge fan of hers. I loved reading how Judy had influenced the lives of all these women just as she had influenced mine. Each woman was influenced in a different way and it was great to see. Everyone should read this book!

Shopaholic and Sister

2011-06-04T01:36:00.000-07:00

Summary:
What’s a round-the-world honeymoon if you can’t buy the odd souvenir to ship back home? Like the twenty silk dressing gowns Becky found in Hong Kong…the hand-carved dining table (and ten chairs) from Sri Lanka…the, um, huge wooden giraffes from Malawi (that her husband Luke expressly forbade her to buy)… Only now Becky and Luke have returned home to London and Luke is furious. Two truckloads of those souvenirs have cluttered up their loft, and the bills for them are outrageous. Luke insists Becky go on a budget. And worse: her beloved best friend Suze has found a new best friend while Becky was away. Becky’s feeling rather blue—when her parents deliver some incredible news. She has a long-lost sister! Becky is thrilled! She’s convinced her sister will be a true soulmate. They’ll go shopping together, have manicures together.…Until she meets Jessica for the first time and gets the shock of her life. Surely Becky Bloomwood’s sister can’t…hate shopping?

My Thoughts:
I love love love the shopaholic series! I do not read the series straight through because I want to cherish it. I love it so much. My fiance and I decided to watch Bridget Jones (Edge of Reason) and after that I couldn't put this book off any longer. I needed my Becky fix.

The shenanigans she gets herself into are hilarious. There are points in this book where you can not help but crack up. There are also points where you want to scream and call her an idiot. In the end though, you have read a superb work of fiction, one that tops the rest.

I recommend you read this series. I give it a big, fat, A++! I would also rate it 14+, mostly for language. There are a few adult themes in them as well.

Tighter- Adele Griffin

2011-06-03T01:15:00.000-07:00

Please welcome to the stage my lovely friend Hannah. She will be reviewing about once a week. All of her reviews will be tagged as "Hannah's Reviews". Take it away Hannah!

Summary:

When 17-year-old Jamie arrives on the idyllic New England island of Little Bly to work as a summer au pair, she is stunned to learn of the horror that precedes her. Seeking the truth surrounding a young couple's tragic deaths, Jamie discovers that she herself looks shockingly like the dead girl—and that she has a disturbing ability to sense the two ghosts. Why is Jamie's connection to the couple so intense? What really happened last summer at Little Bly? As the secrets of the house wrap tighter and tighter around her, Jamie must navigate the increasingly blurred divide between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Review:

This in one of the few books I’ve found that when you pick it up, you clear your schedule because it’s just too good to put down. The stylistic writing of author Adele Griffin is so precisely tuned to each character that there is no doubt who is speaking and she knows how to keep a secret until the very end.

By my colleague’s standards I believe this would warrant a 12+ A due to a recurring theme of pill popping, and a couple low scale kisses, as well as death and schizophrenia.

So be sure to make room on your book shelves for Tighter by Adele Griffin

Random book wanderings

2011-06-02T01:35:00.000-07:00

Today I went on a little meander around amazon and thought I would show a few books that looked great that I had never heard much about!

JAMES AND ALEX have barely anything in common anymore—least of all their experiences in high school, where James is a popular senior and Alex is suddenly an outcast. But at home, there is Henry, the precocious 10-year-old across the street, who eagerly befriends them both. And when Alex takes up running, there is James’s friend Nathen, who unites the brothers in moving and unexpected ways.

Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) . . . and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends-and then, startlingly, more than friends. What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-06-01T01:32:00.000-07:00

What?
Twelve-year-old Isabel is dying to get out of Oregon. She spends her free time in the library, reading and dreaming about faraway places. When her mom decides to open a cupcake shop in their little town of Willow, Isabel feels just like buttercream frosting to a cupcake-stuck. It seems as if it will be another disappointing summer, until Isabel learns of a baking contest. If she can come up with a winning recipe, she might have a chance of competing in the bake-off in New York City! But Isabel's best friend, Sophie, is also entering the contest, and things always seem to go Sophie's way. To make matters worse, Isabel and her mom don't exactly see eye-to-eye on the type of recipe Isabel should enter. In this sweet treat by popular teen author Lisa Schroeder, Isabel discovers that maybe it's not about where you go in life as much as it is about enjoying the view from wherever you are.

Why?
I love Lisa so I want to read this even though it is for the younger set. Also, CUPCAKES!!!! Yummy.

Sun-Kissed

2011-05-31T10:21:00.000-07:00

Sun-Kissed (Au Pairs #3)
Melissa de la Cruz

Summary:
Third time's the charm as Mara, Eliza, and Jacqui head back to the Hamptons. This summer the au pairs are doing it right: in style, in step, and "in" everywhere.

Mara has the VIP hookup at all the new clubs -- not to mention sweet digs living with bf Ryan on his parents' yacht. Eliza's nights are steaming too, since she and Jeremy are in total relationship bliss. Too bad she's spending her days at a fashion internship where the hot new designer goes all Devil Wears Prada on her. Jacqui is newly single, and on the prowl, with three boy millionaires next door competing for her affections.

The girls seem to have the whole package this summer. But looks -- as all good Hamptons girls know -- can be very deceiving....

My thoughts:
I have adored this series since I found book number one on a random search. This one was not a disappointment at all. It took me back into the world of these alluring girls. This time we saw that each girl had more to give than being an au pair. They had their own struggles, not everything was handed on a silver platter. Eliza must go against the grain which is unusual for trust fund babies. Mara is discovering if her passion will get in the way of her relationships. Jacqui is trying to figure out who she is apart from the other girls.

The lessons of these girls are hidden in this extraordinary work of fiction. I would give in A without a moments hesitation. I would also give it a rating of 15+. There is sexual content, drugs and underage drinking to watch out for.

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-05-18T04:17:00.000-07:00

What?
It's Saturday night in Santa Barbara and it seems like everyone is headed to the same destination. The reason is simple: to celebrate the end of school. But for eleven different people the motives are bit more complicated—to be noticed, to hook up, to make friends, to numb the pain, to get over an ex, to say goodbye. As each character takes a turn and tells his/her story, the eleven individuals intersect, reconnect, and combine in ways that none of them ever saw coming.

Why?
Sounds like a good escape from my boredom :)

Contest!

2011-05-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

I have an e-book copy of Six Moon Summer by SM Reine to give away. To win all you need to do is comment with your email and a note saying something like enter me! I will announce the winner on the 20th of this month! Good luck!

Wednesday Wishlist

2011-05-11T04:15:00.000-07:00

What?
Abby Goodwin is sure her sister Maya isn't a murderer. But her parents don't agree. Her friends don't agree. And the cops definitely don't agree. Maya is a drop-out, a stoner, a girl who's obsessed with her tutor, Jefferson Andrews...until he ends up dead. Maya runs away, and leaves Abby following the trail of clues. Each piece of evidence points to Maya, but it also appears that Jefferson had secrets of his own. And enemies. Like his brother, who Abby becomes involved with...until he falls under suspicion.

Is Abby getting closer to finding the true murderer? Or is someone leading her down a twisted false path?

Why?
I'm feeling a good mystery book this week!

Numbers

2011-05-10T01:44:00.000-07:00

Numbers
Rachel Ward
Scholastic
$9.99
February 2011
FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 20/20
Plot 20/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 15/20
Ending 20/20
Total grade: 95% A

Sexual content: moderate
Violence: heavy
Drugs: n/a
Underage drinking: mild
Swearing: moderate
Total rating: 15+

Summary:
Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem's world is about to explode!

My Thoughts:
I had been putting off reading this book forever. It did not sound like my kind of book at all. After I finished it I was amazed by how good it was. I stayed up way too late reading and couldn't put it down. The characters were fun to read about even though some of their storyline was predictable. The end was super great! I was very excited to see what had come from the developing storyline.

I only had two problems with the book. I did not like the cover. It could have been much better. Also the characters sometimes talked normal and others talked pretty ghetto. That was strange to me.

All in all I recommend this book to everyone! It was a book that even the biggest chic lit nerd could enjoy!

Must Monday

2011-05-09T04:07:00.000-07:00

What?
Since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move - four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, Mclean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, Mclean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself - whoever that is. Perhaps her neighbor Dave, an academic superstar trying to be just a regular guy, can help her find out.

Why?
A fun plot AND it's Sarah Dessen!

When?
Tomorrow!

Mothers day

2011-05-08T04:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers day to all my readers who are mom's! I wanted to take a moment to list 5 awesome things about my mom!

1. She loves me no matter what. I can mess up over and over but she keeps loving me.
2. She gave me her love of reading!
3. She lets me make my own choices and mistakes but is always there to offer help and love.
4. She loves my fiance almost as much as I do :)
5. She has never left me.